GARDEN, LANE, AND MARKET.
"Mr. G."—the upper G.—went to hear Puritani on Thursday night. Of course he called on Madame Albani, and sang a few of the songs just to give "Signor G." a hint. When the First Act was over, and the Closure was moved by the Act-drop descending, Mr. G. went into the Lobby, and voted with the Government of Covent Garden. Mr. G. was seen to be several times in animated conversation with Mr. Hall, who was decorated with a Covent Garden Order, and was wearing a Shirtcollerado Gladstonensis in his button-hole. It is, we believe, quite untrue that Mr. Hall has refused to take office—box office—in the next Liberal Cabinet; but whether he will be made an Extra Knight or not is still uncertain. Mr. Gye is very Earnest about it, and at present we can say no more except that the performance of I Puritani was first-rate, as naturally it would be, with Albani, enthusiastically received, Gayarré, and D'andrade. There were numerous encores, and the applause was bestowed with a warmth which increased the temperature considerably.
At Drury Lane.—A prettier and sweeter voiced Zerlina than Miss Arnoldson, has not been seen or heard for some time. We must not venture on comparisons, but in two respects Miss Arnoldson has the advantage over Madame Patti (who was singing in Traviata on Friday night at the Colonel's Opera House) but one of these is not voice. M. Maurel played and sang the im-Maurel Don Giovanni admirably, and Ciampi as Mazetto, looked and acted like Lionel Brough. A good performance.
"LONG EXPECTED COME AT LAST!"
The Imperial Institute has commenced. The first stone has been laid by Her Gracious Majesty, and the Prince of Wales is sanguine as to the result. The Institute is to be a House and Home, with gardens attached, for special use of our Indian and Colonial cousins visiting England, and it is also intended to keep perpetually before the eyes of the British Public specimens of Indian and Colonial industry. To so useful a scheme Mr. Punch wishes every success.
Per varios casus, per tot discrimina rerum,
Tendimus in—Kensington.
The subjoined list of the Procession as it ought to have been, was probably altered at the last moment; but there is no doubt it would have been effective as it stood, or rather as it moved on:—