The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-13 00:00:00

GLOUCESTER MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

The festival of the three choirs opens to-day (Tuesday)
at Gloucester, and the arrangements, which have been
progressing for the past two or three months, are now
all completed. The rehearsals commenced at the Ca-
thedral yesterday (Monday) morning, and were con-
cluded in the Concert-room last night. All the principal
vocalists are on the spot, and the choral and instrumental
body, numbering 300 performers, were at their posts in
the orchestra of the Cathedral early yesterday morning.
Gloucester is putting on its usual triennial festive appear-
ance, and lodgings are very dear, there having been a
larger number of applications than usual.
These festivals, of which this is the 130th anniversary,
have of late years taken quite a new life. A few years
ago they were in a declining state, and their early disso-
lution was looked forward to ; but suddenly a new spirit
was infused into them, and, notwithstanding the increase
of similar institutions, the festivals of the three choirs have
advanced considerably in the last few years, and the
present Gloucester meeting bids fair to eclipse its pre-
decessors, judging from the extraordinary sale of tickets
which has already been made. The festival of the three
choirs of Gloucester, Worcester, and Hereford was
founded in 1724, and when in its infant state the col-
lections made for charitable purposes amounted for
several years to no more than from 201. to 401. per
annum. The original founder of the festivals was Dr.
Thomas Bisse, Chancellor of Hereford, and the money
collected was applied to the apprenticing of the orphans
of clergymen of the three dioceses of Gloucester, Wor-
cester, and Hereford. As the means increased, however,
the charity was extended to the relief of the clergy.
Originally one steward only was appointed, who was re-
sponsible for all losses ; but the expenses, it must be
borne in mind, were not to be compared with those of
the present day, the musical attraction being vastly en-
hanced in the more recent history of these gatherings.
It was in 1798, when the pecuniary responsibilities be-
came seriously heavy, that the number of stewards was
increased. These have of late years generally averaged
a dozen, but at the Gloucester meetings they usually run
to a larger number, there being no fewer than 23 for the
present meeting.
The stewards who have this year undertaken the respon-
sibilities of the festival are Lord Leigh, the Mayor of
Gloucester, the Hon. A. Ponsonby, M.P., Sir Wm. Rus-
sell, Bart., R. N. Kingscote, Esq., M.P., W. P. Price,
Esq., M.P., J. R. Mullings, Esq., M.P., G. H. Ben-
gough, Esq., R. P. Davies, Esq., W. H. H. Hartley,
Esq., C. J. Monck, Esq., R. Potter, Esq., J. F.
Sevier, Esq., Thos. Turner, Esq., J. Waddingham,
Esq., Rev. Sir J. H. C. Seymour, Bart., Rev. H. A. S.
Attwood, Rev. F. T. J. Bagly, Rev. B. S. Clayson,
D.D., Rev. L. B. Clutterbuck, Rev. T. Evans, D.D.,
Rev. H. Burrow Evans, and Rev. Canon Hutchinson.
The principal performers engaged are Madama Clara
Novello, Mdlle. Bellini, Mrs. Weiss, Madame Castellan,
Miss Dolby, Mrs Lockey (late Miss Williams), Mr.
Lockey, Mr. Weiss, Signor Gardoni, Signor Tagliafico,
and Herr Formes. Mr. H. Blagrove is the leader of
the band, Mr. Arnott is the conductor ; organ, Mr.
Townshend Smith, of Hereford Cathedral, and piano-
forte, Mr. Done, of Worcester Cathedral.

DECIMAL COINAGE.