"Signor Rossini was seated between Mdlle. Mars and Mme. Pasta. M. Lesueur, placed exactly opposite to him, had Mme. Colbran Rossini on his right and Mdlle. Georges on his left; Mmes. Grassari, Cinti, and Denuri sat next to these. MM. Talma, Boieldieu, Garcia, and Martin were in the midst of this group of elegance and beauty. All the arts, all the talents, were represented by MM. Auber, Hérold, Cicéri Panseron, Casimir Bonjour, Mimaut, Horace Vernet, &c. "When the dessert was served, M. Lesueur rose and gave the following toast--'To Rossini! whose ardent Genius has opened a new path and formed an epoch in the art of music.' "Signor Rossini replied by this toast--'To the French School, and to the prosperity of the Conservatoire.' "M. Lesueur then gave--'Gluck.' "Signor Garcia proposed--'Gretry! the most sensible and one of the most melodious of French musicians.' "Signor Rossini then gave--'Mozart.' "M. Boieldieu offered his toast in the following words--'Mehul! I see Rossini and the shade of Mozart applaud this toast.' "M. Hérold proposed--'Paisiello! Full of ingenuity and passion, he rendered popular in all parts of Europe the Italian School.' "Finally M. Panseron (for M. Auber) gave--'Cimarosa! the precursor of Rossini.'" With this the proceedings were brought to an official close and an unofficial commencement of others, which were doubtless continued into "the sma' wee hours." In the January of 1824 the Garcias returned to England once more, for we find the following announcement made in one of the London musical papers-- "The Italian Opera (King's Theatre) is to open towards the end of the present month. Signor Rossini is engaged as composer and director of the music: he is to superintend the performance of his own operas, and to produce a new one. The engagements both for the opera and the ballet are upon a liberal scale. Among these are-- _Mesdames_--Ronzi di Begnis, Colbran Rossini, Pasta, Vestris, &c. _Signors_--Garcia, Curioni, Franceschi, Remorini, di Begnis, Porto, &c. _Conductor_--Signor Coccia. _Leader_--Signor Spagnoletti. _Poet_--Signor Vestris. _In the Ballet will appear_--Mme. Ronzi Vestris; Mdlle. Legras, Mdlle. Idalise Grener, Mdlle. Noblet; M. Albert, M. Charles Vestris, M. Ferdinand, &c. _Principal Ballet-master_--Mons. Aumer." The season opened on January 24 with "Zelmira," a new opera conducted by "the universally fashionable composer of the day, Signor Gioacchiso Rossini."