THE EASTER SPECTACLE AT COVENT GARDEN.
FARLEY, the necromancer of Covent Garden, with the assistance of those potent spirits the GRIEVES, PUGIN, BRADWELL, &C. has conjured up a proper concatenation of impossibilities, for enliven- ing the fancies of the Easter Holyday folks ; and a most splendid spectacle it is. The story is the old one of two lovers persecuted by mortals and protected and made happy by fairies. The scene is laid on the banks of the Rhine; for the purpose of giving us two or three fine stage pictures, all but equal to STANFIELD'S, of its romantic beauties. What more fitting locality for the wonderful events brought about by The Ellin Sprite of the Grim Grey Woman, than the now ruined castles on the steep cliff's that " frown o'er the wide and winding Rhine ?" We shall not attempt to recount in their proper succession the marvels of this tale of enchantment. It would be as dull as the description of a dream compared with its vivid pictures. They must be witnessed to be believed; and indeed and popular happiness. A pretty business indeed would have the spectators rub their eyes every now and then, to be convinced been made of the Commercial Commission, had such men as the that they are awake. We will just givea sample of the ad libitum First Attache been ever joined with it! It would be pleasant way in which FARLEY triumphs over difficulties. The Baron of to see one or two of these dandy gentlemen, n their blue and Wolfenfeldt—a terrible Turk with the women—who owns a silver uniforms, in close conversation with FALCONNET, operative castle seated on a perpendicular rock, is in haste to carry off the editor of the Lyonnese Echo de la Fabrzque,—or worse, before a Lady Blanche : he brandishes a javelin, and down comes a sub- searching Committee of the House of Commons on the Silk stantial staircase with a rich ball u strade, by which he scales the sum- question! mit of the cliff with his prize, with as much ease as he would walk up Let such men as Mr. HAMILTON HAMILTON' and the Honour- stairs to bed. The lady's lover—who is of curse a little too late—is able CHARLES ASHBURNHAM, and half a dozen others unpaid and about to follow, but the steps vanish in a moment. However, the unknown, keep their places till "further orders ; " hut let them Grim Grey Woman (Mr. PAYNE) is a match for the Baron ; for not stimulate any of their set to make complaints that they are she summons her band of Elfin Sprites,—a picturesque set of not employed on a business which they would only botch. urchins with the heads of birds and beasts, of whom Miss POOLE is commander-in-chief, and little MITCHISON general. The tiny PUBLICITY OF PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. troop enter, armed with axes, saws, and hammers ; and in a THAT Members of Parliament are elected to represent the opinions twinkling a large tree is felled, and formed into a ladder leading of their constituents on important public questions, and that they to the summit of the rock. But the Baron had got the start, and have no business whatever in the House of Commons when they the lady is in his power. He woos her in vain, and at last threat- cease to do so, is a principle the truth and reasonableness of which ens violence; when lo! four fac-similes of the lady start into life! has only very lately been generally admitted. With what pretence This is a poser. The Baron is a bold man, as we have seen ; but to consistency any man who makes this admission can refuse to a woman with five separate identities is too much for him. He supply his constituents with the means of judging correctly of his retires to fetch his talismanic javelin; and returning, finds the Parliamentary conduct, is quite inconceivable. Yet an authorized four counterfeit existences vanished; but the lady is not alone, publication of the votes on divisions is strenuously opposed. That his rival having by this time gained the castle by the tree-ladder. a great majority of those who object to it have private and not To stab the intruder as he lies ostentatiously and comfortably con- very creditable motives for their opposition, it is certainly fair to cealed on a sofa, is a matter of course ; but as he turns to call the presume ; but the only avowed objection of any weight is the attention of the lady to his prompt mode of settling a point o waste of time which it would occasion. It is pretended that a great disputed possession, the sofa slides into two, and a fictitious saving of time is accomplished by the present plan of turning the Proxy, in the substance of a dummy, receives the mortal stab in dissentients out of the House like a flock of sheep. But this ex- h. is sawdust body, and bran flows instead of blood. The lover cuse will not serve. It would be easy to suggest a variety of jumps up as lively as ever; and to it they go with their toasting- methods by which all the objects of regularity, correctness, and irons,—the lady, while they fight, alternately holding the hand of economy of time, would be accomplished. In the last Westminster each, with most laudable impartiality. The lover is wounded,— Review, the details of a plan are given, which appears to be feasible for these German Barons are desperate bravoes, and make nothing and simple, and adequate to the end in view. It is as follows, of expifilicating sentimental swains; but in this dilemma the Grim "Let prepared lists of names be printed, with columns for the Ayes, Noes, Grey Woman enters, and the Baron is consigned to the infernal Neutral, Absent. grillery of a gigantic fiend of pasteboard, who appears in a cloud "Let each member have his own seat, a seat belonging to the place which be of fiery smoke, brandishing a huge three-pronged fork with all represents. that energy of action which belongs to beings with joints and occasion of a division, let each teller pass from one seat to another, and take The other suitor is of the softer kind. Sir Joddrell, an exceed- from each member's mouth his Aye, No, or Neutral ; if his seat were vacant, ing knave as well as coxcomb, in the person of KEELEY decked his absence would be declared, out in white and crimson, is another of the aristocracy of the " The teller of each division should immediately give his list to the Clerk of Rhine, and the usurper of the castle of Hilldersheim, of which the House appointed to receive the lists from the tellers, and it should be his Julian the lover is the rightful owner. Now see how justly Sir pointed for the purpose might then hand over their lists to the Principal Clerk, Joddrell is dealt with. He goes a-hunting with the Lady Blanche, who would add together the results. The whole of this process would consume and her waiting-maid : we see them set out, with real cream-co- ten minutes, or less. loured horses and bonfi fide greyhounds : the Grim Grey Woman "The members would, on the occasion of a debate, flock to their respective leads Sir Joddrell astray, and seizing the bridle of his steed be- seats; many of the most regular, and who were not attached to particular par- tween her nose and chin, mounts behind him ; and he is only saved In these we discern the waster-hand of Mr. PUGIN; who is be- sides a most ingenious mechanist. . The great staircase into Hades, in the ballet of Faust, was, we hear, constructed under his direc- tions; and it is so ingeniously contrived, that it is all removed in a minute or two: we suppose it is furled like a Venetian blind, or folds up like a lady'lafan.
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