The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-18 00:00:00

AUBER'S NEW OPERA.

The new opera of M. Anber, Le Premier Jou,.
de BOfthel&T, which wax produced on Saturde
night at the Opera Comique, Paris, must be
pr;e
nounoed a complete success so far as au
ootas
may be measured by the Pleasurable ex.
eitement of the audience. The scenes
laid in India. The French and Stew,
armies are face to face in Pondicherry. Gaston,
brave soldier is at once the recipient of Fortune',
' favours, and the object of her cruel caprices
He inherits the large fortune of an mole;
but is thereby involved in disputes with
avaricious oollaterals who were once his friends. Re
wins battles but loses money at play ; he loves his
wife, but is hated of her; and so on throughout the
course of his life. He formerly met in London a
young girl, and, quick as lightning, began to mom
her. He knows not who she is, nor does he
care, he only knows that he is desperately in
love, and is capable of doing anything fee
his beloved. All at once shots are heard. Seeks
marauders have been fired on. They see
brought before Gaston. He is astounded on re.
copal • the object of his adoration escorted
by a lanky person who turns out to
be Sir John Littlepool, the cousin of
Helen. He has got her name at lest,
but what could possibly bring her to this distant
region, and so near to the French camp t Were
they simply botanizing or acting as spies f It is
matter of doubt which Gaston settles by retainin,
Sir John as a spy and Helen as a hostage'
IHe declares his love to the beautiful Helen
but in vain ; she has promised her cousin. In
despair Gaston sets her at liberty. Further r,ll
Gaston is made prisoner by the English, and
astonished at finding his adored Helen in
the Governor's residence, and furthermore his
niece and inheritrix. Once more he declares
his love, and meets a fresh repulse. In
this position of the parties the Governor re.
ceives a letter at a ball which he had given, in.
forming him that Sir John was to be shot as a spy
by the French. Orders are issued to retaliate
upon Gaston, and both executions are to take !Awe
at the same time. The words " poor Gaston "
which escape from Helen reveal to the French
officer that his fate is not indifferent to her
whom he so much loves. Indeed she avows het
affection to her servant Djelma, who prompts
her to make an effort to save him. At this
moment the door opens, and Sir John
stands before them, excited and out of hrtlr.
Ho has been liberated on parole in order to
effect an exchange of prisoners. If unsuccessful
he was to return to the camp to meet his doom.
Gaston, as may be conjectured, does not care to
save his life, because he loves ; Sir John, on
the other hand, loves his life becalm he
does not lore his cousin as a loves
should. He therefore resigns his claim to
Helen, on the condition that Gaston will consent
to the exchange of prisoners. Such is the plot of
the new opera, which has been rendered into verse
by MM. Dennery and Cormon. After the curtain
fell the whole audience rose as a single man. and
called for the author. M. Capon', who represented
the hero of the piece, came forward and said :
"M. Auber has left the theatre." In point of
fact he took a turn on the boulevard in order to
avoid a complimentary scene of bravos, bow.
ing and scraping, which he detests. M. Cs.
poul never sang better. He exhibited ex.
quisite taste and inexpressible tenderness. Mile.
Marie Rose, as Djelma, charmed the audience with
an Indian aria—one of the most brilliant gems
the score. Its effect was indescribable. Madame
Gabel represented Helen, and Sante-F0) Sirdohn
and
opera—the wonderful
wbilluonteelechrfth:elruirisdtthe quotat to orchestra,t
ction oss ea.the
old r
athen
of 87.

THE TRADE UNIONS CONFERENCE WITR MB,
GLADSTONE.--(THIS DAY.)

The conference between Mr. Gladstone and the
trades unionists opened this afternoon at the right hon.
gentleman', house, Carlton-terrace. The deputation coo
skied of Mr. George Potter (joiner), the chairman of
the delegates, Mr. Dunning (bookbinder), Mr. Brawl.
burst (mason), Mr. Lawrence (tailor), Mr. McNamara
(plasterer). Mr. Leicester (glass- maker), Mr. Squire
(painter), Mr. Lewis (broahmaker), Mr. Cohn (cigar
maker), and Mr. Hartwell, secretary. These delegates,
however, represented numerous other trades both of Load*
and the provinces.
Mr. Grown Powell briefly explained the objects of the
deputation, the main purpose being to confer with the
right hon. gentleman upon the remarks he made in his
speech at Oldham on the ISth December, and which
remarks they believed to have been based upon incorrect
conclusion'. The points already published ware
then enumerated, Mr. Potter's object being to show
that in the large majority of trades there
was no limitation of the number of apprentices ;
that although a minimum rate of wages was maintained
by the majority of trades, the largest majority in every
trade were average workmen ; that trades unions as a rule
did not object to piece work ; and that to charge the wakes
with restraining trade was to beg the question. After Mr.
Potter's speech it was arranged the other members of the
deputation should briefly address themselves to mdt
questions as required further elaboration. The conference
was proceeding when we went prem.

CONVOCATION OF THE PROVINCE o,'
ANTERBURY.-(THIS DAY.)

This morning both houses of the Convocation of
the Province of Canterbury assembled at Weetminetor, for
the despatch of business. There vas a huge attendance.

THIC UPPER MOUS&
The Archbishop of CANTIIRRUZY presided at the ea*.
which was held in the board-room of Queen Aole's
Bounty ofßoo. Prayers were read by the Bishop of hills.
bury, after which their lordships proceeded to minder
the details of several matters in committee. The 11,01,9
of Oxford was absent, being engaged in celebrating the
marriage of Earl Beauchamp with Lady Mary Stanhope.