The Press.
London, England, 1854-10-28 00:00:00

7

1028

to Gorbudoe, a mythical King of Britain, who, by his
Queen, Videna, has two sons, Ferrex and Porreo.
Becoming worn with years and infirmities, the King
divides the government with his sons. The sons
quarrel and wage civil war, one kills the other, the
old king is poisoned, and the Queen, slaying the
surviving son, dies of her griefs. Thus it will be
seen that the situations of themselves aro tragic, the
incidents imposing, and the subject undoubtedly
capable of being worked up to the highest point of
tragic interest. But in this very point of construc-
tion Mr. Heraud lamentably fails; painfully long
dialogues ensue at critical moments when action not
dialogue is wanted; long speeches puzzle and fatigue
the audience, and the whole plot is so evidently un-
practical, and the best situations are so utterly
neglected, that the interest of the audience begins
to tiag at the second act, and, in spite of one or two
fine conceptions and tragic incidents, is completely
worn out at the end of the fifth.
ASTLEY'S,

A rum military spectacle, which promises to
surpass all others in popularity, has been produced
this week at Astley's. In the title, The Battle of
Alma, there was enough to excite the patriotic
feelings of the public and to ensure to any piece that
promised a repetition of the well-remembered military
spectacles of former days, a most enthusiastic re-
ception. And in this case neither the public nor
manager were disappointed. The Battle of Alma
includes some of the principal events of the present
war. Commencing with the embarkation of the troops,
the scene is carried to Gallipoli, when the junction of
the allied forces takes place, and several amusing
fraternisatious occur between Turks, French, and
English. The allies then sail for the Crimea, where
the landing and uncomfortable first night's bivouac
are depicted. The battle succeeds. The heights of
Alma are represented at the back of the stage, while
the allied troops are stationed in the circle. A terrible
conflict takes place, desperate sallies are as desperately
repulsed, the whole theatre becomes a theatre of war,
until, at last, the heights are gallantly scaled and
carried at the point of the bayonet, and a brilliant
tableau formed which calls down the most tumultuous
applause. The piece is the composition of Mr. J. H.
' Stocqueler, who has performed his part with tact,
making the dialogue quite subsidiary to the spectacle.
The proceeds of the first night's performance, were
devoted to the relief of the sick and wounded.

DRURY LANs.—M. Jullien has issued his manifesto
previous to commencing his campaign. In the
" Prospectus" before us we obtain, in a few words,
some insight into the musical tastes and talents of the
American people. The science of music in America,
M. Jullien tells us, has received, with the sister arts
of literature, painting, and sculpture, its due share
of support, and has been fostered and encouraged
" by the establishment of musical institutions,"
which yield to " none in Europe, either for the ex-
cellence of their arrangements, or the magnitude of
their operations." After this, we may fairly presume
that there is some amount of musical genius among
the people, and confidently anticipate in the forth-
coming concerts some pure American melodies, and
some good selections from the more classical works
of American composer ; and we are not to be dis-
appointed if the programme is to be faithfully ful-
filled : in addition to which we are to have selections
from Rossini's La Comte Ory, Verdi's Rigoletto, and
Spohr's Jeuonda, besides two works selected every
evening from the classical composers, and let us
hope one night, as usual, to be devoted Beethoven.
Among the artistes engaged we observe with plea
sure the names of Madame Anna Thillon, Robbio,
a pupil of Paganini, Komig, Bottessini. The con-
certs commence on ➢Monday evening next, and are
to continue for one month only.

Ix has been intimated to those French actors and
actresses who are upon the Czar's pension-list that
their pensions will be regularly paid, notwithstanding
. the war. This magnanimity will doubtless be ac-
cepted by the artists without wounding their patriotic
feelings. The theatrical season in St. Petersburg is
intended to be unusually brilliant; Lablache, Mlle.
de Lagrange, and Madir.ne Tedesco have been en-
gaged for the Italian Opera at enormous salaries.
Overtures were made to Alboni, but previous engage-
ments have compelled her to decline them. All the rich
people in St. Petersburg will be compelled to go fre-
quently to the theatres, in order to prove to the Rus-
sian public that the state of foreign affairs affords no
ground for alarm.
- -

THE MUNICH EXHIBITION OF INDUSTRY was Closed
by the Bavarian Minister-President on the 18th inst.
According to the report of the Ministerial Councillor,
president of the jury, there have been distributed
to exhibitors 287 great and 1,030 small medals, and
1,607 were complimented on their productions. The
total amount of receipts at the door is not specified.
They have, however, fallen far short of the antici-
pated amount, in consequence of the deplorable in-
vasion of cholera. .

THE PRESS.

lrmg.

Ett

WAR-OFFICE, Oc.r. 27.
3rd Regiment of Light Dragoons—Thomas Hall, Gent.,
to be Cornet.
11th Light Dragoons—Edward Chudde Cockburn, Gent.,
to be Cornet.
Ist or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards—Lieutenant
and Captain and Brevet-Major Charles Lennox Brownlow
M aitland to be Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel ; Ensign
and Lieutenant the Hon. A. J. G. Posonby to be Lieutenant
and Captain; Ensign Clifton Gascoigne to be Ensign and
Lieutenant.
19th Foot—William Godfrey Durham Massy;Gent., to
be Ensign.
22nd Foot—Captain Francis Pym Harding to be Major ;
Lieutenant Thomas Young to be Captain; Ensign Robert
Richardson Ellis to be Lieutenant; Henry George Lyon
Campbell, Gent., to be Ensign.
23rd Foot—Ensign William Owen to be Ensign.
26th Foot—Edward Kempson. Gent., to be Ensign.
28th Foot—Ensign Josiah Holford to be Lieutenant.
33rd Foot—Ensign Charles Moore Brabazou Siree, to be
Lieutenant ; Ensign John James Greenwood to be Lieu-
tenant ; Ensign John Ralph ('arr to be Lieutenant ; Henry
Donovan, Gent., to be Ensign ; John Douglas Johnstone,
Gent., to be Ensign.
46th Foot—Lieutenant Henry William Sibley to be Pay-
master.
58th Foot—Edward St. John Griffiths, Gent., to be En-
sign.
61st Foot—Ensign Henry George Atistin"Vicars to be
Lieutenant ; Robert Lewis Grant McGrigor, Gent., to be
Ensign.
70th Foot—Captain Frederick Dobson Middleton to be
Captain.
71st Foot—Paymaster Joseph Cartmail to be Pay-
master.
77th Foot—Thomas Peter Harvey, Gent., to be Ensign.
88th Foot—Lieutenant Nathaniel Steevens to be Cap-
tain ' Ensign Henry Hooper Day to be Lieutenant : Ed-
ward Hopton, Gent., to be Ensign.
95th Foot— Assistant-Staff-Surgeon William Browne to
be Surgeon.
90th Foot—Captain Arthur Henry Cresswell Snow to be
Captain.
HOSPITAL STAFF.—Deputy Inspector-General of Hospi-
tals Alexander Cumming to be Inspector-General of Hospi-
tals ; Surgeon Archibald Gordon. M.D., to be Staff-Surgeon
of the First Class ; Acting-Assistant-Surgeon Michael
James Griffin to be Assistant-Surgeon to the Forces.
'To be Acting-Assistant-Surgeons—Henry Hreve Wool-
house, Gent. ; David Greig, M.D. ; Joseph Johnston, M.D.;
Alexander Struthers, M.D. ; Charles Robert Nelson, Gent. ;
Augustus John Mackey, M.D.; Arthur Edwin Temple
Longhurst, Gent. ; Augustus Patrick Meyers Corbett, M.D.
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE.
Royal Regiment of Artillery—Second Captain William
James Esten Grant to be Captain; First Lieutenant
Walter John Grimston to be Second Captain; Second Lieu-
tenant William Raymond Lluellyn to be First Lieutenant;
Second Lieutenant Henry John Foquett Ellis Hickes to be
First Lieutenant; Second Captain Charles Stuart Henry
to be Adjutant; Second Captain Francis William Hastings
to be Adjutant ; Second Captain Edward Eldon Robert
Dyneley to be Adjutant ; Second Captain George Colclough
to be Adjutant; Second Captain Hugh Bent to be Adju-
tant.