The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-24 00:00:00

THE SUM LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 24, 1856.

doubtless think ihey have the best claims to him.
If he is there the Londoners can forego the plea-
sure of his being here, provided the effects of
military music on his own idiosyncrasy are made
the subject of careful experiment. Dr. JOHNSON
pronounced a rather decided opinion on the
prudery of a certain bishop who vetoed the works
of Purou, and it would certainly be satisfactory
to ascertain whether our great moralist was right.
One thing in connection with the meetings which
have been held during the week is worthy of
notice, and that's, no desire has been expressed to
interfere with public worship or Sunday rest.
All that has been asked has been compatible with
Revelation, a the best interests of mankind. A.
similar libert in fact, to that which the SAVIOUR
of the world asserted, and for ever countenanced,
when he healed the sick on the Jewish Sabbath,
to the infinite annoyance of the Exeter Hallites
of his day. This is remarkable, and we trust
will arrest the attention of all thinking men, who;
ti
we doubt nob, will be led to i ire—" Can it
be wise to exasperate so well-di osed a popula-
tion by making religion an ex.se for tyranny
over them?" While dealing with the results of
one illumination, certainly not from above, we
may be permitted to refer to another illumination,
assuredly terrestrial, if not from below—we mean
the illumination on All-British Fools' Day, May
29th. On referring to our Parliamentary report,
it will be seen that the Hon. Member for Fins-
bury has obtained an assurance from Sir GEORGE
GREY that the owners of private houses have been
left at perfect liberty to illuminate or not, as they
think proper, and may count on every protection
for person and property from the police. Of
course this will settle the matter with the timid
who were disposed to illuminate from fear against
their convictions. It will be well, however, to
keep good witch at home on that night, lest on
returning from the fireworks, chilled and wearied,
the house be found gutted of its valuables by
thieves, if not by fire. Rifled bureaus and plate
chests are worse than broken windows.

We had just finished the above remarks when
the result of three several deputations to Lord
PALMERSTON-viz., front Westminster, St. Pan-
cras, and the Eastern districts—praying for the
restoration of the bands, reached us. His Lord-
ship can hold out no hope of their being restored.
Just so—the People must provide their own
b tnds, his Lordship even. against it notwithstand-
ing ! TEey will have music cr we are mistaken.

MR. W. HOLIIE'S PI.4NOIPUBTE
CONCERTS.

o--~

The second concert of this series took place on
Wednesday morning. Want of space has prevented
our giving an earlier notice of it. It was given at
the Queen's Concert -Rooms, Hanover-square, and
offered several attractions to the lovers of the piano-
f9rte. Mr. Holmes, who is well known both as a
composer and an instructor of instrumental music,
took the opportunity of introducing several of his
pupils to the notice of the public. The most remark-
able of these, and,indeeil, in one sense, the most re-
markable of all the performances, was Master Horton
Allison, aged eight years and a half, whose playing,
when his age is considered, is really wonderful.
His uncommon talent may be imagined from the
fact that he played a concerto by Hauptman, a
rondo of Beethoven's, and a fantasia of his father's
composition, entitled "Fairy Fingers," a very
appropriate title, for it seems a fairy undertaking
f r such juvenile lingers to perform such pieces.
Those who are interested in the development of
precocious talent should avail themselves of the
opportunity of hearing the performance of Master
Allison. As it was a pianoforte concert the
chief part of the programme was occupied by in-
strumental music. A grand sonata for three pianos,
and a quartett for four performers and two pianos
were among the novelties. Mr. Holmes played a
duet with one of his pupils, and a nocturne by Lie
sister, with success. Mr. Clementi displayed his
usual skill on the violin. Among the vo-
cAlistst the most distinguished was Madame
Clara Novello, whose beautiful voice was heard
to advantage in the song of " The Bird of
the Wilderness," and in a selection from Mr.
Costa's oratorio of " Eli," which has lately attracted
so much attention in the musical world. There
were several other performer 3, both vocal and in
strumental, who gave a pleasing variety to the con-
cert.

The third of the series will take place on Wed-
nesday morning, July 2, when those who desire to
encourage youthful talent will no doubt avail them-
selves of the opportunity.

THE SUNDAY BAND QUESTION.

DEPUTATION TO LORD PALMERSTON.

This morning three deputations, appointed at public
meetings of the working classes held during the week in
Westminster, St. Pancras, and at Sussex-hall, City, re-
lative to the discontinuance of the playing of the bands
in the Parks on Sundays, waited upon Lord Palmerston,
at his private residence, Piccadilly, to present to his
lordship certain resolutions agreed to at the above meet-
ings; and to request that his lordship will be pleased to
permit the continuance of the bands playing in the Parks
on Sundays.
The deputation from St. Pancras comprised Messrs.
W. D. Cooper, J. Kenny, T. Ross, J. Baird, Ivory,
jun.,'Beare, Jay, Wright, and Clements. Mr. J. George
represented Westminster ; and the eastern districts of
the City (Sussex-hall) were represented by Messrs.
Tawley and Cox.
There were also present the following working men,
members of the Working Men's Association :—Mr. R.
Moore, Mr. W. Allan, Mr. Caudland, Mr. T. C. Pratt,
Mr. Bainbridge, Mr. Webley, Mr. Ivory, Mr. Mason,
Mr. E. A. Somers, and Mr. Marshall.
The deputation was introduced to his lordship by Mr.
Cooper, who informed his lordship of the feeling and
desire the working men had to adopt a course, in refer-
ence to this question, that should redound to their credit.
They, at the same time, wished to show to the Govern-
ment and the country that they so highly appreciated
the recreation that had been for a short time provided
for them that they were determined to use every
legitimate means to insure its continuance.
His Lordship was also addressed upon the question
by Mr. George, Mr. Ivory, juc., Mr. Turley, Mr. Beare,
Mr. Bainbridge, Mr. Kenny, Mr. Allen, Mr. Pratt,
and Mi. Webley, who stated that their object was the
obtaining innocent and harmless recreation on Sundays
in the parks for themselves, wives, and families, which
was the only day they could all enjoy themselves together.
They also spoke of the effcct it would have on decreasing
Sunday labour, being an inducement to many tailors,
shoemakers, and others who worked on Sunday to give up
labour on that day, and provide themselves decent ap-
parel to appear in the stnets and the palls, which must
ultimately lead to their moral elevation. The working
men disclaimed any intention or desire to have recourse
to any other than moral influence in attaining their object,
and begged his lordship to remember that they were not
connected with the disgraceful proceedings last year in
the park relative to the proceedings of the Sunday ques-
tion.

Lord PALMERSTON having patiently and attentively
listened to the remarks addressed to him by the various
speakers for upwards of an hour, said —I must correct, in
the first place, a misapprehension that appears to pre-
vail in respect to the reasons for the decision of the
Government with respect to this question, viz , that
the playing of the bands in the parks was dis-
continued in consequence of the Government not
receiving the support of the working classes.
The large number of persons who attended the parks on
the few days the bands played there must have con-
vinced every one that the feeling of the work log classes
was favourable to it. The conduct of the ee orking
classes, both as to the manner in which they availed
themselves of the enjoyment of the playing of the bands,
and the mariner in which they have behaved since their
discontinuance, does them the highest honour, and
was such as every man who was at all alquainted
with the character of Riglishmen would have
expected, and especially those who have watched
the progress of the working classes in industry, intelli-
gence, morality and good order. It excites no surprise
to find that the discontinuance of the bands in the
parks, on Sundays, should have created some feelings
of irritation in respect to it in the minds of the working
classes. The case is this. I entirely concur with those
who suggested the playing of the bands, believing it
was no desecration of the Sabbath, but a means of
affording innocent recreation, combined with air and
exercise, which the people were deprived of during the
week from their occupations confining them to a narrow
space, and breathing air -not conducive to health. I
certainly did not expect, at the time I concurred in the
arrangement, that it would have been viewed with so
much disapprobation as it had by a very large portion
of the community on religious grounds. There was
nothing so difficult for a Government to deal with in a
free country like this, where we possess liberty of con-
science, and the free expression of opinion on religions
questions and feelings. There must in such a country
always be a conflict of opinions on such a ques-
tion ; and whether we differ or a, ree with one
another, .we are bound to attend with respect
to the sincere and conscientious opinions of others.
Individuals and different bodies of the community may
be allowed to entertain, and act on opinions, which he
or they professed ; but a government is, or ought to
consider itself as standing ;aloof from those controversies
which engage the attention of the people. The Govern-
ment is composed of men, and men have their opinions,
and Government, as others, individually, or collectively,
cannot fail to have their opinions also ; but I don't think
it is the proper functions of a government, in a free
country, to throw itself into the conflict, and
take part in matters in which large classes
of the community entertain different and oppo-
site opinions. We find, nevertheless, without
intending it, that we did please ourselves in that parti-
cular, and made arrangements which we never doubted
were in unison with the opinions of a large body of the
people, which was, nevertheless, in conflict to another
very large body of the people, and wherever on one side
there were those who were in favour of the arrangement
upon the ground of its providing innocent recreation
and healthy enjoyment for the people, there were, on the
other, those who were averse to it on c mscientious and
religious grounds. The mattor was represented to me
by the Archbishop of Canterbury, as head of the
Church, speaking not only for himself and the bishops,
but for a large body also of those who were regularly
devoted to religious observances, and I felt that under
these circumstances the proper, course for me to pursue
was to restore matters to the state they were before the
bands were allowed to play on Sundays in the Parks.
It was not altering that which had for years existed,
but only bringing matters back to the state in which
they had been before. The playing of the bands nn
Sundays was a recent introduction ; and I am sorry, by
discontinuing them, that I am depriving large and de-
serving portions of the metropolis from that enjoyment
which I ,think is perfectly innocent, and contribute to
the rational enjoyments and health of the people. Hav-
ing felt it was not the duty of the Government to run
counter to the expressed opinions of so large a number
of the community, whose opiuions are entitled to respect,
I don't think it would be right for Government to issue
an order this week, countermand it the next, and then
re-direct it a fortnight after ; and therefore I cannot
hold out any expectations that the Government will,
under present circumstances, think it right to rescind
the decision they have so recently taken on this
question. The noble lord said he hoped the public
would still take advantage Of the parks for health and
recreation the same without the bands as with them,
and said that, although he was quite aware there were
persons who would carry their religious feelings to the ex-
treme, and interfere with existing arrangements, no Go-
vernment, he felt certain, would even countenance any
sueli attempts to obstruct those arrangements that existed,
and which were necessary and essential for the ordinary
pursuits of late. They would not only fail in so doing,
but would thereby rather tend to set the public feeling
against those things it was their desire to accomplish.
Mr. GEORGE, and others called his lordship's
attention to the fact of the police pulling down
the bills which had boen posted in reference to'
the peaceful demonstration intended to be held
tc-morrow]in the parkr, and expressed a hope that
the Commissioners of the Police would neither
issue orders nor have a laree body of police
in atterelance to irritate the people. The
working men only would have a peaceful demonstration.
The same gentleman also asked his lordship if
the Government intended to prevent any bands
the people might engage from playing on Sundays
in the parks.. Three were engaged • one to play in the
Regent's-park, Hyde-park, and the Victoria-park.
They wished to know to-night if there would be any ob-
jection to it.

Lord PALMERSTON said he cculd not then give the
deputation an answer, and sugge,ted that the deputation
should wait in the evening on the Homo Secretary re-
specting it.
The deputation having thanked his Lordship then
reti red.

SUNDAY BAND QUESTION. A series of meetings
having been held during the week, protesting against
the discontinuance of the music in the narks on Sundays.
We understand it is proposed still further to express the
wishes of the people for the re-establishment of the Sun-
day bands, by an aggregate metropolitan demonstration
at Primrose-hill, on Sunday next at 4 o'clock in the
afternoon.

THE PORT OF LIVERPOOL.—Another survey is about
to be made of the port of Liverpool under the direction
of the marine committee of the Liverpool Dock Trustees,
owing to the alterations which have taken place since
the last survey two years ago.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.—The Queen's Household. —A.
chaplaincy in or unary has become vacant by the death
of the Rev. Sir Gaoreee Burrard. Colonial Department.
—The governorship of Jamaica bai become vacant by
the promotion of Sir Henry Barkly. Woods and Forests.
—The rangership of the Home Fore3t at Windsor has
become vacant by the death of Lord Adolphus Fitz-
clarence. Board of Trade.—A senior clerkship has been
rendered vacant by the death of Mr. Charles A. G.
Sivrac. Inland Revenue Department—Stamp and
Taxes Branch.—Mr. James Chamberlain, of Oswestry,
inspector, has retired. Mr. John Lee, of B!rinin,ghan,
has been promoted from a surveyorship to an inspector-
ship. Mr. Benj trnin Carden has bee!, promoted from
Leeds to Birminetimm. Mr. R)bert :Harrison has been
promoted from B ith to Leeds. Mr. Samuel Knott has
been promoted from Newark to Bath. Mr. J. F. Hur-
ley has been promoted from Bodrnin to Newark. Mr.
Richard Pearce has been promoted from Halesworth to
Bodmin. CuAorns.—Mr. John R. Cross has been ap-
pointed a clerk in the Long Room in London. Mr.
John R. Gray has been appointed a clerk for general
business in London. Mr. W. Hunt has been appointed
a clerk in the Long Room in London. Mr. Apneas M.
Cameron has been promoted from first class of searchers
to be landing-surveyor of the third class in London. Mr,
John W. Dodd has been appointed from third-class
superintending locker to be a gauger of the sixth &ass
in London. Mr. D. Dudgeon has been promoted from
controller at Goole to be controller at Sligo, vice Mr. !,
Iliggingson, superannuated. Mr. J. M. Nisbett has
been promoted from controller at Llanelly to be con-
troller at Goole.—Civil Service Gazette.