The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-21 00:00:00

THE THEATRES IN PARIS.

PARIS, June 18.—Verdi has given his long-promised
work at the Grand Opera—" Les Wpres Siciliennes."
As I have not been able to get a seat up to the present
moment I am unable to offer any criticism. The
French journals pretty nearly all agree that the libretto
is a bad one, although from the extensive manufactory
of M. Scribe. One critic says :—" In a very brief
preface prefixed to the libretto, in which, anticipating the
observations which his unwarrantable liberties with his-
torical facts are certain to call forth, he thinks fit to treat
the "Vespro Siciliano' as mere invention, and hence claims
the privilege of dressing up the story asa facon." As re-
gards the music, every one also agrees on one point —it is
not equal to the " Trovatore," which had so much success
in Paris last winter. I will give you a report of the
" Vdpres"as soon as I am able to do so.

An English company is playing at the Italian Opera.
house, under the direction of Mr. Wallack, who is the
chief tragedian of the troupe. The season opened with
" Macbeth." There is also a small ballet company, re-
presented by Mr. Marshall and Miss Rosina Wright.
The magnificent performance of Madame Ristori in
the tragedy of "Mirra" (gays the dramatic critic of
Galignani), has sufficed to fill the theatre at each
representation. Her acting is a school at which
the greatest of our tragedians may take a lesson:
Mademoiselle Rachel, who most unexpectelly appeared
at the Francais, a few nights since, in " Les Ho-
races," in honour of the anniversary of Corneille—having
seen the gifted Italian lady in the character above men-
tioned—acted Camille with more power and grandeur
than she bad ever done before. So much for the glo-
rious spirit of emulation. Madame Ristori was in the
theatre, and was enchanted with her performance. One
of the journals states that Madlle. Rachel did not remain
to see Madame Ristori in the last act of " Mirra." This
is incredible. We prefer believing the report in another
paper, that she went from her box to the stage,.after the
conclusion of the fourth act, to congratulate her sister
artiste on her triumph in Paris, and to offer to perform
on the night appointed for her benefit. This, if true, is
worthy of the genius of Rachel.

METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF SEWERS.—Yesterday,
a special court of sewers was held at the Court-horse,
Greek-street, Soho, Mr. Jebb in the chair, for the pur-
pose of allowing deficiencies and, compositions on dis-
trict rates, hearing appeals and summonses, receiving
presentments of nuisances, and to make the necessary
orders for the constructing, of gullies and repairing of
sewers, &c., but no point of interest arose deserving of
a report.
[Apv,,,,uunnfr.] Tns WAR IN TILE EAST. —POWERFUL
PATENT RECONNOITRING GLASSES.— MeSSTS. S. and B. Solo-
mons, opticians, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Observe
opposite the York Hotel. By her Majesty's Roya
Letters Patent for valuable and extraordinary improvements
in the most powerful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Race-
course, Opera, and Perspective Glasses, to know the distances
of objects viewed through them—of great importance to the
army, navy, and others. These telescopes possess such extra-
ordinary powers that some 3i inches, with an extra eye-
piece, will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring,
and the double stars ; with the same teleszope can be
seen a person's countenance three miles and a half distant,
and an object from 16 to 20 miles. They are of larger and al_
sizes, with increasinl powers accordingly ; while their vary-
ing from 4 to 6 inches enable us to discover more than the
above and the Georgian, with his 6 satellites, &c.—The Royal
Exhibition, 1851.—Valuable, newly-invented, very small,
powerful waistcoat-pocket glass,tho fize of a walnut, by which
a person can be seen and known 1 miles distant ; they answer
every purpose on the race-course, and at the opera house.,
country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at 8 to 10 miles.
They are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to
sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera,
race-course, camp, and perspective glasses, with wonderful
power.—Newly-constructed Spectacle Lenses of the great-
est transparent power. The valuable advantage derive,'
from this invention is, that vision becoming impaired is
preserved and strengthened, and very aged persons are
enabled to employ their sight at the most minute Occu-
pation—can see with these lenses of a much less magnify.
lug power—and they do not require the frequent changes)
to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. Dear-
ness—New Discovery.—The Organic Vibrator, an extraordi-
nary
powerful, small, newly-invented instrument for deafness,
entirely different from all others, to surpass anything
o f the
kind that has been, or probably ever can. be, produced.
Being of the same colour as the skin, ' is not perceptible ; it
enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at
public assemblies ; the unpleasant sensation of singing noises
in the ears is entirely removed ; and it affords all the assist.
ance that possibly could be desired. 39, Albemarle-street
Piccadilly. Observe —opposite the York Hotel,

ILLYT INDTA HOMIA INTEIVSn
A, tAiHeritl qw.itoply (..I.A.ift at Oa 4404, 4 , f• :ii.
pauy was held yesterday, at their house i. . `--;A'l'?
street ; Mr. Macnaughten (the Chairman . ' kr-Vri.' ').:,,
Directors), in the chair. ..-; ii,-‘44' ?"t 1
The minutes of the last Court were read 4...1.,.. •.' "' • :,,:c.,,c'
The CHAIRMAN stated that the warrants 'a ttt-,-.. —.•
ment of the half-yearly dividend would be r.
kii. .•.4-,-' ,
kazi:.
livery on the 6th of July.
Mr. WEEDING (in the absence of Mr. TwiningFpreir)
seated a-report-from the Committee of By-laws.
THE 6TH REGIMENT OP MADRAS LIGHT CAVALRY.
Mr. LEWIN moved that the Court of Directors do take
the earliest measures to remedy, as far as it is now pos-
sible, the evils which resulted from a breach of faith on
the part of the Madras Government with the sepoys of
the 6th Light Cavalry; and that they do report to this
Court the measures' they have adopted for that purpose.
The hon. proprietor then entered into a statement of the
' cat,e, which has been more than once fully laid before
the public.
Mr. JONES seconded the motion.
The CHAIRMAN said that without intending any dis-
courtesy towards either the mover or seconder of the
motion, he should not enter into the question; it having
been already 'for nearly the dozenth time decided upon
by-the eottrt:— -
The motion was then put and negatived.
DUTIES ON EXPORTS TO INDIA.
-
Mr. JONES wished to take the opportunity of suggest-
ing to- the Court that means should be devised to levy
the duty. on
goods exported to India, before they left
this country, If that were done the goods exported
could be at once sent through 'the Peninsular Steam
Company fo•ihO
purchaser in India-
were-obliged to pass through the ' •bilt now the goods
hands of an agent,
whose charges
.were exorbitant—not less than 15 per
cent. The complaint against the present system was
general. The Pasha of Egypt could send his goods to
India without the intervention of agents, and be saw
no reason why the British merchant shotild not be able
to do so also, considering the facility which the
,
railways in India would afford for the transmission.
of goods, and the bringing. of
thought that anything that operated urcahsasaer
in more immediate connection with one. another. H
should, irpcTssible, be removed. ns i
ma deddi ema
els en rt ic,ii

n°olllthTe3lrßlTsurbsfect to which he
Mr. JONES SaEAirthnerDeAwaAsPaP
I
wished to refer. The company were about to suppress
the establishment at Hajleybury, whereby a saving of
about 10,000 a-year would be effected. .It appeared to
him that.this sum could not be better appropriated than
in the endowment of scholarships in India, where the
natives might qualify themselves to uncfe.igo the exami-
nation which was required for the appointment to office
in their own country.
Hr. LEWIN said that, in reference to this subject, a
petition had been transmitted to this country from India,
,signed by 13,000 native British subjects, coinplaining
of the injustice done them in regard to the examinations
r6cluired of persons previously to holding civil service in
Inlia, and praying that the whole management might be
'eptt rated from the East India Company and placed under
the secretary of State, subject to the control of Parlia-
ment.
, The Court then adjourned. -

EXAVINERS OF THE CANDIDATES FOR
Tll.-Ta' CIVIL SERVICE OF INDIA.

ENGLISH LITERATURE, &C.—The Right Hon. Sit:.
James Stephen, K.C.8., LL.D., Professor of Modern
History, Cambridge ; the Rev. F. Temple, 11. A., Prin-
cipal of Kneller Hall.

CLASSICAL.—The Rev. Rawlinson, M.A., Exeter
College, Oxford ; the Rev. ,Rd. Congreve, M.A., Wad-
ham College, Oxford.

FRENui:-:—Mons. Baron, Dr. of the University of
France, and Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium ;
Mons. de Vericour, Professor of Modern Languages,
Queen's College, Cork.

ITALIAN.—A.Panizzi, Esq., British Museum.
GERMAN.—Professor Max Muller, M.A., Taylor In-
itution, Oxford.

MATHEMATICS.—A. Cayley, M.A , Trinity Col-
lege, Cambridge ' G. G. Stokes, Esq., M.A., Professor
of Mathematics, Cambridge.
NATURAL SCIENCE.—G. F. Allman, Esq., M.D., Pro-
fessor of Botany, Trinity College, Dublin ; G. D. Live-
ing, Esq.. M.A., Lecturer on Natural Science, St.
John's College, Cambridge.
MORAL SCIENCE.—The Rev. J. M'Cosh, LL.D., Pro-
fessor of Logic, Queen's College, Belfast ; Alex. Grant,
Esq., M.A., Oriel College, Oxford.

ARABIc.-LColonel J. W. Ouseley, Professor of Arabic,
Ilaileybury.

SANSCRIL—Monier Williams, Esq., M.A., Professor
of Sanscrit, Haileybury.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

THE COMMEMORATION.
OXFORD, June 20.—The co nversazione in the Rad-
cliffe Library last night was attended by large numbers
of the leading resident and non-resident members of the
university.

At 1.1: o'clock there was an exhibition 01 the electric
light on the side of the dome of the Library, looking
towards St. Mary's Church, which attracted thousands
of spectators. This was followed by a splendid display
of fireworks, by Darby—the best ever seen in Oxford.
The grand Masonic ball at the Town-hall was attended
by a distinguished company numbering upwards of 600.
Dancing was prolonged to a late hour.
This morning the annual enccenia, or commemoration
of founders and benefactors to the university, took place
in the Sheldonian Theatre, every part of which was well
filled. The upper gallery was crowded with undergra-
duates, and the usual outbursts of health and spirits
evinced themselves. The name of the Queen was re-
ceived with a shout as loud and as hearty as we ever
beard.

On the arrival of the Chancellor (Lord Derby) accom-
panied by the Vice-Chancellor, Heads of Houses, &c.,
the Convocation was opened. A Decree received the ap-
proval of the House, accepting from' the Earl of Stan.
hope (who has, during the last term, undertaken the
office of Senior Examiner in the Law and Modern
History Schools) an'annual donation of 201., during his
life and bequeathed at his death, for the purpose of
founding a prize, for the best composition on a modern
history subject. The Chancellor then read over the
names of the distinguished individuals on whom it was
proposed to confer the honorary degree of Doctor of
Civil Law, and as each name was mentioned more or less
cheering followed.

The 'following were the names as put seriatim for the
approval of the house: —The Hon. Jas. Buchanan, Minis-
ter of the United States • Le Comte De MontoJembert,
a member of the French :4..cademy ; Sir John Beverley
Robinson, Bart., Chief Justice of Upper Canada, and
Chancellor of Trinity College, Toronto ; Lieut.-General
Sir John Fox Burgoyne, G.C.B. ; Lieut.-General Sir
De Lacy Evans, K.C.B. ; Sir William Gore Ouseley,
K.C.8.; Sir Charles Lyell, Knt., F.R.S., M.A., Exeter;
Richard Monckton Milnes, Esq., M.P.; Colonel Sabine,
F.R.S., of the Engineers ; Thos. Graham, Esq., F.R.S.,
Master of the Mint ; the Rev. Humphrey Lloyd, D.D.,
Trinity College, Dublin ; Philip Bury Duncan, Esq.,
MA., late Fallow of New College ; the Rev. Frederick
Willirm Hope, MA., F.R.S., Ch. Ch.; Alfred Tenn
son, Esq., Poet Laureate ; George Gabriel Stokes, M.A., .
F.R.S., iLucasian Professor, and Fellow of Pembroke
College, Cambridge ; John Couch Adams, M.A., F.R.S.,
Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge; John Muir,
Esq. There was scarcely a dissentient voice, but as the
veterans Burgoyne and De Lacy Evans mounted the
platform to take their seats as Doctors, they were greeted
with the most vociferous and enthusiastic applause, which
lasted several minutes. The reception of the poet laureate,
Alfred Tennyson, Esq., was scarcely less enthusiastic.
The annual Crewian oration waq then delivered by Mr.
Mitchell, the public orator, after which the prize composi.
tions were recited, and during the- recital were loudly
cheered. The Newdigate prize, " The mosque rising in
the place of the temple," received the greatest applause.
At its conclusion the Chancellor dissolved the convoca-
tion.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW Mu-
ISEIIM.—The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of
the new Museum took place at half-past two o'clock.
After the formalities usual on such occasions, the Earl
of Derby, in a short but appropriate speech, mentioned
the objects which had led the University to found the new
museum, viz., the increasing demand for knowledge of
the natural sciences and those studies which were so
so indispensable to the rising generation, which enabled
them to form an estimate, though comparatively small,
of the omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence of
God. Much as the University had expended upon the
building of this vast work, viz., 30,0001., still that sum
had nothing to do with furnishing and decorating the
interior, which- must be left to the contribution
of private individuals.. The intention of the
University was to have the pillars along the corridor to
give instruction to those who studied geology. In the
interior of the building would be pedestals fur statues of
men who had spent the whole of their lives for the ad-
vancement of science and the development of those
theories which had been first surmised by ancient philo-
sophers. But the company were to bear in mind that
this project could be only accomplished by individual
donations. It was with great pleasure that he (the
Earl of Derby) bad to communicate that the Queen, in
her care and participation in the feelings of the Univer-
sity, had, from her own purse, contributed five of those
they
it,goodthatinwork
prayermore.hoped t hadno ills commencedowould
b a this
that
years the architect might have the pleasure of beholding
a building which, for magnificenceof design for n.
.and no
venience, could not be surpassed, reared
in sight of those
old towers which fill them with rev for their pious
benefactors. The company•erence r
then dispersed, after singing
the National Anthem.

DOLPHIN-COURT RAGGED S OOL AND GIRLS' REFUGE,
2, AND 3, GUN-STREET Srt
held yesterday at
TwAL:FrirklELwDas.s—A Ladies' bazaar
of useful and ornamental
the institution under the immediate patronage of the
Countess of Sh'aftesburry, and other ladies of distinction,
for the purpose of raising a fund for liquidating the
debt incurred by the recent enlargement of the pre-
mises The school room was tastefully decorated on the
occasion,- and well provided with a profusion of elegant
articles of needlework, and throughout the day a con-
stant succession of visitors assembled. This institution
was one of the first established in London, and is cer-
tainly an effectual medium for ameliorating the condition
of the poor. By its instrumentality free instruction is
given to about 300 lads, girls, and infants, three times
daily, and twice on Sunday, and a home is provided for
girls under 16, in which they are trained for situations:
The sale is to be continued this day and to-morrow.