The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-31 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE ITALIAN OPERA

IN PARIS.

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The Theatre Italien will open on Saturday, the 9th
November, with Bellini's opera of La Sonnambula,
in which M. Calzolari will perform the character of
Elvino and Madame Sontag that of Amine. With
regard to another of the artistes of this theatre, a
cause was brought before the Tribunal de Commerce
on Saturday last, under rather singular circumstances.
M. Freyberg, director of the Italian Theatre of the
Kceidgstadt at Berlin, had come to Paris to contend
with Mr. Lumley for a young and charming canta-
trice, who, under the name of Mme. Fiorentini,
had appeared with much éclat at the close of the last
season at her Majesty's Theatre in London. M.
Freyberg estimated the loss he should sustain by being
deprived of this young artiste's services at no less
than 80,000 f., which he claimed as damages from
Mr. Lumley. The tribunal decided that there was
nothing in the facts of the case to support the de-
mand of M. Freyberg, and the claims of the Berlin
director were non-suited, by which decision this
young and brilliant singer remains attached to the
Theatre Italien of Paris.

THE DAVIS' STRAITS WHALE FISITERY.—The
True Love and the Anne, of Hull, arrived at that port on
Saturday last from Davis Straits. They bring no news later
than that of the Ist of October, the particulars of which have
already been published. The True Love has but three, and
the Anne but two fish. The fishery has been very unsuc-
ces,ful, the ice having been toe closely packed to allow the
ships to penetrate into the parts most abounding with
whales. It is estimated that the whole produce of the fish-
ing will not amount to one-half that of last season,
although the ships engaged are only eight less in number
than those employed in 1849. The other vessels belonging

to Hull left the ice in company with the two just arrived;
they are, therefore, on their way borne. The True Love
brings official dispatches from Captain Austin, Sir John
Ross, and Commander Forsyth, which have been duly for-
warded to the Lords of the Admiralty, but which contain no
information in respect to the missing voyagers.

A LADY ORATOR.—The meeting of the Canford
Estate Agricultural Show was marked by the striking inci-
dent of a speech by the lady of the principal guest—in this
instance the Baronct of that ilk, Sir John Guest. The Can-

ford estate is Sir John's property, and the " yearly agricul-
tural show" is described as " more correctly the yearly en-
couragement given to his tenantry" by the liberal landlord,
who subscribes nearly all the prizes offered for competition.
The meeting was held on the `2d, and Mr. Divett, M.l'.,
did the chief honours of speech-making; but after the prizes
were awarded, Lady Guest rose from beside her husband, and
said—" I am taking an unusual course, but I wish very
much to propose to you a toast which lies near to my heart
The prosperity of the labouring classes.' From a child
I have had much experience of them. I passed some time with
and lived among the mining classes ; and certainly
a finer body of men does not exist anywhere than the
mining classes. In my new home lam less acquainted, per-
haps, with poorer people; but I hope to be become more ac-
quainted with them day by day. My feelings are strongly
in their favour, and I am sure they will be borne out by ex-
perience. There is no finer set of people anywhere than the
labouring classes of this country. Look at France—lock at
Germany. You go into a cottage in England, and you see
every attempt made to be as moral and decent as possible.
Excuse me for making these remarks. To raise the condi-
tion and to expand the mind of the peasantry should be our
aim ; for without those advances it is impossible that even the
most experienced agriculturist can go on. Forgive me for
trespassing thus unduly upon your time, and permit me to
propose "rhe labouring classes'." At so unusual but so ad-
mirable an incident, the audience was extremely delighted,
and the kind-hearted lady resumed her seat amidst deafening
cheers.— Chester Courant.

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROMAN
CATllomcs. For the last few evenings the neighbourhoods
of High-street and Union-street in the Borough have been
kept in continual excitement owing to the extraordinary
conduct of some Roman Catholic priests and their assistants,
which has naturally caused the gathering together of all the
refuse of the low courts and alleys with which this neigh-
bourhocd abounds. On each evening during the week the
windows of the respective occupants of the different rooms
have been illuminated with candles, and a priest standing
on a chair, dressed in canonicals, and having a crucifix held
behind him, so as to give the interior of the court as near as
possible the appearance of a Roman Catholic chapel during
mass, has held forth to the surrounding multitudes on the
doctrines and progress now said to be making in England of
the Roman Catholic religion. The discourse has principally
referred to the late assumption of spiritual power in this
country by the heads of the Roman Catholic Church, deduc-
tions being drawn therefrom that the estabiished religion of
this realm will be shortly overthrown, and the Roman
Catholic religion assume its place. The crowds gathered not
only in the court, but in the streets at either end. have caused
serious obstructions to the neighbourhood, and it is some-
what astonishing that the police have not interfered to put
an cud to these exhibitions.

Pnol'OFD PRIZE ESSAY.—A clergymen of the
Church of England, with the appr, bation of his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, proposes to give a prize or prizes of
Hai guineas in amount no* the Lest es ay or essays on the
following subject;.—ln what manner the unicn of all na-
tions at the Grand Exhibition in 1851 may he made the
most conducive to the glory of God in promoting the moral
wellate of mankind.

Last month a warrant was issued against an Eng-
lishman named Ilorward, (taus Parker, alia3 Garker, 30
yeals of age. This individual, who was represented to be
one of the most practised blacklegs, had lets his lodgings,
and the warrant consequently could slot be executed. On
Saturday, however, some police agents suddenly met him in
the Rue St. Loch, and, wishing to ascertain his present
abode, followed him as far as a house iu the Rue Monsieur,
which he entered. On inquiry of the porter, they found
that, be lived in the house, but not under any of the names
they mentioned. On searching his apartments, the police
agents found several passports in different names, a case of
piSl tols some balls, a number of letters, some loaded dice,
marked cards, and a very ingenious machine for marking
them. lie was taken to the Prefecture.—Galignani.