The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-26 00:00:00

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEASON.
Last evening our National Opera re-opened for
its seventh season, and with an amount of success
which we trust prognosticates the fortunes of the
year. Its noble theatre was entirely filled almost
at the opening of the doors, and the demonstrations

of the audience speedily attested that they were
not more numerous than they were in every way

appreciative. We presume there cAn be no occasion

now to enlarge on the merits of an undertaking
which six seasons of expanding strength have
served to stamp with so much distinction. There

can be little need to remind our readers how that

great desideratum of a London public—a native

English Opera—so often attempted and so often

sacrificed—from its initiation by Mr. Arnold, who
built a theatre to that end, to the last efforts of Mr.

Bunn, whose only merit as a manager was his desire
to see that end secured—was destined to be accom-

plished at the hands of Miss Pyne and Mr. Harri-
son. If more than forty years ago there was suffi-
cient musical taste in England to demand
that our metropolis should be placed on a
level with foreign capitals by being able to boast of

a theatre, where native art—creative and executant
—could vindicate the genius of the country, and

possess an arena, that would as much serve to em-
ploy and develop the artist as to delight and refine
his patrons—a hundred fold had grown the neces-
sity when some eight or nine years since every one
observed the wonderful advance which musical taste
had made in the interim. The rise in London
alone of at least some twenty musical societies—
vocal and instrumental—the marked improvement
in our choral power—more especially in Oratorio—
the higher character of our executants generally—
both metropolitan and provincial—and combined
with these, the indisputable evidence of the creative

power amongst us, as shown in the various supe.
rior compositions that came from time to time be•
fore the public, all tended to supply the proof—that
if the absence of a national opera was a great pri

vation formerly, it was nct only a privation then
but also an absolute disgrace. A country in which

avowedly, the love and knowledge of musio had
spread more rapidly and generally than on any
other soil in Europe, to be without a lyric
theatre which could give the most distinctive
expression of its power—was undoubtedly a pheno-
menon that was as little creditable to its spirit as
it was in accordance with its resources. Neverthe-
less, there was a great reluctance to remove such a
discredit, and we are bound to say that this reluc-
tance was not without its justification. A theatri-
cal experiment, however promising, is of all adven-
tures the greatest risk, and the most certain, in the
event of failure, to involve its projectors in insol-
vency. Whatever the skill and whatever the
energy brought to bear on it—in addition to means
—there are a thousand unforeseen vicissitudes—of
climate, period, and public taste, which may arise
to enfeeble or overthrow the wisest scheme that can
be adopted. As this is a fact sufficiently patent, we
cannot wonder that people should feel, however they
may love art, that they are bound also to think of
character, and not admit that they must become
martyrs, simply because they are musicians. It
was with a full knowledge of this risk that Miss
Pyne and Mr. Harrison resolved to meet what
must be considered as a national want—in a native
opera; and their claims on public favour are not
to be duly estimated unless the courage and
fervour of such a step are adequately
valued. Of the superior skill and untiring
vigour with which they have carried out their aim,
and the entire faith they have kept with the public
in the fulfilment of its leading pledges, the record
of their management is a sufficient attestation.
They have opened a home and an arena to native
composers and executants, which have not only
exercised but strengthened them; and they have
added works of enduring merit to the stores of our
lyric drama. But far their experiment it is un-
questionable that the public would never have en-
joyed the manifest lyric power that is among us ;
and that not only would our established composers,
such as Wallace, Balfe, and Benedict, have been
compelled to suspend their labours, but our young
ones, such as Glover and Macfarren, would never
have written at all. Their experiment is, therefore,
one that concerns not only the present but the
future. As it. has grown it will continue to grow ;
strengthening yearly, we believe, both in the power
it will develop and the sympathy and taste it will
attract. The character of the past is a sufficient
assurance of the years to come, and proof we think
sufficient that what has been so well expanded for
six years has at last reached a strength that must
render it enduring. A national English opera is
now an accomplished fact, and we can pronounce
no higher eulogy on Miss Pyne and Mr. Harrison
than that we owe it to their hands.
The present season, we may remark, lays claim
to two distinctions. First, its increased leng th,
in order to provide, at moderate prices, a
great enjoyment to our country visitors. Next,
its superior executant force, which makes its
company the most powerful that has yet been
assembled by this management. We have, first,
Miss Louisa Pyne, the chief of English female
singers; we have Miss Parepa4 an admirable
second, and of a wholly different school ; and
we have Madame Laura Baxter, who is
our best English contralto. We have Mr.
Harrison, without exception our first dramatic
tenor we have Mr. Santley, our noblest baritone;
and we have Mr. Weiss, our finest bass. When we
add to these Mr. John Rouse, as the buffo, equally
good as comedian and singer; the versatile Mr.
Corsi, and half a dozen other good voices—such as
M. Dussek's, Mr. Patey's, and Mr. Lyall's—we
fancy we have instanced talent which of itself
ought to decide the fortunes of the season. It com-
menced very appropriately with its last and great
success, Mr. Benedict's "Lily of Killarney," which
was given with all the freshness and force of its
first performance. Miss Pyne delivered her
ballads with all that melodiousness, taste, and feel-
ing which place her claims beyond all rivalry. Mr.
Harrison sang and acted the Irishman with a
humour and a truth which demonstrated again the
singular range of his ability ; whilst Mr. Santley
declaimed his scena, in reference to the death of
Eily, with a vigour and impressiveness which even
surpassed its first delivery. The only novelties in
the cast were those of Miss nisi wall in Anne Chute,
and Mr. George Perren in Hardress Cregan—in lieu
of Mr. Haigh—the latter of whom made a favour-
able impression, especially in his singing
of the " Eily Mavourneen," which won a well-de-
served encore. We must not forget the admirable
band under Mr. Mellon, which is quite as destine-
tive of this management as is Mr. Costa's of the
Italian Opera, and which never displayed its claims
to admiration more entirely than on this occasion.
This evening is given the " Rose of
Castillo," in order to afford a first appearance to
Mr. John Rouse, and also to Mr. Weiss, after an
absence of some seasons.

season.
The Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor have
been detained at Calverley Park, Cheshire, by the very
serious illness of their son Viscount Belgrave, who for
several days was in a critical state fromfever. Yesterday
and the previous day the accounts received by telegraph
were more encouraging, that of yesterday pronouncing him
out of danger.
The Countess of Dunmore and daughter have
left Carlton-house-terrace for the family seat in Scotland.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, who came
to town last evening from Weimer Castle, will leave Cam-
bridge House to-morrow for Melbourne, her ladship's old
family seat in Derbyshire.
Lord and Lady Carington, and the Hon. Miss
Carington, are making the tour of the German Spas, and
are not expected home before the latter end of next month.
Lord Richard Grosvenor, XP., and the Hon.
James Stuart Wortley (brother to Lord Wharncliffe) took
their departure on Saturday for a tour in 1 urkey. They
are likely to be absent abroad for several months.
CRYSTAL PALACE.—A great gathering of the
German Gymnastic Associations will be held at the Crystal
Palace to-morrow afternoon. More than 200 members
will take part in the athletic exercises appointed to take
place in the Balloon Ground, which will be appropriately
decorated ; commencing at three o'clock precisely. The
Poultry Show will also be
_continued this day and to-
morrow.
REPRESENTATON OF STOKE-UPON-TRENT.—Late
on Saturday it was ascertained that the Hon. Mr. Gower
had declined the invitation forwarded to him, in conse-
quence of which a meeting of the Liberal committee is to
be held at Hanley this day (Monday), to determine what
steps should be taken. Mr. Sergeant Shee's name has been
favourably received, and that learned gentleman arrived in
this town on Saturday evening, prepared to place himself
at the disposal of the Liberal electors of Stoke, where, we
understand, he will be this day. Mr. Smith Child, to whom
the Conservative party applied, has declined to tecome a
candidate.—Birminerhant Daily Post.
ALLEGED A DMISSION OF A PLAGUE SHIP INTO
LONDON.—EXTRAORDINARY STORY. --The following story
is current in the neighbourhood of Plaistow and the Vic-
toria Docks, and has caused considerable excitement, not to
say consternation. It is said that a screw steamer, having
on board 90 bales of cotton and some crew and passengers,
ran the blockade of the American southern ports, and so far
as the ship was concerned,succeeded in reaching Gravesend
in safety. At this place, though it must have been well
known that yellow fever was raging in the ship, it was not
detained, but permitted to come up the river and take its
moorings in the Victoria Docks, with some of its crew or
passengers 13ing dead, and the fever at its height. This
appears to have come to the knowledge of some person in
authority, for the vessel was speedily ejected from the dock
basin, and where it has taken up its location is a mystery.
To give some colour to this feasible and easily invented tale,
it is added that two men, well known in Plaistow es get!ing
their living boarding newly arrived ships—one for work and
the other for the seamen's washing—went on board this
alleged plague eship, and have not been allowed to come on
shore again. If these facts be as stated, and no secret is
made of the matter, great blame must rest somewhere, as a
vessel of this kind should most certainly not have been
permitted to go into a dock situated in a district densely
populated by people who obtain their livelihood from the
shipping, &c. ; and supposing that the man who went on
board the steamer for the washing had brought the clothes
on shore and delivered them to the washer woman, who
can tell what amount of contamination might have resulted.
THE BANK OF ENGLAND NOTE FORGERIES.—A
circumstance has just transpired at Brighton, which it is
hoped will lead to the detection and apprehension of some
of the parties concerned in the recent forgeries of Bank of
England notes. Yesterday Mr. White, chief officer of
police, obtained a warrant for the apprehension of a man
who has given his name as John Lee, and who on Thurs-
day last was committed by the Lewes magistrates to seven
days' imprisonment for drunken and disorderly conduct.
Mr. White has pretty clear evidence that this person has
been instrumental in passing three forged £5 Bank of England
notes on different tradesmen in Brighton, and under very
suspicious circumstances. One of the notes was passed at
the shop of Mr. Corder, linendrner, North-street ; and the
assistant who took it went and saw Lee in gaol on Satur-
day, and says he should have no hesitation in swearing to
his identity. Yesterday another of Mr. Corder's assistants
went to Lewes and saw him, but could not positively iden-
tify the man, as he had been allowed to shave off his beard
since Saturday. The second note was passed at Mr. Walton's,
jeweller, King's-road ; and Mr. Walton has also seen Lee,
but could not swear to his being the person who passed
the note at his shop, although he has not much doubt about
it, The third note was passed at Mr. Steven's, shoemaker,
Western-road. One very suspicious circumstance is that
the endorsement on two of the notes is unquestionably in
the same handwriting, although different names and ad-
dresses were given. One is signed " Fredk. Lardner, 14,
King's .road, Chelsea," and the other " Charles Harvey,
14, Cumberland-place, Brompton." The indorsement on
the third note was written by one of the shop attendants at
the dictation of the person offering it, as " C. Fowler, King's-
terrace, Brompton.. " There are several other signatures on
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT NEW-CROSS (Tnis DAY). the notes, but a careful comparison shows them to have
—About hr if-past 2 o'clock this morning the railway car • been written by some two cr three persons, as distinct
riage works at New-cross took fire. The premises are be- traces of the same handwriting may be seen on each of
tween 270 and 300 feet in length, and from 50 to 80 feet i them. Two of the notes boar the same number, viz.,
wide, and consist of three floors, which were filled with 91,103 ; the other is 83,165. Lee, es ho we believe is a young
carriages, some fin'shc-,cl, and others in various steges of man of about 26 years, a d of gentlemanly air. carance,
manufacture. Capt. Shaw, with two steam land engines, will be brought up before the magistrates on Wednesday,
and numerous other engines, was soon on the spot, but the his term of imprisonment expiring on the morning of that
steam engines threw so much water on the fire that very day.
little could be got for the hand engines, and they were HORRIBLE MUTILATION OF A FEMALE BY A
therefore of little service. The firo continued to rage until FereNonetele.—The police have received information of a
about 6 o'clock, when the firemen had so far mastered it as i frightful case of mutilation by a young Frenchman on the
to allow of the brigade being withdrawn, but some men person of an unfortunate female, named Rosa Stanley, in
were left to throw water from the standpipes on the sinoul- one of the infamous brothels near London-bridge, by cutting
dering ruins. Tho loss must amount to some thousands, her thighs and the lower part of her body with some short
o u7h e° ,1 beard,Binch inches
and high,
hair havingdaric. a
l ie dark
via complexion,
dressed
as most of the carriages and also machinery are destroyed• instrument, supposed to be a stiletto sharpened on both
Richard Burke, who was convicted at the last sides. The miscreant is described as -being about 35 years
Clonmel assizes for having poisoned his wife by thoande- owfitahgem, 5 feetmoustache, peslesxedionin,
ministration of strychnine, was executed yesterday. ~c
culprit appeared to be very contrite, but he made no public very dark or black clothes. The unfortunate woman lies in
confession of his guilt. He died with great firmness. a most precarious condition, and we are sorry to learn that
There was an immense crowd of spectators, and a regiment up to the present time the police have not obtained any clue
of hussars and a large body of constabulary were present, to the diabolical wretch who perpetrated the offence,