The Press. — London, England, 1856-05-31 00:00:00

sans ? Now, let Piccolomini hear through THE PRESS what her own personal friends say of her in the pit of Her Maje-ty's Theatre. They plead for her personal attractions, for her youthfulness, and fur her dramatic impulsiveness—they apologise for her defects of voice and method, on the ground of her being prematurely brought out in this country, and they argue that if time be given to her to practise, she may yet be a Pasta or a Grisi. This is fair criticism of Piccolomini's pretensions. Those who have seen Mme. Doche, will know that the pretty and piquante Italian is far inferior to the French woman. It is absurd, therefore, to speak of the new comer as a Ristori or a Rachel. If Helen Faucet were to play the last act of Vioietta, what would be then the delineation of Piccolomini? Mr. Lumley, not the less, has a prize in store, if he knows how to turn it to the best account. Piccolomini possesses dramatic points in her acting which may place her in the first rank of lyric artistes. A reconsideration of the earlier scenes of Viotetta would be useful; she must recollect that "La Dame," although a lorette," is not a " grisette." La Traviata was performed last Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednestlay, and will be repeated to-night (Sa turday). Last night, instead or Thorsdav, an extra sight was given, with the Sonuatabala. Next M. n d.y the Trovatore will be produced, with Mine. Alber ti ( Mme. Baucarde), Mme. Alboni (the Cuuht .ss Pepoli), and Baucarde, the French tenor. The director exhibits much activity, and is carrying out the pledges of his prospectus honourably. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. Lacrezia Borgia was repeated on Wednesday, and the Comte Ory on Tuesday. Rigolett°, with its powerful cast, will he again given to-night (Saturday ). The fine acting of Ronconi, and splendid singing of Bosio and Mario, render Rigoletto one of the mo-t auractive works of the lioertoire. Next Wednesday Ristori, the great Italian tragedian, who has rivalled Rachel even in her own Paris, will make her first appearance in this c.iuntry as Medea, a par: written expressly for Rachel by Legouve, but which she re jected. It was then translated by Montonelli for Ristori, who achieved an immense success in it. CONCERTS OF THE WEEK. Tus fourth Philharmonic scheme was gorgeous in orchestral gems—Mozart's immortal Jupiter sym phony, Spohr's scientifically-chromatic symphony in D minor, Mendelssohn's fairy overture to the Mid summer Niphee Dream, Beethoven's dramatic Fidelio overture, and Beethoven's gigantic concerto in G. the Titanic proportion of which set at defiance Herr Otto Goldschmides limited appliances of grandeur of style and of nimble digitation. Haydn's concerto for the violoncello was t io dry and antiquated for the Italian sentiment of Piatti's style. The vocalisms were superb, being Mme. Clara Nuvellu in Citnarosa's "Ali ! parlate," Viardot's grand declamation in Gluck's "Invocation I la Heine," and the artistic combination of these two singers in Rossini's duo, Quis est homo." Miss Messent., the singer, and Mr. Brinley Richards, the pianist and composer, convoked their friends at Willis's-rooms last Tuesday evening, the fifth meeting of the Musical Union having taken place in the same locality in the afternoon. Ernst, Cooper, Hill, Piaui, Howell, Halle, Remusat (flute), Barret (oboe), Harper (horn), were heard in Hummers septet in D minor, and in other works by Mendelssohn, S. Bach, and Beethoven. Mme. Clara Schumann, on the same morning, had a pianoforte recital at the Hanover square Rooms, in which she displayed her thorough acquaintance with the Schools of various maters in works by Chopin, Men delssohn, Bach, Beethoven, and Dr. Schumann. Scarcely had the visitors reacued their homes, after the recital, when the rooms were reopened for the evening concert of the rising singer, Miss Stabbach. Mention must be honourably made of a soirée on Wednesday, given by Mr. W. G. Cusins, at the Harley -street Beethoven Rooms. Mr. Cusins is known to the musical public as organist to her Ma jesty, and to the Royal Italian Opera, in the orchestra of which he also plays es a violinist. He is also distinguished as no o.dinary pianoforte player, and as • young composer whose works are beginning to attract attention. Mr. Cusins is a type of the Eng lish professors of the present day, who, abandoning the pothouse practices of players of former days, cultivate their talents assiduously both at home and abroad, become linguists, and seek to render their presence acceptable to refined circles by gentleman like bearing and conduct as well as by their pro fessional abilities. Guilio Itegondi, the guitarist sod concertinaist, has been from a child before the musical public in Eng land: but he has never ceased to improve in his vocation. His morning concert is one of the agree able annual 3 amateurs look out for with renewed gratification. Out of instruments, naturally un• grateful and difficult of management, he contrives to daeouree most eloquent mem. THE PRESS. SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER-NAM—MOD debtaohn's Elijah will be performed next Ftiday, with the following powerful cast of singers —Mme. Clara Novello, Alm.. Viardot, Mrs. Laken Mr. Sims Reeves, and Herr Formes. CRYSTAL PALACE.—Rettim of admissions for six days ending Friday, May 30, 1856. Number ad mitted, including season ticket holders, 58,651. THE ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S FIRST EXHIBITION for the season took place on Wednesday, and there was a tine collection of flowers. The roses were numerous, and were only equalled in appearance by the azaleas. Two of the long terraces were covered with large orchidaceous plants. The display of pelargoniums was good, but it was evident that the unfavorable spring had prevented the full develop ment of the flower. Although the rain in the after noon no doubt checked the arrival of visitors, there was a fair attendance. The bands of the three regi ments of horse guards played during the afternoon, and the usual prizes were awarded to the successful exhibitors. Au. THE GOVERNMENTS OF EUROPE have tended uniformly, and not very slowly, towards greater free dom and mildness, since the rise of the commercial policy of in , dern times, and the general diffusion of ko •wledge by the art of printing. Instead of a collection of despots, actuated in all plans of in ternal and external arrangement by caprice or acci dent, the system of European princes is now i a assemblage of deputies from the different nations, which have instructed them with certain powers and cornmissilns for the public good. In the Paecntion of their trust they are not directly accountable to any human authority ; but even in the States where no constitutional control is appointed to the power of the Orown, the indirect influence of a numerous al enli.,htened people is uniformly strong upon the councils of the monarch. It. is always his interest to rule by gentle and ag reeable means, and to further, by every measure in his power, the prosperity of his State. This interest, though for a while it may be concealed from his eyes, or overruled by opposite passions, can never be long hidden from him, but must always, in the long run, force itself upon his attention, and be for the most part the guide of his conduct. —Lord Brougham's Contributions to the Edinburgh Review. A CUR - lOUs CASE OF SONNAMBULISM occurred at Swansea last Sunday morning. A commercial tra veller, who had indulged in deep potations overnight, found himself about two a.m., in his nightcap and drawers, clinging to a chimney-pot on the roof of a neighbouring house. It was blowing hard and rain ing heavily, and, however strong his potations or his sleep, it will readily be believed that such slight pro tection as nightcap and drawers to so unpleasant an atmosphere would inevitably lead to consciousness and cold. He soon woke, and, like a wise man, stuck to the chimney-pot, and screamed. Assistance, of course, after due deliberation and much wonder, rescued the sonnambulist, who must have gone to bed, have risen, opened his window, descended a depth of about seven feet on the roof of some stabling, and from thence succeeded in getting on to the roof of the house he was discovered on. tours tarket ant) 6111 4ntrittpace. FRIDAY Rratirwo. Tax tetern of the Rank of Enghind for the week ending the 24th init. shows the following chimps compared with that for the week preceding : Decrease in Circulation Increase in Public Deposits Decrease in Other Deposits Decrease in Other Securities Increase in Bullion Increase in Rest Increase in Reserve Bullion in Both Departments Circulation, including Bank Poet Bills This comparison presents some important changes, the effect of which the Money Market has already experienced, as stated below. With regard to the position of the Bank, it will be observed, that it is considerably strengthened by the large additions to the stock of bullion and the reserve of notes. It is in a stronger position to the extent of more than a million and a half, while by the repayment of advances in the present week its means of assisting the trade of the country will present a further increase to a large extent in the next return. In this view, the reduc tion in the rate of discount was advisable. The reserve of notes now amounts to 5,0 4 1,91301, but it will be observe‘l that the circulation has demised. The addition to the amount of Public Deposits is mainly caused by the pay ment of the deposit of ten per cent. upon the new loan ; and though the '' Other Securities " have fallen off, owing probably to the exchange operations, which have rendered it unnecessary to send the balance of the Turkish loan 6 Constantinople in gold, the Bank has not found i 4 nt *Ja eery to part with any Government Secnritie, to obtain the large addition to the Reserve. In all these respects the present return is satisfactory, while there is reason to anticipate that the improvement shown in it will eootione. The bullion neat week may probably reach 11,000,000 k •••sep NATURDAY Imeemmegimrseire The ease in the Money Market which was referred to last week as haling given a yesterda y bv aonaidersbleiinpe" t brunches of trade has continued daring the present wslis and the impression that it is likely t o b e pro e siy Pe re ceived strong practiced confirmationtthhe lotion of the Directors of the Bank of E ng l an d to reduce tl°- minimum rate of discount on all elass es o f bills r I to five per cent. Considering that the re serve of no te s according to the return for the week ending the 17th inB was only 4,136,6751., and that it am o u n t e d to 7,286,8151 in . September last, just before the r a te was advanced ftom four and s half to five per cent., while the bullion was 12,895,250/. at one period and only 9,198,6151. in the other, it was natural to conclude that a meas ure o f t hi s character : would not be so speedily adopted. Oar own impression was that five or six weeks at least would elapse before the policy of the change would recommend itself to the court: certainly, in common with the most intelligent busir.ess men in the City outside the Bank parlour, we did not expect it in the present week. In f act , the an. nouncement took everybody by surprise, and for a time it was positively discredited. Today, an impression has been correct that it has been made too suddenly, and that it may, unless great prudence is manifested, give an arti• ficial stimulus to transactions not warranted by the legiti. mate operations of actual commerce. The effect of the measure will therefore be watched with much interest. Putting aside these more general considerations, and re. ferring solely to the position of the Bank ass tradiag company dealing with money for the benefit of its shut. holders, we see much more reason fur the resolution adopted yesterday. For a full fortnight, indeed for neary three weeks, its discount business has been uudergoing a process of transfer, by the natural effects of competitior, to the Lombard-street houses. Advances on Private and Government Securities it certainly has been making ; but bills, and the best class of bills too, have been tak. over the way, seeing that they could be done there . one-half, and far some days past at three quartets, per ern., below the Bank minimum. Now, remembering how vast a proportion of the commercial business of the country is carried on by means of a bill circulation, and the large profits that fur many months past have been derived from discounts, it is not unlikely that the directors felt it their duty to attempt to recover their former position. They cannot, therefore, be blamed for the resolution, nee cially if, in relation to the general circumstances whit h ordinarily guide their policy, they saw no strong reason to postpone it. Some such reasons against delay may be suggested at once. They are, the great influx of bullion last week, partially continued in the present, the favorable nature of the continental exchanges, the prudence with which the trade of the country is being obviously con ducted, and the prospect of all, or nearly all, of the gold that may arrive fur some time to come not being with drawn by foreign demand or foreign competition. Besides these considerations there are others connected with the essential business of the Bank, one of which is the reps!• merit of advances, amounting to nearly 1,000,000 i., made a fortnight ago to meet the deposits required with 'Ali cations for allotments in the new loan. Of course, this amount will swell the Reserve, and the Reserve can only be profitably employed when the rate of interest is not in excess of the proper market value of money. The Joint-stock Banks have all reduced their rates on deposits front five to four per cent.; and the discouet. houses gave notice this morning that they would not give more than 41 per cent. for money at call. Money has been in fair but not great demand during the week, and there has been no pressure. Tne commercial hills falling due next week are expected to be heavy, but no inconvenience is anticipated. On the Stock Exchange the rates have been low; they have not exceeded five per cent., notwithstanding the occurrence yesterday and to-day of the railway and foreign settlements, and the approach of the Consol settlement next we k. The bullion imports during the week have amounted to about 350,0001. 'I he exports have been very trifling. The Bank of England will make advances during the shutting of the transfer-books, from the 6th of June to the 17th of July, at the current rates. Consuls have improved about one-half per cent. since uur last. Last Friday they left off for the 4th June at 941 to 1, and for a great part of the week they have been quoted at 95 to 4 both for June and for money. They would un questionably have remained at this prise, if not have gone higher, had it not been that the American advice. received yesterday morning announced the probable recog nition of the filibustering commander in Nicaragua. This intelligence caused a reaction of nearly one-half per . cent. But the announcement of the reduced rate of discount caused a rally, and they finally left off at 944 to 1. Fur the 10th July, which is the next Account-day, t hey .. closed at. 951 to 1. The market is still extremely sensmie in relation to the unsettled questions wit h the United States, and there is a certain sense of impatience at the delay !n arriving at an understanding. Today t h e o p e ning p rice for June and for mousy was 941 to 1, and they closed at 941 to 1, the decline being owing to the American diffi culty. After official hours, however, there was more firill• ness and a partial recovery; for the 10th July the het price was 951 to 1. The scrip of the new loam has been rather extensively dealt in, at prices which have fluctuated in the same ratio as Consols. Last Friday it left off at 11 to 2 preMi yesterday at 21 to 4 prem., and today at 21 to 1 prem. 7 : settlement in it took place to -day. Exchequer Bills have improved from Is. dis. to 2s. prem. The Railway ,Market, atter being exceedingly firm al_ the week. each day showing an advance upon the prices e f the preceding in some descriptions of heavy Siocks. W 5 also very sensitive upon the American news. Laricsslii e and Yorkshire and Midland Stock, which are am TB those that had most improved during the week, t 11 nearly one per cent.; but, as in the case of Consuls, ti unexpected action of the Bank produced a partial recover, which was aubastpently maintained. To-day she mato