The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-26 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Madame Anna Bishop makes her debilt on Monday,
October sth, in the character of Isoline, is Balfe's opera
of The Maid of Artois. This opera was performed for
the first time on the 27th of May, 1836, when the ever-
to-be-regretted queen of song, Madame Malibran Garcia,
performed the part of Isoline. She was supported by
Templeton, H. Phillips, Seguin, and Paul Bedford. The
opera was very successful, and was played nineteen
times. On the 16th of July it was played for the last
time, which was also the last time the immortal Mali-
bran ever appeared on the stage. We understand Mr.
Balfe has altered this opera so as to suit Madame Anna
Bishop's voice, which is a true soprano sfogato, or high
treble, and he has added a cavatina for the new debu-
tante, whose success lately on the continent has been
most triumphant. Mr. Balfe has also written two new
ballads, one for Madame Anna Bishop, the other for
Mr. Harrison. We understand that the theatre will
open on Saturday, the 3d of October, with The Crusa-
ders; on the Monday following Madame Anna Bishop
will make her debut in The Maid of Artois. Mr. La-
venu's opera will be the next novelty of the season. On
the 27th of November Mr. Balfe's new opera will be
produced ;, and Mr. Wallace's new opera will be the first
novelty after Christmas. Report speaks very highly of
the music of Mr. Wallace's opera, the libretto of which
is of peculiar interest.

Mr: Balfe is at Vienna, conducting his Behemian Girl
and his Four Sons of Aynion.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—In volume first, page 232, of the " Life and Cor-
respondence of the Marquis of Wellesley," there is a
note as follows:

" Acre, taken by Richard Cceur de Lion— defended by
the magnanimous Sir Sidney Smith—taken by the no
less gallant Commodore Sir Charles Napier." This is a
mistake. Admiral Sir Robert Stopford commanded the
attack on Acre. .

I have the honour to remain your obedient servant,
CHAS. NAPIER.
United Service Club, Sept. 24, 1846.

We are happy to say that Lord Charles Beauclerk
is recovering rrom his severe illness. Lady Charles
Beauclerk is alarmingly ill, having ruptured a blood
vessel, and is suffering from inflammation of the lungs.
EXPERIMENTS AT THE ROYAL ARSENAL, WOOL-
WICH.—During the last and present week a series of
experiments have been carried on at the Butt, in the
Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, to test the strength and
safety of large guns constructed on different principles.
The guns are 42-pouriders, and the first experimented on
was one of Monks' pattern, from which eighteen rounds
were fired, double shotted and double wadded each
round, having a charge of 1011bs. of powder. At the
eleventh round the rear trucks of the gun carriage
broke, and at the eighteenth round the gun burst in the
breach. The experiments were conducted without the
slightest chance of accident, every precaution having
been taken to avert danger while they were carried on.
The experiments were resumed yesterday with a 42-
pounder gun, known by the designation of the Admiralty
gun, and twenty rounds were fired from it, double
shotted and double wadded, with 101bs. of powder, the
same as Monks' and it still appears quite perfect in
every respect.
MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—Mr. Sherer delivered
his second lecture on Scottish minstrelsy last night, at
the above institution, to a crowded and respectable
audience,lr and selected for his subject " The Rebellion of
Highland,'' e ommencing by an illustration of the state of
society, the landing of Prince Charles, his
meetings with the brave Lochiel,and the enthusiasm
with which the chivalrous Highlanders
standard of the unfortunate Prince,
with interesting anecdotes of the most interspersingprominent
actorsthem
of that eventful period, and introducing some of the
choicest songs that were written for the occasion, which
he sung with great taste and skill—the audience testify-
ing their delight by frequent applause. Such entertain-
ments we have always commended, and the directors of
this institution deserve credit for their attention in
encouraging and promoting lectures of so instructive
and agreeable a nature. Mr. Sherer was encored in
several of his songs; he also deserves patronage.
DEATH IN THE QUEEN'S PRISON.—Mr. Charles
Fitzpatrick Schreder, about thirty-two years of age,
died in the Queen's Prison yesterday. The deceased
had stated that he was with the late Marquis of Wel-
lesley at the time of his Lordship being Lord-Lieutenant
of Ireland, and that afterwards he resided with Lord
Wellesley at Richmond, and was treated as one of the
family. Mr. Schreder was brought into the prison only
eight days since, and was then in the last stage of con-
sumption, and it is thought by the medical gentlemen
(Messrs. Coulthred and Jones) who attended him, that
death was accelerated by the fatigue of removal. Every
attention was paid to him by the governor and deputy-
governor of the prison ; but he never rallied after en-
tering his room, We understand that Mr. Schreder was
brought to the prison at his own request, being anxious
to prevent his bail from becoming responsible for heavy
sums which he had lust, and been swindled of, in betting
and gambling transactions. The deceased, we hear was
a married man, and has left a widow and several children.