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on AA ednesday evening , under the title of " Jeannette's AA'edcling . It does not occupy more than half-an-hour in the representation ; ancl it claims notice chiefly on account of Miss Maria Harris , who , as an amiable young wife , afflicted with an ill-tempered and tyrannical husband , acts with a gentle grace , and eventually soothes even the savage breast of her despotic lord , who , in the person of Mr . AViddicomb , had at first treated her with barbarous cruelty , and smashed all the furniture in her house . Miss M . Harris has a correct appreciation of that most loveable of all characters—a fond , forsivins wife .

CRYSTAL PALACE . —BLONDIN IN A FOG . To a man who can walk blindfolded by a sack along a rope a hundred feet high , it can matter little whether he performs the feat by day or by night—in sunlight or in darkness . But to even biui we should think a fog must be a serious discomfort ancl disadvantage—effectually testing the possibility of his being thrown off his balance , by that derangement of nerves generally resulting from

the obscuration of the senses . To this final test M . Blondin was on Monday subjected—unexpectedly , of Course , to himself , and very much to the disappointment of a vast concourse of intending spectators . Not that he failed to perform what he had announced , but that they could not see the performance . Monday was his "benefit , " and , as the charge was the usual shilling , there was an enormous influx of visitors , from early in the morning . When the ordinary amusements of the place were exhausted , or had

began to pall , there was the great spectacle of the day about to commence . At three o'clock precisely the race along the transept rope began . Then there were the performances in the sack , and the astounding somersaults , followed by a third journey on stilts . By this time the performer might well be supposed to need rest ancl refreshment . Both were provided for him , without the trouble of descent . On his back he carried the chair that has now so often been the object of thrilling interest ; and in front he carried a well-furnished table . To this he seated himself , and coolly lunched . Then , as if encouraged to yet more daring adventures , he disappeared for a few minutes , only to return with a man

upon his back—who waived his hat as he was borne along . All this being successfully- accomplished , the applause was deafening . But still there was a reserve of enthusiasiasm for the evening exhibition . Blondin on the terrace rope , illuminating himself ancl the Palace , was justly expected to outshine all former spectacles . Unhappily , the mist that had hung about all day , ancl woven itself with the twilight into a veil that wrapped every statue , tree , and tower in earldarknessthickened into fog soon after sunset . At

y , balf-past six , when Blondin started in his basket for the mast , he could be seen only a few yards off , until he lighted the pan of blue fire carried in each hand . On reaching the mast be kindled the lights fixed there ; but they did not suffice to show even the outline of his form . For the next half hour or more he was completely invisible—at any rate , to our eye . Yet he must have traversed the rope right and left for a considerable distance ; for he exploded the

fireworks in his barrow , as announced , ancl made as brilliant an exhibition as the fog would permit . Here and there arose from the grounds an applauding recognition as he made his way back to the mast , and he was warmly greeted on his return to the Palace . But the dark masses that covered the terraces were evidently deprived of the sight they had most anticipated ; and had additional cause of mortification in the long time that had necessarily to elapse before they could be conveyed to town , the trains being obliged to

proceed very slowly , and a corresponding detention taking place at the station . The number of visitors was as follows : —Payment , 29 , 409 ; season tickets , 3 , 786 . Total , 33 , 195 .

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION . Professor Pepper ' s lecture on "Balancing , " delivered at the Polytechnic , is highly interesting and amusing . The laws of gravitation are illustrated by numerous ingenious experiments , by toys of huge dimensions , models , ancl dissolving views . To account for Blondin aud Leotard , the lecturer touched upon the motion of the earth and the oscilliation of a tombola ; the stability ofthe pyramids

and the instability of children ; the mystery of the leaning tower of Pisa and the balanced egg of Columbus ; upon the tricks of jugglers , the vibrations of the pendulum , and , indeed , upon all matters that could be made to elucidate the art of balancing . Jolm Snell , the jolly young waterman who crossed the Thames on a rope at the Hampton regatta , goes through some of Blondin's performances on a piece of the same rope which the great master of the balance-pole uses , The rope is stretched across the theatre at a safe height from the floor , and John Snell actually traversed it with the Polytechnic page on his back . Among the models is a

Public Amusements.

tombola as large as life , which elicted roars of laughter by its insane gyrations . The most noticeable of the pictures which are thrown on the disc by means ofthe lime-light , were some beautiful photographs of antique sculpture , and full-length portraits of Blondin and Leotard . The lecture will be repeated every morning and evening , aud will doubtless have a long run .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COUET . —Her Majesty , the Prince Consort , the Prince of AVales , and other members of the Royal Family , still remain at Balmoral , w-here a Privy Council will shortly be held , when Parliament will be " further prorogued . " The prorogation proclaimed at the close of the late session extends to the 22 nd inst . —i—The G-azetfe announces that Lord Clarendon will represent Her Majesty at the approaching coronation of the King of Prussia .

GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The weekly ancl quarterly returns of the health of tbe metropolis have just been published . During the week the rate of mortality has been on the increase , and is now fully up to the ten years' average . In . the City it lias been rather above the mean rate . There is a considerable increase in the number of deaths in the quarter , as compared with the summer

quarter of last year , which the Registrar General attributes to the higher temperature of the present season . As a proof of the extraordinary state of the present season we may point to the fact , recorded in the report that a girl died of sunstroke on Sunday week The Court of Aldermen has accepted the decision of the Livery , and Mr . Cubitt was , on Tuesday , re-elected Lord Mayor of

London . Sir Hem-y Muggerridge expressed ( by letter ) a hope that next year he would be supported iu his claims to the civic chair . One of our floating batteries—the Meteor —has been ordered to be broken up . Her frame , it is stated , has been , fovmd so defective , t \\ at tiie cost of iepa . iii . ng her would greatly exceed any value she could represent when complete .

The Great Fastern arrived at Milton From Q . ueenstown on Sunday . Even in her damaged state , she attained an average of 101-knots an hour with her screw , ancl she is also reported to have

steered " extremely well . " The Galway Company continue to consider the restoration of the subsidy a certainty . It was stated at a meeting of the shareholders , held on Tuesday , that contracts have been entered into for two new ships , and that the directors anticipate the assistance of gentlemen of " great influence aud high financial standing " AA e regret to have to announce the death of the Earl of Eglington . This popular and accomplished

nobleman was in the prime of life , having just completed his forty-ninth year . Early in life , ancl , indeed , to the close of his career , he was one of the most enthusiastic patrons of field sports in this country , ancl it is impossible to think of him . apart from the magnificent pageant known as the Ellington Tournament . He was twice Lord Lieutenant of Ireland under Lord Derby , ancl nowhere will the

announcement of his premature death excite deeper emotion than in the sister kingdom . He is succeeded in his titles and estates by his eldest son , Lord Montgomerie . Au agitation is now making iu some of the AA est-end parishes to have a thoroughfare open at all times of the clay and night across Hyde Park . At present , after a certain hour in the evening , the park is closed , ancl persons wishing

to go from one side to the other must make the circuit of the park , some mile and a half round . There are inconveniences in the way , but these are not insuperable . The precedent of making a thorougfare through St . James' Park is in its favour , as not the slightest complaint has been heard since that concession to the public convenience was made . A similar inconvenience exists in the pleasant

little oasis facetiously called Kennington Park . The strike iu the building trade still continues ; both parties refuse to give way . The workmen are encouraged in their resistance by the fact that the attempt of the masters in Liverpool to enforce the hour system