The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-01 00:00:00

EXCLUSION OF STRANGERS.

The Daily News thinks that Mr. Henley's remarks on
Monday evening upon the exclusion of strangers, that
is to say, of reporters, from the gallery of the House
of Commons, were marked by the manly good sense
which usually characterises his speech-es ; and we
may, perhaps, be permitted, with the sincerest
respect and deference, to express so little regret that they
did not receive a more congenial reply from the Prime
Minister. For the present Mr. Gladstone declines
to do anything. The Government have no proposal
to make with. respect to the exclusion of reporters,
and they see no necessity for referring the sub-
ject to s. committee. We regret that Mr. Gladstone
should have taken this attitude. We regret still more the
ground on which he justifies it. Mr. Gladstone has titles
so many and so indisputable to the respect, confidence,
and gratitude of the Liberal party and the country, that
his errors are more to be deplored, and require to be more
earnestly combatted, than those of inferior men.

MANSION HOUSE BANQUET TO HER
MAJESTY'S JUDGES.
Last evening the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor and the
Lady Mayoress entertained Her Majesty's judges at a
grand banquet in the Egyptian Hall, Mansion House.
The Lord Mayor proposed " The Army, Navy, and
Volunteers," which was responded to by General Penne-
father., Admiral Sir IL Denham, and Colonel Warde re-
spectively.
The Lord Mayor, in proposing the toast of " Her Ma-
jesty's Judges," said that the annual banquet to the judges
was a reflection of the honour which the commercial spirit
paid to the judicial administration of the law in this
country. Every Englishman felt that the administration
of justice in this country was a thing to be proud of.
(Hear, hear, and cheers.) There were few amongst them
who could estimate the labour and painstaking of the
honest judge. Whilst the judges were anxious that the law
should be administered according to its letter, they were
also desirous that it should not be administered contrary
to the true spirit in which it was framed. Such anxiety
in dealing out justice had maintained the high reputation
which the judicial bench enjoyed. (Cheers.)
The toast was warmly received.
Lord Chief Justice Bovill acknowledged the compli-
ment, and said that the Lord Mayor had not inadequately
described the anxious duties which the judges had to per-
form, and the responsibility which rested upon them.
The law of the country was administered with sound rea-
son, and in a manner which he hoped met with the ap-
probation of the country. (Cheers.)
The Lord Mayor proposed " The Equity Judges," and
hoped that before long they would have a new toast
added to their list, viz., the fusion of law and equity.
(Hear, hear.)
Vice-Chancellor Malins, in responding, said that there
was as_ much distinction between law and equity as be-
tween the army and navy, and he trusted that it would
be long before their distinctive features were abandoned.
(Hear, hear.)
Lord Chief Justice Bovill proposed " The Health of
the Lord Mayor" in complimentary terms, and referred
in a genial manner to the fact that the rival governing
powers of the metropolis were present in his lordship and
the chairman of the Board of Works.
The toast was cordially drunk.
The Lord Mayor, in reply, said that it was a mistake to sup-
pose that there was any antagonism between the Board of
Works and the city authorities. The only question was, that
if two men rode upon the same horse one must ride in front and
the other behind. (Laughter.) It was absurd to compare an
old thoroughbred racehorse like the Corporation of London
with such a young cob as the Board of Works. (Loud
laughter.) He thought that the House of Commons
would not ruthlessly interfere with a corporation which
had stood the test of 1,100 years.
The other toasts were " The House of Commons," re-
sponded to by the Hon. G. Denman, Q.C. ; " The
Ladies," &c.

ST, JAMES'S HALL—MR. KUHE'S CONCERT.
Mr. Kuhe's grand annual concert,- Which is invariably re-
garded as one of the great events of the musical season,
took place on Monday afternoon, and attracted a large bril-
liant, and fashionable audience. The programme was a most
extraordinary one, as it embraced the names of Mdlle
Christine Nilsson, Madame Monbelli, Mdlle. Carole, Madame
Florence Lancia, Mdlle. Liebhart, Miss Edith Wynn,
Madame Trebelli-Bettini, Madame Lemmens-Sherrington,
Madame Patey, Madame Sinico, Signors Mongini, Foli,
Castelli, Waldeck, Bettini, Mr. Santley, Vernon Rigby, and
other eminent artistes. It would be an impossibility to par-
ticularise every piece sung, although each deserved the
highest commendation ; so we must content ourselves by
singling out some that call for special notice;
and first in order, as in talent, amongst the vocalists, we
must place the pieces rendered by Mdlle. Nilsson. in
the first part., although each of the preceding artistes had
gained very great applause, the honour of an encore was
positively forced upon this accomplished artiste, for Verdi's
aria from " Traviata " "Ah forse d lui, and certainly
nothing could have been more perfect. The bpplauso was
universal and so enthusiastic that it only remained for
Mdlle. Nilisson to app ar again, but in place of giving the
aria she substituted for it one of her delicious native melodies
which positively enchanted the entire audience. Mdme.
and Sig. Bettini we must next compliment for the duet, " Si
la stenchezza," from " Trovatore ;" and here, again, we can
only say the combined efforts of these two highly
accomplished musicians were really so fine that
nothing better could be desired. Aldine. Montelli
gave " Come per me sereno " in the most ar-
istic manner, and Mdlle. Natalie Carole. sang a German
soffg, " Berglied,".with groat sweetness. Mdtne. Sherring-
ton gave the " Ode to St. Cecilia" with the taste of a true
artiste, and Signor Foli a new song by Reyloff, "Fireside
Dreams," which is destined certainly to become a great
favourite. "The Spinning Wheel," quartette, from "Martha,"
by Mdmes. Nilsson, Trebelli-Bettini, Signor Bettiui, and Mr.
Santley, was superbly rendered, and Miss. Edith Wynn
must be complimented for a song by Baudegger, " Only for
One." The trio, from "Guillaume Tell," by Signors Mongini,
Foli, and Mr. Sautley called for great applause, and Signor
Verger gave Mattel's Romance, "Non e ver," with taste
and effect. Mr. Santley's solo was a hew song by
Molloy, " Tho Wandering Jew," and from the applause with
which it was received it will frequently bo heard in the
concert room Amongst the instrumental performances
Signor Piatti's solo for the violoncello was much enjoyed,
as also was the duo for violoncello and pianoforte, which he
played with Mr. Kuhe. Mr. Kith° performed on the piano
" Will o' th ) Wisp" and "Etude de Concert," both his own
compositions, and itis aim 3stneed less to say that the splendid
manager in which each was executed elicited 1 la) in. st raptu-
rous applause. The first piece was a succession of the most,
brilliant and snarklit,g harmony, hut the latter was a perfect
triumph of artistic skill, and henceforth it will be placed high
amongst the many compositions which this accomplished
musician has contributed to the pianoforte. We must com-
press our further remarks almost into ono sentence, awl
therefore we can only say the concert was (?f the highest
order from heginning to end, and g'ave the most unbounded
pleasure to one of the largest anti aces that has yet a s,ezn-
bled in the St. James's Halt.
The conductors were Mr. Benedict, Signor Arditti, W.
Ganz, Pinsuti, and Randegger.