The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-08

prisoners and recommending that they should be
more humanely treated. A general amnesty had
been granted TO all persons under twenty years Of
age.
This Extraordinary Diet of Switzerland met again
on The lth instant, when, on the motion of M. Nail,
deputy TOR 81 Gall, majority of twelve cantons vot.
ed "a recommendation" instead OF an invitation
TO Lucerne, TO issue an amnesty. A similar proposal
relative 10 the cantons of Argau Vaais and lesslno
was not adopted A sum of 25OOO0 SWISS francs,
10 be supplied by the federal treasury was voted tor
defrayng the expenses occasoned by the calling out
of the federal contingents On the 18th the question
of reducing the number OF troops called out by the
Vorort was to come under discussion. Several edi-
tors Of radical newspapers are stated TO have been
killed captured IN the expedition against Luceme
Germany.
ISUyDATIoN IN BELGIUM AND GERMANY.-The
Flemish papers contains sad accounts of foundations
IN various parts OF Belgium and Germany, arising
from the change OF the weather. AT Mayenne, on
the Both ut the Rhine at AN elevation which it
had not attained In 1874 and the villages in that quar-
ter had suffered much IN consequence. AT Worms
no communication could take place otherwise than
by boats. The Danube, arising above its limits, had
inundated the contiguous lands AT Nuremburg the
well known Correspondent, could not be brough int out
as usual, The waters having rendered the printing Of
nee inaccessible. The Gazette dc Cobient., of March
30, states that the village of Nessendorf is under
water and that the Mosele bursting from proper
bounds, has Hooded the tract formerly covered by it,
but latterly used as pasturage The distress of the
people below Ebrenbreitstein, the streets of which
were submerged, very great, Notwithstanding that
huCcOur mas peen uDerdlly QlSrlDutoQ among tne
poor victims of the inundation AT Mayence, on the
list inst, the waters were beginning TO retire IN
some degree. Letters from Dresden of the date of
March 80 describe the waters of the Elbe to be high
er than they have been at any time since 1884. The
cathedral church, situated In the old town, is sub
merged, as well as the royal stables There was no
communication between one part of the city and ano-
her except by boats. The river was still rising and
houeestwere constantly abandoned, the damage done
IN different quarters proving enormous. Accounts
from Bremen, OF March 81 state that at an earyhour
that morning the dlkes of the Weser gave way at a
point where such a calamity could have been least
expected The waters were rushing forth with anna
zing impetuoslty, carrying with them trees and
moveables Of all kinds including the wrecks of hui
been ovethrown by the floods, and before the day
was out no fewer than 80 were destroyed. The num-
Der Of poor creatures who had fallen victims to the
catastrophe was not ascertaned, but twas necessa-
MY considerable since no danger in this part had been
apPrehended, and the inhabitants were wholly UNI
prepared for 1t. Numbers had taken refuge on the
roofs OF their dwellings, and there was great diff
ftulty in rendering them any assistance. The
accounts from all parts of the Elbe received
at Bremen were affecting: The waters were still
rising Advices from Affenbach of the LIST inst an
nounce that half that town is under water the river
having risen to height quite unprecedented. The
damage caused by the floods in the town is estimated
at 100000 guiders, and it was feared that disease
would show itself among families obliged to remain
IN the midst of this ''norta humidity" The Rerme
de Paris states that the greatest lnundaton of which
Germany has during two centuries preserved the re-
collection were those of 1866 and 1874; nevertheless
neither OF those events disastrous as the in
undations of the present year. The entire Gernanic
confederation, part OF Austria, and of Poland have
been literally under water since the Goth of March
The Rhine, the Maine, the Neckar, the Danube, the
Elbc, the Vlstula have in succession overlooked
their banks not IN day, but in an hour Frankfort,
Mentz, Cologne, Dresden, Prague, and number of
other towns, and several thousand villages CO
vered with water. The magnificent bridge of Ores
den has been carried away, and many edifices have
been destroyed. In the midst of the general desola-
uon, public charity has not remained inactive Com
mttees have been formed of the cities. and assist
ance has been afforded In every direction. At the
head OF the Committees are inscribed the names Of
kings, princes, ministers, generals, provincial COVER
nors, and bishops. One committee collected at Ber-
hn between the LIST and 18th of April lO4 1872 thaers
(fl6,OO0 Brtish.)
Thcntricals, sc.
MADAME CAsTELLAN.-This artist, who made her
appearance at Her Majesty's Theatre, in London,
short time previous to the sailing of the packet has
Standard says-Her triumph was the greater, as in
all respects the position of Madame CASTELAR, was
most trying-the task Of performing character ia
milar to the English public through the interpreta-
compare, the greatest mistress of vocalsaton on
the Italian stage; her musical foriture and chroma
TIC passages would be stereotyped in print were it
not that they varied and beautifully eccentric
that they escape imitation The principal beauty of
the voice, however, does not lie in this power alone
AS an instrument and a means of execution it is
surpassed by every good violin, whether touched by
the Belglc Vieuxtemps or the dancing St. Leon.
Madame CASTELAR, makes US feel its real source of
superorty-as an Interpretation of the passions and
of the feelings her reading of the part of Aniina is
totally different, II Is all expression and pathos-and
to render the contrast and the varying shades of her
feelings, when ADrina's dreams are the remem-
brance OF misery, and she has recourse to prayer
her last resource, and then suddenly awakens to the
consciousness and ecstacy of unexpected happiness
she commands an immense range of exqusitey
beautiful notes Her contralto expresses the depth
OF her misery; while her high soprano reve!s in her
triumph of JOY If to this be added that her dramatic
talent never abandons her for moment and that
che has the ingenious simplicity, the graceful YOUTH
and the winning beauty desirable, If not absolute
vinced how much we have gained by the acquisi-
tion OF another Anna, the other charmer being far
away. Madame CASTELAR, awakened the most en-
thusiastc applause, and she had, above all, to
by.an august dcttanc, the first in taste well
power.
On the other hand, the Britannia says, "Prodi-
glous putting has been resorted to in order TO make
n,great primo donna of Madame CASTELAR,, but
the organized system of euogy from the opera sane
tum will be OF no force against public opinion and
taste. CASTELAR, is a very accomplished vocalist,
and IN concert room heard with infinite gratr1ca-
ton, but she has not particle of dramatic nspra-
ton. Her acting is purely mechanical and conven-
uonal, and the rgidity of muscle peculiar to her
otherwise pretty face, is totally opposed to varying
:" Lucia" The music is also too high for her Her
voice ls neszo soprano, the lower notes of which
are to be preferred but her higher notes are hard
albeit pretty well in tune. The ciague ensured her
good reception, but it will never be able to main
tain her IN the position of first prra donna /"
Hackett, since his London engagement, has been
acting with great success in Edinburgh and Glas-
gov, and was at Dublin at the latest dates but had
been sent for to appear before the Queen and the
British Court, at Drury Lane, the 9th of April,
the occasion being state visit.
General Tom Thumb is the rage among the Pari-
SLAMS at present One of the journals says, "No
such sensation has been created among the fair.
since the first appearance of Lemuel CULVER at the
Court of Brobdi gnag.''
Mr.. Forrest concluded his engagements the Prin-
cess's in the tragedy of King Lear He proceeded
TO Bristol, Edinburgh and Dublin Immediately
The intention of taking an English company 10
PARIS under his management has fallen TO the grolnd