The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-08 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS,)

PORTUGAL.
PARIS, APRIL 8.

The Paris papers of to-day publish a telegram
from Lisbon, dated 7th inst., stating that rumours
were current of modifications in the Ministry.

The Queen of Portugal has entered the third
month of her pregnancy.

The frigate Normandie had arrived at Lisbon
the health of the crew was satisfactory.

FRANCE.

PARIS, APRIL 7.

L' Opinion Nationale announces to-day, as among
its latest news from Lemberg, that two Prussian
officers at Kiew had been condemned to death and
shot—evidently because of their Polish proclivities.
An advertisement in Le Siecle announces the fact
that already 51,000 copies of Le Fils de Giboyer, by
Emile Angier, have been sold since the date of its
first publication.
His Excellency Don Xavier de Isturitz, the
Spanish Ambassador, says the Constitutionnel, had
the honour of an audience yesterday with the
Emperor, at the Tuileries, to thank his Majesty for
the insignia of the Order of the Legion of Honour
recently transmitted to the Prince of the Asturias.
BOURSE, April 7.—The market continues firm,
and yesterday's closing prices have been well main-
tained, and with even a slight further improvement
—Threes, for the Account, being now at 69f. 90c.
Mobilier have again risen, and are now at 1,410 f.
The Railway Share Market firm, with a slight ad-
vance on many of the lines. Italian Loan in good
demand. The market closed as follows

4t per Cents .. 96 30
Do. end month....
3 per Cents
Do. end month 69 75
New 3 per Cents
Do, end month —
Credit Mobilier 1412 60
Do, end month 1412 601

Bank Shares 3375
Credit Fonder 1525
Italian Loan 72 15
Do. end month 72 10
Russian
Austrian .. B5
Spani,h Threes 52 50
Rome Debt —

RA IL WAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans 1025 .. 1030
Northern
New ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 1210 .. 1216 25
Geneva 437 5) .. 440
Southern 775 780
Western.
Eastern ...... .. 535 540
Sardinian .......... 462 60 .. 463 75
Austrian .............. 508 75 .. 508 75
Fmro ha ril ............. 611 25 .. 612 50
North of Spain ........ 5 8 75 .. 587 50
Saragossa .......... . ... 762 50 .. 775
Ditto to Barcelona 365 .. 380 --

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEASON.

The increabe of a musical taste in Europe within
the last fifty years is one of those striking social
phenomena which have not Liked to arrest the
attention of discriminate observers. They have
detected in such a fact a further and important
addition to those evidences of progress which in
recent times have done so much to affirm both
the capacity and future well-being of man, They
have seen that there was something special in the
testimony of such a fact. Music is the language of
emotion, and the vehicle, accordingly, of our com-
mon sympathies and aspirations. Whilst litera-
ture and science appeal for the most part to the
intellect, and create diversities of opinion which
tend to:make men aggressive—music., the language
of our common feelings, tends rather to allay our
social discords and to oppose to the strifes of in-
quiry a loving and harmonising influence. Espe-
cially do we hold this to be the function of dramatic
music, which, being the expression of the more
vigorous passions and sympathies of min, is calcu-
lated in that degree to effect its purpose more pro-
foundly. An opera—which is simply a drama that
conveys its poetry in music, and intensifies its pas-
sion in order more rapidly and generally to awaken
human sympathy—must necessarily ba the medium
of all others to act with advantage on society, owing
to the ease with which it is enjoyed and the mass
that it appeals to.
With these convictions, we attach no little value
to the history of our Lyric theatres, and more espe-
cially in England, where the hardening influence
of the realistic and utilitarian age in which we -ive
makes an amelioration such as we have described
an indispensable necessity. If, on this ground, we
have felt delighted at the recent extraordinary
growth of a musical feeling in this country, as evi-
denced in the rise of our numerous societies, vocal and
instrumental—even more have we been gratified by
the higher form which has been bestowed on the

lyric drama of our time, which has at length been
treated as an art, whose claims rest on the complete-
ness as well as force of iis particulars, and whose
aim must be always twofold whenever rightly exer-
cised—that of affording the world at large a source
of study as well as enjoyment. How well the
Italian Opera, under Mr. Gye, has become entitled
to this eulogium, we can scarcely have
any occasion to assert at the present hour.
His entire career 3f management has so abundantly
displayed his aim of raising the Italian lyric drama
to the high position it demands, and which, previous

to his advent, had never been assigned it in this
country, that we have only to refer to the leading
facts of every season he has directed to relieve our-
selves from the necessity of any further affirmation.
Alike in the solid merit of the works which year
after year he has presented, and in the incomparable

talent with which they have been sustained—as well
as in the wonderful completeness of every element of
their production, his sense of what was due both to
the composer and the public has been manifested

to an extent which would be very hard to over•
rate. Mr. Gye is, in fact, entitled to the praise of
a double good—that which he has achieved in his
own theatre, and that which for the future
he has rendered indispensable in every other.
He has established a precedent in respect to pro-
duction which has so developed public taste as to
become incumbent on every manager who may
be destined to succeed him. Having once witnessed
and appreciated the merits of his system, the public
will by no means be disposed to put up with its
suspension.
Coming now to his present season, which com-
menced last evening with a most brilliant and
delightful performance of " Massaniello," the last,
most vivid, and one of the most perfect of the great
revivals which have marked his theatre, we need
not dwell on the vista of enjoyment which is un-

folded by his programme. We may remark, in the
first place, the broad distinction which will separate
his aims and exertions from thoie of Her
Majesty's Theatre. The presence of Madlle. Patti,
who returns to him with nothing less than a
European reputation—her great success in London
confirmed by the more exacting standards of Ber-
lin, Vienna, and even Paris—necessarily tends to
devote his efforts more to the presentment of
comic opera, in recognition of that young lady's
claims as a great lyric comedian. Whilst
tragic opera will, of course, be given, owing to the
abundant talent of the company, and more espe-
cially in connection with the numerous debutantes
that are announced ; the genius of Madlle.
Patti mnst necessarily be in the ascendant,
and especially when supported by that
of Signor Ronconi, whd fortunately returns to us
once more to assume his acknowledged place as
the most universal of lyric artists. However
failure of voice may have impaired his tragic
powers, and permitted us only to appreciate his
masterly conceptions, his wonderful humour and
sense of character still remain to present an offset
which we fancy the world at large will accept
against all shortcomings. When we remember
further that with Madlle. Patti and Signor
Ronconi will be associated two such singers
and comedians as Signor Mario and Mons.
Fuure—esp, cial,y in the production of "Don
Pasquale," which will be probably the finest it has
ever had in England—we may be well contented with
what must form the leading distinction of the sea-
son. In support of it we are also to have the re-
vival of two such attractions as the " Elisir
d'Amore," and the " Figlia de Reggimento," for
the heroines of which Madlle. Patti is so especially
and, we may add, wonderfully adapted, and in which
she will also have support of the great talent that is
beside her. In addition to all this, we must not omit
the other features that promise to make the season
so successful—the entire novelties we are pro-
mised, such as the last work of Verdi, the
" Forza del Destino"—and the " Stradella," com-
posed by Flotow, both of which have won
a continental reputation, as well as the grand revival,
acccording to the custom of the house, in " l'Etoile du
Nord" of Meyerbeer, which was produced at the old
theatre some few years ago, and was only performed
some seven times when the calamitous fire occurred
which laid the house in ashes. The reproduction

of this work will complete the list of
masterpieces which M. Gye has given

us from the same compJser—" The Huguenots,"
" 4 The Prophet," " Robert the Devil," and

" Dinorah"—and make a further addition to his
claim on the respect and favour of the musical
public.

As respects the superb performance with which
the season commenced last night, we have only to
say that it was in every respect the fac simile
of that of its production, save in the case

of Mons. Naudin, who made his first apperance
in the character of Massaniello, and of Mono.
Faure, who replaeed Signor Graziani in
the character of Pietro. Mons. Naudin is

a singer of great energy and feeling--if his vocal
power is not sufficient to sustain his mental and

dramatic. He acted the patriot fisherman
with infinite spirit throughout, and sang
much of the music with great tasto and
expression. He is obviously so much an artist

as to prove an addition to the company.
Mons. Faure was perhaps more successful in the
rugged and fiery Pietro—his great dra-
matic feeling standing him in esculent stead

in every scene—though we Gould not but
mis 3 the incomparable voice of his precursor.
His barcarole in the last act and vigorous share

in the duet of the second were among the best fea-
tures of the night. Of the merits of the magnificent

chorus we can have no occasion to say a word, nor
of the band, under the direction of the unrivalled
Mr. Costa ; and as little are we called upon to repeat

our praise of the m2se en scene, which renders this
revival cue of the most picturesque, as well as life-
like of all the achievement of the modern stage. The
house, we have only to add, was crowded to the

ceiling, and the satisfaction of the audience was
loudly expressed throughout.

The announcement that the railway between Bou-
logne and Calais will be opened very soon will be hailed
with pleasure by those who have had to undergo that
tedious, dusty journey by carriage,

Mr. H. O'Neil, A R.A., is painting a picture of
the Royal Landing at Gravesend.

The Windham divorce case will come on for hear-
ing in May,

6.:ffl
'Tart C 4
• !Lollar

HER MAJESTY,

WINDSOR CASTLE, April 7.
The Queen, accompanied by their Royal High-
nesses Princess Helena, Prince Arthur, and Prin-
cess Beatrice, drove out in a carriage and four
yesteriay afternoon, attended by Colonel the Hon.
A. Hardinge.

The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
the Princess Helena, drove in the grounds this
morning.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and Prince
Louis of HCESO rode on horseback.

To-day is the anniversary of the birthday of his
Royal Highness Prince Leopold.