The Sun.
London, England, 1821-10-18 00:00:00

MADAME CATALAN'.

SUMMARY ACCOUNT OF HER TRAVELS, &C. SINCE

SHE LEFT ENGLAND.

After an absence of seven years, Madame Ca-
talani is returned to this country, where during her first resi-
dence she acquired a renown, and enjoyed a degree of success,
till then without example. As, since her return, many persons
have expressed a wish to be informed of the manner in which,
since her departure, she has employed the wonderful gifts for
which she is indebted to nature, we think a brief account of
her various travels and undertakings will be read with no little
interest. We have only to observe, that if the facts which our
narrative will present should seem to require proofs, reference
might be made to almost all the diplomatic agents of the Courts
of Europe.

On leaving London, Madame Catalani proceeded to Paris,
where the King of France granted her the patent of the Theatre
Royal Italien, and condescended to annex, by way of encourage-
ment, an annual allowance of about seven thousand pounds
sterling. Madame Catalans continued for four years proprietor
and sole manager of that Theatre, then the most elegant in
Paris. She gave alternate engagements to the celebrated com-
posers, Paer and Spontini, for the conducting the musical de-
partment, and also engaged, during the time mentioned, almost

all the first singers, both male and female, of Italy. Never-
theless, as when Madame Catalani did not herself sing, the re-
ceipts were trifling, the establishment became a burthen to her,
and she resolved on leaving Paris, and exerting her talents in
all the capitals of Europe. The trumpet of fame has succes-
sively announced to us the glorious fruits of this determination.
From Paris Madam:, Catalani went-direct to Berlin, where
success the most flattering, and honourS the most distinguished,
awaited her. She excited no less admiration by her beneficence
than by her extraordinary talents, and his Prussian Majesty be-
stowed upon her the most honourable reward, in deigning to
write her a most gracious letter, transmitting to her, at the 'ame
time, the grand medal of the ACademy (similar to that which
the Great Frederick sent to Voltaire). The King's letter was
published in all the Journals of the time. Mad. Catalani
likewise received from all the Courts of Prussia the most dis-
tinguished testimonies of kindness.
Laden with honours and presents, she went from Berlin to

Hanover. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, whose
enlightened taste for the Arts, and particularly for music, is ge-
nerally known, received her with all that amenity which dis-
tinguishes him ; and all the ladies of the Court hastened to make
her sensible of their goodness. She gave a concert for the be.
nefit of the poor, and was the same evening crowned at the
theatre.

Madame Catalani afterwards went to Stutgardt. The charms
of her voice made such an impression on the late King, who, as
we know, was passionately fond of music, that some minutes
before his death, which happened a few days after his hearing
her, he pronounced her name.

From Stutgardt she went to Munich. At this first visit to

that capital, in consequence of a trifling misunderstanding, she
did not sing. But returning some time after, when she paid her
duty to the Queen, her Majesty embraced her, and lavished her
goodness upon her, as if to indemnify her for the slight mis-
take that had occurred. The King was net less obliging in his
conduct to Madame Catalani, and was so good as to recommend
her to the friendship of his daughter the Empress of Austria.
Furnished with \thisepowerful recommendation, M: dame Ca-
talani went to Vienna, where she met with prodigious success.
To give an idea of it, without overstepping the bounds of that
reserve which we have prescribed to ourselves, it will be suffi-
cient to cite the following facts :—At each of her concerts, the
great room of the Redoubt was filled to excess, though the price
of admission was very high ; the room contains three thousand
persons. She also obtained the favour of the whole Imperial
Court, and his Majesty the Emperor made her a present of a
superb ornamental of opal, enriched with diamonds. The poor
shared her success, and blessed the benevolence of her heart.
The Magistracy of the city testified at once their own admira-
tion and the public gratitude, by causing to be struck, expressly
for her, a medal which bears the most honourable inscription.

For a long time pressing invitations called for Mad. Cateload
in Russia, where the brilliancy of her reputation had excited an
impatient desire to hear her. On leaving Austria, she made
the journey to St. Petersburg, where she commenced with a
concert, the tickets for which were fixed at twenty-five roubles.
Such was the impression she made, that the room could not
contain the crowds of persons which came to thesucceeding con-
certs, and every evening several hundreds were disappointed of
places. At length, she chose for the scene of her concluding
concert the public exchange ; and more than four thousand per-
sons were present. Always the patroness of the poor, Madame
Catalani determined that the large receipts of this evening
should be devoted to the wants of two hundred unfortunate
families in St. Petersburg. When, after this, she took leave of
the Empresses, their Majesties condescended to embrace her,
giving her assurances of the interest with which the pre-emi-
nence of her talents, and the excellence-of her conduct, had in-
spired them. The reigning Empress made her presents of a
pair of gold ear-rings, and a diamond necklace. The Emperor
Alexander was not less generous ; in the presence of his whole
Court he graciously kissed her hands, thanking her for the good
acts he had done, and presenting her with a magnificent girdle
of brilliants.

Madame Catalani remained four months in Russia, and in
that space of time the concerts which she gave, as well in the
capital as at Riga, at Moscow, and at Wilna, produced her, all
expences paid, more than fifteen thousand guineas, exclusive of
presents of great value. The liberality with which the Russian
nobility encourage the fine arts is well known, and the follow-
ing is a new testimonial :—When Madame Catalani went from
Moscow to Warsaw, she found QA her arrival at this latter city,-
a letter from the principal Muscovite nobles, in which they
offered to secure to her 240,000 roubles (about ten thousand
guineas), if, during the winter, she would come and give ten
concerts in their ancient capital. Fearing that her health would
not bear the severity of the climate, she was compelled to de-
cline this offer, advantageous as it was, and for which she con-
veyed an answer in terms at once of gratitude and regret.
Besides the capitals we have named above, Madame Catalani
has sung in fifty or sixty populous towns of Germany and
Italy ; and every where the most august personages, as well
as the public at large, have shewn her, by brilliant favours,
that their esteem for her personal conduct and beneficent dispo-
sition, equalled their admiration for the wonders of her talent.
—lt may be said, that her success, and the distinctions with
which she has been honoured at all Courts, have hitherto been,
and will probably remain, without a parallel.
Madame Catalani bad entertained, for some months past, the
project of renouncing all public singing, and of effecting a com-
plete retirement. With this idea, she has refused considerable
Slllll3 which have been offered by several of the Courts of Eu-
rope, upon condition of undertaking the direction of an Italian
Theatre. A sovereign Prince had even announced, that if she
would consent, he would build a new theatre for her use. The
sole motive which has led her to defer the execution of her
project was her desire to behold England a second time, and
let it again hear her voice, now in greater vigour than ever ; to
enjoy, in a word, a second time, that illustrious and powerful
patronage under which she acquired her first celebrity, and those
fervent national plaudits of which the recollection flatters her
pride, and continually renews her gratitude.
31adame Catalani is at presentat Bath. She proposes making
a tour in Great Britain and Ireland, and rev4Aung London,
next spring.

We received at a late hour this day the French
Papers of Monday, the contents of which are of
considerable importance relative to the negocia-
tions carried on with the Ottoman Porte by the
Ministers of England and Austria to prevent a
rupture between Turkey and Russia. It is as-
serted that these two diplomatists have succeeded
in settling the principal points demanded by
Russia. One of the conditions most insisted on
by the Russian Cabinet is a guarantee for the
civil and religious existence of the Greeks ; this
existence can never be sufficiently maintained by
treaties only, because recent events at Bucha-
rest have sliel,vn that the Turks do not
consider themselves bound to keep faith with
unbelievers; and Russia in consequence de-
mands a material guarantee for the execution
of this important article, which object can
be accomplished only by stationary Christian
garrisons in the most important fortresses in dif-
ferent parts of European Turkey, to secure the
execution of the treaties which may be contract-
ed, and to assist the Greeks in case any of the
stipulations in their favour should be violated.—
The Ministers of Austria and England have
supported these propositions; and it is suggested
that Russian, Austrian, and English troops
should garrison All the fortresses in the Pelopon-,

nesus except Tripolizza and Navarina) and that
Durazzo, Salonica, Widdin, and Belgrade
should in like manner be occupied. The result
of this negociation is still doubtful, nor is it pro-
bable the Porte will make these concessions) be-
cause it is accustomed to look Upon, every con-
blvicm .to the Christian Powers 'rather as a vo-
. •
luntary act of generosity than a proof of its ina-
bility to resist the demand. The report of the
evacuation of Moldavia and Walachia , by
the Turkish troops is false : on the con-
trary, it seems the Pacha commanding the
troops in those provinces still retains his
former positions. The evacuation of these prin-
cipalities, it will be recollected, was one of the
conditions particularly insisted on by the Russian
Cabinet in its last note to the Porte; and the con-
tinuance ofthe Turkish troops in them, and the
march of additional troops to the same quarter,
renders it probable that the GRAND SEIGNOR
has no intention of complying with the de-
mands of the Allied Powers. Ills conces-
sion of them would, in fact, amount to a
virtual abandonment of his authority over the
Greek Provinces, and prove the cause of endless
disputes with the guaranteeing Powers. The
Friend of the King, a Brussels Paper, contains an
article on the negociations between England and
France respecting the affairs of Turkey, which is
rather interesting, but which the lateness of the
hour prevents us from inserting : " England has
proposed," it says, " to maintain the integrity of
the possessions of Turkey in Europe, except the
two Principalities of Walachia and Moldavia,
which shall be ceded to Russia, and also ex-
cept certain districts of Croatia and Bosnia,
to be taken possession of by Austria. On
the other hand, Russia is to give up part
of Poland as an indemnity to those Princes
who shall alienate some of their posses-
sions. England, it adds, has no other object
than to maintain in Europe a real and not a no-
minal equilibrium between the preponderating
powers. This Memoir, delivered by the Duke of
WELLINGTON, is a chef d'auvre of justice and po

licy and reflects the greatest honour on its authors.',
The Memoir thi.tn enters into a variety of argu-
ments to prove that there was no other way of
assisting the Greeks without destroying the ba-
lance of power in Europe, and aggrandizing the
colossal strength of Russia, which would render
her still more formidable than she now is to the
independence of Europe.

The subscriptions for Sir ROBERT WILSON
now amount to above 4,0001. The Morning
Paper which announces this, in the same column
indulges the hope that the straggling Greeks
cannot fail to gain friends, now that they
are giving proofs of their power to the world;
and observes, that the aid they will derive from
Europe, in arms, money, and experienced offi-
cers, will be of signal advantage to them. What
a reproach is this to the Noble Lords, and other
staunch advocates of Civil and Religious Liberty
throughout the world, who are so prominently
put forward as the patrons of the subscriptions
for Sir ROBERT WILSON ! Are their purses
never opened but for individuals who have suf-
fered in their service, in the cause, not of Civil
and Religious Liberty, but of 'Whig-radicalism
in England ? Have the Greeks no claim upon
the advocates for universal freedom; or are their
notions of the universal confined to their own
political party at home, and their ideas of liberty
realized in the licentiousness and rancour of their

opposition to their own Government ?

A Morning Paper, with strange inconsistency,
attributes the disturbances in Ireland to " a bad
Government ;" and, afterwards, in the same
column, to " the grand secret," the " master
grievance," the " curse entailed on Ireland by
the old policy, of Great Britain," viz. the absence
of the great land-owners from their estates. And
what has the conduct of the absentee landlords
to do with the old or present policy of Great
Britain Y Why, the very writer, who has made
the charge, tells us, in the same article, that so
long ago as, " in the beginning of the reign of
King Iticiunn the SECOND, the State of England
began to think about the recovery of Ireland.
For then was the first statute made against absen-
tees, commanding all such as had laud in Ireland to
return and reside thereon, upon pain to forfeit two-

thirds of the profit thereof !" The old policy of
Great Britain, therefore, has been clearly directed
to the redressing of this master grievance. If, as
we believe, the absence of the land-owners be
the real source of most of the calamities which
prevail is the Sister Island, how are they to be
induced to reside upon their estates ? That is
the real question ; and it is a question of very
difficult solution. Is the old policy to be re-
vived, and a forfeiture of two-thirds of their ren-
tals to be imposed upon the absentees ? Are
they to be compelled to reside so many months in

the year upon their Irish estates, or so rgany years
in every given period ? Are they to be heavily
taxed during their absence, and fined if their
absence exceed the period to be allowed.hy laces
or are they to forfeit- their estates entirely ? Is
Government to be empowered to enforce some
One of 'these tigArous, th;iugh. perhaps necessary
regulations I—No one, surely, will contend that
the Irish land-owners should in this,or any other
respect, be placed under the controul of severe
laws, which do not operate also upon the laird-
owners of England and. Scotland. If you compel
the Irish landlords to reside upon their estates,
it is but just that you should compel the fug'
lish and Scotch landlords to do the • same. It
is not a good reason against the universality of
the measure to say that the English and Scotch
landlords already spend a great portion of their
time, voluntarily, upon their properties. If they
do so voluntarily, there will be the less hardship
in subjecting them to a law which only renders
that which they are almost all willing to perform,

legally obligatory upon the whole of them. But

will the land owners of the United Kingdom, by
their votes in Parliament, impose upon them-
selves such a law ? Is it consistent with the
habits of personal freedom, to which the`natitro
of society in this country, and all our institu-
lions, have given birth ? Is there any one
class of the people, from the labourers on the
highways up to the great manufacturers and mer-
chants of the country, who would willingly sub'
mit to this arbitrary restraint? IVe apprehend
not ; and therefore we fear that a legislative
medy cannot easily be found for the principal
evils under which Ireland groans. There is ne
class of persons in this country who are coo'
pelted, by law, to reside in unchangeable situa-
tions, except vagrants, who are subject to
punishment if found out of their respective
parishes ; and even as regards them, the
wisdom and justice of the principle on which
the statutes of vagrancy are founded have'
been much questioned.—But whether a remedy
can be obtained for the grievances of Ireland or
not, it is obviously both unjust and absurd to
charge her calamities upon the British Govern-
ment, or upon the " wretched adminidration 01
the laws." The existing laws do not reach the
source a the evil. Are the laws against. Bank
forgery in England wretchedly administered ?
Have there not been complaints, rather, of the
unrelenting rigour of their execution ? If the'
mere administration of the most severe laws could'
have prevented the crime of forgery, we should'.
soon have an end to the prosecutions for that
offence. But the laws could not remove the
motiveg to the comtnission of forgery, cook, net
remove the cause of the crime ; and therefore it
continued to be perpetrated notwithstanding the
severity with which it was punished.

EXTRACTS FROM TILE LAST AMERICAN PAPER.
Accounts from Laguira of the Ist Sept. state,
that three Spanish vessels, richly laden, ran in,
ignorant of Laguira being in possession of the
Patriots, and were made prizes, after which La-
guira was blockaded by a Spanish squadron of
one frigate, one brig, and three schooners.
Accounts from Santa Martha state, that Gen•
DEVEREUX is at Santa Fe, where he was re-
ceived with the most flattering cordiality both
by the inhabitants and the Government in ge"
neral.

PHILADELPHIA, SEPT. 14.—The British sloop
of war Bann, Captain PRICE, arrived at this port
yesterday from Jamaica and Havannah.
learn that a piratical schooner was cruizing of
Cape Saint Antonio, and had boarded the British
brig Alligator, and plundered her of every thing;
the brig was afterwards cast away.
Baltimore and Boston are the only two ports
so far as yet ascertained, that have escaped the
severity of the late storm.--(. atimore
graph, Sept. 21.)
NORFOLK, SEPT. 6.—We are informed tha

the destruction in the country,
_in the director'
of Mons and London Bridges, even to the seg
coast, is immense, including houses, 'DWI.?
bridges, stock, corn, &c. it is also said ttia.
ti
London Bridge is swept away by the torrent.
The roads are almost impassable, even on horse'
back ; the crops are laid low, and the country'
exhibits one scene of wide spread desolatiou
and ruin.

NORFOLK, SEPT. S.--We learn from some °
the counties 'above us, that much injury has bee°
done to many of the low ground fields of i°4
bacco and corn by the late heavy rains ; in saT:
instances entire fields have been covered by
overflowing of the waters. It is thought that
the pre sat wet weather, after so long a drout-I,ll'/
will benefit considerably the latter corn, and like'
wise forward the growth of tobacco.

[From the Charleston Gazette of Bth Sept.l
SIEGE op LIMA.---We advise our readers t°
speak to this story, as it comes in a very cluesd
tionable shape. SAN 111AnTrN's forces were re"
presented sometime ago, by intelligence fr°lll.
Jamaica and other channels of South Amer'"
an news, as not exceeding 5,000 men. If
has raised his army even to 10,000, and
tempts the siege of Lima, we doubt him sue'
cess, because the Viceroy SERNA is tl:e choice,
of the people, and the city itself is uncommon
strong and Opulous. SAN MARTEN was, DC;
cording to his own proclamation, the liberator 0:
Peru since August, 1820, and now we find thB:.,
the capital defies his forces, though united wit'',
Lord COCHRANE, in June, IE2I. The fact I‘l
embellishments are so common in South Ano'
ricaa news, that we find it difficult to dist-oler
the truth.