The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-22 00:00:00

DEATH OF JOHN CRAMER.

This great musician, who died a few days ago,
deeply lamented not only by a large circle of
friends, but by the musical world, of which he arms
one of the brightest ornaments, was in his eighty.
eighth year, having been born at Mannheim in
1771. His father, William Cramer, a celebrated
violinist of that day, fixed his residence in England
when his son was in his infancy. Here John
Cramer was educated and brought up ; and here,
with the exception of some short visits to the Con-
tinent, he spent the whole of his life. Though of
German birth, yet in everything else tastes,
habits, principles and feelings—he was an English-
man, and England is entitled to boast of him as one
of her greatest musical artists.
His career in this country was long and brilliant
stehlef, pianoforte, with a
in the capacities of a composer, a performer, and a
musical instructor. As a composer he confined hint-
fewer which he xceptions,toh
isown
wrotevoluminously.
His celebrated fo
exercises and studies
have gained,
and still preserve unequalled
popularity, not only
in this country, but throughout Europe, and have
contributed more to the progress of •
the pianoforte
than all the other existing
productions of this class
put together. His great orchestral concertos, his
sonatas, his quartets, quintets, and other concerted
pieces in whieh the piano is the principal instru-
ment, are models of clear and simple construction,
beauty, and grace. In his own day they were the
delight of the musical world ; and, for our own
part, we have enjoyed few greater musical treats
than his exquisite concertos embellished by his own
no less exquisite performance. Like many of the
works of the great masters—the Clementis, Dus-
seks, and Steibelts, of a former generation—they
have latterly fallen into neglect ; but, there is at
present a reaction in favour of the music of the
older schools, and in this reaction the works of John
Cramer will assuredly share.
As a performer, John Cramer will not be forgot-
ten by those who have ever heard him. Ho was a
thorough master of his instrument. He did not in-
deed, execute those tours de force by which the
present race of pianists stri7e to surprise and startle
us ; to such things he attached no value ; but his
execution was sufficiently brilliant for every
legitimate purpose ; and he was pre-eminently
gifted with one faculty—the power of imparting to
his instrument a vocal tone and expression—of
making the pianoforte sing—which none of his suc-
cessors, to our feeling, have ever equalled.
As a teacher of the pianoforte be for many years
reigned paramount ; and, in his time, formed more
fine performers, both amateurs and professional
artists, than any other instructor we have ever bad
among us. His influence was unbounded ; and it
was always exercised in favour of pure taste and
against the growing ascendancy of a style of exhi-
bition and display which has tended to make piano-
forte performances, both in public and in private
society, often little better than a nuisance.
For many years age and infirmity have secluded
the illustrious veteran from intercourse with the
world. He died on Friday last, rather of old age,
we believe, than of any positive disease, with little
suffering, and surrounded by his borrowing family.
Ile died in peace, and " full of years and honour."

THE "GREAT AWAKENING" IN

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, April 6.—The " revival," or, as it
is more generally called, the "great awakening,"
has now for two months divided the public atten-
tion with the Lecompton constitution. The former
is certainly one of the most remarkable movements
of modern times, and, as regards the earnestness
which characterises it and the wideness of the area
over which it has been diffused, has certainly had
no parall' 1 since that initiated in the last cen-
tury by Jonatliln Edwards. It nowhere wears
so extraordinary an aspect as in New York,
though none of the great cities have been exempt
from its influence ; but here nothing is ever dono
by halves. All public excitements, no matter in
what they originate, are fast opinions. Almost
in every church in the business part of the city
there are " business men's prayer meetings" in
the middle of the day, which are crowded by mer-
chants, clerks, brokers, porters, et hoc genus omne.
Five minutes aro allowed for prayer or exhortation
to those who feel disposed to avail themselves of
the opportunity, and there is invariably a vigorous
competition for the privilege. Rigid punctuality
is enforced by the leader, and, the allotted five
minutes once expired, the most fervid suppliea-
or.most moving recital of " exporisnce, is
sternly interrupted by a stentorian call of "Time I"
from the pulpit. Some curious cases of conver,ion
have occurred. One member of a common counoil
which governed the city throe years ago, and
was so corrupt as to earn the appellation of
" the Eirty thieves," has publicly declared his
sincere repentance and detestation of his former
courses. A noted pugilist, rejoicing in the sou-
briquet of " Awful earthier," is also amongst the
most enthusiastic of the converts, to the great edifi-
cition of the faithful, and the great confusion of
the scorners.

Those who know the intense devotion of the
New York commercial world to the business of
money-making—of Nea York sinners in general to
their sins certainly cannot help regarding
crowded prayer meetings a few yards from
Wall-street, at the ♦ery busiest of business
hours as amongst the most curious phenomena
of the city. In the more fashionable quarter,
as might be expected, the movement wears
a soberer character, but is not less general.
A few of the Episcopalian clergy have de-
nounced it as indicative of spiritual decline, and
as " lowering the dignity of the priesthood ;" those
of all other denominations have gone into it heart
and hand. One meeting is lying held daily in the
forenoon in one of the loading theatres—Burton's
—and Mr. Burton him.elf, the manager, was on
one occasion held up to the assemblage as an ex-
cellent subject for their prayers. This was fol-
lowed by an announcement, on the following day,
of his conversion, a statement which he indignantly
denied at the evening theatrical performance in the
same place.

THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION IN
SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 16th state that the
sensation caused by the attempted assassination of
Gen. Verdugo had not declined. The assas,,in is a
police spy by profession, and in the year 1854
ho was specially charged to watch the move-
ments of the Vicalrarist generals. They dis-
covered this and threatened to kill him, but
General Verdugo, one of them, interfered and
saved his life. Ho went to Paris and subs.-
quently to London, and there published violent
pamphlets against the Count de Lucena (O'Don-
nell) and the other Vicalvarist chiefs. On the
day of the crime, meeting in the street General
Verdugo, against whom, notwithstanding the
service he had received at his hands, he ap-
pears to have entertained peculiar animosity, ho
said, "Do you know me?" The general answered,
"I do know you, sir, as everybody else does ; and
I request you to quit my presence ! " On that
Rivera, drawing forth a long triangular poignard,
plunged it deeply into the general's side, and took
to flight, thr,ming away his weapon as he did
so ; but the spectators of the deed pursued and
arrested him. As to the general, his wound was
found to be of such gravity that the last sacraments
were administered to him. On the 16th, the gene-
ral was not dead, but his condition remained
l
extremely serious. He is the husband of a
.sa lady
who, under the name of Avellehn:d*r,
recently
great literary reputation,
aentree,
„s, The Geral
produced a play at one of thaeildßia
which obtained great sum_
be
wdrid the -
stabbed,
only uttered a few words after Lex
for his wife. All
and they expressed
of people of all classes, were flocking to the house
all the royal family had also
the notable personagesco7t!fadri
inquire, a
anidt
ear vast
him . crowd
Th
in which the general lay,
e
caused inquiries to be
Queen and King and
made.

LOCAL BHA RE M 4 RI( A 21.44''

1 LIVERPOOL—APRIL 21.
STOCK EXCHANGE—The market has been firmer bo-day.
Leeds stock in demand, at 1 per cent. in advance. Great
Western of Canada, 19 I—Ditto new, li a d 11 d 1i d.—
Chester and Holyhead, 18 18A—Caledonians, 44 42A
Eastern Counties, 11 ii—York and North Midland, 361 7
—Great Western, 561—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 87i i
—Midlands, 91 2—North British, 13 I—Sheffields, 36 4
—Birkenheads, 70i—East Lancashire, 87 —Dover; 23-:
Dutch Rhenish, 4i 4 d.—Grand Trunk of Canada, 12
12 1-16--North Eastern and Berwicks, 23—London and
North Western, 934 4—Leeds Stock, 23f —York Capital
Stock, 3613 i—Great Northern, 25g.

MANCHESTER, APRIL 21.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market opened with a firmer
business, sales very few, and prices improved from th•
quotations of yesterday. Eastern Counties, 111—Leeds,
88i —Grand Trunks, 11 15.16—Midlands, 911—Doyen!,
20 13-16.