The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-30 00:00:00

I The opening will be proclaimed by a flourish of
trumpets. As the procession returns to the South
Court the bands will play, and at the nr,
of the ceremony the military bar
following pieces :-
-" Fra liiavolo"
Eli"
-loud" .

.. P

1 Lit

there was a
•
of the instrumental mus

opening of the Exhibition tc,

consisted of about four hundrci
ing all the most noted instrume,

They occupied the body of\

orchestra, in the front of whi
stationed, the space behind hi
invited visitors, a large asse

gentlemen, among whom
. .

several of the commissioners, and

tinguished persons interested in
The rehearsal began with " God as
which, played by such a band, eve
voices, had a grand effect. Then
composition was rehearsed, the band
ducted by Mr. Costa, while dip composer
his side. He was greeted with loud appl
'the whole' assembly. His work may bertalled *au
overture in the style of a triumphal march. Of
course it is impossible, on a single hearing, to give
any account of the construction of such a composi-
tion ; we can only give a vague idea of its general
effect. It opens impressively with a few distant
sounds from the drums, which at once awake
attention ; they are followed by an introductory
movement gradually increasing in strength, till
the theme of the grand march is given out by the
full clang of the braien instruments. In the massive
breadth, and full resonant harmony of this move-
ment, we are reminded of the march in the " Pro-
phet e," but this is still more gorgeous and imposing.
Presently the music changes to a grave and solemn
strain, as of a funeral dirge. To produce a mourn•
ful effect the ordinary expedient of resorting to a
minor key is not adopted, the whole of this fine
passage being major. The measure then becomes
rapid and impetuous; our national song, "Rule
Britannia," is combined and blended with the
rhythm and melody of the march with consummate
skill and marvellous effect ; and in this manner
the music is worked up into a climax of astonishing
power and grandeur. When this rehearsal, on
which Mr. Costa bestowed great care, was over,
Lord Granville addressed a few complimentary
words to the composer, expressing the satisfaction
of the Commissioners that this national solemnity
has been graced with the presence and co-opera.
tion of an artist of such world-wide cele-
brity. M. Meyerbeer made a brief and modest
reply, at the same time expressed his admi-
ration at the manner in which the orchestra
had at first sight executed his work. When it
was over Mr. Costa sat down on the platform ; M.
Sainton took his place at the conductor's desk; and
the instrumental accompaniments of Dr. Bennett's
Ode were rehearsed without the vocal parts. They
would have been very well had it been a rehearsal
and nothing more; but to perform, before a large
audience, the mere accompaniments of a long choral
work was placing the composer at a disadvantage:
We do not, however, blame anybody for this, as we
understand (though no intimation has been given
to that effect) that this music is to be fully re-
hearsed at the Exhibition today. L.-"
Auber's march was rehearsed, Mr. Costa
the baton. It fully realised the expectat

veteran composer's admirers. It is a sple
11111-Ofitii*irig melody r
ful cffeets of instrumentation ; redolent

his brightest and happiest mode. The

doubt,-in short, that these new compositi, are
entirely worthy of the great national celebration to
which they owe their birth.
In the evening, between 7 and 8 o'clock, the
International Exhibition Chorus (about 520 to a
part—in all little short of 2,500 singers) assembled
in the same hall, which they so completely filled that,
except in the gallery and side balconies, there would
have been no room for visitors, had any been in-
vited. The conductors, MM. Costa and Sainton, were
stationed on a platform in the centre of the area,
nearest the orchestra. Nothing but the choral
music was tried, and the only accompaniment was
on the organ, at which Mr. Brownsmith, of the
Sacred Harmonic Society, presided. First we had
the National Anthem, the melody of which was
sung alternately by the different sections of the
chorus (sopranos, tenors, &c.) in unison, till at last
the familiar strains burst forth in ample harmony.
What we have already said of the orchestra, in
alluding to the morning rehearsal, may be applied
to the chorus with even stronger emphasis. The
deputations from the Sacred Harmonic Society,
appointed to select the most competent singers from
the various country districts, have performed their
difficult task with remarkable judgment. If the
chorus of yesterday evening is to be the nucleus of
the Handel Festival chorus at the Crystal Palace,
all the prodigies yet achieved at those gigantic ex-
hibitions will be far excelled. We remember no
such chorus. The National Anthem is, of course,
child's play to practised amateurs ; but the unfa-
miliar harmonies of Professor Bennett's Ode—a
work in every sense new and original—offered a
severer test. When we say that, with but few stops
(and those generally occurring at the pauses be-
tween the different movements), it was sung from
end to end with the utmost smoothness and pre-
cison, some idea may be formed of the excellence
of the choral force which the Sacred Harmonic
Society has succeeded in bringing together on this
great occasion. Nevertheless, M. Sainton went
through the Ode a second time, and, as a matter of
course, with proportionately good results. Of tho
" Hallelujah" and " Amen," which were to follow
(under Mr. Costa's guidance), we need say nothing.
Roth conductors were 'welcomed with reiterated
plaudits from the whole multitude of singers, the
reception accorded to M. Sainton amounting to
little short of what, in the glowing and occasionally
fantastic language of musicians, is termed an " ova-
tion."

Mails for the Channel Islands will be made up
daily in the General Post-office from the 2d of May.
REPRESENTATION OF LAMBETH. --- Yesterday
evening both the candidates who are at present in the field
for the representation of this borough addressed meetings
of their friends—Mr. Sleigh at the Camberwell-hall, and
Mr. Doulton at the Rosemary Branch, Peckham. The sup-
porters of both gentlemen express themselves very sanguine
of success, and a close struggle is anticipated. There has
been some talk during the last day or two of a Conserva-
tive candidate in the person of Mr. Marcus Bcresford, a
gentleman who resides in the borough, and who is closely
identified with the volunteer movement in tho locality, but
he has not yet issued an address.

THE STOCK OF COTTON.—The considerable re-
ceipts of cotton at Liverpool last week caused a slight rally
in the stock, which, however, continuos on the whole to
decline. The movement of affairs this month has been as
follows as compared with April, 1861 and 'GO :-
1862. 1861. 1860
Bales. Bales. Bales.
Stock, April 4 .. 455,950 942,330 906,010
17 71 11 .. 429,730 884,860 955,640
~ 18 .. 389,530 874,330 1,015,880
19 ~ • •
25 398,570 952,740 1,027,290
The quantity taken for consumption and export this
year to the date of the last figures was 554,545 bales,
being at the rate of 32,620 bales per week, as compared
with 888,437 hales, or 52,260 bales per week in the corre-
sponding period of last year. Deducting the quantities ex-
ported, the average amount taken for home consumption
this year has.been 26,741 bales per week as compared with
43,394 bales per week in the first four months of 1861. Not-
withstanding this great curtailment of operations it will be
observed that the stock exhibits an extraordinary decline as
compared with 1861 and 1860. This may well be the case,
seeing that the total imports to April 25 this year were
only 330,212 bales against 1,295,644 bales in the cone-
' sponding period last year.