The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-29 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Mr. Bunn's benefit took place here on Monday, and, as
might have been expected, the house was crammed. Not a
nook or corner was unoccupied. The opera was lEaritana,
and at the fall of the curtain there were loud calls for
Mr. Bunn, who on his appearance was loudly cheered. In
returning thanks to the audience; he observed that the ho-
nour conferred upon him was entirely unanticipated—
that upon one occasion his stage-manager had applied
to him as to what he should say to the audience upon
his valedictory address of the season. His reply was,
to advert to nothing that had passed, but to dilate on
the future. He should on this occasion follow his own
advice. lle had great pleasure in stating that he had en-
gaged the fifty Viennoise children, who would slam tly appear,
and had also succeeded in effecting an engagement with that
popular favourite, Carlotta Grisi. Mr. Bunn then bowed his
gratitude. Then followed a concert, in which Madame
Thillon, and all the popular artistes of the day took part, and
then a ballet, combining the whole choregraphic strength of
the theatre.

VOCAL CONCERTS, HANOVER-

SQUARE ROOMS.

The first of these delightful concerts took place here last
evening under the patronage of the Duchess of Kent, the
Duke of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch,
and the Duchess of Sutherland. The vocal performers
were, Miss Birch, Miss Ley, and Miss Maria B. Hawes, Mr.
Hobbs, Mr. Lockey, and Mr. H. Phillips, who were supported
by a very efficient chorus. Mr. TuHe, the organist of West-
minster Abbey, presided at the organ and piano-forte. The
only other instrumental performance was Mr. Blagrove on
the violin. The following was the programme :
PART I.—National Anthem, " God Save the Queen."
Madrigal. " To love I wake," principal singers and chorus—
Webbe. Song, "Ah compir," Miss Birch; Violin Obligato,
Mr. Blagrove—Guglielmi. Glee, " With sighs, sweet rose,"
Miss Maria B. Hawes, Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Lockey, and Mr. H.
Phillips—Callcott. Ballad, " When forced from dear Hebe,"
Mr. H. Phillips—Dr. Arne. Music in Macbeth, all the
principals and chorus.
PART "Oh ! Bird of eve," Miss Birch, Miss
Maria B. Hawes, Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Lockey, and Mr. H. Phil-
lips—Earl of Mornington. Song, " I attempt from love's
sickness to fly," Mr. Hobbs—Purcell. Duet, " Fraught with
melodies," Miss Birch and Miss Maria B. Hawes, and chorus
—Weber. New Fantasia, violin, Mr. Blagrove—Kalliwoda.
Air, " See Nature doth her stores unfold," Miss Maria B.
Hawes—Weber. Glee, " The Midges," Miss Birch, Miss
Maria B. Hawes, Mr. Hobbs, and Mr. H. Phillips—W.
Knyvett. Chorus, "Then round the starry throne"—Han-
del. Glee, "Thy voice, 0 Harmony," principal singers and
chorus—Webbe.

Miss Birch gave G,iglielmi's beautiful air with exquisite
taste, and Callcott's glee too, was very delightfully given. H.
Phillips, who was in excellent voice, sung " When forced
from dear Hebe," as he always does sing, admirably; and
then came the gem of the night, Matthew Lock's magnificent
Macbqh music, with H. Phillipps as first witch and Hecate,
and Miss Birch as second witch. The solo, " Let's have a
dance upon the heath," was beautifully given by Miss Ley,
who seemed thoroughly to enter into the spirit of this, the
finest of our old English composers. Too much praise
cannot be given to Mr. Turle for the manner in which he
accompanied this music on the organ, it was very fine.
The Earl of Mornington's charming glee was beauti-
fully given, and was honoured with an encore ; as
was Weber's exquisite ai " See nature doth her stores un-
fold," in which the rich tones of Miss Maria Hawes's fine
contr'alto voice told admirably. The concert was well at-
tended ; so well, that we think we may venture to prophecy
that this attempt at reviving our old classical chamber
music will be pre-eminently successful. We trust it may,
and we hope the directors of these vocal concerts will go on
and prosper. Often have we heard it said, there is no
English school of music. Never was any assertion less
founded in fact, There was an English school of music,
witness Wilbye and his contemporary madrigal writers,
and Matthew Locke and Purcell, long before the Ger•
man or the French were dreamed of : but we have
been careless of the fame transmitted to us by our
ancestors. We have been content to hide our light under a
bushel, and have suffered ourselves to be robbed of that
credit which is by right our own. The fact is, no nation is
so rich in chamber music as our own. The directors of these
Concerts are endeavouring to bring to light these hidden
musical treasures. They deserve success, and we ardently
hope they will obtain it.

WILSON'S SCOTTISH ENTER-
TAINMENTS - MUSICAL HALL, STORE-

STREET.

Mr. Wilson gave bis first Entertainment for the season
on Monday, at the Musical Hall, Store-street. Judging
from the state of the room, it would appear that music, like
jealousy,
4' Grows from the meat it feeds on,"

for never has the Store-street Musical Hall been more
crowded than it was that evening. In fact, Wilson's powers
of attraction seem to go on in geometrical progression. This
is his sixth year, and if he goes on as he has gone on hitherto,
he
contnust nextaiinhisaud year
audience
have
for,truth large
the
to
o E
say,
althoughxeter Hall
the
elatteo
corners on Monday were compelled to stand, the early corners
were inconveniently crowded. The entertainment was a
which before the end of the season will be old favourites.
wmeerlaenagiel, cthonesistng
better
i off various songs, oollddrg
annds,
ownheioc, like
rhtwonoel win
e,
were wonese:
Among the modern antiques which are more particularly de-
serving of notice, is the revived version of " Over the water to
Charlie," which, as a musical composition, is much superior
to the more popular song, and which, as the original
of the oil Jacobite song, will drive Young England
(called young, we presume, ut lucus a non lucendo), mad.
Then we had two exquisite songs by Robert Nicoll, the
modern Burns, whom we hail as a brother of the Press, seeing
that he was editor of the Leeds Times. " Bonnie Bessie
Lee," and " The Married Man's Lament," stamp Robert
Nicoll as a true poet, and as a true poet he was fond of a
joke, as the latter song testifies. Where is the true poet
who is not ? Byron wrote " Bepp oemw'
s'saohrina.li
gcnlßhv,daiaw:l:bsa'aoTo`nsuDuht
ntieowneneFiw: J,lii,otuowa nue
Flowers
Cowper wrote " Jiihn Gilpin ;" Southey wrote the " Devil's
auld atehnned-
Walk," and Homer wrote " The Battles of the Frogs
Mice." Then we had the glorious "Pibroch o' Donald
titled
tAI theieund' " la' aosun.
Teddps
penned,
firs.
an, Cnudit
dnet hkds bea
snunwcrgcanh,:o:ms
by, a,
ye
ns
aoj beautifulbnnaydgm ,
uncle Wattie, and auld auntie Mattie," one of
the most exquisite specimens of true pastoral poetry that
Awant'ilashuonaldnifoaer;htaitveoilklnsgahttie
arc,aw "Ainr
ei
wl
ipneagtthlotyoe
travelAtuol d
t unclehaefo
ohWtu
human
ever wa
we
rns
most exquisite taste and feeling. Blessing on ye
all the way for London, to your
introduced
jdyuec
ebdyu thes to
you.hand.
ButYe
an race, and much obliged
Mr. Wilson did not confine his illustrations of married life to
the sweets. He gave us. with infinite humour, the lament
of a married man, who, in pitiful tones, announces—
" My auld mither died in the year aughty-nine,
An' I ne'r ha'e had peace in the world sinsyne."
And also the far-famed "Get up and bar the door." Wilson
was never in better voice than he was on Monday.lllHe was
enthusiastically cheered throughout, and announced that he
should give an entertainment every night during the season,
which announcement was hailed with loud applause.

THE ART-UNION OF LONDON.
The annual general meeting of the Association was held
yesterday, in the Theatre Royal Drury-lane, for the purpose
of receiving the report of the committee, and distributing the
prizes.
The theatre was crowded, a great proportion of the au-
dience being ladies.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was expected
to have taken the chair at twelve o'clock, but he not
arriving at half-past twelve, Lord Monteagle was requested
to preside.
The CHAIRMAN said—Ladies and gentlemen, before the busi-
ness of the day commences, I beg to explain to you that I
yesterday had the honour of seeing His Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge, and he expressed on that occasion, as
he always does, his deep interest in the prosperity of the
to Art-
Union of London, and his anxious desire to contributeitsi
success in every way in his powor. He also expressedt tome
s
intention ofpresiding on this occasion, and persuadedlamasprevented
it is only some circumstance of importance that
h
his Royal Highness from honouring us with his presence. I
fos
ohof
rrametl
il
wn,
the
cei
Gdan3:o,eyehDti
h ve
his
. absence,
We
Hon
eyecpnet
hl commence
Hrro:ecibrcghyyuhapstncyeee mayrcst
trshief,
sety,aibtrllehy,
chair,
aat
tre thenwe h
rr
termed
ds butrae
tvalhde
et
examined
ruxhesaea
m thatil
ned business
followingbt
hee-
c certificate
now produced, amounting to 16,171, and have found
the names inscribed thereon to correspond with the names
entered on the subscription book.
" EDWARD HAWKINS.
" JN. NOBLE.
" CHARLES J. DIMOND.

" We have also severally examined 279 tickets, represent-
ing the prizes to be drawn for, as mentioned in the commit-
tee's report.
" April 27, 1846."
Mr. GODWIN also announced that Messrs. Story and Perrot
had been deputed to act as scrutineers; and that Misses
Weigall and Ward had kindly consented to draw the prizes.
Mr. Gordon then read the report, from which we make the
following extracts :—" At nine successive general meetings
of the subscribers, the committee have had the gratification
of announcing the continued success of the Art-Union of
London, in spite of occasional difficulties and uncalled• for
interference. From the time of its establishment in 1837,
when the amount subscribed was 489/, every annual state-
ment has shown an increase almost unexampled, and at the
last meeting the subscription was no less than 15,4401.
On this, the tenth anniversary, they have again the pleasure
to report a similar advance, the total amount subscribed
being 16,500/., or 1,100/. more than it was in 1845.—(Con-
tinned cheering.) The report then went on to state that the
number of local secretaries bad increased to 379, and that
among the places where the Society was represented abroad,
was included New York, Mexico, Hobart Town, Bombay,
Monte Video, New Brunswick, parts of Germany, and