The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-11 00:00:00

THE (-AM, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 11, 1863.

WORCESTER MUSICAL FESTIVAL,

WORCESTER, Sept. 10.
Herr Schachner must be difficult to satisfy if ho was not
pleased with the very admirable performance of his orato-
rio in the Cathedral this morning. With regard to the
work itself there is not a word to add to what was published
the day following the production of " Israel's Return from
Babylon" at Exeter. If its composer is neither a great
master nor a man of genius, he is, at least, a consci,ntious
musician, and does his best—which now .a-days can hardly
be said of many who are more highly gifted, without being
prodigies on that account. Herr Schachner was lucky to
have his oratorio brought out at the Worcester Festival, and
to get the place of honour assigned him in preference even to
Handel, still luckier, in finding such zealous and congenial
interpreters as the band, chorus, and solo singers, under the
superintendence of Mr. Done. Rarely has a new work of
pretension enjoyed a fairer chance ; and if, at the end of the
performance, the whole of the vast assembly crowding the
nave and aisles of tho Cathedral did not rise from their seats
with the firm conviction that they had been listening to a
chef d'oeuvre, it was certainly no fault of the executants.
Probably not a single amateur who had heard the ora-
torio in London, and was to-day equally fortunate at
Worcester, would refuse to admit that the last attetnpt was
better than the first, although the first—as may be readily
imagined, with Mr. Alfred Mellon at the head of a splendid
orchestra, a powerful chorus, and four of the most distin.
guished singers of the day—offered very few points for cri-
ticism, By this performance, indeed, of "Israel's Return
from Babylon" the Worcester Festival of 1863 deserves to be
remembered. The judginent that led to the selection of such
a work, while the oratorios ot ti err Ferdinand Hiller and
one or two other living composers of universally recognised
distinction, have never been produced in England, may be
questioned by :soma people who like to pick a hole where
they cart without serious risk; but the pains taken by every
one concerned, from the wielder of the conductor's stick up
to the owner of the double drunis, the commendable anxiety
of those in whom the direction of the music meeting is
vested to have full justice done in all senses to the new work,
and thus, as it were, to justify their choice, call for nothing
less than hearty acknowledgment. The Worcesterian en-
thusiasts, in thus honouring Herr Schachner, have done
honour to themselves, and earned unqualified credit. They
would have made " Israel's Return" pass for a veritable
chef d'auvro, had it lain in their power; but failing in that,
they resolved it should sound as like a chef d'oeuvre as the
materials of which it is constructed would allow. One espe-
cial advantage was vouchsafed to the oratorio yesterday.
There were, in all probability, just as many friends and
partisans of Herr Schachner present as on that former me-
morable occasion when the walls ot Exeter Hall reverbe-
rated with vociferous demonstrations of approval; but the
arena being now a cathedral church, whatever the impres-
sion created, there was no chance of applauding, either in
right or wrong places; and as not a single repetition was
asked for, by those who enjoy the exclusive privilege at
these morning ceremonies, the performance was nowhere
interrupted, so that Herr Schachner's work could be heard
and judged fairly and impartially as a whole ; and if this
second experience suggested nothing new to say about it the
inference to be drawn is palpable.
" Israel's Return from Babylon"—the reader may care to
be reminded— is divided into four parts—the Captivity, the
Deliverance, the Reconcilement and Return to Zion, the
Promise and Song of Praise. These headings alone suffice
to explain the plan of the book, which, as there are no inci-
dents, is all that is necessary to remember. They will also
serve for reference in the few observations to be made in
yesterday's performance. The band gave the orchestral pre-
lude —meant doubtless to describe the despondent feelings
of the Israelites under the yoke of their bondage—as finely
as it could possibly be given. Here were pianissimos no
lees than fortissimos—pianzssimos, too, the like of which it
would be agreeable to welcome a little more frequently in
London ; and this too without offence to the members of our
London orchestra, seeing that the band engaged by the
conductor of the Worcester Festival is almost entirely se-
lected from their ranks. Perhaps it is easier to play softly
in a church than in a theatre or concert-room. The choruses
in the Captivity—" Go ye conquerors" and " War against
Babylon"—though wholly different in character, were
equally well sung. The first, by the way, is one of several
instances in -which Herr Schachner imparts peculiar indi-
viduality to the celestial bequests—the words of the divine
admonitions being always set to a single note. This note
remains unchanged, and is reiterated upon each successive
syllable, while the harmony is modulated in the accompani-
ments. The expedient was applied by Mendelssohn, in his
comic operetta " Heinikekr," the part of the Mayor being
cast to an amateur who could boast but one available note
in his voice ; but what Mendelssohn did for a joke Herr
Schachner has imitated-with the gravest conceivable inten-
tions. The admonition in the first part (Captivity)—" Go
ye conquerors"—is uttered upon a series of E's; that in
the third (Return to Zion)—" Whom I have spared from the
sword"—upon a series of G's ; that in the fourth (Promise)
—" They shall be my people"—upon a series of C's. The
idea wae, perhaps, by the aid of simplicity, to confer in-
creased solemnity; but the effect is at the best mono-
tonous. The chorus in the Deliverance—" Sound the
loud timbrel"—was given with extraordinary spirit ; that
in the Return to Zion—" Go forth to the Mount," con-
veying the exultation of the Israelities on their delivery and
their joy at the thoughts of seeing Zion once again—splen-
didly ; the final chorus of the Song of Praise—" Praise to
the Lord," which, like the chorus just named, involves an
example of Herr Schachner's method of conducting a
"fugue"--.and is preceded by an example of the light in
which he views chorale—best of all. In short, more effec-
tive singing has not been heard at any of the meetings of
the three chairs; and, as the music was strange to the
singers, they may be said, without exaggerated eulogy, to
have covered themselves with glory. Nor should the solid
and continuous support they received from the members of
the orchestra be passed over, inasmuch as to that was in
great part due the highly satisfactory result.
eTr.hme sro.losisminsgßeresevweeer,eanMdadmerm.
Santley, Herr
ieHtjeerreiss,
icMh scsh nPeal-
oratorio only stands in need of four "principals," and he
could not possibly have fallen into abler or more willing
hands. The three quartets (with chorus).._.(. so when the
dread clouds," " With singing come we unto thee," and
n put on thy strength, 0 Zion 1" (containing another spe-
cimen of "fugue")—the first of which occurs in The Deli-
verance, the second and third in The Return, were incom-
parably given by these excellent and invariably attentive
singers. Another striking performance was the duet,
" Hark ! 'tis the breeze of twilight" (Evening Hymn—
written strictly throughout in what is termed "canon on
the octave," the voices answering each other note for note),
sung in the most perfect style by Mademoiselle Tietjens
and Mr. Sims Reeves; and again another, the duet for
men's voices --" The Lord has tried His children"—which,
it is scarcely necessary to state, was equally fortunate. The
solos were beyond reproach. Mademoiselle Tietjens, who
was in magnificent voice, gave the ea/satinet " Come not, 0
Lord," the air (with chorus), "On high resound our songs
with praise," and the soprano recitatives (which are both
incessant and fatiguing) as thoroughly well as the corn.
poser, most nervous and exacting about his own music,
could possibly have desired ; Miss Palmer threw genuine
sentiment into the air, "Fallen is the throne, 0 Israel !"
and the arietta, "The Lord hath laid bare His holy arm ;"
Mr. Santley gave " Awake, rise, and shine" (in which is
observed a setting of the passage, " Behold, darkness shall
cover the earth," materially differing from Handel's "He
sent a thick darkness"), with wonderful energy; and Mr.
Sims Reeves surpassed himself in the air, "The Lord of
Hosts is with us," and the solo, " He will bring them again
into His holy place," finer singing than which has not been
heard. Thus every incident of the performance was in
peaehabl
and tad(ehar
imftsohreem
firstcebed
ps,fcaaEvlomsutherreo:r:f, Herr Schachner, and the best wish we could offer
up in his behalf is that he may again have an opportunity
sOßifeve
Reeves)
havpeehasr)i " Israel's Return from Babylon" thus unini-
,:hteh ea
airir
FWarae,f7trieannh:ler,
our,
na
dt
The selection from Handel comprised the overture to
e recitative, " Deeper deeper still" (Mr. Sims
eclipse'' (Mr.
(pmetr':
wlefitlybystueo
spoke,,' ytA
the egl:ecni lbspo,
:ru,dws
ttr'h‘
eCaihmt. es
sr u,thi,mb(p:aniei
impres-
sive
from
(Whieheleneth)is. ltohuedcvhoeiruceeina
Awake
' including the solo
Gaza' mcens- Sherrington) ; the air "Total
beam," the air "Re
double chorus
chthoeruasir"
ton-Dolby), the chorus the chorus " 0 first created
~O, God of Hosts" (Madame Sain-
ForxedournooluuropTeßmranto:dedioutsarsearmtltfohsn,.is,sc(glory they would
c"oLnectertthse,,,brfrigomht
,S, esraamphisoran:it "Ye men of
o
ischadeoevmeroliassetiiinegTiseetiaetn;si_thtreumair.
Tietjens—trum-
pet Mr. T. Harper), and rus ‘H'aLwerercateelytheir, celestial
whichM raWi tss Weiss),
ns s)
ft composertheer-
rankednwohoinot hmewuwist
ihecuidh the 6:3'
give
thee
lesescitaihen' '
preference,
rnl
el knowingttyt
ea
tillm to
-
able; and though the performance did not tserrea-
wastoo
p.m., no one was induced to complain that there
much of it. The numbers in the Cathedral
2,170—
nearly 400 more than yesterday—and yet the collection for
the charity was only £240 9s. Bd. This is accounted forn by
a report generally eirenleted that a vast number of
tickets had been bought up in certain quarters, for the
particular occasion, to be given away; and if the report
be tree the result is not astonishing, it being notorious
that people who attend r perfermance gratis are never so
liberal as those who have paid for their admissions.
The last miscellaneous concert in the College Hall this
evening, the " Messiah" to-morrow afternoon (for both of
which every ticket has been sold), and the ball in the Guild-
hall in the eveninr, will bring this unprecedentedly success-
ful festival to an ens.

A steady supply of gold to the amount of
£20,000,000 a year has reached us of late years from Cali-
fornia and 4ustralia.

COTTON SUPPLY ASSOCIATION.

At the usual weekly meeting of the Executive Committee
held on Tuesday, the Bth September, a letter was read from
Salto Republica de la Banda, Oriental South America, for-
warding a sample of cotton grown from Georgian seed,
planted in October, 1862, and which was valued at 21d. per
pound. The plants commenced flowering in January, the
first cotton was picked at the end of February, and had
continued producing up to the middle of July. Each plant
has given on the average nearly a pound of cotton, and
next year double that quantity is expected. The writer
has farms of about 300 acres each, land on easy terms can
be obtained from the Government, and a company with a
capital might successfully and profitably extend the culti-
vation. A sample of cotton from Africa, grown in the
vicinity of Accra, was submitted for examination, and
valued at 19d. per lb., also one from Persia valued at 15d.
per lb. A beautiful specimen of hybrid cotton, grown at
Lucknow, forwarded by the honorary agents of the associa-
tion at Calcutta, together with samples grown in New Cale-
donia from Sea Island and Pernambuco seed, were sub-
mitted for inspection, and valued at 16d., 24d., 25d,, and
36d. respectively.
Consular despatches, relative to the amount of cotton
likely to be grown in the respective districts this year, were
received from the Foreign-office—viz., from Diarbekir, Mr.
Consuj Taylor, dated July 22, reporting that the ravages of
We locusts still continued in the districts around, and
" have completely put a stop to cotton cultivation for the
present year, and that there is not the slightest probability
of any cotton being available for export. No foreign seed
of any description has in the meantime been made use of,"
From St. Domingo, Mr. Consul Hood, July 10, stating that
sti lugs amount of cotton seed has been sown during
and the preceding year, that the country and
iclimate are well adapteehe the cultivation of cotton,
iwhich'growa inelfgeirotigli, 'and that every large supply of
pod quality might bq obtained if it were not for the Scarcity
of labour. As correct. an estimata as possible will be for-
warded. From the Acting Consul-General, Mr. J. V.
Crawford, Havannah,'August 4, enclosing a Government
return of cotton cultivated in. Cuba, and extracts from the
reports of her Majesty's Vice-Consuls, from which it ap-
pears that the coming crop may be safely estimated at
1,500,0001 b, or 3,000 bales of 5001 b each. It is stated that
the cultivation of cotton in Cuba is decidedly progressing,
in spite of the hostility evinced towards it by the majority
of the sugar planters, and that the encouragement afforded
by the Government, together with the present high prices,
will ensure the continuance of this progress. From Para,
July 25, Mr. Consul Perry, reporting that in the province
of Maranham this year's crop is considered good and ex-
ceeds that of 1862 by some 9,000 bags. This province pro-
duces the.best Brazil cotton, and were it not for the scarcity
of labour very large quantities might be raised ; and should
prices be well supported, the crops:of 1864 will be far greater
than it has been for years. From the provinces of Gram
Para and Amazonas the rate of increase appears to be about
800 arrobas of 321 b each per annum; the scarcity of labour
is the great hindrance. From Lima, July 28, Mr. Consul
Jerningham also reports the probable crop of this year in
Peru to be 30,000 quintals of 1001 b each. From Callao,
July 16, Mr. Consul Robertson, stating that the quantity
of cotton likely to be grown in the province of Ica this
year will be 10,000 quintals, from 2,000 to 3,000 more
than last year. From the Acting-Consul, Mr. Cocks,
Islay, July 23, enclosing a specimen of indigeneous cotton
from the Valley of lambo, Peru, valued at 245. per cwt.,
and stating that the cotton hitherto grown in his district
has been for local use only, but that high prices are stimu-
lating the production with a view to exportation. Peru, in
many parts of the interior, and in all the valleys along the
coast, possesses advantages for the cultivation of cotton
which few other countries enjoy—a suitable climate, the
absence of strong winds, abundance of water, free labour,
&c. Notwithstanding the almost insurmountable indolence
and apathy of the population, many would embark their
capital in this promising enterprise if they could have grants
of land, secure possession, suitable protection, &c. Foreign
assistance in the development of this branch of industry
would be most useful. From Monte Video, July 21, Mr.
Consul Lettsom, reporting that in his district no cotton of
any consequence is likely to be produced this year. The
ravages of the black ants have been most destructive, the
price of labour and transport is a serious obstacle, and only
in the neighbourhood of navigable rivers is it likely that
cotton will be grown to any extent. The demand for seed
in Cuba is reported in the consular despatch from Haven-
nab, induced the committee to resolve to send out a quantity
forthwith, to be disposed of to the planters at cost price.

Government Emigration,
The following are the details of the emigration to the
Australian Colonies, the Cape of Good Hope, &c., conducted
by her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners during the year
1862 :—T he number of ships chartered by the Commis-
sioners was 30—nine of these sailed to New South Wales,
six to Queensland, four to Victoria, three to South Austra-
lia, two to Western Australia, two to the Cape of Good
Hope, and four to Natal. The number of emigrants con-
veyed to the colony of New South Wales amounted to 3,078
souls, equal to 2,811 i statute adults, of whom 207 were mar-
ried men, 221 married women, 1,175 single men, 1,011
single women, 192 boys between the ages of 1 and 12, 203
girls between the same ages, 29 male infants, and 40 female
—6Ol were English, 179 Scotch, and 2,298 Irish. The num-
ber of emigrants conveyed to Queensland was 1,659 souls,
equal to 1,757 statute adults, of who 271 were married men,
271 married women, 558 single men, 515 single women, 132
were boys between the ages of 1 and 12, 152 girls between
the same ages, 33 male infants, and 20 female-874 were
English, 576 Scotch, and 502 Irish. The number of emi-
grants conveyed to Victoria was 1,505 souls, equal to
1,394} statute adults, of whom 144 were married men,
144 married women, 28 single men, 1,000 single women,
75 boys between the ages of one and 12, 82
girls between the same ages, 17 male infants, and 12
females-691 were English, 443,5c0t ch, and 368 Irish. The
number of emigrants conveyed to South Australia was
1,066 souls, equal to 969 statute adults, of whom 120 were
married men, 124 married women, 325 single men, 320
single women, 58 boys between the ages of one and 12, 82
girls between the same ages, 12 male infants, and 15 female;
533 were English, 305 Scotch, and 228 Irish. The number
of emigrants conveyed to Western Australia was 572 souls,
equal to 501 statute adults, of whom 86 were married men,
88 married women, 69 single men, 207 single women, 48
boys between the ages of one and 12, 54 girls between the
same ages, 12 male infants and 8 female-321 were English,
33 Scotch, and 218 Irish. To Tasmania 19 emigrants were
conveyed-2 were married women, 16 single women, and 1
girl-6 were English, and 13 Irish. The number of emi-
grants conveyed to the Cape of Good Hope was 500 souls,
equal to 450 i adults, of whom 57 were married men, 57
married women, 167 single men, 127 single women, 44 bays
between the ages of 1 and 12, 41 girls between the same
ages, 3 male infants and 4 female-207 were English, 66
Scotch;and 227 Irish. The number-of emigrants conveyed
to Natal, South Africa, was 422 souls, equal to 348 statute
adults, of whom 66 were married men, 71 married women,
100 single men, 69 single women, 53 boys between the ,ages
of 1 and 12, 51 girls between the same ages, 12 male infant,
and 10 female-329 were English, 46 Scotch, and 47 Iriflrish.To the Falkland Islands 12 emigrants were conveyed, viz.,
Helena only
w2ereE emigrants nglish,
were n 2 married men, 2 married women, 6 single men, 1 girl, and
1 tm.
ale infant-3 BScotch,
married woman and the other a girl, both English. The
total amounts to 9,125 souls, equal to 8,262 statute adults,
of whom 953 were married men, 981 married women, 2,438
single men, 3,255 single women, 602 boys between the ages
Lolrisll.
s 0
of 1 and 12, 668 girls between the same ages, 119 male in-
eo convoyed—one was a
in-
fants, and 109 female-3,567 were English, 1,656 Scotch
and 3,902 Irish,

EFFECT OF WAIL—We have just received the
annual report of the auditor of Kentucky. It con-
tains a statement of the taxable property for 30 odd years,
and from it we find that in 1860 the taxable property of our
State was valued at nearly 517,000,000 doll; in 1861 it fell
off 62,000,000 dols, and in 1862 113,060,000 dols, so that
the aggregate depreciation has been over 165,000,000 dais,
and our state has been put back eight or ten years. The
decrease in the valuation of articles subject to taxation ex-
tends to every article in the list. Comparing their value
in 1862 with that of the previous year, the valuation of land
has decreased 50,468,747 dolts ; of town lots, 10,365,266 dole ;
of slaves, 30,706,168 dais; of horses and mares, 4,080,625
dols; of mules, 1,539,113 dais; of jennies, 107,430 dole; of
cattle, 1,078,045 dais; of stores, 3,905,574 doll; and under
the Equalisation Law 10,759,491 dols, being an aggregate
of nearly 113,000,000 dols for the financial year ending the
10th of October, 1862, while for the year previous the de.
crease was 52,294,131.—L0ui5vi11e Journal.
NOTTINGHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.—At a
meeting of the council held on Wednesday, the 9th
inst., notice was read from the Board of Tradeahsottoiceh
altera-
tions in the Portuguese tariff of duties, and also
stat-
ing that the reduced rate of duties accorded y Belgium to
France by the treaty concluded between those countries on
the 12th of May last are only applicable to the
same articles
of British origin when imported into Belgium. Copies of
the report of her Majesty's Secretaries of Embassy and
Legation, respecting the manufactures and commerce of the
countries in which they reside, and of the "commercial re-
ports" of her Majesty's Consuls abroad have
,been roceived
from the Foreign-office and were brought before the meet-
ing. Mr. M. Dann gave notice that at. a future meeting of
the council he should bring forward for,,disenssion the posi-
tion in which Nottingham lace goods are placed in case of
damage or loss in transit by either railway, canal,
carriers, no compensation being claimable from the or other
carriers
for such damage or loss of "lace," unless a high rate of car-
riage, by way of insurance, has been previously paid thereon.