The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-05 00:00:00

MR. BENEDICT'S CONCERTS.

Thelast of these concerts took place yesterday afternoon, in
St. James's Hall, before a brilliant and fashionable assem-
bly. Renowned as Mr. Benedict has been during a long
series of years for organising programmes of unprecedented
interest, he probably never offered to his numerous aristo-
cratic patrons a more splendid musical treat than that of
yesterday. There was an efficient orchestra, directed by
Mr. Benedict himself, one of the most musician-like of con-
ductors, whose labour was shared in the lighter vocal pieces
(",the pretty Italian songs," as learned old Sebastian Bach
would have called them) by Signor Arditi, and in the piano
forte aceompaniments by Mr. Lindsay Sloper. The orches-
tral prelude to the concert was Weber's overture to " Der
Freischutz," and the first air was " Madamina," from "Don
Giovanni," sung with care by Sig. Marini. M. Engel then
gave a specimen of his talent on the harmonium, choosing
for his theme the serenade from the same inimitable opera,
and exhibiting the capabilities of the instrument to eminent
advantage. To this succeeded a very pretty song by Mr.
Benedict, entitled " The Troubadour's Serenade," which
Herr Reichardt did his utmost to make effective.

Next came Hummel's " Rondo Brilliant in B flat" (on a
Russian theme), for pianoforte and orchestra, one of the
capital works of its composer, and the difficulties of which
are insurmountable by performers, however expert, who
have not diligently applied themselves to the genuine school
of pianoforte playing—from Bach, Mozart, and Dussek, to
Hummel himself, as a professor of the instrument and a
master of its legitimate resources second to none.
At Mr. Benedict's first concert no one can have forgotten
the effect produced by Herr Leopold de Meyer (pianist
to his Majesty the Emperor of Austria) in one of his own
brilliant solos. So flattering, indeed, was the recep-
tion accorded to the distinguished " virtuoso," that it
was natural Mr. Benedict should secure his services for
the next occasion. M. de Meyer plays with, rather than
plays on, the piano, so marvellous is his facility; and the
charm attached to his performances is greatly enhanced by
the fact that his mechanical dexterity and power of hand
are united with a touch which, in subdued passages, and in
the execution of graceful ornament and " floriture," has
never been excelled. This time M. de Meyer did not play
a solo, but joined Miss Arabella Goddard in a duet of his
own composition, for two pianofortes, founded upon themes
from the " Trevatore." A more showy production of its
kind was never listened to.
After this remarkable display came the Scotch ballad
a Annie Laurie," by Mademoiselle Vaneri, an English
singer with an Italian name, for an introduction to whom
the musical public is indebted to that indefatigable artist-
finder, Mr. E. T. Smith.
We have rarely had to notice a musical entertainment on
a vast scale—a "monster concert" in the fullest accepta-
tioia of the term—in which there was so little to condemn
as trivial and superfluous, so much to eulogise as refined
and excellent.

A speech lately delivered by M. de Kant, Presi-
dent of the Agricultural Society of Provins, contains some
curious information with respect to the production of wheat
in France. Forty years since there were only 4,600,000
hectares of land under wheat in France, and the average
pi oduce did not exceed 11 hectolitres the acre. At present
there are 100,000,000 hectolitres of wheat raised and the
average produce is 15 hectolitres the hectare. Within the
last 40 years, consequently the production of wheat has
nearly doubled in France. Now, as within the same period
the population of France increased only by ono-fifth, it is
easy to calculate how much the condition of each individual
has been improved by the addition made to his food. Ano-
ther consequence is, that France grows nearly sufficient
wheat for her own use without having recourse to a foreign
supply. It is expected that when Algeria becomes sufficiently
colonised, France, instead of being an importer of wheat,
will become a great exporter. A letter from Odessa of the
18th of June states that 30,000 ehetweits of wheat were
sold the preceding week at a reduction of 25 copecks the
chetwert.

Accounts from Algiers of the 28th of June an-
nounce that the corn crops in that colony will give a
favourable result this year. The wheat, oats, and barley
are already cut and stacked; the quality of the wheat is
superior to that of last year. The price of wheat at Algiers
is from 2f. to 3f. the hectolitre dearer than in France. A
letter from Lyons states that the orders received by the
manufacturers from the United States compensate them for
what they have lost by the war in Italy. It is feared,
however, that the failure of the silk crop this year will
create serious difficulties for next year. Cocoons are
quoted at 7f. the kilogramme.

The water sawing-mills at Bugey (Doubs) are
engaged night and day in cutting deal planks for the sup-
ply of the carpenters of Lyons in making boxes to pack
stores for the army of Italy ; in addition to which there is
a large demand for building purposes both at Lyons and in
the South of France, so that the timber trade is at present
unusually prosperous.
Confidence has been somewhat restored in French
commercial circles since the battle of Solferino. It is ex-
pected that Venice will shortly fall into the hands of the
Allies, and that a speedy conclusion to the war in Italy
may bo anticipated. The rapid progress made in the war
and the late victories possess another advantage in the
eyes of the industrious classes—they diminish the chances
of the war becoming general. The apprehension of the
German Confederation engaging in the quarrel is greatly
diminished.

ANDOVER GREAT WOOL FAlR.—This important
mart was held on Friday. At an early hour a large azTival
of wool had taken place, and by 1.1 o'clock in the morning
138,000 fleeces were pitched, being the greatest quantityever known. The number of dealers was large, and busi-
ness very brisk, which continued throughout the day, and
at the cloSe of the fair a generl clearance was effected at
the following prices :—Teg wool, 40s to 42s ; mixed, 38s to
40s ; Ewe, 36s to 37s 6d.

LocomonvEs.—A Bill of Mr. Garnett, Mr.
Wilson Patten, and Mr. Ridley enacts thefollowing scale of
tolls to be levied by corporations, commissioners, trustees,
and other persons—viz., for every locomotive attached to
any loaded waggon or carriage ls. ; for every waggon, wain,
or carriage, drawn by such locomotive, and having the fel-
loes of the wheels not loss than six or more than eight
inches in breadth, the sum of 3d. for each pair of wheels;
for every waggon, wain, or carriage, drawn by such locomo-
tive, and having the felloes of the wheels not less than eight
inches in breadth, the sum of 4d. for each pair of wheels.
Every locomotive must consume its own smoke. The reason
for the bill is recited in the preamble, to wit, that the use
of locomotive is likely to become common on turnpike-roads
for drawing waggons and carriages; and the existing
Turnpike Acts do not provide for the coutingenqi