The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-14 00:00:00

EXTEMPORE DRAMA S.
(From Eliza Cook's Journal)
The ancients, it is said, took their first ideas of
theatrical representation from a Grecian stroller,
singing in a cart to the honour cf Bacchus." The
mysteries and moralities, so long the objects of
popular admiration, were first introduced by the
pilgrim s, vs ho composed and chanted songs descrip-
tive of their travels through the holy Land, interspersed
with scenes taken from the Scriptures. Bands of
these devout men might be seen reciting in the
public streets, with staff in hand, and cloaks and
chaplets bedecked with shells and images collected on
consecrated shores. The populace edified by their
appearance, and the subjects which they dramatized,
at length erected stages for their exhibitions, which
in the middle ages formed one of the principal
honours paid to princes on their public entrances.
So inherent in our nature is this inclination for the
dramatic art, that it discovers itself in the earliest
days of childhood ; to personate characters is one of
the favourite amusements among children, and in
their plays they may often be heard to keep up an
extempore dialogue between imaginary persons. The
Italians have been long celebrated for their perfectien
and delight in spontaneous composition ; their extem-
pore comedies is one of their principal amusements—
the only preparation which is necessary, being the
arrangement of the sceneries and the division of the
acts ; the dialogue and expression are left entirely to
those who take the parts; if the drama pleases, which
is almost invariably the case, the representation is fre-
quently repeated, and while it retains all the interest
of the original plot, some alteration in the dialogue, or
change in the action, gives all the charms of novelty.
The Italians who are wonderfully skilful in im-
promptu composition, seem peculiarly fitted for it by
the flow of their language, their inflections of voice, the
energy and animation of their gestures, and those quick
changes of countenance, which are in a moment expres-
sive of the passion or humour they wish to represent. To
these natural powers in the performers may be ascribed
the popularity of many of their comedies, which ap-
pear to us in reading, childish and flimsy. Salvator
Rosa was an admirable performer on the Scanavis.
Among his inimitable comic representations the part
of a Calabrian peasant was his favourite. In explor-
ing the wild scenery which he loved to transmit to
his canvass, he became so thoroughly acquainted with
the dialect and uncouth manners of the unformed
rustic, that his acting appeared identity. In every
mode of improviso performance he delighted his
audience, and his company was equally sought after
by all the fashionable circles of Rome. When
yielding to the entreaties of those about him, he
would take his lute, whose music he so well knew
how to waken, and stringing the chords he enchanted
all by the feeling and grace of the extemporary
effusions, to which they were the prelude or the
accompaniment. Signor Pistrucci's performance in
London was long remembered. He composed extem-
porary on any given subject; that of Orestes was pro-
posed, the expression which he gave to the remorse
which he felt after he put his mother to death, his
flight, the vision of the furiee, and his disdain and
madness were so powerfully described, that the effort
he produced was overpowering. Among the impro-
visatori of Italy, many could be named who obtained
great celebrity, whose light and elegant fancies
adorned the most trifling theme so as to charm all
who listened. " The land on which the sun never
shone" was the theme which one of those gifted
minstrels drew at random from the bass, which con-
tained the slips on which the subjects were written.
tier audience remained breathless as she described in
sublime language the passage of the Israelites over
the Red Sea, and the destruction of its enemy in the
waters. The Song of Thanksgiving with which it
concluded, is said to have produced the most thrilling
effect. But among all the celebrated improvisatori
none were ever so followed and so enthusiastically
applauded as Signora Corilla, possessed of matchless
grace and beauty, and of genius which has been rarely
equalled. Once seen and heard she could never be for-
gotten. When she was prevailed on to exhibit her
powers she began generally accompanied by two violins,
though her manner might at first have been considered
cold, she soon kindled with her subject, and gave
the most eloquent and impassioned expression to her
feelings in her " unpremeditated lay." The effect
was probably enhanced by her previous diffidence.
The variety of her conceptions and the elegance of
her diction charmed the most fastidious critics, and
none could see unmoved the varying countenance,
the changing colour, and the intellectual sensibi-
lity which lighted up her eyes. No one could hear
unmoved the inflections of that harmonious voice, as
its animated tones gave expression to some light and
joyous strain, or its exquisite pathos gave the most
touching effect to some wild or plaintive air. Such
was the wonderful rapidity and power with which she
expressed every feeling which her :theme awakened,
that many believe that she was under the influence of
inspiration, and she was often compared to the Pythian
priestess. It was on the 31st of August, 1776, that
the ladies of highest rank in Itnne conducted Corilla
to the capitol to receive the crown awarded to her
genius. The ceremony was commenced by a dis-
charge of cannon which took place as the laurel
wreath was placed upon her head. After several
members of the academy had read their compositions,
questions were proposed to Corilla which she answered
in verse with a depth of feeling, an elegance and
vivacity which astonished and enraptured every one.
Most beautifully has Madame de Stael portrayed si-
milar endowments in her " Corinne," who it is said was
meant for Coring. A more striking picture of an im-
provisatrice in the moment of inspiration can nowhere
be met with than that where Corinne is represented as
sitting on the promontory of Misenum. The bay of
Naples and its surrounding scenery stretched before her
in the moonlight. The friends who were with her
proposed a subject. It was the associations con-
nected with the objects on which she looked. The
sadness of her situation, the contrast of melan-
choly feelings with those of happy days, all in-
spired the most eloquent and pathetic effusion that
could be conceived, and was exactly what might have
been the impassioned language of one in Corinne's
circumstances.

E. L.

THE WELSH CHURCH.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
LETTER IX.

SIR,—In the third of five speeches on Ecclesiastica
Affairs, which have recently been published as a pam
phlet by Mr. Horsman, he gives several tabular views
which exhibit the injurious prevalence of episcopal
appropriations, and the generally neglected condition
of such unhappy parishes.
The Bishop of St. David's is set down there as the
appropriator of the
Parishes c f Tithe,. Income.
Llasaqh with t 3031. 114/.
Danina i 46/.
L'antho)f ant 80/.
244/. 1 267/.
Liam adoo Fawr
Carew 481/. 182/.
I.lamaotffraal 1 124/. 90 . No house
Cwmtoydwr % No hotly..
Ilothfey 280/. 103/. No house
Warren 1201. 83/. No hous4.•
Brawdy 2931. 1151. No house.
Sett we 200/. 98/. No house.
Similar lists belong to the other three Welsh
Bishoprics. It seems impossible for any one delibe-
rately to read over such particulars without being im-
pressed by :the reflection—if non-residence is thus
tolerated and encouraged in parishes so peculiarly and
immediately placed under episcopal care, how insin-
cere must those injunctions and professions be, which
verbally affect to reprehend its general prevalence.
Hoping in a little time to address you at more
length, I am, Sir, &c. &c.
GORBONIAN.

No house.
No house.
No house,

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Margate, Jan. 13, Two o'clock.
SlE,—Her Majesty's ships the Enterprise and In-
vestigator rounded the Sand Head Bay in tow of two
steamers , the Enterprise at two o'clock, and the
Investigator about half-an-hour after, from the
Bay, with a splendid fair wind down Channel, all
the homeward-bound shipping, on passing, cheering
them heartily.—ln haste. Yours, &c.

E. W

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
you do me the justice to alter the
opinion now entertained respecting the length of my
Ice-float; instead of 30 feet, read 3 feet. You were
kind enough to place it in your valuable columns
last evening, headed Ice-floats.—l am, Sir, your
very humble servant,

HENRY CRAKE

50, York-ro

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sia,=—A. paragraph which appeared in your im
pression of the Bth instant, having described an
insolvent " who applied for his discharge at the
Insolvent Court, Portugal-street," as Manager
of the American Blwling Saloon in the
Strand, and as such a statement is calculated
very much to prejudice my interest, and might be
mistaken for my establishment, will you kindly
favour me by stating that the only " American
Bowling Saloon" in the Strand is that of which I
am the proprietor, at No. 393.

THE NELSON MONUMENT.—On Friday night the
premises cf Messrs. Wood, brust-founders, in Baldwin': -
gardens, were broken into, and we regret to hear that a
considerable quantity of ornamental moulding co!inechat
ted
with the monument of the immortal Nelson, which t
firm were bronzing, was stolen from their worskhops. It
is to be hoped that the effort; the police are now making
to recover the valuable property may be successfil, or a
morn serious delay to this national but neglected tribute
L must necessarily occur.