The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-11 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

La llluta di Portici (better known in this country as
Masanicilo), the production of which, at the Academie
Royal, in Paris, in the year 1828, raised Auber, then
comparatively unknown, at once to the very highest
rank among European composers, was produced here
last evening, in a style superior even to that of its
original production, and with a cast, in some respects,
stronger than any that has been hitherto given to it. As a
proof of this we at once cite the Pencils of Mademoiselle
Monti, which is as far beyond that of any other
artiste who has yet appeared in the character as
genius is beyond mere talent. The advent of
Mademoiselle Monti is an epoch in art. When
in repose, her exquisitely-chiselled yet most ex-
pressive features, and her faultless form, give to her the
appearance of the original of one of those statues
created by the genius of ancient Greece, but when those
exquisitely impressive features become mobile and depict
every variety and intensity of expression, when that
form becomes instinct as it were with passion, and the
dumb girl by looks aad gestures tells that which neither
words nor even music could express so well, then it
is that we feel compelled to pay homage to the
highest genius, chastened and brought to perfection
by the highest art, then it is that we feel
that Fenella has never been acted before, then it is
that we hail Mademoiselle Monti as the greatest and
most original poet of expression who has ever yet ap-
peared, and as one whose mute eloquence it is as im-
possible to describe in language as it would be to imi-
tate it. Never have we thoroughly comprehended the
agony of Fenella, until last evening, and what words,
or even what music could so harrow up the soul as
her mute description of her story to Elvira, her heart-
broken confession to Masaniello, and the terrible con-
flict of contending passions, when Alphonso and
Elvira appeal to her to save them ; and . she
yields at length to the supplicaticn of Elvira!
what again could be more exquisitely and beautifully
touching than her exhibition of child-like jey at' the
triumph of Masaniello; every pose wa;'a study fo!'the
sculptor—every change of countenance a studysioc the
painter. Of Mademoiselle Monti we can truly say—
" Her like has ne'er been seen." Mademoiselle Monti's,
however, was not the only first appearance of the
evening. Signor Pardini, from the Berlin Opera,
made his debdt as Masaniello, and a mat:, suc-
cessful debilt we have seldom . before witnessed.
His voicelis a tabLerconsidaable -pdsrer, and rt rest
flexibilitf; apd capi6Te of 'grearexprtssibn ; it is gighly
cultivated aid completely under command. Signs'
Pardini as riely recourse to the falsetto notes ; '
perform Ace of the l3aresetile created quite an e
thusiasm; his acting ivas fine—his .singing supe .
The Barcvole was re-demanded and repeated,
with, if possible, increased effect; then followed the
magnificent duet with Pietro, which has never in our
remembrance been more finely sung than it was last
evening by Perdlni and Massol, and which was also re-
demanded. The sleep song in the fourth act was
given with great taste, and the concluding mad 1.C4-110
was very finely rendered, the snatches from the Barca-
role being given with exquisite feeling. Of Miss sol's
Pietroit is a work of supererogation to speak, he is fa- and
away the greatest, we might be almost justified in say-
ing, he i-i the only Pietro at present on the stage.
Madame Fiorentini sang and acted Elvira exquisitely ;
she looked charmingly, and in her representation of the
character she never for one moment forgot that Elvira
was a Princess. Her rendering of the great aria in the
first act was a model of expression and tenderness, and
as a piece of vocalization it was faultless. Signor Scotti,
also a debutant, was the Alfonso. He promises to be a
useful addition to the corps. The ballet department of her
Majesty's Theatre has always been unapproachable, and
never have the Gurache and the Tarantella been so ad-
mirably performed in this country as they were last
evening; in the latter Ferraris appeared. The choruses
were superbly rendered, and the overture was encored.
The scenery was beautiful, and the last scene of the
eruption was a perfect marvel of scenic effect. The
groupings were in exquisite taste. All the artistes
were called on at the conclusion.

NEW FOREST.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

DESTRUCTION OF NINE HORSES, FIVE RICKS OF CORN,
&c., BY FlRE.—Between six and seven o'clock on Mon-
day evening, as Mr. Chaney, of Stanwood Farm, was
giving some instructions to one of his men about the next
day's work (all the rest bad left the premises), he noticed
a light in the barn. Fearing the worst, he ran to the
house for the key; on opening the barn•door he found
the whole was is a blaze. There was a fresh wind from
the north-east, which carried the flames to the stables
and ricks. The whole of the former, with eight horses
and three fat oxen, were consumed; the barn, with sixty
quarters of corn, five ricks of corn, ten pigs, nearly 200
head of poultry, a vast quantity of farming implements,
&c. The granary, though in the midst of the flames,
escaped, as did four ricks and the farm-house, but the
furniture was much injured by removal. It is much
feared that the fire was not accidental. The labourers
looked on with apathy; some, indeed, stole a barrel of
beer, and cut slices from the burning bullocks, and al-
most cannibal-like enjoyed themselves. Six policemen
have been on the premises since the fire. The whole
country for miles round was lit up by the flames. The fire
was distinctly seen from the Isle of Wight. Stanswood Farm
is about one mile from the shore of the Solent, which
runs between the Isle of Wight and the mainland, and
is directly opposite Dottens Farm, near West Cowes,
from which,
_from its elevated situation, the ruins can
be distinctly seen.

The dividend declared yesterday at the meeting of
the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company was at the rate of
2/. per share, free of income-tax, for the last six months of
the year 1850. The report and accounts, which entered into
the detail of operations, were received iLL a very gratifying
manner by the shareholders, and the only point that elicited
the least disapproval was in relation to a discretionary power
accorded to the directors of assisting in a pecuniary sense the
promoters of the Panama route. The great majority of the
meeting was, however, in favour of the report in its entirety,
and it was therefore adopted. Mr. Ridgway was the sole
speaker, and, in addition to other questions, alluded to the
desirableness of the company confining its attention to steam
navigation, and not mixing itself np with railway or other
undertakings. The proceedings concluded by a most unani-
mous vote of thanks to the management, the double service
resulting from the acquirement of the Brazilian contract
being considered to have placed the company on a secure and
permanent foundation.
The contract fur the erection of public abattoirs
at Edinburgh has been taken for 12,9781.85. 10d.
COUNTY COURTB.—INCREASE OF PERJURY.—The
judges were detained at Gloucester one whole day, in trying
the numerous indictments found against persons tor perjury
committed in the county courts. The convictions for per-
jury committed in the county courts have been very nu-
merous in almost every county during the present assizes.
THE HOMCEOPATHIC HOSPITAL.--The anniversary
dinner of this institution was held at the Albion Tavern,
Aldersgate-street, last night ; the Marquis of Worcester in
the chair. The Noble Chairman, after calling on the com-
mittee to support the charity, stated that the total
tnumberta
of in-patients during the year was 1,703 ; and tbretiono
l
number of out-patients was 1,547, a very great
whom had been cured. The balance•sheet showed tth e
10d.
receipts were 1,7241., and the expenses 1,
during the year, leaving a balance in favour of t 1
which was invested in Stock, of 575/. 17s. 2d.
support of the
gentlemen had addressed the company
in support
but the
h4AeBfl; institution,e
r several
charity, a long list of subscriptions was
gross amount was not mentioned.
bArofteerausnapv.eral speeches in
favour of the charity, the company
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
n
0 Wednesday the new
entrance to the
sculptures was opened to the public.
N ineveh —Lqis rapidly progressing, the
antiquities is completed, the The gallery of sculptural_
artan
of
ar-
rangement of the works
trustees being extremely anxious that everything should be
finished by the time of the pening of the Great Exhibition.
The liasso relievo on the pe°diment of the portico is com-
pleted, and tho works enclosing the front are in an advanced
rooms in the library will be opened to
state. The KinciPa _
the Great Exhibition. The trustees have
the public during
it in contemplation
five open the Museum to the public the
fir
Fridays, t days in the week, instead of Mondays, Wednesdays,
a
as at present, for such time as the Exhibition
shall remaigt open.

We have received, the Paris journals of yesterday.
It was rumoured in the morning that M. LEON
FAUCHER had been entrusted with the formation of a
Cabinet, that he had succeeded in his enterprise, and
that the new Cabinet 'was composed as follows :
" il. Baroche, Foreign Affairs; M. liouhc.r, Justice;
M. Fould, Finance; M. Lem Faucher, Interior; DI.
Buffet, Commerce; General Baudin, War; M. Magne,
Public Works; M. De Crouseilhes, Instruction; M.
Chaseeloup Laubat, Marine."
All hope of effecting a reconciliation with M.
ODILON BARROT has, it appears, been abandoned by
the Bonapartist party. The Constitutionnel has a
furious personal attack upon him, signed by M.
GARNIER DE CASSAGNAC, whose connexion with the
Elys6e is too intimate to leave any doubt as to the
source from which the attack emanates. The Ordre,
the organ of M. ODILON BARROT, indicates in the
following paragraph the circumstances which have
hitherto prevented the formation of a Ministry. It
says:—

" Do you think these men triflers or culpable who re-
fuse to join a Ministry without being informed as to the
nature of the services which may be expected at their
hands; and yet what terms could be sufficiently strong
to characterise the blindness of those who should, at
the approach of a formidable crisis, bind themselves
without knowing where it was pretended to conduct
them?"

The Pays gives the following as its programme :
" We sum up in two words the whole programme of
our action on the question of 1852 and we say: yes, the
Corstitution must be revised: no, the Constitution must
eans of rendering
not be violated. The Constitution revised or the Consti-
tution respected—that is the alternative. We prefer to
see it revised; we shall be on b
to have it respected; the revision of the Con-
t
ue watch
rendering a revolution im-
possible;
s affirm
one
inevitable.
t tion
thats
itsr theev m c
violation
i so
thatf
en
is
menacing,
be
sthesci
ndoubted? What you
g,
is
s ready to pour
forth its waters over credit, labour, and property, and
yon desire to take away the barrier which restrains the
ascending flood I Imprudent that you aro, you would
scarcely have removed a stone when you would be
carried away yourselves. What do you suppose is
necessary to overcome that revolution which alarms you?
To cause it to enter the bed of the Republic. Yes, we
affirm from the bottom of our conscience that only the
moderate and conservative republic can triumph over
the sanguinary, anarchical, terrorist, demagogical, or
reactionary revolution. Thus, at the commencement
of our labours in this journal, we warn all revolu-
tionists that we are their implacable adversary. M. !do
Lamartine proclaimed the Republic of Feb. 24, to put
down the revolution, which he had not provoked."
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, APRIL 10.
Boulogne and Amiens,
9i —Central of France (Orleans
and Vierzon), 18— Dutch Rhenish, 3%—East Indian, 15N—
Luxembourg, 3%—Northern of France, 151%—Orleans and
Bordeaux,: 41/B—Paris and Rouen, 25% Rouen and Havre,
10%— Sambre and Meuse, 4—Tours and Nantes, 64.