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 Maccabreus," and full
justice was for the most 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 uo
room for regret, for Mdlle. Parepa's charming
voice and cultivated style were all that could
be desired. Miss 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 soprano solo; " Oh Judas I oh my
brethren!" by Miss Palmer; the duet " Oh never
bow we do wn,nsung by the two ladies, was heard to
the best advantage. The chorus, which reflects the
highest credit on Mr. Martin, performed their duties
very satisfactorily. The noble chorus and march 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 DESPATCH COMPANY.—The progress
of laying down the tubes of this company from Sey-
mour-street, Euston-square, to the General Post-office, St.
Martin's-le-Grand, has been suspended, after giving notice
to the local authorities of the St, Giles and Holborn districts
that Southampton-row, King-street, High Holborn, and
other streets through which it is proposed to lay down the
tube, wouid be broken up for that purpose immediately
after the 10th of November ; and intimation has been given
that this will not take place until the spring of next year,
The company have given notice of their intention to apply
to Parliament for extended powers to break up streets in
order to lay down their tubes and apparatus, and to pur-
chase properties in Hampstead-road, Upper Seymour-street,
King-street, High Holborn, Whetston Park, Lincoln's-inn-
fields, Russell.street, Covent-garden, and St. Martin's-le-
Grand. Also for compulsory powers 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 Formosa 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 negro of 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 in the Fiji group between the tall negroes and
the Polynesians, a fact confirrnect by the personal appearance
of the people and their mixed language, and which accounts
also, though still cannibals, for their social advancetnent
being greater than that of the various negroes of the other
Attila w.aas la
the selection of
Pacific islands. The earliest strangers who mixed their
blood with the people of the oceanic regions were the
Hin-
dus, and, as might be looked for, the commixture was con-
need to the race iu nearest proxity, the Malayan.—Vatur-
cleY Review.
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