The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

The Royalty is to be re-built , and opened in February with comic opera , under the lesseeship of Miss Kate Santley , who is a guarantee in herself of something good . We believe the theatre was made a present of to Miss Santley by some of her admirers .

* Mr . Gladstone visited the Globe on Saturday night , to witness the first performance of "The Promise of May , " written by his old and intimate friend , the Poet Laureate . The cheers the Premier got were louder than

those accorded to the new drama , which was not generally regarded as a success , nor in any way to be compared with Mr . Tennyson's "Queen May" or "The Cup . " Mr . Hermann Vezin , Mr . Charles Kelly and Mrs . Bernard H . lieere , are the principal players .

* * * Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Albany visited the Haymarket Theatre on Friday , the ioth inst ., to witness "The Overland Route . "

# ¦ * * Bro . Holland and the directors of the Alhambra invited the Indian Contingent , consisting of thirteen officers and nineteen men , to see the " Merry War . " They were

at Drury Lane on Saturday , and asked by Bro . Harris to go behind the scenes of the Railway accident scene in " Pluck . " The foreigners were much struck with the remarkable effect of stage mechanism . 'They were loudly applauded by the audience and returned the salutes .

The Alcazar , late the Connaught , Holborn , is to be re-opened on Boxing Day with a pantomime , "Cinderella , " under the direction of Bro . John Baum . The house has been taken by a public company , who are now issuing debentures . Bro . Baum promises a pantomime of excessive grandeur , and performed by the elite of the profession . We hail with gladness one new feature—the

abolition of all fees . We hope this will be adhered to . Sometimes if a theatre is found to be paying , the management being more independent , make a charge for programmes , showing into seats , & o , and when a theatre is losing , these charges , or impositions , are put on to help the exchequer . Fees should be abolished everywhere , as at the Lyceum , Savoy , and Gaiety .

» * "Perola" is not to be the title of Gilbert and Sullivan ' s new opera . It has been changed to , we believe , " Elianthe . " Its production has been fixed for the 25 th . We will duly notice it . * # *

A comedy , by Mr . Hamilton Baillie , will be performed on the evenings of the 13 th and 16 th , and afternoon of the 15 th insts ., at Sir Percy Shelley ' s theatre , on the Chelsea Embankment , in aid of the funds of the School of Dramatic Art . The Prince and Princess of Wales have signified their intention of being present at one of the performances . Mrs . Cecil Clay will play the heroine .

* « A powerful drama , full of sensational interest from the rise of the curtain to its fall , was produced by Bro . Douglass at the National Standard Theatre , on Monday last , in the presence of a large and appreciative audience . The drama— "The Ruling Passion "—is from the

pen of Bro . James Willing , jun ., who certainly deserves the credit of having placed upon the stage one of the most realistic and sensational dramas of modern life . When we say that there is a real omnibus and horses , with real passengers , a real hansom and a four wheeler , a perfect deluge of rain , a view of the Crystal Palace on Foresters' Day , with a balloon ascent , and its subsequent descent into the sea , we

think the greatest lover of realistic sensationalism will be satisfied . The piece is placed upon the stage with a completeness that speaks well for the management . The scenery throughout reflects the greatest credit on Bro . Richard Douglass . Altogether the new drama may be truthfully pronounced a great success , and we congratulate both Bro . Willing and Bro . Jno . Douglass upon their latest achievement .

* * * We understand the Novelty Theatre , which is only a few doors removed from us , is so rapidly approaching completion that the two opening pieces are already in preparation . The most important of this is a comic opera , " Melila , or the Parsee ' s Daughter , " by Captain Kennerlay , with music by M . Pontet .

Music

MUSIC

The success which attended Bro . Kuhe ' s Brighton Musical Festival must have been highly gratifying to our talented brother . On the openingnight the public , by the largeness of its attendance , bore testimony to its appreciation of Bro . Kuhe ' s efforts during a long course of years to provide for them instructive musical entertainment , as well as to his respect for native talent by the production of works

uy such well-known and well-established composers as Messrs . Arthur Sullivan and F . Cowen . On Wednesday , the Dome was not so crowded , though the programme of classical music was both comprehensive and varied , and , as regards the majority of the selections , was calculated to afford satisfaction . The concert opened with the overture «> Mozart ' s " Die Zauberflote , " which was followed by

Beethoven s "Pastoral" symphony ; of the two , the former being decidedly the better played . A nocturne for orchestra , specially composed by Mr . F . Corder , but ill represented what , that gentleman is capable of doing , and , moreover , wasvery indifferently played . On thcother hand , Hiller ' s pianoforte concerto in F sharp minor , a most masterly , but very exacting piece , found a highly capable

interpreter in Miss Kuhe , who , by this performance , must be said to have greatly enhanced . 'her reputation as a pianist , while she reaped the further advantage of being most ably supported in the orchestral parts . The entr'acte in Gfrom Schubert ' s "Rosamunde" followed ; and then , in the order named , a fandango by Molique for violin and orchestra , in which Mr . Carrodus sympathetically interpreted his old

master ' s work ; the introduction to Act 3 of Wagner ' s " Die Meistersinger ; " and the Hungarian March from Berlioz ' s " Faust . " The one vocalist was Miss Ella Lemmcns , who is to be congratulated on the success of her debut at Brighton ; her rendering of Rode ' s "Air , with variations , " gave the greatest satisfaction . In the evening there was a public rehearsal of the " Redemption , " with Mr . Randegger as conductor .

* * « Thursday was set apart for the performance of " Elijah ; " such success as was achieved being , in a great measure , due to the efforts of the vocalists , among whom were Mesdames Albani and Trebelli , Mr . Lloyd , and Bro . Santley , who sang to perfection . With them were

associated Miss Robertson , who made a decided mark as leading soprano in the first part ; Miss Bertha Moore , who acquitted herself well as second soprano ; and Miss Emily Dones , who won much applause by her fine rendering of " Woe unto them ; " Mr . Lucas Williams , second bass ; and Mr . Hirwin [ ones , a promising and agreeable tenor .

* * * Bro . Kuhe had arranged that his benefit should take place on the Friday , and accordingly , in order to enlist the support of the greatest number , what is known as a " popular" programme was prepared . Many of the pieces chosen , however , were of a higher class than what is commonly accepted as popular , thus showing that Bro .

Kuhe had tairly gauged the capacity . of his audience for appreciating good music : such , tor instance , as the overture to " William Tell " and Weber's " Concertstucke , " both of which were capitally played , and gave the greatest possible pleasure . Bro . Kuhe himself played the solo part in the latter in a manner which secured for him great applause and a recall , and Mr . Randegger conducted with his usual precision and emphasis . Among

other items in the programme were a . Sclavonian dance in D major , by Dvorak , the ballet music from Rubenstein ' s " Feramorz , " and a selection from " Patience , " in which the orchestra was associated with the band of the 4 th Dragoon Guards , a romance for violin ( Mr . Carrodus ) , by Svendsen , and the march from " Le Prophete . " The vocalists were Mesdames Albani and Antoinette Sterling , Mr . Lloyd , and Bro . Santley .

* It is needless to say there was an overflowing audience on Saturday afternoon to hear the performance of Gounod's " Redemption . " There had been few opportunities for rehearsal , but Mr . Randegger , who directed the oratorio , had utilised them to the best of his power , and as a consequence , the performance was very satisfactory ,

conveying , as it did , a very just idea of M . Gounod ' s masterpiece . Of the leading singers , Madame Albani , Miss Santley , Mr . Lloyd , and Bro . Santley , who are already identified with the work , let it suffice to say that they filled their respective parts with equal effect as on previous occasions , and , of necessity , with a more familiar knowledge of the music . Madame Trebelli sang the contralto solos

with expression , while the bass narrative fell to Mr . Lucas Williams . The orchestra played satisfactorily , and making every allowance for the deficiency of the requisite power , the choruses were fairly rendered . Mr . Randegger , as the conductor , won the approval of the audience by his clearness and decision , his " times , " as a rule , being well judged . •-

« * « The first of the two Richter Concerts for the present season came off on Thursday week , in St . James's Hall , the programme consisting of the introduction to " Die Meistersinger , " a new serenade in G major for orchestra , by Mr . Villiers Stanford , Liszt ' s " Hungarian Rhapsodic" in F , the introduction to Wagner ' s " Parsifal , " and Beethoven ' s "Eroica" symphony . Theconcert was a great success , and Herr Richter , it is almost needless to say , met with a most enthusiastic reception .

* * » The first London Ballad Concert of the present ( seventeenth ) season is announced by Mr . Boosey to take place on Wednesday next , the 22 nd inst ., at St . James's Hall . Among the vocalists will be Miss Mary Davies , Madame Antoinette Sterling , Mr . Edward Lloyd , and Bro . May brick ; Madame Norman-Neruda , violinist , and the South London Choral Association will also take part .

The performance of Handel ' s " Messiah , " given annually under the auspices of the Royal Society of Musicians ot Great Britain , will take place on Friday evening next , at St . James ' s Hall , under the direction of Mr .

Barnby . Mr . Carrodus will be the principal violin , Mr . T . Harper , trumpet , and Dr . Hopkins will preside at the organ . Among the vocalists announced are Miss Mary Davies , Madame Fassett , Miss Hilda Wilson , Mr . E . Lloyd , Mr . VV . H . Cummings , Mr . F . King , and Mr . Hilton .

The programme of to-days "Pop" includes Brahms' Quintet in F minor , Beethoven ' s String Trio in G major , and his Sonata in E fiat for pianoforte alone , and Franz iiies ' s Prelude , Romance , and Scherzo for violin with pianoforte accompaniment . 'The executants will be

Madame Norman-Neruda and MM . Charles Halle , Ries , Straus , and Piatti , with Bro . Santley as vocalist . On Monday there will be the same executants and vocalist , and a programme consisting of Dvorak ' s pianoforte Quartet in D major , Haydn ' s Quartet in E Hat , Handel ' s Sonata in D major for violin and pianoforte , and Schubert ' s Sonata in A major for pianoforte alone .

Ar01102

SCIENCE AND ART .

1 he session for 1 SS 2-3 of the Royal Geographical Society was commenced on Monday evening in the theatre of the London University , Burlington-gardens . The chair was taken by Lord Aberdare , the President , who , in the course of his inaugural address , referred at length to the great loss the society had recently sustained through the death of one of its distinguished membersCaptain Gill

, , R . E ., who had fallen a sacrifice in the attempt to carry out a most arduous duty in the interests of this country . Professor Palmer ' s death was also to be deplored . Though not primarily a geographer , but a great Oriental scholar and linguist , he had been not unconnected with the society , having taken a leading part in the exploration of the Sinaitic regions , to which it contributed a crant . It was nothinir

less than a national misfortune that two such men should have perished at one and the same time . Lord Aberdare also referred to the Polar explorations of Mr . Leigh Smith , and the addition , thanks to the labours of Mr . Stanley in the Congo country , and his rival , M . Brazza , which had been made to their geographical knowledge of Western Africa . Mr . A . R . Colquhoun , of the Indian Public Works

Department , having read a long and valuable paper descriptive of the long and perilous journey he had recently made from the mouth of the Si-Kiang through the Chinese borderlands to the banks of the Irrawaddi , Lord Northbrook referred in terms of regrettul eulogy to the deaths of Professor Palmer , Captain Gill , and Lieutenant Charrington ; and , after a few remarks on the same subject , the proceedings terminated .

It is satisfactory to note that the members of the Army Medical Service who were engaged in the recent campaign in Egypt will not have their services passed over by the public , who are so cordially welcoming home our soldiers , seamen , and marines after their " -allant overthrow

of Arabi ' s army On Tuesday next , the 21 st inst ., a banquet will be given at Willis ' s Rooms to the medical officers attached to the late expedition , and it is most probable there will be present on the day in question many distinguished combatant officers , and also several civilian members of the medical profession .

* * g : The council of the Royal Society have awarded to Professor Flowers , F . R . S ., of the Royal College of Surgeons , England , a Royal medal , value fifty guineas , for his valuable contributions to anthropology and the morphology and classification of the mammalia .

The Drapers' Company have again voted the sum of twenty-live guineas to the Rev . H . Solly , towards the maintenance of his technical carpentry classes in the town of Croydon .

* * » General Rivers Pitt will be appointed Inspector of Ancient Monuments under the new act .

* * - » The United States relief vessel , Neptune , which had been dispatched with provisions for the party sent out last year by the American government to make observations in the neighbourhood of Lady Franklin Bav . at the

head of the Smith Sound , has been compelled to return without being able to accomplish her object . However , they left boats and provisions at Cape Sabine and other places some three degrees south of Lady Franklin Bay . The unexpected formation of ice in the Sound in August , and again in September , was the cause of the failure .

It is Mr . Edison ' s intention to illuminate the West London Tabernacle , at Notting-hill , with the electric light , in order to demonstrate the efficiency of his system ot electric lighting .

I he statue to be erected to the memory of the late Earl of Beaconsfield has so far advanced in the process of being moulded , that it is expected it will be ready for casting at Christmas . It is not intended the ceremony of unveiling it shall take place until after Parliament meets next year .

It is said the German government are willing to restore to this country the series of Scottish State papers which itpurchasedat thesaleof the Hamilton collection , if reasonable terms can be arranged by our government for their purchase .

* * » It is said that Angeli is engaged for Her Majesty on a replica of his famoua portrait of the Imperial Crown Princess of Germany , Princess Royal of Great Britain . •ts & &

German explorers are said to have discovered some highly interesting pre-Christian sculptures in the Euphrates Valley , in the neighbourhood of the Anti-Taurus Mountains .

A bequest of books , pictures , and antiquities , of the estimated value of £ 2000 , has been bequeathed to the University College of Wales , Aberystwith , by the late Mr . G . E . J . Powell , of Nanteos .

« « « In consideration of his services to the Prince of Wales , Mr . Oscar Clayton . F . R . C . S ., has had the honour of knighthood conferred on him by Her Majesty . * # » Colonel Webber , president , occupied the chair

at the ) meeting on 'Thursday of the Society of Telegraph Engineers and Electricians . After the usual statement by the secretary , papers were read by Colonel Frank Bolton on " Some further historical notes on the Electric Light ' bringing the subject up to the 30 th September , 1882 - " ' , , M ; W . II . Preece , a past president of the society , on the " Munich Electrical Exhibition , 18 S 2 . " y