Star.
London, England, 1826-12-25 00:00:00

THE ITALIAN OPERA.

The Opera bad a tolerably numerous attendance on Saturday
night. La restate continues to be played, and without any altar}.
don In Its cast, sithough,with an effect far superior to that of its arst
very Imperfect representation. In justice to its Composer, bow.
ever, it must oat be supposed that his work has been at all pre.
rented to the English public in the style which its merits deserve.
An Opera of Pacuu's is promised next week, in which &mum,
the serious bass, who made so great a reputation with us a few years
ago, is to appear. Ds Meatus is also to come out for the statue, in
a good comic part.

Rumours of a most Meting nature, relative to the
health of the Duke of Yost, Were in general circulation on Satur-
day evening; we copy, therefore, with great pleasure, the followiag
article from the " Court Circular" in contradiction of those ruinourik
" The Duke of Yost was: engaged during the whole of Saha%
day, in transacting military business as Commander-in-Chief,
till a late hour in the evening, after which his Royal Highness
enjoyed a most excellent night's repose. Yesterday the Boyd
Duke received a visit from the Duke of Sums."

The French Ambassador transacted business yester-
day at the Secretary of State's Office for Foreign Affairs.
Mr. WYNN transacted business yesterday at the Fa
reign Office.
Mr. DRAFFEN, the King's Messenger, was sent off on
Saturday night, from the office of the Secretary of State for the
Colonial Department, with dispatches for Malta, containing, it was •
understood, the appointment of Major General Hoe. FREDISICE
CAVENDISH PONSONSY, C.B. to be Lieutenant GoVernor of the
Island of Malta.
Eatl I-IA RROWBY left town on Friday for his seat,
Sandal Hall, Staffordshire.
The Duke of WELLINGTON, Lord Him., and Loyd
Leer:soca, have been visiting the Marquis of AsoLasty, at hie
seat in Staffordshire. A military consultation took place, in coast-
quence of the recent events In Spain and Portugal.
The Duke of BUCKINGUAM has been for some days
laid up by a fit of the gout, which at one time bad attacked his
stomach, but be is noW recovering.
Independent of his high talents, the unimpeachable
integrity, the amenity of manners, ant high moral worth of tho
CHANESLLON of the EXCNIQUZR, would render his retirement front
office a serious calamity to the country.
Nearly the whole of the troops destined for Portugal
have sailed; and the wind having continued fair ever since their
departure, they will probably have /cached their destination in two
se three days from this time.
, A letter from an Officer at Madras, states the follow.
Ins distribution of the British troops upon that establishment,
since the return of the first division from Rangoon :—Theitoyals,
from Madras to Bangalore; 13th Light Dragoons, from Bangalore
to Ariat ; 30th Regiment, from Hyderabad to Madras ; 41st Rtgi.
meat, from Madras to Bellery head Quarters ; five companies of
46th Regiment, from Cannanore to Hyderabad ; five,companies
46th Regiment from Bellery to Hyderabad; 64th Regimeat, front
Madras to Cannanore; 48th Regiment remain at Trixhinopoley;
119th Regiment it is said, to Belguire, if they do not go. borne.
CORK EIACTiON, Dec. 18.—Mr. HUTCHINSON, 512 ;
Mr. CALLAGHAN, NM I Majority for Mr. Cattsaffax,l6!.7-Several
smart skirmishes took place between the mobs in the stcsets, but no
injury to any extent has occurred. ii more
A country Clergyman, who, on Sundays, s more in-
.
debted to his manuscript than to his memory, called pnesremoni-
Duly at a cottage, whilst its possessor—a pious parameter—was
engaged (a daily exercise) in perusing a paragraph °Nies writ:nrs
of se inspired prophet. " Weel, John," familiarly 'fpquired :he
clerical visitant, " what's this you are about ?" "1-lastipropheq•
ing„" was the prompt reply. " Prophesying !" exclaimed
.t.ee
astounded Divine, " I doubt you are only reading itrophecy. --
" Wed," argued the religious rustic, " gif reading a preachin' be
preaching, is na' reading a prophecy prophesying?"''
CIIIIISTMAS EvE.—la Ireland, the ancint custom of
trying charms, to see whO shall bec.6lfie 'One's Mule
spouse, is still kept up with great spirit on this ei,ii
the charms are much the same as those immortalised by
Bvata,.in his inimitable "Halloween," which festival
is celebrated by the Irish, also, With quite:as much de•
votional ceremony as by the Scotch.
Earl GROSVENOR'S PICTURE GALLERIES.—There
magnificent galleries are now approaching toward( completion ; the
exterior is finished, and will form one wing. lifte spltrtdid stone
mansion, which is to be 250 feet in length froutiut towards /ii'd•
Part. , ,