Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1845-08-07
From the New York Mirror.
LETTER FROM N. P. WILLIS.
T,ONnoN. .TL7u 2.
LONDON, July 3.

NV" PoNSu VAIN yeSteIudy dlLtIHOoil1 Oll TIC
sunny side of Regent street, thinking of lit
tie except the sore iron-wires not yet ply
sIcked out of the brain, when, in a shop
window CHANGED 10 spy placard Of the
opera. In large letters | read "TAGLIoNI
IN THE SYLPHIDEw If you remember my
description, IN "Pencillings by the Way" of
the Gerry first performance of this ballet
(Which had the good fortune to witness
ten or twelve years ago on my first arrival
in Paris,) and my enthusiastic description of
Taglloni, you will easily fancy how my
blood was stirred with the chance of re-see-
ing the enchanting picture-the same ballet
with the same matchIess woman as the en-
chantress. 1t was five O'Clock, P. M.-with-
IN an hour OF my prescribed bed time-and
the opera commences at eight and lasts till
twelVe-but l aCent. Let me make whole
letter about the evening of which | thus
"did'' the Doctor.
~ do not often guIp very hard at the price
OF thing | want, but the charge Of eight
dollars "a guinea and half } for q seat TO
see one opera-in the habit as am editori-
ally of paying nothing for the same commo-
Idity-certainly made me say "ehem!" The
seat ! got for this little price was in the mid
die of the first bench behind the orchestra
in the pit-thatis to say in one ofthe "stalls''
or elbow-seats into which the first four or
five benches of the pit are divided. "The
pit'' SO called, which is separated by bar
from these privileged seats, is so uncomfort-
able and crowded, that, in my weak condi-
ton, | could not venture it, especially with
the risk Of standing all the evening. So.
away went the price of-many good
thing you can think of! IF ] had been
charged for the moisture of the English eli
mate because my hair curls tighter here than
in America, should not have felt more like
scratching my head after the payment.
No one is admitted to the London opera
except in full dress, but took my cloak or
my arm, fearful Of the draught Of cold all
that comes over the warm pit when the cur
tain is lifted. The door-keeper stopped me
You cannot wear your cloak in, sir % sale
he. ''But,l am sick man, and require it,
,"Against the rule, sir!'-s'it is very hare
| that one who has a stall to himself and ne
one TO incommode, should not be allowed
to keep himself from taking n'-"Can'
be done, sir" So saying he took off my
cloak, and charged me shilling for taking
care of 1t Some nice things about Eng
land
found myself seated between lady in
full dress, and very fine, aristocratic-look-
ing old man, whose seat was elegantly
cushioned, and who evidently had it by the
season. He turned out to be useful neigh
Dor, for overhearing me asking question
of the musician before me which showed
that it was my first appearance at the opera
he remarked to me that was apparently a
stranger, and seemed to take great pleasure
in pointing out to me the notablites of the
stage and audience. am glad TO mention
it as an exception TO the usual English re-
serve.
The opera was the ''Roberto Devereux''
Of Donizetti, and the primma donna (who
|pIayed "Queen Elizabeth'') was novelty
in London, Madame RossI CACCIA. 1t was
her second appearance. My first impress
sion of her was very unfavorable. She came
forward in a solo in which she drew her
voice so sharply fine that it pricked the ear
intentionally and, in the red hair and
other unbecomngables OF Queen Elizabeth.
her looks, (Which are half the music were
also against her. As the plot deepened
however, she showed passionateness oil
acting which helped both voice and beauty
and began 10 discover that she had mouth
like crack in rose-leaf, big eyes full OIL
darkness, and a voice that was mellow when
she forgot the audience. She was immense
ly applauded; but assure you ! thought
her very inferior TO Pico, both as an actress
and a singer.
MoRIANI, the famous tenor, has the per-
son of ships boatswain and voice as ex-
quisitely soft as an Eolian harp, and, with
ones eyes shut he is singer who gives
one delicious enjoyment but | will mo-
bother you with more about the opera.
AS the curtain fell after the first act, the
men in the stalls all rose to straighten them
selves and take a. stare over the house and
for the first time, it occurred to me to in
quire if the Queen were present. You are
looking straight at Her Majesty" said my
neighbor; 'she is talking to one of the la
dies Of her bedchamber. and Prince Albert
is in the back of the box, talking to the
King of Belgium" The box was looking
into was directly at the end of the stage
lights, and of course very near me. hac