Star.
London, England, 1829-11-26 00:00:00

THE FRENCH OPERA..

It is to two Cardinals that we owe Tragedy and Opera,
said Voltaire, in some work. As to Tragedy, the statement is not
exact; a long while before Richelieu protected the great Corneille,
while writing his master-piece, tragic pieces woe performed in
France. They were detestable, no doubt ; but it is not the small
pension that Richelieu gave to the Author of the" Iloratii," which
developed the genius of this great man • and Corneille, if be bad
not had the honour of being one of the live poets in the pay of the
Cardinal Minister, would not the less have written his admirable •
works. This is very well remarked by Laharpe, in the conscien-
tious examination be made of the Theatre of Quinsult.
As to the Opera, it is incontestibly to Maurine that we are In-
debted for it. It was the exhibitions, given at the Louvre, by
singers, whom he had brought front Italy, which gave rise, at a later
time, in the minds of the Marquis de Sourdeac and lse Abbe
Perrin to the ides of naturalising in France this kind of theatrical
representation. The first letters patent of Louis XIV. to este-
blith throughout the kingdom academies of opera, or performances
of music in the French language, on the footing of titre of Italy,was
in 1669. They were granted to the Abbe Perrin, who enjoyed his
privilege in a hall of the Rue Guenegaud, and made no fortune by it.
These letters patent ate curious in the distinction they draw between
the ordinary comedians and the .angers of opera. " rrovided," it is
there said, " that the said operas and performances are works of
music quite different from recited plays, and we establida them, by
these presents, on the footing of those of Italy. where gentlemen
sing without derogating from their rank, and we will, and it pleases
us, that all gentlemen, young ladies, and other persons may sing in
the said operas, without derogating front their title of nobility or
their privileges, dignities, rights, and immunities."
Although dancing made a part, and an important part, of this
exhibition, there is no question in these letters u to these dancers;
but, ,can we doubt that they had not also over the dectimatory.
Comedians the advantages of not derogating from their rank, when
we call to mind that the great King himself had made steps in
the Theatre, and especially when we read the test of the letters
patent of 1661, eight years before the establishment of the Opera,
which founded a Royal Academy of Dancing in the City of Paris?
Here is the preamble
" Though the art of dancing has always been recognised as one
of the most virtuous and necessary dispositions to all sorts of exer-
cise, and, among others, to those of arms, and, consequently, one
of the most advantageous and useful to oar nobility, and others,
who have the honour to approach us, not only in time of warn
our armies, but even in time of peace in the diversion of our ballets;
nevertheless, during the disorders and confuden of the late wars,
there has been introduced into the said art, as into all others, so
great a number of abuses, capable of carrying them to their irre-
parable ruin, that many persons, however ignorant or unskilful they
may have been its the art of dancing, have undertaken to exhibit
it publicly, in a manner that there is reason to be astonished that
the small number of those who are found capable of teaching it
have, by their study and by their application, so long resisted the
essential defects, without which the infinite number of the ignorant
have endeavoured to disfigure and corrupt it in the persons of
the greater part of the people of quality, which will make it so
that we shall see few in our Court and suite, capable of being in
a state to enter our ballets and other like diversions of dancing,
whatever intention we may have to call them here. For which,
it being necessary to provide, asd being desirous to re-establish
the said art in its first perfection, and to augment it ai mqch as
possible, we have deemed it right to establish in our goo! City o f

Paris a Royal Aademy of Dancire, after the example of that of
Painting and Sculpture."
Let not peupk be surptised after this that the liathylli and the
Pilade of our theatres have sometimes shown a little pride. Had
cot old Vestris some reasm to reckon himself among the great
men of his age, wheat he called to mid dal re fi,ction of Madame
dc &visite, after belong danced with Louts XlV.—' It must le •
owned that the King has great qualities ; I believe that he will ob-
score the glory of all his predecessors." Would to Goo be had
always occupied Min.& with reforming by professors th.• legs able
Nubility, an.: had never direct4d fire and fi me atiost the con-
sciences of its subjects !
What astonishment must the Rpimenide have cap denced, who
Laving gone to sleep in the fine days of Sulli, and who awoke in the
rear o: gr -re, 1829, in the hall of the Opera ! What would J. J.
Rousseau himsel, have said. theuzli be has left us these fifty-years,
if he could now have heard the perform ince of William Tell ?
Would they nut agree that the prosody ut our language can be
musical ? Could they hear, without dropping tears, in the admi-
rable trio itt the seeund act, the piercing cry of a son overwhelmed
by the death of his father? he expires !
Always the sure affluence. even transports of enthusiasm at the
performances of this masterpiece. The novelties being able to
succeed only slowly at the opera, we *ball say little of this exhibition
in our papers, but it is much talked of in the saloons of Paris. Three
times a week this vast hall is completely filled ; that is a reply,
without an.wer, to the detractors of the high administration of the
Royal Academy of Music.
Never has there been such excellent singing in our days at the
Opera ; and the dancing. which a long while ago seemed to have
attained perfection, yet makes new conquests. Mademoiselle Tn-
Lool has carried further the boundaries of this art. less important
than it appeared in Louis XIV. but one of those which charm the
multitude the most. _

-----
Here we have now the two yowl( her of the graces and to
lents of Albert, the most correct, the most elegant, of our dancers.
His son, h's daughter, formed by his rumples, have, from their
first step on the stage, sustained the glory of their family. The
little boy is )o.inger than hi. ,istet, hut we see that both bare been
t a good school. Buds la.v4 übtained the most compltte su:cess.
—Cisricr Francais.

CORONER'S INQUEST,

BEFORE MR. CECIL, oxvrAti).
wcdnesdav het, an Inquest was taken at ti.'
Horse, St. Clement's, Oxfordshire, before Mr. Coca., Ceroner, n
view of nit body of Jane Coors, who was that ntorterg towel
drowned in the liver Cherwell.
John Hemming deposed—l this morning found Jane Cope..
dead, in the river Cherwell, in the parish of St. Clement", in the
county of Oxford ; I put her into a boat, and brought her to te
house ; her father this morti;ng, asked me to look for his .I.u.:hter, a.
she had been missing since I.alepast four last night. lie did vet
give me any reason for asking me to go and look for her. I went
in consequence, accompanied by Thomas Young and Edward
Hichman, and they were to the boat with me when the body was
found. The father lodged with me. I never beard or saw bni
beat her. Last night I offered her father to go and search for its
daughter, but he would nut consent to it ; he was at that tinte
in liquor ; her father had lodged with me about two months.
Jane Colima is about Micro or sixteen years of age ,
she bid not been at home with her father much more
tit in a fortnight—when I asked ler father last night whether I
should go and see after her, he said either" 13—her, let her Sine-
w. be ',aid, ts he r, let her drown." I saw Copus take a sword
last night in the sheath and go down the yard with it—be was in
a great passion—ard he gni I, " F.-- her eyes, I wish I could fied
her"—l fulloNe 1 him down the yard, and he endeavoured with hie
foot to force the dye hou•e door of Mr. Jones—this was bet ace.
five and six o'clock in the eveuing—the last time I saw her was
between eight and nine o'cliick in the morning—she then appeared
in good health and spirits, and in full possession of lee senses—
there was no appearauce by the side of the river, where I foutid
her, of her h ivies slipped into the water, and it was impossible tor
her to have fallen in accidentally who re we hound her
Ann, the wife of John Hemming, deposed—Ttioneis
father of June, lodged with me and my husband the last five or
six weeks. Jane Copus had been living with her lather the east
three weeks ; they seemed to sgree pretty well ; I never saw him
beat her—l have heard him threaten ; I saw bet yesterday after-
noon, about half.past four o'clock ; she then appeared to be in
very good health, and perfectly in her senses ; her father was thee,
at borne with his wife and three others of his family ; he was not
then quite sober; I heard nothing pus between her and her father ;
her father sent hie three times to ask me to take tea with hint and
his mistress ; I sent word 1 bad rather not ; this was the last time
I saw Jane Cupus; in about two minutes after Jane Copus het
called on me the third time, I went into Mr. Copues room, when
I found Mr. and Mrs. 011111$ and three chielren. but Jane was not
there; about five minutes after I bad been there hie. Copui missed
Jane, and sent his little boy and girl to see fur her ; they accord •
ingly went down the yard, arid returned, and s iid they criel3
not find her ; he then sent his eldest son William, and I after wards
went to look for her, but could not find her; r.Coeus then went
and shortly returned, and said be could not find her ; I then said to
him I ant afraid she is drowned ; be replied he did not thirk she
was; be thought she was gone of an errand for some one ; my
husband then offered air. Copus to go with hint and look
fur her; I did nut hear his answer; my husband offered
Mr. Cupus to go in search of his daughter two or three times ;
Copus replied it was of no use to go and look for her ;
and he did not go—Mr. Copus had been out yesterday, soldiering,
and returned very much in liquor —he is a serjeant in the Oaford•
shire militia—l saw hint last night going down the yard with a
sword In a sheath—my husband was with hint—he was at that
time in a great passion—he swore and threatened if be found his
daughter he would beat her—two or three minutes before
I last saw Jane Copus, she came crying to me in the
yard, and said," Do pray come in and sit with father, or I ant
afraid he will kill me this night"—she also said her father bed
thrown a red-hot iron at her, but it bad missed her—that
her father went to kick her, and she got on one side of
her mother ; that her father had thrown a plate with toast in it at
her; she appeared very much a'anneJ, and I went into Copus's
room in consequence, and afterwards in search of her; almost
imniediately after, she was found, concealed between two hod
tuts* and the well, close to the river; there was only a key and a
pocket handkerchief in the pockets; I loom& the pockets immc.
diatcly to the house, and delivered them to Jane Cnpus's mother,
and site was then very much alarmed. and expressed her fear that
her d. ughter was drowned ; Mr. Copus w.s present, and said
something. but I don't kaow what ; be did not appear
at all concerned ; be afterwards *W." her, let her Boat!"
Deodatus Stone, of the pa: lots of St. Clement, surgeon and
apothecary, deposed-1 have this num ing examined the body of
Jane Copus, and there are not any marks of violence upon it. I
have no doubt she died from drowning.
The Jury returned the fiinnw ng verdict—" The said Jane
Copus was found drowned in the river Cherwell, in this cote ty ;
but, although there is no proof how the deceased came into the
river, there appears from the tvidence too much reason to fear
that the deceased was induced to destroy ht ruff in consequence of
the ill treatment and violent threats re her father, Thomas Cerise
a Serjeant in the Oxfordshire Militia."

It is announced with so:tie solemnity in the Par ;s
papers of Monday, that the SaAiniangirl with two he.:;.ls
died on the preceding day.
During the last week the follo-vinx distingui.hed ii.-
dividuals visited the Railway at Rainhill :—Lord and L.riy
Grosvenor, Lord and Lady Grey, Lord and Lady Hen:),
Cholmondelev, Lord Sefton, Lord and the Ladies Moly- .
neux, Hon. Mr. arid 'Alias lie Roos, Lady Wilton, I La.
E. G. and Mrs. Stanley, the Hon. Mips • tanley, the IL v.
Jas. and Mrs. Hornby, of Winwiek, Rev. G. Mrs. a.id
Miss Hornby, of Bury, Captain and Mn.s P. florie4;:,
and Mr. Creevey.—Lioerpool 7in:es.
The following Catholic Noblemen and Gentlemen Lave
been added to the Commiijon of the Peace for the eoe::tv
of Norfolk :—The Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Surrey,
Lord Stafford, and the Hon. Henry Stafford Jerniuglam.
A farmer's daughter, a beautiful young girl, in the
parish of D—, PerthAire, made an elopement on S -•-
turday night last with one of the farm-servants, a puiseant
highlander. The " gallant Lothario," in addition to his
lovely bride, will hereby, in " inangre and despite" of all,
have a few hundreds of the " yellow-boys," which now-
a-days seldom fail to enhance the value of even a lovely
woman in the eArnation of most lovers.---Stirling
Journal.

On the evening of the 10th instant, . na Thomas Da-
niel, the son of a respectable farmer, living in the neip-
bourhood of Ystradfell►te, Brecowbire, was attempting to
cross the river Melite, which was much swollen by rain,
he and his horse were carried away by the torrent, and
were precipitated down the stupendous waterfall of Clyn.
gwyn ! His body was found half a mile below the ford
and the horse was found in the . river, having been car-
ried to a distance of nearly four miles from the fatal spot.

4"‘
ifiej J t4d

YOUNG NAPOLEON, the" SON of the MAN."

---
The Duke of Reichstadt (the el-devout -King of Rome)
that es-heir of an Empire, is now detained at Vienna, a prisoner
'both in body and mind. No Frenchman is allowed to be presented
to him ; no communication cau be made to him, tempt through
the medium of his gaolers ; no word must be uttered in his hear-
ing, which might by passibility touch the chord of ambition. He
lone, of all the civilised world, is igeorant of the history of his
father. His life is measured out by the square and the rule. The
Cabinets of France and Austria determine on what he shall know,
and What he shall think. The risk he is told he runs of assassination
by some crazy fanatic of liberty is the talisman by which this en-
chantment of soul and body la effected.—" Rest perfectly assured,
Sir," said the Grand Preceptor to our traveller (M. Mery)," that
he reads r.nd sees only what we wish him to read, see, and under-
stand. If by any chance a letter, a packet, or a book should fall
too his hands without our knowledge, his first care would be to
deliver it to us unopened. He would not even dare to look at it,
until assured he could do so without danger." "It appears then
that the son of Napoleon is far from being as free, as we suppose
him, in France," remarked the author. The answer was—" The
Prince is not a prisoner, but he is placed in a very peculiar posi-
tion." " Be satisfied," said the Grand Preceptor, at another in-
terview, " with knowing that he is happy, and that he is without
ambition. His career is marked out fur him ; he will never ap-
proach France. The idea of doing so will never enter his head."
The young Duke receives an education befitting a Prince, and is
taught the excercises becoming a soldier. lie will not always re-
main a boy ; and, on his escape from tutelage,he will hear and see
things like other men. The only personal anecdote here told of
him would seem to indicate that, even at present, be is not altoge-
ther insensible to the peculiarity of his situ •tion. On a late occa-
sion he appeared to be completely absorbed with some idea, and
paid not the least attention to his lesson ;—all of a sudden he struck
his forehead, with a sign of impatience, and these words escaped
him—" What is it they can want to make of me ? Do they think
I have the bead of my father ?"—Pereign Quarterly Review.

The Evening Packet states that the long-threatened
ex officio has been filed against the Evening Post, and that it is
probable that a similar proceeding will be adopted regarding the
Freeman's Jounsat.
One of the best conducted meetings ever reported in
Scotland took place last week at Dundee, on the subject of Church
Patronage. The speakers gave a thorough ventilation to the ques-
tion in its scriptural, moral, and political bearings ; and triumph-
antly demonstrated that the system of patronage is as explicitly
opposed to the injunctions of the Divine record, as to the unaided
views of human reason.—Glasgow Dironielo.
We have just been informed by a gentleman who is
well acquainted with electioneering movements in this county, that
Mr. Clintock has relinquished the canvass for the representation, in
which be had been for some time actively engaged; and we have
leirned, from the same source, that he could only count on 70
VIM" out of nearly 730 registered freeholders now qualified in
Louth.—Loath Free Press.
The Police agents in Paris seem to be carrying their
Bourbon seal to a ridiculous extreme. A few days ago a female,
who keeps a perfume warehouse, was brought before the Tribunal
of Correctional Police, for selling a bottle of huile antique with a
label upon it, which was a portrait of the young Napoleon ; and
the wife of a pastry-cook, who sells liqueurs, was charged with
having among her liqueur bottles an empty Eau.de-Cologne bottle,
bearing the same portrait. They were both acquitted, although it
was shown that in one instance M. Mangin himself had instituted
the prosecution.
The Paris Papers have repeatedly hinted that Prince
Leopold is one of the candidates for the throne of Greece. There
was a time, indeed, when the sceptre of such a semi-barbarous and
experimental kingdom could not have possibly have been an object
of ambition to his Royal Highness, who, being the consort of the
future Queen of England, refused a Peerage of the United King-
dom, which, however, after the death of the Princess Charlotte, be
would bate been glad to obtain, during the trial of Queen Caroline,
when the late Lord Liverpool denied him that Won. But, as his
Royal Highness could scarcely continue in the receipt of the more
than Princely income he derives from England, it is very impro-
bable that he would surrender so brilliant a certainty for a, perhaps,
chimerical Crown in Greece, being taught by experience that a
once-slighted advantage cannot be always recalled. Besides, the
difference of religion, language, manners, and customs of the people
of Greece, would present art almost insurmountable obs acie.—
Morning Herald.
Notwithstanding that the professors of the black art
are subject to punishment in Paris for exercising their profound
calling. they appear to stand in less awe of the Ministers of Justice
there than in London. A few days ago, the " White Lady," so
called because her complexion is somewhat swarthy, was accused
before the Police Correctionelle, by an unsuccessful and envious
physician, of parading the streets on horseback, exercising the pro-
fession of medicine and putting herself off as .a sorceress. A host
of witnesses deposed to having placed themselves as patients under
the care of the " White Lady,' and nothwithstanding her peculiar
mode of treatment, accompanied by the mysterious words oS her
art, they declared they bad received no benefit for their money,
which the " White Lady," in order to evade the punishment of
the law, thought proper to demand. not for herself, but on behalf
of her horse. However, justice was not to be so tricked, and the
" White Lady" was amerced in a fine of 100 f.
A young girl, of a smiling countenance, and with an
air of confidence, called upon Id. Francoii, and demanded some
oil of vitriol .(sulphuric acid,) to prepare some wax work. M. Fran-
cois, without any distrust, served her with what she demanded.
This female set Immediately about the execution of a sinister pro-
ject. tier lover was about being married to another girl; she
wrote to him, and appointed an interview for the next day. The
young man hastened to the meeting to protest the state of despair
he bad been himself thrown into; but the unfortunate girl does not
give him time to explain himself : she goes into an adjoining closet,
and returns, saying, with the utmost sangfroid imaginable, that she
has poisoned herself; for such, In fact, was the use she had put the
sulphuric acid to, which she bought of M. Francois. She died be-
fore the face other lover, who in vain endeavoured to procure as
siotance for her. M. Francois appeared this morning before the 7th
Chamber of Correctional Police, for contravening the laws and re-
. ;legations respecting the sale of poisonous substances, and for having
by his imprudence occasioned the death of this young girl. He was
. acquitted of the litter charge ; but, on the pleading of M. Hardy,
Id. Francois was condemned in a penalty of 1,000 francs for has-
lag sold poison without registering the same.—Paris Paper.
• Tilt SCHOOLMASTER APROAD.—SOMe time ago, a
controversy arose among the inmates of a cottage on a literary sub-
ject of some interest. The gudemen, who happened to be reading
in some genealogical chapter in Kings or Chronicles, was proceed-
ing thus—" And Joinanie dfalcom ringed in his stead," when he
was rather unceremoniously interrupted by his helpmate, who
called out, " No, John, ye're clean wrong noo a'thegither—its no
Johnnie Malcom, its Jato-i-a-kim." Old John feeling indignant
at such an unseasonable inters option, and being, moreover, deter-
mined to maintain his authority in his own house, after making a
short lam, resumed, by reading with double emphasis, "and
John-nie Makom ---" when he, was again interrupted by his
tenacious partner contending that he should read "Je-ho-i-a-kim."
Unfortunately for John, the rest of the family sided with their
mother, while the contention grew so hot, that it was resolved to
appeal to the Dominic." The novel case however, was sub-
mitted to Mess James, who very properly decided in favour of the
master of the family. Johnny Malcolm, therefore, continues to
reign over Israel, much to the surprise of the gudewife and her
supporters.—Fife Reraid.
MUit?Eli. AT ICHAYTEI.--Upon the morning of the
11 lb inst. Mr. Alexander Couts, farmer, at Valleybank, near Ban
ton, met his death upon the public road, within a few yards of
the door of Dr. Stork Chief Magistrate of Kilsyth. Mr Couts
had, been on the preceding evening in the town of Kilsyth, collect.
ing some of his house rents, and had been in several public-houses
along with some of his tenants, accompanied by Mr. Stars, a
wright, who had either been repairing, or about to repair, some of
his houses It appears that on some one of these occasions, Robt.
Cneidy, nether, of Kilsytb, intruded himself into their company,
when it was hinted to him that his doing so was disagreeable. This
led to words, but bad not the effect of making Cuddy leave their
company, when Mr. Cuuts and his friends some time afterwards
- • -- Cuddy. however, still followed, and kept in cons-
'outs and Mr. Stark, till they came near to Dr.
%tame from the town of from three to four bun-
the immediate vicinity of the Inn where a
. is supposed Cuddy stabbed his victim with
, knives sn the belly! Mr. Coots instantly cried
into Dr. Stone's house; who, assisted by Dr.
the unfortunate man's wound. Cuddy was in-
and, after the examination of Mr. Coots, was
dol. Mr. Coots lingered, in great agony, ti .I
\gth, when he breathed his last, exactly 24
the fatal stab. He has left a widow and (our
. his loss, and, it is feared, not too well provided
was a native of Aberdeenshire, but has resided in
for upwards of 20 years, and, until a year
of gar ever at Colzium House. Cuddy is a
and 114 constantly resided in it. lie scxrcely bad
followed no prote.sion but that of a jou, neyman
er bad any fixed master, but went from house to
vices were repined.. A belief very generally pre-
- meLsochely result of 41 old quarrel.