The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-02 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

Lisbon dates are of the 27th November, when
the following foreign vessels of war were anchored
in the river :—Prussian brig Hela, Spanish corvette
Villa de Bilbao, and French steamer Etoile, which
had arrived from St. Louis on the 21st ; the English
steamer Handy, Captain Glover, which had arrived
the previous day from Villa Garcia.
The American ship Corinthian, from Cardiff,
bound to Alicante, which had put into Lisbon for
repairs, was burnt at her moorings on the 25th ult.,
supposed from spontaneous combustion.
Lisbon exchanges, for three months, were quoted
for this mail :—London, 53Z, 531 ; Paris, 530 ;
Amsterdam, 42, 50 ; Hamburg, 48 ; Genoa, 528.

ROYAL ENGLISTI OPERA, COVENT-

GARDEN.

Balfe's new opera " The Puritan's Daughter" was
produced on Saturday evening with a degree of
success which even Balfe himself, the most success-
ful of English composers, has scarcely ever
achieved; nor has he ever been more deserving of
success. We feel convinced, indeed, that this, iris
latest work, is also the most matured and richest
fruit of his genius. It has all the qualities to which
its author owes his reputation—a reputation which
in days to come will be still higher than it is now.
For Balfe is not one of the ephemeral writers of the
time. Among his numerous works there are some
which will live among the classic productions of
his art, and '• The Puritan's Daughter" will live
as long as any of them. It is strongly marked with
that individuality of style which no musician, be
his genius what it may, ever acquires otherwise
than gradually, and by long experience and prac-
tice in his art, and which in this opera is as con-
spicuous as in those of Rossini and Auber.
The subject of "The Puritan's Daughter" belongs
to the time of " The Merry Mon'arch," who is him-
self a principal character of the drama. The period
is posterior to the restoration, when the Puritans,
though subdued, were still active and dangerous.
The performance cannot be praised too highly.
From beginning to end of the opera it was super-
excellent. Miss Louisa Pyne was a charming re-
presentative of Mary Wolf. Her action was full
of spirit and feeling ; and her singing breathed the
very soul of melody. Santley's vocal powers were
as great and his histrionic powers greater than
ever. As a dramatic baritone he has now no
superior, and his progress as an actor has lately
been remarkable. Harrison's Rochester was not
only a fine vocal performance, but a masterpiece of
true comedy. Miss Susan Pyne and Mr. Honey as
the comic pair, contributed vastly to the pleasant-
ness of the piece : and of Patey as the King, Corri
as Colonel Wolf, and St. Albyn as Seymour, we
can truly say they were the right men in the right
places. The orchestra and chorus were admirable,
and the nzise en scene complete and beautiful, as is
always the case at this theatre.
The triumph of the opera, and of its performance,
was complete. The house was full to overflowing,
the principal performers, and the composer, after
having been called for several times during the
piece, were called for again at the fall of the cur-
tain, together with Mr. Bridgman, the author of
1 the drama, and Mr. Mellon, the chef d'orchestre ;
and all received warm expressions of public favour.

CAPTAIN MOIR, OF THE TRENT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The spirited conduct of Captain Moir,
commander of the West India royal mail steam
packet Trent, fully deserves, and I hope will re-
ceive, a fitting recognition, not only from Govern-
ment, but also from the public and from his own
company,
The present occasion is not the first on which he
has been under hostile fire in the service of his

country.
When chief officer 3f the Orinoco, steam trans-
port, and serving with the English fleet in the
action before Sebastopol, that vessel had to tow the
Albion and other disabled men-of-war out of the
thickest of the fight.

Capt. Moir's humanity is equal to his gallantry
. . .

Allput 13 years since he, at great personal risk,
rescued from impending destruction the captain,
passengers, and crew of a Dutch East Indiaman,
and was presented by the King of Holland with a
large gold medal in acknowledgment of his ser-
vices.

Of his prudence he has just giving a striking
example, additions to which could be readily
quoted.
A thorough gentleman, of most scrupulous
honour, a sincere friend, a skilful and most cour-
teous commander, and possessing talents which
would have done credit to her Majesty's service,
Captain Moir exhibits all those high qualities
which are usually combined in the
ENGLISH NAVAL OFFICER.