The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-18 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 18, 1857.

ICE AND REFRIGERATORS.—The best
Pure Bl.o' 'K ICE and REF • IG E ATOM are to be had only
at SWEETING'S Fish, Oyster, and Ice Establishment, 159, Cheap-
side, City.

BADEN WAISTCOATS, two for one Guinea ;
the new summer trrusers, one guine ; the Beaufort flock
coat, two gu neas. Excellence and economy.—GEOßGE HOBSO.N,
tailor, 57, Lombard-street.

REAT WESTERN RAILWAY. -
,k3f. Cheap Excursion to Cirencester. Stroud, Gloucester, Chel •
tenham, Ross, and ilereferd from Paddington, on Saturiar, June
20th, at 6 p.m , returning on the following Monday from Ilerefotd
at 5 p.m., and intermediate station,: as per hand bills. Pares
Cirencester and Strou I, 9s. and ss. ; Gloucester at.d Cheltenham,
10s. and 65.; Ross, 10s. and 6s. 6d. ; Hereford, lls. and 7s.

GREAP WESTERN RAILWAY._
Cheap Excursion to Mellohurn, Trowbridge, Westbury,
Frome, Bruton, Castle Carey, Sparkfor,l, and Yeovil, on Saturday,
June 20th, from Paddington, at 6.30 p m , returning on Tues !ay, the
23d, from Yeovil, at 7.15 a.m., and intermediate stations as per hand
bills. ' Fares :—Melkshum, Trowbridge, and Westbury, Os. and 55.;
Frome, Bruton, Castle Carey, Spark(ord, and Yeovil; lbs. and Os.

REAT WESTERN RAILWAY.-

kir Cheap Excursion to Henley, Oxford, Banbury, Leamington,
.Warwick, and Birmingham, on Sunday, June 21st, from Paddington,
at 7.45 a.m., returning the sa pe night f oin Birmingham at 7 0
p.m., and intermediate stations as oer hand bills; or from all the
stations, except Henley, on the following day, leaving Birmingham
at 12.20 p.m., Warwick at 12.55 p.m., Leamington 1.5 p.m., Ban-
bury 1.40 p.m., and Oxford at 2.20 pm. Fares, there and back :
Henley ss. and 31.6 d. ; Oxford, 6s. 6d. and 4s. ; Banbury, Bs.-and
5F.; Leamington or Warwick, 10s. 6d. and 65.; and Birmingham,
12s. and 7s.

REAT WESTERN RAILWAY.-
xlll EXCURSION to Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Shrews-
bury, Llangollen Itoad, Chester, Birkenhead, and Liverpool, Sm.—
Trains will leave
_Paddington on z•sATURDAYS, June 20th, and
27th, at 7.30 a.m., returning on the 27th June, and 4th July from
Liverpool (Landing Stage) at 7.30 a.m., and intermediate Stations
as per hand bills. Fares :—Oxford, I is. and ss. 6d. ; Leamington
and Warwick, Iss. and Bs.; Birmingham, 2,5. and 9s. 6d.; West
Bromwich. Wednesbury, and Bilston, 21s. Gd. and 108 ; Wolver-
hampton, 225. td. and 10s. 63.; Wellington and Shrewsbury, 275.
Gd. and 135.; Llangollen Road and Chester, 335. and 158.; Birken-
head and Liverpool, 375. and 17s.

ADY FRANKLIN'S FINAL SEARCH.—
The Government having come to the con-
clusion that the fate of the crews of her Majesty's ships
Erebus and Terror requires no further investigation on their
part, Lady Franklin, in accordance with her sense of what is
due to the lost navigators, is now fitting out an expedition at
her own cost.

As a preliminary measure fNe sought assistance from the
Admiralty, by asking for the loan of the Arctic ship Reso-
lute, which had been restored in perfect order to our Queen
by the American nation, and also for the gift (as granted in
her former private expeditions) of such stores from her Ma-
jesty's dockyards as are available for this special service only.
Compliance with these requests having been cbclined, Lady
Franklin is now devoting her whole fortune to this final
search ; and a large screw yacht (the Fox) lying at Aberdeen,
has been purchased, which the distinguished Arctic officer
who has accepted the command of her (Captain McClintock,
R.N.) has pronounced to be perfectly adapted to this em-
ployment.
Not repeating the arguments we formerly made use of to
induce the Government to undertake a final and exhaus-
tive search, we hold to the opinion that it is the duty of
Englishmen to examine th t limited area whence the traces
of our missing countrymen were derived, which, though
it lies to the south of wed-searched tracts, and has been ap-
proache t by vessels that have returned without loss, has
never yet been explored.
Supported by the advice of those experienced Arctic sea-
men, in whom she has every reason to confide, Lady Franklin
makes this last effort to clear away the mystery that shrouds
the fate of her husband and his crews, and possibly to rescue
from their insulated icy abode among the Esquimaux some of
his younger companions, who may still be prolonging a dreary
existence.

On such an occasion we, whose names are hereunto sub-
scribed, feel confident that this our appeal will not remain
unanswered by the British people, who will, we doubt not,
tender to the widow of the illustrious navigator that sync
pathy which his fame and her devotion must call I.rth, and
will aid her in carrying out an enterprise involving, as we
believe, the honour of the nation.
We earnestly, therefore, entreat our countrymen to unite
with us in contributing to this noble object.
Roderick I. Murchison, Pres. Royal Geographical Society,
F.R.S. ; Francis Beaufort, Rear-Admiral, F.R.S. • Wrot-
tesley, Pres, RI. Society • ' Edward Sabine, M.-General", Treas.
RI. Society, F.R.G.S. ; Robert Brown, F.R.S., V.P.L.S. ;
Richard Collinson, Captain R.N., F.R.G.S. ; John Barrow,
F. R. S. , F. R. G. S.

LONDON LIFE ASSOCIATION,
81, King William-street.

The Directors of this Association hereby inform the Members that
.he PREMIUMS falling due on the let July next of those Members
who have been assured for seven or more entire year, will be RE.
DUCED at the rate of 80 per cent., leaving 20 per cent. only to be
paid.

EDWARD DOCKER, Sec.

VHE PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL
It II F.N5' FIT SSOCTATION —Notice is hereby given that,
pursuant to a RequNt'on in that behalf, and in conformity with the
Act of Parliament of the 10th George the 4111. c. 56, sec 9. and the
Rules or the Provident Clerks' Mteual Benefit Asseeation, a
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING of the Menibcrs of the slid .AT,o-
clatio6 Is hereby Convm .0, tt,d that the same will be held at the
ondois ,Tavern, Bishopsvate-street, in the city of Lo' don, on Wet'-
nesday, the 21th of June next, at 5 o'cl 'ck in the of ernoou, for the
purpose of making new rules, andof altering, rescinding, and repeal-
ing certain of the exiting rules of 'the 'said Association. • :
‘f. THOS. LINFORD se
• cre .tr) t ,to the said Atsociation.
Ccples of the proposed new rules will be forn'shed to me•nbet s ap-
plying at thechlef office, 15, Moorgste-street, on and after the 10th
Inst.
15, Moorgate-street, London,
E.C., June 1, 1F57.

GUARDIAN F 1
ASSUIL&NCE
No.ll, Lombard-st
pram
ITP.NRY HULSE-BEREN:
JOHN G. HUBBARD, Es

JohreDixon, Esq.
Francis Hart Dyke, Esq.
Sir W. ➢i. T. Farquhar, Brt.,M.P
Sir Walter It. Farquhar, BM
'Thomson Hankey, Esq., M.P.
John Harvey, Esq.
John Lahouchere, Esq.
John Loch, Esq.
Stewart Marjoribanks, Esq

A. R. Roberts, Esq.
Lewis Lloyd, jun., Esq.
George Keys,

CRE AND LIFE
COMPANY,
treet, London, E.C.
.7:TORS.
S, Chairman.
eq., Deputy-Chairman.
John Martin, Esq., M.P.
Rowland Mitchell, Esq.
James Morris, Esq.
Henry Norman, Esq. •
Henry R. Reynolds, Esq.
Sir Godfrey J. Thomas, Bart.
John Thornton, Esq.
Jambs Tulloch. Esq.
Henry Vigne, ESq.
TORS. . •
[Henry Sykes Thornton, Esq.
John Henry Smith, Esq.
Secretary.

Samuel Brown, Esq., Actuary.
LIFE DEPA.RTSIF,NT.—Under the provisions of an Act of Par-,
lament, this Company now offers to future insurers Four-fifths of
he Profits, with Quinquennial Division, or a Low Rate of Premium
without participation of Profits.
The next division of Profits will be declared in June, 1860, when,
all participating Policies which shall have subsisted at least one year
t Christmas, 1859, will be, allowed to share In the Profits.
At the five divisions of Profits made by this Company, the total
reversionary Bonuses added to the Policies havetutcoeded 913,000 .

At the Itti't valuation at Christmas, 1854, the Assurances in force
amounted to upwards of 4,240,0001.; the Income from the Life
Branch in 1854 was more •1 an 200,000/. ; and the Life Assurance
Fund (independent of the -naranteed Capital) exceeded 1,700,0001.
FOREIGN RISKS.—The Extra Premiums required for the East
and West Indies, the British Colonies, and-the northern parts :of the
Cnited States of America, have been materially reduced.
INVALID LlVES.—Persons who are not in such sound health as
would enable them to insure their Lives at the Tabular Premiums
may have their Lives insured at Extra Premiums.
LOANS granted on Life Policies to the extent of their values, pro-
vided such Policies shall have been effected a sufficient time to have,
attained in each case a value not under 501.
ASSIGNMENTS OF POLICIES.—Written Notices of, received
and registered. •
MEDICAL FEES paid by the Company, and no charge will be
made for 'olicy Stamps.
Notice is hereby Given, That Fire Policies wh'ch expire at NI Id-
summer must be renewed within fifteen days at this Office, or with
Mr. S 4.315, No, 1, St. 'Jam, s's-street, corner of Pall Mall, or with
the Company's Agents throughout the Kingdom, otherwise they be-
come void.
Losses caused by Explosion of Gas axe admitted by this Company.

ISTHMUS OF SUEZ SHIP CANAL.—
A P' BLIC MEKTING will be held of the Bankers, Mei*.
chants, Shipowners, &c., of London, ote WEDNe;SDAY, the 24th
instant, at the London Tavern, at One o'clock p.m., for the purpose
of hearing the explanations which I am desirous of laying before
them relative to the proposed Ship Canal acres the Isthmus of Suez.
Sir JAMES DUKE, Bart., M.P. In the Chair.
FERD INA N D DE LE ss EPS.
Bath Hotel, Piccadilly.

ISTHMUS of SUEZ SHIP CANAL—
To the Bankers, Merchants, Shipowners, and MaturacturerS
of London
GENTLEMEN,—In inviting your attention to the condition and
progress ofthe Suez chip. Canal scheme, I advocate not only my
interest as the promoter and conbessionary of that great undertak-
ing, but the interests of all commercial communities, in the measure
of their tradlug and industrial 'activity, and consequently in the
highest degree those If London.
By a Charter .4 his Highness the Viceroy of Egypt I am ems
powered to carry out the necessary arrangements for a junction or
th- Mediterranean with the Red Sea, by a canal navigable for the
largest ships, and for the opening by this means of a safe maritimO
route to India, China, and Australia.
The route which wi l thus be opened to Commerce is shorter by
5,000 miles. as respects England, than that at present followed
round the Cape of Good Hope; its track lies through seas of all
others most easy of navigation, and it skirts the coasts of countries
rich in natural products, though at present, for all mercantile per-
po'es, f•eyond the reach of European enterprise.
Engineers of the highest repute in England and the chief countries
of h.urope have examined and approved the technical features of
the scheme. An important accessory work, consisting of a branch
Canal, is now in ac ual progress, end the greater part of the capital
required has been subscribed among the commercial classes of the
several European- nations, whose governments have readily cane-
tioned a project of such manifest importance to the development of
commerce and civilisation.
My object in shortlycoming amongst you will be to ascertain the
feelings which exist in the financial and commercial classes of Lon •
don with respect to .his great enterprise, and personally to furnish
full information as to its objects and detail‘well knowing that your
country Men yield only to the most solid arguments, and after the
most mature and circumspect examination.
In the principal cities throughout Europe where this scheme has
been brought forward to pubic- notice, it has ,elicited on the part of
the Chief municipal, commercial, and seievitic bodies, manifesta-
tions of the most signal interest and sympathy. I am, therefore,
naturally ecotrous to complete this general exp,ession of approval
with the crowning sanction of the great st commercial and manu-
facturing nation in the world, who, above all others, is called to par-
ticipate in the incalculable advantages inevitably resulting from a
work which, by concentrating her vast colonial possessions in the
East and in the South, must increase and consolidate her prosperity.,
I have the honour to subscribe myself,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and humble servant,
FERDINAND DE LEdSEP3.
London June, 1857.
. .

. =
*** Communications may be directed to my representatives :
Messrs.' LANGE, BROTHERS, & Co., and to C. L. KENNY, Esq.,
Secret try, Isthmus of Suez Canal Office, 50, Mark-lane, London.

PRINCE ALBERT ROAD, NEW NATIONAL
GALLERY.—In this delightful and desirable neighbourhood
ARE TO BE LET or SOLD several select and elegantly finished
Residences; their architectural display is of the highest order, and
the internal arrangements are everything that can possibly be de-
sired; in size th.y are t•uite 1 for the occupancy of both the Noble-
man and Gentleman, and the study of comfort has been the chief
object of the builder. This now most faihi sable part of London
renders the locality of these buildings undeniable, being contiguous to
Kensington-gardens, with its beautiful walks,
and Hyde-park, with
its rides and drives added tb which the salubrity of the air of Ken-
sington-gore is proverbial, and considered by the faculty the most
healthful in the vicinity or the metropolis. 'Apply at the Office, 1,
Prince Albert-Road, South Kensington.

BAPTISM OF THE GRAND DUKE
SERGI-US.

A letter from St. Petersburg, of the 9th instant,
says:—

"The baptism of the young Grand Duke Sergius took
place ye-teriay in the chapel of the Palace of Tearekoe
Selo. The member. of the diplomatic body, the high
clergy, and the principal State dignitaries were present.
The Russian ladies wore the national costume, and the
men were in grand unif am. The Emperor and the Im-
perial family went in procession, preceded and followed
by the officers of the household, from their private apart-
me, is to the chape', the Imperial infant being carried on
a cushion by the Princess Sollykoff, Lady of Honour,
the Grand Chamberlain C ornt Ribeaupierre and the
Aede-de-Oamp, General Prince Orloff, supporting the
cushion.. At the entrance of the chap.l the Emperor
Ras received by the Metropolitian of St. Petersburg and
his attendant clergy, who presented the holy water.
The Emperor then retired to an apartment near the cha-
pel, the Greek Church forbidding parents to be present
at the baptism of their children. The hereditary Grand
Duke held his infant brother in his arms to the
moment of immersion, which was effected by Father
Bajanof, confessor to the Emperor and Empress. The
godfathers and godmothers wore the Empress Dowager,
the Grand Duke of Hesse, the Grand Dukes Nicholas
and Michael, the Grand Duchess Mary of Saxe-Weimar,
and the Queen Dowager of the Netherlands. A Te Deunt
was afterwards chanted amid the ringing of the bells
and the roaring of cannon. Mass was celebrated by the
Metropolitan, the Emperor being prevent. On the con-
clusion
of the service the Chancellor of the Imperial and
Royal Orders presented on a gold plate the insignia of
the Order of St. Andrew, and the Emperor invested the
young prince with them. A dinner of upwards of 700
covers was served at 5 o'clock, the foreign Ministers
being present at In the evening St. Petersburg
and the town of Tsarskoe Selo were illuminated.
"The ordinances issued during the war for securing
the circulation of specie and for controlling the rate of
exchange of gold are abolished and the former state of
things re-established. By a recent ukase three generals
and three superior officers and a number of high civil
functionaries have been added to the governments of
Orenburg and Samara, which are the central points of
the Russian Government for preserving and extending
its influence in Central Asia."

Mr. Knowles, the eminent Queen's counsel, is abou_
to resign the office of Attorney-General to the county
Palatine of Lancaster, in consequence of his intention to
retire from the Northern Circuit ; it bring his intention
in future to confine his practice to the London courts and
the committees of both Houses of Parliament.
A GOOD SHOT.-Fr. Abram Bass, of cricketing cele•
brity, whilst practising with other members of the Bur-
ton-on-Trent Rifle Club, was one day unexpectedly
joined by a bevy of ladies, one of whom requested to see
some of Mr. Bass's shooting. A two-inch bull's-eye
being !placed, four successive shots were fired at 110
yards. Every shot went through the same hole, a little
to the left of the centre, without breaking the outer edge
of the paper. On another occasion, when lunch had
been discussed on the banks of the river Trent, and the
black bottles looked as though their occupation was
gone, employment was found for them. A wager was
laid that the bottles should be recorked and thrown into
the river, seventy yards from the shooter (Mr. Bass),
and that, whilst floating, the cork of each of the six
bottles should be hit to win ; if the body of the bottle
was struck, to lose. Every cork was struck. The
weapon in this case was a pistol of peculiar construction,
with a 10-inch rifle barrel. The staple fixed in the stern
of a flat-bottomed fishing boat, was struck the first shot,
for a wager, at 300 yards. A. swan was shot through
the head at 170 yards, and a duck fe. ding upon a weir
at 320 yards, and a hare at 280 yards--both shot dead.
A boy was seen angling upwards of of 90 yards from the
bridge on which Mr. Bass was standing, with not less
than two score lookers-on. A bet was made that Mr.
Bass would not break through the upper part of the fine
rod the boy was using the first shot, The weapon in
this case was the pistol before mentioned. The shot was
; made ; the line, with the whalebone mounting, fell from
the rod. The boy stood aghast. The wager was won,
and handed over to the little fisherman.—Kentish Gazette.
[Baron MunchauFen Secundus

THE HANDEL FIiSTIVAL, CRYSTAL

PALAGT.

The second of these great commemoration festi-
vals was given yesterday in the presence of her
Majesty, with a grandeur and success which left
nothing to be wished for either r n the pat of its
promoters or the public. There -was no hitch
either by rail or road, no apologies or excuses at the
eleventh hour ; even the weather Was favourable,
and the arrangements bath within- and without
the building were perfect and thoreughly carried
into effect. From first to last there occurred nothing
which could detract from the eclat of the day, or
lessen its claim to be consicb.red as one-which must
ever form a conspicuous era in our musical annals.
The anxiety of the general public t a be present
on the occasion when her Atijesty honoured the fete
with what may be called a State visit showed itself
in the neighbourhood of the Palace at a very ea ly
-hour. Probably long before even the most im-
patient visitors thought of. starting, -the turns in
the road which would commend a goo I view of
the Royal cortege were occupied three or four d-ep.
These spectators, too, were by- no Means of the
ordinary clan?,: but ladies, and gentlemen whom one
would rather have expected to meet in the galleries
of-the palace itself. As the day advanced the nurn-
bersincreased, till the -pretty lanes and wo els be-
tween Dulwich and the building were completely
lined. As usual most of -these 1 oltera-ou were of
the gentler sex, and their bright dress,s and waving
parasols seemed in the distance to make a glowing
flower border to the fields and groups of trees around
whichtheystool Though ail were naturally anxious
to secure the most. favourable situation-, there was
none of that unseemly struggling which so often
mars our gayest fetes. It was in fact a kind of rural
" drawing room," where ladies c uld bow to her
Majesty en passant without incurring the aristo-
cratic discomforts which generally attach to such
presentations. There were a good many, also, of the
public holiday observances about the road yester-
day. Before the carriages began to pass itinerant
vendors of all sorts of commodities made their ap-
pearance, and were more or less attentive to every
one en route to the Palace throughout the day.
Apart from she wonderful combination of wind and
water which, under the name of ginger-beer, was
pressed upon the occupant of every carriage, the
notion seemed generally to prevail among the
hawkers that none could at tend the festival without
a pocket-knife, a walking-stick, a cocoa-nut, • a
basket of oranges, and a copy of each of the morn-
ing journals. Such trifles, with side-combs, com-
plete songsters, and villainous programmes un-
knownto Handel, were pressed upon all, with in-
terludes of small bills thrown in at the carriage
windows, informing their hot occupauts that now
was the time for cheap greatcoats and .woollen
dreadnoughts.
Soon after 10 the carritges began to roll along the
road, and from that time, except during the short
interval when her Majesty was passing, they did
not entirely cease until past 2in the day. The ar-
rangements at the abominable tollgate were better
on this occasion—three persons were stationed to
collect its heavy revenue, and, generally speaking,
were equal to the duty, which, however, at no
time was a sinecure.
We have often commended the arrangements of
Brighton Company, but
eon this occasion they
seemed to have reached perfection, and in a matter ,
whefein the lives of so many thousands of human
being were concerned their zeal and caution are
deserving, of every encouragement and commen-
dation. The trains seemed to be going
ion, both
lines duririg the morning, and yet there As not
the slightest struggle or confusion. There was an
unusual number of half-guinea vi-itors—indeed, all
the extra seas allotted to them were among the
first occupied, so that many were glad tu.'ehanc,re
their tickets for the reserved places. The great
mass, of course, settled down at the south end of
the building, facing the Queen's box, where a com-
plete view could be obtained of all the Royal party.
These were the places first filled, and it was interest-
ing to watch the gradual filling up of the remaining
space,—how, minute by minute, the great expanse
of seats diminished, till the whole resembled a vast
parterre, but that it bloomed with a richness and
variety of colour such as no garden ever showed, in
this country at least. With the same admirable
management that distinguished the festival of
Monday last, persons found . their seats without
trouble or hurry, and all the officers connected
with the Palace were most paiustakirig and a,sidu-
ous in their efforts to secure the comfort of all.

It would be impossible to exaggerate the magni-
ficent spectacle which the nave and transept of the
palace presented, when the fashionable occupants
of so many long trains, in addition to the visitors
who had come in two thousand carriages by the
road, were at last comfortably seated, and waAing
for the arrival of her Majesty. Viewed upon the
level they looked like a flower-covered prairie, but
when seen from a high gallery, they took the form
and regularity of a garden, the blocks being all
separated by well-marked divisions, allowing free
ingress and egress, but each block closely packed
with fashionable occupants.
Her Majesty and the royal party arrived at the
private entrance a few minutes before 1 o'clock. A
guard of honour of the Grenadier Guards, under
the command of Col. Hopwood, with the band of
the regiment, received. the illustrious visitors with
the usual salute—arms presented and colours
lowered. Sir Joseph Paxton and Mr. Ferguson
were in attendance to usher her Majesty and suite
to the state apartments. On this occasion th-y
were profusely decorated with the most rare and
beautiful exotics, under the superintendence of Mr.
Eyles, eteto has charge of the hort'cultural depart-
ment. The table for the royal luncheon was ar-
ranged in the picture gallery, covers being laid for
34; and here, again Mr. Eyles had placed some of
his rarest specimens, being assisted in their ar-
rangement by the :taste and experience of Mr.
Thomas Staples. The Queen and Court were in
mourning, but her Majesty looked remarkably
well, and seemed quits e prepared to enjoy both
the music of the oratorio and the company of her
people. After a delay of a few minutes, the
Queen, accompaniedby the Grand Duke Maximilian,
and followed by his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
his Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia, the
Princess Royal, the Prince of Wales, the Princess
Alice, and suite, proceeded to the Royal balcony,
which had been handsomely fitted up in the north
corner of the transept immediately facing the
orchestra. As the Queen approached a buzz of ex:
pectation ran through the vast assemblage, which
rose_ by a simultaneous movement, clapping hands,
and waving hats and handkerchiefs with such en-
thusiasm that even the Queen, though well used
to cordial receptions fr ten her subjects, seemed com-
pletely moved, and curtesied repeatedly in acknow-
ledgment of the welcome. Ere this burst of loyalty
had quite subsided the grand strains of the National
Anthem pealed through the building in massive
sounding notes which made the very floors and
pillars vibrate as though rustling with a heavy
wind. When its solemn cadence had completely
died away there was another outbreak of applause,
not so much of course for the National Anthem
(though magnificently given) as for the august lady
in whose honour it was sung.
As the audience settled themselves into their
places Messrs. Negretti and Zambra, the photo-
graphers of the Crystal Palace, took a beautiful
photograph of the whole scene,. making the Royal
box its centre. It was a perfect likeness, and so
well and quickly done that copies of it were printed,
framed, glazed, and laid before the Royal party
before the first portion of the oratorio had concluded.
The spot from which it -was taken was the gallery
over the organ, whence perhaps the finest coup
d'ceil which the festivals of this country have ever
shown was presented yesterday. Immediately be-
neath was the great organ, like a cathedral of music,
with every tower and pinnacle of its vocal frame
seeding forth a volume of sound amid which even
2,000 human voices were almost lost. Round this,
in a vast amphitheatre, came the chorus—Costa
lowest of all, with pale and earnest face, singing
in conscientious love every note of the music
he regulated ; while below the orchestra, again,
was ranged the brilliant mass of visitors,
rank on rank, like the divisions of an army of
old, all richness, pomp,
and colour. These
features alone would have made it a prospect on
which the memory would dwell, but when to it
are added the tiers of close-filled galleries, rising
high and spreading wide—the noise of the chorus
as " with the hiss like rustling winds" they rose to
volume forth, " Sing unto God," the Royal visitors
all beating time, and watching every note, and the
solemn anxiety of attention which seemed to reign
over all—it was grand and impressive beyond all
powers of description.
The execution of "Judas Maceaboeus," to the sur-
rise of amateurs, was on the whole even better
than that of the " Messiah." The music being less
familiar to the generality perhaps caused the
singers and players to be more on their guard, and
more anxiously careful in taking up the points ;
but, whatever the reason, the result was as we have
stated. A vast improvement was also noted in the
effect produced by the solo voices, and this may be