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

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

The series of extra performances, at reduced prices,
are attracting and delighting crowded audiences. The
opportunity of hearing the finest operatic music at so
very moderate a cost is a great bion 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 eveni,,g ; and
excellently rendered in most of its parts. Alboni sang
with all the freshness and purity of her earliest days,
and charmed -be ears of her appreciative listeners ; while
Belletti, as the mercurial and spirited Barber, displayed
the sound and rare musician—like qualities possessed by
him, to infinite advantage. Signor Belart is improving
considerably in his ex cution, but a little cars in the ex•
ercise of his upper notes is requisite to prevent the
deficiency i❑ perfect tone which is sometimes harshly
audible in the alto passages. The opera was altogether
most efficiently supported. To-night Mozart's great
work of "Don Giovanni " will be performed with a
good cast ; and will doubtless be attended by a full
house.

THE ALLEGED CRUELTIES. AT ACOMB
HOUSE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

YORK, FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
This day, at haf-st 12 o'cloc, T. S. Lutwidge, Es.,
and J. T. Wilkels, E pasq., two ofk 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
present, said this was a strictly private inquiry.
Mr. Pemberton hereupon said that before the business
of the court commenced he wished to be permitted, with all
due respect to the court, to state that, Co 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 an 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 varions6 witnesses who would be called, and then lay
the facts before the Lunacy Board. The present inves-
tigation, therefore, could only be regarded as a private
inquiry.
The reporters then withdrew, and the investigation was
conducted with closed dcors.

We under.tand that the prorogation will lake place
on Monday next, instead of on Tuesday,
, had been intended. Lord Derby a
members of his Government go down to o,borne to take
her Majesty's pleasure this day. principal
in
His Excellency the Duke of Malakhoff will leave the
Fr rich Embassy t i-day, on a visit to the Countess F,
Waldegrave and Mr. G. G. Harcourt, M.P., atNuoeha
Park, near Oxford. His Excellency 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 Sevenoake, for Cantert4ary, to
attend the meeting of the Kent Alackozoological Society,
of which the Marquis is president.