The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-18 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

lug :-

On Saturday evening "La Traviata" was per-
formed for the first time at the Royal Italian Opera,
with Madame Bosio as the heroine. In the first
act the fair songstress delighted every oue. In the
famous " Libiamo," Madame Bosio achieved her
first musical success ; and it were difficult indeed to
imagine a more brilliant or tasteful rendering of its
catching tune. In the " Sempre libera," Madame
Bosio was triumphantly successful ; and, at the
end of the act which terminates with this piece, was
honoured with two enthusiastic recalls.

Signor Mario has rarely if ever distinguished
himself more honourably than on this occasion,
when he personated Alfredo for the first time in
Loudon. The joyous abandon of his " Libiamo,"
the intense passion of his "Un di felice," were
truthful in conception as they were surpassingly
beautiful in execution.
The fine voice of Signor Graziani was heard to
the best advantage in the music of Germont ; and
the minor characters were very efficiently filled by
Signori Tagliafico' Polonini, and Zelger. The
house was crowded, and there were numerous
encores and recalls.

The Queen's box was occupied by the Marquis and
Marchioness of Ely, Count Louis Corti and party. The
Duke of Bedford's box contained the Duchess of Bed-
ford, Lord Francis Russell, and Lady Hislop. Among
the leading fashionables present were his Excellency
the Russian Minister and the Countess Chrepto-
witch, his Excellency the Austrian Minister and the
Countess d'Apponyi, the Duke of Montrose, the Earl
Cawdor, the Earl of Coventry, the Marchioness
of Westmeath, the Earl Granville, the Earl of Gifford,
tbe Earl of Anneeley, the Countess Clare, the Countess
of Kinnoull and Miss Rowley, the Countess Beauchamp,
Viscount Exmouth, Viscountess Dillon and the Hon.
Miss Dillon, Lady Rivers and the Hon. Misses Pitt,
Lady Howard de Walden and the Hoo. Miss Charlotte
Ellis, Lord and Lady Ernest Bruce, Lady Alice Peel
and Miss Peel, Baron and Baroness de Rothschild,
Count Battbyany, Lady O'Connor and Miss O'Connor,
Lady Henrietta Ogilvy, Lady Eleanor Cavendish and
Mr. Cavendish, Count Chotek, Lady Emily Peel and
the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Stonor, Hon. Captain
Gerard Noel, Hon. F. Boyle, Hon. Leopold A. Ellis,
Hon. Mr. and Mrs. H. Liddell, Col. de Bathe, Colonel
and Mrs. Smith, Major Gage, &c.

ST: JAMES'S THEATRE.

BOUFFES PARISIENS.

There can be little doubt as to the success of the
above species of entertaiument, which Mr. Mitchell
is about to introduce to the London public. The
English v'isitors to Paris during the Universal Ex-
hibition crowded into the little theatre in the
Champs Elysees, where the Bouffes Parisiens were
just then e)miag into note. Those who had there
the enjoyment of hearing M. Pradeau iu " Une
Reve d'un Nuit d'Ete," give his capital caricature
of an Englishman in pursuit of pleasure at the Jar-
din Mabille or Chateau des Fleurs, will be glad to
revive in St. James's such comical reminiscences,
and the reputation of the Bouffes Parisiens which
has pre(ieded their arrival will doubtless make others
anxiou s to judge for themselves. In the pro.
gratmr,e for the opening night, on Wednesday next,
we observe "L's Deux Avengles," which, both on
account of the di ollery of the subject and the music
of M. Offenbach, was one of the most popular of
the little pieces played at the Bouffes. The prin-
cipal morceau is the subject of a waltz, a favourite
in th.e salons of Paris. The remainder of *the pro-
gran ime for Wednesday evening consists of "M'sieu
Lan dry," and the celebrated chinoiserie musicale
Bit-PA-Clan. Each of these aro good specimens of
the Parisian burlesque, musical and farcical, which
M. Offenbach has introduced with such wonderful
s tie:ess in Paris. We feel assured the novelty will
lie equally well appreciated by the more serious
Lion d ;:mers.

SHIP LETTER MAILS TO THE BRAZILS.—Sonth-
SlMpton, May 16.—Tne Postmaster-General has notified
to Messrs. Ctoskey and Co., the agents at this port of
the Hamburg and Brazilian Steam Navigation, that
hereafter ship letter bags
,for the Brazils will be made
up for transmission by the company's steamships sailing
from Southampton. _

LATEST NEWS.

THE TREATY WITH PERSIA.
The Moniteur of yesterday publishe3 the follow-

" CONSTANTINOPLE, STAY 16.

" The treaty of peace between Persia and Eng-
land was ratified on the 14th of April at Teheran,
and forwarded on the 17th to Bagdad."

SETTLEMENT OF THE NEUFCHATEL
QUESTION.

PARIS, MAY 17.

Prussia accepts the terms proposed, and Switzer-
land having already accepted them, the question is
settled.

THE BETROTHAL OF THE PRINCESS
ROYAL.

BERLIN, SUNDAY,

The betrothal of Prince Frederick William of
Pi ussia with the Princess Royal of England is pub-
lished in the Staats-Anzeiger (official gazette) of
to-day as a piece of most gratifying intelligence.

THE OVERLAND MAIL.
INDIA AND PERSIA.
We have received our despatches in anticipation
of the Overland Mail. The dates are :—Bombay,
April 16 ; Calcutta, April 9 ; Madras, April 15 ;
Galle, April 19 ; Hong-Kong, March 29.
The summary of the Bombay Times contains
copious details of the proceedings in the Persian
Gulf, hilt the intelligence is not of later date than
that 'communicated in the despatches given in
The Sun; of Saturday last.
The deaths of General Stalker and Commodore
Ethersidge are plainly attributable, says the Bom-
bay Times, to identical causes, remote and imme-
diate. "Both men should have been in Eu-
rope on sick leave, instead of directing
operations in the Gulf. In each instance the ner-
vous system was evidently shattered by the climate,
and quite unequal to encounter, except under the
influence of casual strong excitement, the extraor-
dinary responsibility thrust upon it. For some
days prior to the 14th ultimo, on which the un-
happy general destroyed himself, it was observed
that he was unusually depressed, and it is generally
believed that recent heavy pecuniary losses had
come to supplement the harassing responsibilities
of his position, and destroy the energies already
undermined by disease, and fainting under an ex-
aggerated estimate of what was required from him.
It was determined that he should command at Bu-
shire, in the absence of General Outram, who
would conduct the operations against Mohamra,
and he seems to have imagined that the force to be
left at his disposal was inadequate to the ser-
vice. There is not the shadow of a suspicion that
any unpleasantness occurred between him and Gene.
ral Outram, a friendship the most chivalric and ar-
dent subsisting between them. They breakfasted
together in the company of the staff, on the morn-
ing of his death, and no one observed any alteration
in his manner. He rose from the table, and
having called upon several of his staff all of whom
unhappily were out, proceeded to his own tent,
where a pistol shot was heard ten minutes
afterwards, and the unhappy general was found
in the agony of death. Several of the witnesses
testify to his nervous and undue apprehension
for the troops during the approaching hot weather.
Certain it is, the men and officers loved the gallant
old man, who thus cared for them with no ordinary
love, and his memory saddens every heart. It is but
right to add that one of the witnesses, Col. Lugard,
asserts his strong belief that the explosion of the
pistol was accidental. The verdict, however, deter-
mined that the general destroyed himself in a lit of
temporary insanity.
" The gloom that was cast over the camp by this
melancholy event, was to be deepened ere long by
another equally, if not more painful. On the morn-
ing of the 16th ultimo, two days after the death of
Stalker, a rumour spread through the camp that
the Commodore of the Navy, Capt. Ethersidge, haul
destroyed himself in the night, and .but tuo well
founded was it. It had been matter of remark
for some time that the Commodore, a most able
and talented man, was suffering from mental ex-
citement of no ordinary kind, and it is much to be
regretted that a too nice sense of honour should
have kept him with the force when his state evi-
dently demanded that he should invalid for a time.
'On the night of his death he had been poring over
despatches recently received from Sir H. Leeke,
and a memorial to the Government of Bombay lay
beside them on his dressing table. It would seem
that, tired and confused, sick and in despair, he at
last placed the pistol at his head and destroyed him-
self. These despatches and that memorial were
sprinkled with his blood, but if we are to believe the
government account of the inquest, which we pub-
lish elsewhere, none of these documents were looked
into, to find the cause of that madness which they
agreed had led to the act."
At the inquest on the body of Commodore
Ethersidge the following memoranda, found in his
diary, were put in :
Dated January 22d; 1857, Thursday.
" My poor head is sadly confused ; I have frequent
dreadful nervous attacks at times."
Dated 11th March, 1857, Wednesday.
" Had a bad night last night."
Dated 12th March, 1857, Thursday.
" I feel more and more my unfitness to command. I
am broken down—my head gone, and the terrible re-
sponsibility, I shall make mess of it."—(sic is orig.)
Dated 14th March, 1857, Saturday.
" Heard of poor Stalker's melancholy death. His
case is similar to my own. He was unequal to the
responsibility imposed on him—(a blank line intervenes
then). I have had a wretched night."
Dated 16th March, 1857, Monday.
" A bad night—took opium—but the dose was too
large—it made me ill for some hours. Hugh Lindsay
and Napier started for river ; it promised to be calm,
but three hours after she left, it set in furious from the
southward and south-eastward. I feel for the little
vessel, and that iit wll be the first mishap of this
wearisome expedition.
These extracts end his diary. His death took place
on the following day. An unfinished paper sufficiently
exhibits his failing condition. This was found in his
diary :—" I feel tbat I am unequal to the responsibility
of conducting the present large fleet. My head is gone.
I have no longer any confidence in my own judgment—
have lost all energy, and act entirely upon the sugges-
tions of those around me. lam dreadfully nervous, and
the slightest occurrence agitates me, more especially
(sic in orig) to a degree that renders me incapable of
acting, or prompt action. Anything that goes wrorg,
for which I am responsible, quite unnerves me for a
time."

The verdict was, " The Court, after delibera-
tion, is of opinion that the late Commodore Eller-
sidge destroyed himself with his own hand, whilst
suffering under mental aberration, brought about
long continued anxieties connected with the duties
of his command ;" and in General Stalker's case :
—"The Court having maturely weighed and con-
sidered the whole of the evidence before them and
viewed the body, come to the opinion that the late
Major-General Stalker came by his death from a
pistol shot inflicted by his own hand in a fit of tem-
porary insanity."
The Bengal papers are filled with the particulars
of the mutiny of the 19th Regt. Native Infantry,
which has ended in the disbandment of that corps,
and the spread of disaffection to the 34th Regiment
Native Infantry.
The Governors of the presidencies are at the seats
of their administreion.
A further improvement has taken place in the
Bombay money market, and we have to report a
further rise in 4 pPr cent. paper ; the business
transacted in the import market during the fort-
night has been to a fair extent ; freights have fallen
in value and exhibit a downward tendency.

COMMEBCIAL INTELLIGELCE.
BOMBAY APRIL 13.
_

A further improvement has taken place'in our money
market during the fortnight, and the Banks have again
reduced their rates of discount 1 per cent. ail round,
which now range from 4 to 8 per cent, and as bullion in
quantity has arrived and is about to arrive, we are of opi-
nion that low rates of interest must role for some time
to come.

We have to report a further rise in 4 per cent. paper,
which we not.; quote 86 and fives par to / premium ;
some few of our local joint stock shares have also im-
proved in value.
Imports.—Cotton Piece Goods.—The market has un-
dergone little or no change since the date of our last
report, and the rates continue firm. The business trans-
acted during the fortnight has been to a fair extent.
Grey Sbirtings, low, are in active inquiry ; Madapol-
lams are steady ; and Domestics are without any
noticeable change. T. Clutha and Cambrics are scarce,
and prices in consequence have advanced. Grey Jaco-
nets are in steady inquiry.
Bleaching Goods.—ln this market we have had no
noticeable change in the course of the fortnight.
Yarns continue rather firm ; are of some sorts is bet-
ter demand, and have advanced in prices.
Metals.—These continue nearly firm, with one or two
exceptions.
Exports.—Cotton Wool—This material has further
advanced, though the arrivals appear to be larger than
before.
Oil Seeds have lately declined a little, from one to two
anise.

Opiurn.—This drug has improved in yaks, owing to
the mama of the stock and otter causes. We quote

at Indore as Rs. 1,060, and Mendlesir at Its. 1,070 per
chest. The steamer Pekin, which starts this day fur the
Chinese ports, take above 1,100 chests on board.
Tonnage.—Freights have gone down in value, and
still exhibit a downward tendency. We quote London
at 21. 15s. to 31., and Liverpol at 21. 13s. 64. to 21. 17s.
Exchange.—Two banks have been drawing for this
steamer at 2s. lid. six months' sight, China drawn bills
fetching 2s. 1 11-161 d. to 2s. lid., and local bills and
documents, 2s. lid. to 2-. lid. On Calcutta, sight,
Rs. 100 g. On China, sixty clays' sight, R 3. 220. Ou
China, sixty days' sight, Re. 991.
CALCUTTA, APRIL 3.
In our produce market, transactions during the fort-
night under review have not been to any extent—not
that a good demand does not exist for our leading
articles, but owing to the rather large advance in
freights, and the still higher prices of produce, which
have ruled since our last report. Those articles,
however, which are not much affected by the advance'
in freights, have continued in brisk inquiry, more
as our exchange has assumed' a down-
ward tendency. Very little has been done in indigo,
of which the greater portion of the past season's crop
has already been exported. A n excellent, though not
general demand, has prevailed for sugar at enhanced
prices. A good business has been done in saltpetre, and
the market closes firmly. Raw silk continues in great
favour, but the extraordinary high figures paid for the
ankle renders buyers less sanguine. In cordhs, nothing
has been done, Hides continue to sell, but without any
alteration in prices, . excepting indifferent qualities,
which are lower. Jute in moderate request, and not
much offering in the market. Linseed is freely taken for
America, but for Great Britain a moderate business in
progress. Lac dye and shell lac are not much dealt in.
Our import market, especially as regards British
cotton piece goods, has scarcely shown signs of activity.
At this time of the year, the market generally remains
languid, nor has the present season been an exception.
The approaching termination of the native year, the in-
different advices from the marts in the Upper Provinces,
and the accumulation of many descriptions of cloths,
have all combined to restrict operations, although facia•
ties are greater, owing to the improved state of the
money market. Under such circumstances, we have but
a very moderate amount of transactions to report.
Metals have a'tracted greater attention, and under the
influence of a better demand, a firmness has been im-
parted to the market, and in many instances prices
have taken an upward tendency.
-Money Market—The improvement noticed in our last
continues unchecked, and confidence is gradually gain-
ing. ground. On Thursday last the directors of the Bank
of Bengal reduced their rates of interest and discount
one per cent. all round. The banks's last statement
of liabilities and assets for the week ending on the 14
inst., compared with the statement given in our last,
shows a decrease of cash from Its. 89,34, 190 In to Rs.
87,62, 005-8-3, although the amount of Mint Certifi-
cates has increased from Rs. 14,00, 810-12.6 to Rs.
48,81,475-10.4.

CHINA.
The advices brought by this mail are of compa-
ratively an unimportant character.
The steamer Zenobia, with troops from Madras,
had arrived at Hong Kong, as also had H. M.S. V.
Inflexible and the gunboat Starling.
The steamer John was lost by striking upon a
rock to the south side of Tong-ying, having on
board a large and valuable cargo—crew saved. Rice
had reached fauaine prices in China, and the people
were said to be " perishing in numbers."
An appeal had been made to Admiral Seymour
for a man-of-war to be stationed off the Brothers,
to protect the small craft trading betwixt Hong
Kong and Macao, on which the market supplies so
much depend. His Excellency has hitherto been
short-handed.

Rumours were at one time rifeabout anticipated
disturbances in Macao, and threats held out against
the city by the Chinese. They seem to resolve
themselves, however, into an attempt on the
part of the Mandarins to obtain access to the
settlement, for the purpose of extorting money
from natives in European employ.
A spirited affair, which had taken place within
the fortnight, is thus narrated by the China Mail :
"A daring, gallant, and successful attack has
been made during the past' week upon seventeen
armed junks, by two boats, of H.M. steamer
Hornet, which shows that the spirit of their fore-
fathers is not dead, but still slumbers within the
breasts of our brave tars, and that opportunity alone
is required to draw it forth. The boats were in
charge of Lieut. Brock and Mr. Brown (mate),
who have well earned the promotion which we cor-
dially trust awaits them.
From information supplied by two Chinese, whose

junks had been captured by a large fleet of pirates
iu the vicinity of St. John's, the Hornet was de-
spatched early on Wednesday morning, the 19th
inst., in search for them, with orders to take with
her the Auckland, then cruizing about Lantao,
if she fell in with her. Not seeing the Auckland,
the Hornet proceeded on towards St. John's,
off which island she remained until daylight, and
then went into Sha-tye Bay. Nothinc, suspici-
ous being seen there, and the Chinese informantsa
stating that the pirates had gone to another bay
adjoining, the Hornet went on towards Sandy Bay
on nearing which a small, suspicious-looking
fishing-boat was observed sailing outside the bay.
She was thought alongside, and it was found that
she had been chartered by a shopkeeper belonging
to Macao to take him to the pirate fleet, which had
captured a boat of his—his object there being to
purchase the release of one of his partners, who
had bean taken prisoner, and for which purpose
be had a sum of money with him. The boatwas
directed to go into Sha-tye Bay and try to ascertain
where the pirates had gone to; the Hornet remain-
ing at anchor, preparing to return to Hong Kong
should nothing be heard of the pirates. Some time
after, the boat came back with information that
she had been warned by some fishermen not to go
into Sha-tye, as there were five small pirate boats
inside, round a point, and that only two days pre-
vious a large number had been in Sandy Bay. It
was then determined to search the bay, and the
Hornet having gone into three fathoms water,
anchored, and manned her four boats. Captain
Forsyth pulled in his gig. followed by the pinuace
with a howitzer in charge of Mr. Brown, one cut-
ter with a rocket-tube in charge of Lieut. Brock,
and another cutter in charge of Mr. Denison. On
rounding a rocky point of land, the gig suddenly
observed several junks' masts. Captain Forsyth
backed his boat astern, and ordered the pinnace
and cutter to pull up ; and as soon as they came
in sight of the junks a shot was fired at them,
which fell near the pinnace. This was instantly
returned,. and several other shots again
fired. Finding the junks were prepared for an at-
tack, Captain Forsyth lauded with Mr. Denison's
and his own boat's crews, together with all the
marines, on the point of laud, and from its top kept
up a sharp fire with the minies, the pinnace and
rocket cutter still keeping up their fire, which was
briskly returned' by the pirates. This lasted for
about half-an-hour, when Messrs. Brock and
Brown, finding they were so much exposed deter-
mined to make a dash ; and as soon as the word was
given, the men gave three cheers and pulled in.
The cheers were returned by those on the hill,
and Captain Forsyth led the party down towards
the junks, still keeping up the minie firing.
As the two boats approached, the pirates deserted
their guns and took to the water, and their junks
being all aground, they easily got on shore and
took to the hills. All the pirate junks, 17 in num-
ber, were then taken possession of, and iu the fore-
most one were found one European and one Goa
Portuguese ; they were made prisoners. The junks
were found to be armed with 73 guns of various
sizes, besides small arms. Captain Forsythdid not
consider it prudent to set fire to the junks, as they
were, for the guns could be easily fished up again ;
he therefore determined to wait until he could get
two or three of them afloat, to place all the guns
into them, and then set fire to the disarmed junks.
This could not be effected till Friday, when tley
were entirely destroyed. The junks containing
the guns were next sailed out into deep water,
and the guns thrown overboard, atter which the
junks themselves were set on fire and cast adrift:
The Hornet then took in her boats and left the
bay, but anchored under the island for the night.
Next day she got under weigh, and stood for the
Ladrones, intending to look into Lingting. On
Sunday morning accordingly she did so, but could
see nothing suspicious. . She then passed Chekchu,
and came in through the Ly-yu-moon passage to
Hong Kong.
The capture of a few fishing boats by pirates is
recorded.
On the 29th of March the Exchange on London
at Hong Kong was 4s. Bd. to 4s. 10d.
Exchange at Shanhae was Gs. 11d. to 7s.
The export of tea this season, from Ist July to
15th March had been—from Canton, 19;674,0001b. ;
Fuhchau, 15,744,6001 b. ; Shanghai, 15,908,0001 b.
giving a total for the season 1856-7, as far as yet
ascertained, of 51,426,6001 b. ; against 67,796,9001 b.
at the same date last year—the decrease this season
being 16,370,3001 b. The silk exported has been
61,807 bales, against 33,635 bales, last sea Eon, the
increase this season being 28,172 bales.
Raw silk for Marseilles, per Peninsular and
Oriental steamers—July 1.315; August, 793; Sep-
tember, 906 ; October (Mali a and Shanghai) 2,218 ;
November, 1,429 ; December, 1,406 ; January,
705 ; February, 272 ' • March, 648 bales.
The Hong Kong begister, March 24, gives the
state of the markets at that date as follows
" Since the departure of the mail steamer on the
15th there has been a good demand for drug both
here and at Masao, and prices have advanced con-
siderably. To-day quotations are—Patna new, 470
dais. to 472.50 dole. ; old 440 dole. Benares new,
465 dols. to 470 dos ; old, 440 dols. to 445 dols.
Malwa, 485 doh, The cotton left in the Canton
pack-houses is gradually being worked off by the
Chinese in whose hands it was placed, but at low
rates, the brokers though refusingto come here find-