The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-11 00:00:00

Orleans

Northern
New ditto - • •
Lyons and Mediterranean 1155 .. 1156 25
Geneva 371 25 ~ 372 50
Southern 785 785
Western
Eastern ....... •

Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard

, North of Spain
Saragossa 657 50 .. 660
Ditto to Barcelona

NATIONAL CHORAL SOCIE7Y.

The performance of Handel's Judas Malcabeus by this
society last night, at Exeter Hall, will prove a remarkable
epoch in its history ; and, if we are not mistaken, make the
oratorio as popular and cause it to be as frequently per-
formed as it was in the days of its composer, who, in his
grandest inspirations has, with one exception—the Messiah
—never shown a greater wealth of imagination or more
dramatic power. The airs combine the most delicious
melody with the most spirit-stirring appeals to the love of
counts y.

The orchestral accompaniments show the hand of the
great master in its fullest mastery of all the secrets of his
art ; and the choruses, admirably contrasted in style, may
take rank with the very best of his compositions.
Mr. Martin, the conductor, deserves the highest credit
for the perfect and irreproachable manner in which he last
night presented this great work to a crowded audience.
The principal vocalists were Miss Eleonora Wilkinson,
soprano ; Miss Palmer, contralto ; Mr. Sims Reeves, tenor;
and Mr. Lewis Thomas, bass. Miss Wilkinson, in her first
recitative, " Not vain is all this storm of grief," arrested
attention by her pure and distinct delivery, and in the
tender and flowing air which follows, " Pious orgies, pious
prayers," proved herself a thoroughly competent interpreter
of Handelian music, producing an impression which was
deepened with each successive recitative and air allotted to
her, and drew from the audience repeated and enthusiastic
applause. This was especial.y the case in the melodious
yet florid air, " From mighty Kings he took the spoil."

Miss Palmer, a sound and conscientious singer,was especially
applauded in the air which opens the third part, " Father
of Heaven," and with Miss Wilkinson gave the duets in
perfection. Mr. Lewis Thomas rendered with great force
and expressiveness " Arm, arm, ye brave," and " The Lord
worketh wonders."

Mr. Sims Reeves, who was in his best voice, electrified-
the audience throughout, but his delivery of the air,
" Sound an alarm," created a furore, such as we have no
recollection of in recent times. To use an old phrase, the
" house rose" at him. The choir joined enthusiastically in
the long-continued, oft.repeated, and fervent applause, and
the great tenor repeated the stirring call to battle with in-
creased energy and effect. The choruses were from be-
ginning to end given with a precision, a delicacy of light
and shade, and a full appreciation of the meaning of the
composer, which well merited the enthusiastic plaudits of
the company ; and the encores, which the conductor was
reluctantly compelled to grant, and which included the
universally-known, " See the conquering hero comes."
Mr. J. G. Boardman presided at the organ, and the or-
chestra was in every respect equal to the high standard of
the solo singers and the choir.
Mr. Martin treads hard on Mr. Costa's heels, which
ought to be good news to all lovers of Handel's music.

A Turin letter states that the general subject of
conversation is a duel which was apprehended between
General Pallavicino, the victor of Aspromonte, and Menotti
Garibaldi. The two adversaries were to leave for Bologna,
where the meeting was to take place.
THE OREGON GOLD MINES.--Information has
been received that in September last there were in the
Powder River 'Valley, Oregon, 40,000 settlers. On the Ist
of August there were not 100 white men in that rich valley.
About that time 63 started for this valley, and 17 of the
number were killed by Indians before reaching it. The
diggings there are said to be very rich in gold.—.Missourz
Democrat.
The Phare de la Loire states that the sentry at
the forage stores of Nantes was attacked three nights ago
by two malefactors. They threw him down and stabbed
him twice with a knife. The wounds were not, however,
dangerous. The cause of this assault is not known.
THE GREEK MEETING IN THE CITY.—The Daily
News says :—" Captain Ackerley put himself forward as a
representative of Capo d'lstlias, and recommended a junc-
tion of the Greek islands with the mainland. Ile regarded
the gentlemen on the platform as a parcel of shams who
didn't care twopence for the liberty of Greece, and strongly
suspected that the Greek papas were in the hands of the
Roman Catholics. Tho gallant captain finally took the flag
of Greece from his pocket and gave it to his Canadian fol-
lower to display before the meeting. The captain's pro-
w saysere
Caacpctua
isnt o
Ana
ce dk e
rtioe
yhissomweahyosw."
pro-
ceedings caused considerable surprise amongst those who
or T
oht eh
ell fr
co
or:
ti nr
igv
ePd o
ts
ot
connect the state of Greece with the unfortunate Indian
who always accompanies him to pUblic meetings, which he
interrupts."