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

GENTLEMEN OF VIE 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 me 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 a 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 the 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 Ireland 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'oeuvre, i7.ls;;73lanche was produced
here last evening for the first time at this theatre. this ex-
cellent opera was originally produced at the Theatre Fey-
deau, 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 native 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 ! quel plaisir d'etre soldat" invariably excited the
martial penchants of his audience to the highest pitch of
enthusiasm. When Ponchard quitted the stage, the part of
Georges Brown was sustained by Roger, who was superior
to Ponchard in the character.

The following was the cast last evening :—Gaveston,
ancien interdan.t des Comtes d'Avenel, Monsieur Buguet ;
Georges, jeune officier Anglais, Monsieur Bonnamy (Premier
Tenor from the Theatre of Lyons); Dikson, fermier des
Comtes d'Aven el, Monsieur Soyer ; Mac-Irton, juge de pair
du Canton, Monsieur Chateaufort ; Gabriel, valet du ferme
de Dikson, M onsieur Josset ; Anna, pupille de Gaveston,
Mdlle. Chart° 11 (from the Opera Comique, Paris); Jenny,
femme de Dikson, Mdlle. Guichard; Marguerite, ancienne
domestique d(.is Comtes d'Avenel, Madame Mancini.
The overt ire was admirably performed by the orchestra,
and the opei ling chorus," Sonnez cornemuse et musette." was
most effectively given ; then came the far-famed " Ah ! 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 VOll3 regarde,
La Dame Blanche vous entend,"
with great Expression. The refrain vL as beautifully rendered.
The finale to the first act is one of the most beautiful pieces
of concert ed music ever composed—superior to Auber, equal
to Mozart ,—it is only to be surpassed in the French school,
by the ft: tale to the second act. These finales, so different in
character and treatment, yet both so exquisitely treated,
were givon last evening in a manner that was as near an
approach to perfection as may be. We have a vivid recol-
lection of tt Le manner in which La Dame Blanche was played
at the Opel .a, Comique, when originally produced, and we
give the pr eference decidedly, as far as these two finales are
concerned, to the performance of last evening. Madame
Mancini inf 'used a great deal of character and homely pathos
into the opt Lning couplets of the second act, " Pauvre Dame
Marguerite ." The trio which follows :was well. given by
BiAdame 4 laucipi, 41actennigielle gado, Awl Bilguet;

the concluding duet, " A la dunce esperance,'.
being exquisitely rendered by the two last-named artistes
The great scene of the second act, _ however, was that in
which the Dame Blanche appears to Georges, and it was
superbly rendered by Madile. Charton, who was very effec-
tively supported by M. Bonnamy. The music is well known
-in all our drawing-rooms—it is the duet, " Toujours sonar's
ma puissance;" it was rapturously applauded, and its re-
petition enthusiastically redemanded; 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,eards the
perfect rendering of which M. 13uguet contributed in mo
small degree; his superb bass voice telling with the most
happy effect. The third act opens with the air " Comthe
aux jours demon jeune age," which afforded Mademoiselle
Charton an opportunity of introducing that floriture 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 difficult music was finished, her intonation perfect,
and she was applauded to the echo.; The chorus, " Chantz
joyeux menestrel," in which the air ". Robin Adair" is intro-
duced, which follows soon after, was most effectively given it
was moreover excellentlyacted, and the dramatic effect, there-
fore, was well brought out. The finale was given with great
spirit and effect, and the curtain tell 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 lion. 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 Beauclerc, Mr.
Brunel, Mr. Depenthany O'Kelly,