Star.
London, England, 1829-08-27 00:00:00

ENGLISH OPERA.

Again—another offering from that public-spirited Ammo, who
does more to encourage writers and composers than all the other
Theatres united. His praiseworthy seal in thus giving to our lan-
.guage and stage the operatic novelties of our neighbours is rapidly
improving the public taste ;—and we are delighted to find crowds
assisting with pleasure at a feast of regular music, with whom a
few years ago it would have been " caviare." How hard is it not for
Mr. Alum" after having devoted his fortune and years in the
meritorious endeavour to engraft the legitimate opera on the drama
of this country, to find himself neglected by the Vandals in ambo.
city; who, indifferent to the arts—perhaps cursed with a timber
tympanum, and a soul mere shaped for business than refinement,
coarse in their own pleasures, and careless of delicate improvement
with the public in matters of enjeynaent, care not whether we
have a theatre or not,—or if we have one, whether it is of the
highest or most despicable order. Let any one remember
the Incongruous dramatic mixtures, thinly sprinkled with piping
ditties or blustering songs which, strung upon a paucity of notes,
shook the very galleries with their bellowing swell and eternal
*hake. It was then, with a taste perverted by ignorance or bar-
barism, the public advocating their vulgar taste for the unformed
harmony of the country, readily expressed the strongest contempt
tar science and delicacy in music, to laud the iron lungs of our un.
skilled vocalists and the homely staves they sung—just as a rude Cos-
sack advocates his dish of tallow, garlic, and fish-gut, to the dis•
paragement of a more refined cookery ; or as a coal-beaver prefers
this gin and beer to the ambrosia of the sparkling champaign, and
the delicious bouquet of the nectar of Burgundy. Contrast this
with the new school of music just introduced amongst us by Mr.
Aaxous, and cultivated with so much success, and then let the
public judge of a Lord Chamberlain who, to the disgrace of the
times, and deterioration of the arts, continues to refuse a perma-
nent patent to the English Opera, built under the express pro.
mist of one ;—nay mere, under the Royal motif e this, too,
at a time when our capital teems with despicable theatres
of mummery and stage wretchedness at the lowest description.
But hold—of this another time. We have now to notice the new
production brought en Tuesday evening before the audience at the
English Opera. It is specified to be a free translation from Wu.-
mum Aug. Woistraiicr., and adapted to the music of MISR=
It is unfortunately upon a subject exhausted
-within a few years under the multitudinous pens, pencils,
.gravers, and piano-fortes of France,England, andGermanyosamely •
upon the Eastern superstition of Vampyres. Heavens! what
variety of trash have we not been afflicted with upon that mat-
ter. The small-fry dramatists amongst ourselves have set it before
us to satiety, while Paris has served it up in a hundred shapes—now
at the Porte St. Martin, ass nselo-drama ; and then at the Feydesu
as a Satanic opera. Nay, it imagined a polichineUe Vampyre, and
danced the monster in a Ballet. Scarce a town in Germany has not
produced some musical attempt on the subject ; sod it is only two
years ago, the talented" Directeur" of the Theatre and Orchestra of
Ghent. Mona. liimsoeu, applied to us to assist him in bringing
before a London audience a piece of consummate merit, composed
upon the same hatknied material. We advised him against the
project from an apprehension of his failure, after so great a surfeit
of this goblin stuff. Bruxelles, Liege, and other Flemish towns,
tried also their strains upon the same captivating suing, till our very
.ears ring with Vampirism. It was therefore with no slight trepidation
we proceeded to the English Opera, to witness a new piece under so
alarming a title as that of" Der Vampyr." Unhappily we found
little or nothing to console us for our temerity : the music is, from
the beginning to end, composed in the genuine spirit of modern
German taste. harmony—harmony, without one refreshing pas,

sage of melody and natent,—orchestral effect,—experiments on
concords and partition, delightful merely to the student of musical
mechanism alone, characterise this child of Hue Hann:ice Maas-
.cusaa ; recitations of an assassinating length, concerted morsels
In eternal counterpoint, and airs tenaciously holding to learned
monotony. It is the metaphysic of music, the doctorial pedantry
of sound, the difficulty of the art without its inspiration ;—and
would require a stomach loaded with sour krout, and patience for.
tided with German beer and a pipe, to enable us to dedicate our
hours with pleasure to such heavy harmony. We know the musical
grammarians and instrumentalists will spurn our opinion,—just
as your University poets of half Latin Odes despise the simple
natural ; but as the task of either requires no heart, and as it is
the heart we particularly seek to gratify, as well in sound as In
poetry, we shall leave them to the wisdom of their ears,
and court the enjoyment of feeling with a more playful musk,
in which melody is not considered as unmet:till—.
Pniturs, with his pure vntricking English voice, redeemed the
piece. Miss Berra sung the little allotted to ber with brilliant
effect ; and Miss H. Caws' surpassed what we have hitherto con-
sidered as her furthest compass ; but Sario—the awkward unmean-
ing Sasso—with his kolbach stuck on the back of his seeming in
philosophic skull, opening his eyes and mouth like a Dutch nut-
cracker ; and I.IIOIIIZ, like &names traveller to the Promontory of
Noses, astonishing all eyes with his projecting feature, which
betrays afar off all the inanity upon which it rests, us
suelcient to damn any piece of any master. Sane, in
particular, ought to coaling himself alone to concert sing-
ing, and not embarrass a stage with his incapacity.—
Taoses should never venture beyond English country lads, and
endeavour to avoid all that requires finery and acting s his extra-
vagant face on Tuesday evening looked like a mask, and provoked
universal laughter.—The scenery did honour to the Artist ; and
some of the costume was class tally faithful. Instead, however,
of uniform white carman dresses, a variety of colour should always
be studied for effect in theatrical grouping : s Cossack village, par-
ticularly, should be represented in its distinguishing rugged diver-
sity. Attention to these details most powerfully conduce to the
Interest of a piece ; and there is nothing mere shocking than Igoe-
taut liberties taken in these matters.—To the =travelled and
unread, stage-dress is all alike--provided it be line ; and a Stage
Manager and Cesrunsier—once they give a liberal quantity of spas-
& and sew-saw—consider their duty performed. 21 .sy
dwill
dress you a Husgerims Dams in a Higilessdiffei sod a • the
Isles In a Thotgoriers pelisse I—cootoundlog all times and places,
autemiscious of their error.—But we must not dismiss the
subject, without complimenting the Traosletor, who has
treated us to less exceptional verso than opetscisengers general.
We know all the difficulty of &lapdog words co none ; sod his
labours deserve our compliment&

THE ARMY.

Ile following ie a statement of the Effective Niißury Force of
Great Britain :

Fieldslarsbals, 110 Generals, 250 Lieutenant-General, 240
Major-Generals, 240 Colonels, 781 Lieutenant. Colonels, 820 Ma-
jors, 1,699 Captains, 2,572 Lieutenants, 1,230 Comets and Ensigns
—7,805 number of Officers.

CavaLay—Two Itegim;nts of Life Guards—Cuirassiers; one
Regiment of Horse Guards (Household Troops); seven Regiments
of Dragoon Guards. three Regiments of Heavy Dray> ns, (14,
Yd, and 6th); five Regiments of Light Dragoons (3d. 46. 11th.
13th, and 14th) ; four Regiments of Hussars (7th, Bth.lolll, and
15th) ; four Regiments of Lancers (9th, 14th, 16th, and 17th) ;
Royal Horse Artillery; Royal Waggon Train.
Ix►axrar—Three Regiments of Foot Guards (Household
Troops), 99 Regiments of the Line, one Rifle Brigade, two West
India Regiments, one Ceylon Regiment (Riflemen), one Cape
Corps, one Royal African ditto, three Royal Veteran Battalions,
one Royal Malta Fencible Regiment, Royal Artillery, Royal En-
gineers, and Royal Staff Corps.
Dirarrmitsys--Ordnauce, Commissariat, Medical, site.
Forming a force of about 140,000 effective men.

Horse Guards, August 20, 1829.
At a General Court Martial, held in the Gaol of the County of
Limerick, at Limerick, on the 20th May, 1829, and continued by
adjournment to the 23d of the same month, Brevet Major William
Butts, of the Royal Artillery, was arraigned upon the under-
mentioned charges, viz. :
" Ist. For having, on or about the 7th day of May, 1849, dis-
honourably obtained from the Provincial Bank of Ireland the 'um
of 550/. being the amount of certain moneys then advanced to
the said Brevet Major Butts, by or on behalf of the said Hark,
by way of discount upon a certain hill of exchange presented by
him, purporting to be drawn by him-elf, the said Brevet Major
Butts, and accepted by the Rev. Edward Drury Butts, and thereby
holding forth to the said Provincial Bank of Ireland that the said
lies, E. D. Butts would pay the same when due, or in failure
thereof, that he, the said Brevet Major Butts, would pay the said
bill ; whereas he, the said Brevet Major Butts, well knew, at the
time he received the said 3501. from the Provincial Bank of Ireland,
that the said bill would not be paid according to the tenor thereof,
and which said bill has not, in point of fact, been paid, such con-
duct being anbecotning the character of an Officer and a Gentleman.
" 2. For that the said Brevet Major Botts ►eing Indebted to
Mr. Jacob West in the sum of Sit. Si. Id. for certain goods, he,
by false representations, induced the said Mr. J. West to ac:ept in
discharge thereof a certain bill of exchange, purporting to be
drawn by himself, the said Brevet Major Butts, and accepted by
the Rev. E. D. Butts, payable at Messrs. Greenwood, Cox, and
Co. army agents, for 1801. thereby holding out to the said Mr. J.
West that the Reverend E. D. Butts would pay the said bill, as
acceptor thereof, at Messrs. Greenwood. Cox, and Co.'s, army
agents ; or that in failure thereof, be, the said Brevet Major
Butts, would pay the said bill, as drawer thereof, amid thereby
inducing him, the said Mr. J. West, to pay to him, the said
Major Butts, the sum of 128/. 14s. I Id. in cult, being the dfference
between the said debt of 511. ss. Id. and the amount of the said
bill for 1801. he, the said Major Butts, well knowing that the said
army agents, Messrs. Greenwood, Cnz, and Co., had no assets in
their hands belonging to the Rev. E. D. Butts, nor to him the said
Major Butts, and that the said bill would not be paid according to
the tenor thereof, at Messrs. Greenwood, Coz, and Co.'s, and the
said bill, or the amount thereof, has never yet been paid to the said
Mr. J. West; such conduct being unbecoming the character of an
Officer and a Gentleman.
a' 3d. For having dishonourably induced the said Mr. J. West
to accept divers orders and checks upon Messrs. Greenwood,
Cox, and Co. In and for the payment of certain sums therein
mentioned, and in discharge of the debt due to him from the
said Brevet-Major Butts, as in the last charge stated, falsely re-
i presenting to the said Mr. J. West, from time to time, that the
same would be paid according to the tenor thereof ; whereas he the
said Brevet-Major Butts well knew that the said Messrs. Green.
wood, Cox, and Co. had no assets belonging to him in their hands,
and that such orders and checks wield not be paid, and the orders
and checks still remain unpaid, such conduct being unbecoming
the character of an officer and a gentleman.
" 4th. For that he, the said Brevet- Major Butts, being indebted
to the firm of Messrs. Alexander, of Limerick, for certain goods
sold to him, to the amount of 8/. 10s. be, by false representations,
induced the said Messrs. Alexander to accept in discharge thereof
a certain bill or order for the payment of money, purporting to be
an order made by him upon J. S. Cooper, Esq. of Dublin. for the
payment of 351. 10s. thereby holding out to the said Messrs. Alex-
ander that the said J. S. Cooper would pay the said sum of 351. 10t.
according to the tenor of the said order, and thereby inducing
them, the said Messrs. Alexander, to pay him the sum of
twenty-seven pounds in cash, being the difference between the
said sum of 81. 10s. and the said sum of 35/. 10s , he, the said
Brevet-Major Butts well knowing that the said J. S. Cooper had
no mete or money in his hands belonging to the said Major Butts,
and that the said bill of 351. los would not be paid according to
the tenor thereof ; and the amount of the said debt was not paid
to the said Messrs. Alexander by the said J. S. Cooper, upon their
application for the same, according to the tenor of the said order,
and the said sum has not been paid to them; suc► conduct being
unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman.
" sth. For that he, the said Brevet-Major Butts, being In-
debted to one Wm. O'Donnell. a butler, in Limerick. in the sum
of 91. for goods sold to him, and having, notwithstanding re-
peated solicitations by the said Wm. O'Donnell, for a long time
dishonourably neglected and omitted to discharge the said debt,
he, the said Brevet-Major Butts, in the month of March last,
induced the said Win. O'Donnell to accept, in payment of the
said debt, his promissory note 91. 4s. whereby be. the mid
Brevet-Major Butts, undertook to pay the amount of the said
debt mentioned therein, according to the tenor of the said note,
but which note was not paid when it became doe ; such conduct
being highly dishonourable on the part of the said Brevet-Major
Butts. All such conduct as set forth in the foregoing charges
being unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and highly prejudicial
to the honour and character of his Majesty's service."
Upon which charges the Court came to the following decision :
" The Court Martial having duly considered the evidence given
In support of the charges against the prisoner, Brevet- Major
William Butts, as also his defence, is of opinion thereof that with
rcpect to the first charge the prisoner, Brevet-Major William
Butts, Is Guilty.
" With respect to the second charge, the Court is of opinion
that the prisoner is Guilty.
" With respect to the third charge, the Court is of opinion that
the prisoner is Guilty.
" With respect to the fourth charge, the Court is of opinion that
the prisoner is Guilty.
" With respect to the filth charge, the Court is of opinion that
the prisoner is Guilty.
" The Court doh therefore adjudge, that Brevet-Major Wm.
Butts be dismissed his Majesty's service.
" The Court having performed a gainful duty In passing the
above sentence on the prisoner, begs leave, is the strongest nunner,
under the distressing circumstances in which his large family is
placed, his length of service in the army, and his present unhappy
situation, humbly to recommend him to his Majesty's merciful
coosideration."
His Majesty has been pleased to approve and confirm the find-
ing and sentence of the Court ; and the General Cummanding.in-
Chief directs that the foregoing charges preferred aptinst Major
William Botts, of the Royal Artillery, together with the finding
and sentence of the Court. shall be entered in the General Order
Book, and read at the bead of every regiment in his Majesty's service.
By command of the Right Honourable General Lord Hill,
Commanding In-Cbief.
HERBERT TAYLOR, Adjutant-General.

On Wednesday last an Inquest was taken in Oxford,
before Mr. Cam, the city coreoer, on view of the body of Sarah
fkabright.
Mary Sylvester deposed—l was at Mrs. Seabright's house about
11 o'clock yesterday morning ; she was at home abase ; she was
then in good health. I had been accustomed to sleep at Mrs. S.'s
when I was out of place, and I used to leave my clothes there.—
When I called yesterday morning, I asked Mrs. Seabright for the
things I bad left—and she gave me a petticoat, a night-cap, and a
pocket.bandkerchief. I said, Mrs. Seabright, you have not given
me ode of my caps. She said she bad not got one there. I replied,
I saw it on the table when I was here last. Mrs. Seabright then
said, " I wish GOD may strike me dead and I may never go set of
the house any more if 1 have kV' I then left her in the house.
end went into the house next door but one, and in less than ten
minutes after I had left, Mrs. Randall (who lives in an adjoining
house) called me into Mts. Seabright's. I accordingly went, and
caught Mrs. Seabright as she was falling. She said, " Oh ! Mary,"
several times, and asked me to help herop stairs. She was so
heavy I maid net get her up stairs. She died the same evening.
1 have heard her several times lately complain of a pain in the bead.
Stephen Wentworth, of the University of Oxford, surgeon and
apothecary. deposed—l have this awning examined the body of
Sarah Seabright. and I have no doubt but she died in a St of
oppipxy. Verdict.—" Died of Apoplexy."
After the Duke of RICHMOND'S horse Chico had run
the int heat at Goodwood Races, on Friday se'nnight, for the
Waterloo Stakes, be attached the groom (Grunt) whilst proceeding
to wash his mouth, knocked him down with his bank tins soh"
Mat by the hip, and carried him to a dish, dissent shoot twenty
or thirty yards, when It was with comilkeekte Mosity.dse son.
needing spectators could prevent his deb. tardier Serb which
he attempted, by flexibly pressing the man seam the sena with
his knees.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

3:mts Alonzo Tim DAT—Dublin I—Waterford I—Rance 1.--

Flanders I—Lisbon I.

Dux, Aura. 26.—His Majesty's ship Philomel turned away to
westward.
FALMOUTH,. Amt. 25.—Wind W. to W.N.W.—Arrived the Le-
vant, Pugh, from Port-au-Prince : sailed 17th July, and brings
accounts of the loss of the Brig of Workington. Potts, on bet way
from Port-au Prince to Trieste, on the island of Imyna, on the
13th July—csew and part of cargo saved. Arrived t►e Sandwich
packet. from Lisbon. Sailed the Lord William Bentinck trans-
port, for Malta ; and Dispatch, Richie, for Oporto.
Ptaxourn, Auo. 23.—Wind %V .N.W .—Salled the Priam, Red-
path, for St. John's; Sylph, Cummins, fur Malaga; and Maria,
Cummins, for the Mediterranean.
PORTSMOUTH. AUG. S.S W.—Arrived the Success.
Ledchle. from Dentate ; and Spencer, from Bahia.
Livtaram., Auo. 25 —Arrived the Elizabeth Brooke. Potts.
from Laguna; Shepherd, Hughes. from St. Vincent's; London.
Wallach., from New Orleans ; Pacific, Crocker, trout New York ;
Ann, Bird, front Philadelphia; Ire, Heedless, free% Cadiz; Dart,
from the Mediterranean; Crown. Fisher; LaUa Ruukh,
Fullarton ; and Fortuna, Greaves, from St. Petersburgh.
Cacti, Mao. 26.—Arrivrd the Mariner, Ireland, from Rio de
Janeiro; and Agnes, 11..rding. from 31..tatizas.
Ilaserco., Ave. 23 —Arrived t►e Fame. Young, from Virginia.
blantaasz, Aro. .26.—Off the port, the Milo, Stark. from the
Cape of Good Hope.
Garattocz, Aca. `l3.—Arrived the Catherine, Orkney, from
Jamaica ; Ariel, King, from St. Andrew's, N. 8.; Margaret,
Walsh, from Archangel; and Experiment, Walker, tram St. Pe-
ter sburgh.