The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-22 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S TBBATRE.

Mr. Lumley's experiment of playing an opera
prelude before the Grand Season Fugue bas proved
an eminently satisfactory success ; and ha has
thereby raised his popularity and position as an
energetic and skilful caterer for the entertainment
of the public. Thousands have had the opportunity
of hearing refined and classical music—produced
with all essential talent and scenic effect—at a rea-
sonable cost ; and few of those thousands probably
could or would hare thought of visiting Her Ma-
jesty's Theatre at the full prices. There are myriad
families, possessing cultivated taste and intense
love of harmony, whose small or perhaps limited
means preclude indulgence in such an expensive
enjoyment as the Opera constitutes; but Mr. Lum-
ley has boldly and liberally placed the entrancing,
beauties of Rossini, Bellini, Verdi, and other esti-
mated composers, within the reach of many a wife
and daughter, without causing "Paterfamilias"
the slight st misgiving on his strict sense of pru-
dence. The various operas have been ably and
carefully presented, and the singing of Piccolomini
and Giuglini have enchanted crowded and appre-
ciating audiences. This week concludes the series
of performances—" La Figlia del Reggimt nto,"
"La Zingara," and " Il Trovatore," claiming the
respective nights. We can only express our Lope
that Mr. Lumley's speculation has been as profit-
able to himself as satisfactory to the public, and
that the approaching season may produce similar
results.

THE ,ST. JAMES'S THEATRE..

TO THE EDITOR OF TU SUN.

SIR,—In answer to your letter of Mr. Caarles Braham,
in your impression of to-day, I beg to m, ke the following
statements :

Mr. Brabam let me the St. James's Theatre with the
understanding that I should give as many performances
as I might find necessary. No reservation (except Good
Friday) was made of any days or evenings during Lent.
Since Christmas I have given performances every even-
ing, and morning performances every Wednesday and
Saturday, and I have always paid Mr. Braham for
my rent and gas a week in advance. I paid him on
Monday as usual, and Mr. Brabam, on giving a receipt
made no observation about tEe usual performances,
which had already been duly announced in all the news•
papers for the ensuing Wednesday (Ash Wednesday).
The first intimation I received of any objection to the
performances taking place was between one and two
o'clock in the day, just before the hour appointed for
commencing, when Mr. Brabam informed me that he
had received an order from the police to prohibit the
theatre from opening. I afterwards learnt from my
agent that he had received no order of the kind. Mr.
Braham was then apprised by that gentleinin that my
entertainment did nut come under the same category
as dramatic performances, and that other theatres
were opened to the public for entertainments, more
or kin similar, every day or evening during Lent,
with the single exleption of Good Friday. My
agent stated, moreover, that as the public were
waiting for admittance, the doors should positivtly
be opened. Mr. Brahauu then refused to ellow the gas
to be lighted, thus rendering it impossible for me to
proceed.

Being a foreigner, I am unacquainted with the Eng-
lish laws and castonas ; but it appears only reasonable
that if the St. James's Theatre license differs from that of
any other establishment, due notice ought to have been
given me of the fact. Taia not having been done by the
proprietor, I was placed in a very equivocal position
before the public, which has so generously patronised
my entertainment. Many had c3me from considerable
distances, and would naturally, being ignorant of the
circumstances, blame me for that over which, the above
statement will have shown, I have no control whatever.
—I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILJALBA FRIKELL.

St .Tamee's Theatre, Feb. 19.

ANGLO-INDIAN TELEGRAPHIC MAIL.

The following tender, signed Bonelli, has been
made t) the British Government o❑ behalf of a
proposed company, to be called. " The Company of
the Anglo-Indian Telegraphic Mail."
" Th© undersigned, lurpector-General of the Sardi-
nian Telegraphs, being duly authorised by the Govern-
ment of his Majesty the Sing of Sardinia, has the
honour to submit to you the offer to construct., at his
cost and risk, a submarine telegraph from Malta to
Alexandria in Egypt, in the period of 10 months from
the date of this act of concession. This offer is made
on the following conditions:—

" 1. The telegraph shall be constructed in conformity
with the most approved systems, and shall be able to
serve for the daily transmission of at least 250 single
despatches of 20 words each.

11 2. The despatches of the English Government shall
have priority over all others.
"3. The company will employ English telegraphic
clerks at the stations of Malia and Alexandria, and her
Britannic Majesty's Government shall bays the right to
delegate a superior inspector to overlook the working of
the line.

" 4. The tariff of a single despatch of 20 wards is
fixed at 16s. The tariff of despatches exceeding 20
words shall be an augmentation of 41. for every five
words ; the fractions of series to be reckoned as whole
ones.

" 5. If the average of work, calculated from month to
month, gives for result the daily number of 60 single
despatches of 20 words, the English Government is
exempted from any sort of subsidy.
" O. If the above daily average is less than 60 single
despatches, the English Government shall make up the
difference.
"7. It, on the contrary, the average of daily work,
calculated from month to month, gives a proportion of
100 single despatches, of 20 words, the tariff of the
despatches of the English Government shall be reduced
to one-half.

" 8. This treaty 'hall remain in force for 50 years,
dating tram the day on which the working of the line
commences.

us
cbontrol
oi
n'prtroremos
le tnollft
eat
dt day t h
eby British
e company
Government,telegraph shall be ub
t othaend Treasuryils
n r ieot
an dt
stho
least once a year, the company at the same time supply-
ing every facility for verification.
" 10. The English Government shall lend its assist-
ance, and shall grant a steamer of the Royal Navy to
help to lay do s n the cable.
" 11. The undersigned undertakes to treat with the
Turkish Government, in order to obtain its adhesion to
the laying down of the cable at Alexandria, even on the
condition of laying down, at his expense, a cable from
Alexandria to Constantinople."
Signor Bonelli is well kaown by his labours as a
constructor of telegraph. s ; among others, of that
from Sardinia to Bona, in Africa.

Miss Tyrrell, the only daughter of the admiral of that
name, gave her heart, hand, and fortune, which con-
sisted of no less a sum than 100,0001., last week to her
preceptor. Mr. Hughes, the fortunate possessor, has
„Iv just attained his majority, whilst the lady is his
senior by ten years.

THE MEETING IN HYDE-TAIIK.—The committee of
the Freemasons' Hull meeting, who had been making
arrangements for a great open-air demonstration in Hyde
park yesterday, resolved on abandoning that meeting, in
consequence of the defeat of the Conspiracy Bill by the
House of Commons on Friday night, and accordingly
caused placards to be posted on Saturday, announcing
the fact. Notwithstanding this an exceedidgly large
number of persons were in the park in the afternoon,
the d:,y being one of the finest of the young year.
Da PALMERSTON MINISTRY.—The defeat of the
present Administration on the Chinese question (Mr.
Cobden's amendment) occurred on the 31 of March,
1857. On that occasion the majority against them was
16, the fiumbera being 263 and 247. These would form
(with tellers and the Speaker) a house of 515 members,
whereas on Friday last the numbers (including tellers)
formed' house 453 members. The almost perfect
identity of the majority will not escape notice.