The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-15 00:00:00

Intstc.

MU:RV-UNE THEATRE.—Last night "The Bride
of Lammermoor" was again performed, with Miss bleasent
in the character of Lucy Ashton instead of Madame DUTUS
Oral. This young lady, who now had the advantage of suf-
ficient preparation, acquitted herself in a manner highly
honourable to her talents, and well deserved the great ap-
plause she received. Her performance, it is true, betrayed
inexperience and immaturity of powers, but it gave promise,
at the same time, of great future exc,llence. Her voice was
always per'', ctly in tune, and beautifully pure and silvery in
its toner, but was so deficient is fulness and volume, that the
orchestra, whenever it played at all forte, completely over-
powered it. This weakness, however, appears not to be or-
ganic and consequently incurable, but to arise only from the
formation and management of the voice being as yet imper-
fect. Inslowandsustained passages, wheushe bedtime toform
and utter her tones deliberately, they were rich and full-bo-
died ; but thisquality disappeared, =tithe thinneesand weak-
ness returned, whenever she had to execute a rapid or florid
phrase. This is very commonly the me with young singers;
the union of strength and flexibility is gained only by prac-
tice and experience. Miss Messent has refinement of style,
and sings with grace and feeling. She promises, too, to be an
excellent actress; she is possessed of that most essential re-
quisite—beauty of person, and is gifted with intelligence
aud energy. In the arduous scene in the third act, though
she was unable to paint despair and madness in the strung
colours of Persieni or Donis Gras, yet it was a sketch
drawn with truth and nature. On the whole, Miss [dement
will certainly prose a great acquisition to the musical stage.
In other respects, the opera was performed as it has been
during the season. Reeves exhibited great dramatic as well
as vocal power ; and his two great efforts, the malediction
and the death scene, were rapturously applauded.
The circumstances which have led to the secession of Ma-
dame D truss Gras from the theatre, and which have been
the subject of statements by the parties, publi.hed in this
and other journals, have also given rise to comments on the
lady's conduct that are evidently unfair and injurious. The
charm, that she suddenly and at the eleventh hour refused to
appear on the night of the performance, announced as being
for the benefit of Mr. Reeves, is groundless, seeing that her
husband had declared, days before, that she could not eon-
tioue to sing unless she received something on account of the
large sum confessedly due to her—a declaration which was
repeated as soon as her name appeared in the bills of the
performance in question. That thi, performance was really
for Jullien's benefit is proved by his own statement;
for he says that Mr. Reeves received out 2.1- its
proceeds the balance of his salary due to him. M.
Julien was thus enabled to pay up Mr. Reeves,
and secure a continuation of that gentleman's services,
while he put the rest of the receipts in his own pockte, re-
hieing to let Madame Dorus Gras have 501. on account of the
1,2001. owing to her. Unless public performers are to be
treated differently from every other class of persons, and to
incur obloquy for refusing to give away their talents and
labour for nothing, and for demanding payment of just
debts, we cannot comprehend how this lady can be blamed
either by M. Julliea or the public. Towards him, her
offer to give him six years to pay his large debt, upon
reasonable security, was anything but the conduct of a
harsh and peremptory creditor; espeeially when it is con-
sidered how much reason she has to complain that this en-
gagement, unfulfilled on his part, has been attended with
the sacrifice on hers of all the lucrative occupation she
might have had elsewhere. As to M. Jullien's accusation
of unaccommodating and disobliging behaviour, it is set at
rest by his own letter, written within these three weeks,
warmly thanking her for her " lady-like and generous con-
duct," and assuring her of his "eternal gratitude." It
is due to the character of a lady equally distinguished for
professional talent and exemplary conduct, to remove erro-
neous impressions, which in the case at foreigners the public
are sometimes too ready to receive.

CLERICAL.
ORDINATIONS WILL nit HELD on the 19th of March next
by the Birhops of Lincoln. Peterborough, Rippe. end NaneheaSer ;
on Trinity Sunday, the Nth of Jane next, by the Archbishop at York,
sod the gutheoe of Letdield and Worcester ; and on the 9th of JOY.
by the Bishop of Winchester.
PRETERNIENTS.—Res. J. tloolvough, to be Meier curate
of the partah of Andreae, rho. of Soder end llen.—Re*. W. H. Riu,
to Naha= C. ea Rutland; do. Peterborongb.—Bee L. R. ounce
to St. !dark's Moth, Antrobio, P.C. In the gerbil% at Greet Bud.
north ; county and do. Mater pa, Pew. 0. `'Webber.—Bet
Ploy to Bt. Thomas, Milton UakargeW LanCePter ; WO*
Chewer; 3001., with mindere*: void by the death cl Ite*. E. batman,
o=wntatton of the Bee. IL U. abated, rector of Ashton in
td.