The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-07 00:00:00

SIR R. PEEL.

The following facts ought to be known : they do equal
honour to Sir R. Peel's discernment and liberality :
On Monday last Mrs Somerville received an autograph let-
ter from Sir R. Peel, informing her in the most delicate style
of compliment that the knowledge of her acquirements in
science bad made it his duty to submit to His Majesty the pro-
priety of granting to her a pension on the civil list of 2001. a
year. Mrs. Somerville's letter of thanks was accompanied by
a copy of her book. The day following (Thursday last) she
received a handsome acknowledgment for the book, with an
expression of regret that it had lost the charm of novelty, as he
had already read it in the first edition.
The Rev. Mr. Milman has also received an autograph
letter from Sir R. Peel, offering this shamefully persecuted
author of the admirable History of the Jews the living of St.
Margaret's, Westminster.
Mrs. Hemans, who has employed her talents entirely for
the support of a large family, having been long since deserted
by her husband, was lately (within ten days) most dangerously
ill. In this state, in bed, with a pencil, she wrote some beau-
tiful verses, which were sent to her friend, the accomplished
Mrs. Lawrence, of Liverpool, who sent them to a nobleman
in London, who was so struck with them and the unhappy
situation of their author, that he took them to Sir Robert
Peel, who instantly desired the nobleman to cause Mrs. He-
mans' eldest son, about 18 (who has been educated _ gratis by
Dr. Butler, of Shrewsbury,) to come to London to receive an
appointment in a public office, whilst Sir R. Peel himself
wrote a letter of condolence to the mother, enclosing a bank
note of 1001. for his outfit.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

FOURTH CONCERT.

The fourth subscription night of these performances for
this season took place on Monday evening at the Hanover-
square Rooms, under the direction of Mr. H. R. Bishop.
The instrumental compositions were Maurer's symphony in
F minor (performed for the first time in this country), the
" Jupiter" of Mozart (No. 6), Beethoven's overture to " Leo-
nora," Weber's overture to " Euryauthe," a quintetto for cla-
rioni, two violins, viola, and cello, by Mozart; and a concerto
for the violin, by Beethoven. The vocal pieces consisted of
the well-known sccna in E major, from " La Dolma del Lago"
by Rossini ; " Il Pensier," from the " Orfeo" of Haydn ; the
terzetto, " Soave Sia it Vento," from the " Cosi Fan Tutte"
of Mozart ; and a magnificent scena from the " Pietro von
Abano" of Spohr. Maurer is a ptipil of Spohr, and is.
known in this country as the writer of an excellent
quartette and an operetta which appeared at the Lyceum
a few seasons since. H:s symphony in F minor is a composi-
tion of great merit, displaying a mind deeply imbued with the
imaginative feelings of his master. He has the most perfect
acquaintance of the orchestra, and his skill in the employment
of the various instruments was fully displayed in the elegant
scherzo and trio which formed the third movement of the
symphony. The first and the last movements were the best,
in which the studious amateur may find many elaborate modu-
lations, ingenious melodies, and novel dispositions of the har-
mony. The Sinfonia of Mozart, althougl. the most learned of
all his works, is happily so familiar to the English public, as to
render it unnecessary for us to enter into any minute criticism
upon its merits. It was executed in a masterly and truly
finished style. The overture to " Leonora," as it is called, is
the original overture, composed by Beethoven, to the exquisite
opera of ".Fidelio." It opens with the motive of the
scena sung by Haitzinger, and the second movement con-
tains the appalling notes given to the trumpet in the scene in
which Ellinore discovers herself to her husband, and protects
him from the assassin Dolkarre. It is a composition of trans-
ecridant merit, and was very delightfully performed. The
Quiritett of Mozart's, was given to Messrs. Willman, Loder,
Watts, Moralt, and Lindley, and is the same as was lately
brought forward at one of the Concerts of the Vocal Society.
The first and second movements are altogether worthy of their

auiii‘ I.—&Ze tis of a very high order. Mr. Mori
6.--"
distinguished himself in his highly finished performance of
Beethoven's Concerto, but altogether marred his efforts by the
extraordinary cadenza he thought proper to attach to it. We
would recommend him to reserve his own modulations for the
choice fantasias upon sundry Scotch airs and French dances
which it is our misfortune but too frequently to hear him per-
form. If Mr. Parry pursues his determination in bringing be-
fore the public such exquisite melodies as the Cavatina,
from the "Orpheus " of Haydn, and displays so much
feeling and taste for all that is beautiful in the
art, he will, ere long, maintain a high situation in his profes-
sion. We venture to remind him of the fine bass scena in the
" Faniska" of Cherubini, which has been hitherto overlooked
by the profession. The song from the opera of "Peter_ the
Accursed" of Spohr, executed by Mrs. H. R. Bishop, is one
of the finest movements in the whole opera, which, in our opi-
nion, is the greatest work its author has yet produced. It is so
novel and elaborate in its construction, melodies, and harmonies,
that it must be heard many times ere the unexperienced car can
estimate its teeming beauties. It was correctly, although rather
tamely, sung ; the agitato movement was performed in too
slow a time, nor-was there sufficient contrast preserved between
that and the prayer. The Directors of this Institution may
well be proud of the splendid compositions they have been
instrumental in producing to the musical public, and so long
as the works of Spohr, Weber, arid Beethoven appear in the
programmes of their concerts, they will doubtless meet with
the highest and most honourable patronage. •