A fire broke out on the 21ith January in the
Petit Chateau of Gotha, the residence of Duke Alexander of Wurtemberg. With some difficulty, the Dutchess, who was in her bedroom, escaped with her life. Jewels, paintings, and other valuables to a large amount, were consumed or lost.
There have been large fires at Antwerp, Dresden, Namur, and Arras, and a slight one in the theatre of Toulon. A letter from Frankfort mentions that the reigning Duke of Nassau lies dangerously ill. The Duke is one a the wealthiest individuals in Europe. The Fenice Theatre at Venice was opened on the 26th of Decetn. ber, to an immense and delighted audience. It is described as a most magnificent building, and the decoration is rich and noble beyond con• ception. The Italian Opera company of Paris resumed their performances on Tuesday night, at the Theatre Ventadour. The house was crowded ; and, notwithstanding the indisposition of Tamburini, the opera, I Pa. was well performed. The performers, Lablache, Ruhini, Grisi, &c. were loudly applauded on their entrance respectively ; and in a few minutes they and the audience appeared to have recovered from the recollection of the recent calamity. It was apprehended that those excellent musicians would have been beard to disadvantage in this house, because of its defect, described by the word sour& (and which, by the way, characterized also the late Theatre des Italiens). To a certain, but not an important extent, this anticipation proved but too well founded. The remaining two months of the Italian Opera season will nevertheless prove attractive.—Paris Correspondent of the Times.
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