The Press. — London, England, 1855-01-13 00:00:00

JANUARY 13, 1855. and judicious selections of fine music, and he most heal - tily deserves the support that he meets with. The Beethoven festival takes place on Tuesday evening next. MR. SALAIIAN'S MVSICAL LECTURES.—On Tuesday evening Mr. Charles Salaman delivered at the Mary lebone Literary and Scientific Institution the first of two lectures on the pianoforte and its precursors, treating upon this occasion the keyed-stringed instru ments which preceded and originated the pianoforte. The lecturer began by tracing the origin of this class of instruments, deducing them from the stringed in struments in use among the Greeks and Hebrews, and illustrating his remarks by means of diagrams. lie then gave an account of some of the instruments used in the middle ages. Coming down to more modern times, he described the clavichord, the virginal, and the spinett, instruments which continued in use till the latter part of the eighteenth century. On the subject of the virginal he gave many interest ing details. It was fashionable in England for several centuries, and was, in particular, the favourite instrument of Queen Elizabeth, whose "Virginal Book." or manuscript collection of pieces written ex pressly for her use by the greatest composers of that day, is still preserved. One of those pieces " The Carman's Whistle," with variations by the famous William Byrde, Mr. Salaman performed on a virginal, one of the rare specimens of the instrument still in existence. Its tone was weak but very sweet; and Mr. Salaman's performance of this quaint and diffi cult old music delighted the audience, and was warmly applauded. After describing the spinett—an instru ment which people of the present generation may still remember in old houses, played upon by old ladies who considered (as old ladies and old gentlemen, too, di still) music in a state of degeneracy and decay— Mr. Salaman proceeded to the harpsichord, the im mediate precursor of the pianoforte; a noble instru ment, possessed of powers even now not to be despised. He was enabled to bring before the audience Handel's own harpsichord; a fine instru ment, made by Ruckers in 1651, belonging to Messrs. Broadwood, and kindly lent by them for this occasion. On this instrument, on the very keys which had been touched by the hands of the mighty master, Mr. Salaman played some fine morceaux from the harp sichord pieces of Handel and Domenico, Scarlate, including the exquisite a r with variations known by the name of the " Harmonious Blacksmith." His performance was admirable, and was warmly ap plauded by an audience among whom there were many eminent professional musicians and amateurs. He then spoke of the principal French and German masters of the harpsichord ; Couperin, Mondouville, the illustrous family of the Bache, and Paradies, the last of the race. The second lecture, on the in vention and development of the pianoforte, will be given on Tuesday next. Ott glrama. HAY/LARK:CT.—LittIe 80-Peep improves very much upon acquaintance, and may, on the whole, be con sidered about the best pantomime brought out. Perhaps the rarity of seeing a pantomime at all at the Haymarket may enhance its value, but few can deny the excellence of the present production. The introductory burlesque is a pretty little story, and Irry elegantly arranged, with its arcadie.n scenery and its beautiful grove of golden laburnums mellowing away in a vista of gorgeous clusters to the cool reflections of a far distant fairy lake. And then the fairy conservatory, a most exquisite combination of fairy architecture and fairy splendour as has ever been put upon the stage. The succeeding panto mime is also well and handsomely got up, the tricks and transformations are excellent, particularly one, when a party in a drawing-room one moment seen sitting on the couches and chairs, are in the next transferred to the family carriage, just leaving the door of the house. It is one of the cleverest tricks exhibited at any house this season. Miss Lydia Thompson is the most charming Bo Peep, and her sheep, it is said, cost more than the more saleable specimens are wont to, and Mr. Barnes is one of the best of Pantaloons. ADELPHL—Mr. Charles Selby's version of the French drama Satan, entitled the Mysterious Stranger, rid which, though for many years a favourite stock piece at the Adelphi, has not been played for some time, was revived on Monday evening last. The story, it will be remembered, is of a young lady who, being under a deep debt of gratitude to a fashionable Parisian of modern times, and finding him surrounded by a troop of false friends, and about to contract marriage with a woman who esteems him for his fortune only, adopts an extraordinary mode of saving both his heart and his pocket. She feigns to be the mysterious Origin of Evil, bound to him by a contract made years ago in a fit of youthful desperation, and in this character she assumes a number of disguises, through all of which he recognises his dreadful ally, though he does not penetrate the secret that the supposed fiend is a THE PRESS. maiden of strong resolution and gentle sympathies, until he is fairly rescued from all the dangers that hover about him, when he is but too pleased to marry his avowed benefactress. In representing the suc cessive personages assumed by the pretended fiend, Madame Celeste displays talent of a most versatile kind. Now grave and oracular as the Evil One him self, though attired in a dress of the newest fashion ; now a halt-witted boy, who deceives and defeats a gang of thieves in a cellar of the Cite; now the belle of a ball room, she aptly changes her character with her dress, and is not least interesting when, casting off every disguise, she steps forward, loving and amiable, as the avowed protectress of the imprudent youth. Mr. Keeley, as a footman firmly imbued with a belief in the supernatural, and equally impressed with a deep regard for "number one," which occasionally over balances his attachment to his master, has a good part, which he renders highly comic by the easy, natural manner with which he combines several attributes into one personage. Mr. Selby is the fop of the piece, and acts with that obvious sense of self-enjoyment which always gives a charm to his most eccentric personations. For the heartless fair, in whom personal appearance is everything, an ade quate representative is found in Miss Wyndham, and Mr. Leigh Murray is a very excellent hero. ST. JiatEs's.—The wittiest and hest burlesque may be said at the same time to belong this theatre. Abon Hassan (a hero of the Arabian Nights) is a young Bagdad merchant whose mind is full of false ambition, and for inciting which a fairy, Equanocta, is found guilty by a jury of sister fairies and con demned to be banished from fairyland until she re stores his mind to its even level once more. His restoration leads of course through the gratification of his wishes; when, being made caliph and expe riencing the cares and troubles of state and persecuted by political troubles of every sort, his ambition is so satiated that he longs once more for the quiet happi ness of his home, and Equinocta, having now earned her pardon, is restored to fairyland in a briliant con cluding tableau. The piece, set off with good acting and excellent appointments, is yet, per se, so full of capital puns, brilliant and ready wit, and the most lively and laughable dialogue, that it would command the most unlimited success almost without these ap purtenances, but with them it is one of the best and wittiest extravaganzas of the season. The Lady of Lyons, with the usual cast, has been performed during the week. PRINCESS'S. The Courier of Lyons and The Stranger have been performed during the week atthis theatre, while Blue Beard still nightly attracts numerous visitors. OLYMPIC.—The comedietta of A Wife's Journal has been performed during the week, and The Yellow Dwarf has been followed by the Blighted Being, in which Mr. Robson appears as usual. dultsiasfual. PREFERMFNTS AND APPOINTMENTS. The Rev. Henry Ideeres, M.A., to the Vicarage of Rolvenden. The Rev. Herbert James, M.A., to, the Vicarage of Goodne stone. Kent. The Rev. W. W. Stockdale, M.A., to the Rectory of Witchling, near Sittingbourne. The Rev. Robert H. Poole, M.A., to the incumbency of St. Thomas's Church, Leeds. The Rev. Charles Septimus Grubbe, M.A., to the Curacy of St. John's Church, Lacey-green, Bucks. VACANCIES. The Vicarage of Marton-in-Cleveland, near Middlesborough; worth 2001. a year; in tne gift of the Archbishop of York. The Senior Mathematical Mastership of Bobtail Hall School, Fleetwood; worth 2001. a year; and is open to Wranglers of the University of Cambridge. The Curacy of Bramley, near Leeds; worth 1001. a year; In the gift of the Rev. James Dickson Dixon, M.A. The Assistant-Curacy of St. Matthew's Church, Bettina'.-green; worth 901 a year. The Curacy of Pulloxbill, Bedfordshire ; worth SOL a year ; In the gift of the Rev. George Smith Drew, M.A. Itt Arntg. WkR-OFFICE, JAN. 0. 7th Royal Fuailiers—Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown, 1i.C.8., to be Colonel. 36th Regiment of Foot—Lieutenant-General William Henry Scott to be Colonel. 77th Regiment of Foot—Lieutenant•General George Leigh Goldie, C. 8., to be Colonel. 66th Regiment of Foot—Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Gordon, Bart., to be Lieutenant-Colonel, without purchase; llrevet•Major George Maxwell to be Major, without purchase; Lieutenant John Walker to be Captain, without purchase ; Ensign Richard Thomas Hughes to be Lieutenant, without purchase. _ RHAVIT. Brevet Colonel John Heneege Grubbe, on retired full pay of the 66th Foot, to be Major-General in the Army, the rank being only honorary. In consequence of the death of Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Goldfinch, and the retirement upon full pay of Major-Generals Calder and M. C. Dixon, a vacancy having occurred upon the effective hat of general officers of the Royal Engineers, Colonel Tb.ornas Blanchard to be pro moted to be Major-General. The following officers of the Royal Engineers, who have been permitted to retire upon full pay, to receive a step of houoniry brevet rank, via.: To be Major-Genersla.—Colonel William Henry Slade, Colonel Janies Conway Victor. WAR-OFFICE, Jan. 12. 6th Regiment of Dragoon Cruarda—Steff-Sureeon James Pritchard Moline to be Surgeon. 2nd Dragoons—Jones Brainier Dunbar, Gent., to be Cornet, without purchase. 9th Light Dragoons—Surgeon Jobn Harry Ker lutes to be Surgeon. 11th Light Dragoons—Cornet Charles Ley King to be Lieutenant; Henry Fraser Dimplele, Gent., to be Curuet, without purchase; Robert Arthur Brooke, Gent., to be Cornet. 17th Light Dragoons—Lieuteuant W. J. P. Watson to be Captain; Cornet George Heblethwayt Lutton Boynton to be Lieutenant. Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards—Captain George Robert Fitzßoy to be Lieutenaut. end Captain, without purchase; Lieutenant James Alfred Coalfield to be Lieu tenant and c a.ptelu. let Foot—Lieutenant John Aleeander Chrystie to be Captain. To be Lieutenaute without purehube--Eusigus Albert Seagrim, F. J. Ponsonby Hill, Sherlock V. Willis, Duncan C. Brock, James Creagb, Joseph H. Fawcett. 6th Foot—To be Lieutenants without purchase--En signs F. Hedworth Williamson, A Bower St. Cleir, /nun Connell. Ensign John Joseph Grinlinton to be En sign. To be Ensigns—John Wolaeley Fetheraton-Baugh, Gent , John Clarence Boyce, Gent. 7th Foot—Lieutenant Li. W. Wallace Carpenter to be Captain. Tu be Lieutenants without puruhese—Enaignit James Francis klickie, Napier D. Rubinson, Edgar John Disney, Honourable Edward FitzClareuce. To be Eesigns —James Kennedy M'Adam, Gent., John Emilius Elea, Gent. 9th Foot—To be Lieutenants without purchase—En signs Thomas Taylor, Charles James Burton, Monies Reliant. William Augustus Elinhirst, Greet., to be Ensign 11th Foot—Assistant-Surgeou Peter Divorty, M. 8., to be Assistant-Surgeon. 13th Foot--Quartermaster-Sergeant Thomas Hoban to be Ensign, without purchase. 14th Foot—Assistant-Sugeou William Kelnian Chal mers, M.D., to be Surgeon. 17th Foot—To be Lieutenant without purchase—E9- signs H. Adolphus 11. Versturme, Frederick Archibald Macreight. William Henry Parker, Gaut., to be Ensign. loth Foot—To be Lieutenants without purchase—En sigu Jacob Francis Bryant, Welter Blake Burke, 'Dumas Durand Baker, and William Kemp. To be Asostent- Sugeon—Acting-Aseistamt-eurgeon Andrew Semple. 19th loot—tusigia Thome, Thompson to be Lieut., without purchase; George I'orbee, Gene, to be Ensign. 20th Foot—Lieut. William Henry M'Netill to be Cap tain without purchase ; Ensign Vv'elliegton Mitchell to be Lieut., without purchase. To be Eusipa—Heary Wor maid Mason, Gent., William Young, Gent. 21st Foot—Brevet Al ejur Johu Henry Cooke to be Cap: ton ; Lieut. F. It. E. Burnside to be captaie, without pur chase. To be Lieuts. without purchase--hoeirpie Janus Gregorie M`Donald Tulloch, Thomas /alnico, Mweintrey Fowler, Stanislas li. B. St. Clare, T. bluebell Ii U .14y, Thomas Coakley. To be Ensigns—Thomas Herons Green, Gent., Robert O'Halloran clay, Gent. • 2Srd Foot—Ensign Charles Grantley Campbell Norton, to be Lieutenant, without purchase; Boscawen Trevor Uridith, Gent., to be Ensign. 24th Foot—Captain Charles Frederick Gibson $o be Car taro ; Lieut. Hilliion Douglas Hall Baillie, to be Captain ; Ensign John kleury Arrant to be Lieutenant. 28th Foot—To be Lieutenants without purchase-- E. S. R. Smyth, John Godfrey Day , Francis lirodigif= Alfred Steward, Frederick A. Ilagenis. To be Ensign — Alexander Lyon Emerson, Gent. 30th Foot—Captain Thomas Stevenson to be Captain. To be Lieutenants without purchase--Ensigns top J. H. Tolcher, George Phipps Prevost. 33rd Fout—Lieut. W. IL. Parry to be Captain. To be Lieutenants without purchase—Lieut.Julin Trent; Ensigns Charles Whateley Willis, Arthur Edward Augustus Ellis, lion. Raymond H. De Montmorency. 34th Foot—Tymeen Sowley Holroyd, Gent., to be Ensign. 39th Foot—Lieut. E. Beauchamp Matinsell to he Cap- Lain, without purchase; Willem Henry Palmer, Gent., to be Ensign. 40th Foot—Ensign Charles Francis Brooke to be Lieu tenant, without purchase. 41st Foot—To be Ensigns without purchase—Lieut. William Henry Gardner Cornwall ; Combo Lewis Fur longe, Gent. To be Ensign—Stanley Robert Robineue Smith, Gent. 42d Foot—Lieut. John Drysdale to be Captain, witholle purchase. 44th Foot—Lieut. Win. Fletcher to be Captain, withone purchase. 47th Foot—Eneign Edward Croker to be Lieutenant, without purchase; Charles Van Reuen Conway-Gun/ye, Bent., to be Ensign, without purchase. 49th Foot—Lieut. John Thomas Cook to be Ensign, without purchase. 60th k oot--Lieut. Roderick Maingy Murchison to be Captain, without purchase; Ensign Thomas Denote Lee to be Lieutenant, without purchase. 56th Foot—Assistanteleurgeon Wiliam Deoble to be Surgeon. 60th Foot—Captain Edward Parker to be Captain. 63rd Foot . --Ensign B. A. Y. lienyou to be Lieutenant, without purchase ; Alfred Grey, Gent., to be Ensig n, With out purchase; George Walli ng ton Clutterbuck, Gent., in be Ensign, without purchase. 66th Foot—Assistant Surgeon Thornton Marshall to bO Surgeon. 71st Foot—Lieut. R. C. W. Stuart to be Captain, with out pun-hese. To be Enaign--Artbur kindersley Blair, I