The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-25 00:00:00

NORWICH MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

NORWICH, SEPT. 23.—Last night, the third miscel-
laneous concert attracted a very large and brilliant as-
semblage in the hall. The body of the hall was quite
filled, and the gallery seats were nearly all occupied. The
programme included—Mozart's Symphony in E flat;
the Duetto " All' opra su la man mettiamo," Fidelio,
sung by Madame Viardot Garcia and Herr Formes;
Donizetti's Aria, " Fra poco a to"—Mr. Sims Reeves ; a
part song, " The Wreath," by Benedict, which was en-
cored; Cherubini's Overture, " Faniski.'" and "La cale-
sera," an Aria Espanola, sung by Madame Fiorentini,
also encored. After the overture at the commencement
of the concert, an air by G. A. Macfarren was sung by
Mr. Sims Reeves, as a tribute of respect to the memory
of the late Duke of Wellington.
Mr. Sims Reeves sung this ballad in a manner that
elicited unbounded applause. All the performances were
well received, and several pieces were encored. The
concluding grand march drew loud applause.
This morning the performance of the Messiah
drew an unprecedented audience. Tho hall was com-
pletely crowded; numbers stood under the galleries and
in the passages. The peformance was perfect. The
choruses went with the utmost precision; and the re-
citatives, airs, duets, and quintets were most
effectively rendered by Signor Gardoni, Signor Beletti,
Miss Dolby, Herr Formes, Miss Pyne, Mr. Lockey, Mr.
Sims Reeves, Mr. Weiss, Madame Viardot Garcia, and
Miss Alleyne.
The statement which follows shows the comparative
total attendance at the last three Festivals, and exhibits
the unpleasing fact of a diminution of public patronage:
1845. 1848. 1852.

Tuesday Evening 7Ol 1,256 1,02 a
Wednesday Morning ... 1,335 1,289 482
ii, Evening ... 1,211 9BO 762
Thursday Morning
,9 Evening ...... 1,666 1,037 1,053
Friday Morning 1,802 965 1,947
Avery full attendance is expected at the ball this

evening.

BIRTH-PLACE OF THE DUKE OF
WELLINGTON.

Mr. Murray, LL .D7,ofici;ii;College who pub-
lished a pamphlet claiming the Duke of Wellington
to be a native of Dublin, has addressed the following
to Saunders' paper
" Sir,—Observing that two letters have appeared in
your columns which seem to negative the proofs referred
to in my published pamphlet, I beg to remind the public
that neither of the statements contained in those letters
hits as yet been verified, while one of them at least must
be erroneous, as they contradict each other.
" We are told by Mr. Ryan that a certain old nurse-
tender, named Daly, got mixed up in the concerns of an
Irish election—as many good and worthy dames have
done before her—and that she thereupon swore that the
Duke of Wellington was born at Dangan Castle, and that
he was born in ' the month of March.' The chairman
of committee must surely have remarked—
" Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

" Again, a Mr. Cunningham, of Edinburgh, alleges
that a relative of his alleges, or alleged, that the Coun-
tess of Mornington alleged in a written letter, that so
and so . But where is the Countess's letter to be
seen? Who knows her handwriting? Nay, what proof
have we of the existence of Mr. Cunningham? The as-
sertions of Mr. Cunningham, of Edinburgh, or of Mr.
Murray, of Dublin, are worth as much in the case as the
proofs which they furnish, and no more; and to a pe-
rusal of mine I hope I may invite without fear of their
proving unsatisfactory.—l have the honour to be, Sir,
your very obedient servant,
JOHN MURRAY, LL.D.

" Trinity College, Sept. 22, 1852."
Mr. Murray is the gentleman who, by accident,
discovered the entry in an old Dublin magazine,
which purported to have been published on the Ist
of May, and therein was contained a notice of the
birth of a son to the Countess of Mornington, on the
29th ult. (April). Mr. Murray then searched the
records of Peter's Church, and found the entry which
has been already repeatedly mentioned, consequently
he maintains that he has unquestionable proofs that
the great Duke was not born at Dangan, but in
Dublin; and that most certainly the Ist of May was
not his birthday.
[ln Mr. Murray's pamphlet we read—" A monthly
periodical, published in Dublin, of high repute i❑
those days, styled .Exshaw's Gentleman's Magazine,
exhibits the following entry in its May number,
1769 April 29, the Countess of Mornington of a
son " And again—" On search made in the re-
gistry (at St. Peter's Church, Dublin), I found the
subjoined entry at foot of a page headed, Christen-
ings, 1769 :'—‘ April 30. Arthur, son of the Right
lion. Earl and Countess of Mornington,' and signed,
Isaac Mann, Archdeacon." After this it is non-
sense to assert that the Great Duke was born on the
Ist of May.—ED. Sun.]

DANISH STEAM DREDGE, AND NOVEL

VOYAGE FRO_ I THE CLYDE.
While the fame of our noble river is spreading far and
wide by the magnificent steam-ships that are constantly
sailing from her ports, it has recently been extended to
a northern shore in rather a peculiar manner. The Danish
Government, it seems, some time ago determined on an
extensive dredging operation being commenced for the
purpose of clearing the harbour of Copenhagen of its
dangerous bars, and of increasing its shipping accommo-
dation. With this view the Government established a
set of dredging machines, moved by horse-power, but
finding this a slow process, especially in their own
hands, they advertised to let the work by contract,
and a company was formed, who became the success-
ful competitors for the job. This company set about
it in a business-like way, and commissioned from
this country a first-rate steam dredge on the newest
principle. This marine machine has just been com-
pleted at the building-yard of Messrs. Henderson and
Son, at the Patent Slip, Renfrew, and is of the follow-
ing dimensions, being the most powerful dredge yet
built in Great Britain:—Her length is 100 feet over
all; breadth, 224 feet; horse-power of the engine, 80;
and her capacity of dredging 24 feet deep. On being
launched, the enterprising builders next considered
the best means of getting her across to Copenhagen,
and at once determined to tow her all the
way from the Clyde—an undertaking which must
seem, to those acquainted with the most unship-
looking appearance of a dredger, no light one.
Messrs. Henderson, however, were not daunted; but hav-
ing got their craft firmly secured by strong hawsers to a
tug built by themselves for the use of the dredge at Co-
penhagen,they procuredthe aid of another Clyde tug, and
set sail on Saturday eight days down the Frith, rounded
the Mull of Cantyre, and entered the Caledonian Canal
on Tuesday. Having passed through the canal and
sailed from Inverness on Friday night, and the Clyde
tug having returned, the fleet is to be joined by the
Glenalbyn, of Leith, and, dragged by this powerful
steamer and her own tug, the nredger is expected to
arrive, wind and weather permitting, about the time we
write in the sound. We understand she will bo employed
for twelve years, and that the King of Denmark is con-
templating still more extensive operations, and a
thorough deepening of all his harbours. Honour to
our Clyde shipbuilders, and may they go on extending
their renown in all directions.—Glasgow Constitutional.

MINING INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Mining Journal of this day.)
Considering the time of year, the market is in as
healthy a state as could bo expected; and when the Oc-
tober dividends are declared, we doubt not its tendency
to a considerably increased business in shares. Bedford
United have advanced to 81; Devon Great Consols, 3901;
Dolcoath, 30/ ; Great Polgooth, 5/ ; South Tamar, 6/ ;
West Caradon, 1751 and 1801 ; West Providence, 501;
Wheal Basset, 525/; Tremayne, 271; Gonamena, 151; Ila-
latnanning, 120/ ; Trebarvab, 71 lOs ; Wheal Franco,
13/; Wheal Speedwell, 91 103; Mining Company of
Ireland, 101 23 6d. Alfred Consols, Marilyn, North
Basset, Par Consols, Tin Croft, Wheal Golden, South
Carn Brea, Trebel!, Langford, West Fowei, Wheal
Arthur, Wheal Uny, and Great Sheba, maintain their
prices, and are in request; other shares are stationary at
present. In Cornwall, Wheal Buller has risen from
7501. to 8001.; Comford to 181 103; South Charlotte
from 61. tj 111. The Great Poldico and Wheal Unity
Consols shares have been done at 103 premium.
The directors of the Devon Great Consols Mining
Company, at their weekly board meeting, yesterday, de-
Oared a dividend of 8,1921, being 81 per share, arising
from profits on sales of ore sampled far the months of
May and June last. After payment of the same, there
remains in band a. balance of 34.5321 14s srl in cash, ore
bills not et maturity, and reserve fund, applicable to the
general purposes of the company.
At Wheal Buller meeting, on Tuesday, the accounts
for July and August showed—Balance from the last
account, 1,3151 is 9d; ores sold (less dues), 7,8091 17s
1d=9,1241 18s 9d.—Mine costs and merchants' bills,
3,239/ 6s 2d; dividend of 171 10s per share (4,480/):
leaving balance in favour of adventurers, 1,405/ 12s Bd.
At the United Mines meeting, on the 17th inst., the