The Press. — London, England, 1855-03-03 00:00:00

21fi Colburn's New Monthly presents a fair table of contents. In the first article, a summary is given of Dr. Karl Koch's " Travels in the Crimea." Lord John Russell's" Memorials of Fox," as far as they have appeared, are ably reviewed; but the reviewer con siders that whatever the noble lord's qualifications may be as a politician, they are considerably very second rate as a literary man. A chapter upon the 4 Incidents of the War " contains one or two new anec dotes, and some good introductory remarks upon the state of feeling in the army—and, indeed, in the country very generally—previous to war being de clared. The original tales are amusing and clever. Bentley's Miscellany, among much excellent matter, contains a good article upon the "Resources of the Anatolian Shores of the Black Sea." Every one is so anxious to master the position and resources of the allied armies that had we space we should make no excuse for quoting from this article. It is evi dently written by one perfectly acquainted with the locale, and the numerous advantages which are here shown to be within easy reach of our army suggests reflections upon the sad mismanage meat of our commissariat in the Crimea. The whole of the country, and its varied resources in horses, cattle, and wood, are practically reviewed, and the writer considers the selection by the autho rities of Sinope as the head-quarters of the commis sariat, about to be established in Asia Minor, is very excellent no doubt in many respects, but wanting in the " one thing needful"—intercourse with the in terior, of which, he asserts, it has little or none. Thomas De Quincey and his works are favor ably reviewed, and for light matter we have another chapter of " Aspen Court," a good story in the " Parson's Oath," an amusing sketch of the late frost in London, and a concluding article upon " The Conduct of the War," which supports the view we have taken of the operations of the cam paign. The Russian relieving army must be de feated, Sebastopol regularly invested, and the northern forts destroyed, before we can boast of the success of the expedition. Of the present Ministry it is forcibly said it presents notable deficiencies in the War Department. Instead of an able active War Minister, we have " a chronic invalid" of some poli tical repute, but of little administrative experience and strong partisan feelings, while one of the most persevering obstructives of t he red-tape school is ap pointed the Under -Secretary. Tait this month is above the average—" The " Copper Works of Swansea," the " Life of " James Montgomery," the " State of Hungary," and the " History of the late Arctic Expeditions," are all good readable articles, while those upon politics are not less deserving a glance. In the Biographical Magazine we have the Lives of Cowper, L a mennais, Marlborough, and Miss Mitford, wel and concisely written, as far as the very limited space allows. *** We have not room for the letter of Mr. Timbs this week, but it shall be given in our neat. USXC. DRURY LANE.—LETOILE DU NORD. Tiir production in the country of a new opera, by Meyer beer, is an event, under any circumstances. It has suited certain critics to declare that a work of this composer, pro duced at Drury Laue, is unworthy their notice—that it is impossible to judge of its merits after such performance-- and they ask, if Covent Garden last year confessed itself unequal to the task, how Drury Lane could have the im pertinence to attempt it. This is just a sample of the spirit of the day, which is fast ruining our musical plea sures, to say nothing of the damage to our knowledge. We have gone on repining till the production of any work, according to our estimate, is only just possible—we ruin our managers by forcing them to give ruinous sums to the singers—or ruin the singers by teaching them airs and impertinences which are scarcely tolerable to anybody and intolerable to those about them—and, in consequence, one-half of these people will not sing at all, because ma nagers cannot pay thousands and receive hundreds; and the other half favour us with their sweet voices, as an especial favour, just. for a dozen performances or so, and then leave us to make the best of their absence. Judged according to the preposterous standard we have just' set up, Meyerbeer's opera, on Monday, offered much which the critic could find fault with. It would not require a visit to the theatre to say that the principal per formers were weak, and the first half-hour would have let him know that the choruses were incomplete, and the really excellent band, under the circumstances, somewhat overpowering. But, judging according to a more rational standard, we can declare the performance to have been a fair one, capable both of affording reasonable pleasure, and giving the general public a good idea of the style of the com poser. The deficiencies, after all, lay more in the acting than in the singing. It is in our experience that no opera written for the Paris Opera Comique ever yet obtained a permanent success in England. A thousand experiments have been tried, from the Domino Noir and Hawke, through the Val d'Andova, down to M. A dolphe Adam, but none have been successful. The reason is evident to any one who knows P ar i s ian theatricals, where the underplan, the smart change of action, the piquancy of retort, require, in the first place, a spirit trail French, and, in the second, that very populist I THE PRESS. educatiuu only to be gut in the salons of the artists and literary men. Now it is just in the Opera Comique that this is carried to its extroneet height. It is the opera itself, it must be confessed, that requires a good deal of adventitious aid. Though presenting fewer difficulties of execution than Meyerbeer's greater works, it has less bot tom, and trusts more to the action and the spirit of the artists. The military song in the second act is but a feeble eoho of " Piff Paff." The two principal choruses, in the first and second acts, are both diluted from Robert le Diable. It is, nevertheless, the style of the composer throughout, with his rude transitions and dramatic colouring, both of these, the last especially, much softened and weakened. For the story. it has often been told. Peter of Russia falls in love, under the disguise of a shipwright, with Catherine—she returns his affection—follows him to the army, in the disguise of a common soldier—catches him flirting with other young ladies—believes him then to be a captain—insults her superior officer—condemned by Peter to be shot--escapes—goes mad—and in that state is brought to Peter's palace, where he restores her by sur rounding her with old associates, and playing himself an old tune upon the flute, not a very imperial method, but quite as imperial as the rest of his love ravings, be it said, with the permission of the celebrated author of the libretto. The audience seemed pleased, but encored little or nothing, except a claptrap passage, in which Catherine, in her ravings, answers the flute upon her voice. For the new appearances M. Miranda, as he calls him self, will make a really useful tenor. Mlle. Seurcy Bauer, the heroine, has been carefully trained, and is quite up to the traditions of stage organisation. She is pretty and piquante—is short and active—rather spirited—with much talent, little feeling, and not a particle of sympathy with the subject. However, she may improve mto a singer whom we shall be glad to welcome, especially under pre- sent circumstances. ELta's MUSICAL WINTER EVENINGS.—The first of these entertainments took place at Willis's-rooms on Thursday evening, and was attended by a distinguished and fashion able assembly. The performers were—first violin, Herr Ernst ; second violin, Herr Groffrie ; viola, Mr. Hill ; violon cello, Signor Phial, and pianoforte, Herr Puler. The concert began with Hadyn a Quartet in Cr min3r, No. 74, a delightful specimen of this great old master, whose works will never perish so long as the world shall find charms in simplicity, grace, melody, and sunny cheerfulness. The next piece was Beethoven's first trio in E fiat, for thepiano, violin, and violoncello, the earliest of his published works, and in many respects not excelled by any that have succeeded it. It was followed by Beethoven's celebrated quartet in F, the first of the " Rasoumeffsky " set—a work in which the author's daring and original genius shines in all its lustre. The evening concluded with solos on the violin and the piano, played by Piaui and Pauer. The perform ances throughout were of the highest excellence, and were received with the warmest applause. HARMONIC UNION, HANovsu-suukaz Rooms.—Mendels sohn's Lobgesang, and Rossini's Stabat Mater are to be performed at the next concert, which is fixed for Wednes day evening. The Stabat Mater is not often included in the programmes of our London societies, as its perform ance is objected to by the authorities at Exeter-hall. On this occasion, a strong caste is announced, including Mrs. Sims Reeves, Miss Lascelles, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Weiss; Herr Molique will as usual be the conductor. dttiesiasticd. PREFERMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS. The Rev. F. Salter, M.A., to the Rectory of Hethe, near 131 teeter, Oxfordshire. The Rev. A. Williams, M.A., to the Rectory of Prior's Portion, Tiverton. The Rev. H. Clifford Radelyffe, 8.A., to be Domestic Chaplain to the Duke of Marlborough. The Rev. W. Poulton, M.A., to the Chaplaincy of St. Martin in-the-Fields Chapel and Almshouses. The Rev. J. H. Underwood, M.A., to be Rural Dean of Froome, in the diocese of Hereford. The Rev. J. F. Croery, 8.A., to be Minister of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Chapel, Forres, in the diocese of Moray and Ross. The Rev. Henry Peters, M.A., to an Honorary Canonry in Durham Cathedral. The Rev. R. IL. Heap, 8.A., to the Incumbency of Thornton, near ar Bradford. The Rev. J. Pelham Pitcairn, M.A., to be Domestic Chaplain -o the Duke of Roxburgh. The Rev. J. W. Griffith, M.A., to the Vicarage of Treveglwys, Montgomeryshire. The Rev. G. W. Rooks Incledon, 8.A., to the Curacy of Mylor and Mabe. Cornwall. The Rev. If. M. Sandham, M.A., to the Incumbency of St John's-wood Church, London. VACANCIES. The Rectory of Langley Burrell, near Chippenham; worth 4001. a year ; in the gift of the representatives of the late incum bent. The Rectory of Weston-under-Penyard, near Boss; worth 7001. • year; in the gift of the Bishop of Hereford. The Vicarage of Kempsford, near Fairford; worth 6001. a year; in the gift of the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. The Rectory of Ashbrittle, near Wellington, Somerset; worth 41)01. a year; in the gift of Mr. J. Quick. The Rectory of Stoke Pero, Somerset; worth 1001. a year; in the gift of Mr. Quick. The Vicarage of Reepham, near Lincoln ; worth 2001. a year ; in the gift of the Mercers' Company. The Rectory of Castleford, Yorkshire ; worth 6001. a year ; in the gift of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Rectory of Stonegrave; worth bOOl. a year ; in the gift of the Crown. - The Vicarage of Rendhoun, Suffolk; worth 1001. a year ; in the gift of trustees. The Rectory of Watterafielti, Suffolk; worth 4001. a year; in private patronage. The Rectory of Liston, Essex ; worth 2001. a year ; in the gift of Mr. R. Lambert. The Curacy of Abbott& Langley, Hertfordshire ; in the gift of the 4ev. Gee, SATIJRDAT s torrtspnlitutt. THE COMMISSARIAT SERVICE. - TO THE EDITOR OT "THE PRESS." Sir,—ln your last number you published a letter of mine showing how, under circumstances similar to those in which our army is placed in the Crimea, we should have acted in India: the following authentic anecdote will show how they act at Balaklava; and think that you may venture to publish it without fear of causing that rupture of our alliance with France, which Sir James Graham predicts as a necessary consequence of any inquiry into the mismanagement of our War Department in England. Well, sir, to proceed. It happens, as all the world knows, that our two principal diffinilties have arisen from the want of transport, animals, and forage ; and it also happens that there is an English mercan tile firm located at a town on the opposite shores of the Black Sea, just three days' sail from Balaklava, the head of which, seeing the state of affairs there, offered to purchase on the spot as many baggage animals and as much forage for the army as could be required, and let the commissariat have them on the instant at a far less cost than they were then paying. The only answer vouchsafed was a snub for the im pertinent interference. When the firm took their tender to the French camp, it was there most grate fully accepted, and they have ever since been engaged in supplying the French army with the animals and forage originally destined for our own. It may bo very easy for Ministers to throw the blame of what has occurred on Lord Raglan, but how on earth is Lord Raglan, or any other commander in-chief, to get on, when compelled to rely for his supplies on a commissariat establishment wholly in dependent of him, and who deliberately throw away the opportunities offered them in a manner like this. —I have the honour to remain, sir, your most obe dient servant, AN INDIAN OFFICER. Much Ist, 1855. PS.—I see Ministers perpetually claiming credit for the land transport corps, but to whom was the Duke of Newcastle indebted for the idea? Why, to the Earl of Ellenborough ; only that, had the advice of his lordship been taken, it would have been com menced upon in time to be of use at Balaklava, nigh a year ago. OUTGOING PATRONAGE. Sir,—Your last impression contained a letter justly reflecting on the contrast between the Earl of Derby and his opponents in this respect. It is notorious that while the Aberdeen Ministry were in articulo mortis every possible vacancy was made and instantly filled up by people of a kin with their unscrupulous patrons. The late discussion upon the "Woods and Works" brings to my remembrance some very striking in stances of similar conduct on the part of retiring Liberals. By Lord Duncan's return, illustrative of the misdoings of these departments consequent upon the Act 15 and 10 Vic., cap. 42, it is incontestably proved that at the very moment, in February, 1853, when the Liberals were at Buckingham Palace re signing the seals of office, Messrs. Seymour, Hayter, and Co. were driving into the departments in ques tion a flock of youthful proteges in room of the old and tried servants who had been displaced to make way for them. This leads me to expr3sa my regret that Sir John Shelley so narrowed his late motion as to give a pre tence to the Government for saying that it was a perilous interference with the executive, for on that ground alone could anything have been stated in reply. Had Sir John brought forward a demand for inquiry into the notorious and disgraceful transac tions as a whole, which have been resorted to as a means of cheating the country out of that " better management" which was emphatically promised, and for the purpose of maintaining these departments in the state in which they where when Sir Robert Peel happily described them as "the common sewer of the State," no House of Commons would have had the courage to repulse it.—Your obedient ser vant, A VERDEREE. CONSERVATIVE UNION. Sir,—As you justly observed, the present aspect of affairs calls upon Conservatives to pursue a united course of action. Allow me one word on that subject. The Peelite party is, we trust, lost. Its individual members must betake themselves to other standards. Now, why should not the best of them return to their original home, and, sinking the names of Peel and Derby, constitute the great Conservative interest ? One public reason alone is opposed to so desirable a consummation—l speak of the revival of the powers of Convocation in the Church. It is well known, especially among the clergy, that large numbers o Conservative churchmen became followers of Mr. Gladstone mainly in the hope that by that gentle man holding a prominent station in the Government the Church's rights would be restored to her'• UP-