The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-01
Our Havana Correspondence.
The Crops-Ihe Sugar Estates 1hcatr1cais-1ht
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| IHe CrOpS-Ihe Sugar EstdtcS-Ih catrlc0tS-1ne
1acon Theohe-Operatic Matters, &c. &c.
avail myself of the departure of the steamer
Isabel, to write you these few lines, to give
| you some particulars respecting matters In this
| place.
| Business here is, AT present, at stand still,
owing to the hoydays, and will not be resumed
until Wednesday ncxt-the custom house and all
the public Offices being closed throughout the APP
preaching holyweek. In answer to your inquiries
respec citing the crops m ay here mention that grea
fears entertained respe citing the present crop of
sugar, and estimates of the deficiency vary from 80
| up 10 even 50per cent but from what have myself
been able to Judge IN my tour in the Island rather
incline to the former figure, as the drought has not
| been general, and several new estates commence
| grinding this year. Among the estates which are
| in process OF formation, and which had the
pleasure of seeing, were two which called parcu-
| larly my attention, from their magniiicence, the
| different machineries TO be employed, and their
enormous cost: One of them belongs to the agent,
other, called the Aguca, belongs to the rich
Habanero, II. f. Count Femandlna. This last
tate will be the largest in the Island will have up
wards of 600 negroes, and there will be five orslx of
the most approved machines managed by Ameri-
can, French, and English engineers. From
versation which ! had with the Counts major
domo, itappears that the probable produce of the
estate, when in full operation, will exceed 1900
boxes. Another estate, which / visited, was the
Alava belonging to the merchant Zulueta This
estate made, in lSi7, upwards OF 5000 boxes. 1t is
very well conducted. lonn cannot imagine any
thing more beautiful than the appearance at night
of this estate, all lighted up with gas, and remind
ing you of the stories of your childhood about fairy
palaces and ncantations.
Respecting amusements here in Havana, may
mention that the Ravels left this city, about fort
night ago. for the interior of the Island before their
| departure for New York; and it is expected that
| after the two masquerade balls announced for the
| nr he hnn frp
| Will be closed. These masquerade balls, am told,
are spendidly given, and as the whole theatre is
thrown open, 5000 persons can congregate together
| and dance and amuse themselves as the people IN
all Catholic countries anuse themselves in the mas
querade season. | am told that, last year,
querade ball, given in this theatre, yielded net up
wards OF $1,000.
You ask me for description of the Tacon the
atre. AS shall soon be in New Yor k, ! will then
be better able 10 give you more particulars than |
could in this letter, and for this reason, conne
myself, at present, to say that it is magnificent
theatre, much larger, and vastly superior, any of
ours, and may be considered as second only TO
few of the principal ones in Europe The proprie-
tor. DR.. Francisco Marti, has made fortune by it.
The tavorite amusement here is the Italian
Opera; and the several companies which have APP
peared here for these 10 II years past, have all
met, as | have been told, with more less sue
cess. The opera season commences in October,
and ends in February and this last season, the
Tacon, every night, has been very well attended,
more particularly such nights as the great favore
singer, the basso Nlarini appeared, when the the
atre would be crowded. AS the whole three tiers
of boxes were subscribed, and the same with al
most all the seats In the pit for the whole season,
II was matter of considerable difficulty, indeed,
to get seat any night and had very often to en-
croach on the Kindness of my friend b.. by accept
ing seat IN his box. | am told, from very reli-
able source, that the manager (MartD has made,
IN these five months, upwards of $4,000, and this
with only two singers OF note-Signor Marlnl, and
Mde. Steiienone. Compare this success with the
signal failure of poor friend Fry, in his vain at
tempt to establish the Italian Opera in New York
Marini left this city for Londo on, via the United
States, on the 9Th of last month, to fulfil his en-
gagement at the Royal Italian Opera /; but, before
leaving, he signed an engagement here for two
seasons, to receive, am told, IN each season of
five months, $1,000 monthly, and benefit each
season. Middle. Stehenone, whose name have
seen IN the London papers, as forming part of the
company which was TO have opened the present
season of the Royal Italian Opera of London, as
one Of the n,a sorraai, is, at the present moment,
quietly living at Puentes Grandes, a beautiful lit
tie village about four miles from this city, and a
fashionable, resort during the sultry summer
sons, and receives 800 monthly all the year round
and a benefit each season. The benefits of these
two singers this season Noted, each, upwards of
$1,000 without Including presents, which were
troupe, the basso Paonlni, who is at present IN
London, the tenor Lorlni, and the director of the
orchestra, Ardlttl, are the only who have been
re-engaged for next season. Marti has sent an
agent to London to form the company for next sea-
son. and, il is said, carries full power to contract
with some of the first rate singers at present in
London, and | have read in the papers here that
great hopes entertained that he will be able to
bring out Vlardot Garcia, Alboni, first rate barry
tone, and first rate tenor
In answer TO your last question: let me assure you
that have found, during my seven months stay |
here, all the stories mentioned in our papers al
home, respecting the ideas and the intentions of |
the natives here, with regard to the mother coun- |
try, to be nothing but tasehoods The respectable |
part of the inhabitants complain, it Is true of the
unjust and oppressive conduct of Spain towards the
island, but content 10 remain they are, en-
joying the blessings of peace and prosperity, with
out troubling themselves about politics. and having
very little relish for annexation
| am at present in first rate health and hope,
when | return here next winter, you viii let your
self be coaxed TO accompany me and hoping soon
TO have the pleasure of shaking hands with you,
remain dear friend and cousin,
Yours truly, ADoLPHUs.