The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-21 00:00:00

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FRENCH PLAYS.
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

La Grisette ct L'Heritiere, a drama, in two sets,
was performed for the first time in this country last
evening. The scene opens in a mgaasin des modes, where
we find Clothilde (Madame Doche), Seraphine (Made-
ditiselle Anna Grave), and a number of other grisettes,
employed in the production of millinery. Clothilde is
a girl of sentiment and virtue, she is the pet of her
companions, and the beloved of Arthur Duresnel (M.
Ithozevil), the son of a rich manufacturer, whose suit,
however, she rejects, until she ascertains that " his
suit is honourable, his purpose marriage," and even
then, although she promises to love him ever,
she endeavours to dissuade him from an alliance,
inasmuch as she is not only of obscure parentage, but,
as she believes, a natural child, for she had never known
a father and her mother had died of a broken heart.
The father of Arthur has heard of his penchant for
Clothilde, and employs Athanase Pemaret, his nephew
(M. Plunket), •a hypocritical, vulgar dandy, a Frencl,
snob, in fact, to endeavour to break off the
match, promising him a handsome reward if he
succeeds. Athanase makes love to Seraphine,
and thus obtains admission to the magazine, and
by means of forged letters, and various other equally
honourable contrivances, manages to make Clothilde
believe that Arthur has deserted her. In the meantime
a certain M. Marcos (M. Dorgebret), the confidential
steward of M. Ribera, a rich Spanish merchant, arrives,
and seeks an interview with Clothilde. He discloses to
her the fact that her father is this rich merchant—
that he has sought her out as his only child,
having lost a child by his last marriage,
that she is his legitimate child by his first marriage,
and that he intends to make her his heir. Having re-
ceived the letter purporting to come from Arthur, but
forged by Athanase, breaking off the connexion, she
goes off with Marcos to Cadiz; but an alarm is given
just after she has left the house that a grisette has
thrown herself into the river, and every
one concludes that Clothilde has committed
suicide on account of her love for Arthur.
The second act introduces to the residence of the father
of Arthur in Paris. M. Le Baron (we are particular
about the Baron, inasmuch as the worthy gentleman
himself lays particular stress upon the dissyllable)—
M. Le Baron Duresnel (admirably acted by Durnery)
riche Fahricant qui va au bal chez le Ministre. Two
years have elapsed since the first act, and Athanase
is high in the confidence of M. Le Baron, who,
having made him a handsome present for break-
ing off the match between Arthur and the grisette,
promisees him 100,000 francs if he can induce Ar-,
diou to marry Inez de Ribero., the rich Spanish
heiress, whose hand has been promised to him, and
and who is coming to Paris under the guardianship of
M. Marcos. Athanase promises to do so, but the pro-
mise is not so easily performed. Arthur, having heard
of the suicide of Clothilde for love of him, is attacked by
a brain fever, from which he only recovers to remain in
a state of incurable melancholy ; he has vowed eternal
fidelity to the memory of Clothilde, and will not
hear of another marriage. His father, enraged, declares
that if he will not marry Inez, Athanase shall, and that
to Athanase he will leave his whole fortune. The tactics
of Athanase are now changed, and he urges upon
Arthur the great virtue of fidelity to the memory of his
departed love. Arthur, however, consents to see Inez,
and on being introduced he is struck by the
likeness to Clothilde. Still he cannot believe that it is
Clothilde. He has an-interview alone with her, and is
rapidly falling in love with her when the interview is
interrupted by Athanase, who desires to speak with
Arthur alone, and who suggests that Clothildo
may still be living, inasmuch as her body has
never been found, and that, probably, Marcos
had abducted her for the purpose of bringing
about the match with Inez. Arthur determines to be
faithful to Clothilde, but Athanase, seeking to make as-
surance doubly sure, suggests that Inez has another lover,
and produces a gage d'amour which he had found in her
possession. It is a gage d'amour which Arthur had
given to Clothilde. The mystery is revealed,
Clothilde, the grisette, and Inez L'Heri-
tiere are the same ; and the lovers are
made happy, while Athanase is obliged to content him-
self with his 100,000 francs, and the hand of Seraphine,
to whom he had promised marriage two years before, to
secure her services in sowing discord between Clothilde
and Arthur. The acting of Madame Docile, both as La
Grisette and L'Heriare was most artistical—simple yet
polished—pathetic, yet not forced, but beautifully natural
throughout ; her Clothilde was a perfect triumph.
She was admirably supported by Rhozevil, as Arthur,
and by Dorgebret, who, as Marcos, had but little to do,
but did that little excellently well. Plunket as Atha-
nase, was an exquisite snob (we use the term exquisite
advisedly), and Dumery and L Baron was the very beau
ideal of a parvenu. It was preceded by Une Fenwie de
Quarante Ans, and succeeded by Etre Ainze, ou Mow*,
in both of which Mademoiselle Martelleur was excellent.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
honoured the theatre by their presence, and the per-
formances were by express desire. The royal party
arrived towards the conclusion of the first piece. Both
her Majesty and Prince Albert paid the utmost atten-
tion to La Grisette et L'Heritiere, and seemed to enter
fully into the interest of the plot. They seemed par-
ticularly amused with the boasting of the Baron, that he
was often invited to the balls chez le Ministre, and
evidently did full justice to the transcendent talents of
Madame Doche. At the conclusion of the play, the
applause from the royal box was long-continued ; and
among those who, on the appearance of Madame
Doche, in obedience to an unanimous call, offered her
the homage of their hearty applause, not the least con-
spicuous was his Royal Highness Prince Albert. The
house was in every part crowded to excess.

IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF PLANTATIONS BY THE
LATE IlußßicANE.—The almost unprecedented gale of Wed-
nesday week has been severely felt among the High-
land and other plantations. Trees on the Inches of
Perth which had stood the blast for 100 years, were stripped
of their branches, broken in their trunks, or torn
up their roots. A most beautiful Lombardy poplar, the
crowning beauty of the North Inch, was torn to
pieces and levelled with the dust, greatly damaging, in
ita fall, several other trees in the clump beside it. Ano-
ther of the same description at Deadlands, a great ornament
near the west end of the bridge, was uprooted, and fell into
the river. Strong ashes and other hardy trees were shivered
and torn on the South Inch, and the fruit bearing trees in
gardens suffered materially. A large number of trees were
blown down along the east bank of the Tay opposite Perth,
At Scone, wood to the value of more than LOON. shared the
same fate. At Moncreiffe and Dupplin the havoc was im-
mense. From Castlehuntly,Logiealmond, Lynedoch, and other
places, we have accounts of great devastation—at the last-
mentioned, a roup of wood had been advertised for that day,
but the number of trees blown down or uprooted was about five
times that of those marked off for sale. The fine woods about
Methven Castle have also sustained great damage. But the
forests about Dunkeld have suffered perhaps more severely
than any. There is scarcely a standing tree on Craig-y-
-barns, and Craig-Tinian is little better. The number broken
by the wind or torn up by the roots in that neighbourhood is
variously estimated from 20,000 to 30,000! In various parts
of the country the barn yards give evidence of the severity of
the hurricane. Great numbers of stacks were blown over and
scattered abroad before the fury of the tempest, and the loss
in this respect is considerable.—Perth constitutional.
THE ROYAL STAG HOUNDS.—A large party, including
the Earl of Rosslyn, Major-General Wemyss, Captain Seymour, and
several officers from Windsor and Hounslow, breakfasted, on Wed-
nesday morning, at Colonel Thomas Wood's, the Member for Breck-
nockshire, at Littleton, near Staines, where the meet took place,
The field numbered between 400 and 500 well-mounted horsemen.
On Littleton-eemmon where the celebrated deer Rob Roy was un-
carted shortly before, twelve o'clock, numerous carriages, containing
the families of the nobility and gentry of the neighbourhood, were
stationed to witness the commencement of the sport. Rob Roy, upon
being turned out, after making a circle or two on the common, took
away for Pelham-hill, doubling to Milford, on to the village of
ißed-
font,r and thence to the Staines Union and Stanwell
oCmhbuercalin,dwwres
he doubled again to West Bedfont, crossing to Sipsc
yes, nob, ofe
of the Great Western Beltway to Hay
grass leaving the village to the left. Rob, after cr right gin thver e line
ine
grass country to Harrow, met was there taken after an excellent run
of two hours and a half.
WooLwzca, MARCH 19.--This da being the usual.
muster day of recruits of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, 475 flno
young men in various stages of drill marched past Colonel Turner
C. 8., on the guard mounting parade. Orders have been received in
the garrison for the formation of the staff of the 10th battalion, to
commence duty on the Ist of April next. Major-General the Hon.
W. 11. Gardner will be Colonel Commandant of the 10th battalion,
and there will be 2 colonels, 2 lieutenant-colonels on lieutenant-
colonel's pay; and 2 lieutenant-colonels on major's pay ; 8 captains,
8 second captains, 16 first lieutenants, and 8 second lieutenants, with
an adjutant and quartermaster on the staff of commissioned officers.
There will be 1 sergeant-major, 1 quartermaster sergeant, 1 reposi-
tory sergeant, 8 colour sergeants, and 24 sergeants. The appoint-
ments, in consequence of the formation of the 10th battalion, and the
addition of 72 sergeants to the present companies, will give promo-
tion to 108 corporals to be sergeants, 108 bombardiers to be corporals,
108 acting bombardiers to be bsinbardiers, and 108 men from the
ranks to be acting bombardiers ; and the authorities have given uni-
versal satisfaction by the impartial manner iii which the most deserv-
ing non-commissioned Officers in the respective classes have been
promoted to the vacancies caused by the new arrangements.
The Duke of Norfolk has resigned the office of Pre-
sident of the Arundel and Bramber Agricultural Association. This
step has been occasioned by some proceedings Of Captain Pechell at a
Committee meeting of the Association, when the Hon. and Gallant
Captain, producing from his pocket a number of the Brighton Gazette
as evidence of his assertion, complained that his Grace allowed greater
latitude at the meetings of the Society, to the Duke of Richmond
” the other side.as
and the Earl of March, than to himself. The Duke of Norfolk, who
was in the chair on this occasion, replied that if he had been aware
that such a matter was to be brought forward, he had no doubt that
he could also have produced newspapers
slant Captain, quite containing speeches of the
ls ._
main in the Oh:: long His aGitraataae paolidtieedal
tashatahneywthoahtldhnadotbereen-
spoken te.
if he was to be subjected to such attacks, and then
left the room. Sheri:: afterwards the meethi' adjourned to a future
day. On the day of adjon:jiment the Noble Doke did not attend,
but sent a letter resigning his oniCp of president.......47:ri9
THE LATE MURDERS IN SIR/MlN—Mary
hOn Paper.
'tie, C4endre,
&ins Le Noble, was placed at the bar on Wednesday last, &anted
with the muder of Mr. Centetlier Le Cronier. All the avenue, of the
Court were densely crowded with spectators anxious to catcif A
glimpse of the murderess. The report of the constable of the part*
of St. Helier having been read, embodying the details already made
public with respect to the fatal deed, the prisoner pleaded Not
Guilty, and chose Mr. Hammond as her advocate. She was
ated then re-
manded back to prison. Various rumours are being circul wi
morbid in-
respect to the unhappy wretch, and the same speciest of _
terest which all great crimes never fail to excite is being aroused
C u ill '
fortieth year, and to have been born in the parish of 1 v e, in the
It is also
with respect to the woman Le Gendrf. She is stated to be in her
parish books of which will be found her baptismal re gi, erL.
en _ e
stated that she was married in the year 1829 to Pierret enGinntlf ,
her present husband, who is also at the present momen a d ate'
d it
preju g igh the case of
ether witnesses examined. We refrain ftom
of the gaol. Thomas Nicolle was next placed at the bar, an several
the unfortunate mad by the publiisation of evidence at t is stage of
proceedings.—Jersey Times..
THE WATERMAN'S STEAM-BOAT C PAN Y.—An
extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Waterman's
Company was held on Thursday at the London Coffee-honse.`, Robert
Charles, jun., Esq., in the chair, for the purpose of invstat.'.gating
charges brought against the directory by Mr. Towse, that the ts:trees
tory had not kept faith with the shareholders in the payment of ,the
dividend at the proper Vine ; had connected themselves with the
Citizen Steam-boat Company 'to their injury; and that they had
entered into a fitigation with the City which they had no right to do.
The charges were fully rebutted by the Chairman to the entire satis-
faction of the shareholders, and ended in the withdrawal of Mr.
TowSe's motion. Captain Holbrook was elected director in the room
of Samuel Lovegrove, Esq., resigned. An amalgamation of' the
Waterman's and Citizen's Companies was ultimately suggested by
Mr. Towse, and was favourably entertained, and the chairman of
the Citizen's Company, Mr. FranciS, who was present, undertook to
communicate the same to the general meeting of that Company about
to take place.
TUB LEMAN PROPERTY. George Bradbury, well
known in the Isle of Axholme, and on the Trent side, as one of the
claimants of the Leman property, died on Tuesday week at West-
woodside. His death was occasioned, it is supposed, by anxiety of
mind and exertion of body, he having travelled nearly night and day
in search of documents to prove his claim, or rather that ot en uncle.
to the aforesaid property, The aeceaetcl was twezty-six years of
Pio—itainch
_____ . .