The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-16 00:00:00

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

Ills success that attendtd the production of the I ntigon.
of Sophocles, with the music composed for it by Men
delssohn, at Covent Garden Theatre, has induced Mrs.
Seymour to bring before the public the Alcestis of Euri-
pides ; but with tis difference—in the former all modern
stage decorations were discarded, in the latter the most
has been made of them. To add to the effect selections
from the magnificent compositions of Gluck are given,
and the direction of the music has been confided to Sir
H. Bishop. The bill also informs us that the chorus has
been increased to sixty voices, and the orchestra consi-
derably strengthened. Mr. Spicer's version of Alcestis
is cleverly put together, and contains some truly poetical
passages, in which tho spirit of Euripides is faithfully
though freely rendered. The faithful and heroic wife,
who devotes herself to death to save the life of her hus-
band, presents a picture which must move every heart,
and its effect is increased by the beauty with which the
tale is told. The heroine was finely personated by Miss
Vandenhoff, who felicitously combined the classic ideality
of the character with the warmth of real and actual life.
The part of Admetus was well represented by Mr. B.
Sullivan, and justice was dose to the character of Her-
cules by that sterling actor, Stuart. Altogether the ex-
periment must be said to have succeeded, although there
are portions to which we beg leave to take exception. '
Attraction, 'without doubt, has been the point souglt
after; but we think a new play, from the pen of Mr,
Spicer, would have been of greater service to the man-
agement. There was considerable applause at the close
of the play, and the principal performers, of course,
were called for. We have frequently had to compliment
the fair lessee upon her management behind the curtain;
let us hope she will look to it before it.

THE FRENCH LOAN.—The subscriptions to the French
loan of 20,000,0001. were closed on Saturday, and are
supposed to reach nearly 80,000,0001.—a very remark-
able result, in the face of an actual deposit of 10 per
cent. being required of every applicant on the full
amount asked. As allo•ments to subscribers for en a 1
totals are to be made without deduction, the share ap-
portioned to the larger capitalists must be limited, and,
under these circumstances, the sum to be permanently
drawn from England is likely to be small. Hence the
Tate of exchange at Paris already shows an improve-
ment, and it is believed that no further remittances of
gold were made yesterday.
COFFEE AND EATING-HOUSE REEFERS' ASSOCIATION.
—Yesterday evening the 30th half-yearly meeting of the
' members of this society was held at the Freemasons'
Tavern, Great Queen-street. Mr. Yates, president of
the society, occupied the chair. Mr. Rogers read the
report of the committee, which stated that since the last
half-yearly meeting a sum of 2001. had been added to
the invested stock, making a total, including interest to
the 20th of November, to amount to 3,1021. 18s. Bd.,
the interest on which was not sufficient to cover the ex-
prises, as there was on the accounts of the yeara balance
of 17/.los. due to the treasury. This report was adopted,
11. per month was voted to the children of a deceased
member, and the widow of another placed on the funds.
The proceedings then terminated.