The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-27 00:00:00

National Choral Society, Exeter-hall.

This society has commenced its winter campaign
under favourable auspices, and it bids fair, from
the character of the singing, the excellence of the
choruses, and the general style of the performances,
to become one of the most popular of our musical
associations. The oratorio selected for Wednesday
evening was Handel's " Judas Maccabmas," and full
justice was for the moat part done to the noble work
by the great master, The disappointment of the
evening Was the non-appearance of Mr. Sims
Reeves, Which, however, is not unfortunately so
rare an event as to occasion much surprise. His
substitute, though a careful singer, was quite un-
equal to the " Sound an alarm," one of , the
most
trying tenor airs, as well as to other
parts of his role. The soprano part left no
room for regret, for Mdlle. Parepa's charming
voice and cultivated style were all that could
be desired, Mies Palmer was, as usual, well
received, and performed her part creditably,
although she is by no means the best of our con-
traltos. Among the many fine airs of the oratorio
we may mention the recitative and air " From
mighty kings," by Mdlle. Parepa ; " So shall the
lute,' another socrano solo ; " Oh Judas! oh my
brethren!" by Miss Palmer; the -duet "Oh never
bow we down,"sung by the two ladies, was heard to
the best advantage, Tne Joborus, *bleb reflects the
highest credit on Mr. Martin, performed their duties
very satisfactorily. The noble chortle and march I See
the conquering hero comes," was very finely ren-
dered. The hall was full, and altogether the inau-
guration of the fourth season may be considered a
decided success,

PNEUMATIC DESPATCFI COMPANY.—.The progress
of laying down the tubes of this company from Sey-
mour-strect, EnstonqnUare, to the Cenefal Post. office, St.
Martin's-le-Grand, has been suspended, after giving notice
to the treat authorities of the St, Giles and Holborn districts
that PoUthampton.row, King-street, High Holborn, and
other streets through whieh it is proposed to lay down the
tube, would be broken up for that purpose immediately
after the 10th of November; and intimation has been given
that this will net take place until the spring of next year.
l'he company have given notice of their intention to apply
to Parliament for extended powers to break iip streets in
order to lay down t4eir tubes and apparatits, and to ptir-
chase properties in Hampstead-road, Upper Seymour-street,
King-street, High Holborn, Whetston Park, tincoln3s-inn-
fields, Russell-street, Covent-garden, and St. Martin's-le-
Grand. Also for compulsory powtrs to lay down their tube
under and through Christ's Hospital, and for other purposes.
NUMEROUS ABORIGINAL RACES exist in the great
Oceanic region extending from Vortnosa to New
Zealand and from Sumatra to within 2,000 miles of the
American continent, The principal of these are the Malay;
the pigmy negro of the Malay peninsula and the Philip-
pines; the stalwart nt gro at New Guinea, New Caledonia,
and the Fijis ; the tall, brown-complexioned Polynesians,
such as the Tahitians, Tawaians, and Maoris; and the
Australians. The strangers that have mixed with these
aborigines consist of Hindus, Arabs, and Europeans; but
neither thus nor amongst the native races has any inter-
mixture gone to the extent of forming a permanent cross-
breed, except iu the Fiji group between the tall negroes and
the Polynesians, a feet confirmed by the personal appearance
tined to thaearme
at the people and their mixed language, and which tic:collate
his,), though stilt cannibals, for their social advancement
r::::.!r.eater than that of the various negroes of the other
bia,),:titi
vitistlands. The earliest strangers who mixed their
g trparnav
dua, imulll the people of the oceanic regions were the
ight b© looked for, the commixture was con-
e/ay Review " is nearest peoxity, the Malayan —Satur -
THE CRolez ,
the selection of ---1' A LAST RESTING PLACE.—In
nine stream ; Napoleon iattgr4"
tastes. Attilit waas place interment men have different
Invades ; Mr. Seward, witi,th
elected to be buried under the under the bed of a run-
republican simplicity, has
splended mausoleum in the
rent. No doubt he
would reject the idea sandW
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awt
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during his lifetime we tramp
d in any sense
resting place than he would find prepleiapbet,s:aunmdore peaceful
mighter thepav e -
position of his bone seriously
iorauitezeenrett'ear‘.ll7%:hweeirete4h, tagg as
proper pipes
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