The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-21 00:00:00

ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

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The first concert of this season, for the exhibition
of the students of the Royal Academy, was given at the
Reliever-square Rooms on Saturday morning. The prin-
cipal article of the programme was a large selection from
Dr. Crotch's Oratorio Palestine," which occupied nearly
the whole of the first part of the concert. This choice, we
think, was not very judicious. Palestine was for • long
time • vastly overrated work; extolled beyond its merits
by our musical authorities, as being as great English
work of its class ; though it
time made much impression on the public. It
has now found its proper level in general opinion, being
deemed an orthodox composition, displaying. learning and
skill, with a very small share of creative genius. It has no
impress of individuality, but is in a sort of piebald styli,
sometimes resembling Handel, sometimes Haydn, and
sometimes Mozart. It has beauties, but then its beauties
are not its own. Such a work is not fitted to be put into
the hands of students, to serve them as a model or a guide
in their artistic progress. Setting this aside, however, it
was carefully and well performed, both in the solo and
choral parts. Mr. Gray, who sustained the principal bees, is
• promising young vocalist, he was very successful is the
air " Ye guardian Saints," the effect of which was greatly'
enhanced by the admirable meaner in which the obligate
accompaniment on the harp was executed by Miss Viening,
who is (we understand) a pupil of Mr. J. Bahl, Chatter-
' ton. The quartet, "Lo ! star-lcd chiefs "—by far the
finest ;purrs= in the whole oratorio—was very beautifully
sung by Miss Spills; Miss Freeman, Mr. Boltch, and Mr.
Gray.
This selection was followed by Weber's Concert-Slack,
played by Miss Hales. This young lady, who is • pupil of
Mr. Jammu, promises to become a distinguished pianist.
Her performance displayed not only clear and brilliant
execution, but an excellent style and much expression.
Handers famous air, " Let the bright seraphim," wassuog
by Miss Bertha Street with Mr. Harper's accompaniment on
the trumpet. It was, on both sides, a fine performance.
In Mies Street's firm and energetic execution there was
nothing of the scholar; and the illustrious Teems Harper
seemed to be revived in hie sus. A leered shwas, " Glory
be to the father," composed by Mr. Inge, a youth of seven-
teen, showed a surprising amount of knowledge and skill In
contrapuntal writing.
The second part of the coneert consisted chiefly of a
selection from &sacred cantata, composed by Dr. Stowell
(formerly a pupil and now an associate of the Academy),
as an ozonise for his Doctor's degree. We have repeatedly
noticed the talents of this young musician, which, we
trust, an destined to bring forth good fruits. Miss Free-
man's singing of Meadebrohn's " But the Lord is mindful
of his own ;" Mr. Coomber's execution of Moiart's Cow memo
is C ; bliss Murie's performance of Haydn's " With ver-
dure clad the fields appear ;" and Mr. Thesis's's " Forty-
sixth Psalm," were satisfacry specimens of ability, both
in perfarmanos used Is sampositkia.
We bon be ishami that Ms satiate' seminary is is
• prosperous soolitions, the umber of studeats being
greater than et any former period.

MORE CLOSING OF GRAVEYARDB.—From the fol-
-lommenicatioa, which has been received by the
parochial
authorities of St. Mary, Islington, it will be seen
that two graveyards in that parish are among the many
burial-grounds designated for closing by the Home Secre-
tary of State :—" Whitehall, March 17. compliance
with the provisions of an act made cad passed in the 16th
and 16th year of her Majesty's reign, entitled 'An Act to
amend the laws concerning the burial of the dead ie the
metropolis,' I hereby give you notice, by direction of Vie-
count Palmerston, one of her Majesty's Principal Secreta-
ries of State, that it is his intention to represent to her
Majesty in Council that, for the protection of the public
health, burials in the Roman Catholic Burial-ground of St.
John the Evangelist, and in the New Bunbill-fields Bury-
ing-ground, in the parish of St. Miry, Islington, should be
discontinued after the 31st of December nest.—l am, &c.,
H. WADDINOTOW.—J. Layton, Esq., Vestry-clerk of St.
Mary, Islington."

JUBILEE OF THE BIBLE SOClETT.—Yesterday
sermons were preached at several hundred chapels and
churches in London as well by episcopal as by non-conformist
in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the British
and Foreign Bible Society, established in the year 1804 for
the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without not or com-
ment, at home and abroad. Since its foundation the Society
has promoted the distribution, printing, or translation of
holy writ into 148 languages or dialects, so that it is
reckoned the scriptures are now accessible to nearly sil-
lsevenths of the human family. From the year 1804 to the
present time, the society alone has issued upwards of
twenty-five million four hundred and two thousand three
hundred and nine copies of the scriptures, and has been
enabled to aid other societies in the distribution of about
eighteen million more. In Ireland, since 1806, two million
seven hundred thousand Bibles and Testaments have been
dispersed. la France, since 1818, three millions have been
circulated. In 1849, twenty-seven thousand were intro-
' dared into Italy.