The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-31 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

The second grand morning concert took place yes-
terday. The theatre was crowded; indeed, vast
numbers could not find accommodation in the pit.
The programme principally consisted of pieces from
the popular lyrical works, which were admirably
rendered by the chief members of the Royal Italian
company. Grisi, Angri, Catherine Hayes, Dorus
Gras, Corbari, and De Merle sang their favourite
pieces, assisted by Mario, Sims Reeves, Tamburini,
&c. "Ah fuggi," the duet from La Farorita, sung
by Grisi and Mario, was encored. Madame Mac-
farren made her first appearance here since her return
from America. Her rich contralto voice and admi-
rable method were heard to singular advantage
in a scena and aria of Mozart's, " Mia Spe-
ranza adorata." The improvement in Madame
Macfarren is quite extraordinary, and we feel that
ere long she will become one of our most exalted
vocalists. Her dramatic appreciation and marked
style will render her a great acquisition to the lyrical
stage. M. Dreyschock, the celebrated pianist, per-
formed a concerto of his own composition with ex-
ceeding brilliancy. He was greatly applauded. Signor
Bottesini, the celebrated contra-bassist, performed
Paganini's " Carnaval de Venise," with all its mar-
vellous passages, with as much finish and dexterity as
though the huge instrument were as easy of compass
as a violin. lie was enthusiastically applauded The
Hungarian Singers sung Weber's " Les Chasseurs de
Lutzow," with the echo, and Mendelssohn's " L'Adieu
de Chasseur," with admirable ensemble. The " Wed-
ding March," from A Midsummer Night's Dream,
superbly played, was redemanded.

FRENCH OPERA.
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

Auber's comic opera, La part du Diable, was re•
presented for the first time last night, the performance
being for the benefit of M. Couderc, the principal
tenor of the season. The plot of this opera is well-
known to English playgoers by the version produced
some time since at the Haymarket Theatre, under the
title of The Little Devil. Much of the music was,
however, omitted. Several airs, distinguished by light
and brilliant melody, so characteristic of the composer,
occur in the course of the opera. Two of these ap-
pertained to the part of Carlo Brosehi—the "Qu'evez
vous Comtesse," and " Reviens ma noble protectrice
—and were admirably sung by Mdlle. Charton. The
quartette, " Jour fatal," was also effectively rendered,
and obtained much applause. Mdlle. Guichard, as
the sister Casilda, performed her secondary part
with much piquancy; and M. Couderc himself, who
had throughout exhibited his usual energy and cor-
rectness as actor and vocalist, was called before the
curtain at the close to receive with Mdlle. Charton,
the acknowledgments of a crowded and fashionable
audience. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, who had
only arrived from the Isle of Wight in the course of
yesterday afternoon, honoured the performance with
their presence.

QUEEN'S CONCERT ROOMS, HANOVER-IQUARE.-.
Mdlle. Coulon, a pupil of M. Thalberg, gave her annual
morning concert at these rooms yesterday, assisted by
Mdlls. Nissen, Nau, and Graumann, Miss Ransford,
ilerrs Brandt and Dameke, Signor Ciabatta, Messrs.
Deichmann, Rousselot, Demeur, Lazarus, and Baumann.
The programme comprised a varied and well-chosen
selection of music, both vocal and instrumental. Mdlle.
Coulon was very successful in her pianoforte perform-
ance of Thalberg's grand fantasia from Masaniello, and
in her share in Rousselot's new quintett, composed ex-
pressly for this concert, for pianoforte, violin, violoncello,
clarionet, and bassoon; and also in Beethoven's grand
soaata in C minor. The concert was numerously and
fashionably attended.

WILLIS'S ROOMS. - Madame and Herr Goffrie
gave a concert at these rooms last evening, comprising a
judicious selection from the works of Haydn, Mendels-
sohn, Rossini, Mozart, and Donizetti. Madame Goffrio
performed brilliantly a capriccio of Mendelssohn's, a
fantasia of Thalberg s on airs from Masartiello, and a
galopade bravura. Madame Annette le Brun, from the
Theatre San Carlo, Naples, made her first appearance
in this country, and sang a French translation of '• Des
Madehens Klage," and the drinking song from Lucrezia
Borgia. Miss Messent was encored in " the Maiden
Gay," and Herr Ernst had to repeat a very finely exe-
cuted solo.

HUMANE AND INTREPID ACT.—The following
courageous and humane act occurred yesterday in Hyde
Park at about three P.M. A female bad plunged into
the Serpentine River unperceived by any other person
than Mr. Alfred Williams, a brother of the superin-
tendent of the Royal Humane Society's receiving-house,
who happened to have just landed from a sailing boat,
and who immediately ran to the spot, pulled off his coat,
and swam towards her, but she instantly grasped his
arm and almost prevented his saving her by her struggles
and clinging to him. He, however, being a pod
swimmer, disengaged himself, and supported her by the
hair until a boat came and took her to the receiving-
house, where she was put into a warm bath, and attended
by Mr. Woolley, medical assistant to the society. We
understand this is the second instance of Mr. Williams
having by similar means saved an individual from
drowning.
THE RIGA TRADE.—The brig Southesk, Greig,
that
of tan arrived here on Wednesday from Riga, after
beingseae
season.
the firsthe difficulties
a r iv a l in this
a experienced pa
country
sa
fromag
eat
e porttnhedy
at
days,
e e. T
Biga in:dispatching vessels had not diminished at the
Southesk sailed. From the great influx of ves-
selst' to that port in the spring, labour is always scarce
and high. The Russian Government, however, having
seized on the young men this year to recruit her im-
mense armies, the scarcity of labour will be severely felt
by the shipping, from the high charges and imperfect
stowage of the cargoes.—Montrose Review.
COACH ACCIDENT.—NARROW ESCAPE OF LORD
COMPTON.—The Cork Examiner says," The front axle
of the day coach between Cork and Tralee, via Mallow,
broke, near Bantyre, about eight miles from Mallow, on
Thursday last, when the fore part of the coach came to
the ground with such force that it capsized, and the
passengers (twelve in number) with the coachman, were
thrown off with great violence in different directions.
Happily the passengers (among whom was Lord Comp-
ton, a young nobleman, on his way from Killarney) did
net sustain any very great injury. His Lordship and
two other gentlemen were the most severely, but not
dangerously injured. An express was sent into Mallow
for a coach and horses, which arrived in a couple of
hours, and brought the passengers into Mallow, where
Lord Compton and the other gentlemen injured remain
under care of doctors. They will, however, be suffi-
ciently recovered in a few days to enable them to pro-
ceed. The wheel horse were dreadfully mutilated, and
are now rendered useless."

ROYAT ARTILLERY.—Three gunners have been
dismissed from the Royal Artillery this week as un•
worthy to be allowed to remain in the service—two of
them owing to being habitual drunkards, and one, named
Patrick Lougbray, of Captain Hamilton's company, Bth
battalion, for maiming and rendering himself unfit for
service, by discharging a loaded carbine at his head
when on the station at Malta. The latter was sent home
in the Apollo for the purpose of being dismissed the
service. None of these men will receive any pension, as
a warning to others, the authorities having resolved on
discharging the irreclaimable without any remuneration
for past services when they forfeit them by subsequent
bad conduct.

FRANCE.

The following appeared in our Third Edition of
st night] :

The National Legislative Assembly met yesterday.
Keratry in the chair.
M. Kcenig observed that the President had ordered
a copy of the regulations of the late Assembly to be
distributed to all the Members of the new Assembly.
M. Koenig wondered that the President had not
thought proper to order the Constitution to be simi-
larly. distributed.—(Cries here arose from all sides
that the President had done so, and several Members
held up the book which contained it.) M. Koenig
apologised, and said that his object in making that
demand was to convince the Assembly that the sth
article formally prohibited the intervention of foreign
powers in the internal affairs of other nations.—(Cries
of "Enough.")
M. Laudolphe said that he deemed it his duty to
protest against the manner in which the first sitting
of the Assembly had been conducted. Every former
Assembly began by saluting with its acclamations
the Governmett of the country, and his friends would
bAve taken the initiative, if they did nut expect the
signal from their President. What, he added, was
pas Sing out of doors at that moment F The people,
full of confidence in the Assembly, crowded round
the palace, crying, " Vive la Republique !" (" Yes,
to the tune of the Lampion,c," exclaimed voices from
the Right.) Well, that crowd was driven from the
palace by charges of cavalry. Had the people, under
the Monarchy, presented themselves on the passages
of the Sovereign, and rent the air with expressions of
their love and respect, would the Monarch have
ordered them to be charged by his escort ? Certainly
net. Well ! The Legislative Assembly allowed
dig indignity to be perpetrated on Monday !
:All the members of the Montagne here stood up,
and cried " Vive la Republique!" The Right re-
mained immovable, in spite of the taunts and threats
of the Left.
M. Segur d'Aguesseau then ran up to the tribune,
and said that he felt a want to protest against the
abuse made of the word " people," which they all
represented. The French nation should not be con-
founded with a fraction of the people. It was the
policy of a fraction to divide the Assembly into two
parts, in order to have it to print in their journals
that one side of the Assembly had cried " Vive la
Republique," and that the other had remained silent.
Here all the Montagnards rose, and cried " Vive
la Republique Democratique et Sociale," amidst the
murmurs of the Right.
M. Pierre Bonaparte exclaimed, " The Democratic
Republic as much as you please, but down with the
Social !"—(Bravos and applause.)
M. D'Aguesseau added that he had abstained from
joining in the cry, because he did not desire that Re-
public, whose main principle, to judge from the con-
duct of its voters in the Assembly, seemed to be to
impede the first of liberties, that of the tribune.
Here the President, turning towards the Left,
called to order one of the Members who bad first
raised the seditious cry. All his colleagues then
rose and repeated the cry, asking to be also called to
order.

When silence was restored,
M. Segur d'Aguesseau declared that he knew no
other Republic than that voted by the universality of
the French people, and founded on the Constitution
of 1848. If such was the Republic it was intended to
salute, he would heartily and sincerely join in the cry.
The entire Assembly here rose in a mass, and cried,
" Vive la Republique ! "
ATter a few words from M. Beaune, the President
invited the reporters of the different bureaux to submit
to'the Assembly the result of their investigations re-
lative to the qualifications of the representatives. The
elections of a number of departments were found per-
feCtly legal, and the Members proclaimed. The elec •
tion of the Arriege alone gave rise to an incident—M.
llovin Tranchere asked if a M. Pilhes, returned in
that department, was not the individual of that name
who, with a Captain Laviron, had fired on the French

troops at Rome ?
Pilhes, a Montagnard, having ascended the
tribune, said, I have only two words to say. M.
Pilhes, who is now at Rome, is my youngest brother.
lie is animated with the same sentiments which beat
in my breast for the cause of liberty.—(Murmurs on
the Right.) The person who addresses you is Victor
Pilhes, former commissioner of Ledru Rollin, who
his been shamefully calumniated.—(Laughter.)
M. Lacave Laplagne, elected in the department of
the Gers, having died during the election, several
members demanded that the next candidate on the
list should be proclaimed representative for that de-
partment. The committee, however, considering
that M. Lacave Laplagne had died in Paris, at seven
o'clock in the evening of the 14th, that is, after the
close of the poll, and that, when he was proclaimed
oti the 16th,- it was impossible the account of his
death could have readied the Gers, was of opinion
that a new election should take place, which was
agreed to by the Assembly.
Left sitting.