The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-26 00:00:00

SONS OF THE CLERGY.

The Anniversary Festival of this Institution was cele-
brated in St. Paul a Cathedral yesterday morning, and, as
usual, was thronged to excess. By the hour of ten the
doors were beah.getl, and a constant addition of numbers
took place up to eleven o'clock, at which time the western
door was thrown open. The rush was tremendous, and it
was only by closing the doors by main force twice, that any
thing like order could be maintained ; by these means the
persons in charge of the harriers had an opportunity of re-
ceiving the donations of the visitors, and prevented that
malt into the choir which would have been at least incon-
venient, if not indecorous. By half after eleven the choir
was tilled almost to suffocation.

Shortly before 12 o'clock the peal of the organ was heard
summoning the vocal and instrumental performers to their
stations; and immediately afterwards the procession of
Bishops was seen entering the choir, headed by their
Graces the Archbishops of York and Canterbury, and fol-
lowed by a distinguished retinue of the clergy of this dio-
cese. As soon as their Graces were seated, the Right
Hon. the Lord Mayor, preceded by his officers of state, and
followed by the Sheriff's and Aldermen, took their seats in
the stalls allotted to them. The band then played the
overture to Handel's Oratorio of Esther with great effect.
The service was read with much solemnity by one of the
Minor Canons, and a most eloquent sermon was preached
by the Rev. Christopher Benson, Prebendary of IVorces-
ter, and Rector of St. Giles in the Fields. The subject
lchosen for his text was, the 27th verse of the third chapter
of Proverbs: " Withhold not good from them to whom it
is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it;" and
we have seldom heard a more powerful appeal than that
made by the Rev. Prebendary on this occasion.
This festival may almost be considered as a Commemo-
ration of Handel, as well as that of the " Sons of the
Clergy," as it is only upon this occasion that the public
have an opportunity of hearing some of his most splendid
land immortal productions, collectively, in a cathedral of the
Metropolis. They commenced on this occasion with the
Overture to Esther already noticed. The Psalms for the
day were finely chaunted, and being part of the 119th, the'
frequent breas gave an opportunity for a repetition of a
splendid " Jubilate," the effect of which was most highly
wrought. After the first lesson, the Dettingen 'Fr Drain
was given with great effect, and which would have
been heightened by the introduction of female voices; but
that not being allowable on this occasion, the soprano
parts were taken by the boys of the different choirs. There
was a harshness in " Cherubim anti seraphim continually
do cry," that is not so observable elsewhere. Mr. Phillips
sang the solo, " Thou art the King of Glory, Christ,'
with great taste and judgment; and Mr. Harper's trumpet
accompaniment was beautiful. Mr. Vaughan gave " When
thou taktst upon Thee to deliver man" with all that ability
which distinguishes this gentleman's efforts on all occa-
sions. The chorus, " When Thou hadst overcome the
sharpness of death," was very powerfolly etecuted. The
trio for double choir, " Thou sittest at the right hand of
God," hail great merit; aryl the trumpet, after " We be-
lieve that Thou shalt come to be our Judge," was really
what Handel intended it—an awful indication of what has
been so powerfully expressed by Dryden :
• So when that lakt and dreadful hour
This crumbling pageant shall devour,
The trumpet shall be heard so high,
The dead shall live, the living die,
And music shall untune the sky."
Mr. Phillips's " Vouchsafe, 0 Lord, to keep us!" was ten-
derly given ; anti Mr. Goulden is entitled to much praise,
for his able performance of " In Thee have I trusted."
The concluding chorus, " Let me never be confound-
ed," gave a splendid termination to this lofty monument
of the genius of Handel.
After the second lesson, the Jubilate and Halle-
lujah Chorus was finely performed. The anthem was
that of Dr. Boyce, composed by him expressly for this
Charity, " Lord, thou hastibeen our refuge ;' 'the solo
parts, by Messrs. Vaughan, Salmon, and Goulden, were
finely given, and the children's voices hartnonizNi very
beautifully in " Remember, 0 Lord." We think the con-
clusion as highly wrought as some things of Handel him-
self. After the sermon, Handel's Coronation Anthem was
given with great precision. The effect of the rest between
the phrases" God save the King," " Long live the King,"
can only have its due weight in a cathedral. Mr. Greato-
rex conducted with that steadiness for which he is so
much distinguished, and the organ was most ably played
by Mr. Attwood. Mr. Cotton Reeve led, and was sup-
ported by a numerous and powerful hand. It is impos-
sible to overlook Mr. Harper's merits; in these perform-
ances he had much to do, and was eminently successful.
He is himself a host in Handel's music, where so much
judgment and discrimination are necessary, upon an instru-
ment which Handel has placed so prominently in many of
his pieces. What good reason has England to congratu-
late herself on being the country in which Handel pro-
duced so many of his splendid works, for how much has
he added to everything that is sublime in church music!
At the conclusion, the Bishop of London gave his bene-
diction, and the congregation separated under the powerful
influence produced on their feelings by the grand and sub-
lime effect of devotion so accompanied.
Most nations have consented to introducing music into
their religious ceremonies. The art was early admitted
into the rites of the Egyptians and Hebrews, and it is
known to have formed a considerable portion of the service
of the Greeks and Romans. It is clear also that it obtained
in the primitive Christian churches, from the mention
made by the Apostles. There remain no specimens of the
music employed in the wership of the primitive Christians,
but probably it was at first the same with that used in the
Pagan rites of the Greeks and Romans. The practice of
ehaunting was introduced into the Western churches by St.
Ambrose, about 350 years after Christ, and which was im-
proved by St. Gregory die Great some time afterwards.
It was first introduced in England by St. Augustine, and im-
proved by St. Dunstan, who was himself an eminent
musician, and who introduced the organ into churches and
convents, which became frequent is this country during
the tenth century. The effect of that instrument has been
ably portrayed by him who says—
" Hut oh, what heart can teach,
What human voice can reach,
The sacred organ's praise?
Notes inspiring holy love,
Notes that wing their heavenly ways,
To tend the choirs above."

ANECDOTES AT TILE IlAtt.—Ai the close of a case
yesterday, at the Middlesex Sessions, wherein something
like perjury had been committed by a shoemaker, Mr.
Adolphus said he knew of perjury committed by 400 shoe-
makers at a Middlesex election; they met at the Magpie
and Stump ; one went to vote, for un experiment. and
finding lie pa:ssed, returned to the society and said, 0
me, I've opened the hall, you may all get up and daaue."
This he himself proved in the Court of King's Bench, and
that they committed the petjnry for 30s. a piece. Mr.
Phillips said lie knew of a man who went to poll eight
times at the Drogheda election ; seven rimes he succeeded
by altering his dress and his gait, and actually on one occa•
sion shaved his head. On the eighth time an elector said
to bum, " What, Dennis, are you come to yob. again ?"
" Oh on," replied the other, " I'll not vote any more; for
by J--s tired of it."

lISH PRESS

ELECTION INTIeLLIGENCR.
Nonwice.t—The emilltion a the leaden of the Corporation
and popular part, at Norwich, flw the return of Mr. Smith and
Mr. J. Peel, is likely to be fesisied in• a very spirited manner by
the great body of the fieoust• On the first announcement of the
latter gentlemen, the fbeentisn of both
.parties met, In number
*bore three thousand, and toted an invitation to J. Han,
Esq. and E. Lambe, Esq. The latter gentlemen has declined;
end although the 'mention of the forma is not yet declared, It is
believed he also will decline rather than wand a contest. Mr. S.
Firth mean while offered himself, but, in addition to his extreme
unpopularity, he labours under other disadvantages, which would
assuredly render his ambition futile. It is the More to be hoped
that two new candidates In the liberal party will appear. We
speak with confidence, and float local knowledge, when we say,
that there Is a moral debility of their mimeos, through the unpo.
polarity of the coalition we have mentioned. The favourite Alder.
man of the city, Mr. Fruity recently unsuited his clubs, and
offered them a treat of beer, the. on behalf of Mr. Peel, and they
all simultanedualy broke obeli allegiance to this worthy Alderman,
and declared they would Magnetising to do with Mr. PeeL
Asionnom.—A userespoodent from this borough states that
Mr. Duffield has started too late as a candidate, Mr. 'limberly bas-
ing secured 222 promises, while Mr. Duffield has only obtained 29.
There remain 61 remitted VOW% but of these 4 have in fact no votes,
12 stand neuter, end d have not been canvassed on the present
occasion ; many of them however had promised Mr. Moberly on •
former canvass. From hues it Is conjectured that Mr. Duffield
gill soon withdraw from the contest
Sir Jacob Astley starts for the count, of Norfolk.
It is expected that Sir Edward knatchbull and Mr. Honey-
wood will be again returned tor the county of Kent, without oppo-
anion. 'rhaaarne is also expected with the present Member for
Alaidstone.
All the delights of • contester, election, in Chester, are apparently
not far distant. The Honourable Robert Grosvenor hoe offered
Walsall to the notice of the freemen, in the room of his gallant
relative, General Grosvenor, and the appearance, in due time, of
a candidate on the independent interest. is announced. General
Egerton has, it is said, declined the Invitation to offer himself a
candidate.
It has been generally reported, both here and at Lewes, during
the last few days. that se is am the intention of Mr. Cavendish to
cone forward as • candidate for the county of Sussex. For the
peace of the county it would doubtless be desirable that Messrs.
Burrell and Curteis should.be quietly returned ; but • contested
election would cause so suck money to be circuited, that in these
dull dines it will be perhaps to be regretted if sue should prove to
be the case.—Brighton Gazette.
Symptoms of pecans struggles are showing themselves on all
sides, and no where more decidedly than in the neighbouring bo-
rough of Lewes. Sir John Shelley and Mr. Kemp are booked as
the sitting Members. At Shoreham Mr. Sugden carried everything
before him.—(bid.
The son of Mr. Henry Hunt arrived in this town on Saturday
evening last, arid in an address to the populace assembled at the
tuarket.place, informed them of his father's intention to offer him.
self for the representation of this county at the ensuing election.
Taunton Courier.

Mr. Nolan having duly ascertained the real state of the public
sentiment at Bridgwater to be decidedly adverse to his pretensions,
has very prudently declined to obtrude himself further on the notice
of the electors. They wilt thus enjoy the enviable and stemplary
satisfaction of returning their present Members without expense to
themselves, and without allowing their Representatives to expend a
shilling on the occasion. This is as it should be ; and Bridgwater
will consequently furnish a splendid illustration of the virtuous
exercise or` the elective franchise, the more creditable to the inhabi.
tants, from the wretched use to which this inestimable privilege is
perverted in most of the borough towns in this kingdom.—lbid.
We understand that no coalition respecting the borough of
Evesham has taken place. nor is intended, between Sir Charles
Cockerel! arid Mr. Edward Prot heroe.