Public Amusements.

cess in America ; but its warmest admirers will not rank its composer ivith the Old AVorld masters , and the measure of success obtained on Monday night must fairly be ascribed to the lady—Miss Matilda Heron—who has come over to deliver the recitations from the poem . The passages chosen for recitation contain much poetic beauty and epic interest ; and Miss Heron , though not free from stage impurities of elocution , declaimed generally with naturalness , easeand good taste . AVhatever effects the poem afforded she very

, cleverly elicited . Indeed , she made the very best of an exeeedingly diffieult business—AveU deserved the cordial applause which encouraged her progress through a trying ordeal , and culminated in an unanimous call , and made , altogether , a favourable impression of her powers as a tragedienne . But , of the music , it must be reluctantly declared unequal to its composer's laudable ambition . It is sadly wanting in originality and power .

LYCEUM THEATRE . MM . de Kock and Barrier's exciting melodrama of " La Maison au Pont de Notre Dame " has furnished Mr . Rophino Lacy with the groundwork for an English play , ivhich , under the literal title of " The House on the Bridge of Notre Dame , " was produced at this theatre on Monday evening , and experienced a very favourable reception . It appears that a certain French Count , AVIIO flourished towards the close of the 18 th century , has bequeathed , with his

dying breath , his titles and estates to the son of his wife by a former marriage , thus blasting the hopes of his own brother , who ivould otherwise have succeeded to the family honours and possessions . The gentleman , or "Chevalier" as he is styled , thus summarily disinherited , VOAVS vengeance against the youth so unexpectedly enriched Avith the spoils of fortune . He waylays him immediately on his arrival from abroad , and , luring him into a roadside inn in a desolate quartei to fasten him a

, manages upon quarrel , which results in the infliction upon the young stranger of Avhat is thought to be a mortal wound . No sooner is the body stoAved away in a cellar than there appears upon the scene the most important character of the drama , in the person of a gipsy boy , AVIIO bears , both in face and figure , a marvellous resemblance to the man who is supposed to have been murdered . This Bohemian is informed of the dreadful transactions which have just

taken place in the "AAlllows Tavern ; " and being of an ardent and fearless nature , he assents to the proposal , earnestly urged upon him , to personate the dead man , a project to AA'hich he is prompted not only by his innate love of the romantic , but also by a desire to bring the assassin to justice . In the prosecution of this enterurise

the gipsy encounters many moving accidents by flood and field , and after passing through a perfect Odyssey of startling adventures , at last falls a victim to the bullet of one of Chevalier ' s accomplices . Then the Chevalier , who ivas not killed as supposed , but only wounded , sweeps to his revenge , covers his enemies ivith confusion , is received Avith rapture not only by his mother , but also by his sweetheart—a Creole girl , who has followed him from Martinique to Paris ; and , amid the congratulations of his friends , takes

triumphant possession of his estates and honours . This play abounds in _ striking situations and romantic , incidents ; and Mr . Calcott ' s viyid pencil has bestowed upon it a picturesque grace ivhich is very fascinating both to the eye and fancy of the spectator , The house on the Bridge of Notre Dame it no mere stage picture . It is a A'eritable structure with rooms , staircases , and corridors that are " practicable , " as it is termed in theatrical parlance , and which not only may bebut are traversed bthe actors in the of

, y presence the audience . The city landscape , with the Seine behind it , and the quaint stately edifices of old Paris in the foreground , is capitally painted , and the scenery generally does full justice to the reputation of the artist . The dresses , too , are costly and elegant ; and the whole mise en scene bespeaks the good taste and liberality of the fair manager . It is , however , to the admirable acting of Madame Celeste that the iece is indebted for its hihest and most

p g intellectual attraction , sustaining the two principal characters ivith great nerve and grace . Miss Lydia Thompson , as a i-ivaeious griscite , and Mr . Rouse , as a meddling law-clerk , have charge ofthe comic business , and do full justice to it . The house ivas well attended , and Madame Celeste announced the piece for performance until further notice , amid loud and general applause .

OLYMPIC THEATRE . Light , lively , and melodious , the burletta is a description of entertainment which justly enjoyed great favour with our fathers ; but though it is still i-ery popular in Paris , it lias almost entirely disappeared from the London stage , having vanished ivith Madame Vestris ; but it is to be hoped that the revival at this theatre of Mr . Morton ' s burletta of "The Sentinel" may be interpreted as an omen auspiciously prophetic of , their return . The plot of this pleasant little piece , ivhich would seem to have been constructed upon the model of the French vaudeville , " On ne passe pas , " is a

Public Amusements.

work of very slender pretensions , turning chiefly upon one incidentthe assumption by a droll little country girl of the dress and duty of a sentinel , with whom she is in love , and Avhom she relieves for a time of his military office to afford him an opportunity of soliciting her father's assent to their marriage . Miss Louise Keeley plays the part of this devoted , but at heart not very heroic , damsel , and makes it attractive , not only by her comic acting , ivhich is instinct with the spirit of fnu , but also by her singing , which is at once sweet , distinct , and expressive . Mr . F . Robinson , as the Sentinel , acts spiritedly , and adds to the success of the piece .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

Shortly will be held a Choral Festival in the nave of Salisbury Cathedral , a society having been formed in that diocese ivith a view of cultivating and improving the music of the parochial choirs . M . Goffrie , one of our most skilful and available resident musicians , advertises his intention of taking in hand the amateurs disbanded by the late dissolution of the Amateurs' Society . The Edinburgh journals report a recent meeting of a Society held there for the Encouragement of the Art as applied to Divine Worship . Every speaker owned that the state of Scottish psalmodis badbut it

y very ; seems strange to Southern ears to encounter yet another brisk discussion on the organ question , and to find that the introduction of instruments into the service was deprecated by a number of those present . A large amount of music has been presented in North Germany , in manoriatn , to his late Majesty of Prussia , —a sovereign ivho , howsoever erroneous in his politics or in his philosophies , began his reign with good volitions for Art , in its four leading forms of literature , painting , sculpture and music .

A new Oratorio , "Israel's Return" by Herr Schaclmer , has been produced at Berlin . A neiv Concert Hall , described as magnificent , has been opened at Stuttgart . A new opera , by Maestro Peri , entitled " L'Espiazione , " is about to be produced at Milan for Madame Borghi-Mamo , Signor Tiberim , and Beneventano . Two more new operas have been produced in Paris , both said to be

successful— " La Circassienue , " by MM . Scribe and Auber , at the Opera Cornique , and "Nuit du Mardi Gras , " by M . Scribe with M . Boisseaux and Clapisson , at the Theatre Lyriqne . The widow of Lesnenr , a composer two little known , died only a few days since . A selection of his music ; including a " Kyrie" from his "Christmas Oratorio , " ivas performed at her funeral obsequies in the Clinrch of St . Roch . MineCatherine Hayes has started on a musical tour through Ireland

. , v . 'hcre we have no doubt an enthusiastic reception awaits her . The Irish , ever warm and affectionate , and perhaps even a little too prone to overrate the merits of those whom they claim as compatriots , have a good reason to he proud of their own nightingale , ivho interprets bettor than than any one the melodies of her country .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

P . M . Pitov . G . S . B . —A Prov . Grand Officer , in visiting a lodge iu another province , usually wears the clothing of his office , thouglflt gives him no pvecedencey out of his own province . H . AV . —There is no fixed place in a lodge for the Treasurer to sit . He ranks immediately after the AVardens ; and being in most instances a P . M ., usually sits next the immediate P . M , ' s situation . ROYAL ARCH . —In our report of the Supreme Grand Chapter , last weekby the printing of the word "members" for " numbers" Bro '

, , . Hervcys motion is rendered unintelligible . The clauseas amended will be , ns follows , the new words being printed in italics . The clause commences with line 3 , page 14 , in the Book of Regulations : —No lodge can form or hold a chapter unless it has previously obtained a charter from the Grand . Chapter . The mode of application is to he by petition , signed by nine regular and registered Royal Arch Masons , specifying the place whore this lodge meets , ami the time when , and the place where , the Chapter is proposed to be holder . ; also the names of the three intended principals .

The Chapters in ivhich the petitioners were exalted must be stated against their respective signatures ; ami the names anil numbers of the lodges in which ilic principals recommended liave served the office of Master !" TEHPT . AJI will find the answer to his letter in the foregoing , H . 31 . writes :--There is on foot a proposal to present a very distinguished Mason with a testimonial , towards which several lodges and brethren have contributed ; but in two lodges , from whom much might have been expectedit has been objected toba brother w % o is a membcr

, , y of both . He insists that the funds of a lodge cannot be used for any purpose but such as are necessary , as furniture , regalia , and suchlike , as its bye-laws specify . Now , we have plenty of cases where lodges suberibe to testimonials to individuals with whom they have no particular connection , as that to Bro . Henley ; also jewels , & c , to Past Masters . The question is . have the members of a lodge power to use their own funds by a vote of which due notice has been given and carried by a majority ? [ The brethren can dispose of their funds as they sec fit . ]

T . Bnjosr . —It has not been issued . R . B . W . —AVe do not see any chance of the Grand Stewards' Lodge holding meetings in the provinces ; the professional engagements of the members would prevent it .