The Sun. — 1846-03-21 (London, England)

FRENCH PLAYS. • ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. La Grisette et L'hreritiere, a drama, in two sets, was performed for the first time in this country last evening. The scene opens in a mgaasin des modes, where we find Clothilde (Madame Doche), Seraphine (Mademoiselle Anna Grave), and a number of other grisette se. employed in the production of millinery. C:othilde is a girl of sentiment and virtue. she is the pet of la,er companions, and the beloved of Arthur Duresnel Rhozevil), the son of a rich manufacturer, whotte however, she rejects. until she ascertains that " his suit is honourable, his purpose marriage," and even then, although she promises to love him ever' she endeavours to dissuade him from an alliance. inasmuch as she is not only of obscure parentage. bet, as she believes, a natural child, for she had never known a father and her mother had died of a broken heart' The father of Arthur has heard of his penchiint for Clothilde, and emplosx Athanase Pumaret, his neehevi (M. Plunket), a hypocritical, vulgar dandy, a French snob, in fact, to endeavour to break off the match, promising him a handsome reward if he succeeds. Athanase makes love to Seraphtnel and thus obtains admission to the magazine. an by mettna of forked letters, and various other honourable contrivances, inarages to make Cletbi'de believe that Arthur his deserted her. In the mesninse certain M. Marcos (M. Dorgebra), the confidentioi steward of M. Rihera, a rich Spanish merchant, arrive`;' and seeks an interview with Clothilde. He discloses to her the fact that her father is this rich merchant c hi" rA that lie has sought her out as his only having lost a child by his last merriages that she is his legitimate child by his first merrier' and that he intends to make her his heir. Having hue reiven the letter rurrrtipa to come from Arthur. ve",, Forged by Athanase, breaking off the connexion, si",," sea off with Marcos to Cadiz; but an alarm it Ole; after she has left the house that a grisette oa; herself into the river, and ererld concludes that Clothilde has coanniite , icide on account of her love for Arthur: The second act introduces to the residence of the Oa' of Arthur in Paris. M. Le Baron (we are partietlisr about the Baron, inasmuch as the worthy gendew himself lays particular stress upon the dissyllable) M. Le Bacon Duresnel (admirably acted by Darnell/ riche Fabricant qui va au bal chez le Ministre. rears have elapsed since the first act, and Athly°,.: is high in the confidence of M. Le Barou, having made him a handsome present for brew' ing off the match between Arthur and the grisettet promises him 100,000 franca if he can induce f rt: !! thur to marry Inez de Ribera. the rich Sean heiress, whose band Las been promised to him, °if and who is coming to Paris under the guardiansbiP ° M. Marcos. Athanase promises to do so, but the Ili mite is not so easily performed. Arthur, having' heat, of the suicide of Clothilde for love of him, is attacked 'II a brain fever, from which he only recovers to remain a state of incurable melancholy ; he has vowed eter,,ace fidelity to the memory of othilde, and will, ;,i hear of another marriage. His father, enraged, de/e'r st that if he will not marry Int z, Athanase shall, ant to Athanase he will leave his whole fortune. The t 8 00 of Athanase are now changed, and he urges ?Phis Arthur the great virtue of fidelity to the memory oir it parted love. Arthur, however, consents to see 011ie and ,on being introduced he is struck b, ~ is likeness to Clothilde. Still he cannot believe this la 15 Clothilde. He has an interview alone with her, !nil rapidly falling in love with her when the intervreali interrupted by Athanase, who desiees to speak isle Arthur alone, and who suggests that Cint—ast may still be living, inasmuch as her body rata never been found, and that, probably, I‘`„saiol; had abducted her for the purpose of about the march with Inez. Arthur determines: oe faithful to Clotbilde, but Athanase, seeking to Itlar`aett surance doubly sure, suggests that Inez has another " lilt and produces a gage d'amour which he had found in bsti possession. It is a gage d'amour which Arthur id, given to Clothilde. The mystery is reveit,ri• Clothilde, the grisette, and Inez L ate here are the same ; and the lovers, bits'made happy, while Athanase is obliged to content haa self with his 100,000 francs, and the hand of Sera!, ,to to whore he hail promised marriage two years bein;ililo secure her services in sowing discord between Clot Do and Arthur. The acting of Madame • oche, both 'isle Grisette and L'Heintiere was most artistical--si"iP eatti po' isle-al—pathetic. yet net forced, but beautifully 013)pa ; her Clethiltie was a perfect ttiiaolin She was admirably supported by Rh.zavil, and by Dereehret, wh its Mireoa had but lane t;,ll'e but did that little exeelaitly well. Plunket as al" ease, was an exqui..de snob (we use the t, rat ''llsibePali stalsedlt ), and Dam, ry and L Baron was the Vl' It ideal of a parvenu. It was preceded be Use Fero Quarante rinse, and sueceseied by Etre Aims, ou in both •.f which Meeemoiseile Martelieur was evselbill lier Majesty and his Rot Highness Prince ri et' aonoured the theatre by their presence, and theorist foemances were by express desire. The roysi lob arrived towards the conclusion of the first. piece', „,too her Majesty awl Prince Albert paid the utmost euttt Lion to La Grisate it L'Heritiere, and seemed r, psr folly into the iteerest of the plot. They seemo",i ticularly amused a ith the boasting .f the Baron. t" 04, was often invited to the halls chez le . P avidertiy did full justice to the transeenclaia tale tit Madame Doche. At the conclusion of the pilY' aril applause from the royal box was long-cootinueu 'OO among those who, on the appearance of Doche, in obedience to an unanimous call, effere'es' thehomage of their hearty epplause, not chi lean IV siyeuous was his Royal ll:gimess Prince Albert' • I house was in every part crowded to excess. 5, ..5  Town  of IMMENSE DESTRUCTIoN OF PLANTATIONSef,tI,