We should not dismiss the holyday entertainments without some notice

of the theatrical " gambols " at Windsor Castle. Last Thursday was the day from which future Shaksperes and Kembles are, we are told, to date their existence. Queen Victoria having determined to patronize the stage by ordering five performances in a drawingroom, it will be bard indeed if the Victorian drama does not take its place by the side of the Elizabethan. Some ill-natured persons hint that a few Royal visits to the public theatres would be more beneficial than these Castle spectficles: but they forget the advantage which it must be to hear the naturally mellifluous voice of Mr. Charles Kean in a limited compass.

The modifications of The Merchant of Venice were agreeable enough. Courtly ears were offended as little as possible by uncourtly allusions; nor do we agree with those snarlers who imagine that Elizabethan vigour suf- fers under the modern pruning-knife. Loud vulgar applause was not to be expected in the " Rubens Room"; but on the whole the performance ap- peared to give much satisfaction; Mr. Grieve, the scene-painter, coming in for an especial share of approbation: It is an ill wind that blows nobody good; and etiquette, while it suppresses the horse-laugh, smothers the yawn in cambric handkerchiefs.

Whether the " Royal children" were as highly pleased with the "legiti- mate " entertainment, as with the miscellaneous recreation which Mr. Mitchell occasionally affords in the afternoons-we could not exactly dis- tinguish; nor do we think that there -wasualy moraseriousness in Lord John Russell's countenance than might fairly' be attributed to the omission of Don Carlos from the list of dramas to be performed. The delight of the Reverend Dr. lIawtrey will no doubt result in the establishment of an "Eton Drama" as a rival to the Westminster Play.

An important document for the future historian of. this ■erand, dramatic epoch is the play-bill; which we subjoin. re.,-. e.set ROYAL ENTERTAINMENT:cob at storibreioza Br COMMAND. " ._ ,i, eat)! DP ' - - -.• • 1 Her Majesty's Servants will perform, at Windsor Castle, ea TintIntisty, December 2.',

Shakspere's Play a- '. a,t

THE .MERCHANT-,OF VENTOR.,,c.,i, • . - -- -.......

Duke of Mats- Mr. Diddeag.

Anionio...-vvvv:(the3ferchant of Venice)

Salaniit . , - • •Zt071 se! '...e,,. ' l .21r. Boyce. Salarino,

Lorenzo .;•'. •••:...ftsPlo're with'', j Bassani° Gratiano; , , . , ,. •. .

4thall'IfciWirant° (his Friend) DAfirr:_licu:Ter: sem:329.

Mr. A. Wigan.

Mr„W tnr. „, Shylock

Tubal ( a Jew(a, jhell7FYilkiltidlf0Q‘" - WeVliaille knit! 2.1r.itleivi, ri in ted.W Nr.-E '',Atreaskailo, Laur.celol Gob6o (a Clown,.Servant to-Shylook.);•:..• • Mr, Keeley. ' estsisq Old Gobbo. • • • (Father to Laurutelot).....eakfrxwyrr Mr. Addison. ..,:c,,ada Leonardo.... (Servant to Bassanto)• • . • .liaw,y, Mr. Field. , ,,,, ,slaw Balthazar I Servants to .1 ,.......,............... Mr. Clarke. -, Stephan° .1 Portia. t - ' )21'ing.91 - -"I nnE ad* Portia .... (a Rich Heiress) V... ega;i-L'i'd Mrs. Caarie81161110 (1i Nerissa (her Waiting Maid)..;:iJusq.it-InaJnAfra. Keeley. . ‘000,1 Jessica (Daughter to shyloct)• .. -el, .•-■"•-• s • I:. Mrs. Compteg„ lag

(late Miss Emmeline Director Mr. Charles Kean. , •„

-,, fai

Assistant-Director Mr. George Ellis.

Prompter and Stage-Manager Mr. Frederick Webster. We regret that we cannot copy the beautiful 4c0,74,3 border with which the above was surrounded; convinced as we are Ira Otrully as im- portant for " the cause of the drama " as anything else corineeted-with the " Windsor Theatricals."