honour. And without going into a minute account of her musical tours on the Continent, it is sufficient to say, that after haying repeatedly visited Vienna, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and other cities in the Teutonic portions of the Continent, she appeared in England in the spring of 1847. During that summer and two succeeding ones, she sang in London, and most of the chief places in Great Britain and Ireland. Everywhere her triumph was complete. Each succeeding year her popularity became, if possible, greater.
At first, and for several years, Miss Lind sang in the theatres,—in the great operas of Meyerbeer, Donizetti, Verdi, Mozart, Mendlessohn, Rossini, etc.,—and was scarcely more distinguished for her singing than her acting. Since the year 1849, she has preferred to sing in concerts, avoiding theatrical performances—for which she has long had an increasing repugnance—and laying her strength upon the choice morceaux of the best operas, such as the Sonnambula, Korma, Der Freyschutz, Camp of Silesia, La Figlia del Regimento, Ernani, Don Giovanni, etc. This course enables her to introduce the beautiful national songs of Sweden, in which her inimitable powers appear to as great advantage as in the most scientific pieces; and also to control with more ease her own movements, and command with more certainty the company which she would prefer. It is probable that this course she will exclusively pursue, as long as she continues to sing in public. These concerts, regulated as she will have them regulated, together with some of the best Oratorios, evidently furnish what her purity of heart and of life prefers and demands; nor can she desire greater success than she has hitherto found.
Early in the year 1850, Miss Lind made an engagement with Mr. Barnum, to visit the New World, and allow the people of the great republic the enjoyment of listening to her voice. Miss Lind was to sing one hundred and fifty nights, under Mr. Barnum's direction, for which she was to receive one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and half the actual profits of every concert, in addition to this stated salary of one thousand dollars per night Moreover, Miss Lind was accompanied by a female friend, a secretary, and two servants; a composer and pianist, M. Benedict, at a salary of twenty five thousand dollars, was provided to assist her, and the barytone Giovanni Belleti, was also engaged, at a salary of twelve thousand five hundred dollars: all expenses of the voyage from Europe, travelling and personal in America, of this whole party, were to be defrayed by Mr. Barnum.
Miss Lind reached New York, September 2nd., 1850. Her first appearance before an American audience was at Castle Garden, September 11th.; about five thousand persons were present; the receipts amounted to nearly thirty thousand dollars, of which about ten thousand belonged to Miss Lind, as her portion of the net profits. Of course, Mr. Barnum obtained an equal amount
It is not possible to give here a sketch of her artistic progress through the United States; she visited Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Charleston; thence went to Savannah; and returned in February, 1851, to New Orleans, where her triumphs of song exceeded, if possible, any she had before attained. One predominant trait in Miss Lind's character is her benevolence, and this, as some insinuate, has contributed greatly to her popularity. It is strange other great artists do not "affect this virtue if they
