The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-01

TROUBLE, OF THE ITALIAN OPKRA ~ LoNDen
AND New You've published, the other day,
a very curious report Of trial, disclosing the
troubles Of the Italian Opera in London, and
the terrible losses sustained by Mr. Delafeld,
the proprietor, who made the attempt to get
1t up in the Covent Garden Theatre, short
time ago, as the rival establishment of the old
Haymarket Italian Opera. The London Times
has also quite an amusing editorial article on the
same subject, which will be found in our columns
elsewhere A private correspondent gives us some
further curious facts in relation to this unfortunate
affair
It seems that Mr.. Delafeld, the person who at
tempted to establish the rival Italian Opera, had
been left over ElO0,OOO, by his father, who had
been capital brewer; but the son, having An am
bition beyond malt and beer, wished to become a
leader of fashionable society in London He ac-
quired this by several visits to the continent
attending the Opera House In Paris-gettlng ac-
quainted with ballet dancers, and being introduced
to female artistes Having plenty of money in his
pocket, and hair around his mouth-but not SUI
perabundance of brains-he was induced to invest
the whole of his property in attempting to establish
the rival Italian Opera House In London; and the
report of the trial, which we gave the other day,
ulsclOscs Tie bnOCKlng bankruptcy WHICH IouoWcu
up these efforts. The first error which led TO the
ruin of Delafield was his quarrelling with the
Times newspaper, about some paltry tickets, In
consequence of which the Times excluded the
notices of the theatre. The result of the whole
transaction is, that poor Dea6eld has saved no.
thing out of the large fortune left him by his father
He has come out of the project berett of every
thing, unless it be his mustachios
Ignorant, unpractlsed men, with little mind, but
plenty OF vanity and concert, should never attempt
to NEEDLE with the management of Italian opera.
SignOr Maretzek, who Is about TO make third
trial TO manage the Opera here at Astor place, bids
fair to have success. He has tact, discretion,
and great experience-very important items in such
business. But even these qualities are not
enough to reach success. The Opera going people
the hawt ton up town-must also show some dis
creton, tact and sense-artlcles sometimes not so
plenty with them stocks, bonds, cash, and cod
fish. They must first show their sense the shape
of increasing the subscription prices for the season,
at least one-haf over the recent rates. Luxuries
must be paid for. Exquisite Italian music is a
dearer article IN Europe than pork or molasses.
But.this is not all. 1t is rumored among musical
circles that Mr.. Fry, the ex-manager, Intends to
| make a rival attempt at Nibo's Garden, du-
ring the approaching season and that the old
company, Benedict, Truffi, and others, with
whO0 he had so many quarrels and hare-ups, are
gong to unite with HIM in opposition to the new
Astor Place company, engaged by Maretzek. II
seems, that Mr.. Fry has removed his property from
the Astor Place theatre, in the midst of some
amusing and exciting scenes, and that he has
opened negotiations with Mr.. Niblo, to accom-
| nj, sh he wiz ha
going over the same ground, and would probably
exhibit similar results, as have followed the Opera
recently in London. During the last Opera sea-
son, If Mr.. Fry had been better skilled in manage
ment, instead of losing fifteen or twenty thousand
dollars, Is stated he might have saved himself,
if he had used more economy and better temper
than what he observed. he continually had on
his hands two houpes, and all their expenses, for
one house. To open two Italian Operas, rivals to
each other, in New York. would be certain rum
to both, even amid all the profuslon, and wealth,
and prosperity, which the better classes have en-
joyed for the last year. Even the Opera at the
Broadway theatre recently, and without any ri
valry, too, was by no means successful, because
il was attempted at an unreasonable time, when
our opera-gong people were out Of town, and its
dependence was thrown entirely on those who go
to the English and other theatres With good
management and superior artists, there is proba-
biliiy of Maretzek's success in the attempt which
he is conte nplating in the Astor Place theatre but
if rival establishment is opened at Nible's, there
can be no doubt that the result will show greater
barrenness than that Of the last two seasons in
this city, and will, perhaps, nval, in some degree,
the wofu disclosures recently made in the Opera
business in London.
MAIL FAILuRKs-REckLKss MANAGEMENT OF ruK
Posi- OFFICE DEPaRrMENT.-In every department
of government there may sometimes be palliating
circumstances for occasional derelictlons of duty;
but In the present imbecile and reckless manage
ment of the Post Office Department, there can be
no excuse for the continual and almost daily fail
ure of the mails. From no section of the country,
however near by or distant is there any punctual-
ity in the reception Of our exchanges and letters
and we frequently left from ten to fifteen days
without advces from the South and West, except
by aid Of the telegraph
BY an arrangement recently carried into effect,
the entire Western mails are brought and carried
by way Of Buffalo and the lakes-an arrangement
which, if properly conducted, would bring us the
news some twelve hours earlier than by the way Of
Pittsburgh but it has totally failcd-from what
cause we know not-and yet the foolish experiment
10 persisted in. II is denied at the General Post
Office, in Washington, that any order was given
for such arrangement; yet they do not interfere
and allew the whole matter to go uncorrected
There is great fault somewhere in this respect,
and we shall endeavor to find out to whom IT
should attach, and who should be responsible. But
il seems that Postmaster Colamer does not know
the true line of his duty. II the contractors tor
Transporting the mails are at fault, why does he
not at once investigate the affair. and cancel the
contracts instead of paying for duty they never
perform The contracts are 80 made that the
mails are to be taken from point to another in
q specified time, so that the whole arrangement
shall be complete and strict punctuality In the ar
rivals and departures Of the mails observed.
So far from strict adhesion to the obligations