The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-12 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1863.

Lest evening's discussion in the House of Com-
mons brought with it a foreshadov-; ieg of the close
of the Session. It did so in the shape of a purely
technical series of objections made by one or two
members very di3cerningly, in reference to the
devices resorted to by one or other of the members
of the Government, with a view to the frittering
away of the time of the House by an occasional and
most unlooked-for count out. The hon. and learned
gentleman the member for Youghal was the one who
yesterday seized the opportunity of directing the at-
tention the popular branch of the Legislature to the
exceedinginconvenienceresultingonl3 too frequently
irons these truly vexatious little Ministerial sur-
prises. Reminding the House that only so recently
as 1861 Thursdays were allotted to the Government,
the motion of adjournment cn Fridays being also
dispensed with, Mr. BUTT by that simple reminder
demonstrated how it was that only a ccupie of years
since two opportunities were snatched from the
reach of private members for bringing forward
motions in which they, as private members, hap-
pened to be interested. Nay, the fact was SO
entirely what the member for Youghal stated it to be
last evening, that with a view to compensate for the
loss of these same vanished opportunities for private
members a standing order was passed, declaring
that while committees of supply or of ways and
means were epan, the first order of the day on Fri-
day should be either supply or ways and meatus, and
upon that order being read the question should be
proposed that Mr. SPEAKER do leave the
chair. Since that order morning sittings have
been continually fixed for Fridays—that very
practise, however, defeating, as the member for
Youghal insisted with good show of reason yester-
day, both the letter and the spirit of the arrange-
ment contemplated by the standing order of the
session before last. How, is it asked ? By only
too simple a means it may be said—two hours of
the time which it was the object of those standing
orders to give to private members being practically
deducted by the morning sitting. Several counts
out on Friday evenings, in point of fact, have
actually occurred already this session in corse-
(Pence. Government has conveniently failed to
714 e a house when the interrupted business
the day was nominally about to be
thus to be got rid of readily enough by Her MA-
JEsTY's Ministers. Time, and events, and measures
are thus pleasantly to be tided over by Ministers
whenever they care to avail themselves of so eli-
gible an opportunity. The
suspension of the sit-
tings for two hours on the Fridayvenings affords
the opportunity, and of that
golden
Ministers are not slow co avail themselves.

Although no result followed from the brief de-
bate in Ulu Upper House last night in reference to
the Prussian Convention, and the Foreign Secretary
was unable to give any further information of im-
portance concerning it, there is no reason to regret
that the question has been again brought forward.
The tone of the discussion will serve at least to
show M. BISZIARE the feelings with which Eng-
lish politicians of all sides regard this obnoxious
treaty, and he may also reflect with advantage on
tie tone in which the conduct of the Government of
Prussia ivas spoken of by the representatives of the
governing class in Great Britain. The Earl of
(1411.14:ARSON, on inquiring whether Earl RUSSELL
could give him any further information on the
subject of this famous treaty than that which was
afforded by the correspondence on Polish affairs
already laid before Parliament, expressed his
anxiety to avoid touching upon any queetiona that

might embarrass the Cabinet, but added that he
did not consider the informatien he wished to ob-
tain would produce any prejudicial effect. After
dwelling on the disastrous and dangerous state of
things in Russia and Poland, and commenting on
what he termed the wanton and gratuitous inter-

♦ention on the part of Prussia, the noble lord went
on to speak of the mysterious Convention which has
been such a bugbear to European diplomatists for
the last few months.

If Prussia, said Lord CARNARVON, chose to abolish

i.er Parliaments, put down her press, and convert
a constitutional monarchy into a military despotism,
he had no right to interfere with her proceedings.
But when her policy extended beyond her own
frontier, all Europe became affected by it, and it
was our duty to speak out. There can be no pos-
sible doubt that the convention exists. Count
BISMARK has himself admitted it, the Russian
Minister has acknowledged the fact to our Ambas-
sador at St. Petersburg, while it has also been
owned by the Prussian Minister in this country.
Curiously enough, however, while the Russians
show no unwillingness to submit the treaty to in-
spection, they refuse the request to produce it on
the ground that objections to such a course are

raised by Prussia. This reticence goes far to con•

tradict Count BIS3IAItIeS assertion that it is a dead
letter. Its explanation is probably to be found in
the existence of the secret article to which reference
it seems is made in the convention itself. Perhaps
the Prussian Minister anticipates that England
would push her inconvenient curiosity still further
when she saw such a mysterious allusion in the
document itself. Certainly the conduct of the
Prussian King and his Ministers—the course of
policy pursued by them at home and abroad—does
not allow us to trust much to their secret
diplomacy. Prussia is one of the last
Powers who could meddle secretly in the
affairs of her neighbours without produc-
ing uneasiness, and in this case, when her

sympathies are known to be on the side of unsern

pulous oppression and ruthless violence, the exist-
ence of a clause in the convention which she dares
not with all her effrontery bring to light, is not
likely to satisfy her own people or to reassure other
European Powers as to her intentions. Full powers
already existed to enable Russia to demand the
extradition of offenders whether political or crimi-
nal. Surely this was as much as Russia had a right
to ask or Prussia to grant. As Lord CARNARVON
observed in the absence of anything like political
necessity or domestic pressure, the existence of such
a convention can only be attributed to the jealous
fear of anything like constitutional life springing
up in Poland. The possibility that out of the ter-
rible struggle now going on some truer principles
of government, some more liberal constitution may
emerge for that unhappy conntry, is, as the noble
lord truly observed, the phantom that has scared
the Prussian rulers. Conscience makes cowards of
us all, and the shortest diplomatic memory goes
back to a time when the pretentious kingdom was
comprised within limits very unlike its present
boundaries, while the means by which its rapid ex-
tension were attained were not such as to make its
rulers feel secure in the prospect of revolu,-
tionary struggles. Still that the course pur-
sued by the Prussian Government is disastrous
to herself, who can doubt. in such a policy, as Lord
CARNARVON remarked, she goes back by genera-

tions, and surrenders the prize for which she has
struggled so long—the leadership of Germany.
" More than this," said the noble lord, " I
think it will be admitted that such a policy
is not only unworthy, unnecessary, and un-
wise, but that it is eminently unsafe. Are
Prussian statesmen positively so blind, are their
eyes so judicially darkened that they cannot see the
excessive danger of the course they are now pur-
suing, and are not aware of that which any child
can discern—how nicely balanced and how critical
affairs now are in Europe ? Is it possible for them
to fancy that they can act while others hereafter
will sit still, and that the mischievous precedent of
intervention will not be exercised some day by some
other Power. In one word, to put it in the
strongest form, do they think that their western
frontier is so secure that they can venture to trifle
with their own fortunes and the peace of Europe ?

It would be well if Prussian statesmen bad solved
these questions clearly and distinctly in their own
minds before they ventured upon this dangerous

course."

Earl RUSSELL'S reply, though affording no in-
formation, was at least satisfactory in its denun-
ciation of the conduct of Prussia. With regard to
the Convention, he admitted that there had been
every kind of contradiction and obscurity ; and the.
noble e9rl did not appear to put much faith in
Count BISMARK's assertion that the treaty was
now a dead letter. It is by no means satisfactory
that our Ministers should be unable to obtain fuller
information when the French Ambassador bae, it
seems, been favoured with a view of the document.
Earl RUSSELL has expressed himself decidedly on the
question. If so, his opinion will be endorsed by the
sentiments expressed last night in the Upper House
—sentiments •A hich will certainly meet with public
approval, both as regards the dishonourable pro-
ceedings respecting the Convention, and, to quote
the words of Lord BROUGHAM, " the conduct of the
Prussian Government to its own subjects, its own
Parliament, and its own constitution."

The banquet at Merchant Taylors' Hall last night
was a most interesting one. It was the Prince of
WALES' first visit to the City to a banquet, and he
was surrounded by a brilliant and distinguished
circle. Additional attraction was imparted to the
occasion by the circumstance of the PRINCE taking
up the honorary freedom of the company. In pro-
posing the health of his Royal Highness, the
MASTER said—" This is an eventful day for the
Merchant Taylors' Company ; the heir apparent to
the throne of this realm has honoured this loyal and
ancient corporation by becoming one of its honorary
members. I propose the health of the Prince of
WALES, citizen and Merchant Taylor, and his Royal
consort" It is in identifying himself like this with
the customs and ceremonies of so many important
and influential members of society that the PRINCE
is now showing such sense and discernment. He is
not confining his presence to the " gilded saloons"
of the aristocracy, but dividing his favours by
mixing as far as possible with various circles, and
thus uniting divers interests by the same attracting
influence. The PRINCE spoke briefly on two occa-
sions—first when the ceremony took place of enroll-
ing him among the Company, and afterwards at the
banquet when his health was
proposed, On the
first occasion he said that
nobly
thatrhaeeew, was proud to belong
to a c
benefit (jorafpatnhye
humanh
ede
and he esfoteremth
an honour to have his name enrolled
it
tmeng the freemen of the Com Merchant Taylors'
pany. At the banquet the Master proposed
the health of the honorary members of the
company, associating the toast more
Ocularly with the name of the Earl ofDERBY
He said that the representatives of the Bold
English houses of STANLEY, CECIL, and PERCY
were among their ±ionorary members. Lord DERBY
who was,very warmly received, observed " that of
course politics must not be referred to on that
occasion, partly from the mixed character of the
assembly, and partly from the prey nce of their

illustrious PRINCE who, though he took a deep
interest in all public affairs, should always be kept
aloof from all political connexions and party con-
siderations.' But," added hie lordship, "there are
some topics that may be discussed, and some neutral
ground on which all may meet, and in one thing
all are agreed, not to interfere with the time
honoured institutions of the country." The Earl
then eloquently alluded to the previous career of
the societies :—" God be praised that the great com-
panies are no longer called on to perform those
valuable services and important functions for
which in earlier and less happy days they were of
signal service to the country. T here is noneed for the
guilds of London to stand up now and defend the
privileges of the people against the encroachments
of the Crown. There is no necessity now for the
interference of the guilds of London to be the guar-
dians of our infant commerce, nursing—may I ven-
ture to whisper the word—protecting it. I might
also add monopolising the trade of the country.
That infant commerce has now outgrown the neces-
sity of being sustained by its nurses, and whether
to assist the commerce of our country or resist the
encroachments of the Crown these guilds are no
longer required. The alterations made in the super-
structure may not require the buttress for its ori-
ginal purpose, yet the buttress remains, not less an
ornament to posterity than as a mark of honour
reflected from antiquity on modern times." No ene
better than Lord DERBY can address an assemblage
of this kind. He can adapt his style to suit every
emergency, and whether he commands the applause
of listening senates with his apt retort or vehement
denunciation, or mixes in the mote genial atmos-
phere of the festive throng, he is always the master
of his subject, the skilled rhetorician, and the im-
pressive orator. Mr. DISRAELI, who was also en-
thusiastically welcomed, responded for the House
of Commons. He said " that the members of the
House did not look upon these associations
as a mere matter of routine, but they accepted them
as the expression of mutual respect and sympathy,
consecrated by generations which had preceded
them, by long experience, and hallowed by the
history of an ancient nation. Our corpora-
tions are not the least considerable of the secu-
rities that we possess for that public liberty which
is perhaps the peculiar privilege of this country.
They permit the aggregate of individual sentiment
to assume when it is necessary the massive and
majestic form of public opinion, which controls and
regulates the course of public affairs." He then
alluded to the event of the day, and said that the
Prince of WALES was also a member of Parliament,
and while it was the boast of the Company that the
PRINCE had that day taken up the freedom of their
Institution it must be recollected that he had
already in the House of Lords taken up the free-
dom of the country. On the whole it was impos-
sib.e that this assembly could have been more suc-
cessful in its carrying out. The brilliancy of its
company, the eloquence of its speakers, the occasion
of its attraction, all combined to produce a splendid
effect, and the entertainment will long live in the
recollection of all present, and hereafter rank
among the most renowned and interesting that have
for a considerable period taken place in the City.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

FA UST.

Goethe's celebrated " Soul Poem," as it is so
reverently called in Germany, and which in its
scheme at le..st has been acknowledged generally
as the most imaginative work of our age, has long
since exhausted every homage that could be paid
to it by art. Painting, sculpture, music, and the

drama have reflected it in turn, and made more
tamiliar every aspect of it which cc.uld exer-
cise the fancy or give a further stimulus to
the already excited sympathies. To this
end its twofold character abundantly con-
duced. In completion of that series of analogies
which it is intended to present as the picture of the
course of a daring and erring human soul, this
poem is found to exhibit both its infinite and finite
side—man in his religious and philosophic, and
man in his purely social and domestic aspect.
Suggested, on the one hand, by the book of Job,
where we see a mortal by divine permission sub-
jected to the special and probationary influence of
the Spirit of Evil—this poem presents, on the other,
a purely domestic story, in which we have a conflict
presented tons of the spiritual and animal tendencies,

and wherein this conflict is not only painted in
the bosom of the hero, but contrasted in two beings
—one of whom is lost through scepticism, and the
other saved by penitence. Here it is man that is
made the tempter, and woman who becomes the
victim--woman, typo of all emotion, who, as her
heart veers to earth or heaven, is degraded or re-

deemed ! It is this story of" Faust and Margaret"
that has really won for Goethe's poem its extensive
popularity. Much of his religion is very doubtiul ;
much of his philosophy unintelligible—an enigma to
his profoundest students, and probably even to him-
self ; but in his stocy of a pure and loving nature,
betrayed by the trust proper to its fervour, and by
a higher being whose wilful baseness degrades his
own nature more than hers—it has appealed to every
bosom, and not only excited sympathy, but conci-
liated tastes the most exacting and diversifizd.
Passing over the evidenca on this point in the

illustrations it has prompted in nearly every form
of art, it is interesting to observe how especially it
was thought adapted to the agencies of music.
Goahe himself, anxious to give more emphasis to
its lyric and dramatic character, wished his poem

to be accompanied by music wen it was
proposed to ph.ce it on the stage. Others fel

hat it would be more successful if thrown entirely

into a lyrical form, suoh as Kreutzer and Lind-
painter, both of whom have i3/41ustrated its first part,
and Pierson, who has composed its second. The
illustrious Spohr wt.s at length induced to produce

the poem as an opera—a task he executed with
great learning, but with little poetry or genius.
Madlle. Bertin followed in his wake with scarce►y
more success in France, and at last, some five years
since, it received the first dramatic setting that at
all approached its merits in that produc-
tion of M. Gounod, which filled Paris with such
a furore, and which, since transferred to
Germany, has, in all its principal theatres,
and among the Poet's devoted worshippers excited
a sensation comparable to nothing but the first per-
formance of "Don Juan." Such a triumph most
people would consider quite decisive of its claims,
and would be naturally tempted to ask how it is
that a work that for five years has been supplying
the highest excitement not only to our lively neigh-
bours but also to the calmer and more exacting
minds of profound musicians and true poets,
should never have been transferred to our own
country till now. This is a question, however, which
we know is more easily asked than answered,
and so content ourselves with announcing that the
first performance of the opera in England, at Her
Majesty's Theatre, last night, set the seal to the
course of successes which has attended its produc-
ion generally—being one of the most brilliant and
decided triumphs which has ever been witnessed in
country.

As it is impossible on a first hearing to detail the
meritb of such a work, and especially under the dis-
advantages which attend a first performance, we
shall defer to another occesiou the minute attention

it demands, and content ourselves at present
with giving its character and general fee.
tures. We would premise, then, by ob-
serving that its characteristics are its vivacity.
picturesqueness, and a profound and gracefu: ten-
derness, rather than any positive passion or marked
amount of imaginatim. It grasps with the hand of
a master all the outward life of the story—all the
emotion and all the character that float upon the
surface but it scarcely reaches to the grandeur
which is itseparable from such a theme—wheiner
in the religions ineuence that
re,,eents Margaret, or

the Satanic that destroys Faust. Its version of

Mephistophiles is indeed its weakest conception.
He is drawn with all the lithe and supple traits
of the familliar of a wizard, rather than
the august and terrible complacency of the Prince
of Evil himself. This is, of course, partly owing to
M. Gounod's selection of his libretto, which, instead
of going to the poem direct, has been founded on
a spectacular drama played in Paris some years
since, and thence transferred to the Princess's
Theatre when under the management of Mr. Kean.
Thus the error is repeated of infusing the Fiend
with a tinge of comedy, instead of stamping him
with persistent eat nestness—and allowing him to
withdraw from Faust the special victim of his
mission—to amuse himself with a crowd, and with
the antics of a conjuror. The more accurately
rendered characters are Faust, Margaret, and
Valentin, and in their treatment and that of their
associates, consists the true strength of the work.
This strength, however, we must remark, is con-
nected with consummate musical resources, and
an instrumentation that from first to last is rich
and fanciful in the extreme.

This opera has no overture, but is commenced by
an introduction, which in a very delightful passage
foreshadows the mournful struggle that awaits the
humble maiden ; and in its first act, which is
simply a scene, in which Faust is shown as an old
man, wearied with his vain philosophy, and calling
on the evil one to restore him to youth and pleasure
—a summons which is obeyed—there is nothing very
striking beyond the music that denotes the day-
break, and the chorus of rejoicing maidens,
who interrupt the thoughts of the philosopher.
It is in the opening of the second act
that the first great impression is made in a
series of six choruses, sung by old men, girls, and
students, the air of the first being so quaint and
original that it elicited a loud encore. Mephis-
tophilea' song in praise of gold has an excellent
theme cleverly developed, and the grand chorale in
which the students endeavour to exorcise the evil
spirit was also very striking. The waltz that
follows and concludes the act—to the general
movement of the groupes engaged in the Kirmesse
Fête, and in the midst of which Marguret
makes her first appearance, and is accosted
by Faust on her way home—is full of
life and beauty, and sealed the fortunes of the night.
It led to a recall for all the singers, and a demand
for the composer. The third act is the finest of the
work. It is laid in the garden of Margaret, and
is first distinguished by an air of Faust's, that in
its plaintiveness and melody we have rarely heard
surpassed—by the song of Gretchen, ': Es war
sin Konig," which is written with great
expression—by the " Air des bijoux," which
has become so well known in our con-
cert rooms, and by a broken quartette which
forms the finale to the act, and which includes a
delicious love duet, that has a most charming
adagio passage at the words "Notts d'amor," and
terminates with Margaret's reverie at her cham-
ber window. Every portion of this music
was distinguished by its grace and tencier-
ness, and the effect upon the audience was
marked in the extreme. The highest excitement
followed the descent of the curtain—all the singers
being called for, acd the composer above all, who
at length made his appearance, and received a
most hearty demonstration.

Wo must hurry over the remaining acts, briefly
stating that they were distinguished by a singularly
vigorous and original soldiers' chorus in the fourth
act—by a most masterly treatment of the duel be-
tween Valentine and Faust—and by one of the finest
passages in the work, in the concluding trio of the
last act, in which Faust and Mephistophles endea-
vour to regain possession of Margaret, but are de-
feated by her good angels and ultimate repose in
death.

The execution of this work was almost as perfect
as it could be. If the queenly dignity of Madlle.
Titiens was scarcely adapted to the traits of the
simple and confiding maiden, she rose to every other
requisition of the character; and whether in her
remorse at the church steps, when bending to
heaven for forgiveness—in her agony beside her
dying brother—or in her struggle with her
lover in the closing scene to remain faithful to
the voica of heaven—she reached a height
of tragic excellence which belongs to her alone.
Signor Giuglini w s equally fortunate in all the
music of " Faust," which he sang with a depth of
tenderness that could not possibly be exceeded.
Mr. Santley was also most successful in his
impersonation of the soldier Valentine, and in his
death and malediction conveyed a stronger evidence
of his power than the public had yet witnessed. ,
M. Gassier was a very able and expressive Mephi-
stopheles—looked at from the composer's point of
view; and Madlie. Trebeili was a most agreeable
Siebel. On the merits of the band and chorus no
praise can be too great, and the skill and zeal of
Signor Arditi were obvious in every movement.
A last word must be given to the masterly pro-
duction of this opera, which has afforded Mr.
Mapleson an opportunity that he has re-
sponded to with a taste and liberablity
that are in the last degree commendable. No-
thing more faithful or more complete has
been ever seen on our lyric, stage and
nothing more calculated to restore this theatre to
the just dignity it should maintain. The scenery
and dresses were all as exact as they were beautiful,
and the various groupes that conveyed the
action were as picturesque as they were lively.
The house, we need not add, was crowded in every
portion, and the one impression at the fall of the
curtain was, that an admirable work had been most
perfectly presented.