The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-25 00:00:00

VENTION BILL

On the motion for the third reading of this Bill,
Lord ASHLEY moved the insertion of cer-
tain clauses giving power to the Board of Health
to cause inquiry to be made into the state of
burial-grounds, and to direct measures of pre-
caution to be taken by the churchwardens; also
where churchyards are dangerous to the public health,
giving power to the churchwardens to agree for the
burial of parishioners in the ground of any cemetery
company, or in the burial-ground of any other parish;
also to enable the General Board of Health to direct in-
quiries where it may be expedient to prohibit interments,
and to frame a scheme for providing new burial•grounds.
After some observations from Mr. Mackinnon, Mr.
Hume, and other Hon. Members,
Mr. HORSMAN expressed his satisfaction that the
question had been taken up by his Noble Friend oppo-
site, and ho was willing to leave the subject iu his hands.
Colonel THOMPSON said, he only wanted to im-
press the general fact, that we were approaching the
time when, if something effectual was not done, our crime
and our dirt would run away with us. He was there-
fore glad to see the alliance between a Noble Lord
and Hon. Gentleman opposite, who he trusted would be
the two Hercules to cleanse the moral and the physical
Augean stable that were before us. There might be a
time when the Mosaic paddle on the spear sufficed for
sanitary regulations; but that was long gone by, and the
comfort of existence was concerned in keeping pace with
the wants of the age.—(Hear, hear.)
The clauses were then put and agreed to, and added
to the Bill.

The Bill then passed.
DRAINAGE OF LANDS BILL.
This Bill passed through Committee, and was ordered
to be reported to-morrow.
DEFECTS IN LEASES SUSPENSION BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
MARRIAGES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES FACI.
LITATING BILL.
On the motion for the consideration of the Lords'
amendments to the Bill,
Dr. NICIIOLL said, that considering the importance
of this 13111, and the results which might arise from en-
couraging marriages in foreign countries, be trusted the
Noble Lord would pause before he proceeded with this
Bill, and at any rate that he would delay its passing for
the present session.
Lord PALNIERSTON said that in many places
abroad the British residents were numerous, and he

rusted therefore that th© Honourable and Learned

Member did not desire that they should not be married

at all, for if an insuperable liar were to be placed
before such unions, who could say what the consequences
might be?—(A laugh.)

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.—It 1S 110 W gene-
rally understood in official quarters that her Maj-sty's
Ministers willvisit the Que,n at Osborne House, on
Monday next, and that, on the following day, Tuesday,
the 31st instant, Parliament will be prorogued by com-
mission.

Genius is like the flame of a taper, for while it
gives forth light to the world around, it consumes the
body that sustains it.--Eliza Cook's Journal.
TIIE SIGNING OF TREASURY INSTRUMENTS.--A
Bill, brought in by Mr. Hayter and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, enacts that instruments issued by the Lords
of the Treasury may be signed by two of their body only.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
The Barbiere was reTeated last night with still greater
success than on the previous occasion. Madame Sontag,
now confident how great a favourite she is with the
public; sang with increased spirit, and introduced in the
appropriate airs of this opera novel and beautiful embel-
lishments. Her marvellous execution of Rode's varia-
tions gave rise to the utmost enthusiasm—each repetition
was rewarded with a fresh shower of bouquets. When
Lablache in his turn had sung the antiquated air of Car-
fariello, amidst the applhuse he looked for his bouquet.
Madame Sontag gracefully seized the opportunity, and
presented him with one of the choicest amidst the num-
ber thrown to her. This little incident gave rise to the
loudest laughter, and to the heartiest applause once more
from every part of the crowded house.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.
Le Prophete, the last, and, we believe, the as Yet
greatest work of Meyerbeer, was produced hero last
evening, with all that splendour and that completeness,
both as regards scenic decoration and musical execution,
of which such a work as this is pre-eminently worthy,
and without which it would b- impossible to do justice
to it. We say that the Propte'e is the greatest work of
Meyerbeer, and we say it advisedly, for although
it is impossible to thoreuehly appreciate a
great work like the Propt ete at first, or
even at the second or third hearing—although
there are many passages which at present
appear obscure, but which on a future hearing
will be
cleared up; yet we are inclined to believe it to be
a greater work than even the Huguenots, even from what
we could collect from one hearing of it only. Meyer-
beer has in this instance, as in the instance of the Hugue-
nots, been fortunate in securing Scribe as his librettist,
and, as in the instance of the Huguenots, also, he has
chosen an episode in the history of the Refor-
mation as the subject of his drama, sad
has thus brought it within the limits of that'
middle musical territory between the sacred and the
secular, in which he reigns supreme.
" Within that circle none dare walk but he."
The Prophet is the celebrated John of Leyden, the chief
of the Anabaptists, the associate of Knipperdolling, the
earliest of the Apostles, if not the originator of com-
munism, who kept all Germany in a flew, and at last
was only conquered after he had stood a seige of 12
months in the city of Munster. The scene of the first
act is laid in the champaign country, in the neighbourhood
of 13, r lrecht in Holland, and the opera opens with a de-
lightful chorus, ," Le brezza e tranquilla," sung by
peasants leaving their work and preparing for
their meal. They are joined by Berta (Miss Catherine
Hayes), the betrothed of John, and by Fides (Madame
Viardot Garcia), his mother. Suddenly a psalm tune
is beard, and Zaccaria (Marini), Giona (Polonini), and
Mathisen (Mei), the three Anabaptist leaders, appear,
chanting an exhortation to all to join them, and de-
nouncing the great ones of the earth. These three
leaders are, as it were, the fate of John of Leyden;
they are his Bertram, and Berta is his Alice. The
peasants listen to their exhortations, and at
length seize various agricultural implements and
declare themselves ready to follow their leader
against their oppressors. The chorus of peasants, " 0
liberta," which is introduced in this scene, is one of the
most spirited in the opera, and was loudly encored.
Count Oberthal (Tagliafico), the feudal lord of the dis-
trict, now enters, and Fides and Berta solicit his
consent to the marriage of Berta, who is his
vassal, with John. The duet " Della Mesa,"
in which Fides and Berta join their supplications
is a very exquisite composition, and was rendered with
great feeling by Madame Viardot Garcia and Mist)
Catherine Hayes. Maddened by the beauty of Berta,
Oberthal not only refuses his consent, but orders his
attendants to seize both Fides and Berta, and carry
hem to his castle, and with this metre the first act ends.
The scene of the second act is laid in the cabaret which
is kept by John of Leyden, and opens with a lively
chorus of dancers, who are waltzing while John (Mario)
is attending to the revellers. The Anabaptist leaders enter,
look at John with feigned awe; in him they pretend to
recognise a likeness of King David, the prophet of whom
they have been in search; the revellers quit the cabaret,
and the Anabaptists are left alone with John. They,
address him, then excite his imagination, and
he relates to them a dream he had, in
which ho fancied he was a King. This scene
was not only beautifully sung, but finely acted by Mario,
whose Prophet throughout is, not only as a vocal. but
as a histrionic performance, beyond all praise. They
interpret the dream to him, and endeavour to induce
him to join their sect and be their chief. In vain,
he prefers Berta to Empire ; love to ambition,
and gives utterance to his thoughts in one of the
most exquisite pastoral compositions ever heard—the now'
celebrated " Pour Berta moi je soupire," of the original
French version, which was deliciously rendered by Mario.
No sooner had the Anabaptists left him, than Berta
rushes in, throws herself in his arms, and asks him to
save her. He shows her a hidieg• place, and
immediately Oberthal's soldiers appear, leading in his
mother Fides. They demand Berta ; he refuses to give
her up, when they raise their axes over his mother's
head, and declare that they will put her to death
at once, if Berta is not surrendered to them.
To save his mother, he sacrifices his betrothed.
Berta is surrendered, and John waits until his
mother has retired to rest, when he joins the Ana-
baptists, and, without taking leave of his mother,
leaves his home to seek for vengeance against
the oppressor. The concerted music in this act is
exceedingly fine, and was admirably rendered. The
third act opens with the celebrated skating scene, which
was excellently managed, and is certainly worthy of all
the praise that has been lavished on it. The
Anabaptists are encamped in Westphalia, and
are preparing to attack Munster. A stranger le
seized and brought in ; he offers to join the Anabaptists.
He is recognised as Oberthal, and is condemned to die,
when John, now the Prophet, appears, and, questioning
him about Berta, learns that she yet lives ; whereupon
he orders his life to be spared for the present, deter-
mining that Berta should decide on his fate. The
act ends with the attack on Munster ; the Ana-
baptists, at first repulsed, cry out " Death to the false
prophet," but, on the appearance of John, he
awes them into submission, and placing himself
at their head renews the attack. Mario was very fine
in this scene, and was much applauded. The third
act is the grand act of the opera, histrionically speaking
—it is true tragedy, and tragedy of the very highest
order. The scene is laid at Munster, now in possession
of the Anabaptists, and the time is the day of the coro-
nation of John the Prophet. In the market-place of
Munster a mendicant woman, begging alms for the purpose
of purchasing masses for the repose of the soul of
her son, meets with a young pilgrim, they recognise
each other, the mendicant is Fides, the pilgrim is
Berta—Berta asks for her lover, Fides says
he has been murdered; she had found his clothes
in !her cottage covered with blood, she heard a voice
which said, " Thou shalt see him no more, it is the will
of the Prophet;" and Berta vows to stab the Prophet,
the murderer of her lover .The scene then changes to the
coronation of John in the Cathedral of Munster. Amongst
the crowd assembled to witnes the ceremonial: is Fides,
sheirecognizes John, and exclaims "My son." John
stretches out his hand to her, but is restrained by
the threats of Mathisen. The crowd begin to
doubt; they raise their daggers over Fides; John
rushes forward, declares that she is mad,
and that a miracle only can restore her. He commands
her to go on her knees, and then, turning to the crowd,
he commands them to strike him if he is art imposter, to
slay him if she says he is her son. Fides falters out that
he is not her son, and the people shout a miracle.
This is the great scene of the opera, and never have we
seen anything to equal the sublimity of the acting of
Madame Viardot Garcia in this scene. She was ad-
mirably supported by Mario, and this scene is certainly
the finest acting scene on the lyric stage. In the last
act we find the Anabaptist leaders plotting against John,
and seeking to deliver him up to his enemies. Fides en-
deavours to awaken him to a sense of his duty, and he de-
termines to fly with her, Berta joins them ; but on a soldier
entering, and addressing John as the Prophet, she stabs
herself and dies. John then determines to be
revenged on all. He orders a magnificent ban-
quet to be prepared, to which he invites the Ana-
baptist leaders, and then sets fire to the Palace.
the gates of which he has closed, and all perish in the
flames. Such is the plot of the Prophete, a work which,
we repeat, is the chef d'ceuvre of Meyerbeer, and which
must be heard again and again to be properly
appreciated. All the artistes were called on at the con-
clusion, and then there were loud calls for Costa, who at
length appeared, and was received with enthusiatic cheers.
The theatre was crowded.

RICHMOND INSTITUTION AND FARMERS' DR"
FERRED ANNUITY SOCIETY.-At a special general
meeting of the patrons of this institution, held yesterday
at Palace Chambers, St. James's streat—his Grace the
Duke of Richmond in the chair—the following resolu-

mti(emetwinags tuon
been i
tmhoe ugsly en
eardaol pi
mtepdrie—sllnt at
hpapte ahrien g-
a attempt
h mt
ptttios
failfor of ma
success, and
aanndn
thatuity stohcei e tlyeg,l .amongstdifif difficulties
u tairems
attendant
farmers would
on a national society under the Inendly Acts were con-
siderable, it was proposed and seconded and carried that
a general meeting of the subscribers be called for the
purpose of proposing to make use of the money in hand
by creating a single charity fund (either by annuity or
otherwise), for the benefit of decayed farmers, or that
any other proposal may be then made and considered."
Alter aatedvote of thanks to his Grace, the proceedings
termin.

BIRTHS.
On the 20th inst., at Avenue•road, Regent's-park, the wife
of A. Devaux, Esq., of a daughter.
tineOn the 22d inst., at Upper Gower-street, Mrs. W. BaNan-
, of a daughter.
On the 22d inst., at Woodeote-grove, Epsom, the wife of
A. Crowe, Esq., of a son.
On the 2cl inst., in Endsleigh-street, Mrs. Mellor, of a son.

MARED.
On the 18th inst., at the GreyRI
friars, Elgin, James Molison,
Esq., Commander of the ship Collingwood, to Isabella Anne,
elder daughter of 0. Forsyth, Esq., late of Clapham-rise.
On the 19th inst., at Stoke Gabriel, E. C. Domyille, Esq.,
Lieutenant Royal Marines, to Ellen Jane, daughter of John
Churchyard, Esq., of Stoke Gabriel.

DIED
At Portsmouth, on the 18th inst., W. Birrill, Esq., M.D.,
Surgeon to the Forces, H.P., aged 56.
On the 22d inst., at Beckford-place, Clapham-road, Adam
Gerard, Esq., of Ludgate. hill, aged 48.
On the 22d inst., at Marlborough-place, Walworth-road,
W. R. Croggon, Esq., aged 45.
At Brixton-hill, on the 22d inst., aged 27, F. J. Herring,
second surviving son of Mr. R. W. Herring, of Fleet-street.
Suddenly, aged 25, William F. Grant, nephew of Mr. W.
Grant, Fenchurch-street.

London : Printed and Published by 111URDO YOUNG, a
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tlu, Sun Office. No. 112,
strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of
Middlesex, Wednesday, July 25,1849.

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