series of plays in earnest.

Every conceivable species of comedy and farce met the eye at every turn.
Costumes the most remarkable, men the most varied and peculiar, and
things the most incomprehensible and unexpected, presented themselves in
endless succession. Here a canvas restaurant stood, or, rather leaned
against a log-store. There a tent spread its folds in juxtaposition to
a deck-cabin, which seemed to have walked ashore from a neighbouring
brig, without leave, and had been let out as a grog-shop by way of
punishment. Chinamen in calico jostled sailors in canvas, or diggers in
scarlet flannel shirts, or dandies in broad-cloth and patent-leather, or
red Indians in nothing! Bustle, and hurry, and uproar, and joviality
prevailed. A good deal of drinking, too, unfortunately, went on, and
the results were occasional melodramas, and sometimes serious rows.

Tragedies, too, were enacted, but these seldom met the eye; as is
usually the case, they were done in the dark.

"What have we here?" cried Captain Bunting, stopping before a large
placard, and reading. "`Grand concert, this evening--wonderful singer--
Mademoiselle Nelina, first appearance--Ethiopian serenaders.' I say,
Ned, we must go to this; I've not heard a song for ages that was worth
listening to."

"At what hour?" inquired Ned--"oh! seven o'clock; well, we can stroll
back to the hotel, have a cup of coffee, and bring Larry O'Neil with us.
Come along."

That evening our three adventurers occupied the back seat of a large
concert-room in one of the most crowded thoroughfares of the town,
patiently awaiting the advent of the performers. The room was filled to
overflowing, long before the hour for the commencement of the
performances, with every species of mortal, except woman. Women were
exceedingly rare creatures at that time--the meetings of all sorts were
composed almost entirely of men, in their varied and motley garbs.

Considering the circumstances in which it was got up, the room was a
very creditable one, destitute, indeed, of ornament, but well lighted by
an enormous wooden chandelier, full of wax candles, which depended from
the centre of the ceiling. At the further end of the room was a raised
stage, with foot-lights in front, and three chairs in the middle of it.
There was a small orchestra in front, consisting of two fiddles, a
cornopian, a trombone, a clarionet, and a flute; but at first the owners
of these instruments kept out of