The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-01 00:00:00

THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Brilliant Close of the Season on Saturday.
On Saturday evening last Mr. Gye brought to a
magnificent termination the most resplendent season
the Royal Italian Opera has yet enjoyed at this
great lyrical establishment. Seventeen years have
now elapsed since Covent Garden Theatre first
became transferrned into a lyrical establishment.
Upwards of eight years ago its radiant, though
often anxiously developed, career as such, was
suddenly interrepted—after some half a dozen sea-
sons had threatened (but happily only threatened)
destruction to Her Majesty's—eight years ago the
career of the Royal Italian, we say,was suddenly in-
terrupted in the March of 1856 by the thenceforth
doubly memorable conflagration. A conflagration
doubly memorable, for this reason, that from its
ashes rose the scl.eme of the Royal Italian Opera at
Covent-garden, not only with anew lease of life as the
phrase is,but with evidences of a reinvigoration that
have ever since then gone on increasing. Of the
substantial reality of this complete rehabilitation of
the project—after the fire—under Mr. Gye's direc-
tion—the annals of the Royal Italian Opera at
Covent-garden have afforded abundant illustration.
But the fact that it has really been as we are here re-
leting it to have been, has never yet had happier
illustration than during the lapse of the season just
now brought to a close. Between the opening
night of the Royal. Italian at Covent-garden during
the present year of grace,lB64, on Tuesday, the 29th
of March, and the closing night of the season on the
30th of July, namely, only last Saturday, the sue•
ceesful conduct of the establishment by Mr. Gye has
been altogether unmistakeable. The brilliancy of this
success, we perceive, is already beginning to be attri-
buted, now to this, now to that particular item in
the ample repertoire of the establishment. The con-
tinued popularity of the youngest maestro among
operatic composers—the encreasing merits, both
vocal and histrionic, of the youngest prima donna
upon the lyrical stage of Europe—the splendour of
a Novelty—the magnificence of a Revival—now
this, now that, we find to have been already speci-
fied as the secret of this exceptional success of Mr.
Gye's during the present season. According to our
judgment, however, that success is really and
truly attributable to the judicious combination
of them all under the skilful guidance'
of his d:rection. His skill as an Operatic Director
being derived from a very rare combination,
in his instance, of enterprise, discrimi-
nation, and experience. That M. Gounod's
genius, as the composer of "Faust," has
nevertheless, had something to do with the pe-
culiar success achieved by the "Royal Italian" in
1864, is attested plainly enough by the circumstance
that time nights of the season have been those set
apart for the performance of his tragic masterpiece.
Equally undeniable is it that Madlle. Patti, the
Patti, Adelina Patti that is, the darling
prima donna of all the great capitals of
Christendom, has shared with M. Gounod in
winning an exceptional racUance for the season
which ended on Saturday—a genuine furor (one
noticeable even in her career!) having been excited by
the fair eantatrice through her representation of a e
Marguerite I The substitution in " Faust" of Mdlle.
Adelina Patti for Madl!e. Pauline Lucas, in truth,
was so felicitous as a change for the better that the
mention of it as such could has dly be deemed even
by Madlle. Lucca herself, as in any way invidious.
Another delightful peculiarity o!' the season
brought to a close on Saturday was that of Signor
Mario being in better N oic e this year than he has
been in for a very long while past—Mario on one or
two nights, indeed, singing almost, we had said, as
finely as ever he did in his life ! Then, too, at the
commencement of the season we had very vivid
hopes held out to us that in Madlle. Emilia Lag-
grits, (" Emilia in England ") there !had at length
been discovered a legitimate successor to La Diva,
that imperial prima donna who, for a full quarter of
a century held her own against all corners, she
whose European name was given so ridiculously
this season as " Mrs Grisi," in the Royal Academy
catalogue! The splendour of Meddle Lagrua's
singing and acting as Norma, turned out, however,
t o have been in her instance something exceptional
and apart—insomuch so that the hopes of her assured
triumph as UK's successor faded out gradually
as the public came to recognise with increasing
regret her more and more obvious deficiencies
as Donna Anpa in " Don Giovanni," as Desde-
monna in " 0 Cello," and in two of the many Leonoras
of the lyrical drama, the Leonora of" La Favorite,"
and the Leonora of " Un Ballo in Masehera."
Another " flash in the pan," among the apparent
hits of this last season at Covent-garden, the pros
found but fleeting sensation produced by Herr
Wachtel's C above the line might almost be men-
tioned as having been—only that our so mentioning
it would be little less than an act cf ingratitude.
The physical capabilities of the young German
tenor are indubitably great, however—they are, in
truth, so remarkable of their kind, that a noble
career is manifestly yet within reach of his attain-
ment ! Only—that great career of his has still to
be commenced. .A single chest note can hardly
be depended upon for the achievement of a reputa-
tion. That the new :German basso profondo, Herr
Schmidt, obtained this year a triumph less dezzliug,
no doubt, but more enduring, than that won for a
while by his tenor compatriot, may be
credited, even by those who failed to witness
it themselves, when W 3 remark that the name ot
Herr Schmidt is still associated among operaegoers
(now that the season is over) with the great names
of Formes, Staudigl, and—Lablache I As for the
novelties promised in 1864 at Covent-garden, it is
curiously noteworthy that two among them were
apparently struck out of the manager's scheme for
the season by an afterthought—one of these by
reason of a doubtful success, the other by reason of
an unmistakeable triumph achieved at the rival
Opera House. The former of these
(a veritable
Novelty) being the production of Nicolai's i' Merry
Wives of Windsor" (for the which
Mr. Gye judi-
ciously substituted " Stradellau)—the latter being
simply a Revival (a projected revival that Mr.
Gye, quite as wisely perhaps, passed by alto-
gether) namely, Beethoven's wondrous " Fide-
tio ! Any mere dry enumeration here of
the operas actually performed this season
vario
at the Royal Italian, or of the
artistes who took part in those same performances
would be simply tedious end idle. Sufficientpecially worthy of
will it b© to mention as facts es us and gifted
mention in the History of the Opera, here in Eng-
land, that the increasing love for, and appreciation
of, the highest class of music among our fellow-coun-
try men has never been more signally attested than
they havebeen this season at Covent Garden by the
denecly crowded houses that have there, night
after night, week after week, rewarded Mr Gye's
enterprise ! Nay, more than once, by the genuine
enthusiasm manifested by those vast audiences, audi-
ences hitherto regarded as constitutionally undo-
monstrative. Under the direction of the master-
baton of Mr Costa,the noble orchestra and the superb
choruses of the Royal Italian
Opera have never on
any previous occasion displayed greater efficiency.
And, in this according to his wont, the manager or
operatic director of the establishment may be said to
have reserved the playing of his best card to the very
1
last—to wit, that radiant, dazzling, resplendent
" Etoile du Nord," the magnificence of the represen-
tation of which towards the close of the season of
1864 on the stage of Covent-garden, not unfittingly
marked—as if in tribute to the Great Composer's
memory—the year saddened by the Death_of that
Giant of Sweet Sounds, the wonderful Meyerbeer !
To how many other great operatic come
posers, however, has not the Royal Ita-
lian paid the noblest of all tributes dur-
ing this past season—that noblest of all tributes
being, of course, the fitting performance of their
masterpieces ! In this way) due homage has been
paid not only to the genius of Meyerbeer, but, with
him, and, among others, to the genius of Rossini„
of Auber, of Gounod, of Mozart, of Verdi, of Bellini
of Donizetti! In the mere mechanical ordering of
the various departments of so huge and complex an
establishment as that of the Royal Italian Opera, the
DireCtor has:in 1864 given fresh evidence of that
skill which is alone to be acquired by assiduous care
combined with very lengthened expel knee. And in
the conduct of this mechanical ordering ot the whole
to the satisfaction of all pinks during en un-
usually busy season, a season that must at times,

indeed, have been one of almost bewildering
activity, the Director has ever found at his right
hand, in Mr, Henry Nelson, a not unworthy aide
or cameriere. Upon the close of a season of such
unusual brilliancy, we may, therefore, with especial
reason, as we do, offer Mr. Gyc our very heartiest
congratulations.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE PERUVIAN.
(Via Greencastle,)

NEW YORK, JULY 22, Evening.

Mr C. C. Cl +y and Mr J. P. Holcomb, semi.
official representatives of the Soutoern Government,
communicated to Mr Horace Greely that they were
willing to proceed to Washington for the discussion
of peace propositions, although not accredited by
the Confederate Government for that purpose.
President Lincoln replied, through Mr Greely,
that the Federal Government would receive and
meet on liberal terms any proposition embracing
the restoration of peace, the integrity of the Union,
and the abandonment of slavery coming from the
authority controlling the rebel army.
Messrs Clay and Holcomb emphatically declined
visiting Washington, Mr Lincoln's answer pre-
cluding negotiations by prescribing conditions of
peace. If peace could only be secured by submission
to terms of conquest, the generation was yet unborn
that would witness the restoration of peace.
It is reported that Sherman has occupied Atlanta.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, JULY 22 (Evening).

Money tight. Gold, 252, Exchange on London,
272. New York Centrals, 132. Illinois, 1231.
Erie, 109 i. 5.20 Bonds, 1031.
NEW YORK, JULY 23 (Morning).

A battle has been fought before Atlanta, in which
the Confederates were driven into their fortifica-
tions with a loss of GOO killed and 4,000 wounded
and prisocers.
Sherman has cut all Hood's lines of retreat, with
the exception of that by way of Macon.
General Johnston has been superseded by Hood.
The Etna and Germania, sailing to day for
Europe, take out 290,000 dole.
Gold, 254.
NEW YORK, JULY 23 (Evening).

The reports of the capture of Atlanta are reite.
rated,but no official confirmation has been received.
Semi-official accounts of the battle before Atlanta,
which' was fought on the 21st inst., state that
Sherman defeated Hood, who fell back to his fedis
fications, leaving his killed and wour.ded on the
field. Sherman took 4,000 prisoners, The Federal
loss amounted to 1,500.
A Confederate force, estimated at 5,000 men, is
said to have recrossed the Potomac, 13 miles above
Harper's Ferry.
It is rumoured that a conspiracy has been dis-
covered extending throughout the Mississippi Val-
ley to form a separate Confederacy in the North
West. Several prominent secessionists at Saint
Louis, who were implicated, have been arrested.

Money easier. Gold, 254 t. Stocks steady. New
York Centrals, 1321. Illinois, 124 k. Erie, IC9Z.
5.20 Bonds, 1042.
Cotton quiet. Middling Upland, 161 to 162.
Wheat declining. Petroleum—crude, 50 to 51 ;
refined, 82c.

PROPOSED BASES OF PEACE.
VIENNA, Aua. 1.
The following are stated to be the bases of the

proposed peace :
" Lauenburg, Schleswig, and Holstein to be
ceded to the two groat German Powers.
'' The Island of Arro to remain with Denmark;
Alsen, however, and the islands in the North Sea to
go with Schleswig.
" On account of the Danish enclaves in Schleswig,
a rectification of the Jutland frontier will take
place."

FRANCE.

PARIS, AUG. L

Some German newspapers have announced that
the Emperor and Empress were about to make a
tour i❑ Alsace and Lorraine. This statement is
denied in official quarters.
BOURSE, July 30.—The market was duller than
uvrtl, but the business done extremely limited,
Threes, for the Account, are now at 66f. sc. Mo-
bilivr at 985 f. Railway Shares are firm. The
market closed as follows :

4.1 per Cents. 94 30
Do. end
3 per Cents
Do. end month 66
Credit Mobilier..., 080
Do. end month 978 75
Bank Shares 3360
Credit k oncier 1202 50
Roman

Italian Loan . 68 05
Do. end month.... 67 95
Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Russian
Austrian
SpaniA Threes 54
Home Debt .. 4Bl
Deferred

RA IL WAYS.
Cash. Account.
672 50 .. 870
977 50 .. 977 50
897 50 .. 890 25

Orleans .1 -
Northern
Lyons and MuclitQrranean
New ditto
Southern
Western
Eastern ....
Sardinian ..
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa..
Ditto to Barcelona -

637 50 .. 610 -
512 50 .. -
480 - 477 50
350 - 317 50
425 - .. 422 50
528 75 .. 528 75
437 50 .. 435 -
523 75 .. 622 50
247 50 ..

PORTUGAL.
LISBON, JULY 31.

The Royal Mail Steampacket Company's ship
Magdalena, from Brazil, has arrived here, and will
leave this evening for Southampton, with 127 pas-
sengers, £7,M5 in specie, 400 bags of coffee, 585
rolls of tobacco, 200 barrels of tapioca, 33 bales of
cotton, 161 serona of ipecacuanha, and 154 packages
of sundries. She passed the Oneida at sea on the
evening of the 21st, and left Cape de Yards on the
23d July.

POETRY AND PROSE.—HoW much greater is our
nation in poetry than prose! how much better, in
general, do the productions of its spirit show in the quali-
ties of genius than in the qualities of intelligence 1 One
may constantly remark this in the work of individuals;
how much more striking, in general, does any Englishman
—of some vigour of mind, but by no means a poet—seem
in his verse than in his prose. No doubt his verse suffers
from the same defects which impair his prose, and he can-
not express himself with real success in it ; but how much
more powerful a personage does he appear in it, by dint of
feeling, and of originality and movement of ideas, than when'.
writing prose I With a Frenchman of like stamp, it is just the
reverse : set him to write poetry, he is limited, artificial,
and impotent—set him to write prose, he is free, natural,
and effective. The power of French literature is in its
prose-writers, the power of English literature is in its poets.
Nay, many of the celebrated French poets depend wholly
for their fame upon the qualities of intelligence which they
exhibit—qualities which are the distinctive support a
prose—many of the celebrated English prose-writers depend
wholly for their fame upon the qualities of genius and
imagination which they exhibit—qualities which, are the
distinctive support of poetry. But, as I have said, the
qualities of genius are less transferable than the qualities
of intelligence; less can ba immediately learned and
appropriated from their product—they are less
direct and stringent intellectual agencies, though they may
be more beautiful and divine. Shakspere and the great
Elizabethan group were certainly more gifted writers than
Corneille and his group ; but what was the sequel to this
great literature of genius, as we may call it, stretching from
Marlow to Milton? What did it lead up to in English
literature? To our provincial and second-rate literature
of the 18th century. What, cn the other hand, was,,the
sequel to the literature of the French ti great century, to
this literature of intelligence, as by comparison with on'
Elizabethan literature, we may eall it, what did it lead up
to? To the French literature of the 18th century, one of
the most powerful and pervasive intellectual agencies that
have ever existed, the greatest European force of the 18th
century.—MArritEw AII,NOLD, in the" Cornha Na. 74-
;:ine" for iltfurtst,