The Press.
London, England, 1855-08-04 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

ruin to the great body of landed proprietors in
Russia. It is singular that those persons who have
had most actual experience of Russian life should
express so poor an opinion of the resources of the
country, and should take a leading part in spreading
and uphol►ling the notion that Russia would be un •
equal to the maintenance of a vigorous contest. It
is probable that these writers (who we suspect have
done some mischief) have themselves been misled by
their superficial knowledge, and that they in reality
know very little of the true genius and animating
motive of the country they have visited. The
remaining war article, on " The Cabinet and the
Conferences," reviews the conduct of " Little John "
at Vienna. "To negotiate with a power like
" Austria," says the writer, " was to invite deceit."
The following paragraph is confirmatory of the view
expressed in an article iu THE PRESS of the 21st
July

The last Austrian overtures were transmitted from
Vienna on the 16th May, and they were not rejected by
the British Government until the 29th;—what occurred iu
the interval ? if the Cabinet were so united as we are
expected to believe, and if no idea of accepting the Austrian
proposals were entertained after the first week of May,
how came it that Count Buol so grievously misinterpreted
the language of the Cabinet as to send two new and elabo-
rate propositions on the 16th, and that the Ministry
should have been so singularly tardy as not to have re-
jected these overtures till the end of the month? We
must leave it to the future to fully expose the deceit of the
Cabinet on this point ; but it needs something more than
the word of the present Premier, or of the ex-Secretary of
the Colonies, to convince us that Count Buol and the
English public were alike wrong in imagining that the
Ministry gave ear to the Austrian proposals, and that the
well-informed leader of the Opposition was mistaken when
he brought forward his famous motion ehirging the Mi-
nistry with " ambiguity of language and uncertainty of con-
duct" in regard to the Conferences. In fact, we know
that Count Buol's final proposals must have been received
at the Foreign-office on the 19th of May; in the miming
of the 21st a Cabinet Council was held; and in the even-
ing the statement made by Lord Palmerston, which induced
the withdrawal of Mr. M. Gibson's motion, was the ex-
press assurance that the Government " did nut consider
all the modes of solving the questions at issue as exhausted,
and that Austria was still charged by her own voluntary
assumption with the task of discovering a means of bring-
ing about au accommodation between the contending
parties." " There were no questions with regard to any
fresh negotiations which created any long deliberations in
the Cabinet," is the ambiguous phrase of Lord John Rus-
sell in his farewell speech (July 16); and Sir George
Grey, on the same evening, while declining to make any
direct statement in answer to the charges of the Opposi-
tion chiefs on this subject, expressed his defence to the
Ministry in a form eminently suggestive of suspicion.
" I at the close of that week,' he said—referring to the
first week of May—" should have been prepared to assert,
that it was the unanimous decision of the Cabinet that
the Austrian proposals should be rejected." It is abun-
dantly evident that every word of the speech from which
this sentence is extracted was carefully weighed before it
was uttered ; and yet, what is the actual import of it, when
stripped of its circumlocutory vagueness, but that Sir
George Grey speaks only for the punctum imports at the
end of the first week of May, and refused to vouch for the
unanimity of the Cabinet in the three weeks that fol-
lowed? That there was a division of opinion, and a desire
to accept the Austrian proposals, in the Cabinet, during
the latter half of May, we firmly believe ; and in oorro-
beration it is to be observed that, contrary to his custom
of answering despatches the day after receipt, Lord
Clarendon's reply rejecting count Buol's proposals was
not written till the 29th—the intervening period having
been spent in feeling the pulse of the House of Commons,
after a vain attempt to evade its vigilance. The country
is not yet sufficiently aware of the debt of gratitude which
it owes to Mr. Disraeli for his prompt interference on this
occasion, and to the Opposition generally for the energetic
following up of a debate which compelled the Ministry
to abandon their deceitful efforts after an ignominious
peace.

Of the other articles we may briefly say, that the
pretty story of "Zaidee," contrary to our expectation
last mouth, when a general pairing of couples and
distribution of happiness seemed to indicate the
close of the tale, opens with fresh spirit; Mr.
Warren's "Blackstone" meets with a competent and
candid critic, Mr. Kingsley's " Olaucus " with plea-
sant comment, and the " Notes on Canada"
supply an instructive chapter on the Upper Missis-
sippi.

Fraser opens with a laudatory review of the policy
of Lord Dalhousie as Governor-General of India.
The article is too slight, and written with too little
knowledge of the subject, to merit detailed notice.
Persons really cognisant of the leading facts of his
lordship's rule will only smile at the assertion that
" he has earned the reputation of being India's most
"successful governor." The review of Dr. Doran's
" Lives of the Queens of Hanover" seems too sharp,
as his work only pretended to be of a sketchy, anec-
dotical character. The only article bearing upon the
war is that on " Austrian Nationalities," which gives
in detail the component parts of the Austrian
empire :
Estimating the population geographically in the first
instance, we shall state it with such accuracy as conflicting
records may render possible

SATURDAT,

I.—EASTERN DIVISION OF THE EIEPTRE.
I. Ibingary, about
4. Tnutsylrania
8. Military Frontier
4. Gallicia

Total

IL—SOUTHERN OE ITALIAN DIVISION.
1. Lombardy 2,800,000
2. Venetian Province's

Total
lII.—CENTRAL OR GERMANIC DIVISION.

1. Upper and Lower Austria 2,750,0(10
2. Moravia and Silesia 2,500,000

3. Bohemia _ 4:500,000

4. Styria and Tyrol
O. Carinthia and Carniola
6. Littoral and Dalmatia

Total 13,800,000
On the Vienna negotiations the writer asserts that
Austria has not only evinced moral cowardice of no
ordinary character, but has committed an " unpar-
" donable breach of faith " in not acting up to the
treaty of December. Among the lighter contribu-
tions to the magazine is a short poem upon "Dream-
Land," by Edwin Arnold. The opening lines ale
exquisite :

DH&AY•LAND.
Wonderful Life!
So sad with partings, and so sweet with meetings,
Made up of wild farewells, and wilder greetings;
Oh word, with wonder rife !

What do we here ?
Whence come we with this longing loving breast?
Why do we live to die? we fear our rest;
And are afraid to fear !
Ah! tell us why,
Why are our pleasures dead within the day,
While pains make nest-homes of our hearts and stay !
Wherefore comes misery?
And wherefore pain?
And why on our sad Planet, else so fair,
Dwell Hate, and Cowardice, and pale Despair,
And the hot rage for gain ?
Moon and sweet stars !
Hath God cursed us of all his orbs in Heaven?
Drive we alone, rayless and unforgiven,
Bloody with brother-wars ?
Speak if ye know !
Why lose we what we love longest and best?
Shine, Sisters ! shine upon our dark unrest
Saying, it is nut so!
I miss a face,
• - - - - - - -

A friend, whose love was to my life its heart;
Why are our eyes and hands riven apart?
Why—even for a space ?
There are several other articles not calling for special
remark.

Colburn's New Monthly continues its instructive
articles upon the continental armies, and this month
relates in detail the number, organisation, and niate.
riel of the smaller German Powers. Exclusive of
reserves, garrisons, and depots, the writer estimates
the available active force of the German Powers to
consist of 186,200 infantry, 21,880 cavalry, 15,850
engineers, with 460 guns—a respectable force, which
he observes could aid us materially in our opera-
tions. He proposes that, as we did last century, we
should do now—buy up the regiments at so much a
score, instead of seducing the riff raff to desert their
colours and take refuge at Heligoland, The lighter
articles are numerous and varied, including sketches
of " German Student Life," and of " The Italian Re-
volution," " Notes upon French Literature," and light
romances.

Bentley opens with an able sketch of the "Pro-
gress of the War," iu which General Pelissier's
despatch is quietly taken to pieces and shown to have
been written chiefly with a view to save himself from
reproach by casting blame upon every one else. The
detailed account, of " The Battle of Inkermann " is
good, and of some interest; it is an abstract from a
pamphlet which has been printed at St. Petersburg.
It is curious and gratifying to read how the Cold-
streams are called "the Giant Coldstreams," from
their size, and how their indomitable bravery is
eulogised. Twenty-nine thousand four hundred is
all tLe Russians aver they had in the field, and the
present writer in the magazine appears disposed to
throw considerable discredit upon the French and
English versions and bulletins of the battle. A
review of Marshal St. Arnaud's letters, in which the
originals are largely quoted, shows how thoroughly
St. Arnaud regarded himself as the soul of the expe-
dition. It is always I—l did this, and I will do
that. Lord Raglan must have had a difficult part to
play iu reconciling the exactions of his impetuous
coadjutor with his own sense of duty.

Rossim is staying at the waters of Trouville. A
correspondent of the Brussels Inckpendance says that
the great composer travelled there partly by post-
horses and partly by water—railways inspiring him
With great terror.

MI

4

AUG. 4, 1855.

pusit.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

ON Saturday night last Grisi's positive engagement
for " seven nights only " came to a close. She has
performed, in all, nineteen times this season, out of
which Norma carries off the palm with five repre-
sentations against four of Valentine in The Hugue-
nots. four of Leonora in the Favorita, four of
Lucrezia, arid two of Norina in Don Pasquale. This
is a fair repertoire for a singer with failing powers ;
for, despite all that kind critics say and friends would
ignore, Grisi is not the singer now that she was even
a few years ago. Her acting is as fine and as impas-
eioned as ever, but her voice is failing, becoming
thin and sharp, and rapidly losing that volume and
richness of quality for which it was always so remark-
able. Great singers must, like the rest of us, sub-
ject themselves to the inexorable rules of mortality ;
and though, like the Roman emperor, " they may
play their parts well," they must not forget to "go
off the stage decently." Nothing has been said this
year about Grisi's retiring—we have had no farewell
benefits and ovations. Perhaps after last season's
display the affair might have proved tame upon
repetition, and enthusiasm have been found wanting.
Nevertheless, we should like to know whether the last
appearance on Saturday was in bond fide, or only the
prelude to a reappearance next May, theugh either
way it was good taste and better sense to avoid a second
" Farewell." To say that this season she has ex-
cited the old furore which used to greet her appear-
ance upon the stage, would be rather an exaggeration.
The house, in general, was cold, frequently indif-
ferent, and—unless warmed into something like
enthusiasm by a flash here and there of her old
spirit, which recalled the traditionary glories and
triumphs of Giulia Grisi—seldom vouschafed any
very forcible demonstration of its pleasure. Leonora
and Valentine were certainly the two favorite imper-
sonations of the public, though Grisi herself, true to
her instinctive genius, far preferred the majestic
character of Norma. Perhaps she was right : her
acting has never lost the stamp which her genius, in
addition to, has won, and rivetted upon, her
reputation as a singer. Yet on Saturday last few
who witnessed that burst of passion and pathos in
the great scene of The Huguenots would allow that
Grisi could produce a greater impression in any
character. The whole audience, fairly carried away
for once in the season, rose en masse, and cheered
vociferously, while showers of bouquets were thrown
upon the stage to the fair prima donna. If this had
been her last appearance on the stage, Grisi could
not have received for the time a more enthusiastic
ovation, nor was it ever more deservedly won. Of
Mario, whose name is always coupled with Grisi, we
need say little but that be has achieved one uninter-
rupted triumph throughout the season. His voice,
so far from failing, has been fresher, sweeter, and
more vigorous than ever. Never before has he sang
" Angiol d'amore," " Nobil donna," " Mio Tesoro,"
and his other world famous songs, with such suc-
cess. His health appears thoroughly re-established ;
and we trust he will next season resume his place
oace more on the boards of the Italian Opera.
On Tuesday evening the Prophite was given, for
the first time this year. It is rather late in the sea-
son to bring forward so great a work, but since Grisi's
reappearance and performances we have not seen
much of Mme. Viardot, except occasionally upon long
nights in the Barbiere, while Signor Tamberlik has
also appeared less frequently this season than usual
probably from the same cause, and hence the per,
formance of Tuesday excited more than ordinar-
interest. The cast differed in no material respecy
from that of last year, the three prominent charact
!rs being allotted to the same performers—Mme.-
Viardot (Fides), Mlle. Marai (Berta), and Signor
Tamberlik (the Prophet). The Fides of Mine.
Viardot is too well known to need description. It is
the same in every respect as we have been accus-
tomed to : exaggerated in points, it is manifestly too
much overdone, too studied a character, for a plain,
peasant mother, yet it is a performance full of the
highest traits of dramatic genius and intellectual
conception. Every point told : the scene where
Fides intercedes with Oberthal for Berta's mar-
riage, the air, " 0 Figlio mio, the diro ?" a most
plaintive piece of singing, the scene of the coro-
nation, where she recognises her own son in the
impostor, and lastly, in the prison scene, every effort
was admired and applauded. The Jean of Leyden
of Signor Tamberlik was admirable throughout. The
grandest singing of the night was in that splendid
declamatory outburst, "Re del cielo e de' beati," in
which his famous chest notes, B and C natural, were
again given with amazing force, and the drinking
song in the last scene, " Beviam e interno giri, '
excited as usual the most enthusiastic applause, the
house recalling Signor Tamberlik before the curtain.
Of Mlle. Marai's Berta, nothing could be better; it
was thoroughly effective in every point, and in each
scene where Fides and Berta come together Mlle.
Marai fairly divided the applause with her more ex-