The Press. — London, England, 1853-06-25 00:00:00

pianist, and played with much expression. He seems a fine•grown lad for his age (12 years). We shall have occasion before the end of the season again to refer to the performances of this society. COLOGNE UNION. THE members of this society gave their last concert on Tuesday, and the conclusion of their admirable and instructive performances gives us the opportunity of offering a few remarks upon the subject of vocal music, which, made with sincere honesty of purpose and intended to remedy a crying evil, will, we trust, be received in a right spirit by those persons to whom they principally have reference. We think there can be no question but that the merit of the Cologne Union consists in the wonderful precision of their intonation, and the readiness with which they obey every motion of the conductor, rather than in the good voices of the singers and the expression which they impart to the music they per form. They are, in fact., a set of musical automatons who, at the will of their instructor, move in any given direction with incredible certainty and excellent effect. Still, in perfect part singing, there is something more required than the qualities for which this company is so pre-eminently remarkable : many vocal writings require to be felt as well as sung by every individual performer, and in this respect the Germans seem to us greatly inferior to our own countrymen. If proof be required, we can with con fidence refer to the last meeting of the Choir Benevo lent Fund in Westminster Abbey, or the performance of the music in St. Paul's Cathedral on the occasion of the Duke of Wellington's funeral, as illustrating what may be accomplished by a body of men and boys, who, although unacquainted with each other and strange to their conductor, by their intelligence, self. dependence, and musical knowledge produced, without rehearsal, a result far superior, not only in quality of tone but in musical expression, to anything we have heard from the Cologne company. If, however, the truth of these observations be admitted, the question may then be asked, how comes it that the performances of the Cologne Union have caused such a sensation in Lon don? If the merit we have already acknow ledged them to possess be no sufficient an swer, we will further reply, that the audience which has attended these concerts has been almost exclusively what the newspaper slang calls "fashion able," a class of society which, generally speaking, exhibits more ignorance on the subject of music than any other in existence. Their musical education is almost entirely foreign; they are taught from their infancy to despise everthing English ; and the manner in which they run after novelty is most injurious to art. Should they have a fancy to hear part music, let them give a trial to the compositions of the English school, and if these fail to please we will unconditionally surrender our position. The con certs given by the highest classes in this country have long been a reproach to their order. There is neither meaning nor gratification in bearing a series of hacknied Italian songs, shorn of their orchestral accompaniments, and *Alen sung in a slovenly manner. Our hope is that we may live to see some improvement effected in this particular fashion, and that the Eng lish glee, madrigal, and catch, the perfection of vocal chamber music, may not for ever be allowed to lan guish unnoticed by those whose duty it is to foster and encourage the music of their country. Mr. Benedict's annual monster concert, which took place on Wednesday last, was most fully attended. Bach's triple concerto for three pianofortes, performed by Miss Goddard and Messrs. Benedict and Hiller, was a great treat to lovers of good music, and ap peared to give more satisfaction than any other piece in the programme. A duet of Spohr's, for violin and tenor, was most admirably played by Messrs. Stanton and Vieuxtemps. If we could find the heart to part with the greatest violinist in Europe, we could almost wish that M. Vieuxtemps would become exclusively a tenor--player. Certain it is that scarce anybody we ever heard could so effectually give out the difficult passages from this instrument with which the duet abounds. Madame Viardot, in a new piece of Balfe's, showed her wonderful powers of vocalisation to great advantage; and a host of other artists, good, bad, and indifferent, contributed their talents to amuse and instruct an audience which sat with the utmost patience from two o'clock till half-past six. tortign Artistic gossip. 'AWLS= rivalry has lately manifested itself among the continental entrepreneurs to ',store to the scene the old but classic dramas of a bygone generation. Some time ago the Paris Opera Comique exhumed with silecess Oretry's Fite rillageoise. Nestor Roqnsplan is preparing the Fermata= of some of the best piano of the French stage. Spohes Faust was performed in Munich on June 12, after an unmerited oblivion of six years. The new version was chosen in which the author transformed the dialogue into re citative, and added several new pieces. Mozart's Elopement was to follow immediately. Roger made his dibut, on June 6, in Boildieu's Dame Blanche. The celebrated romance of Balzac, Le Lys dams la Vallhe, has been performed at the Comidie Franeaise by Barriers and Beauplan. The first representation was a success, though several excisions were ordered by the (now) defunct Ministry of Police. The prin cipal parts were filled by Judith, Maillard, Mlle. Denain, and Sarah Felix. The critics speak with great eulogium of the rigorous exactitude of the cos tumes belonging to 1816. At the Odeon, Ponsard's Honour and Money has reached its hundredth performance, with an increas ing success. Jules Janin's Ane Mort has also fur nished to M. Barriers the subject of a vaudeville, which was performed at the Gaietk on Saturday last. Alboni is expected back from the United States, where she is said to have earned s million of francs without having diminished in magnitude. But the news of the week is the resolut on of Mme. Ugalde to abandon the opera for the vaudeville, following the example of poor Jenny Colon. Johanna Wagner made, last week, her debut at Frankfort in the part of Romeo in I Capuletti. Jullien is organising a musical expedition for America. He will cross the Atlantic with an army of musicians. For this tour he has engaged several Belgian artists, who have almost all been attached to his band, or to some of the theatres in London— Muille, Pluyser, Ds Prins, Stenebrugge, and Reichert. The history of the latter is a complete romance. Some years ago he was a beggar, going from street to street with a bad flute. Some dilettanti remarked his talents, and began with buying him another in strument, on which the poor fellow practised day and night. He afterwards became a pupil of the Musical School in Brussels, and one of the best living flau tists. Some days ago he sat as s judge in a musical competition between Fetis, Mme. Pleyel, De Beriot, and Servais. An interesting discovery was made some time ago at Geneva, that of an unknown fragment of J. J. Rousseau's " Speech on Richessea," addressed to a young man (Chrysophile), and which has just been published. M. Pozzoli, chancellor to the Austrian consulate general at Beyrout, has collected the necessary mate rials for the publication of a new and exact map of Mesopotamia, indicating with great exactness the distance between the different localities, the ways of communication, ,ecc., which circumstance makes it of great importance for trading purposes. The exhibition now open at Liege is becoming richer every day, and attracts a great many visitors. Among the 209 exhibitors we may cite Paul Dela roche, Hubner, and Koehler (the two last from Dusseldorf) ; Machelbach and Beckers, for historical pictures; Chauvin for portraits; and Lapito for landscapes. An interesting exhibition is to take place at Berlin next year of the most remarkable artistic productions during the last 25 years, the period of the renaissance of the arts in Germany. The Government has already conceded the necessary authorisation, and invitations will be sent forthwith to all German countries. Francisco Sainz, the most celebrated Spanish living painter, a pupil of the Nestor of Spanish painters, Jose de Madrazo, died some days ago at Madrid, aged only 90 years. Pont Print anb• Ciig FRIDAY EVENING. The state of the Money Market during the week may be compared to that peculiar calm in the atmosphere which is a sure prelude to a storm ; in what manner it will burst en tirely depends on the solution of the Eastern question ; and, therefore, without pretending to speculate on an event which a few days may now decide, we will merely state the actual position of the Money Market, and the probable manner in which it will be influenced. There can be no doubt that vast masses of money are waiting for in• vestment, for although the minimum rate of the Bank is 3i per cent., the hanks, both private and joint stock, are so tull of money that they are lending it on short bills of exchange and on call at 21 per cent. In the Stock Exchange money is not worth more than 11 per cent., and such is the demand for Stock on the part of the public that the jobbers are borrowers of Stock for short periods. The result of this state of affairs, should peace be pre served, must be a considerable rise in all funded railway securities ; even in the event of a rupture, so long as France and England remain united, we do not apprehend a very considerable decline ; for so long as Australia and California continue to supply gold inthe present ratio, and as our whole monetary system is based on the quantity of gold in the coffers of the Bank, we can hardly imagine a state of things in which the supply will not exceed the de• mend, and consequently the rate of money will not rise above its present rate for some time to come. -- - - If any embarrassment arises it will be caused by Mr. Gladstone's financial scheme (so far as the conversion part of it goes) having for the present totally miscarried; and as the matter now stands, in consequence of the holders of South Sea Stock having resolved to take money instead of stock, Mr. Gladstone, or his successor, will have to provide, before the next budget makes its appearance, for the paying off of dissentients to the extent of 8,200,0001. ; to this may be added 2,700,000/. Exchequer Bills which the holders declined to renew. It will be well for Mr. Gladstone to ponder on his posi tion, as it is to the failure of his conversion scheme that the rise in the rate of interest by the Bank of England is to be attributed ; for the Bank, being entirely fettered in its operations by the working of its absurd charter, is obliged to make provision for the wants of the Govern ment,—wants which in the event of war would be attended with the utmost embarrassment to both Government and the public, for not only would these dissentients to the conversion scheme have to be provided for, but, unless Mr. Gladstone raised the rate of interest on Exchequer Bills, the holders would, at the time of renewal, demand to be paid otf. We fully expect, therefore, that Mr. Gladstone will apply the surplus revenue for the next quarter in extinguishing the Exchequer Bills sent in for payment, the Bank, in the meantime, making such advances as the Government may require. Mr. Gladstone's plan is only calculated for a state of the most profound peace, and indeed we very much question either the policy or the practicability of reducing the whole debt of England to a two-and-a-half per cent. stock, for people will endeavour, and for many years will be able, to employ their money in America, Canada, and in foreign railways, at a higher rate ; and we question the wisdom of driving them to invest in foreign lands that capital to which we are indebted for our present proud financial posi tion. We would far sooner seek to reduce the debt by converting it into terminable annuities than drive the capital out of the country by reducing the interest too low. The transactions in the funds during the week have been very limited, but the market has shown great steadi• ness and firmness, Consols closing this afternoon 9of j. The market for foreign funds and railways, both English and Foreibm, closed this afternoon very firm, in conse quence of a telegraphic despatch announcing that the French funds have risen to Tit 20c. The closing quotations will be found below. PRICES CURRENT. DEMON FUNDS. Closing Prices. OFFICIAL QUOTATION. 3 per Cent. Consols .... Ditto for Account 3 per Cents Reduced .... 31 per Cents Long Annuities Rank Stock, 7 per Cent India Stock,lol per Cnt. Exch. Dills, Id. per diem India Bonds, (1,000) 98 99 101 51 2281 1. pm. I 984 99 104 51541 229 Belgian 44 p Ct. Ditto 2i Brazilian 5 Du. New 44 Buenos A) res 0 Chilian 0 Danish 5 Ditto 3 Dtch. (Ex 12 Guil )21 Ditto 4 French 3 Granada Deferred Greek, red — .129. pi Du. blue IdexlcW► 3 Wed. — DO.Account 3 Peruvian 4} Portuguese 5 Ditto 4 Russian 5 Ditto 44 Sardinian • 5 Spanish 3 Do. New Deferred 3 Ditto (Passive) .. Venezuela 94 9 9 9 99 101 e bi 224 I. pm I 98j 99 101 5i 2210 12s. pm! 26 I Wed. ' Thurs. i 56;1 851 - 1171 102 94 281 28 $4 - 117 i 102 t 104 - 95 94 24 24 THE PRESS. SATURDAY, An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Nth Victoria, cap. 92 for the week ending lin Saturday, the 18th day of June, 1853. BANK OF ENGLAND. ISSUE DEPARTIIENT. Notes issued 532,110,905 I Govermui £32,115,995 BANKINO 1)1 Proprietors' Capital /14,553,000 Rept Public Deposit's 4,015,A31 Other Deposits 13,174,519 Seven Day A; other Dills .£36,764,927 • Including Exchequer, 'S lindens! Debt, and Dividend Debt . $11.015,100 Other Securities .. 2,964,900 Gold Coin .t Bullion 18,096,641 Silver Bullion .... 19,154 131,115,99 :PsirstExv. Government Secu rities (including Dead Weight An.) n 3,123,910 Other Securities 1:1.700,971 Notes Gold & Silver Coin 519,E11 £36.764.927 isaivuers of 99 91 999 101 102 929 2291 !2s. 6b. pm I 28 Friday. rN FUNDS. ri. j Tuc, 103 i 106 tosi C 5 Ud 105 851 66 98 190