The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-27 00:00:00

11ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

A new opera, called " Almina," the libretto by Signor
Lanziere3, the music by Signor Fabio Campana, was pro-
duced here last night. The part of Almina having, it is
said, been composed expressly for Mademoiselle Piccolomini,
it was a stipulation in her engagement with the lessee
of her Majesty's Theatre that it should be performed at
least three times. If we may judge by the encores, recalls,
and bouquets lavished upon the principal singers and on
the composer by a crowded and fashionable auditory,
the opera must be allowed to have achieved a decided suc-
cess last night.

The music of Signor Campana is written throughout in
that unpretending and ad captandum style which does not
call for serious criticism. There is no overture, but the
opera is interspersed with choruses of a lively character,
contrasting agreeably with the monotonous recitatives and
airs occasionally allotted to the principal personages.
Mademoiselle Piccolomini never displayed more enthusiasm,
never strove more earnestly to please. More than once her
success was fully commensurate with her laudable endea-
vours, and we would especially allude to the exquisite feel-
ing and intelligence she exhibited in the duet with Signor
Giuglini, when Almina, awakened from her trance, explains
to Blondello the reasons of her apparent infidelity. Picco-
lomini and Signor Giuglini: were loudly greeted when sum-
moned before the curtain, and the same demonstrations cf
satisfaction were awarded to Signor Campana.

The Earl of Elgin left town yesterday by the
4.30 p.m. train for Dover. His Excellency will only remain
in Paris for an hour and a half to- morrow morning, and
will proceed direct via Marseilles, to Suez, and thence to
China. His suite, consisting of Colonel Crealock, C. 8.,
military secretary ; Mr. H. Lohc, private secretary ; Hon.
James Stuart Wortley, first attaché ; and Hon. W. 0.
Thurlow, second attaché, left by the mail train last night.
Their Royal Highnesses Prince Arthur and
Prince Leopold paid an early visit to the Colosseum on
Wednesday last. Mr. Percy Bachhoffner, the youthful
and intelligent son of the lessee, in the absence of Dr.
Bachhoffner, had the honour of conducting their Royal
Highnesses over the varied novelties of this interesting exhi-
bition, with all of which the Royal party expressed them-
selves satisfied.

ROYAL DRAMATIC COLLEGE.—We are requested
to state that his Royal Highness the Prince Consort has
graciously consented to lay the foundation stone of this
institution.

The Bank of England yesterday decided upon
adopting the recommendation for closing at an earlier hour
on Saturdays. On and after the 19th of May next the
business will terminate ox Saturdays at three •'clock in
the afternoon, instead of at four, as at present.

SWANS ON THE THAMES.—A statement having
appeared in the public papers that the Conservators of the
river Thames are abut to cause the removal of the swans
from the river, we are requested to state that there is not
the slightest foundation for any such representation.
MUNIFICENT DONATlON.—Saunders's Newsletter
says it is currently reported that Mr. B. L. Guinness, the
head of the great firm of Gainness and Co., has undertaken
to provide the necessary fund—about £lB,ooo—for the
complete restoration of the ancient cathedral and collegiate
church of Ste Patrick, Dublin, according to the plans long
published by the Dean (Pakenham) and Chapter—" a noble
act, worthy of the representative of the late A. Guinness."
TOM SAYERS' TESTIMONIAL AT LIVERPOOL.—A
letter has been received from the champion intimating his
intention of being in Liverpool on Friday or Saturday,
when the purse of £l2O subscribed on 'Change will, no
doubt, be presented to him in public. The subscription for
Heenan is going on with spirit, especially among the Ame-
rican captains and officers at that port ; and it is not un-
likely that Heenan will at no distant day be invited to
Liverpool to receive a purse of £2OO or £2so.—Liverpool
Pose.
IMPORTANT PROSECUTION UNDER THE MEDICAL
Ac•r.—At the Thames Police-court yesterday Mr. Richard
Talbot, a man about fifty years of age, and better known as
Dr. Talbot, appeared before Mr. Selfe to answer a summons
taken out under the Medical Act, passed to "regulate the
qualifications of practitioners in medicine and surgery,"
and which charged him with having, on the 28th of No-
vember last, and on divers other days, wilfully and falsely
pretended to be and did take and use the names and titles of
physician and doctor of medicine, implying he was regis •
tered under the Medical Act, by which he had incurred a
penalty of £25. After the hearing of evidence, Mr. Selfe
said this was a most preper case for prosecution, and he
convicted the defendant and fined him £lO.
THE BACK WYND MURDER, GLASGOW.—The
trial of the prisoners Ann and Margaret Milligan termi-
nated yesterday in a verdict finding the panels not guilty
as regarded the murder, but guilty of the theft. The pri-
soners listened to the verdict as read by the foreman with
the greatest emotion; and on being taken away, as• his
lordship delayed sentence till this morning, the prisoner
Margaret appeared so feeble with agitation as to be scarcely
able to descend the stair leading from the dock. On leaving
the court, an old woman, who appeared to be the mother of
the prisoners, inquired anxiously what was the result of
the trial ; and on being informed that a verdict of not
guilty had been returned, she went down upon her knees,
and in tears blessed her informant.
THE " CLUB " PROSECUTIONS.—We (Scotsman)
understand that the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have
decided upon withdrawing the appeals to the Quarter Ses-
sions from the decision of the county justices in the recent
prosecution of the keepers of the Edinburgh and Edinburgh
and Leith Harmonic and Histrionic clubs for selling spirits
without license.

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.—The six feet
Volunteer Guards (32d Middlesex) mustered on Wednes-
day afternoon at llungerford-hall, and, under the command
of Capt. the Hen. T. C. Bruce, proceeded to St. George's
barracks, arrangements having been made for their drill
there twice a week during the present season. It had not
transpired when they would inarke their first public appear-
ance, and those only saw them who chanced to be passing the
line of march. They turned out in a fatigue jacket of scarlet
twilled flannel, edged with black braid, and looked remark-
ably well, their great average height alone giving them an
imposing appearance.
THE LONDON SCOTTISH.—This .orps, which
meets for drill at Westminster-hall, received on Wednesday
evening a valuable addition to its strength, as it was joined
by a body of 50 Scottish artisans, who marched into the
hall, headed by Mr. Petty, one of their number, to whom
their organisation is mainly due. The steadiness with
which they marched, and their general appearance excited
universal admiration. This is a satisfactory proof of the
readiness the artisans to join in the volunteer movement,
and shows that the industrious and provident members of
this class are able to do so when the expenses of a volun-
teer cops are moderate, as in the case of the London Soot.
fish.

THE GREENLAND FISHERY.—LERWICK, April
23.—The screw steamer Diana, Captain Gravill, which ar-
rived here yesterday from Greenland, reports that the seal
fishing had been a total failure. The Fairy, of Peterhead,
was totally lost on the 12th of April, crew saved. The Seal
Hund (Norwegian vessel) had also been lost; crew saved
by the Columbia, of Peterhead. The weather had been
very severe.

kANKRUPTCY RETURNS.—The following are the
returns, moved for by Mr. W. Murray, from the several
official assignees of the Court of Bankruptcy, London, from
Oct. 11, 1857, to Dec. 31, 1857, and for the respective years
1858 and 1859, showing the total amount of remuneration
received by them during the above periods :—Mr. P. John-
son, £2,067 Ins Id ; Mr. W. Bell, £3,716 8s lld ; Mr. W.
Whitmore, £6,896 18s 5d ; Mr. H. Harris Cannan, £5,214
Os 7d ; Mr. G. J. Graham, -C1,373 Ils 5d ; Mr. H. H Starke-
feld, £2,015 Ils ; Mr. E. W. Edwards, .-£5,633 is 6d; Mr.
C. Lee, t 6,921 Os 3d ; Mr. W. Pennell, £3,779 lOs 3d; the
late Mr. I. Nicholson, £3,770 2s 6d.
CONVEYANCE OF LETTERS IN INDIA BY Ex-
PRESS.—lnformation hns been received from the Director
General of the Post-office in India that an express is de-
spatched from Bombay to Calcutta and Madras, as well as
to Lahore, via Agra, on the arrival at Bombay of each mail
from England, and that, subject to the following conditions,
letters and newspapers for any station in India may be for-
warded by such express to the post-office on the above-
mentioned lines of route which is nearest to their destina-
tion, from which post-office they will be sent on by the first
ordinary mail :-Ist. Letters and newspapers intended to
be forwarded by this express must be ligibly marked "By
Express," and must be registered. 2dly. In addition to the
registration fee and the ordinary postage, there must be
paid, in advance, upon each letter an express postage at the
rate of 2s. tot every quarter of an ounce or fraction of an
ounce, and upon each newspaper an express postage of 2s.
for every four ounces or fraction of four ounces.