The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-15 00:00:00

MADAME LIND-GOLDSCHMID T.
Art, which may be considered as almost the
highest gift to man, can never be so dignified as
_ _

when associated with benevolence, which is almost

his highest duty. It was the great diqinction
of Madame Goldschmidt throughout her wonderful
career that she seemed to hold her talents in

rust for the benefit of others—by the constant

sympathy she shared with the unfortunate
and suffering—and since her comparative
retirement, she has lived in the heart
of the public quite as much as in their memory by
her continued manifestation that such a feeling is
still dominant. It is indeed her peculiar praise
that she has felt the powers which were given her to

delight comparatively a few, were best employed

when devoted to the service of the many. A year

ago she came forward to assist in raising funds for
the removal of the destitution, moral and physical,

of an eastern suburb; and now she presents herself

again with an equallygenerous and important scheme,

that of three oratorios —in support of as many
charities—each of which has unquestionable claims

upon the public. The first is for the benefit of the
Hinde-street Institution, and other establish-
ments for .the relief of the needlewomen of

London ; the second is on behalf of
the Brompton Hospital for Consumption,

and Diseases of the Chest—and the third is in sup.

port of the Two Royal Societies of Male and Female
Musicians. A purpose so estimable the public
could scarcely fail to appreciate, wholly
apart from the degree of efficiency with
which it is proposed to be carried out,
and connected with such efficiency have already
proved they will support to the utmost point of
success which its kindly promoter could desire. We
understand:that, nearly all the tickets for the series
have been disposed of, and these it must be remem-
bered at the price of half a guinea and a guinea. We
should presume, therefore, that the proceeds will
be something very handsome. Mdme. Goldschmidt

has associated with herself on this occasion
almost all the superior talent for sacred
music in the metropolis. Miss Palmer—a
very adequate replacement of Madame Sainton
—Mr. Simms Reeves, Mr. Weiss, and Signor
Belletti, together with a band selected from the
leading London orchestras, and a chorus, compris-
ing 500 performers, taken from the Sacred
Harmonic and other choirs the whole
being placed under the able direction of
her husband Mr. Otto Goldschmidt. The per-
formance of the "Messiah" last evening, which
properly inaugurated the series, was one of
the most superb that has ever been given
to one of the most brilliant audiences that
has ever crowded Exeter Hall. Madame
Goldschmidt, who since her entrance into the field
of sacred music, with the sole exception of Madame
Novello,has been allowed to reign in it supreme, never
exerted herself with more ardour or more success than
on this occasion. Her still extraordinary voice, though
evidently suffering from the influences of our most
anti-vocal climate, and requiring therefore some
little exertion to rouse to a full display of its
powers—when so excited still asserts its claim as
one of the marvels of our time—alike in
respect to its unequalled range, and its peculiar
force and quality. It still presents that union of
power and sweetness which distinguished it at first,
if not alt the ease and facility which completed its en-
chantment. All the resonance of the higher notes, all
her marked power of sustainmeat, and all the
thorough musical culture which enables her to
carry her vocal resources to the utmost point of
effect, are still as palpable as ever. Among the
great features of her singing last evening—and
in evidence of the variety as well as depth
of its display was her striking delivery of the florid
passages of the air, " Rejoice greatly," so triumph-
ant in their exultation—the superb energy which
she threw into the " I know that my Redeemer
liveth," being, as compared with its usually pa-
thetic, a new reading which we felt to be not
less a profound one, in its illustration of the fervid
conviction of the sublime faith which it enunciates,
and the exquisite pianissimo with which she
concluded the second part of the air, "He
~hall feed my flock"—one of the most affecting
and u.ligui,cut cadences we have ever heard from
human lips. To all these passages the audience
could not restrain a warmth of acknowledgment—
demanded by their merit, however, in violence
of the decorum that is felt to be pro-
per to the solemnity of such effusions.
Miss Palmer was also a decided feature of the even-
ing. Her rich contralto tones, always subjected to
due discipline, were enforced on this occasion by a
fervent and devout feeling, which rendered her de-
livery of the two airs, "He was despised and re-
jected," and "He shall feed His flock," almost the
most perfect that we remember. Mr. Sims Reeves
also was in all his power, and declaimed the
great opening air, and also " Thy rebuke hath
broken his heart," with almost the grandeur
of a prophet. Signor Belletti was not less successful
with his noble voice and perfect taste, so truly in
accordance with the music. His only failure was
in the trumpet song which he scarcely delivered
with sufficient vigour. The choruses, with few
exceptions were admirable in the extreme—more
especially " For unto us a child is born," " Behold
the Lamb," and the "Hallelujah"—exhibiting 1 hat
unity and precision only to be attained by singers
who have the gifts and knowledge, and constant
practice of our London choirs.
Mr. Otto Goldschmidt, we must add, in the
direction of their force, attested his own claims as
a timeist. The next oratorio will be the" Creation,"
and will be given on the 30th.

THE EASIEST WAY TO 7HE GREAT
EXHIBITION.

When the mighty show of 1851 was about to be
denied a site in Hyde Paric, on the very reasonable
remonstrance of the neighbours, who had paid large
sums for the privilege of " peace and quietness,"
many were of opinion that the right place for the
building would be at Battersea, by the river's side,
so that it might be easily approachable from all
parts by the steamboats. The ease, the cheapness,
the pleasantness of this sort of conveyance, as corn-
pared with the heat and dust of an omnibus, and
the power to convey almost any number with speed,
were no small arguments in favour of this view.

The " Domes," as Punch has christened the
noble warehouse of 1862, are fortunately quite
within easy reach of the steamboats. The Cadogan -
pier is but a very leisurely quarter of an hour's
stroll from the Exhibition, along a finely straight
and pleasant line. From every part of the town
the Cadogan-pier may be reached by the Iron Boats
for 3d. The water happens to be particularly
sweet just now, so that the transit on the river may
well be made a refreshing part of the excursion.
From Cadogan-pier keep straight up Oakley-street,
cross the King's-road to Arthur-street ; this and
Charles-street bring you into the Fulham-road, in
which, if you walk a little eastward (to your right),
and go up Sydney-place and Cromwell-place, you
stand before the south front of the New Industrial
Palace. We trust this may prove an useful itinerary
to many of our friends, to whom South Kensingtou
is as yet rather an unknown region, and who are
little inclined to be dragged slowly through the
streets to find it,

Two Brixham fishermen were drowned off Ply-
mouth, on Wednesday afternoon, through having been
knocked off their boat by the boom of a passing sloop.

TAR 4.,Lonn TrlTAltfrvvn PTA: --Tho
at common law, and subsequently at equity, before Vice-
Chancellor Kindersley, in reference to the splendid single-
stone diamond ring, sold by Messrs, Lambert and Rawlings
to Mr. R. C. Savage for £l,OOO, and afterwards pawned at
Mr. Attenborough's, in Piccadilly, have resulted in its sale
by auction by order of the Court of Chancery, and yester-
day Messrs. Debenham, Storr, awl Son submitted this
magnificent stone to public competition, at their great mart
in Covent-garden. The first offer was £5OO. The bidding
continued up to £6lO, at which sum, there being no further
biddings, the auctioneer announced that the reserve price
fixed by the court was 400, and so withdrew the ring.
The catalogue included a great variety of highly valuable
jeewels and 14mterie, which drew together a large assem-
blage of connoisseurs and others interns ed in such property.
At the same time a pair of splendid ear tops, each set with
a brilliant of remarkable size and great lustre (supposed
weight of stones, together 14i carats), was geld for 4520.