The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-18 00:00:00

QUARTETT ASSOCIATION.

This association was formed last season, under the
most distinguished patronage, by MM. Sainton, Cooper,
Hill, and Piatti, four of the most accomplished and con-
summate artistes of the day on their respective instru-
ments, and who, by constantly practising together, are
enabled to perform the compositions of the great mas-
ters, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Spohr,
&c., with the most perfect and finished execution. A
work never before heard in this country is promised to
be produced at each meeting ; and a talented and most
interesting critical analysis of the compositions selected
for performance, prepared by Mr. G. A. MTarren, is
annexed to each programme. A pianist of eminence is
also to be engaged for each of the six fortnightly per-
formances. The association commenced the present
season on Thursday last, at Willis's Rooms, with the
following programme—the pianist on this occasion being
Miss Arabella Goddard, whose great reputation is now
permanently established :--
Quartett in C, Op. 30, No. 1 Hummell.
Quartett Concertante in D, No. 7 Mozart.
Grand Sonata, pianoforte, in B flat,
Op. 106 Beethoven.
Quartett in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2 Mendelssohn.

The quartett of Hummell, ably led by M. Sainton, is
the first of a set of three that has been many years in
existence, though hitherto neglected and but little known,
and is a most effective and pleasing composition. The sub-
ject melodies of the last movement are somewhat of an
Ethiopian character, but they are most skilfully treated
both as respects combination and contrast. Mr. Cooper
led the quartett of Mozart with fine execution and true
artistic feeling. In the trio we were pleased by the novel
effect so beautifully produced by the retardando en the
distributed and detached notes of the four instruments
which lead into a resumption of the subject. The
quartett of Mendelssohn was led by M. Sainton who
played the first and last movements with an impetuous
rapidity that fully developed the pervading character of
restlessness and agitation in the composition. The other
movements were well played, the peculiar Scherzo dis-
playing M. Sainton's remarkable neatness of bowing.
The performance by Miss Goddard of Beethoven's
wonderful Sonata was most astonishing. Her execution
of the entire work was dignified and unconstrained, and
her conception of the grandeur of the composition
vigorous and profound, and at the same time genuine
and unaffected, all the difficult phrases and eccentric
groupings of notes flowing with the utmost gracefulness
and freedom. The fugue she dashed off with extraordi-
nary rapidity and firmness, and the whole performance
was received with great enthusiasm by a thoroughly
musical audience, comprising all the eminent pianists in
London, who alone can duly appreciate the unparalleled
difficulty of the work.
Judging by the numerous and fashionable attendance,
it is very gratifying to witness the brilliant success of
what may be truly entitled the most perfect and refined
classical concert of the season.

MEETING OF THE TORY PARTY.—Yesterday forenoon,
pursuant to notice, a numerous gathering of the Tory
members of the Lower House took place at the residence
of the Earl of Derby, in St. James's-square. About 200
answered to the call. Mr. Disraeli was amongst the
earliest arrivals ; the right honourable gentleman ap-
peared in excellent health and spirits. Sir John Faking-
ton; the Right Honourable Spencer Walpole, Lord John
Manners, &c., were present. The gathering would have
taken place on Monday last, but for the demise of Lord
Skelmersdale, the Countess of Derby's father. The re-
cent Ministerial defeats seems to have infused new life
into the Protectionists.—Sunday Times.
ALLEGED DEATH FROM VIOLENCE.--On Saturday
Mr. Roberts, one of the summoning officers of the
coroner, received information of the following suspicious
death : On Friday a man, named James Brown, was
taken out of Granby-street, Waterloo-road, to Lambeth
workhouse, suffering from some severe injury to the
brain. He was attended to by Mr. Duke, the house-
surgeon, and everything done for him that the nature of
his case required, but without effect, and he died on
Saturday morning. Before his death he stated that on
the previous Saturday he was in Gravel-lane, Southwark,
and some man whom he knew insisted upon fighting
with him, who afterwards threw him out of the house,
and then kicked him on the head whilst on the ground.
The injuries the deceased than received are presumed to
have caused his death, and the police were therefore
informed of the event, and they are in search of the
lan des.
MR. ALFRED LIITWYCHE.--On Saturday evening, at a
dinner given by the members of the parliamentary corps
of the Morning Chronicle to Mr. Alfred Lutwyche, upon
the occasion of his retirement from amongst them, the
colleagues of that gentleman took the opportunity of
presenting him with a very elegant testimonial, bearing
an inscription expressive of their admiration for his great
scholarly acquirements, and their esteem for his high
social worth. The compliment was well deserved, for
during a connection of many years with this paper Mr.
Lutwyche obtained the respect and confidence of all who
knew him. Highly gifted, and possessing every quality
which can make a man worth knowing, his colleagues
feel that they experience a loss in his retirement. The
testimonial was designed and manufactured by the
Messrs. Angell, of the Strand, and the dinner took place
at the London Tavern, under the special supervision of
Messrs. Bathe and Breach.
BRITISH MUSEUM.—Yesterday the annual accounts
relating to the British Museum were printed in a Parlia-
mentary paper. The estimate of the sum required for
the year ending the 31st March, 1854, is 55,8401. The
sum granted for the year 1852-3 was 52,3421. The
number of visitors to the establishment from Christmas,
1851, to Christmas, 1852, was 507,973. In the pre-
ceding year the number was 2,527,216 ; the increase
arising from the opening of the Great Exhibition.