The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-09 00:00:00

THE PRINCE'S THEATRE.

Fidelio was produced here on T111;sd;;.- It is a charming
opera, and was so well got up as to challenge a comparison
with its i%erformance at the Italian Opera-house in 1832,
when Devrient excited so much interest as Leonora.
Everybody recollects the lamented Malibran's Leonora,
and the lady, therefore, who took that character last night,
appeared under some disadvantages; hut it is no more than
just to declare that Madame Fischer Schwarzbock displayed
much delicacy, considerable taste, and altogether a degree
of excellency greater than had been anticipated by those
who remembered her predecessors in the same part, There
was exquisite beauty in the manner in which the anx'ous
wife seemed to strive to support the levity and apparent
indifference of her assumed character, while her care and
sorrow, with all her efforts, were beyond her power of con-
cealment. In her singing, as well as acting, Madame
Schwarzbock resembles Sehroscler Devricnt. All the ether
parts were well sustained, and the music was perfectly
executed throughout. The beautiful four-part canon in
the first act was loudly encored ; and the inimitable " pri-
soners' chorus" was rec,ived with acclamations. Indeed,
the chorus-singing at this theatre, as well as the exquisite
delicacy of the orchestra, should be regarded as models by
our English rrformers.

39, ALBEMARLE-STREET, PICCADILLY.—
proofDPope!
Opera-
tire a o
AFNESS AND DEFECTIVE VISION.—A greater
the value o' the Messrs. S. and Solomons'lnvisible
tire Voice Conductor, and newly-invented Spectacle Lenses,
cannot be adduced, than the circumstance of the many thou-
sands of individuals who have obtained the greatest benefit and
instant relief, and the constant immense demand there is for
them, and the patronage they have, and daily continue to re-
ceive. The Messrs. S. and B. Solomons disclaim all connec-
tion with persons of the same name, and the sale of amber spec-
tacles; the pernicious use of amber spectacles being now well
known to the public, and the vendor being aware of it,he has
therefore altered their name, by leaving out the word " Am-
ber," and calling them t' Patent Spectacles." Dr. Andrew
Ure, Esq., M.D., &c., states amber is most power-
fully electrical by friction, very hot, to such an extent as to ex-
plode into fragments. 'fhe workmen, too, are subject to a ner-
vous tremor in their wrists, arms, &c. ; they encounter great
danger by handling such dreadfully excited eiectrics. Amber
of such a soft and sticky nature, that it is apt to take fire ;
and when exposed to warmth, it swells, bubbles up. and will
burn away with flame. This statement is further confirmed by
Sir D. Brewster and Pliny, as also by Parks and Hems on
Chemistry. 'fhe pernicious and destructive use of such a ma-
terial for spectacles to imperfect vision may be ascertained at
any respectable optician's in London.
DANGER OF JOKING.---There is a ridiculous
annual custom, the origin of which may bs traced to an ancient
date, still extant in this county, namely, that of making May-
fools, on the first day of that month. A very serious accident,
and one which might have proved fatal, occurred on Friday
last, in consequence of a thoughtless indulgence in this foolish
custom. A young man named William Graham, servant with
Mr. Parker, of Scar Brow, in the parish of Gosforth, sent a
man named John Ashburncr, to 'a neighbouring farm-house,
telling him that the family wanted him. Ashburncr accordingly
went to the house, but found that he was not wanted,
and that he had been mane a May-fool of by
Graham. On Ashburner's return, Graham laughed at him,
called him a " May-gosling," which so irritated the former that
he rushed upon Graham, and struck him upon the back of the
head and neck with a three-pronged dung-fork, which severely
stunned him. Two of the prongs entered the unfortunate man's
neck, and the third inflicted a wound upon his head. Graham
bled alarmingly, but medical aid was speedily obtained, and he
is likely to recover. This is a serious result, arising out of a
very childish custom—one that. in our opinion, would be far
more honoured in the breach than in the observance.— Cum-
berland Parquet.
On Thursday evening,
when the Governor of
Dumbarton gaol was by himself visiting the cells, preparatory
to the locking up of the prisoners for the night, some of whom
are desperate characters, and detained on serious charges,
they pounced upon him and knocked him down, but he strug-
gled with them to the uttermost, and cried for assistance.
They had nearly strangled hint,
when some of the other pri-
soners, in a different part of the house, hearing what was
going on, crieu out, .‘ Murder, murder," through the windows,
which soon alarmed the neighbourhood, and assistance being
procured the Governor was rescued from his perilous situation,
and the felons overpowered and secured. —Glasgow Courier.