27 MARCH 1841, Page 14

The English Opera still seeks to court half-price visiters by

foreign frivolities. On Thursday we endured the pain of seeing WILSON, the most manly and unaffected English vocalist, condemned to Mimic the finikin airs of a French gallant, in an English version—we cannot call it an adaptation—of a prurient piece of intrigue from the Opera Comique, entitled The Matrimonial Ladder ; the same which was played at the Olympic under VESTRIs'S management, with the title of the " Ladder of Love." Miss GOULD sang very nicely, and played very prettily, the part of a peasant-girl dressed as a court lady ; and DuatrsET grimaced with great gusto. But all would not do : such things are alike unsuited to English talent and to English taste ; and to attempt them is only proclaiming the inferiority of our artists in a worthless kind of entertainment, in which excellence is scarcely to be coveted. Keolanthe is still attractive ; and the performance of every part is im- proved to the utmost precision and smoothness.