The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-02 00:00:00

EVEN ING EDITION:

ARCtiLdIEt'ES STEAM YACHT.

During the last ten days some sensation has been
created at Dover, by the presence there of the Ar-
chimedes, steam•yacht, and her frequent trials with
her Majesty's packets on that station. Her success
was so decided that the Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty, who had expressed great interest in
the progress of the experiments made by this vessel,
deputed Captain Chappeil, R.N., and Mr. Lloyd,
the Engineer of Woolwich Dockyard, to superin-
tend the trials ; and appointed her 'Majesty's packet
Widgeon, recently repaired, and reported the fastest
vessel on the station, specially to contend with her.
Her first trials were made with steam alone, and
though the Widgeon has engines of ninety -horse
Power (ten more than those of the Archimedes) is
five feet narrower, and draws four-and-a-half feet
less water, they were so nearly alike in the passage
to Calais that she beat the Archimedes only three-
end-a-half minutes in going, and four in returning, it
being a dead calm, which was all in favour of the
Paddle-wheels over the screw.

Yesterday, however, a breeze having sprung up,
the rival vessels again started from Dover for
Calais Roads, with the combined powers of sail and
Steam, when the Archimedes beat the Widgeon
n►ne minutes in going, and five in returning. The
Archimedes performed the passage over in two
hours avid one minute, and returned in the incredibly
811°11, space of one hour and
.fifiy-three minutes!
---'probably the very quickest passage on record.

GERMAN OPERA-PRINCE'S

THEATRE.

Mozart composed the opera of ll Don Giovanni,
Prague, the city in whose theatre it was first pro-
duced, under the superintendence of that great corn-
Poser, in the year 1787. In the preceding year his
opera of Le Nozzd di Figaro had been received with
luch enthusiastic delight by the people of Prague that
Mozart is said to have exclaimed—" The Bohemians
understand me ; I must write an opera for them."
L Boudini who was then opera-director, communicated on
tbit subject with Mozart, who soon produced his im-
Mortal Don Juan. The first intimation we have of
its performance in this country is from a notice of the
Harmonic Society, held at the London Tavern, Feb.
1809. Spagnoletti was the leader, and we find
Naldi amongst the singers as the Leporello ; the rest
were native artists. Of course, this being only a con-
cert, the recitative and action could not be done.
A. short time after this, it was brought out at the
Italian Opera, and has ever since held its station as the
grandest of all Mozart's works. The German company,
after having played Der Freischutz with a perfection and
brilliancy never before heard in this country, have been
found wanting in power to do justice to the Giovanni,
With, however, some exceptions. The Donna Anna
of Madame Fischer Schwarzbock was a highly cre-
ultable performance—her first scene was a finished
Pt ee of acting, with some very powerful singing.
adame Schumann, already an established favourite,
Made a charming Zerlina—her archness and naivete
in her acting with Masetto were delightful ; her duett
wiith Don Juan ( Herr Poeck), was deservedly encored,
a'so her song " Batti ! Batti !" The cast of Lepo-
rello ,
and tne Commandant was not good ; both were
!lusting in power, and the former in animation. Herr
chmezer, as Don Ottavio, sung his part with great
truth and feeling. "II mio tesoro" was very nicely
given ; also the trio at the end of the first act, by Donna
Anna, Zerlina, and Ottavio, which was encored. The
finale to the first act told better than any thing during
the whole evening—it went with a precision that re-
minded I.ls of their performance on previous nights.
The choruses and concerted pieces were given with
sPirit and precision, and the orchestra was excellent.
Our orchestra performers should frequent this theatre in
order to learn what is the effect of a real piano.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert were in the Royal
box, Prince Ernest was also present ; and the boxes
were full of fashionable company.