The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-01-11
LATEST MAIL NE WS
WASHINGTON LETTER.
.oxorRsPEc1AL coRRRsroNpENT

from SPECIAL CoRREsP n IT,
,.-.e. a,6 Mario an lraShjncton-T TIE Ope.
Tie PaJir Lands, another political
.,.-vlgt5on IN thcm-Nr Latham Of CoL-
..-a5a-A5s Specck on lire Of Steamers
from San Francisco 10 Shanghaj-Mr.
.iqa5'er IF Philadelphia, on Kno~ Non
.ar5sm.
WAsHINGTOS, Jan. Q, 1855.
An Italian opera was performed in Wash
non last cvening-an important event
.-.ry. and one that produced 40 little hutter
end sensation in our aristocratic community,
n.,r very large Theatre-ssid 10 Le the lar
t-.>t in the country-was not full by any
~ ane- Of means. | do not know what the
-..,iafs were. but if my arithmetic is ut all
-.If, blr. there WAS not 4 paying house.
The opera Of Norma is constructed upon
,.,,rayacant and incredible plot There
+. mi. n sweet music in It. but, to my English
.-.,. the acting and pageantry was exceed,
t-..y tulous Madame Grisi is clever
-r,., If her kind and 4 vocalist Of great
.,t,l and power. but not of enhancing melo
~ The acting of Mademoiselle DonoNani,
g.. .outralto, was more natural than that al
,.- great soprano. aud to my ear her melody
j.. -,-,re sweet aud tender, though her voice
. -
RI. the tenor. sings some of his strains most
.,.r,iv. but his voice lacks volume and pa
+fa. Il is boyish voice, that never i'm
---.s,, Us except when aided by the highest
..H If his art Signor Susini. the baSSo, has
ri.a. powerful and Sonorous, though not
Yer, deep voice and sings and acts with free
r.m-tlaugh the latter is rather overdone
TIL. other yocaiists. the chorus aud orches
.-4. were MI excellent. But | have heard
English operate performers, whom, | am
--. nineteen twentieths of the intelligent
sud cultivated people of our country would
vanity aud aiitctatiUu aside. greatly pre-
..- l.arng. Among these | would name Mr.
AID Mrs Wood and Mr. BrUugh, who made a
sensation throughout this country in 1881 :
aud d.
There was some additional patch work to-
G.y added to the public land graduation bill
in thu House Mr. Dawson finding it difficult
Evethe lands away actually came to the
CONC. fusion that it would be constitutional to
charge cents per acre, an amount supposed
- equal the first cost and cXtingulshment of
Indian it'll.
4 speech was delivered to .dav by Mr.. La.
,.sn. Of California on the bill To- establish a
l.a- OF steamers between San Francisco and
Shanghai. Nr. Latham has the rare merit of
speaking nottOo often, but always well He
], IN appearance the youngest member OF
the House, and certainly one of the most cir
ranspect and efficient. lie is always well
i listened to and generally successful
Mr. Chandler is expected to speak to NOR
row on know Nottingham. lie is look ed
8 10 Is " leader III opposition to this organiza
3 ton bat that will be determined by the
4 ground he shall take. If, rs some anticipate,
4 j. shalt take religious controversial view
u the case, and look at it from a Roman
] Catholic standpoint, he will not attract
around him the crystalizing elements, but
q will be placed by them where many of his
4 oi Wing confreres have placed him, without
i the pale of wholesome political organization!
4 y &