The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-11 00:00:00

EXETER HALL.

Handel's Judas Illaccabceus was performed last
evening, under the direction of Mr. Iluflab. Great
interest was excited by the announcement that Mr.
Reeves was to sustain the tenor part, and the hall was
densely crowded in every part. Before the perform-
ance began a handbill was circulated, stating that Mr.
Reeves was labouring under severe indisposition, but
that he would, nevertheless, attempt to sing. Ile
sang accordingly, and exerted himself in a manner
which called forth the warmest expressions of admi-
ration and pleasure. lie showed at once that he
knew how to sing llandel's music, and that his Italian
education, while it gave a grace and smoothness to
his canlilena, which English singers rarely attain,
did not derogate from the plain simplicity of style
which this music demands. He did not introduce an
embellishment, or even an inflexion, which the se-
verest llandelian could find fault with, while he
expressed, with force and beauty, every shade of the
composer's meaning. Mr. Reeves has it in his power
to succeed Braham as the greatest English singer;
and, in doing so, he must also make himself, as a
singer, the greatest English speaker. The sublime
choruses with which this oratorio abounds were ad-
mirably executed. In the grandest and most difficult
of them, " 0 Father, whose almighty power," and
" hear us, 0 Lord," the complicated points of the
harmony were taken up with as much precision as if
each part were one gigantic voice ; and every shade
and gradation of tone was given with the delicacy
, which can he attained only by excellent discipline.
It is an advantage attending Mr. Hullah's perform-
ances that the choristers are not compelled to scream
and bellow at the utmost pitch of their voices, in
order to be heard amid a storm of brazen sounds from
the orchestra. his instrumental band supports his
voices without overpowering them.

HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO THE HAYMARKET
THEATRE.—Her Majesty, accompanied by his Royal
highness Prince Albert, and his Majesty the King
of the Belgians, and attended by a numerous suite,
honoured the Haymarket Theatre with her presence
on Wednesday evening, the first night after her return
to town. The play was the Wife's Secret, and her
Majesty and the Royal party seemed highly gratified
with the exquisite acting of Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Kean in this beautiful drama. Those accomplished
artistes were enthusiastically applauded throughout
the evening, and the applause not unfrequently !pro-
ceeded from the royal box—a compliment which was
most richly deserved. After the performance, her
Majesty expressed her very great delight with the
play and the acting.
ELECTION FOR THE NORTHERN DIVISION OF
SHROPSHIRE.—The sheriff has appointed Wednesday
next, the 16th inst., for the election of a Member for
that division of the county, vacant by Viscount Clive's
succession to the peerage. Mr J. W. Dod, the Con-
servative candidate, is expected to be elected without
opposition, no other candidate having presented himself.
His Excellency Sir Stratford Canning arrived in
London on' Wednesday from Paris and Switzerland.
His B icellency had a protracted interview with Viscount
Palmerston immediately after his arrival from the French
capital. We understand Sir Stratford will remain about
a fortnight in town before he departs for Constantinople
to resume his diplomatic duties as Ambassador at the
court of the Sultan.
ALARMING FIRE AT WALIIAM. GREEN. --- Last
evening, between six and seven o'clock, information was
received at the London engine stations of a fire having
broken out at Walham- green, brigadeFulliatnreTstherefeEn
'FiEngland
engines, with that belonging to t
h i
occurredt he r , wgh e
or
ne
Company, were immediately dispatched
the fireman found that the outbreak
3thrro.omihus proprietor. It
thebro premises
broke
nnt Bowers, the landlord
from
a spark flying from a lighted
h e
a di
of
the George Inn,
in et
the eMsrt; bGI ionwge. or('
candle amongst the hay and straw in the lofts. Owing
to the highly combustible nature of the stock, it was at
one time feared that the whole range of premises would
have been dts.royed. The inmates and neighbours at
first got the whole of the valuable horses under the lofts,
and they then set to work, and by great perseverance
succeeded in confining the flames to that portion of the
property in which they commenced.
FIRE IN HUNGERFORD ARCADIL—Last night,
between seven and eight o'clock, a fire, that caused con-
siderable alarm, bet fortunately did no considerable
damage, broke out upon the premises of Messrs. Costo
and Ellsay, newsvenders, situate in Hungerford Arcade.
It was caused by some defect in the gas pipe, which
allowed the vapour to escape. The stock in trade was
severely damaged before the fire could be extinguished.
The flames %sere confined entirely to the premises in
which they commenced.
CALEDONIAN lti AILIVAy.— We understand that al-
though the mail trains on the Caledonian commence to
run at rates varying from sixteen to seventeen or
eighteen hours betwixt Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Lon-
don; yet, on and after Ist of March express trains will
run betwixt London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, in thin.
teen hours; botwixt'Liverpool and Manchester, and Edin
burgh and Glasgo, in eight hours; and between Bir
minghtnn, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, in nine and a hal
Inurbe—Caledonian Mercury.