The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-09


Grand Jury suggests that for Blackwell's Island
Il board OF commissioners inspectors should
be appointed; but the organization we now
suggest would dispense with any separate board
of that nature, and render the administration
of that department, as well as OF every other
in our municipal economy, efficient and salts
factory. 1t would, in short, embrace similar
principles, and apply them on more enlarged
and extended scale, commensurate with the
importance and growing magnfcence Of this
vast metropolis. Let the sh,bboieth, therefore, of
all parties hencef orward be {" thorough and ra-
deal reform OF our city government Nothing
else can cleanse the Augean stable, and produce a
change for the better.
MILE TRUPrI's BENEFIT AT TIKI ITALIAN OPERA.
Mile TufIi takes her benefit for the season at
the Astor House Opera, thls evening, when she
will appear IN the leading character of II G~ra-
mento. If any attached to the theatre deserves
bumper from the patrons Of dramatic music IN
New York, this amiable, excellent, and superb
artist certainly stands most pre-eminent She Is
one of only three or four others, who have ap-
preached the very highest rank in dramatic opera
in this city, for the last twenty years. Her voice,
her power, her taste, her genius, her tragic accom-.
pshmens, are all of the first order of excellence.
We hope, therefore, that all the lovers and patrons
OF music IN the wide community beyond the mar.
row limits of the clques, will crowd to the Opera
House tonight, and give her one of the finest
bumpers which ever graced the theatre in New
York.
Ii making this exception to Truffi, and it may be
to one or two others when their benefits take
place, we do not mean to abate one JOt or title of
the opinions we have always entertained con-
corning the incorrect principles on which the
Opera has been conducted and managed IN
this city during the last year and the present.
To Its erroneous and absurd construction has
been added, more or less, want OF skill and
want of talent in the general management of the
concern. The first great error committed land
this error, we believe, originates In the opera
committee, which, behind the curtain, directs the
osensible manager Of the day. was the weak and
imbeclle attempt to introduce into the numerous
and equal circles of such city as this, the con.
celted, exclusive, and insoent pretension which
prevails IN the afstocratic and WORKOUT circles of
European society. An opera founded upoa an
exclusive subscription list Is too narrow and mo.
nopolzing, and Is sort of insult to the rest OF the
COMMUNICATING them as vulgar and canuiUe
This great error lies at the foundation of tn.
roubles and difficulties which have assailed the
Italian Opera in this city.
Another error was the ignorant attempt, at the
CONNIE ncement of the last season, to ostraclse and
repudiate the newspaper press. Even IN London
and Paris, the newspaper press always receives
the courtesies of every opera management-cour-
tesies which are well understood to be anything
but compromising the independence of criticism
in the journals OF the day Under Sanqulrlco's
imbeclle and weak management of last year. the
opera committee made the first false step, bv a
general reputation of the usual courtesies to the
PRESS step which they were obliged to retrace to
a certain extent in less than a week. The bad
management OF that season broke down the Opera.
when only twO-thirds of the subscription nights
had been given, by which the subscribers were
cheated out of ore-third Of their money, which
they had paid at the beginning Of the season.
During the present season an effort has been
made to bring full houses and attract the people
at large, without whom no Opera can succeed in
New York. Yet the management has exhibited
symptoms of weakness, lmbecility and folly, equal
to that of the previous season. The same error
still exists in the construction of the Opera; the
same standing insult to society at large, by
themselves up as exclusives, and looking upon the
rest of the world around them as vulgar and low
bred, and thus creating Ill feeling In community,
which, if it had been treated with proper respect,
would be generous and liberal in its patronage of
go refined an amusement as the Italian Opera. BY
all these mistakes of manage ent with the ex-
ception of some special nights, in which there was
a row IN the green-room, or speeches before the
curtain, or fmeufes in the parquette-attractions
which the laugher.lovng people of this city can
not reslsD-except on such occasions, the houses
have been by means remunerative, whereas
under other management they would have been
altogether different to what we have seen dur
Ing the last few weeks.
We might proceed at great length, and point out
other deficiencies and blunders in the manage
ment, but il is unnecessary. Our purpose was to
call the attention Of the liberal and generous PEG.
pie of New York, to one of the main pillars Of the
Opera, in the person of Mile Truffi, an artist of
the hlghes, merit, and one of the greatest personal
worth We hope that all prejudices against the Ill
fated management of the Opera, will be suspend
ed on this night, and that this deserving lady
will have humping bumper to reward her for
her talents, skill, and general tragic excellence In
the lyrical drama.
CoMrTRoILER's REPoRr.-We give in this days
paper portion Of the annual report Of the Comp
troIler of this State. The balance we shall give
Tomorrow. 1t is as able as 1t is voluminous, and
being the fret and last from the present incumbent
will be interesting to those connected IN any way
with the finances Of the State. The differen.
rublic funds and trusts are arranged under appro.
pirate heads, and the position and condition Of
each clearly and distinctly gwen.
IMPORTANT NoTIcE-MAns FOR EUROPE. For
the next three months, or until the ratlcanons OF
the new postal treaty are exchanged In London,
the American postage on letters by the mail steam.
ers from New York will be one cent, and by those
from Boston five cents. The rate on newspapers
from this port viii! be one cent