The Press. — London, England, 1854-11-25 00:00:00

1124 Pusit. DRUBY LANE.—During the past week we have had selections from the Huguenots, Euryanthe, Lucrezia Borgia, Der Frieschiitz, Puritani, and Zampa, with some of Beethoven's symphonies, and a novelty called "The Allied Armies Quadrille." It is of course descriptive of the "ferment of war "—military marches, bivouacs, and battles, tremendous con• filets, and shouts of " Victory." It is a piece of " loud " music, and, composed as it is for a double orchestra and three military bands, likely to prove successful and popular. On Tuesday next we are to have " The Beethoven Night," on which occasion the first part of the performance is to he entirely devoted to the works of Beethoven; and we hope that the cruel lacerations his immortal symphonies have hitherto suffered, will be amply made amends for. LONDON SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.—On Monday evening last this society commenced its series of oratorio performances for the season at Exeter-hall. The band and chorus, conducted by Mr. Surman, were on the usual great scale—nearly 800 perfor mers—a number that gives weight without power, though in the Judas Maccabeus the choruses are of that plain, broad caste which are easy of execution, and do not, perhaps, require so much delicate pre cision in their perfomance as the more intricate pas sages of other oratorios. The principal singers con sisted of Miss Birch, the Misses Wells, Mr. Augustus Braham, and Mr. Farquharson. The ball was crowded, and the performance, which was repeated on Friday evening, very creditable on both occa sions. THE SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY will commence the season on Friday evening, December 8, upon which occasion Handel's oratorio of Deborah will be performed. M. Costa continues as conductor, and the principal vocal performers are to combine Miss Dolby, Madame Clara Novelle, Miss Huddart, Herr Formes, and Mr. T. E. Williams, &c. HANOVER-SQUARE Rooms.—The second perform ance in England of Sebastian Bach's " Grosse Pas sions-Musik " will take place at the above rooms next Tuesday. The principal vocalists will consist of Miss Dolby, Miss Williams, and Madame Ferrari, with Messrs. Allen, Walworth, Signor Ferrari, and Mr. Hopkins at the organ ; the performance con ducted by Mr. W. S. Bennett. Two soirees musicales are to be given upon the 30th of November and 13th of December by Miss Dolby, at her residence in Hinde-street, Manchester square. Herr Ernst, Mr. Blagrove, Mr. Benedict, Signor Regondi, and Signor Piatti, &c., are to per form. gimustmtitts. THE PANOPTICON, LEICESTER-SQUARE.—Otte of the prettiest sights to be seen in London is the " Lumi nous Fountain" at the Panopticon. By means of an optical apparatus in the centre of the dome of the building, a ray of light is directly thrown down upon the ascending jet of water that spouts up to the very roof itself, a height of nearly one hundred feet. The effect of this ray of light, with its exquisite variation of colour, from deep crimson to bright viclet and pale green, as it dashes upon the crest of the rising Jets of water, is very beautiful, and the apparent and gradual efforts of the stream to reach the dome are regulated with great skill and effect. Now ascend ing, now drooping, again spouting forth with renewed vigour, dashing aside clouds of silvery spray, that listen in the light; higher, higher yet, it rises in =lons, transparent stream, amidst glittering plets like clusters of falling asteroids of every ing hue—now crimson, now violet, anon purple pale green ; each effort crests the other with aseless and successive growth, till at length, glow ing with dazzling light, the dome is reached; but , in moment, as if exhausted with the struggle , the 11 and graceful palm-like stream sinks slowly down , d dissolves itself beneath a shroud of vapoury ray. The variety of exquisite hydraulic effects, sides those caused by the optical apparatus dis played in this exhibition of the " Luminous Fountain," is remarkable, and tends to produce one of the most lieautiful and successful experiments of the kind that ban been seen. The exhibition also comprises many other objects to interest and entertain the spectator : a series of dioramic and panoramic views of Verona, I't: et. Petersburg, &c., lectures upon scientific subje cts 'ity able professors, and some fine musical perfor piances by the Flugel Horn Union and the grand 'organ are daily given. R O YAL POLYTECHNIC INsTrrtrrion.—A new and in uctive entertainment descriptive of the rise and rogress of America, accompanied by a series of dis lying views of the country, has lately been added the many other popular entertainments that are be found within the walls of this institution. Miss filyn's periodical readings of Shakspeate, a Tyrolese concert of national melodies, and cosmoramic views 'r St. Petersburg, dec., are all excellent in their .-....••••••.••• THE PRESS. way, and are certainly calculated to increase the popularity of the exhibition and of its resident direc tor, Mr. Pepper. BIIITISII INSTITITTION.—TIIO annual exhibition of the works of the students at this institution took place on Thursday last; and although few of the productions were above the usual average merit, yet, on the whole, the result was creditable to the stu dents, and satisfactory as compared with the exhibi tion of last year. Among the most successful efforts, that by Miss S. Staunton of a landscape by Van Der Mer, is remarkable for its unquestionable merit as a copy, in the mellow tone and excellent general effect. Mr. H. Stanley's three studies of the Cuyp, Murillo, and "Female Drummer," from Hogarth, are deli cately and cleverly painted. Of the Cuyp, Mr. Malkin and Mr. Powell have also made correct and judicious copies, though in Mr. Malkin's copy the light in the foreground is too bright ; and Mr. Powell, on the other hand, though spirited and natural in his draw ing, is yet too warm in tone. Lord Warwick's " Guard room," by Teniers, has been copied by a great num. ber of students, and with good success. That in oil, by Miss Lear, displays much power and artistic skill. Where there are so many repetitions of the same subject it is difficult to balance exactly the re spective claims of the students to public mention.; but if there were few to any very extraordinary merit, yet there were none which did not deserve praise. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE. Tuesday, November 21. BANKRUPTS.—WM. WESTON, Chiswell-street, Finabury, boot and shoe agent—HENRY BROOME, Portsmouth, licensed vic tualler—BENJAMlN WORKMAN PEARCE, Bayham-terrace,Camden to en, builder—HENßY JOHNS, Battersea. and Grange-terrace, Brompton, distiller—ROßEßT GRAY, Bishop's Waltham and Southampton, corn merchant—THOMAS BAYS, London-road, Southwark, and Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, miller JosHuA CLEMENTS, Mill-street, Hanover-square, woollen draper BIIIDGER WOOLOER, jun., Deeding, Sussex, wheelwright— THEopHILus BETHELL, Riley-street, Bermondsey, licensed Tic tualler—ANTHowir MADDISON TODD, Clement's-lane, City, mer chant—Wm. PAXON, Queen's-road, Bayswater, corn dealer — GEORGE BASTES, St. George-place, Knightsbridge, tobacconist— THomAs NIGHTINGALE, Broadchalke, Wiltshire, innkeeper— FRED. CARSON, St. Helen's-place, City, and West Ham, Essex, merchant—JOHN CLAY, Wednesfield, Staffordshire. bricklayer— JOHN BROWN, Westbromwicb, Staffordshire, corn factor—JOSEPH Ewe, Bishoptborpe, Yorkshire, farmer—ROPEß DuxsultY, Over Darwen, Lancashire, innkeeper. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Wm. M'LEAN, Glasgow, cotton-waste dealer—JAMEs WALLACE., Glasgow, contractor — FRED. SAMUEL BARNJUM, Portobello, wine merchant—FßANClS EDWARD BARNJUM, Portobello, wine merchant JOHN THOMSON TEI.TER, Edinburgh, working Jeweller. Friday November 24. BANKRUPTS.—ALFRED REYNOLDS, Birmingham, iron-mer chant—CHARLES BRADLEY, Tipton , _ Staffordshire, iron-dealer — BENJAMIN SCEPTRE, Birmingham, builder—FRANCIS AUGUSTUS HATTON, Chesterfield, auctioneer—THOMAS WRIGHT LAWFORD, Tivydail, Carmarthen, market gardener—JAMES BROWN, Mab gate, Leeds, flax and tow spinner—WlLLlAM KEATING STOCK, Manchester, manufacturer of cotton goods—THOMAS HAWORTH and FRANCIS ALSTON, Bury, cotton manufacturers—JAMES HAMMOND, Chancery-lane, City, furniture dealer—JOSEPH BERNSTEIN, Essex-street, Strand, outfitter—ROGEß DUXBURY, Over Darwen, Lancashire, innkeeper—EDwAßD KEMP, Wal wortitroad, Surrey, linen draper—JOHN CLOSE, Stortford, baker —MORRIS ELLIS PEMBERTON, Lime-street, City, merchant — WILLIAM GEORGE SHARP MOCKFORD, Rood-lane, City, mor chant—RICHARD LEwis, Wootton-under-Edge l Gloucester cloth manufacturer—JOHN WHITMORE JONES ,and THOMAS CARRIER, Wolverhampton, hosiers—MAX ESSINOEIL Old Change, City. straw hat manufacturer—EDMUND SHORT, Bland ford Forum, Dorset, horse dealer—GEORGE STOKES, Hereford lodge, Gloucester-road, Old Brompton, boarding-house keeper— WILLIAM H. WOODHOUSE, Woolwich, brewer. Intelligence from Stockholm announces the death in that city of LORD DUDLEY STUART, M.P. for Mary lebone. Immediately after his lordship's arrival in Stockholm, about the beginning of October, he was suddenly attacked with a complaint resembling cho lera, which was succeeded by typhus fever. From this alarming illness he recovered sufficiently, in less than a fortnight, to carry on his extensive correspon dence with almost his usual activity. He had a long audience of the King of Sweden and attended the meetings of the Chambers, where his appearance was observed with lively satisfaction by the majority fa vourable to an alliance between Sweden and the Western powers. But, unfortunately, his enfeebled frame was unable to resist the severity of a climate to which he was unaccustomed. He was attacked on the 11th instant with an affection of the lungs, producing great difficulty of breathing, and, although somewhat better on the 16th, he became worse on the morning of the 17th. He then perceived that his recovery was hopeless, spoke calmly of his approaching end, and expired without a struggle the same evening. IT is now certain that the gallant young Viscount Fitzgibbon, who fell in the charge at Balaklava, is no more. He was the grandson of the celebrated Irish Chancellor, the Earl of Clare, and nephew to the peer to whom Lord Byron was Ko affectionately attached. It is stated in the journals that Viscount Fitzgibbon was an only son, and the grief of his noble parents is naturally increased by the circum stance that there are no junior branches to inherit the title and estates won by the brilliant talents of the first founder of the family. This has been one of the saddest casualties of the war. SATURDAY, 6 arrtspanttnct. 'lr must be understood that the Paass is not Identified with the opinions of its Correspondents, though we invert no communication which does not appear in some way deserving of publicity. The letters of our Correspondents are open to reply. We requiro only that the language of fair discussion ba employed, and that due attention be paid to the facts stated. We beg that no mention way be made of our " ability, in. fluence." Jtc., as we unhesitatingly strike our you through every allusion of the kind.] of St. Pe INADEQUACY OF OUR FORCES IN THE CRIMEA. Sir,—Whatever may be the issue of the present struggle before Sebastopol, whatever may be the suc cess of the allied armies, there is one moral to be de rived from the Russian campaign, which should be indelibly impressed on the public mind ; I mean the cruelty of undertaking great enterprises with scanty means. I am not now speaking of the rashness of such a policy, but merely of its cruelty, and, I may add, its improvidence. If Government chooses to put forth only half the strength i which according to ordinary calculations would be sufficient to attain their object, if ten men are employed to do the work of twenty, the result will be, even in the case of success, that we shall laboriously achieve, with the loss of four out of ten, what might have been safely and quickly accom plished with the loss of two, or perhaps one, out of twenty. It is now easy to see that if Sebastopol had been properly invested—which it never has been—no re. inforcements could have been introduced, and it would have fallen long ago. Had an adequate force been displayed, the Russian general would not have been stung by the disgrace of inaction nor roused by the hope of success to the desperate energy he has displayed since the defeat of Alma. Our men would not have been compelled to bear fatigues almost be. yond endurance, and to expose themselves with a recklessness almost beyond belief. Those among us who undervalued the active and passive courage of the enemy must indeed acknow ledge their error. But the qualities of our own men it was impossible to overrate. All that was expected of them, and far more, they have performed ; and they have displayed the steadiness of Sparta of old, and the stubborn endurance of Rome, united to the daring of mediaeval chivalry. But by their very suc cesses the conclusion I wish to point to is brought out more vividly and distinctly. If we are coolly to calculate on the moral qualities of our troops and their allies, and choose to derive from their heroism the results which (humanly speaking) might be en sured by a proper proportion between the means em ployed and the end desired, our victory can only be obtained by an immense sacrifice of those heroes whom we so greatly overtask. I am far from accusiag the country of want of sympathy with our brave army; on the contrary, in all classes may be observed the warmest admiration of their valour, and the deepest commiseration for their sufferings and losses. It is because the public mind is thus warmed and elevated by generous sym pathy that it will the more readily acknowledge the error that has been committed. To make war on a military monarchy with little more than a peace es tablishment, is an attempt to save the pockets of the country at the expense of the blood of its defenders —an attempt as futile as it it is inhuman. Every soldier who falls in the Crimea (let the oldest calcu lator that ever presided over the Exchequer take his pen and compute) represents a large sum to the public, and the losses of an inadequate force will in mere s. d. exceed the cost of one competent to achieve the objects of its mission. C. LORD ABERDEEN ON THE VICISSITUDES OF WARFARE. TO THE EDITOR OP "THE PRESS." Sir,—" I think it not improbable that many of those who are most eager for war, you may, perhaps, find easily discouraged by those vicissitudes to which a state of warfare is proverbially liable." These words are singularly remarkable, as coming from the Earl of Aberdeen, upon an occasion when he may be said to have directly addressed himself to the people of England in his capacity of First Minis ter of the Crown. As usual, there is mz.re here than ambiguity—there is a double motive and a double meaning. The motive is to show the wisdom of past procrastination and " timides avis," and to deal a blow, " par-dessous main," at opponents ; and the meaning, when closely analysed, is apologetic for self, on the plea of pacific Platonism, and accusatory of antago nists for presumptive cowardice. Unless in the university of Aberdeen the language of England have another and alien signification, the words, " Those who are most eager for war," must mean those who, like the Emperor Napoleon 111., were not disposed to give credit to "the word of a gen tleman " from the Emperor of Russia. Lord Aberdeen did believe the word of an imperial gentleman. He judged wrongly. The Emperor Napoleon and Lord