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This opera was established here last autumn, and is an attempt 
to transplant this exotic fruit to American ground. It does not, 
however, appear adapted to the taste of the public here; at least 
the speculation of the Italian theatre is not so profitable as was 
expected. The members of this theatre came from the Italian 
opera in London. At their head stands Signor Garcia, a very 
good bass. The orchestra was not numerous, but complete, and 
was directed by a French pianist, Mr. Etienne. Don Giovanni, 
by Mozart, was given ; it was a great satisfaction to me to see 
this classic piece so well represented. At first nothing but operas 
of Rossini were played, but now operas of Mozart are preferred 
to the former by judges in this place. The price has been raised, 
and two dollars is asked for the first tier. The theatre continues 
till half past eleven, when one returns home through well-lighted 
streets. 
As I heard that Governor Clinton was in the city, I hastened 
to pay him my respects, but did not find him at home ; on this 
occasion I again saw how large the city was. The house where 
the governor lived is nearly two miles distant from the City Ho¬ 
tel, without being out of the city. I remarked that since last 
autumn three new churches have been built here, of which one, 
a presbyterian, was very tasteful; since this time also several 
new houses had been erected in this quarter. The number of 
the inhabitants of the city increases exceedingly, it now supposed 
to amount to one hundred and seventy thousand. 
I rode also to the navy-yard in Brooklyn, on Long Island, 
where I paid a visit to the worthy Commodore Chauncy. I 
found him with his interesting family in excellent health, but 
very busy, for he had just despatched the corvette Lexington to 
New Foundland, in order to protect the American fishermen 
against the chicaneries of vessels of war belonging to other na¬ 
tions, cruising about there. I saw also the frigate Brandywine, 
which had returned from the Mediterranean sea, after taking 
General La Fayette to France; she was now undergoing repairs, 
in order to go to the Pacific ocean. A frigate and corvette were 
building. 
I saw also the celebrated chess-player of Kempelen, which, 
with some other curiosities is exhibited by its present owner, the 
mechanician Mr. Maelzel, from Vienna. He is said to have 
already gained much money with it in New York. The auto¬ 
maton represents a Turk, sitting behind the table with a chess-board 
before him. A table with another chess-board stands opposite, 
on which any of the company begins a game of chess with the 
automaton. When the automaton is to make a move, a noise of 
wheels is heard in the table, and at the same time the Turk lifts 
his left hand, which rests on a cushion, opens his fingers, takes 
