The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-01 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

It was announced very early yesterday morning
that his Majesty the King of Prussia would visit
Drury-lane Theatre, and the applications fly
places at the box-office were, in consequence,
numerous and constant. Indeed, it was difficult
to obtain access to have the names " booked
and ticketed." But delay and difficulty seemed
only to stimulate the public determination to
obtain a right Royal foreign enjoyment, and a
crowded house was the natural consequence. To
add to the novelty, the time of commencing the
campaign was fixed an hour earlier—six o'clock
—thereby throwing all the fashionable cooks of
the metropolis quite on their beam ends; for
who could dine at six and be at the
theatre at the same time ? Certainly none
but those who travel by steam, and carry
their dinners along with them, to see
and enjoy the wonders of the day. Well, by
the appointed hour the curtain rose, and dis-
played a group of glorious mimickry, from
which emanated "God save the Queen," with
very brilliant and imposing effect. The public
were so taken by surprise at the moment that
they forgot" the coming guest," and while some
were looking to the Royal box for his Majesty
of Prussia, lo and behold ! a portion of the happy
multitude discovered the KING in the private
box, and loud and long were the acclamations
and welcome which greeted his Majesty. The
King with becoming modesty, as well as dignity,
returned the compliment, and all went off with
cordial gratulation.

Just towards the end of the play. his Majesty
departed, to the utter disappointment of those
who expected to have a second edition of inter-
national civility. As the play was going on, the
King occasionally looked at the progress of the
scene—the playbill, and a copy of the play. He
left about eight o'clock, having been " booked"
to dine with the Duke of Sutherland at half-past
eight.

ADELPHI THEATRE.
Doubtless all who take an interest in dramatic mat-
Lers have, ere 'this, heard of Halevy's new grand opera;
La Reine c(e Chyprei which was produced some short
time since at the Academie Royale de Musique,, and
which has created a. greater sensation in the operatic
world of Paris, than:anything that has been produced of
late years, eclipsing the glories even of Gustave 111., or
of La Juice. Yates, some few weeks since, paid a visit
to Paris, and .the result of that visit has been the pro-
duction of an English Version of the French piece, under
the title of the Queen of Cyprus' which, notwithstand-
ing the smallness of the Adelphi stage, need not, as
-far as dresses, scenery, mechanism, and' the putting
on the stage are concerned, fear to challowe a
comparison with the original. The story ofP the
piece is soon told. Catarina Cornaro (Mrs. Yates)
a noble Venetian damsel, is betrothed to Gerard de
Courcy (Mr. Lyon), a French Chevalier ; but just as
they are on the point of celebrating their nuptials, the
Council of Ten interpose to prevent them, as they have
destined the hand of Catarina for Lusignan, the young
King of Cyprus. Do Courcy conveys a letter to Cata-
rina, stating that he will be beneath her windoW at mid-
night, with a gondola, to convey her from Venice. Mo-
cenigo (Mr. Maynard), one of the Council, waits on her
just before the hour of assignation, stations three bra-
voes in her oratory, where she is to receive De Courcy,
and informs her, that unless, on De Courcy's ar-.
rival, she tells him her heart and hand are another's, and
dismisses him for ever, he shall be murdered at her feet.
De Courcy comes, and Catarina, in consequence of this
infernal scheme, dismisses him broken. hearted, vowing
revenge on her and his hated rival. This scene was magni-
ficently acted by Mrs. Yates and Lyon, and produced a rnost
thrilling effect, which was, however, entirely owing to
their powerful acting, for the dialogue throughout is
miserable ; even the capabilities of such a highly dra-
matic situation as the one we have described failing to
inspire the author with one thought or expression above
the level of common-place. De Courcy goes to Cyprus,
and is there recognised by Mocenigo, who sets on bravos
to assassinate him ; he is rescued from their attacks by
a French knight, and thinking they have been set on by
Lusignan, becomes more than ever bitter in his hatred.
Catarina lands from Venice, is received by Lusignan, and
conducted to the Cathedral, where the nuptials are cele-
brated. De Courcy awaits them at the Cathedral porch,
draws, and rushes at Lusignan, and at the moment he is
about to stab him, recognises in him his unknown de-
liverer, and drops his weapon. Some years are supposed
to elapse between the second and the third acts, and we
find Lusignan dying from the effects of a slow
poison administered to him by Mocenigo, whose
villany has been discovered to De Courcy, now a
Knight Templar, by one of Mocenigo's creatures. De
Courcy arrives, not in time to save the King, but in time
to unmask Mocenigo, who is seized and conducted to
the fortress of Nicosia. Lusignan dies, leaving Catarina a
widow, with one child. Catarina explains to De Courcy
the infernal plot by which Mocenigo had forced her to
reject him. She places herself at the head of the Cy-
priots, who rise to throw off the Venetian yoke, and re-
turns to the fortress. The last scene represents the for-
tress, _with the moat, thus adding another to the many
aquatic scenes for which this theatre, of late has become
so celebrated. She appears on the battlements, and
presents her son to the Cyprians, who swear to defend her
cause. Mocenigo seizes the child and throws it into the
moat. De Courcy, mounted on his war charger, leaps
into the moat, saves the child, and the curtain
This last incident is an introduction of Yates's, as he
explained on announcing the piece for repetition
every evening. " Ladies and Gentlemen," said he
" I found my piece in France, but my horse in England."
The piece was completely successful, and most deservedly
so, for neither- care nor expense have been spared in
putting 'on the stage. The music was by Rod-
well, _With the exception of two morceaux from
Halevy—the Gondoliers' Chorus, a beautiful compo-.
sition, beautifully performed ; and the Gamblers'
Chorus, equally beautiful, but which was some-
what marred in its execution, through Mr. Pau-
Bedford's not developing the meaning of his author in the
solo part entrusted to his care. We were sorry to see
this. Time was when Paul Bedford would and could
have done full justice to this beautiful morceau—(wit-
ness his Pietro, in Masa/lie/to); but of late he has
so given himself up to burlesque, aimed so exclusively at
being the funny wan of the theatre, that if he does not
take care he will become incapable of being anything
better. Let him shake off this low ambition—let him ne
longer sink the primp basso in the primp buffo, and he may
yet bo the Lablache of the musical drama. Too Much
praise cannot be bestowed upon the chorus-singers—they
sang well together, and do great credit to the drilling of
the chorus-master, whoever he may be. Mrs. H. P.
Grattan, as Ninetta, an attendant on Catarina, was, both
as an actress and a singer, first-rate ; and little o iss
Terrey, who was also one of Catarino's attendants, acted
with much spirit, • and sang very prettily. The ballet
dancers also exerted themselves to the utmost, and are
entitled to great praise. The piece will, no doubt, draw
crowded houses, and may be considered a safe card, at
least until Easter. Norma followed. In this Paul Bed-
ford was quite at home, and elicited roars of laughter.
Yates may boast, that in Bedford and Mrs. Grattan, he
possesses the greatest Norma, and the best Pollio, on the
stage. Wright's Adalgisa, too, is quite equal to the
Norma of the immortal Paul, and the children are, in
their way, models of beauty. The house was crammed
to suffocation.

During the necessary investigations of the Co-
lonial-office, preliminary to the confirmation of the sale
of one of the. Chatham Islands by the New Zealand
Company to the free town of Hamburg, an unexpected
obstacle has, we learn, sprung up. It is new seriously
doubted whether the sovereignty of the Chatham Islands
is really vested by priority of discovery in the British
Crown

-- -
We understand that the Great Western Railway
Company hare recently had whistles of considerably
augmented power attached to their engines, in addition
to those at present in use, and we mention the fact in
order to show the anxiety of the Directors to make tra-
velling by this line as safe as possible.—Berkshire Chron.
A memorial, addressed to his Grace the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, against the prevailing heretical
doctrine of Popery and Puseyism, is now in progress of
signature by the inhabitants and visitors of Weymouth
andd Melcombe Regis.—Somerset County Gazette, '

COMMON PLEAS.—.(THIS
JAY V. PILGRIM.
-A beY
• The plaintiff, Mr. C. Jay, is an attorney, a'h" t,
this action to recover the amount of his bill of cv 00,
conducting the affairs of a person named ClLtryiegv
ceased), through a bankruptcy, the defendant Iv?
alleged, guaranteed the payment of the same. ,dol
fendant is Coroner of the county of Norfolk. —t l'40),
with; for whom the plaintiff appears to have- h
clerk to Mr. George Jay, • solicitor and ballketildoa),
agent.iioth nothing
ofi pouf
bthliics
icnotennresexti.,ohnatshaeriaesentl.°-;f.
London
presented
The trial occupied the whole morning.
CRIMINAL COURT--(THIS DAB
OLD COURT. 1100
EXTENSIVE FRAUDS ON CHARITABLE 1N5110454
—Wm. Yates, aged 45, described in the cal° Pod
surgical-instrument maker, was indicted with
ittoi
and issuing an order for 51, with intent to de °. ()Ito
president, vice-president, treasurer, and meinhePte ,
School for the Indigent Blind. It appeared leetOof
statements of Mr. Bodkin, that on the 14th efix„-lkti,
ber last the prisoner called on the Messrs.ju'
Billiter-square, who are the Secretaries for t''-be
tution, and after representing himself tof,ftet;Ve
steward of Sir Matthew Filmer, of -`"- to
~,
Priory, in Kent, he produced a- letter purportileoG-
written by Sir Matthew• Filmer, in which he n'4„t
sented as expressing great interest in the differe-tlifLy
ties of London, and among them the School for flir,
digent Blind, and stating it to be the intention crittei..
Filmer and himself to subscribe two guineas gnifes.4s,
On the other side of the letter was an order pouit
Drummond for 5!. On perceiving this order %if
jun., asked the prisoner if it was the intentielg. t.
Matthew Filmer •to make a donation ofos dot
the charity, to which he replied that it ;for lreil
that he had some small purchases to make, tteh",„ 05' bet
purpose he was to have the 16s. Mr. Dodd tgeo3" e
the prisoner if the letter was written by the t bet 0.4
for Kent, to which he replied that it was notbe et,
Member's name was Sir Edmund Filmer, thiprecioa
dead, and that Sir Matthew was the present„ die
Mr. Dodd then wrote two receipts for each or caliji
guineas, and gave the prisoner 16s. On thej;
being presented at Drummonds' it was returnct hottir
the statement that no such person banked at that es "to
It was also proved that there was no such perstiriorl,j,
Matthew Filmer, no such place as Langley -Llil!sy
Kent, and that the letter and cheque were in t t tie
writing of the prisoner. . 'Os",
flee,
The case was most clearly made opt l'eclefe'
prisoner, who declined saying anything in Lis
or calling any witnesses to his character. d
the
The RECORDER having summed up, f
en
The Jury,-without the slightest hesitation, '° t
prisoner Guilty. „
There were several other similar indictraene'w the
the prisoner, which the Court thought our j" tto
proceeded with. • The next case was one elan atettrilir
prisoner with forging an order for 101., with 1,
tlic
defraud the Directors of the Foundling Bolls
iota tile
facts of this case were nearly the same as theictecl
charge was clearly proved, and the Jury con' it
prisoner.
Mr. toot .s
1P
BODKIN, after inquiring if the Court tot hos Ij,
inadvisable toproceed with any of the other cli3rrolyser
the prisoner, and being answered in the nega,tigife' prise!",,et;
that he considered it his duty to state that ti` heeSiiie
had been living all his life by writin,7ess.
letters, and stating fictitious cases of di,s'oner anle
had himself been obliged to prosecute the Pt's cirbOtbe
ten or eleven years ago, for a similar offence' sineebd
was sentenced to seven years' transportation.
risoer ;To
term of that transportation had expired the Pctea;
been upwards of twenty times summarily InnclicitY of
he had no hesitation in saying that the lien letter-he
ciety. could produce a cart-load of fictitious
%which
distress- written by the prisoner, in most
rts-
was sorry to say he had been successful. .ansr°
. to ti
The RECORDER sentenced the prisonel , aiti*
tion fur life. ri the
jam Macgregor was convicted of stealiniq,
-( the Ytce
of December last one mare, of the value of on. ced t°
sot
perty of Edward Edwards, Esq., and
enn‘"'
years transportation. ,cor"
MORE STARVATION.—Mary Ann Eaton, r
0.0 to.
tlii
n't
dressed in the workhouse garb, and who -% At the f a ,
Hillingdon Union, Uxbridge, was place" „erty °
charged with stealing a bill-hook, the Ptn,r
if the
labouring man of the name of John Gree%is
It appeared that the prosecutor missed 'fbiluivinit he
day before Christmas-day, and on the daY whie tat
heard of the prisoner offering the hook for sale'fropi it, fad
identified as his property. The handle was geSe. 'be I
he could say it was his property by the bl contse'ess
made' several marks on the handle, but, , v,ito 4
11 e 01'
could not swear to the hook by that• d, said
to when r: the hook had been snle belieire"-aer
be had given the prisoner:2s. for it, and h
had laid that amowat out in bread for her