The Sun.
London, England, 1825-09-10 00:00:00

THE FOUR. CAN.A.MAN CHIEFS.

These interesting men emharkrd for their na-
tive country, on board the Caledonia, the early part of August.
The writer of this article feels it to be due to their characters,
and at the same time gratifying to his own feelings, to express
the high sentiments of respect for this country with which' they
left it. The Grand Chief, in taking leave of the writer, said,
that himself and the three other Chiefs .left Great Britain
deeply impressed with its greatness, its liberality, and its mag-
nificence; that the attention which had been shown to them
could never he forgotten ; and especially the condescension of
his Majesty in honouring them with a most gracious interview,
and in presenting a large gold medal to each, as well as por-
trait of himself : these would remain a lasting memorial, and
he handed down, from generation to generation in their respec-
tive families. The Grand Chief added, that he had served this
country under his late Majesty George 111., which he never
expected to see ; hitt his visit to England had created an at-
tachment, and produced a feeling towards it which he had not
language to express ; but :rammed it all up by saying, he was
now ready whenever called upon to serve his Majesty George
IV., his Great Father, anti this he would do with the affection
and devotedness of a son ; and though they did not return to
their country having obtained the object of their visit, yet they
felt confident that a Government of uprightness would take
their claims into consideration, and meet their wishes.
The Grand Chief then requested that the writer would ex-
press to their friends at large, the lively sense they had of the
personal attention which had been shown to them, and hoped
this public ackowledgrnent and grateful remembrance of every
favour, would be accepted by them. He regretted it was not
in their power to pay their respects, in the way_of farewell, to
each of their friends, but sincerely wished a long continuance
of health and every comfcrt,, which a nation so prosperous; and
a Government so excellent, could ensure.
It is but justice to add, that the conduct of the four Chiefs,
during their abode in England, was most exemplary ; indeed
it was with truth observed, by a gentleman ifom Quebec, that
" their conduct was a reproach to the more enlightened
Whites." As real character is more developed in private than
in public life, it may not be improper to copy a paragraph from
a letter, received after their departure, froin the respected indivi-
dual at whose house they resided while in England. In speak-
. ing of their conduct Mrs. S. remarks, " That she esteemed them
highly for their .amiable dispositions; their correct principles,
and the great politeness they manifested towards herself and
family. Their kindness and attention to each other were
worthy the example of those who have enjoyed much higher
privileges." • .
P.S. A Paragraph having appeared in one of the public Pa.
pers injurious to the character of these Chiefs, and representing
them as Impostors, it may not be improper to add, that they
brought over from Quebec regularly accredited Testimonials;
, that a Member of the Legislation of bower Canada, now in
London, is well acquainted with them personally, and was a
Member of the Committee of. the House of Assembly, which
was appointed to investigate their Claims ; anti, finally, that
their Case is well known at the Colonial Department.
Paternoster Row, 1825. • '

There are in China 1,560 temples dedicated to
Confucius. At the spring and autumn sacrifices
offered to him, it is calculated that there are im-
molated twenty-seven thousand pigs, five thou-
sand eight hundred sheep;' two thousand eight
hundred deer, and twenty-seven thousand rab-
bits ; and there are offered at the same time
twenty-seven thousand pieces of silk.

MUSICAL. MEETINGS.

YORKSHIRE MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
• YORK, SEPT..B.-.--A stranger entering this city
at present, and not aware that preparations were in progress for
a " Grand Musical Festival," or any other novelty which we'
expected to attract crowds of fashionables, would at once set it
down as the cleanest, neatest, and gityest place imaginable;—
It is generally known that the houses are, if modern, mostly
built of brick, and the more ancient ones of wooden frame-
work, plastered over the out as well as the inside. The case-
ments,, doors, &c. of both sorts have been all painted (exter-
nally at least), apparently within the last fortnight, in the
highest hues, and also such parts of the front walls .as.; from
the circumstances already._ mentioned, presented a smooth
surface for the brush. The Upholeterers have likewise .been
put in requisition, and the windows every where hung with
muslin, chintz, or morine draperies, festooned with super-
lative gracefulness;
.nor have the pride and muscle of the
servant-maids been unexcited, to bring the objects of their
solicitude into cleanly keeping with the rest of the dwell-
ings. The most brilliant part of the spectacle, however, is
,the display in the shops. The first glance must always
suffice to inform a traveller that York is not &place of whole-
sale, but of retail traffic, when the greater part of each citizen's
stock in trade is exhibited to the street. The adroitness
of our shopkeepers in this art is now exemplified to the
highest perfection a for in passing along the principal avenues
one would conclude that the " wealth of Ornius and of Ind,"
the most exquisite, natural, and manufactured productions of
the earth, were stowed together in the city of York. The.
treasures of some fairy palace seem exposed for sale, and
the wardrobes of all the harems in Asia turned out to be
aired. In Stonegate the vanity is only equalled by the
splendour of the wares in the milliners' and the jewellers',
the tailors' and the mercers' show-rOome. Cyclometry and
felt-making have been allied, to produce opera hats of the
true Parisian curve, ranges of which, with glittering loops,
attract the eye on every side. But the rows of turbans,
caps, frills, fancy bonnets, &c. &c., raised on a fore-
ground of artificial flowers, which line the streets, bid de-
fiance to description. One eonly . wonders for the moment
who are to wear so many fine things, scarcely a visitor having
yet arrived ; and the city; thbugh sprinkled with a few genteel
loungers, evincing nothing of the crowding and bustle generally
indicative of the eve of a great and fashionable assemblage.
There are, indeed, some sad forebodings respecting the success
of the approaching festival. The number of persons who have
already taken ' apartments is said to be comparatively few, and
certainly scarce a house is to be seen' without a lodging bill in
the window. Until Monday next, however, nothing extensive
can be known upon this subject, as, from the habitual and re-
puted dullness of York, people never think of coming 'here till
the last minute. The only distinguished character that has ar-
rived is Incledon, who was a passenger in one of this evening
coaches. On Saturday many are expected, and on Monday the
Duke of Leeds, Earl of Harewood, and some other noblemen.
The Duke of Devonshire, Lord Morpeth, and the other im-
mediate connexlons of the late Earl of arlisle, will bepre-
vented by his recent death a circumstance much and justly
deplored by the managers of the festival. They anticipate
nevertheless that the higher classes from all parts of the country
will flock hither, and thus mom than compensate for the seem-
ing indifference which 'it must be confessed a few individuals
in the neighbourhood of York have hitherto shown to the sue-
cess.of the undertaking. It is confidently asserted, too, and
believed, that several persons from the continent, including
some of consequence, are to grace the festival with their pre-
sence, as the steam-packet between Rotterdam and Hull affords
desirable facility for the Germans to gratify their love of music
on this occasion. At present very few articles sell at enhanced
prices, anti after the festival many probably may be obtained on
-reduced terms.
The preparations in the Minster are in a state of great for-
wardness, but the descriptions Of them which have hitherto ap-
peared do not, perhaps, convey the most correct idea of the ar-
rangement. The only part of that magnificent pile appropriat-
ed for the Festival is the great nave from the western portal to
the screen at the entrance into the Choir, together with the side
aisles to the same extent. The orchestra is erected in the space
formed by the arches which support the tower, and of course
faces the west. It presents a concave front to the nave ; the
centre to be occupied by the instrumental performers; and tile'
wings, which recede' something On either side, by the chorus,
singers. 'rhe openings from the orchestra into the transepta
have been borded up to a considerable heighe, to prevent the in.
jurious dispersion of the sound, and will be painted a light
stone-colour, to correspond with the Minster.
Much of lthe-effect of this noble structure has been destroyed
by the manner in which the nave and side aisles are disposed
to accommodate the company. As you enter at the west door,
the whole view of the interior is cut off by an immense gallery
which has been raised 'against that end of the building to face
the orchestra at the other extremity. After advancing some
paces, two flights of stairs branch off right and left, and com-
municate with a. long passage which opens into the centre, and
near the top of the gallery before-mentioned. Other parts of
the company, instead of turning up those stairs, proceed a little
farther onward still, ascending a few steps, and reach another
opening among the lower benches of the gallery. In advance
of this opening, and in front of the gallery, is a projecting
semi-hexagonal space, called the Royal box, but having
nothing majestic whatever in its aspect. The gallery is consi-
dered capable of containing two thousand persons—the benches
being 33 in number, running the entire width of the Minster.
—They have wooden backs, which, as well as the seats, are
covered with crimson cloth. The workmanship seems massive
and secure; but the former impression on entering the Cathe-
dral is destroyed. On either side are other galleries to cor-
respond, "which fill the full breadth of the ailes, and project a
short way in advance of the clusters of pillars. The floor of,
the nave is provided with benches like those noticed above,
and resembles the pit of the King's or the other large theatres.
The floors of the ailes are also occupied by seats which, how-
ever, run longitudinaily and at right angles to those of the
nave. At the last festival there wereno galleries, and although
their erection no* affords room fora much larger audience, it is
generally complained that the plan looks too much like a play-
house, and 'that the sublimity of the effect must be injured in
proportion. The charges for admission to the several benches
described, are from a guinea to 7s. each. Some persons say
that the transepts, which are totally shut out from the body of
the Minster, will be let at ss. each person, for standing and
hearing room.
Of the new Concert-room, which has been lately built, and
which adjoins and communicates with the old Assembly-room,'
nothing need be said but that it is a very elegant apartment,.
judiciously and tastefully arranged, and fitted up for the pur-
pose to which it is destined. It has cost 6001.
The expences of the present festival, including the above
sum, are estimated at 17,0001. The principal vocal performers
alone are to receive upwards of 2,1001. Among the engage-
ments which help to, swell this large amount are the following:
—Mlle. Garcia, 336/. ; Madame Caradori, 262/. 10s.; Braham,
2621. 10s. ; Miss Stephens, 219/. ; Miss Wilkinson, 210/. ; De
Begnis, 210/. ; Sapioe 1521. 10s. ; Vaughan, 105/.
The lowest chorus singer receives four guineas, and the others
from that up to 12 guineas; and thus, as the band consists of
about 200 performers more than on the last occasion, the ex-
peaces on that score only, are estimated at 2,000/. additional.
.The principal singers absorb of this extra charge about 500/.
Madame De Begnis is prevented by indisposition' from
coming here, and none of the Others have yet arrived.
Persons are now admitted to see the Minster and Concert-'
room on paying not less than 61 each, the receipts from which
must be worth while. .
The Committee of Management do not seem, in some re-
spects, to act for the benefit of the Festival. They' have said
hitherto that even the Conductors shall not have a single ad-
mission for a wife or friend, and an application having been
made to them for tickets, for the York Newspaper s, a few days
ago, they refused to comply. To-morrow will decide whether
the London press is to be slighted in the same manner.

HEREFORD MUSIC MEETING.
The continued and severe indisposition of Mr.
Vaughan has impeded the completion of the performance of the
excellently selected music for the Festival. However, hitherto
there has been very little omitted, in consequence of the kind
exertions of Mr. Bellamy, Dr. Chard, and Mr: W. Knyvett, •
and partieu:arly of Mr. Bellamy, who has so much music 'al-
lotted to him as the principal bass singer. Mr. Vaughan was
taken on Tuesday morning with an attack of the cholera mor-
bus, which encreased to a violent degree, so inudli so that in
the course of the day serious apprehensitais were entertained for
his safety ; be wax attended by two medical gentlemen, and a
third was about to be called in, when providentially the dis-
order took a favourable turn, and in' a short time after he was
considered out of danger. On Wednesday he was in 'a very
weak state. The Concert on Tuesday evening at the Shire
Hall, was attended by very elegant company ; it is to be re- '
gretted they were not numerous. The first part consisted of a
selection from " .-cis and Galatea; " the whole of the music
is so delightful that it would be in vain to particularize.—
Miss Stephens sung her favourite air, 4: Hushye pretty
warbling choir," and the other principal soprano songs.--
31r. Bellamy shone in " More ruddy than a cherry."
De Eegnis made his first S appearance, and sang two
Italian songs; one of them was in imitation of a composer, at a
rehearsal of his own music, of which he is an enthusiast, and
ea.n•ictiorrieldis. voDiere.acnhdaarcdt,ioonf
‘Viintltheedssteerv,ervaelryinkstinrudmi4iutsp.porHtee was
the
tenor part* in the. glees. The performance on Wednesday
morn-
ing at the Cathedral, was the Sacred Oratorio of the Messiah,
which as usual filled nearly every_seat with company elegantly
~
i
dressed., it was opened by Dr. Chard with much taste, and all