The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-16 00:00:00

THERMOMETER.

This morning
This day at Two o'clock
Barometer-30.00.
Wind—S.W. ; light, with rain.

HIGH WATER- AT LONDON BRIDGE.
ran Dew.-Moaning, 2h. 3m.—Afternoon, 2h. 24m.
To-ktoßßow.-Morning, 2h. 45m.—Afternoon, 3h. 3m.

Zfit

LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1863.

How serious matters are becoming in Poland, the
Telegrams of this forenoon clearly demonstrate.
Through one the electric current tells us, by a few
lightning flashes, from the other end of Europe, that
immediately after the execution of the insurgent
Chief HEINRICH ABICIIT and of the Capuchin
monk KONARSICI, both of whom, it will be remem-
bered, were only the other day hanged, a warning
from the National Government was despatched to
the Grand Duke CONSTANTINE. That mysterious
National Government —as inscrutable, in its
way, as the awful masked Council of Ten at
Venice—has thus warned the Grand Duke CON-
STANTINE that his life is in serious jeopardy. The
invisible and puissant authority representing the
present armed and hitherto triumphant insurrection
tells the Grand Duke CONSTANTINE that for his
safety, for his personal safety in future it can no
longer hold itself responsible_ The death of the great
Polish Chieftain, above all the death of the good
and beloved Mork—has each, have both—cast away
the last chance of reconciliation. The divinity that
hedges Kings and Princes according to the poet
has crumbled to dust in Poland, in reference to the
representatives of that cruel Russian Autocracy.
The Grand Duke CONSTANTINE now stands
unsheltered by any glamour of loyalty—even
supposing loyalty to be under any circumstances
possible from a polish peasant to a Russian Prince.
His Imperial Highness has himself flung away the
scabbard : and now without shield or barrier
of any kind, he stands before an outraged and
infuriated nation the foremost and the most
conspicuous figure amongst the ranks of its
oppressors.

Another incident reveals, if possible, yet more
distinctly than ever the solem❑ warning addressed
to the GRAND DT:KE by the National Government,
the extremity of antagonism to which the Poles
have at length been driven by the cruel domination
of the CzAR. And the incident we allude to is
simply thi3—thatin consequence of the execution of
the excellent priest KONARSKI, the archbishop
and the clergy of Warsaw, having sent in a
protest to the Government demanding that that
dead Monk's body should be handed over to them
for interment, that protest and demand were
immediately telegraphed to St. Petersburgh.
Thence, it now appears, that an order has recently
been received, commanding the archbishop at
once to repair to the capital. Archbishop FELINSKI
has in consequence it is said already left Warsaw for
St. Petersburg. To meet with what reception—
who shall say The Russian game is fast being
played out. Religion has long since begun there in
earnest to sanctify Patriotism by its august com-
plicity. The insurrection is gaining strength day
by day. It would require the whole might of
Russia now to crush it out entirely. And the
exercise of that ru tless power by Russia against
Poland—Public Opinion throughout Western
Europe can hardly much longer tolerate.

The case of Sergeant-Major LILLEY was last
night adverted to in the House of Lords, and the
Earl of SHAFTESBURY put a question to the Seere-
titry for War regarding that subject which has lately
engrossed so much public attention. The noble
Earl stated that he forebore to make ary pre'imi.
nary observations, as he had no official knowledge
of the matter, and he must be careful not to give
rise to .6 unfounded
This reserve
suspicions," or "unjust
asper-
sions:'pected from Lord only what might be ex-
we:APTESBURY'S well-known
moderation, but he
to say with great truth
picture as ans that presented in the
that " so frightful a
case I have alluded to
aadv.rnayet been brought
place
eelaidiadiththeartt
0, so
before the British public,
far as I can judge, what has taken
most unsatisfactory, and such I
eve is
the judgment of the public." The noble lord tahlso
asked whether it was the intention of the Govern-
ment to institute sycy further inquiry into the cases
of Lieutenant-Colonel Crawley and Sergeant-Mujor
LILLEY. Before this was answered by the Secre-
tary for War, the Duke of CAMBRIDGE made some
remarks on the question. He observed that he
wished to explain not so much about the court-
martial on Paymaster SMALE, as what might re-
sult from a court-martial on Lieutenant-Colonel
CRAWLEY, which he believed would be deemed
necessary, His Royal Highness then clearly
explained his purpose in addressing their
lordships. " So much has been said as to the
position which I fill, and as to the line I have taken
with regard to this melancholy proceeding, that it
right your lordships and the country should know
the exact relative position in which I, filling the

high position I have the honour to occupy, stand
with reference to the Commander-in-Chief in India,
and, in short, how I stand with reference to the
whole matter." The illustrious Duke then pro-
ci3eded to explain that he had very little to do with
the discipline of the Army in India. He stood in
the position of a referee, as a last appeal. In regard
1 to the proceedings of Colonel CRAWLEY with respect
to Sergeant-Major LILLEY he observed that, when
his report was drawn up, he was not in possession
of the whole facts of the case. He, therefore, did
not summarily dismiss the Colonel, but reserved his
judgment till more was known. In reference to
Sir HUGH ROSE and Sir W. MANSFIELD, the Duke
of CAMBRIDGE spoke very decidedly. He said that
it had been imputed to them that the reason nothing
was done was in consequence of their being con-
cerned in the transaction :—" No doubt these two
distinguished General officers were concerned ; but
the question arises, were they concerned in such a
manner that I was called on to take action at once?
Now, I most conscientiously believe that these two
distinguished officers had every desire to do their
duty, but
.they committed a very serious error of
judgment. That was my conviction, and I believe
that to be the real state of the case. I believe that
will come out as the result of any further investi-
gation that may take place, even on the question of
the erroneous imprisonment to which such import-
ance has been given." Further on, the Duke stated
that the result of the imprisonment was not known
to him when the memorandum was written. Also,
he acknowledged that he did not believe that these
distinguished officers, Sir H. ROSE and Sir w.
MANSFIELD, had been actuated by personal feeling,
and that they had erred in judgment, "and from
no desire to do what was cruel, unjust, or wrong in
point of law." The illustrious Duke then explained
that he had not acted so undecidedly as some sup-
posed, because it was only within the last ten days
that he had been in a position to advise that a tour

martial should take place upon the merits of the
case. After referring to the great delay that in-
evitably took place, because of the time it took to
communicate with India and the many questions
that had to be put concerning the whole transac-
tion, the Duke of CAMBRIDGE concluded in these
impressive words :—" I have been obliged to point
out these facts to your lordships in order to show
that, whatever has been done has been with a view
not to screen any person, but with the strictest and
most earnest desire to do justice to all—not only to
do justice to the feelings of distress naturally occa-
sioned by tlre painful circumstances that have oc-
curred, but also to do justice to those who have been
implicated, and to whom your lordships must wish
to give every possible opportunity of defending and
justifying themselves. That, my lords, is the only
statement I have to make. As to any pressure
being put upon me, I would, of course, spurn the
idea. It does so happen that I never discussed the
matter in any manner but with those parties on
whose judgment I was enabled to rely in coming
to a sound, just, and safe conclusion."

It must be acknowledged by every one that the
Duke of CAMBRIDGE spoke in a decided manner,

and showed great judgment in his spirited and yet
cautious reply. It is also significant that he never
made any allusion to Colonel CRAWLEY'S conduct.

It is most satisfactory that this question has been
taken up at last in a proper manner, and there now
seems no reason to cavil any longer at the question,
since the proper authorities are about to investigate
the matter; and apart from their own sense of right,
the knowledge that so many are watching their
proceedings will ensure full justice being meted out
all offenders.

Another debate between the Marquis of CLAN-
RICARDE and Earl RUSSELL on the much -vexed
question of our neutral commerce to American
waters took place last evening in the House of
Lords. As on previoas occasions, however, the
noble Marquis was unable to convince his opponent
that there had been any degree of harshness, injus-
tice, or illegality in the acts of the Federal autho-
rities. On the contrary, the sentiments of the noble
Earl at the head of the Foreign Department seem
to grow more and more mild and pacific. Although
rash and intemperate expressions would ill become
a Minister of the Crown, yet the representatives of
our mercantile interest may well feel disinclined
to trust their cause altogether in th e
hands of our Foreign Secretary. In his anxiety to
be just to the Federal Government he is inclined to
slight the claims of his own countrymen to con-
sideration. No doubt the situation presents many
awkward aspects which render it difficult to deal
with, but a more assured and manly tone on the
part of the English Government throughout would
unquestionably have saved much loss and annoy-
ance. On the only occasion on which our Ministers
showed anything like spirit or determination
matters were speedily adjusted ; and though we
should shrink from exerting our great naval
strength as a means of tyrannising over weaker
powers, there is no reason that we should allow the
Federals to tyrannise over us. The war which is
desolating their country, decimating their popu-
lation, and crippling their resources, is certainly
none of our doings. It was madly rushed into by
themselves, and has been recklessly carried on, no
matter at what cost of life and happiness. America
certainly presents a warning against the evils of
war, but a calm and i-esolute maintenance of our
own rights is the way to avoid war rather than to
seek it. A Government and a people need not be
so proverbially " cute" as the Northerners to per-
ceive that our Ministry will submit to any insult or
injury they may chose to inflict on our commerce,
rather than risk a quarrel. So timid and hesitating
are their proceedings that our naval officers have
outstripped LordßussELL's sentiments considerably
in their actions. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE
referred to the case of the Ruby, an English vessel,
for the capture of which Admiral WILKES, that
Federal NELSON, had given orders, wherever she
might be found, whether engaged in running the
blockade or not. Admiral MILNE, on hearing
this, sent the Ariadne to protect the Ruby, who
was found at a short distance from Admiral
WILKES, who, like other valiant commanders,
esteemed discretion the better part of valour, and
departed. It is satisfactory after this to read the
letter quoted by the First Lord of the Admiralty
from Sir ALEXANDER MILNE, expressing the sense
which he and all his officers entertained of Admiral
WILKES'S invariable courtesy and attention.
Doubtles., the commander of the Ruby was ex-
tremely sensible of the attention so kindly shown
that vessel by the Northern naval hero. It is a
pity if
iiofEnglish interests are to be submitted to the
reverse the position
authorities, that we cannot
position of affairs and obtain their
opinion of it, supposing it to be an American case
In the old legends culprits were sometimes called on
to pronounce their own doom when they still -
posed their offences to be Secret, and if we could
sup-
posed
an American view of our case it would undoubtedly
be very advantageous. The Marquis of CLANRI-
CARDE reminded the House that in 1816 an eminent
American statesman had declared that it was re-
pugnant to the law of nations for sevel al hundred
miles of coast to be blockaded. The Spanish
Government withdrew the proclama:ion ou this
representation, and the blockade cess,d. The noble

lord made several other statements proving the
real inefficiency of the blockade which yet continues
to impoverish our manufacturers and injure our
legitimate trade. How much longer this state of
things is to last may well be questioned, but the
Northern Government may thank the timidity or
lenity of our Government that the blockade has
been suffered to exist, if indeed anything can be
estimated an advantage which has tended to prolong
this miserable and fruitless war.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE,

MADAME RISTORI.

In the present wintry condition of our stage,
when its tragic and poetic power is almost reduced
to the verge of extinction—the visits of Madame
Ristori remind us of those of the Government agents
who yearly travel to the Siberian colonies, in order
to supply them with light and sustenance, and sus-
tain their spirit of allegiance. Without her we
could almost fancy a true sense of a tragic ideal
would die out altogether. It is something as painful
as it is surprising to see how palpable she makes the
phenomenon of the decay of our histrionic talent—a
decay which is only to be explained by the fact of
our realistic and sensuous age that deteriorates art
in all directions, and which in the drama, replacing
a mental by a merely physical excitement, has
reduced our comedy to farce, and our tragedy to
melodrama. As it is the play that develops the
actor—that calls into being all that sympathetic and
imitative faculty which gives to the creation of the
poet the manifestation of the artist—and as this
relation necessarily holds in every phase the
drama assumes—the actor never rising above
the source of his inspiration—an age in which
Shakespear is only to be sustained by spectacle,
and theatres only rendered prosperous by
sensation pieces, such as the " Colleen Bawn"
and the "Peep 0' Day"—may well explain the
abasement of our long declining stage. It is a proof
as striking as it is humiliating that the only in-
stances in recent years in which it was felt that
histrionic art regained the splendour that irradiated
our own theatres, in other days, when they possessed
a Kean and a Macready, a Young and a Charles
Kemble—were in the persons of three foreigners—
Rachel, Ristori, and Mr. Fechter. These are circum-
stances little calculated to sustain our national com-
placency. Nor is their annoyance mitigated by any
prospect of a speedy removal of the stigma. An
entire change in public taste which must affect
the entire condition of the arts must be the
condition, we apprehend, of any sensible improve-
ment of the particular branch we are considering.
At the same time we must not be ungrateful for
the good with which we are favoured, and which
so largely alleviates the position that it serves to
make so palpable. We must duly estimate the
powers of our great Italian actress, which are so
adapted to keep alive in us our truest poetic sympa-
thies, and which can so well fulfil the double end
of supplying us with an ideal resource, and the
finest and rarest standard by which its enjoyment
should be tested. Madame Ristori comes before us as
no mere substitute for a lost power, which in the
impoverished condition of our time we ought to
be thankful for in any shape, she presents herself,
on the contrary, as its highest illustration, and
claims as much to be regarded in the light of a study
as a source of pleasure. No little credit, therefore,
is due to the taste and spirit of Mr. Mapleson, who,
wisely divining the want of our times, has placed
this great artist again before us, and who in his
announcement of her claims has given such further
proot of his own to be placed at the head of a na-
tional theatre. Nor is there a want of fitness in
her appearing on the boards of a Lyric Temple,
where the tragic element at present is in so much
force than at other houses, and where if the
space is somewhat too great to do justice to the
play of her features, the advantage for sound en-
sure the enjoyment of the minutest whisper
of her noble voice. Mdme. Ristori is en-
gaged for a series of eight representations,
none of which will be repeated, and commenced
them last night with the character that made her
genius known to Europe—that of Medea.
We are gratified in stating that her unrivalled
powers show no decline sinca she lust appeared
among us, now some four seasons ago, but on the
contrary, an increase of concentration, and even
mentality, that many of her old observers would
have scarcely imagined possible. We need
hardly refer again to the old comparisons which
have been so frequently and often, we must
add, unjustly, instituted between herself and
Rachel—in respect to whom, if it can be said she
wants the electric energy and overwhelming pas-
sion, she as entirely surpasses in her pathos, her
variety, her consummate art, and her imagination.
As little occasion have we to dwell on the merits of

the play she appears in as a test of legitimate
power. After all the outcry that has been raised
against M. Legouve's version of Eurepides,
and its false colouring of French senti-
ment on the simple beauty of Greek
sculpture—it must be remembered that his
endeavour to give a romantic form to a classic
original was a transition that involved no ordinary
difficulties, and that in its chief respect his version
is to be regarded as highly meritorious, namely,
its entire displacement of the supernatural element
in favour of the human--by means of which
Medea not only ceases to revolt as a sorce
ress, whose aspect is much too terrible, but enlists
our sympathies as the wife and mother whom great

passion in the first instance had tempted into crime,
and great wrong in the second maddened intocruelty.

The dramatist with great skill has made Jason the
true criminal both in his abuse of Medea's affection
in the first place, and his desertion of her in the
second. Condensing admirably the expres-
sion of his purpose in the last energetic burst
he gives her, when on the slaughter of her chil-
dren she turns on him with the frantic and ter-

rible denunciation, Tic
Madme. Ristori's performance last evening was a
most profound as well as affecting interpretation,
of this design. We had the wife and mother before
us, as more sinned against than sinning, whose cha-
racter, if so entirely passionate, as to make it an
easy prey to crime--supplies, in this very source
the expiation of her guilt, in the more than ordinary
suffering which its retributions would impose on it.
Thus the painful and the terrible, whilst rounded
by her poetic expression of them into a sense of
beauty that makes them attractive, are still further

elevated by the moral aspect that her agonies
assume, when, deeply as they move our pity, they
make plain to us their justice. It is this double
power which confers on Madame Ristori her great
distinction—the ability to refine the terrible, how-
ever vehement, into the poetic, and the power, not
less conspicuous, of exhibiting its effect as either
purificatory or retributive,

We regret we have not space to illustrate
these remarks by a quotation of the numerous pas-
sages which we marked during the performance,
and must content ourselves with referring in proof
of her increase of power to both of her scenes with
Creusa, in evidence of the finer growth of
her deep-seated passion into hatred, a change
which ever struggles with conviction till
wrong and suffering afford her heart no
other outlet than in blood ; and in the scene also
with Jason, in which the terrible fear of his false-
hood strives to the last to indulge a hope of his
returning love and justice. The more marked
points of her performance were also stamped with
this concentration, such as the delivery of the image
of the leopard, the feeling that her love frightens
her children even on blessing them.

Sovente
Fur for paura coi mei stessi Abbraccia.
Her reference to the Eumenides, and the stamp of
murderess on her brow—

II tartareo segnal the Giove on fronte,
Dell' omicida imprimi.
Her reminding Jason that their guilt is an insepa-
rable band of union, the finest passage is the play ;
t
and lastly her great outburst on her rejection by
him, which so strangely and so worthily recalls
the memory of Edrund Kean.
luhd.ame
Ristori was warmly applauded through-
out
aee
iennoble performance by a highly appreciat-
ing ands
,Wascallof called fort attheclose
wofithevery
act, and t the end
the
loudest demonstration, the Performance