The New York herald., 1845-01-17

Saint Patrick's Bishop Hughes
Lecture.
A very numerous asse,nblage, composing mixed
auditory were in attendance last evening to hear
Bishop Huehes' Lecture. In the immediate vicl-
nifty of the altar were collectedsa vast crowd Of
ladies and gentlemen of different persuasions, who
paid marked attention as the Bishop proceeded in
his discourse. There being no galleries, and the
aisles Of the cathedral being literally jammed up
long before the appointed hour, reporter could
not procure place of accommodation, SO as to be
able to take his notes. hear distinctly either the
text or the discourse. Bishop Hughes, after ad-
vertlng briefly to the objects and designs of Provi-
dence, In establishing Christianity, went on to say,
that It's professors were bound carry out its pre-
cspts, according to the divine injunction " with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation" and not
profess, unless they acknowledged the Savior OF
man. Whoever consulted the sacred Scriptures
would perceive the obedience that was due TO the
Church-its power-and that in it rested their only
hope OF salvation God established his holy Church,
which to last throughout all ages and nations,
and promised that the gates Of hell should not pre-
vail against it. He founded it under one head and
one common bond of union, and it wouldlast until
bret view Of the law as delivered by Moses and ad.
vertiDg to the early difficulties IN establishing his
Church, and Its subsequent progress, Bishop
Hughes concluded, when the audience separated.
SEMIRAM1pE-THx MUSICAL DRAMA.-Again the
Ssmiramide drew large and attentive audience at
The Opera House, last evening, although the
weather was wet and disagreeabs, and the night
any thing but promising. This noble opera is
evidently better and better appreciated at every
succeeding representation and as we become
more familiar with it, and are able to detect the
several excellences and defects in detail OF it's exc
ont IOn hv fh0 nCora
Of the former is srikingly apparent. Indeed, the
imperectons are too few and slight to deserve the
remark of any but carpng critics, while the general
spirit and skill Of the performers afford the true
lover of music abundant means of qualification
The fortunes of the Italian Opera in this country
are evidently in the ascendant
A remarkable revolution in public taste has been
going on In this city, since the Introduction of the
Italian Opera-which, however, was for a time re-
tarded by the difficulties and quarres between the
artists, which repused the growing interest Of the
wealthy and educated classes in the musical drama
These things, however, having been happily set
tied, the excellent and well-ba!anced troupe OF
Italian artists have rapidly. made their way into
public favor. and the Opera has begun the accom-.
and elevang public taste, and restoring purity and
morality to the. stage. The city OF New York
probably contains greater amount Of wealth., in
legence and refinement than any other city of its
size in the world. Five hundred millions Of dollars
would not cover the value of the property owned
by the leading families of New York society; and
It will readily be seen that the taste for refined
species OF amusement and the means of literally
patronizlRg it, exist in abundance among this ia
vored class. So utterly low, profigate and licen-
tlous, however. have the English drama and the
English theatres in this country become that is
and pure-mlnded mothers, wives and daughters OF
America. Nay, it would be matter of astonish-
ment if any head Of family, having just regard
for his reputation, should dare to be known as
an habitwe of our old city theatres. There is not
one OF them-not the very best-in which the pure
and yirtuous. if they visit It, are separated by
nI any thing S but an oeI open flight Of stairs and
where are enacted all the drunken and licen-
lous orgies which are repeated, later in the
night, in the dark holes and caverns Of the Five
Points and the Hook. The unfortunate and aban-
doned beings who frequent these infamous resorts,
and spread pollution wherever they appear. enter
the anne vestibule, mingle in the same crowd al
the box Office, pass through the same door and up
the same stair case with the modest and respectable
woman who never had thought unworthy Of her,
and who shrinks, scarce knowing why, from the
rude contact OF the painted harlot. as she sweeps
brusquey past her, and bounds up the stairs with
a loud laugh and lascivious gesture.
The performances on the stage have gradually
sunk to point quite as low as the morality Of the
front Of the foot lights Not to 20 out of our way
for examples, look at the Chatham theatre, where
night after night, the minds Of our youthful popula
SEES are for shilling or two per head tainted and
corrupted by being made familiar with the coarsesl
and most revolving scenes of brothel, described
and dwelt upon by the actors with a miAuteness
and an unctlon perfectly shocking to every feeling
of nodesty, or even decency. Is it any wonder
that respectable people have deserted the theatres
and abandoned the drama to it's fate?
On the other hand, the musical drama-which
may be said to owe It's origin to Italy-is in every
respect pure and unblemished in thought, senti-
ment. situation and plot. The English Opera, al.
though far In advance of the monstrosties Of the
an n fpon In L.
able sentiments or impure tendencies; but it is
fact, no less true than remarkable, that the
Italian Opera-which is the highest and most per-
feet form of the musical drama-contains. in its
whole range and history, and in all the innumer-
able operas written and played in Italy during the
last two hundred years, not an Objectionable or
Immoral sentlment-,not an eqviuoqae double
entendre-not word, situation, or character to
tartle the repose Of the virgin bosom, or call blush
to the cheek OF the most sensitive and shrinking
girl This is the more wonderful, when we con-
slider that the home of the Opera is IN Italy-in
other respects the oosest, gayest and most licen-
tious OF modern nations. So powerful, however
are the refining, purifying, and elevating in1u-
ences OF the divine art Of music, not only upon the
ners OF whole people, that the same merry
imaskers and mummers of the Carnival, who
know no restraint to the ndslgences Of their pas
sons, have, with their wonderful and exquisite
love OF the beautiful, created an entire world of
harmonious thoughts and melodious Inspirations
INTO which not an impure breath or shadow is per-
mitted to enter.
1t is this beautiful and virtue-inspirng institu-
ton Of which healthy, vigorous and promising
shoot has been transpanted to the young soil Of
America, and which has rapidly taken root In our
lightful influences all around. The graceful and
elegant temple dedicated TO its rites, is free from
every talnt In its management and in all its acces-
sories. No improper character can on any pre-
tence be admitted there and in view OF these
things 1t becomes well duty as pleasure, on
the part OF the virtuous portion Of our community,
to extend their patronage and encouragement 10
this elevated species OF public amusement. The
taste for theatricals is strong and eager in this
country; and 1t depends upon the degree of patron
age extended to the Italian Opera, whether there
shall be one permanent resort where this taste can
be innocently indulged, or whether the whole Of
the drama, and every thing connected with it, is to