The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-29 00:00:00

11ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Mademoiselle Ernesta Grisi (the cousin of the
Grisi) made her first appearance before an English au
ditnce on Saturday evening in the character of Smea.
ton, the page, in Doozetti's Opera of Anna Bolena.
Through some mistake in the Bills she was announced
for the character of Jane Seymour, which was repre-
sented by Mademoiselle Monani, who had been adver-
tised for the part of the Page. Mademoiselle Ernesta
Grisi's voice is a contralto of great power and rich-
ness ; it is as yet scarcely arrived at maturity, and if
she does not attempt to force it too much, she will oc-
cupy a place in the first rank of contralto singers.
Her figure is good ; her complexion a clear bru-
nette ; her eyes are dark, large, lustrous, and expressive ;
her face is rather full, but this expression was consider-
ably lessened by her graceful manner in arranging her
hair, which is of a raven black, dooped in luxuriant ring
lets so as to shade the outline of her countenance; in
stature she resembles her cousin. There was no applause
on her appearance, but she had scarcely commenced
her first song before all apprehensions as to her success
vanished, and she was encored, and went through the
remainder of her part triumphantly. She was called for
at the conclusion of the opera, and with her cousin was
led on by Rubini. We congratulate M. Laporte on his
having secured the services of this young lady. Made-
moiselle Monani went through the character of Jane
Seymour, in a manner which merited the applause with
which she was rewarded ; but she laboured under the
disadvantage of appearing in a part in which a powerful
effect had been last season produced by Albertazzi,
whose absence, this season, every lover of music must
regret. Madame G. Grisi, as Anna, was in excellent
voice, and as admirable as ever. Rubini was, as usual,
encored in Vice tu, in the second act. The more fre-
quently we hear Rubini the more we are astonished at
the wonders he is able to accomplish with such a voice.
Labiache looked and acted the bluff and heartless
Henry VIII. to the life. His costume was minutely
correct, and it required no great stretch of imagi-
nation to fancy that Holbein's portrait of this
bloated specimen of Royalty had walked out
of its frame "to strut and fret its hour upon the
stage." The ballet of Une Null de Bal followed, and
in noticing this ballet we must not omit awarding praises
due to the scene painter ; the perspective of the ball-
room scene is perfect, and the illusion consequently
complete. The effect is quite diuramic. Her Miijesty
and her illustrious Mother honoured the theatre with
their presence, and seemed highly gratified with the
performances. The Duchess of Cambridge and the
Princess Augusta occupied a box at a short distance
from her Majesty. Lord Brougham was in one of the
boxes of the principal tier, alone, during the early part
of the evening, and attracted general attention. His
Lordship did not, however, remain long in the theatre.
The house was crowded to overflowing in every part.

LYCEUM FOR BERMONDSEY

AND ROTHEREII

This institution is intended chiefly for the moral and
educational improvement of the lower classes. It is
funned with a view to furnish them with some of the
advantages, in these respects, enjoyed by the rich and
middle classes. From the Royal Institution, and many
other institutions, both literary and philosophical, in the
metropolis, artisans, and members of the working class
of mechanics, are to a great extent excluded, on
account of the high admission fees. The Lyceum is,
therefore, intended to supply this want, and to afford
to the working classes the educational advantages of a
Mechanics' Institution, together with a library and
reading-room, a coffee-room, and also at stated periods
musical entertainments. The subscriptions are ex-
tremely moderate. Lord Brougham is President, and
Dr. Epps, Dr. Murdock, Mr. Chalmers, Mr. Landman,
and Mr. Stephens, are to give a lecture a week till the
end of June, on chemistry, comparative anatomy, the
steam engine, and other subjects, interesting
to the classes for which this institution is esta-
blished. Every friend of the lower classes must be
gratified in seeing the daily increase of institutions like
this for improving their character, augmenting their
rational enjoyments, and discouraging the intemperate
habits to which some of them are addicted, not so much
from choice as from necessity.

INFAMOUS CASE OF ABDUCTION

On Thursday evening last a policeman of the L
division, while on duty in St. George's•road, observed a
young female sitting on the steps of a doorway crying
most piteously, and evidently in a very exhausted state,
apparently as if she had just come off a long journey.
Ile spoke to her, and finding from her answers that she
was a stranger in London, and that she bad been in-
veigled from the country by a strange woman, he took
the unfortunate girl to the station-house in Tower-
steeet, Lambeth. Inspector Field, who was on duty at
the time, proceeded to question her, and her statement
was to the following effect :
She said her name was Baker, that she was the
daughter of a wheelwright living at Springfield,
near Chelmsford, and that she was between fifteen
and sixteen years of age. Her father had lately
procured her a situation at service in Chelmsford,
and on Wednesday last, about three o'clock in the af-
ternoon, she was sent on an errand by her mistress. As
she was walking along an elderly woman accosted her,
and having asked her some trivial questions, then pro-
ceeded to tell her that a young gentleman of fortunef
who had been down on a visit in the neighbourhood of
Chelmsford, had accidentally seen her (Baker), and liked
her appearance so much that he wits most anxious to be-
come acquainted with her ; but that, being oblig•?d to
leave the country in haste to come to town on urgent
business, he had deputed her (the woman) to acquaint
her of the circumstance, as well as to intimate to her that
his intentions were perfectly honourable towards her.
The poor girl at first said that she could not think of
leaving her home and her friends, but upon being
informed that it would be the " making of her" if she
came to town, and that instead of toiling for her
bread she would have servants to wait upon her, she at
length consented to accompany the woman. The girl
expressed a wish to return to her place of servic to put
on her Sunday garments, but to this the wouLin ob-
jected, saying that the young gentleman of fortune
wished to see heri n all her native simplicity, and that
npon he.l arrival she would be furnished with everything
that would make her heart glad. Upon the strength of
these representations the girl Baker and her informant
proceeded on foot towards London, which they did not
reach until the next day, having travelled all night
without rest or refreshment. When they got into town
the woman took her to the Saracen's Head, Aldgate,
and left her at the entrance of the yard, desiring her to
remain there until she returned, adding that she
should fetch an old gentleman, the father of the
young man who had fallen in love with her, and that they
would all proceed together to the residence of the lat-
ter, somewhere in the neighbourhood of Long-acre.
The girl waited about a quarter of an hour, and begin-
ning for the first time to reflect upon what she had done,
she hastily left the spot, before the arrival of the woman
and the old gentleman, and bent her steps towards
London Bridge, which she crossed, and wandered, she
knew not whither, as far as St. George's-road, where,
completely overcome from excessive exhaustion, she sat
on the step of a door, where she was discovered, as
already described. Inspector Field, having ascertained
the address of a family at Chelmsford to whom she was
known, immediately wrote a letter communicating the
above facts, and in the interval procured her admission
into Lambeth workhouse. On Saturday last the In-
spector received the following answer from the party to
whom he had written on the subject :

" Chelmsford, April W, 1839.
" Sir,—l have just received your letter, informing
me of the recovery of Keziah Baker, for which, and
the trouble you have taken and kindness you have
shown, I sincerely thank you, both on my own part and
that of her afflicted family. Her father has lately had
a very serious illness, which deprives him at present of
remunerating those who have been instrumental in saving
his (laughter from ruin, but I am sure if he ever has
the power he will do so."

The writer then proceeds to describe the afflic-
tion into which the poor girl's family were thrown when
it was found she was missing ; and it being suspected
that she had committed suicide, the unhappy father had
men employed in dragging the river under that suppo-
sition. When the father was made acquainted with the
whole of the circumstances. although he was labouring
under serious indisposition, he hastened up to town.
The poor man expressed his gratitude with tears in his
eyes, and departed soon afterwards to the country, re-
joicing in having recovered his lost child.

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.—We un-
derstand that it is now fixed to open the line from London
to Romford, the first week in June, and shortly after from
Romford to Brentwood, a distance of 19 miles; there are
about 7,000 persons employed by this great undertaking,
besides several locomotive engines sud horses.
THE BALLOT.--A petition to Milli:Anent in
„ of the Ballot is bow in course of sign-.sari 4t Shrews-