The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-22 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

A highly satisfactory prospectus of the forthcoming
season of the Italian Opera has just been published. It
appears that the opening night will be on Thursday, the
30th of this month, in lieu of Tuesday, the 28th, as pre-
viously announced. The directors promise their con-
tinued efforts to carry out the original design of this
great lyrical establishment. It is stated that the great
artist Madame Viardot, after an absence of three years,
will return once more to shed lustre on the representa-
tions of the theatre. Mademoiselle Sophie Cruvelli,
whose eminent talents are already so highly esteemed in
this country, will appear for the first time at the Royal
Italian Opera. Signor Lablache will also, for the first
time, lend his powerful aid in supporting the efforts of the
directors, and will enable them to produce many of the
most popular works with an unprecedented caste
of characters, In addition, Mademoiselle Marai, a
young singer of great promise, who has already male
very successful dautB, both at St. Petersburg add
Vienna, will appear for the first time in Baglaud ; also
Signor Susini, for the first time at the Reyal Italian
Opera. Mdlle. Bosio, who during the past winter has
acquired fresh laurels in the Freech capital, continues
her engagement. Those unrivalled performers, Signor
Mario, Signor Ronconi, and Signor Tatuberlik, together
with Signori Tagliafico, Poloni, Luchesi, Stigelli, &c.,
have been re-engaged, while the directors still have the
advantage of the invaluable services of Signor Costa.
"The forthcoming season, however (says the pros-
' pectus), brings with it one subject of regret—viz., the
retirment from the lyric stage of a lady who for many
years has been one of its brighest ornaments. Towards
the end of July Madame Giulia Grisi will in tke her last
appearance before an English au lience. It has probably
never before fallen to the lot of any candidate for public
favour to sustain for 21 successive seasons the highest
and most arduous characters of the lyric drama, and
most certainly never with such unanimous commenda-
tions as have been unceasingly bestowed on Madame
The directors are convinced that not only will
the subscribers of the Royal Italian Opera, as well as
the musical amateurs of the metropolis, participate in
their sentiments on this occasion ; but they feel sure
that the retirement of Aadarue Grisi will cause one
general feeling of deep regret in the minds of all those
who take any interest in the musical affairs of this
country.

"It is the wish of Madame Grisi, during this her last
engagement, to repeat those impersonations in which it
has been her good fortune to obtain her greatest suc-
cesses, and it will accordingly be the care of the direc-
tors to contribute every possible eclat to these perfor-
mances, relying with the greatest confidence that the
subscribers, the patrons of the opera, and the public,
will on these occasions still extend to their long-favoured
artiste the cheering influence of their countenance and
support."

In addition to the repertoire already formed, several
pieces are announced which have never been performed
at this theatre, and which will be, in effect, new to the
public. Among these are La Vestale of Spontini, the
Domino Noir of Auber, the Matilda di Shabran of Ros-
sini, and (the most remarkable of them all) the Oberon
of Weber. The subscription is to consist of 46 nights,
commencing on the night already mentioned, and end-
ing in August.
Madlle. Plunkett is engaged, and will be assisted by a
very talented and efficient corps de ballet.

BANQUET AT THE FRENCH EMBASSY.

Yesterday evening their Excellencies the Count and
Countess Walewski gave a grand banquet to the gene.
rals of the Eastern expeditionary force and a select cir-
cle of the aristocracy, at their magnificent official resi-
dence, Albert-gate.

The guests upon the occasion were his Royal High-
ness the Duke of Cambridge, Lord and Lady Raglan,
Lord De Ros, the Duke of Newa,tle, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, the Earl and Countess of Clarendon, Vis•
countess Palmerston, the Hon. Major James Macdonald
Right Hon. Sir James Graham and Lady Graham,
Right Ho❑. Mr. Sidney Herbert and Mrs. Sidney Her-
bert. M. Jules De Saul and M. Veillat, Secretaries of
Legation, were also present at the entertainment.
Later in the evening the Countess Waleswki threw
open her saloons for the reception of a select circle of
the aristocracy and beau monde, and was honoured with
a numerous and brilliant attendance.

DEPUTATION OF RUSSIAN MERCHANTS.—This depu-
tation, wliich waited on Lord Clarendon yesterday, con-
sisted of Messrs. Wegueiin, Brandt, Morgan, Mitchell,
Tooke, Hill, Robinson, and Hodgson. In answer to
their inquiries, his 1 ,rdship stated that the Government
are disposed to respect the persons and property of all
Rossian subjects residing as merchants in this country
to the full extent promised by the Emperor of Russia
towards British subjects, and that all necessary measures
will hd adopted to enable them to remain unmolested in
tue quiet prosecution of their business. %Vick regard to
licenses for special shipments during the war, it was
stated that each case must be considered on its merits,
but that the Government will do all in their power, after
concert with their naval allies, to protect the bou fide
property of British subjects in Russia. Finally, on the
question as to the trade of neutral ports, hislordostsi
pt
said
s
that the desire is to avoid throwing any special
in its way, and that certificates of origin will not be
demanded. Produce shipped from the pores of Prussia
or any other friendly or neutral country will conse-
quently be coueiderotl ?di/la faCk as frieucily orgy.

21 'HP
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WARWICK RACES.

(THIS DAY.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPIT.)
SWEEPSTAKES OF FIVE SOVS.

Census
Mirabeau
Six ran.
WARWICKSHIRE HANDICAP.
Cleveland
E helveolf
Itch
Border Chief
Bessie

Nine ran.
TWO-YEAR-OLD STAKES.

Five ran.
WELTER CUP.

1

Titterstone
Warwick
Little Davie
DEBDALE STAKES.
Siuire of Malton
KJunington
Two first objected to.

Tipperary Boy
HANDICAP PLATE.

K !iinoor
Csjlad

I

Nine ran.

LATEST BETTING ON TETE COURSE,
NORTHAMPTONSIMBH STAMM
10 to 1 asst Mr. Sykes.
10 to 1 apt Little Jem.