A Massacre.

On either side the river 't is the same And see , withal , the swift devouring flame Consuming all the providence of peace—The labour of long lives—the sure increase Of industry—the hard-earned , honoured store , — Till all the work of ages is no more ! Yet flows the riverand yet shines the

sun—, And all is silence , and the work is done . Yet shines the sun , and yet the river flows—And all is over—and the valley shows That progress had been living and is dead . 'Tis pictured white and black— 'tis pictured red—AVhite are the embers where the storehouse stood , And black and charred the straggling beams of wood

; And on the villa's floor , so fairly laid With coloured tessara . —to fashion made In now departed times ancl classic schools—Are darting veins , and crawling , curling pools , Finding their level out before they sink , Of blood—red blood ! I 'd have you , reader , think That blood the dearest blood that

flows—The blood that gives the colour of the rose To childhood ' s cheek . I 'd have your thought Conceive the picture , till your soul has caught The very horror ofthe scene , ancl thrown A dead heart ' s anguish round your living own . If blood of thblood and the blood was all

y That massacre had left , how would you call "U p from its hidden depth your heavy grief—How bear your agony—how find relief ? You'd dabble in the gore—hands , breast , and cheek—You would ! Your fancied strength would he as weak—AA ' eak as a child is when its heart is torn ; But ript like this , I wonder how you 'd mourn !

You 'd dabble in the blood—your soul would sink Down , down , like so much lead ; and you would think , And think , and think ; and if you could not cry—Another gout of blood and you would die !

Public Amusements. Her Majesty's Theatre.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS . HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE .

One of the striking novelties of the season of 1865 at this house will be the house itself . Mr . Mapleson has undertaken to supply a want which has long been felt , and the limbs and lungs of his patrons will be substantial gainers by the alterations which he has made in the interior of the theatre . The boxes have been increased in size by being decreased in number ; each is half as

wide again as of old , so that the happy man whose privilege it is to escort two fair beings who are ultra latitudinarians in the matter of crinoline will no longer find his felicity fading into grim despair . The change has also rendered the boxes loftier , and they have been newly furnished throughout . The amount of bodily comfort enjoyed by an audience has a vast deal to do with their

appreciation of a performance , and this improved accommodation will prove beneficial to the artists as well as to the public . It is true that the habitues of the house will miss that _ familiar interior , the aspect of which is interwoven with so many pleasant associations ; but we cannot have everything in this world , and those who are wise will be content to sacrifice sentiment for the sake of

air and elbow-room . Another important desideratum has been supplied by the construction of a new stage , fitted with all tbe appliances needful for the production of those scenic effects which are the delight of modern audiences . Upon this new stage it is promised that we shall see represented in the course of the season some old works

which can never be otherwise than most welcome . In the foremost rank we may place Oherubini ' s "Medea , " a superbly dramatic composition , the performance of which , with Mdlle . Titiens as the representative of the

Public Amusements. Her Majesty's Theatre.

heroine , cannot fail to be both histrionically and musically a rare artistic treat . Signor Arditi has converted the spoken dialogue of the original into accompanied recitative , and this arduous and delicate task could scarcely have been entrusted to abler or more conscientious hands . Equally acceptable will be "II Elauto Magico , " with Mdlle . Titiens as PaminaMdlle .

Betfcel-, heim and Mdlle . Grossi as two ofthe fairies , Mr . Santley as Papagcno , and Signor Giuglini as Tamino , aided by new candidates for English reputation , in the persons of Mdlle . lima de Murska as the Queen of Ni ght , and M . "Wollrath as Sarasiro . There will be another mingling of familiar with fresh faces in " Le Nozze di Figaro , " the cast embracing among the former Mdlle . Titiens as the

Countess , Madame Harriers-Wippern as Susanna , Mr . Santley as the Count , and Signor Scalese , who made a very favourable impression at the Royal Italian Opera last season , as Bartolo , and among the latter Mdlle . lima de Murska as Cherubim , Signer Morini as Basilio , and Signor Foli as Figaro .

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA . The season commenced here on Tuesday evening with a performance of " Faust e Margherita , " introducing two new candidates for English fame . Mdlle . Berini , who played Margherita , was so nervous that it would be most unfair to attempt to judge of her abilities from this single effort . She has a voice of good compassand bright

, , though not altogether sympathetic , quality ; her powers of execution appear to be considerable , and she sang well in tune . She was heard to greatest advantage in the lovely duet , " Notte d'amor , " in the third act , her singing in which was characterised by much emotional force and vocal beauty , but we have listened to more brilliant renderings of " E strano poter , " and in the ballad ,

" C'ira un re" she failed to mark the distinction between the song and the intercalated reflections . He acting was very good in the latter portion of the garden scene after Mephistophiles had cast his spell upon the flowers , and in the cathedral scene many of her attitudes were well chosen , and she played with a great deal of natural pathos . But her impersonation , though it gave

unmistakeablo evidence of conscientious study and excellent intention , was in parts to a great extent colourless , and especially lacked finish of detail . Mdlle . Honore , another debutante , who played Siebel , has a mezzo soprano voice , the lower notes of which lack roundness and richness , but the organ is clear and flexible throughout its entire register ; and her singing of " Le parlate d ' amor" was ,

though not remarkably striking , characterised by a great deal of sweetness and expression . The rest of the cast remained as it was last season . Sig . Mario was in splendid voice , and never sang more exquisitely in his most youthful days . Sig Attri resumed the part of Mephistophiles , which he played twice last season , and acquitted himself very ably , though his acting might be toned down

with advantage . The Valentin of Sig . Graziani is a performance too well known to render it necessary to say more than that its familiar features of excellence remain unchanged . The old favourites were heartily welcomed on their entrance , and tho most cordial of these tributes was , as of right , paid to Mr . Costa when he made his appearance in the orchestra .

PRINCESS'S THEATRE . Mr . Dion Boucicault ' s new drama "Arrah-na-Pogue , " is beyond all question one of his happiest efforts . The serious interest is strong , natural , and wholesome , the humour is rich and unforced , and while the incidents are in a very high degree picturesque and effective , thoy are in no instance beyond the bounds of probability . The

leading characters are capitally conceived and drawn with a vigorous hand , and the dialogue , remarkably well written throughout , is equally to be commended for the