Public Amusements.

deaA'ouring successfully to enliven the public , and Ave know not where a person can better spend an hour than in the company of these accomplished artistes . The personations of both Mr . and Mrs . Reed are too well known to need description , the lady ' s vocal and histrionic abilities being ably seconded by the admirable performances of her husband . Mr . Parry , too , is a host in himself , and his musical description of the " Colleen Bawn " is so

outrageously funny that we may safely predict for it a run not less prosperous than that ivhich distinguished the dramatic version of the story . HER MAJESTY'S CONCERT-ROOM . Mr . and Mrs . Charles Mathews are now really " At Home" in their admirable Entertainment , ivhich has been much mellowed

doivn by repetition , whilst the various characters represented have been brought out in bolder relief , fully justifying the experiment AA-hich this gifted couple made as public entertainers . Mr . MattheAA-s' spirits are as unflagging as OA'er , his patter not to he surpassed ; and the excellence of his partner in all representations so marked as to ensure full houses long after the holidays shall have passed aAvay . EGYPTIAN HALL .

M . Robin , the French AVizard , is no stranger to the British ¦ public , from AA-hom heal Avays receives ahearfcy welcome—one piece ¦ of M . Robin's magic being to command success by his undoubted talent , and the ease AA'ith which he conducts the ivhole of his performance . The great attraction for the holidays is the enchanted Christmas Tree , Avhich is shown as ifc appears prior to Christmas —on Christmas-eve , AA'ith the preparations for the fete—undergoing a metamorphosisand exhibiting what is called

, the apparition of stars , from which the tree comes out in full dress , and old Father Christmas appears reaping from the tree presents for everybody , ivhich fly throughout the elegant little ¦ theatre in which the performances take place in numberlessprofusion , to the great delight of the young visitors . During the holidays there are two performances a-day .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE CO-BAIT . —The Queen , who remains at Osborne , continues calm . The Duke of Brabant and the Count of Flanders left the Isle of AVighfc for the Continent at the end of last week , while their august father , the King of the Belgians , arrived at Dover on the same day , and proceeded to Osborne on . a visit to Her Majesty . Sir James Clark , Sir Henry Holland , and Dr . Watsonhave been summoned to Osborne to receive Her

, Majesty's personal acknowledgments for tire care and attention they bestowed upon their illustrious patient . Dr . Jenner , who has been in attendance upon the Queen afc Osborne , has , no doubt , also received the thanks of his Sovereign . Her Majesty , in her retreat , attends to public business as usual , messengers passing daily betAveen London and fche Isle of AVi ghfc Avith papers from the various departments of State . Her " Majesty has announced her intention

of taking the Royal Horticultural Society miedr her immediate patronage . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The return of deaths in the metropolis during the past week presents a gratifying picture of the health of London . It appears that the deaths registered in the week ending last Saturday were only 1148 , which is less by 100 than the numbers recorded the previous weekand less 400

, hy than the weekly average mortality of the last ten years , allowing for the increase of population during that time . The births seem to have received a check as well as the deaths ; for the number of children born during the week was 1523 , while the average of the last ten years would raise the number to 1667 . Although the Revenue Returns for the past quarter and year show a decrease , the figures are regarded , upon the whole , satisfactory the the

as . On quarter , falling' off amounts to about -bJ ., 500 , 000 ; on the year , to about £ 3 , 300 , 000 . The Excise suffers to the extent of £ 900 , 000 for the year , but the abolition of the paper duty and the shortened term of the malt credit last year sufficiently explain the decrease . The Customs , Stamus , J . ost Office , and Miscellaneous , all show an increase , but there " is a Heavy decrease in the returns from Income Tax—amounting

on the year to nearly three millions . This deficiency , hoivever , is accounted for by the reduced duty , and the arrears of collection . The Lord Mayor is taking steps to organise a public movement , Avith a view to perpetuate the memory of the lamented Prince Consort by the erection in the City of a suitable memorial . A private meeting on the subject has been held in the Mansion-house , when it appeared ( as , indeed , was certain to be the case ) , that tlie leading bankers and merchants of the City

hrd expressed bufc one feeling ivifch regard to the propriety of such a memorial . Ifc has been determined , at a highly influential meeting held in Salford , under the presidency of the Mayor , to erect a statue of the late Prince Consort in Peel Park . A subscription for carrying this resolution into effect has been set on foot , and the sum required for the purpose will , no doubt , be speedily obtained . The Gazette of Tuesday contains a Home Office notice acknowledging the receipt of numerous addresses

of condolence , which either have been or will be laid before Her Majesty . A meeting has been held at Liverpool , under the presidency of Mr . Graves , ex-mayor ofthe borough , for the purpose of stimulating the naval reserve movement at that porfc . Resolutions were passed , calling upon the merchant officers of Liverpool to qualify themselves for the commissions offered by the G-overnment , and fco aid in other respects a measure of so much importance to the country . A hope was also expressed

thafc the regulations recently issued " may hereafter be so extended that commissions will . be granted to all merchant officers of respectability who will qualify themselves , so as to place at Her Majesty's disposal and the service of the country , in the event of danger , a reserve embracing the great body of the maritime marine service . Some of the workmen engaged in the erection of the Exhibition building have struck work . The strike , we believe , has nothing in common with the

demand , of ivhich Ave formerly heard so much , for a reduction of the hours of labour without a corresponding reduction of pay , Their complaint is that the Avages they receive do not corncompensate them for the number of hours they work , fche exertions they are expected to make , and the hazard to life they run . AA e cannot doubt that grievances so distinct and tangible as are here alleged , if they really exist , will speedily be adjusted . 'The Duke of Northumberland has declined to become a candidate for the Chancellorship of the University of

Cambridge . The members of the University AVIIO put forAA'ard the name of His Grace do nofc appear to be read y Avith another candidate , and it is therefore probable that the Duke of Devonshire will be elected Avithout opposition . An inquest has been held on a boy who Avas killed b y the explosion of some oil in the cellar of a shopkeeper at Camden ToAvn . Several of the customers were examined , AVIIO stated that the oil they bought at his shop for paraffin was so bad they

could not use it . On the other hand , the shopkeeper maintained that he kept only one kind of oil in his shop ; but he admitted it was in two separate vessels , and that he varied his price according to the means of his customers . The inquest was further adjourned for a scientific report on the nature of the oil found in the shop . AAllliain Charleton , engine-driver on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway , stands charged with the murder

of an old Avoman that kept the crossing gates on the line near Carlisle . The principal eA'idence against him is that very doubtful testimony the mark of his shoes , Avhich is proved to correspond exactly with some feet-marks that AA-ere to be traced all round the scene of the murder . The prisoner Avas remanded . An apprentice lad has been brought before the magistrate at the Thames Police-court on the charge of robbing his master and setting fire to the premises . Ifc appeared thafc on

Christmaseve the master had gone to his house in the country , leaving his shop in charge of fche apprentice , who took adi'anfcaga of the opportunity to pawn several valuable oil paintings belonging to his master ; anel by Avay of concealing bis misconduct , set fire to the house . This Avas done Avith great zeal , but in the most clumsy manner , and shoived thafc the incendiary AAMS bent on mischief . The case Avas very clearly proved , and the magistrate determined to commit the

prisoner , who made no defence , for trial . Private Jackson , of the 7 Sth Highlanders , AA-IIO some time ago murdered his sergeant at Aldershott has been executed at Winchester . Thompson , the man who murdered his mistress at Birmingham , and Beamish , AA-IIO poisoned his wife and child at Coventry , have been executed together at Warwick . AVe gather from a letter addressed to the Tynemouth Chamber of b

Commerce y Sir James Tennent , that the French Government decline to make their navi gation laws the subject of a convention ivith any foreign poAver . The question of free trade in shipping will , however , undergo im'estigation , and