The Express.
London, England, 1863-09-09 00:00:00

WORCESTER MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

WORCESTER, TUESDAY.

The formal opening of the festival has come off
with remarkable eclat The elements, though threatening,
have proved as yet propitious, ►nd in consequence there wee
• larger attendance at the first oratorio than has ever been
remembered.

Soon after eight o'clock the cathedral bell summoned the
visitors to early morning prayers at the cathedraL On en-
tering the church the visitor is struck with the wonderful
changes that have been effected in its interior since the
last meeting of the three choirs at Worcester three yean ago.
In that interval the masons, builder,, carvers and gilder'
have had almost satire possession of the build-
ing, and have only suspended their daffy work for
an hour at noon, when daily prayers have been said.
The entire building has been cleansed of its whitewash.
The clustered columns of Purbeck marble have been
[ thoroughly cleaned and polished, and the bosses on the
grained roof have been gilt and coloured. The sum appro-
priated to thine restorations by the Ecclesiastical Com-
mis/mien is nearly exhausted, and whether another grant
will be made or not is at present unoertaio. The Rev. B.
Cattley, one of the minor canons of the cathedral, proposes
to raise some 2,000!. or more by public subscription, for
the pumice of placing in the tower a peal of ten first-clase
bells with chimes, and a great bell, to be equal to old Tom
(smacked), besides a public clock, to be connected with
Greenwich Observatory by electricity. The proposition,
which I. Wended to bear the character of a testimonial to
the Dean of Worcester, is well received by the local nobility
and gentry, and approved of by the dissenting body.
Amongst the noblemen who support it are Lord Lyttelton
(Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire). the Bishop of Woe.
e Ater, Earl 131,am:tamp, Earl of Ooveatry, Earl of Dudley,
Hon. F. Lygoa, lf .P., Sir J. S. Pakiagton, Bart., ALP., Sir
T. K Winningtoe, But, M.P., fox

The Mayor (A. Sherriff, Fnq.), with a large muster of the
corporation and city officers, attended the early morning
service in state. The service was, Outlay in A. and the
anthem, Elvey's, " Praise the Lord, 0 my soul ;" the solos
by the members of the Hereford Cathedral choir, all the
three choirs joining in the service, which was rendered
very effectively, though not approaching the effect pro-
duced by the 400 voices and instrumental under the old prac-
tice. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Wor-
cester, who took for his text Luke rel., 9, " Make to your-
soiree friends of the mammon of unrighteoueness, that when
ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations."
A public breakfast was given at the Guildhall, which was
crowded from end to end by the file of the visitors and
residents. The Mayor (Mr. A. Sherriff), wit's Mrs. Sherriff,
took the head of the table, and among the suede were the
Dec D'Aumale (who hes a seat and estates in Worcester-
shire), the Bishop of Worcester, the canons and clergy, cos-
potation, Lady Diara Pakiegtoe, Au The repast was a
most sumptuous one, and at the close, the Mayor having
given the only toast, "The Queen," the company rose and
repaired to the cathedral, where was assembled the largest
company e►er remembered on a ant morning.
The oratorio wens Mendelmohn's which being now
almost as well understood as Handel's Messiah, becomes
every year more popular. The " cast" was pretty much the
same ashes been customary at these festivals, with the ex-
ception that the treble and tenor solos were gives to the
second principals in the OM part, a change not for the beat.
Whether from this or what other came, certain it is that
the second part of the oratorio was decidedly the more
perfect performaoce, and this may be said without
any reflectkm upon either Madame fflierringtoo, Mies
Palmer, or Mr. Wilbye Cooper. We may say at the
outset that the choruses acquitted themselves admir-
ably. The mast striking features in this morning'. per-
formance were the rendering of the fine song, " Hear ye,
braid," which *peas the second part ; Mr. Weiee's delivery
of the air, "It is enough ;" the lovely air, "O me in the
Lad,• by Madame Sainton Dolby ; the quartet; "Holy.
hely ;" Mr. Sims Reeves's " Then shall the righteous ;" the
trig "Lift thine eyes ;" and the quartett, "Cast thy bur- ;
des," whit always please. The trio and Madame Swinton ;
Dolby's sceg were repeated by desire of the President (the
Bishop of Worcester), a practice much to be reprehended I
ea a robs, and never more so than is a dramatic piece like
Shia; the coetieuity of which is broken by this injudicious I
system.

- The collection at the doors of the cathedral on babel( of
the chanty to-day animated to the large awn of 33.11.
lla. 2d. ; which included a fioeskos of 601. from Lady
Emily Foley; 50 guineas by Mr. F. Lying (Loadoo) ;
2M. 9d., the dividend from Gleuesstir ; 341. by the
ceiparatioe ; and SW. by Mr. Admen, Y.P.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE LAST LETTER OF THE GERMAN
PRINCES TO THE KING OF PRUSSIA.
Before separating, the late assembly of princes at
Frankfort addressed the following letter to the
King of Prussia, together with the acts of the Con-
gress :
Very august and very poweefal prince,—ln pram* of
the letter in which your Majesty oo the 20th of August
deigned to reply to the invitation which we, princes end
representatives of the Free Towns assembled at Frankfort,
have felt it necessary to %dares to you, it is impossible foe
as to separate, now that our deliberations are concluded.
without expressing anew to your Majesty our very lively
regret at having been deprived of your personal ocepent.
tion in the great work which we have undertaken. We
like, however, to hope, after the assurance which your
Majesty has given that you will always take into serious
consideration all the comrnanicatioes which your ooefede-
rates may address to you, that we shall'end by arriving at
a happy common understanding. Enclosed is the plea of
German federal reforms as it has been framed after oar de-
liberatioca. All animated by the spirit of German
concord, and prepared for every samilice, we have
completely agreed upon this plan, and we would
consider it as a happiness for all of us, and for sll
our peoples, if your Majesty, our powerful and well-
disposed ally, should come to a decnion by means of which
Germany, thanks to the unanimity of her sovereigns, would
obtain a salutary reform of her constitution on the basis of
federal right. We avail ourselves of this new and im-
portant occasion to renew towards your Majesty the as-
suranee of our sentiments as faithful allies.
Francis Joseph ; Maximilian ; John Charles, Prince
Royal of Wurtemburg ; George Rex, Frederick
William, Grand Duke of Meckleaburg ; Frederica'
William, Elector of Haw; Bernard, Duke of
Saxony ; Eased William, Duke of Brunswick ;
Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse. By delegation :
Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Anhault ; Peter,
Coned Duke of Oktinbourg ; F. Gunther, of
Soh wortaburg ; Adolphe, Duke of Naomi ;
Henry LX VII., Duke of Reuss (younger
branch) ; Gunther, Duke of Schwartzburg-Souders-
henna ; Adolphe George, Priam of Schaamberg.
Lippe ; John, Prince of Licbteostein ; Dr. Boek,
Burgomaster of the Free Town of Lubeck ; Dr.
Muller, Burgomaster of the Free Town of Frank-
fort ; Dackwits, Burgomaster of the Fore Tows
of Bremen ; N. F. Haller, Burgomaster of the
Free Town of Harahan.
Frankfort, Sept. 1.