The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-03 00:00:00

THE ITALIAN OPERA.

Il Barbiere de Sivigla was repeated on Saturday night
to a house equally crowded as on the Thursday, but still
more fashionably filled than on that occasion. The other
entertainments were La Vivandiere and the ballet of
Alma; the former interposed between the acts of the
opera. The audience sat out both, and remained until
the termihation
_of the performances.

Among the distinguished personages present were—
The Queen Dowager, attended by Earl Howe ; the Duke
and Duchess of Cambridge, attended by Baron Knese-
beck and •Col. Stevenson ; the Duchess of Gloucester;
the Dukes of Leeds and. Motitrose ; the Duchesses of
Leeds and Montrose ; tli6rlediquises of Ailesbury and
Huntly ;'the Marchionessenif Ailesbury, Conyngbam,
and Wellesley ; Earls Shelburne and Pembroke ; Coun-
tesses of Westmeath, Sefton, and Glengall ; Viscounts
Castlereagh and Ranelagh ; ColnitoXsterhazy ; Lords
Trimlestone, Kenmare, Emlyn, Air it; and Sandys ;
Ladies Trimlestone, Kenmare, Joddrell, Wombwell, E.
Thynne, Eleanor Balfour, Shuelttotrkh, and Seymour ;
Sirs P. Joddrell, Loftus, OtwayM:Kent, Robert Wilmot
Horton, A. Clifton, Ir. Webb, H. 'Meux, and H. Wil-
loughby ; llonourables Mr.' Itorkei Mrs. Yorke, Mrs
Dawson Darner, Mr. Baring, me Standish, Mr. Vord, &c*

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.
The season closed on Friday, when Mr. Bunn delivered
the following address :
" Ladies and Gentlemen—There are two reasons for in-
truding myself on this occasion—one is, that having on a
recent instance done me the honour to summon me before
you in a peculiarly gratifying manner, I am, like the rest of
the world, too rorid of agood thing to part with it very readily ;
the other is, that I think it much better to render an ac-
count of myself than to entrust it to any other, however elo-
quent the substitute may be. This evening terminates an
arduous and a long season ; and having in my hand a pro-
gramme of the promises held out to you at its commence-
ment, I am in a position to state that those promises have
been fulfilled, at least twice over, and I have but one promise
more to make, which is, that my speech shall not be as long
as my season. I stated my intention of producing two new
operas, and two new ballets, with the aid of the best talent I
could procure ; whereas we have produced four grand operas,
and five ballets, besides the Christmas pantomime, and nu-
merous revivals. We have introduced to your protection
some of the most distinguished artistes to be found—many
principe.Loweef our own fair island,' and many from other
lands, as that your generosity would at all times be ex-
tended to talent wherever it might be obtained.
" That geiprosity has enabled me, after many years of
management,
,to solve a question mooted long ago, whether
the national. theatres could ever be made a source of profit.
I directed them both a few years since— something on the
principle of a man riding two horses at one time. Between
ourselves they threw me; but I got up again on one of them,
and, with boundless thanks for your goodness, I have won
the race.

"It does not become tue to enter upon an argument,
taken up by others, respecting the peculiar character of the
entertainments which, have formed one principal source of
attraction. To-those who may object them, I can only reply
that the voice of public opinion has been my sole guide, and
that voice has spoken loudly in my favour; and that, more-
over, there is 'the other theatre in want of a tenant, and nu-
merousPerfbrmers anxious to be engaged in it. For myself,
I have but to say that my humble exertions to merit your
approbation, have been seconded by those of the Committee
who preside over the destinies of this theatre, in a manner
at once honourable, generous, and full of feeling—by the
performers, who, without any reluctance, have laboured
cheerfully and loyally—and by the best directed energies of
all concerned, and thut through their agency we conclude
to-night a season unparalleled in success for at least twenty
years.
" What more can I, what more need I say ? Why nothing,
but in the name of those respective parties, most sincerely to
thank you, and for myself, to assure you that my gratitude will
only end with m' life."

LYCEUM THEATRE.—The following distinguished
persons have visited this theatre during the week :—Her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of
Brunswick, Earl and Countess Bruce, Marquis of Bland-
ford, Countess Dunmore, Lord Fitzgerald, Lord Dillon,
Lady Duff, Lord Mountcharles, Lord Eliot, Lady Somer-
set, Baroness Ahlefeldt, Sir James Graham and family,
Sir Loftus'and Tsdy Otway, Sir Sydney Herbert, Vis-
count Emelyn, Lady Curtis and family, Mr. Henry and
Lady Meux, Lord Bateman, Lord Folkestone, Lord
Gardner,• Lord A. Lennox, Sir C. East, Mr. and Mrs.
Trelavrney, Hon.. Mrs. Vesey, Hon. W. Ashley, the
Swedish• Minister, Colonel Daniel, Baron Hugel,
Ricardo,-Eq., Baron Koller, Sir Robert Cunliffe,
Hon. F. OaVendish, Colonel Dixon, Captain Clarke, Mr.
Glegg, Mr. and Mrs. I3iddulph, Mr. and Mrs. S. Cox,
Littledale, Esq., Sir William Medlycott and family,
Colonel Conyers; &e.
HER MAJESTY'S MARINE RESIDENCE IN THE ISLE
of Wmirri—Netviithstanding the various statements that
have been pia forthyduring the past month, relating to the
alleged purchase of Norris Castle, as a marine residence for
the Queen, in the Isle of Wight, we are informed that, what-
ever negotiations might have ever been pending on the part
of the agent 4 the Woods and Forests awl Mr. Bell, the pro-
prietor of the estate, nothing has been finally determined upon,
and it is now expected that o,borne House will be the abode
of her Ma3esty in the island during the ensuing autumn. The
sum required byttle fthrprietor of Norris Castle for the pur-
chase of the property has been stated at 70,006/., ad amount
considered beyond its value by the party who was appointed
to negotiate with Mr. Bell. The castle oiignally cost nearly
200,0001.