Knights Templar.

and the only town where it was worked and conferred as a decree was in this hall . The G . M . Sir Knight Henry Bell responded . After several other toasts , including the newly installed fraters , the company retired at seven o'clock p . m .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

Aletterfrom Berlin says : — "Public attention has just been excited by a rather singular fact . A drama by Calderon , " The Judge of Salamea , ' was about to performed at the theatre of Wilhelmstadt , ancl the rehearsals had taken place , when the representation was suddenly interdicted . According to somg , this prohibition has been caused solel y from the fact that the theatre of the suburbs has no ri ght to perform tragadies , but

the general opinion among the public is that the piece contains allusions to the situation of the Prussian officers . There is , in fact , among the ' characters a Spanish officer who is guilty of different criminal acts towards civilians . He is protected by the military authorities , but at length punished liy the civil laws , The Government doubtless thought that such a representation ivould too strongly call to mind the history of Lieutenants Sobbe ancl Patzki . "

Mr . J . 0 . Halliwell has issued a statement respecting the purchase ofthe Shakspeare property , from which it appears that the original cost of Neiv Place was £ 1400 ; that it was then discovered that the poet's great garden , long separated from the garden of New Place , could also be obtained ; and that that also had been purchased for £ 2000 . Another property , however , ' must tbe bought before the whole of the girdens originall y belonging to Shakspeare can be secured to the public ;

and hence it is estimated that the further sum non * required , including the laying out of the gardens , amounts to £ 2800 . Mr . Halliwell , therefore , asks for this sum , giving a guarantee that it shall bo expended with care and economy , and that the gardens shall be ready for public use b y the spring of next year . More rapid progress , he says , is not possible , as possession of _ Shakspeare ' s great garden will not be obtained before Michaelmas next .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA . Rossini ' s " Guglielmo Tel ! " was given here last evening for the benefit of such of" the holiday folks as might deem charming music superior to all other attractions . The opera Avas most judiciously chosen , since its g-rand beauties as a composition were greatly enhanced by the admirable scenic setting- in ivhich it has been encased by Mr . Gyc ' s liberality and good taste . All that exquisite painting and picturesque wise en seine could do for it has been effected , and the result is an ensemble falling- little short of perfectionSuch

very . appeared to be the opinion ofthe audience , AA-IIO rewarded the most striking effects ivith cordial and reiterated applause . LYCEUM . On Easter Monday , after the 135 th performance " of Peep o'Dag , a MAV musical ballet was produced entitled Killamey . It commences with the scenery from the Lake , by Mr . Tclbin , which has boon so frequently praised and admired that we onl need ou the present

y say occasion that it has lost none of its freshness and beauty . In thc course of the diorama Miss AA'hitty sung a now ballad in three verses , by Balfe , ivith good elfecl , and ivas much applauded . _ A new scene ivas added , entitled " The Fairies' Haunts . " It consisted of a most extensive lake scone , by moonlight , but the principal novelty Avas a shadow dance by the corps do ballet , in a brilliant moonlight thrown upon the front of the stage by the newly invented method . The fairies produced some very pretty effects hy their Avhite

scarves being- kept waiving up against the light of the moon , eliciting continuous applause , ivhich ended in a repetition of the dance , for which the moon did not seem prepared , for the gambols of the dancers nad not concluded when a sudden and entire eclipse tool ; placo , or l ? , ™' ! ' fair Luna objected to encores on principle . Hoivover , the Goddess of the Night relented , and shone forth again before the dance was over for the second time . Miss Lydia Thompson then went through a shadow dance as upas seal . The first pose may , as regards if not

grace , for other reasons , be decidedly modified for the better ; tne rest was remarkable for much vigorous execution and spirited exertion . The quick step was encored , and Miss Lydia Thompson ii as called forward at the fall of the cm-tain aud received a bouquet . „ „ CRYSTAL PALACE . vnn £ l ™ " Eastei' Mondi > v KS that just passed for a a-rcat many tWt it ? 0 t en cx P ° ne"eed . The Crystal Palace more particularly evn ,-A ™ " ? , co ln the vast multitude of holiday folk that thronged " . i Pari ot tins magnificent edifice and its beautiful and picturesque

Public Amusements.

grounds . From an earh * hour the visitors came pouring into the majestic structure in quick succession , the number swelling gradually to something like 30 , 000 . Tho special attraction provided on the occasion Avas the re-appeavancc of our old and intrepid friend Blondin , AA-IIO AA-as advertised to make his first ascent this season on the high as Avell as the IOAV rope . Precisely at tivo o ' clock this gentleman commenced his performancesand marvellous indeed thoy AA'ere . On his presence being

recog-, nised , he AA-as greeted with the most tremendous cheering and clapping of hands . Having gracefully bowed his acknowledgments , he proceeded on his perilous route upon the high rope like a being gifted with the power of moving through the air with as much facility as walking upon terra firma . Half-Avay across , he suddenly stopped and surveyed from his giddy eminence the vast sea of upturned faces that viewed his progress with feelings of the most painful excitement . There was no need of apprehension on their part . M . Blondin is a

perfect artist in his peculiar w-alk .. He is thoroughly acquainted with all the laws of equilibrium . He is confident of his nerve , and feels secure in the steadiness of his own good head and heart . He tests that confidence in thc severest way by standing upon his head and hanging from the rope by his foot , amid the breathless silence of the spectator , who feel a thrill of horror at the danger to which he exposes himself . . Ho recovers his position , and arrives safely at the end of his transit to hear the renewed plaudits of the multitude .

Once more ho is seen crossing over his slender footing , but bearing upon his shoulders a man apparently much above his own height and weight . M . Blondin aftenvards appeared on the IOAV tight-rope in various characters—first , as a Dutch dancer , with huge sabots , or AA'ooden shoes , on his feet ; secondly , on stilts ; afterwards as a Greek ; and lastly , in a handsome fancy dress , ivith all his oivn decorations on his breast ; iu all of which characters be performed marvellous feats of agility on the rope . He executed some fine airs on the violin whilst

throwing somersaults aud performing other extraordinary ei'olutions , and whether standing er sitting on . » , chair with its one ov tivo feet upon the rope , he was equally master of his position . These performances appeared to give universal satisfaction , if ive might judge from the applause with Avhich they AA'ere repeatedly received . The orchestral band ofthe company , AA'hich played at intervals , and the great organ performances , also contributed greatly to the amusement of the visitors .

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION . Notwithstanding the attractions of thc Brighton l-eA-ieiA " , thc Crystal Palace , the cheap excursion trains , and the various amusements liberally offered to the choice of the public , the Polytechnic Institution appears not only to have lost none of its attractions , but to increase AA'ith every returning season in popularity , aud certainly Mr . Pepper , the director , is evei labouring to add alike to the amusement and instruction of his patrons . Mr . Georgo Buckland , AA-IIO is knoAiboth buffo and lished

favourably -n as a singer an accomp mus i cian , on Monday introduced his entertainment of " Ye Bearde Excitement ; or , The Tragic-Comic Ilistor . of Blue Beard , " AA'hich , irrespective of its laughter-provoking dialogue and songs , is amply illustrated by dissolving vieAvs , and the popular shadow pantomimic effects so Avell knoini to the frequenters of tho Polytechnic . This ivas followed by some remarkably-splendid illuminated chromatic fountain effects , filling the whole stage behind the dissolving vioiv disc . Mr . Pepper delivers a very interesting illustrated lecture on "Colour

in General , and Coal Tar Colours in Particular ; Avhilst Mr . J . King treats the audience with a popular discourse on the " Curiosities of Science . " Mr . J . Malcolm explains somo beautiful dioramic vieivs of London in the Roman , Anglo-Saxon , Norman , Plantagenet , Tudor , Stuart , and Hanoverian epochs ; and Mr . J . L . King performs a like duty for a series of semi-stereoscopic vieivs of the boulevards , palaces , and streets of Paris as it is by Mr . England , who has admirably introduced the figures , vehicles , &_ ., usually to be seen in these busy

localities , so as to add materially to their attractions as ivories of art , whilst they give a capital idea of Parisian life . Mr . James Matthews continues to give his illustrations of magic , showing IIOAV the A-arious tricks of the professional conjuror are performed , only to prove that even in their simplicity , and with every adi'antage of explanation , he must bo a tolerably good Conjuror AA'I IO leaves the room much wiserat least so far as tlio poAA'er to perform the tricks is concerned—thau ho entered it . The Merrhnac , the Monitor , tho Warrior , La Gloire ,

and thc iron Avails of old England , as they are to be , are fully explained , illustrated by dissolving views ; and the Brousil family , seven in number ( including Miss Howard , the vocalist ) , give a highly interesting concert , so that the visitor AAIIO quits the Polytechnic Avithout feeling that the price of admission lias been amply compensated must be indeed hard to please , loai-ing out of question the numerous scientific models and Avorks of art with AA-hich the institution is plentifully embellished .

GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION . " The Family legend " has been judiciously compressed , and now forms a very excellent entertainment . Nothing could be conceh-ed more thoroughly artistic than the impersonation of the moonstruck poet by Mr . John Parry , which is really a marvel of histrionic delineation . Equally good in another style is the old French nurse of Mrs . German Reed , in whick a very peculiar idiosyncrasy is cm-