"Donna Anna" Madame Pauline Viardot. "Donna Elvira" Madame Rudersdorff. "Zerlina" Madame Persiani. "Don Giovanni" Signor Badiali. "Leporello" Signor Rovere. "Commendatore" Signor Marini. "Masetto" Signor Insom. "Ottavio" Signor Naudin. The evening prior to its performance I met Mr. E. T. Smith, who horrified me by saying that in order to "strengthen up the bill," it being his benefit, he had added _The Waterman_, in which Charles Braham would play "Tom Tug," and moreover, introduce into the piece a new song dedicated by Mr. E. T. Smith to the Metropolitan Board of Works, who, said Smith, with a knowing wink, were "a most useful body." I paid no attention to this at the time, thinking it was only a joke; but on looking at the _Times_ newspaper on the day of the performance, I found that the announcement, as communicated to me by Mr. E. T. Smith, had really been made. The performance, too, of the _Waterman_, with the introduced song, was really given. I waited with interest to see what the newspapers would say as to my closing representation. Only one paper mentioned the performance; and it confined itself to stating that _Don Giovanni_ had been played the previous evening "by a body of singers whose united ages amounted to nearly 500 years." Mr. E. T. Smith, the manager, had made money by our season; and he remunerated me very handsomely for my labours. In the meantime, notwithstanding the phenomenal success of Mdlle. Titiens at Her Majesty's Theatre, Mr. Lumley's difficulties had been constantly increasing; and Her Majesty's Theatre now closed, never to open again under his management. CHAPTER II. INJUNCTION AGAINST THE BIRDS ON THE TREES--DRURY LANE SEASON OF 1859--DÉBUTS OF VICTOIRE BALFE, MONGINI, AND GUARDUCCI--MY CONTRALTO MARRIES A DUKE--THE DUKE AND DUCHESS AT NAPLES. EFFORTS were now made to obtain the lease of Her Majesty's theatre, but it was so entangled with legal difficulties that it was resolved, on my advice to remain another year at Drury Lane. I therefore set to work to secure a very powerful company for the London season of 1859. During the latter part of 1858 the baritone Graziani had called repeatedly upon me, stating that as Mr. Gye had not renewed his engagement, and as there were some arrears outstanding, he was very desirous that I should engage him for the forthcoming season. After lengthy negotiations, some time during the month of March, 1859, I signed with him, and added him to the list of artists in the official programme. On the prospectus being issued, law proceedings were immediately commenced by Mr. Gye, who asked for an injunction to restrain Graziani from appearing at Drury Lane.