something wrong, and your lordship lost. Well! pull the nag's head round, or up, if the dull beast has commenced grazing, which I warrant him to do before Aurora, as the poets sing, (you wish all singing at Old Nick) "strews roses on the opening portals of the morn;" and take another round to discover the road home, if possible. Some distant clock strikes two, and now and then an owl flaps by or screeches from the distant woods. You ride on; it is a gravel pit this time, or a pond or brook, but the odds are it is the wall; for, unconscious and bewildered, you have unknowingly pulled your horse's head out of, and then into, the same track; until, tired out, vexed and cold, you give him his head, and trust to the instinct of the brute to discover that which the proud intellect of his master is utterly at a loss to find-the way home. Ah! now's the time-he snuffs up the wind-pricks his ears-mends his pace-would break into a gallop if you allowed it-and, by-and-bye, after a circuit of some miles and another hour, you find yourself, or rather make the discovery, that you are once more on the right road for home at last; and that the old pony knows the way to the stable, although the master was unable to find that which led to his own door. I'll bet you a pony you never forgot such an adventure if it once befall youthat you never lose the feeling of the first knowledge that you are really lost, nor the thrill of satisfaction when assured that you are found again! How true are all old saws and sayings! and none more so than those belonging to the pony. "A pony will beat your big horse," is a truth which thousands can vouch for; and "a real good pony is worth anything," another. Some men are famed for good ponies, and the work they will do in such hands is truly astonishing. "The doctor's old pony" was as well known at our house, when I was a boy, as any one of the family; and how old he was, and what became of him at last, nobody seemed to know. I knew him for more than twenty years, and I suppose he was something like the ass-always old, never older, and never seen dead. The old pony is the best and worst of the whole lot: the best, when he has pushed the coach into a gallop, or brought his lord and master safe home, while he reeled in the saddle like one of those balanced Turks in the toy-shops, which always about to fall, yet always comes back to an equilibrium; the worst, when he has opened every gate on the farm, and let all the horses and cows into the standing grass or growing corn, which he had not before-hand lured into the seeds or the garden. The pride of the mistress's heart, when he brings her pet, "Master Harry," home from school; and the most vicious, worthless brute when said Harry having tumbled at a leap, his nag finds the way home alone. The very devil to catch when he has a mind for a frolic in the homestead, and no more to be lured with corn in a And then sieve than any old birds are to be caught with chaff. again," the little beauty," that eats bread from the hand, puts his nose into your pocket for an apple, and follows you round the homeclose like a dog. Ah! such he is, has been, and will be-an out-andouter, and not to be beaten every day-that old pony. August 22nd, 1845. PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS. "Hard is his fate, that, here by fortune placed, JOHNSON. At length the opera season has drawn to a close, and London is again left without that musical nucleus whence diverged the brightest rays of talent and genius of the most delightful arts in the world. The curtain dropped on the 21st instant on the last representation of this year, and thus terminated a succession of nights more remarkable for sustained brilliancy and success than any the previous annals of the opera can boast. One advantage over all other seasons has especially distinguished that of forty-five, an advantage, too, that marks out the tactics of Mr. Lumley, in the management of the ITALIAN THEATRE, as eminently calculated to win the suffrages of the musical public. A bold innovation upon a tiresome custom is usually successful. Napoleon brought the whole strength of his army to bear upon the chief point of that of his antagonist; that gained, the very enthusiasm of victory worked miracles during the remainder of the engagement. Our lessee, despising, much in the same manner, all minor considerations, brought the whole force and talent of his company on the stage at once, and has thus insured himself a much more brilliant harvest than would have been the case, had his speculation been less bold or more mercenary. It is no easy matter to hit the fastidious tastes of the day, or to satisfy the caprices of luxury and fashion in their constant mutations; yet to this arduous task must every manager of the most frequented theatre in the metropolis bend himself, ere he can with certainty build upon the success due to strenuous effort. The redundant houses witnessed every night of the subscription amply proves that Mr. Lumley has known how to "chase the new-blown bubbles of the day" to the high satisfaction of his patrons. We have had at one and the same time a perfect galaxy of European musical celebrities. Persiani, Grisi, Rita Borio, Rossi Caccia, Castellan, Brambilla, Bellini, etc., etc., as lady vocalists; Mario, Moriani, Lablache, Fornasari, Corelli, etc., etc., as male singers; and as artistes of the twin-art of dance, we have rejoiced in the far-famed Taglioni, in the divine Carlotta Grisi, in the sprightly Ellsler, the arch Cerito, the classic Lucile Grahn: we have had the well-drilled army of Viennoises, and the masculine vigour of St. Leon and Perrot; and a succession of new or well-chosen operas and ballets has completely fulfilled the expectations of every opera audience. The last month was distinguished by the frequent repetition of the chefs d'oeuvres of Mozart, Rossini, Mercandante, Donizetti, etc. "Don Giovanni," performed as it has been by a company of unprecedented strength, has been the popular favourite; not even in the times of Soutag, Pasta, and Malibran, have its exquisite combinations been heard to more effect than with the Zerlina of Madame Anaide Castellan, and Grisi's Anna, and with the force of Lablache, and Fornasari, and Mario. The ballet of "Rosida" maintained its popularity to the last; as also the divertissement of the "Bal Sous Louis Quatorze," distinguished by the superb dancing of Grahn and Cerito, in the Minuet de la Cour and Gavotte. Cerito, in the pretty ballet of "Ondine," and Lucile Grahn in that of "Eoline," delighted the public by their increased talents to the last. "Alma ou la fille de feu" was also revived with applause on the night of Fornasari's benefit. The chief novelty at the HAYMARKET has been the advent of the celebrated pianiste Leopold de Meyer. His performances are entitled to high praise, although scarcely in keeping with the routine of a theatre. Piano-forte playing is almost too domestic an exhibition for any thing beyond a concert-room, although good music is good every where. Farren continues to be the great gun at this house, especially since the secession of Charles Mathews and Madame Vestris. We have before expressed our opinion of the unadviseableness of such representations as Grandfather Whitehead, even under the management of so excellent an actor as Farren. Drivelling infirmity, loss of memory and hearing, are the more disagreeable to witness, the more truly they are depictured. Pleasant hits at the follies and vices of the day, strokes of humour and satire, lively repartee, and well-turned language-all this is found far more amusing and more instructive, too, than monotonous and round-about plots and domestic villanies. It is true that a tragedy pleases; but it is that it rouses the mind's highest powers, and that it is softened and sustained by the language and imagination of genius; while these prose dramas are but newspaper affairs, addressed to the vulgarest sensations of human nature. "The Irish Attorney, or Galway Practice in 1779," is replete with fun and truth; and "Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures" still keep the initiated in a roar of laughter. We have no space to speak further of the entertainments at this wellordered house. The most taking novelty of the last month at the LYCEUM THEATRE is a little piece entitled "The Governor's Wife." It is well-constructed and full of merriment. A Surinam Governor is ambitious of an English wife. On the eve of her arrival, he determines to try her character, by making his agent, one Hickory Short, assume his dignity. The consequence is delightful, for, by a series of mistakes, one Letty Briggs, a plebeian damsel from Cow-cross, is exalted into the governor's intended bride, receives every honour intended for the latter, and is pleasingly astonished by the brilliancy of her reception. Meanwhile, the real lady succumbs easily to these mistakes, having attached herself to the lieutenant of the vessel in which she came His uncle, the captain, however, waxes exceeding wroth at these cross purposes, whence arises a very pretty quarrel. The real over. governor comes incog. to see how matters stand, and composes the dénouement by generously giving up his fiancée to her lover, and allowing Letty and Hickory to make a match of it. Not only is this piece well acted, but the serious love affair is rendered interesting by the skill of the author, and the comic one is delightfully ludicrous. The dialogue is both pert and pertinent, so that The Governor's Wife" is a real hit. The PRINCESS'S THEATRE has suffered a loss in the retirement of Miss Cushman. Although sharing the common fault of the actors of the United States by the vehemence and clamour of her declamation, she has earnestness, nature, and power, and well suited the character of the audiences before whom she performed. Mr. Wallack continues to enact the Brigand au naturel, and other heroic characters, with signal success. The ADELPHI THEATRE, under the management of Madame Celeste, has gone through its varied repertorio during the last month with every intention, expressed and understood, to be the most comical playhouse in London. Indeed, it would be truly impossible not to laugh at and with the Wright (right) side of the house. His Billy Lackaday is excellently, his Mrs. Caudle surpassingly, farcical. The SURREY THEATRE (and no wonder) has been, notwithstanding the emptiness of the metropolis, filled to overflowing by the united attractions of Charles Mathews and his wife. The influx of strangers, an event which always signalises the metropolis in the autumn of the year, and when even the shopkeepers make and take a brief holiday, is observed to accumulate over Blackfriars' Bridge between the hours of six and seven in the evening. Pleasing operas, anglicised, still, also, continue to be the staple of this crowded theatre. There is always something new at the ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Mr. Batty is an indefatigable purveyor of novelty to his patrous. Besides the new grand military spectacle of the "Conquest of Scinde," and a gorgeous spectacle it is, we have had Mr. T. Thompson's pantomimic efforts as "The Dumb Man of Manchester," the admirable French equestrianism, and a variety of other successful novelties running through the month. Mr. Batty closely treads in the steps of his celebrated predecessor, and may challenge Europe to compete with his unrivalled stud, duly considering the purposes of its training. The POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION has been lately exhibiting a curious chemical experiment that has attracted much notice, viz., the act of freezing water in a red hot crucible. Dr. Ryan's lectures on the subject, and those of Professor Backhoffner on the atmospheric railway, with a number of most interesting models and exhibitions, have rendered this institution one of the first resorts of every scientific or information-seeking stranger. We desire to see this gallery much more extensively patronised, however, than it is already, especially by the juvenile world, whose minds it must so judiciously awaken to some comprehension of the marvellous powers of nature. VAUXHALL GARDENS, as the most reasonable of autumnal entertainments in the metropolis, has been any thing but neglected by the public; indeed, were it but for the excellence of its band, it well deserved its patronage. Mr. Green's balloon ascents have, however, proved its greatest attraction, accompanied as they have been with fine pyrotechnic displays. LITERATURE. THE LONDON MEDICAL DIRECTORY FOR 1845. Churchill, Princes Street, Soho.-This is the "first appearance" of a little work which appears to us, as far as we have consulted it, to be got up with great care and attention to the "correct thing"-the very alpha and omega of a faithful guide. At one glance we gather all the particulars of each nomination; time of entry, qualification, habitation, and performances, the favourite subjects, and full titles; so that one may give a tolerably good notion of where and what's to be cured, and in many instances "what's to pay." Just at this period, when the rights and privileges of the medical profession are exciting such general attention, this Directory comes doubly acceptable; while we should say, with the editors, that it will work on into annual, which it will be the interest of the profession and the convenience of the public to support: at any rate, it deserves to be. STATE OF THE ODDS, &c. EPSOM RACES.-There are few grand sights in this country which of late years have involved both spectators and actors in more confusion, trouble, and danger than the saddling and start for the Derby. The preparations, as they were enacted in the Warren, afforded a mighty pretty scene, very prettily arranged; by many of us, indeed, perhaps considered the best, as it was decidedly the most comfortable part of the whole business. Here, as long as it lasted, was undoubtedly a fair cause for drawing the throng away from the ropes or the stands, even though they might, as they invariably did, risk their lives by attempting the Hibernian bird-piece of legerdemain, of "being in two places at once"-staying for the start, and then rushing over each other to be in time for the finish. With, however, the withdrawal of the Warren, experience has proved this wild, inconve nient, and at present altogether unparalleled system of setting-to should have ceased, as at length-better late than never-it would |