The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-16 00:00:00

DRAMATIS PERSONS

Haroun Alraschid (Caliph of Bagdad), Mr. F. Bodda.
Abon Hassan - - Mr. Sims Reeves.
Zulieka (Hassan's Wife) - Mademoiselle Angri.
Guards, Slaves, &e., by the Chorus of the Establishment.
The scene is in Bagdad, partly before and in Hassan's
House—partly in the Caliph's Palace.
ARGUMENT.
The first scene takes place before the house of Abon
Hassan, in Bagdad. Hassan is telling an admiring party
a tale which sets forth the happiness of constant love.
On the announcement of evening prayer the party dis-
perse. When all have departed, the Caliph Haroun
Alraschid arrives in a palanquin, attended by a grand
procession. He alights, and dismissing his train, as-
sumes the disguise of a merchant, that he may examine
the manners of his subjects. He knocks at Hassan's
door, and is hospitably entertained by him and his wife
Zulieka, but is somewhat shocked by the introduction of
the forbidden liquor—wine. When left alone with Has-
san, Le infuses a drug into his cup, which sends him at
once to sleep, and then commands his slaves to bear the
sleeper to the palace.
Tne second scene takes place in the place, where
Hassan wakes, and is made to believe that he is the
Caliph, the real Caliph enjoying the scene in conceal-
ment. Clothed with his new honours, Hassan orders
presents of all sorts to be sent to Zulieka, whom the
beauties of the seraglio cannot erase from his mind; and
as a wholesome exercise of his power, be cancels the
prohibition against wine. In the midst of the revelry
consequent upon this edict, Hassan is again sent to sleep
by the Citliph's drug.
The third scene is before the house of Hassan. whose
absence causes great grief and indignities to Zulieka.
The Caliph, delighted with the constancy of Hassan,
wishes to test the virtue of Zulieka, and for this pur-
pose he courts her, in his previous disguise, but is in-
dignantly repelled.
The fourth scene is in the interior of Hassan's house.
He is brought in, still asleep, by slaves, and when he
wakes, he is so much vexed by the loss of his splendour,
that he at first treats Zulieka with unkindness. The
fond couple are, however, soon reconciled, and are con-
vinced that the supposed merchant is a magician. Ac-
cordingly, when Haroun Alraschid arrives (still dis-
guised) he is coolly received;Lbut he soon explains the
trick he has played, orders the presents to be brought in,
which Hassan bespoke in his Caliph state, and rewards
the constant pair by appointing them to high offices at
court.

The overture is amongst the most felicitous of Mr.
Macfarren's compositions, and the opening chorus
"Applaud, applaud him," at once arrests the attention
by its lively brilliancy; then follows a duet for
Zulieka and Hassan, "Oh ! where the weary heart
is blessed," which was exquisitely given by Mr.
Sims Reeves and Mademoiselle Angri; immediately
afterwards came a most dramatic preghiera, "Mighty
Alla rules the East," which contrasted most effec-
tively with the lighter music by which it had been
preceded. Our space will not allow us to give a full
analysis of the music of this delightful serenata,
and we must therefore confine ourselves to the most
remarkable of these admirable compositions. Fore-
most among these is the contralto song, " Should joy
with smiling face invite," which was deliciously ren-
dered by Mademoiselle Angri, whose pronunciation of
the English language is admirable, and so clear and
distinct as to put many of our English vocalists to
shame ; " A vision most gorgeous," which was ren-
dered by Mr. Sims Reeves with infinite spirit; a
very delightful song, "Beautiful Night," carefully
rendered by Mr. Frank Bodda, and a fine canon for
three voices, "Good Night," which is one of the most
perfect specimens of vocal part-writing of which the
English school of music, rich as it is in music of this
peculiar character, can boast. The instrumentation
throughout was full and complete, and Mr. Macfarren
has amply availed himself of the immense orchestral
resources placed at his disposal. The success of this
serenata was triumphant, and at the conclusion
there were loud calls for Mr. Macfarren. The theatre
was crowded to excess by one of the most delighted
audiences ever assembled within its walls.

LIFE BOATS.—Arnong the various contrivances
for diminishing the risks to which the lives of our maritime
population are exposed, the life-boat is unqueetionably en-
titled to the highest praise; but it is equally certain that the
life-boats which are at present in use fall far short of the
perfection attainable. Great loss of life having occurred
from time to time on the coast of Northumberland, and
other parts by the upsetting of life-boats, the Duke of
Northumberland, with the benevolent view of improving in
future the construction of such boats, by the judicious
disposition of the centres of gravity and buoyancy, has
offered 100 guineas for the best model of a life-boat;
and a number of scientific and naval gentlemen have formed
themselves into a committee to examine the models and
conduct the requisite experiments. The Royal National In-
stitution for the Preservation of Lives from Shipwreck
(which has already expended nearly 4,4001. on life-boats and
other ipforoved means of saving lives from shipwreck) has
offered an: additional 100 guineas to build a life-boat after
the model which hie Grace may approve of. It is consi-
dered that the chief 'objections to the present life-boats are—
firzt, that they do not right themselves in the event of being
upset; secondly, that they are too heavy to be launched or
transported along the coast in case of need; thirdly, that
they do not free themselves of water fast enough; and,
fourthly, that they are very expensive.

ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THE OLD VICTORY.--It
has of late been confidently stated that the old-time-and-
cir.limstance-honoured ship, Nelson's Victory, was to be put
out of commission, and to be laid up, or broken up, and that
another—a seagoing ship—was to substituted as the flag-
ship for Portsmouth. We are glad, however, to be enabled
to state that such is not the fact. The old Victory, it ii true,
is to be paid off on the 2d of December next ; but the Admi-
ralty have ordered her to re-hoist the Port Admiral's flag at
the main the next day, and to continue in commission.—
United Service Gazette.

GOTHIC ROMAN CATHOLIC PALACE.--A very hand-
some residence, a Gothic palace, is now nearly finished for
the new Boman Catholic Bishop of Clifton. -It is situate
behind the chapel (nearer to 'York-place). This, with the
convent of the Sisters of Mercy, the schools, the chapels,
&c., form quite a little Roman Catholic colony in that part of
Clifton. The Cathedral or Church of the Holy Apostles is
to have a new Gothic casing.--Bristol Times.

TIIE SHARE MARKETS.

BRITISH RAILWAYS.

Paid.

oniiital Prices.

JO
8 6 8

13 14 0

100
174

178 1 2

8% to 8%
dis.

6 —6% dls.

% - 1 p.

27 -29
26 -27

23i
1 1 0

74- 8%13
6- 7 p

234
too

10 -11

11 13 41
100
23%

100
42%

4 2 01

67 - 66%
17% - 17%
944 - 10
hyi, -5%

1N -11
10 - 10%

.. • •
28 —26 dia.

1% -2
114-1%

1 -1 k

.• - ••
6 -SS

Par —U P

11% - 11%

b 5 —57
56 66%
5 —4% p

•• - •
4% - 4•

19 - 19,,i

30U -29%
23 -25

•• - ••
'A - 34

13% - 14
3h - 414
10% - 10%
11N -12%

35u - 35%
-

1242-- - 245'

70 -711,4
5q 5 (Us,
96 —9B
48 48%
21),i —22 y.
62 —bl%
3 354 p.
46% 47%
135, 13 dis.
8 734 dis.
Sri 8 dis.

12% 12% die,

714 —6% dis
14y4 95

—]o
3 —2% db.
34 3 dig.
i % % dis.
4L d 1 % P

7 -7%

84 - 84)4

1034 10%
60

55 -60

136 - 138
11 -111 A

- 24

117 , —llB
2% —2% IL,
3% —3 p.
2. —2% p.
68% 67%
16% 15% di*,
14 Lidfs.
2 --2%p,

12 -14

4% 41( ale,

19% - 20%
- 9
13% -0%

3% 314 die,
41% —42%

22% 23 dirs.
22 21%

124 - 125

29 16 0

100
47%

•• -- •
1 li - •1%

2 12 0

17 —l9
15 —l4 die.
14 —l6
--4

6% —7
4% 5
10 —lO dls.

16 - 17%
41 -41%
7 - 7%p.

1814 - 18
-
7%
- 1 p.
10% - 10

8% 73( Me,
6% 6 as.
9% B•si

10 -- 13
5 6
8
1 dlB.
13 13%
3% 3%d1)
10 —lO%
10% 11
4 —3% dls
19X 20%

.. - ..
25% - 26

'4% dia.

.. ..
9 7 dim

3 -3%
4 - N
14 - 14%

.. - ..
23 - 21%

44 - 44%

16% - 17

8 —B% dis.

4U 4 dis.
143yi 15yi
—3%

23 223(
171 2 dIS.
:IGN.

2 -2
7% -7%

13% - 144

534 b 3 die.
14— % Pm.

34 pm.
die % pm.

34 - 1
1% -1%
-
7 - 736
14 -14

4%-- 4% Ms.
19 —3l

23%
6% dls.
9%

..
10% dig,

1 -2

;K BANKS.
29 - 284
43 - 42%

-243 j
...—• a.
2734

17N -
42% -
15% -
13 -

Business done
to-day.

10 97ii
i,i,

14%
.4s %

71% 71 72
[7l►% %

p
47N 5¢ 48
2g g g

7% % X

8% %

425 li
12% %

7% dia.
dia.

20% 20%

17X %

12 12X

23 % IA
8% t%

14% %

.. .._
1214 --

14% %

18
43%
16
13M

rovember. Ticks.
Lccount days, 1511