The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-10-11 00:00:00

DERBY MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

DERBY, OCTOBER 9.
The Triennial Musical Festival, for the broefit
of oar County General Infirmary, commenced yes-
terday, by the performance of the Cathedral ser-
vice in All Saints' church. l'he preparations fur
this festival had been made on the most liberal
scale. Every arrangement which might add to its
interest had been consulted, and Rhea the services
of the day commenced the' urchestro exhibited a
collection of vocal power and taste seldom equalled.
The performance was entirely vocal, with the ex.
ception of the organ accompaniments, but these,
under the skilful hand of Mr. Grestorex, were
amply sufficient, and indeed the appropriate che-
wier of the service was by this arrangement must
admirably preserved. The sacred and serious tone
of the prescribed worship of our established church
was maintained throughout by the well-arranged
choir in its highest degree of sublimity. The 'solo
parts were finely executed by the eminent per-
formers to whom they were intrusted, and the
effect of the full tide of harmony proceeding from
so many united voices, hymning the same strains of
sacred praise, was inconceivably grand. We have
not leisure to dwell on the merits of the individual
performers, but we cannot forbear the expression
of our complete gratification with the admirable
style in which Miss Stephens sung Lather's Hyrum—
with the fine voice and inimitable execution of Mrs.
Salmon in Rest's Anthem—and with the quartet
and chorus io the funeral Anthem. the latter of
which was given with a fulness and precision never
excelled. We must also bear oar tribute of ap-
lause to the very respectable mariner in which
Mitt Holmes acquitted herself in the arduous parts
sustained by her;—nothing, in short, was inferior to
what we had reason to expect, from the known
talents of the eminent performers engaged on this
occasion; and we are not aware that we could pay
• higher compliment to the execution of the pieces
selected for the first morning's attraction.
But much as we were delighted with the songs,
chants, and choruses, • higher gratification, because
in itself of a still more crooked character, was al-
forded by the eloquence with which the holy cause
of charity was pleaded by the Rev. W. V. Ver-
son, A.M., Prebendary of York Cathedral. On
ordinary occasions the address of the preacher is
considered as rather to be endured than to be liv-
ened to with delight and adminstioa; but the ser-
mon of the day was calculated to engage every
good faculty of our natures, and to serve iii the
highest degree the interests of the institution of
which the preacher was the disinterested but power-
ful advocate. From the beautiful text, Luke,
ch. :iv. v. 13, 14, " But when thou makest a feast,
call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the Wired,
and thou shalt be blessed ; for they cannot recom-
pense three for thou shalt be recompensed at the
resurrection of the just," occasion was takeu to
uotice with just approbation the benevolent spirit
and exertions of our times and nation, to consider
the causes which still imposed limits to the full
operation of the godlike principle of charity, mid to
suggest the most powerful motives to increased
efforts in the cause of humanity and social kindness.
We forbear to attempt an analysis of this able dis-
course, under the hope that the preacher will be
prr varied upno to etrengthen the impression which
it made on a deeply sympathizing audience by its
publication, for we have not alien listened to an
address calculated to be of so much service to
the cause of the destitute, the forlorn, and the
distressed.

Perhaps no situation can he imagined less favonr-
able to a preacher than the pulpit in All Saints'
church on there occasion', completely furrountied
as it stands by a numerous audience, end we there-
fore admired the ease and address with which the
Rev. Advocate overcame this embarrassing diffi-
culty. The eloquence of his voice. the grace and
dignity of his manner, and the earnestness with
which he made his powerful appeal to the feelings
of his h , gave great effect to the deep pathos
of his Christian benevolence and piety, and drew
forth the tears of those who heard him.

The evening Concert in the Theatre was attend-
ed by • nenierous and brilliant company. and was
well deserving of the patronage conferred upon it.
The band was full ■nd complete, and the vocal
performers exerted their wonderful powers in •
manner which delighted the auditors. Even the
hoarseness of Signor Ambrogetti could not destroy
the comic effect of his songs. The finely harmo-
nised glees were performed in the most masterly
style, and the riogie sirs were given with a truth
and feeling which, added to perfect execution, left
nothing more to be wibhed for. The overtures and
concertos were received with the loud applause they
so well merited, and the whole of the evening's en-
tertainment was in the highest degree satisfactory.
The Theatre was fitted up with every accommo-
dation of which it is capable, and the pit seats
being furnished with backs, greatly increased the
convenience of that part of the audience. The
gas-lights were beautifully dispersed and well ma-
naged, and the comfort of the place was more com-
pletely secured on this than nu any former occasion.
The presence of the Noble President, his Grate the
Duke of Norfolk, and of the Duke of Devonshire,
together with many other of the illustrious patrons
of this Festival, was highly gratifying to the friends
of the Derbyshire General Infirmary. and we frel
DO doubt that under such auspices the result of the
whole performances will be beneficial to the in-
terests of that most excellent institution.

On the election of a Beilast Kidderminster, tl:e
inhabitants assemble in the principal streets to
thecnv cabbage stalks at each other.