forte appeared to be in lighter and more lively character. Boyd is said to have " looked " but did not " play " the villain yvell. Capper and Perrin as Brabantio and Gratiano yvere " below mediocrity," and it is printed of Hoyvard as Roderigo that " as usual he made an ass of himself, and ought to be smothered if he ever attempted to appear on the stage again." At the conclusion of the tragedy, Mr. Phil Burgin, a Collins Street confectioner, gave a comic song; and in the after-piece of " W h y Don't she Marry," Mrs. Knowles, as Liselte, "enchanted the audience," and Winter by his abundant drollery as Natz Teils, astonished the Melbournians. Shylock and a few other favourites were presented at brief intervals, and the Knowles' regime held out hopes of a better time to come. Meanyvhile Buckingham, disgusted yvith the turn of the theatrical wheel, started on a playing venture to Geelong, where, by the aid of a Miss Horton, he had arranged for a grand commencement. But on the evening of the entertainment, when everybody else was in readiness, there yvas no Miss Horton. It was decided to go on yvithout her, and in the middle of one of the scenes there yvas a general smash amongst the audience, by the giving yvay of the seats of the building or barn. Such yvas the confusion ensuing, that the performance could not be resumed, and Buckingham cut away at "cock-crow" next morning. Several neyv arrivals were reported from Sydney, but their terms were too high to admit of Knoyvles securing their services. One of them yvas a Mr. Lee, yvith a yvonderful self-educated animal, knoyvn as "the dog of Montargis," and, though he yvas offered ^ 1 0 for himself and his dog for one night, he refused to work under ,£20. Then there was a Mr. with a Mrs. O'Flaherty, the lady being the acquisition; but her hire was either £10 for one or ^ 2 0 for three nights; and, as Knowles could not afford such afigure,the O'Flahertys took to abusing him in the neyvspapers, and then took themselves ayvay. N o w began a short and sharp struggle between Knowles and Buckingham for the mastery of the Pavilion. Public opinion inclined towards Knoyvles, in consequence of the improvements he had introduced, and on Buckingham applying to the Police Court to recommend the issue of a license to him> he yvas refused. Knowles had better fortune, for he obtained a tyvo months' license in his own name, and the wooden shed was noyv " T h e Victoria Theatre." It was opened on the 18th December yvith a loud trumpeting, and the sensational piece, entitled " The Bandit Host, or The Lone Hut of the Swamp," folloyved by tyvo farces, viz., "The Rival Pages " and " The Happy Man." The re-commencement was but tolerably successful. The performances yvere now given three nights in the week, and by all accounts Knoyvles must have dropped upon anything but " Merrie Christmas" times of it. O n the last Tuesday in December there was an excellent attendance, and the piece on was the petite comedy of " The T w o Queens, or Policy and Stratagem." It was founded on an incident of Danish History, and had not much to commend it; yet even this little yvas damned by the inefficiency of the performers, owing probably to the residuum of the Christmas festivities being acted upon by the hot weather. One felloyv made at his neighbour, and, butting him like a ram in the "bread-basket," sent him spinning backwards amongst the musicians ; and, to add to the confusion, the prompter had either lost his head or taken something that was not good for him, for he joined in the mH'ce. A musical melange folloyved, which in some degree restored good humour. Mr. Knowles sang the " Death of Nelson," and Mrs. Murray folloyved yvith " O h ! What a Joyous Day."
BATTERS, THE TINKER.
On the evening of the 25th May, a tragedy in real life was very near being enacted on the stage. The piece was " Guilderoy," and a huge turbulent tinker, named Batters, yvho kept a small tin shop in Collins Street, yvas cast for the character of Hardheart, the gaoler, Boyd playing Guilderoy. W h e n the gaoler detects Guilderoy rescuing Logan, the prisoner, Guilderoy is supposed to discharge a pistol at him, and this he did ; but there was a miss-fire. Irritated by the baulk, Boyd dreyv his dagger and stabbed Batters in the right breast, yvhen the gaoler advanced staggering a feyv steps as if in his role, and then dropped weltering in his blood upon the stage; thus acting not only to the life, but almost to the death. The utmost excitement ensued, the curtain was hastily let doyvn and the orchestra struck up quite a lively tune. Dr. Cussen yvas quickly in attendance, and an examination of the wounded m a n found that the yveapon had penetrated about three inches. H e was removed to his home in great agony, and his part
