Footnote 14: A fracas took place at the Opera on 29th April. The Manager, Laporte, not having engaged Tamburini to sing, the audience made a hostile demonstration at the conclusion of the performance of I Puritani. An explanation made by Laporte only made matters worse, and eventually the Tamburinists took possession of the stage.
Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.
6th May 1840.
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has just received this from Lord John Russell—a most shocking event,15 which your Majesty has probably by this time heard of. The persons who did it came for the purpose of robbing the house; they entered by the back of the house and went out at the front door.16 The servants in the house, only a man and a maid, never heard anything, and the maid, when she came down to her master's door in the morning, found the horrid deed perpetrated....
Footnote 15: The murder of Lord William Russell by his valet, Courvoisier, in Norfolk Street, Park Lane.
Footnote 16: This was the original theory.
Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.
MURDER OF LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL
6th May 1840.