The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-12 00:00:00

HER 211-2,TESTrS THEATRE.

The long-promised ney English opera, by Macfarren,
entitled " Robin Hood," was produced here last evening,
and met with the most enthusiastic success. From the
overture, which was eicored, to the last note in the finale,
it was one series of trumphs, and from henceforth Robin
Hood will be looked won as Macfarren's greatest work, in
fact, his masterpiece, slid one that will raise the English
school of music in tie estimation of the lyric world at
large. The opening scene of the opera represents the
High- street of Nottingham, with armourers actively en-
gaged in their 'about, and here we are introduced to the
celebrated Robin Hoxl, under the name' of Locksley, a
prosperous yeoman, it which character he not only wins
the heart of Marian, be daughter of the Sheriff of Notting-
ham, but is regarded with considerable favour by her
haughty parent. Skill in archery, however, being con-
sidered the chief and indispensable virtue in the troublous
times of the Norman Kings, Locksley is not permitted to
become the Sheriff's son-in-law until he has carried off
the prize in a trial of marksmanship, *which takes place
at Nottingham fair. Robin Hood, as a matter of course,
proves himself the best shot in the county, and his victory
over all competitors would at once earn for him the
fair hand of Marian, were it not for an unlucky incident
connected with his less ostensible vocation. In the
interval that occurs between the proclamation of the
trial of skill and the actual shooting, Hugo, the Somp-
nour, or collector of abbey dues, travelling through
the forest with a sackful of golden contributions, is
waylaid by Robin Hood and his " merry men," who ease
him of his costly burden, and after allowing him to participate
in a venison-pasty, compel him to dance for their amuse-
ment. This comparatively trifling punishment for number-
less deeds of extortion is inflicted byßobin Hood himself, in
lieu of death by hanging which is suggested by Much, the
Miller's son, the most sanguinary and revengeful of the
gang. Far from experiencing gratitude at being let off thus
easily, the Sompnonr disguises himself as a mendicant
friar, for the purpose of confronting Robin Hood at the
fair, and denounces the bold outlaw at the very instant of
his triumph, when under the assumed name of Locksley,
he has won Maid Marian and immortal fame. Instead of
the light and pleasant bonds of matrimony, Robin is com-
pelled to wear the heavy fetters of captivity, and to be
locked up in Nottingham Castle, whence, on the follow-
ing morning, he is to be led to the place of execution.
At this anxious moment, when the case of Robin Hood
seems hopeless, happiness comes from the quarter whence
it was least expected—viz., from the supposed death-war-
rant itself, which proves to be a reprieve accorded by the
magnanimous Richard to Robin Hood and his followers,
with full pardon on condition of their entering the King's
service.

The dramatis person was thus distributed :—Robin
Hood, Mr. Sims Reeves ; Sheriff of Nottingham, Mr.
Santley ; Sompnour, Mr. Honey; Maid Marian, Madame
Lemmens Sherrington; Alice (her attendant), Madame
Lemaire ; and the subordinate characters of Allen-a-Dale,
Much (the Miller's son), and Little John, by Messrs.
Parkinson, Patey, and Bartleman. The re-appearance
on the stage of Mr. Sims Reeves was quite an " event,"
and the rapturous welcome that greeted him was re-
warded by some of the finest singing ever listened to.
Sims Reeves' great song came in act ii. " Thy gentle voice
would lead me on," was its title, and the greatest of
English, or European, tenors sang it deliciously. Of Mr.
Santley's splendid baritone voice and artistic singing we
need say no more than that in the part of the Sheriff he
found excellent opportunities for the display of both ; nor
can we say more of Mr. Honey than that the Sompnour is
tin best part that has yet been allotted to him ; and Mr.
Parkinson sang the music allotted to the part of Allen-a-
Dale with great taste and effect. Madame Lemmens Sher-
rington is an acquisition:of the highest price—a first-rate
prima donna, who is an actress into the bargain. At the
fall of the curtain the applause was immense. All the
principal artists, as well as Mr. Macfarren and the enter-
prising director, E. T. Smith, had to bow their acknow-
ledgments before the curtain. The house was crowded to
an overflow long before the curtain rose, even standing
room was at a premium.

IJ TESI

It, 18
N

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

THE BANK OF FRANCE.
PARIS, FRIDAY MORNING.

The Moniteur publishes the,usual 'monthly re-
turn of the Bank of France, which shows the fol-
lowing results as compared with the September

return :

INCREASE.
Bills discounted not yet due .. 2Bl millions.
Advances 2k lf
Bank-notes

DECREASE.

Cash in hand . .
Treasury balance
Current accounts

71 millions.
15 4-sths „
281 „

PARIS, OCT. 12.

The Constitutionnel publishes an article, signed
M. Boniface, on the invasion of the Neapolitan
territory by the Sardinian troops. The following
is a summary :

" The principle of autonomical independence of
nations which are regularly constituted admits any
dynastic changes which are brought about by in-
terior political revolutions. The principle of non-
intervention is a consecration of this right. The
Neapolitans and Sicilians had a right to make a
revolution in their country ; but it does not belong
to any foreign State, no more to Sardinia than to
Austria, to intervene in their internal affairs, and
by military intervention to give them a new politi-
cal existence. Between the invasion of Garibaldi
and that of Sardinia there is a great difference.
Garibaldi came to raise and to direct revolution in
the interior. It was not with his bands that he
could conquer a people numbering 10,000,000.
He could only communicate to them the proper
spirit in their struggle against a Government
stamped with unpopularity. The Sardinian inva-
sion has quite a different character. It constitutes
a direct intervention of one regularly constituted
State in the affairs of another independent State.
Strange to say the Sardinian invasion took place
without any declaration of war, the representative
of the King of Naples still being at Turin.
The intervention of Piedmont is in contradiction
with all the principles invoked by herself."

M. Boniface then endeavours to show that, by
the entry of the Piedmontese troops into the
Roman States, Sardinia likewise violated the prin-
ciple of neutrality. Count Cavour gave it to be
understood that the entry of the Sardinian troops
into the States of the Church was principally di-
rected against the influence of Garibaldi. But now,
on the contrary, it has become evident that they go
to aid him.

M. Boniface deplores the conduct of Sardinia,
who is responsible before Europe for the initiative
she has just taken. The European Powers consti-
tute a jurisdiction which is naturally alarmed at
disturbances of that kind, It appertains to Europe
to redress forgotten rights, and to remind the Go-
vernment which has deviated from the proper
course the respect due to the laws which are bind-
ing on all States, because founded on justice, civili-
sation, and the interests of peoples.

PARIS, OCT 11 (Evening.)

The Patric states that the loss of the Garibal-
dians in the battle of the Volturno was 4,500 men ;
that of the royal troops was not so great. The
Garibaldians will not attack Cupua before the 20th
instant.

The Presse says that the news of the Dresden
Journal, that the Prussian Ambassador had been
recalled from Turin, is inexact. The Pays, on the
contrary, confirms the news.