The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-08 00:00:00

THE CAMP AT CROBHAM COMMON.

The following order has been issued expressing her
Majesty's approbation of the conduct of the troops during
the ITN iew on Thursday :

" Hone Guards, 4th August, 1853.

" .17;1;t7M-

.....
"The General Cuminvntlin7-in by rec iced the
Queen's commands to vxpress to l.i..ntenant•Geaerd Lord
Seaton, G.C.8., her Majesty's seti•facti•m in reviewing,
this day, the second division of the army encamped at
Chobham.

" The appearance of the troops of all arm=—the order and
facility with which each arm moved over the ground—
which, from the varied nature of its surface., oilers 1000
ditlicultit s—gave her Majcsty sure proofs of tht it state of
field discipline. _ .

" The 'military arrangements and evolutions so ably
directed by the Lieutenant-General, vs,re v. ry gratifying,
and his lordship will be pleased to convey her Majesty's
entire approbation to the Major•Genrrals and Commanders
of Brigades and Corps, and to the officers and men of all
ranks. " By command,
"G. BltoWN, A. 0."

MUSIC.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Spohr's lessonfla was at length produced at
Covent Garden, on Saturday evening. 'I he principal
object of the illustrious composer's recent visit to
London was to superintend in person the production
of this opera ; but he was under the necessity of
taking his departure before it was ready for perform-
ance, partly owing to difficulties mule by the per-
formers ; Mario, in particular, hang declined to
take the principal tenor part, which had been as-
signed to him. The piece, however. w hen it did op-
ixur, was well prepared and got up, the parts were
fairly cast, and the performance was certainly one of
the greatest musical treats of the season.
Jessondo has always been esteemed Spohr's dra-
matic masterpiece. It was written thirty 3-ears ago,
and has always held a high place in every musical
theatre in Germany. It biter previously been the
custom on the German opera stage, as in this coun-
try, to carry on the business of the piece in spoken
dialogue, intermixing it with airs and concerted
music. Spohr determined to try the experiment of
changing the spoken dialogue into recitative, accord-
ing to the Italian method; and, in an "Address to
the Composers of Germany," published by him in
one of the periodicals of the day, he explained his
views on this and other points connected with dra-
matic composition.
The subject is taken from an old French opera, La
Vence du Malabar, which, in an English dress, was
popular on our stage at the end of the last century.
The scene is laid in the city of Goa, at the time when
the Portuguese were forming their settlement in the
East. The Rajah has died, and Jcssonda, his young
widow, is doomed to perish on the fut.eral pile which
is to consume his body. Jessondahasbeena captive, car-
ried off from a distant country, and forced, almost a
child, to give her hand to the ltajah. In her native
land she had plighted her love to a Portuguese of
and he is the general commanding the Portu-
guese army before Goa at the time the action of the
piece commences. The priests take the advantage of a

'rum to convey the damned widow to a sacred spring,
outside the walls, for the performance of a pious oe-
remony. Tristan, the Portuguese commander, in-
formed of the intended sacrifice, approaches the spot,
and sees, in the victim, his long-lost Jessonda. A
scene of rapturous recognition is followed by despair,
for the priests, reminding Tristan of the truce, insist
on being allowed to depart without moles.
tation, and he sees them return to the city, car-
rying her with them. Apprised, however, of
a treacherous design of the Bramins to break the
truce and set fire to his ships, Tristan resolves sud-
denly tostorm the city, and at the head of his troops
bursts into the great square at the moment when the
sacrifice of Jessonda is about to take place. The
Indians are put to flight, the victim is saved, and
joyful songs and choruses conclude the piece.
The music, speaking of it in general terms, is of
the school of Mozart, but strongly marked with
Spohr's individuality. In dramatic truth, richness
of ideas, masterly construction, beauty of melody,
and variety of orchestral effects, it has rarely been
surpassed; while, in common with all Spohr's music,
it is in some measure liable to the charge of heavi-
ness arising from excessive fulness and over-elabora-
tion. The car gets fatigued by the weight of accu-
mulated sounds, and would feel relief welcome,
though it were given by occasional thinness, and
even poverty. But this is as impression made by
the work u a whole ; for, take any of the morceaux
'separately, and it is felt to be so beautifully con-
structed and scored, that one would not willingly
retrench a note from the harmony. Take it for all
in all, this opera is one of the finest works of which
the modern musical stage can boast.
Respecting the performance wo have little to add
to what we have alread said. Musically speaking it
left little to bo desired. Madame Bosio is a fine
woman and a most accomplished singer; but as an
actress she lacks power and passion. Jessonda, agi-
-1 tided by the most intense passions—terror and despair
alternating with love, hope, and joy—is a highly
dramatic personage; and the same thing may be said
of the young Bramin, Nadori, to whom Lucchesi was
unable to impart interest, though he sang the musis
of the part exceedingly well. The comparative failure
of these two most important parts detracted greatly
from the effect of the whole. The ensemble, how-
ever, was exceedingly good; the orchestra played
superbly, the choruses went well, and the scenic
effects were quite satisfactory. The performance was
warmly received by a crowded audience, of whom
the Queen and her royal consort formed a part, and
the whole entertainment was a musical banquet sash
as is very rarely met with.

METROFOLITAN AND GENERAL FREEHOLD LAND
SOCIETV.—The fifth public ballot of this society was held
on Thursday last at tile Laudon Timm ; Mr. G. J. Philo
presided. The chairman congratulated the members on the
very satisfactory state of the society's affairs, and impressed
upon them the necessity of holding their shares, ►nd real-
Wog the fel adrant:.ga of the soch.ty. Ile had hhkrd of
members sel:ing the it rights of choice n the estate
Barnes for M. premium ; but he felt assured that the allot-
ments en that estate were well worth 501. rnmium. Several
other gentlemen havieg addressed the meeting, and a tarp
number of new shares taken up, the business of the emus,
terminated in the most satisfactory mawacr.