The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-10 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
Were there such a society as a Royal Musical
liumane Society, for rewarding those who rt store to
existence operas from a state of suspended animation,
most assuredly Signor Fornasari would be entitled
to the society's gold medal. Donizetti's opera of
Belisario had long been, to all appearance, defunct.
Fornasari chose it last season for his deb fit, and now
it never fails to draw a crowded house. The same
eod office which he prepared for Donizetti's
ekvario last season, he performed last even-
mg for Herold's Zampa, which when pro-
duced for the infelicitous debfit of Signor
Felice, at the commencement of the season,
Was quite a fiasco, but which, with Fornasari, as the
hero, bids fair to become one of the most popular
Operas in the repertoire of the theatre. The cast was
very strong, including Fornasari as Zampa, Lablache
es Dandolo, Corelli as Alfonso, and Madame Per-
siani as Camilla. The chef d'cruvre of Herold has
never been so efficiently represented as it was last
evening. The character of Zampa is exactly suited
to Fornasari ; that energetic power by which the
acting of this admirable artist is so distinguished, and
which perhaps prevents his Don Giovanni (in many
respects a cognate character to Zampa) from being so
Perfect as it otherwise would be, tells admirably in the
character of the libertine corsair. His opening scene
Was very fine, and the drinking song, " Che l'onda
gergogliante," in the last scene of the first act, was
given in a thorough reckless spirit of boisterous,
almost ferocious gaiety. The audience were loud in
their expressions of approbation, and unanimously
called for its repetition. His acting was very fine at
the close of this scene, when, in bitter mockery, hav-
ing p aced his ring on the finger of the statue of
Albina, the victim of his perfidy, he finds the
hand of the statue closes on the ring. Ap-
palled at first by this prodigy, he almost in-
stantly recovers his presence of mind, becomes
aware of the necessity of keeping up the spirits
of his followers,
of the who,prodigy
witnesses like himself, have 13( en
, and commences again the
joyous drinking song, calling en them to join in
churus. Nothing could be grander than the acting
of Fornasari in this scene. The instinctive dread
of his approaching fate, for a moment obtained
the mastery—but it was only for a moment—in..
atantly it was conquered by the energetic will, and
Zampa was himself again. 'This certainly was one
01 the finest and most artistical things we have ever
Seen even from ornasari. In the second act he
Sang the beautiful air, " Gentil sembiante," with the
Most delicious sweetness. There was a great deal of
archness about his manner of giving the barcarolle,
thLeneggiadra donzelea," which he sung excellently; and
, at the conclusion, nothing could exceed the
Majestic manner in which he gave the magnificent,
passage, "0, presterete fede al mio potere.,
rawing— himself up to his full height, as at once the spirit of command in
the finest and fullest tones of his superb voice, he
calls upon those by whom he is surrounded to have
faith in his power, and instantly they become his de-
voted followers. They have faith in his power, be-
cause he has spoken as having faith in himself. In
the last act, the duet with Persiani was beautifully
given. In this duet the wondrous flexibility of For-
nasari's voice enabled him to throw a pathos and an
expressive tenderness into the music, which no bass
ivoice could possibly have given, except his own.
arnpa is certainly one of Fornasari's greatest cha-
acters. The Dandolo of Lablache is one of those
rich and unctious bits of humour, of which those
Only ly can form an idea who have seen the man.
It Was as great in its way as the Zampa of Fornasari.
At the conclusion Fornasari was called for, and ap-
rielared leading in Madame Persiani. After the opera
e Pas de Quatre, from the " Lac des Fees," was
tnuisitely danced 'by Cerito, Plunket, Schaeffer, and
St. Leon, and then followed the last act of Norma,
Which the exquisite duet, "Deh conte," the gem of
e °Peru, was exquisitely given by Grisi and Favanti.
uvauti did not seem so nervous as usual.
aura. consequently, was enabled to do fuller
Jilaticl to her marvellous powers of voice.
i„
—"cr intonation was pure, arid her fioritone was in
teed taste. Altogether we have never heard this
tutiful duet more delightfully given than it was
at evening. The ballet of Ondine, with Cerito as
3,v heroine, concluded the evening's amusements.
'4 Performances were for the benefit of Fornasari
, ,as might be expected, the house was crowded in
verY part.

LITERATURE.
TriE TWINS, Bentley, London, 1844,
tc 'in? Principal tale in this, volume, entitled, the
1"18," is of a purely domestic character, and is
with feeling and simplicity, without the slightest
attempt at finery, whether of sentiment or expression.
for auti:or is a gentleman named Tupper, well known
?Oils thot!shtful book of aphorisms, " Proverbial
fin,rh
5°131137: In the latter part of the volume, we
spirited descriptive poem, " St. Martha's
oo„°11:Itl" which will remind the reader of the graphic
F,ens of nature, and the free and easy versification
" Grongar Hill," together with two short
1.41", one of which, the " Phrenologist," would
~,°l.lll the materials of an excellent farce for the Hay-
'ftrket, or-that pleasant little theatre, the Lyceum.

MEDITATIONS OF ANTOIVINUS.
This is
Longman, London, 1844.
a free translation from the Greek of the
it ,`nperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, whom Gibbon,
moy be remembered, has praised so highly in his
11:janaorti1 history of Rome. Attached to these ITpe-
ttiti " meditations" is the Manual of the slave Epicte-
lWhom Mrs. Carter's faithful version has already
'''lldered familiar to the English reader. Both the
Present translations are by Dr. M'Cormack.
Tit -

come-trALGAR-scitaik,—The complaints made by
wire
to this and other journals within these few
sei're have had the desired effect, and on Wednesday, not only
saki ules stones and ether rubbish removed from the basin,
thee area generally cleared, but four or five constables
.rectirr A division of police were stationed there to prevent a
e, once of such evils as those which have been justly
fromirtte eed oof.The water was yesterday also withdrawn
_
the basins, and preparations were making to complete
of 'which are expected to be in full play in the course
few days
tht LGAR AND GLASS DUTIEs.—The Bill to repeal
liew'AtY on vinegar, and to make the duties and drawback
ze42able on flint glass the same as on bottle glass, was
10% orx printed. It contains fourteen clauses. From the
the d: October next, the duties and regulations for securing
es),4 on vinegar to cease, save as to any arrear of duty
fore, t„tY• Vinegar makers to take out licenses as hereto
!,114 ue fined. From the sth July next the present duties
ItepoZwhacks on flint glass to cease, and other duties to be
to be under the management of the Commissioners
tlle--1". Glass may be taken out of store before the 6th
" s
the.‘„'s notice being given to the Excise, and on payment
th; `ltii duty. Makers of flint glass not securing or fraudu-
'xil tr,tr:teoving. glass so intended to be stored, liable to the
q„„--4 • together with penalties.
134;e117881.8, MAT 4.—The great establishment of
tteri,jr which, for some time past have employed 2,000
treitZell, have received commissions which will greatly in-
top,_ their activity. Mr. Lintz, the representiye of the es-
ter 'ittnent in Germany, has just arrived at Liege, with orders
Nth ,locomotives for different railways in Germany. Among
for t:le Northern (or Ferdinand's) Railwa3s, atVienna, applies
Ltitattit've; this order is remarkable ; hitherto only English
Ntetanginas have been employed on that railway. It was
%14741..ining the mode of construction at Seraing, and per-
-laza,- superiority that this important order for twelve
f, Tipp-40es was at once resolved on.
,b‘ll3llo, big was
PROFESSION. -A meeting of the
e--"tee of the Medical Protection Assembly was held on
prop,,-"`Y II Exeter Hall, Mr. Simpson in the chair. It was
-*;_hieh7, that a detailed account of the grievances under
the,','lsuo profession labours should be prepared and printed,
L•Nt tli;"aPe of an address to the profession and the public;
10,z,-„,B4hject was deferred for the consideration of a public
61r j 76' which is to be called so soon as the main. features of
46141:408 Graham's Bill on the subject of medical reform
that h
17,.."‘P0s known. It was announced by the secretary
Ls, Ift•tis'wes had expressed his intention of moving, in
h's_oet°},44o„of.:lornmons, within the next few days, for h
mcie'y for a return of the amount received
. an-
at. '.." the l' ?ten years from the stamps on, and licenses
t e, of patent medicines ; and also fora return of
„_(istihtewlicts & f coroners' inquests held in England
the c o • rto the return made to the
sa e last three year's: 81M1,2 .
"emcee 8'1;1 Commons, on the motion of Sir R. H. Inglis, a few
44 --Lee.
AN ABRER."—A lady was recently visited by a
!he servant who had been married. and seeing that
4etteraeBonted an appearance of having very
her hen'ther circumstances, she inquired the nature of
Letut-snand's profession. To This interrogatory, A
Zihee pw, °lnan replied He is an esker, ma'am." ' n
"gat •• inquired the good lady with amazement,
"and
the 44.14 the world is that ?" " Oh, ma'am, he standsin
k`t veet and asks." " Why, you don't mean say
tac Jel.ll have married a becrcr ar, do you?" "Yes,
tIIi:VL • bin it's a very good business. My. husband
141'4
4 1' Very bad work indeed, if he don't bring home
I; than Svc shillings a day."
SttYBtNTEtie CHAPELS BILL.—On Tuesday night a
u'sforing of the onponents of the Dissenters' Chapels now
e ,h Le Rouse of Lords, was held in Oxendon-street Chapel,
to
-PA3Z-4,‘-et, for the purpose of taking the necessary steps
tLord "to further roress of that measure in Parliament.
tae Nl-I.unnteashel presided. The Noble Chairman opened
f
Let ;;;,.Ge-e, Mingo of the evening by entering into a detail
to
the iitZeita proceedings, legal and otherwise, which
.led _
t;t,.lll,4'soduction of this Bill—a Bill the professed object of
iVgittitonhe Ministers alleged was to put a stop
r which had taken place in reference to property
left
to the serious
State of purposes. His Lordship also explained the
trt eeling on the subject in the House of Lords, the suj~
the law lords, the nominal opposition of the
It
liVs-."nch of Bishops, and his own uncompromising hostie
WY What he characterised as a most infamous measure.
titar-4nleasure_a.ctually calculated to increase the spread of
naltub;:'"sllq, which was, in fact, infidelity.—(The Noble
yetion. " was here interrupted by some marks of disappro-
lieve, Re considered that Christians were those Is ho be-
Savit7,2l Christ, and those who tlid not believe in the
he ,Zr Were iefidels —(Cries of " Hear, hear.") When
felt "'w the spread f infidelityat the present day, he
4. essrayilll dto °
e offer such measures the most decided oppo-
het I,_ is was a Bill of spoliation and of injustice, the ob-
telltiTgg to take away property left by religious persons for
the yis,ll,Purposes, for the purpose of spreading infidelity.
itilule Lord
Thencocluded his address amidst loud and gene-
r'ss %alum. meeting was afterwards addressed by the
*trots_ Ta Bennett, Cooke, of Belfast, Morrison, &c., and
Oti resolutions condemnatory of the measure, and calling
ketiZ,_clifferent denominations of religious Dissenters in the
kthr 111 and throughout the country to join iu protesting
wit were passed petitions to Parliament agreed to, and
separated.