The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-29 00:00:00

FRANCE.

LITERATURE.

LE CORRESPONDANT—in its two last numbers,
has been especially remarkable, for inasmuch as the
contents of each have been led off by a paper of
considerable importance from no less gifted a hand
than that of the Comte deFalloux. In No. 109, dated
the 25 Octobre, the Comte do Fallout descanted
upon the theme of the Franco-Italian Convention.
In No. 110, but just now published, being
dated in effect as recently as the 25th of
this present month of November, the same
learned and eloquent Academician pens in the open-
ing paper of the instalment, what he terms an
Ilineraire from Turin to Rotne. The title, how-
ever, must not be mistaken. now that wo have given
it. And for this reason—That it is not the title of
a single essay or argument, but the general title
given by the Comte de Fallout to a collection of
essays or arguments—all of them, of course, of a
kindred character. So that the particular paper
now immediately before us in the November number
of Le Correspondani iR not so much the Itineraire
itself, as the prefatory chapter or introduction to the
Itine'raire. As such, we welcome it, heartily, It is
the avant-courier of a goodly volume now an-

flounced by M. Douniol as upon the eve of publics'
tion. As indicative of the variety noticeable in the
contents of the annual instalment of our contem-
porary, let us here briefly notify the circumstance
that in this particular number of Le Correspondant,
while our contributor discourses very ably upon
" Certain Novelties in the History of Art,"
another scrutinizes the "Negotiations of Cardinal
Consalvi"—that while M. Rameau comments very
impressively upon the " Catholic Movement in the
United States," M. Foisset vouchsafes an honest
criticism on M. Guizot's " Religious Meditations."
Appended to these and half a dozen other papers
we have at the close of the present instalment of
Le Correspondant, the usual batch of minor criti-
cisms and abbreviated record of the events of the
month, followed, this time, by a very brief biblio.
graphical bulletin.

" SUNNY VALE FARM."
Last night a new drama, " Sunny Vale Farm,,' a trall:
lation from the German of Dr Mosenthal, by Mr J.
Bridgeman, was produced at this theatre with, to sal 47,c
most, but very questionable success. The first edition 0
the story, given at the Royal English Opera, under the till%
of "Helvellyn," did not meet with much favour, althea.
the greatest pains were taken to place it before the Putt°
in its most attractive form, mainly because it lacked .thy
sustained interest so necessary for the success of all 11%
play. The Haymarket version, we frankly own, is less h.°
our taste than " Helvellyn." The language put into
mouths of the principal performers from beginning tOO%
perfect twaddle, and the situations ridiculous in the e%treLnio
We are fortunately not called upon to enter at length 18.
the story of " Sunny Vale Farm," as it is perfectly idea
hls;
cal with that of Helvellyn. In the opera the whole of tad
hubbub amongst the villagers is caused by a dairroilld
giving away a pennyworth of milk and a pat of butter, 81/d
of course it is the same in the drama, The actors 6:4
actresses engaged in the piece did their utmost, but it /tit
quite apparent that most of them felt ill at home in the,.
respective parts. Mdlle, Beatrice, the lady, we prestli";
for whom the play was produced, with the exception of °ll
or two energetic speeches, has nothing to do but WII
,
about the stage as a forlorn maiden, which she does with 744,
finite grace, and Miss Snowden, as the buxom widow
"fat, fair, and forty," seemed totally out of her element
her love-making scenes withValantine; whilst Mr Farrell/
to
the aforesaid swain seemed about as happy, whilst she
popping the interesting question, as a frog under a harro
Mr Howe was called upon to support the part of iktethi.x.4,
ed
the villain of the piece, which he did in the aPPr°?'„
Victoria style; and Miss Maria Harris and Mrs E. t".'""‘
william, the former as a pretty chattering little farm 13- °
vant, and the latter a rather crabbed specimen of the 011111-
class, completed the cast.
The greatest taste and oare has been observed in "1013
/1;
ing" the piece, and at the fall of the curtain there was 6°,,8
slight applause ; but we cannot help thinking that ie,
sooner something more worthy the great talents of 31"1,.
Beatrice than " Sunny Vale Farm" is produced the beatable
The theatre was crowded by a fashionable audiencef
Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl Granville, Lord Stanley
ro"
Alderlay, Lord Lyvedon, and many other leading reelni°
of the aristocracy, being present.