The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-15 00:00:00

FRENCH THEATRICALS.

GRAND OPERA.—There has been seldom seen at
the French opera in modern times a more brilliant
assembly than crowded every part of the house on
Monday night. It was the solemn festival of the
year, the first performance—not of a new opera by
Verdi—but of a new ballet. Even in Italy, at the
commencement of the ballet, the thousand tongues
whose cackle has accompanied the strains of
" Norma," or the " Traviata," was hushed, and it
is with ears as well as eyes that this poem in motion
is devoured. The imprudent barbarian who should
utter a word during the performance of the pas sod
or the pas de deux, which is the triumph of the
chorographic art, would be silenced with a unani-
mous Chutl—the French pronunciation of " Shut
up"—happy if he were not unceremoniously hustled
to the door. In Italy one accounts for this by say-
ing to oneself that the nation is naturally so musi-
cal, that it was be allowed to repose its ears by
throwing for a time all its soul into its eyes. But in
France it is not necessary to have recourse to so
fine-spun an argument. Here music, in the higher
sense of the word, is the stranger, received with
all that refined cordiality for which France is
famous, but the ballet is indigenous. We have
the music and librettos of the ballets in which the
Great Monarch himself delighted to display his
graces as Phoebus or Alexander, and Royal High-
nesses with ladies of the highest rank felt themselves
honoured in appearing on the same boards with the
Sultan of the age. Lulli's strains were sweet, but
Louis's dancing, so tender, so majestic, so graceful,
so awe-inspiring, touched every heart, and per-
suaded the most sceptical understanding. Poor
Nero might be alive now, so far as his enemies are
concerned, if, instead of fiddling and singing, he had
only learned to dance so convincingly. The poetry
of motion has saving graces, which, as he learned
to his cost, the poetry of sound whether written or
sung has not, for one cannot believe that his lyre
was ill-attuned, and the only line that remains of
his poetry describes the changing colours of a dove's
neck with a truthful elegance which no descriptive
lines in any language have equalled. Louis danced,
and his dancing was such that the applause of his
admiring subjects still rings in the ears of their
descendants, and they have learned from it to
appreciate the truly beautiful. No wonder, then,
that the first appearance of the " Source" attracted
on Monday night to the Academy of Music all
those who love good dancing and fine scenery.
May they never be fewer ! The house was
crammed ; as splendid an assemblage as the dia-
monds and bright silks and darkened eyes and volu-
minous chignons of the fair sex could make it,
heightened perhaps by the black mass to which the
hideous costume of the day condemns the uglier sex
who fill the orchestra and pit. An act of Rossini's
charming opera of the " Comte Ory" was performed
with the slovenliness which the constant opening cif
doors and taking of places and the impatience of the
audience authorised. There was a long pause ; at
length music was heard with its voluptuous swell,
there was a sound of subsiding into seats. The gene-
ral rustle which precedes silence, and all nature was
hushed as the prelude or overture ended, and the
curtain drew up. It is now that the part of the
chronicler becomes difficult. A long description is
necessary to explain the complicated gyrations of
the story for those who are not so fortunate as to
have any hope of ever seeing the " Source," and a
still longer one for those who, going to see it, wish
to know what it all means. There may be some to
whom it is quite indifferent. The first scene is a
mountain pass, a luxuriant vegetation springs
among the creeper-covered rocks from which a
silver stream pours down. There is poetry in
the picture, half- shrouded as it is by the morn-
ing twilight, and there was justice in the ap-
plause which greeted it. Elves and fairies and goblins
dance round the stream, whose waters give life to the
scone. At daybreak they disaprear and leave the world to
sunshine and to man. The first who appears is Djemil, a
hunter, followed by a witch, who, ignorant of Horace and
Juvenal, chooses daybreak instead of midnight to gather
the deadly drugs with which to poison the stream from
which Djemil has just drunk. He prevents her, and she
retires with humble seeming but anger in her soul, after
reading his fortune in his palm. As she departs a caravan
approaches; it is the now bride of a mighty Khan. They
halt near the fountain for repose. A bright flower grow-
ing on the rock which overhangs the stream catches the
bride's eye, but there is no one in her suite hardy enough
to gather it. Djemil comes forward, offers to risk the ad-
venture, reaches the flower, seizes it, but at the same mo-
ment the creepers on whose withes !Pe was supported give
way, and he is precipitated into the stremp. But ho is not
lost, he soon reappears with the flower in his hand, rhich
the bride deigns only to receive through tho hands of one
of her slaves. Djemil refuses the purse offered in pay-
ment, with sacrilegious hand he draws aside the bride's
veil, and pays himself with a glance at her charms. A
fatal glance, not because he is at once seized, bound with
the strong branches of the creepers, and then left t 3 die in
the solitude, but because he is struck with love. The ca-
ravan departs, it is in vain to wrestle with the bonds,
stronger than cords, which confine him, the fever-thirst of
anguish assails him, but there is rescue at hand. The
stream comes to his aid, its waters spread, the fountain
nymph appears, she makes a sign, and ho is free—not free,
but loved whore ho does not love, and love-sick without
return. The grateful nymph, whose waters he had pre-
served from the pollution of the witch, gives him the ta-
lismanic flower to which her own fate is linked, and com-
mends him to her attendant spirits. In the second act we
are in the gardens of the Khan's palace, where he and all
his wives anxiously await the arrival of the new favourite.
There is a little dancing to beguile the time, the Khan is
impatient. At last the trumpet sounds, she approaches, ar-
rives, and they dance again. Another bugle. 'Tis Djemil,
now a noble signor, attended by the goblin to whose care
the nymph has consigned him. The slaves who follow him
carry rich presents, Orient pearls, and glittering diamonds.
Among them is the flower which had already attracted the
bride's attention; she is joing to take it, but Djemil pre-
vents her. That flower is a talisman more precious than
diamonds and pearls, and he proves its power by throwing
toit clumpilcinitouiaryinto a
of trees. On Oinntwhehiienhstathnet tlhoveierlyfolniaygmepsheeamp-s
pears. A look suffices to show the Khan that she is more
beautiful than his new bride and all his old ones together.
To gain her hand he consents to dismiss his whole harem.
The haughty beauty and her brother take their departure,
followed by the witch, who had accompanied, and who now
promises to avenge them. The third act opens in her
tent. Her magic charms bring Djemil to her door. The
brother will now avenge her, when the cast-off bride has
disarmed him—a task in which she employs herself with
the alacrity of insulted vanity. She and the witch disarm
him ; she brings him to her feet. At this moment the
nymph reappears, to witness the ingratitude of him she
had saved. The brother, with his attendants, surprises
Djemil at his sister's knees, and he only does not kill him
on the spot because the still tender nymph has pity. A
magic torpor paralyses his assailants, and he departs, fol-
lowed, unconsciously, by Nouredda (the ex-brido.), whose
somnambulism is of the true peripatetic sort. The last
scene is in the mountain gorge in which the ballet opened,
but its beauty is departed. The dancing was as meritori-
ous as the present gynastic style will allow, and Madlie•
Salvioni, the nymph, danced up to her reputation.

SALE OF HER MAJESTY'S FAT OXEN
PARK.—On Wednesday Messrs. Bitola:llLp°
sod •of a
the well-known auctioneers, of Windsor, disposed .
_en fatted
number of fat horned Scotch oxen, wide!'
lace, "
IN
aWndINDSSOOnRs,
in Windsor Great Park. The sale toaodkopws
her Majesty's commissioners,
.C2B 10s., and the
and the
elttle plague,
Owing to the , .
park, the highest price obtainedinbeling
average £25 per head. ad
jboyinionrgderthoef
consequent difficultyanimals, the
for disposal was lossof purchasing
this ro
ro u
gtf Ell'
Claaonspit 1:
lau d , Webb,
buyers were Messrs. a
Ere, Hampton Court ; and
of t
.VViudsor, Timber and Mason,
Hutchings, and Boswell,
ES REFORM
Crocker, Bracknell.
BSit.aactklinameii. Da:ehe
TRAM MEETING AT LIMEHOUSE.--Last
seiviiepnwirniggitiltsbeonisleeilyinc:koewrsd, eshdipinieiegtging
ers, oafudthce nooeijegrisnoefetrshe,
held at the Burdett-hall, Lime-
house,of
of considering the propriety
1-vaaes Reform Demonstration on the 1
I joiner,• dthe
Mr. Rathme 1, occupied
3d of December.
'Upwards of 3,000 men were present. The meeting
takingest pdfaoorift London,it uhet the Purposeil
ch.:sira.ddressed by Messrs. Potter, Upshall, Taylor, Strong,
‘‘‘
Henrietto, and Hughes, a deputation from the central
committee of the trades delegates, and also by the general
secretary of the demonstration, who detailed the progress
which the movement was making, and the large number
of trades who intended taking part in the demonstration.
The meeting was then addressed by Messrs. Briston,
mason, Sueeting, boilermaker, Callaghan, cooper, Bolt,
shipwright, Holt, engineer, Middleton, rig er, and Hughes,
the secretary of the Seamen's Welfare Society, who said
that several thousand sailors intended taking part in the
demonstration, an announcement which was received with
loud cheering. Resolutions were unanimously adopted
approving the demonstration, and pledging the meeting
to support it, and a committee was appointed, selected from
each of the trades present, to co-operate with the central
committee. A vote of thanks to the chairman and depu-
tation concluded the proceedings of an enthusiastic
meeting,

THIRD EDITIOINT.

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocK,

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,--This Day.

,-
SHREWSBURY RACES.—This DAY.
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
ATTINGHAM PARK STAKES.
The Attingham Park Stakes of 3 sous each, with 20 added;
two-year-olds ist, three Bst 61b, four Bst 1016, five, six,
and aged B.st 121 b; mares and geldings allowed 31b; the
winner to be sold for SO sous ; starters thrice without
winning at this meeting allowed 3W, four times 71b ;
Winners at this meeting 51b extra; about half a milt),
straight.

Zisca
Amour Propre ...(Peeler) 2
Miss Fanny
Verdi, Star Cross, Lucy Long, Florieztu, Bird's-:yo, and
King Charming also rau. Won by a length; neck between
second and third. Betting—Even agst Zisca, 6to 1 agst
cthors.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

----.4b..—_

NORTH BRITISH.
The special meeting of this company was held in
the Music Hall on Wednesday to receive the report
of the Committee of Investigation, &c., to confirm,
alter, or rescind the resolution of the directors, and
nominate a new board.
Mr. Balfour, in the absence of Mr. Hodgson, was
called to the chair.
A letter was read from Mr. Hodgson, dated Bet-
ford, Nov. 13, regretting his inability to attend.
He had for two days been in bed from a painful at-
tack in the head. He left London on Tuesday morn-
ing, but was obliged to give up the attempt to be
present. He had already, in his published addresses,
referred to his views on most of the subjects to be
discussed, but much regretted not having the oppor-
tunity of thanking the shareholders for the uniform
kindness he had received.
Mr. WHITE, chairman of the Investigation Com-
mittee, spoke for two hours in moving the approval
of the report. He stated that the committee and the
directors supporting them had in round numbers
£5,000,000 worth of proxies, while Mr. Hodg-
son and his friends had £1,500,000. He vin-
dicated the committee's report on points on which it
had been challenged, and maintained that the in-
tervention of the committee had saved the credit of
the company. He read excerpts from the proof just
printed of the evidence which the committee had
taken, and which he said showed that Mr. Hodgson
was the real offender, and under him the manager
and accountant who did his bidding. He acquitted
the directors of all share in those transactions, but
thought they were to blame for want of diligence.
As to remedies, the first thing was to get rid of the
present chairman and to appoint a new board. The
committee proposed that four of the former directors
be retained, and they had to propose also four of
their own number and three shareholders they had
selected, leaving these 11 to elect the remaining four.
The committee thought the resignation of the audi-
tors should, under the circumstances, be accepted.
Two amendments were proposed—one by Mr.
Garbett, that the committee's censure should
include the whole of the directors, and another
by Mr. Stitt, of Liverpool, for the consideration of
the revenue account, on the ground that the com-
mittee had transferred some items to it properly
chargeable to capital. Both amendments were lost
by a large majority.
Mr. CRAVEN complained of the evidence taken by
the committee being withheld till this moment, and
only so much given as would convict Mr. Hodgson.
Mr. WHITE said one reason for withholding it
from Mr. Craven was that he was an ally of Mr.
Hodgson's, and a traitor to the company.

The CHAIRMAN moved that the resolution of the
28th Sept. last, declaring dividends on the prefer-
ence stock, be cancelled, and he moved a resolution
in terms of the committee's report. He said the di-
rectors thought the committee had dealt rather
hardly with the revenue account, but they did not
wish to cavil with the company's proceedings.
Mr. CLOUSTON moved—" That Mr. Beaumont,
Mr. Ronald, Mr. Orr Ewing, and Mr. Muir be re-
elected directors ; that Mr. Harrison, Mr. Robert-
son, Dr. Matthew, and Mr. Young be selected
from the committee as directors ; and that Mr.
Harvey, Mr. F. Maxwell, and Mr. R. 0. Campbell
be selected from the shareholders as directors."
Complaint was made of the large Glasgow ele-
ment in the Board, but the Chairman said that the
vacancies might be filled up by English shareholders.
Mr. GARRETT objected to any of the former
finance committee being included, but his motion,
which applied to Messrs. Beaumont, Ronald, and
Muir, was lost.
Mr. XPGAvIN moved—" That it be remitted to
the directors to consider as to how they should raise
the necessary funds to meet the company's liabili-
ties."—Carried.

Thanks were given to Mr. White, the chairman,
and the other members of the Investigation Com-
mittee, and a vote of thanks to Mr. Balfour for pre-
siding closed the proceedings.

Opening of the Belgian Chambers.

BRUSSELS, ov. 13.
The Belgian Chambers were opened to-day by the
King in person.- His Majesty read a speech from
the throne, the full text of which is as follows :
" Gentlemen,--I have been desirous of finding
myself again in the midst of the national representa-
tives, where I encountered so sympathising a recep-
tion hardly a year ago. In each of our patriotic
provinces the entire people associated themselves
with these touching demonstrations; they clung to
the memory of the venerated monarch whose bene-
ficent reign will ,leave imperishable traces in the
existence of Belgium. (Cheers.) It is with great
satisfaction that I state the excellent condition of
our international relations. In the midst of the
grave events that have troubled a large portion of
Europe, Belgium has remained calm, confident, and
penetrated with the rights and the duties of a neu-
trality she will maintain in the future as in the past,
with sincerity, loyalty, and strength. (Loud
cheers.) Yet, although the public secnrity has not
been shaken, although our position at home has
remained comparatively satisfactory, the coun-
try has, however, not been free from the fatal
malady that has desolated other shores. Thanks
to the devotion of the local authorities and
of all classes of the population, the effects
of the scourge—which has now almost entirely dis-
appeared—have been fortunately alleviated. Let
us have words of pity for those who have suffered,
words of gratitude for those who have shown devo-
tion. We must not forget that these disasters have
especially affected our working classes. It is the
duty of us all to continue to occupy ourselves with
everything that may advance the material and moral
improvement of the labouring population. (Loud
cheers.) Among the preventive measures which
science and practice point out as the most efficacious,
figures, in the first rank, the rendering insalubrious
places healthy. This duty justly occupies both the
Government and the communes. The same solici-
tude is due to the instruction of the working classes.
The assistance of the Chambers will never fail the
Government in attaining this useful and noble ob-
ject, towards which every people jealous of its
liberty and desirous of remaining worthy of it ought
incessantly to strive. (Cheers.) The result of the
harvest has not entirely responded to the hopes of
our cultivators. Agriculture, nevertheless, has not
receded in the path of progress along which it ad-
vances with rapid strides. The energetic measures
taken by my Government have contributed to cir-
cumscribe and paralyse the effects of the cattlesi plague,
which has raged elsewhere with great intent y. Inde-
pendently of tasks whose accomplishment the cham-
bers have still to pursue, various bills will be sub-
mitted to their deliberation. The revision of the
law of 1858 upon expropriations, suppression of
imprisonment for debt, improvement of the laws
upon preventive detention and extradition, aboli-
tion of article 1,781 of the civil code, revision of
the military penal code, freedom to manufactured
articles of gold and silver, river fishery, cadastal
readjustment with the object of a more just redis-
tribution of the land tax ; these are the subjects
which will be successively brought forward in the
course of this Session, and which I recommend to
the enlightened examination of Parliament. My
Government has concluded a treaty of friendship,
commerce, and navigation with Japan, which, con-
jointly with our late convention with China, is de-
stined to open to Belgium new relations towards the
countries of the extreme East, by securing to our
commerce the international guarantee of which it
has hitherto been devoid. The civic guard and the
army continue to fulfill their labours with the zea

and the patriotism that have always distinguished
those two great institutions. (Cheers.) The
Tir National bas furnished our citizen militia
with an opportunity of fraternising with the militia
of neighbouring countries. Belgium will be happy
to see renewed upon her hospitable soil those peace-
ful contests in which relations of mutual friendship
and esteem are formed, which the future can but
extend and forty. (Loud cheers.) Our artists, as
the recent Exhibition has proved, brilliantly associate
the labours which constitute its glory with the ma-
terial works that form the fortune of the country.

I hope that all Belgian workers will redouble their
efforts to occupy an honourable rank in the universal

contest a friendly great Power will soon open to a

nations. That Belgium may continue to signalise
herself by an energetic and fecund activity, by her
respect for ord6r, and by the wise practice of her
liberties, that the elements of prosperity she con-
tains may develope themselves day by day under the
aegis of our liberal laws—these are my dearest wishes,
this is the object of our common desires. (Cheers.)
To accomplish the task incumbent upon it, my
Government, gentlemen, has need of your loyal and
hearty support, and at the commencement of this
new reign may all hearts remain united in the love
of our country and its institutions."
His Majesty was received with loud demonstra-
tions of satisfaction, amidst which he left the
chamber.