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Leader (1850-1860), 6th October 1860, Edition 1 of 2, Page 853, ENTERTAINMENTS.

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      Untitled Article

      > the Sardinian Government formally announced that this- principles oi maritime law recognised , at the Paris congress , will be strictly carried put . In Sicily the forts of Pescara and'Agosta were ill the hands of the liberating'aribyv So matters stood , as far as news had arrived ,. as the ' pasfc " aixd pi'esent week joined hands ; but we were not kept long in suspense for the decisive blow . Tidings arrived that Aneona had fallen onSaturday , chiefly thi-ough the effective operations of tho fleet * and that Lamorieiere ( who , as the Times obsei'ved , had issued some of the most murderous manifestoes ever put forth ) , and his whole garrison wereprisoners of warin the handsof the Sardinians ^ Nay , more ; that his portfolio had got into General GFanti ' s hands , and had been found to contain papers of the most compromising character , showing that a conspiracy was going on against the French Emperor by his own pro- ? tege " s . Meanwhile the official organ of the French Government announced , onlhe last day of September , that the forces occupying Rome were to be reinforced by a division of infantry , two squadrons of cavalry , and a battery of artillery , and that an intimation had been conveyed to Sardinia that General Goyon " had been ordered to extend his action as far as the military conditions on which it is dependent will admit" —a somewhat obscure announcement , -which , however , meant that lie is to prevent the liberating armies from coming to closer quarters with the Pope . And intelligence of a nature calculated to bear out this view of affairs , reached us' from Paris , touching the reply made to M . de Cadore , who had been commissioned to ascertain the course which the Emporer Napoleon would actually pursue . France , however , and when we say France , we do not literally mean the French people , but use tlie word figuratively as signifying the French Emperor , —had decided that the operations of her troops be confined to a- passive and quies--: cent position . Thus it would appear that even the Emperor finds it politic not to openly defy the whole public opinion of the eivilised world . As for the enlightened people of France , they , we believe , are : heart and soul with the liberatirig movement . The JMoniteuv , with oracular and enigmatical significance , tells us , that it will appertain to flic great powers , in . congress assembled , one day to decide on the questions which have arisen out of recent events in Italy , " up to which . decision , itseems ,. that . " the Emperor ' s Government , in conformity with tlie mission it has imposed upon itself , will continue to discharge the duties resulting from its sympathies with the holy father , and from , the presence of the French flag in Rome , the capital of the catholic world , " - ;—a very' prett y ¦ ' piece of diplomatic . obfuscation . At Tivoli the . Sardinians could see the spires of the eternal , city , while their own panoply might in turn be perceived glistening in the rays of the sun . Whether they would make aii attempt to occupy the " capital of the Catholic world , " or pass it in a lateral direction towards Naples , ' was , at the time of the despatch leaving , probleniatical . On the other hand , after the check received by Garibaldi's forces at Capua , the Neapolitan army follpvved up its success , real of apparent , by . recovering . the : streain of tlie Volt urno , as their line of defence , Victor Emmanuel set out for Florence and Bologna on Friday week , amidst enthusiastic acclamations , and almost simultaneously , a deputation from Naples set out to meet him , with a view of inducing him to annex the latter place , , and thus put an end to anarchy and disorder . In connection with the . ostensible leaning of the French Emperor towards the Pope , must be mentioned HVI . de Thouvenol'a alleged threat to . make himself conspicuous by his absence from tli ' o councils of his master , but whether this was an obsequious anticipation of the presumed wishes existent in the Imperial mind , or whether it was prompted , or whether it was spontaneous , or whether it partook of the character of both , and also , whether the Emperor wants to be in a position to tell tho Pope that he lias done nioro than his Holiness deserved , and must abandon him to the fate which tho inexorable and irresistible logic of events so clearly indicates , ai'e contingencies dimly looming in the future . However , on the departure of M . de Cudore with such comfort for the holy father as diplomatic assurances , which the course of ovonts appears likely to neutralise , can afford , the foreign minister 1 ms determined to kcop his placo . The contest , we inay hero remark in passing , between tho Neapolitan troops and tho Garibaldians , scorns one of thoso deadly struggles , in which the idea of giving quarter seems not to enter tho minds of the combatants . At mid week wo learned that the success of tlio Garibaldian arms had been placed beyond doubt by tho issue of the action at the Volturno . Tho rising of tho . population liad spread in overy direction , and tho Sardinian troops converging to tho very gates or Rome , wore upon tho point of entering tho Neapolitan territories . A space of five milos from tho city had been placed under tho ostensible protection of tho Fronch ( lag . To turn now to tho diplomatic side of afl ' airs , Garibaldi , putting out of consideration tho cossion of Nice , ha 9 shewn a disposition to preserve amicable relations , and aot in con cor fc and unison with Victor Emmanuel . A now ministry was about to bo formed at Nuplos , consisting of members favourable to that lino of policy which will eventuate in tho absolute and unconditional annexation of Sicily to Sardinia , as opposed to the contention of tho Masszinx party , who , to quote thoir manifesto , urge that " a froo und united country will not bo forinod by annexing this or that provinoo to Piedmont , but by amalgamating Piedmont and all tho provinces of Italy , and Italy with Rome , which is its oontro and heart . " Bortani had rosignod , and Sufli had withdrawn from tho pro-dictatorship of Sicily . Spain ' s support of J 3 omba Walton afc what it is worth ) has , as a matter of course , boon oxhibitod , in its endorsement of his memorable " protest , " which formed tho subject of a . leader in our numbor of tho 15 th ultimo . The Sardinian " session" oponod on tho 3 rd , wlion Count Cuvour ' s roport was presented , to tho offoot " thafc henceforth Italy , with tho exception of Venotia , is froo . As rogAvdn tho lattor provinoo avoscannot mako wur upon Austria ngninst tho almost unanimous , wish pf tho European Powers . Such un enterprise would ovoato a fornaidablo coalition against Italy . But , ' in constituting a strong Italy , wo aro serving Flio oauso of Vanotia . Those ' rousons * also impose upon us tho duly of respecting Home . Tlio question of Homo oanuot bo decided by tho sword alone . It moots with moral obstacles which moral force ulono can vanquish . ' Tho ministerial report , in speaking of tho rumoured possibility of a oollisiou with Franco at Homo , says « that an aot of ingratHuub so monstrous would brand tho

      " country with a deep disgrace such as centuries of suffering could not obliterate . Whatever populations may be freed from oppression , th r independence Will be respected . " In conclusion , the report .- tells u ; " jthat Parliament lias been convoked in order tb pronounce whether th present-ministry-still , enjoys its confidence . This is so much tlie more necessary as a voice which is with reason dear to the people , has manifested its distrust of us to the crown arid the country . " The ministry , as finally constructed by Garibaldi at Naples are Conforti , Muir a , Scura , Capitame , Anguissolis , and Desanetis . We learned early in the week that General Walker , — -who under existing circumstances , is called a Filibuster , but who , had he immolated 1 , 000 human beings for every one whose blOod is now upon his hand , would have been a conqueror and a hero , even , if like the first ¦ Napoleon , the capricious goddess forsook him in the last act of his sanguinary drama , —had been taken , prisoner , and that an English vessel , of war , the Icarus , assisted in the capture ; also , that lie would stand a j tolerably fair chance of being reformed off tlie face of the earth , his captors being half inclined to shoot him . In Austrian intelligence , the chief feature of news , as last week closed was that the Reichsrath ( State Council ) , had voted a federal constitution , and rejected 'imperialism and centralisation , by a majority of 2 to 1 . The Emperor ' s response was to the effect that he confidently hoped that the course he intended to adopt would , when it became known , meet with general concurrence , as giving tokens of his good intentions , and obtain for hiin unanimous support for the measures lie proposed to carry out . A " volunteer movement'' is said to be in course of prosecution through the'empire , under the countenance of the government , while 100 , 000 soldiers are about to be levied . The order for extinguishing the lighthouse fires on the Venetian sea-board is said to have originated in the fact , that nocturnal soundings had secretly been taken by Garibaldi's agents . . . ¦ The lectures at the University of Pesth in Hungary have been post-; poned sine die , by express order of . the Austrian Commander-in-chief ! in that countrv , which is tantamount to closing tlie universitv .

      Untitled Article

      Oct . 6 , 1860 ] The Srdxirdriy Analyst and Leader . 853

      Entertainments.

      ENTERTAINMENTS .

      Untitled Article

      Royal Exglish Opera . —The season at this magnificent theatre opened on Monday with Lurlihe , cast , a 3 announced in our preliminary notice . The opening night was characterised by a multitudinous and enthusiastic audience , whosedisposition , to re Jemand every " gefli " in " i he opera was kept pace with and deserved , if not invariably responded to with a " repeat , " by the uniform , excellence of the performance , in- . strumental and vocal ; and in the latter point , both " soloistic " arid choral . Indeed , Mr . Smythson has brought the chorus of this house to the highest state of efficiency and-preeisiOn . Nor mustweonait the scenic , department , which show forth Messrs . Grieve and Telbin ' s powers of . contrivance arid handywprk in 'mechanical execution . As we have already speeiulised all these feat ures in more than one prospective article , we have only to record their efficiency as exhibited in performance . Mr . Alfred Mellon ' s band , for he deserves to share the honour with Mr . Costa , excels its own excellence , as manifested at the late Floral Hall concerts . Miss Pyne ' s voice , ' so unique for tlie combination of power and fulness , with the exquisite silvery and ringing delicacy of its iimbre , was deservedly hailed with enthusiastic greeting in the character of the heroine , which she has identified with herself ; as was also Mr . Harrison , whose maiily figure ., bearing , and deportment , breadth and vigour of style , fine natural organ ,. well cultivated by assiduous study , and histrionic qualifications , have advanced him to the first rank of English operatic artists ; ho was , of course , the Count Rudolf of the piece . His peculiarly distinct articulation , so rarely heard , merits spocjal commendation . The new appearances come now for notice . Mr . Henry Whartbn ( baritone ) , as Rhineborg ; Mr . Qrattan Kelly ( buss ) , as Unron Truonfels ; Miss LefUer ( contralto ) , as Ghiva ; and Miss Albortnzzi , as Libft , all confirm tho judiciousness of tho allotmont of tho characters they have to sustaiiu Mr . Wharton . shows that ho possosscs good natural qualifications and has evidently had tho advantage of . careful training . ' . With Misa Leffler ' s abilities the public are well acquainted , us ulso with Mr . Kelly ' s , through tlio medium of tho Concert-room , whore they already enjoy tho reputation of favourite artistes . Miss Albortazssi gives promise of future success in her profession . In tho Opera wo aro noticing , her part is but a small one , but sho joins Mis s Pyno , Mr , Corri , and Mr . Wharton , in tho excellent dolivory of tho unnecjompaniod part song , " Through tho Woi'hl . " Mr . Corri , as Zelicok , makes a most amusing , lively , and obstreperous drunken gnome , and excites tlie risible tondoneios of his audience most successfully . The encores on tho oponing , night of tho season , in a favourite piece , abruptly suspended , as this was last spring , by the commencement of the Ituliun Opora , cannot bo tukon as a criterion . 33 ut wo . have ¦ watched tho performances during tho woelc , and tho audionoo gonoi'ully evinces a disposition not ( o bo satisfied without hearing tho following pieces sung in duplicate : tho fuinoud brindisi " Take this Cup" ( Miss Pyno ) ; " Troubadour Knohanting" ( Aliss Lofller ) ; ' My Heart ' s First Homo" ( M . r . Harrison }; "A Frtthor ' s , Jiovo" ( Mr . Wharton ) . To turn , now , ( o tho nttso en some . Tho moonliglit sconory is so beautiful as to oxoito an almost involuntary outburat of ajjplnuse , when the rising curtain cUsoIobos it to view . Tho rippling 1 of tlio wutor , gildod by tlio moonboains streaming clown upon it , and silvoi'ing over its surface , is executed to perfection . As Lurlino stands on tlio bosom of tho river , singing to hor harp , the illusion of tlie water Ho wing , underneath hor very foot is pori ' oot ; it seems ronlity ilscll ' i wo liston to hoar its murmur on tho heuoh . No less suacottaful is tho tossing of tlio wators , when tlio fitonn agilatos thorn j and the soono , whore Rudolph und his boat are ongulpWl , in nu ininiitablo piooe of stugo offept . Tho , porformunfos of tho oponing niglifc i of course , concluded with the Natiomu"Anthem , in whioli Mloa Pyno took ; tho leading solos . Various novelties nro , wo under « luncl , in uotivo preparation , tho oivrlioBt to bo produced being , wo beliove , a now Opera , composed oxpreesly for " tlio 1 ' yno and HurriHon Company , " by Mr . M . W . Balfo . In oonnootion with tJio seenio dopurtinont wo ought not to omit tho nwn « of Mr , Sloman , whioli dosorvea highly oreditiibJo mention .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 6, 1860, page 853, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2368/page/13/