The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-08 00:00:00

JACKSON OF EXETER.

As well known fur his satire and ready wit as fur his
literary and musical genius, Jackson was once called
upon at a public dinner for a toast. "I have greet
pleasure," he replied with a half solemn smile, " i❑ com-
plying wilts your demand, Mr. Chairman, and beg to
give you the two first words of the third Psalm." The
chairmen—astonishment displaying itself visibly on his
face—astounded at the apparent irreverence of the idea,
sopped Jackson short by exclaiming, "Oh fie, Mr.
Jackson, do you give us the beginning of a psalm for a
toast?" "Yes, sir," responded the latter. " unless you
will suggest a better—l give you, Lord llow(e)r"

ALLEGRI.
Gregorio Allegri, a native of Rome, and from the
year 1630 attached to the Papal Chapel, both as com-
poser and vocalist, was a pupil of Nanino. Indepen-
dently of the fame he acquired for his ecclesiastical
works, he was no less celebrated for his benevolence.
Compassionate and charitable to the poor, he even ex-
tended his " righteous works" farther, for he paid daily
visits to the prisons of Rome, where he alleviated to the
utmost of his power the distresses of all whom he beheld
suffering and in want. With a heart brimful of pity for
the misfortunes of others, he is said to have on more
than one occasion stripped himself of his coat in order to
bestow it on some object of compassion. He was an ex-
cellent thereist ; indeed all of his works, which were
chiefly for the church, are indicative of his contrapuntal
skill. His most celebrated work is his Miserele, in five
parts, in G Minor. So admired was it that it was
always performed on the moat solemn occasions, and for
a long time the original manuscript was preserved in the
archives of the Pontifical Chapel with the utmost care.
Of this noble work the Padre Martini tells us, there
never were more than three copies made by authority,
one of which was for the Emperor Leopold, the second
for the King of Portugal, and the third for himself.

MOZART.
As an instance of the wonderfully retentive memory
with which Mozart was gifted, it is related of him that
when at Rome, in his early career, he went to the Sistine
Chapel to hear the celebrated iliserere by Allegri, of
which I have just written, and of which any one, under
pain of eternal excommunication, was forbidden to take
a copy. Apprised of this, Mozart's ingenuity suggested
an expedient whereby to (nnul the much desired object.
He placed himself in a retired corner of the chapel, where
he was free from interruption and could wholly give him-
self up to its accomplishment. He paid the closest atten-
tion to every bar, and when the performance was over
hurried home, his brain charged with what he had heard,
and, from memory, committed to paper the whule of this
elaborate work. At a concert some few days afterwards
Mozart sat down at the harpsichord, and accompanying
himself, sang a fragment of this Miserere. This display
of his profound knowledge of mu,ic and miraculous
faculty of retention evinced by this extraordinary cir-
cumstance attracted the attention of all Rome to the
young musician. His Holiness when he heard of it gave
directions for Mozart to be presented to him, when,
instead of reprimanding and punishing his evasion and
violation of the sacred prohibition, he liberally received
him in the most gracious manner, creating him a Che-
valier of the Order of the Golden Spur.
STEVIIEN JEFFERIES.
- - -

In my last I related an amusing instance of this
singular person's humour—the following is even a more
ridiculous proof of his extraordinary character. A singer
possessing a good voice, and who officiated at a distant
church, had been requested and had consented to sing
the solo in an anthem in Gloucester Catbedral. The
eventful day " big with the fate" of the new vocalist
arrived, and that individual took his station at the side
of jefferies in the organ-loft. The performance began,
and the latter, hearing him make some slight hesitation
and subsequently a mistake in it, instead of passing it
over silently, or endeavouring to set him right, imme-
diately rose from his seat and leaning over the gallery,
exclaimed in a loud voice, addressing the choir and con-
gregation—" He can't sing it, he can't sing it."
ROSSINI.

The reputation of the renowned gran maestro not only
as a wit but as a gastronome is almost as proverbial as
his enchanting strains are famous. In the salons of
Paris various tales are told exemplifying these cohne:_
teristics. Among them I select, a
Rossini, who is as much at ease
.witth
iathp a diminutive
peasant, made a wager one evening with
turkey
with truffles.
random.ee as with a
Italian Principe, the stake beingdase there is, sooth to
The former won the
.wager,
tbsins world Rossini is less
liable scarcely anything
iincurean dainty, he looked for-
wardliable to forget than this
for the day being
with the most impatienceliveleyp
fixed by the Prince when he should enjoy the fruits of
his wager. The bel momento not arriving, however, the
tro happened to meet his noble friend. Tapping
IP:esJamon the shoulder, he reminded him of it. Taken by
surprise, or perhaps not being overeager to pay, the
Prince began to stammer forth some excuse, saying that
knowing. Rossun's exquisite taste, he had caused exten-
sive inquiries to be made, and as the result was informed
this!, the truffles had not yet reached their desirable ma-
turity or acquired their delicious gout. Rossini laughingly
rejoined, " Ma, mio carol it is the turkeys who have set
this silly rumour afloat." The witty reply produced the
desired effect, for the composer had the satisfaction of
enjoying his favourite dish on the following day, both
himself and host pronouncing the tru t: es exquisite.
GRETRY.
It is a circumstance but little known that Louis the
Righteenth was, when Monseigneur le Dauphin, much