The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-17 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

-Co-

La t night the Italian operatic season commenced
here with every prospect of i,uecess. The opera last
night was La Sonnantbula, which was given in a man-
ner much superior to previous performances. The
orchestra was well selected, and ably conducted by
Tully, and wag both numerous and efficient.. The great
feature of the evening was the appearance of Madame
Gassier, who sustained the part of Amine. ; and the
continental reputation which this lady has at-
tained was fully confirmed last night by a most
crowded and .attentive audience. This lady, a
Spaniard by birth, made her first appearance in
Madrid, where she soon became an immense favourite.
which circumstance led to engagements without end
being offered from Paris, Berlin, and numerous other
places. La,t winter M. Ruggani succeeded in engaging
her for the Theatre Italian, where she made her first
appearance as Rosina. in Il Barbiere with marked suc-
cess. On her appearance last evening she was very
warmly received, and the first few bars in " Come per
me sereno," at.once gave evidence that she was a first-
rate artiste. Her voice is a high cleat-toned soprano, with
great flexibility in the upper register. This lady is a vocal-
ist of more than ordinary talent, and she in a short time will
take her place among the very first soprano singers of
the day. The remaining portions of the music in the
first act she sang exquisitely, introducing some of the
most elaborate and original Soriture with consummate
skill. In the famous finale "Ah non gimige " she
created a perfect furore ; it. was given with a finish per-
fectly wonderful—F in alt being given with the greatest
ease imaginable..At the conclusion of the opera Madame
Gassier was recalled, and was received with loud ap-
plause. The other parts in the opera were well sus-
tained. After the opera the National Anthem and "Par-
Wit pour la Syrie" were performed, and the entertain-
ment concluded with a very pretty ballet divertissement.
howe was crowded to excess.

EXETER HALL.-SIR HENRY BISHOP'S

CONCERT.

Last evening Sir Herry Bishop gave the second and
last of his evering► vocal concerts in the large room of
Exeter-ba'l. Miss Birch, as usual, came in for her fair
share of applause. A 141iss Heywood made her first ap-
pearance i,► " Sens of Freedom," and at the end of each
ver. e she WAS most.vociferously encored. She bids fair
to becotue a g.-eat favourite in London. Mr. Sims
Peeves sang, with great tasee, "Pe mile, dear Mairl7
and " My pretty Jare," and was Tanta-misty encor d in
both song-P. The hall was crowded in all pates, but not
the least inconvenience was felt owing to the admirable
arrangements provith-d by Mr. Mitchell. The concet t,
as a whole, went off with great eclat.

Le Duc de Fernannunez and Le Comte Albert Fulio
have arrived at the Clarendon Hotel, from Paris.
The Earl and Countess Cowper return to town this
morning, from Panshanger, Hertfordshire, where they
have been passing the Easter holidays.
The Earl and Countess of Harrington, Viscount
Petersham, and Lady Geraldine Stanhope, have arrived
at Harrington Howe, Palace-gardens, for the season,
froni Elvaston Castle, Df.rbyshire.
Frances Countess Waldegrave and Mr. Harcourt,
M.P., returned to town from Essex yesterday ram-fling.
The Earl and Countess of St.' Germans gave etitprd
upon the occupation of a portion of Claridge's Irotel,
Brook-street, formerly Mivatt's.
Earl Fitzwilliam leaves Milton-park, Northampton-
shire, this afternoon, for 't'Y incisor Castle.
Viscount H;irdinge leaves town for Windsor Castle
this afternoon.

Lady Mary Tyner will return to Earl de Grey's man-
sion, St. Jalne,s's square,• this morning, front the
country.

Lori! and Lady Ravensworth and the Hon. Miss
Liddell arrived in town last week from Ravenswortb
Caql9, Durham:

The Duke of Manchester is rapidly regaining his
health, and is now able to take carriage airings. The
duchess is now quite recovered from her indisposition,
and, we understand, with the noble duke, intends to
pass a few weeks at Brighton.
His Excellency Count Kielmansegge, the Hanoverian
Minister, has been isufff:ring from iridisposition, at the
Hanoverian Legation, in Grosvenor-place. The noble
count was suddenly attacked while dining at the, Earl
and ,Vountess of Jersey's, and although the alarmicg
symptoMs have since subsided. the count is etill obliged
to keep his room.

THE 110P.SE GUARDS.—The Military Secretary will
hold a levee this day (Tuesday), at the Horse Guards,
being the first occasion of the kind for some months,
such has been the press of business at head-quarters.
Couyr OF LIEnTENANTCY.—We are requested to state
that at the Count of Lieut: nantey, he d on Monday, the
additss to the Emperor of the Frei,ch, moved by Col.
Wl6pn, was seconded by Mr. John Francis Won, and
not.ty Sir Moses Montefiore, As erroneously reported.
Her Majesty's di=covery ship, Enterprise, Captain
Collinson, C. 8., was at the Cape of Good Hope on the
17th of February, and her arrival in England may be
expected in the course of a few days.
A boy in one of our London ragged schools having
shqpn a great taste for acquiring la,gunges has hewn
sent out as an interpreter to Balaklava, and frequently
has the honour of (Loin.. with Lord Raglan.
It is understood that M. Kossuth will take a part to-
morrow in the proceedings of the meeting to be held in
Marylebone to originate subscriptions fur a testimonial
to the late Lord Dudley Stuart.
On the 6th Reschid Paella was at Alexandria, his ob-
ject being to obtain men and money front tie govern-
ment to assist in carrying on the war.
The merchants of the St. Petersburg bourse have re-
solved, at the instigation of Baron Steiglitz, to erect in
the hall of the Exchange a monument to the late Czar
Nicholas.

There is to be a meeting, Or conference, to-morrow,
at Freemasons' Hall, consisting of opponents of May-
nooth, and preparat iry to the motion which will be
made by Mr. Spooner, on the Ist Of May, for a com-
mittee of the whole house, to reconsider the whole May-
nogth question.
THE POST-OFFICE ESTABLISIDIENT.—From a return
to the House of Commons yesterday published, it ap-
pears that la-t year the increase in the number of per-
sons in the Post Office was 223, and the increase of ex-
pense was 27.066/. 125. sd.
ALEXANDRIA April 6.—The 10th Hussars left Cairo
on the 26th, and are expected to arrive at Alexandria, a
distance of 130 miles, to-day.
Tire contiwntal advices with regard to the exchanges
continue very Livourable. At Hamburg money is ob-
tainable•at 2 per cent., in consequence of the quantity
of bar siliier lately sent there.
The Royal Monmouthshire Light Infantry Militia in-
gairison at Pembroke has rapidly regained its strength
since the recent discharges. It now numbers 420 men,
and is effectively carrying on the duty of the at senal.
, THE WIGAN STRIKF.—Nearly 2,000 colliers are on
strike at Wigan in consequence of a reduction of wages.
The authorities have given notice that in consequence
of the riots which took place at the last strike they wilt
not permit large and tumultuous assemblages of the in-
habi ants in the borough.
AUSTRALIA.—The Margaret Thompson has arrived
from Port Fairy, Australia, but is not believed to bring
any gold.
'DEPARTURES FOR AUSTRALIA.. —The departures from
the port of London for the Australian colonies during
the week Lave comprised four vessels—two to Sydney,
with an aggregate burden of 1,222 tons ; one to Port
Philip, of 640 tons ; and one to New Zealand, of 840
tons. Their total capac'ty was 2,702 tons. The rates
of freight continue to exhibit heaviness.
PORT of LONDON.—In the business of the port of
London during the past week there has been increased
activity. The total number of vessels r >ported inward
was 194. being an increase of 47 over the previous
week. There is also an increase of 30 in the departures,
the total number cleared out being 149. The number
of vessels on the berth loading for the Australian colonies
on the 14th inst. was 48. Of those 7 were for Adelaide,
's"fer Geelong, 3 for Hohart Towe, 3 for Launceston, 5
for Now Z •aland, I for Nelson anti Wellington, 8 for
Port Philip, 3 for Portland Bay, 12 fur Sydney, aid 1
for Swan flivEr.

THE CRIMEAIf IiAMY FUND.—The following is a re-
torn of the amount of Bane forwar !eil by the Crimean
Fund subscribi,rs for the use of the British army in the
Crimea :-300 hares, 2,500 pheasants, 300 rabbits, up-
wards of 800 turkeys, duck..-, geese, &c., 80 brace of
game, 500 heal o! ee r, besides a number of haunches of
venison, &C. Tin, Duke
of Mar!b3rough, the Duke of
Norfolk, and the Earl of Ncrrnanton were large contri-
butors. The Duke of Portland sent on his own account
a large quantity of game and preserved meats ; and
Lord Ward is about to follow his example. The Messrs.
Gunter and Co. pat all in a preserved 'state irrespective
of profit.

LUCCA AND PISTOJA. IZAILWAY.—The Tuscan. Moniteur
of the 30th ult, publishes a decree, stating that as the
Lucca to Pistoja Railway Company failed in its engage.
ment to open the line in the montlk of December last,
the Grand Ducal government has an undoubted right to
withdraw the concession, but as it is anxious to give
every facility to the company to perform its arrange-
ments, it orders that a g neral meeting of the share-
holders shall be held as soon as possible, in order to be
made acquainted with the exact state of the works, and
to adopt such measures as they may consider best suited
to their interests, under the express reserve of all the
rights of the government.
THE NEW LOAN.—Our predictions have been fulfilled;
it would be premature in us to enter upon a lengthened
criticism of this financial arrangement at the present too
ment, and we shalt therefore reserve such comments as
we may feel it our duty to offer till the amount of the
loan and the rate of interest are settled ; another reason
for this caution on our part is the uncertainty as to
Whether the loan will be obtained on a permanent or ter-
minable annuity. It is, however, very evident that Sir
Cornewall Lewis differs fundamentally from Mr. Glad-
stone, who has always insisted that the burdens of the
war should be paid by annual taxation. Lord Palmerston
has evidently rejected the policy of his late colleague,
and, what is more remarkable, Mr. Wilson has not yet
announced his intention to abandon a Cabinet which di-
rectly repudiates the opinion which he also entertained
of the wisdom of the late Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. Disraeli and Sir Fitzroy Kelly may now sing a song
of' triumph, for Lord Palmerston, as Prime Minis:er,
ha's sanctioned their financial views, which he opposed
as Borne Secretary. It is bighly probable that much
party discord may arise out of this new arrangement,
for: it involves a great principle of finance, and it is diffi-
cult to believe that Mr. Gladstone will he silent, or
record his vote in favour of the Government measure ;
if be should, be must be composed of very pliant mate-
rials. --Rankci Circular.