The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-16 00:00:00

HEREFORD MUSIC MEETING.

HEREFORD, SATURDAY.—The meeting of the three
choirs of Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester, for 1846,
has now closed, and has proved successful beyond the
most .Sangnine expectations of all parties interested.
The collections for the charity for the relief of clergy-
men's widows and orphans have exceeded considerably
those of former meetings, and so well has the festival been
attended on each day—the first concert proving the only
exception—that it is expected that the receipts will fully
defray the expenses of the professionals, fittings-up,
advertising, &c. Should this turn out to be the
case it will form a novel feature in the history of these
festivals, for hitherto there has always been a deficiency
in this respect, and the stewards of the meeting have
been called upon to make up the difference out of their
private purses. Hence it is, that gentlemen have always
been very reluctant to undertake the duties and respon-
sibilities of the stewardship of these meetings ; and the
highest praise is due to the half-dozen gentlemen who
have so nobly taken upon them selves these responsibilities
on the present occasion. The stewards of the meeting just
closed are the Venerable the Archdeacon Vickers, the
Rev. R. L. Frier, D.D., Rector of Bishopstone ; the Rev.
W. Hassell, Rector of Nurch Dewchurch; Joseph Bur-
ley, jun., Esq., M.P. for Herefordshire; Robert Puls •
ford, Esq., M.P, for Hereford ; and W. Lacon Childe,
Esq., of Kinlet-hall, .`Salop. Of course it will be readily
understood, that the accounts of the festival cannot as
yet have been made up, but there is reason to believe,
that while a very considerable sum will be realised for
the Clergy Widows and Orphans' Charity, the expenses
of the meeting will be defrayed (or nearly so) by the
receipts for admission tickets to the cathedral, concert-
room, and ball-room. Yesterday, as was anticipated
would be the case, proved the crowning day. The Mes-
-s..lah is a sure card—if we may speak thus irreverently
of this great work—in the provinces. It is the first
point of attraction with the young, and the old gladly
avail themselves of every opportunity afforded them of
listening to this well-remembered oratorio. The fine
old cathedral—though at present in a sadly dilapi-
dated condition—was crowded by a fashionable and
-most attentive company. With regard to the execu-
tion of this immortal masterpiece of Handel yesterday,
-to be brief, it was as near perfection as the fallibility of
human powers would admit of. The chief parts were,
as a matter of course, allotted to the leading vocalists
and instrumentalists ; and, well acquainted as they are
with every bar of the music in the oratorio, there were
but few points at which the most fastidious critic
coull carp. Altogether the oratorio, which was given
entire, went off admirably. The choruses were not so
massive as those commonly heard at Exeter Hall, or at
the Norwich or Birmingham festivals ; but they were,
nevertheless, sufficiently full to give a grandeur and so-
lemnity to the music which never can be attainad in
any plaCe so well as in a cathedral. There were only
one or two slight hitches in the many choruses of this
oratorio ; but the " Hallelujah," " And the glory,"
For unto us," All .we, like sheep," "The Lord gave
the word," " Their sound is gone out," and the con-
cluding- chorus, " Worthy is the Lamb," were given
with most impressive grandeur and effect. The Messiah
formed the e hole of the morning's performance, and
was not concluded until four o'clock in tho afternoon.
At its cl,q,e the company proceeded to recruit them-
s• lees fOr the evening's concert, which was again well
attended. The first part of the concert consisted of
meodelssohn's music to Midsummer Night's Dream ; the
Earl of Mernington's favourite glee, •• 0 Bird of Eve,"
admirably sung by Miss Birch, Miss Dolby, Messrs.
Lockey, Hobbs,. and Phillips ; and Mozart's pianoforte
concerto in D minor, by Mr. Hatton. The second
part of the concert consisted of a miscellaneous col-
lection of music. The Zampa overture, with which it
commenced, was an easy task in the hands of the picked
men of the orchestra, who made the best of what the matter
admitted. Ths pretty madrigal, " Flora gave me,"
which followed, afforded much pleasure to the audience.
These old pieces are now becoming general favourites,
not only with the -general public, but with the musical
. portion of it, who find, in some of these scraps of out.
of date music, merits of a far more sterling character
than can be discovered in much of the trash of modern
days. Ito the air, " Regnava nel silenzio " from Lucia
de Lammermoor, Miss Birch fully developed her wonder-

ful powers, and both ast,)nished and pleased her
audience. ' Miss Dolby's ballad, "Primroses deck," was
also a favourite, a were the Misses Williams's duet, and
Miss A. Williams's song, " The home of love," with Mr.
Williams's obligate accompaniment. The concert may
be said to have been well closed by the song (Phillips)
and. chorus, " Haste thee, nymph." Phillips seemed quite
himself in this sparkling and delicious bit of Handel's
composition, and in the laughing chorus many of the
audience (as u4ual) found themselves involuntarily
joining. The virtual close of the music was the national
anthem, as it was originally composed by Dr. Bull, •
formerly organist of Hereford Cathedral. There was a
ball after this, concert, as was the case on Thursday
night. , Both were well attended, and dancing was kept
up till an early hour in the morning. Adams's band
attended.

LAYING the FOUNDATION-STONE
OF THE NEW WORKS AT MORICE TOWN,
DEVONPORT.

(From the Second Edition of the Devonport Independent.)
On Saturday the foundation-stone of the new dock-
yard works for steam-ships, at Morice-town, near
Devonport, was laid by the Earl of Auckland, the First
Lord of the Admiralty.
The site of the new steam-yard comprises 74i- acres.
Referring to the present position of the undertaking, we
may allude to the date of the commencement of opera-
tions. On the 19th of November, 1844, the first spade
was pat into _the earth, when the foundation for the
offices of the clerks, of the works was begun. There was
nut much done beyond inspecting, planning, &c., for
several weeks, but the 30th of January., 1845, the first
pile, which is technically termed the Dolphin pile, was
firmly driven. This was the commencement of the
great preliminary labour, the formation of the coffer-
dam. Nasmyth's tilt hammer was then used, and on
the sth of February the first engine was set in action.
to the astonishment of all who witnessed its powers of
performanot especially those who took the opportunity
to contrast them with those of the old monkeys. It is
not necessary to enter into a description of the inven-
tion here; the majority of our readers at least. are no
doubt well acquainted with it; snffice it to say, that
within a few mouths the great coffer-dam was effectually
completed, and the water-washed foundation quite dry,
although the dam is of 1,600 feet, and 8,000 loads of
timber have been used in its construction. The saving of
money, not less than time, occasioned by the employ-
ment of the tilt hammer, must have been extraordinary,
yet it is said that the cost has exceeded 130,000!. in all.
Over the wurks is a complete net of railways, as the
phrase is, the lines intersecting each other in all direc-
tions, there being as many as nearly thirteen miles laid.
The rapidity with which heavy weights are transported
is consequently very great, and it is exceedingly inte-
resting to notice the way in which things are managed,
especially the traversing of the piles by the traveller.
The excavations have been astonishingly rapid, the
ground being of a soft clayey nature, for the most part
of the character of a marine deposit. Up to the present
time about 200,000 cubic feet of granite, and more than
400,000 cubic feet of limestone, have been delivered at
the works.

Tickets were issued by Messrs. Baker to a very large
party of the elite of the neighbourhood, including the
whole of the authorities, to witness the ceremony, and
afterwards to partake of a dejeuner a la fourekette. These
parties, a great number of whom arrived in carriages,
were admitted at the entrance near the Canal, and they
were somewhat prepared for the scene inside the yard
by the gay decorations of William-street, Morice-town,
from most of the houses of which flags and banners of
all descriptions were exhibited.
At the extreme end the band of Royal Marines was
stationed, and continued to play several choice musical
compositions. On a railway carried along upon wooden
piers was placed the " traveller," from which the foun-
dation stone was to be lifted into its place. Flags were
floating over various parts of the works, nor was the
triumph-symbol, the fresh hale laurel, wanting to en-
hance the beauty of the tout ensemble.
Persons possessing tickets were admitted at twelve
o'clock, and at one the gates were thrown open for the
public generally, and though they had not the advantage
of seats, they could command a view of the proceedings
almost as well as their more fortunate neighbours.
About this time the scene was exceedingly animated.
The large space was filled with spectators, who were
anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty.
The fact of their Lordships lsulding at the works was
announced by the Admiralty's flag being hoisted at the
adjacent engine-house. At a quarter after one their
Lordships, who had been received. by Mr. Baker, pro-
ceeded to the site of the dock. r.The Right Hon. Earl
Auckland, the F:rst Lord of, pie: Admiralty, with Miss
West, the daughter of our galliint Port Admiral, first
entered the inclosure, folilaved by Admiral Sir John
West, K.C.8., and Lady West, Admiral Sir C. Adam,
Sir Samuel Pym, and Mrs. Drake, Captain Berkeley,
M.P., Hon. IV. Cowper, M.P., H. G. Ward, Esq., M.P.,
of
Captain Burgmann, RE, Resident Director of the
Works, Captain Eden, R.N., Private Secretary to the
First Lon!, Henry Wolley, Chief Clerk, Captain Dixon,
H.M.S. Caledonia, Commander Potbury, &c.
Precisely at 25 minutes past one the stone was lifted,
and the Right Hon. the Earl of Auckland (the coins
having been deposited) spread the cement with a silver
trowel, when the order was given to " lower." The
stone was then firmly fixed, and the Nable Earl having
used the mallet in accordance with the usual custom, and
tried the level, was satisfied that all was right, and the
stone was declared to have been laid, the band playing
" God save the Queen." A round of cheers was then given.
The ,tight Hon. the Earl of AUCKLAND then offered
a few remarks, to the following effect :—liis Lordship
said, Mr. Baker, before I conclude this ceremony, allow
me to express the high gratification that I have expe-
rienced in having had the honourable duty imposed upon
me of laying the first stone of these great works. I re-
gard it as among the greatest of the national works,
commenced within my recollection. Notwithstanding
all that has been done in former years, it was " the
one thing wanting " to render complete the great
Naval Arsenal of Devonport, and I must, as an act
of justice, say, that it is due to my "predecessors in
office, that this work has been commenced ; great as are
the naval resources of this arsenal, they were certainly
incomplete as long as the dockyard was deficient of a
basin, in which steamer., requiring repairs, could enter,
and of the factories, by the means of which steam engines
could be effectually made. I must also say that to Cap-
tain Burgmann and to Captain Brandreth, to whose
energy and skill we are indebted for the plans of
these works, our thanks are due. To you, sir,
whose talent and activity have bean exhibited in so
conspicuous a manner, in executing the duty that
has devolved on you, I have also to present our
thanks, and I would also offer the meed of praise
that is due to all who have been concerned in these
works. I might name especially, Mr. Corry, the late Se-
cretary of the Admiralty, who brought forward the plan
and to whose information lam so greatly indebted. As
respects the Lords of the Admiralty, we shall earnestly
do all in our power to promote the interest of this na-
tional undertaking, and to forward it in the best possible
way, and I trust encouragement will not in any way be
wanting to induce those whose efforts have been so pro-
ductive, to continue their exertions. It may not be un-
interesting to those present to learn that this work has
now been commenced but a little more than one year,
and yet within this short space of time the ground has
been inclosed, no less than 630,000 cubic feet of stone
have been accumulated around us, and upwards of twelve
miles of railway have been laid. In less than three years
we may hope to see one of her Majesty's steamers sailing
into this basin and laying here for the purpose of under-
going repairs. In less than three years from that time
we rnayshope to see the factories constructed for the pur-
pose of completinf; all the engines that may be requisite.
I am confident it is by such preparations as these that
we can best secure the honour of this country should
war ever unfortunately arise, and at the same time it is
by these means that we have the best guarantee for the
happy continuance of peace.

The assembled multitude then loudly cheered his
Lordship, and the band struck up " Rule Britannia."
Their Lordships and those of the spectators (about 200)
who had received invites, then proceeded to the model-
room, there to discuss
THE DEJEUNER.

This had been laid out by Mr. Moorshead in his usual
elegant style. The viands comprised everything to suit
the most varied appetites, and there was a profusion of
champagne and other choice wines. The company
having done justice to the good things which lined the
ample table,

'the Earlof AUCKLAND proposed the health of " Mr.
Baker," which having been drank,

Ladies,
Mr. BAKER said—eily Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
ldgshiinp, which power to retain
the he has this
—I beg sincerely to return you my best thanks for the
honour done me by the way in which my exertions
have been mentioned, and the manner in which the
mention of them has been received. I shall, believe
m
me
goode
endeavour to doof everything
day been pleased to express. I hope that many, I may
say all, who have done me the honour of their com-
pany to-day, will afford me the extreme pleasure of
meeting me at the completion of these works, I beg
again, my Lord, and ladies, and gentlemen, to return
you my thanks.—(Cheers.)
Their Lordships then retired.
HENRY BAKER, Esq., son of the respected con-
tractor, directed the Marine band to play the " Polka,"
and with a young lady led off the merry dance, in which
they were soon joyfully followed by several ladies and
gentlemen.
About three o'clock, the contractors, George Baker,
and George Baker, jun., Esq.,., paid a visit to the dining
booths of their workmen
(about 750), wht were at that
time seriously discussing large " blocks" of plum pud-
ding, roast beef, and other substantial fare, not forget-
ting approved drinkables. On their entrance the men
rose simultaneously and greeted their employers with
the most enthusiastic and deafening cheers, which lasted
for several minutes. _

ad,L.,Captain Eden, R.N.,
We observed among the company the Lords of the
Admiralty, viz. Earl Auckland, Sir C. Adam, Captain
Per, accompanied by
(Private Secretary to the First Lord,) Captains Bran-
sßierrkvvel.esy; a
Bran-
dreth and Borgmann, R.E. There were also present ale
Symonds,
n dt hs,e
fir. I-fo n. W. F. CPo veer,

Earl and Countess of Wilton, the Countess of Mount
Edgcumbe, Sir John, Lady' and 'Miss West, Lady
and Miss Leeke, the Mayor of Devonport and Mayoress,
. General the Hon. H. and Mrs. Murray, Sir Samuel
Pym, and Mrs. Drake, Sir Anthony, and the Misses
Buller, Mrs. and Miss Nooth, Colonel and Mrs. James,
Mr. and the Misses Norman, Dr. Butter, Captain M.
11. Dixon, Mr. Snow Harris and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Pridhatn, of Plymouth; Mr. and Mrs. Glynn, Mr. Tripe,
Mr. Woollcombe, .Colonel Aslett, R.M., Colonel Old-
field, the Officers of the Dockyard and their
families; Messrs. Edye, Henderson, Stigant, Aylward,
Spiller, Gottleib, Dent, Dr. Tobin, Lieut. Williams, the
Officers of H.M. Caledonia, Colonel Sutherland and the
officers of the sth Fusiliers, officers of the Royal Artil-
lery and Engineers, Mr. Loudon, R.N., Captain Frank-
lin, R.N., Commanders Potbury and Wriford, Mr. H.
'l': Smith, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Walker, Harbour Master,
Mr. and -the Misses Stewart, Mr. Pye, and a large as-
sembly of the rank and fashion of the- three towns,
whose names we had not an opportunity to ascertain
correctly.

THE POPE AND THE PRINCE DE

JOIN VILLE.
A letter from Rome, published in the Semaphore of
Marseilles, gives the following details on the subject of
the presents exchanged between the Pope and the Prince
de Joinville:—

" His Holiness has presented to the Prince the com-
plete collection of the engravings of the pontifical chal-
cography, representing all the ancient and modern monu-
ments of Rome. The value of this collection is estimated
at 6,000 f. To this his Holiness, has added two alabaster
vases, which had attracted the Prince's notice, and which
are formed of the magnificent alabaster sent to Gregory
XVI. by Mehemet AIL The Pope also presented to him
chaplets for the Queen and the Princesses. That for
her Majesty is of great value. The box containing these
latter objects was brought to the French embassy by his
Holiness himself. The presents made by the Prince
were not less magnificent than those given by. the Duke'
d'Aumale, on his ►isit to Rome. The family of the Poi*
(for such is the designation given to the household)
received from the Prince 1,000 Roman crowns (5,5001.)
All the Rumen personages who visited his Royal High-
ness recejaed souvenirs suitable to their social position.
The objects given by the Prince were all in gold, and
enriched with diamonds. The servants of the embassy
received 1,200 f. The presents made by the Prince are
estimated at-40,000f. He has left with his Holiness, as
with every one who has seen him, the most agreeable
impression, and he -is now the subject of general con-
versation."

Viscount Palmerston came to town at an early
hour on Saturday morning from Broadlands, Hants,
having the previous day received highly important dis-
patches from his Excellency Mr. Bulwer, at Madrid.
The Noble Viscount was busily engaged up to the even-
ing, when his Lordship returned to his seat near Romsey,
by the railway to Southampton.
THE HORRIBLE MURDER AT CHESTERFIELD.
Connected with this horrid affair an opinion prevails
that the deceased's body was cut up and carried away
in parts to the cesspool, in which his mangled remains
were discovered. This idea, however, is not supported
by the surgeon who examined them.; he clearly ascer-
tained that the first vertebrie, which connects the head
with the spine, had not the appearance of having been
separated by any violence, as it was found complete. But
it must be borne in mind that the second and third
vertebrEe are not to be found, and if the head were sepa-
rated from the body after death, those bones would be so
broken up as to be undistinguishable afterwards. The
mangled remains were interred in St. Thomas's church-
yard, Brompton, on Monday last, followed by a large
party of friends and relations, including Ellen Beres-
ford, and attended by an immense concourse of spec-
tators. The
.prisoner was removed to Derby gaol on
Friday morning, in the custody of Sharpe, an active
constable of Chesterfield ; a great number of people
congregated at the railway station to witness his de-
parture; he arrived a short time before the train, and
made a request to see Mr. R. Statham, butcher, by
whom he was employed, and with whom he conversed,
seemingly without reserve, and did not seem in the least
unnerved; when the train arrived, he was hurried
through the crowd to the carriages, upon which he ap-
peared pale and agitated. He shook hands with some
a..quaintances, and bade them good-bye. He also told
Mr. Statham that he was innocent of the murder. There
was some groaning on his proceeclig? to the carriage,
otherwise there was no strong feeling manifested by tire
congregated throng. He is a very diminutive man, being
only five feet one inch in height, stout built, active, and
having a repulsive countenance. Among the fraternity
he and his brother, in derision' of their small
stature, were known by the ,inames of " Gog"
and " Magog." A few days' ago he . addressed
a letter to Mr. R. Statham, which contained little more
than desiring his respects to his acqtiaintance and
assertions of his innocence. He did not, however, forget
his old friend " Nero." a favourite doe.. to %vh Q, be sent
ployer as being remarkm ay temperate in his naM
nits, ann
a rather timid disposition. Collis, the supposed mur-
dered man, was a good-looking person, 26 years of age,
about the middle size, dark hair, and light whiskers, and
well known and respected in the neighbourhood. Ellen
Beresford, the young woman to whom he was betrothed,
is a pretty and respectable-looking young woman, and
her case has excited much sympathy, as it is stated to
have been the intention of Collis to marry her had he
live d. A number of benevolent individuals, feeling that
she was deprived of a husband, and her child of a father,
gy this tragical occurrence, have laudably determined to
raise a subscription in her behalf, and there is no doubt
but their praiseworthy object will meet with the success
which its merits,—Derbyshire Courier.
THREE LIVES LOST ON THE RIVER.—On Sunday
evening two accidents happened in Erith reach, near
the Half-way House, and we regret to add that one of
them involved the loss of three lives. A pleasure sailing
boat, called the Miriam, went down the river to Erith,
on a pleasure excursion ; she was managed by Joseph
Leonard, a waterman of Blackwall, and brother of one
of the Thames police inspectors, and another man con-
versant with the management of pleasure yachts. There
were three gentlemen on board, who names have not
transpired. The wind freshened in the evening, and
while the boast was coming up the reach one of the men
went aloft to reef the gaff-topsail, and while he was
doing so a squall of wind caught the sail, and the top
weight of the man above caused the frail barque to cap-
size, and the whole party were immersed in the water.
Two of the party almost immediately disappeared, and
were drowned ; Leonard clung to the hatches and other
floating gear for some time, but ultimately sunk before
assistance could reach him, and also met a watery grave.
The other waterman, and one of the gentlemen, said to
be owner of the boat, were saved by Margatroyed, a
waterman and sailors' lodging-house keeper, who was
rowing his boat up the reach at the time, and who also
recovered some of the materials of the pleasure boat.
The unfortunate occurrence has created a great sensa-
tion among the owners of sailing yachts and Pleasure
boats on the river. It is reported that the Miriam had
actually been sailing a match with another pleasure boat
and came off the winner on Sunday, and having parted
with her opponent, Leonard, who had been down the
river with another gentleman's pleasure boat, and re-
mained ashore at Erith till she was gone, requested a
" cast up" in the Miriam, which was granted. None of
the bodies have been recovered. Soon afterwards
another accident occurred in the same reach ; a quay
skiff of large dimensions, and containing seven persons,
which had been down on a pleasure trip, was capsized in
a squall ; six of the party clung to the boat, while R.
Hamilton, a waterman, swam towards a sailing barge at
anchor, and made known the danger of his companions ;
the bargemen immediately put off in their boat, and saved
the whole of the party, who, after drying themselves on
board the sailing barge, were sent up, to London in a
steamer.

DREADFUL AND FATAL ACCIDENTIAT THE WHITE..
EARN COLLIERY, NEAR NEWCASTLE.—A frightful acci-
dent occurred at this colliery, yesterday morning, to
Joseph Lovatt, an old man, sixty-five years of age. It
appears that he was employed to attend to the engine
fire from six o'clock at night till six in the morning, and
on the morning in question he was seen about half-past
three o'clock sitting in the engine-house, within a yard
of the fly-wheel. On Mr. Platt and two or three of his
men going to work at half-past five, they found the en-
gine stopped, and on proceeding into the engine-house
deceased was discovered forced between the wall and the
fly-wheel, a space of about four inches, hanging head
downwards, and dreadfully crushed and mutilated. It is
supposed that the deceased had fallen asleep, and neg-
lected the fire, and that on awakening and finding the
engine almost stopped, he got up in a hurry and, sturob-
liug, fell on the wheel, which appeared to have carried
him about three parts round, and must have killed him
instantly. When Mr. Platt arrived, at half-past five,
the fire was quite out. Deceased was removed to the
house of his son-in-law, in Pepper-street, Newcastle.
An inquest will ba held on the body to-day.—Stafford-
shire Mercury of Saturday.
COLLISION ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.--
BRENTWOOD, MONDAY EVENING.—An accident of a most
serious and alarming character occurred near this station
this morning, which it is feared will terminate fatally to
one if not to two individuals. At seven o'clock this
morning an excursion train, consisting of thirty car-
riages and two engines, Mr. Taylor, chief of the locomo-
tive department of the Eastern Union Railway, being
upon one of them, started from Ipswich. They reached
the Brentwood station in safety, and atter stopping for
a few minutes, proceeded on towards London at a slow'
pace. On reaching the Brentwood incline, the gradient
of which is 1 in 90, the driver, on account of the increased
weight of the train, shut off the steam, but had got but a
short distance down it, when the train came in collision
with a truck left on the line. The engine-driver and
stoker jumped off the engine, by which they were se-
riously injured. The passengers were much shaken by
the collision. Information of the accident was for-
warded to the terminus at Shorediteh, and several of the
principal officials of the Company proceeded in the after-
noon to the spot, and after a most minute investigation,
they felt it their duty to give the parties who left the
truck upon the line into custody.
A policeman has been dismissed from the Bir-
mingham force because he refused to go down a lane
which was on his beat, where he had seen his uncle's
ghost—Birmingham Gazette.