The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 20, 1866.

MUSIC.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.

The performance of Samson last evening at Exeter-
hell drew (se it always does) an overflowing sadism*. This
oratorio is one of "the mighty master's" greatest works,
It wee written immediately after The Menial', sad, like it,
was composed with almost incredible rapidity—in less than
four weeks—as if it had been begun and ended by one
single sad continuous impulse of his giant power. Of all his
oratorios it is the most dramatic. The poem
is the sublime Samson Agonietes of Milton, altered
and prepared for Handel by one of his literary assistants
(is whom he was by no means happy), and sadly spoiled in
the process. Bat enough of Milton remiss to be the
foundation of a grand lyric tragedy, though his gold is nn.
fortunately alloyed with a sad quantity of base metal,
and certainly the poem, as it stands, was able to inspire
Handel with many of his greatest and most beautiful con-
ception,. None of his oratorio" contain grander choruses
than the warlike "Awake the trumpet's lofty sound " 0
tizetcreatedbsam,"so fall of profound pathos ; "Then round
about the starry throne ; "Hear, Jacob's God" (the Plorate
filar Israel of Carissimi) ; "Fixed in his everlasting seat," the
fuelled double choral, which rivals the greatest pieces of its
class in Israel in Egypt ; or the woodsrful lasts " Let
their celestial concerts all unite." The oratorio is less rich
in airs than in choruses ; but finer airs are nos to be found
anywhere than "Total eclipse," " Why does the God of
Israel sleep ?" "Return, 0 God of Hosts," "How willing
my paternal love," or "Bawer and arms." When those
colossal choruses, and those and other beautiful sirs were
snag as they were last night b► Sims Reeves,
Madame Balaton Dolby, Miss Banks, Mr. Weiss,
and Patsy, the whole work will never fail to
produce an immense effect, notwithstanding the ince-
'
heron°, of the scenes as arranged by Haodel's playwright,
and the quantity of platitudes mixed up with Milton's
poetry. Sims Reeves was in the fullest possession of his
vocal powers, and sang the "Total eclipse "—Samson's
unspeakably mournful lamentation for his lose of sight—es
no one belonging to the present geoeration, and few belong-
ing to the past, have ever heard it sung ; for Reeves is the
only singer who can satisfy those who have heard Brahman.
It is well koown how beautifully Madame Dolby sings the
deeply mournful " Return, 0 God of Hosts," and how
much vigour she throws into " Honour and arms." Miss
Banks and Mr. Patey sustained their parts admirably ; and
the whole oratorio was performed in a meaner that we have
never heard 'Leafiest.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.--J err. 19.
Sittings it Nisi Prins in Middloom.—(Balimo Mr. Justin
Bytes and a Common Jnry.)
BIDILICE o. LOCKINOTON.

This was aa action to recover damages in consequence of
the plaintiff, a girl, four years old, having been bitten by
the defendant's dog.
Mr. Kemp and Mr. Houston appeared for the plaintiff ;
sad Mr. Serjeant Parry and Mr. Littler for the defendant.
The plaintiff was the daughter of a working mao, and
the defendant was • builder living in Paddington.streei,
Marylebonarced. On a Sanday afternoon in July last, the
plaintiff and some other children were upon the defen•
dent's door-step playing, when • black end tan terrier,
known as " Old Charley," and belonging to the defendant,
seized bar by the cheek. A soldier who was passing beat
the dog off, and took the plkintiff home. She was taken to a
chemist, who dressed the wound, and there were now some
slight sears remaining. Her mother, however, said that the
plaintiff had since the bite bad several fits, and sometimes
awoke in the night terrified by dreaming of the dog.
Mr. Justice Bides directed the jury that the plaintiff
would not be entitled to recover unless it was made out
that the dog was one likely to do mischief, and that the
defendant knew it.

The Jury, io answer to his lordship, found that the dog
did not bite without such provocation as would induce a
good-natured dog to bite ; that the dog had bitten before,
and the defendant knew it, but that such biting was under
such provocation as would induce a good-natured dog to
bite ; and that the defendant did not know that it was mis-
chievous.

lii..l;uitios Byles .aid that in his opinion this amounted
to a verdict for the defendant; but be would reserve leave
to the plaintiff to take the opinion of the full court upon
the question.
The jury said that, in the event of the plaintiff being en-
titled to recover, they amused the damages at 20v.

case containing leoe, thread, and tapes. In the adjoining
bedroom he dineovered on the mantelehelf a timepiece in
a carved oak case. Under the bed he found a hamper
containing 6lhe of composite candles, and close by he
&covered three horse-rugs and a roll of house flannel. In
&cupboard in the same room were three publican's pewter
pots, and anew kid boot. Witness then found that there
was an internal communication with the next house, which
he prisoner also oocupied. Witness entered that house,
and in a room on the ground floor found three new carpet
brooms, two black shawls, and two new hearth rugs.
In the back room he found four empty beer casks
belooging to different brewers. Witness asked
him if he could amount for the poneemion of the property.
Hassid he had bought the goods at several times, chiefly to
furnish the next house; and as for the clock, his wife
bought that two years ago, during which time it had been
in his possession. He, however, said he could not tell from
whom he had parehseedl any of the goods. Witness had
ascertained that the clock was stolen on Saturday, and after
proving that, he should ask for a remand, to enable him to
find the owners of the other property.
Mrs. Harriet Green, the wife of Charles Lindsey Green,
wood carver, of 34, Great Union-atreet, Newington Cause-
way, identified the clock produced as her husband's property.
He carved the case himself. Witness saw it safe on
Saturday afternoon last, about 4 o'clock, on the front parlour
mantel shelf. She mimed it a little after 6 o'clock, when
she found that the window had been forced up.
The prisoner, who declined to say anything at this stage
of the proceedings, was remanded until Wednesday next.