The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-27 00:00:00

I hope I have fairly answered them; but at the same
time I know there ere duties that also belong to that
position to which you have been pleased to elevate
and I trust I, hall de serve th e support of that politicalpartY,
with which I nm united; yet, at the same time, I shall
devote my hest attention to the general interests of the
city of L-,radon and of the country at large.—(Cheers.)
And I take this opportunity of stating that I shall never
consider the hour too eariy or too late to consult with
any of my constituents, should any of them
at any time think that I can render them
public service.—(Hear, hear.)" I have never asked
any favour from the Government, and I know that in the
proud position which I now hold as one of the Mem-
bers for the city of London, I shall have none of my
constituents wishing me to knock at the Treasury door.
—(Laughter and cheers.) Gentlemen, I hope that you
will be satisfied that having been now twelve years in
public life, having had the honour to stand before you
to solicit your suffrages for the high office (,
Sheriff twelve years ago, and having fulfilled the office,
I understand, with satisfaction to my fellow citizens;
been raised to the high position of chief
magistrate of the, city of London—having,
I hope, endeavoured to discharge the duties that
belong to that high position, worthy of its high charac-
ter and with dignity—l trust you will find tee no less
worthy of your confidence, as one of the Members of the
city of London, to which high honour you have this
day elected me.—(Loud cheers.) In conclusion, I may
be permitted to assure you that I shall devote all ml
time and my best energies to your iservice—showing
that I am deeply sensible of the honour and dignity yea
have conferred upon me by attending to your local la'
terests, and, justifying, I hope, in my public character that
high opinion which you have formed of me and shows
this day.—(The Right Hon.. Gentleman retired amidst
general applause.)
HumE, M.P., then came forward, and was greeted
with loud cheers. He said, as a citizen of this metro'
polis and fishmonger, he had often attended meet-
ings of this kind, but he had never attended upoa
any former occasion with more satisfaction than he did
this, day—(Cheers)—because he had long considered
that the interests and the power of the city °I.
London ought to have been supported in the
Commons House of Parliament by one of
more, of the magistrates of the city.., He thought :It
would tend to support the high opinion formed of the
City of London, if' the citizens put their magistrates for-
ward as their representavives. It was therefore on that
ground that he thought the appointment of Sir James
Duke one which he was confident would tend alike to
promote the interests of the city of London and do
honour to it.—(Hear, hear.) He had known
Sir James Duke now for many, many years,
he was almost afraid to say how long.—(Laughter.)
Certainly he had known him since he left his home,
during the whole of which time he had had the pleasure
of his acquaintance; and be could truly say that his
private character was of the most amiable and winning
kind, and well entitled him to the honour they had con'
ferred upon him. And knowing the nature of his political
principles he there enrolled him as one of those desirous of
introducing greater economy in the management of the
commercial affairs of the country; he enlisted him atonce
as one of his own staff—(Cheers and laughter, and
a cry of " Triennial Parliaments)—as an advocate 0
civil and religious liberty. They would find, if they re'
ferred to his votes, that on every occasion (for being
fellow-townsman and a private friend, he had watchea,
his public conduct), that all his votes were in favour of
civil and commercial liberty, and the liberty of the people-
With regard to reform, Radical as he was, he did not
expect that the Lord Mayor would go the whole lengto,
or extent to which he would go himself—(Hear, hear)
—but he thought when the Lord Mayor voted last year
for triennial Parliaments, that was an excellent step 01'
the right direction—(Cheers)—and one that could not
fail to give the greatest satisfaction to the citizens °
London.—(Hear, hear.) Under the Government under
which they lived, the people of England had great
and important rights that be was willing to admit'
(Hear, hear)—but ho thought those rights might be e%'
tended with great advantage.—(Hear, hear) In ade°'
eating the reforms he had done he beliqyed ho
adding to the security of the throne—(Hear, hear)—sad
at the same time increasing the happiness and comfort
the people of England.— (Hear, hear.) During the
past session he was happy to say that a Bill had passed
extending greatly the suffrage.—(Hear, hear.) SB
could have wished to see that extension carried to a
greater extent.—(Hear, hear.) He should have liked to
see the privileges of the electors of London extended I:
the same degree as other places.—(Hear. hear.)
disliked pledges given on an emergency, because he bad,.
seen them so often broken, and be must confess that t:
preferred the statements that had been made by °-
Lord Mayor that day to any pledge that could be given'
—(Hear.) He believed that Sir James Duke w
never be found wanting in his advocacy of the extension
f
of civil and religious liberty.--(Hear, hear, and cries o
"We are sure he will not.") Nor would he ever 05
found backward in doing all in his power to secure 111
increase the liberties and privileges of his fell";
citizens.—(lmmense cheering.) They had been
told that there were many men who Inad,
use of sentiments to disguise their real feelings—(Hear'
hear)—there might be such men; but he could asVrr
them he was not of that number.—(Cheers.) He bad n,
doubt that on a future occasion the Lord Mayor w°l3.th
give a most faithful account of the stewardship w: a
which the citizens of London had now entrus`e,.o
him.—(Loud cheers, and cries of We are
sure he will.") The Hon. Gentleman conCitt,
by expressing the high gratification he felt at the 0°,,-
conduct displayed by the electors of London that asy..-
selecting so distinguished a member of the Corporation
as the Lord Mayor to represent them in Parliament. b
The LORD MAYOR then came forward, amid much
cheering, and proposed a vote of thanks to the
Sheriffs for their impartial conduct that cla
It was true they had not given them muchi
trouble, but at the same time it must be confessed that
they had gone through their arduous task in a manner
that reflected the highest credit upon them.—(Cheers.)
Mr. THOMPSON HARKEY seconded the motion, which
was carried unanimously.
Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Firms returned thanks'
He was happy to see the unanimity that bad
prevailed there that day. Had there been a contest,
he could assure the Hall that no exertions would hale
been wanting on the pert of the Sheriffs to procure for
every oil° a partial and attentive hearing.--(Hear.)
Three cheers were then given for the Lord Mayor'
and the Hall broke up.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
For the first time for many years, Rossini's Oieu°
was performed here last evening, on which occasion
Madame Sontag resumed her role of Desdemona, while
Moriani appeared as Otello, Belletti as lago, and C3l'
zolari as Roderigo, all for the first time in this country,
and Lablache resumed his great—perhaps his greatest---
tragic part, Elmiro. Thus we have another instane!:
in the production of this opera, of the strength of cast,
and of the completeness in every department, in wbi°,.o
operas are produced at her Majesty's Theatre. The
character of Desdemona was always considered one 0_
Sontag's greatest impersonations, and she has abated out
whit of her power or of her fascination as a vocalist, whit
her powers as an actress have become completely der,.
loped during her retirement from the stage. This
great development of her histrionic powers, is
per-
haps more apparent in her Desdemona than to
inher impersonation of any other character
which she has yet appeared. Her Desdemona last night
was as perfect a piece of acting as it was faultless in
vocal point of view. Her opening scena,‘. E par gimlet°
invan celar," was one of the most brilliant and delicate;
and perfect pieces of vocalization ever heard, and secured
for her an enthusiastic demand for an encore, with
which, however, she did not comply, but contented her'
self with curtesying her thanks. The trio, 6' Nel cor
d'un padre amante,' was beautifully rendered by Sontag,
Lablache, and Calzolari; and then came the tremendous
malediction scene, in which the acting of Lablache
reaches the very acme of tragic sublimity. The actin: g
of Sontag throughout this scene was beautiful, pathetic,
subdued, and true to nature; there was none of the
violent gesticulation, none of that ranting, whit
of late years has usurped the
p instead,
"_,,
"
nature on the operatic stage, but
pathos the most exquisite, until when the male-
diction is thundered in her ears, she falls, as though
felled to the earth, by that terrible paternal curse.
Never have we seen Lablache so great in this scene es
he was last evening, because never has he been
supported
by so natural a Desdemona. The applause at the con-
clusion of this act was enthusiastic; and twice was Sontag
called on. In the second act, her acting was equallybeautiful, while her finale, " Che smania oime the
affanno," was a beautiful display of musical elocution.
The third act was her great triumph. The beautiful
aria " Assisa a pie d'un salice" was given with a heart,
rending pathos; it seemed the song of the dying swan,
the hymn of the victim preparing . for the mai.
flee; and the splendid duet with Otello," Non arrester," was
given with an energy and an intensity which told all the
more effectively from the contrast which it formed with
the quiet pathos of the preceding scenes. The acting of
Moriani in this the last scene was exceedingly fine, ae
indeed it was throughout the tragedy. Never since
Edmund Kean have we seen that great scene with Ingo,
in which his jealous suspicions are first aroused, 3°
admirably acted as it was last night by Moriani; and the
impassioned intensity of his singing heightened great!!
the effect of his acting. Belletti, as lago, was excellent;
and Calzolari made more of the part of Roderigo than
has been generally made of it. lie sung the music of
the part with much taste and sweetness, and Was
throughout much and deservedly applauded. At the
conclusion of the opera Madame Sontag was called !
third time, and on each appearance was saluted with
showers of bouquets. The house was as crowded es it
has been every preceding night of her appearance.