The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-31 00:00:00

NATIONAL CHORAL SOCIETY,

Last evening Haydn's oratorio of "The Creation" was
performed by this society, under the superintendence of
Mr. Martin, whose exertions have been well repaid by the
high degree of efficiency at which its members have arrived.
" The Creation," although inferior in sublimity and inte-
rest to "The Messiah" and "Elijah," shares their popu-
larity, and it is, therefore, not surprising that the hall
was full and the audience attentive, The choruses, which
are, some of them, long and difficult, were on the whole
very satisfactorily rendered. The solo parts were allotted
to Mlle. Parepa, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Santley, Mr•
Cummings ialso assisted in the tenor part, Mlle. Parepa's
beautiful voice and expressive singing were heard to full
advantage in the arduous part that fell to her share. In
the famous air, " With verdure clad," and in the long and
trying duet, " For Adam and Eve," at the conclusion, she
especially distinguished herself. Mr. Sims Reeves gave
the tenor music with great effect, and created a perfect
enthusiasm by the singing of its principal solo, " In na •
tive worth," although, as usual, he declined to comply
with the encore. Mr. Santley, who bids fair to become
one of our leading bass singers, possesses a very fine
voice, and sings with much ability, though but little ex-
pression. The fine bass solos were loudly applauded, and
a unanimous re-demand for " On mighty wings" was
complied with by the repetition of its second part. Alto-
gether, the performances were very satisfactozy, and we
are glad to see that Mr. Martin promises considerable
Ivariety in his announcements for the season,

NARROW ESCAPE OF FOUR BOYS FROM DROWN •
ING.—On Monday afternoon, between one and two
o'clock, four young lads, three of whom are sons of Mr
Paton, merchant, and one is the son of Mr. Morrison,
Broughty Ferry, had a narrow escape from drowning. It
appears that the lads, having got possession of a gun, went
down the sands for the purpose of shooting sea-gulls.
Having got on the Lady Bank, they travelled to the east
end of it. Never thinking that the tide was flowing, they
stopped longer on it than they should have done, and it was
only by the bank becoming less visible that they discovered
the danger they were in. They hurried to get off; but, by
the time they got back, the bank was completely sur-
rounded. On the alarm being given, a great number of
people collected on the beach, but could render no assist-
ance, there being no boats within a mile of the spot. A.
man with a horse and cart tried to go for them ; but the
water being too deep, he had to return. The tide by this
time had covered the bank, and the cries of the boys were
most heartrending. Two or three people ran to the ferry
to get a beat; but before they arrived, two hardy fisher-
women, Mrs. T. Norrie and Jessie Norrie, who heard the
cries of the boys, were observed rowing with all their might
across the river. They arrived/ just in time to save the boys'
lives, and having taken them on board the boat, landed
them at the ferry.—Scotsman.
"POINDING" A BED WITH A CORPSE FOR THE
CITY CLERGY.—It seems that the messengers of
the clerico-police collector are again abroad, and with fresh
insults to morality and religion. The goods of a respected
citiz-n in Nelson-street were poinded yesterday under cir-
cumstances absolutely horrifying. There was lying coffined
in one of the rooms the body of an aged gentleman, a lodger,
and in attendance were his wife and a number of bereaved
friends. The minions of the law were informed of the
fact, and urged to pay their visit at another time ;
they peremptorily refused, however, to defer their
sacrilegious work, and no; satisfied with poinding in one
room to the amount of £2O for £6 25., they actually pro-
ceeded into the chamber of death and poinded " the bed,
&c." upon which the coffined body was lying. It is said
that the subordinates were appalled at their inhuman work,
and would have refused to perform it had not their superior
officer insisted upun it. Such is Edinburgh at Christmas,
1863111 A respectable broker in Howe-street was also
poinded yesterday. In his case, however, the public will
have due notice of the time of rouping, the amount claimed,
with expenses, in the name of the city and the clergy, being
above £2o.—Caledonian Mercury.

The Earl and Countess of Cardigan have arrived
at Thomas's Rotel, Berkeley-square, from Deane Park.