The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-07 00:00:00

NEW MUSICAL FUND.

The annual Concert of the above Institution, established in 1786 for
the relief of decayed musicians, took place on Friday at her Majesty's
Theatre, Haymarket. This was the fifty-second Concert given by the
members of the Society, and we need only mention the names of the
singers on the occasion to show the liberal scale on which it was got up.
They were Mesdames Guilietta Grisi and Persiani, Signors Rubini, La.
blache, and Tamburini ; Mrs. Alfred Shaw, Miss Birch, Miss Wood-
ham, Signor Ivanoff, Mr. J. Bennett, and Mr. H. Phillips. With such
a phalanx of vocal talent, in addition with the talents of Mrs. Ander-
son, Mr. Chatterton, and Herr Heinemeyer, as solo performers in the
instrumental department, it was impossible the Concert could be other.
wise than attractive and successfnl in the highest degree. The pit was
completely filled by as fashionable an auditory as ever graced the area of
her Majesty's Theatre, and the other parts of the house, although not
crowded as on some late occasions at the Italian Opera, were well at-
tended. An orchestra erected on the stage afforded accommodation to
a most excellent band, amongst whom we recognised most of the leading
musicians of the day, ably conducted by Sir George Smart, and led by
Mr. Francois Cramer. Considerable judgment had been displayed
by the managers in the selection of the pieces, and the whole went off
in a style calculated to afford extreme gratification to the audience, and
in fact the Concert was an excellent one in nearly every particular.
Mozart's superb overture to the Zatibertiote commenced the First Part.
The opening movement was rather deficient in firmness, but the Allegro
went off with great spirit. A duetto by Rubini and Tamburini fol-
lowed, "Se inelinassi," from Rossini's " L'ltaliana in Algeri." It was
sungwith great taste and feeling, although Rubini, as he frequently does,
refined so much upon it in parts that his voice was scarcely audible. " Let
the bright seraphin" was next sung by Grisi. She did not appear quite at
home; and, we are bound to say, we heard it given with more effect
by some English singers. The peculiarity of her pronunciation had
a rather a ludicrous effect in rather more than one instance. The trum.
pet accompaniment of Mr. Harper was superb. Mrs. Anderson's Rondo
for the Piano-forte, the composition of Hummel, was a splendid per-
formance. The choice of the piece itself evinced great judgment and
taste on the part of the lady in question, and her performance was the
most masterly and graceful effort that can be conceived. We never
heard Mrs. A. herself play better than she did on this oceasion, and we
certainly never heard any one exceed her in brilliancy of style, in pro..
ducing a rich quality of tone from the instrument, and in facility of
execution. Madame Persiani was deservedly and enthusiastically en-
cored in the beautiful Aria from Bellini's Somnambula," Come per me
sereno." A more finished performance could not be conceived. Signor
Ivanhoff sang, with great feeling, an air from Lord Burghersh's opera,
the words commencing " Bel raggio di Luna," and was ably accom-
nied on the harp by Mr. Nielson. It was, however; as a whole, rather a
heavy affair. Guglielmi's duetto, " 0 Guardati the figura," sang with
great humour and good taste by Grisi and Lablache, was encored. The
first part concluded with Mr. W. S. Bennett's overture to the Naiades,
a composition displaying very considerable talent. It did not, however,
for some reason or other, go well, and was not noticed by the audience
in so marked a manner as its merits required. In the second part of
the concert, Mr. J. Balsir Chatterton played a fantasia on the harp, in
which he displayed great execution, but much affectation. His facility
of fingering is extraordinary, but the tone thin and wiry. Mr. J. Ben-
nett's " Lord remember David" was sung with great taste and chasteness
of style. His shake is splendid, but he introduces it a little too often. Miss
Birch's " From mighty Kings" added to the deservedly high reputation
of that young lady. Her voice is of beautiful quality, and her exe-
cution of the song evinced her acquaintance with the works of Handel,
and her judgment to be correct as to the mode in which they ought to
be sung. Herr Heinemeyer's Fantasia on the flute was one of the
finest instrumental efforts we have heard for some time. In addition to
as rich and mellow a tone as ever was drawn from the instrument, his
facility of execution is most extraordinary, and his expression exqui.
site, without the slightest tincture of that affectation which disfigures
the performance of too many players of the present day. Miss Wood.
ham's " John Anderson, my Joe," and Mr. H. Phillips' song about
" Good Company," might have omitted, and something more in cha.
racter with a concert of this magnitude and interest advantageously snb.
stituted. Beethoven's spirited Overture, admirably played, " The Men
of Prometheus," concluded the performances, long before eleven
o'clock. We were much gratified to find the annual meeting of this
extensively useful institution exciting so much interest in the public
mind, and that its managers still maintain the reputation acquired long
ago, of always treating their patrons and supporters to one of the best, if
not the very best concerts of the season.
We ought to have stated that Mr. Balfe, who had promised his as-
sistance on the oceasion, was prevented from singing by a severe cold
and hoarseness.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex will give
a superb banquet on Wednesday, the 30th inst., at Kensington Palace,
to her Majesty the Queen, the Duchess of Kent, and the Royal Family.
Preparations have already commenced at the apartments of the illus.
trious Duke for the entertainment.

The Master of the Horse to her Majesty will give
grand entertainments at his mansion in Berkeley-square, on Thursday,
the 17th, and Saturday, the 19th, and inst., the first to celebrate the
Queen's birthday. The Noble Lord Was present, on Saturday, at the
grand annual dinner given by Sir Martin Shee and the Royal Acade-
micians.

The Duke of Wellington visited the panorama of
San Sebastian, in Maddox-street, on Saturday. Ile soon recognised the
different positions of the batteries during the sine, and expressed him.
self much pleased with the ♦iew in general.

Mr. Parsons, box-book-keeper, takes his benefit
this evening at Drury.lane Theatre. Were the performances less various
and attractive than they are, we doubt not but the frequenters of this
theatre would testify, by a full house, their sense of the public services
of this obliging functionary; as it is, there is little doubt but a bumper
may be safely calculated upon.
The Optical Gallery, Colosseum, is now opened
for a morning lounge, and the Munich band plays there daily, from two
till five o'clock. On Thursday and Friday next Mr. graham and Mrs.
Stirling are to perform there; and on the following Monday, the cele.
brated Mans. Alexandre will commence his entertainment.
THE COURT BALL.—The grand entertainment to
be given by her Majesty on Thursday next is expected to be highly at.
tractive. It is the first public fete given by her Majesty, and the splen.
did suite of apartments in Duckingham new Palace will be thrown
open, brilliantly illuminated, for the first time. The modistes at the
west end of the town were never in greater activity in preparing cos-
tumes of the most recherche description.

It is astonishing that an idea still prevails that no
out-door relief, under the present Poor-law, is admitted. It might
easily be known that the relieving-officer goes his regular weekly circuit,
to distribute this description of relief.

THE QUEEN AND THE MACKINTOSH.—WhiIe
her Majesty was riding on horseback on Monday, in last week, in
Windsor Great Park, she and her party were surprised by a heavy
shower of rain, when they were yet at some little distance from the
castle. A gentleman of her suite offered her Majesty his Mackintosh as
a protection against the elementary attack. This her Majesty, with the
most becoming condescension, instantly accepted, and wore all the way
home.
It is expected that the grand full and fancy dress
Ball, which is to take place on the 31st, for the benefit of the Welsh
School, will be the most splendid of the season, her Majesty having
signified her intention of affording it her special patronage, and the
Ladies who have already announced themselves as patronesses, consist-
ing of the most distinguished nobility of the land.
IVIr. Charles Kean opened at the Glasgow Theatre
on Monday last. This spacious house was crowded to the ceiling. He
will perform Hamlet, Richard, Sir Giles, and Othello, prior to his return
to Drury-lane on Wednesday next.
LINCOLN'S INN, MAY 4.—The following gentle-
men were this day called to the degree of Barrister.at-law by the Hon.
Society of Lincoln's Inn, viz, :—Francis Sacheveral Wilmot, Esq ;
George William Bramwell, Esq.; James Graham Doraville, Esq. ;
Charles Weld, Esq. ; John Edward Cooper, Esq. ; John Glynn Mytton,
Esq ; Joshua Williams, Esq.; and Thomas Worrall Smith Graze.
brook, Esq.
The East India Company have voted a sword of 200
guineas value, to Captain Chads, for his exertions in suppressing piracy
in the Indian seas.
The Marquis of Hertford's villa in the Regent's-
park, has been, it is said, offered for the use of the illustrious foreigners
expected to visit London at the ensuing Coronation.

BIRMINGHAM AND LIVERPOOL.—A correspon-
dent has sent us the following statement of distances :—By the canals,
via Chester, the distance is 93 miles ; by the turnpike-road, via Walsall,
95 miles ; by the railway, 97 miles.

Johanna Schopenhauer, an authoress who has long
enjoyed great popularity in Germany, died at Jena, on the 111th ult., in
the 68th year of her age. Her complaint appears to have been a sud-
den affection of the lungs.

A GEOLOGIST OUT.—The inhabitants of Long
Telford were a few days since expecting a treat at the Bull Inn, bills
having been circulated that a lecture on geology would be given ; but
at the time specified the lecturer was non est inventus. Inquiries were
made, when it was found that he had decamped from his lodgings,
taking with him two folio works, but not on geology. Immediate pur.
suit was made, and he was captured at Alpheton, and sent to lecture to
the prisoners in Bury gaol. It is very likely he will stand a fair chance
of acquiring further and extensive knowledge in the science of geology
in another latitude.—Esser Herald.
On Friday, a deputation from the Society for
Obtaining Free Admission to National Monuments, consisting of Lord
Worsley, Sir. Geo. Sinclair, Bart., M.P., H. 'l'. Hope, M.P., It.
M. Milnes, M.P., George Rennie, Esq., John Martin, Esq., and Geo.
Foggo, Esq., waited on his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, to
acknowledge the honour of his acceptance of the Presidency of the So.
clety. His Royal Highness entered fully and warmly into its object,
with that affability for which he is so eminently distinguished.
THE GREAT WESTERN STEAM SHIP.—By the
arrival in the London Docks, on Friday forenoon, of the Henry
Brougham, Captain Wilkin, from Laguna de Terminos, we learn that
the captain of that vessel spoke the Great Western steam.ship on the
15th April, on her passage to New York, in latitude 45 40, longitude 37
50. The Great Western, since her departure from Bristol, has been
seen twice by homeward vessels to the port of London; but the Henry
Brougham has been the first vessel to speake with the Great Leviathan.
It is fully expected that the next intelligence of the Great Western will
be her safe arrival in the western world. Captain Wilkin, we are in.
formed, did not see or hear anything of the Sirius, which sailed from
Cork for New York several days prior to the departure of the Great
Western from Bristol. Both vessels are first rate, and are doubtless at
this time surprising Jonathan In the port of New York.
The same gratuitous spirit of misrepresentation per-
vades Dr. Chalmers' first lecture in London, and his address to the
people of Scotland. With a full knowledge of what their sentiments
are, he is disingenuous enough to attribute the opposition of the Dis..
senters to a niggardly economy, or indifference to the cause of religion,
or a " drivelling piety," which deems the employment of human efforts
in spreading religion superfluous. Like a genuine bigot, the Doctor
can see none but bad motives in those who will not lend themselves to
his castle.building schemes. In his eyes, the Dissenting reformers are
" impetuous bustling agitators, in whose breasts politics has taken the
place of religion ;" "headlong innovators;" "machine-breakers not
more intelligent than the machine-breakers and incendiaries of Kent
and Leicester."—Scotsman.
it ODDITIES OF LONDON LIFE."—We are re-
quested to state that the new comic work, entitled " Oddities of London
Life,' in 2 vols. post Bvo., with twenty.four Illustrations
d thirty-six Wood-cuts, is published this day by Mr. Bentley, 8, New
Burlingtou.strett. Agents :—For Scotland, Messrs. Bell and Bradfute,
Edinburgh ; and Mr. D. Campbell, Glasgow. For Ireland, Mr. John
a'nbyPaul Pry'
Cumming, Dublin. Orderrs received by all booksellers.
Three of the principal officers of her Majesty's
Dock-Lard at Pembroke, were on Friday, the 4th inst. suspended by or.
dens of the Admiralty, viz., the master shipwright, the Clerk of the
Checque, and the Store Receiver.
The Queens equestrian cortege generally consists of
seventeen
tn
her Majesty, if the weather permit, never rides
ei
foPrtraleg e;hours ; one day she is said to have kept her attend.
iitiaee nn er
mi I e s.
ants on tilC
Great Protestant Meeting and Gentlemen are ex-
The.
to be held on Wed-
nesday,pected to take Par
f troto flu;
)1 twenty-five
Noblemen
TT 11. The &WI \N"
5 inc ilsca and Roden, Viscount
if& ""a
John Hardy, Pet Captain J. E. Gordon, Rev,
Lorton, Lord Pn,-' A Pringle,*
Al4rsh. A. M,V, Henry Pownall,
Part in Ow
C. Benson, may' • •
E 9., Rev, C. Pali/ Rev *. B‘c•