The Sun.
London, England, 1831-06-04 00:00:00

PAGANINI'S CONCERT.

This performance, respecting which public curiosity has
been so highly excited, took place yesterday evening at the
King's Theatre. The chief, or rather the sole, interest of.
the concert centred in PAGANINI himself; the artists en-
gaged, and the music selected, with the exception of his
compositions and performance, comprising no n3velty, nor
any thing beyond the attraction of an ordinary concert.
PAGANINI executed three pieces. The first was a concert
of three movements, described in its own programme
an Allegro illaestoso, an Adagio Appassionato, and a
Rondo brillante. The second piece was a Sonata
taire, performed wholly on the first string. These
two pieces had the accompaniment of the orchestra.
The third piece was a solo, an air with variations on the
theme of " Non piu Andrei," from Mower's Figaro.
Nothing can be more difficult than to describe PAGANINI's
performance on the violin, so as to make the effect intel-
ligible to those who have never heard him. Hence.--and
it is but justice to say so much of this extraordinary mau—
all the anticipations formed of him, however highly co-
loured, have fallen short of the reality, He is not only the
finest player perhaps that has ever existed on that into u-
ment, but be forms a class by himself, and produces effects
which he has been the first to discover, anti in which few,
if any, imitators will bell able to follow him. The difficulty
and complexity of tie passages played by PAGANINI are
truly wonderful, and the ease with which he conquers
them is perfect. They do not, however, form that which
is most to be admire d in him. Ifs genius is displayed its
a far greater degree in his slow movements, in which he
develops, as it may without exaggeration be said, every
shade and gradation of feeling. Hie violin in such pas-
sages seems to be a part of himself, and to become that
medium in which he can best pourtray time workings of
his mind. If the instrument could be said to speak and
to feel, it does so in his hands. The delicacy and truth
of his intonation are in all cases conspicuous. The note,
attenuated almost to a thread, is still heard as distinctly
as when he draws forth the whole power of the instrument. '
The most remarkab'e parts of PAGANINI'S mechanism are,
his use of notes pro !need by the lingers of the left band,
s:multaneously with those produced by the be w ; •
and his harmonic notes, which are male by the slightest
possible pressure of the string, and resemble, from their ,
clearness and sweetness, the very hig,h notes of the flute.
The formation of these latter is familiar to a certain ex-
tent to all musicians, but they seldom or ever travel out
of the common chord. PAGANINI, however, gives long
and difficult passages, double notes, and even shakes, in
this medium. He changes also with rapidity from the
harmonic to the common passages, without any sensible
break in the rythrn. lty the use of time piszieato at the
same time with the bowed notes, he may he said to cornhine
the violin and the guitar in the same instrument: There
is more of trick and mere dexterity in this than in nay
other part of his performance, and it is that on which we
should be disposed to place the least value, though it appears
to have excited the most wonder. His arpaygios are given
with a neatness and precision altogether without parallel.
His execution of double shakes and octave passages is
highly beautiful. The latter are given with such perfect
intonation, that they appear, unless one listens with
extreme attention, to be the same note. PAGANINI does
the staccato in a manner quite different from all other
performers. He strikes his bow once on the string, and it
seems to run by a tremulous motion over as many notes as
he chooses to include in the staccato passage. This, too, he
does with the quickness almost of thought itself. His
manner of striking chords was quite peculiar. He always
used either end of the bow for that purpose, and in such a
way, that before it touched the strings, one might hare
thought that the effect must be decidedly bad, instead of
being, as it was, perfect. The personal appearance of
PAGANINI is remarkable. He is a tall, thin man, with
features rather emaciated, pale complexion, a sharp aqui-
line nose, and a keen eye, the exeression of which h
greatly heightened when he is animated by his performance.
His hair, which is dal k, is worn long behind, and combed
off his forehead and temples in a manner that gives an air
of great simplicity to his countenance. He seems to be
about 50 years of age. There is a s:nguiam ity in his
m inner, which, though partaking of the grotesque, denotes
a man of no ordinary stamp. The enthusiasm which his
performances excited last night among the audience, cer-
tainly surpassed any thing of the kind within these walls.
Every tour de force and striking passage was not only
applauded but cheered by the whole audience, and some of
the variations were encored. At the end of every per-
f irmance, and especially after the last, the applause, cheers,
and waving of handkerchiefs and hats, altogether presented
a most extraordinary scene. There were some vocal per-
f rmanees during the intervals of PAGANINI'S playing, by
Madame LALANDE, Mademoiselle BECK, CURIONI, LA-
BLACHE, and SANTINI. The pit and gallery were crowded
at an early hour. The boxes were not well filled.

Limerick garrison at present consists of 1,800
men, including the head-quarters of the 17th Lancers, 9th,
56th, 74th, ani 76th Regiments. Detachments are in
the counties of Clare and Limerick.—(The garrison of
Limerick contains more troops at present than are allowed
by Government for the whole of Scotland, although
Scotland pays 2,000,0001. more of clear revenue into the
Treasury of the United Kingdom than Ireland does.)--.
Greenock Advertiser.

A paragraph, copied from a Birmingham
paper into the Morniay Herald of to-day, states that the
French contract for arms ii suspended. This is a fact,
and the reason of the suspension is as follows:—The
French Government, after appointing their own inspector
to view the muskets, and, after receiving them, upon his
approval, until a very recent date, suddenly, and without
notice, refuse to make their payments in conformity with
the conditions of their contract. Their object appears to
be to compel the manufacturers to enter into new terms,
which would be equivalent to giving them guns for 225. 6d.
nearly equal, in point of cost, to what they have made a
contract for with other pasties at almost double that
price. This extraordinary conduct on the part of the Mi-
nisters of Louis-Pniray.en needs no comment. A trades-
man would soon be compelled to fulfil his contract by due
course of law ; hut a tradesman would never think of at-
tempting to break it.

MELANCHOLY RENCONTRE IN DUBLIN.
—COMMITTAL OF Mrs. COURTNET.--Yesterday the in-
formations of Mrs. Counstizr were taken l;y the Magi-
strates of Henry-street Police•oice against her husband,
for having committed an assault, with intent to kill her.
According to the informations which she has sworn, it
would appear that her husband had, as usual, retired at
an early hour to bed on Friday night, and that she was
engaged in the bar between the hours of one and two
o'clock, when Captain Ibutxest, who lodged in the holm.,
came 410 was behind the bar, which is an extrunety
close and confined place, taking a glass of grog. They
were not, she says, speaking snore than a couple of mi-
nutes, wher. her husband rushed in, wills a knife in hia
hand, and stabbed BARKER. She, affrighted at the maniao
fury of her husband, fled from him, and concealed herself
in one of the bed-chamlaers of the house; her husband
made search for her, and, when he found her, stabbed her
with the knife in the face, arms, and several parts of the
body, The informations of Mrs. COURTNEY were taken
from het in her bed ; she denies on her oath, in the most
positive mariner, that any thing criminal occurred between
her and Captain Bautzee. CounTNEY was yesterday
committed for further examination. The place to which
Captain Battzra retired has been discovered—be was in
a most dangerous state, and is unable to quit his bed. An
application was made at the police-office yesterday to have
his clothes and 821. his money, returned to him: it Iv .
.s
opposed by COURTNEY'S agent, on the ground that' ,
COURTNEY had taken some money of his, and:trotxit twig
be Courmtv's money that was in BAsAu
—Dublin Register, Tuesday
Magistrates stated they could make noortiviraosn the ;object.