The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-14 00:00:00

M. BENEDICT'S ANNUAL CONC.

M. Benedict's Matinees Musicales are always among the
chief attractions of the London musical season. The first was
given yesterday at the St. James's Hall, and was as usual
attended by *a brilliant and fashionable audience. The
programme included many artists of eminence, and the
concert passed off most successfully. The Vocal Associa-
tion lent their aid, and sang some part-songs with great
taste and correctness. Mendelssohn's "Oh hills, oh vales
of pleasure," opened the concert, and another part-eeng,
composed by M. Benedict himself, was one of the most
charming pieces in the programme. It was entitled "The
warbler of the forest," and was entirely for female voices.
Another work of the same composer, the duet " I Mon-
tanari," was very effectively given. Many of the Italian
singers from Drury-lane were, by the kind permission of
Mr. Smith, amo—g the performers. Madame Guarducci,
Madlle. Sarolta, Signors Mongini, Badiali, and Graziani
were present, and acquitted themselves creditably in
their various styles. Madame Clara Novelle was very
successful in her rendering,' of a beautiful air by
Bach, performed for the first time. In the " Ave
Maria," from Mendelssohn's " Lorely," she took the
prominent part, and was unanimously encored. Con-
spicuous amongst the lady vocalist was Mdlle. Artot, who
sang Rode's brilliant variations, "Il dolce incanto," and
the famous " Ah, mon fils," from the Prophete. Her voice
is fine and powerful, and her singing effective, but it is
greatly to be regretted that the affectation and exaggera-
tion of her style mars the excellence of her abilities. Herr
Reichardt, the well-known German tenor, was also among
the singers. Signor Piatti played a nocturne on the violon-
cello with his accustomed skill, and M. de Meyer per-
formed one of his own compositions, "The Mermaid," on
the pianoforte with great brilliancy. Ernst's "Il Pirate,"
for the violin, displayed M. Wienawski's executive powers
to full effect. His reception was most encouraging. M.
Benedict himself did root perform a solo, though he took
part in two duets, which were very effective. Altogether
the concert was calculated to gratify all tastes, and from the
admirable management there were no tedious pauses or
intermissions. The second and last concert is announced
for July 4th, when Mdlle. Victoire Balfe and Miss Cathe-
rine Hayes will be among the vocalists, while the imam-.
mentalists will include Miss Arabella• Goddard, Herr
Joachim, and M. Engel.

THE PRINCE OF WALES AT LISBON.

LissoN, June 7.—The Osborne, with his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, arrived in the
Tagus on Sunday afternoon at six p.m. A notice
of his departure from Cadiz had been received
by the Portuguese Government the previous
evening, and everything had accordingly been
prepared for his reception. As the Osborne came
up the Tagus the Prince took up a position on the
look-out between the wheels to view with more
advantage the lovely panorama which spreads on
either side of the river. When the yacht passed
Belem Castle a royal salute was fired from that
fortress and from the vessels of war in the harbour,
which hoisted the English flag at the main,
but did not man yards in consequence of
not having their full complement of men. The
Osborne anchored opposite the Old Packet Stairs,
and as soon as she was brought to, our minister,
Mr. Howard, went on board, accompanied by the
members of the legation. The Duke de Terceira,
who was deputed by the King to receive the Prince,
soon appeared alongside in the vast gilded barge
which is specially reserved for great occasions ; this
is a right royal gondola, and is rowed by a hundred
Algarvios, who dress gaily in white trousers and
jackets, and caps of crimson and gold. These Al-
garvios are a very noisy set, and it is related that
once Dom John VI., on a river excursion, was much
annoyed by their talkativeness and promised them
liberal reward if they would row in silence for half-
an-hour ; they rowed in quiet for about ten minutes,
but after this a deputation was sent aft, repudiating
the bribe, and begging the King to allow their
conversation to proceed; to which the good-natured
monarch is said to have assented.
The landing was appointed to take place in the
Royal Arsenal, which was filled with a numerous
assemblage of spectators. Outside the gates an
escort of Lancers was drawn up, and inside was a
guard of honour from the 2d Regiment of the line,
with their band ; three carriages from the Palace
were also waiting, the State one bearing a great
resemblance to the Lord Mayor's coach. Among
the spectators one recognised what Tom Moore calls
the round English face at every turn, and a goodly
sprinkling of the " fair daughters of Albion." As
soon as the royal barge touched the stairs, the
Prince of Wales, the Duke de Terceira, Major
Bruce, Mr. Howard, and others landed, the Alger"
violo f w touchedhsicohutwas
hthearestnyhneoei:rdypooeivacvbrtaset
Viva"
rnd op ogt
iaov vne a
t ei v
taos t
htheeamvigouonutr
to
lacks receivethe;
sbuttr a e
ng
tftieir
and a
lly
of the English " Hurrah ;" and this was
3yeab
afin
itupt southern
largessyi lln
with whenthre e
.theti
m es Britonst h ree andin
o eA reel
char
more, in a style which awoke the asto-
nishment of the Portu uese and threatenea
the existence of the gcobw,ebs with which
tshheed. lapse of
prince smiled when gesh
asfet
;31 se teooned t
unmistakeable
English cheers broke upon his ear, and u
recognise them as old friends. His Royal 141111_1,,eas'
who wore the uniform of a colonel of the utialV,
and the blue ribbon of the Garter, looked remarkably
well, manly, and browned by the fervid sun a"
Andalusia.
When the Prince arrived at the Necessidades, the
bells of the Royal Chapel played our Nationel-
- with great vivacity and correctness. 11,1
Royal Highness on entering the palace, was receive
by the King and' Queen, Don Fernando, and the_.+res
seemed to
of the royal family. At 9 p.m. the august 134'"1f
'sat down en fanzine. Yesterday the Prilicit
Wales and the King and Queen of Portugal tu.,?l
through some of the principal streets of the cap is
and also inspected the -Tower of Belem, which
now used as a military depot. An address to hi.'
Royal Highness signed by all the principal British
residents, is lying at the Consulate, and will be pre-
sented when a fitting time is appointed. I behave
that the Prince, before departing, will visit Moire!
Cintra, and all the points of interest in and about
Lisbon.

BELGIUM.—At two o'clock on the 12th inst. ber
Imperial and Royal Highness the Duchess of Brabant ge"
birth to a Prince at Laeken. A salute of 101 guns ea'
nounced the happy event to the inhabitants of the Belgial
capital.
ASCOT Cur.—The "piece of plate" to be Cone
tended for on Thursday has this year been entrusted to th
practised hand of Mr. C. F. Hancock, of Bruton-street,
RAhvah.sAo,p.
,raoai
ddnueddetehdbeyotntahel
eeonftinventive
pager
rse
fniheacult
ls
IpvorfiozoeMdssr,.aEs evera.
ao
dPp
eea
te
for on an English race-course. The design represents "'
nautilus-shaped cup, supported by three female figurel
presenting wreaths of laurel to the victor, and surmount%
by a group representing a man reining back a fiery eteen
emblematical of the triumph of moral force over aniter.
strength. There is an utter absence of the hacknied styl
too long prevalent in works of this character in the prese'.
design, and Mr. Hancock deserves especial credit for thy.
wanner in which the idea of the artist has been realised.
The figures are gems of art, and the microscopic accure
_Ye
with which they are finished is really marvellous. A 133°J.
spirited work has rarely been produced, and the fort-unfit°
winner will have cause to congratulate himself upon
will
possession of a most charming prize. The " Cup' il
to-
remain on view at Mr. Hancock's establishment unto
morrow evening.

I