The Express.
London, England, 1849-07-09 00:00:00

MATES.

Robert Gilpin, 2cd class certificate, Sovereign, Plymouth.
George Alexander Williams, 2cd, ILM S. Pontien.
Ebenezer Yeats, 2nd, Ocean Queen, Bristol.
Clarkson Tuner, 3rd, Tasman, Hobart Town.
John Login Sinclair, 2nd, Cowlitz, London.
Alexander Dyce Wilson, 3rd, Westminster, Londod,
Jonathan Thompson Durrell, 3rd, Indus, Port Glasgow.
John Watson A kenh ead, 2nd, Duke of Wellington, Glasgow,
William John Lewis, 3rd, Bordeaux, North Shields.
John Swanson, 2nd, Cowlitz, London.
Lan Norton, 2nd, Euphrates, Liverpool.
John Alexander Grant, let, Waterville, Onßenown.

MUSIC.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

RE-APPEARANCE OF Sowrao.—Thc once celebrated

Mademoiselle Sontag having after so many years
emerged from the shades of private into the glare of
public life, is an occurrence which will be recorded
as one of the most remark ible events in the history of
the musical drama. However much we must regret
the cause of a step which appears to have been
sudden as unexpected, we cannot but rejoice at the
resumption, even at this late period, of a career which
began with unparalleled brilliancy, and at the resto-
ration to the stage of one who, even in the brief space
that she remained upon it, had become one of its
brightest ornaments. The enthusiastic reception of
immense
audience Sontag on Saturday night, by the
audience who filled her Majes'y's Tneatre, showed
the strong and general prevalence of this feeling.
Many, who had never seen her eagerly em-
braced an opportunity which they never ex-
pected to meet with. Many indulged in specula-
tions on the probable effects of time on the obje t of
their curiosity—speculations about to be solved.in a
few moments. But kindness and sympathy were evi-
dently the feelings of the whole audience ; and these
feelings were most emphatically expressed by the uni-
versal burst of welcome the moment that Linda, in
her picturesque rustic attire, was seen advancing rom
the back of the stage. Its effect on its object seemed
to be overpos.ering ; she trembled, and withdrew for
an instant to regain composure. When the applause
subsided, she began her opening recitative, introdu-
cing the eavatina " Ah, luce di quest' anima," one of
Donizetti's happiest and most original inspirations,
and long before she bad finished it all doubts about
her vocal powers were at an end. Her voice had not lost
a jot of its purity, volume, or freshness. In
evenness and perfection of tone, throughout its whole
compass, it equalled the finest violin, with that living
quality which belongs to the voice alone, aad
which the violin of Paganini himself could never
emulate. The grace and fiaieh with which she exe-
, cuted this little air, and the brilliant but delicate and
appropriate orsments with which she enriched it, set
description at defiance. Its conclusion produced an-
other scene of general excitement, and similar scenes
were renewed, at short intervals, to the end of the
opera. Her representation of the character (one of
the most interesting. on the musical stage) was sim-
ple, beautiful, and in many places deeply pathetic.
To those who had seen her before, her appearance
gave a vivid idea of her former self. Twenty years
cannot pass without leaving traces over the head of
any one; but Time has been kind to Sontag.
Her figure, always round and full, is a lit-
tle, and but a little, enlarged ; her motions
sad deportment have their former lightness and lady-
like grace; and her features, still, as of old, remark-
able for their sweet and open expression, are those of
a much younger woman than she really is. The
scene which made the deepest impression was that in
the second act, where Linda, living in apparent
shame, has to ensounter the grief and anger of her
aged father. Sontag's intense passion, joined to Co-
letti's very fine acting in the character of the old man,
gave an effect to this scene hitherto unparalleled on
our stage. In the last act the picture of Linda's
melancholy manna was full of truth and beauty.
At the moment when reason first flashed on her m;nd,
the sudden convulsion which shook her frame as she
sank senseless iu the arms of her mother, was
one of those " tender strokes of art " which
reach the heart of every spectator. By
way of finale Madame Sontag introduced a
bravura air which, in itself, was not much to our
taste, and which, being in the Spanish style, was
wholly inappropriate to the situation; but she sang
it with marvellous brilliancy and immense eclat.
Madame Sontag had been called for at the end of
the first and second acts ; but at the conclusion of the
opera it seemed as if the audience did not know how
they could sufficiently express their enthusiasm.
After the fall of the curtain she was called for three
times, and was received each time by the whole
audience standing with cheers, acclamations, and
showers of wreaths and bouquets. In short her rc-
' ception was such as has probably never been sur-
passed within the walls of this theatre. It cannot,
we think, be doubted that while her voice and execu-
tion are unimpaired, her intellectual powers are ma-
, tared and strengthened since the days of her youthful
, triumphs, and that she is, in fact, a greater performer
than ever.
The opera, in its ensemble, was admirably per-
' formed. Coletti's Antonio, as we have said, was a
fine piece of acting. Gardoni, as Carlo, sang beauti-
fully, and received mach applause; Madlle. Cesaloni,
both by her acting and singing gave great effect to
the pretty part of the boy Pierutto ; and F. Lablache
and Belletti did justice to the Marquis and the Pre-
feet.

DARING SMUGGLING ATTEMPT.—On Friday even-
ing, about 6 o'clock, three men beloneing to the Royal
Artillery,stationed at Fort Moncton, observed • boat, having
• skiff in tow, approach the shore westward of the fort and
land three men, each of whom carried a half anker of spirits.
The soldiers went up and captured the spirits, but did not
detain the men. The boats were yesterday seised by the
Coast guard, and, with the spirits, delivered over to the
Custom-house. The boats belonged to a publican residing
in the High-street, Gosport ; and the three men, ere this,
are no doubt In custody.
THE CHOLERA IN DAMPSIIIRE.—We regret to
state that during the last few days the cholera has made its
appearance at Southampton, Poole, Gosport, the island of
Portage, Fareham, and the Defence, convict hulk, at Ports-
mouth. Inquests on several cases have been hell in some of
the places mentioned, and "Death from Asiatic cholera"
las be= ntarasd.