The Sun.
London, England, 1836-06-09 00:00:00

ti

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 9., I 536.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The Duke of Bedford has subscribed 1001. to

the O'Connell fund ; and this has drawn on his
Grace the following atrocious attack in the Times of

yesterday :
" A correspondent begs us to remark upon the consis-
tency of that humane and Constitutional Nobleman, his
Grace the Duke of Bedford, the Mammoth of Church
plunderers, the Leviathan of appropriators ;' he whose
whole estate is Church robbery, and nothing but Church
robbery—the prey of tyrants transferred to the gripe of
sycophants. The Duke of Bedford's name is put down
for a subscription of lOU to Mr. Daniel O'Connell, to pay
the cost of defending his unprincipled usurpation of another
man's scat in Parliament. What, then, according to ac-
credited rumour, was the voluntary contribution of the
sam, Nobleman for the relief of the poor Irish clergy, pe-
rishing through hunger caused by the policy of that Duke's
own son ? Was it not as follows ?-01. Os. Od. ?"
There is no mistaking the object of this attack. It
is to deter other individuals of rank from imitating his
Grace's example. It is a renewal of the same system
of abuse by which John Bull sought to intimidate
people of rank from visiting Queen Caroline. That
the effect will not correspond to the intention, we are
certain. In the case of Queen Caroline men shrunk
from exposing female delicacy to even the breath of
suspicion. They who would have disregarded libels
on themselves could not bring themselves to subject
their wives and sisters to the same ordeal. But what
gentleman of any spirit would not feel himself rather
stimulated to subscribe than otherwise by the coarse
attack of the Times, were it only to show his sense of
the insult. In fact, the attempt to intimidate people
I of rank, through the blow aimed at the Duke of Bed-
ford, will be the means of adding to the subscriptions
to the O'Connell fund. And what is the pretext for
attacking the Duke of Bedford? Because, forsooth,
his ancestor, three hundred years ago, received a
grant from Henry the Eighth of part of the pro-
perty possessed by the religious houses prior- to the
Reformation ! It has been again and again remarked
that a very large proportion of the noble families of
England are indebted for their estates to the Reforma-
tion. We are not now called on to inquire into the
justice of the proceedings by which Henry acquired
the property, and again bestowed it on his favourites.
All we can say is that if we are to ascend to the origin
of all private estates, the grants of quondam Church
lands will, in many cases, be found the least objection-
able of the sources of acquisition. But let us assume
that the grant of Church lands was originally indefen-
sible, and that no length of possession through in-
nocent descendants can efface the quality of the ori-
ginal title—why, we ask, is the Duke of Bedford to be
singled out from all the individuals similarly circum-
stanced for attack ? If his Grace and his descendants
are never to be deemed free agents, but to beat the mercy
of any scribler who chooses to demand from them an ae-
count:of the use they make of their revenues, every other
nobleman who possesses what once were Church estates
must be held equally open to attack. We warn the
nobility and gentry of England that they are struck
at through the Duke of Bedford, and we would
have them beware how they encourage a system of
warfare from which they cannot escape unhurt. If
every Nobleman whose ancestor owed his elevation
to Royal favour or to Royal frailty is to be gibbetted
on account of the founder of his family, we should
like to know who may consider themselves safe ? The
present Duke of Bedford may console himself with the
knowledge that neither he nor his predecessor would
have been abused on account of the original quality of
their possessions, had their own conduct been open to
animadversion. When Burke was twitted with his
pension by the Duke of Bedford and the Eerl of Lau-
derdale, he had the weakness and bad taste to reproach
the former with the grants to his ancestor by Henry
VIII. If all the genius of Burke, however, could not
reconcile the public to the injustice of his attack, or
the bad taste which it evinced, his wretched imitator
may be safely treated with contempt by his Grace. In
the present day there is a growing reluctance to allow
men to take credit for the virtues of their ancestors.
But if it be not allowable to draw on fame acquired
300 years ago, it can as little be just to call a Noble-
man of the present day to account for the actions of
an ancestor who has been 300 years in his grave. But
however this may be, the Tories should bear in mind
that the poisoned chalice may be commended back to
their own lips.—Morning Chronicle.
We are glad to find, from the intimation of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Tuesday night in
the House of Commons, that at last a legislative re-
form of the Post-office department is to be undertaken.
Mr. Wallace had prepared for that evening a series of
resolutions, founded upon the reports of Commis.
sions of Inquiry, which we have lately adverted to ;
and, had these resolutions been proposed, we have no
doubt that, by acceding to them, the House of Com-
mons would have pledged itself to act upon the strong
recommendations for Reform which the reports of the
Government Commissioners contain. The Ministers
have, however, taken the more regular and convenient
mode of introducing Bills upon their own responsi-
bility ; and it now only remains for the public by dili-
gent attention to the subject, to keep the attention of
his Majesty's servants alive with respect to it. We
know how many matters of mere party importance and
party interest will probably come in the way of this
practical improvement, and personal convenience,
as well as personal feeling, be enlisted in the
cause of postponement. But these obstacles the
public must endeavour to counteract ; and Mr.
Wallace will, we trust, keep a sharp look-out upon
the progress of that reform, although it is no longer in
his hands. From the year 1788 to the present time
the expediency of a .eneral reform and reconstruction
of the Post-office department has been enforced in
official documents ; but the Legislature has never acted
upon the recommendation, because the public never
took up the subject with any degree of earnestness. It
will, perhaps, be said that this is a proof that the
public felt the service of the department to be well
performed. But this would be a hasty conclusion.
Of all the departments of revenue, that of the
Post-office is naturally the most popular, because
at the very moment we pay the tax we perceive
that we have at least some value received in the con-
veyance of a letter to our hands. The public at large
have observed a speedy and regular transmission of
their correspondence, and have not cared to inquire fur-
ther ; but all who have examined into the internal
affairs of the Post-office for the last half century, have
concurred in the opinion that reform in matters of
expenditure, and internal regulation, was loudly called
for. The Sixth Report of the Commissioners of Inquiry,
appointed by the present Government, appears to have
given the finish to this series of recommendations, and
to have done so in terms so strong, and supported by
evidence so astounding, that no further delay could,
with any show of reasonableness, be suffered to take
place. The Government could not read it without
being awakened to the necessity of an immediate re-
medy for such grievances. The terms of Mr. Wal-
lace's intended resolution with respect to this Report
are by no means stronger than the statements in that
Report fully bear out ; and the shortest way of con-
veying- to our readers an idea of its character will be
to quote that resolution as it appears upon the notice
paper of the House of Commons :—" Resolved, that
the Sixth Report of the Commissionehs.°ffiee, which
restcaopmpomiiaunedd to
f
ehe t
eti managementto tthis
House
ofus thee
by Pt
o
ihnagsubeenre into tn
re presented
Majesty, demands the immediate attention of his
Majesty's Government ; that by the said Sixth Report,
which specially relates to the steam-packet establish-
lry requires the greatest
censure
ments of the Post-office, it appears that very gross mis-
management,
a
neglect, and waste, have taken place in
that
dep
orftn thisrei it
House,,whi(!llinlaii:deraittis irodipt and effectual
interference." This is really a mild resolution com-
pared with that which a vindictive opponent of the
Post-office might have formed upon the report, as any
one may see by reference to its appendix, and to the
evidence concerning the greatest of the packet esta-
blishments--namely', that at Holyhead. It would not
be fair to say that this character is attributable to
other branches of Post-office management, but in
many of them loose administration and neglect of
economy are very apparent. As to the Post-office
Navy, it is a burlesque, and too absurd for criticism.
Its graver faults have, however, been pointed out
in one of the most searching reports on a public matter
tlat, has ever come under our notice. Since the
famous report of the commiswoperl of Naval Inquiry,

there has not appeared so severe and circumstantial a
censure upon the management in a public department.
We understand, from the short speech of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer upon the subject, that several
Bills will be considered necessary for putting the Post-
office department on a right footing, and we agree in
the prudence of this determination. The Right Hon.
Gentleman has, perhaps, found from his experience in
the new Stamp Act how very inconvenient it is to at-
tempt a completely new system, embracing many dis-
tinct heads in one Bill. What seems most urgently to
be required is, first, that the department to be re-mo-
delled as to its management, in conformity with the
fourth report of the Commissioners of Inquiry ; and,
secondly, that a general tariff of postage be established,
which every one may understand, and from the regula-
tions of which there will be no exceptions. This must,
of course, include new standards as to what shall be
considered double and treble letters, and a new regula-

Times.

tion of the fanciful charges upon foreign Papers, the
present mode being irreconcilable with common sense.
As to the waste in the packet establishments, that may
be remedied at once by better administration, or better
still by transferring them at once to the Admiralty ;
but new laws upon the higher points are absolutely ne-
cessary, and as it is now late in the Session, we advise
that the attention of the Government be closely kept to
so important a subject.—Morning Herald.
There are two great battles at this moment raging,
the result of two simultaneous attacks upon the Con-
stitution handed down to us from our ancestor;. The
assailants are in both cases the same, the end the

same, although the paths of proceeding towards it be
diversified. In one instance the property of the Church
is to be plundered ; in the other, the rights of Corpo-
rations are to be transferred. The Popish hicrachy

offers itself a ready recipient for the spoils of both, and
has been accepted for such, and for such has been ap-
pointed, on the part of those who call themselves
Ministers of the Protestant Sovereign of a United
Kingdom, which it is the known purpose of that Po-
pish Priesthood to distract, pull asunder. and anni-
hilate. The subversion of the Church, through the
machinery of the Tithe Bill, may be eventually no less
fatal than the design to misappropriate the privileges
and functions of Irish Corporatioils, but the latter
would prove by far the more immediate mischief.
O'Connell, in a careless moment, described with great
accuracy the modus operandi of such municipal " re-
form" as the genius of revolutionists leads them to in-
flict on these tormented countries. He praises the mu-
nicipalities thus created for being schools of political
" agitation." Agitation, for what ? If the municipal
reform now established in England be what the Mi-
nisters declared it to be—an effectual and sufficient
reform—if it have really removed old grievances, and
placed the corporations of the kingdom on their proper
footing, why should its tendency to facilitate " agita-
tion" be dwelt upon as a meritorious adjunct ? We
have yet to learn that the encouragement of abstract
agitation—habitual agitation—gratuitous agitation, is
a proof of " absolute wisdom" in any Government—
or the practice of it a promoter of public virtue or in-
dividual happiness amongst a people. Mr. O'Con-
nell's notion, however, is clear enough : one indis-
pensable feature of every municipal or political change
must be its affording means for the production offur-
ther change by the excitement of popular turbulence.
With regard to Ireland, this is the grand moving
power of the Learned Gentleman's whole system.
It is not so much this or that specific alteration
of an existing institution which he aims at ; it
is the erection of an apparatus for forcing ulterior
objects, . not to be avowed, like a Russian scheme
of aggression, until its success shall have become sure.
Thus, we might have been at a loss to conjecture
why Lord John Russell, who is of importance only as
O'Connell's mouthpiece, should have appeared so cu-
riously bent on a collision with the House of Lords,
by a contumelious rejection of their Lordships' amend-
ments in this Irish Bill of Reform, after he (Lord
John Russell) had seen the expediency of so many
modifications in its original structure, as left professedly
few, and not very striking, points of difference between
the Conservatives and them, had we not by experience
familiarized ourselves with the O'Connell tactics, which
go almost exclusively to the preparation of means
for further movements. It is of little significancy in
the mind of this conspirator what may be the express
and definitive powers granted by the Municipal " Re-
form" to King on one side, of Corporator on the other,
so that the practice of public meetings, of
speeches, resolutions, petitions, remonstrances, the
whole quackery of perennial agitation, be legalized,
nay, enjoined by Act of Parliament, as inse-
parable from the attributes of Corporate assemblies
meeting by adjournment, or otherwise, from week to
week. These priests of an unholy fire must never
let the flame go out, or themselves arc doomed to
perish.' Lord John Russell, we see, complains that
the House of Lords had mutilated the Reform Bill in
" every member"—that " its principle had been fatally
altered," in order to effect a purpose the " reverse of
that contemplated by its framers." God be praised
that the House of Lords had the wisdom and spirit to
execute any change in the Bill at all likely to defeat
" the object contemplated by its framers,' or rather
affected by them. The genuine object meditated by
the framers of the Bill, or, we ought to say, by him
who governs them, is, to keep up the machinery of
disturbance throughout Ireland as an instrument
for promoting the great end of all things—the sub-
jection of the people to a sway which is not
that of the magistrate, and the consolidation of a
power like that just exposed in the House of Lords,
on the petition of Mr. Mulholland, against the
barbarous despotism of a Popish Archbishop—a
power which treats the laws of England with con-
tempt, and makes the law of God a matter of nefarious
traffic—the supremacy of the Romish church. For
this it is Lord J. Russell got up his slipslop ad-
dress to a motley audience on Tuesday last, at the
Foreign-office—for this it is that in the plenitude of
his condescension to the House of Lords, he extends to
their Lordships the olive branch, in the shape of a
gross comparative aggravation of the most crying evils
inherent in the former Bill, and then invokes heaven
and earth to witness the gentle and moderate spirit of
the House of Commons Radicals l We allude espe-
cially to the new proposition for reincorporating eleven
of the largest towns in Ireland, backed as it was by
provisions that the smaller ones should each have
have its slice out of the apple of discord. But if
there was in the Municipal Bill, as first concocted, one
characteristic more noxious than another, it was the
conversion of the larger towns of Ireland into so
many spouting schools of turbulence. Village ex-
citement operates over a narrow surface ; the actors
are for the most part humble the interests mi-
nute—the stakes contended for mean and paltry—
the public know little about the matter—the whole
scene is isolated, and the infection need not spread :
whereas, a great city sets a proud example, its pro-
ceedings are followed throughout extensive districts,
its democratic leaders are models for those of every
rural vicinage, and the mischief of which that city is
the focus, disperses itself over a wide range of terri-
tory, pervading and stimulating vast sections of the
population. Does Lord John Russell flatter himself
that the Lords will accept as a peace-offering this
concentration of the worst vices which were scattered
over the original Bill ? We know very well that he
does not. Does O'Connell, who, to preserve his
mastership over the little Lord, was for increasing the
eleven proposed colleges of disaffection to 16—does
he fancy that he can dupe the House of Lords into
a trap like this, under the silly name of " coni,
promise ?" The Agitator is far too 04perienced
in the arts of deception, and too conscious of
c
those limits which they can never pass. But the
Lords are frightened—are they ? and will make
concessions to O'Connell on this municipal mea-
sure ? Who told the Radical journalist of Tues-
day, and misled him into so premature a boast ? The
Lords will not yield an inch upon this question ; they
feel that it involves a vital interest in the monarchy, and
they will not go back an inch. The House of Lords,
which has an enduring stake in the welfare of the
kingdom, and in the just protection of liberty and pro-
perty, knows better than to hand them all over, bound
neck and heels, to the mercy of a priesthood whose
whole establishment is framed in a spirit of dark and
unrelenting despotism, under the flimsy devise of pro-
curing a town mob to shout forth the sureoioos (rat
intriauing hierarchy. The pine thiOtig 'the

progress of a faction at once shallow, precipitate, and
wanting in moral courage, have now become the sole
trustworthy guardian of our national rights and institu-
tions. Blind as are the Ministers to their own honour
and best interests, and infatuated those few men of
rank and wealth who adhere to them, we do not de-..

spair that the brave example of the Upper House of

Parliament mly yet recall both to their senses.—

Yesterday, the electors of Middlesx and Finsbury
respectively assembled to express their determination
to support the principle of equal justice to Ireland,
against the insulting and despotic manifestation made
by the Lords in opposition to the Government and
Commons of Great Britain. Both meetings, of the
proceedings of which a summary will he found else-
where, were numerously attended. Most eloquent
and spirited speeches were made, and strong resolutions
passed in favour of the Irish Corporation Reform Bill
as passed by the House of Commons. Mr. O'Con-
nell attended, and spoke at each of the meetings with
his accustomed energy and effect. Mr. T. Duncombe
made a short, vigorous, and manly address to the elec-
tors of Finsbury, which was received with vcry great
enthusiasm. It is not now necessary to reiterate the re-
futation, which has again and again been given to tht
base sophistries with which the Tories, and their parti-
zans endeavour to bolster up their resistance to the re-
stitution of those rights which are coeval and coeternal
with the life of universal man. The justice of the
principles assailed is so evident, that the adduction of
argument in their support is like an endeavour to
demonstrate that light is not darkness, or any other
fact in nature which strikes conviction at a glance, by
mere perception, without the aid of reason. The re-
cusants must be met by another force than that of
argument, if they close their eyes against the truth ;
we must try if they will not open them to their own
danger. Since the Lords have repudiated the dic-
tates of justice and reason, they must be brought
under the influence of other appliances—if they do
not willingly advance with the onward movement of
the age, they must be either carried on -.by the com-
pulsion of public opinion, or left to the fate which
their obstinacy must inevitably bring down upon them.
The meetings which have recently been held in
this country in favour of " justice to Ireland," may
be considered not less an evidence of the present
state of public opinion than as a premonitory symptom
of what, it will be, should the necessity of the
times ultimately require a stronger and more distinct
exhibition of the national will—a will which requires
only a simultaneous expression to make it irresistible.
We are willing to give the Lords the most ample
opportunity of redeeming themselves in public es-
timation—but we confess we see hut little probability
of their doing so. They may acquiesce in the re-
amended Irish Municipal Reform Bill—but the ap-
propriation clause of the Irish Church Bill seems an
impassable barrier to a reconciliation between the two
Houses. And when we look forward to the other
changes which are essential to the promotion of the
general good, and to which the hereditary Chamber is
instinctively and inveterately opposed—such as the
abolition of the law of primogeniture, the extension of
the suffrage, the ballot—the free importation of food,
or, in other words, the repeal of the most iniquitous
Corn Laws—liberty of conscience, or the perfect re-
moval of religious distinction and disabilities, and, in a
word, the demolition of every abuse which sacrifices
the interests of the many to those of the few—it ap-
pears, in fact, better, in the first place, to make one
great effort for the removal of the prime obstacle to
those just and necessary measures, than to fritter away
time and exertion in forcing each individually into
operation against the intolerance, insanity, and in-
justice of hereditary legislation.—Morning Advertiser.
The electors of Middlesex met yesterday at a riding-
school, near Portland place, to discuss the wrongs of
Ireland and the price of coals. Who the wag is who
suggested the absurd junction of the entertainments
did not transpire, though it was currently reported that
the thing had its origin in a bet of Under-sheriff Pear-
son. We recollect hearing of a Cambridge professor,
who eulogised the celebrated Robert Boyle as " the fa-
ther of chemistry, and the brother of the Earl of
Cork ;" but this specimen of bathos is nothing com-
pared with yesterday's farce. The building in which the
meeting held is 120 feet by 40, and, notwithstanding
the attraction of the Sheriffs' gaudy coaches and li-
veries, two live Sheriffs, and two ditto under-ditto,
the coal question, the proximity of several Mews,
Clarence-gardens, and Cumberland-market, at no
time, except when the big beggarman exhibited,
was the school half filled. As a meeting it was
a decided failure : as a meeting of county electors it
was a joke ; but although by far the largest portion of
the landed property of the meeting was evidently at
their fingers' ends when a show of hands was taken,
we think it only candid to admit that we really believe
a majority of those present had a hat a-piece on an
average. Sir J. S. Lillie, a Mr. Hovenden, and a
Mr. Young, who polled three hundred votes for the
borough, broke ground, as at fairs, where they let off
the smallest crackers first. They came " Joseph,"
both for Ireland and coals, thunder and turf, black
and white—then the beggarman held forth—then
we had the coal S—then Mr. Bulwer (of the Lambtou
primrose sort), who was hissed, and of course, the
more he was blown the mare he blazed. However,
his was decidedly the most ingenious speech of the
day, for he succeeded in totally blinking or screening
(to speak technically) the coals, and made a speech
about the Lords and Ireland, until Mr. Pearson, who
takes a strong and disinterested interest in this ques-
tion, reminded him of the black diamonds, when, slip-
ping in a sentence about the fuel, as a careful house.
wife in Ireland mixes a few exhausted cinders with the
earthy stuff that she rakes together for a fire, the lion.
Member evaporated. Not a person of the slightest
weight was present ; and if anything were necessary to
show the implicit confidence which the wealth, and
talent, and respectability of the metropolitan county
repose in the House of Peers, it was the total and un-
disputable absence of any one of those qualities at this
miserable—most miserable exhibition.—Morning Post.

PARLIAMENTARY SUMMARY.

In the LORDS' there was no attendance,

In the COMMONS', after the presentation of petitions, Mr.
Ward brought forward his motion for a Committee of In-
quiry relative to the dispowl of Land in our Colonies, in
order that the application of the best mode might be made
to bear on Ireland as connected with the question of Poor
Laws.—Motion agreed to, The Thames Steam Vessels
Bill was read a second time. The House then went into
Committee on the Bribery at Elections Bill, and disposed
of several clauses. Mr. Scrope, Sir H. Musgrave, and Mr.
O'Brien severally withdrew their respective Bills for the
relief of the Poor in Ireland, in consequence of an assu-
rance from Lord Morpeth that next Session a Ministerial
measure on the subject would be brought forward. Two or
three Bills were then advanced h stage, after which the
House adjourned,

A REMARKABLE CASE OF SOMNAMBULISM.-
About three o'clock Friday morning a young man, about
twenty years of age, was observed running at an extremely
rapid pace along Dean-street, Westminster, and through the
various other streets in almost a state of nudity, till he arrived
near the Thames, at Millbank, where he halted, exclaiming
in an agonising tone, " Oh, save them, save them—my wite,
my child, my love ;" and after the pause of an instant, " Oh,
they are not there—they are gone—l must follow ;" at the
same time running towards the Thames, The person who
had observed him in Dean-street hid {although himself a swift
runner) with great difficultN Leo up with him : however. per-
ceiving his intention, he caught hold of the somnambulist
when in th.. nos of rushing into the water. Upon being stop-
pod, the latter burst into tears, but all recovering himself in
some degree, he appeared conzoious of his dangerous situation,
and after thanking his F,Tweator for his kind offices,
and as-
suring him he had never been known to walk in his sleep
hefavo, he hastily rctr..iated homewards. Even when quite,
awake, lie seemed to gaze at the water with a searching and
troubled look, and it was a difficulty to persuade him that it
was but the effect of a dream.

By the arrivals from America to the sth ult. the
first double sheet of one of the United States papers, the
Morning Courier and New York Enquirer, has been re-
ceived. It is a larger paper by three inches each way than
any newspaper published in this metropolis, containing about
2,376 inches of superficial printing. It contains not les!, ~i4an
2,094 advertisements.

An interesting spectacle wr:ds Vii,essed on the river
on Monday. Four fine ;11\pli belonging to the Hudson's. Ilay
Co., and bound ko Mcison's Bay for furs, &c., were hauled
out a onion Dock, and were towed down the river by
ste'agers?f,ollowing closely after each other, with colours flying
fedietbeir' 111145.. The Company have hitherto only sent
out tWQ Xeuteli`

CH-IVUDNESDAY.

KING'S BE

DAY r. KING AND OTHERS.
This was an action of trespass, brought to recover (12.
mages for taking the plaintiff's goods. The plaintiff %vat an
inhabitant of Cambridge, and the defendants were the Vice*
Chancellor of Cambridge and other magistrates of that tow&
The defendants had issued a warrant for taking the gno
of the plaintiff', and the object of the nction was to recover
damages for the seizure made under the warrant, which watk
alleged to be illegal. Lord Abinger directed a nonsuit.
dg
subject to the opinion of the Court. A rule had since been
obtained to set aside the nonsuit and have a new trial.
Mr. Sergeant Stouss showed cause against the rule,
which was supported by Mr. KELLY and Mr. GUNNING.
Rule absolute for setting aside the nonsuit.

PHILHARMONIC CONCERTS.

The eighth concert took place on Monday evening at the
bver square Rooms, the programme of which will be found

The symphonies were the great features of the evening, and
With the exception of the trio in Beethoven's, were admirably
Ratfermed. Mozart's, ever fresh and ever new, was one of
ttT very richest treasures which that inimitable band can un-
fold; ; its beauties appeared like an Oasis in the desert of trash
by
which it was followed, due exception being made for the
Leonora of 13erthoven. With this performance the Philhar-
monic season concluded.
We will now take a retrospect of the whole concerts, and
thereby submit
thereb y suumit the Direction of the Philharmonic Society to
important test—how far have they fulfilled the very re-
sponsible trust reposed in them ?—how much has the science
of Music been advanced ? how far has the public taste been
'mProved?—has every opportunity been afforded the sub-
leribers of becoming acquainted with the choicest musical
'.oropositions, through the medium of the Philharmonic
Concerts ?
Any thing short of an affirmative to these propositions, is
Pro tank, a failure of the great objects of the Institution ; to
accomplish which an unparalleled combination of musical
,talent of the very highest order assembles, and for the display
et which an unparalleled amount of subscriptions are con-
tributed.
It will very much facilitate the inquiry, and bring the mat-
ter /pore permanently before the public, to commence by giv-
ing the programmes of the respective concerts of the season,
be-cause by having under the eye, at one view, the whole instru-
mental and vocal selection of the season, an important part of
the inquiry can be more readily determined. Have the inex-
haustible :tunes of musical excellence at the command of the
Directors d :he Philharmonic Concerts been judiciously made
made use of. or .ve they even in the selection of the music it-
self to be weiglie,4 in the balance and found vvanting ?"
FIRST CONrERT, Monday, Feb. 22, 1836.
Sinfonia—No. i ...... ................... Beethoven.
Seena_Mrs. H. R. Bishop, " Di Prima-
vera"
Concerto (E flat) pianoforte—Kr. Mos-
clicks ..
Duetto—Mrs. Seguin and Mrs. H. IL
Bishop, " All Jacciamo " (Jessonda) Spohr.
Overture—"Merestille" (first perform- F. Mendelshon
ance) Bartholdy.
ACT SECOND.
Sinfonia—No. 9. Haydn.
Aria _-Mrs. Alfred Shaw, " 0 Salutaris
Hos tia" Cherubini.
Quartet to—two violins, viola, and violon-
cello, Messrs. Mori, Watts, Moralt, and
Lindley Haydn.
Quartetto—Mrs. H. R. Bishop, Mrs. Se-
guin, Mrs. A. Shaw, and Mr. Horn.
castle, " Andro Ramingo," (Idomoneo)Mozart.
Overture—" Euryanthe" C. M. Von Weber.
SECOND CONCERT, Monday, March 7,1836.
Sir,fonia in 6 Mozart.
tinetto—Madame Caradori and Mr. Balfe,
" Vieni i for tormenti," (Euryanthe) C. M. Von Weber.
Concerto in G, pianoforte—Mrs. Anderson Beethoven.
Balfe, " Fermo rimanti,"
(Guglielmo Te 11)...... ............ ••... Rossini.
Overture—Gberon e C. M. Von Weber.
ACT SECOND.

Sinfonia, C minor
Aria—Madame Caradori, Non (Don
Giovanni) Mozart.
Concerto, Clarinet—Mr. Willman C. M. Von Weber.
Teezetto—Madame Caradori, Mr. Brizzi,
;Lid Mr. Balfe, " Che far Degg'io"
(Robert le Diable) Meyerbeer.
Overtu.-e—" Tamerlane" Winter.
T 1:1RD CONCERT, Monday, March 21, 1836.
Sinfonia in D Potter.
Aria—Signor Cartagenova, " Io l'Amai,"
(I Normanni. a Parigi) Mereadante,
Concert Stuck, Pianoforte Madame
Duleken... • C. M. Von Weber.
Aria--Madame Colleoni Corti, " Casts
Diva," ( Norma) ..... Bellini.
Overture—" Der Behernscher der Geis-
C. M. Von Weber.
ter."
ACT SECOND.
Sinfonia in B flat Beethoven.
Aria—Signor Winter, 2‘ Che Vidi," ( Zel-
Rossini.
mira)
Coocertino, Violin—Mr. Blagrove .Spohr.
buetig—Madame Colleoni Corti and Sig-
nor C•iartagenova, " Anna to Piangi,"
(Maom etto Secondo) Rossini.
Overture—" Die Zauberflotte" . .•..Mozart.
FOURTH CONCERT, Monday, April 11, 1836.
Sinfonia No. le, composed for this Society, Spohr.
Scena—Mr. Ballet " Pace Ardenti,"(Eu-
C. M. Von. Weber.
ryanthe)
Concerto, Pianoforte, 1•1 C minor—Mr. C.
Mozart.
Potter
Scena—Madame Caradori, Ah Ritorna.', SF. Mendleshon
Bartholdy.
Overture—Egmont ........... •••• • Beethoven.
ACT SECOND.
Sinfonia No. 1. ............ Haydn.
Song_Mrs. A. Shaw, " Make haste to de-
liver me ;" Clarono obligato, Mr. Will-
xnan
„, Neukomm.
4,i0--Two violoncellos and contra basso,
Mr. Lindley, Mr. Lucas, and Signor
Dragonnetti Correlli.
Aria—Madame Caradori, " Batti Batti,"
( Don Giovanni ;) Violoncello obligato,
Mr. Lindley Mozart.
Overture—" Le Prince de Hombourg" Marschner.
FIFTH CONCERT, Monday, April 23, 1836.
fonia in E flat, (first time of perform-
anie) ••• Lachner.
Birch, " Ave Maria" ......... Cherubini.
Concerto. —pianoforte ( M. S.) in C minor,
Mr. W. S. Bennett W. S. Bennett.
Scena—Mr. J. Bennett, " Ah Sorrida,
amico" (Jess,inda) Spohr.
Cherubini.
Overture—Fanis,ka
ACT SECOND.
Sinfonia in D Mozart.
Seena—.Mrs. H. R. " Ah Per-
fido" Beethoven.
Military Concerto—violin, Mcns. Lipinski Lipinski.
Terzetto—Mrs. H. R. Bishop. Miss Birch,
and Mr. J. Bennett, " Quay canna al
suol" (Jessonda)
Von Weber.
Overture—Preeiosa M.
SIXTH CONCERT, Monday, May 9, 1836.
Sinfonia—Pastorale ...................... —Beethoven.
Aria—M. Iyanhoff, " 0 Cara immagine"
( Die Zauberflotte) ....Mozart.
„, Grand Fantasia—M. Thalberg, first pia-
• nist to the Emperor of Austria Thalberg.
buetto—M. lyanoff and Mr. Phillips,
" Ove vai" ( Guillaume Tell) . ...Rossini.
Overture—" Pietro von Abano" Spohr.
ACT SECOND.
Sinfonia—No. 11 Haydn.
Aria— Madame Malibran. " Non piu di
fiuri," Cornetto di Bassetto obligato,
Mr. Willman ( La Clcmenza di Tito) Mozart.
Quartetto—two violins, viola, and violon-
cello, Messrs. Mori, Watts, Moralt, and
Lindley Haydn.
Scena—Mr. Phillips, " Ah the invau "
(Pietro von Abano) Spohr.
Overture—" Der Freischutz"
SEVENTH CONCERT, Monday, May 23,1836.
Sinfonia—Eroica. Beethoven.
Aria—Mr. Machin, " Mentre ti Lascio".. Mozart.
Septetto—Flute, Obeo, Clarinet, Bassoon,
Horn, Trumpet, and Double Bass, The Chevalier
Messrs. Nicholson, G. Cooke, Willman, Neukomm.
Denman, Platt, Harper, and Dragonetti
Recitativo ed aria—Miss Masson—Per
Pieta ......................................... Mczart.
Overture—" Jessonda " ...................... Spar.
ACT SECOND.
Sinfonia in D .................................... Mozart.
Aria—Madame Malibran, Quando
it
Persiani.
core " ..........................................
Quartetto—Two violins, tenor, and violon-
cello ; Messrs. Blagrove, Gattie, Dando,
and Lucas .................................... Beethoven.
Terzetto—Madame Malibran, Miss Mas_
• son, and Mr. Machin, Corraggio, Orsu,
..Beethoven.
Fidelio ............................. •••• .....
Overture—" Anacreon "• ..................... Cherubini.
EIGHTH CONCERT, Monday, June 6, 1836.
Sinfonia in F (No. 8) ...... . ........ . ..... Beethoven.
Ivanoff " Che acc.enti" (Otello)Rossini.
Second caprice—Pianoforte, M. Thalberg,
First pianist the Emperor of Austria....Thalberg.
Recitativo ed aria—Miss Clara Novello,
" Mesta 0 care', Moz
Ovettuye—" Les deux Journ6es" Cherubini.
ACT SECOND.

—Mozart.

BinConia in E flat
Cantata_Madame Malibran, " The depar-
ture from Paradise," composed expressly
for the Philharmonic Society, and first
time of performance ...... H. R. Bishop.
Introduzione e pollacca Guerreira—Violin,
M. Ole B. Bull Ole B. Bull.
buetto—Madame Malibran and M. Ivan-
" In mia mau" (Norma)
‘-ivertore—" Leonora" Beethoven.
The natural division which presents itself is two-fold; into
both of which it is our purpose to take a short examination.
As the instrumental portion is by far the most important, be-
cause of the prodgious instrumental talent the Society coin-
bieet', and the perfect command which the Directors have
over it, we shall give it precedence. In the vocal department
the vagaries of the singers do frequently force the Directors
Into an unpleasant position, but for which, however, they have
"1Y themselves to blame ; because one appeal to the Sub-
t:tribers embodying a plain statement of facts, would at once,
iltitting the parties whose nonsensical affectation or whose
ulsavointed vanity occasion the mischief properly before
t
public, terminate the folly.
What then have been the new instrumental compositions
'which the Philharmonic Directors have this season produced?
one Sinfonia, by Lachner, a most ineffective production,
and two overtures, one by Mendleshon, the other by Mars.
biter, the former not equal to any of his previous Overtures,
and the latter too contemptible to deserve a place in such a
Concert.
Of the old symphonies the season, it will be seen from the

programme, has produced six of Beethoven's, two consecutive
concerts, the fourth and fifth, passed over without. a symphony
of Beethoven ; while the magnificent symphony in D, and the
beautiful choral symphony which has never yet been done' jus-
tice to, the best performance of that great work which this
country has yet witnessed was at one of the recent concerts of
the Royal Academy of Music. Both these productions of the
greatest master have been shelved, at least for another season.
With the six of Beethoven, four of Mozart, three of Haydn,
one of Poller, and one of Lochner, comprised the 16 sympho-
nies of the season.
There has been seven piano-forte pe'rformances during the
present season (and we only escaped the eighth, we presume,
to find a place for the very trifling septetto of the Chevalier
Neukomm) by Moschclles, Mrs. Anderson, Madame Dulcken,
Potter, W. S. Bennett, and tao by Mr. Thalberg, the latter of
which took place on Monday evening, and we trust that :a long
time will elapse ere we are punished by such another embibition
—it may be very wonderful—but to call it music, much less
music for a classical concert, would be a profanation of the
term. The performance of such trash at the Philharmonic
Concerts evinces, on the part of the Directors who suffer it,
either an incompetence for the office they fill, or a pandering
to a most vicious taste, destructive of good music. Did the
Directors ask Mr. Thalberg to play that beautiful quartett
of Mendleshnu's in B minor, which elicited so much applause
when played by W. S. Bennett at the quartett concerts?
Of Mr. Melberg, all we shall say of his second perfor-
mance is, that like the man who claimed from King Charles
some encouragement for the wonderful feat of standing on his
bead on the top of the steeple of a church, the discriminating
monarch replied, " let him have an exclusive patent for it."
It is quite evident that the least effective of all solo instru-
ments in a public concert-room is the pianoforte; and although
some of these performances were admirable in themselves, and
the execution of which reflected the highest credit on the
artists by whom they were performed, still we do consider there
has been too great a preponderance given this instrument, to
the evident exclusion of much more effective music. Can there
be a question in the mind of any person at all acquainted with
the beauties of quartett writing, that the stores which genius
has supplied in this class of musical composition ought to be
extensively made use of by the Directors of the Philharmonic
Concert ? In this class of composition, what have the Directors
produced during the eight concerts of the season? Two
quartetts of Haydn, by Mori, Watts, Moralt, and Lind-
ley ; one quartett of Beethoven, by Blagrove, Gattie, Dan-
do, and Lucas. So that five concerts of the whole season
have passed over without a quartett being heard in a musical
society combining among its members the very elite of the
profession, and among the subscribers whose contributions
support the Institution, is enrolled the name of almost every
distinguished amateur in the country. Whence does this
arise ? If the error is to be corrected, the truth must be
told. There are too many teachers of the pianoforte in the
direction of the Philharmonic Concerts. A man may be well
qualified to give ineteuetion on the pianoforte, who may never-
' thelesa not possess the slightest pretensions to be placed in the
distinguished position to direct the musical taste of England,
and this latter qualification, and this alone should operate on
the minds of the members when the election fee the Directors
of such en important fieCiety takes place. If this qualifica-
tion were the only passport to the direction of the Philharmonic
Societe, we should not have to lames t that five opportunities
of improving the ?Jelly taste by displaying the equisite beau-
ties contained in the quit/leas of Mozart, Beethoven, and
Hadyn, had been neglected, a teepee!' upon the direction of
this Society, which we hope never agreie le be compelled to
record.
The three quartetts which were played during the beton,
were amongst the most decidedly 1400060 d of the instrumen-
tal performances, and the perfect success which has attended
the recent concerts peculiarly devoted to this peesisse of com-
position, ought forcibly to have reminded the Directors ef the
Philharmonic Society that the public taste revelled in the en-
joyment of that most classical department of reerejettl composi-
tion when presented to them, as either of the two distinguished
parties already alluded to have done, and all of whom are toises-
ponent parts of the Philharmonic orchestra.
Next in order, we ask what has the Philharmonic season
produced in overtures? Two tiCW ones by ielendelsinse and
Marechner, of which we have already epeken ; five by Weber s
three by Cherubini ; two by Beethoven ; two by Spobr ; one
by Mozart; one by Winter; making, together, the sixteen
overtures of the season.
In this department not one composition of a British Artist
has been produced during the whole season. Is it because
none equal to the selection made has been written ? Has
British talent produced no overture equal to " Le Prince de
Hombourg," by Marsehner ; or the " 1 ainerlane," by Winter ;
or the " Faniska," by Cherubini 1 Have the overtures of Goss,
of Lucas, of MacFarren, of W. S. Bennett, of Durrett, of
Balfe, no talent in them worthy of being fostered and en,
couraged by a public performance of the Philharmonic Con-
certs? How is it possible that native compose: can flourish?
Must they not devote much valuable time to the conepesition ;
must they not then incur great expense in causing all the parts
to be 'copied; and do they ever obtain re hearing at those
concerts? If the answer iso they are produeteene of native
composers, not worthy of being heard by so critical an aerlivice
as the Philharmonic Society, and that reserver be a correct one,
then should we deplore the fact; but we utterly repudiate it,
and we feel quite assured that we are correct in the eeetetnent,
that from the list of native composers which we have cited. WO
could select overtures, which, when performed by the Philhar-
monic Band, would not only delight the audiesrce, but give
great encouragement to the whole school of British Writers,
thereby fulfilling two of the leading objects of the Institution,
We regret very much to find that the suggestion we put
forth, as to the performance of the beautiful overture to the
Maid of Artois, was not in the programme of the conciseeinse
concert. We feel satisfied that if the bisectors had attended
to it, they would have rendered an essential eervice to the
rapidly rising school of native talent-e-:. school rapidly rising
without the aid of the very society—nay, positively with the
absolute neglect of the Institution formed for It4l support.
We trust this is the last season which we shall beep thus to
speak. of the direction of the Philliumonic concerts ; let
them awake from the lethargy which has seizes/ ppon them—let
them show that they can devote a small porteee of the im-
menee subscriptions received to tire great object of proteeting
native talent—let the Philharmonic Society at once offer three
gold medals for the next seaecn ; the first value thirty guineas,
for the best sinfonia ; the second, value twenty gusneas, for
the beat instrumental quartett; the third, vAlue fifteen guinea;
for the best overture—dee whole to be the eseespositione of
Rritieh talent, If such a course he adopted, our netiee com-
posers would soon forget the chilling e,seglect they have expe-
rienced, arid an impetus would be given tee English writers
which would operate most powerfully in favour a the whole
musical profession.
We now turn to the vocal selection, reod here, as we have
before said, the vagaries of the singers do often occasion
much mischief. The Directors of the Philharmonic Concerts
may receive a very smart rebuke for permitting the aborressee
ble trash which the singers ever and anon indulge in, and there
is no way for them to eschpe . The Philharmonic subscribers
do fully appreciate good vocal music when by chance they
happen to hear it, for we must suppose it an accidental cie-
cuinstance as it so seldom occurs. As a preef of the justice of
the rebuke to tbe direction of these concerts, and le eenport of
the discrimivation of the Philhaemenie audience, we este whit h
of the 32 vocal performances of the soon were honoured with
an encore? Only two.
" 0 Salutaris, hoetia," by Cherubini.
" 0 Cara immagine Die Zauberflotte," by Mozart.
While the productions by Marsehner, Mercadante, Bellini,
bay, even (not withstanding the witchery of Malibran) Per-
eieni passed almost unnoticed.
This feet is a most triumphant vindication of the musical
taste of the Philharmonic audience, and shows in forcible lan-
guage that the errors of the vocal department are not attri-
but rest with the direction.
butable to'the subscriherS,
These coneeete are capable of vast improvement. The
amount of subscripiions this year we believe to be beyond any
former season, and they have been attended better than usual;
but this is owing to the doubtful policy of allowing the tickets
to be transferred ; we wish we could say it was owing to the
great superiority of the musical selections of the season, and
not to the adventitious circumstance we have alluded to. We
hope again to have the pleasure of hearing the next perform-
:nee, and we trust that the observations we have felt it our
duty to make will result in those improvements of the Society,
which will make it an honour to the country, and constitute it
in reality elle iMprzyger of the musical taste of England.

---
The Hon. Mrs. George Barton, by her union with
the Hon. George Chapple Norton, brotiter and heir presump-
tive to Lord Grantley, has three infant son, the eldest of
whom, Cavendish Charles Conyers, is in his eighth ysa.r, The
father of Mr. Norton and of Lord Grantley was the itou,
Fletcher Norton, a Baron of the Exchequer in Scotland, who
died in 1820. Mr. N. and his brothers and sisters wire ranted
the precedency of children of a Baron in 1831, Lady grantleY
is daughter of the venerable Sir W. Beechey.
MORE GIRAFFES.—The proprietor of the Surrey
Zoological Gardens, determined not to be beaten in the intro-
duction of novelties, on the first intimation of the probable
arrivals of some Giraffes, applied to the Society in flip
ge-
gent's-park to know if they would part with one on any tor-res,
but on their declining to do so, he instructed his agent (Mr.
Warwick), who had proceeded from England to procure some
at all risks. He has done so, and yesterday letters weytt yer
ceived stating he had shipped four, two 10 feet ; one 6 f&i4
and one, that at Cario, where it bad been twelve months, was
called " La Belle Giraffe," being 13 feet high, the largest that
had ever left the country. lie has also procured flue ostriches,
eighteen Numidian cranes, one camel, five jerhc:.s, Rio a
number of other animals, all of which were shipped without
the slightest accident. They left Alexandria on the 9th of
Mai', and may shortly be expected.
AFFAIR OF HONOUR.—A duel was 4tog)tt, all
Thursday morning, the Igth ult., in Hemingford Meadow, be-
tween
J. C. Daintree , Esq., a Magistrate of the County of
Cambrike, and Chairman of the St, Ivp'l.. l'agr Law Union,
and I', Undsell, Esq., one of the Guardians to th.e Vnina, in
consequence of a
dispute at a meeting on the previous 4ay.
gnal tieiGg given, Capt. Daintree's pistol went off be-
fOornetlhiee hsia% raised it t ai V' and the ball entered the turf at
the feet of his antagonist, and 4,4 itr, l.lindsell discharging his
pistol in the air the seconds interfered, a 44 the parties left the
ground.--riedependeat Press. [The place of rneetitto• was an
erningford Bounds, and it should have been
inc cure in
ltc sigl,l4
14eirig
give?
the parties fired together,
stated that t
tree.a. his kisit9l. t:to the air, and Mr. Dain-
Mr. Litidsell
ball entering Om -t4rf Allr yards of his
own feet.— eitedirdor
FJiurch patronage was
disposed of in a very
The lona-aaitated questiMi 4f
de, vicol rnanuer y tkae General Assem-
blya liduse cenaisting of
of Scotland on Monday last, !rik
391 members, only 90 voted in Siipp?rt of the Fuopon of Dr.
Thompson, " that patronage was a grievanaa, end ought to be
abolished,"

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY-JUNE 9, 1836.