Henrietta, or the Servant of Greenwich,” the subject being suggested to him by the adventures of two ladies of his acquaintance who had mingled with servants at a fair.  The music was confided to three composers.  The first act was given to Herr von Flotow, the second to Herr Burgmuller, and the third to M. Deldeves.  The ballet had such a remarkable success, and Flotow was so delighted with the plot, that he entreated St. Georges to rewrite it for an opera.  The latter consented, and the result of their collaboration was the appearance of one of the most popular operas which has ever been placed upon the stage.

The scene of the opera is laid at Richmond, England, and the time is during the reign of Queen Anne, though the Italian version places it in the fifteenth century, and the French in the nineteenth.  Lady Henrietta, an attendant upon the Queen, tired of the amusements of court life, contrives a plan to visit the servants’ fair at Richmond disguised as a servant-girl, and accompanied by Nancy, her maid, and Sir Tristan, her somewhat aged cousin, who is also her devoted admirer.  In the first three scenes their plans are laid much to the disgust of Sir Tristan, who is to pass as John, while his fair cousin masquerades as Martha.  The duet between the ladies ("Of the Knights so brave and charming"), and the trio with Tristan, are in dance time, and full of animation.  The fourth scene opens in the market-place at Richmond, where the people are gathering to the fair.  Thither also resort Plunkett, a farmer, and Lionel, his brother by adoption, whose parentage is unknown, and who has no souvenir of his father except a ring which has been left for him, with instructions to present it to the Queen if he ever finds himself in trouble.  Lionel tells his story in an aria ("Lost, proscribed, an humble Stranger”) which is universally popular, and the melody of which has been set to various words.  They have come to the fair to procure help for their farm.  While the sheriff, according to law, is binding the girls for a year’s service, Plunkett and Lionel meet Martha and Nancy, and are so delighted with their appearance that they tender them the customary bonus, or “earnest-money,” which secures them.  Too late for escape, they find that they are actually engaged, and they are obliged to drive away with the young farmers, leaving Sir Tristan in despair.

The second act opens in the farm-house, where the four have arrived.  The farmers inquire their names, and seek to find out what they can do, testing them first at the spinning-wheel.  The spinning quartet ("When the Foot the Wheel turns lightly”) is very gay and full of humor, and is one of the most delightful concerted numbers in the opera.  The brothers soon find that their new servants are useless, but they are so pleased with them that they decide to keep them.  At last Nancy, in a pet, kicks her wheel over and runs off, followed by Plunkett.  Lionel, left alone with Martha, grows very tender to