The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-02 00:00:00

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY

The annual meeting of members of this important mu-
sical institution was held at Exeter-hall, on Tuesday
evening. Feb. 21. The President, J. N. Harrison, Eq.,
occupiecl the chair, as usual, and after a few remarks, con-
grAtulating the members upon the recurrence of another of
their annual meetings, which have now been
participated
in for twenty-five consecutive years by some of those pre-
sent, himself included, calla I upon the Hon. Secretary,
Thomas Brewer, Esq., to read the report of the proceed-
ings for the past year.
The report was then read, and contained allusions to the
following amongst other masers. As part of some statistics
of the society's constitution, it was stated that of the whole
number of members (in whom are vested the management)
now connected with the society, one third of them had
been connected with the society at least three-fourths of
the whole period of its existence, some of them having
taken part in its original formation. The committee, feel-
ing., no doubt, the propriety of the remarks which public
criticism has so frequently urged on their attention, now
distinctly announce that in the admission of practising
members int-) their orchestra, care continues to be taken,
by means of private trial and other probationary measures,
to avail themselves only of that assistance which is really
worth the having, and to satisfy the public requirements
which the society itself his created. The report announces
that between Jan. 4, 1856, and Jan. 2, 1857, the society
has given, including repetitions, fourteen concerts, of which
six were perform: noes of Handel's Oratorios. Amongst
these concerts are also to be reckoned four pen ormances of
Costa's " Eli," in the production of which work the talented
composer has, no doubt, received the most zealous assist-
ance of the members of the society. The vocalists who
have made their debut at the society's concerts during
the past year have been Miss Sherrington (Dow Madams
Leintnans), Miss Ransford, Mrs. Clare Hepworth, Aliso
Louisa Vining,l and Mr. Montem Smith. Amongst
the acquisitions to the Society's Musical Collection►
one of the most important ever formed, are an autos
graph letter of Handel, an article of acknowledged rarity,
many rare musical works and books illustrative of musical
history and theory, and some manuscript works of consi-
derable interest. The financial statement, as embodied in
the report, states the gross receipts from subscriptions, di-
vidends on stock, proceeds of concerts, &c., to have been
for the past year 5,2261. Bs. 101, which, with disburse-
ments for concert and other expenses, amounting to
5,374/. 3s. 91, leaves a deficiency of 1271. 14s. lid. Against
this deficiency there is to be put acquired property added to
the society's stock, valued in the report at 2001. The re-
port further alludes to a matter, not strictly forming part
of their own proceedings, but nevertheless of some interest
to the mesical public. It is well known that the autograph
scores of Handel's compositions are in the Royal Library
at Buckingham Palace. There have, however, been recently
brought to light the manuscript scores in the handwriting
of J. C. Smith, Handel's amanuensis, bearing internal eel'
dence, which is supported by ample testimony otherwise,
that then were the identical volumes from which the
great composer conducted his oratorios and operas. They
contain numerous emendetions and interesting memoranda
in Handel's autograph. They have been recently acquired
by Mr. Victor Scoelcher, who is well known to be occu-
pied in preparing a life of Handel, and to whose liberality
and courtesy in placing these invaluable manuscripts at
the disposal of the committee, for use and reference, the
report bears testimony. The report also acknowledges
the receipt of a most interesting and authentic portrait of
Handel, being the picture painted by Penner for Handel,
and by him presented to J. C. Smith, noticed in
" COM:,, 8 Anecdotes of Handel, and his Amanuensis,"
published in 1799, which picture has within the last few
weeks been generously presented to the society, by LadY
Rivers, who is in the line of descent from J. C. Smith.
This interesting and valuable picture was exhibited in
the room. A 9 a ma-k of the good feeling subsisting
between their talented conductor, Mr. Costa and the
society, the report states that that gentleman had of-
fered to the acceptance of the society, a very beautiful'y
executed bust of himself, by Mr. Oliveira. The forthcom-
ing Handel Festival at the Crystal Palace in the ensuing
summer was briefly alluded to, and an intimation
afforded that it would probably be found advantageous to
appoint the performances some few weeks later than ori-
ginally proposed. Full information on this subject was
promised to public announcement within a week. The
arrangements for the erection of the orchestra, and the
construction of the organ were represented as being in •
very forward state. The report refers to some other sub-
jects of more private interest, and concludes by alluding
to the establishment of a benevolent fund for distressed
persons, amateur or profesdonal, who, have at any time
been connected with the society, and notices the liberal
support this charitable association has hitherto met, both
in and out of the society. The detailed balance-sheet hav-
ing been read by the treasurer, it was, aNith the reports
formally received and adopted by the meeting. The never'
eery elections to supply vacant offices were then proceeded
with. In the course of the evening an appeal to the di-
rectors of Exeter-hall was unanimously agreed to, calling
on them to give attention to the representations so fre-
quently made by the public press and by the various en"
cietios meeting in the hall, to provide additional means of
ingress and egress, and expressing a strong opinion as to
the duty of the directors of Exeter-hall to yield to remon-
strances so frequently submitted on the subject. Several
votes of thanks to the committee, officers, and others who
had rendered service during the past year closed the pro*
ceedings,

Country Marko.

lIADDINGTON GRAIN MARK:
WHISAT. BARLEY I
First 7os Od 48s Od
Second 42s 3d } )
4Cs 7d
Third 323 Od I 34s Od 1

:ET—FEB. 27.
OATS.
403 Od 50s Od
) 29s Od ) 413 4d
1 17s Od 34s 04

.- . .
Total quantity of wheat in market, . 848 qrs., 742 sold
OP Pt barley ft 280 qrs., 209 sold
PP , oats ,) 885 qrs., 644 said
t! PP beans 294 qrs., 266 sold
AVERAGES PER IMPE-RTAL QUARTER.
Wheat, 2/. 2 3 5-12ths I Barley, —.T. 0 j 3.l2ths
Oate, ... 11. 9 0 3-12ths 1 Beaus, .....21. 1 4 2 -12 tbs

DALKEITH GRAIN MARKET—FEB 26.
Qrs. • Best. Current. Infeifor
598 Wheat 64s Od
1124 Oats 36s Od 23s 8(1 ..... ... 178
286 Barley 44s 6d 3ss 9id
121 Peas & beans 54s Od

ABERDEEN—FEB. 27.
Potato oats
Common oats 20i Od
00dd
tot 2
to
1s 0
22s °dd
1401bs per bushel
Bore 138 Od to 36s Od 1
531bs ~ Barley '33s Od to 36s Od
Wheat, red (Fpring)3ss Od to 38s Od } 621bs ~
white 30s Od to 45s Od
Oatmeal 17s 6d to 18s 6d per boll.
Flour 48s Od to 50s Od per sank.
PROVISION MARKET.
- --

Beef, per lb 6d to 9d
Mutton, per lb sdto 8d
Lamb, do.; Os Od to OH 0
Veal, per lb ... rd to Os 9,1
Pork, per 1b...0s 5d to Os 6d
Salmon, per lb Os to Os
Grouse, per brace
Tallow, p stone, Os to 12s 61
Rabbits, each...
Butter for exportation (preset
Eggs, wholesale price, per do:
RETAIL
F10ur,141b....0s Od to 2s 9d
Oatmeal Os Od to is 10d
Bereuieal Od to 2s 01
Peasemeal... Os Od to 2s 8d
Cheese, per imperial stc
4-lb. 10af...7d.

I Butter, p lb. is 01 t 1,21
Eggs, p doz. Os 8,1 to Os 1.03
I Hens, p pair 33 Od to 3s 6d
Chickens,do.2s Od to 2s 6d
Ducks, do., 2s Od to 2s 61
Ducklings,do Os Od to 0: 01
Turkeys, each 4s Od to 5i 01
Potatoes, pr peck, 81 to 101
9d to 10d.
nt cure) per cwt. 100 s to 1066
,zen
PRICES.
Barley flour,l4lb.oB to 2s 41
VP dust,
per lb 2d to 2id.
Sids, 6l
one, 4m. Od. to 48 6d
2-Ib.