The New York Herald Newspaper, November 25, 1875, Page 4

4 ENGLISH OPERA IN LONDON. Revival of the National Lyric Drama. HAS ENGLISH OPERA A FUTURE? ‘American Singers in Lon- don. 78, Lonpox, Nov. 3, Carl Rosa has just completed in London a seven weeks’ season of English opera at the Princess’, and on Monday last he started on his tour in thie provinces, Jntending to return to London in March next. He has won, during this brief season, a well deserved and pnviable success; all the London dailes, without ex- Peption, have given him the kindest appreciation; pnly one weekly musical journal, called the Musical Standard, bas the folly to speak about “cheap opera pertormances in the vulgar tongue,” the polite lan- tuage of opera hinted at being, I suppose, the talian, Thank heaven that he gave us the ‘vul- f tongue.” I am sure unreserved praise ts jue to Mr, Rosa for having proved to all unprejudiced rs of opera, and many prejudiced ones, too, that @ so-called “vulgar topgue’’ can become as charming B vehicle of dramatic song as either the Italian or the Berman. Fortunately, when God made this vulgar Jongue Ho made cars quit capable of appreciating ‘whatever beauties it is capable of expressing, though He does not always think it necessary to supply editors bf English musical journals with soul or brains suf- Yient to comprehend these beauties, For my art, I can only express the delight I have i in these operatic Segformances in Eng- fish, which compare’ most favorably with op- atic performances in the larger German cities, and that is saying a great deal. If the German tongue Is fitted for operatic singing, so is the English to an Bqual, if not greater, extent. This has beeu proved to my own satisfaction in the charming representations of “The Marriage of Figaro,” by the Rosa Opera Troupe. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to chronicle the puccess of English opera in London, the more so asI Bhall have to record at the same time the successes of Shree American members of the company—Mr. Pack- ard, Misses Gaylord and Josephine Yorke. During his seven weeks’ season Mr. Rosa has produced the following operas:—Balfe’s “Bohemian Girl,” the “Siege of Rochelle,” Wallace’s “Maritana,” Mozart's “Marriage of Figaro,” Flotow’s “Martha,” Verdi’s “Trovatore,” Cagnoni’s ‘Porter of Havre,” Gounod’s “Faust” ana Auber’s “Fra Diavolo.”” The principal Brtists consisted of fourteen natives of Great Britain, three of America, one of Sweden and one of Germany. The following were the principal ones;—Miss Rose Hersee, Miss Julia Gaylord, Miss Josephine Yorke | first appearance in England), Miss Lucy Frank- Yein, Mra. Aynsley Cook, Mile. Ostava Torriani, Bir. Henry Nordbiom, Mr. Charles Lyall, Mr. Fred. C. Packard (first appearance in London), Mr. Campobello, Mr. F. H. Celli, Mr. Ludwig, Mr. Aynsley Cook, Mr. Faazelle, Mr, Arthur Howell and Mr. Santley. I give their names because I think, when the English opera becomes a recognized institution, Carl Rosa’s under- aking must mark a new epoch in its history—in fact, | bhe beginning of its proper exposition. Maybe tnere pave been good English opera companies before in Lon- fon; old writers bring up memories of something of the port heard fifteen or twenty years ago, but hitherto ‘what has gone under the name of English opera in Lon- fion has not been worthy of the name. 4& certain Miss Blanche Cole commenced English operas in the Gaiety in March or Apri! last, with twenty musicians, sbout ten artistes and a ballet troupe of some halfdozen meagre young persons who fancied they could dance. Fresh from Germany, I went to hear them, with great expectations, but I was dreadfully disappointed. A musical soul could have shed tears over the degrading bpectacle pushed down the throat under the name of English opera Cari Rosa came with high intentions pndall the promises he made have been carried out! Be had an orchestra composed of the finest musicians pf the London Italian opera; he had a jarge chorus, trained equal to anytbing I have ever heard in Germany outside of | Munich ; some of the artéstes were of high repute, and pthers have proved Rosa’s good judgment during the brief seasor of their singing. The only weak points of | she opera were the scenery and the poor translations pf the texts into English verse; but of course we can- Rot hold Mr. Rosa responsible for these, Otherwise, | the performances were correctly given and left a | sharming impression upén the audiences. The per- lormances were fully equal to anything I have ever yecn in Germany; far more enjoyable to the majority | ef the audience than can ever be the case with the | Stalian. So charmingly was this “Marriage of Figaro” given that I can only compare the impression left Xpon my mind to that produced by the reading of an | pxquisite poem. And this impression, bear well in | wind, wag produced by the vehicle of the “VULGAR TONGUE” | wm which it was produced. | leave England at present. | houses there. NEW YORK ‘HERALD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1875—TRIPLE SHEET. REATEST SINGERS RVER PRODUCED BY AMERIOS, His tenor voice is of peculiar sweetness and sympa- thetic power. Bosides Mr. Packard there are two young AMEXICAN LADY SINGERS who have won fame in London, Miss Josephine Yorke and Miss Julia Gaylord. Miss Yorke made her first ap- pearance in England, coming with a good fame gained as prima donna contralto at the Scala and Cannobiano, at Milan, 1 saw her in the “Bohemian GirL” ‘As the Gypsy Queen she presonted a picturesque and stately ‘appearance, and gave an importance to a part which is hardly worthy of a power,” saia an English critic. I saw her several times as Cherub.ni in the ‘Marriage of Figaro,”” Miss Yorke’s impersonation of the graceful little scamp was something exquisitely charming and pleasing. She woll deserves tho praise of the Times:— “Miss Yorke, an American, seems perfectly at home in the part of Cherubini, into her delineation of which she throws an unusual amount of natural spirit and vivacity, while nover losing sight of the musical significance.” I had ouly a single opportunity of seeing Miss Gaylord, but know that she Is a very popular songstress. She took tho part of Marcella in tho ‘Siege of Rochelle,” and an enthusiastic critic said of her that “in‘the third act Miss Gaylord covered herself with glory In a sprightly melody ‘One Little Kiss.’ What a pleasure it is to know that splendid careers are open to such singers at Jast in the ‘‘yulgar tongue.” Hitherto we could not understand half the charms of their singing. Both these ladies are very enthusiastic for the development of English opera, and English opera goers are already enthusiastic over them, Rose Hersee is as sprightly and charming as ever, and, of course, a very popular favorite, She isa graceful and picturesque actress and acharming singer. Mle, Torriani, Mr, Rosa’s prima douna, ‘gs a never weary singer, with a well schooled voice; but Mr. Rosa should take care to avoid giving her dialogue to speak. She willin all probability | take the part df Elsa if Mr. Rosa decides upon bringing out ‘Lobengrin.” I bad almost fergotten to mention Miss Lucy Franklein, who must be considered the best of Rosa’s dramatic singers. Gifted with a sweet yet powerful contralto volce, she always inspires you with the feeling that she endeavors to forget herself and live out her réle. Mrs. Aynsley Cook’s dialogues are like very cold shower baths to people with delicate nerves, The chorus was a strong part of the opera, and was ex- cellently trained. Ihave never heard a better. Their rendering of the “Faust” choruses was unimpeachable. ‘The dallet was weak; the artistes of this department do not secm to understand that there is such a thing as poetry in the dance. ENGLISH OPERA AND OPERA IN ENGLISH. Of course there are many critics who clamored for the performance of operas by English composers. Be- cause Mr. Rosa announced the works of such foreign composers as Gounod, Verdi, Mozart, Cherubini, one journal asked him what he meant, Would he insult a most musical people by announcing English opera and then coming forward with only “opera in English!” “Give us the works of English composers. That's what we want.” Hal ha! English composers! Balfe and Wallace both Irishmen! So Mr. Rosa unforta. nately gave way and brought out Balfe’s “Siege of Rochelle” as a novelty—at least to this generation. This opera did not prove a good selection, and, but for Santley and Miss Gaylord, it ‘would have been quite uninteresting. I was much amused by reading the criticisms of a London daily after- ward. “We had no idea with how little ‘of true opera our ancestors were content,” Those who heard the “Stege of Rochelle,” even the most rabid operatic Angiomanians, have, we imagine, little desire to see more of the same sort, English opera has doubtless a brilliant future, but it certainly | has no past comparable with that of Germany, Italy | and France. ROSA'S PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR. Iam hardly ina position to say what Carl Rosa will | do next year. There is some talk of his taking Drury Lane for the month of March—which is the whole time he can secure it—and there producing, besides the ordinary run of operas, one or more of Wag- nés creations Mr, Rosa scems to favor | ‘Tannhduser,”” though I think he would err in not first producing “Lohengrin.” Then be has some idea of eiving Mr, Santley achance in the “Flying Dutchman.” Mr. Santley is, perhaps, the only Eng- lish dramatic singer capable of giving the difficult rdle Rondout have the same November atmosphere pervading them. A summer scene of quiet bome life ts an interior with a woman seated ata piano, while another 1s seated near an open window, with a young girl resting h ad ip herlap, One of Mr. MoInteo’s first gure pictures—a young woman playing “solitaire,” which was exhibited at the Academy—is here, and we may expect to see children introduced in his new pic- hanes, pore has made many sketches of them during the summer. Sanford R. Gifford has on his easel an autumn scene, with a storm approaching. The dark clouds are al- ready falling on one of the mountains on the right, and toward the centre of the picture the light clouds above are seen, from which the rain is already beginning to fall. A single gleam of sunlight escapes and brightens an edge of @ rock which looms up above the surrounding trees, subduing even their bright color by its brilliance, An Indian encampment on the shore is scarcely discernible among the trees, The water of the lake, which covers the immediate foreground, shows the action of the wind as {t comes dancing along, touching and ruffling the glassy surface in its flight. A wood interior in autumn, which has pean on exhibition, is in the studio, and Mr. Gifford is just commencing a view of the Wallkill Valley from the Shawangunk Mountains, in this State, E. L. Stoppel, formerly miniature painter to the Court at Munich, has a’studio on Union Hill, Hobuken, He is putting the finishing touches to an exquisitely drawn figare of a woman. It is painted in water colors and modelled with the greatest care. The figure is an ideal one, is gracefully and naturally posed, and is altogether a beautiful piece of work, He is working ona family Broup of portraits, the picture containing nine heads. He bas many heads in his studio, both ideal and portraits, in water colors and lead pencil In the latter material were life size portraita done in a few hours, which looked as though many weeks had been devoted to them from their finished appearance, He completed a short time agoa life size igure of Marguerite, doi ntirely with Fabor’s lead pencils. Miss Emma Mayniche has been devoting her time to rtrait painting lately. She is now at work at an talian flower girl A composition painted by her represents two monks who were held up as examples of plete to their brotherhood, as they were maponed. from the words heard by those passing their cell to be always praying. ‘he interior of the cell is shown and the monks are playing a game of dominoes, they being the inventors of the now well known game. W. H. Beard has in his studio a picture called “Worn Out.” An old man sitting in an old barn doorway has taken off his shoe, exposing his footless stocking, and appears to see no way of mending the almost soleless shoe in his hand, The idea is carried to a poor old white horse, who looks sympathetically at his master. Beard !s painting on agroup of rabbits, two of which have been suitors to a third, The latter has finally decided to accept one and lot the other go to his grave for all she cares, Mrs. Fannie Bates is at work ona street scene in Venice, The church of Santa Marfa Formosa is seen in the distance, and a gondola is passing un- der a bridge between the grand old stone houses whic! rise on each side. An Italian girl in her native costume, spinning, hold- ing the bobbin in one hand while she twists the thread with the other, the distaff being fastened to her belt, is in water colors. An Italian boy playing on a bagpipe and another with dogs for sale are also in water colors, She has many‘ sketches from Rome and) other places, and some studies made while at Paris when studying with Chaplin, Boulanger, Le Fevre and others. She 18 at work on a head of @ young girl and two panels, one containing a vase of flowers and the other a spray of morning glory. George Hall, the well known painter of Spanish scenes, loft for Europe last week, He intends staying about a year, THE PANDORA AND THE POLE, ———_-—_— DOCTOR HAYES, THE ARCTIC EXPLORER’S, OPINION OF CAPTAIN ALLEN YOUNG'S VOYAGE AND RETURBN—WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED—A GRAND OPPORTUNITY LOST—THE REASONS WHY. New York, Noy. 24, 1875, To THe Epitor ov THe Heraip;— Ihave read in the Heraxp of the 18th inst. a letter from Sir Leopold McClintock concerning the cruise of the Pandora, Without wishing to be at all critical or in any way to reflect-upon an enterprise in which yon took so great an interest,f would like to make a few observations upon the general nature of that cruise, and the subject which its failure naturally suggests. Sir Leopold McClintock is ono of the most renowned of Arctic explorers, His carcer im that direction began almost in the very first days of the search for SirJobn Franklin, and he has been to the Arctic seas perhaps more frequently, has on the whole occupied more important commands, made ionger sledge journeys over the ice while searching for some clew to the {ate of the crews of the Erebus and Terror, and acquired more credit for his successes and less criticism for his ofthe Dutchman in that opera. If “Lohengrin” be | given Mile, Torrian! (a German) would probably take | the part of Elsa; Adams, of Vienna, or Packard, Lohen- | grin; Santley, Frederick of Tebramund; Miss Frank- | lein, Ortrud, and Aynsley Cook, King Henry, Couid | not Albani be induced to sing Elva in English? I can- | not speak with authority in reference to the rumor | | | that Mr. Rosa intends to visit America next year, His success has been so gri to Besides, you have Miss | here that he may fear Kellogg! | It ig unfortunate that Carl Rosa should have any | difficulty in finding a theatre. The Princess’ is a com- | fortable.little place, but the scenery is something be- | low pi In a few weeks the foundation stone of the | new National Opera House on the Thames Embauk- ment is to be laid. It is to be “an opera house worthy of this era,” and accordingly the architect las been sent to the Continent to study the most notable opera | All very well; but might it not be ad- | visable for Mr. Mapleson to study the operatic Management of Germany, for instance; learn | from Munich and Berlin to furnish us with | opera at a moderate price, and before all else to | open the doors of his new house first to English opera, I shall not attempt to give youeither detailed ac- tounts or individual criticisms of the operas, Iam simply recording impreseions and memories. There is | much to criticise im English opera, and much to be im- | proved by Mr. Rosa, First of all we require better | Wwanslations of operatic text books. At present they | ‘wre totally devoid of poetic beauty, without which good | woulful singing is next to an !mpossibility; too full of | fiialogue, which, however, Mr. Rosa intends to Sbolish, apd as soon as practicable substitute | secitative, Spoken dialogue in opera is a thing of the | past in Germany. It reminds you ot the most glaring fofects of English singers—ignorance of elocution and naturalness. It brings you, when you hear It, from the ideal realms in which you wander at times under she influence of music and song, suddenly and cruelly flown into the regions of everyday life. It grates on bhe ear and destroys the harmony of what should be | gn opera. Even ‘Faust’ is given us, though without fialogue, devoid of all poetic beauties, Where is all the charm of Faust’s firas address to Margaretha in Shese prosaic hnes ?— FAUST. High born and lovely maid, forgive my humble daty; Let me, your willing slave, attend you home to-day. MARGARET. No, my lord, not a lady am I, noryet a beauty; Ani I do not need an arm to help me ou my way. Goethe's words are something quite different—sim- pie, natural, unobtrusi raust. Mein schoenes Fraulein, darf ich's wagon, Arm und geleite anxutragen ? MARGARET. Bin weder Franlein, weder schoen, Kann ungeleitet uach Hause gehed. If English opera is to be a thorough success our text books must be thoroughly revised, rotransiated by men with at least some appreciation of the relationship Detween poetry and song, remembering that wo have | todo, undoubtedly, with a “vulgar tongue,” but one | that we understand, and {rom which wo cannot afford | to lose, by peuny a line translators, all the beanty it should possess, | ‘The artistes who have contributed to the success of this “revival of English opera in London certainly | deserve mention. Carl Rosa had no ‘‘stars;’ that is, mot in the ordinary acceptation of | 1: term, although they were all stars in the sense that they made | London gloom bright while they were here, and now that they have left us the musical sky is dreary enough. Of Santley what can I say, except that if tho English | opera had.a dozen dramatic singers like him it would pot fear comparison with the best Italian or German troupe that ever sung? He acts a8 naturally and superbly as he sings. Inthe “Porter of Havre’ he nppears as a dramatic singer of the highest order. Mr. Campbello promises to suceved Santiey, eventually, in public favor, His baritone voice \s tich and mellow; his singing, and especially bis recitatives, remind one strongly o! the dost Italian singers. I bope Mr. Campo- Dolio will renounce the concert hall for the feld of lyric drama, which has everything to offer bim. His spoken dialogue is, however, weak, Mr. Ludwig and Mr. Aynsley Oook deserve credit for most excellent pro- raneiation, Ludwig revealed, to its fullest extent, the power and beauty of English song, Henry Nordbiom ‘end F. H, Celli are excellent dramatic singers, with well schooled voices. Nordblom has a voice of unusual richness, unerring Intonatlo: and true expression Of ‘Mr. Packard it may be said that be promises to become one of the | pictures Then only could be claim the name of “National Opera | House.” It would be a happy thing if the Rosa Eng- lish Opera Troupe should celebrate the revival of | English opera by being the first to occupy the new | | house, which is to be opened ou the 2d of May next, | Let the English people demand the recognition of | English opera, andeven think about supporting the | opera, if necessary, and thus enable thousands of singers to hope for that position and fame which ts | | now given them only in a foreign tongue. Car! Rosa’s short opera season has awakened in the hearts of the people here a feeling of confidence inbim. | He is the man who can well be trusted with the care | and bringing up of lyric drama. He has high ideals; he | will not pander to a vitiated public taste, and if he can go on free from outside influence, from the ban of the | old fogies who apparently rule the musical world in London, still clamoring for English native opera when the world bas pronounced over and over again that she has none, then we may hope for the attainment of the high ideal for which Parepa, while she lived, strove un- coasingly. | ‘ART NOTES. THE PROGRESS OF AUTUMN WORKS IN THE | STUDIOS. | Albert Bierstadt has just returned to the city from | his home near Irvington, on the Hudson, and 18 paint- ing a historical picture for the Centennial, It repre- sents the settlement of California in 1770, The scone ison the Bay of Monterey, and a Spanish man.of-war is seen in the distance, the boats being drawn up on the beach. The Spaniards are grouped under a largo oak tree, where they have erected an altar and crosa, and the priest, holding his bands up before a picture of the Virgin, is celebrating mass, Some of the settlers | have come overland from San Diego and joined the | others, All are kneeling except those who are ringing bells, which have been placed in the trees. Religious | panners and the flag of Spain are grouped near the altar, as the priest takes possession of the land in the | name of the King of Spain, Cattle, sheep and horses are grazing near, and a group of Indians, more inter- ested in the animals than the ceremony, have been placed In the foreground, with their hunting weapons and articles for trading scattered around. Among the other pictures in Mr. Bierstadt’s studio on which he is now engaged is an interior of one of the forests of California, showing one of the immense trees. King’s River Canyon and the Slorra Nevada Mountains, econ across the Bay of San Francisco as you look from the tower of San Rafaelle, are nearly completed. A mine in the recently discovered valley of Hetch-Hetcho | is algo nearly finished, Jervis Mefutee has at last torn himeelf from his pleasant summer retreat near Rondout, on the Hud- fon, and has commenced his winter studio work. On his easel is one of those, unknown scenes, painted ag he only paints them—‘“the melancholy days, the saddest of the year,” with their cloudy skies, through which the sun, when it does shine, has not the warm, golden rays as in summer, but is cold and gray as it fails on the ‘meadows, brown and sere.’ “An Ane tumn Idy!” is another of theso scenes painted near the scones: Two vicinity horizon. ia the | the elouds of sinall | failures, than any other officer who has figured in this matter. His last attempt, as all who are inter. ested in the subject know, was made in the steamer Fox, which, ander his command and | with Captain Allen Young (late commander of the Pandora) as his principal officer, saiied trom England in 1867 for the purpose of flnding evidences of the fate of Franklin in a quarter where, as Dr. Rae had beyond question proved, he had gone, With all his expe- rience, however, and all his knowledge of ice ‘naviga, tion, he aliowed himself to get in near the perilous coast in Melville Bay, and on the 26th of August was there fsozen fast for the winter, and but for the cur. rent he would have remained there. Fortunately the current carried his ship south through the winter, and on the 26th of April, after an imprisonment in the ice | | of cight months and adrift of some seven or eight hundred miles, the Fox was finally liberated. His being caught im this trap was simply the result of clinging too closely to the land, Had he held to the westward he would doubtless bave passe Melville Bay without difficulty, as everybody else has done who has pursued tnat course. It is no argument, therefore, of an exceptionally open season that the Alert and Discovery, under Captain Nares, ex- perienced little difliculty. in crossing Melville Bay; and, if the report of their having done go is the | best thing the Pandora has done, as Sir Leopold appears to think, then I should say the Pandora had performed a very needless task; for, under ordinary circumstances, to reach the Carey Islands, where Cap- tain Nares left his despatches, which the Pandora | brought home, is not more difficult or dangerous than to go from here to Liverpool, But I think sho did SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT | than that, which was to point out the exact course of Franklin's expedition and to show that be was on the right road to the Northwest Passage. For there is no doubt that Franklin went down Peel Strait, and near the end of it was caught among the ice flelds and hopelessly beset. His ships were then abandoned, ‘and McClintock found the only record yet discovered pointing to the fate of the crews of bis ships. Why the Pandora did not persevere in her course has been a frequent subject of comment, and Sir Leopold points to the fact that Captain Young ‘ex. ercised the soundest judgment and discretion in effecting his escape.” ‘With all deference for so eminent an authority Ido not think so, and since the Pandora was ina position which no ship since the time of franklin had succeeded in reaching, I think it a pity that full advantage was not taken of the opportunity. to have ended when the Pandora left Peol Strait for bome, She was not beset; the ice “pack” ahead was of uncertain width, and the only untoward event to be anticipated with seriousness was the possible necessity of wintering in the ice, an event for which the Pandora seeing to have been abundantly prepared, and which it was, I believe, generally expected she would do, Now, I fully believe that the NORTHWEST PASSAGE can be accomplished in this direction, and it is proba bly the only direction’ in which a passage will ever be made; for we can hardly consider the journey per- formed by Sir Robert McClure in 1863 a passage in the true meaning of the word, inasmuch as hia ship, the Investigator, was abandoned in the ice, and Mc- Clure, with his party, travelled over some 600 miles of ice before being picked up by a sbip which had come in through Lancaster Sound from the eastward, while McClure had gone in from the Pacific by way of Beli ing Strait, following the coast line of the main land of North America until the meridiin of Bank’s Land was reached, whon ho galled north, and, rounding the north coast of Bank's Land, tried to sail east on the parallel of 74 deg. 30 min. This route Sir Edward Parry had long before proved to be impracti- cable, owing to the heavy ice always crowded into Melville Sound, Captain Collinson, who commanded the Enterprise, companion ship to the Investigator, became separated in thick weather from her, and, holding on to the eastward part of Bank's Land, sailed through Dolphin and Union straits, which separate the main Jand from Victoria Land, and which, in its continuation, bears the names of Coronation Gulf, Dease Strait and Simpson Strait, NORTH FROM TILESR, antl to the eastward of(Victoria Land, is Victoria Strait, | from a number of quarters, However, it does not do The summer season can hardly be said | | | {nto which Franklin was making bis way from the | Jono hour, with the only light in it breaking through | north through Peel Strait, in 1846, when he became be- et Collinson reached nearly to this strait in 1852 of | with bis shin (@ galling vessgl, and actually wintered +150 miles, that the Russian oflicers first discovered open | | who would like us to pray forhim? If there is make | | the request.” within less than two hundred milesof where Franklin's party had perished, Afterward, by sledge over the ico, he reached within forty miles of that spot, without, however, having the least idea that he was so near solving the mystery, All these straits, including even some portions of Victoria Strait, have been navigated in boats from time to time by such inveterate explorers as Franklin himself in his younger days, by Dease and Simpson, by Richardson and Rae and Bock, and tt has long been known that during every summer there 1s a broad belt of open water all the way along the north coast of the American Continent, This is due, ina large measure, to the comparatively warm water which is poured into the Arctic Ocean from the great northern water shed through such rivers as the McKenzie, Coppermine and Back’s rivers, It was for this annual belt of water that Franklin wags making, and would have reached * but for his unfortunate entanglement among the ice, No doubt this was most unexpected. In alj probability the air had fallen suddenly cold while re- maining calm, and very likely in a single night the progress of the expedition was forever arrested, With the aid of steam I have not the least doubt that Franklin would have gone through to the strait which Collinson subsequently found navigable, and thus the Northwest passage would have been accomplished. ‘THE PANDORA fell short of Franklin 150 miles, notwithstanding her steam power, and being thus so far behind, doubtless, had its influence upon Captain Young and his officers in forming their determination not to winter, Yet the season can hardly be said to have ended, and had the Pandora wintered in some safe harbor, it is not at all likely the same conditions would have prevailed (he following year; and who knows but that Captain Young might have announced his triumph to the world from some British port of Columbia, or from the city of San Francisco? THR BETTER WAY, I think, would, however, be to reverse the course and come in, a8 Collinson did, from the Pacific. Yet L have great faith in the practicability of a passage being made in this direction from either side almost any year, provided only that steam is used as a motive power, To be sure the accomplishment of this undertaking would be attended with serious difficulty and danger, probably rendering the passage entirely unavailable for commerce, yet it would be, after these centuries of effort, a glorious achievement, We know already that there is a water communication between the Atlantic and Pacific, but no man-made keel of ship has yet passed from ocean to ocean, But in the effort to ac- complish this no ship should go without ample prepa- ration for passing at least one winter. The risk of be- ing thus caught would, of course, in these times of rapid transit, be rather discouraging to the enterprising merchant, but when his forefathers first conceived of a route in that direction, it must be borne in mind that steam and telegraphy and even clipper ships were not dreamed of, and that, assuming, as Columbus did, that the world was round, it was in the beginning seen that tne route by the North was the shortest possible route to the Indies, But the Indies are now brought so near by the Suez Canal, and by rail and steamship westward from New York, that | the North may be safely counted out. The passage, therofore, if made through Dolphin and Union, Dease, Victoria and Peel Straits, will only, in all likelihood, remain on record as an achievement that exhibited nerve and daring without producing practical results, PRANKLIN’S PATE. As for discovering any further records of the fate of SirJohn Franklin I think very doubtful. These certainly can never be found from a ship following the coast, for, at tho best of times, the coast is evidently unap- proachable by any vessel on account of the ice and shoal places, and the exact spot where the records are deposited being only vaguely defined by the na- tives, who have at the best of times great difficulty in telling the truth, it isclear that a minute search is necessary. This must of necessity take place in the months of March, April and May, whem the ice and snow are both firm and solid. To do this, of course wintering is absolutely necessary, and for the travelling either the Greenland dog may be used or the men might drag their own camp equipage and provisions. CAPTAIN YOUNG'S HOPR, I’sce it stated that Captain Young has some hope of returning to the attack again next spring. I greatly | hope that he may Yo so, and win the high honor of sailing all the way through. There 1s another route besides that of Peei Strait, &c., which may be prac, ticable, I mean Smith Strait. Now, the ice barrier on the west side of Greenland extends very far down below the Arctic Circle, Sometimes you look through’ it in getting into Lancaster Sound, and return south through it again to get into Victoria and Dease Straits. On the other hand, by continuing on north into Smith Sound the barrier is broken through when the open Polar Sea is reached. This may probably be easily navigated during August and September, and by crossing directly over the North Pole I have no doubt that a favorable opening might be found tn the barrier | on the Asiatic side, and a ship brought through into Bebring Strait and the Pacific. It was off the Asiatic coast, beyond a belt of ice, varying from twenty to water more than fifty years ago, And the water which Wrangel saw on the ono side and Kane, Hall | and myself saw beyond Smith Sound on the other, are, as I have always believed, only the margin of a great central watery area, kept more or loss | open at all times by the agitation of the | surface caused by the winds and currents. Into this | watcr I believe the English will penetrate in the two fine ships Alert and Discovery, and I can imagine noth- ing serious as standing in the way of their achieving a brilliant victory. ‘And as for the season, THE CHARMING LETTERS of your able correspondent, Mr. MacGahan, who ac- companied the Pandora, convince us that the season is exceptionally favorable, even if we did not have proofs to count too generally upon what has boen seen, Local | influences often operate in the most unexpected man- ner to create obstacles. Yet, knowing Smith Sound as , Ido, I can but think of Captain Nares and his gallant party, now enjoying the delights of an Arctic night of five dark months, under the blazing Aurora, some- where near latitude 82 deg., where they are patiently awaiting the summer and the break up, that they may push ahead again. I. L HAYES. PLYMOUTH PRAYER MEETING. PLYMOUTH CHURCH A BANYAN TREE—THE EF- FECT OF MOODY AND SANKEY'S VISIT HERE. At Plymouth prayer meeting last evening there was | a large increase in attendance on that of the previous evening. Prayers were offered by Brother Davenport and Rey. Mr. Hodge, after which Mr. Beecher said ‘There are a great many of our brethren who are | drawn away from this centre of labor; they | are engaged holding meetings at the Bethel | and the Mayflower Mission; 80, though we | are not all gathered together in one plate, we are of one accord. For it has been part of my idea of a church that it should be a banyan tree, carrying out | branches and dropping roots, but still unseparated. It seems to me the true idea of a charch is that men shall have that sympathy for man that shall carry them out, but not cut them off from the mother church, That has been the history of this church, and there has been all through this year a revived state of feeling, awaken- ings and conversions in our missions, even more than in our home centre; but still I believe there is deep fecling here, though it is not demonstrative, | Many are raking the embers of old hopes instoad of kindling a new fire. Well, even so, that is one way to yogin again, I think a great many have @ feeling of yearning for the advancement of their own souls, and many are carrying also to the throne of God their chil- dren and friends. I believe there is @ great deal of prayer in our community. Brother Morton told me an interesting little ineident. In attending the morning meetings at the Crosby street church he sawan elderly man, seventy-five or eighty years old, who was deeply affected, was weeping, and in| t when the call was made for apy who desired Mid he rose, Mr. Morton commenced talking, with him and he gave this as hia history. He said hid little grand his bed one morning and said, daughter climbed ii and she sang @ “Grandpa, let's have a little meeting, hymn and then said, “Now, ~ you pray. “[ cannot,” said he; ‘E don’t know how.’? | “But you know bow to say the Lord's am afraid I have forgotten Prayer, don’t you?” it,’’ he answered,“ W. she, “I y it; now say it after me.” She began, but before she got through he broke down, and in that condition he’ came to the meeting; but I think he wiil come through into the ligh: and I thought of the old prophecy, “And a little child | shall lead thom.”’ Brother Hodge, an old patriarch in the work, is here. He was here six or seven years bo- fore I was. I would be glad to have him make a atate- ment of his work in Brooklyn. Mr. Hodge, a large man, of pleasant countenance and a heavy head of gray hair, rose and took bis stand in | frout of the plattorm, and seeming rather to resent in & | tion, but from putting his whole soul and heart into | manfully to do | of the world.” {eto go forth with your Bible under your arm and pray | | tery, but who, with three others, made his escape | from jail some three months ago, was rearrested at | Hayestown yesterday morning by began his remarks by fp tg pastor is only six months younger thanlam, He has been avery hard worker. I think he has worked harder than t have, though I have been here longest, When the roperty was purchased for this church there was D0 doa of its being such a host in Israel. pe Soy) pastor abte meniee, Cease * Nassau ipered Was generally supposed that this property was bought for a Baptist church, and was per! bought on better terms on that account (to which idea Mr. Beecher dissented). I have, been greatly in sympathy vib the work of this church and I rejoice therein, and rood for all he has done for this church, how ~~ il soever the be; ing. There is so much prayer ta eps rn should have’ power: with God. want you to realize it; [hope you do, I suppose there 1s hever@ meeting when you come together but some soul ts seeking Christ, ur id 1 might say something ‘about van state ot thin, in this city. Thay bad consid- vO rable chance for observation and I can presonce of our brothers Moody and Sankey beer bere attended with great good; perhaps not so @ suc- cess in the conversion of souls, but a great good has como to the churches.” To begin with, ministers have been brought together; they bave met and prayed, Back of the city where I lived im Scotland were the Highlands. There the sheep were turned out to pas- ture, and when the shepherd wanted to call them to- gethor he stood on some eminence and whistled, and the: all would come to him. I think God's people have come into closer communion with Christ as the result of Mr. Moody’s peer and praying. Ho is a won- derful man with the Bible, mighty in the Scriptures, I rejoice that God. sent tho dear man to this city. In Aberdeen, where I was born, there was no place large enough to hold the people that came to hear them, and they went out on the Links, a level place where fisher- men dried their net8, and congregations of from 15,000 to 20,000 gathered there and a great work was done. Mr. Hodge went on to talk at length about the bless ness of the Bible, and said, ‘I believe the Bible will be 48 precious when we get to heaven as it is here,” and appealed to Mr. Beecher for his opinion, Mr. Beecher said “No; now I see through a giass he ig but then I shall see face to face.” ‘‘But,”? said Mr. Hodge, ‘you won't want to, part with the glass, will you?” . Beecher said, “Now, Brother Hodge, you cannot get out with that. (Laughter.) You will have to give wu ‘After a few more remarks the mecting closed, MOODY. AND SANKEY. LARGE CROWDS STILL FLOCKING TO THE MEETINGS—ALL THE SERVICES TO BE HELD IN THE DEPOT HEREAFTER, : Pur.aveLrata, Nov. 24, 1875. ‘The crowd at the morning meeting at Dr. Chambers’ church was larger than usual this morning, tho weather being pleasant for the first time since the evangelists have been hero, There were also more gentlemen in the assemblage, which was composed of the usual class of church members and prefessing Christians, to whom Mr, Moody is especially addressing himself for the present, as a necessary preliminary to the more im- portant work of converting the outside world. Mr. Sankey entered the church before Mr. Moody’s arrival. He said:—‘I am very anxious to sing some of the new hymns, and now that we have a few minutes to spare let us sing the second hymn, which you will all be good enough to join heartily in.” The hymn commences, ‘?Tis the promise of God, full of salvation to give.” Before it was finished Mr. Sankey said:—‘I wish you would all join in, and heartily, when we are singing congregational hymns, When I am singing a solo is the time to listen, but now is the time for all present to sing.” After finishing it he said there was no doubt but what they could all sing “Rock of Ages’” or ‘Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” but we must have some new hymns now and then, so you will please sing it over again. During the singing Mr. Moody entered and kept his” head bowed, as though in prayer, When the music ceased he sald:—‘‘Let os open the meeting with the ninety-first bymn, ‘How sweet the name of Jesus sounds,’ ”? ! The congregation joined in heartily, this time, after Mr. Sankey’s urging. Dr. Newton said that by mistake a large number of requests for prayers had been mislaid, but he had three to read, One was from an old lady, requesting prayer for a sister; another old lady desired petitions for an old gentleman of nearly ninety years who does not believe in the Saviour, and a sister asked prayers for a dissipated brother. Rev. Dr. Breed offered prayer. Then was sung the | hymn, ‘I need Thee every hour,” Mr. Sankey and some members of the church choir assisting in the lead. MR. MOODY'S READING. Mr, Moody then arose and read the twentieth chapter of the Second Chronicles, beginning at the third verse:—And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast through- out all Judah. The revivalist’s reading was less carnest than usual apparently, and he seemed to be unsuccesstully attempting to read with effect, His words did not sweep along like a tor- rent, as usual, with that peculiar force which comes not froma cultured observance of the rules of elocu- the sentiment. During tho reading he frequently stopped and discoursed on the subject matter. He said Christians should come into the iouse of God free from all alliances with the world, casting off all that is worldly, and give themselves up entirely to the work of seeking God; for, as Johoshay said, * evil cometh upon us, as a sword judgment, or ce or famine, we stand before this house and in Thy pres- ence (for Thy name ts this house), and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help us,” if | we have not put out from ourselves thoughts that are worldly, the Lord will not harken unto us when we | ery out {nour anguish to Him, therefore let us give | ourselves up Wholly to Him in a few minutes of silent prayer. ASKING FOR PRAYERS. While the congregation were silently praying, with heads bowed, Mr. Moody said, ‘Is there any one here Ayoung man near the door arose and asked for prayers in his behalf; then alady made asimilar request; | then an old gentleman; then a young man arose and | said:—“I am struggling with the Spirit and ask for prayersin my behalf. Ihave in my house one who loves the Spirit—a doar sister—and it was through her 1 was brought to feel the beautiful influence of the Saviour.”’ Several others arose, of both sexes, and asked for prayers in their behalf," A minister asked for prayer for himself and his church, Then Mr, Moody asked all those who would like to be prayed for to arise, At Idust half the congregation arose at this and Rev. Dr. Newton led the prayer in bebalf of those seeking the Spirit of God, asking that “their petitions might be granted and also let the blessing descend upon Thy ser- vants who are carrying on the good work of striving to save souls by bringing them to God”? Mr. George H. Stuart hoped that the prayers of the congregation would be given for the men of busi- ness present who were about to go forth to minglo with | a sinful world, that they might have courage to say they had been with us, and strength to show that they had | heard God’s Word, ‘Give them strength to go forth works of God as weil as the works ‘This request was complied with, and after another hymn had been sung and a short prayer offered by Mr, Thomas K. Cree, the Rev. Dr. Reed spoke as follows:— CONSECRATION TO THE LORD. . “There is a great power in self-consecration, Every man has a traitor within himself that can only be thrown out by his self-consecration, and we should at | once consecrate ourselves t0 the work of trampling out the traitor, Last night, at the meeting in the old de- pot, I saw a face in the audience that I had known in | years gone by. Then he was a bad boy—a wicked boy in everything—and he became a bad and wicked man, indulging in all the vices of the world. At last,some powerful influence was brought to bear upon him; he read his Bible and learned the divine words that book contains, He became converted, and has since conse- crated himself to God, taking his Bible under his arm and going from house to house, among rich and poor, praying that they may think like him.. Every placo e has gone fe has been well received. No one has shut the door in his face, and why? Because, having consecrated himself to God, he carried his Bibie openly with them, and that gave him what the French call the enfrée into all classes of wa no one dared refuse him. Those who had known him in his dark days believed his conversion was sincere from the courage and enthusiasm he displayed, And now, my friends, consecrate yourselves to God; do not be afraid | | for sinners.” Father Martin prayed for the extension | of Sunday schools and for those engaged in them, Rev, | Mr. Jackson and Rey. A. H. Lung also made short prayers ‘after which the congregation eung ‘Come, | ‘ol Spirit, Heavenly Dove”? The ev. Dr. Hulfield said:—!I want to suggest that, as this meeting increases, every one open a prayer meeting within their own hearts, lasting from nine o'clock till half-past seven o'clock. No one will deny | that the Spirit of God has descended among uw the Diindest and most sceptical must eee and know it, ana as we have only one hour together this private prayer meeting will aid the good work so well begun. I exhort you all to seek an en place in Christ aa one of the things that is needed in the unton of heart and soul to God. Youshould walk and talk with God, keeping near Himall thetime, Let Him not go from your mind orsight forone moment. Let us feel that we cannot live without Him.” It was announced atthe conclusion of the mecting that all the services hereatter will be held at the freight depot, where the night services only have heretotore been held. RECAPTURED. “Buck” Clark, @ notorious rough, who was sen- tenced to the Queens County Jail for six months, by Justice Bennett, of Jamaica, for assault and bat- Officer Hamer, and returned to his old Ct in the jail, where he is now securely ironed. The District Attorney will, at the January term, have him indicted for breaking jail, SMALLPOX IN BROOKLYN. During the past ten days 163 cages of emall-pox were reported to the Health Board in Brooklyn, Of that number twenty-eight persons died. The authorities frieudly way ddr. Beegher’s calling bum @ patriarch, | mow report tbat sue smallpox is abating, | among the Americans on the frontier is inten’ THE RIO GRANDE. Patrol of the River by the Gunboat Bravo. A CATTLE... BAIR: An Armed and Vengeful Population. Brownaviuir, Texas, Oct. 90, 1875, In accordance with instructions, your correspondent Joined the United States steamer Rio Bravo at Brazow Santiago on her arrival, and in fifteen minutes after she was under way for the Rio Grande bar, which was easily crossed, The commanding officer, a day or two after arriving at Brownsville, proceeded up the river in one of the launches on a tour of inspection. We had fifteen men, a Gatling gun, plenty of small arms, and were welt provided with tents and provisions, The little cratt steamed against a four-knot current about six miles an hour over the ground, ‘Tho river ts very crooked—so much so that, while the distance from Brownsville to Ringgold is ninety miles by land, by river it is three hundred. The soil is rich, everything growing with the least possible care. Of some products two crops a year are raised, and everything in the eatable line ischeap. Eggs are ten cents a dozen and chickens twenty cents a pair, and everything in the same proportion. Coin is the currency in general use, greenbacks being at a dim count of six per cent. ‘TMH INHABITANTS are principally Mexicans, who do nothing for an hon- est living, as near as I could understand. I failed to see one that was doing anything. The banks of the river are high and nearly perpea- dicular, and fringed with a dense undergrowth sufll- ciently extensive to conceal regiments of soldiers. We steamad up the river during the day, and when night came the boat was brought alongside the bank, and we encamped. ‘Jack” stood guard during the night, and when daylight camo we headed up the river again. It was a singular scene, that ‘camping out.” Under the bank was the little boat; above, on the level ground, the two white tents, with the camp fre, and stack of arms at band in case of emergency. The mellow rays of the setting sun threw a peculiar shad- ing over the picture, The navy was on the Rio Grande for the first time in many years, The ‘“greasera’ came down to the banks on the oppesite side and re- garded us In their listless, indUferent manner for @ time, then squatted on their haunches, smoking thelr corn husk cigarettes, evidently only interested in their enjoyment. Our progress was, however, reported tm advance, and at each ranche they expected us and were out on the watch, THE AMERICAN POPULATION. ‘There are a great many Americans here on the fron tier; men from the different parts of the country, ex- federal and ex-Confederate soldiers to a largo extent, ‘thelr past differences now merged ina general sont ment of loyalty to the flag of the Union. They speake of the armies on both sides of the last war as the “late armies of the United States.”’ If they were capable of fear they would have been driven out of the country long ago, As it is, they stand by their arms and turm their eyes and thoughts to the North and East, hoping that the time will come when the “boys in blue” and the ‘boys in gray” shall come marching under one flag to the banks of the Rio Grande. They hope to see the boundary line put where it ought to be—along the Sierra Madre, They hope to see the element thas ploughs the land with a crooked stick expunged, They | keep their doors open, but the loaded rifle stands out- side, Subject at any time toa raid upon their lives and property, they are READY TO FIGHT atany time The ploughman bas nis gun in the field; the storekeeper has his rifle handy, and the civil off- cers of the United States are walking arsenals, The raider respects no one; he gives no quarter and ex- pects none. I have yetto hear of a case where his expectations have been disappointed. CATTLE STBALING goes on unceasingly—by twos, threes and maybe fifties, night after night. The crossings are made at any time from midnight to daylight, ‘The following is the modus operandi:—At a certain village notice is given that at such a time will be given a “bailie,” or fandango, The only thing that will keep a Mexican away from one is death ; that is, he must be dead himself, Word is then passed around at the dance that a crossing will be made atacertain time and place, and men are detailed to accompany the cattle and others to cover the re- turn, The cattle thieves go armed to the teeth and well mounted. If forced to do so they can make a hundred miles a day. They make a descent on the broad pastire lands of a ranche, and, being among the most accomplished herders tm the world, the desired number of the stoek {8 soon col- lected, and they start upon a sharp trot tor the river. The outside runner {s started ahead to notify the cov- ering party of the amount and probable time of arrival When within afew miles the Inside runner is started, who gives precise news, and then they repair to the spot, and in a few minutes after Texas is minusa@ herd of cattle of from 500 to 1,000 head, ‘They spealk of a herd here as a “bunch’’—as, for instance, “e@ smal! bunch of fifty steers.” The “raiders” are generally good fighters, An ox- Confederate told me that he had fought the best sol- diers we had in the last war and had fought the raiders, and he would rather have the odds agamst him im Americans, As he expressed it, “They are fataliste, They wil stand up to the rack and take it, and when they fail they die without the quiver of a muscle; and when a man does that it is all we can expect of him.” THE STATE TROOPS. Captain McNally is here at present in command of the State troops. With dark hair and complexion, @ pecultarly fine blue eye, slim ana active, he is the beau ideal of a ranger, With six of his men he recently killed thirteen of these thieves, and hopes to kill more, He is worth about $100,000, and receives Texas ‘prom- isos to pay” at the rate of $100 per mouth, and expends in the prosecution of the thieves about $200 a month in coin out of his own pocket, all for the love of the State. His officers are all men of position and generally wealthy. The navy has A HARD TASK before it and along one. Four hundred miles of a very crooked river afford many opportunities of evasion, The few companies of cavairy on the frontier are in- sufficient to operate with any degree of certainty. We are surrounded by spies, who report every movement, and the only guarantee we could have of information paid for would be to hold the informer subject to for- ferture of life if incorrect. , ‘The raider thinks little of the 1ife ofa horse. He rides it to death and gots afresh one, The cavalry can- not do this, Theoflicer who returned fram a scout with half his men dismounted would prgbably be interviewod officially.: EXTENT OF THE INSPECTION, Our inspection was continued as far as Edinburgh, 170 miles from Brownsville, Launch No. 2is now on her way upto Ringgold, CORTINAS is expected back here, [tis said that President Lerdo desires the benefit of his influence in Tamaulipas and portions of Nueva Leon during the forthcoming elec tion, and that the redoubtable bandit is therefore likely to be set at liberty. THE FRRLING OF INDIGNATION and one of those days will express itself inaction. Mur der, robbery and kindred crimes are among thete grievances, and it will be very little better as long ag the river constitutes the boundary here, The . big 3 THE SCORR ig reckoned now, it stands about 200 Americans killed, many women outraged, countless thousands of cattle atolen, many ranches deserted. Per contra, thirteen thieves killed. SUICIDE, John Koman, a milkman living at Seaviow, N. J. who has for some time manifested andoubted signs of insanity, committed suicide yesterday forenoon by shooting himsel@ through the head with a revolver, He leaves a family and considerable property. His ime sanity was brought on by the failure of his crops and the bard tunes geaerally,