limited stage of Drury Lane, compared with the fine open space of a tent capable of holding at least three thousand persons? In the case of Drury Lane, all the performances were conducted in one cage,―in the country they are managed in at least half a dozen. There is something rural and bold and free, in the one-the huge white tent glittering in the sun, gay silken banners fluttering in the air, a green carpet of delicious grass for your feet, and health, loveliness, cheerfulness all around —whilst in Drury you are half suffocated with heat and gas, the tawdry paintings and gew-gaw decorations offend the eye; nor is there that fine, free, exuberant feeling of sympathetic expression of universal delight in youthful and lively faces, observed in a Cockney, as in a country audience!

That all were greatly gratified with Van Amburgh at Stokesley on Saturday last* was manifest from the appearance of those who were present on that memorable occasion. At least four thousand persons witnessed that splendid procession, which ushered in the immense cavalcade of horses: and nothing was more pleasing than to observe the easy nonchalence with which Van Amburgh guided his eight magnificent quadrupeds, and the facility and rapidity with which he turned them round the smallest conceivable space in diameter. It would have awoke envy and despair in the breast of the most skilful or nimble of the renowned Olympic charioteers.

Having taken our seat in the window of a friend * Van Amburgh visited Stokesley, on Saturday, June 17th, 1843,

directly in view of the entrance gate, we had an excellent prospect of the company as they entered, of whom we counted nearly two thousand, although it appears they did not all enter the booth. Among these we noticed all the respectable families in the neighbourhood—chiefly from Guisborough, Ayton, and the neighbouring towns, —but we observed great numbers of our Bilsdale friends

also as far as Westerdale, and even Castleton and Danby-with such beacon-light rapidity had the fame of Van Amburgh, and his wild-beasts penetrated those remote and almost inaccessible dales.

The sight of the tent was exceedingly gay and animating. When we entered it was nearly full-a vast mass of animate human beings-age looking calmly and benignly on the cheerful scene-youth and beauty all smiles, and delight and happiness—and young children gazing gladsomely and eagerly at the different animals as they frisked, or slumbered in their dens. Truly, it is a delightful sight to see human life in its less unworldly and unfettered freedom. Care vanished, envy at rest, sorrow hushed to sleep, all the fiends that tear at the heart-strings soothed and subdued, then, it is, that we behold man with something of his heavenly origin clinging about him—and woman, blissful and radiant, celestial as she ought to be, with something of the bloom and beauty and fragrance of paradise!

First stalked the

But let us proceed with our survey. huge elephant, and "formed a ring." Then, to the great delight of our juvenile friends, a beautiful little

pony, came galloping into the arena, with a tiny baboonfaced little gentleman, on his back, in full military uniform, buttoned up to his chin,-a Napoleon in miniature! This small automaton, performed many amazing evolutions, and went through the various performances, in a way which would create no small wonder among his brethren of the cocoa-nut trees of South America. After him several boys attempted to ride Mazeppa, but the pony in a cockatrice disposed of these equestrian aspirants, and they, like

"Vaulting Ambition

Overleapt itself and fell on the other side."

This trifling divertisement being finished, the elephant commenced his entertainments. They were such as evinced the well-known and wonderful sagacity of that remarkable animal, and afforded no small satisfaction to the beholders, especially where he treads with such affectionate care over the prostrate carcase of his keeper, and then elevates him on his tusks.

This over, the great attraction of the day, "the observed of all observers," Van Amburgh, appeared in full costume-Daniel in the den of lions! It caused a shudder over the frame, to behold a single man, unprotected, unarmed and alone, amidst lions, leopards, tigers, the fiercest inhabitants of the desert, the tyrants of the solitudes!

But soon the truth of the Sacred Word became manifest: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the

sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the Earth."--GENESIS, chap. 1. v. 28.

Soon it was quite clear, that by long habits of training, Van Amburgh had completely subdued the furious natures of the rangers of the wilds-the fierce lion crouched like a lamb at his feet-the ferocious tiger shrunk back in fear and dread before his terrible arm-the wily, savage leopards sported playfully about him, like innocent lambkins round their parent dam. Such are among

the conquests and triumphs of Man!

express

"What a piece of work is man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving how and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god!-HAMLET, ACT II. Scene ii.

Nor, in conclusion, is the triumph of Van Amburgh trivial or incomplete. The work of subjugation is full, indisputable, omnipotent. The conquest of human power, guided by moral influence, over animal force and savage instincts, is irresistible aud overwhelming. Van Amburgh has achieved what mighty conquerors failed in doing. Julius Cæsar chained and subdued the brave aborigines of the Libyan and Numidian wilds-but the Libyan Lion he could never tame. Van Amburgh has surpassed Julius Cæsar,-he has subjugated the African Lion, and the Tiger of Bengal!

RURAL SKETCHES.

WOODS AND GROVES.

The woods and groves of Cleveland are unusually fine. Few parts of England can surpass them, not excepting Westmoreland-the Switzerland of the Empire. Arncliffe, Guisborough, Wilton, Upleatham, Grinkell, Kildale, Skelton, with the beautiful valley of the Esk, and its tributary glens and dells, abound in delightful haunts of the picturesque. Arncliffe is famous. for its oaks, but like all the higher Cleveland range, -faces towards the north; Guisborough abounds in oak, fir, ash; Wilton contains a similar mixture and is elegantly laid out in pleasant walks and captivating recesses, with small patches of ground tastefully decorated with garden-flowers; Upleatham boasts chiefly of larch and fir, tall and erect, forming excellent rookeries, and towering considerably above the vale; Grinkell possesses noble timber of large proportions and is watered by a romantic stream full of the fin est trout which dashes through a rocky and precipitous cascade, the sides adorned with a profusion of wild-wood, such as the ornus, the holly, the wild-myrtle, the honeysuckle;

L