The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-08 00:00:00

Royal English Opera.

Tile last act in the tragedy is nearly played out,
and Earl RUSSELL may enliven his autumnal re-
tirement by a careful study of the terms of peace
which are the best that his mingled threats and
blandishments can secure for his allies. The official
text of the treaty of peace between the allied Ger-
man Powers and their victim, has just been pub.
lished, and it must be as consolatory to Denmark as
it is gratifying to Englishmen. It consists of 24
articles, and the little kingdom enght perhaps to
rejoice that it dm not reach to 48, and that its
terms are not if possible more stringent. Lord
PALMEP.STON, indeed, once went so far as to say
that if Copenhagen were bombarded, and King
PEIRISTIAN taken prisoner, Queen VICTORIA'S ad-
visers would begin *a think of action ; but judging
from antecedents, the terrible invaders whom we
poor-islanders hold in such wholesome awe, would
not have been very foolhardy had they put this
heroic declaration to a practical test. If England
did not wake until the victim were on the scaffold,
there would be more than time for the executioner's
coup de grace while she was buckling on her armour
and unsheathing her sword. But, all things con-
sidered, Austria and Prussia have thought it more
prudent not to push matters to extremities, and the
redoubtable Treaty of Peace now before us remains
to record the achievements of diplomacy in the 19a2
century. It was no doubt liberal on the part of the
nvinkey is the fable to be kind enough to surrender
the shells to the disputants, bince, having the oyster
in his possession, be might have appropriated them
without hindrance as well as the bonnebouche.
Acting on the same magnanimous principle,,the

The assurance of some people is really amazing ;
nothing seems to teach them moderation or to curb
the vehemence of their opinions. Thus Mr.BRIGUT,
instead of hiding his diminished head, as well he
might when the affairs of America are discussed,
puts himself forward in his usual arrogant style
and proceeds to give advice to those who can do
very well without it. At the same time he thinks
he is striking with a two•edged sword, and while
he gives one word to America he intends two for
England. Doubtless he thinks that it is a very
clever move, and that by these means he can give
vent to his long pentaup wrath at the manner in
which many among, us have expressed ourselves
during this great struggle for supremacy in the
United States. The remarks of the New York
Tribune are almost amusing in their intensity of
excitement. Evidently the most must be made of
such an important affair as Mr BRIGHT'S letter. It
is styled, in the first place " timely and impressive,
It is very evident that the whole thing has been
got up for party purposes, and that the most is
sought to be made out of it ; but such an ingenious
attempt will not go very far among those who are
capable of understanding the tactics to their full
extent, and of appreciating the maneeavre. What
reason can there be for Mr, BRIGHT coming forward
at this especial juncture and laying down the law
as to the advisability of LINCOLN'S re-election.
Above all, it consorts ill with the precepts of one
who is all for freedom of thought and action, that
he should lay an interdict upon the expression of
opinion upon the part of those who are in favour of
M'CLELLAN. In this narrow-minded judgment we
see fully displayed the arbitrary regulations and
prejudiced views which distinguish the disciples of
the Manchester School par excellence. What
bitter scorn and withering sarcasm may we not
suppose to be hidden under those significant
words :—" All those of my countrymen who
have wished well to the rebellion, who have
hoped for the breakup of your Union, who have
preferred to see a Southern slave empire rather
than a restored free republic, so far as I mu ob-
serve, are now in favour of the election of General
M'CLELLAN." In this sentence we may find many
interpolations; first of all we are told that it is a
" rebellion" with which the North have to cope,
and such an assurance from one who should, above
dl, admire independence is very peculiar. Next,
those who are so unhappy as to differ from Mr
BRIGHT are told in very plain language of the want
of common sense and good taste which they display
in so doing. Also they are shown to what a fearful
extent their wishes are carrying them, even so far,
as to desire the establishment of a " Slave empire.'
Of all the devices of cunning nothing surpasses this
pretext of the object of the war being virtually the
question of "slavery.' It certainly goes far to
show that the advocates of the Federal cause have
not a very good case of their own that they in.
variably resort to this dodge, and take refuge be-
hind this fair seeming show of strength and sub.
stance. But Mr. BRIGHT stands forward to
teach the inhabitants of both hemispheres their
duty. Re emphatically declares what the good
men and true of the Old World desire to see done
in the New one. The chief object of their wishes
and subject of their prayers it is incumbent upon
us to know then is the reelection of Mr. LINCOLN.
Ignorant must be those who look upon this event
as a party struggle, and a political movement ; its
issues are not confined to such trivial and transient
ends ; the cause of humanity, the interests of Civi-
lizetion, the benefits of pence, and the bless-
ings of freedom are all bound up in it. It
is impossible to over estimate the importance

The first original production of the Royal English Opera
Company (Limited)—"Helvellyn"—has been received by

the public with the greatest satisfaction; and we record the
fact with unmixed pleasure, because Mr G. A Macfarren is

ono of our greatest masters of operatic composition. We

could however have wished that a more entertaining and

dramatic story had been made the medium for-such

thorough English music, because through the opera a

number or the moat elegant and tasteful compositions are

scattered, which certainly would have long liv©d in the

memory had the words been worth the trouble of re-

membering. The plot of " Helvellyn" is almost in.

explicable, and without a book of the words or
a brief acquaintance with the incident we fear many will
make but little of the opera, dramatically speaking ; there
fore, we give the following brief outline of " Helvelljn,"

that is as far as we were enabled to understand it :—The

action takes place in a farm at the foot of Helvellyn, be-
longing to Mabel, a rich widow. The festivities of harvest
home are interrupted by the entrance of Hannah, an
orphan, who, seeking charity, is at once admitted into the
service of Mabel. A second mendicant then arrrives in
the person of Luke. the vagabond brother of the widow's
late husband, who, on the score of his relationship, lays
claim to halt her estate, Mabel admits him as a guest,
but instantly starts for London to obtain the proofs of her
sole rights:to the farm, leaving as her representative Martin,
a young steward, with whom she is secretely in love. Luke
amuses himself in Mabel's absence by taking undue famili-
arities with Hannah, but is repulsed by the girl, and re-
venges himself by instigating Steenie, an old servant, to
denounce her as a thief. Martin, who has conceived a pas-
sion for Hannah, takes her part; but the consequent strife
is suddenly quelled by the return of Mabel, who, now in
possession of legal right to her estates, names the young
stewart as her future husband, and thus gives him
authority to eject her vagrant brother. But Martin is
still enamoured of Hannah, who, however, forbears to
lis en to his protestations, assigning as a reason that her
father set fire to a foundry many years before, and that

the curses of the thousands who were thus made dest

tuts still rest upon her head. Tho denouncement may
be easily guessed. The real incendiary is of course no
other than Luke, who, on being recognised by Hannah,
endeavours to escape, and, clinging to a tree which is
suddenly struck by a convenient thunderbolt, is precipi..
fated into the abyss ever which it hangs. Thus the curse
falls upon the guilty head, and nothing remains but for
the good-hearted Mable to bless the union of the lovers.
The part of Mabel is confided to Madame Perepa, Hannah
to Madame Sherrington, Martin to Mr Henry Haigh, Luke
to Mr Alberto Lawrence, and Steonie to Mr H. Corrie ; and

without entering into detail, we shall content ourselves
with noting down those portions of the opera which seemed
to tell most with the audience. In the first act, after a
very good descriptive song, " The sky with crimson is o'er-
spread," by Mr H. Cerrie, Mr Haigh sang " A blessing
on the harvest falls," which undoubtedly is one of the finest
harvest songs ever composed. It just suited the compass
of his voice, and called forth an immense encore. The
harvest song is followed by a fine quartet for Mabel, Martin,
Hannah, and Steenie—" What spell, what magic holds
me last." In the second act Mr Alberto Lawrence
has a very fine, rollicking, reckless sort of song, "Here's a
fig for troubles past," which he sung with great effect, but
the song of the tenor, "Take this flower," wasunfortunately
very much marred, in the second verse, by the attempt of
Mr. Haigh to introduce a cadenza, the highest note being
much beyond the natural compass of his voice. It is
the besetting sin with most tenors that they will insist in
attempting things far beyond their range ; in but very
rare cues the attempt invariably results in a noise which
certainly cannot be called music. There is a pretty kind of
ballad for Mr. Haigh, "Oh, Hannah, Hannah," but the
composer seems to have been thinking of Hatton's " Good
bye Sweetheart," when he composed this particular song.
The gem of the opera is a ballad by Madame Sherrington,
" I've noted how he oft would try," and she sang it with
the utmost taste, expression, and effect. The scenery,
dresses, and decorations are beautiful, and the " company"
deserve the highest praise for the manner in which the opera
has been put upon the stage.