The Sun.
London, England, 1837-11-29 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

Last night Joan of Arc, " a grand, historical, legendar y
romance," as the bills styled it, was produced at this theatre,
with plot dramatic and action almost wholly spectacular. t
opens with a scene in Argues, or Arc, her native village, n
which the cruelties of war are brought home to her own family,
and here also she saves the life of Sir Lionel, an English
knight, and entertains a lively interest for him in her heart.
Next, urged by a sacred impulse to save her country, she ap-
pears in a ruined gothic church, and at the feet of her patroness
saint has visions of her destiny ; she at the same time binds
herself to renounce all earthly attachments for the one great
purpose. Thence she proceeds to her introduction to King
Charles, has her divine mission recognised, and, armed with her
sacred sword, hurries off. at the head of her re-inspi, ited country-
men, to save Orleans. Then follows the coronation of the King,
and in the cathedral she once more saves the life of Sir
Lionel from an infuriated mob. Meanwhile Queen Isabel
of England conspires against her with sp-cial malignity, and
through the aid of an &A nizard, Colarabert, makes interest
with the fiend of fiends to inveigle her into a peccadillo, and,
at the same time, into the hands of her foes. And so it turns
out. Poor Joan, in surrepititiously giving her lover, Sir
Lionel, his liberty, also commits the sad indiscretion, having
no other weapon at hand, of presenting him with the sacred
sword which was wont to flame in the front of French battle.
Having thus spared an enemy through love, and given up the
heaven-sent weapon, her compact with the saints is all over,
and her fate sealed. Accordingly, in the hope of surprising
the English lines, she allows herself to be led by the devil in
person, disguised as a black knight, into an ambush, and sud-
denly she finds herself surrounded in a very wild and appro-
priate spot, with precisely such a heather-born host as obeyed
the whistle of Rhodzrie Dhu. From thence to a dungeon,
and thence to a stake, is the remainder of her journey. Lionel.
cannot save her, but charitably furnishes her with " a bare
bodkin" to end her woes in place of fire and smoke, and just
as this catastrophe occurs, a victorious assault of her country-
men 'enables them to witness her death, and vainly tear the
faggots from around her. The chief scenes were all striking
tableaux managed with happy attention to pictorial effect.
The success of the piece was great—it was loudly applauded
at various scenes, and ended amid very general cheering, with
which also its re-performance was announced. Miss Huddard
was the Joan, and exerted herself with her usual zeal and
success.

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

Yesterday a Court was held.
THANKS OF THE COURT TO THE LATE LOUD MAYOR.

Sir C. S. HUNTER rose to propose a vote of thanks to the
late Lord Mayor. for the admirable manner in which the Right
Hon. Thomas Kelly had performed the duties of the office.

Alderman SCHOLEY seconded the motion. The vote was
then unanimously carried, and ordered to be presented to the
lste Lord Mayor, and to be published in the usual morning
and evening newspapers.

TAE POLICE PREPARATIONS FOR THE QUEEN'S RECEPTION.

Aldeiman VENABLES brought up the report of the Police
Committee as to the arrangements made in the City on the
day of her Majesty's visit. The report was unanimously
agreed to.