The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-19 00:00:00

WITHDRAWAL 01' TES PINE ART ILLNDBODH

The following correepondenee has pawed between
Her Msjerty's tommistioners of the International Lthi-
bitten and Mr. Paisysve :
" Inhibition Bedlam, South Kensiaatera May 15.
fonraarirJ—yonl smanalmil bfiTohirm Majestja °:rtmbeirsinnertiaci°
of this day.—l have the honour to be, sir. your beams
servant, "r. R. Basnronn, Secretary.
"F. T. Palgrave, Fag., dee."

anthers FROM ran unman or um immsn'a °mos-
MIMI* toATZD TIM 15711 DAT 07 HAT. i 7187.
"Her Majesty!. Connsielonere have bad ander their
oonaidenition the statements made by some eminent walk
tees reopening caftan peasant* in the ' Handbook to tim
Fite Art Collection,' which are of a chancier likely to be
painful to the:gni:l'ot snide *he have hem Wiwi to'
ezhibit their w
" Her Majesty's Commimioners haying, in the fiat in-
stance, 'monied with Mr. Falveye to write the introdue.
= riftedodixe to the official Fine Art Catalogue, and being
with the knowledds and ability shown by him,
I. were glad to afford to Mr. Paloive all necessary facilities
'for the pregereden of a handbook, together with the priv4
lege of ads within the building. A similar privilege was
given to Mr. Hard with respect to the Indiadatal Depart-
ment, both on the present crecmion and in 1851.
'' Her Majesty'. Commissioners request Mr. l'algraye's
attention to the representations which have been made to
them, and will be obliged if he will favour them with any
obienatioas Alit occur to him on the subject.
i ' (A true copy.)
" F. R. B.lnroan, Secretary."
" (Copy.)
"TO HIM 3111.1777Y8 C01007810N780 FOB PHI anew
NATIONAL iXHIBITION OF 1862.
" Gentlemen.—As I Sod that the policy at seneti=
critical reds he the Pine Art Ocilectiem ef the
national UMbillea has been gumless{ seri *Amy Mb
' Handbook' kw given rime to is NIP issiffell omen NOM
of the exhibitors, I beg lave to return to pm tip limes at
publication with which you honoured ma.
ail
" I should much prefer that the boo* seat es it h
should henceforth be allowed to stand on Me is
From any trial of fair attack I de rd sigh,
fully aware that the °endow of use
econ es thin •
region of art, *never honestly f mrsignwelada •
that is inoornd or questionable. Si
it appear, bed that a work invited* ef this rr=
should not receive even the limited motion which yonbaire
conferred on it. Requesting you, therein', to wept tide
as a nodes at withdrawal,
"I remain, gentlemen, your obedient.servant,
" May 16." PaLaaavi.
" Exhibition Building, South Keening** Mg 17.
" Bir,—l am directed to acknowledge lbs remilitirl7.X.l
letter of yesteeday. and to convey the theadm of burnt/-
Jody'. COmmindoners for the prompt and s
manner in which you have relieved them from thtvage
which bee when in consequence of a mutual
standing as to the nature al the ' Handbook' requienL
"I am, sir, your obedient servant,
"F. B. SatibroaD, Secretary.
"F. T. Palatine, Faq."

MUSIC.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.
Verdi's BigoWU was produced oh Saturday
km)** for the first doe this Naar& This open, One of
the best of its author's works, has always been a favourite
piece at this theatre, chiefly on account of the excellence of
the performance of the libertine Duke and his unfortunate
Jester. Mario, se the Duke, is as inimitable as ever. He
is the my isms ieidal al the character as conceived
by victor Hugo, the original dramatist ; perfectly
aristocratic; graceful, seductive, and heartless ; equally
smooth and insinuating in his addresses to the poor girl
whom he endeavours to seduce, and to the abandoned
wanton whom be encounters in the murderer's den. For
this character Verdi has imagined some of his most volup-
tuous melodies, and Mario warbles them as no one has ever
warbled them before. His rich mellow voice, which he
never man by overstraining it, has a charm which the
moat powerful tenors of the day, with all their efforts,
are unable to reach. In the character of Rigoletto
the English public has always been accustomed
to Rooconi, the only representative (if we mis-
take not) it has ever had in this (*nary. He
was also, we believe, its original representative, and has
made it his own by he tragic force and truth of his deli-
neation. We ought, according to the manager's arrange-
manta, to have had him Si wall as Mario now ; but unhap-
pily he lies milk bed of sickness in Spain, and there is little
hope of our seeing him this season. Another, therefore,
has been forced to take his place, and to any other this can-
not be an enviable task.

" After a well-graced actor quits the doge,
The eyes of all
Are idly beat on him that enters next"
This must be the case with every successor, however great
his merit, to a favourite actor, and was the case with
Signor Dells Sedie, though his merit was very
great. Signor Dells Sedie has gained golden opinions in
other characters as an excellent actor and an accomplished

singer, and yet the audience on Saturday seemed to have
formed a preconceived notion that be could not stand in
the shoes of Ronconi. He was therefore received with in-
difference, and the stinted measure of applause occasionally
bestowed on his really powerful acting and masterly sing-
ing seemed rather extorted than freely given. Madame
Miolan-Carvalho performed the character of Gilds with
much sweetnees and feeling ; in the ungrateful part
of Maddalena, Madame Didiee evinced tact and
intelligence, and sang admirably ; and Tagliafioo,
as Sparfucile, the bravo, ',showed hie usual talent.
Some portions of the performance were much applauded ;
especially Maaio's fine air, " Bella figlia, " and the famous
quartet in the last scene—a concerted niece which, for con-
structive skill and dramatic effect, is worthy of the genius of
Mozart. Both these were warmly encored. The opera was
_ .

carefully put upon the stage. None of Verdi's pieces are
better " instrumented" than Rigoktto, and his fine accom.
paniments reosived all justice from the magnificent orches-
tra. There was some pretty scenery, and the divertissement
in the first act wu gay and brilliant.