Probably the most extraordinary scene ever presented in our theatrical annals was witnessed at the NATIONAL on Thursday evening, upon the occasion of the production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," as dramatized by S. E. Harris, of that theatre. The peculiarity was not only the character of the play, but of the audience which witnessed its performance, and the manner in which it was received. The rough, stern and sinewy democracy were there in great numbers, filling the best seats and quietly awaiting the progress of the exhibition, in company with the more polished and educated. They were present in their popular summer apparel—shirts and trowsers, without the embarrassment of coats or vests, their nether habilliments rolled up above their boots, and the fashionable cloth skull-caps upon their heads. Every bench and alley was crowded. The upper tiers were tumid with the closely packed masses, and in the galleries the white teeth and large eyes of the African population presented a coup d'oeil, which was certainly uncommon.

  It was a strange thing to see such an audience gathered to see such a piece. Fifteen years ago, the predecessors of the same rough assemblage which now awaited the advent of Uncle Tom would have been foremost in an Abolition riot. The broken panes and sacked dwellings of St. Mary, Shippen and Bedford streets were, in former years, the triumphs of the predecessors of the same class who now were awaiting in anxiety the performance of a drama in which the negro was a hero and the white man the oppressor. Extraordinary mutation indeed, which in less than the cycle of a single generation transforms the rioter into a sympathiser.

  The progress of the play was sufficient to excite the anomalous audience to strong feeling in favor of the oppressed race. Every allusion to freedom on the part of the colored dramatis personae was received with shouts of appropation, and every sentiment which counselled resistance to the slaveholder was echoed with yells of applause. In portions of the play individual sentiment was shouted forth by some such expression as "Good egg," "Give it to him," and other tokens of genuine good will. The cheers were frequent. The fate of George Harris and Eliza was watched with intense interest, and if Uncle Tom had only been a fighting man, he would have elicited a frenzy of wild hurras. Taken altogether, the first representation of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was a triumph in a new field, and whatever the influence of that novel, whether for evil or good, it has by this play been extended among a class whose hearty sympathies are not mere idle feelings. In dramatising the story, Mr. Harris has attempted too much. He has followed his original so minutely that he has rendered the piece tedious. The performance was not concluded on Thursday evening until ten minutes before one o'clock. Bad taste has been shown by the introduction of characters unknown to the novel, whose presence seems impertinent and unnecessary. A few events have been changed, some incidents have been interpolated, and some of Mrs. Stowe's characters have been assigned more extensive duties than the story authorises. The introduction of Phineas Fletcher as an assistant of the escape of Eliza from the tavern previous to her thrilling passage of the Ohio river, may be tolerated. The improvements on his character give the part a rough force, but the interpolations of Deacon Perry and Sampson Skinner are improper—their presence is an impertinence, and the scenes in which they appear are stupid and unnecessary.

  It would have been much better if the author had not drawn so largely on the piety of Uncle Tom for dramatic illustration. The introduction of religious sentiments before an incongruous audience who are not assembled in the proper spirit, has a tendency to degrade the christian faith and beget an irreverent feeling. It may be said that it is difficult to portray such a character as Uncle Tom without delineating his religious peculiarities. This is true, but Mr. Harris has made too extensive an employment of the prayers and exhortations which are so freely used in the book. Some of the situations should not have been presented on the stage, and some of the language is calculated to shock the moral sensibility. It was possible to draw a very acceptable Uncle Tom without making the religious coloring so strong. Many of these passages might be cut out without any damage to the play, and a general shortening is necessary.

  There were a large number of performers in the drama, of various grades of excellence. Mr. Harris was quite effective as Uncle Tom. His manner and tone were good—the part was all that could be wished for. Mr. Ryan's Phineas Fletcher, the fighting Quaker, was also very spirited and correct. His efforts were a decided relief to the piece. Mrs. Thayer's Aunt Ophelia was in very good taste, amusingly indecorous in the costume, but quite proper, and very well performed throughout. Miss Rose Merrifield made quite a feature of Topsy, eliciting constant applause. She sang several songs with much effect. Eva was performed by Miss Clara Reed. She was fair, but rather too stiff in her manner. A little more childish ease and grace would have rendered the charming part quite acceptable. Mr. Fannin spouted through George Harris in regular melo-dramatic style, rolling out his r's and misemphasing his words in the most approved manner of the saw-dust school of tragedy. He was a very inefficient representative of a character which, in competent hands, would have created intense interest. Of the other performers, no particular mention is necessary.

  There were nine tableaux announced. Most of them were only incidents in the regular course of the drama, and some of them unworthy of any special mention in the bills. The scenic department and machinery were not well directed. The escape of Eliza over the Ohio on the ice was poorly managed. Instead of jumping from piece to piece, she kept on one cake of ice, which was moved very slowly, and in a manner which spoiled all the thrilling incidents of what might have been a very exciting scene.

  The approbation with which the drama was received is a pledge that it will have an extensive run. The management will doubtless make the best of it. It will be played all the present week.