The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-01 00:00:00

SPEECII,

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
The period being arrived at which the busi-
ness of Parliament is usually resumed, I have called
you together for the discharge of your important
duties.

It is satisfactory to me to be enabled to state
that both in the north and in the south of Europe
the contending parties have consented to a su3pen-
sion of arms for the purpose of negotiating terms
of peace.

§ The hostilities carried on in the island of Sicily
were attended with circumstances so revolting, that
the British and French Admirals were impelled by
motives of humanity to interpose, and to stop the
further effusion of blood.

I have availed myself of the interval thus
obtained to propose, in conjunction with France,
to the King of Naples an arrangement calcu-
lated to produce a permanent settlement of
affairs in Sicily. The negotiation on these matters
is still pending.

It has been my anxious endeavour in offering
my good offices to the various contending Powers to
prevent the extension of the calamities of war, and
to lay the foundations for lasting and honourable
peace. It is my constant desire to maintain with all
Foreign States the most friendly relations.
As soon as the interests of the public service
will permit I shall direct the papers connected with
these transactions to be laid before you.

A rebellion of a formidable character
has broken out in the Punjaub, and the
Governor-General of India has been compelled,
for the preservation of the peace of the country, to
assemble a considerable force, which is now engaged
in military operations against the insurgents. But
the tranquillity of British India has not been affected
by these unprovoked disturbances.
I again commend toyour attention the restrictions
imposed on commerce by the Navigation Laws.

If you shall find that these laws are in whole or
in part unnecessary for the maintenance of our mari-
time power, while they fetter trade and industry, you
will no doubt deem it right to repeal or modify their

provisions.

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
_ _

I have directed the Estimates for the service of
the year to be laid before you; they will be framed
with the most anxious attention to a wise economy.

The present aspect of affairs has enabled we to
make large reductions on the Estimates of las t year.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
I observe with satisfaction that this portion of the
United Kingdom has remained tranquil amidst the
convulsions which have disturbed so many parts of
Europe.

The insurrection in Ireland has not been renewed,
but a spirit of disaffection still exists, and I am
compelled, to my great regret, to ask for a con-
tinuance, for n limited time, of those powers which,
in the last session, you deemed necessary for the
preservation of the public tranquillity.
I have great satisfaction in stating that commerce
is reviving from those shocks which at the commence-
ment of last session I had to deplore.
The condition of the manufacturing districts
is likewise more encouraging than it has been
for a considerable period.
It is also gratifying to me to observe that
the state of tEe Revenue is one of progressive im-
provement.

I have to lament, however, that another failure
in the Potato Crop has caused very severe distress in
some parts of Ireland.
The operation of the Laws for the Relief of
the Poor in -ILreland will properly be a subject of
your inquiry, and any measures by which those
laws may be 'beneficially amended, and the condition
of the people may be improved, will receive my
cordial assent.

It is with pride and thankfulness that I
advert to the loyal spirit of my people, and
that attachment to our institutions which has ani-
mated them during a period of commercial difficulty,
deficient production of food, and political revolution.
I look to the protection of Almighty God for fa-
vour in our continued progress, and I trust that you
will assist me in upholding the fabric of the Consti-
tution, founded as it is upon the principles of free-
dom and of justice.

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
FRENCH PLAYS.
Boildieu's chef d'ceuvre, La Dame Blanche was produced
here last, evening for the first time at this theatre. This ex-
cellent opera was originally produced at the Theatre Fey-
dean, in 1825, and was at once and completely successful,
bringing back the public from the operas of Rossini, which
were then performing at the Grand Opera, sending Robin
des Bois to his nau ve forests of Germany, and vindi-
cating completely the supaemacy of the French school of
operatic music in Paris. For many subsequent sea-
sons La Dame Blanche reigned supreme, and up to
the present day .La Dame Blanche always se-
cures good houses. The hero, Georges Brown,
was originally represented by Ponchard, who, in the cavatina
"Ah I quel plaisir d'ortre soldat" invariably excited the
martial penchants of las audience to the highest pitch of
enthusiasm. When Pc .nchard quitted the stage, the part of
Georges Brown was su stained by Roger, who was superior
to Ponchard in the char a cter.
The following was the cast last evening :—Gaveston,
ancien interdant des Comtes d'Avenel, Monsieur Buguet ;
Georges, jeune officier .A.nglais, Monsieur Bonnamy (Premier
Tenor from the Theatre of Lyons); Dikson, fermier des
Comtes d'Avenel, Monsieur Soyer ; Mac-Irton, juge de pail
du Canton, Monsieur Oltateaufort ; Gabriel, valet du ferme
de Dikson, Monsieur drosset ; Anna, pupille de Gaveston,
Mdlle. Charton (from the Opera Comique, Paris); Jenny,
femme de Dikson, Mdl.le. Guichard; Marguerite, ancienne
domestique des Comtes d'Avenel, Madame Mancini.
The overture was admirably performed by the orchestra,
and the opening chorus," Sonnez cornemuse et musette." was
most effectively given; then came the far-famed "Ali I quel
plaisir d'etre soldats," which was given with great spirit by
M. Bonnamy. The concerted music which follows was well
rendered and well acted, and Mademoiselle Guichard gave
the couplets, "D'ici voyez ce beau domaine," ending with
the refrain,

" Prenez garde—
La Dame Blanche vous regarde,
La Dame Blanche vous entend,"
with great expression. The refrain was beautifully rendiered.
The finale to the first act is one of the most beautiful p ieces
of concerted music ever composed—superior to Auber, Equal
to Mozart—it is only to be surpassed in the French school,
by the finale to the second act. These finales, so different in
character and treatment, yet both so exquisitely treated,
were given last evening in a manner that was as near an
approach to perrection as may be. We have a vivid recol-
lection of the rummer in which La Dame Blanche was played
at the Opera Comique, when originally produced, and we
give the prefc:rence decidedly, as far as these two finales are
concerned, to she performance of last evening. Madam e
Mancini infused a great deal of character and homely pathos ;
into the opening .couplets of the second act, " Pauvre Dame
Marguerite." Th e trio which follows was well given by
Madame Mancini, Mademoiselle Charton, and M. Buguet;

concluding

duet,

" A la douce esperan ce.',

superbly rendered by Maulie. Charton, who was very thee-
tively supported by M. Bonnamy. The music is well known
in all our drawing-rooms—it is the duet, " Toujours soumis
.1 ma puissance ;" it was rapturously applauded, and its re-
petition enthusiastically redernanded; as a specimen of fine
dramatic singing and acting we have never seen any thing
equal to this duo as rendered by Madlle. Charton. This
young lady is one of the finest dramatic singers of the
day. She is not only all . that Cinti Damoureau
was, but greater than Cinti Damoureau ever was,
even at her greatest. We have already alluded
to the splendid finale to the second act, to, ards the
perfect rendering of which M. Buguet contributed in no
small degree; his superb bass voice telling with the most
happy effect. The third act opens with the air " Comme
aux fours demon jeune age," which afforded Mademoiselle
Charton an opportunity of introducing that fioriture of which
she is so lavish when occasion requires, and in the use of
which she exhibits such exquisite taste. Her execution of
this most dilcult music was finished, her intonation perfect,
and she was applauded to the echo.: The chorus, " Chants
joyeux menestrel," in which the air " Robin Adair" is intro-
duced, which follows soon after, was most effectively given - it
was moreover excellently acted, and the dramatis effect, there-
fore, was well brought out. Thefina/s was given with great
spirit and effect, and the curtain fell amidst enthusiastic and
well-merited applause. Mademoiselle Charton and M. Bon-
namy were called for at the conclusio The other characters
were well sustained; the opera was excellently put on the
stage, and we never, in the whole course of our dramatic
experience, saw a piece go off more effectively. There was
no flagging from the commencement of the overture to the
conclusion of the finale. Her Majesty and his Royal High-
ness Prince Albert, attended by their suite, honoured the
performance with their presence. Her Majesty remained
until nearly the conclusion, and seemed much delighted with
the performances. The audience was numerous, brilliant,
and fashionable.

Among the company present were the Viscountess Jocelyn,
Lord Elphinstone, the Hon. Colonel Phipps and the Hon.
Captain Gordon, in attendance on her ➢Majesty and the
Prince; also the Baron and Baroness Brunnow and Mdlle.
Olga de Lechner, the Turkish Ambassador and suite, Lady
Cottenham, Lord Alfred Churchill, Countess of Essex, the
Earl of Belfast, Sir Henry Webb, Mr. Standish Standish,
Mrs. Dennistoun, Mr. Henry Greville, Miss Beauclere, Mt.
Brunel, Mr. Depenthany O'Kelly, &c.