The Panorama.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4251, 16 August 1882, Page 2

The Panorama.

The Academy of Music was well filled last night, the occasion being the opening exhibition of Thompson's famous Panorama of the Zulu War ; in fact, the pit and gallery were somewhat uncomfortably crowded, and numbers were unable to obtain admission. The pictures, which are really admirably painted, give a complete representation of the war from the firing of the first shot to the capture of Cetewayo, which last event brought the hostilities to a close. Views are also given of the regiments leaving England as reinforcements, their embarkation, and the wreck of a troopship. The march of the reinforcements from the seaboard to the relief of Colonel Pearson at Ekowe is also given with realistic effect, the whole country traversed by the army being presented to the spectator. One of the moststartling views,andalsoone of the best was the explosion of a torpedo, by which several troublesome Zulus were transferred to " another place." The closing view was a representation of the funeral procession of the late Prince Imperial from Portsmouth to Chiselhurst, ending with the transformation scene in St. Mary's Chapel. This is a most wonderful piece of mechanism, there being, it is said, no less than 4003 figures introduced into it and the previous Ekowe relief march. Mr , Thompson officiates as descriptive lecturer, and tells the story of the war in an interesting and instructive manner. One of the greatest attractions, however, was undoubtedly the gift distribution which appeared to give the utmost satisfaction to the audience. As most of our readers are probably aware, no tickets are issued, the articles being purely gifts, and are given without favor by- Mr Thompson to any person he may take a fancy to single out. Last night the pit undoubtedly took the majority of the gifts, so certainly no favoritism was shown to the front seat people. The gifts comprised a silver watch, electro-plated tea and coffee service, cruets, liqueur frame, &0 ., &c. To night the exhibition will be repeated, and the gifts will be presented in the same manner as last night. •',: