The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-05 00:00:00

IS ENGLAND A MUSICAL NATION ?

" Azamat Batuk," writing to the Pall Ma
Gazette, says that England has a bad reputation for
its musical qualities. He, however, has a different
opinion on the subject from that entertained by many
nations on the continent. The musical abilities of a
nation ought to be considered, he says, from three dis-
tinct points: the creative power, the appreciative facul-
ty, and the skill of catching and reproducing melodies.
With regard to the creative power of England, much
cannot be said, little being known of English music
even in this country. In understanding and repro-
ducing good music, however, England is not inferior
to other countries, and in some points positively
superior. Italian) German) or even French
music, if it is good, is sureto be listened to,
sure to be applauded, and sure to be paid
for here at a higher rate than anywhere else.
In England both choral and solo singing of the mass
of the people are of high merit, considering the little
means which they have for the development of their
abilities. Everybody may hear street boys
singing popular songs in chorus, and very„
creditably improvising their respective parts, and an
instance occurred the other day of the audience of
the " Great Vance " in St. James's Hall taking up'
the refrain of a favourite song so admirably that
even those strangers who were astonished at such a
proceeding, quickly became pacified, and by their;
attention paid tributa to natural talent.

THE FRAUDS ON LORD GEORGE
HAMILTON.

j MONDAY.

At the Central Criminal Court to-day, before the
Right. Hon. the Recorder, John Ashton and William
Godfrey were indicted on several counts for obtaining
money from Lord George Francis Hamilton by means of
false and fraudulent pretences.—Lord Hamilton said
that in 1869 he had seen the prisoner God.
frey, who came to solicit subscriptions for a
regatta held in 1869. In that year he
did not subscribe to the Tottenham rowing match. In
March last Ashton called at witness's house with sub-
scription lists for the Tottenham regatta. Witness asked
if he was authorised to collect, and the accused replied in
the affirmative. and added that the regatta would take
place when sufficient money had been obtained. Witness
gave him a guinea. Ashton said that though he did not
live at Tottenham he had plenty of time on his hands
and that was the reason he was collecting. Had subscribed,
to fifteen or sixteen regattas during the present year.—
John Holman, a policeman,. said that on the Bth of March
he was called to Lord Hamilton's house to take Ashton in
custody. Outside the house Ashton said that he did not
know that he was doing wrong, and that the man who
gave him the papers was close by. He then saw theother
prisoner, Godfrey said that another man whom he did
not know gave him the papers.—Edward Kreusher,
editor of the Tottenham and Edmonton Herald,
said for seven years he never knew of a regatta
being held. There was no committee for setting
up such regatta.—Joseph Noakes had lived at
Tottenham for eighteen years, and had never heard of a
regatta, nor a committee being formed.—Other evidence
to the same effect was given.—Mr. Tom Hughes M.P.,
Regatta
as he had never subscribed to the Tottenham
as stated on the prosecutor's subscription list.
Knew Godfrey's face. The signature on the list
produced was not in witness's handwriting.—
Mr. C. H. Mill, M.P., Lord Enfield, M.P.,
Mr. W. H. Smith, M.P., Mr. Talbot, M.P., gave evidence
tending to shew that the signatures to the list were
forgeries. The defence of the prisoners was that they had,
been duped by a third person, who said he would give them
a job, and who employed th em to collect subscriptions. —Th e
jury, without leaving their box,lound the prisoners pilty.
Mr. Straight, the counsel for the prosecution, said this
was far from an isolated case, as both the prisoners had
committed the same offence more than once previously.—,
Evidence having been given in support of this statement,
his lordship sentenced the prisoners to twelve calendar
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MOW i4lPrik9Alelit with hArd