The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-18 00:00:00

ST. MARTIN'S HALL.

Mr. Henry Leslie's concerts are among the most plea •
sant of the season, and the sixth one, given at this hall last
evening introduced a valuable and delightful variation
in two solos for the pianoforte, played by Miss
Arabella Goddard. The first was the concerto in
D minor by Mendelssohn—the second was Beethoven's
celebrated " Choral Fantasia." Both were deliciously ren-
dered with Miss Goddard's usual brilliance and expression,
and her efforts were rewarded with applause of a most
genuine and hearty warmth. The Choral songs were
excellently given on the average, and some with
especial effect ; among which we may cite Wil-
bye's exquisite madrigal, "Sweet honey-sucking Bees,"
Webbe's glee, "Mighty Conqueror," and Leslie's "Oh I
Gentle Sleep," the last of which was given with singular
delicacy and feeling.
We should like to see a degree more of mental
animation in some of the solo singing, but many
professionals appear to imagine that brain and soul are not
required to aid the full development of good music.
They labour under a serious mistake, and we can assure them
that many a voice of inferior quality, guided by a sen-
sitive taste and elevated intellect, will afford more com-
plete satisfaction than many a splendid natural organ
does, destitute of those great adjuncts. Several songs were
re-demanded ; and, may we here venture to suggest, that
something like personal opposition appeared in the re-
sistance:to the encore of "By Celia's Arbour." May we:add,
that private prejudice chooses a very unbecoming arena for
its exhibition before public audiences. The skill and care
wit,hwhich these concerts are got up, at least, merit the tone
of courtesy, even from those who entertain objections to
exceptional particulars.

ADELPHI THEATRE.—Last night Mr. A. Wigan
appeared for the first time at this theatre in. the farces of
the "Bengal Tiger" and "The First Night." As examples
of Mr. Wigan's powers of assumption, the very distinct
character of the peppery, irritable, old East Indian, and the
supple, ever-ready, indefatigable Frenchman, determined
to procure a debut for his daughter, are judiciously chosen,
and afford a striking contrast. The latter character is,
however, by far the most finished performance, and is one
of the most careful and elaborate studies from nature it is
possible to conceive. At the end of both pieces Mr. Wigan
was loudly called for by one of the most numerous
audiences we have seen in the new theatre.
POLYGRAPHIC HALL,The " Female Creole
Serenaders" appeared for the first time in England last
evening, at the Polygraphic Hall, King William-street,
Strand, and were received with very great favour by a
crowded assembly. The entertainment given by the
" Female Creole Serenaders," which is really excellent of
its kind, is well worth a visit.
THE NEAPOLITAN ExiLEs.—Another party of
about 20 of the Neapolitan exiles will arrive tcwillorrew at
the Paddington Station of the Great Western Railway. An
address is to be presented to them on this occasion.
A deputation of hop growers ft:om the counties of
Worcester, Hereford, and Kent, consisting of Lord Beau-
cham, Lord Elmley, M.P., Lord Wm. Graham, M.P., Hon.
F. Lygon, M.P., Hon. Captain Hanbuiy, M.P., Mr. King
King, M.P., Mr. Knight, M.P., and Mr. John Locke,
M.P., had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street.
The Australian mail is now four days overdue.
It is reported from Stuttgardt that the army of
Wurtemberg is immediately to be placed on a war footing.
A return has been ordered by the Government of
all persons above 65 years of age in full employ under the
Post-office department.
On Sunday next the Emperor intends to review
the entire army of Paris, on the occasion of the anniversary
of the return to Paris of Napoleon 1., in 1815.
HARWICH ELECTION.—Captain Jervis, the Con-
servative candidate, had a show of hands at the nomination
yesterday. The poll will take place this day.
THE BANK OF ENGLAND.—The halt:yearly
General Court of the Bank of England was held to-day,
Mr. Sheffield Neave, the Governor, presiding. The profits
during the past six months have been £610,946, and the
rest now amounts to £3,632,944. A dividend of 4 per cent.,
without deduction of income-tax, was declared, leaving the
rest at £3,050,825. No discussion took place.
THE MAIL SERVICE.—SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH
17.—The steam ship Atrato, Captain Woolley, left this
clay with the West India and Pacific mails, 74 passengers,
£2BO in specie, £8,500 in jewellery, and a full cargo. The
steam ship Jeddo, Captain Black, left this day with the
usual Peninsular mail, 13 passengers, and £5,300 in specie.
The Magdalena, with the homeward West India mail, and
the Fulton, with the American mail, may be looked for
to-morrow. The Ceylon, with the East India and China I
mail, is expected on SatUrday. The wind has been blow-
ing a gale throughout the day from the westward.
LETTERS FOR CANADA.—On the Ist of April
next and thenceforward, letters addressed to Canada posted
unpaid will be charged with a fine of sixpence each letter
in addition to the usual postage; and letters posted insuffi-
ciently prepaid will also be charged with the amount defi-
cient and with a fine of sixpence. A similar fine, in addi-
tion to the postage, will be levied in this country upon all
letters received from Canada which may have been posted
unpaid or insufficiently paid.—By command of the Post-
master-General, Rowland Hill, Secretary.—General Post-
office, March 15.

One English ship (name not stated) is loading
lacquered ware for London ; besides which there were one
other English, and several American ships, including
whalers, in port. H.M.S. Inflexible left four days before
the Tribune reached Nangasaki. The price of lacquered
ware has gone up fifty per cent. since the Calcutta was
there, though it still appears, to old Canton residents, mon-
strously cheap. English money is at a great discount-
12s. Bd. only for a full weight sovereign.—Chico Telegraph.
ADVERTISING LAMPS.—A Mr. Prisley, of Wal-
worth, has patented a method of advertising on ordinary
street lamps, which we hope will not come into general use.
He first removes the top or upper part of any of the lamps
or lanterns now in use for lighting streets and other public
thoroughfares, and affixes to the lamp, in the place of its
ordinary top, an addition or elongation, on which the name
, of somebody's hats, or pills, or coffee, or other necessaries
or luxuries of life, is blazoned.--Mechanics' Magazine.
IMPROVED LIFE BOATS.—Mr. Andrew Lamb,
engineer, of Southampton, and W. J. White, of CoWes,
have introduced several improvements into the construction
of life-boats. They form the boat with longitudinal water-
tight compartments on each side, and extending nearly
from stem to stern, "the centres of gravity and displace-
ment of which (should the life-boat be filled by a sea),"
say they, " are so high as to make it almost impossible for
the boat to be capsized." They introduce two or more
delivery tubes, with valves so constructed as to prevent the
admission of water from without, and to free the boat from
the water within down to the level of the water outside ;
and "we so place and arrange the tubes," say they, "with
reference to the calculated centres of gravity and displace-
ment of the boat, as to make her available for carrying out
the largest anchor from the ship, the anchor being slung
under the bottom of the boat, and (being a life-boat) should
she ship a sea, there will be sufficient buoyancy in the air-
tight compartments to carry the anchor and crew with
safety, whilst an ordinary boat would be buried by the
waves, and consequently sink." Thesevalves will also admit
air, should such a contingency as the boat's capsizing oc-
cur, and the crew be confined underneath, where they would
be safe, there being sufficient head room from them beneath
the thwarts and the bottom. In addition to the water-plugs
at the lower part of the air cases, they introduce screw-
plugs at the top of the water-tight compartments, by which
a free current of air may be passed through the cases to
ensure their durability,—Mechanics' Magazine.