The Sun.
London, England, 1836-05-03 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Duchess of Kent and the Prince of Leiningen, with
her Royal Highness's suite, were present at the performance
at Covent-garden Theatre yesterday evening.
The Landgravine of Hesse Holmberg and Prince Ernest of
Ilesse Philippsthal dined with the Princess Augusta on Sun-
day. The two Princesses afterwards visited the Duchess of
Gloucester, at Gloucester-house.
The Duke of Cumberland returned to town yesterday, from
his residence at Kew.

—.—..—
On Saturday Moulvee Mahomed Ismael Khan, Ambassa-
dor from his Majesty the King of Oude, accompanied by Cap-
tain Melville Grindley, had the honour of an audience at
Kensington-palace, of their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of
Kent and the Princess Victoria, who were graciously pleased
to present to his Excellency engravings from their Royal
Highness's portraits, by George Hayter, and the autograph of
her Royal Highness the Princess Victoria.
Lady George Murray, and the Miss Fitzwygrams, had the
honour of visiting the Landgravine of Hesse Homberg yester-
day at St. James's Palace. _
Messrs. Dyneley, Ingledew, Abbott, and Capes, from
Doctors' Commons, had an interview yesterday with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer and the Chairman of the Commis •
sioners of Stamps in Downing-street.
A Cabinet Council was held at 12 o'clock yesterday, at the
Foreign-office, which was attended by all the members of the
Cabinet. The Council broke up at three o'clock.
Sir Coutts Trotter and Mr. Smith had an interview with
the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday.
Despatches for the Marquis of Sligo, Governor of Jamaica,
were sent off last evening from the Colonial office.
Sir C. Lemon and Mr. Pendarvis visited the Chancellor of
the Exchequer yesterday.

THEATRES.

DRURY-LANE.

Madame Malibran's re-appearance in her favourite character
of Amine, in La Sonnanzbula, drew a great crowd to this
theatre last night. Her reception was enthusiastic in the ex-
treme. On her entry, she was prevented for some minutes
from going on with her part by the acclamations which rung
from every part of the house ; and during the whole piece,
the beautiful traits of nature and feeling in her acting, and of
finish and expression in her singing, were received with in-
cessant plaudits. She certainly renders the part of " The
Sleepwalker" one of the most fascinating things on the stage.
She makes the character a Juliet in the guise of a village
girl ; equally full of devotedlove to her bethrothed, and equally
unreserved and ardent, but equally simple and innocent, in
her expression of it. It is impossible to see the scene of her
evening inter*w with her lover, without being reminded of'
Shakspeare's " I have forgot why I did call thee back."
The last scene of all, in which, in her sleep, she makes
her perilous descent from the top of the house, and comes
upon the stage, singing unconsciously snatches of melody in-
dicative of the state of her mind, is a triumph of dramatic and
vocal art ; and her delirious joy, when, on waking, she finds
herself at once restored to good fame and happiness, produced
a sympathetic effect on the audience. This character alone is
sufficient to raise Madame Malibran to the highest rank as an
actress ; and indeed the transcendant/beauties of her acting,
throughout the whole of it, make the musical part of her per-
formance a secondary object. The music of the opera, though
pretty, is not dramatic ; and some of the airs which Malibran
has to sing, in situations of great interest, are so long and mo-
notonous, that they stop the current of the action, and render
it impossible for the actress to support the tone of passion
which the situation requires. Her finest traits of genius are
exhibited in the course of ordinary dialogue—although the dia-
logue is flat and meagre enough. The whole effect of the
piece depends on the single character of Amina. Her lover,
Elvino, is a most insipid personage—mean, selfish, and unfeel-
ing ; arkd one is.apt to wonder that a creature like Amina could
love such a stock. Templeton made as much of the part as it
is capable of, and sang exceedingly well. There is no other
character worth speaking of. From Ithe reception the piece
met with, it is sure to have another run, which, for Malibran's
sake, it deserves.