The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING. SEPTEMBER 16, 1869.

though„ having to replenish the gunboats oilts of s.nd that a'body of 20,000 Mongols was massed on '
them, they only landed about 40 strong. We had the shores of the, Peiho, under the orders of a
to tramp up this mud flat, a long quarter of a mile, famous general named Sang-ko-lin-sin. Mr. Bruce,
up to, and in some places over our knees in soft, it is added, acquired the certainty, on arriving at
sticky mud. I should think it took us 20 minutes, the Peiho, that the Government would oppose the
under a most murderous fire of round shot, Ate, fleet's entrance into the river, but the Mandarins
ging alls, matchlocks, rockets, arrows, &c., to get to with whom he communicated said that the Ambas-
the first ditch. The men were hewn down by sadors would be received at Pekin, and offered
downs. They (the Chinese) had laid all their guns,. them an escort if they would leave their vessels and
and the firing was accurate. The sealing-ladder& soldiers. The number of guns opposed to the
could scarcely. be moved. There we stood within squadron was estimated at 100, varying in calibre
about 80 yards, being potted like crows,' all our from 30 to 50-pounders. They kept up a terrible
ammunition wet, waiting for scaling-ladders to cross and very well-directed fire. The English Admiral
a second ditch, which we had ultimately to swim, was one of the first wounded. Towards five o'clock,
and then could not get the scaling-ladders up. The ' says the letter, the tide havingtrun down with
men were dead beat, and ammunition all wet. great force, several gunboats got aground, and
The men and officers were shot down murderously their hulls, thus exposed to the enemy's aim, were
getting up the ladders. I was one of four to knocked to pieces. When the larding party got
get a ladder across the second ditch, up to my embarrassed in the deep mud, the Chinese redoubled
shoulders in mud and water. Alas! it was no the vigour of their artillery practice, and poured in
good, they were too strong for us ; we could not quantities of grape. Many of the men, over-
get in, and had to retreat. I got a blow on my leg whelmed by the fire, fell in the mud, from which
on an old wound not healed, when I landed, that they had the greatest difficulty in extricating them-
' thawed me up.' Thanks to one of our brave fel- selves. When darkness came on, the Chinese dis-
lows of my small-arm men I got off, having to mirk!' charged globes of fire from their guns, which
to a boat, the scoundrels keeping up a most mur- enabled them to see their enemies, and to aim at
derous fire. Two round shots went through the them. At last, Captain Shadwell, commanding
pinnace—my boat, killing the boatkeeper, and the expedition, being badly wounded, the order to
smashing the boat ; immediately afterwards five retreat was given, and the retrograde movemen‘
more went slap through her, demolishing her, was hailed by the Chinese with a frantic shout o
chop-chop: I lost my knapsack, haversack, water joy.
bottle, waterproof coat, change of clothes, &c., and
a little silk ensign I intended to plant on the walls
of the fort. Our loss is awful. In my party I
have four killed, three missing, and I think about
20 wounded, some minus legs and some minus arms,
and others badly and less badly wounded. Our
lieutenant of Marines—a nice fellow (at New-cross
with me)was shot through the leg, and put into
a paddle ox boat, that had her boatkeepers killed ;
he fell into the hands of the enemy. I trust the
poor fellow was dead (since his body has been
picked' up and buried), as the brutes came down in
the morning and cut off the heads of all they found
left behind, after stripping the bodies. Such a
scene 1 never witnessed. During the night the
Cormorant, despatch ; Lee, 80 horse-power ; Star-
ling, 60 do.; Plover, 60 do. ; and Kestrel, 40 do.,
grounded under the forts, and remained keel out ;
the Chinese ;then returned to their guns, and
smashed shot into them below the copper ; and the
tide flowing into them, they had to be deserted.
Since which, we have succeeded in getting the
Starling and, I fancy, Kestrel out and safe, but
Cormorant, Lee, and Plover are going to be blown
up ; indeed, Lee is burning now. They keep up a
murderous fire on them. All the gunboats are in a
sinking state, keeping the &raps going. Luckily
they are out of range, in shoal water. Several have
sunk and been got up again. I am now on the sick
list on board my ship, from my leg, though it is
only stiff, and nothing, and will be all right in a
day or two more. lam the senior lieutenant (landed)
surviving. One only landed senior to me.; he was
killed. As yet there are three lieutenants (I know
of) killed—Graves, first of the Assistance; Rason
(an old shipmate in the Fox), of the Plover ; and
Clutterbuck, of the Coromandel. The Admiral is
badly wounded, and my poor Captain, Shadwell,
who commanded the landing party, has a bullet
through his instep, breaking some bones. The
ball still remains there. He is doing well. Cap-.
tain Vansittart, of the Magicienne, has lost a leg.
Colonel Lemon, commanding marines, badly
wounded ; and, indeed, all the heads of departments I
are wounded, the captain of the only Frenchmen
here to boot. Ine Fer saw or could have dreamt of
such a smash. Many a poor fellow was drowned,
from sheer exhaustion, in shallow water and mud,
trying to get off, and the groans of the wounded
were something awful. I had numerous narrow
escapes from round shot and rifle bullets—seem-
ingly bearing a charmed life. I don't know what
can be done ; we have not half force enough to do
anything, and I fancy we all go down to Shanghai
or Hongkong to make good damages and repair
gunboats &c., that are all nearly sinking—such a
wreck ! I grieved fir our own poor men that I
knew—and some fine fellows we have lost; three
of our marines are also killed, poor fellows ! Both
our cutters shot through with round shot, and our
pinnace gone. Doubts are entertained of the Ad-
miral's ultimate recovery, poor old man! Old' Shad-
well' does well. We've had an awful licking, and
there is no use trying to hide it. We all did what
we could, but fighting against such odds was some-
thing too much. They had not less than 90 guns
to our about 25, and theirs were monstrous heavy
ones. We all saw Russians in the forts, laying tile
guns and firing the rifles. I wonder what they
will say at home to such a go.' I don't know the
entire loss yet. I suppose about 80 killed and
about 200 wounded. I can't write this all over
again, it is too painful a task, so I trust to you to
send extracts, &e., to all inquiring friends. Our loss
alone in the Highflyer's men is 10 killed and 18
wounded. lam indeed very thankful for escaping
the storm of round shot, bullets, &c., on that fatal
mud flat; it was truly frightful. I stepped out of
the way of several round shot, and was constantly
spattered over with mud from round shot and bul-
lets."

TILE ALLIED. EXPEDITION TO CHINA

Two Paris journals, the Univers and the Presse,
contain letters from China giving details of the
affair. The correspondent of the Univers writes as
follows :
." The brilliant English squadron, composed of
12 gunboats and of several other vessels of various
sizes, and the two French steamers Duchayla and
Norzagaray, anchored at the Peiho on the 16th of
June. In the forts of Takou no movement was to
be discerned. A boat was sent ashorep to examine
the place ; a Mandarin came down and prohibited
a landing. The officer then announced the arrival
of the Ministers for the ratification of the treaties
at Pekin, and demanded free passage for the ships.
The Chinese replied very rudely that no man-of-
-war could pass, and that he might seek a passage
farther north if he chose. It was soon discovered
that the mouth of the Peiho was obstructed by
numerous stockades extending very far inland. To
the questions addressed to them as to the object of
these stockades, the Chinese replied that the autho-
rities had nothing to do with them, that they were
the work of the people for protection against pirates.
These replies imposed upon no one ; three days
were given to the Mandarins to remove the barriers.
A formal refusal was the reply. During all this
parleying there was a complete silence in the forts,
not a flag nor a movement was perceptible ; the
works were so well concealed that one might easily
have thought the forts deserted. On the 25th of
June orders were given to the gunboats to advance
and force the passage. The Plover and Opossum
were fortunate enough to force the first two stock-
ades, but thi third stopped them. The Chinese,
seeing themllans engaged, while the Starling and
the Banterer touched the ground, lifted the mask
by a cannon shot fired at the Plover, which carried
away Admiral Hope's flag. It was the signal for
a frightful butchery. The awnings (tentes) that
concealed the batteries were drawn aside in an in-
stant, and a terrible hail of cannon-balls fell on the
gunboats. These replied bravely, but the posi-
tion was not tenable. The admiral received
two wounds. His flag was transferred to another
gunboat, and the action became general. The fire
from the forts was too heavy for the gunboats, and
had already sunk three of them. It was attempted
to land the 1,200 or 1,300 disposable men. But
these, unfortunately; found themselves up to the
waist in mud, their ammunition was quickly'
damaged, it was impossible to advance except with
the most extraordinary efforts, and the enemy con-
tinued to fire on these brave men, who could not
make use of their arms. The officers performed
prodigies of valour to encourage their men, who
were harassed by fatigue. By nine o'clock at night
460 men were killed or wounded. The gunboats
had exhausted their ammunition. The remainder
of the troops regained their ships through fatigue i
and dangers impossible to describe. Sixty French
of the crew of the Duchayla shared in the action ;
four were killed and 10 wounded. The brave Com-
mandant Tricault, of the Duchayla, is wounded in
the arm, not dangerously. Besides the three gun-
boats destroyed two others were sunk during the
action ; fortunately, they were recovered during the
night. This is the summary of the most terrible
check that the Europeans have ever experienced in
China."
The letter then remarks that this event will cause
a great sensation in Japan and Cochin China, and
that its consequences will be immense if speedy and
complete. vengeance be not taken. Exemplary
chastisement must be inflicted on the Tartar, or
European influence and honour will ‘be seriously
compromised in that part of the world.
" Not only is trade no longer safe, but even the
lives of residents in China are more or less in dan-
ger. The merchants in Shanghai are getting ready
to depart, and at Hong Kong assassinations will
probably recommence. The forts of Takou were
defended by thousands of Mongol Tartars, and the
nredlfortificationseerst must have been directed by European
ussTiahnesEonngtlhisehrastmaptearetsv.enßutthoatthethrepyrodoifs.;
econf-
are necessary before admitting so serious an accusa-
tion. What appears more certain that the
cannons proceeded from Russian foundries ; th'it
will not suprise you y if you accept as certain a
rumour spread here that the Russians
r an immense extent of territory
usutniboverusgahllty-
lOaive jthe Amoor, paid for in munitions of war of
which 700 cannon form part." ,
The letter in the Presse agrees with the above
in most of the essential points, but itgives some
further particulars. In the first place it says that
similar reports from all sides gave warning that
the expedition would encounter great obstacles be-
fore reaching Pekin; they said that the Takou
forts had been reconstructed and formidably armed,

and unpromising character. In the first place, hay-
ing
been recently in Ireland visiting some property
with which he was connected, he had found there,
in conversing with persons of all classes, a very
gen eral and just resentment at the entire exclusion
of Irishmen from any share in-the new appoint-
ments: In all the Governments since the Union,
natives 'of that country, according to their
political connexion, had been called on to bear
their share in the administration of public affairs.
In the late Government there was an Irish
nobleman in the office of Secretary for Ireland,
another Irish nobleman at the head of the Board
of Tra.dE.. , and an Irish lawyer of the greatest elo-
quence and ability—Sir H. Cairns—(cheers)— Soli-
citcr-General, not for Ireland, but for England.
Bn't in the present Government there was not a
single Irishman. (A Voice.—" Palmerston.") In
this respe't at least the Conservatives were far
mare Liberal than those who claimed the name;
and those who sought to vindicate the title of
Literal for the present Government in its Irish
affairs at least would be obliged to have recourse to
the mode employed by Swift when with inimitable
irony he described the claims of William 111. to be
considered a conqueror though he had never won a
battle—

GLOUCESTER MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

GLOUCESTER, SEPT. 15. ,
The " May Queen," which the oftener it is heard
the more clearly are its beauties revealed, occupied
the whole of the first part of the programme last
night, when the second miscellaneous concert was
held in the Shire hall ; the audience as numerous as
on Tuesday evening, but not quite so ready to ap-
preciate. The performance, however, lost both in-
vigour and spirit by the continued indisposition of
Mr. Sims Reeves, whose praiseworthy efforts to pre-
vent disappointment at the cathedral, when" Elijah"
was given, brought on a relapse. Sooner than in-
cur the chance of a surmise that he was wanting in
the respect due to his eminent countryman, Profes-
sor Sterndale Bennet, Mr. Reeves appeared at his
post, and though he has certainly delivered the
beautiful music of the " Lover" with greater power
and effect, he never exerted himself more zealously.
That he 'was suffering severely must have been evi-
dent to all who heard him, and this devotion to his
professional duties, under circumstances of such dif-
ficulty, was infinitely to his credit, and entitled him
to more consideration than (as will be seen further
on) he ultimately received. In the "May Queen"
Mrs. Clara Hepworth (with her formidable prede-
cessor, Madame Clara Novello, close at hand) had
to support alike an honourable and an onerous posi-
tion, and that she went through the ordeal right
well was the unanimous opinion. The least grate-
ful character in the "pastoral"—that of the Queen
of England—was very carefully sustained by Miss
Lascelles, while the graphic and picturesque music
of the Forester (the suppositious Robin Hood) could
hardly have been entrusted to a singer better fitted
by voice, style, and a legitimate desire for artistic
distinction than our young and clever English
bass, Mr. Thomas, to do it justice. The chorus
(some of them being from the metropolis were
" up" in the work) were far more successful in the
" May Queen" than at the first concert in the
" Choral Fantasia," and more, uniformly amenable
to the control of Mr. Amott, who with laudable
anxiety had made himself conversant with every
important point,in the score, and did not this time
force the whole strength of his choir to execute
passages intended for solo voices. And yet had the
conductor of the Glocester Festival allotted the trio,
" Shall a clown that beauty wear?" to full chorus
in lieu of single voices, it would scarcely have been
more objectionable than the step which proved so
disastrous to the solo voice parts in the imaginative
work of Beethoven. A strict adherence to the
composer's own directions cannot too often be in-
sisted on as the only means of realising the effects
at which he aims. The band, of course, were per-
fectl? at home in Professor Bennett's music, with
every note of which they must by this time be in-
timately acquainted. The " May Queen" will now
in all probability " go the round" of the provincial
music meetings ; and rarely has a new work been
better entitled to universal appreciation.
The " Pastoral" was followed (like " Don Gio-
vanni," on Tuesday) by an instrumental display.
This time, not the piano, but the fiddle—or rather
two fiddles—had the post of honour, and the entire
success of the performance was a strong proof that
in thus relieving the monotony induced by a ldng
uninterrupted succession of vocal pieces the direc-
tors of the festival act judiciously. The composi-
tion selected for the present occasion was one of the
best of the violin duetts of Dr. Spohr, a work in
which the very individual manner of that great
master :the living Altmeister of "Vaterland," is ex-
hibited' to consummate advantage.
,The players were
M. Sainton, the prince of French violinists, and Mr.
Henry Blagrove, who has long and well maintained
the foremost place among our own. As
the duet, besides being intrinsically beautiful, is
full of brilliant passages, and written almost
throughout in what is termed the concertante style,
the two executants had ample and fairly balanced
opportunities of shining. Both shone conspicuously,
and both retired from the platform covered with
laurels. The opposition of styles formed an attrac-
tion of itself. The splendid energy and vigorous
expression of the Frenchman, the " silvery" tone
and unfailing delicacy of the Englishman, not only
contrasted most effectively, but blended to perfec-
tion. A greater treat could not be well imagined
than this display of friendly rivalry between two
first-rate artists; and the first part of the concert
was brought to a conclusion in such a way as at
once to rouse thq Musical enthusiast and sati-ly the
taste of the most exacting connoisseur. The mis-
cellaneous selection was as follows :

"Nassau, who got the name of glorious
Because he never was victorious."
(Laughter.) There was, moreover, now pending
in Ireland one- of the most momentous 'questions
which could engage the attention of Government—
the question of national education. The Roman
Catholic hierarchy and a portion of the hierarchy
of the Established Church had declared themselves
hostile to the present system. Whatever decision
the Government might come to—whether to main-
tain it, to abrogate it, or to modify • it—their deci-
sion could not command the same confidence in
Ireland as if there were some man in their ranks
born and brought up in the country, and inti-
mately acquainted with the wishes of the people.
(Hear.) Again, when the Government was formed
there were three gentlemen (Mr. Labouchere, Mr.
V. Smith, and Sir B. Hall) who had formerly held
offices, but who were not invited,to resume them.
In naming those gentlemen he desired to speak of
them with all personal respect, for with all three
he- had lived for a long time on terms of friendly
acquaintance. It was not thought fit to propose
to them to resume the offices they had formerly
held, but the plan of the Government was to offer
them seats in the House of Lords by . way
of compensation. This certainly was a most
unusual course, and was, in fact, postponing the
public advantage to the convenience of party.
What would be said in the House of Commons if
the electors of a constituency were asked to send a
man to that assembly because he was not thought
fit or was not asked to take the office of justice of
the peace or deputy-lieutenant, for instance ? It
seemed to be a remnant of that system which was
affected by the Whig party until very recent years
—governing the country by means of the great
Whig houses; for it went on this maxim, thct any
one who had once held an office had a prescriptive
right either to that same office or to some substitute
for it. (Hear, hear.) In this respect the Conser-
vative or the Liberal-Conservative party, as
.it
might be called, had more right to the name of
Liberal than those who had usurped it. If he had
rightly read the annals of the party, their maxim
had been that no man who had once held an office
should be deemed to have a prescriptive right to
it, but the Prime Minister had a perfect right to
consider 'who were the persons best fitted for par-
ticular offices, and those who were excluded were
not entitled to anything by way of compensation
for their exclusion. He should be sorry if it were
for a moment supposed that the House of Lords had
any jealousy of any fresh 'admissions to their ranks.
The very reverse was the case, so far as his obser-
vation and feelings went; and if he wished for an
instance of the cordiality with which additions were
received he would point to that of the noble and
learned lord near him, who, having achieved the
highest forensic reputation as Mr. Pemberton
Leigh, now, .to the great advantage of the public,
lent his assiaanc to the despatch of the judicial
business of the House of Lords as Lord Kings-
down. (Cheers.) The House of Lords was most
anxious to receive among them any man, who
came there, having received the peerage as a re-
ward fbr public services; but they objected to receive
those who came before them, net for services ren-
dered, but because they were not allowed or not
required to render services. (Hear.) In this re-
spect the prerogative of the Queen had not been
fairly dealt with by the responsible Ministers of
the Crown, and the importance of regulating the
admission to one branch of the Legislature had not
been considered with the fairness of justice which
it required. In these two instances there had been
in the formation of the Government some unpro-
mising indications, but nevertheless a predeter-
mined and indiscriminating opposition was not the
attitude which ought to be assumed by Conserva-
tives. (Hear.) If dangerous measures were intro-
duced they ought to put forth their strength to
oppose them, but if the measure were satisfactory
Conservative feeling would best be shown in wel-
coming Conservative measures from whatever
quarter they might come. (Cheers.) The Conserva-
tive did not pledge its supporters to all
the details of measures, but merely to the general
policy of maintaining the ancient institutions of
the country. In every measure brought before
them, true Conservative policy would prompt them
to consider only whether it were calculated to
maintain those institutions. It did not exclude
measures of repair,—the very reverse. In material
matters repairs, and large repairs too, were often
found to be necessary for preservation. (Hear.)
Changes might be made in political matters—nay,
considerable changes---provided they were made
on the principle of supporting and strengthening
the institutions which our forefathers transmitted
to ur. (Cheers.) There was a groat difference be-
tween those improvements which tended to give
new vigour to the fabric, and those changes which
the revolutionists of the day recommended, seeking
to subvert the fabric altogether. (Cheers.) The
chief maxim in public affairs should be the safety of
our public institutions; and in adhering to that
maxim the danger of yielding to revolutionary
schemes and the danger of leaving unreformed old
and proved abuses would be equally avoided. Of
most of the attacks made on the institutions
of the country it might be said that they were
equally fallacious and disingenuous. For instance,
no argument was more frequently used against the.
House of Lords than the apparent absurdity of
legislative functions being hereditary, and capable
Of transmission from father to son, but those who
used this argument either suppressed or forgot the
fact that it applied with equal force to a heredi-
tary monarchy. Such an argument was not justi-
fiable except in the mouths of those who were pre-
pared to dispense altogether with a form of govern-
ment under which this country had so greatly
flourished. (Cheers.) In foreign countries this
same constitution of ours, which uninformed or
designing men decried, was the object of admiration
and of envy. He had travelled several times in
Italy, and if there waftne feeling which animated
that people,-who were gallantly struggling for their
liberties, more than another, it was admiration for
the English Constitution ; and often, when persons
had found fault in conversation with our constitu-
tion, he had heard Italians exclaim with the deepest
feeling, " Would to Heaven that with all its faults
that constitution were ours ! " In Dryden's ele-
gant language, it was to them
" The people's prayer—the glad diviner's theme—
The young man's vision and the old man's dream."
The noble earl concluded by inculcating, on the
Conservatives of West Kent the virtues of " union
and determination," by which their recent victory
had been won, and by which alone it could be won
again should another contest ensue.
" The Health of the Members, Lord Holmesdale
and Sir G. Filmer," was next drunk, for which both
returned thanks.
Lord DARNLEY responded to the toast of " The
House of Lords," and Mr. G. HARDY to that of
" The House of Commons." Various other local
toasts were also drunk, all with great enthusiasm.
Mr. Harker was the toastmaster of the evening.

Overture—" Oberon Weber
Spirit Song—Miss Dolby Haydn
Aria—Madlle. Tietjens, " Tacea la nottee"
Duet—Madame Clara Novello and Signor
Belletti, " Crudel perche"
Aria—Sig. Giuglini, "La Donna e mobile" Verdi
Aria—Mine. Clara Novello, " Prendi perme" Benedict
Trio—" Guai se ti sfugge" Donizetti
Song—Miss Dolby, " Broken Vows" F. Berger
Aria—Signor Belletti, " Sulla poppa" Ricci
Quartet—" Un di se" Verdi

In the well-known trio from "Lucrezia Borgia,"
and the not. less generally familiar quartet from
" Rigoletto"—each in its way faultless, but neither
quite suited for the concert-room—Mademoiselle
Tietjens, Signor Giuglini, and Signor Vialetti took
part, Miss Dolby being assigned the music of
Maddalena, and thus completing the parti carre
(or quarre). But the feature of the second
part was not either of theso very popular
operatic pieces ; nor was it the lively air
which the Duke of Mitntua, that impudent
traducer of the fair sex, sings with such easy non-
chalance while exposed to unseen perils ; it was not
" La donna e mobile" (although sung to perfection
by Signor Giuglini, and as usual redemanded) ; nor
was it Mademoiselle Tietjens' magnificent execu-
tion of the great air of Leonora (Verdi's Leonor—
not Paer's, nor Donizetti's, nor Beethoven's) which
made the audience " beside themselves" with de-
light ; nor Haydn's " Spirit Song," nor Ricci's
" Sulla poppa," the former of which Miss Dolby,
the latter Signor Belletti, sings so frequently and
inimitably ; nor the duet in which Almaviva makes
love to Susanna, in Mozart's incomparable
" Figaro ;" nor " Predi per me," where Mr. Bene-
dict has contended gallantly with the most
favoured manufacturers of " cavatinas ;" nor M.
Francesco Berger's pretty ballad ; nor even the
irrisistible overture to " Oberon," revealing Weber's
genius in its brightest splendour ; not one of these
was the feature of the second part. " What, then,"
our musical readers may inquire—and naturally
enough, every piece in the programme having been
signalized by name—" What, then, was the feature
of the second part ?" Well, it was neither an over-
ture, nor an " aria," nor a ballad, nor a duet, nor a
trio, nor a quartet, nor a barcarole, nor a " spirit
song ;"—it was a.speeclr, and a speech out of four.
No less than four speeches were adventured in the
course of about one hour last night—three short,
and little to purpose ; ono not very long, but much
to the purpose. Of the short speeches one was de-
livered by Mr. T. Gambier Parry, a " steward," and
two were furnished by the Mayor of Gloucester ;
the not very long speech flowed gently from the
lips of Madame Clara Novello. The origin of all
these improvised orations may be briefly stated.,
The indisposition of Mr. Sims Reeves has been
alluded to. It was observed on all sides during
the performance of " The May Queen," and
no one ought to have felt surprise, how-•
ever he inay have experienced disappoint•
ma, at the omission of a ballad allotted to that
gentleman in the second part of the concert.
When, however, Madame Novello had sung
" Prendi per me" out of its place, and on her retir-
ing there were no signs of Mr. Reeves, the audi-
ence began td be restive, and would not be pacified
until one of the stewards (Mr. T. G. Parry) came
forward and addressed them. He said (as nearly
as can be remembered)—"Ladies and Gentlemen,—
It seems to be the principal duty of the stewards to
make apologies, for Mr. Sims Reeves. The stewards
have done all in their power, but, as Mr. Sims
Reeves has quietly walked off, the stewards cannot
fetch him back, and I hope they will not be blamed.
He has found a good friend in Madame Novelle,
who has kindly consented to sing a song is his
stead." This address was received with mingled
applause and hisses. It did not, however, satisfy
Mr. Reeves's substitute, who, protesting that it
conveyed an erroneous statement of the facts, de-
clared that she would not sing until it had been
corrected. The Mayor of Glocester (on the refusal
of his colleague to set matters right) then volun-
teered an explanation. which amounted to this—
" Ladies and Gentletnen,—l have the pleasure to inform
you that Madame Novell° will give another song in place
of Mr. Sims Iteeves."

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•Cries of " Not enough"—" We know that already "
--greeted the ears of his worship as he left the plat-
form after having delivered himself of this weighty
piece of information. Bting apprised of the inade-
quate manner in -which he had accomplished his
self imposed task, the Mayor returned to the charge,
and addressed his turbulent co-citizens afresh :
" Ladies and Gentlemen," he said, "I am to state
that Mr. Sims Reeves, being ill, was compelled to
leave." This speech, a worthy pendant of the other,
was answered by shouts of laughter, and it seemed
unlikely now that the disturbance would be quelled
at all. After a long interval, during the progress
of which the Shire-hall threatened to be turned into

a bear-garden, Madame Clara Novello made her
appear,nee on the platform, 4o fulfil, as was
generally surmised, the task she had under-
taken as deputy. Shouts, cheers, and plaudits
greeted her from every part of the room, and when
hese subsided she opened her lips—but not to sing.
Instead of " Bonnie Prince Charlie," it was "Ladies
and Gentlemen." Calmly, unaffectedly, and yet
firmly, Madame Novello, like a musical Portia, ad-
monished her hearers. She spoke to the following
purport :—" Before he went away, very ill, Mr.
lteevcs explained to the conductor his total inabi-
lity to sing his ballad in the second part; but with

a desire that the audience might not be losers
through his indisposition, which was not his fault,
he applied to me to introduce something in its
place, and even sent for a copy of the ballad I am
now going to have the honour of singing to you,
with much less ability than, he would have shown.

Mr. Amott, with wham alone the artists engaged at
the festival can communicate on business, was con-
sulted, and gave his approval ; and not satisfied
e ven with this, Mr. Reeves spoke with one of the
stewards, who also consented to the change. Had
this been stated, no fault could possibly have been
laid to his charge. I thus take the liberty to ad-
dress you, ladies and gentlemen, because I will not,
if I can help it, allow a brother artist to be unjustly
accused, as Mr. Reeves was—of course uninten-
tionally—in the explanation given this evening, or
to be blamed when he is entirely innocent—and
especially when he had taken all the precautions in
his power to compensate for any disappointment."
The tones of the nightingale had more persuasive
eloquence in them than the voices of the steward
and the mayor. The fair apologist (who speaks,
by the way, quite as musically as she sings) was
completely overwhelmed with the demonstrations
of complete satisfaction that her quiet speech had
elicited, and the peace of her "brother artist" was
made with the public. We do not remember a
more graceful act on the part of one artist to an-
other—an act implying a strong sense of right, no
little moral courage, and the total absence of a cer-
tain feeling of jealous rivalry from which even the
most distinguished members of the profession are
not invariably exempt.
There was a larger attendance at the Cathedral
this morning than yesterday, and the collection
for the widows and orphans was in proportion.
The numbers present were 1,546, the amount
handed over by the plate-holders, £2ll 14s. id.,
including the triennial contribution of £6O from
the Worcester fuad, presented through the medium
of the Rev. R. Sarjant, the most active promoter
and directer of the Worcester Festival. The pro-
gramme was one of inordinate length—including
the whole of Beethoven's " Mount of Olives" (with,.

the new version of the words under the title of
" Engedi), Rossini's '• Stabat Mater," and Spohr's
oratorio of" Die letzen Dirge"—or, as we call it in
England, " The Last Judgment"—both entire. • The
selection was highly attractive, but at least one
,hour too long. The " Mount of Olives" was, on the
whole, well executed. Mr. Montem Smith doing
service with commendable spirit and artistic readi-
ue ss for Mr. Sims Reeves in the arduous and diffi-
cult tenor music ; Madame Novello singing the
equally trying soprano part splendidly, Mrs. Hep-
worth, assisting in the trio, together with Mr.
Thomas, to. whom was also intrusted the one bass
recitative, which he delivered in a most impressive
manner. The chorus (except in parts of the fine
dramatic scene where the soldiers of Saul are
tracing David to his place of refuge) was efficient,
especially in the " Hallelujah" which so grandly
terminates the only essay in the oratorio style that
Bepthoven has left us. In the " Stabat Mater"—
like " The Requiem" of Mozart, has now taken
its proper place at the festival of the united choirs,
no less than at Exeter-hall—the singers were
Madame Novello, Miss Dolby, Mrs. Hepworth, Mr.
Montem Smith, and Signor Belletti. Of this, how-
ever (and of Spohr's very fine work, which should be
heard much oftener), we'must defer speaking until
to-morrow, merely adding that in " Quis est home"
(Madame Novello and Miss Dolby), " Pro peccetis"
(Signor Belletti), " Fac ut portem" (Miss Dolby),
and " Inflammatus" (Madame Novello), the singers
earned golden opinions, incontestably their due;
The audience rose and remained standing during the
performance of the " Hallelujah" in the " Mount of
Olives," and four choruses in the " Last Judgment,"
"Praise His awful name," "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord
God of Hosts," " Blessing, honour, glory, and
power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,"
and the " Hallelujah" at the end.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

DONCASTER RACES-SEPT. 15.

After the excitement of yesterday, there was a lull this
moraing. But the remembrance of the St. Leger of 1859
will abide through many years, not to adorn a tale, but to
show, to say the least of it, the evil of entertaining too much
confidence, assuming that Promised Land was run to win.
We may perhaps be excused the remark,—" Why all this
swagger about Promised Land P" The answer is found in
the fact, that the brightness of the Woodyeates stables has
been dimmed by Whitewall; Yorkshire has eclipsed the
south this year in the most marked manner possible. 6to
4 on the Land, and 20 to 1 agst Gamester, is tolerably sig-
nificant of a great triumph. The card of to-day had seven
events for decision, the most important of which was the
Eglinton Stakes, carried off most easily by North Lincoln.

The Zetland Stakes of 50 sovs each, h ft, for three-yr-olds ;
colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 311:r.. One mile and a half. 4

subs.

Lord Zetland's Qui 'Vire, by Voltigeur, Bst 31b
(J. Osborne) 1
Baron Rothschild's Bastion, Bst 71b (Wells), 2
Sir R. W. Bulkeley's Knuckle Duster, Bst 71b
(W. Boyce) 3

Betting--5 to 4 agst Qui Vive, 11 to 8 agst Bastion, 9to
2 agst Itnuckle Duster.
Qui Vive led throughout, and won by three-quarters of a
length; bad third. _ _ _

Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, h ft, with 50 added,
for two-yr-olds. Winners extra. The second to save his

stake. Red House in. 23 subs. '
Mr. Saxon's Mixture, 7st 71b (L. Snowden) 1
Mr. W. Scott's Prologue, 7st 91b (Fordham) 2
Mr. O'Hara's Spoff3rth Maid, Bst 41b (Withington) 3
The following also ran :—Birdcage, Knayton, Queen of
the Vale, Jhirza, Adele, Herman, Tousle, and Dartmouth.
Betting-5 to 2 agst Dartmouth, 3to 1 agst Herman, 5
to 1 agst Mixture, 8 to 1 agst Prologue.
Mixture did not arrive on the course until just at the
time appointed for the start. As it was doubtful, there-
fore, whether he would get to the post, his number was
removed from the telegraph.

Won by half a length two lengths between the second
and third ; Dartmouth was a good fourth ; Herman was
fifth ; and Thirza sixth.
The Cleveland Handicap of 20 sovs each, 10 ft, and 5 only
if declared, &c., with 60 added; certain winners extra ;
the second to save his stake. One mile. 33 subs, 15 of
whom pay 5 soya each. _ .

Sir H. Des Vceux's Comforter, 3 yrs, 6st 101 b (Custance) 1
Mr. Jones's Ditto, 4 yrs, Bst 71b (J. Osborne) 2
Mr. R. Ten. Broeck's Woodburn, 3 yrs, sst 121 b
(W. Bottom) 3
The following also ran :—Maid of Masham filly, Hegira,
Amsterdam, Raspberry, Bankrupt, and Lovett.
Betting-100 lo 30 agst Maid of Masham filly, 4 to 1 agst
Lovett, 4 to 1 agst Amsterdam, 6 to 1 agst Comforter, 7 to
1 agst Woodburn, 10 to 1 agst Bankrupt.
From the distance the race was left to the first three,
Comforter going on with the lead, and winning by half a
length; a head between the second and third ; Maid of
Masham filly was fourth, and Amsterdam fifth.

The Eglinton Stakes of 10 sovs each, 5 ft, with 100 added,
for two and three-yr-olds ; allowances and penalties ; the
second to receive 25 sovs out of the stakes; T.Y.C. 37
subs.
Baron Rothschild's North Lincoln, by Pylades, 3 yrs,
9st llb (in. 31b ex.) (J. Osborne) 1
Mr. Saxon's Mixture, 2 yrs, 7st (J. Snowden) 2
Mr. Hudson's Lady Trespass, 2 yrs, Est 111 b (Challoner) 3
Capt. Christie's Cheesecake, 2 yrs, Est 111 b (Bray) 4

Betting-5 to 2on North Lincoln, sto 1 agst Mixture

North Lincoln lay off until reaching the distance, when•
he came away, and won in a canter by .a length and a half
a length between second and third ; half a length between
third and fourth.

The Juvenile Selling Stakes of 5 sovs each, with 50 added

Half a mile. 9 subs.
Mr. Brown's Weatherbound (£4O), 7st 101 b (Fordham) 1
Mr. Smith's Pomona (£4O), 7st 101b* (Charlton) 2
Mr. Saxon's Jenny Longlegs (£4O), 7st 101 b
(L. Snowden) '3
Mary Stuart, Brown Agnes, Remedy, and Myrtle also
ran.

. Betting-6 to 4 agst Jenny Longlegs, 4to 1 each agst
Weatherbound and Brown Agnes. '
Won by three-quarters of a length ; a neck between the
second and third ; good fourth.

The winner was bought in for 140 guineas.
A. Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, with 50 added, for 2-yr•
olds ; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 41b ; winners extra
T.Y.C. 25 subs.

Mr. Jaques' High Treason, by Mildew, 9st (in. 71b ex.)
(Flatman) 1
Lord Annesley's Sweetsauce, Bst 71b (Aldcroft) 2
Mr. Hudson's Lady Trespass, Bst 91b (in. 51b extra)
(J. Osborne) 3

Horror, Thirza, and Grenadier also ran.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Sweetsauce, 9to 4 agst High Trea-
son, 3 to 1 agst Horror.
Won by a neck ; four lengths between second and third.
The Scarborough Stakes of 20 sovs each, 10 ft, for 3-yr-
olds ; colts, Bst 71b; and fillies, Bst 31b. One mile.
Mr. Watt's Souvenir (Charlton) 1
Mr. Merry's Conjuror
Colonel Smith's Uralian ...... ................................ 3
..
2
Won by a length; Uralian a bad third.

THE AURORA BOREALIS AND TELEGRAPHS.—
M. Bergon has communicated to the French Academy of
Sciences the following remarkable effects produced by the
aurora borealis of the 28th ult. On the following day,
about half-past ten p.m., all the bells of the lines which
were not worked at the time began to ling ; on the
Cher lines transmission became impossible, and the
galvanometers marked the passage of a permanent cur.
rent. The effect was more apparent on the limo of
Bordeaux, Marseilles, and Northernt than on the
Eastern and Western lines. On the following morning, com-
munication within a space of 40 leagues became compara-
tively easy, but there were still interruptions now and then.
The perturbations continued on the let and 2d inst. Strong
sparks were obtained.from the lightning conductors of Bor-
deaux add Toulouse. The fact that long lines are more
easily influenced than short ones was proved, by directing
one of the offices of the neighbourhood to detach its wire
from the long line and to use it; and it was found that
while it was impossible to send a despatch along the whole
line, a perfect communication was established through a
part of it.