The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-24 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

An unusually large audience assembled last night at this
theatre to witness the performances of Rubini and Persiani in
the attractive opera of I Puritani. Besides these eminent
vocalists, there were Roneoni and Lablache, the former of whom
assumed the part hitherto played by Tamburini ; so that the
opera was cast in a first-rate manner, and was applauded
throughout with the utmost enthusiasm. Persiani, in the com-
paratively inferior character of Elvira, sang with all her wonted
skill and sweetness, and gave the polacca, " Son vergin vezzosa,"
with graces such as no other vocalist can attempt with such
daring originality. Rubini in Arturo achieved one of his most
splendid triumphs, and was encored in almost every one of his
airs, more especially in those wherein tenderness was to be ex-
pressed. Lablache was excellent as Sir Giorgio, and Ronconi
imputed to Riccardo all the niceties of expression which ren-
dered it so attractive in the hands of hi, predecessor. At the
close of the opera all the chief performers were called for by
the audience, and made their bow, and retired amid enthu-
siastic acclamations. It is a long time since I Puritani has
been so admirably cast as it was last night. The ballet
which succeeded, Alma, eta Let File du Feu, is
the best that has been produced for many seasons.
There is nothing weak about it—there is no appearance of
vamping up ; all is fresh, new, and glittering, and it seems the
inventor of the ballet (M. Deshayes), the inventors of the pas
(Cerito and Perrot), the scene-painter (Grieve), and the com-
poser (Costa), had all set their very superior wits together to
produce a work that should be perfectly complete inaits kind.
The curtain rises on the palace of fire, a magnificent scene,
glowing with, crimson, while crimson fiends are performing
"fantastic tricks," not " before high Heaven," but in the face
of a different prospect. Belfegor, their king, endows a stalue
ith life, and that the statue may have life, par excellence, that
it may not vegetate in a mere torpid existence, that it may burst
forth into all the fulness of youth and joy, it becomes Cerito.
She is endowed with the power of fascinating all who see her.
But there is an awkward condition. If she falls in love with
any one, in return she is again to become a statue. Thus pro-
vided, she is sent on her trials, under the charge of Perephite,
cleverly acted by Perrot. The first place they come to is a
German town, which " Bohemiens" are forbid to enter. Cerito
and Perrot came under this vagabond denomination; but who
shall repel Cerito? The burgomaster may scowl, a glance
from Cerito renders the law a dead letter, the very inscription
of the regulations on a board becomes effaced, and leaves the
board blank. But she is not satisfied with a mere entrance
into the town, the daughters of the citizens must be lured into
a dance with the two supernaturals. Perrot twirls round,
one arter another, Mademoiselles Camille, Bernard, and
Galby, but they are half unwilling. Cerito is needed to
encourage them.. Quietly does she go through the waltz step,
there is a calm resolution in her glance—she has determined
on victory. But the dance has its effect on herself—she warms
into it; she becomes energetic, and fresh fire is infused into
her at every blow which Perrot strikes on her tambourine.
The girls become delighted, the dance leads them on, and thus
is formed the pulse de fascination. On they go ! There must
be no pause. A brilliant saloon in Fiance is ready to receive
them—one of the most superb ball scenes ever introduced on
a stage, brilliantly illumined with gas in every part. The
pas de trois by Cerito, Cami le, and M. Desplaces was ad-
mirable. There seemed to be no limit to the number of ele-
gant attitudes into which Cerito dropped, sometimes supported
by M. Desplaces, and sometimes appearing balanced in air.
There is a certain look of Cerito in these slow movements, a
certain tenderness of expression, that gives them a character
that is attained by no other danseuse whatever. M. Desplaces
is a very excellent male dancer. He is perfectly unassuming,
he does not attempt too much, but seems aware that dancers of
the fair sex are the chief objects of attraction. Every group in
the slow movement of this pas de trois told well, and met with
marked app'ause. Of course it was followed by a quick move-
ment, and Cerito raised fresh acclamations by one of her bril-
liant revolving steps. The travellers move on to the city of
Grenada, whither theT are followed by an exiled Moorish
Prince, who has seen Cerito throughout her progress, and has
become desperately enamoured of her. She dances a pas
Espagnot before the Spanish King, with a light merriment
which increases to the highest joyousness. The lover,dethrones
the Spaniard, becomes King of Grenada, offers Cerito his
throne, when she consents to accept it, and therefore becomes
petrified once more into marble. The ballet was remarkably
successful, and Cerito and Deshayes were called before the cur-
tain to receive the congratulations of the audience.

-- -
BUCKINGHAM PALACE.—The strictest
iteprecautiors
are now taken to guard against the intrusion of i roper pi r-
sons by the Commissi-ners of Police, and also by the authori-
ties at the Palace. At 10 p.m., when the livery porters go off
duty at the lodges, a night porter relieves them, and remains at
his post until morning. A strong party of the A division of
Police is always on duty in the interior of the Palace during
the night, and patrol the corridors, colonnades, &c., and one
police constable in plain clothes, exclusive of one in uniform,
is always in attendance during the day at the tradesmen's en-
trance, in Pimlico, to watch the egress and ingress of persons
at the door.
ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL.—The two presentations
to the Royal Navy, granted by the Lords of the Admiralty to
the Royal Naval School, Camberwell. will be filled up this year.
One has been accepted by the son of Lieutenant Hilby, and the
other was offered to the son of Captain Morrice, but hi conse.
querce of the boy's youth it was declined by the father. These
presentations will be continued every year, and will no doubt
prove a great incentive to4he pupils of the school, in inducing
them to apPtay closely to those studies which qualify them for
the distinction.

SUICIDES IN LUNATIC HOSPlTALS.—Respecting
the rarity of suicides in public asylums, it is worth mentioning
that cut of 4,216 lunatics received into Bethlehem Hospital,
from the 31st December, 1822, to the Ist June, 1842, five in.
stances of the kind have occurred, or rne suicide in 843 insane
persons ; whilst half the patients admitted, were discharged
cured, aEd only 215 deaths are reported, or within a fraction of
5 per cent. '1 hese facts speak volumes in favour of Bethlehem
Hospital ; and if similar results are met wi'h at other lunatic
establishments, there cannot be any question as to the benefits
conferred upon the insane, by public institutions appropriated
solely for their receptitm anti curative treatment.—lifedical
Gazette.

In the reign of henry VIII. it was enacted, that
in order to prevent the extension of 4. poysonage," persons
guilty of the offence should be " boyled to deth."