The Week.

ber of the North American Confederation by a unanimous vote oi her Legislature , and we shall probably learn ivithi-. i tiie next fortnight that seven other slave states ' have foilowcl her example . President Buchanan has still further alienated his Northern supporters by ordering the commandant Fort Alonltrie to surrender that position if attackedand we learn that the officer-has retired

; , with his little force of seventy men , to the adjacent Fort Smnpter , in Charleston Harbour . Fort Alonltrie , Castle Pinuekncv , the custom-house , post-office , and arsenal being occupied bv tiie state troops . The opinion gains ground that a " collision between the Federal authorities and the citizens of Charleston cannot l »> ni' bo avoided , consequent upon the collect ion of the United States revenue . The Springfield Journal , Air . Lincoln ' s present Oram , declares this '

armed secession is treason , ancl thafc the President will have no alternative hut to treat ifc as such , and , if we mav judge ofthe feeling of Northern citizens by the action of Republican representatives and senators at AVasli ' mgton , such opinion VilI be endorsed by all supporters of the President elect / In minor news , the Pacific Railroad Bill ( through the Northern State- ) has passed the Lower Houseand the trial of Colonel Corcoran had

, commenced in New York . Colonel Corcoran , it ivill be remembered by our leaders , refused to parade his regiment ( Irish ) , as nart of the escort to the Prince of AA ' ales during his Boyal Hi < rhness ' ' s late visit to the Empire City . The New York money market is reported as easier , ancl the stock market is steady . On the 25 th the Secretary ofthe Treasury opened the proposal " for the five million Treasury billsof ivhich less than half bid forat of

, was , an average twelve per cent . = CASXDA . —A decision of the Court of Queen ' s Bench at Toronto , in the case of a fugitive slave , Anderson , was delivered on the loth December , and , contrary to general expectation , ancl to the regret of every one , the Court ivas in favour of giving up the fugitive to the United States' authorities . One of the judges dissented from the decisionand an appeal has been madeIt is since

, . seveny ears the poor fellow , by a desperate adventure , escaped from slavery , during ivhich period he has enjoyed with his wife the siveets of liberty and home , of which , unless the decision be reversed , lie will noiv be deprived , and remitted to all the horrors of slavery , if not to death , for to such punishment he is liable under the atrocious slave laivs .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA . Air . Alfred Alellon ' s opera of " Victorine" ivas revived on Monday evening , ivith a success as complete as that which attended its first performance . The short and not very thankful part of Jnlien is now assumed by Air . AVharton , in the place of Air . Santley ; Air . AVailworth resigns his original character of Captain Claude to Air . T . Distin , and himself supersedes Air . G . Honey as Griffon—whihz most of all

important , the part of Victorine herself has fallen into the hands of Miss Louisa Pyne , who , both as regards acting and sin « in « - does it complete justice . Air . Henry Haigh is still the representative of the fortunate lover Michel ; Air . H . Corri retains the part of Hector , which be sings and acts so admirably , and Aliss Thirlwall is again the Louise of the piece . In almost every respect tlie character of Victorine is particularly suited to Aliss Louisa Pyne , ivho nofc onl the Avhole of the music

y sings allotted to the part with the utmost brilliancy and . expression , but pourtrays successfully the various changes of position and sti-tion to ivhich the puzzled seamstress is _ subjected in the course of the drama . Aliss Pyne was encored in the cavatina in the second act , whilst her execution of the rondo finale received the loudest testimonials of applause from the audience . Air . Henry Haigh , ivhose sweet voice seems to gain the audience he is

upon as brought more prominently before them was encored in the ballads , " This flower , clear maul , " ancl " The heart that is too lightly won . " Air . H . Corri deserves prai « e for bis rendering the scena in the third act , and for the dramatic force o- " Ins death scene . The general performance of the opera is eiie-tive and the band and chorus are in their usual state of admirable tr , - » ni'i" - ' Ine curtain had to be raised after the close of tbe op » ra fo » the principal artistes to receive the well-earned applause of the audience and Mr . Alfred Mellon was compelled to make his bow upon i 1 stage , in compliance with a very general call for his anpeavance

MUNCESS'S . The performances of Mr . Fechter , ivhich have been interrupted during the first nights ofthe pantomime , are now resumed , and he appears every evening in the duplex character of Fabian and Louis de Mraneln m his own version of " The Corsiean Brothers . " There is so much grace and art , and at the same time so much genuine power , displayed in his personation of these characters , that It must be ranked amongst the very highest dramatic assumptions of our time . In ease ancl finish of manner , expressive action a-d fine

Public Amusements.

deportment , Air . Fechter is unrivalled , and his performance should be seen b y every student as ivell as every admirer of good acting-. " LYCEUM . The Christmas burlesque here , ivith its graceful and fanciful con-] eluding scene , was preceded ou Monday evening by a drama written by Air . Brougham , and new afc least to the London stage , called I " The Irish Emigrant . " The iece is of the class called domestic

p , j and the story is based chiefl y upon the adventures of a lost pocketj book—the various incidents combinins ' , nofc very lumpily , a union j of tbe commonplace with the improbable . There arc / hoivever , two j well-drawn and distinct characters , each a'ivins to the actor who j represents it numerous opportunities for characteristic act-in" *; and | it is probably on account of this that the piece has been produced . j One is a New York carmanwho united great bluB ' of demeanour

, ness j ivith remarkable irresolution of conduct ; and the other an Irish-| man , just arrived in New York , in a state of extreme distress . The former was carefull y played by Air . G . Vining ; and the latter , ivhich is lite part ofthe piece , gives Air . John Drew in some ofthe scenes ! more scope for displaying his powers of personation than any part he j has hitherto performed—indeed , exhibits him in a far more favourable light as an artist and humorist than he has till this time enabled the to viewhim

public - in . The awkward manner of his entrance , ivith his reluctance to ask assistance , ancl his simple avowal of his distress , the look of keen hunger with ivhich he regards the dinner table , his burst of grateful feeling upon receiving food , and the eager manner of his swallowing it , joined ivith a thorough consistency of demeanour ancl a rich brogue , produced a most favourable impression the audience the in ivhich he

upon ; nor was scene j finds the pocket-book , although perhaps a little extr . v . -agant , a whit less effective . Indeed , throughout the part Air . Dreiv exhibited such numerous traits of genuine conception of character and of alternate humour and feeling , that he evidently only wants better parts than he has played to give him a much stronger position with thepublic than he has vet taken .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

It is understood thafc the representations of Mr . Balfe ' s opera will be resumed at the Hoyal English Opera as soon ns the arrangements of the theatre will permit ; and we believe that Air . Hoivard Glover ' s opera of "Ruy Bias" will be one of the novelties of the present- season . A stir has been of late made in Germany to improve , purify , and rearrange tbe words of Mozart ' s "Don Juan , " which , as every loverot that master-ivork knows , is anything but satisfactory . A new textwith corrected directions

, stage , has been put forward by Baron Alfred von AAfolzogen—ancl yet another neiv text , by Prof . Bischoii ; of Cologne , has lately been published . During the coming season ' of his concerts , Dr . Wylde announces as a feature the "Antigone " music of Mendelssohn . This , let it behere said ( to point the attraction ) , has never till noiv been decently executed in London . Among other rumours it is said that AirSmith intends to

opera . produce "Un Ballo in Alaschera , " Signor A ' erdi ' s last opera , afc Her Majesty ' s Theatre ; and that Aladlle . Tietjens and Signor Giim-lini may possibly sing at the Covent Garden Opera . ° Gluck's " Armide , " ive understand from Paris , is about to be produced at the Theatre Lyrique for Madame A iardot in the course of the spring .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

Ovn TITLE PAGE . — -Owing to an unfortunate error in the titlepage presented with our number of December 29 th . AA e havedeemed it necessary to reprint it , and shall feel obliged by our subscribers himui . ig it to their binder in order that the volume may be properly ilevcribc-d . R . K . —Is at liberty to hold his own opinion ; but he evidently knows nothing of Alasonry . PAST OKA : *** OFFICIO ! . — -The proceedings will be carefull

y Avatched und , if necessary , ive shall not hesitate to comment on them . CiiAi-LES Serin . —Never put faith in such promises , many state they ivill do things ivhich they afterwards recede from . JAEEZ . —Consult our remembrancer . A A ' ISIi-on ( No . 25 ) . —AA e clo nofc understand quarrels in Alasonry . Brethren . nay sometimes disagreebut the end ivill be increase

, an of love . Third parties are more likely to secure the ill-will of both than the good-will of either by unnecessary interference . N . N . —AVe clo not know how far it concerns you , but if you wish particularly to know , we may reply , twenty years last Afonday . THE CAICE . —Ask one of the naughty boys . Rich things are not good for * he digestion .