At the PRINCESS's, "Tom Tucker, the Fine Lady of Banbury Cross, and that Old Woman who lived in a Shoe," join forces, and take our children's hearts by a storming party of fancies and sallies.

THE STRAND, the haunt of grown-up laughter-loving folk, is peopled with the characters of classical extravaganza in Mr. Byron's " Orpheus and Eurydice."

Mr. Byron, travelling west from the STRAND to the ADELPHI, furnishes there "The Lady Belle-Belle; or Fortunio and his Seven Magic Men," a pretty drama taken from the fairy tales of the Countess D'Anois; then moving to the St. James's, he "Reviews the Year 1863," and finds plenty of scope to hit with his wit what he calls the sensation season, which has abounded in ghosts and books with secrets which the London world read through to find out.

At ASTLEY'S, "Friar Bacon, Grim John of Gaunt, and Robin Goodfellow," is such a pantomime, with its procession of Chaucer's Canterbury pilgrims on horseback, as all the world should like to see.

"Old King Cole," at the SURREY; "The Phantom Night Dancers" at the VICTORIA; and "The Prince of the Peaceful Islands," at SADLERS WELLS, delight their respective neighbourhoods, and possess beauties of fancy which only the material resources of the present day could successfully exhibit.

Current History of Literary and
Scientific Events.

DECEMBER 1ST.-TUESDAY.

The Library Shakespeare.-Messrs. Routledge & Co. having published a valuable edition of Shakespeare some five or six years ago, edited, and containing notes by Mr. Staunton, are now preparing a new edition of the same work, re-arranged in a different size, and under the above title. Mr. Staunton has acrimoniously challenged the publishers' right to do this, but having read the explanations on either side we "find for the defendants," who seem to have behaved liberally to their former editor.

Institution for Civil Engineers.-The interest of this meeting was in a paper "On Pumping Engines in Cornwall."

St. David's Cathedral is to be restored at the cost of £30,000. The present generation is paying for the neglect of the last; whilst it owes to earlier generations the splendid edifices it now appreciates by restoration.

Photographic Society.-Besides a series of landscape mountain scenery, Mr. Spiller, of the War Department, exhibited numerous instances of the application of photography in recording gunnery and other facts. These specimens were considered of high value. The full discussion of the circumstances connected with the supposed photographs discovered as having been produced at the close of the last century, was deferred to January. Anthropological Society.-"The Negro's Place in Nature" formed the subject of the evening's discussion.

DECEMBER 2D.-WEDNESDAY.

Geological Society.—Papers read on certain deposits in Belgium, Northern Germany, and South of England; "On the Liassic Strata of the neighbourhood of Belfast;" and some notes of high interest "On the Devonian rocks of the Bosphorus." Emendation.-A writer to the Athenæum suggests that Shakespeare wrote Heronshaw (Hernsewe in the old spelling), when he said he knew a hawk from a Hernsewe. The ordinary acceptation of a carpenter's tool Handsaw for a bird shows how far sticklers for text will go.

Society of Arts."On the application of Magnetic Electricity to Lighthouse Purposes," a paper by Mr. F. H. Holmes, was the subject of the evening.

DECEMBER 3D.-THURSDAY.

Society of Antiquaries.-Half a dozen papers divided the interest of the evening. Photography being well used in illustrating the carvings in the keep of Guildford Castle.

Indian Sculpture.-Models of temples, animals, etc., in white marble, have just arrived in this country for Her Majesty. They are expected to be exhibited at South Kensington.

DECEMBER 4TH.-FRIDAY.

Archæological Institute.-A meeting of great interest, made up chiefly of the corre spondence concerning the Bartlow Hills in Essex, through which a proposed railway cuts, and by illustrations and discussion of the rock symbols on the Cheviot Hills, near Edinburgh, in Yorkshire and the Orkneys, the meaning of which is not settled.

Wedgwood Institute. The prize for a design for the façade of this ornamental building has been adjudged to Messrs. Edgar and Kipling. Second, third, and fourth prizes were awarded to designs exhibiting much taste and creditable artistic power.

DECEMBER 5TH.-SATURDAY.

Royal Academy Studentships.-The winners of these are not bound to travel as formerly, but are allowed to stay at home and study, helped by the academy money grant.

DECEMBER 6TH.-SUNDAY.

DECEMBER 7TH.-MONDAY.

Shakespeare and Herne's Oak are to be associated together yet in another way. Her Majesty has commissioned Mr. Perry, a talented wood carver, to execute a bust of "Sweet Will" out of the grand old relic which the winds lately brought down. Entomological Society.-Professor Westwood exhibited the entomological journal of the late John Curtis, and made some remarks of the best mode of keeping such records. Captain Cox sent for exhibition an important series of photographs of insects. General Hearsey showed a collection of magnificent Indian lepidoptera; and several other matters rendered the meeting an interesting one.

DECEMBER 8TH.-TUESDAY.

Zoological Society.-"On the extinction of the Mole and Weasel (in Ireland," "On Porpoises out of water," and "Descriptions of several New Shells," were amongst the papers read this evening.

Our National Portrait Gallery increases apace. There have been lately added King Henry VIII. when young; Catherine of Arragon, a bust-picture and authentic likeness which does not well agree with our conceptions of the personal appearance of the outraged Queen, about whom, by the bye, highly interesting records are revealed in the Duke of Manchester's forthcoming "Court and Society;" Sir Nicholas Bacon, father of Lord Bacon, dated 1579; O'Keefe, the dramatist author of "Wild Oats," etc. The additions will, it is clear, lend new interest to a collection which is becoming English history on canvas. The likeness of Lord John Hervey, Keeper of the Privy Seal to George II., has been presented by his descendant, the Marquis of Bristol.

DECEMBER 9TH.-WEDNESDAY.

British Archæological Association.-Two lives of King Henry V., from the British Museum and Lambeth Library, read by Mr. Bannister. Several antiquities exhibited and accounts concerning them given.

London in the days of Shakespeare.-All illustrations of this time are very acceptable. Mr. Collier has just reprinted "Look on Me, London," a tract by Richard Johnson, author of the "Seven Champions of Christendom."

66

The National Gallery is now enriched by "La Trinita," of Persellino, and “The Agony in the Garden," attributed to Giacopo Bellini; The Holy Family," by Lanini; "The portrait of Marco Barbarigo," by Vander Meire; and Memling's picture of the "Virgin and Child." These come from the Davenport-Bromley collection.

DECEMBER 10TH.-THURSDAY.

Society of Antiquaries.-"On early Egyptian Literature of a Biographical and Legendary character." The Papyri containing the subject of this paper had been deciphered by Mr. C. W. Goodwin in London, and by Mr. Chabas at Châlons, independently of each other; and as testimony of the scholarship of both gentlemen, the result is the same.

:

The Westminster Play given in the College Dormitory. Upwards of 2000 years has elapsed since the Adelphi of Terence was first acted it now affords our Latin youth a model for exhibiting their proficiency.

DECEMBER 11TH.-FRIDAY.

OBITUARY.-The death has just occurred of Dr. Strang, L. L.D., of Glasgow, author of "Glasgow and its Clubs." The esteem of Dr. Strang's fellow-citizens lately took the form of one of the most valuable testimonials ever given to a literary man.

Harding will be long reHe is well represented in

J. D. Harding has died in his 65th year. As a teacher of drawing
and eminent water-colour painter, Mr.
membered by his numerous pupils.
libraries and drawing-rooms by his illustrations and landscape
sketches.

DECEMBER 12TH.-SATURDAY.

French Coal Mines.-Two valuable fields have been recently found, one near Brest, the other in the Ardennes. They are estimated to be of large extent. Military Savings Banks.-Upwards of £300,000 are intrusted to these by our soldiers.

DECEMBER 13TH.-SUNDAY.

OBITUARY.-Frederick Hebbel, the German poet, and author of "Nibelungen," etc., died this day at Vienna, in his 50th year.

Mr. J. H. Green died, in his 72d year. In medical and scientific circles the late Fellow of the Royal Society, and President of the General Council of Medical Education, was held in great esteem.

DECEMBER 14TH.-MONDAY.

The Royal Society.-Messrs. Maull and Polyblank have issued a carte de visite album of many of the Fellows of this eminent Society. The collection will be highly esteemed.

Geographical Society.- -" A Journey from Nazareth to Borrah of Moab," and "Notes

on the Island of Formosa," were the two papers read.

The Pyramid of Praise, raised by Caius Cestius over his noble wife, has been lately restored by the Pontifical Government.

Where does India-rubber come from?-In Peru alone, 25,000 natives are occupied in obtaining this useful gum.

Institute of British Architects.-Mr. Tite, M.P., read a paper "On the recent Improvements in Paris, and their cost."

DECEMBER 15TH.-TUESDAY.

The oldest Inhabitant of the World.-In the Jurassic Limestone of the South of France, at Brimiquel, human remains have been found. Cut-flints, arrows, etc., were discovered with them. The Academy of Sciences has appointed a commission of inquiry, and we shall be certain to hear a good deal more of this fresh piece

of evidence.

Social Science seems well understood in Prussia. During 1863 about 1000 associations on the co-operative principle have been established to help the workingclasses.

Institution of Civil Engineers.-Annual Meeting. Mr. J. R. M'Cleson elected President.

Scandalous Art-Gossip.-Rumours, in a well-known periodical, having inferred Miss Hosmer's Zenobia at the International Exhibition, was not the work of her own hands, Mr. W. W. Story writes from Rome to support with his high testimony the undoubted claims of the lady-sculptor to her beautiful Queen of Palmyra. Mulready. -The Committee appointed for raising a memorial to this eminent and well-loved artist met, and recommend subscribers to erect a monument at Kensal Green, present a bust to the National Portrait Gallery, or the National Gallery, and to establish a Mulready Prize to students. OBITUARY.-Joseph Lunn has died at Brighton. He was a successful dramatic author, and wrote "Family Jars," and the "Fish Out of Water," as well as several other pieces which were popular when brought out. The two named above are stock pieces, and deservedly keep their place on the acting stage.

DECEMBER 16TH.-WEDNESDAY.

Niagara Surpassed.-Military reports state that at a point of the Snake River the stream falls over a sheer precipice 198 feet high-38 feet higher than Niagarawhilst the volume of water is equally large as the world-famous falls.

The Literary Fund has helped 54 authors and their widows during 1863, bestowing £1500 upon their necessities. The annual income is about £1100, and nearly as much more is obtained at the annual dinner.

Geological Society. The paper of the greatest general interest read was "On the recent Earthquake at Manilla," by J. W. Farren, Esq.

Society of Arts.-Paper read "On the Economic Value of the different sorts of Food." The question was well discussed, one leading speaker maintaining a man's instinct was better than chemical reasoning.

Rare Students. MR. FRANK WALTON has this year won the Turner Gold Medal for Landscape. For six years the medal has been withheld for lack of desert. Mr. Spiers obtained the academy's gold medal for a design for a palace, and beside a silver medal, a studentship of £25 for two years. Mr. Frank Holl's historical painting, "Abraham preparing the Sacrifice," carried off another gold medal, with a silver medal and two other prizes for other works. For a group

of sculpture Mr. Bursill got a gold medal, a studentship, and books. Mr. T. H. Watson, for an architectural drawing, received a £100 one-year studentship. So there are young hands ready to immortalize noble deeds. Will the noble deeds be done to give employment to our coming artists, or, as Mr. Ruskin infers, have Englishmen left off doing heroic achievements?

DECEMBER 17TH.-THURSDAY.

The Adelphi of Terence.-The concluding night of the "Westminster Play" proved a success to two of the scholars, Mr. Lane as Demea, and Mr. Shapter as Sostrata, performing their parts with triumphant skill. The prologue and epilogue cleverly remembered the events of the past year, whilst a select and crowded audience applauded the classic performance and wit of those who in the future we may expect to become foremost as public men. on a wider stage than the College Dormitory.

Royal Society." Analysis of 177 magnetic storms made by the Astronomer Royal," followed by a paper on the late gales of the 30th October and 21st November, by Mr. Balfour Stewart.