The Express.
London, England, 1856-11-29 00:00:00

(Stamped ld. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

defend no at all times ; and although he did not pretend to
be a good Seance minister, he believed the mot of this
would not be more than a million and a half a yea►. Surely
that money would be well expended. However, be did not
come there to make war upon the oplelons of Mr. Cobden
or Mr. Bright--(lsughthr)—he would merely sagged that
an honest and proper defensive force might be likely to
promote the ultimate views of those gentlemen. Cheers.)
Mr. EDWARD SAlNtil said be regarded the proposed
eneseuths of the Society of Arta, alluded to by Dr. Booth, as

_ to thineue, Of which it lies not yet pos-
sible fully to ap;reciwir the importance. Although be should
be sorry to introduce osntroverey on this occasion, be guts-
tiered whether the highest quarters in the state had shown—
in the Crimea, for sample—that they performed their
present builders .o admirably as to he entrusted with mote.
Mr. B. ALIOTD, of Halifax, spoke of the advantages of
the present system of faotory education, which, although
compulsory, had avoided collision with the voluntary
▪ Nothing could be fairer than that part of the money
rained by the children in factories should be devoted to
their education ; and he asked why, in the name of common
sense, we did not extend tLe principle of the factory system
of education to the kingdom at large ? (Cheers.)
The proceedings concluded with votes of thanks to the
visitor,, to Sir Robert Peel for his donation, and to the
chairman.

MUSIC.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.

This society have begun their operations for the
season by the production of Handel's Solomon, which was
performed at Exeter Hall last evening. This oratorio is
wry far from being one of its illustrious author's greatest
works. It might rather be said to be me of his smallest,
were it not a solecism to say that anything of Handel's c►n
be small. Setting aside those great masterpiece', The
Harriet and hreel in Bong, &donor+, as a whole, is not
comparable to most of his other works—to Samson, Jepheho,
Judos Ilamobate, or even to Deborah or Btlshacs••r. Han-
del unhappily knew nothing of English literature, and
strayed into the purlieus of Grub street in search of poets.
In the ease of Solomon he was even more than usually
unlucky; baling been furnished by some "illustrious
ohecure," whose name has not been preserved, with the
most meanly written of all his librettos. No degree of
genius can surmount such a disadvantage as thin; and the
genies of the greatest of zawiciana often struggled in
vain ender the leaden weight which oppressed it. Solornow
was not a snecessful work even in Handel's time; and
after his death it teems to hale been immediately laid on
the shelf. A few of the airs and choruses were introduced
foto the selections perf.rened at festivals and music meet-
ings; but we do not Sad a record of it, entire production
from Handel's own d.y till Its revival, in ours, by the
&end Harmonic Society. FJr its revival, however, the
Sacred Harmonic Society sre entitled to the gratitude of the
public. Handel's oratorios form the greatest body of sacred
music is existence. They are very unequal, indeed; bat
they all show the inspiration of the mighty master; and it
would be • disgrace to England if any one of them were
' allowed to die.

The performance of this oratorio last night wet most
oareful and satisfactory. The grand double choruses,
" Your harps and cymbals round," " Throughout the land,"
sad the greatest of them all, " From tte censer," were
sang with beautiful clearness and immense power. The
solo parts have rarely been more admirably executed. Miss
Dolby sang the celebrated air, " What though I trace
sash hub and flower," with exquisite sweetest' and ex-
promotes. The finest part of the oratorio, the nese of
the " Judgment," was given with great dramatis effect
by Mies Dolby, as Solomoe, and Madame Rudendorff and
Mies Shmiagto• as the two women. Madame Ruelerodorfre
delivery of the air, " Can I sae my infect gor'd 1" was
beautiful—ft was the cry of • mother's agony. The air of
the tales mother is purposely unfeeling, but it ie pretty, and
was perfectly well executed by Miss Sherrington, who sang
admirably throughout the whole potion:num. Oa the
whole, though this oratorio contains many trivial things.
evidently written intik MiJi4ftid, yet, when performed as
it was last night, its beauties will delight every lover of
Handel.

The usual Christmas performance of the Messiah
will be on Friday, the 12th December, with Miss Dolby,
Mr. Sims It , and Herr Forme., the principal soprano
part being sastained by Mrs. Clare Hepworth, the lady
whom first appearance in publio excited so mach interest at
the last Gloucester festival.