The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-01 00:00:00

Y

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
Gardoni made his rentree here on Saturday in the
character of Teobaldo, in Bellini's opera I ntletti
ed I Montecchi, which has been produepd in ,aai-r to
enable the artistes engaged in La Temrqii to in-
dulge in a little rest. Gardoni does not seem to Irtve
suffered in health or in voice from his sojourn ht. St.
Petersburg!), and we presume, there fore, that
the unfavourable reports which were rife con -
earning his health, some six weeks since,
are without foundation, and on his entrance he weo
most enthusiastically greeted, and the cordiality of
his welcome evidently affected him. He Ns-4s in ex-
cellent voice, end sara- the music of Bellini with
exquisite taste, feeling, and f xpres,ion. The
" L'Atuo, ah was the very acme of delicacy
and pathos. The great character of the opera is
Romeo, and never since the days of Madame Pasta
have we seen so perfect a Romeo as Mademoiselle
Parodi. The intense pathos, the impassioned fer-
vour, the agonised despair of the boy-lover were
given by her to the life. The scene with
Teobaldo at the funeral was given with the utmost
intensity of feeling, and the concluding scene at
the tomb of Juliet, ending with the death of Romeo
was heartrending in its pathos. As an histrionic dis-
play, the Romeo of Mademoiselle Parodi is
one of the highest order of tragedy. The
Giulietta of Madame Feezz.alini was beautiful ex
ceedingly, and considered as a vocal display it was
perfect. The beautiful cavratina in the first act
" Dalla gioja e dal place " was exquisitely rendered,
and the duet which immediately follows with Romeo,
"Si fuggiere, " was, on the part of Madame
Frezzolini and of Mademoiselle Parodi, a
perfect triumph of vocalization. The opening scene
in the second act as performed (the first ta,,cl second
acts are thrown into one in the representation), "Ne
alcun ritorna," was rendered with intense feeling and
expression, and in the concluding scene of the opera
she rendered most efficient support to Made-
moiselle Parodi. Both ladies were called
on at the conclusion, an I frequently during
the course of the opt ma. Gardoni also
had similar honours paid to him. The orchestra,
under the direction of Mr. Bal fig, rendered the music
with amazing precision and accuracy. To the
credit, of Mr. Balfe, be it spoken, he has
given us the opera as composed by Bellini,
instead of the hotch-potch of Bellini and Vaccaj,
which has been usually given.. We trust that this
example will be always followed, and that Vaccaj will
henceforth be laid on the shelf. After the opera we
bad the last scene of Les Metamorphoses, with
Carlotta Grisi and Amalie Ferr aris. The theatre was
well and fashionably attended.

. ROYAL ITALIA:S. OPERA.
Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal High-
ness Prince Albert honoured the performance at the
Royal Italian Opera with their
presence on Satur-
day evening. The royal party was no sooner
perceived than the National Anthem was again
called for, and sung by the' principals, as on
Thursday night, amid the loude st demonstrations of
loyalty. Her Majesty and the .Prince were accom-
panied by his Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia.
In the royal suite were the Visc.yuntess Jocelyn, the
Hon. Miss Dawson, and the hon. Miss Paget, Lord
Dufferin, Colonel the Hon. Chariles Grey, and Colonel
Bouverie ; and Count Herrman Puckler and Count
Charles de Goltz in attendance upon the Prince of
Prussia.

THEATRE ROYAL .4, DUBLIN.
The new opera of Charles the Second was produced
last night for the second time with increased success.
It is the production of Mr. Maci'arren, an English
composer of the first rank, who has ob tained a well- earned
reputation from his former opera o f Don Quixote, and
various other works of high in !..Tit. His laudable
object in the present composition seems to be to ori-
ginate an English school of grand: opera, and Charles
the Second is, in our opinion, a most successful essay.
The melodies, harmony, and ace ring are perfectly
original, which may indeed ba said of all music by the
Battle composer. We regret that our confined space
this evening prohibits an extend( criticism, espe-
cially as the success of this opera lvas most decided in
Dublin, and we have no doubt that even its present
Popularity will increase on each successive repetition.
The first ballad, " She shines leefore me like a star"
(Mrs. Weiss) is a charming flowing melody. The
duet (King and Rochester) which follows, is very
original. "Hope and fear," the first song for Fanny,
is a charming morgeau, as also the duettino, "Oh !
blest are young hearts" (Miss Pyne and Mrs. Weiss).
The finale to the first act, which is of unusual length,
contains wcontinued flow of original melodies, har-
monised in Mr. Macfarren's peculiarly novel and
'artistic style: The striking song' and chorus, " Here's
to the maid" (Harrison), which . comes in the course
of the finale, and also the beautiful quartett, a".oh,
father, prove not so unkind" (Harrison, Pyne,-Weiss,
and Mrs. Weiss) met with a decided encore. " Nan
of Battersea" (Weiss), commencing the second act,
was alio called for a second time, .aye were " Canst
thou deem my heart is changing" (Miss Pyne),
"Though o'er life's pleasures (Harrison), the
madrigal, " Maidens, would you 'seape undoing," and
a "Poor simple maid" (Miss Pyne). Indeed, we do
riot remember:to have heard so many encores in a new
Opera. A large portion of the audience yesterday
evening consisted of the musical professors and ama-
teurs of the city, and their gratification was repeatedly
expressed. Much, as a matter of course, is due to the
artistes, for whose powers the music is particularly
well adapted. Miss Pyne acquitted herself in her
'usual highly-finished, artistic manner, justifying
amply the opinion of the Musical World, which pro-
nounces her the English prima donna. Nothing can
be chaster than her style, nor more. brilliant and per-
fect than her execution. Our old fe.vourite, Harrison,
sustained fully his reputation, obtaining an encore in
,every song. His pure and beautiful tenor is charac-
terised by even an increase of power and sweetness.
.Mr. Weiss has made rapid progress in his profession
%ince we first heard him here some years since, having
won, in the opinion of competent judges, the position
,of primo basso of the English opera; he also gives
his music with artistic skill ; and in his purely
.English ballad, obtained an encore. Mrs. Weiss, in
the Pagr, was all that could be wished for; her voice
tells admirably in the concerted pieces ; and in the
-song, " She shines before me," she received well
merited applause. Mr. Corri, in Rochester, acquitted
himself as usual, with talent and effect. Altogether
the opera was admirably produced ; and the orchestral
arrangements, under the control of Mr. Lavey, were,
as they always are, perfect. —Duldin Evening Packet,
June 27.

THE HOUSEHOLD BRIGADE OF CAVALRY.- (THIS
DAY.)—The usual half-yearly change of quarters of the
household Brigade of Cavalry took place this morning, as
follows:-1st Regiment of Life Guards, from Windsor to the
Regent's-park Barracks ; the 2d Regiment of Life Guards,
from the Regent's-park Barracks to the barracks in Hyde-
park; and the Royal Horse Guards (Blum), from Hyde-park
Barracks to Windsor.

SUICIDE OF THR PROPRIETOR OF THE KENTISH
Towx ASSEMBIN-aooms.—On Saturday Mr. Wskley, M.P.,
held an inquest at the above Assembly-rooms, on the body
of Mr. James Ware, aged 37, the proprietor. John Edwards,
an omnibus driver, said that on the previous day he had
been asked by the wife of the deceased to go to his bed-
room, which was locked. He went up and entered the room
through the window, when he found the deceased lying in
his bed, bleeding from a wound in his throat, which ex-
tended frbm ear to ear. He was then alive, and once ex-
claimed " Oh I" but expired in about twenty minutes. Two
razors were found lying by his side. Other witnesses stated
that deceased was of a very nervous temperament, and was
a martyr to the gout. The daughter of the deceased was
called to prove his state of mind, but she was too much
affected to be able to give her evidence. Verdict, " That
the deceased died in consequence of a wound in the throat,
inflicted by himselt while in a state of mind which is to the
jurors unknown.'
Mr. Allom, the artist, has Just completed a great
moving panorama
theillustrating the passage of 11l
be Constantinople, and Bosphorus, which will be exhibited
in a few days at the n v building adjoining ining the Polytechnic
Institution. From the reputatioiell-which Ur. Allorn possesses,
doubt not that he wilt
both as an architect and an arttNt.se.t,
render this subject very attractive. The sketches were made
and comprise
by him during a long sojourn in the
between the
views of the principal places of interest I
Sea" ineYluindfo plains of Troy and the Black grand
mosques and palaces, baths, harems, and
_slave market in
the beautiful city of Constantinople.
tshepreach worthyed
• ST." MARY-LE-STRAND PAROCHIAL SCHooLs.----
Yesterday (Sunday) a very excellent sermon
wa
in the parish church by the Rev. J. F. Denham,
rector, on behalf of the funds of the above schools. Previous
to the sermon' a beautiful anthem, composed by the organis.,
Mr. Beale, fromthe 25th chapter of Matthew, was most ably
and efficiently sung by the children, which reflected great
credit on the schoolmaster and schoolmistress. At the end
of the sermon also Handers Hallelujuli chorus was performed
s
by a choir and some of the children. A liberal collection wa
made at the church doors.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston gave a grand
banquet on Saturday evening at the Noble Viscount's man-
sion Carlton-gardens, the guests at which included Vis-
count Jocelyn, Ili. p., Lord Norreys, M.P., and Lady Norreys,
Lord and s ady Holland, Lord and Lady Ashley, Hon. W.
Cowper, M.P., the Lord Advocate of Scotland, Sir Hamilton
and Lady Seymour, M. Panizzi, and the Countess de Rossi.
After the banquet the Noble Viscountess opened her
salons to a brilliant circle of the nobility, carps diplomatique,
&c. His Grace the Duke of Wellington honoured the
circle with his presence, arriving shortly before eleven
o'clock.

Co un
Mr. Alexander Shirreff, superintendent of the Easti
char try Dock, in consequence of his
ge giving orders to ds-
a man, a notorious bad character, named John
mSpencer, alias John Perceval, in the dock, on Tuesday
orning, the 25th instant—this man, about half-past three
on the same day waylaid Mr. Shirreff, and came behind
him while walking down the dock, and with a violent push
knocked himinto the dock, into water 18 feet deep, and
hardly any way to get out. Mr. Shirreff would to a cer-
tainty have been drowned, had he not proved himself to be
an excellent swimmer, and gained the wharf, and was rescued
ta:ere
ehis ruen, who saw the act at a little distance. The police
inielill!Faiye pursuit ot the fellow, and every hope is enter-
courtln t he will be captured, and meet his deserts before a
of justice,
THE LATE ARCHillsoor OF CANTERDuRy.—The
marble monument to th
lir. Richard Westrnacoettmleiznory
bury Cathedral, nearly of the late Dr. Howley, by
' .s just been erected in Canter-
01,130site the throne.

LITER AT [IRE.
,IIOR SINGS AT MAT L 0 GK. By R. ?: 7 ton
D.C.L,, Author of " Titian," a.l Art

Novel.
This is the Look fir the circulating, libraries. Wel
come will be its companionship to the se.,-sid, ,o-
journer, welcome to the dra,wing.room table. !.,:d the
ticLe;or's easy chair. The fastidious critic
p,,,sibly, pry out en occasional carelessness, or want
of polisn r f style, but it i%; evident these .p:.,,t;•es
have laudably been penned in no senile spirit of
prehension of hypercriticism, nor by a hand that taices
delight in writing in a white kid glove, and with a
diamond-tipped or mow-quill stylus. Had the author
chosen to s toop to the exercise of the profitable craft
of " bookmaking," he might have spun out half' a
dozen regular novels, at least, trout the materials he
he has comprised in the volumes before us ; but he
has contented himself with presenting a succession of
masterly and vivid sketches, with putting forth his
easy strength in a series of most entertaining stories,
adopting as a framework, whereon to hang them, the
idea of assembling a party of choice spirits at the New
Bath Hotel, at Matlock. The conversational discus-
sion of some subjects, arising out of these stories, gives
him scope for developing, through the medium
of the raconteurs, some admirable, ideas on artistic
matters, upon which few can be more competent
to descant than the erudite author of " Titian." The
remarks which usher in the tale of " Velasqus z and
his Mestizo" are especially noticeable in this respect,
and were we not necessarily restricted to a brief and
hurried mention of the work, we would gladly give
some extracts from these and similar acute and mas-
terly observations. We would direct attention, too,
to an able delineation of the character and motive
principles of Richelieu, and a parallel between him
and Cardinal Mazarin. But the principal attraction
will, of course, be found in the tales themselves, many
of which are of a highly humorous cast. Indeed, ge-
nuine humour, devoid of the slight grossness, eems to
be as much the forte of the writer as his enviable
faculty of grouping a mass of historical and legendary
information without any apparent effort or display or
pedantry. We can do little more at present than
mention the titles of what we consider the best of
the novelettes, from the opening one, " Ensign Sim-
mons of the Tenth," to the " Petrified Piper," the
last of the t w enty -six. The " Millionaire
malgre lui" is a capitally worked out notion.
" The Major's Story" must prove a special favourite.
Ye who love the ghostly may revel in the " German
Student,"ithe "Legend of Bleeding-heart Yard," and
" Recollections of the Second Sight," mid those who
can appreciate really good Irish legends and stories
.
will find a source of thorough enjoyment in the en-
tire of the concluding volume, the cream of which
consists, to our mind, in " Captain Rock," a narra-
tive rendered the more interesting from the actual
truthfulness of the incidents, and even the non-
concealment of the names of the parties chiefly con-
cerned ; and the last and longest of the series, the
" Petrified Piper." Neither must we pass over
the " Last Throw of the Dice," or the " Great Will
Case ;" while in " Beatrice d'Este" there is material
for a romance of the legitimate tri-tomed length.
Of the original of the hero of the " Phrenologist"
a most amusing account is given in the postscript,
and verily, " Bot Smith," as he was designated, must
have been one of the most curious fishes of the
Mersey. Few, we venture to predict, who have once
made acquaintance of the gentle and joyous party,
whose " Sayings and Doings" in the regions of the
Peak are chronicled by the pen of a ready writer—of
Sir Julian Tressilian and his Heiress dame—of the
author Butler—the artist, now a R.A.—the Irishman
"of high but not boisterous spirits and good nature
in every word and look," and of the gallant major,
for whom the watch of Josephine proved, in the end,
a charm to win a titled bride upon the moon-lit
Derwent, but will gladly spend an oft-repeated half-
hour in their entertaining and instructive society.
Dr. Mackenzie has produced a work which cannot
fail to become, and deservedly so, a familiar favourite
with the novel-reading public, and one which shows
that his leisure hours have been so creditably and
pleasantly employed that we trust to see, ere very
long, another offspring of his accomplished pen.

MAGAZINE DAY.
BLACK WOOD.

Thoroughly national as Maga is in its character,
we are in no degree surprised to find Christopher
taking up the cudgels, or, in other words, brandishing
his crutch in behalf of any cause affecting the fair
fame of Scotland. Especially are we always ready
to put the very best construction on his predilections
when the reputation of Edinburgh appears to be in
jeopardy. Hence it is that we can at once compre-
hend the fervour with which Blackwood enters upon
the discussion of that long " vexed question" the
London and Edinburgh Chess Match. It may seem
to the superficial observer somewhat late in the day
for the Edinburgh Magazine to adventure upon any
inquiries into a contest so long since settled; yet
the revival of the subject becomes less startling when
we bear in mind the fact that it has been not long
since brought under the examination of the
Quarterly. This contribution to Maga is deserving of
a careful perusal, and we are satisfied that it will
ctford the fullest entertainment to the admirers of the
royal game, no matter whether those chess-players be
of the old and careful school of Phillidor or of the
modern and storming school of De la Bourdonnaye.
The opening article for July, being a bio-
graphical account of the " House of Guise," is
readable, although restricted too much to the
narrowing limits of criticism. "My Penin-
sular Medal" is happily concluded. Would that we
could say the same of " The Green Hand," the
longest " short yarn" that was ever perpetrated. A
bitter onslaught is made by Blackwood upon the
"Jew Bill," yet we can forgive the acerbity from our
conviction of the attack being conscientious. What
is meant by violets welling through the ground
like water, and anemones trembling like a
bridal veil, in the poetical contribution en-
titled " The Year of Sorrow, Ireland, 1849,"
we cannot for the life of us conjecture. " The Pic-
tures of the Season," a rather scrambling notice of
the art exhibitions this year in the metropolis, does
honour to the principal contributors to the Royal
Academy. Another paper in the July number alone
remains unmentioned, we mean the intelligent article
on " The Industry of the People," another excellent
preparation for the year of the Exposition.