The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-30 00:00:00

Mr. Lumley's Benefit Performances.

Last evening an " extra night" was given for Mr.
Lumley, under the immediate patronage of the
Prince and Princess of Wales, who honoured the
performance with their presence. The entertain-
ments consisted of Donizetti's "La Figlia del Reg-
gi men to," with Madlle. Piccolomini, Signor Baragli,
and Signor Vialetti in the principal characters; and
the last act of Donizetti's " La Favorite," in which
the parts of Leonara and Fernando wore supported
by Madlle. Piccolomini and Signor Giuglini. The
brilliant success achieved by Mad'ile. Piccolomini
some years back, as the popular vivandire, was re-
newed on this occasion, and she certainly never
played the character with greater vivacity or more
fascinating grace. All her principal solos were
redemanded, though not repeated, in consequence,
we presume, of the fatigue she had to undergo dur-
ing the evening, and the fair artiste was as fre-
quently complimented by recalls and floral tributes.
In one piece the substitution of " Viva l'ltalia !" for

" Viva la Francia !" which revealed Madlle. Piccolo-
mini's patriotism, however questionable the change,
regarded with reference to dramatic propriety, was
taken sympathetically by the house, and enthusias-
tically cheered. At the termination of " La Figlia,"
Mr. Lumley was unanimously called for, and made
his appearance to receive the hearty congratulations
of his numerous patrons. The exquisitely beautiful
singing of Signor Giuglini rendered the last act of
"La Favorite" particularly interesting, while it
seemed to incite Madlle. Piccolomini to still more
strenuous efforts than she had been called upon to
mike in the light music of the preceding comic
opera.

The high patronage bestowed upon this benefit
performance can only be considered as a personal
compliment to Mr. Lumley, and one to which, we
are happy to add, he was well entitled.

THALLIUM.—If the spectroscope had not been in-
vented, asks the Athenceum, would thallium have
been discovered ? is a question with which savants enter-
tain themselves. Certain it is that somewhat more than
two years ago Mr. Crookes saw the ghost of a metal in a
spectrum, and was thereby incited to search for the sub-
stance, and discovered it existing in minute quantities in
iron pyrites. The new metal figured as a few grains of
black powder in the International Exhibition; at the begin-
ning of the present year it was shown in very small ingots
and in the form of wire; since then Messrs. Bell Brothers,
of Newcastle-on-Tyne, have succeeded in producing it in
comparatively large masses. One of their ingots, weighing
nearly 6,000 grains, and more than 10 inches in length,
was exhibited at General Sabine's Conversazzone. The use-
ful applications of thallium have yet to be ascertained ; but
we hear that an eminent manufacturing firm has taken the
question in hand.
TRANSFORMATION OF THE DRAGON-FLY, as de-
cribed by the Rev. Charles Kingsley, in his new
book of" The Water Babies :"—Then he went on sulky
and lonely, as he deserved to be; and under a bank he
saw a very ugly dirty creature sitting, about half as big as
himself ; which had six legs and a big stomach, and a most
ridiculous head with two great eyes and a face just like a
donkey's. " Oh," said Tom, " you are an ugly fellow to
1,0 sure 1" and ho began making faces at him ; and put
his nose close to him, and hallowed at him, like a very rude
boy. When, hey, presto I all the thing's donkey-face
came off in a moment, and out popped a long aim with a
pair of pincers at the end of it, and caught Tom by the
nose. It did not hurt him much; but it held him quite
tight. " Yah, ah 1 Oh, let me gel" cried Tom. " Then
let me go," said the creature. "I want to be quiet, I want
to split." Tam promised to let him alone, and he let
go. " Why do you want to split ?" said Tom.
" Because my brothers and sisters have all split, and
turned into beautiful creatures with wings ; and I want to
split too. Don't speak to am. lam sure I shall split. I
will split!" Tom stood still, and watched him. And he
_e swelled himself and puffed, and stretched himself out stiff,
nationalof that
hat f question.
rforce
which
The efficiency of our Volunteers is now regarded and at last—crack, puff,ht bang—hihe
heoapdenedAnaldl
out
twnf hish.
as
psrouada Englishmenroseo. a
itwe r
eare y
tragic
justly back, back, and thethnsuliolsot tsleendoepr, of
elegant, soft creature, as soft
but very pale and weak, like a little
at the mere rumour of danger, and the report that childa who has been ill a long time in a dark room. It
insdidemcaamathe
as
Tom ;
our coasts were comparatively defenceless in cast moved its legs very feebly; and looked about it half ashamed,
of sudden emergency. The readiness with which
1
slowly up a grass stem to the top
such numbers of men of all classes enlisted in the and then it began walkings
cause, the liberality and public spirit which distin-so astonished that he never said a
Ike a girl when she goes for the first time into a ball-room;
ofthe water. Tom
with
guished the recruits, and the rapidity with which the top of the water too, and peeped out
to see what would
bright
they acquired the necessary drill, were all sources happen. And as the creature sat in the warm,sun,
word, but he stared all his eyes. And he went up to
of gratification. It is even more satisfactory to find the most
a wonderful change came over it. It grew strong and firm;
lovely colours began to show on its body, blue and
that now the first novelty is over, and we are again Yellow and black, spots and bars and rings; out of its back
lulled into security by the absence of threatened gr se its eyes
ro foel great wings of bright brown gauze; and
nag.
t-ort:Q°ulasaurgcle
dithaamt
otthaegya filled all its head, and shone like
danger, the spirit of the volunteers does not