The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-04 00:00:00

LYCEUM THEATRE.

Mr. Falconer's new play, "Francesca," will not
fail to promote his literary reputation. The scene
is laid in Venice during the seventeenth century,
and the story is that of a lady, young, high-born,
and beautiful, who, being basely calumniated by
another woman, and cruelly deserted in consequence
by her lover, preserves the sweetness of her nature
untainted amid all her trials and temptations, repay-
ing her enemies with kindness, and magnanimously
preserving the life of the man who had so heartlessly
abandoned her. The fervour, purity, and tenderness
of her love are brought into strong dramatic con-
trast with the fierce and scathing hatred which
burns in the heart of her father, who views .his
daughter's slanderers with the deadliest animosity,
and is ravenous for revenge. The plays wants
rapidity of action; the plot moves too slowly,
especially in the last act ; but this defect may be
easily remedied. In all other respects the drama
possesses remarkable merit. The characters are
vigorously conceived, the incidents ingeniously
contrived, and the dialogue exceedingly poetical,
both in sentiment and diction. Indeed, the play is
well written throughout, and abounds in fine
thoughts, imaged forth with singular grace and
felicity of expression. Mrs. Charles Young plays
the leading character with a truthfulness and pathos
which carry her audience completely with her, and
procure for her in all her great scenes the unani-
mous applause of the spectators. She is effectively
supported by Mr. Falconer, who personates the
wronged father, with whom " revenge is virtue."

WILLIS'S Rooms.—Mr. T. Mason Jones, whose
oration on Curran we noticed a short time since as a pro-
mising indication of a new talent, seems fast settling into a
' permanent "institution." As yet he has confided himself
to four heroes—Curran. Grattan, Milton, 'and Swift—all of
whom he strongly eulogizes, but though his subjects have
been few, his orations have been 'frequently repeated, and
he is clearly acquiring that fame that is only within the
reach of exceptional endowments. Hundreds of persons
with a decent amount of cramming can write essays on either
or all of the four great men just enumerated, and hirea room
' to read them in ; but Mr. T. M. Jones is a real orator, not
a reader, and therefore he has an attraction of his own. His
' matter is good, and his form most striking.
COAST DEFENCES.—BRIGHTON, Saturday.—Yes-
terday much curiosity was excited at Brighton by the sight
of a number of Royal Artillerymen with their horses about
the streets ; and, on inquiry, it was ascertained that they
belonged to a detachment which had arrived that morning
from Woolwich, by road, halting at Cuckfield on the pre-
vious night, in charge of two 48-pounders, with ammuni-
tion, for the cavalry barracks. Each gun, weighing 56
cwt., was drawn by 12 horses ; and the entire detachment
consisted of 80 men and horses. It is said that these guns
are intended as the first instalment of 40, which are to be
sent to the barracks, so that Brighton may, in common
with other towns on the Sussex coast, be in a position
to put itself on the defensive in case of need.
The Select Committee of the House of Commons
on Military Organisation met on Friday. After taking the
evidence of Lord Palmerston, the committee adjourned till
Tuesday next at 12 o'clock, when it is expected that his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of New-
castle, and Earl Grey, will be examined.
The committee, on Friday, in passing the Brighton
Bill for a junction with the West-end and Crystal Palace
line at Norwood, inserted a clause in the bill compelling the
Brighton Company to make such arrangements for the
conveyance of the East Kent traffic to the London- bridge
and Bricklayers' Arms stations as the Board of Trade may
approve, if the East Kent Company desire it.
PUBLIC WORKS IN TNDIA.—From a return to
the House of Lords, published on Saturday, it would ap-
pear that the gross total amount of money for the construc-
tion of railroads and other public works in India, for rais-
ing which under a guarantee of interest measures have
been duly taken, is £32,314,300, the rate of interest being
generally 5 per cent., and in a very few cases 41 to 4i per
cent. The portion of this enormous sum of money paid up
on the 28th of February last was £20,869,016. The in-
terest on the'capital paid to that date amounted to £1,012,685,
and that on debentures to £23,188. Upon the Great Indian
Peninsular line the net receipts from the opening, in 1853,
to the end of June, 180 (the latest date of returns)
amounted to £99,421, and those on the. East India line from
August, 1854, to the 30th of June, 18.58, to £216,261.
WRECK OF THE NORTH SEA, HULL, AND GOTTEN-
BURGH STEAMEn.:—A telegram was received at Lloyd' sin the
course of Saturday, announcing the wreck of the North Sea
screw steam-ship, which had gone ashore at Holman, on the
coast at Scotland. She left Hull on the 27th of last month for
Gottenburgh with the mails, her usual complement of pas-
sengers, and a general cargo of merchandise. She stranded
on the night of the 28th, but the passengers, mail, and crew
were all saved. It was hoped that she would be got off,
but later accounts mention that she fills with water, and
appears a complete wreck. Her cargo isall damaged. Her
loss will involve a considerable amount.
• EXPLOSION AT THE FAVERSHAM GUNPOWDER
MIL-Ls.—On Saturday morning last a terrific explosion,
which was heard for miles around, took place at the gun-
powder mill 9, situated at Ore, near Faversham. The acci-
dent occurred at 11 o'clock in a portion of the establishment
where a considerable amount of gunpowder was stored, but
fortunately where no person was at the time employed.
Fragments of the building were found at a distance of seve-
ral
miles from the accident, and in the town of Faversham
the houses wore violently shaken, and the utmost excite-
ment prevailed. The whole of the surgeons and medical
men residing at Faversham, Ospringe, &c., drove off to the
scene of the accident, and it was feared that a great sacrifice
of life had taken place. It is, however, singularly fortunate
that a !lumber of hands generally employed near the spot
were at the time away, an we understand that no person
was killed, although .a few were alightly injured by the
falling of portions of the building. The shock of the ex-
plosion was distinctly felt at the city of Canterbury, about
10 miles distant.
ACCIDENT TO WOMBWELL'S MENAGERIE.—FOUR
LIVES LOST.—An accident of a singular and distressing
character occurred oa Friday evening last to Wombwell's
Menagerie, which was at the time crowded with people, in
a field at Maes-y-drs, Holywell, Flintshire. About half-
past eight a furious gale of wind was blowing, and four of
the caravans (forming one entire side), containing lions,
tigers, and bears, wa'o thrown in upon the people, carrying
with them the canvass roof, tent poles, and lights, and
yin
were pinned to the ground by the fallen carriages,-.sorne
by r
theirg arms, thepeople
legs, the majority, however,
burying
som 'beneath,
by n
teah:r. 4014 two score of persons
having been buriedbeneath the carriages themselves. Four
persons were killed—Mr. B. M'Bane, 36, a keeper, and who
leaves a widow, and three youths, belonging to the town;
Edward Jones, 11: David Oxford, 13; and John. Hughes,
e 0) b:eo 9P.
14. Au ,:it
Saturday, resulted in a verdict of
i4l
" Accic}V!ital d94114'

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

On Saturday night last, according to promise,
commenced Mr. Gye's second season of Italian
Opera since the erection of the magnificent arena,
the beauty and rapid completion of which sur-
prised London a little later than thiS time last
year. The period which precedes the Easter vaca-
tion is, in operatic affairs, proverbially interesting.
All excitement is usually in "abeyance till Paris
has yielded its contingent of stars, and the opera
would muster on the opening night rather as a
ceremonial observance—poure faire acte de pre-
sence—than attracted by any lively anticipations
of pleasure. In the present instance, however,
the first night of the season has proved an excep-
tion to the ordinary rule, the first appearance in
London of the new and much-praised prima donna
from St. Petersburg, Mdlle. Lotti di Santa, invest-
ing the occasion with an interest of no common
description. The performance of, 'Verdi's now
haekmed opera of "Il Trovatore I' would not,
under less remarkable circumstancesiliave attracted
so large and brilliant an audience Is were assem-
bled to pronounce on the merits of the new singer.
Mdlle. Lotti's appearance is decidedly prepossess-
ing. She is young, her slim figure is graceful and
ladylike in its bearing, and her features handsome
and. capable of varied expression. To come to the
point of importance, she possesses a soprano voice
of high range—fresh, pure, and brilliant in
quality; and although she has not attained great
agility of execution, her intonation is faultlessly
correct, and her command of varied expression
and tempered force are very considerable. Not-
withstanding the drawback of manifest nervous-
ness, the new singer acquitted herself in the aria
d'intrata in a manner which seemed at once to satisfy
the audience that a valuable acquisition to Mr.
Gye's corps d'artistes had been made, and a round
of hearty and general applause ratified, as it were,
the engagement, and sealed it with the seal of
public approval. In further token of favour, and
in accordance with a practice which is too warmly
demonstrative for this climate, the prima donna was
recalled in the intervals between each act. In the
last act Mdlle. Lotti showed herself equal to the
call which it makes on energy and power of impas-
sioned expression both of the singer and the actress
of Leonora; and at the close of the performance she
had decidedly improved on the first impression of
her merits, favourable as that was, and on her final
summons, at the fall of the curtain, thq complete-
ness of her success was rendered obvious in the
emphatic warmth of the applause. Signor Debassini,
also newly engaged by Mr. Gye, though already
known to the London public as having appeared
at Her Majesty's Theatre, will not efface the
memory of that tuneful bone of contention, Graziani,
in he part of the Conte di Luna. He is, never-
theless, an artist of distinguished ability, although
his vocal powers are on the wane, and is perhaps,
from the greater breadth and energy of expression
which he throws into the part, a more appropriate
representative on the whole of the truculent and
ruthless rival of the TroVatore. Mr. Gye may
esteem himself fortunate in having so efficient a
tenor to recur to, when stars are unpropitious, as
Signor Neri-Beraldi, wht) greatly advanced his
estimation by his performance of Manrieo. He
has made marked progress since he was last heard,
in London, his voice Lying acquired more power,
while he exhibits greater skill and freedom in
its management. In the air sung by the Trovatore
from his place of captivity, "Ah the la morte,"
Signor Beraldi obtained and fully deserved the
honour of an encore. The Azuceva of Madame
Nantier Didier was the same admirable combina-
tion ofvocal:ability and dramatic skill, instinct with
the same thrilling truth to nature and captivating
with the same grace and skill of execution which
has contributed more especially to render this artist
one of the most prized members of Mr. Gye's com-
pany. For an opening night, to conclude as we
commenced, the performance on Saturday was an
unusually brilliant affair. The house was crowded,
the audience most fashionably composed, and every
auspicious token was afforded that the energetic
director of the Royal Italian Opera has a prosper-
ous season before him, and that he takes the field
where he is soon to meet a formidable rival (if we
may trust preparatory blasts and flourishes), assured
of a strong array of patrons and supporters.
The Queen's box was occupied by Col. the Hon.
Sir C. B. Phipps and Lady Phipps, Capt. Sayer
and Mrs. Sayer and Miss Sayer. Among the fa-
shion'able company present were his Excellency the
Ambassador of France and the Duchess de Malakoff,
the Duke and Duchess of Wellington, the Mar-
chioness of Stafford, the Marquis of Bath, the Ear]
of Carlisle, Earl Grosvenor and Lady Constance
Grosvenor, the Earl of Dalkeith, Earl Cawdor, the
Earl and Countess of Bective, the Earl of Sefton,
Viscountess Melgund and the Hon. Misses Elliot,
Viscount Exmouth, Viscount Ranelagh, Lady
Brougham and Mrs. Spalding, Lady Ernest Bruce,
Lady Panmure and Mr. Power, Lady Heslop, Lord
Adolphus Vane Tempest, M.P., Lord. Ward, Count
Louis Corti, General the Hon. H. Cavendish, Col.
the Hon. James Macdonald, Major the Hon. R.
Needham, Hon. Otway Toler, Hon. C. A.. Murray,
Hon. C. Spring Rice, Hon. Mrs. Ives, Lady Currie,
Sir Robert and Lady Emily Peel, Sir Charles
Russell, Sir George -Wombwell, Sir George Army-
tage, Sir Charles Taylor, Sir William De Bathe,
Sir Alexander Bannerman, Sir William and Lady
Clay, Sir George Bowles and Miss Bowles, the
Right Hon. J. Whiteside, Admiral Ryder Burton,
Colonel Brownlow Knox, M.P., Colonel Bigge,
Colonel Meyrick, Colonel Airey, Colonel Mitchell,
Colonel Byng, and Major Gage, Captain Vivian,
Captain Leyland, Captain Knox, Captain Clayton,
Captain Napier Sturt, Mr. Vansittart, Mr.
Gerard Sturt, M.P., Mr. Wickham, M.P., the Hon.
Misses Blake, Mr. Forbes Campbell, Mr. Theodore
Uzielli, Mr. Bonamy Dobree, Mr. Norhury, Mr.
Henry Webster, Mr. 'Kennedy Erskine, Mr. and
Mrs. C. H. Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham,
Mr. Schuster, Mr. Mildmay, Mr. Duff Gordon, Mr.
Law, Mr. Woodford, Captain Stanhope, &e.