The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-09-19 00:00:00

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FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE•

%* Owing to a pressure of other matter, out•
Paris letter is held over.
ITALY.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
MILAN, Sept. 14.

It has gone the round of all the Italian journal§
that Victor Emmanuel said, a few days ago, to
one of his intimate aides-de-camp, in reference to
the present 'held movement of the Piedmontese
army: " I confess that at present I play for a large
stake; but what the deuce am Itodo ? "If I lose
my crown, I could easily find the post of Colonel
in some army." This is the language which is
attributed to the soldier king, and judging from
the tone of the semi-official journals of Turin and
Milan, his Majesty seems determined to risk
everything rather than turn back, and oven if he
were disposed to do so. the present state of feel-
ing- is such, that it would be a death-blow to the
Government and security of the country. Cavour
being fully aware of this fact, onward they
must
xnarch whatever may be the consequences of this
c,xtraordinary movement of -the Government. I
ay extraordinary, because it is scarcely a fort-
zight ago that the same Government in the most
energetic and menacing manner impeded the
departure of Nicotera'S expedition for the invasion
of the Marches and Umbria, and even went so far
as to point the guns of the Mole at Leghorn
against the Steamers; on board of which were the
TOlnnteers. The condition of the Roman States

is the same now as it was when. Nicotera at-
tempted to leave the port of Leghorn in order to
carry, out. Garibaldi's instructions of landing his
men on the -Pontifical frontier. It. is now a little
more than a week that the Minister of the Interior,
Parini, and General Cialdini, .returned from
Chambery, after presenting their Sovereign's con-
gratiflatiOns to their Imperial Majesties, and since
the day of their return, it was seen by everyone
-that there was more than the ordinary movement
the offices of the Minister of War, which led
to the rumour that the Government was on the
point to take a decided step in reference to the
affairs of Naples and Rome. and many journals
positively asserted that Victor Emmanuel and
Napoleon perfectly understood each other upon the
line of policy to be pursued by the former, and
ridiculed the idea of the Emperor's letter .to the
King of Sardinia advising him not to interfere
with the, Roman States., asserting that this was
only another astute move upon the great. diplo-
matic chess-board. which has been played by the.
French Emperor with such consummate skill since
the peace of Villafranca. -Without wishing entirely
to - subscribe to this view of the political game.
between -France, and Piedmont, but rather sup-
posing that the late moves that have been made
by France are really serious—namely, the with-
drawal of the French Ambassador from Turin,
and the recent note orthe .31onitiur,--ive must
a4Mitthat France is somewhat piqued at being
checkmated by Piedmont in the affairs of Naples
and Rome, and that. the Governdient of Thrin, at
the time of Farini's and Cialdini's departure for
Chambery, was perfectly acquainted with their.
intended policy, and charged these Envoys either
to freiiiitly submit " the same to the Emperor or
simply to indirectly sound him upon the same, and
-which, if unfavourable to the-determination taken
:by the Piedmontese Government,. was resolved to
:act at its own, risk, despite all the remonstrances
f France. From the present progress that eVents-
have lately taken, we must in . a Very few days
know whether this apparent disapprobation on
'the part of France is a mere comedy, or that, she
is determined to abandon Piedmont to all the
consequences, that may arise &OM her present
..aggression of the Papal States. In this city we
hear but one subject in the mouth of every Italian
War !- War ! And taking the appearances of
the last few days, the Government has assumed
an activity and energy which shows the detcr-
-Mins.tion with which she is resolved-to prepare
herself for coming events. Nearly every day
-hundreds of-young men, who are included in the
'levy of 1839, are continually arriving here from
'the provinces, and immediately despatched to the
.varions military depots for drill and enrolment
'in different regiments. Two battalions of the
National Guards of Milan, numbering 1,200 men,
left here this morning, in order to, form part of,
. the garrison service for Alessandria and 13olognai,
in my next I shall be obliged to make
,some

vbservations on the manner in which these batta-
lions have been formed. The Government has
already called out ten battalions of the National
Guards from the principal cities of the kingdom,
and it is expected that, should Austria attempt

any aggressive movement on the Po or Miacio,
forty battalions more will be immediately called
under arms for garrison service. We also expect,
in a few days, a decree from the Minister of War
fOr another levy of the conscripts of 1840. All is
'war and rumours of war. Cialdini and anti's
corps are making a triumphant march, taking
•everything before there, having already made not
less than 2,000 prisoners. They are now march-
ing towards Ancoca, where Lamoriciere has
entrenched himself with about 10,000 of his best
troops—the number of the Piedmontese is not less
than 45,000, so that poor Lamoriciere has not.
the slightest whence of success—the result of the
engagement you will doubtless hear before you
recei-7e this.
The in7tportence and rapid stride§ which the poli-
tical events of this country have taken within
the last vi.f.ek, precluded my giving to your
musical readers the result of Botte 'sini's opera,
the annual concert and distribution of premiums
at the Corservatorio di Musica, and a few parti-
cule.es relating to the great festivities enjoyed by
the Italians for the cultivation of their musical
talents. I shall, therefore, commence with the
Scala, which opened its doors for the autumnal
season on the sth instant, when one of those
most extraordinary phenomenona, that have
been witnessed at this theatre for the last twelve
year., inaugurated the first night's performance :
the complete success of a new opera, anew ballet,
and what is also most satisfaaory, viiry respeCta-
ble artists ; in fact, the Scala seems 0 have a
share of that brilliant success and applause which
are now crowning the achievements of Garibaldi
at Naples, and the splendid cheers of welcome
given by the people of the Marches and Umbria
to • Cialdini's victorious commencement. The
'opera, as I .stated -in my former letters, is a new
ssedio di _Firenze ; and as
'Work 'by Bottesini, L'4
P-very one here knows the profound knowledge
teat the composer possesses of his art, and especi-
atiy fie a concertista, something superior to what
we ;have been' of late years doomed to mar at
Itiis•grelit theatre, was expected.frora.t4e young
nted,
maestro ; nor Was this expectation dasappoi
inafmauch as the opera was loudly and deservedly
applauded from the beginning to the end ; the
pieces whiCh called forth the loudest applause
being the' overture; especially the adagio, which
isireplete with
_that graceful anal exquisite instru-
mentation which Bottesini is so great
a master.
The.. Opening. chorus, the duett for the bass and
'tenor, and particularly the chorus of female voices
In the fourth scene, is one of those charming'
itiSpirations which could only emanate from the
rich fancy- and musical soul of an Italian. The
same observation is applicable to the cavatina
for the soprani (Signora Fiorentini), and the
duet for the soprani and tenor,{Signor Valentine).
The male Of the first act is a siileActi4 composi-
tion, tlx concerted parts and choruses being sang
with the greatest effect, and was deserveay
APplauded by one of the most numerous and
elegant audiences that I have ever witnessed in
the Scala at this season. The first scene of the
second ,act represents the studio of the great
Michael Angelo, and here we have another bold
end martial chorus and aria for the basso (Della-
Costa), but the most passionate and sublime La-
' Ipiration of the. opera is the romanza for the tenor
in the same act -" Vidi tua Bella imagine," which
`was given by Valentini with the purest grace of
At true Italian artist, who possesses a splendid
:voice and knows how to use it. This rornanza,
I.rom its extreme simplicity, must, when heard,
become a great favourite among. our English tenors.
There is also a fine duet for the soprano, and bari-
tone tSignor Cotogne), which was also much
applauded. The finale of the second act is per-
haps even supetior to that of the first, and bears
IL striking, similarity to the Mercadante school,
the applause of the public almost justifying an
expression of an old habitue, " Per Bacco un
vero enthusiasmo." Almost all the pieces of the
third
net are of a martial charaetor, not entirely
nulike Meyerbeer's s, Huguenots," beautifully
ranged, and possessing great dramatic effect,
pecially the recitative and duet of the soprana
• and tenor, and the drinking song of the baritone,
l'ho in this difficult composition gave evidence of
a very fine voice and consummate skill as an actor.
The opera ended as it began, amid The warmest

applause, Bot.tesini having been called to the foot-
lights not less than _fifteen times, .and. he, I am
mire, Went home singing and dancing,
Milanese." ave Daghela avanti passo." The
seeress, Fusco, ballet met with the same the .p Opular
co, the com-
poser, being honoured with six Calls to make his
bow to the applauding audience. Some of the
scenes are very splendid, especially the banqueting
hall of the great. Visconti, and the tournament.
Even the horses seemed to be determined to have
their share of the 'applause, as trier dashed on
and off the stage in the most. martial style, and
when Marco ViSconti and Ottorino came to close
quarters; in order to represent that terriblecOmbat
we read of in Grossi's delightful romance of the
same name, the horses praneed, turned and
dashed at each other, as if they came from the
same stud of trained war-horses in the " glorious
days of chivalry." The principal dancer, Signora
Meronte, was well received, and the inimitable,
rapid, and graceful movements and smiling youth
'of the pupils of the Royal Dancing Academy
also received their share of applanse-from an
audience that seemed to have entered -the theatre
with the determination to applaud everything
and everyone.
The annual concert. of the Conservatorio
di
Musica (the Royal Academy of Music). for the
distribution of premiams took place on the Bth
inst.., and was crowded in every part by the
nobility and gentry of Milan. The vice-governor
presided in the absence of the governor. The
concert opened with a symphony' composed by
Brida Giano, one of the students of the academy.
This composition is fall a the. most exquisite
movements and -perfect instrumentation, which
are most creditable to .the prograss that _the
Young 'composer, has already made in his profes-
sion. The execution' was perfect, and warmly
applauded. The next was 'a Notturnino, also
composed by a young student, 'Giovanni 'Burgio,
and executed by the students, Zappa, Ferrari,
and Visconti. The next piece worthy of Mention
was a fantasia .for the clarionet, composed and
executed by Corrado Luigi, who gave the surest
promise to become an excellent perfOrMer And
composer of no ordinary merit.. Other vocal and
instrumental piec'es were executed with a
precision which gives the best evidence of the
progress of the pupils of this renowned'academy.
The chief feature, however, a the concert was
a species of apotheosis or national hymn, entitled
" The Fourth of June," with solos, .chorus of
martyrs, angels, and youths ; the music .by
Franceseo Fanco, and the,. poetry by Arrigo
-Boit% and dedicated to their late fellow student
and companion, Gustavo Colletti, who fell last
year at the engagement at Rezzate, while
bravely fighting in the feanks of Garibaldi's
famous Cacciatori della Alpi. The. composition
-and poetry possess the most ardent and patriotic
inspirations, which the present exciting state a
Italy have afforded for the display of the brilliant
and passionate imagination of 'the young com-
posers. The chorus. of the Italian wartyrs is,
perhaps, the most fervid composition that has ,
been heard for many years at this academy :
there is something so, wild and soul-stirring in
the first dozen bars, that the auditor feels a cold
chill flying all over his frame, and in another
instant finds himself irresistibly applauding with
enthusiasm this splendid chorus. The whole
• eomposition was warmly' Applauded by the
audience, especially by the ladies. The concert
concluded with Beethoven's .overture of " corio-
-janns," one of the great composers most brilliant
Ileorapositions, to which may be applied what was
said of the tragedy of Corneille: elle ajaute
l'idt:e de la grandeur Romaine.
Having already said so much about the, Scala
and the Conser vatorio, I intend to tax' the pa-

tience of your readers by extending this subject
to a few more lines, which may not be uninter-
esting. We (EnglA) cannot deny the supe-
riority of the Italians over us in music, and we
are often disposed to boast that there is no
country under the sun that enjoys greater advan-
tages than are to be found in our own .country.:
This is a great error;. and I will prove it in this
and my subsequent letters upon the fine arts and
education of the people, taking for the first, as
an illustration of my assertion, the facilities
offered in this country for the development of
the musical talent of the Italians. The Conser-
vatorio of Milan, which is universally admitted
tor be one of the first musical -academies in
Europe, is open, I may almost say, free' to the
children of every class of the people of this
kingdom. At this ConservatOrio every instru-
ment of the orchestra is taught—also composi-
tion, singing, pianoforte, harp, and organ ; besides
which the pupils are also instructed in Italian,
French, history, religion, and declamation. The age
of admittance is from ten years to eighteen, the lat-
ter age being for those who are already advanced
in the study of music, and who have selected
their career as singers. There is not the slightest
difficulty, in entering, the only qualifications being
respectable character and a knowledge of the
most elementary rudiments of music. To this
great and gelebrated academy, boasting as it does
the first instrumental and vocal professors of
Italy, your readers will be somewhat surprised
to hear that not as raction is paid for admission,
and the monthly pyment for each student is the _
miserable sum of five francs ! This is not all. If
the pupils distinguish themselves in this particu-
lar branch of study, and, belong to a very poor
family, the Government not only gives them
instruction free, but grants a pension sufficiently
large to maintain them daring the period of their
education. At the above monthly payment every
mechanic or tradesman whose on or daughter
evinges the slightest passion for music, can semi
his child to this conservatorio, where, if they do
not succeed to become great artists like Grisi,
Crivelli, Lotte, Rubini, Brambilla, Piatti, and
others,, all :have at least by their own industry, a
means of gaining for themselves an honourable
and respectable living. With these facilities and
the advantages of climate, ought
we to be sur-
prised that the Italians so completely surpaPs us
in this art ? Have you in England an institution
similar to the Conservatorio of Milan Does our
Royal Academy of Music offer like advantages ?
I am informed that the Government, in order to
give greater facilities to the pupils, intend to
introduce, a new system of instruction embracing
the works of all the most celebrated composers of
the German school. lam delighted to have this
news, because notwithatanding the great capacity
of many of the best professor 4
this academy,
they were totally ignorant of, and entirely de-
spised the music of the German school.
I also
hear that for the future there are to be four pub-
lic concerts for the performances of the pupils,
and their productions instead of at present only
orXe; which cannot fail to create a feeling of
praiseworthy emulation among the pupils, and
thereby
produce the most beneficial results. Why
should not the Italians be musical, and con-
stantly humming the most popular airs of the
great Italian composers, and tte hu
nablest cob-
bler of the city
criticising with a jadguaeo,and,
apparent artistic knowledge of his subject, the
operas of this or that composer, and this orothat
singer, which would surprise many of our Eng-
' lish musical critics, when they can go to the
Great Seale for Piro francs and sixty centimes,
orfi to
sa
efie
vc foriea iil tugs i
to their mind a 4 ,t,04,37 than
P
nit*Y:os,ntiroes, which they
u the wine or liquor
shops. To
naorrow evening we are to have Ros,
.
siiii's Guglielmo ,
passing
morenthgethheeinr gallery
Tell the result of which I will
,I give iu a suusequent letter.
___.------

THE SELEC Fslrlly usual fortnightly meet-
ing of this board was bell
yesterday at the board-room,
T F
Brownlow Hill. The Rev. Rector Campbell presided.
The other vestrymen present were Messrs: Owens, Scott,
E. Byford, Bairstow, Smith, Satchel', Whitty, Cropper,
Critchley, Williams, Atkin, 'Goodacre, Turner, Jones,
Lightbound, Dalton, A. Byford, Peck, Cooke, Luff.
The minutes a the last meeting were read and con-
, purely of a
firmed, and the business trPsVted was
routine character. Mr. George ?If etlY 4q7.0 his
. .• •
resignation as a vestryman, assigning as a reason that
he could not attend the meetings with regularity. It
was accepted without comment, and notice was given to
elect another
,gentlemap in his lace. The following
tenders were accepted:—Ale, poser,
44d harm, Isaac
and James Glover ; butcher's meat, James Hall and
Son ; boots and shoes, W. and J. Line brushes, Walter
Magan ; butter and cheese, Henry Pearson ; candles
and soap, Henry Tate and Co, ; clog soles, William
Owen; coals, Robert James and Co. ; coffins, William
Coopex; drysaltery, S. H. and S. Johnson; flour, wheat,
&c., john phillips; groceries, Henry Tate and Co. ;
ironmongery, j'okr,
P. Bateman; linen drapery, Peter
Williams; milk and butter, referred to the workhouse
committee ; peas, GloVer And Sillitoe ,• port* wine,
referred to a special committee; potaces, John Ahearn;
printing and stationery,
'George Aftniquodale ; salt,
2-atria Reardon ; smallwares, Joseph Biugharo ; Btraw
bonnets, gargaret Robinson ; tobacco and snuff, Wil-
liam
Mfigillan ; wines and spirits, Thomas Baty and
~Pn; Woollen (knell', Peter .Williams. There being
onV one tender foy each
.of lbe following articles, they
were not operiEl? :—DrilsB:licti -and straw, leather,
and timber.