The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-02 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.
An English version of Cimarosa's chef d'aucre,
Il Matrimonio Segreto, was produced at this theatre
last evening, under the title of The Secret Marriage.
When this opera, the plot of which is taken from the
comedy of the Clandestine Marriage, was first pro-
duced at Vienna some sixty years since, the Emperor
Joseph, who was present, was so pleased that he
ordered the immediate repetition or the opera the
same evening, after he had given the actors a good
supper to recruit their strength. The audience last
evening seemed to be as delighted as the Emperor
had been, and testified their delight in much the same
sort of manner, with the exception of the supper,
with this difference, however, that whereas the Empe-
ror commanded the repetition of the opera as a whole,
they commanded its repetition piece-meal, by encor-
ing almost every piece of music in the composition.
We were delighted to see the manner in which this
truly classical composition was executed by English
artists, and received by an English audience. Its suc-
cess, which was most brilliant, was entirely owing to
the intrinsic merits of the composition itelf, and the
manner in which those merits were developed by the
artists. There are no choruses, no dances, no proces-
tions, no scenery. The action is carried on
in a drawing-room, and six persons consti-
tute the whole of the dramatis persona, and
yet, in the absence of all those ad captandum ad-
ditamenta, on which we have been wont heretofore to
consider that the success of an opera mainly de-
pended, a Covent-garden audience, thanks to the im-
proved taste of the English musical public, received
the Matrimonio Segreto with all the enthusiasm with
which a Roman audience would have received this,
the most exquisite work of their favourite composer.
It is easy throughout this opera to recognise the hand
of the maestro whose style Rossini has chosen for his
model, and he could not have made a better choice.
The Matrimonio Segreto is the perfection of comic
opera composition, and as long as opera buffa is appre-
ciated, so long will the Matrimonio Segreto retain its sta-
tion. The following was the cast ofthe opera :—Carolina
(the Fanny Stirling of the original comedy), Miss
Adelaide Kemble ; Fidalma (Mrs. Heidelberg), Mrs.
Alfred Shaw; Elisetta (Miss Stirling), Miss Rain-
forth; Signor Geronimo (Old Stirling), Mr. Giubi-
lei ; Count Montoni (Sir John Melvil), Mr. Leffler ;
Paolino (Lovel), Mr. W. Harrison. With such a
cast it is needless to say that every justice was done
to the opera, both in a musical and dramatic sense.
The quarrelling terzetto in the first act between
Carolina, Elisetta, and Fidalma, was sung and acted,
admirably, and elicited shouts of laughter and ap-
plause. This was encored as well as the rondo by
Fidalma immediately at its conclusion. In the
scene in which Montoni announces to Carolina
that she is the object of his attachment, and
not Elisetta, Miss Kemble introduced an air
of Pftesiellais, " When a lad for love is sueing,"
which she sang with excellent taste and effect,
and which was of course loudly encored. Her shake
at the conclusion of this air is one of the most aston-
ishing performances of the sort we have ever heard.
Her acting, too, was full of espieglerie : nothing could
surpass the assumed simplicity of her manner to the
Count while addressing him in the words of this song.
Mrs. Alfred Shaw, as Fidalma, was first-rate. She
succeeded most effectually in making herself appear
the antiquated maiden aunt. It is needless to say
that the music of the part received every justice at
her hands. Both Miss Kemble and Mrs. Alfred Shaw
were admirably supported by Miss Rainforth, as Eli-
setta. Of these three ladies it is hard to say to which
to award the palm. Guibilei, as the deaf old
Ge-
ronimo, was exquisitely comic—just what a primo
buffo ought to be. The finale of the first act, and the
opening duet of the second, were given with great
gusto. The latter duet, between him and Leffler
(the scene in which he proposes to transfer his af-
fections from one daughter to the other), was encored.
He was admirably supported by Leffler, who com-
pletely entered into the spirit of his part, and seemed
thoroughly to enjoy it. Harrison's Paolino, although
a manifest improvement on his former attempts at
Italian music, was yet somewhat deficient in refine-
ment, and at times wanting in power. At the fall of
the curtain, the calls for the whole of the dramatis
persona were vociferous, and they accordingly made
their appearance, Harrison leading on Miss Kemble,
Leffler Miss Rainforth, and Guibilei Mrs. Alfred
Shaw. The house was crowded to excess long before
the rising of the curtain. At a quarter to seven
o'clock there was no standing room in the pit.
A new comic drama, entitled the Turf, from the
pen of Mr. Mark Lemon, was produced at this theatre,
on Monday, and was fully successful. The whole plot
turns upon one of those tricks which are practised in
manifold ways on the Derby day. The leading cha-
racter is Clovis Culpepper (Mr. Bartley), late grocer
in the Barbican, who, having received a legacy, re.
tires with his wife (Mrs. Hamby) to the fashionable
quarters of Montagu-place, Russell-square. Here
Culpepper determines to start for a gentleman, and
having made acquaintance with a Captain Flatooker
(Mr. Walter Lacy), a lounger about Tattersall's, is
led, on the Derby day, to book some thousands on the
favourite horse, 'Woodman, the property of Squire
Warren (Mr: F. Matthew's). 'Flatooker had tried
in vain, on account of his reputation, to
to be accepted by Squire Warren's daughter (Miss
Lee) ; and he now uses Culpepper for the double
purpose of making money and gaining a character.
Of course the grocer loses his cash, and, worst of all,
Squire Warren, who has upheld the turf like a true
country gentleman for the. encouragement of sport, is
ruined by his bets. The trainer's uneasy conscience,
and the hints of the jockey, John Trusty (Mr. Ridg-
way), betray the secret. The Captain offers to gua-
rantee all the losings if he can but carry off the daugh-
ter ; the Squire rejects all such base offers, and sifts
the whole to the foundation. The sharpers, to raise
money on the pinch, have induced Culpepper to make
a compromise, by paying 3,0001. in a cheque, with
which they are about to " bolt" to France, when it is
discovered that Clovis Culpepper is not entitled to the
legacy, that a stop is placed upon the money, at his
bankers, and the " biters" are regularly " bit. The
piece not only carried with it a good moral, but was
sharp and witty in its dialogue, and was throughout
excellently acted. The house was very full, and it
was announced for repetition amid hearty applause.

MISS HARRIET MARTINEAU.
Yesterday evening a Meeting was held at the South
London Hall of Science,Blackfriars-road, for the pur-
pose of testifying the public admiration of the conduct
of Miss Martineau in refusing the pension offered her
by the late Whig Administration. The large hall and
galleries were crowded to excess, and amongst the au-
dience we observed a number of elegantly dressed
females.
Colonel THOMPSON took the Chair shortly after
eight o'clock, and in an eloquent address, commented
upon the services rendered by Miss Martineau to her
humbler countrymen, and also upon her glorious
struggle in the slavery abolition cause in America.
He then proceeded to say that her line of conduct was
a bold one for a woman—it was a startling doctrine to
corrupt legislators and aristocratic pensioners to say
that no person was entitled to receive donations from
the public purse until those from whom the money
was drawn had a fair share in the nomination of the
donors. When the full light of freedom which was
now dawning upon England shone forth in mid-day
brightness they should never forget that Miss Marti-
neau was one of the principal agents in effecting the
glorious consummation.—(Loud cheers.) He should
conclude by introducing to the meeting a lady who
would propose the first resolution.
Mrs. CHAPPELGATE here came forward, and was
received with loud and long-continued cheering. She
said that, although upon some points, such as the New
Poor-laws, and others of minor importance, she
differed from the respected and talented lady whom
they were met that evening to honour, yet none held
in higher estimation her efforts in the cause of rational
liberty, or the talent and high moral feeling by which
she was so pre-eminently distinguished, than she did.
After an eloquent discourse, Mrs. Chappelgate con-
cluded by moving the following resolution :—" That
this meeting highly appreciates the conduct of Miss
Martineau, in refusing the lately proffered pension,
although there has been rarely an instance where the
Royal bounty has been so well bestowed."
Mr. SMITII seconded the resolution, which was
passed with much acclamation.
Mr. DUNCAN proposed the next resolution, which
was to the fellowing effect:—That it was the opinion
of the meeting that the answer of Miss Martineau to
the offer made by the late Government involved a
deep principle, since, if the people were properly re-
presented, any act of the Executive would be that of
the public—and was seconded by Mrs. MARTIN.
This resolution was also adopted.
A vote of thanks having been passed unanimously
to the Gallant) Chairman, the meeting separated
shortly afterwards.

SALE. OF PART OF THE DUKE OF BEAUFORT'S
STULL—The Duke of Beaufort having determined to
reduce his extensive hunting and racing establish-
ment after the Newmarket meeting, a large draft of
his Grace's stud was brought up from the paddocks
at Badminton, and sold by auction, yesterday, at Tat-
tersall's, We subjoin the prices of some of the prin-
cipal lots. There was litt;e competition, and the
horses generally were knocked down at low prices.
The highest sum realised by one animal was his
Grace's valuable hunter Masquerade, which fetched
125 guineas ; Assassin, thorough bred, was sold for
96 guineas ; Anspach, 41 ; Itetamosa, 97 ; Hotspur,
by Percy, 70; Bavadere 33; Lovely, 27; Sweet-
meat, 24 ; Mare bj Percy, darn by Sultan, 15 ; Cor-
sair, hunter; 20; Jasper, 46, lately ridden by the
Marquis of IVorcester ; Fantastic, by Percy, was
knocked down at the 10W price of six guineas. His
Grace s thorough .bred horses the Abbess, Young
moderatellrstood,
i n
thdess ss, t
ipßur
tenoei
prices.
et e Pep
t, Delicate
h.Nis
osbpi Daphne, &c., realised
lee 1-)(l'il(l.ll';uijittiiri.sgun
stud, at BadmintoL, but on a le§s extensive scale.