The Press.
London, England, 1855-07-14 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

series of onlerly effects and causes, from all intrusive
disturbances of that order.
Yet such a position is highly unphilosophical.
It we had no evidence that there was at one t►me a
condition of the earth when man did not exist upon
it, the question how he was created might be met by
saying that he existed from all tune; and to such a
reply, unsatisfaffory as it might be, it would be diffi-
cult to frame a logical refutation. But when it is
proved that man's existence on the globe is referable
to a comparatively modern epoch, the conclusion that
he owes his being to some direct act of creative
power, and not to " a series of orderly effects and
" causes," is irresistible. Professor Powell belongs,
we fear, much more to the theological school of
John Henry Newman than to that of the Church of
England.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
BOOKS.

The Spanish Conquest in America. Arthur Helps. J. W.
Parker and Son.
The Rights of Employer and Employed. M. Justitia.
Simpkin and Marshall.
Saunders and
Utley.
The Intistence Exerted by the Mind over the Body. John
Glen, M.A. Blackwoods.
A Lost Lore. Ashford Owen. Smith and Elder.
A Londoner's it to the Lands • End. Walter White.
Chapman and Hall.
Hendrick Conscience. Lambert
and Co.
The Curse of the Village and the Happiness of being Rich.
Do. Do.
Vera, or the War of the Peasants. Do. Do.
Live and Learn, esv. J. F. Shaw.
My Travels, or An Unsentimental Journey through France,
Sivitseriand, and Italy. Captain Chewier, R.N. Hurst
and Blackett.
Robeson.

Olympia; or, The Cave of Inhuman.

the Lion of Flanders.

The Pulpit. Vol 67.

PAMPHLETS.
Charterhomse Reconstructed. By a Non• Commissioner.
Longmaus.

4d/simian:tine Reform. Rer. Dr. F. Maurice.
Bell and Dalay.
The St. James's Medley. No. 111. J. Nuttell.
The Volcanic Cause of Epidemic Cholera, Alluensa, Plague,
te. Alfred Fenninge. Newbold
Noses from France on the War with Russia. By a Clergy•
man of the Church of England. Ward and Co

I,I4IIODICALS.

Bosworth

Yew Quarterly.

Vusit.

DRURY LANE.

WE have been compelled lately, from want of space,
to postpone our notices of the successful continuance
of a cheap Italian Opera at this house. From three
performances a week they have speedily reached a
performance every night, and despite the attractions
of Covent Garden, on orthodox opera nights we
question whether that house even could show so
crowded an audience as Drury Lane now nightly
exhibits. Since our last notice Mme. Gassier, who
was the most charming Rosina, the best character of
her role, has taken her falewell benefit, and Mme.
Lucy Escott, an American singer of some little
repute upon the Continent, has made her debut, in
addition to Mine. Arga, Miss Huddart, and Signor
Flavio. The benefit of Alma. Gassier took place on
Wednesday night, when the house was crowded to
that excess which the old nights of Jenny Lind alone
equalled. The Barbiere de Seviglia, and the last
act of Sonambula, were chosen for the occasion, and
Mme. Gassier did full justice to her part. She never
sung with greater brilliancy or finish as Rosina, and
in the "Ali non giunge" the enthusiasm of the house
was most rapturous. The ceremony of presenting a
piece of plate to her had little to interest the
audience, and would have been better confined to
the green-room. Miss Escott, who has made her
debut for some little time now, deserves a word or
two in commendation of her performance of Elena
in the Donna del Lago, as well as of Lucia in that
favorite opera. Her voice is a high soprano,
remarkably clear, sweet, and flexible, and her execu-
tion, though here and there betraying a trace of im-
perfect finish, is yet on the whole pure, free from
affectation, and full of refinement and expression.
Her success ss Elena was decided at once by her de.
livery of the opening aria, "Oh mattutini albori ;"
and throughout the opera, whether in concerto
pieces or solos, she fully sustained the expecta-
tions of her friends. Exceedingly graceful in
manner, and with a pleasing and expressive counts.
name, she has made a most favorable impression upon
the public. Miss Fanny Huddart, with her rich
contralto voice, is a most efficient member of the
company. Mine. Arga also combines every requisite
for success. Signor Flavio is, on the whole, a good
tenor, if he would content himself with his chest
notes, and not strain his falsetto so much ; while
Signor Armareli and Mr. Hamilton Braharn are
both effective and prominent in their several pare.
La Cenerentoki is promised, in which Mme. Favanti

SATURDAY,

will appear again before the public, and we hope
with success ; and Puritani, in which Miss Escott will
perform. The departure of Mme. Gassier is a loss
to the house, but the energy of the lessee will no
doubt be still further exerted to sustain the popu-
larity of this attempt to establish a cheap Italian
Opera in London as one of our modern institutions.
The entertainment that is now offered at Drury Lane
is far from being inferior, considering the many cir-
cumstances which are required to bring out an opera
successfully, and the extremely low price at which
the public are admitted. On the contrary, there is
much which deserves the highest praise, both in
principle and practice; and the success which has
attended the attempt may be regarded as a very clear
proof that the sixpenny and shilling class of visitors
are only too glad of the opportunity afforded them to
hear good mus►c and good singing at a cost within
their means.

ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
Tun first of a series of reunions of this society took
place on Wednesday evening ; and although the
directors of the Royal Academy have been rather
tardy to invite their pupils and associates to meet to-
gether for the purpose of a public performance, yet
the proposal was most readily responded to, and the
performance highly satisfactory and successful. The
programme was as follows: