The Sun.
London, England, 1828-02-04 00:00:00

KING'S THEATRE.

" Zelmira" was repeated' on Saturday night at
this Theatre. It was composed by Rossini chiefly
with a view to ingratiate himself with the Ger-
man cognoscenti, and was received at Vienna
(where it was first acted,) with applause equal
to what had ever been bestowed on the most
finished Operas of Mozart. It is not, how-
ever, very popular in Italy. Madame Pasta under-
took " Zelmira," and gave prodigious interest to
a story which would otherwise have appeared in-
sipid—even meagre. -An ingenious Sunday paper
some months since compared this lady to Mrs. Sid-
tlons. For the life of us we cannot see how this
comparison holds good. Mrs. Siddons (though
equally impassioned) was the creature of highly
finished art—dexterously concealed perhaps, but
still art—her very gait, her manner, her assump-
tion, her queenlike Majesty, were all sophis-
ticated : her acting was the poetry, not the reality
of life. Madame Pasta, on the contrary, is pure
nature, without the slightest tincture of artifice.
She trusts wholly to her impulses, and these, strange
to say, have never yet deserted her. In this respect
she resembles the late Mrs. Jordan, who was
the Pasta of comic life, Signora • Brambilla is
a young and improving actress. She does every thing
with taste, and executed two cavatinas in the second
actxith very surprising spirit. Toni was out of
his element in 80, a remark which we may extend
to Pellegrini. Curioni and Porto went through
their parts respectably—nothing more. The ballet
of " Hassan et le Calife" followed ; but, though re-
peated every night since its first appearance, does not
seem to grow much on the favour of the audience. Its
inordinate length may, perhaps, account for this.—
The house was fully and fashionably attended.

DURHAM ELECTION.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

DURHAM, FEB. 2.—What may take place at
Weymouth I will not pretend to say, but the Editor
of the Courier shows his extreme ignorance of
northern politics, when he announces—as he does
in the paper of Thursday last—that there will be
" a strong contest in the county of Durham, in con-
sequence of the elevation of Mr. Lambton to the
peerage." Nothing can be more remote from truth
than such a declaration. Mr. Russell, who, un-
questionably, is a fit and proper person, by reason of
his extensive possessions, to represent the county,
will to a certainty be Mr. Lambton's successor.
The Honourable Gentleman also, it may be ob-
served, will come in unopposed. The recollection
of the heavy expences of the Northumberland elec-
tions in 1826, necessarily deters gentlemen from
seeking honour with too much avidity, at the purse's
mouth.

Mr. Russell, from his address, seems anxious to
stand well with his constituents. He is just enter-
ing on the stage of public life ; and if, while he ad-
vocates the just rights of the people, he shows a
proper deference to the constitutional prerogatives
of the Crown, he will be exactly such a represen-
tative as has ever found favour with the freeholders
of this opulent county. It has been declared, upon
authority, that there is no truth in the report cir-
culated, that the Marquis of Cleveland and Lord
Durham had combined for the purpose of influencing
the'election of the successor of the latter in the re-
presentation of this county.
Mr. Russell, it is expected, will arrive at Brance-
peth Castle this day. On Monday he will corn.
mence his canvass, which will be conducted upon as
extensive a scale as circumstances will allow. But
as the day of election is fixed for Wednesday the
13th inst., it is manifest that great activity must be
used in making the personal acquaintance of so nu-
merous a body us the Freeholders of Durham.-

Sir Henry Hardinge having resumed his situation
as Clerk of the Ordnance, necessarily vacates his
seat for the city. He is on the whole a very popu-
lar representative, but there is always a portion of
the good citizens of Durham fond of electioneering
amusements, viz. drunkenness and dissipation. Hence
the activity of this party in sending a deputation of
freemen to Robert Duncombe Shafto, Esq. of Whit-
worth Hall, That worthy gentleman, however,
though he received the mission with all courtesy,
positively declined haying any thing to do with
Parliamentary affairs,

Next Tuesday is fixed for the City election; and
the gallant Colonel will no doubt again be honoured
as the city's delegate, to the grand council of the
nation,

The Duchess of KENT gives a grand assem-
bly to a very numerous party of the nobility and gentry
on the 15th inst. at her apartments in the King's Palace,
Kensington, previous to the marriage of the Princess
FEODORE to the Prince of HoneNtong LA pGiEN/101JR0.-
The marriage is fixed to take plane on the 18th inst. when
his MAJESTY, it is expected, will honour it with his pre-
sence to give the bride away. The ceremony will be per-
formed in the most private manner, the members of the
Royal Family only being present. Their Serene high-
nesses will leave England immediately after.

The Duchess of CLARENCE, the Princess
Emu.= of Carolath, and the Prince of Hourtitone. LAU-
arsßoußc, attended divine service at the Royal German
chapel, St. James's Palace, yesterday.

Divine service was performed yesterday before
the Duchess of KENT and the Princesses VICTORIA and
FEADORE, in the private chapel, Kensington Palace.

Prince LEOPOLD left town on Friday for his
seat at Claremont.

A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign
Office, Downing-street, about one o'clock on Saturday
afternoon, which was attended by the Duke of Wrl.Lptu-
Toil, Earls BATHURST, DUDLEY*, and ABERDEEN, ViSCODDrB
PALIHERSTON and MELvit.r.E, Lord ELLENBOROUGH, Mr.
Secretary PEEL, Mr. Secretary HustassoN, the CHAN-
CF.LI,OR of the EXCHEQUER, Mr. C. GaANT, and Mr.
HERR rES. The LORD CHANCELLOR joined his colleagues
some time after they bad assetnb/A. The Ministers sat
in deliberation till half-past three o'clock. After the breaking-
up of the Cabinet, the Duke of WELLINGTON forwarded
the result of the deliberations to his MAJESTY at the Royal
Lodge, Windsor-park.

Mr. HERMES came to town on Saturday
morning from his seat at Montreal, for the purpose of at-
tending the Cabinet Council.

Mr. HusictssoN, after attending the Cabinet
Council, proceeded to his residence in Somerset-place, and
After partaking of an early dinner, left town about five
o'clock in his carriage and four for Liverpool. Mr. WA IN-
waroliT, secretary to the members for Liverpool, accom-
panied the Right Hon. Gentleman, Mr. flusKissorr was
expected to proceed to were lie was to sleep,
and would leave there at an early hour yesterday morning
for
r.
where the Right Hon. Gentleman, it was
calculated,
would arrive late at night, to avoid the fatigue
Liverpool,
of a public reception. -

. The Bishop of LLANDAFF transacted business
on Saturday at the Home Office,
Mr. iigitrtt Es and Mr. DAWSON transacted
business with the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER on
Saturday, at his residence in Downing-street.

Prince ESTERHAZY, the Austrian Ambassa-
dor, had an interview with Earl DUDLEY, on Saturday, at
the Foreign Office, Downing-strut.

Sir ALEX. GRANT gave a grand dinner on
Friday at his residence in Privy-gardens. Mr. Secretary
Pair, the SPaAxER of the Housr of Commotis, and Lord
&tor, were of the party.

The JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL transact-
ed business on Saturday at the Foreign Office, Downing-
street.

Mr. HERRIES left town yesterday morning for