The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-20 00:00:00

Per albs. to sink the offal.

s. d. to v. d. s. d. to s, d.
Inferior Beasts 2 4 2 6 Second qual. Sheep 3 0 3 6
,econcl quality . 2 8 210 Coarse-woolled ditto 3 8 310
Prime large Oxen 3 0 3 2 Southdown Nether 4 0 4 4
Prime Scots
Large coarse Calves 3 4 310 Large Hogs ... ••• 3 2 „i 8
['rime small ditto
•uckling Calves lB 0 27 0 quarter old Pigs —l6 0 21 0
Inferior Sheep • • 2 8 210 Lambs ...•
TOTAL A UPI% Y AT MARKET.
ShaPp. Calves. I Maw.
I 5,460 212 308
FOItEIGN SUPPL 1 .
I Sheep. I Calves. I Pigs.
240 69
SCOTCH.
I Sheep. I Calves. I Pigs.
186
NEWGATE AND LEADENNALZ.
Tht se markets were somewhat Lactive, on the fol.
lolling terms:—

Beasts.
732

Beasts.
87

Beasts.
245

PUBLICATIONS.

NOVEL OF NORWEGIAN LIFE.
Just published, and may be had at all the Libraries, in 2 vols.
post Bvo.,
0 1' 0 D
OR, THE EXILES OF NORWAY. N 9 •
By E. W LANDOR, Esq..
Author of " The Bushman."

" An interesting and affecting narrative. The characters are ve-
ritable men and women ; the work contains many fine descriptions
of natural scenery, and the narrative is heightened by extraordinary
incidents and hair-breadth escapes."—Morning Post.
" There is evidence in • Lotoden' of a high and noble design, which
is effectively worked out by means of charm:- er • And incidant. Its
grey est charm, perhaps, is the earnest spirit of the writer."—Jer-
reid's Newspaper.
London : Smith, Elder, and Co., 65, Con►hill.

IMPERIAL HOTEL, HUDDERSFIELD.
JAMES T. WIGNEY, in thanking his friends and the public
generally for their kind and increasing patronage since opening the
4b.,ve Hotel, begs to assure t. em of his continued exertions to afford
them every comort and convenience when honoured with a visit ;
and also takes this opportunity of informing them that he has, in ad-
dition to the " Imperial" at Iludderifleld, entered upon tte long-es-
tablished and well-accustomed Commercial and Family Hotel, the
" George," at Wak field, where Commercial Gentlemen and others
may depend upon having every accommodation t!.ey can possibly
April, 1849.

NJGWYNNE TAVERN and CHOP-
HOUSE, Bull Inn-court, strand, for Luncheons, Dinners,
and Suppers, Three Doors East of the Adelphi Theatre, and opposite
Adam street.

NAVIGATIC,N LAWS. Price Is.
ASHORT REVIEW of the HISTORY of the
NAVIGATION LAWS of ENGLAND, from the Earliest
Times. To which are added, a Note of the Present State of the
Law, and an Account of the Acts and Part of Acts proposed to be
Repealed by the 881 now before Parliament. ••
BY A BARRISTER.
James Ridgway, Piccadilly, and all Booksellers.

LAWS OF MARRIAGE, &c.
Second Edition, price 'ls. ed ,
rut- R. ALEXANDER J. BERESFORD
1Y HOPE'S LETTER to Sir HARRY Bart, M.P.,
on the Report of the Commission on the Laws of Marriage with a
Deceased Wife's Sister. Second Edition, price 2s. 6d.
James Ridgway, Piccadilly, and all Booksellers.

In one very trick vol. Svo., price Ils.cloth,
WALKER'S PRONOUNCING DICTION-
ARY of the ENGLISH LANGUAGE, adapted to the
Present State of Literature and Science. By B. H. SMART. Third
Edition. To which are added, An enlarged Etymological Wax ;
and a Supplement containing 3,000 Words.
By the same Editor, leap. Svc, 7s. 6d. cloth.
WALKER'S DICTIONARY EPITOMISED.

LONDON LIFE ASSOCIATION.
Office, 81, KING WILLIAM.STREET.
Instituted 1806.

London : Longman, Brown, and Co. ; Hamilton and Co.; Whit-
taker and Co. ; Simpkin and Co. ; F. and J. Rlvingten ; Allen and
Co.; E. Hodgson ; H. G. Bohn ; Orr and Co.; Smith, Elder, and Co.;
Houiston and Co. ; C. Tempieman ; J. Van Toorat ; J. Snow; and
W. and T. Piper. Cambridge: J. Deighton.

PRESIDENT—Sir CLAUDIUS STEPHEN HUNTER, Bart.
VICE-PRESIDENT—CHARLES FRANKS, Esq.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Notice is hereby given, that the premiums falling due Ist July
meat of those Members who have been assured seven or more entire
years, will be reduced this year 67 per cent., leaving less than one-
third of the original premium to bo paid.
Thus, for an Assurance of 1,0001. at the age of 30, the original
premium payable for seven years bein: 291. 125. 6d., the premium
for this•year will be reduced to 91. 155. 6d.
EDWARD DOCKER, Secretary.

BANK of AUSTRALASIA. (Incorporated by
Royal Charter, 1835).
London Oftlee, 8, Austinfriars, April 16, 1849.

Messrs. ARCHER and lIOLT most respectfully invite their
friends and the public to patronise the Nell Gwynne Coffee roses,
which has been fitted up in the style of the period in which she lived.
Visitors to the Theatres, Citizens, and Gentlemen connected with
Somerset House, and the Banking Houses in the vicinity, will find
the Table d'Hote, which takes place at Half-past Five p ecisely, the
most comfortable and reasonable in the metropolis.—Fish and
Joints, 2s. per head. Hot Joints until Eight, and Suppers untL One
o'clock. Private Dining-rooms excellent Beds, superior Winos and
Spirits, fine ♦les, and Barclay and Perkins's Stout.

N.B. in Eutnacen alo• from Maiden lane.

THE REGISTERED SYRIAN PALETOT.
By Messrs. SWAIN and CO., Court Tailors, 379, Oxford-

_
street.
This celel r tted OVER-COAT for the Spring has been Introduced
In the lightest textures of material frem the costly wouls of Syria ;
the exquetve use of which has been secured by Messrs. Swain and
Co., and manufactured into the Paletot universally known as the
choicest article of the kind extant.
The Local Agents ter its sale in the British Empire are—
Mr. M. Hatstein, Bristol.
Messrs. 11. and S. Smith, Manchester.
Messrs. G. and W. Clarke, Bury St. Edmund's.
Mr. J. Hollingsworth, Birmingham.
Mr. W. White, Edinburgh,
Mr. John Whitty, College-green, Dahlia.
Mr. Charles Saxelby, Shrewsbury.
Mr. Hubback, Berwick-on-Tweed.
Mr. R. Tinhorn. Newport, Isle of Wight.
Mr. J. Johnsen, Ashton-under-Lyne.
• Mr. Davison, Sheffield.
• Mr. R. Wilson, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Mr. John Crisp, Norwich.
Mr. F. Bare, Ipneich.
Mr. W. S. Bevin, Chester.
Mr. Whitmore, Stockport.
T. S. Wright, Northampton.

. . .
The Court of Directors of the Bank of Australasia hereby give
notice, that an Extraordinary General Meeting of Proprietors, will
be held at the: Office of the Corporation, as above, on MONDAY, the
14th day of May next, at One o'clock precisely, for the purpose of
Electing a Director in the room of llananel be Castro, Esq., deceased.
By Order of the Court,
WILLIAM MILL IKEN, Secretary.

Just rublished, Third Edition, price 2s. 6d.,
FTEALTHY SKIN : Treatise on the Manage-
ment of the Skin and Hair, in relation to Health.
By ERASMUS WILSON, F.R.S.
London : John Churchill, Princes-street, Soho.

TO LADIES.
The high and universal celebrity which
ROWLAND S'
moat KALYDOR
continues to maintain as an active, yet mild and soothing ex-
tirpator of all impurities of the skin, is during the period of spring,
pleasingly evinced. This preparation, eminently balsamic,
restorative, and invigorating, is equally distinguished for safety in
application, as for unfailing efficacy in eradicating all redness, tan,
pimples, spots, freckles, discolouratiens, and other.cutaneous visita-
tions. The radiant bloom it imparts to the cheek, and the softness
and delicacy which it induces in the hands and arms, render it indis-
pensable to every toilet.
Gentlemen, after sharing, will find it allay all irritation and ten-
derness of the skin, and render It soft, smooth, and pleasant. Its
purifying and refreshing properties have obtained its exclusive
selection by her Majesty the Queen, the Court, and the Royal
Faintly of Great Britain, and the several Courts of Europe.
*** Beware of spurious " KALYDORs" for sale, containing
mineral astringents utterly ruinous to the complexion, and by their
repellent action endangering health. The words " ROWLANDS'
KALTDOR" are on the wrapper of the genuine article. Price
45,6 d. and Bs. Gd. bottle.

THE NICOLL—REGENT-STREET and
CORNHILL.

DUNIAR, APRIL 17.—Wheat, weighing
001bs, brought
and prices to 17s 6d. Beans and Peas,
474 and prices to 32a. Barley, weighing 53ilbs, brought 30s,
and prices to 21s 6d. Oats, weighing 42ilbs, brought 19s 3d,
weighing 65ilbs, brought
275, and prices to 255.
DUNDEE, Aram 13. Wheat, 40s Od to 433 Od. Foreign,
ditto 00s Od to 00s Od. Barley, 22: Od to 23s Od. Oats, 155
6d to 003 Od. Peas and beans, 00e Od to 005 Od.
CORE, APRIL 18. Flour—Firsts 14s Od to 14s 6d; extra 15 ;
seconds, 13, Od to 13s 6d; households lOs to 12s ; thirds 8:go 1.4
per cwt. Oatmeal lis to Its 6d; Indian meal 8s to 83 3d;
wlioat
meal, 105 6d to llsper cwt. Indian corn 7. lOs Od to 8/ ton.
Bran 41 to 4/ 5s per ton. Hay - Farmers 32s to 40s; average 30s;
dealers 38, to OUs ; average 00s Od per ton. Stiaw—Farmers
24s Od to 34s Od ; average 008; dealers 34s Od to 00s Od;
average 00s Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf 6d to 61d;
household loaf 5d to bid per 41b. Fresh butter, 9d to
Od per lb. Coals—Newport 16s; Lytlney 17s; Landore 16s;
Best Neath Culm 145 per ton. Tallow 43s 6d to 44s
per cwt. Whiskey, 25 o. p., 6s Od
per imperial gal-
lon. Meat—Beef 4d to 7d; Mutton 5d to bid; veal
5d to 7d ; pork 4d to Sid ; bacon 7d to 8d ; sausages 6d per
lb. Hops 61 lOs per cwt. Bangor slates 312 s 6d to 315 s per
ton. Bark—Barbary 71 to Si; Valonia 141 to 001; French
71; English 71 per ton. Fleece Wool 10, to 12s per stone.
Hemp 35/ per ton. Fish— Scotch herrings 18. to 191 ;
red
ditto 26, to '2Bs per barrel ; Newfoundland 10/ lOs to 121 per
ton. Timber—New Memel 41 101; old scarce ; red pine 3#
15s ; yellow pine 31 per ton ; deals, first quality, 201; second
quality 171 per 120. Hides—Market 10.. to 16s; salted Ils to
16s per cwt ; calf skins 2d to 26d ; market 2d to 20 per lb.
Potatoes, white 10d to 12d; Minions 18d to 20d; Guano—
Peruvian, 111 to 11/10s ; Ichaboe 91 per ton ; Tar—Archangel,
18a per barrel. Eggs, 4s to 4s 2d per hundred.

SPORTING IN TELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S.—YEsTE lIDAY.
The Metropolitan Handicap was the only race on
which any business was transacted to any extent; the
investments, however, were confined to a small number
of horses, and only in two or three instances with any
serious effect on the prices. Peep-d-Day Boy had several
active opponents,. and although- 'several of his friends
came
_to the rescue, he closed at nearly double the odds
taken at Bath on Tuesday; on the other hand, Lugar,
Flateatcher, and Fernbill were in ,high favour at im-
proved prices. Tho betting on the other events was very

seilles ...

Besides the above Patented Article, there is another Novelty in-
troduced for this Season, which is, however, Registered under the
name of NICOLL'S MORNING COAT, it being especially intended
for morning wear, in Riding or Walking exercise, when it necessarily
avoids the stiff formality to Ds observed in the cut and form of the
Dress-coat. The price is
TWO GUINEAS.

the same as charged at 114, 116, and 120, REGENT-STREET, and
22, CORNIIILL, for

THE REGISTERED PALETOT,
likewise now ready for the Spring months, with all the
new and patented improvements included in the above moderate
price; thus it deservedly bears the name of being not only the most
fashionable but also the cheapest and most durable garment ever
offered to the Public, the intrinsic value of the material known as
NICOLLIAN or LLAMA CLO 111, being, within the last few months,
much enhanced, the same durability being retained, with an increased
gineness and beauty in appearance. It can ha seen ready for imme-
diate wear, in every size, at 114, 116, and 120, REGENT-STREET,
and 22, CORNMILL.

Sold by A:Rolliiib and SONS, 20, Elatton-garden, London,
and by Chemists and perfumers.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.

BRISTOL, Aram 19.
Srocz EXCHANGE.—The shale market was more active to-day,
and prices somewhat better. The sales are—Great Western, 171.
Shares, 234 die.—Taff yak, 5 per cent. Stock,4 per cent. p.

LIVERPOOL, Aran. ly.-
STOCK EXCHANGL—The Share Market continues very depressed,
and prices are lower. The sales are--Boston, Stamford, sad
Birmingham, 4 p.--East Lancashire, Preference, Quarters, 7%
Lancashire and Yorkshire (M. and L.), Quarters, 61,4 dis.—Ditto,
Fifths, 1% dis.—Ditto, Prefer enoe, 113 —London and North-Western,
132—Ditto, New Quarters, 4 p.—Ditto, Fifths, 6 p.—Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincoln, Preference, 101. 16s. Halves,
101,‘ c. dis..—South-Eastern and Dover (No. 4), 153. sd. 3.—Yerk
and North Midland, i 34 dis. -

N°.17,650. ]
LONDON, FRIDAY
„
,
,
4
„
- 9 APRIL 20, 1849.

BANK OF FRANCE.
The following is a return of the situation of the Bank
of France up to April 12:—

•SSETS.

Cash and ingots ...---:. ... f. 194,574,327 41
Ditto in branch banks ... . . 130,730,112 00
Bills past due ••• ••• ••• 109,010 19
Bills falling due in Paris, of which

15,484,5241. 90c. are from the branch
banks ... 50,292,321 76
Bills in the branch banks ... 82,712,404 76
Advances on coins and ingots... ... 18,831,006 00
Ditto on French public securities 29,836,799 95
Ditto by branch banks... ... 1,504,337 00
Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor... 50,000,000 00
Ditto on the loan of 150 millions ... 50,000,000 00
Rentes of the reserve fund ... 10,000,000 GO
&rites, disposable funds ... 42,581,488 13
Investments of the new branch banks in
the public funds ... ... 12,779,541 39
Hotel and furniture of the Bank ... 4,000,000 00
Real property of the branch banks ... 2,283,787 00
Loan of 10,000,0001. to the city of Paris 8,000,000 00
Interest in National Discount Bank ... 200,000 00
Ditto branch banks ... 230,000 00

Bills protested at Paris ... ... 7,103,513 34
Ditto at the branches ... ... ... 4,167,137 00
Expenses of administration of the Bank 393,469 53
Ditto of the branches ... ... ... 303,342 00
Miscellaneous ... 566,290 54
Advance to the department of the

Seine ... 3,000,000 00
Loan of 3,000,000 f. to the city of Mar-

••• *v. ••• 1 9
1 000 000 00

LIABILITIES.

Oapital ••• ••• • • •••
Ditto of the Branch Banks ...

Reserve fund ...
Ditto of the branch banks

f. 702,202,118 00

... f. 67,900,000 00
... 23,350,000 00

... 10,000,000 00
... 2,980,750 00

Reserve-immobiliere 4,000,000 00
Notes to bearer, in circulation ... ... 399,590,600 00
Ditto of the branch banks ... 23,167,775 00
Ditto to order (post-bills) 1,003,894 85
Account-current with Treasury creditor 31,497.129 44
Various accounts current ... 89,971,541 45
Ditto in branches 27,455,430 00
Bills payable at sight ... ... 4,821,300 00
Ditto at branches .. ... ••• 952,795 00
Bills of the branch banks payable by
the Bank 6,742,874 55

Ditto of the Bank payable by branches. 2,953,054 00
Dividends payable ... . . ... 266,690 25
Liquidation of the Algiers Bank ... 206,489 04
Discounts, interest, and expenses 3,045,104 33
Ditto branch banks ... ... 1,385,730 00
Re-discounts of the last six months ... 246,109 80
Ditto in branch banks ... 460,661 00
Miscellaneous ... 201,189 04

E702;202,118 00

The metallic reserve has declined 61 millions, of which
4 millions are in Paris, and 21 in the country. The dis-
count accommodation is not so great by 800,000 f. The
protested bills have declined about 250,000 f., and the
overdue bills 62,000 f. On the side of the liabilities, the
amount of notes in circulation has fallen off about 131
millions. The account current of the Treasury has in-
creased somewhat more than 3 millions, the amount
being 31,497,127 f. The whole amount of the metallic
reserve is now about 325 millions to 4231 millions of
notes in circulation.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON TUB TEN E.-A serious
accident occurred on Saturday last on the river Tyne,
near Wallsend, by which two men named Wear and
Moor, and a boy named Robert Watson, were drowned.
It appears that the unfortunate sufferers were em-
ploy( d at Mr. Potter's coke and brick works at
Willington Quay, and had proceeded in a boat to
Walker, where they took in a quantity of iron. On their
return they got into the wake of a steamer, the swell
from which was so great that in tacking about the sail
jibed,' and in their efforts to right the boat it swamped
and went down. Wear soon disappeared ; the boy
Watson imam vigorously towards Mordness Quay,
where a rope was thrown to him, but whether from
exhaustion or cold, he did not grasp it, and sank.
Moor, in the meantime, swam towards the buoy,
but he too, perished within a few yards of it. On
Monday, the body of Watson was recovered, and on
the following day an inquest was held before Stephen
Reed, Esq., coroner, when a verdict of " Accidental
Death" was returned. The deceased was only fourteen
years of age, and the son of a widow whose husband
was killed in Howdon Dock a few months ago. Wear
was a joiner and unmarried ; and Moor, who was a
keelman, has left a wife and two children.—/Yetecastle
Paper.

MAJOR• GENERAL DAVID FORBES.—This gallant
officer, who died at Aberdeen on the 29th of March, en-
tered the army in 1793, and soon after joined the 78th
Highlanders Regiment, to which he had been appointed.
Ile accompanied the Ross-shire Highlanders to the
Continent, and served in the campaigns of 1794 and
1795, was present at the sortie from Nimeguen, in
the action when the French were driven across the Waal
at I3ommPl, and in the affair of Geldermalsen, in Ja-
nuary, 1795. In August of the same year he accompa-
nied his regiment to Quiberon Bay, and assisted at the
capture of l'lsle Dieu. In 1796 the 78th were ordered to
the Cape of Good Hope, and he witnessed the surrender
of the Dutch fleet in Saldanha Bay. In November fol-
lowing he proceeded with his regiment to India, and
served in the campaign in Oude in 1798 and 1799; also in
the Mahratta war of 1803, assisting at the storm of the
Pettah, and siege of the Fort of Ahmednuggar. It was
on this occasion that the late Sir Colin Campbell, then a
subaltern of the 78th, by his gallantry and intelligence,
attracted the attention of his illustrious patron the Duke
of Wellington. Major-General Forbes was present in
every action in which the 78th was engaged in Java during
the years 1811, 1812, and 1813, including the forcing of the
enemy's position at Wellerreden, the assault of the lines
of Cornelis, the heights of Serandole and Djocjocarta.
In May, 1813, by his firmness and judgment he quelled a
formidable insurrection which broke out in the eastern
parts of the island. On this occasion Major-General
Forbes with his men made a forced march of sixty
miles in eighteen hours, during which Lieutenant-Co-
lonel Fraser and Captain Macpherson, of the
78th, were murdered by the insurgents. During
the service in Java he commanded the Light Company of
the 78th with the greatest gallantry, and nobly seconded
the brave Rollo Gillespie. Under his orders the High-
landers sustained their national character, and added to
the reputation which the " Tartans" have ever estab-
lished on the battle-field. maded the rare qualification
of never having apparently an enemy or provoked
a reflectiou.
RATING or RAILWAYS.---A numerous meeting
took place at the Clarendon Rooms at Liverpool, on
Monday, to take into consideration the propriety of
petitioning Parliament for an adjustment of the sys-
tem of rating railways. Mr. J. B. Moore, Mayor
of the, borougb, presided, and opened the busi-
ness of the day by observing the object they all had iu
view was to obtain a more equitable arrangement of the
rating of railway property throughout the kingdom.
Mr. Moore then instanced various places rated to show
the necessity of an equitable adjustment. He then called
the attention of his auditors to the manner in which the
present system of rating worked per head. The annual
value of property rated in Liverpool to March, 1847, was
1,021,8981., and there had been expended in relief to the
poor 64,700 k, the adult male population relieved being
63,075; the rate of expenses being 11. Is. 2d, per head. It
showed the inequality of the present system. Accord-
ing to the numoer of persons employed by the London
and North-Western Company it was more than 8/. per
head. Mr. D. Neilson proposed the first resolution—
" That railways, under the existing system of ascertain-
ing the value of that description of property, aro com-
pelled to bear an inequitable and undue proportion of
the local rates of the several parishes through which
they pass." The shareholders had keen great
sufferers by unjust taxation, until at length their
property seemed to have become an object of publio
plunder. Mr. D. Neilson concluded by a statistical
statement of the sums sunk in railways. The resolution
was seconded by Mr. J. Stewart, and carried unanimously.
Mr. E. Moyloy proposed the next resulutioa :—" That it
is inexpedient and against public policy to tax un-
duly the enterprise by which such great and general
advantages have been obtained by the introduction
and extension of railways," which was seconded
by Mr. W. Stuart, and carried in a similar manner.
The third resolution—" That the petition to Parliament
then produced, in which the views of the meeting were
embodied, be adopted and. forwarded to Lord Stanley
and to Lord Sefton, for presentation to the House of
Lords, and to one of the borough Members for presen-
tation to the House of Commons, was then slaved and
seconded, and carried unanimously, and after a few
words from the Earl of Sefton, who condemned the pre-
sent system of rating, the meeting broke up.
THE NEW MARRIAGE BILL.—The second reading
of the Bill to amend and alter the Act of the sth and 6th
William IV., c. 54, so far as relates to marriages within
certain of the prohibited degrees of affinity, is appointed
for the 3d of May, when Mr. Goulburn will, according
to notice, move that it be read that day six months. The
Bill is a very short one. It contains five clauses. After
reciting the purport of the Act mentioned, it is proposed
that the relief afforded should extend to marriages be-
tween a man and the sister, or the daughter of the brother
or sister of his deceased wife, and therefore that the pro
hibitory clause should be repealed. By the second cl
marriages within the degrees of affinity heretofore pro-
eir.
hibited are not to be voidable, except under certain
cumstances; and by the next provision clergymen are no
longer to be liable to penalties forsoolfemainniLtry her: aeon
solemnizing marriages
between parties within the degrees
prohibited. Further it is proposed that the Act shall not
disturb persons possessed of property or honours in con-
sequence of the invalidityeaeeee of marriages heretofore con-
tracted, nor is the Act to affect settlements of personal
der wills and testaments administered to be-
property under
fore the
passing of the same. Such is an outline of the
eure which has caused so much discussion with re-
nia
8p cst
to marriages with a "deceased wife's sister."
ONLY A SYLLABLE.—There is a strong impression
in Ireland, at this moment, that more is to be hoped from
Peel thou ficom Repepl,—Punch,

[PRICE SD.

MEYERBEER'S OPERA.
(PARIS CORRESPONDENCE.)

You may imagine how much the Prophet of Meyerbeer
has been a piece de eirconstance in Paris. To the
revolutionists delightful was the idea of a reli-
gious hero being brought on the stage professing
Communism and Socialism, and connecting with sacred
dogmas the most unlimited oontempt of all the laws that
morally restrain man in political life, or in society in its

more limited sense. The curiosity of the Conservatives was

no less:exeitee, of course, and they looked,forward to the
pleasure of contemplating this religious Lord of Mis-
rule—after destroying all constituted authority of
Church and State, burning palaces, and constituting
himself king as well as prophet—meeting with
condign punishment, although in the opera
he is not torn of course to pieces by red hot
pincers, as history records. These attractions apart,
end that of the difficulty of finding places—Meyerlacer
havini I sken the theatre to himself for five nights—l can-
not speak in anywise favourably of a work upon which
so many hopes were built.

(FRO)i ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.)
The opera is characterised by that powerful intricate
instrumentation, that sombre loftiness of intention, which
characterise Dileyerbeer's genius. harmony there is of
the amplest kind, but generally it has not the mellowed
grandeur suited to the oratorio, whose style it ap-
proaches nearest, and of which Mendelssohn was so
complete a master. To the lyrical operatic style it is
greatly opposed—having none of those contrasts of light
and shade, and but very few indeed of those melodies
which the ear seizes and the memory retains. Meyerbeer
appears here to have forgotten more than in any of bis
more recent works, that thesich sad the powerful, and
those whose days are spent in labours of commerce
and of art, do not go to an opera for fierce excitement,
to renew the fatigues of the day, but for repose of the
mind by change of impression, which nothing dramatic
or musical can afford when it is constantly overstrained
and of the lugubrious sameness, and the appeal to the
ear and the understanding are carried on by the sheer
physical force of voices and instruments. In the choice
of John of Leyden—a choice clearly dictated by Meyer-
beer—a greater error has been committed than in the se-
lection of Robert le Diable, in which the occasional ap-
proach to the subjects which all men of good taste, not to
speak of the religious, repudiate on the stage, is veiled
by the distance and the mingled superstitions of the me-
dieval period. Whether as a tailor, an enthusiast, an
usurper of power, or a religionist—the selection of John of
Leyden fora hero is a most extraordinary thought, and his
irreverent doings in his stage character are not likely to
please either the Catholic or the Protestant, or the Dis
senter; still more certainly would it be offensive to the
Anabaptist, since the stern devotee here has revels
worthy of Julius 11., if not of Borgia. The Socialists
alone will be perfectly suited by the libretto of this
opera; therefore was.l not astonished to see amongst
the audience Count d'Alton Shee, one of their leaders,
the first to applaud, the last to cease. You will see that
whilst it cannot afford desirable inspiration to the com-
poser, its hero and its plot exclude it from performance
in most countries. It is surely not under the dominion
of the Austrians or the Pope, it is not at Vienna or in
Italy that it will be performed. The King of Prussia
himself, Meyerbeer'a royal master and liege lord,
will not like the example of the burning of palaces in
religious and political enthusiasm which this opera af-
fords. As to England, of course a new libretto must be
written, if, as it is said, Madame Viardot is to have
leave, on the 7th of July, to go over and perform it. I
need not say that whatever the defects of the work
generally, there are some portions worthy of the
palmier days of Meyerbeer's genius. The two first acts
are heavy and ennuyeux but the others offer some bright
exceptions, amongst which I must particularly mention
a singular buffo trio, of highly artistic construction, be-
twixt Oberthal and two Anabaptist preachers, supported
by the chorus of Anabaptists, in the third act; and the
stanzas sung by the Prophet with a goblet of wino in his
hand, before ho accomplishes his destructive purpose on
the palace in the filth act. There is also an excel-
lent trio in this act betwixt Fides (Viardot),
the Prophet (Roger), and Bertha (Castellan). As re-
gards miss en scene, nothing has been spared, picto-
rially or otherwise. Duponchel, who was the first to
make vocalists sing a trio on horseback, spares nothing
for costume and other theatrical effects of appearance.
Nothing is wanting, not even dancing or skating. The
dancers were Plunkett and Petitpas, and the skaters
performed a ballabile. The constant rehearsals of the
music of this opera, which keeps the voices of the
singers perpetually on the stretch, has so much strained
those of the vocalists who perform the principal parts,
that it would be unjust to judge them by the result of the
first night, when some emotion must have added to their
fatigue. Castellan, who has a secondary and less bur-
thensome part, written purposely for her alone, cam,
out with full eflect. As further proof of bad taste in the
French capital, I will only add, that besides this Ana-
baptist prophet, there has been another hero of the same
kind enacted on the Boulevard. whilst even the martyred
Louis XVI. is not respected—Frederic Lemaitre playing
this royal personage with every probable horrible detail,
at the Pert St. Mai tin.