The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-15 00:00:00

TURKEY.

- - -
Great fears are entertained at Constantinople lest,
in spite of the efforts made by Sir Stratford
Canning and the French Ambassador to save
the great Louis Kossuth and his companions,
they may be delivered up into the hands of
Paskewitch, in consequence of the revival of Russian
influence. The truth is that the terror of the Porte
for the Autocrat is increased and redoubled, if pos-
sible, by the successes obtained by his armies, or
rather by the damning treason of Georgey, over the
brave but unhappy and deceived Hungarians.
The Russians already act as if Byzantium
was secured to St. Petersburgh, and their
vessels of war (small, it is true, but numerous) are
flocking round the Gold Horn. The representative of
her Britannic Majesty will, we are satisfied, employ
his high influence in defiance of the Autocrat and his
myrmidons, so as to secure the safety of the noblest
patriot living.
The following paragraph will be read with profound
interest by all the lovers of adventure, learning, and
enterprise ; it is from a communication written in
Constantinople on the 30th instant :
" Mr. Layard, authur of Nineveh and its Re-
mains,' left this yesterday in a Turkish steamer for
Trebiaond, on his way to the scene of his late bril-
liant discoveries. Mr. Layard is accompanied by an
artist, a medical man, and a secretary. He is in ex-
cellent health and spirits, and anticipates, I believe,
with the resources now at his command, to prose-
cute his researches with even more success than be-
fore. Mr. Layard does not intend, I understand,
to confine his labours to the Assyrian ruins in
the neighbourhood of Mossul, but will visit Mount
Ararat, Lake Van, and the whole of that part of the
east which abounds in religious and historical asso-
ciations. The scientific and literary world may anti-
cipate a rich treat when the fruit of Mr. Layard's
present expedition will be given to the press. Shortly
before the publication of his late work, Mr. Layard
was appointed by Lord Palmerston Paid Attache to
the British Embassy at Constantinople, an act which
dues great honour to the,Minister of Foreign Affairs."

HEREFORD MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
HEREFORD, THURSDAY.—The Elijah oratorio
yesterday morning attracted a numerous and highly
respectable auditory. There was a considerable
influx of carriages into the city in the morning, and
at the commencement of the oratorio the interior of
the beautiful cathedral presented a brilliant appear-
ance. The gallery at the west end of the cathedral
(the highest price seats) was well filled, chiefly by
fashionably-dressed ladies, but the aisles and floor were
not so fully occupied. The Bishop of Hereford, with a
large party, was present, and occupied reserved seats
at the foot of the gallery, The oratorio was on the
whole exceedingly well performed, and although so
recently given at the Birmingham festival, calls for
some notice. The part of Elijah was taken by Mr.
Phillips, who, we regret to add, was very unwell, and
was hardly equal to the arduous task allotted to him.
The sour,d judgment displayed by him, however,
made up for an apparent want of power. The
air, "If with all your hearts," by Mr. Lockey,
well suited the compass of his voice. The soothing
accompaniment of the band was beautifully rendered.
The scene between the widow and Elijah was well
pourtrayed by Madame Castellan and Mr. Phillips,
and the dramatic effect of certain portions of it was
finely interpreted, especially in the prophet's prayer,
" Lord, my God:' The recitative and chorus, "As
God, the Lord of Sabaoth, liveth," afforded a rich treat.
The choruses were very effectively given, as also the
succeeding choruses of the Priests of Baal. In these
Alendelssohn has employed the larger wind instru-
ments very freely, and they appeared occasionally to
overwhelm the voices. Phillips gave the beautiful
prayer, "Lord God of Abraham," with great feeling;
and the succeeding delightful quartett, by the
Misses Williams, Mr. Lockey, and Mr. Machin,
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord," was rendered with
a fitting devotion, and was repeated by desire of the
Lord Bishop. In the scene between the prophet
and the youth (represented by Miss A. Wil-
liams),. preceding the rising of the cloud from
the sea, the audience appeared completely carried
away by its truthfulness of description. When we
say that the rendering of these passages by Mr. Phil-
lips and Miss A. 'Williams was "beautiful," we employ
this term because none other can convey the impres-
sion created by it. The descriptive gathering of the
storm, " Behold, a little cloud ariseth now," created a
thrilling sensation. The splendid chorus, " Thanks
be to God," was interpreted with great correctness,
though we should have preferred it taken a little
faster. It was repeated. There was an interval of a
quarter of an hour between the first and second
parts. The fine solo, " Hear ye, Israel," was given
to Madame Castellan, whose clear ringing voice told
most effectively, while her pronunciation was per-
fect. Miss M. Williams, as Jezabel, shone pre-emi-
nently in the recitatives, interrupted by the answer-
ing choruses, and commencing " Have ye not
heard." The concluding behest, to "Do unto him
as he bath done," was magnificent. In the following
chorus, " Woe unto him," the chorus appeared
to be overpowered by the band. In the delicious
trio, " Lift thine eyes," generally regarded as the
gem of the oratorio, and which was sung by Miss A.
Williams, Miss Poole, and Miss M. Williams, the
liquid voices of the fair vocalists appeared to float
along in the vaulted building, and lingering there to
give an angelic sweetness to the harmony, not of
this earth. A critical ear could detect a gradual de-
cline in the voices—which of course were unaccum-
onied—but as each singer gave way, the fault was
not generally observed. Of course it was repeated,
and the succeeding beautiful chorus, "He
watching over Israel," was very delightfully
given. The divine contralto air, " Oh, rest in the
Lord," vas delivered by Miss M. 'Williams with
exquisite sweetness, and in the best taste. It was
with difficulty that the audience could repress the
inclination ` to give vent to their gratification in
audible sotnads : it was repeated by request of the
Bishop. The wonderful chorus " Behold God the
Lord, passed LT," was magnificent. Mr. Phillips
was deservedly encored in the air " For the
mountains shall depart;" and Mr. Lockey in
the song " Then 1 hall the righteous rejoice.
The quartett, " 0, cooe every one that thirsteth,"
by Misses Williams, Mr. Lockey, and Mr. Machin,
was also repeated. The collection at the doors of the
cathedral amounted to 267/., being an increase of 301.
on the first day. In the eve ping there was a miscel-
laneous concert at the Shire- ball. To day we have
at the cathedral parts of Spohr's oratoria Calvary,
with a selection from Beethoven's " Service in C,"
Rossini's Stabat Mater, and three or four other stray
pieces. Madame Castellan sings With verdure
clad from the Creation; and Mr. Sims Reeves
"S ound an alarm," from Judas Maccabieus. The last
concert will be given this evening.

17
9
22
5

CAPTURE or WIIALES.—A. large and formidable
shoal of whales, supposed to consist of several hundreds,
made their appearance on the 30th ult. in the Voe of
Weisdale, Shetland. Every exertion was made to in-
duce them to land, on that and the two succeeding da) s,
but without any avail, until on the fourth (Thursday)
morning, they rushed on shore amidst the hue and cry
and din of the people, and were stranded below Hoxtair.
One hundred and eight of these monsters of the deep
were taken, and the blubber sold in some instances St
131. 10s, per tVA•—Scotsman.