The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-31 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

The series of extra performances, at reduced prices,
ara attracting and delighting crowded audiences. The
opportunity of hearing the finest operatic music at so
very moderate a cost is a great boon to the numerous
middle classes, and they eagerly avail themselves of the
privilege. The last representation of Rossini's exquisite
" Il Barbiere di Seviglia," was given last evening ; and
excellently rendered in most of its parts. Alboni sang
with all the freshness and purity of her earliest days,
and charmed the ears of her appreciative listeners ; while
BAletti, as the mercurial and spirited Barber, displayed
the sound and rare musician—like qualities possessed by
him, to infinite advantage. or
n
Sig Balart is improving
considerably in his exocution, but a little care in the ex-
ercise of his upper notes is requisite to prevent the
deficiency in perfect tone which is sometimes harshly
audible in the alto passages. The opera was altlgether
most efficiently supported. To-night Mozart's great
work of " Dan Giovanni " will perforined with a
good cast ; anti will doubtless be eatended by a full
house.

THE ALLEGED CRUELTIES AT ACOMB
ROUSE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

--d

YORK, FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
This day, at half-past 12 o'clock, T. S. Lutwidge, Esq.,
and J. T. Wilkes, Esq., two of the commissioners from
the Lunacy Office, opened an investigation at the Station
Hotel, York, into the charges implied against Mr. Met-
calfe, the keeper of the Acomb House " Retreat," near
York, in the evidence given before a commission of lunacy
which was held at York on Friday and Saturday last, to
inquire into the state of mind of Mrs. Mary Jane Turner.
Mr. Lutwidge, who presided, on seeing the reporters
pre=ent, said this was a strictly private inquiry.
Mr. Pemberton hereueonsaid that before the business
of the court commenced he wished to be permitted. with all
due respect to the court, to state that, so far as Mrs. Tur-
ner was concerned, and himself, as her legal adviser, they
desired that the fullest publicity should be given to these
proceedings.
Mr. Lutwidge remarked that the commissioners did not
regard the proceedings as a court at all. It was nothing
more than au inquiry of a private nature, and they pro-
posed to conduct it in the same manner as all simil .r in-
gullies were conducted by them. All they had to do was
to receive the evidence that might be laid before them by
the variousi, witnesses who would be called, and then lay
the facts before the Lunacy Board. The present inves-
tigation, therefore, could only he regarded as a private
inquiry.
The reporters then withdrew, and the investigation was
conducted with closed doors.

We under tand that the prorogation will take place
on Monday next, instead of on Tuesday, ay h
Paii
principal
originally intended. Lord Derby and t
members of his Government go down to o,borne to take
take
her Majesty's pleasure this day.
His Excellency the Duke of Malakboff will leave the
French Embassy to-day, on a visit to the Countess F.
Waldegrave and Mr. G. G. Harcourt, M.P., atNunebam
Park, near Oxford. His Excelhocy returns to town on
Monday, and on the following day departs for Cherbourg,
for the Queen's visit at that port.
The Marquis Camden and Ladies Pratt have left
Wilderness Park, near Sevenoaks, for Canteri;nry, to
attend the meeting of the Kent ArckmJlogical Society,
of which the Marquis is president,