I was getting very anxious about the arrival of Scalchi, who had never yet appeared in New York, and who had lately been singing in Rio Janeiro and at Buenos Ayres. It was not until the 20th November that I received notice of the sighting of her ship, the _Plato_, from Rio Janeiro, which at length arrived on the 24th, after a tempestuous voyage of twenty-two days. The vessel had been laden with coffee, hundreds of boxes of which had been thrown overboard to lighten it. Provisions running short, the passengers had mostly to live on biscuit and coffee, so that Mdme. Scalchi on her arrival was in a very feeble state; and in lieu of going down to the Academy to rehearsal, as I proposed, took to her bed and remained there for nearly a month. I was almost daily in attendance upon her. Early in December I was within a very close shave of closing the theatre. The opera announced for the evening in question was _William Tell_. At about four o'clock I received a doctor's certificate from Mdlle. Dotti, who performed the principal female character, notifying me that she had been attacked with diphtheria. I therefore had to set about to find a substitute, having decided to give the opera anyhow. Shortly after a notification came from Mierzwinski, the tenor, who was also indisposed, though after a deal of trouble he promised to go on and do his best. I was, however, compelled to change the opera to _Lucia di Lammermoor_, as the lady who had undertaken to replace the prima donna in _William Tell_ was in such a nervous state. There was no time for a rehearsal; I therefore decided to give _Lucia_ instead. On the notice being sent to Mdlle. Laura Zagury, the soprano, she informed me that although _Lucia_ was in the _répertoire_ she furnished me on her engagement she had never sung that _rôle_. The opera therefore had to be changed to _Aida_. Orders had just been given to the various departments as to the scenery, dresses, music, etc., when the news came that Mdlle. Rossini, whom I had counted upon for the principal part, was lying ill at her house in Fifth Avenue. I now changed the opera to _Rigoletto_; but Mdme. Zagury was not ready with the part of "Gilda," and absolutely refused to appear. _Les Huguenots_ was next announced, it being now half-past five. Everything was set in motion for the production of that opera, when Mdme. Fursch-Madi declared her inability to assume the part of the heroine, as she had taken some medicine, believing that her services would not be required until the early part of the following week. Thereupon an attack was made on Mdme. Savio, who, however, regretted that she was unable to appear as "Valentine." Nothing was left but to try _La Favorita_; but Signor Ravelli, who had just finished a _Carmen_ rehearsal, declared it would be utterly impossible for him to sing the _rôle_ of "Fernando." Then Minnie Hauk was sought for; but she was saving herself for her appearance in Brooklyn on the morrow, and distinctly declined.