he opposite
extreme in matters of toilet, and appear radiant with the numerous
decorations presented to him by the different sovereigns of Europe. He
knew the power of the press, and was not too delicate to invite the
leading critics to elaborate dinners at the Trois Freres the night
before a first performance.

It is not intended here to enter into a critical or scientific analysis
of Meyerbeer as a composer. As far as the present development of Art
would indicate, his name seems to us destined to go down to posterity
encircled by a fadeless halo of glory; and at the same time we must
remember that there have been other composers who, though now forgotten,
yet in their time and at their death have similarly impressed their
contemporaries. But certain it is, that, in our day and generation, and
at least during the life of every one now existing, the fame of
Meyerbeer will be brilliant indeed, and the music of the "Robert," the
"Huguenots," and the "Prophete" will challenge the admiration and love
of all susceptible to the influence of the grandest and noblest strains
that musical science has yet evoked.

THE MAY CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA.

There are few months in the calendar of centuries that will have a more
conspicuous place in history than the month of May, 1864. It will be
remembered on account of the momentous events which have taken place
during the present military operations. It inaugurates one of the
greatest campaigns of history. We who are in it are amazed, not by its
magnitude merely, for there have been larger armies, heavier trains of
artillery, greater preparations, in European warfare,--but we are
overwhelmed by a succession of events unparalleled for rapidity. We
cannot fully comprehend the amount of endurance, the persistency, the
hard marching, the harder fighting, the unwearied, cheerful energy and
effort which have carried the Army of the Potomac from the Rappahannock
to the Chickahominy in thirty days, against the stubborn opposition of
an army of almost equal numbers. There has not been a day of rest,
scarcely an hour of quiet. Morning, noon, and midnight, the booming of
cannon and the rattling of musketry have echoed unceasingly through the
Wilderness, around the hillocks of Spottsylvania, along the banks of the
North Anna, and among the groves of Bethesda Church and Coal Harbor.

A brief _resume_ of the campaign, thus far developed, is all that can be
attempted in the space assigned me.