The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-06 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENOE. I SOIREE AT THE FRENCH OPERA.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, June 6.

At 11.30 yesterday evening the address of the
Lower House of the Reichsrath, in reply to the
speech from the throne, was read a third time and
passed, with only two dissentient votes, which were
given by members of the clerical party.
The Archduchess Mathilde, daughter of the
Archduke Albrecht, died this morning at 8 a.m.

(From Galignani.)
The State performance at the Grand Opera in
honour of the Emperor of Russia and the Grand
Dukes took place last night, and was a most splendid
representation, and as remarkable for the vast crowd
that filled the streets through which the cortege
passed as for the extraordinary display of rank,
beauty, and precious stones inside. The neigh-
bourhood of the theatre was a blaze of light, as,
in addition to the ordinary illuminations with
the letter N and Imperial crown, long lines of gas
permeated all over the front of the building in fan-
tastic forms. All the long peristyle outside was
adorned with masses of flowers and green shrubs,
and the vestibule and staircase by which the sove-
reigns were to make their entrance were covered
with an immense carpet of crimson velvet extending
to the corridor above. The interior of the theatre
was lighted a giorno by one immense chandelier in
the centre and about a dozen smaller ones around,
suspended from the roof over the pit.
The box prepared for the Imperial party com-
prised all those marked on ordinary ocsions from
18 to 26, with the addition of a large portion of the
amphitheatre taken in, so as in fact to form a long
semi-circular salon, hung with gorgeous drapery of
crimson, velvet, and gold. In the centre were
arranged three thrones, for the two Emperors and
the Empress ; and at the sides were placed
fifteen arm-chairs for the other members of the
Court party. The Imperial arms in gold
were displayed in the centre of the lofty
canopy which surmounted the box, and a
similar high emblem of dignity appeared below,
just under the part where the two Emperors' seats
were placed.
The intention had originally been to admit the
public indiscriminately, and not to dispose of tickets
in advance ; but the confusion certain to arise from
such a course led to its rejection, and places were
given as usual beforehand, but at prices three times
above the ordinary charge. Even on such
conditions to secure a seat was a difficult matter
and on the day of the representation, 200 fr. and
300 fr. were asked outside for a sail e-d'orchestre.
The doors opened, at eight, and by nine o'clock
every seat in the house was filled except those set
apart for the Ambassadors and other high
official personages. At that hour, all the space
under the state-box was occupied by splendidly
dressed women, glittering with diamonds; whilst,
beyond, appeared an immense mass of gentle-
men in ordinary evening dress. The boxes con-
tained all that Paris possesses of persons distin-
guished for wealth, position, or fashion. Amongst
the first arrivals was Marshal Canrobert, who,
with Madame la Marechale and other ladies, en-
tered a box on the right looking towards the stage. Be-
yond was to be seen Baron James de Rothschild, Baron
Gustave, and several ladies resplendent with dia-
monds. The Duchess de Mouchy was seated at the
left of the Imperial estrade, wearing a magnificent
diadem. A little later, the Princess de Metternich
entered the box appropriated on every-day cases to
the Emperor's use, but at present assigned
to the ambassadors and their families. The
princess was a perfect blaze of diamonds,
several long strings of beautiful gems being
disposed in artistic confusion over her neck, and a
magnificent decoration being displayed on her left
shoulder. She was dressed in white, which indeed
was the prevalent colour of the evening. Djemil-
Pacha, M. Mon, the Prince de Metternich, and other
ambassadors were in the box close by. On the same
side were also seated the Countess Pourtales and
tla Marchioness de Galliffet together. In all direc-
tions about, were to be seen the Ministers, high
officials, and personages of note.
At about a quarter to ten a roll of the drums
announced that the Court party was arriving. The
cortege left the Tuileries at half-past-nine, by
the gate opposite the Rue de I'Echlle, and fol-
lowed the Rues de Rivoli, Castiglione, and
de la Paix, the Boulevards, and the Rue Le Pelle-
tier. It consisted, first, of a detachment of
Lancers ; their the Imperial carriage, closed with
glass panels and containing the Empress, the
Grand Duchess Marie, and the Czar, and the Em-
peror Napoleon ; a second similar carriage was
ocourka by tue rrincess Mathiiue, the rrince
Eugenie of Leuchtenberg, and the two sons of the
Cz kr ; then, a second detachment of lancers, fol-
lowed by five closed carriages, and a third body of
the same troops bringing up the rear. The Em-
perors were loudly cheered as they issued from the
Tuileries, also in the Rue de la Paix, and finally, in
the neighbourhood of the Theatre. Their Majesties
were received on arriving by M. Perrin with the
usual ceremonial, and conducted to a salon dis-
posed outside the State box. After a moment's
pause, the whole party arranged themselves in the
order of their going and entered the salle. The
Emperor of Russia advanced first, leading in the
Empress of the French ; coming forward to the
front of the box her Majesty curtsied lowly and
the Czar bowed, and then stood before the seats
prepared for them. The Emperor Napoleon came
next with the Princess Royal of Prussia, and then
the other high personages in the following order :
The Emperor in the centre, the Czar at the French
monarch's left; next, the Empress; the Prince Royal
of Prussia ; Grand-Duchess Maria of Russia ; Duke
of Leuchtenberg ; Princess Mathilde ; Prince Louis
of Hesse ; Princess Murat ; Prince George of Meck-
lenburg ; and the brother of the Tycoon. All
this line was on the left looking towards the stage.
On the right, next the Emperor Napoleon, was
seated the Princess Royal of Prussia, the Cesare-
witch, the Princess Alice of Hesse, Prince \Vladi-
mir, the Princess Eugene of Leuchtenberg, Prince
of Saxe Weimar, and Prince Joachim Murat. The
two Emperors were dressed as general officers,
wearing the Grand Cordon of the other's Order.
The Empress was in white with a profusion of mag-
nificent diamonds and looking exceedingly hand-
some. The other ladies all wore a profusion of
precious stones, and were, without exception, if our
dazzled sight served us right, in white. The Grand-
Duke \Vladimir wore a white uniform, and he, as
well as the rest, displayed several Orders. Behind,
in the box, were to be seen a close mass of uniforms,
stars, cordons, and all the rich ornaments which
rank and wealth display. At each end of the box
below stood a Cent-Guard, and at each side of the
stage near the boxes stood another, all being re -
lieved from time to time. The moment the high
personages appeared, the house rose to receive them.
They took their places in succession, and the whole
line then stood in front of the long range of
seats. The sight was then one of extraordi-
nary magnificence, as, in addition to the Court
party and their splendid dresses, every part of
the theatre displayed a vast agglomeration of uni-
forms, precious stones, embroidery, orders, youth,
and beauty. Behind the Imperial line, besides,
stood Marshals, Generals, Chamberlains, Orderly
Officers, and Ladies of Honour, and the suits of
foreign Princes. No manifestation whatever was
made when the party entered, and the first sound
that broke the silence was the orchestra commencing
the National Hymn of Russia. All continued stand-
ing during the execution, and then, the occupants
of the Imperial box giving the example, the audi-
ence took their seats and the performance began.
The fourth act of the " Africaine" was given first,
and was most attentively followed by the august

spectators, the young Russian Princes -being appa-
rently quite absorbed in what they witnessed. The
Emperor Napoleon conversed repeatedly with the
Princess Royal of Prussia, the Czar generally re-
maining silent, and the Empress, on her side, spoke
frequently with the Prince of Prussia. No great
attention was paid to the representation by the gene-
ral public, " metal more attractive" being found in
the long line of Imperial and Royal personages in
the front box. _ _ _

After that had terminated the whole party rose
• •

and withdrew for half an hour to the retiring-room
outside. On their return, the second act of the
ballet " Giselle" was given, all the best dancers in the
establishment taking part in the performance. As
soon as it was over the public withdrew, as on any
ordinary night. The Imperial carriages soon after
drew up outside, and as the Emperor and the
Empress appeared, in the same order as be-
fore, the persons inside the vestibule cheered
loudly. The carriages then drove on, but without
any manifestation outside. All was over at five
minutes past twelve, but the boulevards were
crowded for au hour later. The night was delight-
fully cool, and all the rich equipages of Paris had
to pass by, so that the persons in the streets could
not have found their stay in any way irksome.