The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-15 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE,

I PURITANI,

A striking performance of this most melodious of
all Bellini's operas was given at this theatre last
evening, and served to confirm the brilliant im-
pression made by the opening night of the season.
Its attraction was also enhanced by the fact of
its leading feature possessing somewhat of the
zest of novelty. Though Elvira is a cha-
racter Madlle. Titiens had already assumed
in England, she had been seen in it so seldom that
many who witnessed it on this occasion must
have been lei to view the effort in the Jight of a
debut. Our admiration of that effort is scarcely
weakened by the exceptions which may be taken to
its merit. Elvira is certainly not to be numbered
among the conceptions most adapted to the powers
or soul of this great singer. The florid style of its
music as little accords with her ideal training, as
the subtler expression demanded by the light
and shade of the demented scenes is in harmony
with the more massive depth and fervour of her
genius. Elvira is a being whose mental fragility
yields at once to the shock of a great suffering, and
who wakes our sympathy in the very measure that
her frenzy sports with her hopes and happiness.
She is the passionate wreck that the fitful wave
lifts and plunges down at will. With Mdlle. Titiens,
on the contrary, she rather combats the shock than
yields to it, and lays b ire the depth of her misery,
rather than displays the force of her madness. Never-
theless, such is the mastery with which this view is
put before us that we cannot for the time reject
the impression of its close approach to troth.
We may object to her delivery of the polacca—
that, like a singer ill at ease, she overlays its fiori-
ture, in order to show how she can command it
—and that she is also over-fanciful in the caba-
letta of the " Qui la voce," considering the expres-
sion it is meant to convey of a mind entirely
crushed by grief; but we are compelled to admit
that in her superb share of the noble finale of the
first aet she reveals a depth of passion that
elevates the character far above its intended
level, and not leas in the affecting duet
of the last act, the " Nel Mirarte un solo in•
stante," and its culminating transport, "Parole
d'amor," her voice and feeling make us conscious
only of a spirit worthy to sustain and to be requited
for its trial. Her Elvira may not be classed with
her Lucrezia Borgia or her Leonora, but it has a
power after all which is only to be found in Mdlie.
l'itiens. The Arturo of Signor Guiglini is, on the
contrary, to be numbered among his happiest
assumptions. It has all the mingled force and
tenderness which the character demands, and
which, supported by his splendid voice, gives
him at present, in serious opera, his peculiar
distinction. This was exhibited in his share of
the exquisite "0, Te Cara"—in his vigorous sup-
port of the encounter with Riccardo before the
Queen—and more especially in his entire rendering
of the music of the last act, every note of which
was given with a truth that was only equalled
by its fervour. His delivery of the passionate de-
nunciation of his pursuers, " Elle e Tremante," as
he defends and points to their tenderer victim,
Elvira—mingled a pathos with i's fury which has
Ina been given to it in our knowledge since it was
first poured out by Rubini. The Riccardo was
Mons. Gassier, whose excellent voice and superior
skill always render him so acceptable in every-
thing he undertakes, and whose good qualities
were never more manifest than on this occasion.
His one aria—the Fior D'amore—was given with
a degree of tenderness that contrasted strikingly
with the vigour of his singing throughout the night.
Of the band and chorus, saving that at times they
were a little too emphatic, no praise can be too
great. The miss en scene is also entitled to com-
mendation.
On the whole, this was a performance which did
great credit to the theatre, and amply deserved the
approbation which it elicited throughout. It is to
be repeated on Thursday evening, when it will be
followed by the new ballet," La Ferfaletta, in which
Nladtle. Ferraris will make her first appearance,
and the entire resources of the establishment will
be brought into play.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

DEMERARA.

The ordinary general meeting of the shareholders in this
company was held yesterday at the London Tavern—Mr. J.
A. Tinne in the chair.

The Secretary read the report as follows :
" The directors have great pleasure in informing the
shareholders that the arrangements for the conversion of
the bonds and old preference stock have been carried out
with the most complete success; every bond has now been
settled, and ample funds have been provided for the com-
pletion of the railway in accordance with the colonial ordi-
nance so as to secure the cancellation of the government
mortgage ; the company stands virtually in the enviable
position of being without a single creditor.
"In pursuance of the scheme which had been devised, the
affairs of the company were brought to a point on the 30th
of September, 1862, all interest on the one hand, and traffic
receipts (which for the three months ending 30th Septem-
ber were £4,655 125.) on the other, being brought into con-
struction account, and the general balance-sheet to that date
shows that the result of this arrangement was to place
£40,222 4s. ld. in stores and cash at the disposal of the di-
rectors for working the railway and completing its exten-
sion to Mahaica.
" Following this general balance-sheet to the 30th Sep-
tember are the general balance-sheet and statements of capi-
tal and revenue accounts for the three months ending 31st
December, 1862 ; the capital account exhibits the further
progress which had been made to that date in the allotment
of the new preference stock, and the further sum required
for the purposes of the company has since been sub-
scribed.
" The revenue account shows a net profit upon the quarter
of £3,790 17s. 11d., but the shareholders must bear in
mind that this embraces the period of the largest returns,
and that the rate of working expenses is proportionately
light ; the receipts of the railway, however, continue to
exhibit improvement, and as it is morally certain that they
will amply provide in future for the preference dividends,
and leave a fair margin, the directors have no hesitation is
disposing of the balance above alluded to ; the sum required
for dividend on he preference stock to the 31st of Decem-
ber, 1862, is £1,605 4s. 5d., leaving £2,185 13s. 6d., out of
which the directors propose that a dividend of 11 per cent
should be paid on the original stock, which will absorb
£1,688 155., and leave £496 18s. 6d. to be carried forward
to the credit of the revenue account of the current half-year.
"On the 9th March th • manager writes lam glad to
say that our traffic receipts cone inue to compare favourably
with last year, and that the trains are running punctually,
and without accident. I made a beginning last week at
Lancaster with the new embankment, and at Hope and
Dochfour with bridges across the side line trenches for the
extension line to Mahaica.'
" The members who now retire by rotation from the
general committee are H. Bruce, Esq., and G. H. Loxdate,
elsq., and from the local committee, Thomas Garnett, Esq.,
all of whom offer themselves for re-election."
The CHAISMAN, in moving the adoption of the report and
accounts, raid it was highly gratifying to the board to meet
:he shareholders on this occasion. It afforded a pleasing
contrast to former meetings, when ho considered how often
they had met in this place and left the meeting sick ot
hope deferred. He was sure they must all feel gratified at
the position of the company, and at the receipt of a divi-
dend. 1 heir traffic in goods and passengers was daily in-
creasing. He hoped before the end of the present year
that the line would be cornple•ed in all its integrity, whet
its resources would become fully developed. The reports ot
the manager were extremely favourable as to the new ex •
tension, which was rapidly progressing, and most of the
materials were on the spot. He trusted' that all parties in
the colony, seeing the strenuous efforts which were being
made to fulfil all obligations, would stand firm by the com-
pany. He thought credit was due to the deeuty chairman
(Hr. Chambers) for his exertions to promote the financial
prosperity of the company, and he would request that gen •
tleman. in seconding the resolution, to make some observa-
tions on this subject. Before concluding., he had pleasure
in reading an extract from the manager's letter of the
23d of March by the packet just arrived :—" The
works for the extension are going
on favourably,
and I hope in the course of a couple of months to be ready
to open up the Clonbrook (li
miles), so as to get the pas-
senger traffic from the villages of Ann's Grove and Bee
Hive. The embankment across Lancaster is also progress-
ing favourably; the contractors promise to have it finished
I intend to go on with the work at Mosquito Hall, and by
in the course of ten days or a fortnight ; when that is done
the time we finish there I hope to have possession of the
remainder of the land." You will see from the returns that
Mr. CITAMBE ES, in a
the traffic is still locking up. entered into a
full explanation of the finances of the company, which were
most satisfactory, He —e had always felt confident that the
line would be ultimat;
ely successful, and its present posi-
tion proved that his faith was well founded. The company
cording the motion,
was entirely free from debt, and the funds for completing
the line had been provided there was consequently no
hesitation in disposing of the balance exhibited by the
revenue account.
Mr. H. 11. Merne applied for some informa-
tion as to the rolling stock waich was furnished by
the chairman, and in reply to an
at if the inquiryfunds
why there was
no resolution for the payment of the preference dividend, he
was inforu ed that this dividend has made a charge upon
the earnings of the railway by the Colonial Ordinance,
which further provided th
to meet, it were
inadequate in any helf-year, the Lalance would be a lien
upon future revenue.
The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Messrs, Bruce, Li:male and Garnett were re-elected as
lirectors, and Mr. Bankah as auditor, and a resolution
that the best thanks of the company
be given to the chair-
man of the General and Demerara Committees, and to
their co-directors, to the auditor., and also to the secretary,
general manager and other officer s, for the zealous attention
which they have devoted to the interests of the company,
concluded the business of the meeting.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.

REJECTION OF THE AMNESTY BY THE
INSURGEN FS.
THORN, APRIL 15.

Intelligence received here from all parts of the
seat of the insurrection shows that the amnesty has
produced a bad impression amongst the insurgents.
The revolutionary Government has declared that
the insurgents will not lay down their arms until
they have obtained the independence of Polt:nd.
They forbid the inhabitants to pay taxes to the
Russian Government, and order the Poles in the
Russian army to come over to the insurgent ranks.

The Governor of Gradno has reported to the
Russian Government that 4,000 peasants in his dis-
trict have expressed their intention to return to the
United Greek Church,

It is now stated that neither the Grand Duke
Constantine nor the Marquis Wielopoiski will leave
Warsaw.

SPAIN.
THE POSITION OF PARTIES.
MADRID, APRIL 14 (Evening).

In to day's sitting of the Congress, Senor Vaha-
monde, in reply to a question of Senor Gonzales
Bravo, declared that, the moderate section of the
Liberal union and the Progresista party being at
variance, they would not be able to form a
Ministry.

The present Ministry will not continue the policy
of the former Cabinet, but will act in accordance
with a policy of its own.