The Sun.
London, England, 1833-03-04 00:00:00

DRUR v-LANE THEATRE.

On Saturday evening, in consequence of Madame de M -
nic's services being required at the King's Theatre, a young
lady, named Miss DUFF, was brought forward by the manage-
ment of Drury lane, for the purpose of supplying her place as
Donna Anna, in the opera of Don Juan. When she first came
on the stage, in the scene where she is observed following Don
Juan from the house and endeavouring to discover who he is,
she was very favourably received, and she executed some pas-
sages in the recitative " Ah ! del padre!" and in her duct
with TEMPLETON, " Fuggi, crudele, fuggi," with remarkable
sweetness. Occasional inaccuracies were visible, but they
seemed to arise mainly from timidity. She went through the
quartette " Non ti fidar" tolerably well; but in the grand scena
which follows soon after, where she describes to Don Octavio
the clandestine visit of Don Juan to her chamber, her im-
perfect knowledge of the part became too visible to escape
notice. As she proceeded, she seemed to become more
and snore aware of the difficulties of the task she was
undertaking—she grew frightened—her memory failed
her, and she attempted to get nearer the prompt side,
while the prompter's voice was audible in every part
of the house. Mr. TEMPLETON, who was the only person on
the stage, seemed to afford her every assistance in his power ;
but her terror appeared to take away from her all power of ut-
terance. At last she stopped, the orchestra discontinued their
labours, and she stood trembling and quite unable to proceed.
Although few in the theatre could have been aware of the dis-
advantages under which she appeared before them, the audi-
ence, with a generous sympathy much to their credit, attempted
to encourage her by loud and general applause. She appeared
deeply affected with the liberal treatment she had received,
and expressed her gratitude by repeated curtsies. The band
then commenced the aria " Or si chi l'onore," which concludes
the recitative, and, gaining confidence as she proceeded, she
went through it very satisfactorily, and was rewarded at the
conclusion with a most flattering testimony of the approba-
tion of her hearers. She then got through the rest of the
part in highly creditable style.

Miss DUFF is about twenty-two years of age ; her features
are prepossessing and her person graceful; her action is appro.
priate, and appears to be derived from the Italian school.

We regret to state that poor KEAN was taken
so seriously ill at Brighton, on Thursday night, whilst
acting the character of Richard 111., that about midway
he was compelled to relinquish the performance. Mr.
LEE, however, Mr. KEAN'S secretary, performed the re-
mainder of the character, to the great gratification of a
house elegantly attended.— Observer.

At a public meeting held at Bolton, Lanca-
shire, on Wednesday, the Constable of Great Bolton in the
Chair, thanks were voted to Mr. HUME, for his late
motion relative to Naval and Military Sinecures ; and the
following resolution was also unanimously agreed upon
That Mr. ROBINSON, the seconder of Mr. HUME'S
motion, and the minority of 138 Members, and snore
especially the 13 Lancashire Members, have the grateful
thanks of this meeting; and that letters, signed by their
Chairman be written to Mr. Hum and Mr. RoaurNms,
expressing the sentiments of this meeting hereon.—Bollon
paper.