An excellent correspondent, whom we know to speak upon the
best in- formation, directly contradicts the report that Jenny Lind had been induced M quit the stage by scruples of a religious nature: her religion, we infer, has a wider and stronger faith, including art within its ministering influences. From the communication below, it appears that her reasons are a natural fatigue after great and protracted exertions, and allegiance to that power which is said to conquer all things. It were bad to lose the Nightingale; to lose her as a renegade to art would have been monstrous; to lose her for her happiness is least intolerable.
" Truth, they say, lies in a well.
"The history of Jenny Lind's scruples against appearing on the stage, and of a certain eminent ecclesiastic's connexion with her supposed aversion to her former occupation, would appear to partake entirely of that unsubstantial character yelepW a myth. Stripped of its artificial trappings, the simple, comprehensible
i truth , that Mademoiselle Lind formed the resolution to withdraw from the lyric
stage so long ago as last summer; although, in the interest of the Manager of Her Majesty's Theatre, she forbore to publish that resolution for several months. The motive for its adoption was her desire for an interval of repose, which had been altogether unattainable during her nine years' arduous theatrical labours. Made- moiselle Lind needed rest, she needed recreation: who had a better right to take both, if it so pleased her? Certain of her admirers would have the public take offence that a young artist should frame a wish inconsistent with their pleasure; and they go SO far as to accuse hen of indifference to the fate of the Opera establishment, because she persists in retiring from the boards before her powers are further strained in the service of an art which she has already done so much to promote. I believe it to be &whitely false that Jenny Lind has scruples, either of a pious or any other character, against reappear- ing as an actress. She would do so unhesitatingly if she had not strong motives for giving up the stage; motives which the world now understands to have derived added influence from considerations of a purely private nature, but with which the excellent Prelate so invidiously alluded to has no connexion. Jenny Lind has too deep a feeling for her art to allow any ideas of degradation to associate themselves with it; and if the kind and paternal counsels of the Bishop Were given in confirmation of her resolution to keep aloof from the theatre it was only because his Lordship felt that she was in danger of being persuaded to renounce her genuine desire of retiring from the stage, in behalf of other interests, inferior in his estimation to those of his young protegee. The Bishop had shown that he did not view the theatre as calculated to corrupt her purity, since he and his family had already testified SI. perfect esteem for the singer-actress during the beight of her connexion with it. Repeat,. then, your protest against the ground- less accusation so lightly propagated against the Bishop, of having scared away the Nightingale from us; the truth being, that she had a settled intention of taking leave of the stage for months prior to the reopening of the Operabouse. That there was not a moment when she might be said to water, I will not affirm; hut this velleity towards resuming her former position was overborne by influ- ences to which the public is now no stranger, and in presence of which other per- suasions were naturally powerless. The good Prelate, therefore, must be held wholly irresponaible for the secession of the fair syren; in whose welfare sad per-
son he has, with sif Mach honour to himself, had the courage to avow a cordial concern."
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