The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MARCH 27,1858.

it is associated with purely polemical feelings on
religion. There is no doubt that the cruelty of
Romanism (when left without a check) was
hideously manifested by the revocation of the
Edict of Nantes ; and the historical lesson is taught
that even the modified Popery of " Gallicanism " is
almost as severe as the most thoroughgoing sort of
Ultramontanism. Mrs. Thompson has a lucid and
vigorous style ; and we think that her talents would
appear to advantage on purely historical subjects.
Her descriptive are greater than her imaginative
powers, and she has n9t relieved the sombre points
of her psintul subject with light sketches charac-
teristic of la belle France. Even amongst the
Huguenots there was much of the brightness of
mind and joyous levity of spirit which are indige-
nous to French society. Some gay characters of
the courtiers of the time might have been introduced
with great advantage.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.—MutcH 26.
BOOKS.

The Old Palace. By Julia Tilt.

A Lover's Quarrel ; or, the County Ball. By the Author of
"Cousin Geoffrey." Three Vols. Hurst and Blackett
The Education of the People. By James Augustus St.
John. Chapman and Hall
A New and Complete Course of Studies of the Freno Lan-

gunge. Longman
dEschylus. Whitaker and Co'
Transactions of the National Association fur the Promotion

of Social Science, l 8 7. J. W. Parker
God's Acre ; or, Historical Notices Relating to Churchyards.
By Mrs. Stone. J. W. Parker
The Catechism of Positive Religion. By Al. Congreve.
Chapman
Exercises, Adapted to the New and Complete Course of Gram-
matical and Idomatic Studies of the French Language.
Longman
New Friends. J. W. Parker

A Collection of Sacred Poetry. Edited by Lady Charlotte
Maria Pepys. Rivingtons
The Law of Sinai and its Appointed Times. By Moses
Angel. W. Tegg and Co.
Schooldays of Eminent Men. By John Timbs, F.S.A.
Kent and Co.

LIT it s i r.

INAUGURATION OF ST. JAMES'S HALL.
THINGS move rapidly in the present day, and people
who like to keep pace with the time must be on the
alert. If some quiet man living a country life and
reading no newspapers were to walk down Bow-
street in this present month of March to have a look
at the new theatre, he would see a huge pile of brick-
work without a roof; and if any one were to tell him
that in May next he might come and hear an opera
there, he would go home with a good story of an im-
pudent cockney who had tried to make fun of him.
But if he had seen what has been actually done in
St. James's-hall during the last fortnight, his ideas
would undergo a certain process of enlargement, and
he would leave off telling his good story.
On visiting this new music-hall about ten days ago
we found the interior half filled with scaffolding,
carpenters laying down the flooring, and the west end
a mere chaos of poles and brickwork, where work-
men were erecting the rough shell of an orchestra,
the very iron beams of which, we were told, might
have been seen two or three days before lying in Pic-
cadilly. Last Wednesday evening we were favoured
with another view, and at eleven o'clock left the hall
in possession of innumerable painters and gilders,
who were giving the finishing touches to the decora-
tions ; the floor was covered with piles of sofas and
benches, upholsterers were hard at work stuffing
cushions, carpenters building up the seats of the
orchestra, and an army of workmen from Gray and
Davison's fixing the rudiments of a large organ, the
pipes of which covered the floor in hundreds. Within
four and twenty hours the doors were thrown open,
and the public admitted to a hall as well arranged,
comfortable, and trim as any room in London.
The opening concert on Thursday was for the
benefit of the Middlesex Hospital, and was honoured
by the presence of the Prince Consort, and a large
number of noble patrons and lady patronesses. A
selection of sacred music, including Mendelssnhn's
" Hymn of Praise," was performed by the Vocal
Association, under the direction of Mr. Benedict,
supported by an excellent orchestra, containing many
of the best instrumentalists at present in town, and
assisted by Mine. iludersdotff, Mrs. Weiss, Miss
Stabbach, Miss Dolby, Mr. Lockey, Mr. Montem
Smith, Mr. Santley, and Mr. Thomas, as principal
vocalists. The Prince Consort arrived at eight
o'clock, and was received with the National Anthem,
the solo verses being sung by Mme. Ruderadorff and
Mrs. Weiss. The programme commenced with the
" Hymn of Praise," a work too well known to need
any description, and far too well appreciated to need
any commendation. lime introductory symphony, on
the whole, was well played, some parts extremely
well ; but the execution of the vocal portion left
much to be desired. We could have wished for

greater steadiness on the part of the chorus, greater
clearness, a better quality of tone, less slovenly and
ragged execution, greater spirit; and for the solo
parts, with some exceptions, better vocalists. Mme.
ltudersdorff sang with feeling, as she always does,
and without exaggeration, which she does not
always; but her voice is sadly worn, and what is
left of it is not under command. Mrs. Weiss's voice
is fresh, but her method is imperfect, and her taste
questionable. Mr. Lockey's taste is good, and his
voice, though badly produced, not unpleasing ;
hut in declamatory music, what is to be
done by a singer who cannot get beyond
a mezzoforte? Mr. Montem Smith was the least
successful of all. To intrust so difficult a task as " W e
called through the darkness " to so in.Aperienced a
singer was a great mistake ; and to expose to injury
music of such beauty almost unpardonable. Mr. Mon-
tem Smith has au inferior voice, weak in the upper
notes as well as the lower, and of bad quality through-
out. He has so little art in the management of it, that
no one note will bear the slightest torce without losing
all its roundness, and becoming hoarse and rough.
His style in singing this particular air was a sort
of schoolboy imitation of Sims Reeves. We do
not blame him for his voice ; lie would, no doubt, be
glad to exchange it for a better. Nor are we very
cross with him for his style ; a good style is not ac-
quired in a day. But if he is to be a singer, surely
he might learn the management of the voice. Good
masters are rare, it is true, but not extinct. Yet all
these faults could not destroy the interest of the
music ; and the wonderful passage, " The night is
departing," produced much of its usual effect. There
is nothing finer than this in the whole range of
music; no amount of repetition lessens its beauty ;
it seems to send a visible thrill through the coldest
audience.

Handel's Coronation Anthem, " The King shall
rejoice," opened the second part; net the Corona-
tion Anthem, but one of those less known : it may
often be beard in the cathedrals, but is seldom met
with elsewhere. It followed close upon the "Hymn
of Praise," and the contrast was a very strange one,
not favourable, and indeed not fair, to Handel.
Nlendelssolin's piece is one of his best, and Handel'
one of his weakest; or rather, dryest, for the word
" week" has nothing to do with Handel. There is,
of course, as in all his music, the firm step, the
strong pulsation, the vigorous flow of animal life,
strangely different from the consumptive melan-
choly of Mendelssohn, the beauties of whose music
come all from the mind and the defects all from the
body. But the phrases of this anthem sound trite
and hackneyed ; it seems written altogether with the
hand, without a motion of the mind, the mere pro-
duct of ceaseless practice and a matchless fluency.
We do not say Handel had no mind—we are guilty
of no such ridiculous absurdity ; we only say that in
this particular work it is not strongly felt. Spohea
melodious, but rather monotonous, cantata, " God,
Thou art great," followed, in which the duet by Miss
Do'by and Mr. Lockey was the best piece of singing
which occurred du&ing the evening. Cherubini's
quiet, scholarlike " Benedictus " was neatly sung by
Mrs. Weiss, Mr. M. Smith, and Mr. SAntley, and
formed a pleasant preparation for Marcellu'a hearty
old Psalm, "I cieli immensi narrano," which was
excellently well sung by Miss Dolby and indifferently
well by the chorus. Mozart's " Ave Verum
and Beethoven's Hallelujah, from the Mount of
Olives, completed the programme. As far as we
could judge from one position, the hall is well
adapted for music ; 01 the organ we must hear more
before giving an opinion. The audience seemed de-
lighted with tho beauty of the buildinz, and at the
conclusion of the concert, the architect, Mr. Owen
Jones, was loudly and perseveringly called for.
After some delay he appeared for a moment in the
orchestra, and was received with the warmest accla-
mation. It is worthy of note that at this firs%
concert there was not one encore—an admigable
precedent, which we hope will be strictly aA-
hered to.

A concert of secular music took place yesterday
evening for the benefit of the same excellent insti-
tution.

THE number of coLcerts given in Paris during the
past fortnight has been prodigiously large, but few
of these have obtained real success. Amongst the
few may be cited the last two of Madame Szatvadyr
(formerly Wilhelmina Clauss), which came oft its
Pleyel's rooms. In the course of this, the fair
pianist executed in the most brilliant manner, and
with that expression which no other publio performer
possesses in so eminent a degree, selections from
Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, Scarlatti, Heller,
Chopin, and Halkar. She, as usual, drew forth
hearty applause from a crowded and distinguished
auditory. It is, we learn, certain that iu Use
course of the season Madame Szarvady will give
concerts in London. Here, her success will no doubt
be as great as in Paris and in Germany, for not only
has her reputation extended thus far, but she has
already been applauded more than onoe by our musioal
world.

A VIEW OF LUCKNOW is about to be exhibited at
the Panorama in Lii3ester-square, painte 1 by Mr.
R Burford and Mr. H. C. Salons, from drawings by
Mr. Bland flood Gaßand, a gentleman in the civil
service of the East India Company. The sketches
were made shortly before the outbreak of the late
revolt, and are taken from the Residency, which,
being situated on high ground in the centre of the
city, is probably the bost point from which to obtain
a panoramic view. We have thus before us the
landscape over which the besieged garrison cast
anxious glanees for so mtny months ; below are the
gardens and outbuildings whieit ware the scenes of
those struggles which all Eur Te watched; in the
distance is Alumbagh, where were mustered the
relieving forces of Havelock and Sir Colin Campbell,
and wher, a few days after the final rescue, the
former closed his career.- But, apart from these con-
siderations, the picture is well worth seeing. A more
beautiful Oriental city titan Lucknow can hardly ba
imagined ; the mosques and palaces are numerous
and stately, and the country thickly covered with
magnificent trees. The Gootntee, upon the banks of
which the city stands, is a fine broad river, and its
picture-quo windings among the distant hills add
much to the beauty of the landscape. The pano-
rama is adthirably painted, and both front its own
merit and the interest of the subject is well worth a
visit.

Pull Markt aa4 cEtty.

FRIDAY EVENING.
THE return of the Bank of England for the week
ending Wednesday last, the 21th inst.. shows the
following changes compared with that for the week
preceding:--

Increase in Circulation
Increase in Public Deposits 1,110,235
Decree4e hi Other Deposits ....
Increase in Securities
Increase in Bullion ..
Increase in Rest 2.61t3
Increase in Reserve

Bullion in both Departments
Ciretildtiou, including Bunk Post
Bills

The principal event of the week in the Money Market
has been the official announcement of the East India
Loan. By the bill, which received the royal assent on
Monday. the Compal ly are empowered to borrow 8,110d,00111. ;
hut, in the first instance, tenders are invited for only
5,(►J0,0('01. for a period of the years, the power of going
into the market for the. remaining 3,410,0001. being re-
served to meet contingencies. The 5,000,0.101. is to be
raised on Debentures of the respective amounts of 1,001/.
and 5001. at four per cent. per annum, payable half-yearly
in April and October. The tenders, which are to be sent
in on or before the Ist of April, are to be for sums of not
less than 50001., and they are to state how much will he
given for every 101. of the loan. The payments are to
be spread over six months, the last being on the lifilt
September : but those who so desire may pay up in full,
and they will be allowed a discount at the rate of three
per cent. per annum upon the anticipated payments.
At present, none of the leading firms hive opened sub-
scriptions fur the load, and it seems probable that it will
be taken up by private capitalists. The price a' which
the chief buldings are considered likely to be made, will,
under present circumstances, be probably from 93 to par.
The EngliA Funds, though very quiet, have been steady
and firm at slightly better quotations than could be obtained
this day week.

Consols, which last Friday left off at 96i exactly, Un-
proved in the course of the week to 97, and this morning
they opened at 97i and closed at 97! to t.
Foreign Securities have generally been quiet; but some
ileaeriptions have obtained an improvement, especially
those of the Peruvian Government.

The Board of Tillie Tables for the month ending Feb-
ruary t?.t3, were issued yestenlay. They show that in that
month the falling off in our exports compared with the
rn.‘ntli of lebritsrv. 1537, amounts to no less than
9...tQ1,t3311. The retinetion is spread over all our articles
of export, and no doubt a portion of it is due to lower
price.l as well as diminished quantitit-s.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.
Tuesday, March 23.

BANKRUPTS.—EDIF RD Pole, Rea ling, Berkshire, tea
dealer and grocer —Twomts TAYLOR, Halifax, earthenware
dealer—Jorra Povrran, Gut eborough . Yorkshire, grocer—long
FOROE, Barking, Essex. &ail ID/DDIV-4110MAII PHIPPS THOMIS,
Crown-coust, Threa !needle-tweet, auctioneer WILLIAM
ROWELL, NI•WluIl Bushell, Devonshire. saddler—Moulin
Wct.t.s. Lancashire. tea de iter—TH.tx %a JOHN
Rows, LiverpoJl, nierehant—lttcarato WeLLON, Wollerhaurp-
soh,
SCurCH SEQUESTRATIONS.—J. Wti.sos, Machin, tin-
smith- -Mrs. P DAVID, Forres. inkeeper—J. ArtoEttsqx. Aber-
deen. fArruer—MAKEY. HoLoasr, and Co.. Unwise, ties spinners
..--lAL7THLRLAND and Co.. Caithness, merchants—J. HOBLETS
and .os. ti,Liashrers ....notacturers—C. GyNNINo. Greenock

W vrr, GI +snow, grocer —J. Bnows, Perthshire,
cattle dealer—W. NUEwtv. Blackford, wright—Rev. J °Von-
nos. Inverary. Aberdeenshire, Ro.oan Catli.rhe clergyman.
Friday, Afarrh 26.
'II.OM II PTS. --T now W trrs, Tottenham, Callen deter
Tion ot W. Ilrxr. flick street. Whiteehapel. grorer—F:owtan
Lams and Justice I.awlalrki 4bl-street, ReirY'ehow, trrocero-
JORN DALILS and BRNJiMIN DALE*, Oeurge-street, Westmin-
ster. builders--Watillat C. OAR sad CHARIAS H. SNOW
Nand/coed Farm. Dorastalkirs, bankera--Saawsi. naafis,