The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, WiPON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 27, 1860.

HANWELL COLLEGE SCHC FOL, MIDDLE-
SEX.—The Vacation Closes on tl ke 27th instant. A
Prospectus may be obtained on applicatio ti to the Rey. J. A.
Emerton, D.D., Principal.

GREAT WESTERN R AILWAY.-
EXCURSION to the NORTH a,t LOW FARES.—
On SATURDAY, September 1, an Excur s ion Train will leave
Paddington at 10.20 a.m., for Oxford (f area 6s 6d and 4s) ;
Banbury (8s and ss) ; Leamington and Warwick (10s 6d and
6s) ; Birmingham (122 and 7s ); West Bro travich, Wednesbu,
and Bilston (128 6d and 7s 6d) ; Wolverh a mpton (13s and 88)ry ;
Wellington and ihrewsbury (17s and I Os) ; Oswestry, Llan-
gollen Road, Wrexham, and Chester (1&8s 6d and 11s) ; Bir-
kenhead and Liverpool (21s and 128 6d), returning on THURS-
DAY, September 6, from Liverpool at; 1,0.30 a,m., and inter-
mediate stations as per handbills. TI xis train will take pas-
sengers from Reading for stations north of Leamington
inclusive.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.-
CHEAP EXCURSION to SO. CITH WALES and the
SOUTH of IRELAND. -On MONDA:I", Sept. 3, an Excursion
Train will leave Paddington at 8 alai., and Reading at 9.10
a.m., for Chepstow, fares 16s. and 105..; Newport, 19s. and 125.;
Cordiff, 215. and 13s. ; Bridgend, 22;5.. and 14s. ; Port Talbot,
235. and 15s. ; Neath, 245. and 15s. 6,1 ; Landore and Swansea,
255. 6d. and 165.; Llanelly, 265. and 16s. 6d.; Carmarthen Junc-
tion, 275. and 175. ; Narberth ttorld and Haverfordwest, 295.
and 175. 6d. ; Milford Road and Wilfolrd, 30s. and 18s. ; Cork
or Waterford, '405. and 30s. ; stations on the Waterford and
Limerick Railway, 455. and 35a. ; stations on the Waterford
and Kilkenny Railway, 425. 6d. and :325. 6d. Passengers to
South Wales return by a special train, leaving Milford at 10
a.m. on the 13th of September ; and Irish passengers by the
11.15 a.m. Train from Milford up to the 18th of September.
- The time can be extended upon payment of a per tentage.
Passengers can go to Killarney by rail from Waterford, or by
cars from Cork, at reduced fares.
The " Great Eastern " is expected at Milford before the
end of August.
For full particulars of the above see bills.

FLORAL HALL.

The concert on Saturday night, the first part of
which consisted of a selection from the works of
Mendelssohn, was as successful as the lovers of
good music could have desired. The unpropitious
weather failed to rob the familiar name of its attrac-

tion ; and, though it rained all day without inter-
mission, the doors of Floral Hall were not long
thrown open before an immense crowd had assem-
bled. Mr. Alfred Mellon may be complimented on
his programme, which, besides being marked by
excellence and variety, was so arranged that each
succeeding piece afforded an agreeable contrast to
its immediate predecessor

Overture—" A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Part-song—" Oh hills and yam"
Concerto—Pianoforte (No. 1 in G minor).
Air—" When the Evening Bells are Chiming."
Symphony. in A major (Italian).
Finale from the opera of "Lorley."
The performance, from first to last, was worthy
of the music,' and the audience thoroughly appre-
ciated both. 116 overture to Shakspeare's immortal
fairy play, which, though an inspiration of early
youth, is one of the most original and imaginative
productions of its composer, was given with
a delicacy and precision quite marvellous, the
enormous area and configuration of Floral Hall
taken into account. But—as was shown later, in
a still more elaborate work—the band of the Royal
Italian Opera, with a director at its head like Mr.
Mellon, is capable of achieving difficulties under
any circumstances short of absolutely antagonistic.
Nothing could come more happily after a piece so
full of energy and movement a© the overture, than
the part song--7perhaps the most universally popu-
lar thing of its kind—an image of repose such as
music has seldom reflected, a dream of the setting
sun throwing its last rays on the quiet hills, a bit
of harmonious landscape, in short, the spirit of
whose beauty" (to quote the English paraphrase of
the words that inspired it) " can never fade away."
After this the attention of the hearers was diverted
into an altogether different channel by the impetu-
ous concerto in G minor—another example of Men-
delssohn's astonishingly precocious talent—executed
by Mr. George Russell, a young and rising pianist,
if not precisely with the "impetuosity" most con-
genial to its character, at least with spirit, clear-
ness, and well-sustained brilliancy. A trifle more
of sentiment would not have been unwelcome in
the slow movement; but Mr. Russell was probably
of opinion that very nice shades of expression might
be lost under the dome of Bow-street Crystal
Palace, and so designedly eschewed them. The
accompaniments to the concerto were carefully
played by the band, and at the conclusion Mr. Rus-
sell left the orchestra amid warm and honourably
earned plaudits. The song from " Heimkehr
(known in England as " Son and Stranger")—an
opera composed by Mendelssohn to commemorate
what the Germans call the "silver wedding" of their
father and mother (25th anniversary of their union)
—is as full of character as it is charming. This,
introduced last winter with great success by Herr
Reichardt at the Monday Popular Concerts (St.
James's-hall), and equally welcome on the present
occasion, was delivered with genuine artistic feeling
by Mr. Wilbye Cooper. The tranquil opening
phrase is finely relieved by the episode describing
the night-watch of the soldier, so appropriately an-
nounced by the trumpet, and the whole was well
adapted to separate the pianoforte concerto from
the orchestral symphony, with neither of which it
has the smaliest feature in common. The Italian
symphony was given entire, with the repeat of the
first part of the allegro vivace—exactly, indeed, as
the composer intended. On the whole, we can
scarely remember a more satisfactory performance
of this fresh and genial work. The profound:y
touching andante—of which it was said years long
past that in writing it Mendelssohn had composed
his own " Requiem "—might have gained some-
thing by being taken a little slower, but here ob-
jection. ends, The remainder, especially the last
movement, to which alone the symphony is indebted
for the geographical expletive now conventionally
accepted (undreamt of by Mendelssohn himself,
who simply entitled it " Symphony in A major")—
the restless " Saltarello," suggesting by its preculiar
rhythm and colour the idea of a Neapolitan carnival,
with all the contingent bustle and excitement—was
beyond criticism. How thoroughly the whole was
appreciated may be gathered from the fact that the
movement in question was re-demanded. With.the
finale of " Lorley " before him, nevertheless, Mr.
Mellon did wisely in withholding compliance, and
resting content with the unanimous applause
elicited. In this colossal piece—a splendid pledge
of the dramatic genius of its composer, and of the
triumphs he was likely to achieve had he been
spared to labour for the stage as earnestly as he
laboured for the choir, the orchestra, and the cham-
ber—all concerned won laurels. Band, chorus,
principal singer, and conductor, were alike assi-
duous in their duties, and with a like result. It
was the last performance, and also the best, in a
concert where everything was good. Never were
the solos of Leonora—who devotes herself to the
spirits of the Rhine in order to acquire the means
of being avenged on a fickle lover (a Leonora
promising to rival the still incomparable
Leonora of Beethoven)—declaimed with more fire
and vigour than by Miss Parepa, who (as every-
body might have concluded)' has just the voice for
the part, and (as everybody might not have
concluded) a 'true and forcible conception of it.
The audience were so delighted that, without
awaiting the final notes, they burst into such a storm
of applause as almost drowned in its vehemence the
united efforts of the voices and instruments, which
go on accumulating power and grandeur to the
climax. As another " Mendelssohn night" is an-
nounced, the finale from " Lorley," as a matter of
course, will be repeated. Meanwhile we are glad
to learn that Mr. Howard Glover's picturesque and
admirable cantata of " Tam O'Shanter" is to be
produced at these concerts, that special nights are
to be given to Mozart and Beethoven, and, last not
least, that Handel's " Messiah" will be performed
on Friday.

THE BERWICK ELECTION COM-
NiSSION.

BERWICK-UPON-TWEED, AUG. 24.
The Commissioners met at 10 o'clock.
After the adjournment yesterday M'Gall arrived
in Berwick and called upon the Commissioners at
the King's Arms Hotel.
This morning he was called, and upon the secre-
tary tendering the Testament in order to swear
him he declined to be sworn until he had made a
statement. He said that he had been already tried,
that he was acting under the advice of counsel, and
should decline to be sworn unless he was promised
protection. The Commissioners adjourned to their
private room, and after being absent above an hour,
returned into court. _

The Chief Commissioner, addressing M‘Gall, said.
—You have attended here in obedience to a sum-
mons requiring you to give evidence as to corrupt
practices on your part.
M'Gall said, in answer—l decline to be sworn
unless lam protected. I don't decline to give evi-
dence, but I want protection. I refuse to be sworn,
because, if I enter into the statements of the evi-
dence I gave in the House of Commons, on which
I was tried, I might be subject to be tried again. I
therefore seek from the learned Commissioners pro-
tection from any prosecution that might be brought
against me. lam ready to give evidence if I am
protected.
The Chief Commissioner said--We are limited in
our powers by the act of Parliament. We have
maturely considered the case, and I will read you
the judgment at which we have arrived :

" We are enabled to protect you from the consequences of
any evidence which you may have given before us, provided
we are of opinion that you have made a true discovery to
the best of your knowledge touching all things on which
you have been examined. But if we think that you have
not made a true disclosure, then we shall refuse to grant
you a certificate of indemnity, and you will be liable to all
the legal proceedings and consequences in respect of any
corrupt practice which you may have committed, from
which, bad you made a true disclosure, our certificate would
have freed you.
"We are unable to protect you from the legal consequences
of any evidence you may have given upon your examination
elsewhere ; but as no statement you may make in answer
' to questions put by us is admissible in evidence in any
proceedings, civil or criminal, except in the case of an in-
dictment for perjury committed in your at,swers to such
questions, your legal position cannot be prejudiced by your
answers if they are believed by us to be true."
M'Gall, at, the termination of the Commissioner's
address, said, " I decline being sworn without being
protected." Mr. Lushington observed that the law
was his protection. He replied, "It may be. I
wish to keep myself right. I may be wrong, but I
decline to be sworn, and must submit to you." HP
was then given into custody, and, a warrant for his
apprehension having been handed to the Superin-
tendent of Police, he was conveyed to the common
gaol.
Great excitement prevails, and great anxiety to
know what will be the ultimate course pursued by
i the Commissioners is felt.
Several other witnesses were examined, and the
1
Commissioners adjourned until 10 o'clock on Satur-
day morning.

711 E MURDER IN THE QU.EEIVA%'-PARK,

EDINBURGH.

All authentic information regarding the actual
facts evolved by the judicial inquiry into this most
distressing affair being sedulously concealed by the
authorities officially engaged in the investigation,
many unfounded and often exaggerated rumours
have been propagated respecting it, and these, not-
withstanding every care taken, have in some cases
found their way into the public prints. We have
received the following, however, on what we con-
sider good authority :—On Thursday a woman came
forward and informed the authorities that, about
three o'clock on Sunday morning, she passed a cor-
poral of the 13th Light Dragoons and a young girl
standing close to the wall at the Clock-Mill Bridge,
near to the spot where the switch was found.
The soldier, it was stated, seemed to be threatening
the girl, and ordering her to go away, when the
latter said, " I will follow you into the barracks if
you go there." To this the soldier replied, with an
oath, " Well, I am going there now, but if you fol-
low me I will do for you." The woman who gave
this information describes very minutely and cor-
rectly the girl's appearance and dress, and is quite
positive that the man seen with her was a corporal,
having two stripes on his arm, and a " good-con-
duct" or " service" stripe on his wrist, Witness
stated that she was accompanied by a young woman,
and on Friday her companion came forward and
corroborated her statements. Measures are being
taken by the authorities to identify the " cor-
poral" to whom the statements refer ; and
as ne corporal is missing - from -Piershill,
if the information of the women be correct, he
ought to be found there. A pair of gloves, said to
be such as are worn by the dragoons, were found
on the parade-ground on Friday and brought to the
authorities; but no circumstance has yet arisen to
connect them with the tragedy of Sunday morning.
On Saturday morning an order was given for the
liberation of the prisoner Tanner, it being consi-
dered by the authorities that no evidence sufficient
to justify his committal had been obtained. The
absence of identification of the prisoner within three
hours before the murder, and the fact that on his
clothing no trace of blood was to be found (which,
considering the state in which deceased was found,
was to be expected on the real culprit), left the
authorities no alternative but to liberate the pri-
soner. The body of the deceased was buried on
Saturday.