The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-16 00:00:00

Death of Ernst.

Ernst, the most famous and, in some respects, the
most gifted fiddler of his day, died on Sunday last
at Nice, in the pleasant climate of which healthful
place he had often sought to lessen the intensity of
his constant suffering. Tho life of an executive
musician, however brilliant his career, is rarely
eventful, and in the biography of the great genius
who has'just ceased to exist there is but little inci-
dent to vary the continuous record of a long series
of achieved triumphs. The following scanty par-
ticulars we have gleaned from M. Fetis, whose cri-
ticisms, however, we are forced to omit, so preju-
diced, and one-sided is the industrious Belgian com-
piler. Ernst was bornt at Brunn, in Moravia, in
1814, so that at his death he had not long over-
stepped his fiftieth year. A pupil of the Viennese
Conservatoire, he received his lessons from Bailin ;
the Kapellmeister Seyfried taught him harmony ;
and he then had instruction from Mayseder. When
only sixteen years of age he undertook his first jour-
ney to Munich, Stuttgart, and Frankfort, where the
precocity of his talent awakened general interest.
He went to Paris in 1832, and made a long stay in
that city, where he studied the style of the French
violinists, especially of the celebrated De Beriot, who
at that time was the hero of the concert-room. In
1838 he went through Holland, where he obtained
singular success. Returned to Paris at the begin-
ning of 1839, he gave several concerts, and then he
visited Southern Germany, staying at Vienna in
1840. In 1844 he came to London, and here he
afterwards passed many seasons. His talent was
fully appreciated. Among his compositions for his
instrument may be mentioned :--Two Nocturnes for
violin and orchestra, the second number of which,
an andante cantabile, has had great success tin
Elegie for violin and piano, a charming piece, which
has been played everywhere, and to which Spohr
wrote an introduction ; Fantasia on the march and
romance in " Otello ;" Concertino with orchestra ;.
Rondo on "Die Zauberflote." To this last several
other pieces might be added, but an imitation of
Paganini's " Carnaval de Venise" should be men-
tioned, because it is identified with Ernst's playing.
The malady to which he appears at length to have
succumbed prevented some years ago his fingers
from exercising their
.former cunning, and of late he
has entirely disappeared from public life. But
though his hands were powerless to interpret the
musical thoughts of others, his active brain was yet
capable of creating musical ideas of his own. He
could still write for the beloved instrument which
would no longer obey his behests. So he composed
quartets, and these he delivered over to his ablest
successor. We need not remind musical readers
that one of the Monday Popular Concerts was de-
voted to a benefit for Herr Ernst, and that there
Herr Joachim introduced the composition of his
afflicted brother in art. It is well known that Herr
Ernst has, during recent years, been the constant
visitor of one of our. most distinguished men of
letters, who, in spite of his own want of sympathy
with music, found a strange charm in the companion-
ship of the gifted musician. Ernst's case was long
since deemed hopeless, but it seemed that " Death
was not jealous of his mild decay that gentlyelwoaokoeedd
him his." At length appeared the "Shadow
from head to foot, who keeps the keys of all the
creeds," and the ardent spirit is for ever stilled. We
have yet among us greater artists than Ernst, but
it is doubtful if we shall ever again hear the strings
of a violin breathe such poetry as was evolved under
the pressure of his magic bow ; such strains might,
indeed, " create a soul beneath the ribs of death."

CONSERVATIVE DEMONSTRATION IN ESSEX.—The
annual meeting of the Hinckford Conservative and Agri-
cultural Club was held on Friday evening at Castle Hed-
ingham, under the presidency of Col. Brise. The meeting
was to some extent marred by the absence of Major Beres-
ford, that gentleman having been defeated at the late
election fer North Essex by Sir T. Western, the Liberal
sitting member. Mr. C. Du Cane, M.P., however, was
present, as was Mr. R. A. Earle, the newly-elected M.P
for Maldon, and sometime private secretary to Mr. Dis-
raeli. The principal speakers were Sir B. P. Henniker,
Mr. Du Cane, and Nr• Larle.

17-
-f -f
/- '1.44
(d Inlrt ,D,E, circular

HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL, Oct. 14.

The Queen and her Royal Highness Princess
Helena returned on Friday evening to Balmoral,
after visiting the Dowager Duchess of Athole at
Dunkeld, attended by the Marchioness of Ely and
Lieutenant-General Hon. Charles Grey. Her Ma-
jesty rode over the hill from Kindrogan to the
Spittal of Glenshee.
Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess
Louis of Hesse and Princess Louise returned on
Thursday from a tour to Inverness by the Caledo-
nian Canal, Loch Lomond, &c.

The Prince and Princess attended a ball last
night given by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, attended by
Capt. Haig, remains at Abergeldie Castle.

Foreign Courts.
PARIS, Oct. 15.
The Ministers and members of the Privy Council
held a sitting yesterday at the Palace of St. Cloud,
the Emperor presiding. It is said that, by orders
of his Majesty, a detailed report of the sanitary
state of Paris was presented. This document, based
entirely on official figures, is said to prove that the
cholera, during the time of its appearance in the
capital, has made but few victims.
The King and Queen of P Drtugal and the Prince
Royal have left Paris for Brussels. They are about
to visit Belgium, England, Germany, and Italy,
and will afterwards return to Paris, as stated, to
proceed to Compiegne on a visit to the Emperor
and Empress.

Count Walewski, President of the Legislative
Body, has returned from Biarritz.

On the 15th anniversary of the death of Queen
Louise of Belgium; the da'y before yesterday, the
annual service at the ChurCh of Ncitre Dame at
Laeken was celebrated. The King, who had not
for several years been able to attend, was present,
with the Duke and duchess of Brabant and the
Count de Flandre. The civil and military func-
tionaries, and a large number of persons of all
classes from Brussels, were also in the church.
The King and Queen of Portugal; on arriving at
Brussels, were received at the railway station by
the Count de Flandre and the Portuguese Minister,
Viscount de Seizal. Their majesties were at once
taken in court carriages to the Hotel de Belle-Vue,
where appartments had been prepared for them.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
Louis of Hesse and the Princess Louise, with their attend-
ants and servants, arrived at the Trossachs Hotel on Wed-
nesday, remaining there all night, and passed through
Callander on the following morning for the 9.30 train on
their way to Balmoral.
His Excellency the Russian Ambassador and
Baroness Brunnow are likely to prolong their residence at
Brighton until the second week in next month.
His Excellency the Bavarian Minister and
Baroness de Cetto who arrived in Paris from Munich 01
their way to London.
The Duke of Beaufort arrived in town on Satur-
day from Newmarket. To-day his grace leaves for Bad-
mington, Yorkshire.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury have
been entertaining a succession of visitors at Hatfield House
forts, during the past week, including, among others, the
Countess Brownlow, the Earl of Eldon, Count Pahlen,
Lord and Lady Eustace Cecil, the Right Hon. Benjamin
and Mrs. Disraeli, Hon. Mr. Legge, Hon Mr. Vessey, Mrs
Lane Fox, &c.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Bristol intend
to leave his lordclip's shooing box in the north of Soot-
laad in the course of this week, on their way to Ickworth
Prat., Bury, Edmunds.
The Earl and Countess of Yarborough have left
their seat Brocklesby, Lincolnshire, fo: Filey, Yorkshire,
for her ladyship's
The Earl of Lonsdale arrived at his mansion, on
Carlton-house-terrace, on Saturday hist, from Lowther
Castle.

The Earl of Dalhousie, who arrived at Brechin
Castle on Wednesday tom Dundee, has since gone to In-
vermai k.
Lord Broughton will receive a large party of
friends at Tidworth Park, Wilts, during the present week.
Lord Ravensworth and the Hon. Misses Liddell
have left Drummond Castl9, near erica, :or Ravensworal
Castle, Durliam.

Lady Emily Peel arrived at her residence in
Whitehall-gardens on Saturday, from Geneva.
The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer/
eau, he left Scotland to attend the funeral of his sister-iw
law, has been staying in privacy at Haywarden Castle,
Flin:shlre. Mrs. and Miss Gladelone are staying at Sir
Thomas Gladstone's seat, Fasque, Kinca_dineshire.
Sir Edwin F. Scudamore Stanhope has arrived at.
Mamigy's Hotel from Holme Lacy, Herefordshire.

THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT EXHIBITION will be
held in April next, in the old refreshment wing of the
Palace of 1862.

A NOBLE LIFEBOAT.—The following is an se'
count of the important services rendered during
gales of wind by the Ramsgate lifeboat, in conjunction
with the harbour steam tug, in saving life and property on
the Goodwin and the neighbouring sands during the past
11. years :—The brig Wilhelmina and her crew saved ;
barque Queen of the Teign, do. ; six lives rescued froul
the schooner Marie ; the schooner Pauline and her crew
saved; six lives rescued from the schooner Jessie Annie;
the brig Barfly and her crew saved ; the schooner Sophie
and her crew saved; eight lives rescued from the barque
Georgo Forster; sixteen lives rescued from the barque
Kilby ; the brigs Hedwig, Amalie, and Ida and their
crews saved ; eighteen lives rescued from a Portuguese
brig ; the schooner Wisch and her crew saved; schooner
Sultana, do.; barque, Martha, do. ; brig Quickstep, do.
four lives rescued from a schooner in Pegwell Bay .+
seventeen lives rescued from the Spanish brig Samarl'
to.no ; schooner Omnibus and her crew saved ; Behoove'.
Jane and her crew saved ; nine lives rescued from the
barque Linda ; 13 lives rescued from the barque Ariel ;
the brig Bradford and her crew saved ; the barque Cereal,
do. ; the brig Norma, do. ; four lives rescued from the
Ketch Mary ; the brig Annie and her crew saved ; 120 'Wee
saved from the ship Fusilier, 19 lives from the ship Dealt'''.
rara, five lives rescued from the brig Royal Thistle, fa°
lives saved from the brig Cheny ; the barque Clayton, ver
sel and crew saved ; 11 lives saved from the brig Las Tree
Hermanos. It will thus be seen that in addition to saving
18 ships from destruction, this valuable lifeboat has, 111
conjunction with the steam-tugs rescued probably 400 live.
from a watery grave. Such noble services performed bi
one lifeboat are unparalleled in the history of the danger'
ous lifeboat work. The Ramsgate lifeboat is a self-righting
one, like the boats of the National Lifeboat InstitutioDo
and was invented and built by the late Mr. James Beech"
ing, of Great Yarmouth. She was bought of him by at'
then harbour commissioners of Ramsgate, and was trans'
ferred by them along with the harbour to the control °f
the Board of Trade. The lifeboat is now unfit for further
service, and is to be replaced by a magnificent lifeboat,
the gift of Bradford to the National Lifeboat Institution:
She is being built by the Messrs. Forrestt, and is expected
to be on her station about Christmas. Much of the silo'
cess of the Ramsgate lifeboat, under Providence, is 111'.
doubtedly due to her gallant and devoted crew, who have
never faltered for a moment during the fiercest midnight
storms in going afloat in the boat when the huge waves
were rolling like mountains over the sands, and wbe°,,
they often expected that they and their noble craft would
be engulphed in the whirlpool. It is also a remarkabl°
fact that not a soul was ever lost from the lifeboat. 51131)
,
late Captain Martin, acting under the Harbour Conorop.-
sioners, and Captain Walke, H.C.S., of the Board of Tred°l
and Captain Shaw, the present harbour-master of Rarer
gate, have always been indefatigable in their efforts t'°
make tho Ramsgate lifeboat establishment complete 0
every way. We pray that the same splendid successe°_,
will attend, under God, the now lifeboat of the Natiorw
Lifeboat Institution.
" RESPECTABILITY " IN ENGLAND, says tb°
Spectator, is becoming as exclusive as ever ariston'
racy was in France. A correspondent of the 21
quietly urges Mr. Cowper to expel all seedy, ill-dreseetti
ill-bred ragamuffins from the parks, and the pall
itself, in a sketch of their present condition, endorSe°
that advice, declaring that the parks are intended only
for the " health and recreation of the respectej),,,
members of the public, to whatever rank they may beloub;„
Why not go a step farther, and be logical as well as de
potic, assign the streets to respectables and leave the rec
muffins the lanes, let only income-taxpayers traverse 'La
squares, and compel all men out at elbows to slink t,l°
through the mews ? A ragamuffin smells no sweeter
40
Regent-street than in Hyde-park, and may offend 01. e!0
outside the rails in Piccadilly as well as inside. Breb'wtile
in Madras object to Pariahs throwing their shadows ortfor
path, and surely Brahmins in broadcloth may be ee he
tidious. The masses whose toil maintains those Brehipoe
might perhaps, under those circumstances, think that t of
French idea of equality had advantages, but as the cos of
that idea would fall on the black coats exclusively t.tist
have of course a right to risk it. Only we should liloqrot,
for the sake of consistency, to see Christianity abolished