The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-24 00:00:00

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN.

Last night the " Crown Diamonds" was per-
formed for the first time this season. It was de-
lightfully acted and sung; and the performance
had (as it deserved) the most brilliant success. The
pleasant and piquant part of Caterina is one of
Miss Louisa Pyne's happiest efforts; we do not be-
lieve, indeed, that it has a more charming repre-
sentative on any stage in Europe. She has caught
to admiration the arch and playful, yet delicate
espieglerie of the character; and her singing is the
very perfection of bright and sparkling execution.
Mr. Harrison's Don Henrique, too, is one of his
best performances. His acting is gay, easy, and
gentlemanlike, and he does full justice to the de-
lightful music of the part. Miss Thirlwall was very
successful in the character of Diana. She was
graceful and lively, and her clear, light voice was
well suited to the music. The bolero at the begin-
ning of the second act, sung by Miss Louisa Pyne
and her, was charming. Mr. St. Albyn played the
part of Don Sebastian agreeably, and his sweet
tenor voice was very effective, especially in the con-
certed pieces. Mr. Corrie had his part of Rebol-
ledo, which he acted, as usual, with rough and effec-
tive humour; and Mr. Horncastle, who appeared
for the first time in the, part of the Count
de Campo Mayor, acted the ridiculous, fussy
old courtier extremely well. An additional
charm was given to the whole performance
by the delicacy with which the orchestral accom-
paniments were played by the admirable band,
and by the excellent singing of the chorus. We
never heard the magnificent finale to the first
act (the scene in the coiners' cave) produce a more
animated dramatic effect combined with greater
beauty. At the conclusion of the piece the applause
was enthusiastic. Miss Louisa Pyne had a double
encore for Rode's air with variations, which she
sang by way of finale, though, for our poor part,
we should hare been better pleased had she ter-
minated the opera according to the text of the com-
poser.

_
We learn with pleasure that her Majesty has
commanded that her box at this theatre shall be
retained for the season;
The Grand Duke Michael of Russia and suite
honoured the theatre on Saturday evening to wit-
ness the performance of " Lurline."

RAYMA.RKET THEATRE.

On Monday evening Miss Amy Sedgwick varied
her performances at this theatre by appearing in
the character of Constance, in Sheridan Knowles's
comedy of " The Love Chase." The crowded state
of the house long before the rising of the curtain
attested her popularity in this character; and the
enthusiastic app!ause which greeted her on her
first entrance on the stage, during the progress of
the play, and still more rapturously when she was
called before the curtain at its termination to receive
the cheers and plaudits of the audience, amply tes-
tified to the delight afforded them by her imperso-
nation. Since the days of Mrs. Nisbet, we have
seen no Constance that for grace, elegance, vivacity,
and finish, can be compared to Miss Amy Sedg-
wick's.

Mr. Chippendale and Mrs. Wilkins, as Sir Wil-
liam Fondlove and the Widow Green, played with
all that care and discrimination which mark their
performances ; and Mr. W. Howe, as Master Wild-
rake, well supported his reputation as a painstaking
and judicious actor.

THEATRICALS IN .DUBLIA:

(From Freeman's Journal.)

Mr. John Drew made his first appearance last night a,
the Theatre Royal, Dublin, as a delineator of Irish
character, and achieved a decided success. As a debut is

always a matter of great interest, and as the delineator of
Irish character is especially popular with the lovers of the
drama in this city, a numerous audience assembled to
welcome the new candidate for public favour. They
gave Mr. Drew a most cordial reception, and
and as he proceeded with his performances loud and
hearty applause from all parts of the house testified
that he was recognised as an actor of sterling merit, and
had won a genuine success. The piece selected for his
debut was the "Irish Ambassador," in which he sustained
the part of Sir Patrick O'Plenipo. Perhaps there is ito
Irish character on the stage which requires greater tact
and ability for its adequate pourtrayal than that of the
blundering, off-handed, rollicking, and gentlemanly
Irishman, who innocently acquires the fame of an astute
diplomatist, by the simple but unusual process of telling
the truth. The dashing style, the impulsiveness, the
lively assurance of Sir Patrick, are combined with an easy
and polished address, and the tone and manner of refined
society. The slightest extravagance of gesture or exag-
geration of the Irish brogue is therefore to he carefully
avoided in the successful representation of this character.
Considering the difficulty of the part, we can congratu-
late Mr. Drew on the ability with which he acquitted
himself. He displayed, in a high degree, the best quali-
ties of Irish humour, and created great laughter by the
vivacious, pointed, and racy style in which he developed
the salient characteristics of the Irish Ambassador. The
curtain fell amidst loud applause and calls for Mr. Drew,
who, on appearing before the audience, thanked them
in a few apposite words for the kind reception which
they had given him. It was, he said, an event in a
man's life, after a long absence from his native land,
to find so many warm friends to greet him on his re-

turn. He would wish to say more to express his deep
appreciation of their kindness, but it often happened
that when a man wished to say most his feelings over-
came him, and compelled him to say least. That was his
position on the present occasion, and ho could there-
fore only once more return them his heartfelt thanks. Mr.
Drew subsequently appeared in another character, in which
he made a still more favourable impression on the house.
This was the part of Handy Andy in a drama adapted from
Mr. Lover's well-known work of that name. Handy Andy
is an Irish peasant, with much of the humour of his class,
and an amount of stupidity and capacity for blundering
peculiar to himself. Tho laughable mistakes and absurd
misadventures which form so prominent a feature of
the novel, constitute the entire fun of the adapta-
tion. The only character of merit is that of the
blun-
dering hero Andy; and we think that if one or two of the
scenes which interpose their dullness between his droll
performances were compressed or cut out altogether, the
piece would be much improved. Mr. Drew dressed and
acted the part to perfection. The quaint stupidity, the
awkward manners, the laughable distresses, and the broad
humour of the character—verging at times on extravagance
—was enacted by Mr. Drew with a rich and racy drollery
which kept the house in roars of laughter during the entire
time he was upon the stage. His performance of this
character is completely original, and is alone sufficient to
stamp him as an Irish comedian of the highest order.

A fall of 1 per cent. took place yesterday in the
stock of the Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada,
owing to a statement that a distringas had been obtained
by some creditors of the company in the law courts of the
province. This step appears to have been adopted, how-
ever, for the protection of the shareholders, in order that no
priority of claim or inconvenient interference with the
traffic might be established. We have reason to believe
that a clear statement of the position of the undertaking
will be issued in a few days by the board, The sooner this
is done the better. Meanwhile, it is remarked with some
satisfaction that the traffic exhibits a certain response to
the improvement in the condition of the province, the lust
Weekly return presenting a total of upwards of £i6,500.

TEST EJATEb I NE4I4 b.

The following telegram 3 have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :

PARIS, OCT. 24,

The Constitutionnel publishes an article, headed
" French policy in Italy," and signed by its
editorial secretary.
This article, which is considered semi-official,
commences by energetically repelling the accusa-
tions brought against the Government of the
Emperor by those who reproach him for not inter-
vening in Italy against the revolution, and by those
who wish to see him sustain the Italian movement
at all hazards.

French policy could not, without compromising
its most incontestable principles and its essential
interests, hold either one or the other of these two
lines of conduct. In taking part against Italy the
Emperor would betray his origin, and he would
lose the character he holds from universal suffrage,
by which he was selected, and would divest him-
self of the authority necessary to a Sovereign of
France for the good of Europe. The more he is
equitable to peoples the greater is the service ren-
dered by the Emperor to the principle of authority.
Besides, an intervention could only be a military
occupation of the Peninsula. What would Italy,
England, and Europe have said ? They would have
looked upon the Peninsula, thus protected, as a
French Italy.

The other attitude was equally impossible and
dangerous. It would have made us an accomplice
of the revolutionary state of things. It would have
caused us to break with Russia, Prussia, and Aus-
tria, and have brought us to a general war. The
Emperor would have changed his role. Moderator
of the revolution he would become its chief. Pa-
cificator of Europe he would become its terror ;
arbiter in questions of political equilibrium he would
lose the title of his competency ; representative of
national will he would become a mere party in-
strument.

Thus France could neither support revolutionary
intentions nor absolutist reactions in Italy ? What
line of policy should she follow ?
Here the article enters upon considerations of
the political condition of each of the Great Powers
of Europe, and, having reviewed the state of things
in Italy, it draws the conclusion that a congress is
possible, and defines the part France would take
therein.
The article concludes thus :

" An organised and powerful Italy is henceforth
to the interest of Europe. In consecrating it by
an act of high jurisdiction Europe would show as
much prudence as justice."

PESTH, OCT. 23.

This morning the garrison marched out for a
review. General Benedek took leave of the troops
and addressed them in a speech.
The proposed illumination of the city did not
take place, by desire of General Benedek, who
stated that it would be better to present the costs
of the illumination to the army.

NAPLES, OCT. 23.
An official despatch announces that the Garibal.
dians have entered Capua.
King Victor Emmanuel has arrived at Isernia.

TURIN, OCT. 23.
The result of the voting in Sicily is almost
unanimously in favour of annexation.
King Victor Emmanuel has reached Castlelsandro
and will arrive at Naples on the 28th inst.
The proclamation of the vote will take place the
following day.
Forty other battalions of the National Guard
will be mobilised.

ROME, OCT. 21.

The depart are of the Papal nuncio from Paris
took place in consequence of orders received from
Rome.

To-day the Duke de Grammont had an extraor-
dinary audience of the Pope.

General Lamoriciere will leave Rome with full

honours.
The enrolments for the Pontifical army con-

tinue.
The Papal Exchequer is not destitute of funds,
and the government entertain great hopes concern-
ing the issue of the interview at Warsaw.
Signor Catrofiano has been sent to Warsaw by
the King of Naples.
The French have occupied Montalto, and will
occupy Orvieto in the course of next week.
Two thousand Italian Volunteers are still in the
province of Viterbo.

ANCONA, OCT. 22.

A decree has been issued convoking the popular
assemblies for the 4th and sth of November to vote
tin the question of annexation.

WARSAW, OCT. 23.
The Emperor of Austria paid a visit yesterday
evening to the Emperor of Russia, which lasted
half an hour, and afterwards visited the Prince
Regent of Prussia, with whom he stayed for a
shorter period. General Panintin personally at-
tended the Emperor of Austria.
In the evening the whole court visited the
theatre.
At noon to-day there was a grand military
parade, at which the Emperor Alexander himself
assumed the command.
The Prince of Hohenzollern Sig maringen
arrived here at 6 a.m. to-day.
The Prince of Hohenzollern paid a visit to the
Prince Regent this morning.
Count Thun, Austrian ambassador at St. Peters-
burg, is present here, but the French ambassador
at St. Petersburg is not in 'Warsaw, as has been
reported.
Confidential conferences have already taken place
between the Ministers, and will continue; but
it is confidentially asserted that no conclusion of
treaties is to be expected.

VIENNA, OCT. 23.

Up to the present all reports received from the
provinces announce that the Emperor's Charter
had everywhere been favourably received, more
especially in Croatia. Among the educated classes
in Hungary it met with the most favourable re-
ception. The masses were not yet sufficiently
acquainted with the details.

PESTI', OCT. 23.

In consequence of the resolution taken by the
municipalities, the cities of Pesth and Buda are il-
luminated this evening. To-morrow, in the fore-
noon, a solemn celebration of divine service will
take place.