The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-11 00:00:00

HER 111A.TESTI'S THEATRE:

The subscription season at her Majesty's Theatre
closed last night to a brilliant and fashionable
auditory. The opera was " Lucrezia Borgia," sup-
ported by Titjens as Lucrezia, Gassier as Alfonso,
Mongini as Gennaro, and Lemaire as Orsini. This
was succeeded by a ballet, in which Mdlle. Amalia
Ferraris and M. Chappuy drew down immense
applause by choregraphic genius of the highest
character.

After the ballet an " elegant extract" from "La
Pardon de Ploermel" introduced the original
Dinorah, in the person of M. Marie Cabel, whose
delighfui warbling of the shadow song, and other
music composed expressly for her by Meyerbeer,
enchanted the audience. As a farewell and a pro-
gramme of promises, the spirited impresario made
public the subjoined address :

" Called upon at a moment when her Majesty's
Theatre appeared to be perpetually closed, when a
new rival had closed the doors of the legitimate
Italian Theatre, to come forward and rescue a fane
so long honoured by the elite of this country, I
accepted the charge, and at once sacrificing every
other feeling, every other interest, I became
the lessee of her Majesty's Theatre, which in
an incredibly short time I cleaned out, em-
bellished, and opened. Thus compelled to carry
out arrangements of the most difficult and intricate
kind, already a second in the field, forestalled
by a talented and powerful impresario, I at once
devoted myself to the task, and now appeal to my
kind patrons, friends, and the public at large, how
far I have carried out their views—how far I have
redeemed my promise, and how far I have done
honour or discreAit to her Majesty's Theatre. It is
acknowledged that there are spots on the sun, and
I do not hesitate to confess that some portion of my
corps may be less perfect than I could have desired ;
to obtain the services of a superior chorus, to secure
at a late period the impossible advantages of an
orchestra beyond reproach, was a work I found to
be impracticable ; I have, however, in these depart-
ments done my best ; next year I will pledge myself
to do better. The talented phalanx of opera singers
(I believe I may without arrogance assert) stands
unequalled—unrivalled ; while the artists engaged
in the ballet department will fairly demonstrate
that I have not neglected the time-honoured charms
of terpsichorean art. Out of the repertoire an•
nounced at the commencement of the season I have
produced the following operas La Favorite,'
'II Trovatore, ' Ernani, La Traviata," Norma," Il
Barbiere di Siviglia,' Gli Ugonotti,' Lucia di
Lamermoor,' Don Giovanni,' Rigoletto,' and
Marta.' From the several new operas promised
these have already been presented, Almina,'
' Semiramide,' and Oberon ; La Nozze di Figaro '
being in course of rehearsal, and Cimarosa's cele-
brated buffo opera, Matrimonio Segreto,' though
not previously announced, has been most success-
fully performed. To remind the patrons and sub-
scribers of her Majesty's Theatre of such artistes
as Mdlle. Titjens, Mdlle. Piccolomini, Mdme.
Lemaire, Mdlle. Vaneri, Signor Giuglini, Signor
Belart, Signor Vialetti, and Signor Mongini,
would be a work of supererogation ; but, in addi-
tion to these well -known favourites, Mdme.
Alboni, Mdlle. Lotti Della Santa, Mdlle.
Maria Brunetti, Mdme. Borghi-Mamo, Mdlle.
Michal, and Mdlle. Marie Cabel, together with
Signor Everardi, Signor Gassier, Signor Fel-
lar, Herr Steger, and the celebrated buffo singer,
Signor Ciampi, besides many other artistes un-
necessary here to mention, have appeared for the
first time this season. In the ballet department,
Mdlles. Salvioni, Morlacchi, Pocchini, Clavreli,
Moncelet, and Mdlle. Claudina Cucchi, have bril-
liantly sustained the prestige that has invariably
belonged to her Majesty's Theatre, appended to
which names those of Mdlle. A malia Ferraris and
Mons. Chappuy (who appear this evening), crown
the completeness of this section of entertainment.
It may not, perhaps, be considered out of place,
having thus far given an account of my past con-
duct, to state succinctly my future programme of
the coming season, and I have great pleasure in
notifying thus early to my patrons, subscribers, and
the public generally, that I have just completed
engagements with Mdlles, Titjeis and Parepa,
together with Mr. Sims Reeves and Mr. Santley,
who-will appear in several English operas, in addi-
tion to Macfarren'p " Robin Hood" and W. V. Wal-
lace's' Amber Witch,' which I succeeded in securing,
and which will be produced early in the ensuing
season—October next. If any available talent has
ever sought an engagement in this country and has
been rejected by me—if any composer of merit has
found his works declined—if any novelty has been
overlooked—then, indeed, I am unworthy of your
patronage; but if my constant and unremitting
exertions have tended to carry out your views—if
I have done all a manager or a lessee could do—if
my present and my past afford a fair guarantee for
my future conduct—then, indeed, I shall feel proudly.
conscious that in thus parting with you for a sea-
son, it will only be to renew those ties which you
can so honestly again, I hope, bestow, and I can so
gratefully receive."
Mr. Smith's retrospect of the past renders our
ordinary Parthian glance at the season now closed
superfluous ; and it is more to the point to look for-
ward to the coming campaign, in which we are
promised English opera at her Majesty's, with a
hopeful anticipation of patronage of English com-
posers and English vocal talent of the highest order.
The lessee's benefit is underlined for Thursday,
July 19.

211 E MEAT QUESTION.

WORCESTER, TUESDAY.

An open air meeting of operatives and others
was held last night in the Old Corn-market to con-
sider the causes of the high price at present de-
manded for butchers' meat in the country. About
603 persons attended, and the chair was taken by
a working man named Amphlett. It should be
stated that there had been a preliminary meeting
held a fortnight back, at which resolutions were
passed pledging those attending it to abstain from
the use of butchers' meat until it should be reduced
to a reasonable price.

Mr. POITELL, a workman employed at Messrs.
Dent and Co.'s well-known glove manufactory, now
moved the following resolution :—" That such a
decided measure of success having attended our
efforts hitherto, the meeting pledges itself to use
continued exertions until the object we have in
view, vis,, the reduction of the price of butchers'
meat, be obtained." The speaker argued that the
present high price of meat wes not owing to its
scarcity, but to a monopoly On the part of the
dealers, who applied their money to control the
markets and raise prices. Eminent authorities had
declared this country capable of growing corn and
other food sucficient to feed 120, millions 'of people,
whereas our highest estimate of the present demand
did not exceed 30 millions. He afterwards diverged
into politics, declaring that if the working men had
their electoral rights they would soon effect a
change in this monopoly.
Mr. BROOKES', of Kidderminster, seconded the
resolution, which was carried. Other resolutions,
thanking the Press for its support, followed.
The " Anti-meat Pledge" has, it is said, been
signed by 1,300 to 1,400 heads of families in WO
cester.