The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-19 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

The Marriage of Figaro was performed for the
first time this season on Saturday night. The only pro-
minent change in the cast was, that Giubilei took the
part of Almaviva ; and, as far as regards the music,
acquitted himself well. He executed the difficult
scena in the opening of the second act very satisfac-
torily, and his voice in the concerted music harmo-
nised well with the others. The two principal females
of the opera were represented by Miss A. Kemble
and Miss Rainforth. The former has quite recovered
from her indisposition, and certainly never sang bet-
ter. Her deportment, however, is defective : it is to-
tally devoid of elegance—more so than last season,
and in many instances was below that degree of re-
finement which ought to belong to Susannah. Su-
sannah, it is true, is a lady's maid, but she ought to be
a lady-like lady's maid, and not quite so coarse a per-
sonage as Miss A. Kemble sometimes made her. If
the manners of a domestic are to be assumed, is ought to
be apparent they are assumed. This is only a mistake,
because Miss . Kemble's habits and education have
been such as to qualify her to fill characters of the
highest rank in society. Her execution of the music
is quite unequalled on the English stage, and if we do
not include the Italian, it is out of deference and ad-
miration for such artistes as Grisi and Persiani. Miss
A. Kemble must be content with being considered
our finest English singer. We must tell her also that
she has a little affectation of speaking with a foreign
accent, especially when she htts to say anything
particularly lively or pointed. Her most perfect
effort was the canzonet in Act 1, " Vol the sapete."
bliss Rainforth was too tame and inexpressive, as if
she was afraid of exerting herself. It does not follow,
because her name is in small letters in the bills, and
Miss A. Kemble's in large, that she ought not to
strive to show that she deserves large letters as well
as her competitor. " Sull Aria," was repeated at the
earnest instance of the whole house. The opera
went off extremely well. The house was fully at-
tended, although the benches were not crowded.

THE QUEEN'S RECENT VISIT TO

SCOTLAND.

followingis
a copy of a letter from the Earl of
b
Lord Advocate of Scotland :
- ...e rhden
" Dalkeith, Sept. 14.
—I have received the Queen's com-
mands to signify My Lord ,—I
her
k Te
e t the
Majesty's most gracious appro-
bation of all the
arrangements made for her recep-
tion, and that of his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, in
Scotland.
"I am to request that oury Lordship will commu-
nicate to the Sheriffs anda
-NI
counties through which her gistracy of the
Majestydifferent has passed the
sense entertained of the judicious measures adopted by
Them for the preservation of order and regularity
during the progress of her Majesty in this portion of
her dominions.
"The Queen will leaVe Scotland with a feeling of
regret, that her visit, on the present occasion, could
not be further prOlcnged. Her Majesty fully ex-
Scottishpcted to witness the loyalty and attachment of her
subjects •; but the devotion and enthusiasm
evinced in every quarter and by all ranks have pro-
duced an impression on the mind of her Majesty
w hich can never be effaced.
" I have the honour to be, &c.,
(Signed)
"ABERDEEN."

The Lord Chancellor has presented the Rev. W. R.
Mahon, to the rectory of lionington, in the county of
Sufi()lk.

LITERATURE.
MASANIELLO ; AN HISTORICAL RO-
MANCE. Colburn.

So familiar as the story of Masaniello has of late
been made by attractive representations on the
stage, and in other popular shapes, it might be ad-
judged but a vanes repetitio to produce substantially
the same thing, even in the captivating form of a ro-
mance. Perusal, however, of the pages invested with
the above title, which Mr. Horace Smith edites, will
lead to a different conviction. The romance opens
picturesquely with details of the young fisherman's
boyhood, when in the village of Amalfi, and on the
waters of Salerno he exercised the craft of his
fathers. There he pursued his humble calling among
the solitudes and fine sceneries of his native country,
or at idler times made excursions with his co-mates to
the grotto of Posilippo, and the caverns and inlets of
his classic coast—strolled about the mole and
market-place of Naples, or sometimes feasted in the
Santa Lucia and Toledo. But these fitful holidays
were destined to conclude, and he to become
an actor, in the sterner realities of life.
Naples was at this time an appanage to
the Spanish Crown—and was ruled by Viceroys.
These officers, knowing that to supply money for the
purposes of their Monarch was the chief portion of
their duties, and that their own self-aggrandisement
could best be enhanced by the same means, turned
the screw of taxation to its tightest pinch—wrung
out of the people their last ducat, and scoffed at the
idea of starvation, so long as-the ingot was lodged in
their coffers. The levying of these imposts became
at length so oppressive, and so senselessly were they
inflicted, that the most heavy tributes were laid upon
the very figs and water-melons, which form the Nea-
politan's nearest sustenance. Taxes were imposed on
all that the eye could see, the hand touch, or the lips
taste. The _Neapolitans bore, for a long time, these
inflictions patiently. Lampoons on their governors
first appeared—these were succeeded by murmurs in
the market-place, these by threats, and lastly came
commotions, A ship containing the last tribute wrung
from them by the tax-gatherers was ready in the bay
to sail for Spain. Her hold was fired—three thou
• sand ducats went down, and she burned to the water's
edge. In the city meetings of the disaffected in-
' creased—as also of robbers, among whom Salvator
Rosa, the painter, is depicted as taking a busy
part, and to which scenes, the writer suggests, the
world is indebted for his " Conspiracy of Catiline." The
harsh shouts of the Lazzaroni were next heard, and
the gradual growth of the conspiracy became broad
and fully outlined. Memorable in the annals of Na-
, pies was the seventh day of July, in the year 1647.
' On that day, the anniversary of the festival of Ma-
donna del Carmine, a dispute arose between a vendor
of figs and the Custom-officers, who deinanded pay-
ment of the tax upon a trifling sale of that fruit thus.
made from the needy seller, and not from the buyer
The Neapolitan dashed his basket and its contents to
the ground, in anger at this unjust decision, and at
this. moment Masaniello stood forth adjudicator.
Stung at the conduct of the insulting officers, he ga-
thered up a handful of the figs and cast it into the
face of one of the functionaries. The universal crowd
applauded, From that moment Masaniello became
the champion of the people, and vivas were shouted,
in his name. The Spanish fetters were broken.
Against every member of the Government—every
castle and public office they occupied—open violence
raged. Impelled by-the strength of his enthusiasm,
the fisherman of Amalfi assumed the command of
the militia of the revolution. Speed and method
in his measures decided the revolt. The ci-
tizens were enrolled, and Masaniello became
the leader of the destinies of a kingdom. At
this juncture the writer paints a fine scene represent-
ing a jealous attempt at assassination of the idol of
the people in the church of St. Carmine, as he is
about to open the Golden Charter, but the interference
of a friendly arm averts the shot, and a massacre of
the bandits ensues. Masaniello is now created a noble
of the empire, and the Duke of St. George. The
seeds of Court corruption are sown in his heart.
From a contemner of despots, he himself becomes the
most despotic. The remainder of his career is briefly
summed up. Intoxicated with power, and become
capricious and sanguinary, the sword when blunted
on the necks of the nobles, was again sharpened by
those of the populace. His tribunal is transformed
into one of blood. The people grow discontented—
they declare he has sold them for a dress of silver—
the approach of Doria's fleet confirms them in his
treachery, and the contents of a dozen carbines end
the fisherman's life and lunacy. Of this heroic fisher-
man it has been truly said, that he was honoured like
a king, killed like a criminal, buried like a conqueror,
and revered after his death like a saint.

This narrative, which formform'sa correct transcription
of the romance, differs, it is to be observed, in many
points, more particularly in its concluding scenes,
from some versions of ordinary acceptation ; the
author, however, vouches for their authenticity, and
disclaims an exaggerated picture. Masaniello, as the
leading character, stands finely prominent throughout.
Several beautiful episodes, connected NI ith Subsidiary.
characters, lend alternate gloom or lustre to the pass-
ing scones, as the painter sees necessary to infuse
them. A well-designed contrast is drawn between
Masaniello and Ursula his wife. Ever, and anon,
through his hurried career, dissuasion dwells upon her
lips, as if to withdraw him from impending peril.
Amid the slaughter, she reminds him of his old
pursuits on streams of Amalfi. When his hands are
stained with blood, Capri, with its rosy hills, form the
weapons with which she assails him ; and she whispers
him of the vineyards of La Cava, when ruin hangs
over his head. Her end, like her husband's, is tragi-
cal. The noble members of the house of Caraffa act
a conspicuous part, and Prince Bisignano, the second
of the family, occupies the reader with interest
throughout ; no less does the intriguing character of
the Secretary Vitale. In addition to historic interest,
the incidental ornaments of this species of composi-
tion have their own peculiar brilliancy, and a rich
prurience of fancy pervades the cast of sceneries de-
scribed, which, if we mistake not from the preface,
the author has personally visited. Masaniello will, no
doubt, be a favourite with the public.