The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-28 00:00:00

PUBLICATIONS REC El VED—Auousr 26.

1300 KS.
Poems. William Tidd Matson. Groomhridge.
Two Millions. William Allen Batler. Sampson I,cw.
Early Ancient History; or, the Ante• Greek Period. Hem,
Menzies. enapman and Hall.
Beatrice Cenci. An Historical Novel of the Sixteenth

Century. F. D. Guerrazzi. Bosworth and Wirrison.
Five Years of It. Alfred Austin. Hop and Cu.
JULTIIeId Grime. Samuel Phillips Day.

PAMPHLETS.

Shakespeare a Lawyer. L sa,,,,,nani—Treatieg bettormi
the Nawabs of the Carnatic and the lion. E. I. Compuoty.
MKildttn—l'he Growth of Russian Power. Hardwicke—
The Equalisation of the Poor's•Rale. liardwicke.

The Photograph Are Jouro.d. Lay.

41U 54.

HEREFORD MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
(Abridged from the Times.)
THE festival which opened on Tuesday at Hereford
is the 135th meeting of the three choirs, which had
their origin in a very humble way—viz., in an agree.
meut of certain musical clubs in the three cities to
meet each other for two days annually (each city
being visited in rotation as at present) for improve.
merit in harmony. The history of the establishment
of these festivals by Dr. Thomas Bisse, in 1721, has
been already given in the coluiuns of the Times,
from Lyson's " History of the Origin and Progress
of the Meeting of the Three Choirs." The following
short passage illustrates the humble origin of the
meetings :
The Hereford Musical Club existed some time before
the annual joint meeting was established. It consisied
mostly of members of the college, who met one evening
weekly, in the hall of the Vicars Choral. The performances
were all gratis, except that of Mr. Woodcock, their leader,
whose nightly pay was rm. Tim members were regaled
with ale, elder, and tobacco. The Lames of attending
members, generally fifteen or sixteen performers, and seven
or eight neu.performers, were inserted in a book, with
those of strangers introduced as visitors. Absentee mem
hers paid a forfeit of (3d., and all tines were applied to the
purchase of music for the use of the club.
These festivals, of which the foundation was formed
in the hall of the Vicars Choral at Hereford, now
form one of the great musical features of the year, and
tourists musically inclined commonly make Wows'
ter, Hereford, or Gloucester their resting.places for a
week in order to hear oratorio music where only it
can bo heard to perfection—viz., within the walls of
such a building as a cathedral, with all the sacred
associations surrounding them. Hereford is ustiollY
the smallest of the three festivals. In the first place,
the capacity of the cathedral itself is more limited thou
that of either Worcester or Gloucester. Then the
surrounding population is thinner, wealth is limited
to the few, and there are no large manutacturiug
towns in proximity. The more recent constructimit
of railways has given facilities for the visit of distabnt.
strangers, but with this advantage it was very dou
resent
ful for some time in the early part of the p
year whether the meeting fur 1858 would not have of
be abandoned. At last, however, a strong list 43
stewards, willing to undertake the pecuniary reolgt
sibility, was obtained. The following are the,U:
names :—The Hon. and Rev. G. Herbert, the Rig!:
Hon. Sir G. C. Lewis, Bart., M.P., the Hon. and Reva.l
jJanbury, Sir Baldwin 14eightont Bari., Sir W. Curs""