Public Amusements.

QuicMy , triumphantly reinstated in his own capacious arm-chair before the snug sea-coal fire of the Dolphin Chamber . Familiar as the subsequent adventures ofthe renowned Sir John may be to those who have pictured them in the poet's pages , the imagimation has been seldom assisted by a stage embodiment of those persons who have been here called into imperishable existence by the dramatist ' s creative fancy . The very numerous audience which attended on Saturday night the performance of

the Second Part of "King Henry IV . " must have comprised a large majority to whom the representation would have the charm of complete novelty . Some old playgoers , with retentive memories , may call to mind its revival at Covent Garden Theatre in 1821 , and be amused with the recollection that the coronation of Henry the Fifth in the last act was represented with spectacular grandeur , in order to gratify the curiosity of those who had been unable to view the coronation

of George the Fourth , which had been so expensively celebrated a short time before . Although the cast then included names which are held in reverence by all who recur to the " palmy " days of the drama , it is not an ^ injustice to believe that Mr . Farley ' s elaborate arrangement of the ceremonial , exhibiting the customs and forms attending the enthronement of an English monarch , was much more talked about by the theatrical

public of that period than the fine elocution of Mr . Macready as the King , or the graceful bearing of Mr . Charles Kemble as the Prince . A long period elapsed before the title again figured in the playbills ; and , in connection with what has been just

recorded , it is curious to find that it reappeared in a programme expressly intended for royalty . Under the direction of Mr . Charles Kean , this play was represented i : i the Rubens Room of Windsor Castle , with the late Mr . Bartley as Sir John Palstaff , Mr . A . Wigan as the Prince , and Mr . Phelps as the King . This performance took jilace in January , 1853 , and it naturally led , a few weeks afterwards , to the revival of the same play on the boards of Sadler ' s Wellswhen Mr . Phelpsknowing how

, , much his audience required of him , and perceiving how conveniently the feat could be accomplished , not only retained his part of the King , but assumed the character of Justice Shallow in addition . At Drury Lane Mr . Phelps again identifies his name with the double impersonation , and whilst , as the monarch , his fine sonorous delivery of the glowing blank verse claims the admiration due to an accomplished declaimer , his piping

utterances as the garrulous old Gloucestershire justice fall upon the ear with an effect testifying to the skill of the comprehensive actor . This portraiture of the loquacious and tottering representative of the country squire , proud of his official position , and , with the infirmities of age upon him , recalling with infinite zest the midnight pranks of his youthful days , is depicted in the most vivid colours . The utmost pains have been evieently taken to render the picture perfect , and the

result is one of those highly-finished works of histrionic art which the playgoer preserves in the hall of memory , and often turns back to look upon with renewed pleasure . It is not till the commencement of the third act that Justice Shallow comes

upon the scene , and , whilst the quickening impulse that then stirred the spectators into a keener expression of interest in the play showed how much they had expected . from the performer , the frequent bursts of applause wliich followed proved how little they were disappointed . The enjoyment of those reminiscences of the wildness of youth , recalled with such chuckling satisfaction by the old justice to the companions of his early daywas heartily shared by the whole audienceand the

, , hilarious group assembled on that matchless night of revelry in the garden of Shallow's house found no lack of participators in their merriment , . Mr . Barrett , who represented Falstaff when the play was brought out at Sadler's Wells , has been very fitly entrusted with the embodiment of the same onerous part on the present occasion , and the sensual propensities of Sir John iu the sequel play , rendered more prominently , were illustrated

with considerable unction . The reinstalled possessor of the luxurious comforts ofthe Boar's Head , and the deposed favourite of the prince when , assuming the crown , he casts off the associates of his " madcap " days , found Mr . Barrett equally competent to portray the varying feelings which are exhibited in such strong contrast . Mr . Edmund Phelps , who is now the Prince , bears his elevation to hiher dignities with becoming gravity of

g demeanour ; and whilst the part of swaggering Pistol loses nothing of its grotesque bombast in the hands of Mr . Robert Roxby , Hostess QuicMy , as personated with characteristic energy by Mrs . H . Vandenhoff , is by no means reduced in importance . The other characters are distributed among efficient representatives ,

Public Amusements.

and the play—which is such a significant example of how the dry records of the chronicler can be illuminated by the brilliant imagination of the poet—will be found a desirable revival for many reasons , but for none stronger than the one afforded by the Justice Shallow of Mr . Phelps .

ADELPHITHEATRE . The opening of this house for the winter season took place on Monday evening last . The pieces selected for the occasion were " Good for Nothing , " " The Irish Ambassador , " and " Teddy the Tiler . " It is scarcely necessary to say that " Good for Nothing" in the hands of Miss Woolgar , Mr . J . Clarke , Mr . Billingtonand Mr . AV . H . Eburnewas all that could be

, , desired . The great features of the evening , however , were "The Irish Ambassador" and "Teddy the Tiler" in which Mr . John Collins , a gentleman wdio has attained much celebrity in America as a delineator of Irish character and a singer of Irish songs , made his first appearance before a London audience , aud produced a favourable impression as Sir Patrick O'Plenipo , in " The Irish Ambassador" and as Teddy , in " Teddy the Tiler . "

Mr . Collins is an actor of no inconsiderable merit . He combines a perfect knowledge of stage business with a capital brogue , unexceptionable because ib is genuine ; and he carefully avoids most of the vulgarity in which many actors are too prone to indulge when representing Irish character . As a singer of Irish songs he is most effective , eliciting a unanimous encore for his opening song in " The Irish Ambassador , " " The Bould Sojer Boy . " If possiblebo increased his reputation as a vocalist in

, " The Low-back'd Car , " and more especially so in " AAldow Machree , " which was twice encored . Mr . Collins's style is gentlemanly , and without straining after effect he produces it , and fairly promises to be a favourite with the Adelphi audience . At the conclusion of "Teddy the Tiler" Mr . Collins was loudly , called for , and bowed his acknowledgments .

ASTLEY'S THEATRE . This favourite house was reopened for the season on Monday last by Mr . E . T . Smith , under ' ihe most favourable auspices , every part of the building being crowded to excess . The performances opened with the " Double-bedded Room , " in which the characters were all well sustained by Messrs . S . Emery , Gresham , Craddockand AkinsMrs . E . F . Edgarand Miss

, , , Minnie Clifford ; but the piece passed off very quietly , owing to the enthusiasm being probably reserved for that which was to follow . Mr . Emery , as Dulcimer Pipes , however , was twice called before the curtain . AVith the drama of "Mazeppa , " which followed , everybody is well acquainted ; hut the great novelty of this season is the appearance of a lady , Miss Adah Isaacs Menken , as Mazeppa . This lady , who has earned

laurels in tbe United States , of which we understand she is a native , certainly filled the part to perfection , to use the words of the bills— " Fighting her own . combats and climbing the fearful precipices on horseback herself , and not by deputy , " and by her graceful action succeeded in drawing down thunders of applause and repeated encores . From the enthusiasm with which she was received on Monday niht there is little doubt

g that her sojourn at this theatre will prove a very great attraction . The staff , which is necessarily very large , is well selected ; the mechanical arrangements are good ; and the new scenic effects are elegant . " Mazeppa" at Astley ' s will certainly again have a long run .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —The Queen and younger branches of the Royal Family continue in Scotland . The Prince and Princess of Wales have received a . magnificent reception in Sweden , and have returned to Denmark for a brief sojourn . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The mortality in the metropolis for last week shows a slight increase over the week previous . The

deaths for the week amount to 1 , 284 , which is about 50 more than the week before , and between 30 and 40 hi gher than the corrected average of the last ten years . Among the diseases scarlatina seems to be on the increase . The births amounted to 2 , 027 , which is 123 above the corrected average of the last ten years . The revenue for the year ending on Friday the 30 th ult . was £ 120 , 433 below the income of the preceding