The Press.
London, England, 1857-03-21 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

On the question as to the legality of paying
travelling expenses of voters—that is, the
mere cost of locomotion Irma the voter's resi-
dence to the place of polling (for not any
refreshment can be allowed)—Mr.
book will be found to be of great assistance.

111 n s i r.
HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

UNDISMAYED by the electoral excitement, which
threatens to cut up the musical season, Mr. Lumley
has boldly announced in a prospectus of imposing
typo that the portals of Her Majesty's Theatre will
be opened on Tuesday, the 14th of April, with Doni-
zetti's Farorita, supported by a new prima-donna, a
new basso profon.lo, and a new tenor. The first is
Mlle. Spezia, who has acquired fame in Italy and
Portugal as a dramatic singer of no ordinary cali-
bre; the second, Signor Vialetti, has been appre•
ciated at Madrid ; and the last is Signor Giuglini,
who is destined to make a veritable sensation, if he
possesses the same sweet and sympathetic organ
which has latterly enchanted the ears of Ills enthusi-
astic admirers in Italy. The next debut will be
that of Mlle. Ortolani, who with Mlle. Penco
divided the prima-donnaship in the season just con-
cluded at Madrid. Mlle. Ortolani has worked very
hard in the Verdi operas ; but as she will not have to
sing through two opheicleides, and divers trombones,
trumpets, cornets.a piston, which form the staple of
the operatic orchestra in the Spanish capital, her
voice will be less taxed to assert its supremacy over
the brazen din. Of Mlle. Treneta Ramos and Signor
Bottardi (a new tenor) at present we know nothing.
Of the singers of last year, Alboni, Piccolomini, and
Belletti return—a triad of celebrities which will be
gladly welcomed. The baritones will be strengthened
by the advent of Corsi, whose fiery impulses entitle
him to a distinguished position as a dramatic singer.
First-rate buffos, like tenors, are rarities ; but Rossi is
a safe artist. An intimation that a first violoncello
and a first contrabasso from Italy will be added to
the orchestra, appears to indicate that the able con-
ductor, Signor Bonetti, will have better troops under
his baton than those of last year; and note must
also be taken of Mr. Lumley's promise, that the
chorus will be " numerous and effective," although if
it be the latter, without being " numerous," amateurs
will be equally gratified, and would cheerfully give
up quantity for quality. No pledges are given as to
the production of new works ; but it is stated that
Don Giovanni will be revived so as to "realise the
intentions" of Mozart. Is it to be understood from
this declaration that all the omitted airs in the
modern version are to be restored, and that the
original finale will be given! Is it to be a restora-
tion of the composer, or is it to be merely a new
mise-en-scene, 4 /a Kean, in which the decorator is to
carry off the honours !
Of the new ballet names, that of Mlle. Pocchini
stands foremost. She will dance on the opening
night in Esmeralda, with Ronzani as the Monk, and
a new Pierre Gringoire in M. Ma'sot, from Madrid.
}rim the long array of Italian danseuus enumerated
in the prospectus, it would seem as if the intention
existed to produce a veritable Italian pantomime
ballet. This would be an agreeable and, very
possible, a taking novelty. The public are tired of
pirouettes; and an animated action, with good
mimes, might prove an acceptable innovation.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.
MR. GTE has not yet issued his prospectus. He has
met with such difficulties from the renters at Drury-
lane Theatre, that he has been under the necessity,
as a precautionary measure, of leasing the Lyceum
from Mr. Dillon ; and, in all pi obability, the eleventh
Royal Italian Opera season will be held again at the
last-mentioned establishment. Grisi and Mme. Rosin,
Mario and Gardoni, Graziani and Roncani, Tagliafico
and Lablache are engaged, as also Tamberlik, if he
returns from Rio Janeiro. Auber's Fra Diarolo, and
his Dieu et la Bayadl.re, and Herrld's Zampa, are
the contemplated novelties. Auber and Scribe have
expressly arranged Fra Diarolo for Mme. Rosie,
Mlle. Marai, Rocnni, and Mario. With Mme. Ristori's
performances, and the arrangements made with the
Crystal Palace, Mr. Gye will enter the lists, and
during the season will be occupied with the rebuild.
ing of Covent-garden Theatre, as exclusively an-
nounced in THE PRESS of the .27th of De ember
last, and tardily confirmed in the Times of the .2nd
of March, atm st in the identical words of THE
PRESS, after nearly ail our contemporaries had flatly
contradicted the original statement in our columns.

THE MUSICAL SEASON.
MouQuE, one of the most distinguished of modern
composers in Germany, displayed the fertility of his
invention and the perfection of his execution in his
own quartet in B flat (Op. 4.2, No. 7), at the second
of the Musical Union soirees. In Spohr's sestet in
C (Op. 140) he was associated with Goffrie, H. and
R. Blagrove, Pogue, and Piatti, a rare executive

283

combination. Herr Halle's rendering of the piano-
forte part in Mendelssohn's trio in C minor was a
matchless exhibition of classic reading, united to the
most brilliant and finished execution ; the scherzo
was taken at a terrific pace, but distinct articulation
was never lost by the pianist. Piatti sang a notturno
on his violoncello divinely. The Vocal Union, con •
sisting of Miss Marian Moss, Messrs. Foster, M.
Smith, W. Cooper, and M. Winn, sang some glees
and a madrigal between the instrumental pieces with
steady intonation and careful ensemble. The voices
blended well, and the alto of Mr. Foster, so touching
in its tone, won universal admiration. His accen-
tuation and declamation are good, and he is, perhaps,
one of the few counter-tenors who will gain a sym-
pathetic hearing in these days.
Mendelssohn's. St. Paul has been given at SL
Martin's-hall, with Mme. ltudersdortf, Miss Palmer,
Messrs. Loekey, Weiss, and H. Burnby. Handel's
Israel in Egypt, with its stupendous choruses, will be
performed by the Sacred Harmonic Society next week.
Lord Ward will preside at the 119th anniversary
festival of the Royal Society of Musicians next
Thursday.
The very clever Brousil family commenced a
series of performances at Nottingham-place, last
Thursday. Mlle. Bertha is the first violin, Mlle. An-
tonia is the pianiste ; Mlle. Cecilie is also a violinist,
and Moys, Adolphe, and Albin complete the force
in stringed instruments. Miss Grace Alleyne was
the vocalist.

which 628,9951. was in silver for India and China, by the
packet which left Southatnr.on this day.
Advices from Paris state that the bullion in the Bank of
France has been increased to the extent of 8 ),I)(10/. in the
present week above the amount reported in the monthly
account given last week. The purchases at a premium are
still continued, but on a less scale.

English Securities have been slightly lower than they
were this day week, and business has again been extremely
dull. Railways have also been lower; and generally less
business has been done than for some time past owing to
the unwillingness of the public to purchase pending the
elections.

Consols, which left off last Friday at 9l to k, have
fluctuated but little. The lowest quotation has been 9
t k. Yesterday they closed at 9tkto k, but for a part of
the day they were a shade higher. The market has pre-
sented no features of importance. To-day they opened at
93k to k, and closed officially at 931 to I ; but after regular
hours there were dealings at 93i to I.
Exchequer Bills have declined 2a. The preseut price
is 2s. dis. to 2s. prem.
Railway Shares hive been dull, having been adversely
affected by a heavy demand for money in connection with
the settlement which concluded on Wednesday, and by the
depression of business. There is, however, no disposition
to press stock fur sale. French shares have all improved.
Canadian descriptions are also better. To-day the
heavier stocks were about k per cent. better.
Foreign Securities have shown some activity, principally
in Mexican and Turkish Six per Cents. The former have
been dealt in as high us 2-11, owing to the rumours de-
scribed in a paragraph below ; but they declined I to-day.
The advance in Turkish has been equal to one-half percent.
Joint 'stock Bank Shares are firm. The dealings have
again been principally in Ottomans, which are rather
higher than this day week.
Miscellaneous and Mining Securities have been dull
without any material change.
Mr. Esdaile, the Governor of the Royal British Bank,
has been further examined in the Coutt of Bankruptcy,
when some further disgraceful disclosures were extracted
from him. Another adjournment was ordered.
It has transpired, says a morning paper, that Russia
has taken more active steps than England to establish
telegraphic communications with India. She is said to
have made a contract previously to the termination of the
late war fur a line from Nicholaieff vial the Caspian Sea
to Ispalian and Herat. This line has since been in pro-
gress, although no conjecture can be formed as to the
prob mble period of its completion. As it is not impossible
that Russia may thus be in possession of news from India
weeks previously to its arrival in London, this secret
enterprise will no doubt stimulate the British Government
to f icilitate. by all the means in its power, the extension of
more than one line of a similar means of communication
with our Indian possessions.

At the hallyearly court of Bank stock proprietors, held
yeiterday, a dividend of four and a half per cent., free of
income tax, or at the rate of nine per cent. per annum,
was declared.

The tidal trains between London and Paris, by way of
Folkestone and Boulogne, will be recommencedlnext month.
It was reported in the early part of the week that the
United States have agreed to advanze a loan of 3,000,0001.
to Mexico, of which HoO,COOI. was to be appropriated in
liquidation of the claims of British creditors. Some
doubt is now thrown upon this arrangement, as a treaty to
such an effect would not he valid without the sanction of
Congress, which will not meet till December next, unless
specially called together, a contingency regarded as im-
probable.
The London and Eastern Banking Corporation have
lost all their capital, and are winding up their transactions.
Following so quick upon the frauds perpetrated by the
Royal British Bank swindle, this event has created some
sensation. Something of the sort was expected three
months since, but suspicion had rather disappeared until
the end of last week, when mysterious rumours began to
obtain some degree cf clrculatiou. The creditors will, it
is said, be paid in full, but the shareholders, who have
subscribed '.2ft0,0001. capital, will lose all. The Bank paid
six per cent. dividends, and was in the habit of allowing
a higher per centage upon deposits than other
establishments.
The " Parts Chocolate Company " is announced with a
capital of :10,000/., in 15,000 shares of U. each. The oh.
ject is to extend an established concern, and it is antici•
paled that the profits will amount to tvventy-tive per cent.
The principle of limited liability is to be applied in
this case.

The Trade Reports of the week continue of a satisfac-
tory character.

BRITISH FUNDS.— Closing Prices.
OFFICIAL QUOTATIoNS.
Mond. Tweed. Wed. Thurs. Friday
- -
S per Cent.Consoll ,93i :IA 92; 41 95' t 9:lt tj
Ditto for Account
3 per Cents Reduced 1
8 per Cents
Long Ani...itien
Bank Stock, 7 per Cent I
Omnium I

53a 3

Exeh. Bills, titi.
India Bonda,(1,0001.) 1 —1 —I
FOREIGN FUNDS.
Per Cent. Monti 7.l4ead. Wed There.
Brazilian
—102 i
Danish 6

Dteh. ( Ex 12 Guil )2i
French 8

f el

Do. 44
Do. Bank Stock

63 65
71f 11Isr71f 13a(70: 90e
f 6' f
LI El f.
24
rti (
107. 107 j 107 i
41;
POI 71 t, l 8,981 1

Mexican __ _
3
Peruvian 4#
Portuguese 4
Russian 6

--
;25i f.
I,

Spanish ....t 3
Tartish - - Aco 0

7ridn).

f o
f c

Hil
94

Ili
9til i