The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-03 00:00:00

THE ROOKE CONCERT.

Last night a concert was given in the Hanover-
square Rooms, for the benefit of the widow and family
of the late W. M. Rooke, the English composer, of
whose early life an interesting sketch was given in our
columns on Wednesday. It was very well attended con-
sidering the times, and we hope that the widow and the
fatherless will not only derive some immediate benefit
from it, but that it may be the means of awakening fur-
ther sympathy with a case so truly distressing as that of
poor Rooke, whose whole life was a continued struggle
against difficulties he had no means of surmounting, but
from whose genius emanated works which stamp
him as a musician of the first order, and the fancy,
poetry, and painting of which might have
yet more de-
lighted the world, had his lifo been spared, and had hea
had the opportunity which so few English composers
enjoy, of producing his works. The cone "5
very pleasing one, notwithstanding several drawbacks ;
for, in the first lace, the influenza was all-powerful in
preventing no fewer than five persons, who had Pr° -
f
fared their aid in the good cause, from appear
ing, namely, Miss M. Williams, Messrs. Hobbs,
Allen, and Williams, and Balfe, who was to have On-
ducted the selection from Amilie. Again, the orchestra
parts of all English operas having been thrown into dir.e
confusion by the foreign powers of Covent-garden, it
was difficult to get them into such order as would have
been necessary to their going well, and wo were facet'
to be contented with a mere pianoforte accompaeimel
to many of the songs, thereby losing all the orchestra
painting with which Rooke's genius had adorned thew)/
The overture and introduction to Amilie went we f
with the baud and chorus ; so did Wilson's s°llg
" Who has not marked ?" which was very hesrtilYn,e-s;
cored. The chorus of "To the mountain,„ Iv" —°a,
spiritedly given, and would no doubt have been repeats
but that the hour was wearing late. The concert was
concluded with the famous trio of " Dare the foe initluo
our land ?" by Wilson, Leffler, Machin, and chorus.
The popular songs of Amilie were given very sweet
by Miss Dolby, Miss Williams, Miss Poole, Miss isaa:j
and Messrs. Wilson and Leffler, Mr. Smytbson, an
pupil of Rooke's, accompanying them on the pia Tossing
We heard many persons in the room, while "P why
their admiration of the music of Amilie, wonder
such an opera should not be performed again—wd7
such beautiful melody should be allowed to sleep-4°lp
really is wonderful that such should be the case, for eh
be effective in the concert room, it is n3un
more so on the stage, the music being 01.6
tially dramatic. Here is a cast for Ang
which we feel convinced would reward any theatre thato
chose to bring it out. Miss Poole would makes°
charming heroine, her voice is so beautiful, so fresh,
thrilling; and then she has feeling too, which the repurfi
sentative of Amilie ought to possess. Miss Isaacs w_oe,!a _
fill the role of the sparkling-eyed laughing hostess L
tih"lo
with great naivete, though last night she sanif„,iy,
pretty song " To the vine feast" a little too s
here
but that could be easily remedied. Again, '''' saf
is there is any basso who could sing the songv,,
"My boyhood's home," and " What is the ilte is
better than Leffler gave them last night ?
the very man for the Count. Well we tamer en.
how effectively he gave the music at Covent gar",fn_
Then there is Wilson the original Jos& with hieseine;
manly tenor voice, as fresh and hale ss ever—he 8. will
last night to revel in the music of his friend.
he give up his attractive entertainments, or That
give them up, to go again on the stage ? That
who
question for the manager to settle. Mr. Thopas±2;eu,
originally led the opera of Amilie at Covent-P_Lted
conducted last night in place of Ballo, who was pre!"
f Door
by indisposition. Balfe, having been a pupil °
when
Rooke, would have been quite in his place, Lui
wielding the baton for his poor departed masterh:
the
cl3ast;on,!llys
the influenza said no. It is doubtful, however, w
rok:„
it would hove gone better than under the conduct.o.
tublio
wit fthe
of Mr. Thomas, who is thoroughly acquainted Is
music. Sir Henry Bishop conducted the first part 0
own
concert, and his own trio of " The Choug
was tremendously cheered, and encored. ster ni_s
Bennett played charmingly a beautiful cotnpositionZ
his own on the pianoforte; Chatterton a concerto on ,t,
harp, and Richardson one on the flute. miss pow?:
sang two of Mendelssohn's songs in her el
fascinating manner, and Wilson sang delis
the beautiful song of " Bright-eyed Me°6;
h and Cnr,le
Maiden," from Rooke's opera of
and also Attwood's exquisite cantata of " The Soldier:.
Dream." The audience retired delighted with the mast
cal treat they had enjoyed, enhanced, no doubt, by
c"
feeling that they had also been exercising their behevoleli
in a worthy cause. We aro given to understand tbat
subscription-list for poor Rooke's family, at the head,
14
which stands the name of our gracious Queen, is '`"
e,l,
creasing very satisfactorily. Mr. Wilson, of 47, o°7as.'
street, is treasurer to the fund, and to him contribut.o
may be forwarded.

CO URTMIRCULAR.
Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey arrived at Osborne
on Wednesday afternoon, and has relieved Lord
Alfred Paget (Clerk Marshal) in the duties of Equerry
in Waiting to the Queen.
Colonel Bouverie arrived at Osborne on Weds°.
day afternoon, and has relieved Captain the Son.
Alexander Gordon, in the duties of Equerry in
Waiting to Prince Albert.
The Queen and Prince Albert took an airing on
Wednesday afternoon ; and, yesterday,. her Majesty'
and her Royal Consort walked out early in the ground'
surrounding Osborne.
The royal children took their usual walking end
riding exercise yesterday.
Lord Alfred Paget and Captain the lion. A. il•
Gordon have left Osborne.
--------
A deputation, consisting of Sir E. AvNaghLon,
m.p., Mr. Tennent, M.P. Mr. Boyd, M.P., and gare
W. Clene, had an interview with the Chancellor
.es
the Exchequera
yesterday, yesterday, at his official residence I
Downing-street.
The Right Rev. Dr. Wiseman had all intervieW
with Sir George Grey yesterday. The Earl of Cat;
dor had also an interview yesterday with the
OP'
Hon. Baronet, at the Home-office.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England 1*(1
a general meeting yesterday.
Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening, fr°ll
the Colonial-office, for the Lord High Commissions
r.
of the lonian Islands, and also for the Governor 01
Malta.
The Judicial Cmitteepresent of thwere, the e Privy C
Al asteronnell sat
of
yesterday. The L omords
the Rolls, Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell, the Chan:
cellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, and the Judge °dl
the Admiralty Court. An appeal was cornsneece
from Bengal " Rany Srimuty Debiah v. BOP
Khoond Suta." Mr. Charles Buller and gr. Jack
son were heard by the Court.
..........—...................—.......qff,
ANOTHER DISASTROUS FAILURE IN GERX,AI4, lrii;;
We yesterday announced the failure of MM. -, f„-;aen
and Co., of Prague, for an immense amount. The,',°;;„`e
papers received yesterday convey the gloomy int°'"od
that another large mercantile firm, MM. Wittersteinico
Co., of Barmen, in Rhenish Prussia, whose PP,„0:12,
were recently suspended, in the strict sense o, tilt] ;-„0,„
has just been declared bankrupt by the Tribunal ot lit,
merce in that town. This houso, independentlY °or
very extensive commercial relations with Alnerru' or
rrieerd on a triple concern for spinning, dyeing, anu 5 ho
onwg
are,
leftwh
estimatedi ch employed
destitute.a t li,ohoeaob,oloi
cluobt i
12idt,oi0e101sa0or
sfo, pAoeirrsaiiB/0e ofitter.:o 0o
i
steinarel refining,
(152,0001.) h a ilt
A " Beef Association " has been establi'e lb
Montrose. They advertise " boiling pieces" 4it i• per
and " steaks" at sd.—Aberdeen Jo2fin!l..
__-
1
BIRTHS. K' GOOd"rt
At Upper Tooting, on tie 27th ult., Mrs. J.
of a son. td 136
On the 29th ult., at Milton House, St. John's-Wn° '
lady of the Rev. D. Anderson, ALA , of a daughter'', of J'
On the 30th ult., at Kensington-square, the lauJ
Goodeve, Esq., barrister-at-law, of a son. ,a lady °f
On the Ist inst., at John-street, Bedford-row, t''
F. K. Parkinson, Esq., of a son.
On the Ist inst., at St. John's-hill, Battersea-rige, °Ts. f .
Frith, of a son. ... ft TO6
Oa the Ist inst., at Streatham, the wife of d•"-.
Esq., of a daughter.
MARRIED. as' , I die, tlitl
On the Eth of September last, at Bellhary, E -,n bin
Hon. D. Arbuthnett, son of Viscount Arbutbuott,o,y;noids,
dineshire, N. 8., to Eliza, second daughter of T. . Jbe)
Esq., M.D.. of Wallington, Surrey.
On the 30th ult., at St. George's, Hanover-squarß'fbsolibe:
Rev. H. 11. Jones, M.A., Edward Colyer, Esq, °' f ,1'
Hall, Southfleet, Kent, to Caroline, second daughter 0
Albert, Esq., of New-cross, Hatcham, Surrey. ----•"'
DIED. ,t, o4th
On the 16th of October, at Sierra Leone, Afrlcsit in 1604
year of his age, F. Lemon, Esq., of her rdsjesty'.s
Commission Court. E•
S•
Watson, wife
we
if2e6otlfi ult., at Hockley-hill, Birminghio,
On the 29th nlitt.., aKt. Douglas,Esvq.e,rasgete,da6oged.
2,, Julia, the
wife of E. B. Washbourne, Esq. %Veymouth, ,1 wed 66.
coOnn tthhee 28th
29th
ult at
D rs.t.WnelVieirlas,o
Jersey,
rsaueyrfe4talt-in'' J''.—parsoil.
R.N., aged 62. 'aged 72.
On the 30th ult., J. Steel Esq of Upper Claptoh, ag ,hter
On the Ist inst.. at Richmond,'Surrey Caroline, tia"°'
of the late Mr. T. Hillyer, of the same pl'a,ee• Tr Whilinnre'
E_ o=l t., Fanny, the wife of C• I' '
Esq., of Lark-hall.rise, Clapham. _-- ,
--------,4iNG at,
London: Printed and Published by MURDO 1 ''l,/„ 112,
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun °face, "" t 0/
Strand, in the Precinct f the Savoy', in
Middlesex, Friday, December 3, 1847. the cote y