The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-24 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Mr. Bunn commenced his operatic season last night.
The preparations which he has made for conducting this
department of his undertaking were thus to some extent
developed. The quality of his orchestra and the effici-
ency of his chorus were exhibited in their fullest force;
while two or three of the debiitants whose names appeared
in the lace-bordered circular which announced the
opening of the theatre, made their first vocal attempt
before a metropolitan audience. The exertions made
by Mr. Bunn to revive the operatic prestige of Drury-
lane Theatre merit success. His ingenuity as a manager
has long been remarkable, and the engagements into
which be has entered to restore the vogue of the house
are at least creditable to his enterprise. Operas, ex-
pressly written for the establishment, by Balfe, Mac-
farren, John Barnett, and Edward Loder, denote excel-
knee and industry of intention, as well as a whole-
some desire to benefit the British musician,
and give him that status in operatic annals
to which he is entitled. The performance of last
night was the Robert the Devil of Meyerbeer.
This vast work has been prepared with considerable
care, and a grandeur of ensemble has been attained, not
only by the fullness of the resources pressed into the
service, but by the excellence of the principals. The
way in which the Robert has been got up is entitled to
almost unqualified praise. The chorusses, upon which
the value of the representation so much depends, were
executed with unvarying breadth and spirit; added to
which the orchestral playing, under the conduct of M.
Schira, was noticeable for its closeness and delicacy—
for a quality of tone, in short, and for a practical ability
to which we have hitherto been strangers in an English
theatre. A new Robert appeared in a Mr. Fedor, a light
and agreeable tenor, well skilled as a musician, and of
unquestionable taste. The real event of the evening was
the debut of a young lady of the name of Crichton, who
as the Princess Isabella displayed accomplishment as a
singer which cannot but make its way. The part, we
need not observe, involves responsibilities of no mean
and trivial kind. The voluble "En vain j'espere" is a
trial for the most matured capacity; nevertheless Miss
Crichton rendered it with an ease, grace, and certainty,
which at once stamped her as a finished vocalist—one
gifted by nature with a pure and beautiful organ, for
which art has done its best. In every sense of the word
a first appearance, it was not to be wondered at that
Miss Crichton should exhibit tremulousness of demeanour
and elocutionary awkwardness; but even this seemed to
depart when she sang that exquisite burst of affectionate
exhortation, " Robert, toi que j'aime," into which she
threw an amount of tenderness and passion, to say
nothing of executive tact, which more than corroborated
the claims to admiration which she had already evoked.
Miss Crichton, in a word, made a more triumphant im-
pression than we ever remember to have attended a de-
butante, and there can hardly be a doubt of her becoming
a great vocalist. The fiend fell into the hands of Mr.
Henry Drayton, a gentleman of concert-room fame in
this country, and, as we now find, of considerable dra-
matic ability. His singing, discreet in method, clear,
deliberate, and articulate, was extremely effective—qua-
lities equally observable in Mr. Manvers, who presented
a venieo of Rainabault as remarkable for its comic
point as for its vocal proficiency. Mdlle. Evelina
Garcia, the representative of the peasant girl Alice, com-
pleted a very superior and effective cast. This singer,
overflowing with energy, laboured sedulously to win
favour; and the two charming romances which belong to
a was
m
the part lost no practical importance in her hands. Al-
together
and efficiently
that whi
which
given.tho mostT h er
wtoagsets
nhoerroththeaonpoern
oneencore,
de-
served this compliment was the critical unaccompanied
trio in the cavern scene, which was given with a steadi-
ness and precision which we confess we had by no means
reckoned upon. The mise en scene was excellent, The
audience did not withhold during the performance of the
opera loud and enthusiastic applause. Miss Crichton
was call for at the Close of the third act, and when
the opera terminated appeared again, in company with
the other principals. Mr. Bunn was also invited to re-
ceive the congratulations of the house; and profoundly
did he bow as he strode across the stage.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE,
Rear• Admiral Deans Dundas, C. 8., left the Admiralty
on Friday for Portsmouth, on a visit to his flag-ship, the
Britannia, 120, Captain Goldsmith. The ship will bo
complete by the 27th, and will be ready for sea by the
7th of February. She is about 130 men short.

Commodore -Eden has returned to Woolwich Dock-
yard, and having resumed duo superintendence of the es-
tablishment, Captain the Hon. 21 Stopford has returned
to the command of the London, 92, at Sheerness.

Captain Henry Smith, C. 8., will pay off the Ganges,
84, at Sheerness, on the 27th instant.

Captain Cory will pay off the Southampton, 50, at
Chatham, on Monday, tho 26th inst.
Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie has commissioned
the steam guard-ship Horatio, 24, at Sheerness, She
will be taken out of dock, and will be completed by the
engineers by the 23d February.
Commander Stephen L. Crofton (1850), who was pro-
moted for his gallantry against the Brazilian slavers,
w hen commanding the Rifleman, screw-schooner, has
been appointed to succeed Commander Lavie, in the
command of the Alecto, steam-sloop, on the coast of
Africa.

Mr. J. J. Lindsay (1845), clerk in charge, serving in
the Plover, 'Captain Moore, in Bohring's Straits, ha■
teen promoted to the rank of paymaster.
Lieutenants John Seccombe (1842) :and J. P. Palmer

(1542) have been appointed to the Horatio.
Dasher, steam-vessel, Commander Lefebre, at Ports-
mouth, is ordered to accompany the Lightning steam-
tmder, Master Commander Allen, with the officials to
the Channel Islands.

Neptune, 120, Captain Yates, ordinary flag-ship at
Portsmouth, has crossed her lower and topsailyards.
Sprightly steam-tender, Master-Commander Allen,
took stores for Portsmouth, but the weather being s•
boisterous with a heavy sea, wisely held on in Devon-
port harbour.
Sparrow ketch, G. H. Hills, second smaster, will be
ready for paying off at Devonport this day.
THE WEST INDIES.—Vice-Admiral Sir G. Seymour,
C. 8., G.C.13., in his flag-ship Cumberland, 70, Captain
Seymour, was at Jamaica, Dec. 30, with Arrogant, 46,
screw-frigate, Captain R. S. Robinson, and Devastation
steam-ship, Commander Colin Y. Campbell. The In-
flexible, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Dyke, was at Ila
vannah, Dec. 25. and Express, 6, Commander Fead r
,
was at Grey Town, Dec. 30. Sappho, 12,
A. L. Cochrane, was at Carthagena, Dec.27Com . Scorpion,
surveying vessel, Lieutenant-Commander LaWreDCC, was
at St. Thomas's, Jan. 2. The Sappho is orderd home to
mande
be paid Oti.
DEVONPORT DOCKYARD.—The following supelahnnua-
tions have taken place at this yard :—William T omas,
leading man of shipwrights, Williani,,4SmEson and
Alexander Townsend, shipwrights,
Bayley, labourer, and Thomas Williams, labourer, 151.
each - /.; John H.
per annum each. riccla steam-sloop,
L FRIDAY. --Tho --.-
the 10th of
1,590 tons, and having on
Commander Beauchamp, arrived at SP
noon this after-
noon from the coast of Afric,.., on which she ha: been
very successful in the capture of slavers, having taken
tea vessels, amounting to
1 /eeember, leaving there the Prometheus board 613 slaves. She left the Congo on
steam-sloop (at
Shark-point), the Archer steam-sloop,L Commander
Strange, and the Atholstoreship teutenaut-Comb 'nit r
Pearce. She left Ambriz on the 9th. She left Atee
sion on the 24th of December, brieging Thomas B. ni.
Peel, tho murderer of Perkins, the Quartermaster-Ser-
geant of the Island of Ascension, to be tried. She also
all the witnesses except (ale, a girl named
Coonabes, who died on board two days ago from exces-
sive sea-sickness. The Hecla arrived a Sierra Leone
on the 31st of December, and left on the 3d instant,
leaving there the Firefly steam-vessel, instant,
from which she -vessel, Commander
Sotheby, has brought invalids.
4th she passed the outward-bound Cape of
On the
packet.
1 pac • Sh© arrived at Tenerif
-1 e on the 13th, and
I oiled oil the 14th , the place i • •
s sickly, and p:1

quarantine. On the 17th instant she passed
and exchanged numbers with the Birkenhead
iron steam frigate, Master Commander Sal-
mond, with troops on board fur the Cape, in
latitude 34 deg. 30 mita N., longitude 14 dpg. 40 min.
W. On the night el' the 22d instant the Ud ea eneonn-
tered a terrific gale, which brought her under reefed
stormsails. The Rattler steam sloop. Commander Mel-
lersta was at Ascension on the 24th ult., on her way to
India. The Penelope steam-frigate, Captain Lyster,
bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Bruce, with
the Sampson steam-frigate, Captain. L. T. Jones (which
had been ashore, knocked all her Use keel off and in-
jured her main keel, &c.); the Niger steam-sloop, Corn-
mender Heath; Philomel, 8, Commander G. T. Forbes;
Alecto steam-sloop, Commander Lavie; and Volcano
steam-sloop, Cennuander Coote, were off Lagos, pre-
paring to bring the authorities of that place to account
for the late attack upon the British cruisers. The re-
sult we shall not hear until the arrival of the next mail
from the coast. The Gladiator steam-frigate, Captain
Adams; the Wasp, 14, Commander Crozier; the Wol-
verton, 12, Commander Falcon; the Cygnet, 8, Com-
mander R. D. White; and the Prometheus steam-sloop,
Commander Foote, were stationed ou the south coast.
The Soalark, 9, Commander Sotheby, was senior officer
on the north coast; the Dolphin, 3, Lieut.-Commander
Temple was cff Capo Lopez. The remainder of the
squadron was in the Bights. The Heels took the captain
and crew of the condemned vessel Isabel, and deli-
vered them up to the Spanish authorities at Teneriffe.
The Heels had brought home about 2001. is gold
on freight, and something not quite so precious, or so
well worth the carriage-2,37710. of Goldner's " pre-
served meats" to return-5291b. from Ascension, and
1,8481 b. from Sierra Leone. The character given this
stuff by those who have been " condemned" in a strait
to partake of it is worse than any we have ascribed to it.
The following persons have come home passengers iu
the Ilecla:—Lieutenant J. 11. Glove- lately promoted
from the Teazer; Mr. Wilson, surgeon, invalided from
the Sealark ; Mr. 'Thomas Yeatman, second-master, in-
valided from the Tortoise; Mr. John Etherington, chief
engineer, to join the Fisgard ; Mr. John Barrett, master's
assistant, from the Tortoise (late of the Gladiator), sent
home for the disposal of the Lords of the Admiralty;
Mr. W. B. A. F. Paterecn, mate, to join the London; and
E. Deane, acting gunner, to join the Excellent. The
fallowing are the witnesecs she has brought home in the
case of the murder of Perkins :—Joseph P.iul, boatswain;
'Thomas Bradley, tailor; W. ii. Knowles, gunner's mate;
John Harrison, boatswain's mate; Michael Phinn,
cooper; Henry Fox, holder up; S. R. Lewin, cooper;
W. 11. Herring, sergeant; John Fig, sergeant; Thomas
White, sergeant; Henry Hills, assistant surgeon; Ann
Evans, Rebecca Perkins, Rebecca Perkins (daughter of
the foregoing), Elizabeth Herring, Harriet Coombs,
Emily Coombs (the young woman who died from sea
sickness), and Mary Ann Peel, the wife of the prisoner.
Tho Britannia, 120, Captain Goldsmith, has been
swung to-day for the adjustment of her compasses.
Rear-Admiral Dundas, C. 8., arrived here to-day from
the Admiralty, and soon after two o'clock proceeded on
board the Britannia in Rear-Admiral Prescott's galley.
It is rumoured in the dock-yard that Rear-Admiral
Dundas intends to hoist his flag to-morrow, at nine A nt.
The Fury, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Tatham, was
paid advance this morning and sailed in the afternoon
for Lisbon, it is rumoured with dispatches recalling Com-
modore Martin's squadron to Spithead.
The Hydra steam-sloop, Commander Belgrave, hauled
alongside the dockyard to-day, to take on board lug-
gage, &c., for the new Governor of the Cape, who is
expected to embark here on Tuesday next.

A court-martial is ordered to assemble on Monday on
board the Victory, for the trial of First-Lieutenant
Lewis Scott Reeves, of the Royal Marines, belonging to
her Majesty's ship Rodney, on two charges of absence
without leave from his ship. Courts-martial are also
ordered to try two privates of the Royal Marine corps
on charges of desertion from her Majesty's ship Asia,
on the South American station.