The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-12 00:00:00

CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS.

The public will be happy to learn that this vocal
troupe of Ethiopians, after a successful tour through 1
the provinces and part of the Continent, have again
returned to London, under tho auspices of Mr.
Mitchell, of Old Bond-street. Their first concert
took place last night at the St. James's Hall, to a
crowded and fashionable audience. While Dr.
Wylde and his cohorts, instrumental and vocal,
were performing the overture to " Medea," and
the other pieces comprising the second concert
of the New Philharmonic Society, in one part
of the St. James's Hall, another portion of
that magnificent building resounded with the
strains of "Hoop de doodum doo" and similar ele-
gant compositions of the same school. But, after
all, " Hoop de doodum doo" has some sort of merit.
Certainly it cannot be charged with that want of
form which is the chief accusation brought against
Schubert's recently-produced Symphony in C.
The form " Hoop de doodum doe" is exceedingly
simple, arid might at once be understood by those
who find Schubert quite unintelligible. It com-
mences with a prelude for the banjo so/us;
formed on the motive of the air itself. The theme
—like the principal melody in the second move-
ment of the Symphony in C—is repeated over
and over again, until at last we almost
feel inclined to accuse the nigger composer
Of riaucity of ideas. Suddenly, however, the singer
begins. He utters words worthy of an original
English opera, for they are utterly destitute of
meaning. The same curious tune which we have
already heard fifteen times on the banjo is heard
fifteen times more from the lips and throat of the
sable vocalist. The audience is delighted,and when
the song is at an end the captivating air is
heard once more on the banjo by way of
finale. The executant is a true comic artist; of
this there can be no doubt. It is as certain as
that the succession of sounds which he pro,
duces has no resemblance to music. Neverthe-
, less, the so-called " melodies" of the niggers are
infinitely preferable to the vapid sentimentalities
furnished to the Ethiopians by Yankee composers.
There is something peculiar and characteristic
about the yelping of a nigger with which any one
may be amused for a short time; but feeble love
songs, sung by black men, are uninteresting, and,
if intended to be serious, laughable. The pro-
gramme of last night included all the best known
pieces of the Christy Minstrel repertoire.
The arrangements were admirable under the care
of Mr. Mitchell's active superintendent, Mr.
•Nimmo.

LIEUTENANTS AND MASTERS IN THE NAVY.—A
Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, in a letter to a contempo •
rary, says—" According to your journal of the Bth, Sir
Charles Napier is reported to have said that he trusted
the house would do nothing more in the shape of retire-
ment for naval officers, as it had done enough already.'
Sir Charles is in the receipt of £1,066 per annum in the
shape of half-pay and good service pension, he can there-
fore conscientiously say that the country has done enough
for him; So may the remaining flag •officers and captains
say. But what is the position of the lieutenants ? The
greatest prize those on the half-pay. list can possibly look
for is that at the age of seventy-six they may obtain the
sum of £156 per annum. Before the house does anything
more in the shape of retirement for the flag and captains
list, it will be well for them to see what ought to be done
for the lieutenants and masters."
It appears that the question of postal communi-
cation between the mother country and the Australian
cblonies was discussed by the Legislative Council of New
South Wales on. the 3d and 10th of February. Mr. Monte-
fiore, the active supporter of the Panama route, moved that
the New South Wales Legislature should decline to enter-
tain any postal arrangement which did not include that line
of communication as a part of the general scheme, and ex-
plained the reasons for expecting it to prove the quickest,
while from Sydney, being the nearest port of arrival, it
would be especially favourable to the interests of that place.
In the course of the debate it was again elicited that Now
South Wales would contribute largely to a second, or bi
monthly mail via Panama, in addition to the contribution'
she now gives of £50,000 yearly towards the monthlyma
via Suez ; and several speakers dwelt on the fact of the line
l
via Suez having been rendered less adequate than ever for
the requirements of New South Wales since the alteration
of the route by the substitution of Mauritius for
so that the colony neither had that which they Ceylon
would be the most speedy communication Great withcensul
Bri-
tain,nor the rapid intercourse with India which had partly
made for the want of it. Mr. Monteflore's motion, mo-
difiedy in form, was carried ; and the proceedings of the
Home Government, not then known in Sydney, seem to
promise the eventual realization, of the deaL-,ed Plan.