The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

The Alhambra Theatre was totally destroyed by fire early on Thursday morning last . The performance of the " Merry W ; tr , " had concluded shortly after 11 o'clock , and the different assistants had left the house , as they imagined , in a state of security . It is believed the fire first broke out in the large saloon at the back of the second circle , and by the time it was discovered had obtained a firm hold of the nremises . The catastrophe will be a cause

of great loss to all those of the profession who were engaged for the Christmas piece , which was to have been mounted on a very big scale , and , at least , 300 persons will unfortunately be thrown out of employment at the very worst season of the year . The theatre now destroyed was opened in 1 S 52 for lectures and musical performances , under the name of the Panopticon . The speculation did not succeed , and in 1 S 5 S it was opened for concerts and horsemanship , and re-christened the Alhambra .

" The Silver King-, " by Messrs . Jones and Herman , just produce-d at the Princess ' s , is a step in the right direction after some of the recent melodramas we have had , which are little else than grand spectacular displays , and , from the impossibilities they contain , almostverge on the borders of burlesque . The authors de-serve congratulation upon the style in which they have executed their task . It may emphatically be termed an excellent

drama . From the rise of the curtain to its fall , the " Silver King , " throughout its five acts , holds the audience firmly . There is little risk in predicting a prosperous career for this piece . Wilfred Denver is a scapegrace , of good birth and kindly disposition . He has married a woman of whom Geoffrey Ware was a former lover . He loses heavily at betting " . This drives him to drink and makes his wife and children beggars . While mad with drink he is assailed by his

rival , Geoffrey IFfl ) v , whoinsultshimbypayingaddressesto his wife . It is only by the interference of the bystanders that he does not harm Ware ; but he follows him to his house in Hatton Garden , revolver in hand , with the intention of taking his life . Ware has just gone out , and a gang of burglars have taken possession of his room for the purpose of cutting a hole through the wall into thc adjoining premises , a diamond merchant ' s , to effect a great haui .

The head of this gang , Capt . Skinner , alias the "Spider . " The latter arranges with Ware's clerk , that when his master is out , they shall come up and do their work . Whilst the job is being done a knock is heard , and Denver makes his appearance . No sooner is he insiele than the "Spider" springs on to him and puts chloroform to his nose . They lay him down , knowing well he will not interfere with them now . But Ware himself comes up the stairs ,

being home sooner than expected . A struggle ensues . Skinner takes Denver ' s revolver and shoots Ware dead . The ruffians make their escape . Denver when he comes to from his stupor gropes about the room trying to recall his memony . He stumbles against the dead body of Ware , and is seized by the hideous conviction that he has been the murderer of the man he hates , and intended to kill . The acting of Mr . Wilson Barrett , as

Denver , never showed to better advantage than here . It is thrilling without making one ' s blood run cold . He gets home and tells his wife . She cannot believe it . She advises him to flee , and with the assistance of the old family servant ' s clothes , he leaves his home in a disguise . He escapes into the country . The train by which he leaves London is endeavoured to be caught by the detectives , who having heard ot the murder , trace the culprit to the

railway station . They arrive too late for the train , and teiegraph to Rugby , its first stopping place , a description of the man they want to arrest . But an accident occurs to the train , which is burned by petroleum . Denver , before the accident , however , leaped from the train , and escaped with a sprained ankle . All trace of him is lost by the ignition of the train , and burning of several passengers . He goes to a village inn , and hears the clerk reading out

the account of the tragedy in the morning paper from London . Denver asks to be shown into a room , and orders something to eat , but he cannot take food . He requests that he may see the evening paper on its arrival . When the paper is brought to him , he reads of the burning of the train , amongst whose passengers are a murderer . Now that justice is supposed to have been avenged , Denver feels a weight of his mind . He is free , and

forthwith swears to lead a new life , and give up drink and all other bad habits . He goes abroad , and in the silver mines of America accumulates a large fortune , and returns in time to find his wife about to be turned from her house into the streets . Without making himself known to his wife , Denver gives , through old Jaikes ( the servant , who in the meantime has devoted himself and his means to his mistress ) , the money for the rent . Denver

chats with his own half-starved child , and learnsfrom her that her father is dead and her mother is in want . Almost heart-broken at learning this , and he so wealthy , he does not yet reveal himself . He has sent remittances regularly from America , but they have not reached his wife . By means of a suppositious uncle , Jaikes tells Nellie Denver that he has a large fortune , and all is hers ; he buys back the estasteand makes her again mistress . Suspicions are

, aroused , and Nellie believes her husbanel lives , and it is he who is doing all this . In the meanwhile , Denver ^ by a clever piece of strategy , disguises himself as an idoit , and obtains work of Caombc , the marine store dealer , to be about the place . In his shed the " Spider " and his acceimplices meet to arrange and share the proceeds of burglaries . There is a quarrel , and one of the party threatens he will let out about the Hatton Garden mystery , and expose the

real murderer . Denver is now made happy . He himself has for long been assured he did not do the deed . We think in this act an alteration might well be made . It is unnatural that four men should let this one escape from a room , of which the door is locked . Denver is represented in the fourth scene of

the fourth act as making himself known to them in his true character , after he has found out that the "Spider" is the murderer , and with little show of resistance these four ruffians permit his escape . Denver is now free to make himself known to his wife and children , and a pretty sosne is the meeting , with old Jaikes wringing his hands with delight . So beautifully acted is the " Silver

The Theatres.

King " that nowhere does it become tedious . Mr . Wilson Barrett , as Denver , shows to greater advantage than in any of the previous dramas . 'The contrast between Denver of the first two acts anel Denver of the last acts is marvellous . Miss Eastlake , of course , is what she always is , and makes much of her points . Mr . Willard , the villain Skinner , is received with mingled cheers and hisses . Mr . George

Barret , as old Jaikes , plays a part agreeable to all , and by his well-meant " lies " brings many tears of joy into the eyes of his audience . Mr . Clifford Cooper , the marinestore dealer , Mr . Coote , the embezzling clerk , Miss Dora Vivian , Mr . Speakman , and little Miss Clitherow all play their respective parts in a natural way , and deserve great praise . We must sav a worel about the scenerv . Messrs .

Beverley , Stafford Hall , Walter Hann , and Bruce Smith have painted ihe scenes in harmony with the excellence of the drama . " Nellie Denver ' s Home in Winter" and " The Grange , Gardenhurst " specially should be mentioned . The shifting of the scenes is wonderful ; by the dropping of the curtain for a second or two the stage continually undergoes a transformation . Every one should see " The Silver King . "

"Jane Eyre , " by Bro . James Willing , jun ., has taken the place of "For Ever" at the Surrey Theatre , with a good cast , including Miss Lizzie Claremont , Miss Raynor , and Mr . Cruikshank . The pantomime , " Puss in Boots , " will be given on the 23 rd inst ., written by George Cont | uest and H . Spry . There is no doubt those living on the Surrey side of the water have a treat in store for them . The management is sparing no expense in producing this entertainment .

Music

MUSIC

| j , II I ^ fc ^ = ^ II . JI .. III —" More than once lately Mr . Givyllym Crowe has included in his programme at the Promenade Concerts at Covent Garden works by English composers . The experiment has proved satisfactory , and on Wednesday Mr . Walter Macfarren ' s " Pastoral" overture , conducteil by the author himself , " the Graceful Dance" from Mr . Arthur Sullivan ' s incidental music to "Henry VIII , " as well as his " Willow Song , " were given in a manner which

the audience appreciated . The other selections included Mr . Ealin Faning ' soverture , " The Holiday , " Mr . Cowen ' s , " The Language of Flowers , which he himself conducted , a song by Moir entitled " Best of all , " an orchestral selection from "Pinafore , " Mr . Cowen ' s march , "Maid of Orleans , " an arrangement of Balfc's airs and of old English melodies by Bro . F . Godfrey , Sic . The vocalists were Madame Isabel Fassett and Mr . Redfern Hollins . # « *

The programme of the second Ballad Concert at St . James ' s Hall , on Wednesday week , was exceptionally interesting , among the principal features being three new songs : " For Pity ' s Sake , " by Stephen Adams , which was se > sweetly sung by Miss Mary Davies that she had to repeat the last verse ; "Courage , dear Heart , " by Frederick , a very beautiful song , exquisitely rendered by Mr . Edward Lloyd ; and Molioy's " Kismet , " by Bro .

Santley , the last two verses having to he repeated . Bro . Maybrick also delighted the audience with the musical tale "The little Hero , " and on being encored , gave "True Blue . " Madame Antoinette Sterling sang " The Three Ravens" splendidly , and Miss Santley and Madame Norman-Neruda severally did their parts of the programme well , and greatly enhanced thereby the value of the entertainment . #

: * * The programme of last Saturday ' s Popular Concert included several works of known classical excellence , and great accordingly was the satisfaction experienced by the audience . The selection included Schubert's string quintet in C , Beethoven ' s " Waldstein" sonata , and Mozart ' s pianoforte trio in E , each of which has its

strong array of admirers , and drew accordingly . Madame Norman-Neruda and Messrs . Ries , Straus , Pezze , and Piatti were the executants in the quintet , and Miss Dora Schumacher , Madame Neruda , and Signor Piatti in the trio . Miss de Fonblanque was the vocalist of the evening , and did her part with taste and refinement , as she invariably docs .

* * * The appearance for the first time this season of Herr J oachim was alone sufficient to ensure an overflowing audience on Monday evening , when , it is needless to say , the talented violinist met with a most enthusiastic reception . Beethoven ' s quartet in C , and Bach ' s concerto in A served to show the artiste ' s powers had lost none of

their force and expression , the performance of the latter being so successful that the concluding allegro had to be repeated . Mendelssohn's ottet and his Scherzo a Capricio in F sharp minor , for pianoforte alone , completed the programme , Miss Schirmacher achieving a genuine success in the second of the two . Miss Carlotta Elliott , the vocalist , greatly pleased the audience by the rendering of the songs she selected .

* * * To day ( Saturday ) Gounod's " Redemption " will be repeated at the Royal Albert Hall , and on Saturday next , at St . James ' s Hall , there will be a performance of the " Messiah " given , under the auspices of Mr . Cusins . 1 . 1 * * A meeting of the guarantors for the next Leeds Musical Festival was held in the Town Hall , Leeds , on

Tuesday afternoon , under thc presidency of Major Woodhouse . The Secretary read the report of the Provincial Committee , from which it appeared that three new works had been secured , namely , " King David , " an oratorio by Professor Macfarrcn ; " Sardanapalus , " a secular cantata , by Mr . Frederic Clay ; and the " Ninety-Seventh Psalm , " bv Mr . Joseph Barnby . Signor Verdi , Herr Joachim Raff ,

and Herr Niels Gadi had also been communicated with in view to the production of some new work of theirs ; but Signor Verdi and Herr Gadi had written to express their regret , the one that he had almost given up writing , and that he could not undertake to write anything within a given time , and the other that his engagements precluded him from attempting anything . Herr Raff had died in the interim . The report was adopted , and fifty gentlemen were

elected on the Committee . The guarantee fund has already reached the sum of £ 17 , 000 . # * # The programme at St . James ' s Hail this ( Saturday ) afternoon at the customary " Pop" will include Mozart's quartet in C major , Beethoven ' s quartet in G major , and his sonata in A flat , for pianoforte alone , with

adagio ( bpohr ) and caprice ( Paganini ) , for violin , with pianoforte accompaniment . Herr Joachim ( violin ) , Miss Schirmacher ( pianoforte ) , and Mr . Abercrombio ( vocalist ) will take part in it . On Monday , Mozart ' s quartet in G major , Schubert ' s pianoforte trio in B flat , Tartini ' s "De Triiiodel Diavolo , " for violin , and Chopin ' s impromptu in F sharp minor for pianoforte , will constitute the programme . Pianist , Madame Haas ; vocalist , Bro . Santley .

Science And Art.

SCIENCE AND ART .

I he annual meeting of the Royal Society took place at Burlington House on Thursday week . Mr . Spottiswoode , the President , occupied the chair , and delivered his inaugural address . The medals were afterwards distributee ! as follows : The Copley medal to Professor Cayley , of Cambridge , for his numerous researches in pure mathematics ; the Rumford medal , awarded bienniall )' ,

value £ 60 , with thc balance in money ( about £ So ) , to Captain Abney , R . E ., for his photographic researches , & c ; a Royal medal , value fifty guineas , to Professor Flower , LL . D ., of the College of Surgeons , for his valuable contributions to the morphology and classification of the mammalia and to anthropology ; a Royal medal , value fifty guineas , to Lord Rayleigh , for his papers on

mathematical and experimental physics ; and the Davy medal , value thirty guineas ( in duplicate ) , to D . Mendelcjeff and Lothar Meyer , for their discovery of the periodic relations of the atomic weights . The following were electee ! ofiicers for the ensuing year , namely : W . Spottiswoodc ,, President ; John Evans , Treasurer ; George G . Stokes and Professor Michael Foster , Secretaries ; and A . VV . Williamson , Foreign Secretary , Si ., 81 c .

At the banquet given last week at the Continental Hotel , Paris , by the Central Association of Decorative Art , M . Carmuschi , who is of Italian origin , but a naturalised Frenchman , announced his intention of bequeathing thc whole of Ifis magnificent collection of Chinese and Japanese bronzes and his fine house in the Avenue Velasejuez , to thc city of Paris . His collection was exhibited in the Palais de 1 'Industrie , in 1874 . #

* * On Saturday last the exhibition at the Technical School , Bradford , which was opened in June last by the Prince and Princess of Wales , was brought to a close . Over 300 , 000 persons have visited it , the receipts being £ 16 , 000 and the net profits £ 9000 .

It has been decided by the Pavilion Committee of the Brighton Town Council to light the ground floor of the Royal Pavilion with electricity , the cost ,, including the working expenses of thc first year , to be £ 3000 . * # « Professor Challis . Plumian Professor of

Astronomy and experimental philosophy at Cambridge University , died on Sunday last , after a long illness , at the advanced age of seventy-eight . 'The late Professor graduated from Trinity College in 1 S 25 as Senior Wrangler and first Smith ' s Prizeman . In 1 S 36 he was appointed to the Plumian Professorship of Astronomy in succession to Sir George Airey , late Astronomer-Reiyal .

Further experiments were made on Monday at Aberdeen , with a view to testing the effect of oil pumped on the waters in stormy weather , the result being , that after the pumps had been at work for some twenty minutes ,

the waves became far less violent and the entrance to the harbour was considered safe . Capt . Brice , one of the inspectors of the Board of Trade , was present and watched the proceedings . Since the experiments were first begun , alterations have been made in the pipes , and these have added greatly to the efficiency of the system .

* * » The annual soiree and distribution of prizes in connection with the Working Men's Club and Union Institute , took place at Exeter Hall , Strand , on Monday evening . In the unavoidable absence of Bro . Sir Thomas Brassey , K . C . B ., M . P ., the Rev . Thornhill Webber presided , and Mrs . Sands distributed the prizes .

On 1 uesday a deputation of representatives from the corporations of many towns in the United Kingdom waited upon the Right Hon . Joseph Chamberlain , M . P ., President of the Board of Trade , in connection with electric lighting , and to explain that the corporations , though in many cases owners of gas works , were not blind to the

benefits of the proposed new system of lighting , but at the same time they did not wish to have companies compuisorily within the boroughs . Mr . Chamberlain , after remarking among other things that there was no possibility of a monopoly under the act , promised to give the subject his further consideration .

The Marquis of Ripon , Viceroy of India and High Steward of Hull , has declared his intention of subscribing £ 250 towards promoting the establishment of a free library in that port . On the evening of Thursday next , the 14 th

inst ., Dr . C . VV . Siemens , F . R . S ., will distribute the prizes and certificates gained by the successful candidates at the different Metropolitan centres at the recent Technological Examination , and by the students of the City and Guilds of London Technical Art School . The meeting will be held in Goldsmith's Hall , Foster-lane , E . C .

Mr . Mundella , M . P ., has announced that during the sessidn of 1 SS 3 he will do his utmost to pass a measure through Parliament which will make" better provision for intermediate educatidtvih Wales .