The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-01 00:00:00

NATIONAL CHORAL SOCIETY.

Last evening Handel's sublime " Messiah" was
again magnificently performed, in Exeter Hall, by
a band and chorus of 700 performers, conducted by
the baton of Mr. G. W. Martin. It was, as usual,
Mr. Boardman who presided at that glorious golden
organ, beneath whose gigantic array of pipes the
maker's homely name, " W. Walker," always reads
to us as so much of an anti-climax ! Mr. Sims
Reeves, the King of Tenors—Madame Rudersdorff,
one of the most brilliant of our sopranos—Miss
Palmer, a charming contralto—and Mr. Santley,
whose admirable powers es a bass have this season
promoted him to Her Majesty's Theatre : those
four were the Principal Vocalists. Having said
thus much, it is almost appears superfluous to add
that the noble Hall was crowded in every part—
half guinea stalls, crown stalls, reserved area,
and gallery. The audience, presenting to view,
when regarded from the platform, a very sea
of attentive faces—in itself a most impres-
sive spectacle. As, indeed, was also the inclined
plane of band and chorus upon the platform—
spreading out in front and extending far up to the
right and left of the great organ. With those
members of the National. Choral Society secured for
the choruses, and with four singers like those whose
ever-welcome names we have already enumerated
secured for the solos, with a conductor like Mr.
Martin, and an organist like Mr. Boardman, it may
be imagined that the performance of the " Messiah"
last evening was one almost worthy of the
work! If anything upon earth could be worthy of
ariculating music that seems at times more suited to
the angelic choirs! As, for example, when we are
listening—one of a vast audience, standing un-
covered and thrilled by the glorious sounds—to the
divine " Hallelujah !,' Or, lot us say, when that
always astoundingly beautiful (thorns," For unto us
a Child is Born," suddenly changes from the—

" Linked sweetness long drawn out"—
to the harmonious crash of the awful titles of the
Messiah—each following the other with a momen-
tary pause between—" Wonderful !--Counsellor!
The Mighty God I—The Everlasting Father !
The Prince of Peace !" Or, again, in another way,
and by a more subtle influence of the celestial art,
as when " listening delighted" to the delicious air
—tenderly sung last night by Miss Palmer, and all
but winning the honour of an encore—" He shall
teed His flock," with its dulcet warb ling accompa-
niment. The enoores last evening were won by
Mr. Santley, through his noble rendering of " Why
do the Nations," and immediately afterwards,
with a storm of applause coming alike from the
performers upon the platform and from the huge
audience in the body of the hall by Mr. Sims
Reeves in his exquisite chanting of the air " Thou
shall break them !" One other encore there wets,
but that, as a matter of course, and as a thing
quite inevitable—the repetition of the wonderful
chorus already refer red to, " For unto us a Child is
Born." Given as it was given last night, there was
no choice for the audience but to redemand it. The
performance lasted altogether for upwards of three
hours—beginning punctually at half-past seven, and
not terminating until long after half-past ten. But
for this the " Hallelujah Chorus" must have been
repeated as inevitably as the chorus already par-
ticularised. The Lord Mayor and party were dis-
tinguishable amon; the audience. All who took
part in the performance, we may confidently say—
in die proportion, of course—acquitted themselves
to admiration.

COLONEL WAUGH'S CASE.—This person is still
under the care of the sheriffs of London and Mid-
dlesex, and it is not yet known what e.,urse he intends to
take to extricate himself from his disagreeable position.
It will be remembered that he was before the Bankruptcy
Court in 1857, but affidavits were put in that he was in
such a state of health that it was dangerous for him to
travel. Amongst the proofs tendered was a most extraor-
dinary milliner's bill, by Miss Jane Clark, of Regent-
street, for £2,751 Os. 61d., of which £9OO had been paid,
leaving a balance of £1,854, incurred from 1850 to 1856 by
Mrs. Waugh, formerly Mrs. Carew. That lady had, by
her first husband (Captain Carew), a daughter, who, in the
year 1855, married Sir Charles Pigott. As many of the
articles were for Miss Carew on her marriage, a question
arose whether Mrs. Waugh and Sir Charles Pigott could
not be held liable to pay the bill for millinery, Mrs. Waugh
having had a settlement of £6OO a year from her first hus-
band. Amongst the proofs allowed at the examination in
September, 1857, was one of £1,507 for jewellery. There
was also a claim against the estate of 45 guineas for one
month's boxes (July, 1856) at Her Majesty's and the Hay-
market, the Adelphi and Olympic Theatres. The last
that was heard of Colonel Waugh, in connection with his
bankruptcy, was in a letter from his wife, who stated that
he had gone to Manzanares in Spain, but that his health
was such that a journey to England might kill him. A
certificate was produced from a Spanish doctor, stating
that " Senor Don Colonel Waugh" was seriously ill, and
that any mental anxiety would be most dangerous.
NOVEL BALL- ROOM.—A ball was given last night
by the non-commissioned officers of the Royal Ar-
tillery in the Snow Palace. It is constructed in the Gothic
style of architecture, and is perfectly unique; the ceiling is
supported by large pilla• s of ice, which run parallel with
each other. Adjoining the ball-room are four smaller
rooms, three used as dressing-rooms and one as a refresh-
ment -room, all built of the natural production—ice. The
ball was attended with all the success that could be desired.
Dancing was kept up until 12 o'cicck in the most spirited
manner. Several officers of the line and active militia wet e
present, and all arrived at the same conclusion, that the
ball exceeded their most Sanguine expectations.—Quebec
Mercury.
SALMON.—A return just issued that shows in the
00 bou, t
did year 1862 salmon of British taking of the value of
d
£41,657 was exported from Great Britain. In point of law
monththerereac is
h e
in
a nearly which close
to t
h time,
I 3 exporta h i nt
notpion o on. In fact
hoe rdgtf ofe p
August;
includes
in December it amounted to £2,530. But this
point
export rrte e wasve n no o
November
t it
only salmon exported under that designation ; no
account can be furnished of the ixpert of salmon preserved
in tins or otherwise, to which the general description of
"provisions" may have been attached in the entries at the
Custom-house,