The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-06 00:00:00

EN Court.

OSBORNE, JAN. 5.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice,
drove out yesterday afternoon.
Professor Max Muller arrived at Osborne.

The Queen will bold a Privy Connell at Osborne to-
morrow (Thursday).

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, at-
tended by the equerry in waiting, went out shooting on
Monday in the Groat Park. Yesterday his royal highness,
attended by his suite, went oat skating on a piece of water
in the park called "Balaklava," which, since the frost has
set in, has become covered with thick ice. A number of
sledge chairs and an ice-escape were taken from the stores
at Windsor Castle, and conveyed to the ice for the use of
the Prince and suite.

Viscount and Viscountess Palmerntou are ex-
petted to arrive in town shortly from Brom'lands, Hants,
for the season.

The Baron and Baroness Lionel de Rothschild
will retain Kingston House until the end of March, when
it is expected the family mansion in Pimadilly will be in
sufficient condition to receive the family and establishment.

The marriage of Mr. Alexander H. Baring, M.P.,
eldest son of the Hon. Francis Baring, with the Hoe.
Leonora Caroline Digby, second daughter of Lord and Lady
Digby, took oleos yesterday forenoon at St. James's Church,
Piccadilly. _ .

We understand that the marriage of Captain
Brand, of the Coldstream Guards, to Miss Victoria Van
de Weyer, eldest daughter of the Belgian Minister, will
probably take place at Bray, near Maidenhead, on the flat
of this mouth.

The Duchess of Somerset arrived at the Ad-
miralty last night from Netherby, tear Carlisle, the seat of
Sir Frederick and Lady Hermione Graham.

The Right Hou. the Chancellor of the Exchequer
and Mrs. Gladstone and family are expected to wive in
town towards the close of the ensuing week for the season.

MUSIC.

EXETER HALL-THE FRIEND OF THE CLERGY
CORPORATION.

From the first production of the .31,ssiah, more
than a century since, Handel's grand oratorio has been con-
stantly called into requisition in aid of charitable aod bene-
volent purposes. Its sublime strains have effected more
for the relief of distress and the furtherance of philanthrc
pic objects than has been achieved by any other work '
of human art and genius. The total of the rums collected by '
the various performances of the Messiah and appropriated
to good works would form a marvellous item in art
statistics. The came at Jenny Lind, too, has long been as-
sociated with similar philanthropic purposes. From the
commencement of her career of emcees.% this high-minded
artist has devoted much of her exertions, and a large share
of her earnings, with open hand and large-hearted gene-
rosity, to the purposes of charity and benevolence.
The performance of the At cuialt which took place
at Exeter-hall last night, and in which Madame
Lind-Goldschmidt and M. Otto Goldschmidt gave their
services. was for the benefit of the Friend of the Clergy
Corporation, an excellent institution, the objects of which
are to make provision for the widows and orphan daughters
of clergymen, and to give occasional relief to clergymen and
their families when under the pressure of temporary diffi.
coley. Some notion of the good effected by this society
may be derived from the fact that, although founded only
some fourteen years since, it has in that period distributed
between 20,0001. and 30,000/. in pensions—ninety-six
pensioners being now on the funds and in receipt of 3,5001.
per annum, while a sum of 8,200/. :has been bestowed
on clergymen aid their families suffering from sickness or
other unavoidable misfortune. Much as has been done,
however, the demands are still in excess of the means,
Blocs there are now 200 applicants for relief, whose claims
are necessarily postponed from the inadequacy of the funds.
Here then was a noble object fur the exercise of Madame
Lind-Goldschmidt's artistic benevolence, and judging from
the full attendance at last night's performance, and the high
rates of admission, the results must have been largely
favourable to the institution benefited. The performance
of the oratorio was altogether a remarkably fine one, the
band and chorus being of first-rate excellence, and Madame
Goldschmidt being supported by Madame S.iin ton-Dolby, Mr.
Wilbye Cooper, and Mr. Weiss—three artists whose singing
of }feeders music is irreproachable. Of course the chief
interest centered in the performances of Madame Gold-
Schmidt, whose appearances arm now to be principally
limited to occasions like the present, when higher objects
than applause and personal reward ors the actuating mo-
' tivea. Madame Goklachmidt's singing in the present in-
stance was characterised by all that nobility and purity of
• style, and intensely earnest feeling, which have always dia_
tieguished her interpretation of sacred music. The solem.
nity and sublimity of the text and the music, coupled
with the consciousness of the high purpose of
her exertions, seemed to inspire the artist with
• sentiment far beyond that which actuates a
mere personal display or desire of selfish gain. The various
airs allotted to Madame Goldschmidt were all specimeni of
• vocal excellence and noble sentiment, especially "Come
unto "How beautiful are the feet," and " I know
that my Redeemer liveth," which were given with an
elevated feeling and intense pathos that could not be sur.
pawed. The other three solo vocalists were, of course, tho-
' roughly efficient in music which they are so frequently in
the habit of singing. The choruses were given with great
• steadiness and excellent intocation, and were all the better
l for being somewhat fewer in number, and consequently more
select than the exaggerated assemblage which generally con.
stitutes an Exeter-hall chorus. Mr. Goldschmidt is a careful
and intelligible conductor, as was evidenced by the proclaims
' with which bind and chorus responded to his baton ; and
last night's performance of the MeAxiah was is every respect
worthy of the work and of the (=anion. The hall, although

quite full, was not overcrowded, and the arrangements in
this respect were so good as to deserve imitation on other
occsaioes in the mote locality.

Mlle. Patti has arrived in Paris from her engage-
ment at Madrid.