The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-06-23 00:00:00

KING'S THEATRE.

Mozart's opera of Le Norze di Figaro was performed at
this Theatre last night. Madame Catalani sustained the
character of Susanna, and we never heard her in finer
voice. In a eavatina introduced in the garden grew she
was very great. She also introduced variations on the air
dolce conceal°. The variations were very elaborate and
they were beautifully executed, but we confess that we
are not particular admirers of vocal variations. If we'd
remember aright, Hamlet says something about tearing
passion to tatters. Porto performed the port of Comet
Almoviva ; his figure is certainly against him, but his deep
and mellow tones were never heard to more advantage than
in the duet Crude! rerehe finora, 'where they were joined
by the splendid voice of Catalani. This met with a una-
nimous encore, as did Non pie t andrai, which was very
able given by be It,guis. Madame 1)e Begnis sang in the
•
I Conahis with that exquisite sweetness that distinguishes
Ithis lady's performance. The l'oqc was played by
Madame Iliagoli. It is a pity she is not a little
handsomer; and, though she may be a good singer in s
stroller place, she has not powers for this very large
theatre. Signor Crivelli, in Rosilio, looked so woe-begone
! that we thought at first he was some new performer who
had been engaged to play Romeo's Apothecary, and bad
come on the opera stage by mistake. The house was most
fashionably attended, and was crowded to excess in every
part. 'We never knew an opera go off better. Among the
company we observed the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester,
Duchess of Kent, Countess of St. Antonio, &c.

PARIS.

4 FRO% eta CORRESPONDENT:I

FARIS. JvNE 18.

You will see by the Paris papers how affairs are going
on, and they, as tar as matter-of-fact information goes, are
correct enough ; but the crisis of France is at present such,
that little of its real state is to be learned by looking on the
surfive, for smoothness there is no indi ation of tranquillity
beneath. To all outward seeming, matters are in a quies-
cent state; but in the political world, the most public ap-
parent cordiality is consistam with the moat persevering
counteraction. The strife and struggle of Ministers and
Mistresses •go on without Muck disturbing the walks of
'private life; and even while those intrigues and conflicts
bring the skate, as they often do, to the very brink of ruin,
the national business proceeds in the beaten track, not-
-withstanding the squabbles, diasention, and intrigues of
the individuals who conduct it. I do not speak of these
party factions as undervaluing the evil which they involve.
Far from it. They are the sure forerunners of ell great
changes, and laud often to nsomenteme and fearful conse-
quences. I speak merely of their souses operation, and
the little connection which they often have with the
e.tternal condition of a Government. The vessel of the
State may be in calm water the very hour before she goes
down. This is not the language of metaphor merely, it is
matter of fact. The condition of France I consider at
this moment as more than equivocal, and calling for all
the wisdom and spirit of her rulers to provide a,;ainst the
period that is fast approaching. If the Government de-
stroys its own efficiency—and it is fast doing so—by mutual
jealousy and restless opposition, it will meet that crisis,
when it arrives, in a state utterly unfit to contend with the
difficulties of every kind which it will assuredly have to
encounter.
The great error of the Continental Sovereigns is, that
they go on thinking and acting as if die world had stood
still for the last half century, whereas, the true principles
of government have been within that period so practically
devoloped, and have become-so extensively taught and un-
derstood, that while their subjects are thoroughly eman-
cipated from all their old notions of the divine right of
Kings, Kings themselves go on to act as if the anointing
nil worked its miracle of personal consecration with as ma-
gical an effect as ever. The triple alliance may wage a war '1
of coalition against lea gene qui present, but their means
will soon be exhausted in the contest. This truth cannot
have escaped these great Potentates, and it must occasion
them much disquietude. "On a beau faire," as Voltaire
has well observed, " guand une foie une nation se met a
;tenser, el eat inerissible de fen empeeher." There is no
force that can be brought to hear against the human mind.
There is no battering train that can beat Reason out of her
entrenchments; cirri' the lan:at-sr. RuSSIAN himself,
with his cloud of Cossacks, must despair to subjugate her.
Wars of ambition may desolate and destroy a kingdom,
but the spirit of enlightened nations struggling for rational
freedom and moral independence,will overturn, depend upon
it, every Throne which stands in the way of their progress.
Who can doubt but that Fiance at this moment stands on
I a critical position ? The internal combat that is going on
' between principle and policy, must come soon to a close.
I advert to other causes besides the state of the King's
health. The European system requires to be put tipon en-
other ands different basis. Russia, Austria, and Prussia—
where is the balance of power in this association? Vhat
is to become of France, and how is she to maintain the in-
tegrity of her empire, if Pe North says—" give up," and
the South—" keep not bas. 4 ?" I speak on the suppo-
sition of any rational patriotism existing among her rulers.
What bourse has she bilors her. but to submit to the
great Dictator ? What strength and what security has she,
cast aside as she is from " the armed mediation" under
which it hat. pleased the Holy Allies to superintend the pro-
•
gress of Liberty, andito be the keeper of the peace of Europe.
France—whatever turn strain may take—will feel that
her true interests required that she should have made
herself the head and heart of an Anti-Russitt Coalition,
instead of sinking herself into a sleeping-partner, in the po-
licy of the Court of Petersburgh. England, cultivating
and conforming her alliance wieli Ait FRlca, may guarantee
the preservation of all that can contribute to their mutual
power, and to their foal prosperity. But with France
it is otherwise ; her interests with .lencrics are not alike
identified. The materials of her strength, the resources of
I her enterprise, the pervading spirit of her government and
of its system, are all different. The present policy of Mr.
Canning and the British Cabinet, is the tine policy of
England.—But I must withdraw my thoughts from po-
Pities, or I shall never lay down my pen.
- -

I have left myself no room to say any thing on the sub-
ject of literature and die arts. Monsieur Joey has sold
the copyright of Lea 'termites en /.ihert,f, a work of equal
size and equally high pretensions with Les Ilermiles en
Priam,, for iMateen thousand frnnes, to Monsieur Ladvo-
car, bookseller of the l'alais ltoyal, the editor of Lord
Bvaow's works. Runic': VERNET is likewise a living
witness that painting, any more than writing, is not an
unprofitable pursuit. lie awoke the other morning amid
the inspiration of genius, and rising from his pillow at five
o'clock, with his imagination warmly impressed with the
beauties of a fishing- scene, lie threw off a sketch which he
completed in two hours. Three nmatenrs, who chanced to
call upon him at his breakfast hour. contended for the pur-
chase, and the successful competitor carried off the prize
tar two thousandfrascs!