The Press.
London, England, 1853-06-25 00:00:00

tortign Artistic gossip.

'AWLS= rivalry has lately manifested itself among
the continental entrepreneurs to ',store to the scene
the old but classic dramas of a bygone generation.
Some time ago the Paris Opera Comique exhumed
with silecess Oretry's Fite rillageoise. Nestor
Roqnsplan is preparing the Fermata= of some of the
best piano of the French stage. Spohes Faust was

performed in Munich on June 12, after an unmerited
oblivion of six years. The new version was chosen in
which the author transformed the dialogue into re-
citative, and added several new pieces. Mozart's
Elopement was to follow immediately. Roger made
his dibut, on June 6, in Boildieu's Dame Blanche.
The celebrated romance of Balzac, Le Lys dams la
Vallhe, has been performed at the Comidie Franeaise
by Barriers and Beauplan. The first representation
was a success, though several excisions were ordered
by the (now) defunct Ministry of Police. The prin-
cipal parts were filled by Judith, Maillard, Mlle.
Denain, and Sarah Felix. The critics speak with
great eulogium of the rigorous exactitude of the cos-
tumes belonging to 1816.
At the Odeon, Ponsard's Honour and Money has
reached its hundredth performance, with an increas-
ing success. Jules Janin's Ane Mort has also fur-
nished to M. Barriers the subject of a vaudeville,
which was performed at the Gaietk on Saturday last.
Alboni is expected back from the United States, where
she is said to have earned s million of francs without
having diminished in magnitude. But the news of
the week is the resolut on of Mme. Ugalde to
abandon the opera for the vaudeville, following the
example of poor Jenny Colon.
Johanna Wagner made, last week, her debut at
Frankfort in the part of Romeo in I Capuletti.
Jullien is organising a musical expedition for
America. He will cross the Atlantic with an army
of musicians. For this tour he has engaged several
Belgian artists, who have almost all been attached to
his band, or to some of the theatres in London—
Muille, Pluyser, Ds Prins, Stenebrugge, and Reichert.
The history of the latter is a complete romance.
Some years ago he was a beggar, going from street to
street with a bad flute. Some dilettanti remarked
his talents, and began with buying him another in-
strument, on which the poor fellow practised day and
night. He afterwards became a pupil of the Musical
School in Brussels, and one of the best living flau-
tists. Some days ago he sat as s judge in a musical
competition between Fetis, Mme. Pleyel, De Beriot,
and Servais.
An interesting discovery was made some time ago
at Geneva, that of an unknown fragment of J. J.
Rousseau's " Speech on Richessea," addressed to a
young man (Chrysophile), and which has just been
published.
M. Pozzoli, chancellor to the Austrian consulate-
general at Beyrout, has collected the necessary mate-
rials for the publication of a new and exact map of
Mesopotamia, indicating with great exactness the
distance between the different localities, the ways of
communication, ,ecc., which circumstance makes it of
great importance for trading purposes.
The exhibition now open at Liege is becoming
richer every day, and attracts a great many visitors.
Among the 209 exhibitors we may cite Paul Dela
roche, Hubner, and Koehler (the two last from
Dusseldorf) ; Machelbach and Beckers, for historical
pictures; Chauvin for portraits; and Lapito for
landscapes.
An interesting exhibition is to take place at Berlin
next year of the most remarkable artistic productions
during the last 25 years, the period of the renaissance
of the arts in Germany. The Government has
already conceded the necessary authorisation, and
invitations will be sent forthwith to all German

countries.
Francisco Sainz, the most celebrated Spanish living
painter, a pupil of the Nestor of Spanish painters,
Jose de Madrazo, died some days ago at Madrid, aged
only 90 years.

Pont Print anb• Ciig

FRIDAY EVENING.

The state of the Money Market during the week may be
compared to that peculiar calm in the atmosphere which is
a sure prelude to a storm ; in what manner it will burst en-
tirely depends on the solution of the Eastern question ;
and, therefore, without pretending to speculate on an
event which a few days may now decide, we will merely
state the actual position of the Money Market, and the
probable manner in which it will be influenced. There can
be no doubt that vast masses of money are waiting for in•
vestment, for although the minimum rate of the Bank is 3i
per cent., the hanks, both private and joint stock, are so
tull of money that they are lending it on short bills of
exchange and on call at 21 per cent.
In the Stock Exchange money is not worth more than
11 per cent., and such is the demand for Stock on the part
of the public that the jobbers are borrowers of Stock for
short periods.
The result of this state of affairs, should peace be pre-
served, must be a considerable rise in all funded railway
securities ; even in the event of a rupture, so long as
France and England remain united, we do not apprehend
a very considerable decline ; for so long as Australia and
California continue to supply gold inthe present ratio, and
as our whole monetary system is based on the quantity of
gold in the coffers of the Bank, we can hardly imagine a
state of things in which the supply will not exceed the de•

mend, and consequently the rate of money will not rise
above its present rate for some time to come.
-- - -

If any embarrassment arises it will be caused by Mr.
Gladstone's financial scheme (so far as the conversion part
of it goes) having for the present totally miscarried; and
as the matter now stands, in consequence of the holders
of South Sea Stock having resolved to take money instead
of stock, Mr. Gladstone, or his successor, will have to
provide, before the next budget makes its appearance, for
the paying off of dissentients to the extent of 8,200,0001. ;
to this may be added 2,700,000/. Exchequer Bills which
the holders declined to renew.

It will be well for Mr. Gladstone to ponder on his posi-
tion, as it is to the failure of his conversion scheme that
the rise in the rate of interest by the Bank of England is
to be attributed ; for the Bank, being entirely fettered in
its operations by the working of its absurd charter, is
obliged to make provision for the wants of the Govern-
ment,—wants which in the event of war would be attended
with the utmost embarrassment to both Government and
the public, for not only would these dissentients to the
conversion scheme have to be provided for, but, unless
Mr. Gladstone raised the rate of interest on Exchequer
Bills, the holders would, at the time of renewal, demand
to be paid otf.
We fully expect, therefore, that Mr. Gladstone will apply
the surplus revenue for the next quarter in extinguishing
the Exchequer Bills sent in for payment, the Bank, in the
meantime, making such advances as the Government may
require.
Mr. Gladstone's plan is only calculated for a state of the
most profound peace, and indeed we very much question
either the policy or the practicability of reducing the whole
debt of England to a two-and-a-half per cent. stock, for
people will endeavour, and for many years will be able, to
employ their money in America, Canada, and in foreign
railways, at a higher rate ; and we question the wisdom of
driving them to invest in foreign lands that capital to
which we are indebted for our present proud financial posi-
tion. We would far sooner seek to reduce the debt by
converting it into terminable annuities than drive the
capital out of the country by reducing the interest too low.
The transactions in the funds during the week have
been very limited, but the market has shown great steadi•
ness and firmness, Consols closing this afternoon 9of j.
The market for foreign funds and railways, both English
and Foreibm, closed this afternoon very firm, in conse-
quence of a telegraphic despatch announcing that the
French funds have risen to Tit 20c.
The closing quotations will be found below.

PRICES CURRENT.

DEMON FUNDS. Closing Prices.

OFFICIAL QUOTATION.

3 per Cent. Consols ....
Ditto for Account
3 per Cents Reduced ....
31 per Cents
Long Annuities
Rank Stock, 7 per Cent
India Stock,lol per Cnt.
Exch. Dills, Id. per diem
India Bonds, (1,000)

98
99
101
51
2281

1. pm.
I

984
99
104
51541
229

Belgian 44 p Ct.
Ditto 2i
Brazilian 5
Du. New 44
Buenos A) res 0
Chilian 0
Danish 5
Ditto 3
Dtch. (Ex 12 Guil )21
Ditto 4
French 3
Granada Deferred
Greek, red —

.129. pi

Du. blue
IdexlcW► 3

Wed.

—DO.Account 3
Peruvian 4}
Portuguese 5
Ditto 4
Russian 5
Ditto 44
Sardinian • 5
Spanish 3
Do. New Deferred 3
Ditto (Passive) ..
Venezuela 94

999
99
101 e
bi
224

I. pm I

98j
99
101
5i
2210

12s. pm!
26 I

Wed. 'Thurs. i

56;1

851 -

1171
102
94

281 28

$4 -

117 i
102 t

104 -
95 94
24 24