The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-13 00:00:00

THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Although "The Huguenots"—postponed the
other day by reason of Herr Schmid's sudden ill-
ness—was at length performed last evening for the
first time this season, it was so performed last even-
ing under two or three rather serious disadvantages.
Signor Mario, it true, was in sp:endid voice for
him, and, with his superb acting, excited the
audience more than once to an enthusiastic evidence
of their admiration. But, not thus was it with the
prima donna, Madlle. Pauline Lucca, whose severe
cold had to be apologised for through a little hand-
bill widely circulated through the densely-crowded
house. Even without this little deprecatory handbill,
however, the indulgence of the audience would have
been claimed by the too evident fact of the fair
artiste's indisposition. Herr Schmid, again, was
not sufficiently recovered from lois illness of last
week to make his appearance yesterday as Marcel
—this, of course, to the serious disappointment of all
those who had been looking forward with delight to
hearing his noble voice in his impersonation of the old
Puritan soldier with his "puff gaff" song of defiance
to the Catholics. As his substitute, Signor Attri
undertoek the part of Marcel, but mac.e no more
sensation as Marcel than he did the first night of the
season in "Norma" as Oroveso. There was, of course,
Didiet's page Urbano last night with that lovely
trilling" No, no, no, no"--and there was Faure's St.
Bris—and there were the magnificent choruses,
especially the Benediction of the Daggers and the
" Ida.rataplan "—and there was, as ever, that
glorious orchestra that Mr. Costa's baton seems to
play like one instrument—there were all those ad-
vantages it is true last night to keep Signor Mario,
so to speak, in countenance upon one of his excep-
tionally good nights. Bat—with these advantages
—there were also those ratter serious disadvantages
already particularized. The audience had too much
reason to regret the sevtra cold of Madlle. Lucca,
and the absence of Herr Schmid, and the substitu-
tion for the latter of signor Attri, as the Marcel,
to render the otherwise brilliant performance
of the "Huguenots" yesterday completely enjoy..
able. The anise en-scene, the costume 3, the scenery,
and the general decorations of this, one of the
grandest of all the grand opera in the repertoire of
the Royal Italian—were one and all ola piece with
the high reputation of the establishment. The per
formacce, therefore, in spite of what has already
been remarked upon, went off brilliantly through-
out. To-morrow evening is set apart for the first
night this season of the same great and lamented
composer's " Roberto it Diavolo"—his first pass-
port to immortality. On Monday, Madlle. Patti
will make her first appearance this season in Bela
lini's exquisite " Sonnambala." And on Thursday
next, Mario will make his first appearance as
Goethe's Student-Hero, in Gounod's masterpiece of
" Faust e Margherita."

SIGNIFICANT !—Mr. Whiteside, Q.C., during his
brildint speech on Wednesday, remarked Ido
not know how matters stood in 1815; I oaly know
what was said by M. 'niers of the results achieved
by Castlereagh, and if he were now our Foreign
Minister England would not be the laughing stock
of Europe. (Loud and prolonged cheering, which
began on the left hand of the Speaker and rolled
round the lower end of the house to the benches
telow the gangway at the Ministerial side,)--Times
report of the Parliamentary Proceedings.

THE " ATHEN.,EUM'S " TRIBUTE TO FRANK
SMEDLEY.—In the old electioneering days, when
contests for Westminster were carried on for a fortnight,
with a formidable riot every day but Sunday, when the
sweet voices of the non-electors were hushed for a brief
breathing-time, Mr Smedley, the High Bailiff of West-
minster, was a name and a power, the former of which was
well known, and the latter unhesitatingly acknowledged
within the bailiwick. Mr Smedley left surviving him a
son, Francis Edward, who won a respectable name and
position in literature, and who has just departed, also, to
the better land. "Frank Smedley," as he was popularly
known, and affectionately called by friends, was not con-
formed, by nature or inclination, to take his father's °Mee,
but he found that the world, to hire, was full of compensa-
tions, and he was sensible enough to take and enjoy them.
He was a pleasant and graceful writer, beginning his
modest career of pleasantness and grace some half dozen
years ago, with " Lewis Arundel; or, the Railroad of Life,"
Mr Frank Smedley had written previously, but this work,
remarkably well received by its public of young readers,
gave him a name. He continued to labour with spirit, in
spite of permanent ill-health, each year bringing its new
tale, work which he varied by editing now defunct maga-
zines, and by working in collaboration with Mr Edmund
Yates. And now, after these dozen ylittle more, has disappeared from the ears of work and
suffering, Frank Smedley, at the age of thirty-five, or a
literary brotherhood,
where there is not a man who knew him who did not love
him, or who will ever remember Frank but with a tender,
brotherlike regard.
THE CONFERENCE.—Thn Constitutionnel pub-
lishes the following in conspicuous type :—" The suspen-
elm of hostilities by land and by sea during a month, with
raising of the blockade, has a real importance, and has
been most favourably received by public opinion. It
will, perhaps, be remembered that, when the question of a
Conference was mooted for the first time, we endeavoured to
demonstrate that the first condition—the essential con-
dition--was winacsontvheensieunscpeenosfionof
keeping hostilities.
if not of increasing
ties. The continua-
tion of the war would, in
fact, have led to the in-
the ambition:and illusions of all parties ; consequently ren-
dering a settlement more difficult. Moreover, it was not in
keeping with the dignity of the Conference to deliberate
upon bases which events might modify in an instant, and
was contradictory to ask from Wisdom a solution which the
force of arms might cancel at any moeuent. Finally, free-
dom of judgment and of decision was not entirely at the
command of the Conference, which, urged by the most
noble sentiments of humanity to put a stop to the effusion
incomplete,
have of blood and to the calamities of war, might be led to Fre-
savheich improved. a more flee and
matured Thus we
cipitate matters, and force a solution which would
have
deliberation
w
deeply regret to see the Conference meet without
the preliminary condition of a suspension of hoetilitice,
thatßut wFerawnecree
anti aware,E nagnladntdhat.eirtB
uniting their efforts to. was which reassured us,
obtain at the very commencement of the Conference that
which had not been obtained before its opening. ave are
happy to learn that the efforts of the two Governments have
been crowned with success, and that the convention con-
cluded upon the basis of uti possidetis is in the most abso-
lute sense. No movement of troops nor any concentration
of material on any point whatever will take place, The
suspension of hostilities leaves the belligerents in their
actual positions, Let us hope that this delay of one month
will be turned to good account. Let us hope that a calm
and free discussion will restore the respect for the rights of
all, and that the counsels of wisdom will now be heard, as
they will no longer he drowned by the roar of cannon,'