The Press.
London, England, 1853-11-19 00:00:00

tort* gut, Xittraturt, k.

A SPECIAL. FLowen Mattarr has been authorised
In Paris, to be held on the eve of Saint Eugenie, the
filte•day of the Empress, Nov. 15.
One of the most prolific dramatists of the ago, M.
PLANsun, has just died in Paris, at an age exceeding
seventy years. The son of an emigei of good family
in Rovergite, the deceased, while yet a child, wits
imprisoned with his mother during the Reign of
Terror, was set free after the 9th Thermidor, and
became a law student in Paris. In ItOwl he obtained
an appointment under the Conned d'Etat., and was
finally made secretary to the legislative department
of that council. Notwithstanding his continual Ile -
ettpittion as a public functionary, M. Plautard, during
forty-six years, prepared a constant series of pieces
for the principal theatres. Ilim last work, Colette,
was produced little more than a fortnight before his
death. lie was the composer, partially or solely, of
more than filly dramatic works, beginning with a
one act piece entitled Le Curieux, performed at the
Lonvais Theatre in 1/4417. In the tonne year be wrote
a play called Le Pererent for the Thialtru Franglais.
TUN newly-appointed director of the electric tele-
graphs in Paris took his oaths of office, in presence
of the Emperor, last week. Among the clauses of
this oath was one by which the now functionary
swore " to keep secret the despatches entrusted to
him, and to give no hint respecting the telegraphic
messages to anybody, without a formal order from
the Minister of the Interior."
Tim [teems Medical Journal states, that from
the first appearance of cholera in St. Petersburg, on
there have been reported cases, of
which 54109 terminated fatally.
THI members of the Paris Academy of the Fine
Arta proceeded, on Saturday last, with the election
of a new member, to supply the vacancy caused by
the death of M. (Mallow. Thirty-live voters were

present, and the ballot was repeated five times before
any candidate could obtain the eighteen votes re-
quired ko give hips an absolute maiority,of suffrages..
In the arid, M. H. Mier was successful, defeating
by tire votes only M. ClaPisson, who obtained six-
teen. ' M. Mann David *as among the candidates,
but, at the ►sat ballot, only a single vote was giVen
in his favour.
TM►: FIARNeII (ioVERNMENT am preparing a decree
by which all tontine associate are to be subject to
state supervision, and obliged to submit their titian
cial position to periodical audits superintended by
certain functionaries app einteal for that purpose.
THE KINO orto PRUNsIA lots remitted the penalties
of fine and imprisonment to which the late editor of
the New Priousian Gaz►tte, M. Wagner, had been
condemed fur various offences against the laws of
the press.
Tux Oan►:R OF THE LION Ole 11Aous has been con-
ferred on Herr Listz, the celebrated pianist.
AN ANeIENT dilrerillg from those of Her-
culaneum and Pompeii in everything but its arcades
of pillars, has been discovered near Scafati, in the
kingdom of Naples. The mansion comprises ten
moms of considerable magnitude. Its upper ps►r-
tions were found at a depth of only four feet be-
neath the surface. Iwo bronze instnunents for
ploughing, Walla Inman skeletons, and the bones of
a large bird, were disinterred from among the ruins.
At Ansonia:lite, .lAstEs MAenosALD, an employi of
Mr. Mackenzie, contractor on the railway, has been
condemned to pay a fine of 2001. for walking on the
line while the red Hag was displayed, indicating
danger.
Lot.'. MoNTvs, wording to the San Francisco
papers, has instituted a suit for divorce from her
new husband. Mr. Ilan.
Itt►lATl has illattti a most successful tUbut at file

Paris Opera, ensuring at the same limo the success
of the new ballet of ./orita. The story of this ballet
is laid among that very unsentimental race the Hue
cowers. Mlle. Jorati (IttKati) is the daughter .4 a
certain Don Jose Corenines, living in some West,
Indian isle unnamed. She loves a naval officer,
Altamiso, who loves her in return, but is at present
engaged in hunting up ZtaiHap, the chief of the
buccaneers, whom he has undertaken to capture witl►
all his men. Zutillaya, however, is on his guard.
Instead of letting himself be taken, be surprises the
mansion of Don CareWats, and carries bun oll*, with
all the family, to the buccaneers' cave. Jorito alone
escapes, 17 hiding herself ; but shortly reappears in
the cavern disguised, and with a tamborine in her
hands. The buccaneers request her to dance for
their entertainment., and, while executing a piquant
series of pus, Jorita contrives to seize a powder horn,
to lay a long train up to some powder-barrels stowed