The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-27 00:00:00

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.

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EXETER HALL.
On Friday a performance of sacred music, consisting of
a cantata by Mr. G. Perry, the 114th Psalm by Mendelssohn,
and Haydn's Service No. 2, was given by the above society,
aided by a powerful chorus, and by the following professionals,
viz., Miss Dolby, Miss Birch. Mr. Phillips, Mr. Lockey, and
Mr. Leffler. The cantata, " Belshazzar's Feast," was the
principal feature of the evening's entertainment, being the
composition of Mr. Perry, who conducted in person. On his
entrance and at the conclusion of the oratorio he
was much applauded. We have often had occasion
to notice the talent of this gentleman; to him
the public are indebted for the delightful accom-
paniments to the works of Handel, &c. ; these
bear testimony to his being a perfect master of the science.
The cantata is a ,old and effective composition, abounding
with many fine pas ages. The overture wns a fine effort, and
elicited much applause. Several beautiful horn movements
are judiciously introduced, particularly in the air "Jerusa-
lem's walls are forsaken," sung by Lallier. Miss Dolby had
a . charming recit. and air, "Devoted to thee," which
elicited great applause, and was encored Mr. Phillips
was in excellent voice, and gave the recit. " Thy
gifts be to thyself" in a most impressive manner.
An air also by Leffler, "To gilded shadows," had a
violoncello accompaniment, which Mr. Lindley per-
formed in his usual able manner. The concluding chorus,
"Hear, 0 ye nati,,ns," is a magnificent one, but the Amen
was too tedious and injured the effect which it would other•
wise have produced. The whole is capable of improvement;
and although the choruses were, in most instances, ad-
mirably given, and with remarkable precision, yet it bore
evidence of the lack of sufficient practice. Men-
delssohn's 114th Psalm, " When Israel out of Egypt
came," commenced the second part. This was the
first time of its performance in London, and although
exceedingly difficult, was very well performed. Had
it been given with eight voices, for which it is set, it
would have been more pleasing; with the full chorus of the
society it was much too noisy. The Service, which concluded
the evening's performance is a truly delightful one. In our
were those masses more generally known and
would become as. popular as the
oratorios. Haydn's oratorio, The Creation is announced for
performance on Friday next.
opinion,
oftener
performed, they

• -
AMERICAN PROVISIONS.--The arrivals of flour and
various other descriptions of provisions at the ports of London and
Liverpool, the latter especially, from the United States of America,
within he past two or three days, have been of so extensive and im-
portant a nature as to be worthy of particulat notice. The arrivals
have been from New York, Baltimore, and New Orleans in partieular.
FRE ARMY.—TOP Ist dirision of the 10th Hussars,
leave Gravesend for India to-day, The 2d division will leave the
same place on the Ist and 2d of the ensuing month; and the third
and last wlll take their departure on the 6th of May.
FIRE AT BAYSWATER. —On Friday morning, about
ten o'clock, a fire was discovered in the upper part of a young
ladies' boarding establishment, belonging to the Misses Mathews,
situate No. 16, Westbourne-street, in the rear of Hyde Park-gar-
dens. Within a few minutes of the alarm being given, the Pad-
dington parish engine arrived on the spot, and was soon got Into
operation, but by this One the fire had got such a firm hold of the
roof, that it was considered impassible to save the building; shortly
afterwards, however, fresh engines arrived, which were got to
work, and aided by a pltntiful supply of water, in the course of an
hour and a half the lower part of the building was saved, but the
whole of the upper floor and roof is totally consumed. The fire was
found to have orignated from the bond timber which supported the
roof, and which carne into the kitchen chimney of the adjoining
house. The loss is estimated at upwards of 8001.
NOVEL BIPORTATION.—Upwards of 7,000 tons of
white gravel have been shipped from this city to London since the
15itdh of September last. It is taken from the beach at Long Island,
used to beautify the parks and gardens of Lendon.—New York
Paper.

Ax IMMENSE SERPENT.—Yesterday's Bhaskur gives
the following regarding an enormous serpent captured at Seebpore,
across the water :—"A serpent: was lying w:th.n a jungle, near the
hohse of Baboo Ramruttun lloldar, when a jackal, believing it dead,
made an attack on the body of the monster, whereupon the latter
turned round upon the jackal, and in a short white devoured half of
it, laJ "Y. Tins was accictentatly wi.ncssed by a min who happened
to bt on a tree hard by, and who on that ra1:1:al act;- an:t•collected a
number of s.il'agers,- by Whom the serpent was captured. The
monster measured 14 cubits in length, and two in eirctunference."--