The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-15 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

KING'S THEATRE.--The serious Opera of La
Ga.= Ladra last night introduced Signor PORTO
for the first time to the British Public. He is a
good actor, and possesses a fine bass voice, with
evident scientific knowledge. He was very well
received, and encored in one of his songs. CA 31-
POR ESE sung with her usual taste, and acted with
her usual feeling. DE ItEams came off very
well in a pathetic part so different from his custo-
mary style. Madame VESTRIS was well received.
—A new divertisement, entitled L'Offrande aux
Graces, gave full scope to the Corps de Ballet,
and was much applauded.—We perceive that
several of the public Journals severely animad-
vert upon the state of the interior of this
Theatre. Would they have ►he Conductors,
who are at an enormous expence for the best
foreign singers and dancers that can he procured,
as well as for the almost innumerable other re.
tainers to so great an establishment, lavish their
uncertain profits every season in new embellish-
ments ? &c. The higher orders, who will not be
satisfied without such an establishment in this
country chiefly require good performers, and
meet at the OPERA HOUSE as to the great public
resort of the fashionable world. Most of the
comments to which -we have alluded have their
source, 'we are assured, in interested spleen and
malignant disappointment.
D nay-- tse.—A new Piece, entitled Augusta,
or The Blind Girl, was represented for the first
time last night at this Theatre. We have not
room for more than the following brief outline of
the Fable :

The Count Holtaburg,' the youngest son of a noble family,
leaving his home, undertakes the tour of Europe. Almost at
the commencement of his travels he meets with a blind Lady,
(Augusta) who, when his life is in danger, interposes her per.
son between him and the assailants, and saves him at the ex-
pense of a severe wound, which she herself receives. He leans
her, repairs to Paris, and studies under an eminent professional
man, from whom he learns the art of restoring the blind to
sight, under certain circumstances. He returns to Augusta,
ascertains that he possesses her heart, and successfully performs
an operation which gives her the blessing of sight, and paves
the way for a happy marriage.
This piece is a translation from one that is at
present in great vogue at Paris. The original
uuthor seems to be lamentably deficient i►► the
art of an Oculist, and the effect of sight be-
stowed on persons born blind. The translator
does not seem to possess more knowledge of
the subject. They should both look into
CIIESELDEN'S Anatomy, and they will there
find that the patients must gradually learn to
know and to distinguish objects, distances, &c. as
they learn to read. There are other technical
objections which we could urge against the piece
of last night, but as it is w,ll supported by Mrs.
W. WEST, the blind heroine, Mrs. DAVISON,
KNIGHT, and COOPER, we shall not churlishly
condemn that which excites benevolent sympathy,
and is interestingaltogether. It was announced for
repetition with very little opposition, but some
of the dialogue is much toalong, and if shortened
it will no doubt be sufficiently successful, when
followed by the amusing embarrassments •of
Simpson and Co., in which the whole of the Dra.
matis Personae appear with very diverting effect.

We have remarked with pleasure in Tim SUN,
(one of the London ,Papers in which most con-
fidence is placed), reflections which induce unto
conceive the hope that England is withdrawing
herself from the labyrinth into which the politics
of Lord Castlereagh had plunged her, is disposed
to enter frankly into the routes pointed out by
justice, humanity, and even by her own interests,
well understood. We begin to perceive that
amongst our neighbours the strife of opinions
to-day is between the Constitutional doctrines
and those of Absolute Power. They will soon
perceive the just value of the declaration of our
fanatics on that which they call the revolLttionary
spirit. England will feel that if she stood alone
in Europe, with her liberal institutions, her Con.
stitution itself would .be in danger, and that the
least violent of her Whigs would be very soon
tainted and convicted of Radicalism. it is cer-
tain that there exists between France and England,
considered as free nations, a sensible community
of interests. An enlightened system of politics,
founded on the solid basis of the rights of nations,
and on the alliance of liberty and power, would
destroy many prejudices, and make many obsta-
cles disappear ; but events press, and there are
things which nations as well as individuals can-
not escape.—(Constitutionnel.)

Commissioner Sir ROBERT BARLOW iS about
:o retire from Chatham Yard.- His successor is
rot yet named.

IC is \vial regret we have to announce the
death of Lady FREDERICK STANHOPE, who de-
parted this life yesterday morning, at her house
in South Audley_street.
HAMBURGII, JAN. 7.--The frost continues
without intermission. The Bee, Hudson, which
is lying near Stade, we understand, will begin to
discharge to-morrow, when the ice will admit of
the goods being brought up by the sledge. Seven
mails will be due to-morrow.
CRONSTADT, DEC. 11 (23,)—0u the Bth it
blew a violent gale of wind from the westward,
which broke up all the ice below ; and the next
day a Russian galliot, supposed to be the Alex-
ander, forced her way into it, and anchored 3 or
4 wersts from the mole.
THE SERPENTINE RTVER.—Hyde Park as-
sumed an appearance unusually gay yesterday.
Numerous parties of Ladies protnenaded on the
ice for a considerable time ; and the cavalcade
of equipages, at three, exceeded any previous dis-
play. Many Ladies alighted, and ventured over
the surface with uncommon confidence. The
skaiters had outnumbered any preceding exhi-
bition, about that hour. Quadrilles were again
performed, and the eight quadrangles with in-
creased effect. A little temporary alarm pre-
vailed at one time, from a crack of the ice, pro.
ducing a sound like that of a pistol shot, w hich
frightened all away from the scene of dangerous
exercise; but happily the day passed off without
any accident,