The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-06 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(raom coos cant

)=T.)

PARIS, FBIDAY Emma.

A correspondent ought almost to apologise to
your readers for perpetually returning to the same
speculations as to the intentions of Napoleon 111.
on the subject of Italy. Maio, que coukr eons ? It
is forced upon one. The Italian question is the
living question of the day—the question of ques-
tions, upon which all politicians interrogate each
other ; and there is, in the whole world, but one
man who holds the solution of that question,
for good or evil, in Lis hand. It is even
frightful to contemplate at once the concentrated
power implied by this admission, and the tremen-
dous responsibility which will attend its use. We
are, therefore, virtually discussing the whole
Italian question, when we ask what is the French
Emperor's will with respect to the occupation of
Rome 1 The " beet informed people" (who are pro-
bably they who know least about the matter) are
divided in their assertions as to what passed at the
council held at St. Cloud on Wednesday, for while
one party insists that there was • stormy discussion
about " something," another will have it that
there was not even an animated discussion about
anything, least of all about the Roman question,
the Emperor refusing to have it even broached.
The fearful tempest which recently wrought such
havoc in Algeria had nearly proved fatal to one of
the most rising painters in a school peculiarly
French, Alfred Couverchel, the favourite pupil of
Horace Vernet. This young artist is at present at
Laghouat, engaged, by order of the government,
upon one of those huge pictures representing a vic-
tory over no matter whom, in which the national
vanity takes such delight. The subject is the battle
which took place in the desert of Sahara, between
the French tribes under Si-Bon-Becker and the
Tousregaunder Mohamed-Ben-Abdallah, and which
ended in the defeat of the latter, and the capture
of their chief. Never had painter better materials
placed at his disposal. Not only did the govern- I
ment build him an atelier at Laghouat, and allow
him to be escorted far into the desert, in order that
he might study effects of scenery and atmosphere,
'but Marshal Pelissier had a sham fight performed
expressly for him by the friendly tribe under the
sou of its chief, Si-Bon-Becker, exactly representing
the battle he has to paint. Every human figure
will be a portrait, so will every horse or other
animal, and every atvessory and detail will
be of the utmost veracity. Couverchel was
working at his picture when the tempest came on,
and before he had time to escape torrents of water
rushed into the building, and the walls began to
crumble about him. He had reached the door when
the sight of a little pet monkey which was strug-
gling in the water caused him to return. Already
was one soldier crushed under the walla. Con-
verchers death would have been inevitable, had he
not been seized (by order of the commanding officer,
his friend) by two soldiers and borne away. The pic-
ture, strange to say, was very little injured, the
water having bad no effect upon its oiled surface. It
will be exhibited in Algiers, and subsequently at
the exhibition of paintings next summer in Paris.
These details are from a private source, and may
be interesting to your readers.
I have visited the new ThAtre Lyrique, which
is the last of the three new theatres built by the
city of Paris, and which will open next week. It
is, internally, apparently a commodious, as it oer-
tainly is an elegant, construction. It is to be inau-
gurated, as they solemnly say here, in default of
poor Haloivy's Noe, by the Undine of Seinet, also a
new work. This will be played alter-
nately with the great hit of last season,
La Chatte Meroeilleuse. Then will follow Balfe's
Bohentienne, a production which cannot fail to have
an interest for English visitors, with Madame
Cabal and the new contralto, Mdlle. Morio. The
appearance of this latter, will, if I am not greatly
mistaken, form an epoch in the musical art of
Europe. Halivy pronounced her to have every
qualification requisite to make her one of the first
singers of her time. After mentioning this, it
may seem presumptuous to say that I
speak of her from personal knowledge. I

venture, however, to confirm fully all that
report hag said of her. For quality and
pathos her voice is almost unequalled at the
present day. Without venturing to compare her
as a singer to Alboni, I consider that her voice is
of a finer quality than that of thin great artist,
while for dramatic power she is immeasurably her
superior. Mdlle. Trebelli, whom we had here at
the Italian Opera, is every way inferior to Mdlle.
I Mono. It is her intention to pursue au Italian
career ; so let Messrs. Gye and Mapleson be
on the look out. All the friends of thin
young lady must desire that she may
steer clear of the Grand Opera. Whatever the
prestige• attending that national establishment, it
has been the grave of more fine voices, male and
female, than any theatre in the world. Meyerbeer
has much to answer for on this score ; more so,
perhaps, the magnificent but fatally overpowering
orchestra presided over by M. Dietacb. Let those
who would have au orchestra fulfil its real mission
of supporting and bringing out the singer's voice,
go and hear the Scrounge Ilaitnesse. Our modern
composers should reflect upon the precious but
fragile materials with which they have to produce
their effects. Verdi in not blameless in this
respect.
M. linhans has wearied of his task in the press
department. Sick of "slaughtering the innocents,"
he has, so the .Voniteur tells us, asked to be
"tailed to other functions." He is replaced by a
functionary with a handle to his name, M. le
Compte de Treilhard. You know that M. le Vi-
comte de la Guerronniere made himself famous in
this office.

The Emperor's departure for Biarritz without
having made any sign, together with the total ab-
sence of news from Italy, concur to give flatness to
the Bourse. Little was doing to-day. Rente rose
sc. for mud), leaving off at 69fr. 30c. for cash, and
69fr. 40c. for account. Italian Rents fell 40c. foe
cash, and 30c. for account, closing at 71fr. 30c.,
land 71fr. 50c., respectively.