The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-06 00:00:00

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

were cro,

We attended the other day at this institution, in order to
bear the musical. lectures which. lir. Born—the celebrated
composer—is now giving. there. Unquestionably these lec-
tures form the most attractive feature of the institution, and,
if followed up with spirit and perseverance, bid fair to obtain
extensive popularity, and draw .numerous and fashionable
audiences. • But surely the proprietors of the Polytechnic
are not acting with their usual judgment -in changing`the
subjects of the lectures once e Week'! They -should allow
each lecture to be: continued for at I.east.a month, so.that the
public may have •sufficient•time •to become, acquainted with
its peculiar merits. - When we last heard Mr. 'Horn, the
subject on which he was expatiating was American music,
more especially that of the negroes in the southern slave
'states of Yankee-land. The subject was evidently new to
the majority of the audience, who listened with the deepest
attention ; and we shall not soon forget the impression which
the lecturer produced by the exquisitely simple and pathetic
manner in which he sang the air, " O'er the lake, and by
the willow," and' the hearty and 'cordial spirit which he
threw into another favourite negro song, entitled the "Ohio.".
Such a lecture, containing, as it did, a world of novel and
curious infornoation—to say nothing of the beautiful melo-
dies which were interspersed throughout it—would inevita-'-
bly, had it been allowed fair play, have gained on the atten:-
tions of the public ; but before it had time to produce the
requisite impression, the proprietors directed 'some other
musical sukect to be substituted for it, greatly,, as we happen
to know, to the• surprise and vexation of many, who were
anxious to go and bear it. Mr. Horn's lectures; we repeat,
need only. to be generally known to become generally
popular; he is incomparably the best musical' lecturer we
have ever heard; and•the proprietors of the Polytechnic In-
stitution will not be consulting their best interests, if they do,
not allow each of his lectures sufficient tithe to produce an
impression on the public mind. We will venture to say that
if the subject of " American music" had been allowed a
month's run—to borrow a phrase from the theatre—it would
at the expiration of that period have become a general
favourite, =dialed the inetitAtiou to overeowing,

Madame Anna Thillon, the prima donna of the Opera
Comique at Paris, made her debut at this theatre on Thurs-
day in Auber's opera Lea Diamans de la Couronne, an Eng-
lish verson of which was produced for the occasion, under the
title of The Crown Jewels. The music is sparkling, brilliant,
and completely Anberish, and the plot is one of those strange
melo-dramatic mixtures of ruffianism and elegance, which
Auberso delights to illustrate. A young Queen of Portugal,
in order to replenish her exhausted exchequer, determines
to pawn the Crownjewels, and employs the chief of a gang of
bandits and coiners for this purpose, he at the same time un-
dertaking to manufacture false ones, to substitute in their
room.. The Queen visits the robbers at their work,
and there meets with a young Nobleman who had lost
his .way, and who fulls desperately in love with her.
She afterwards meets her lover at the house of
the Minister of Police, and the young nobleman believing
her to be a robber, is in the greatest dread, expecting every
instant to see her arrested. The espiegterie with which
Thillon gave -this scene was inimitable. She seemed quite to
revel in the agonies of poor Allen, who acted the lover. A
number of amusing incidents succeed, until at last all is ex•
plained ; and the Queen from her throne announces her de-
termination to take the young Nobleman as her consort.
The success of Madame Thillon was most complete. She had
not been on the stage ten minutes before she had become as
great a favourite with the English, as sheds with the French
audience. Her features are handsome, extremely animated,
and Very expressive. Her eyes are brilliant and playful, and
her smile is one of the most bewitching ever beheld. Her
voice is deliciously sweet, and is capable of the utmost variety
of expression. Now she melts her hearers almost
to tears by the impassioned tenderness which she
throws into a love ballad, and anon she astonishes them by
her wonderful fioriture in the clearness; neatness, and rapidity
of which she equals Persiani herself. With these advantages
it is not astonishing that Madame Thillon should be a uni-
versal favourite. Her success last night was pre-eminent,
and Mr. Maddox has added to the number of the obligations
under which the musical public of this country already are
to him, by his engagement of this very facinating and charm-
ing actress and singer. 'We are delighted, too, to hear that
although Madam* Thillon is the Prima Donna of the Opera
Comique in Paris, she is, by birth, our countrywoman.
She was a Miss Hunt. At the conclusion she made her ap-
pearance twice before the curtain, in obedience to the calls of
the audience, and was each time received with shouts of ap-
plause and showers of bouquets. The house was crowded to
the ceiling, and we have no doubt but that Madame Thillon
and The Crown Diamonds will draW similar houses as long as
her engagement lasts.

FRENCH PLAYS.
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

Mademoiselle Plessy made her first appearance for the sea-
son, on Friday, and we are sorry to see it announced that
her engagement is for a few nights only. We had hoped to
have had her amongst us for a few weeks at least. She
made her debtit last evening, in the character of Charlotte de
Merian, in Alexandre Dumas' comedy of Les Demoiselles de
Saint Cyr, which has recently been drawing all Paris to the
Theatre Francais. The scene is laid in the latter days of
Louis XIV., when Madame de Maintenon, in the height of
her power, had founded her celebrated establishment for the
education of young ladies at Saint Cyr, and when the. Duke
of Anjou, the grandson of the Grand Monarque, had been Jeft
the throne of Spain, and was about to fake possession of this
Royal legacy. The plot of the first act is laid at Saint Cyr.
Charlotte de Merian, (Mademoiselle Plessy) one ofthe pupils
of the establishment, has attracted the attention of the
Vicomte de Saint Herem, (M. Gaston), who having pro-
cured admission to Saint Cyr clandestinely is pressing his
suit with anything but honourable intentions. Charlotte,
however, has, in Louise Mauclaire (Madame Mery) a mentor,
whose shrewdness and presence of 'mind, stand much in the
way of the Vicomte's success, and, accordingly he engages
Hercule Dubouloy (M. Lienard) a rich and foolish roturier,
who is proud of being intimate with a Noble, to make love to.
Louise, while he himself pursues his, suit :with Charlotte.
Louise however outwits him. She has given information to
Madame de Maintenon, and in the midst of their protests •
tions the two gentlemen are arrested and hurried off to the
Bastile, from which they only get released by marrying the
two ladies. The Vicomte, as soon as the marriage is over,
announces to his wife his intention of settling a sufficient sum
on her, to enable her to Maintain the rank to which she has at-
tained, and of quitting her for ever. She refuses the settle-
ment ; he is, however,_ inexorable, and, accompanied by his
friend Dubouloy,. who, of course, imitates the Vicomte's ex-
ample in deserting his wife, sets out for the Court of Spain.
The third act opens at the Court of Madrid, where _Saint
Herein is the favourite of the King. A bal masque
is given : two elegant French women masked are
introduced by the French Ambassador. They attract the
notice of the King. His Majesty is evidently smitten by
them, but, being called away, commends them to the parti-
cular attention of Saint Herein and Dubouloy. They also are
fascinated by their charms; they request them to unmask,
and discover that the ladies are their wives..: The King en-
ters, and with great glee informs them that he has an
assignation with the ladies for the morrow, an announcement
which is received .with horror by the unfortunate husbands,
who are both equally anxious to know which lady is the fa-
vourite. In an interview with the Vicomte, Charlotte in-
forms him that she is no longer his wife ; that tlse Pope,
through the interest of Madame de Maintenon, exercised at
her express request, has annulled the, marriage, and that he
is free. Dubouloy, when informed Of this, concludes that he
also is free, but alas! although the noble's marriage was an-
nulled,, the plebeian's was confirmed. Charlotte is the object
of the affection's of the King. Saint Herezn's affection returns,
and eventually, of course, he is re;united to his wife, and,
accompanied by M. and Madame Dubouloy, the latter of
whom has procured for her hushand a patent of nobility,
they leave Spain to return to France, to resume their station
in society. The acting of Mademoiselle Plessy was beautiful
and appropriate throughout. She was by turns the simple-
minded, trusting, affectionate girl—the broken-hearted wife
—the polished lady of fashion, and
,the high-spirited, high-
minded woman, sensible of what was due to her station, but
willing to make any sacrifice to secure the love of her truant
husband. As a specimen of la haute comedie, the Charlotte
of Mademoiselle Plessy is entitled to hold the highest rank.
She was called for at the conclusion, and received with the
usual honours. Mademoiselle Mery, from the Lille Theatre,
made her first appearance in this country as. Louise, and
created a most favourable impression. She is very pretty,
very lively, and acted the character with a degree of playful
archness that was' quite fascinating. This young lady is a
very great acquisition to Mr. Mitchell's company. The theatre
was filled in every part ; the boxes. which were almost
exclusively occupied by the elite of the fashionable world,
,wded.

LOUIS PHILIPPE'S HISTORICAL
GALLERY.
The celebrated historical gallery at Versailles will
shortly be adorned with upwards of fifty portraits of il-
lustrious and eminent personages of this country. Mr.
George P. A. Healy, an artist in the employ of Louis
Philippe, has been some time in England, and is now at
Windsor Castle. This gentleman's instructions are
.to
copy the following :
AT WINDSOR CASTLE.—George IV. in the robes of
the Garter, by Sir T• Lawrence_; WilliamlV. in the
robes of the Garter, by Sir M. A Shee ; Frederick,
Duke of York, by Sir T. Lawrence ; Pitt, by Sir T.
Lawrence ; Fox ; Duke of Wellington, by Sir T. Law-
rence.
AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE.—George 111., by Gains-
borough • Queen Charlotte, by Gainsborough.
AT ST. JAMES'S PALACE.—The Princess Royal
(married to the Duke of Wurtemberg), by Sir T. Law-
rence'; Princess Elizabeth (married to the Prince of
Hesse Homburg), by Sir T. Lawrence ; Princess
Augusta, by Sir T. Lawrence ; Princess Mary (Duchess
of Gloucester), by Sir T. Lawrence ,• Princess Sophia,
by Sir Thomas Lawrence ; Earl St. Vincent, by Sir J.
Reynolds ; Lord Nelson.
AT HAMPTON COURT.—The Duke of Marlborough.
IN THE POSSESSION OF SIR R. PEEL.---The Earl of
Liverpool, by Sir T. Lawrence ; the Earl of Aberdeen,
by Sir T. Lawrence. _ .

"The portraits of her Majesty and Prince Albert, by
Winterhalter, are already placed in the King's Gallery,
at Versailles.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—LuciIe• Gratin's appear-
ance in the Revolt of the Ilareni is postponed until Wed-
nesday 'for additional rehearsals. Harrison's benefit, on
Thursday next, presents the most attractive bill of the
the whole season—for Salvi, Inchindi, Mesdames Castel-
lon, Dorus Gras, and numerous other artistes make
their appearance.
OLvidric.—Mr. E. L. Blanchard,.. the author of
many successful pieces peculiar to this theatre, takes a
benefit, we perceive, this evening at the above theatre.
Mr. Blanchard is a young man of great talent, and
risingrapidly in public estimation. He is the son of the
late Mr. Blanchard, the well-known comedian, who, for
many years, was a member of the Covent-garden com-
pany during the management of Mr. Harris and the
Kembles, The bill of fare consists of three pieces, writ-
ten by himself one of which (The Road of Life) has
had a successful run this season of upwards of 100 nights.
We heartily
.wish him that success to which his merits
so justly entitle him.
ehss KELLY'S THEATRE.---This little theatre was
on Friday put in requisition for the,benefit of the charitable
fund for the unemployed needlewomen. Tobin's comedy of
the Honeymoon, and the afterpiece of Charles IL, acted by
a party pi' amateur members of the Middle Temple, formed
the entertainments of the evening. The house was
and, we hope, productively attended. The gentlemen per-
formers afforded -much amusement to their auditors, who
called for them all respectively, and rewarded their benevo-
lent exertions with at least a basket-full of bouquets.
The convict Henry Jones, who saved 'the lives of
the two men at Devonport, was liberated on Thursday,
having received a free pardon from her Majesty.
SUDDEN DEATH IN THE STREET.—An inquest
was on Thursday held by Mr. Higgs, at St. George's Hospital,
eet, ee whileeuveen every
y in
on the body of James Haynes, aged 28. Deeeased was a cad
to the cab rank in St. James's• street, and on Monday night
lafs x
health,goo h
good speirsiutds,deaanidy afeplplardeonwthly
on
nn thethe enjoyment
pavement
insensible. He was removed to the above-named hospital,
where
exertion was made $o restore him, but he never
and ..died at about eleven o'cloek the same night.
I Xatigal death." •