The matrimonial misgivings touching the pre- | performed we advise to attend before a dissolusence of the unlucky baby, and the suspicions tion takes place, and Mrs. Warner (whose place of infidelity mutually entertained among the can be filled there by no actress of the present grown-up quatrain, are capitally worked out; day) has retired. It will be fatal to this--we and gravity is out of the question." had hoped-lasting victory in maintaining the cause of the National Drama. Several of the old farces have occupied the boards, and won their usual meed of "hearty applause."

As Honeybun Mr. Wright is quite at home, for when there is a jealous wife, or an incognito baby in the case, it is rarely he fails to make the most of the occasion. Mr. O. Smith, Mrs. F. Matthews, and Miss Woolgar, contribute much to the success of the piece.

Taming a Tartar-still a favourite burlesquecombined with the preceding, have drawn, during the last month, the most overflowing houses; as have the performances at

SADLER'S WELLS,

THE HUTCHINSON FAMILY.

This interesting and gifted family gave their last concert-prior to a provincial tour-on the 6th ultimo; yet, before this brief mention of them can reach the eyes of our readers, they will be returning to London, we Where an endless variety of amusements have hope, once more to delight us, and crowned been offered: to wit, The Lady of Lyons, with fresh laurels, no doubt, by their country Money, Jane Shore, Virginius, The Stranger, &c. admirers. All description of their singing is Never perhaps did a play suffer less by re-casting vain: it is so unique, that they must be heard the dramatis person than has Sir E. Bulwer to be appreciated. The exquisite blending of Lytton's play of Money, as here represented. their voices is, to our taste, one of the most deEvelyn (Mr. Phelps) was embodied to the life, as licious things in music we have ever heard, judgit was conceived in the poet's mind, and of which ing of them only as one might of the most finely Mr. Macready gave so truthful a picture. Yet attuned instruments and adapted harmony. in the performance by Mr. Phelps there was not But the sentiment with which they sing the fine the slightest approximation to an imitation of poems they have had the taste to select raises our great actor. Mrs. Warner, as Clara Douglas, them to the rank of the most intellectual artists. was-although sometimes a little out of her In our last we dwelt more fully on the delightelement in the more tender and delicate por- ful entertainments they provide, varied occations-most excellent, and the part was evidently sionally, of course; though we cannot fancy deeply studied, and the result successful in the that the "Excelsior," "The Bridge of Sighs," extreme; indeed, we look upon Mrs. Warner as or Tennyson's "May Queen," can be heard too the great support of this deservedly-flourishing often. The quartette, Get off the track," to home of the "National Drama." Mr. Marston's a negro melody, is most effective, and full of Dudley Smooth is decidedly the best of his im- meaning; and the finale, "We come from the personations we have yet witnessed. Mr. George mountains of the old Granite State," gives a Bennett as Sir Benjamin Stout, and Mr. Mellon history full of interest of this musical family. It as Graves, were characters well conceived and is a significant token of their style, that they atacted with good spirit; though the former was tract the most intellectual audience we ever saw sometimes too violent, and the latter rather over- assembled at a concert, judging from the strained his grief for "sainted Maria." Mr.lebrities" we alone were able to recognize. Scharf, as Sir Fred. Blount, claims our warmest praise, as he is an actor rising with the greatest rapidity, in what promises to be a career equalled only by that of Buckstone. On Tuesday, March 10th, Mrs. Warner took her benefit, and it was a bumper;" though we do not certainly admire the plan of admitting as many as may be crammed but cannot be accommodated; for, as in this case, it was productive of great disturbance, and twice was the curtain lowered before the play was allowed to proceed; and not even then till the money was returned at the doors to such as could not witness the performance. Is there no means of counting a house-full? It were of great advantage were some means adopted to this end at our theatres, especially on benefitnights. Money and The Stranger formed the bill of fare; and not one to be despised when it is remembered how beautiful indeed is Mrs. Warner's Mrs. Haller. We are sorry to have heard, from the best of sources, that this so long successful company is about to divide. Soon after Easter, Mrs. Warner will leave Sadler's Wells. Those who would see a good play well

66

ce

been busy of late in fitting up and turning out

DON FRANCISCO.- Dwarf-dom must have

so many remarkable specimens of minute manhood as are just now to be seen in London. Of all the Dwarfs, the Spaniard, Don Francisco, is the latest arrival; and though he is not quite so microscopic as some of his contemporary littlenesses, he is small enough to create wonder in those who love to be astonished. His performance consists of sleight-of-hand tricks, and singing (of course) in Spanish. We wish the Don a profitable career, and a pleasant return to the olive groves of Spain.

MR. LOVE, THE POLYPHONIST.-This manyvoiced gentleman has been amusing both the east and west of London, at Portman-square and Crosby-hall, by his clever performances. So much has already been said by the press generally in his favour, that it is scarcely necessary for us to add our commendation to the long list of his praises. We would, however, recommend all those of our readers who are

partial to the delineation of everyday character, and who are curious as to ventriloquial penomena, to visit Mr. Love, who certainly is the best professor of the art in these days, when wizards and necromancers seem to flourish. The variety of sounds which may be produced

by one set of vocal organs is wonderful indeed; and until we heard Mr. Love, we had no idea that such changes could be rung upon the same musical apparatus. The transformations too, of face and dress, were among the most amusing portions of the evening's entertainment.

FASHIONS FOR APRIL.

It is expected that, as Easter falls so late this year, Longchamps will resume somewhat its former brilliancy; the promenade has of late years fallen into decadence: it is true that it was continued during the three usual days, but the hired carriages and shabby equipages very far outnumbered those of an elegant description. Several attempts have been made to revive its "three glorious days," but as yet they have been unsuccessful. I think the success of the present experiment is extremely doubtful; but at all events, whether the spring fashions appear there or not, they will not be seen in public before then; though, if the weather is at all favourable, they will certainly be exhibited in the Bois de Boulogne on the Sunday after.

is a good deal of variety in the trimmings of the exteriors; some are decorated with marabouts to correspond, or else white ones shaded in the colour of the chapeau; others are trimmed with lace, and several with flowers. Never was there so great a variety of the latter; our artificial florists seem to have ransacked the globe for novelty: I may cite, among their latest creations, some wreaths and sprigs of the magnificent foliage of the tropics, with their warm and rich tints of brown and purple; those most in favour are the foliages of the bread tree, the sycamore, and the date. The chapeaux of paille à jour are expected to be this year even more fashionable than last; they are certainly of the lightest and most elegant kind that have yet appeared, Velvet chapeaux are now laid aside, but those and imitate perfectly the old-fashioned point of satin and velours épinglé still keep their lace, as also Brussels and other kinds of lace. places; a good many appeared in the course of These chapeaux are lined with coloured crape; last month, composed of an intermixture of if the trimming is composed of flowers there is velours épinglé and satin; these are, I think, at always a mixture of the colour of the lining, present the most in vogue. The new materials both in the flowers and ribbons; but it frefor chapeaux and capotes are paille de riz, quently happens that the trimming consists of a d'Italie, et de fantasie. It is yet doubtful whe-wreath of that rich foliage that I have just ther silk will be much adopted, except for capotes; crape will certainly be very predominant. All these materials may be adopted, both for half-dress and the promenade; but lace tulle and gauze will be reserved for the former only.

The shapes of chapeaux and capotes will really vary very little. The principal change for those of silk I have already announced; it consists in the brim being moderately close, and the bavolet attached to the back of the crown; thus the chapeau and capote differ but little in form, and the Pamela is completely dethroned: but this is not the case with chapeaux of crape, and straw of every kind; it is true, the brims have not the enormous width at the ears of the Pamela; they are moderately and becomingly open, and they encircle the bottom of the crown instead of the full bavolet adopted for capotes and silk chapeaux. Thus, while we disclaim the Pamela, it is certain that these shapes have a family resemblance to it. The name given to this new form is Leezinski.

Some of the most elegant capotes now prepared for the promenade are composed of crape; some are of full colours; they are rendered more dressy by ornaments of a lighter hue under the brim; others are of a new shade of green, the interior of the brim covered with bouillonnes of pale pink tulle. Several of bleu Louise crape have the interior trimmed with citron-coloured velours épinglé ribbons disposed in clusters of small coques on each side. There

spoken of, in which case the ribbon might either correspond with the foliage or the lining.

The new ribbons that have appeared are in full colours and strikingly contrasted hues; some are not, I think, in good taste, but they are expected to be fashionable: some have a ponçeau ground figured in green, black, and orange. Others are green with very narrow white stripes; a third, and they are a really pretty sort, are plaided in a variety of well contrasted hues, that harmonize perfectly with the flowers and other ornaments of the chapeaux.

I may cite, among the chapeaux and capotes that will be the earliest introduced in April, some of the latter composed of white taffeta, and decorated with a large moss rose; others, of green crape, rather a dark shade, ornamented on each side with a sprig of Persian lilac. Some others, of white crape, are trimmed with a willow plume, and the interior of the brim decorated with cherry-coloured tulle. I think that the most elegant I have yet seen, are the capotes composed of Italian taffetas glacé and tulle bouillonné; this mélange is exceedingly novel and tasteful; it will be worn in various colours, and, from its elegant simplicity, will, I have no doubt, be very generally adopted by our youthful élégantes. The most remarkable among the chapeaux are those of green Italian taffeta shot with white, and the brim ornamented with tulle biais in the interior. The garniture of the exterior is composed of a simple nœud on one side,

and a sprig of large pensées composed of peacock's feathers on the other. Several silk chapeaux are trimmed with lace; it is indeed expected to be very generally employed in every department of the toilette for which it can be used. We have lately got a lace from England, which, I see by the papers, your lovely young Queen honours by her patronage; and, as it appears that she has worn it at her Drawing-rooms, it is sure to make its way here, for we are quite as fond of your manufactures as you are of ours; and so highly is your Queen's taste admired, that the fact of her wearing it is enough to make all our merveilleuses adopt it. But in truth it richly deserves all the patronage it may meet with; for, both in texture and patterns, it fully equals Malines-or, as you call it, Mechlinlace. Yours is the royal Mechlin lace. Some of our most celebrated artistes, Mesdames-(but I forget you do not allow me to mention names) have employed it both for chapeaux, the trimming of mantelets, caps, and robes.

have a jaunty effect, and are very advantageous to the shape; but I do not like the very deep ones, especially for ladies of the "dumpy order." Flounces will retain their vogue, both in demitoilette and evening-dress. I have seen some silk robes in the former trimmed with two deep flounces, embroidered au passé in wreaths of volubiles; and others worked round the border in three rows of large leaves: there was a considerable space between each row, and a bouillon of the material of the robe traversed each space. This style of embroidery has a striking effect.

Evening-dress begins to assume a lighter appearance: brocades and damasks are laid aside; satins are still tolerated; but they are only tolerated, for robes are, for the most part, composed of taffetas; and the majority of those for balls are of tarlatane, or crape. Corsages continue to be cut as low, and the points as deep as usual; those made tight and trimmed with berthes, or falls of lace, are in a majority; but there are also a good many draped. If the dress has one skirt only, the garniture is generally flounces; they are mostly of lace. A taffeta robe that has just been made for a newlymarried Duchess is trimmed with three flounces of the royal Mechlin lace; each is headed by passementerie: the corsage-draped en cœur-has a fall of lace at the bottom of the drapery, so disposed on the shoulder as to form a mancheron.

But to return to out-door dress. Chinacrape shawls, entirely covered with embroidery, will be very fashionable. Scarfs, both of China crape and Borege, will also be in vogue; and so will mantelets of various forms. The majority of the new ones are composed of taffetas. Some emerald green, and blue of a rather deep shade-are trimmed with black lace; others-of light hues, pink, azure blue, spring green, and Coiffures are now distinguished for simple lilac shot with white-have a garniture of passe- elegance rather than splendour. Our evening menterie in both colours, or else of white lace. chapeaux are composed of white or pink tulle; The most novel form of mantelet is the demi- their lightness and transparency render them visite; the back part is rounded in the same very becoming. They are ornamented with manner as the visite, but the front is differ- flowers, to which a lace lappet is generally added; ently formed, as it opens from the throat, dis- some have it placed under the brim, in such a playing the front of the corsage. Long scarf manner that the ends form floating brides. Demiends, descending from under the opening, form turbans of tulle bouillonné with floating ends, in the mantelet; but, as there are arm-holes, the which light sprigs of flowers are intermingled, ends float loosely without resting on the arms. are also in request. A youthful and very pretty The garnitures vary a good deal; some, as I ball head-dress is composed of a row of small have already said, are trimmed with passe-puffs of tulle, either white or coloured; they enmenterie, or white lace; the most distingue of the latter are bordered with the royal Mechlin. Several are decorated with three biais placed one above another, and each edged with effile. I have seen some also trimmed on the bust with a satin revers, very broad on the bust, but forming a narrow biais all round, and edged with éffilé. I should observe that where any kind of fancy trimming is used, it always corresponds with the

colour or colours of the mantelet.

circle the knot of hair at the back of the head,
surmounting a wreath of moss-roses, or other
delicate flowers, which is placed immediately
below them. The new spring-colours are pale
pink, bleu princesse, vert saule poussière, lilac,
various light shades of yellow, lavender, green
and blue.
ADRIENNE DE M-

have seen several specimens of the royal Mechlin
Since receiving Madame De M's letter we
lace. We had previously heard much of the fine-

exquisite beauty of the patterns; it appears to us to fully merit Her Majesty's gracious patronage. We have no doubt that the royal example will be speedily followed by our nobility and gentry; and we have great pleasure in recommending, as we most conscientiously can, the adoption of it to our fair readers.

I have reason to believe that unless the weatherness and clearness of the ground, as well as the should prove excessively warm, summer-silks and mousseline-Cachemire will be the only materials employed for robes during the next few weeks. There is no doubt that muslins and organdys will afterwards be in very general request. Silks of light colours, glacé de blanc, will resume their Vogue; but not to the exclusion of plain silks, which I think will be quite as fashionable. You will see by the models I send you, that there is little change in the forms of robes. Redingotes will predominate, both in morning and half-dress. Corsages à basque-that is, with jackets of different lengths and forms-will be made both in redingotes and robes. Some of these jackets

Among the many elegant and splendid ladies dresses that appeared at Her Majesty's late Drawing Room, none were more admired than those worn by silk, lined with white satin; and pearl ornaments so the Misses Spencer; the trains were white watered arranged as not to take from the delicacy and simplicity of the effect. These dresses did much credit to the taste of the maker, Madame Ricarde.