The Press.
London, England, 1854-02-04 00:00:00

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impersonation in this case is not so evenly sustained
as usual ; and, moreover, that the assumption of
gruffuess and violence was hardly strong enough to
justify the nickname which gives the title toh
the play.
It was quite clear to us that Mr. Robson ad not
sufficiently considered the part of the faithful David
ti make it tell upon the audience in its proper lighis
t.
In spite of his great and deserved popularity his
gentleman has still much to learn, and he must not
allow his career of success to interfere with that
due application and incessant study which are indis-
pensable to create an artist. Miss Marston, who was
very nicely dressed, looked and acted Charlotte Hen-
derson exceedingly well ; and the parts of the two
young men were more than adequately represented by
Messrs. Leslie and Vincent.
-----

Pusit.

TIIE PURCELL CLUB.
IT is seldom that we have passed so pleasant an
evening as on Monday last, when we were honoured
by an invitation to the annual dinner of the Purcell
Club at the Albion Tavern. According to custom,
the evening was spent in the performance of portions
of the great master's sacred and secular works, the
programme being as follows :—", Anthem Praise
the Lord' (six voices) ; Anthem, My beloved spake
"
Motett, 'Jehovah quam multi ;' Opera, King Arthur.
It is impossible that a more judicious selection could
have been made for the purpose of impressing a
stranger with a just idea of the power of this extra-
ordinary musician and genius. The anthem " Praise
the Lord" was new to most of those present. This
composition is intended for both voices and instru-
ments, and, though the vocal portion is powerfully
written in six parts, it contains a bass solo (sung
with great effect by Mr. Whitehouse, of Windsor)
which, for sublimity and pathos, may rank with the
best efforts of any composer that ever lived. The
opera King Arthur is too well known to require
elaborate criticism. We shall content ourselves with
saying that the most successful songs were, "Come,
if you dare," sung by Mr. Benson ; " I call ye all to
Woden's hall," sung by Mr. Foster; " How blest are
shepherds," snug by Mr. Montem Smith ; and " The
frost scene," sung by Messrs. Smith and Lawler. It
is impossible to speak too highly of the manner in
which Mr. Turk accompanied the music. Without
this gentleman's knowledge, taste, and energy, the
Purcell Club would hardly be in its present satisfac-
tory condition ; and we fully agree with the chair-
man's assertion that he is indeed, as organist of
Westminster Abbey, the worthy successor of Henry
Purcell. Long may the Purcell Club flourish, and
may its constitution and results prove an incentive to
the English public to support the efforts of native
composers and artists, and to English artists to for-
get their differences and support one another. We
must not omit to mention that a print of Purcell,
after the picture by Chesterman (in the possession
of the Royal Society of Musicians), has just been
published by Messrs. Colnaglii, and was exhibited on
Monday night. It is engraved in mezzotint by Mr.
Zofel, and is one of the best specimens of modern
art that we have yet seen. No lover of music ought
to be without a likeness of this great man.

THE. PRESS.

Enitnrsitg Ptciligenct.

OXFORD.
A SCHOLARSHIP ON THE CRAVF.N FOUNDATION iS DOW
vacant. The election will take place on Tuesday next, the
7th inst.
A DELZOACY was appointed on Tuesday to. consider
the question of erecting a museum, with articular re-
ference to a proposal for constructing a building surround-
ing three sides of an area, which should be covered in and
applied to the purpose of a general museum.
.CHE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF ST. JOH Nf
'S
fi COLLEGE
have voted the sum of 1,4001. for the purpose olling t
remaining windows in the chapel with stained glass.
DU RHAM.
The following degrees were conferred on the fast ult.
3f.A.—Rev. Henry Frederick Long, BA., Bishop Hat-
field Hall ; Rev. Francis Frederic Walrond, 8.A., Bishop
Hatfield Hall.
B.A.—William Hall Richmond, University College ;
William Henry West, University College; John Rand,
University College.

Vontg Varittt an/a Citg lattiligtatt.

FRIDAY EPLNING,
WE have still to report a favourable market. First-
class bills of moderate date have been discounted at
4 per cent., and the rate for the ordinary run of bills
is 41 to 4 per cent.. It is evident that the Bank of
England can obtain but few bills at 5 per cent ; and
although it would be imprudent, in the present state
of the political world, for the Bank to lower the rate
of discount, it is perfectly clear that if peace is pre-
served the Bank will immediately do so. The
arrivals of bullion this week amounted to about
400,0001.—the exports to about 200,0001.
Such is the state of the Money Market that insu-
rance and other large public bodies have invested
largely, as we anticipated they would, in Three-and. a
Quarter per Cents. and Three per Cents. Reduced.
The consequence is that these stocks have risen to
more than Consols. We have pointed out more
than once that these stocks were cheaper in propor-
tion than Consols, and the result is, they have been
selected for investment.
One company has purchased about 350,0001. Re-
duced and Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents., and no
doubt they will be selected for investment, so long as
they are cheaper in proportion than Consols. It is
stated that about 1,500,0001. has still to be invested
on the part of the South Sea dissentients. Consols
have been very scarce, and as much as 1-16th has
been paid to obtain them for immediate delivery, and
they have fluctuated between 901 and 911, and finally
close 911 4.
Such is the demand of the public for stock, and
so large the investments on the part of the South
Sea dissentients and other public bodies, that the
effect of the suspension of diplomatic relations be-
tween Russia and England, and the departure of the
Russian Ambassador, was positively to create a rise
in the market; so that, in the struggle that has
been going on between the "Bulls" and "Bears,"
hitherto the investors on the part of the South Sea
dissentients have beaten the speculators, who have

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