The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-24 00:00:00

different effects of modulation produced by the
clever artist. I say that people have to stand,
which, alas, is proverbial, for many remain thus
stationary till they are ready to drop, always ex-
cepting our elegantes, who are drawn up to the
pianos in garden chairs by officials in red and grey
uniforms. There they delightfully recline with
half-closed eyes savouring the musical treat, all the
more acceptable because it is gratis.
It surprises no one that the French jury of 1867
should have imitated the English jury of the Lon-
don Exhibition by awarding the medal of honour
t 3 Messrs. Chickeriug and Sons ; but many were
astonished that the Emperor should in person have
accompanied the presentation with the decoration
of the Cross of the Legion of Honour, the sole dis-
tinction of the kind awarded to emulating exhibitors.
Some of the sweetest memories of the Exposition
will be those of visitors who have regularly at-
tended Mr. Poznanski's trial of Chickering's in-
struments. From such music to the opera, grads-

tion is easy. Amateurs of grand things gratis
have not ceased gathering round the noble
edifice since the scaffoldings fell from it on the
15th August.
The opera forms the centre of that space facing
the Boulevard des Italiens, surrounded by the new
streets Scribe, Auber, Haleoz, and the continuation
of the Boulevard Haussmann. The principal front
of the edifice is a portico forming an open work of
seven arches. To the right and left of this are the
side or lateral facings, on each of which rises a pro-

jetting pavilion, one of which facing the Rue Auber
is the imperial entrance, and so contrived that the
Emperor's carriage will set him down within the
walls of the opera. The first floor of the prin-
cipal facing is ornamented with double rows
of marble columns and arches, which are not
only remarkable for carving and architectural em-
bellishment, but have been selected with a view to
add the splendid effects of colour to those of indus-
try; thus pedestals and pillars of brown Jura contrast
with Italian marble, the warm tißts of violet-veined
stone heighten the darker shades of Raviere's block.
These are surmounted by the gilt bronze busts of
our principal composers, and the ensemble produces
the most striking effect.
White marble and sombre bronze statues will be
grouped in every niche, most elegant flights of steps
lead to the boxes inside, each box, even up in the
fifth tier, has a small withdrawing room adjoin-
ing it. The stage is thirty-two metres deep, and
30 wide. The height of the immense stone gable
arising above the stage exceeds that of the towers
of Notre Dame. On the summit of the cupola above
the house is a gigantic ventilator, bearing the im-
perial crown and eagle in gilt bronze. The stair-
cases and lobbies, all of the richest masonry, with in-
laid marble, are so constructed that there are separate
passages and steps for corners and goers, so that
crushing is impossible. White marble and gilt are
used in great profusion about the imperial pavilion
on the ground floor, on which is a waiting-room for
the body-guard (the Cent-Gardes), and stabling
for the escort. On the first floor to the right
of this pavilion is the Emperor's reception-
room, which is to be most splendidly decorated,
and to the left thatof the Empress's. A gallery from
these state-rooms leads to the Imperial box, but he has
another private one near the stage when he wishes
to enjoy the opera without all the ceremony of a gala
performance. On the summit, however, of his pri-
vate pavilion there is a cupola and imperial crown.
On the corresponding pavilion is another bearing
the mural crown of the Tower of Paris. Every
possible appliance that forethought could devise
has been provided. There is a station for a body of
firemen and police, a smoking room, refreshment and
waiting rooms, galleries, for those who have not taken
tickets beforehand, and a reserved entrance for such
aristocratic equipages whose coachmen cannot drive
their masters through the same openings fit for hired
fiacres. There are no less than five underground
floors or storks below the stage, coach houses for
the Emperor's carriage, plenty of stages for the
Cent Gardes, without forgetting all the different
offices for directors, managers, under-managers,
and those who are employed in the different depart-
ments of the opera.
There are vast warehouses for stage decorations,
stage furniture, slips, and all the appliances for the
ballet, separate rooms for hairdressers, dressmakers,
also separate with drawing rooms for the deras and
tenors, whose throats are the recipients of those
wonderful sol's, fit's, and zit's, which each costs a for-
tune to hear. This Opera-home is not Babylon.
nor Sodom or Gomorrha either, whatever our mora
it is only as yet the architectural
wonder
nineteenth century, and to me it
seems niay
of sayth ;
builtfoer the purpose of alluring the demi-
lists
gods of fortune from those Elysian fields which are.
in our times, situated near the mines of California.

COMMERCIAL.
New YORK, August 10
Money is accumulating in embarrassing abundance, and
rates continue to decline. On Governments, advances are
made at 3 per cent., on Stock Securities at 4, and on prime
commercial paper at 6 to 7. Government Bonds daily
grow stronger, and large orders have reached brokers to
purchase not only from the country, but from abroad.
Gold is steady and increasing, though the market is dull.
Yesterday it opened at 140/, . and after declining
to 140 closed at 1401. The market was by turns
weak; and inactive, and strong and excited. The
general impression is, that in the face of the favour-
able theperest duringsent the highsummer, amounting to
price of gold cannot
be maintained. The export of specie is decreasing. Last
week h
being
harvest,
low the
$1,161,806, making the total from Jan. 1 $39,785,192, a
a ry
decrease of $12,398,871 for tho corresponding period of
last year. The specie payments of customs continue large,
and though the Treasury sells small parcels, the increase is
considerable, the glut of money being accumulated in the
Treasury. American silver sells at 6to 7 cents below the
price
of gold. Mexican dollars are quoted at 103; to 104
in gold. Foreign exchange is dull and steady, a few
sales only being effected, at 109/ to 109/ in gold.
Erie broke last Saturday, fluctuating between
68 and 73 for hours. During the week it re-
mained quiet at the middle figure, but it fell again on
Wednesday, influenced by a rumour that a leading
director had resigned, and was marked at 69/. In
sympathy, the New York Central has declined from 5 to 4
per cent., while other securities and investments, in-
fluenced by the same feeling, have generally declined.
Mining stocks are dull, though there is a better inquiry
for the Nevada Silver Mining Stocks, several recently
formed companies having proved their success by forward-
ing large returns of bullion. General trade is, to the last
degree stagnant, and as cotton goods are falling more
failures are feared. The following are the latest quotations :
At New York stocks are heavy and dull, American
gold 140/, United States Five-Twenties (1862) 110 to
114, (1864) 110/, (1865) 111, (1865, New Issue) 108,
United States Ten-Forties 991, United States 7-30 Loan
1081, Missouri Sixes 103, Tennessee Sixes 671, Virginia
Sixes 50, New York Central Railroad 104/, Erie 681, Erie
Preferred 78, Hudson River 1201, Reading 105, Michigan
Central 111, Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana
81/, Illinois Central 119, Cleveland and Pittsburgh 941,
Cleveland and Toledo 1231 Chicago and North-Western
45}, Chicago and North-Western. Preferred 691, Pitts-
burg, Fort Wayne, and Chicago 105}, Chicago, Rock Island,
and Pacific 1021, Ohio and Mississippi Certificates 271,
Adams Express Company 73 to 741, American 74, United
States 76, Wells, Fargo, and Co.'s 671 Merchants' Union
16 to 18, Western Union Telegraph Company 46/, Pacific
Mail Steamship Company 116 i.
Petroleum Stocks continue in fair demand at improving
quotations, particularly for Bennehoff Run, Buchanan Farm,
Central, New York. and Allegheny, Rynd Farm, United
Petroleum Farms, and United States.
The following are the closing prices to-day for Express
Stocks :-Adarns 72 to 73, American 71 to 74, United
States, 73 to 75, Wells, Fargo, and Co. 66/ to 67, Mer-
chants' Union 16 to 17/.

(From
Messrs. Bowles, Drevet, and Co.'s Circular.)
Paris, August 23, 1867.
Without any marked changes in value the market has
shown less animation than reported in our last, and con-
fidence fails to be re-established. Business in both com-
mercial and financial circles is excessively dull, and the
accumulation of idle capital very groat. Americans have
sympathised with the general market, and prices show
some decline, with little business. The issue of 1862 closes
at 834 to 83 7-16ths; ditto 1865, 814 to 814.
Our advices from New York are to the 20th :
Gold .................................... 141
U.S. Bonds (1862) .................. 11634
The Rente closes at ............... 9 65
The Italian closes at ............ 49 10
Exchange on London ....•••••• 25 18-}

(From E. F. Satterthwaite and Co.'s Tire,ekly Circular, Aug.2l)
Our advicos from New York are to the ith inst After
the Cubs left on the 30th ultimo the stock markets gene-
rally gave way, and transactions reported were more
limited ; early in the week, however, there was a, renewed
demand for all kinds of securities. United States Govern-
ment Bonds showed no alteration in quotations excepting
for the 5-20's of 1862 and 1865, the descriptions currently
dealt in in Europe, thu4 leading to the conclusion that these