The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-16 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

The Brussels' opera company, under the management
of Mr. Charles Ranssens have taken Drury-lane for a
short season, and opened last evening. The admirable
manner in which this company gave the best French
operas at Covent-garden last season, the unity and
completeness of all their performances will not
be soon forgotten. The same singers, the same
I admirably drilled chorus, and the same full and
perfectly conducted orchestra were there last even-
ing. The piece chosen for the opening was
Meyerbeer's opera Les Huguenots, with Laborde as Raoul,
Zelger as Marcel, Madame Laborde as Marguerite,
Madame Julien as Valentine, and Madame Guichard as
Urbain. Zelger, although not equal to Staudigl as Mar-
cel, gave an excellent and spirited version of the cha-
racter. The" Piff-Puff " song in the first act was given
with great spirit, and was enthusiastically applauded. It
was the genuine outburst of a rough old soldier. M.
Laborde is by far the best Raoul that has yet appeared
in England. His rich clear voice is admirably suited to
the music, and. he throws such an intensity of impassioned
feeling into the: part that he completely carried his audi
enco with him throughout. His duet with Madame Julien,
at the conclusion of the fourth act, was the great
triumph of the night. The applause was most enthu-
siastic, and both artistes were called for at the conclu-
sion of the act. Madame Villiomi Laborde was the
Marguerite, and her grand scene d'entree at the com-
mencement of the second act was one of the most wen-
derful pieces of tasteful execution ever heard. The
compass of her voice is great, and without a
break from the highest note to the lowest. Its
power is immense—without an apparent effort it fills the
vast area o f Drury-lane. Its flexibility is wonderful,
and over this magnificent organ she has complete and
perfect command. The brilliancy of her lioritore in this
scene was quite dazzling. The audience seemed per-
fectly astonished at her wonderful execution; but at the
conclusion the applause was rapturous, and bouquets
were thrown to her from all parts of the house. But
fine as are the airs of this magnificent opera, they
are as nothi ag when compared with its massive
choruses and its elaborately concerted music. As a
musical critic of eminence has well observed " The
manner in which the chorus is used throughout the full
five acts of this musical tragedy distinguishes it from
most operas. The plot of the opera is absolutely un-
folded, not by recitatives and airs, but by the most ela..
borate con certed pieces." And most perfectly were those
concerted pieces elaborated last evening by the chorus
and orchestra of the Brussels' company—and not only
perfectly elaborated as to the music, but as to the
acting also. Each chorus singer is an actor ; he has his
part to perfarm in the general action of the drama, and
he performs it. This gives an appearance of vitality to
the opera, which contributes, in a very essential man-
ner, to keep up the interest of the audience. The house
was very well attended, and almost all the private boxes
appeared to be occupied. The principal artistes were
called for at the conclusion of the opera.

HOP INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Maidstone Journal of yesterday.)
MAthsToNE..—Although our hop-plantations have had
such a severe blight to contend with, they are now, with
the assistance of hot weather, doing all they possibly
can, and are showing burr where it never was expected.
The grounds that are clear are looking beautiful. In
many there are hops to be found thus early. The land
generally is in st very bad state, the season having been
so much against either winter, spring, or summer culti-
vation. We had rain on Friday last, which was very
acceptable.

The duty is roughly set as follows :—Rochester,
30,0004; Canterbury, 33,0001.; Sussex, 50,0001.; Wor-
cester, 15,0001.; Farnham, 10,0001.; Kingdom, 2,000/.
Total, 137,0001.
BoX.LEY, AYLESFoRD, AND BußHAm.—The hops in
these parishes, humorously observes our correspondent,
are in deep mourning, I suppose for the serious loss they
have sustained from Sir R. Peel's last measure. Some
few of the plantations are endeavouring to put on their
former green garb, but the shock is so severe that it is
not very likely they will rally for a year.
OTHAM.—Our best plantations do not look so well,
and certainly are getting much blacker ; the branches
do not look so healthy as they have done ; en some of
our lower grounds, where the fly and lice have been most
prevalent, there will be almost a total failure.
THORNHAM.—The hops in this parish are as bad as
they can be, many acres not a bin will be put into them.
BEARSTED.—Hops are very bad, with the exception
of a few grounds near and adjoining the turnpike road.
EAST FARLEIGH.—The greater part of this parish is
looking bright and beautiful; but there are exceptions.
WEST FARLEIGH.—Tho principal part of the planta-
tions are very bad.
YALDING.—The upper part of this parish on the hill
is very good—the lower very indifferent.
MEREWORTH. —A great improvement has taken
place here. Since the late rains the bine seems to re-
cover, and the young shoots look healthy, and are
putting out burr very fast. Should the weather prove
favourable, there is a prospect of three or four bags per
acre throughout the parish.
WEST PECHEAM.—The hops are quite as good as at
Mereworth.
CHART, BOUGHTON, LANGLY, OTHAM, LEEDS.—The
lower grounds very bad. No chance of growing any-
thing. The upper parts of these parishes are better,
however, and will grow a small crop.
BRENCHLEY.—The major part of the plantations are
decidedly blighted, and in those which have hitherto
looked more tavourably there is a fresh attack of fly.
ROLVENDEN.—In looking through this parish and
upon inquiries I find the hops partially improving ;
though some grounds cannot be calculated to do much,
there are some very good grounds among them, Messrs.
Bishops, Mr. Robert Radwells, Mr. A. Dunk, and Mr.
Corke, who may consider themselves favoured.
WROTHAM—No alteration.
TUNBRIDGE.—The hops in this neighbourhood are
now looking in a woful plight, many grounds turning
quite black. The bine still continues loaded with ver-
min, which cover the young shoots as soon as they come.
In many places farmers say they will not be worth
putting bins into the grounds, for a farmer told us yes-
terday there were places where they would not get 2cwt.
off the acre.
EYNSFORD SHOREHAM, OTFORD, KEMSING, SEAL,
SEVENOAKS;CHEVENING, SUNDRIDGE, BRASTED, WES-
TERHAM, HALSTED, AND CUELSFIELD.—We had hoped
to have made to you an improving report from the
heavy storms, &c., of the last week, but, having
most carefully inspected the above-mentioned parishes,
we do not find anything like a duty of
even 120,0001., as mentioned by some of your
contemporaries, much less 140,0001. The result
of our observations is, that in all gardens where
the bine is strong, although there is an immense quan-
tity of vermin, there may yet be a slight top crop. In
the weak bine gardens by no possibility can there be
anything like a " tithe part of a crop." As we have
before mentioned, the clearer the plantation the better
the plant. In wooded districts, particularly those small
beautiful valleys found on the "Ridge," the whole of
which are bounded by oak timber trees, the
vermin are millions strong, the bine, although
strong and vigorous as a planter could desire, being
almost black, In the northern portion of Holmesdale,
upon the rich soil, the hop-leaf is completely crum-
pled (many dropping off), and, with a few excep-
tions, entirely worthless as to a crop. The hops on the
Chalk Range are very slack, the bine poor ' • the Mid-
summer shoot has not developed itself so well as could be
wished ; in cases where there is bine a tenth-rate top
crop may yet be expected. The Low Hill (clays) hops are
generally bad. A few pieces on the Sandstone are lock-
ing tolerably well.
CANTERBURY.—The hops exhibit great improvement
on the past week. The vermin is decreasing, the plants
are now tolerably clear, the bine is vigorous, and the
burr just showing itself. There are a few suffering
from honey dew. The duty is set at 135,0001. General
accounts state that the bine mostly looks healthy, and
bids fair for a moderate crop • and the duty is variously
laid from 140,000/. to 150,000/.
FARNHAM.—Our town grounds are looking well and
clean; but the country is, in many instances, very slack
of bine.
CAUTION TO HOP-GROWERS.—AII hop-growers will

do well to remember that during the present month they
must deliver to the proper officer of Excise a true entry,
in writing, of the number of acres in plant ; also all
oast-houses, oasts, and store-rooms intended to be used
by them for tha purpose of curing and storing hops ;
neglect of which will subject them to heavy penalties,
under the Act 4 and 5 Will. IV., cap. 51, s. 5.

IRON TUNNEL ACROSS THE MENAI STRAITS. - Mr.
Stephenson, in order to set at rest the doubts expressed re-
specting the practicability of this scheme, has had an iron
model of his intended tunnel, 20 feet long and 4 feet high,
made and fixed at an engineering factory at ➢liliwall. Yes-
terday extensive experiments were made on it in the presence
of several distinguished scientific gentlemen, with the most
satisfactory results.