The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-30 00:00:00

THE.I7'RE ROYAL L 1' CEUAL

Madame Celeste, in addition to tle charming extrava-
ganza.and pantomime with which she opened the Christ •
mas season, and to the merits of which we paid duo homage
in our paper of Tuesday, last night introduced, for the first
time, to a London audience, two distinguished Spanish
dancers, the Dona Isabel Cubas and Don Juan Ximenes,
who have recently been creating a perfect furore on the
continent, at Pesth, Turin, Vienna, Milan, Odessa, and at
the Sultan's Theatre at Constantinople. These accom-
plished artistes have just concluded an engagement at
Odessa, and on their way to Paris wore secured by Madame
Celeste for a short engagement in London. The Senora
was happily introduced in that scene of the extravaganza,
where the agitated Paterfamilias (Mr. Rouse), quite over-
come with " the difficulties of tlo, situation," exclaims—
"My mind is weary of afflirs of state,"

(turning to the Chamberlain, and giving him an energetic
dig in the ribs)
" Have you no novelty arrived of late ? "

To which the Chamberlain (Mr. Forest) replies—
" Your Majesty forgets : a Spanish dancer,
Of most attractive charms, awaits your answer;
And I declare these eyes have never seen a
More lovely specimen of Ballerina!
A perfect beauty ! Form and face combined,
Graceful as fawn that runs before the wind !
Moro fatal to the Moor would be the glances
From her bright eyes, than fifty Spanish lances."

The immediate appearance of the Dona fully justified the
compliment involved in these lines, and a most cordial round
of applause welcomed the lady. In appearance the Dona
Isabel Cubas embodies the idea which we have been accus-
tomed to attach to those magnificent Andalusian beauties,
who have maddened the brains of both Moors and Christians,
and have been the theme of some of the most charming
compositions of the Spanish muse. Her costumes (for the
audience were delighted with two sets of national charac-
teristic dances) were at once simple and costly, and distin-
guished by a contrast of colour, evincing the most correct
taste. Her dancing emphatically belongs to the granu'iose
school, if wo may use the expression. and has nothing inn
common with that petite elegance which rendered Perea
Nena so great a favourite some seasons since, but the energy
and activity which we were, of course, prepared to witness
in Spanish dancing, is by Dona Isabel subdued by most
exquisite elegance and refinement, which produced so de-
cided an effect upon the discriminating audience, as
to leave us no hesitation in declaring her debut was
a complete success. It is but justice to observe that Dona
Isabel Cubas was most ably supported by Don Juan
Ximenes, whose movements were distinguished by great
grace and feeling. It is scarcely necessary to add that both
were recalled at the close of each of their dances to receive
the warmest marks of approbation from the audience. The
compliment was recognised by the bells senora with an in-
describable charm, which must be witnessed to be tho•
roughly appreciated. We have devoted so much space to
the event of the evening, that we have but little room to
spare to do justice to the perfection which has been attained
in the " working" of the extravaganza. Too much praise
cannot be bestowed on Mr. W. West, the very able stage-
manager, and on Mr. Loder, the chef d'orchestre, by whose
united and indefatigable efforts (for they must necessarily
act in concert) the present completeness of the entire pro-
duction has been secured. The effect of the transformation
scene has also been rendered infinitely more brilliant by the
" Apotheosis of the Chrysalis," which is now the centre
and distinguished feature of the scene, together with the
revolving spiral glass columns, the lake of pure looking..
glass, reflecting the fairy forms of the water-nymphs
upon its bosom, the admirable disposition of the fern loaves,
and the Whole suffused with intense brilliancy of varied
tints, combine to accomplish one of the most finished artistic
displays which, we may venture to say, has ever been pro.
duced on any stage. Of the performers, we may add that
Mr. Rouse has already firmly established himself with the
Lyceum audience, by his very cleier personation of Pater-
familias ; and Mr. l'orest,' as the Chamberlain, deserves
more than a passing notice for the carefulness with which
he renders his part, and delivers the lines allotted to him.
As to the Princess Imperiosa, it is painful to reflect that
the very ability which we most admire in Miss Hudspeth,
as completely identifying herself with the "Pet," may
possibly leave some permanent traces upon that good
humour and amiability which aro said to be that young
lady's natural characteristics. Let us 11 not. Miss
4.
Julia St. George, as the Prince, leaves nothing to be de-
; and we sincerely trust that the liberal and devoted
energy of the management will meet with its well• merited
reward in an overflowing treasury.

A telegram received in anticipation of the Aus-
tralian mail mentions the sailing from Melbourne for Eng-
' land of the ships Water Nymph and Donald 111‘lia,y. The
former has £136,000 in &gold, and the latter probably a large
amount. The Weld-et, Ellen Hood, and Herald of the
Morning had arrived from this country, arid the Suffolk
was off Cape Otway, near Melbourne. The telegraph adds
that the Herald of the Morningc, had been " burnt" at Mel-
bourne. This vessel, which registered 1,355 tons, sailed
front Liferpool on the 2nd August with Government emi-
grants, all of whom i; is . believed, were lauded previous to
the waster.