The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-23 00:00:00

FUNERAL OF ROSSINI.

The Paris correspondent of the Daily News gives some
,earticulars of Rossini's funeral. "A cold, damp, gloomy
day," he says, " did not check the ardour of the crowds
who flocked to Rossini's funeral. Among the envied
holders of tickets for the interior of the Trinit6 Church
many ladies were seen shivering in the precincts for two
hours before the doors opened. It required a very
large military and police force to clear the way for
the funeral procession from the Madeleine to the
Trinite, and to prevent the populace from blocking
up the approaches to the latter church. On the foot pave.
ment of the Chausse d'Autin, and in those parts of the
Rue St. Lazare and the Rue de Clichy which afford even
a distant view of the Trinit6, closely-packed crowds of the
humbler classes stood patiently within the limits assigned
to them, and not only waited long to see the coffin carried
into the church, but kept their standing ground
till it came out again two hours later. The Trinit6,
which has only very recently been finished, is by
far the prettiest new church in Paris, and com-
paratively few people have yet seen the interior. I
think Rossini's obsequies should have been solemnised in
Notre Dame, but I know of no private church in this
capital better suited to the purpose. The Madeleine would
have held more people, but the glare of light and the
meretricious carving and gilding there jar with funeral
rites, as I remember having an opportunity of observing
when the great mass was performed for the soul of
Cavour. The Trinit6, a building in the style which
may be called modern Gothic, is exquisitely well
proportioned. The decorations consist of sober but
graceful frescoes. The true " dim religious light " filters
through very beautiful stained glass windows, not too
darkly stained, and the experience of to•ciay shews that
in acoustic properties it leaves nothing to be desired.
A few minutes after the opening of the doors, not a
seat (unreserved for great personages, the friends of
;be family, or the artistes engaged) was left vacant, and
those who came so late as half an hour earlier than the
hour mentioned in the invitation (twelve o'clock) were glad
to find standing room. All the familiar faces of the
habitues of the French and Italian Operas were there.
The Institute of France came in a body in their academic
dress. Chevalier Nigra, with all the attaches of the
Italian Legation, appeared in uniform. No regulations
were made about toilettes, and most properly, for had
mourning been insisted on, not a fourth of the ladies
invited would have gone, and the church would
not have been filled. In the Madeleine roses and
green ribands in bonnets would have looked much
out of keeping, but in the mild light of the
Trinit6 they did not spoil the general effect. When
the coffin appeared in the nave it was found to be com-
pletely covered with flowers, evergreens, and decorations.
At the head was a velvet cushion, on which were laid the
numerous orders of the deceased. At the foot was an im-
mense bouquet of Parma violets sent from Nice. The
intermediate space was filled up by large laurel wreaths,
one of which was thickly interspersed with choice flowers.
Just as the coffin was being carried from the entrance portal
to the catafalque in front of the high altar, a handsome
crown of gilt leaves was placed upon the cushion
among the decorations. A guard of honour of the 51st
Regiment lined the nave, the deceased being, as a grand
officer of the Legion of Honour, entitled to military
honours in France. Although the majority of the
spectators had come to see a spectacle, and although there
were laughing and talking in groups, many had evidently
solemn thoughts befitting the occasion. It seemed to me
that all the pomp, pompa more tercet, was more sad and
affecting in its contrast between dust and earthly vanity
than the simplest pauper's funeral. The duet from
Pergolese's Stabat,' by Alboni and Patti, was the gem of
the musical mass."

DR. OR MR.—A rather ludicrous incident took
place in reference to an election in England. Some one
declined to allow that a candidate who was LL.D. had
the right to call himself doctor. In Scotland Mr. Swinton,
LL.D., repudiates the doctorship, and is hard upon his
opponent, Professor Ph; yfair, who is also LL.D., for using
it. Will some one in authority say whether a doctor of laws
is to be addressed as Dr. or Mr. ? His right seems to us as
clear as that of a D.D., but perhaps the universities who
dub men doctor will give judgment.—Medical Press.

MORE FORGERIES ON THE BANK OF RUSSIA.—
At Lemberg the police have just arrested fourteen persons
' charged with forging notes of the Bank of Russia. For a
long time past numbers of these, of the value of 100
roubles (4f. each), have been in circulation, and two detec-
tives have been occupied in tracing them. At last the
persons engaged in their production and distribution hare
been discovered and taken into custody. Amongst the
prisoners are some men bo'ding positions far above
suspicion, such as a landowner, a watchmaker in a large
way of business, and several Jewish merchants.
THE YORKSHIRE STATUTE FAIRS.— The second
week of these gatherings—so popular with the servants,
but so rightly condemned by the clergy and the leading
farmers— was terminated on Saturday, when the agricul-
tural and domestic servants, assembled in hundreds at
Halton. The result of the fortnight has been to shew
that, although domestic servants receive wages about equal
to last year, the farmers, owing to the forward state of
tillage and the lesser herds of stock kept, have the whip-
kand, and all who change places seem likely to change for
the worse, lower wages having to be submitted to. Owing
to the slackness of the hirings hitherto, the annual fair on
Saturday next is expectel to be more largely attended thafl
for many yegth '