The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-04 00:00:00

FRENCH PLAYS and OPERA COMIQUE,
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
Mr. MITCHELL begs respectfully to announce the following ar-
rangements for the ensuing Season of French Performances at the
St. James's Theatre, which will commence on
MONDAY EVENING NEXT, Jan. 7,
by the production of a new Opera, in Three Acts, entitled
LE VAL D'ANDORRE.
Principal characters by Madiles. Charton, Guiehard ; Messieurs.
Chollet, Lac, Killy Leroy, and Nathan.
ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE OPERA.—MdIIe. Charton, Mdlle.
Dehauser (pupil of the Conservatoire, Paris), M. Chollet (of the
Theatre de !'Opera Comique, Paris, his first appeaarnce), M. Lac
(Premier Tenor of the Theatres Bruxelles and Ghent, his first ap-
pearance), M. Nathan (Premier Besse of the Opera Comique, Paris,
h's first appearance), M. Killy Leroy (pupil of the Conservatoire,
Paris, his first appearance), Mdlle. Guichard, M. Buguet,
Chateaufort, M. Soyer, M. Desvanx, Madame Mancini, Aldre.
Cott!, &c.
Fon THE COMEDY AND VAUDEVILLE.—M. Samson, of the
Theatre Francais, Paris (his first appearance in this country) ;
Mdlle. Denain, AI. Regnier, Mdlle. Nathalie, (artists of the Theatre
Francais, Paris) ; Mdlle. Dejazet (who has accepted a farewell en-
gagement in this country) ; M. Lafont, Mdlle. Figeac (of the The-t're
Du Vaudevire) ; Mdlle. Page (of the Theatre du Varietes) ; Aldl e.
Constance (of the Theatre du Gymnase) ; Madlle. Baptiste (of the
Theatre de l'Odeon).
An Engagement is also entered into with the eminent Trage-
dieene, Mdlle. Rachel, with whose performances the season will
terminate.
Mr. Mitchell begs further to submit an outline of the general
arrangements :—The Season will commence on Monday, January
7, 1850, by the production of a New Opera, in Three Acts, entitled
"Le Val d'Andorre," produced in Paris at the end of last year,
and since performed at the Opera Comique, Paris, more than
100 nights, and at the principal Theatres of France, with the
greatest suceess. The Music by M. F. Halevy; the Libretto by M
De St. Georges, With the following distribution of the principal
characters :—Stephan (jeune chasseur des Pyrenees), M. Lac; Le
Joyeux (capiteine de malice Francaise et recruteur), Af. Chollet, who
has obligingly undertaken the part for the more effective production
of the Opera; Saturnin (garde-peche du Gave), M. Kills Leroy;
Jacques Sincere (vieux ehevrier), K. Nathan (their first appearance
in this country) ; Theresa (fermlere do Val d'Andorre), Mdlle.
Guichard; Georgette (cousine de Stephan), Mdlle. Cott!; and Rose
de Mal (servante de Theresa), Mdlle. Charton. The second pro-
duction
will be Harold's celebrated Opera, in Three Acts, " Zampa,"
in which M. Chollet will personate the character of Zampa, as
originally performed by him at the Opera Comique, Paris. Subse-
quently will be Riven, a new Comic Opera, in Two Acts, entitled
"Le Ca'd," by the popular composer, Ambroise Thomas. And also,
Auber's last new Opera of " Haydee," the character of Haydee by
Charton.
Other productions will be selected from the following :—Jeannot
et Cohn, Nicol° ; Le Roi d'Yvetet, Adolphe Adam ; Le Cheval de
Bronze, Auber ; Le Macon, Auber; Le Sircne, Auber; Lolly et Qui-
nalt, Nic to ; La Perruche, Clapissoa ; Le Valet do Chambre, Ca-
rafa ; Use Folie, Mehul ; with an occasional performance of some of
the most popular operas produced last season.
According to present arrangements the representatlon of the Opera
Comique will be limited to the months of January, February, and
March, terminating the season before Easter.
At the re-opening of the Theatre, after Easter, on Monday,
Apr!, 1, M. Samson (of the Theatre Francais, Paris) will have the
honour of making his first appearance in this eouatry, and will per-
form with idePle. Denain (also of the Theatre Francais) in several of
the most popular Comedies of the French stage; and subsequently
Regnier and Mdlle. Nathalie (both artistes of the Theatre Fran-
cais) will appear in several of the most modern and successful Come-
dies recently produced in Paris.
At the end of May, Wile. Dejazet, whose re-appearance at the
Theatre des Varietes, after a severe and protracted indisposition, has
_bee , attended with her accnstomed And unrivalled success, will ap-
pear in several new vaudevilles, as Le Marquis de Lanzun, Le Mou-
lin a Paroles, La Jeunesse de Lully, &c.
The performances of Comedy and Vaudeville will be supported by
M. Lafont (of the Theatre des Varietes), Mdlle. Fige ic, Mdlle. Con-
stance, Mdlle. Page, Mdlle. Baptiste, 31. Armand, AL Loon, and a
numerous company.
The engagement of Mdlle. Rachel will commence at the end of
June, by her appearance in AL Scribe's new play of " Adrienne
Lecouvreur," a production which has excited more than ordinary
admiration ; Mdlle. Rachel wi 1 also perform, for the first time,
in Dumas' celebrated play of " Mademoiselle de Berle-Isle ;" and
a new Petite Comedic, in One Act, entitled "Le Moil:eau de
Lesbie," by Armand Berthct ; and by the occasional representation,
each for one night only, of the classical Tragedies of " Phedre,"
" Les Iloraces," " Andromaque," and " Bajazet," the season will
terminate.
The ORCHESTRA will be composed of the same eminent pro-
fessors engaged for the opera last season, including M. Tolbeque,
M. Bourotte, M. Deloffre, M. Newsham, AI. Barret, M. Baumann,
31. Pilet, 31. Vaudreland, M. Remusat, M. Lazarus, AL Nicholson,
AL Larkin, M. C. Harper, AL T. Harper, AI. Campanile, M. T.
Wright, &c. Director of the music and Chef-d'Orehestra, M. Charles
Hanssens.
Arrangements for season subscriptions may be made at Mr.
Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street ; Mr. Sams's Library,
1, St. James-street ; Messrs. Andrews's, New Bond-street ; Ebers's
and Hookhaufs, Old Bond-street.
The Box-office of the Theatre is open daily from Eleven till
Five.

!HOD WATER AT LONDON ItilLD(3/1.
Tllii DAY —Yarning, 14 min. after 6 1 Evening, 36 min. after G
To-Ifouftow —Yarning, 1 min. after 7 I Evening, t 7 min. atter 7

reprobated by levelling pamphleteers, a shame to the
land, a disgrace to humanity, an atrocious and
universal shibboleth. Why, if this writer had conned
history aright he would have known sufficiently well
that titles and ranks are the inevitable censequences
of Government, no matter how organised, no matter
whether a Despotism or a Commonwealth, a
Monarchy or a'Republic. He would have seen that
distinctive designations have reslulted from the estab-
lishment of Democratic and Godless institutions
quite as much as from the establishment of oligarchic
and theocratic authorities.; If the popular representa-
tives of France under the Monarchy were termed
" Honourable Members" of the Chamber of Deputies
—the popular representatives of the United States
under the Republic are, in like manner, termed
"Honourable Members of Congress." If Nicuo.r.as
or PETER be designated the AUTOCRAT of all the
Russias —TAYLOR or WASHINGTON will be
found to be distinguished by the equally
august title of President of the free
States of America. If a priest of Christianity is
termed " the Reveiend"—ROBESPIEREE, the most
renowned of the Gallic Democrats, was also styled
by his fellow-Republicans " the Incorruptible." If
the Supreme PONTIFF is mentioned reverentially as
"His Holiness the Pope"—OuvEn CROMWELL, the
Puritan-leader of the Commonwealth, was spoken of
during the memorable days of his supremacy as "His
Highness the Lord Protector." So much for the
consistency of this very prudish fastidiousness evinced
in regard to ranks, titles, and dignities by the anta-
gonist of Monarchical institutions and the panegyrist
of Republicanism.
With SHARSPERE think we, " What's in a name ?"
in spite of vaunting epithets, in the face of ostentatious
insignias, and in the teeth of our own democratic pre-
dilections, still loving virtue, admiring valour, re-
verencing wisdom, and paying our meed of homage
to patriotism. To us a venerable ruler may be an
object of admiration, notwithstanding be is addressed
as " Your Highness" or " Your 'Majesty." To us a
sage and benignant ecclesiastic may be an object of
love and reverence, notwithstanding his titles are
those of "Your Grace" or "Your Holiness." Not
so with C. Lenmus—his ambition is not to rise to
the heights of his superiors, but to sink those
superiors to the depths of his own medio-
crity. Upon the same principle he sighs for the
extinction of Religion, of Society, and of Civi-
lization (see chapter vii.). Because the priest-
hood are deputed to console the multitude in the
midst of the miseries to which they are liable in a
terrestrial existence,, he would abolish with " one fell
swoop" that class of comforters—blindly believing
that the consolation of distress is the perpetuation of
calamity. Because, moreover, the savage is pre-
served by his very ignorance from various anxieties
and afflictions, he would gladly witness the re-
turn of mankind to barbarism instead of aiding
in the maintenance and development of civiliz
tion. Infuriated at the poverty resulting fr nn
the diversity and competition of classes, he
manifestly yearns for the rupture of the whole
social system and the return to primeval anarchy.
With such destructives we have not one particle of
sympathy; rather for us that gentle and beneficent
creed which recognizes the sedimentary hope under
311 the effervescent ills pouring abundantly forth from
the box of our earthly Pandora. The gaze of true
Democracy is never back towards the bloody chaos of
the Past, but onwards, for ever onwards, in the direc-
tion of the propitious Future.

The laudable example afforded by the ex Premier
to the landlord class has been followed even in Ireland.
Two persona, of very different political creeds, have
addressed their respective tenantries—the one, a
high Tory of the old school, a strenuous advocate for
protection, and the re-imposition of the tax on human
food ; the other, a zealous and enthusiastic Free-
trader, an earnest reformer of all existing abuses, and
a consistent and able supporter of an amelioration of
the landlord and tenant code. Each is, of course,
actuated by his own peculiar views, ang anxious to
discharge fairly the important duties incident to his
position. It would, indeed, be fortunate for poor, un-
happy Ireland if the other proprietors of the soil were
enabled to perform similar acts of justice to the occu-
piers, either in the way of effecting the neces-
sary improvements, or in entering into equit-
able arrangements as to the amount of rent
payable in respect of the several holdings. This can,
perhaps, scarcely be hoped for, at least, to any great
extent in IN hat may be termed, par excellence, the
distressed districts. But it may at least be reason-
ably expected that such landlords as have it in their
power to do so will speedily follow the praise-
worthy precedents.

The Marquis of DOWNSHIRE directs his attention
altogether to the improvement of the soil, by a com-
plete and thorough drainage thereof. He offers no
suggestions as to any re-adjustment of rents, or
allowances in consequence of theleduced prices of
agricultural produce. He, perhaps, feels that the
condition and prospects of the farmers are not so
gloomy and hopeless as his fellow-Protectionists
would wish the public to believe, but that
every difficulty may be surmounted if proper
means be adopted for that purpose. The re-
duced price of wheat can best be remedied by the
increase of crops, and the first great want of the
country—fair employment for the labouring popula-
tion, will be supplied by the steps taken to achieve the
former object. The Noble Marquis, therefore, declares
his readiness to undertake the drainage of the lauds
upon reasonable conditions. He is willing to carry
out all the details, employing the labourers, and
paying weekly for all the work done, by task. The
occupier is not required to meet any portion of the
expense, not even to give his own labour without full
remuneration. His Lordship announces that " such
tenants, or such members of their families, as wish
it, may work along with the rest of the men
on their own land, and be paid weekly,
so affording them present assistance, while
their lands are permanently improved, and any
tenant who chooses may diminish the expense, and
consequently his per-tentage, by carting the tiles or
stones that may be required for draining his land."
The conditions on which this great boon is to be
bestowed are, that the tenant shall pay half-yearly,
with his rent, interest on the actual outlay at the rate
of five per cent. per annum, and have the option of
repaying the amount at any time, and so discontinu-
ing the payment of interest ; and accounts of the ex-
penditure of each farm will be open for inspection
by the tenants. This is just and liberal, and we have
no doubt that the tenantry on the Downshire estate
will derive the greatest benefit from the
judicious conduct of their noble landlord. It
is the embarrassed and impoverished con-
dition of the landed proprietors generally,
and their total inability to afford the necessary
assistance to industrious and improving tenants, that
has involved the country in such deplorable distress
and destitution.

Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD, the unflinching advocate
of " tenant-right," has by his address afforded the
strongest evidence that he is prepared to " practise"
what he has so long and so incessantly preached. He
gives a practical proof of his determination to carry
out his own benevolent theories. He enters fully into
the question of the principles on which rent should
be fixed and ascertained. Comparatively little was
required at his hands, for the Hon. Member for Roch -
dale has long been considered a " model landlord."
Every tenant was well.aware that he himself or his
family would lse permitted to enjoy the fruits of his
own imprisonment. At Crawfordstown, at least
there was no danger that the rents would be im-
properly or unfairly increased, or that the occupier
would be evicted from his holding without receiving
ample compensation for any amelioration he might
have effected. Various circumstances might occur
that would render an increase or diminution of rent
an act of common justice either to landlord or to tenant,
but the former would not deprive the latter of the fruits
of his industry, or seek for advantages to which he
was not justly entitled.
Mr. CRAWFORD considers that fair proportions of
the produce of the soil, based upon its productive
powers, should be assigned to landlord and to tenants,
and that at every new settlement of rent, whether of
rise or fall, that principle should be fully carried
out, and that however fairly a landlord's proportion
may be arranged at any particular period, by the
tenant being made liable to pay a certain annual sum
in money, as representing a cer:ain proportion of
produce, that proportion, so arranged iu money, may