The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-12 00:00:00

SACRED _HARMONIC CONCERTS.

Last evening the first of the concerts for the winter
season was given at Exeter Hall, before a very crowded
audience. It appears from a published statement that
the amount of subscriptions received for the current year
is considerably in advance of any former period, that
anthems and cathedral music will constitute a portion of
the performances, and that the committee intend during
the season to produce at least one oratorio " hitherto
untried in London." Among other things touched upon
in this document is the improvement of the orchestra
and chorus, the re-engagement of Mr. Costa, and the
permission granted to the society to rehearse in the
large hall, and the failure of the committee's attempts
to induce the acting proprietors of the building to pro-
vide more convenient entrances fur the public.
The performance demands but little remark, the pro-
gramme consisting of three very familiar works—namely,
the Coronation Anthem of Handel, Zadock the Priest ;
the Dettingen Te Deum ; and Mozart's 12th Mass. The
solo singers were Miss Dolby, Miss Birch, Mr. Benson,
and Mr. Lawler. With the general execution of the music
no fault need be found. Mr. Costa exacted the usual
excellence, and the great effects which we have learned
to look for at the hands of the Sacred Harmonic body
were produced as heretofore. An interesting fact in
the history of the Te Deum is, that for the period of an
entire century—from 1744 to 1344—it was performed
annually at St. Paul's Cathedral for the benefit of the
Sons of the Clergy. Since then it has been heard but
irregularly in the metropolis. Mozart's Mass was
admirably executed. The vocalists last night, con-
trary to Exeter Hall rule, sang the original Latin words.
Altogether, there has seldom been heard a more satis-
factory performance of solemn religious music. Every
portion received an earnest and reverent interpretation,
and the noble sonority of the Latin, with its multitude
of open sounds, added to the solemnity of the feeling
inspired.- Mr. Costa was welcomed with an enthusias-
tic greeting when he appeared in his old place in the
conductor's rostrum.

At the next concert, which will take place on the
25th of the present month, Madame Viardot Garcia
will appear. This lady achieved a very extraordinary
measure of success at the last Birmingham Festival,"by
her pathetic delivery of one of the airs in Handel's
Samson.

THE WAR IN TIM EAST.

(From the Press of this day.)

All negotiations between the European Powers upon
the Eastern question are broken off. The Russians
have received a substantial check in the Principalities,
where, it appears, their numbers have been greatly ex-
aggerated. The Hospodars of Wallachia and Moldavia
have retired to Viennia ; and the Czar professes now to
be wholly occupied with the design of wiping off the
disgrace of his defeat.
No reinforcements, of consequence, can reach Prince
Gortschakoff before next spring ; yet, until with his
present or additional forces he can repair the disasters
which the Russians have sustained, the discussion even
of the preliminaries of peace is postponed.
In the meantime there is no pretence whatever for the
rumours that the Czar has evinced any disposition to
accede to proposals for a conference on the subject of
his differences with the Porte ; and it is to the last de-
gree improbable that, in any contingency, he will con-
sent to such conference at London or Paris.

THE EXPORT BEER TRADE.—By a return officially
prepared it seems that in the month ended the 10th ult.
the value of beer and ale exported was 43,2991. In the
preceding month the value was 36,9851.
FOREIGN POTATOES.—In the month ended the 10th
ult. there were as many as 83,857 cwt. of potatoes im-
ported, being a great increase on the preceding month,
when only 36,803 cwt. were imported. They are free
of duty.
IMPORTATION OF GUANO.—There has been an increase
in the importation of guano. It appears from returns
just printed, that in the month ended the 10th of Oc-
tober last there were 5,159 tons imported, against 3,590
seirL al
COLLEGE
in the preceding month.
LETTERS FOR ARCTIC SHlPS.—Letters for officers,
ainon
LnaEar iGnrEelroosv,Fesres, ruivniti nGßgEeoohNnr
nbg,
ooaaFr dsEt trNhaGiet:EA naDtre.er—p toliTshbeee,
Rattlesnake,e
S
eoefm Surgeons
were
of admitted mit ted
England, a
at fellows
a
meeting
g the
of
sent to the Admiralty on or before the 30th November.
R
Royal
following
gtl
College gentlemen
the council of the College held on the 10th inst., after
having undergone the customary examination for the
diploma of fellowship on the Ist and 2d of this month :
---I\flessrs. Peter Yeames Gowlland, Finsbury-square,
diploma of membership dating Jan. 28, 1848 ; William
Martin, Brompton-row, May 6, 1839 ; Henry Thompson,
wimpole-street, Cavendish-square, Oct. 4, 1840.
ST. PETERSBURG.—The advices from St. Petersburg,
which are to the 3d inst., describe the market as not
having been affected by the Emperor's manifesto, and,
although there had been no transactions in stocks, the
nominal prices were steady. The merchants, probably
from the fear of expressing any other view, seemed to
regard the phraseology of the manifesto as rather
"mild " than otherwise. The Odessa dates are to the
31st of October. The transactions in the wheat market
had again been very active, and not less than 35,000
quarters had been sold during the two preceding days,
chiefly to Genoese and other Italian buyers. Freights
were higher, the rate demanded being about 255.
CUBA.—According to a letter from Cuba, in the
of Diago, Brothers, who
papers, the firm
failed in that island for 340,0001., have offered to pay
their creditors by instalments of 30,000/. per annum,
with interest at 6 per cot.
STRIKE AT GLASGOW.—We regret to learn that on
Monday upwards of 800 of the workers in Messrs. Tod
and Higginbotham's mills went out on strike.—North
British, .Daily Mail.