The Week.

Diet were engaged in considering this reply . A terrific earthquake has destroyed part of the fine city of Mendoza , in the Argentine Republic . The number of victims ( it is not stated in what way ) is set down at 7 , 000 , while 2 , 000 houses have been destroyed . AMERICA . —The news from America is important , as containing a proclamation of President Lincoln , in reference to the capture of Fort Sumtner . The ' proclamation calls forth the militia of the states ,

to the number of 75 , 000 , whose first duty the President says will be to retake the forts and repossess the public property seized by the secessionists . The proclamation also convenes an extraordinoiy session of Congress , to meet on the 4 th July next , to consider and determine such measures as the public safety and interest require . The proclamation had been responded to by liberal offers of men and money , the New York Legislature alone having voted 30 , 000

men and three millions of dollars . The border States appear to be divided in opinion on tbe subject , Maryland and Delaware supporting the Government , while Kentucky and Missouri refuse assistance . AVhat is of more importance , \ igiiiia appears to be on the eve of passing a Secession ordinance . Jefferson Davis is far from being inactive . He has issued a proclamation authorising letters of marque , and is about to issue a call for 15 , 000 volunteers . General Saiitana surrenderd San Domingo to Spain on the 18 th March .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

ST . JAMES'S THEATRE . Air . AVigan has placed upon the stage , with some very elegant appointments , a new version of "Les Pattes deMouche , " under the title of " Scrap of Paper . " The billet , under its new form , goes through the usual adventurs , and in the hands of Mr . and Mrs .

Wigan , Mr . Emery , and Miss Herbert , loses none of the point to which we have been accustomed . The adaptation has been ably rendered by Air . Palgrave Simuson .

OLYMPIC THEATRE . Mr . Buekstone's old farce of " Popping the question has been revived here , with considerable care and attention to scenery and costume , the hitter remarkable for the absence of crinoline . Mr . G . Cooke , as Primrose , played exceedingly well , and was admirably supported by Airs . Stevens » nd Mrs . Leigh Murray as the two unamiable spinsters .

THE CRYSTAL PALACE . The season of 1861-2 was splendidly inaugurated on AVednesday by a colossal musical festival in which 3 , 000 vocal and instrumental lierformers took part , under the direction of Mr . Costa—the solo vocalists being Maddle . Titiens , Madame Rudersdorff , Herr Formes , Mr . Santley , and Mr . Sims Reeves . Haydn's "Creation" was the

work performed ; the chorus , consisting of the London division of the Hendel Festival choir ( including the chorus of the Sacred Harmonic Society , with selections from other metropolitan choral societies ) , the leading professional choristers , and deputations from the principal provincial choral societies , the cathedral choirs , and various continental associations , accompanied by the magnificent

Royal Italian Opera Band , considerably strengthened for the occasion , we need hardly say did the amplest justice to the great ensemble pieces of Haydn ' s familiar work ; ancl it were equally superfluous to state that our incomparable English Tenor ( Mr . Sims Reeves ) , produced an immense effect in the part assigned to him , and more especially in the beautiful air " In native worth , " which he sang , as

usual , to perfection . The noble voice of Herr Formes was heard to the best advantage in the song " Rolling in foaming billows , " and the great recitatives belong to the bass in the first part—the famous German basso ' s " alacrity in sinking " being displayed as remarkably as ever in his descent to double D" on the words "AVith sinuous trace the worm . " In the third part the bass solos were given with

admirable expression and musicianly skill by Air . Santley ; whilst the part of Eve , entrusted to Madame Ruddersdorfi ' , was executed with all tlie taste and judgment by which performances are distinguished . The only absolute novelty on this occasion was the

Public Amusements.

debut of Maddle . Titiens as a singer of oratorio in the English language . The lady was triumpantly successful , and she appears destined henceforth to enjoy as much popularity in the London concert-room as she already does on the operatic stage . Madle . Titiens was in the fullest possession of her superb voice ; and her rendering of the two great songs— " In verdure clad , " and ' On mighty pens "—created a genuine " sensation" that will not be easily forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to be present .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

Twelve opera concerts are to be given at the Crystal Palace during the spring , with Mdlle . Tietjens and Signor Giuglini as principal singers—the first on Friday next . The Court Journal states that the lady known in her maiden clays as Miss Maria B . Hawes intends to resume her profession . A \ e believe it is now settled that M . Fechter will play Othello to

Mr . Phelp ' s lago , but that the parts will not be reversed . If , as we hear , the original intention was to change the parts on alternate nights , we are glad to hear that it has been departed from . To an artist who conceives his part with the intense inteUigence of M Fechter , the shifting of a character can be by no means so easy a matter as the change of a suit of clothes .

Swiss tourists are hereby apprised that a musical festival of three grand performances will be held at Zurich on the 25 th , 26 th , and 27 th of June . A rumour , curious if true , announces , among coming events , the permanent establishment of a German Opera House in Paris , under the musical direction of Dr . Marschner .

Among the concert-givers in Paris , especial praise is bestowed by M . Poulgin , iu the Gazette Musicale , on Signor Marchesi , who began his career in London some years since , and who is described as having ripened into an accomplished and expressive basso eantante . A new three-act opera , " Salvator Rosa , " by M . Duprato , is in

rehearsal at the Opera Comique . At a late pupils' concert given at the Conservatory at Leipsic , some music to Shakspeare's " Tempest" ( six numbers ) , by our young Mendelssohn scholar , Mr . Arthur Sullivan , excited attention as of remarkable promise . The Conservatory , by the way , is just now rich in English scholars . Air . Sullivan has returned to England to enter on his m-ofessional career .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

H , E . —It is a personal matter , and we cannot interfere . CHARLES . —Y ' ou are perfectly eligible to offer yourself , but wc should advise yon to read a very good paper entitled " AA anted a Secretary , " which ajipeared in our last number of Once a Week ALLEX . —Red is the proper colour . C . E . T . —The by-laws sent do not alter the case , you must have served a Stewardship "for one , or more , of the Charities " from that lod

ge . AVILLY AV . ' —AA hy put youself in such an antagonistic position ? No one can serve yon whilst yon denounce all that think differently to yourself . F . —AA e do not know . Ask for yourself , y ou are on the spot , and we 150 miles distant . Ax OLD KEADEIS must know what is our usual practice in such cases . If the report is a fair one it shall be inserted .

TEMPLE C ' HAMLEHS . Go . ILLEGAL MATTEHS . —if they have acted illegal , that is no reason why you should be included when' not present , your remedy is clear . Pursue it in the ri ght spirit or not at all . The feeblest thing to do is to provoke a battle / and then shrink at the first blow . HEAD QUAKTEKS . —Apply to the place you date from , we do not undertake to be apologists for any one .

Ax EXGLISU BKOTHEB ( Limerick ) . —The Grand Master would not , under any circumstances , issue a warrant for a lodge to be held within tlie jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . BKO . HIQGIKSOX . —Our correspondent shall be communicated with .