The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-12 00:00:00

NATIONAL CHORAL SOCIETY,

Last night, at Exeter Hall, the National Choral
Society performed the oratorio of "Elijah." The
evening was rendered interesting by the introduc-
tion of the National Anthem, in which Mr. Sims
Reeves sang a solo verse introduced for the occasion.
It called forth warm applause during its delivery—
Bless England's Royal son,
Bless her whose love he's won,
Close to his side;
Deep breathes a nation's prayer,
God bless Victoria's heir,
And her the young and fair,
God bless his bride !
Mendelssohn's Wedding March was played,
and elicited great enthusiasm. The oratorio was
skilfully rendered. Mr. Sims Reeves, who is
inimitable in sacred music, appeared to full advan-
tage, and though in this oratorio he has little to do,
yet be acquitted himself admirably. Then shall
the righteous" he gave with great effect, and some
attempt was made for an encore, which he wisely
declined. The beautiful trio, " Lift thine eyes," which
was sung by Miss Palmer, Miss Cox, and Miss F.
Lancia, vt as enthusiastically encored, as it deserved
to be. Mr. G. W. Martin was the conductor, and the
band and chorus consisted of 700 performers. A very
large audience appeared satisfied with the perform-
ance, and altogether a most successful effect was
produced. Mr. Santley sang with great spirit his
numerous morceaux, and gave great satisfaction. In
the solo " Is not His Word like a fire," he espe-
cially distinguished himself. The other vocalists
were Mr. Carter, Mr. Winn, Mr. Theodore
Diaton, and Miss Julia Elton. The managers of
this affair have every reason to be satisfied with the
effect produced, and the greatest credit is due to
those who so ably seconded the efforts of the spirited
originators.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

A dramatic version, in four acts, of Miss Braddon's novel,

" Aurora Floyd," was produced here last evening with per-
fect success. Mr. Cheltnam is the adapter, and there is
no character or incident of the slightest importance in the
work he has not succeeded in retaining. The novel of

"Aurora Floyd" is not of so dramatic a character as that
of " Lady Audley's Secret," though, possibly, it is superior
as a literary production. The heroine is equally well de-
lineated as Lady Audley, perhaps even better by the
novelist ; but her characteristics do not tell upon the stage.
The emotion is not of so violent a character, and the know-
ledge that she is guiltless of the great crime laid to her
charge takes away from the intensity of the personation.
The acting of the principal parts is very good, and con-
tributes largely to the success of the piece ; and though
there is nothing particularly striking in Miss Sedgwick's
conception of Aurora, she plays it with genuine feeling.
Mr. H. Vezin has little opportunity for display, but in the
scene where he is torn by his suspicions cf his wife, he
played with an intensity that made us regret his character
had not been more elaborated by the adapter. Mr. Roxby,
as James Conyers, is very effective, and Mr. Seyton's
Matthew Hargraves was an exceedingly good performance.
The honour of the evening, however, was carried off by
Mr. Belmore. His impersonation of the sickly, half-
witted clown, in whosa ignoble bosom the sense of wrong
rankles like poison, who is devoured by a. ravenous thirst
for revenge, and who is prostrated by an abject terror of
death, is an admirable histrionic portrait, alike original
in conception and artistic in execution. The piece has
been very prettily placed upon the stage, and at the
fall of the curtain the applause was genuine and en-
thusiastic.

The Roman Catholic Clergy and the Polish

Insurrection.

The well-known French writer, Edward Quinet,
has addressed the following letter to the ltomatt
Catholic priesthood :
I witnessed the resurrection of Greece, of Italy, of
Romania; I pray heaven that it will yet permit me to see
that of Poland. This resurrection depends especially on the
Catholic clergy. Too long has it justified me in accusing it of
repressing modern right and ranging itself on the side of
the strongest. I now entreat it to refute me, and I say
to it, with clasped hands, " You have a solemn, unique
opportunity, not only of closing our mouths, but of com-
pelling us to return you thanks. Profit by it. It was you '
who in the last century struck down the heart of Poland,
and thereby caused its ruin. Undo that. You can do
this better than any one else. Bring back to life this corpse,
call forth this Lazarus, and we shall be compelled to bless
you. It is true that Ido not s.sk of you simply words, col-
lections, remote sermons, in the walls of the church. I ask
you for that in which you are so rich when you choose—
for acts. You have a hundred times had acts for despotism ;
have one for liberty. You knew how to make a Vendee
against revolution ; make a Polish Vendee. Remember
what you have been able to do for the cause of the past.
Arm yourself with the same weapons for the cause of the
future. Crush us with your victory. I call for it,
I salute it, Iwill recognise it. Take the cross ;
march at the head. Let your tocsin sound from the
top of St. Peter's at Rome, Let it be heard from the
Vistula to the Niemen, in every city, in every village of
Poland. Let a whole people at this signal leave its fields
and be free—be free through you. To you shall remain
the honour—to you the power. You will have obtained two
things—you will have the glory of having saved a nation
and of having dispelled the illusions of your adversaries.
It will be shown that the force which you have exerted to
compress, you possess also for setting free.

E. QIIINET.

Veytaux (Switzerland), March 7, 1863.