“Bravo, Gouverneur!" If DICKENS’s naval hero, the Captain whose words were always worth “making a note of,” were to use the belt of Orion as a support in a sea of trouble, I should applaud his wisdom.  In fact, I should observe, that the occasion was worthy of the Cuttle’s tone.  And now to come to business.  For after all, what I have written above is merely a hint to those who require no telling.  A prophet to be believed must be mysterious.  But that the simplest understanding may comprehend, I give my final tip.  Here it is.  This year’s Derby will be won by one of two.  It will either fall to the Favourite or—­the Field!

* * * * *

OPERATIC NOTES.

Tuesday, May 19.—­With pleasant recollections of MARIE ROZE and BARTON McGUCKIN, and, as I think, a Mr. SCOBELL playing the swaggering relative, I went to see Manon, at Covent Garden, Miss SIBYL SANDERSON being the Heroine, and M. VAN DYCK the Hero.

[Illustration:  M.  Van Dyck des Grieux et Mlle. Manon Sanderson.

(Ensemble.) “Nous irons au Guildhall!”

M.  Van D. “Voila la voiture du Lor’ Maire, grace a M. Le Sheriff Druriolanus.”

Manon.  “Comme il est gentil!  Je n’attendais qu’un ‘Van.’”]

The new prima donna has everything in her favour, and very soon she was in favour with the audience, but not in such high favour as was the tenor with the artistic name, who, fairly taking the audience by assault, constituted himself, pro tem., the man in possession of the ear of the House.  He is a success; as a young master bearing the name of so distinguished an Old Master should be. [Query, would it be rude to say to a really good Van Dyck, “You go and be hung!” Perhaps the learned Editor of Musical Notes and Queries will reply.  Of course much depends on the frame.] As for the new soprano SIBYL—­more power to her organ!  Her acting was good, but not great, and what ought to be her song par excellence went for nothing, or, at least, it could have been bought very cheap.  There is far more dialogue in Manon than a Covent Garden audience is accustomed to, and this superfluity is resented by those who come for the singing, and who, if any talking is to be done, like to do it themselves.  The three young ladies who go about together as a perpetual trio, suggest the notion of a light and airy version, feminine gender, of the three Anabaptists in the Prophete.  M. ISNARDON as Des Grieux, pere, a character that might be operatically nearly related to Germont, pere, in La Traviata, was impressively dramatic, but decidedly disappointing in his one great song, which ought to be a certain encore.  It may be true that an opera intended for a small stage does not stand a fair chance of success on a large one, and vice versa, as no doubt the LORD MAYOR’s coach provided by DRURIOLANUS SHERIFFUS for the occasion would look absurd on the stage of the Opera Comique, while here when it comes round to the gate to fetch Des Grieux, it creates as great a sensation as ever it would do in the Strand on the Ninth of November, even with the Sheriff inside it.