The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-11 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Stn,—A Correspondent, under the signature of " A
Constant Reader," suggests that each guard's carriage
should be furnished with a small, but strong steam-
boiler, to which should be attached a powerful whistle,
for the purpose of conveying signals to the engine-
driver. I think that compressed air would be a more
convenient agent than steam, as it would not require any
fire, and would likewise be more economical, and the
receiver could be easily refilled with air by means of a
small pump attached to it.—l am, Sir, &c.
LOCOMOTIVE.

London, Sept. 9, 1846.

DEATH OF A GREENWICH PENSIONER.—Died, last
week, of extreme old age, a noted dependent on Green-
wich Hospital, named " Old Hardy.' Some ten years
ago, a large water-dog, of the Russian breed, escaped
from u vessel when off Greenwich, and wandered about
that town for several days, without any one paying any
particular attention to him. During that period, a
child, while at play on the esplanade of the Royal Col-
lege, fell into the River, and would have met with a
watery grave but for the timely assistance of the stray
animal. He had been watching - there for his lost ship,
and, on observing the accident, be plunged over the
pier, seized the daft and swam with it a considerable
distance to the landing place. Such an heroic action at-
tracted the sympathy of the gallant old tars, and the
noble animal now shared the rations of many a mess.
Nor was this liberality confined to the pensioners, but
was shared in by the Governor, Sir T. Hardy, from
whose patronage and kindness to him he received the
soubriquet of " Old Hardy." The dog now found his
way into the hospital, and took up his quarters in the
main guardhouse. He never attached himself par-
ticularly to any individual, but was constantly to be
found among the men on duty for the day, to whom he
became a valuable assistant, and in whose mess he was a
I welcome mate. It is a regulation of the hospital to ex-
elude all dogs unless led by their owners, and Old Hardy
soon took upon himself this office—a duty which lie
carried out to the letter, as well as to the discomfit of
many an unfortunate cur that dared to intrude.
Among the visitors he had many patrons, and a
halfpenny or a penny bestowed upon
,him was im-
mediately carried to the tripe shop in the market,
where he would deposit the money on the counter,
and wait for the full value of it. He knew the difference
betwixt the two coins, and a farthing he would &-
fuse with scorn. Latterly he would not go to the
market alone, but when he received any gift he would
go to the guardhouse, show his money, and appear rest-
less until some one offered to accompany him. It is
supposed that he had been frequently waylaid and
robbed, his old ago preventing him from avoiding or re-
senting such an outrage, and that he adopted that mode
for security. The late warm summer was a severe trial
to " Old Hardy." During the hottest period of the day
he was often to be seen wandering along the beach, im-
mersed to his chin in the water, and occasionally in-
dulging in a swim after a piece of wood some urchin
would throw in for his amusement. " Old Hardy" was a
noble appendage to a seamen's institution, as a finer speci-
men of the curly-haired water-dog was rarely to be seen.
The old pensioners buried him in the shrubbery betwixt
the outer and inner west gates.
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH ON THE EASTERN
COUNTIFS RAlLWAY.—Although little more than five
months has transpired since the first step was taken to
erect this important medium of communication on the
above lines, upwards of 167 miles of wires has been fixed,
and 70 instruments erected at the various stations, all of
which are in active operation.
THAMES AMATEUR REGATTA.—We have been re-
quested to state that the Sphynx Cutter Club have pro-
tested and intend to appeal against the decision of the
committee who awarded the four-oared prize to the
Ariel Club on Monday last, upon the ground that the
Arid crew were disqualified from rowing in the grand
heat, not having rowed their trial heat, and that there-
fore the Hood boat WAN tutitled to the prize.

HEREFORD MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
HEREFORD, THURSDAY.—The " meeting of the three
choirs "of Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester com-
menced yesterday, under the especial patronage of her
Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and, so far as can be
judged from present appearances, the meeting promises
to be a very successful one. The object of these gather-
ings (of which the present is the 123 d anniversary) is
the affording pecuniary assistance to widows and
orphans of clergymen in the three dioceses mentioned
above ; and, aided by the diocesan clerical charities, the
proceeds of the festivals have of late yeavis averaged to
each widow 20/., and to each orphan 15/.
On the first morning of these festivals there is always
a full service at the Cathedral, in which the band and
vocalists engaged take part. The Cathedral was
well filled at an early hour by a most fashionable
congregation, and the divine service was preceded
by Spohr's sublime overture to the " Last Judg-
ment." The pieces, responses, and litany selected, were
Tallis's, the Te Deem, Handel's (the Dettingen),
and the Jubilate, Purcell's. There were also three
anthems sung in the course of the morning service, via.,
Dr. Croft's " God is gone up," Dr. Boyce's " Oh, where
shall wisdom be found?" and Dr. Hayes's "0, worship
the Lord." It would be out of place to criticise this
morning's musical performance ; suffice it, therefore, to
say, that the solo parts were entrusted to the principal
singers, and that the band and chorus were generally
efficient. The principal singers brought down here are
Miss Birch, the Misses Williams, Miss Dolby, Mr.Hobb,
Mr. Lockey, Mr. Machin, Mr. H. Phillips, and Mr. Hat-
ton. Mr. Townsend Smith (organist of Hereford cathe-
dral) is the conductor of the festival, Mr. Arnott (of
Gloucester cathedral) presiding at the organ, and Mr.
Done, (of Worcester cathedral) at the pianoforte. The
band is a most efficient one, being selected principally
from the Philharmonic Society, and the chorus from the
Ancient and Philharmonic Concerts, and the chorus of
the cathedrals of Gloucester, Worcester, Windsor, Bris-
tol, Lichfield, Cambridge, Armagh, &c. Among the
band are the well-known faces of T. Cooke, Blagrove,
Willy, Gratton Cooke, Baumann, B. Lindley, Harper,
Platt, Loder, Cramer, Moralt, Hill, Calkin, Lucas,
Howell, Flower, M. Prospere, Card, and Chipp.
The evening concert was held at the Shire-hall, which
was fitted up for the occasion. The concert commenced
at eight o'clock, with Weber's overture to Der Fries-
chutz, which was admirably rendered, the band being
well prepared for this favourite overture. Mendelssohn's
" First Walpurgisnacht" followed, and of course
formed the chief attraction of the evening, from its
novelty in these parts—distant from any railway 30
miles. One of Beethoven's quintetts made up the first
part of the concert ; and pan 2 consisted of the follow-
ing miscellaneous selection, including Overture (Guil-
liaume Tell)—Rossini ; Madrigal, " Merrily wake mu-
sic's measure" (Fair Rosaniond)—J. Barnett ; two Ger-
man songs, Miss Dolby-1, " The Chapel 2, Shep-
herd's Winter song—Hatton ; Song, Mr. Hobbs, " 0,
tuneful voice"—Haydn ; Fantasia, violoncello, Mr.
Lindley—Lindley ; Song, Miss Birch, " The Syren's
invitation"—Hatton. As usual the attendance at this,
the first evening's concert, was scanty, and this circum-
stance seemed to give a flatness to the entertainment.
This was observable in the singing of many of the solo
parts entrusted to Miss Birch, Miss Dolby, Phillips
and Lockey ; but the instrumentalists were perfect
in their execution of the duties assigned to them.
The band, under the leadership of Mr. Willy, was per-
fect in their interpretation of the overture, which is
beautifully and graphically descriptive of a storm, and of
the approach of spring. Notwithstanding the small at-
tendance at the concert, the whole of the programme
was well got through, though the instrumental portion
of it afforded the greatest treat. Beethoven's quintetto
was executed by Messrs. Hatton, "Williams, Grattan
Cooke, Platt, and Baumann, in a style which drew forth
the admiration of all the critics, as also was the case
with the overture of William Tell. The concert was
concluded early. There will be a ball after this evening
and to-morrow's concerts. To-day the county families
are flocking into the city, to hear Mozart's Requiem and
Fall of Babylon, which will be given this morning. This
evening's concert consists of a selection from Oberon,
and a miscellany from the works of various composers.
An excellent beginning, as respects the charity, was
made yesterday. The collection at the doors of the
cathedral amounted to 3/. or 4/. short of 3001., being
upwards of 1001. beyond the amount received for the
charity on the first day of the last Hereford Musical
Festival.