The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-22 00:00:00

WILSON'S FAREWELL in'EXET.R-

HALL.

Last night Mr. Wilson, in saying farewell to his
friends, was honoured by a brilliant and fashionable
audience, among whom were many very distin-
guished personages; the large hall, indeed, was com-
pletely crowded, and one could not help wondering,
in this dull season, when everybody is out of town,
where so many people came from. The remark was
very generally made, in gazing on the immense
crowd, that no other man than Wilson could have
found so many persons to rally round him at this
time. The entertainment went off most enthusiasti-
cally, and afforded much gratification to the audi-
ence, as it must have done to the vocalist himself, to
think that himself alone drew such a crowd of people
together, who applauded to the echo his every effort:
Wilson was in fine voice, and gave all his ssngs with
even more than his accustomed excellence. His organ,
more remarkable perhaps for sweetness and purity of
tone, than loudness, resounded with brilliant effect

through the vast area of the hall, and he could not
have made a more successful appearance. The pro-
grarne contained many of his finest songs, among
which were "Caller Herring" (encored) ; " Young
Lochinvari" which he renders very effectively, and
which was vociferously demanded a second time, but
which he wisely excused himself from repeating, and
introduced one more easy to himself ; " Love wakes
and weeps," a most charming song, and beautifully
given. The first part finished with the humorous
song of "John Grumlie," and the second part com-
menced with " Lord Ullin's Daughter," which was
splendidly sung, and the effect was aided not a little
by the excellent manner in which Mr. Jolley played
the accompaniment. In this part were several of his
humorous songs, such as " Hame cam our Gudeman
at E'en," " Tak yer auld cloak aboot ye," " Get up
and bar the door," &c., which were all given by him
as graphically as ever. After singing all the songs
in the programme, as well as some which were not in
it, Mr. Wilson took leave of his friends in the follow-
ing words :
" Ladies and gentlemen,—Before you depart, 111
hope you will allow me to express to you the grati-
tude feel for the kind and encouraging part which
you have taken in the proceedings of this evening.
I am about to leave for a time the land I love—l do
not mean only the land of brown heath and shaggy
wood—my own loved Scotland—but England too,
good old England, where I have met so much success
since I began to make her sons and daughters ac-
quainted with the homely strains of the 'north
countrie.' I have for several years received
very pressing invitations to visit America, where I
have many excellent friends, and I have at length
made up my mind to cross the broad Atlantic. I
have every reason to hope that, in my progress through
the United States, I shall meet many of my own
countrymen, who may not be unwilling to listen to
the songs of their fatherland in the country of their
adoption ; for there is an indescribable charm in
national songs when heard at a distance from one's
own land ; as a young officer wrote in India many
years ago, .

The sa—nis of auld Scotland are sweet 'midst the scene,
_ _

But oh, could you hear them when seas roll between,
'Tie then, and then only, the heart can divine
The charms that are hid in the sangs o' langsyne:
I beg again to thank you for your patronage of this
evening, and for that which I have enjoyed for so
many years. The encouragement I have received shall
be my guiding star in my new path, and will also form
one of the most pleasing reminiscences of my life.
To leave my country would be sad indeed were

it not lightened by the cheering hope of returning,
and singing once more among you my native songs.
Think sometimes, amidst mightier musical matters, of
the humble songs of auld Scotland, and dinna forget
him whom you have so often listened to singing
them. I must now speak the bitter word, which Ido
with a grateful and fervent heart—Farewell, farewell !"
There was now a general shout for " Scots wha
hae wi' Wallace bled," which Wilson gave magni-
ficently, and retired amidst the cheers of an audience
as thoroughly delighted as ever audience was, and
who breathed Bon voyage to Scotia's Minstrel. We
understand Mr. Wilson goes to Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Carlisle, Leeds, and some other towns in the north,
and sails by the Niagara steamer on Saturday, the
7th of October.
(From the Herald.)
Mr. Wilson, relying on his honourably-earned re-
putation, and undismayed by the unfashionable period
of the year, last night gave his farewell entertainment
at Exeter Hall, and his appearance was hailed enthu-
siastically. The undertaking was a bold one, but it
was attended with great success, for the hall was
crowded in every part, in front of the orchestra as
well as the north and south galleries, and many parties
were seated on the orchestral benches behind the
singer. We never beheld a more elegant audience in
the hall. Mr. . Wilson was in good voice, and exe-
cuted the various songs contained in the programme
with great spirit.
In the first part of the entertainment the song of
1 " WWII buy Caller Herring" was rapturously en-
i cored. Who can fail to appreciate the beauty of
Nathaniel Gow's composition ? "Young Lochinvar"
and " Love wakes and weeps" were judiciously intro-
duced, and were sweetly given. The humorous
ballad of the mishaps of " John Grumlie" closed the
first part of the entertainment, and excited great
mirth.

The second act commenced with the ballad of
" Lord Ullin's Daughter," into which Mr. Wilson
throws much dramatic effect ; indeed the air, as he

sings it, is very different from the common-place ditty
which we have heard elsewhere. By special request,
"Ye Banks and Braes" was sung; and this...was

followed by the exceedingly droll ballads of " Hame
cam our Gudeman," end the " Laird o' Cockpen,"
which would both have been encored but for an
appeal made by Mr. Wilson. " Get up and bar the
door" and " Wha wad na' fecht for Charlie" closed
the entertainment. The cheering having subsided,
Mr. Nilson delivered the farewell address, which was
followed by hearty cheers. The audience comprised
about 2,000 persons.