celebrated. No author seizes more rapidly the points of pertinence and pretence in the "lions" of the day or hour than Planché. Mr. Mr. J. Bland's genius for the grotesque is happily married to the powers of the author in putting it upon paper. We do not know, however, which is the more delightful in this piece, Bland or Charles Matthews; the latter as enacting an entire chorus, or the former as Eetes, King of Colchis, and Creon, King of Corinth. "The Golden Fleece" should indeed be worth its name to Mr. Webster, and shall, if desert meet with guerdon among playgoers. It is of course a burlesque on Antigone, but the simplicity of that severe action is modified by the introduction of another, namely, Medea; in fact, the two rival tragedians, Euripides and Planché, outdo each other in fun. The two extravaganzas rolled into one must be seen before their droll effect can be calculated. Miss P. Horton, as Jason, is, as usual, super-excellent: her songs are distinguished for their lucid clearness of tone and accent; she is, indeed, all intelligence. Vestris is a capital Medea; Miss Vandenhoff's Antigone is nothing to it in bewilderment and dishevelment. Mr. C. Matthews sustains the classic dignity of the chorus with the pompous effect of man decked "in a little brief authority," and playing such pranks before the "gods" as make their majesties laugh indeed, till their multiform sides ache with their efforts. And Bland, as Eetes, in a black wig, and Creon in a red one, is truly superlative in pathos and palaver. There is some degree of monotony in the imitations of the Greek stage scenery, admirably done away with at the terminations of the acts by a view of the Argo bearing away their prize, and the scene of the Chariot of Medea drawn by dragons departing from Corinth. The songs are very good. The whole thing of the first quality of M. Planché's excellent wares.

Miss Cushman still reigus empress of the PRINCESS'S THEATRE: she is a better actress of her kind than any we possess, or have possessed for a long time; and though we deem her overrated by the journalists, her sterling merits do honour to the country that gave her birth. She has been entirely successful in tragedy, melodrame, and comedy with the audiences of this small stage (replete with inconveniences to actors as it is); and for one great reason-that truthfulness and nature have voices in every heart, and that this lady's naturalness of voice and gesture, and accent, have never in our recollection been surpassed. She is now playing Rosalind-Shakspere's moralising, merry-mocking heroine-to the life. This, after her success as Mrs. Haller and Emilia, at once exemplifies her industry and her talent. Forrest, after an interval of seven years, comes back to us an accomplished tragedian. He is still too loud and emphatic for our individual taste; but he is an improving actor, and his continued study will bring to him most of the appliances of perfection. His King Lear is a most worthy, and in many points an original conception. The Easter piece is very indifferent.

As the old Romans were wont to date their periods from certain Olympian games, so a large portion of cookneys understand it as Easter because ASTLEY's spring season has commenced. This latter festival is always a most grateful one to your genuine play-going Londoner. Whatever the stage might have been in the days of Shakspere as a

mirror of nature, we presume neither prince nor plebeian holds that to be a part of its office in these days. May-fair scarcely goes to the Italian Opera to see unsophisticated nature reflected by Madame pas de Zephyr, with the lower hems of her petticoat some inches above her hips; neither does the Surrey side consider it a solecism in pyrotechnics that the "Maid of Saragossa" lets off a sixteenpound carronade, with the muzzle towards herself instead of the brutal invaders of her country! On Monday last this heroic maiden lived again behind the footlights of Westminster Bridge, by which is meant the Amphitheatre at its south-eastern extremity. Still, truth compels us to state, the incidents and the career of this heroine by no means form the cynosure of its audience. In the absence of your Centaur, the horse is the great creature of this house; it was so in the days of the immortal Ducrow, and, to preserve it from decay or decline, so it must continue. It is with much satisfaction we observe that Mr. Batty has added, to the admirable spirit with which he conducts this house, the conviction that its true interests are alone to be secured by continuing, as his predecessor did, the marked distinction between his exhibitions and those of every other metropolitan theatre. As an equestrian arena, conducted as befits the taste of our time, it cannot fail to be profitably attractive: the proprietor has placed it in that position. His stud is an admirable one; his genii of the ring such a company as ought to bring for him such golden results as did their brethren to Aladdin.

THE FINE ARTS.

THE BRITISH STUD.-No. 2. We scarcely remember a happier idea than this plan for preserving the most successful crosses which have influenced and adorned our modern Turf history, while the earnestness and ability brought to bear upon the subjects must, we are confident, make them as a series one of the highest in interest and popularity that ever did honour to the sport or credit to the arts. The name of Herring alone, as the painter, conveys an ample assurance of elegant finish and strict fidelity; and, in fact, affords nothing less than a pictorial guide for all who are inclined to believe there is something in the shape as well as in the pedigree of a high-mettled racer. Thus, for instance, from the beautiful plate now lying before us the breeder may gather amusement and instruction, by tracing out in what the celebrated Cotherstone resembles his sire, and at the same time to how great an extent he stands indebted to his Lady mother. Our racing friends will see, from this, that the second scene in the series represents an interview between Touchstone and (by something like a curious coincidence) Mr. Bowes's Emma, the very mare chosen for our first embellishment in the present number. We have already exhausted our stock of panegyric, and can consequently only say that in addition to the life-like portraits of the pair, the scenery and grouping (agreeably varied from the first of the series) alone would make a picture and a name for any man-no small recommendation to such as, perhaps with too much justice, object to the everlasting stiff "horse and jockey" style of depicting horough-bred cracks.

STATE OF THE ODDS, &c.

REVIVAL OF THE RUNNING REIN AFFAIR.-During the month, this pretty piece of business has received a refresher in both those spheres in which it some little time since achieved so unenviable a share of notoriety-the court and "the Corner." As regards the former of these scenes of action, the matter is now wholly confined to paying the piper, a running account for law expenses amounting to just sixteen hundred pounds, but touching the defrayment of which some misunderstanding has arisen among the unhappy gentlemen who stood upon the defensive. Mr. Glen, a strange man it would seem for making his bread and breaking his promise, soon after the trial, gives the victim, Mr. Wood, his bond for this sixteen hundred pounds' worth of costs paid to the plaintiff, but now refuses to act up to or acknowledge it in any way, alleging that it was obtained from him by fraud; and that Mr. Goodman Levi, if the court will only await his arrival from Boulogne, would quickly prove such to be the case. This application was termed by Mr. James, Wood's counsel, nothing but an excuse for delay; an order, however, was granted for a commission to examine Levi, on condition that the amount claimed be at once paid into court; if not, the cause to go at once for trial at the ensuing assizes. Here at present the case rests-the minor as well as the major fraud depending (at least on its commencement) in a great degree on a witness whose testimony would not be admitted by a judge and jury of pickpockets.

Cotemporary with the above, comes a little conversation concerning the innocent instrument of all the mischief-Zanoni, alias Maccabeus, alias Running Rein, whose nomination for the Chester cup will, at the proper time, says whisper, be objected to. For this race he is entered as "late Maccabeus by Gladiator, dam by Capsicum, of which it is argued there has yet been no positive identity, it only having been proved at the trial that the animal was not Running Rein; and the breeder of the Capsicum colt, moreover, declaring his belief in that animal's death. The dispute, with the way intended for working it out, is quite in conformity with Chester coop proceedings; it ought, however, to be hastened on by all who mean right, at once to an issue. For our own part we must say, we consider the pedigree to have been proved quite clear enough, and, consequently (with the horse now in different and really respectable hands), can regard the threatened objection as little better than a self-serving, shuffling quibble.

The late severe weather not only had its effect on the patrons of hunting, coursing, and steeple-chasing, but caused a slight hitch in the opening of the racing season. At Coventry, they did manage to get through the day's sport on the day appointed; but at Warwick, the jockeys very prudently declined exhibiting; and the Spring Meeting, after a doubt or two as to its coming off at all, has been finally postponed to the 7th of this month.

The Jockey Club have resolved that an additional subscription of two guineas per annum shall be paid by every one of its members,

with which a fund is to be formed for the prosecution of parties guilty of frauds in racing.

The Derby betting, if not particularly heavy, has still been, on the whole, animated and interesting, excepting, perhaps, as to Alarm, who remains just in statu quo-a more decided first favourite, or one with worse public pretensions for the place, has not appeared for some time. In the scramble for second, a new competitor has shown himself in Clear-the-way, who, after a spirited movement on the first meeting of the month, has gradually reached the Cobweb colt, Idas, and Kedger, among which four it will be observed there is scarcely a point's preference. Since Doncaster, the Irish have been very prominent in everything worth speculating on; but one swallow does not make a summer; and to stand against the terrible terrible cattle now being every hour imported, would not, we are sure, in the long_run be a bad game. Of the others in the lengthy list we give, Pam still rejoices in strong and steady support; Newsmonger ditto, on a more limited scale, and Iron-master great in hope, but with still the double allowance of suspense; Mentor, the Miss Whip colt, Old England, and Pantasa, still hold their own; while that three days' wonder, Young Eclipse, is evidently brightening up again. Of the et cætera, we can only call attention to the improvement in Fusboz and Cabin Boy (and the latter, indeed, half inclined to have a shy at the Chester cup), and to the title bestowed on the Lady Berner's colt, now written "Remorse."

There are more Richards than ever in the field for the Chester cup, but on which we can again return Semiseria as first favourite, after a long pull and a strong pull with Cataract, who has been kept going with all that wildness and energy which have latterly marked the career of his eccentric owner; still, any advantage is scarcely more than nominal; for the Era and Obscurity are, and have been all through the month, nearly on an equality with either of the Scott's nags. Which ought to be head man, would at present be a nice question; but we should, for first and second of the four, place them as they stand in the Handicap. To the Zanoni sensation we have already alluded, which will sufficiently account for the hiatus latterly parallel with his name; per contra St. Lawrence, Winesour, Trueboy, and the Irish, as a lot, are supported with a constancy and confidence that means mischief. Take either of the Patlanders, however, per se, and nothing very wonderful can be made of him a fact which makes us much doubt their "union being strength." More, if we have the will, we lack the space to give utterance to, and so leave the reader a month and a week to practise and profit himself with the facts and figures we have placed before

him.