The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 25, 1861.

THE SUN.

LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1861.

The Ministerial intentions in regard to the law
changes consequent upon the lamented death of
the Lord High Chancellor may now be stated, we
believe, pretty confidently. They are throughout
precisely what we ourselves at the very first
moment anticipated, They run exactly in the order
marked out by us in our earliest impression yester-
day afternoon. The Attorney-General, Sir RICHARD
IiETHELL, is to be advanced with a peerage to
the woolsack, to be England's new Lord High
Chancellor. The Solicitor • General is in due
sequence to advance, in his turn, by a single step
to the post vacated by Sir RICHARD BETHELL—
the post of the Attorney-Generalship. There will
then remain to be filled up the secondary, but highly
responsible, position of the Solicitor-General. And
Who—is it asked—shall we have as Solicitor-
General ? Let us answer the inquiry according to
our belief—Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER is the lawyer
whose name is set down for the post of Solicitor-
General by Lord PALMERSTON. But Mr. PALMER
it may objected lacks at this moment a seat in
the House of Commons ! True—but that, too
is, of course, taken into consideration by the
PREMIER : and thus is the objection proposed
to be removed ! The Appropriation of Seats
Bill having been pushed through Parliament,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer is to claim the
recognition of his new Radical, Free-trade, ex-Con-
servative opinions by winning the day as the new
representative for South Lancashire. And—(don't
you recognise the adroitness of it all at a glance ?)
Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER, the new Solicitor-General,
the Puseyite Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER is to slip
quietly and snugly into Mr. GLADSTONE'S aban-
doned post as M.P. for the University of Oxford.
So that after all there will only remain, to be decided
upon, the selection of a newcandidate for the repre-
sentation of the Liberal Borough of Aylesbury.

The tributes paid to the memory of the late
Lord Chancellor CAMPBELL in the House of Peers
last evening, though as brief and as cursory as
could well be, did honour alike to the noble and
learned lord so very recently and so very suddenly
deceased, and to the generous feelings of the Upper
House of Parliament.

The absolute silence maintained on the contrary,
in regard to this very lamentable occurrence, in
the House of Commons, yesterday, still remains
to us, up to the present moment, utterly inexpli-
cable. That obdurate and wholly incomprehen-
sible silence could not be attributed to any formal
regard to Parliamentary etiquette, in respect to
mere precedent it could not be attributed to
any consideration for any kind of precedent
whatsoever—remembering as we do, and as the
Earl GRANVILLE well put it last evening, that the
occurrence by which the whole country has just
been startled is itself altogether and absolutely un-
precedented. Having opened his remarks in the
House of Lords last evening by saying—" I venture
to ask your lordships to agree to the adjournment
of the House and the future consideration of the
business marked upon the paper :" the noble Presi-
dent of the Council closed his brief but graceful
allusions to the departed Chancellor by observing—
I venture to ask your lordships to give an unani-
mous consent to this motion, and unless I felt con-
vinced that that unanimity would be displayed I
should have refrained from asking your lordships
to agree to a motion for which there is no pre-
cedent, because the case itself has no precedent
that I am aware of in the annals of your lordships'
house Whereupon the House of Lords—as nobly-
became it—adjourned accordingly. Lord BROUGHAM
'ming previously spoken with great emotion of the
Noble and Learned Chancellor deceased, who had
fallen under this
astounding
visitation of Divine
Providence
; and Lord ST. LEONARDS, another
illustrious and venerable Law Lord, having
abruptly broken down, choked with tears, while en-
deavouriNg to offer a similar tribute to the
departed Chancellor. Yet at the same time
the sitting of the House of Commons was
passing away without one word of respect
being proffered to the memory of the late occupant
Of. the Woolsack, Without the utterance of one

' passing syllable in reference to the sudden death of
Lord CAMPBELL, by any one of the noble and learned
lord's Ministerial colleagues. Etiquette, we repeat,
would not by possibility have had anything what-
ever to do with it—the terrible event being, as we
have remarked, in itself quite unprecedented. The
First Lord of the Treasury could vindicate the
Government from blame in sending 3,000 troops to
Canada on board the Great Eastern—the Home
Secretary could indulge the house with
another attempt to gloss over the gross favouritism
shown towards that scion of a noble house,
the redoubtable Mr. KING HARMAN of Cremorne
Gardens notoriety : but neither Lord PALMER-
STON, nor Sir CORNEWALL LEWIS, nor any
other of the members of the Cabinet from
whose Council's the late Chancellor had but
jest been snatched with such startling sudden-
ness could open their lips to breath one little
sentence of regret or of commiseration. To-night
we earnestly trust that this hardly decorous silence
will at length be broken, and that the House of
Commons will echo some of those sentiments of
respect and regard already uttered in the Upper
Branch of the Legislature.

It takes a long time for our Northern American
friends to open their eyes and understand the
plain truth about Old England. One sensible
article in a New York commercial journal we
had occasion to notice not long ago. In our
simplicity we really thought it impossible that a
paper written with such intelligence, fairness,
and manifest truthfulness, should not be
extensively quoted into other papers, and produce
quite a revulsion of opinion. It seems we had
indulged a very absurd dream of the power of the
press, or at least of truth through the press, in
America, for the accusations and libels against poor
old England are as virulent as ever. Our condact
is contrasted with that of France, though France
has followed us step by step. France, we are told,
of different blood, religion, and laws, with cotton
interests at stake as well as England, and interested
like us in a low tariff, has not followed our un-
worthy policy ! And all this, while it would be
hard to name an important circumstance in which
France has differed from England in regard to this
quarrel. The policy of the two countries is one.
There is not, that we are aware, any difference
whatever except in the details arising from adapt-
ing the same policy to diverse laws.
We are utterly at a loss to conceive how the
single fact of our not treating the Southerns as
mere rioters, but regarding them as a body of men
numerous enough to be dealt with as belligerents,
—yet without any recognition of their Government,
—could be construed as it has been. France,
however, proceeded much further, having spoken
of the Southern Confederation as one
which all the powers of Europe will
one day recognise, as the EMPEROR recog-
nises, the Kingdom of Italy. Let our Northern
friends, however, take comfort ; we shall most
certainly never recognise the Southern Slave
States, as a Slave Confederation, unless driven to
do it. So deeply as our interests are involved
in the Cotton Question, we yet are confident
that the supply of cotton is of less
consequence' in our countrymen's eyes gene-
rally than the extinction of slavery. Were not
the North so half-hearted on that subject, she would
have the unmodified good wishes of this country
for her success. What chills our zeal for the North
is, that she fights—not to extinguish slavery, but
to return to co-partnership with slave-holders. All
her efforts are directed to making the Empire of
the United States one half a Slave Empire, the
other half a Slave-hunting Empire ! Let her choose
a nobler aim, and she will have her reward.
The last accounts in regard to slavery look both
more hopeful yet more suspicious. The Cabinet
appears to have restrained General BUTLER, it may
have been in regard to the comm'asariat only, from
taking more slaves into his works. Still he is not
instructed to return them. On the other hand,
the slaves are represented as running off in in-
creasing numbers; or what comes to the same
thing, their masters are running away from them.
Virginia seems to be quite broken up. The
eastern part is only saved to the South by the pre-
sence of Southern levies, who are guessed to num-
ber about 50,000 or 60,000 men. The Western
part has organised a' Government for itself,
in order to remain faithful to the Union,
and justifies its action by treating as null the old
Government of Virginia on account of its treason.
The Eastern half is now hemmed in on the North,
West, and East, and can communicate with the
South only, and it seems not unlikely that Gene-
ral SCOTT is maturing his plans with caution for a
move southwards when he does make one, which will
sweep the whole of that part of Virginia which
is still in rebellion. North and South Carolina
will follow, and when the latter is vanquished
the poor helpless Gulf States will strike at once
to save slavery. Mat is the bane of this whole
struggle. The North is willing that slavery should ,
be saved—it hopes thus to purchase the surrender
of the South. By proclaiming this to be a war
of Emancipation against every State which has
rebelled to keep its slavery—it would break up the
whole cause of the war. Slavery and Secession
would fall together.

Well done M. THOUVENEL ! The Parisian diplo-
matist has certainly done the Delphic to perfection.
It would be hard to find a despatch which seems to
say so much for two opposite views—so much in
favour of the POPE'S keeping his present position,
and yet so much which leaves its author free to
relieve him, or permit him to be relieved of those
temporalities which clothe in sackcloth and ashes
his spiritual rule. At first sight Italians might
complain that their capital was hopelessly occupied
tbiy thontehier
hgorleealt hostile ally,silvanieh vanishes.
but on alancloonseargoinssopemecs-
indeed to be the opposite of withdrawal at pre-
sent, but the avowals and reasonings of the paper
are such as would justify the Emperor of the
FRENCH in putting to the decision of the ballot
and universal suffrage at Rome his " oui" or "non'
on the question will you have your POPE as your
temporal Ruler also ? France is made to speak at
once as a dutifully Catholicnastoioenn,laarnd yet as a
as
well as
nation which has political and
religious duties.
G IlLua Last y, rassdkayod,
Lo
ourrd rse
oad rieNrsßwuisl
sl
Er
Le
Termesbpe
respmecting
a proposition from Spain and AustriatothaoctrtoorgE.e-
ther in support of the temporal power of
Lord JOHN did not give any important particulars
of the despatch, and it might not have been easy
to do so unless the members could have it, as they
now have, before their eyes. Nothing can ' be
more polite in words to the two Governments ;
their sentiments are in entire conformity with those
of the Government of the EMPEROR." The EMPEROR
shared their sorrows over the aggressions directed
against the Pontifical States, and had neglected
nothing to limit their consequences. 'The corps
of occupation at Rome was augmented without
delay, and the POPE being able to dwell with
security in his capital in the midst of the tur-
moil which agitated Italy, has been indebted to
the French troops for the preservation of a part
of his territory;, His Government is gratified

that the two Catholic Powers express their ap-
proval of some of his acts, and he testifies again
"To the profound and invariable sympathies
which animate it in relation to the chief of the
Church."

M. TIIOUVENEL, however, glides easily into the
position he desires really to take ; " The precarious
situation in which circumstances have placed the
temporal power of the Holy See, do not excite
less distressing sentiments among the Catholic
nations, and as it concerns the peace of consciences
that such serious questions should not remain for a
long period in suspense, it is certainly the duty of
governments to unite their efforts, in order to
simplify them and facilitate their solution."
But the question then arises how are they to
unite them ? For one thing the temporalities of
the POPE cannot remain in an abnormal condition ;
as he happily describes it—a system according to
which the States of the POPE and the city of Rome
should constitute, so to speak, a morlmain property
apropriated entirely to Catholicism, and in virtue
of an unwritten law, placed above the rights
which regulate the condition of other sovereignties."
Awkward, indeed, is the position in which he
places the Ecclesiastical Legitimists when he first
shuts them off from antiquity, and then shows that
the temporalities of the POPE are a subject on which
the non-Catholic powers have a clear right to be
consulted. " I confine myself to recalling the fact
that neither the most ancient nor the most recent
historical traditions appear to sanction that doc-
trine, and that England, Prussia, Russia, and
Sweden—Powers separated from the Church—
signed at Vienna, with the same authority as France,
Austria, Spain, and Portugal, the treaties which
restored to the POPE the possessions he had lost."

Then we have an alternation seemingly in favour
of the " Mortmain" of Catholicism :—" The highest
expediency—l hasten to proclaim it—agrees with
the greatest social interests in requiring that the
Chief of the Church maintain himself on the throne
occupied by his predecessors for so many cen-
turies; the opinion of the EMPEROR'S Government
is very firm on this point." Who would not sup-
pose from this that the POPE was to be temporal
Sovereign of Rome for ever, if France could carry
out her views ; yet, in immediate connection, we
are told that the EMPEROR'S Government " thinks
also that the wise exercise of the supreme authority
and the consent of populations are in the Roman
States, as elsewhere, the first considerations of the
solidity of power." This seems as much as to say
that, if the POPE wishes to enjoy an unshaken
throne, he must imitate the example of the
King of ITALY, or rather, possibly, that of the
EMPEROR—in first conciliating the soldiers and
the peasantry, and then banishing or silencing
all the patriotism, genius, and independence of the
country.

It then remains politely to say, we mean to do
all ourselves, without any help from you. The
gravest dangers of Rome are from without—our
occupation meets present difficulties, but " the
future remains exposed to hazards which we wish
sincerely to avert." He remarks that Austria and
Spain, while agreeing with him in their objects,
do not indicate how they wish to attain them.
He regrets that the stipulations of Villafranca and
Zurich were not completely carried out, being deeply
grieved, doubtless, that they led to the annexation
of Savoy and Nice. But whatever is done must be
done on the principle of non-intervention which
has saved, this year, the peace of Europe. The
occupier of Rome lecturing on non-intervention, is
certainly something curious enough. But what
are we to say to the mysterious closing paragraph
of this Despatch ? " There exists in our eyes a
strict connection between the regular acceptance of
the facts which have so considerably modified the
situation of the Peninsula, and the solution to be
given to the Roman question. The Government
of the Emperor will, then, be very happy to learn
that Austria and Spain deem it possible to
enter also in the only path which, as
seems to it, can conduct without new
shocks to a practical result ; but it does not
hesitate in any hypothesis to give the assurance
that for its part it will not adhere to any combi-
nation which is incompatible with the respect it
professes for the independence and dignity of the
Holy See, and which would be at variance with
the object of the presence of its troops at Rome."
Well, we suppose by the announcements in the
Moniteur, that the Emperor has "regularly accep-
ted" the facts in Italy. What sort of a connection
does he mean to show between so doing and the
settlement of the Roman question ? What is the
object of the occupation ? What mean the
" Independence and dignity of the Holy See ?"
Does the latter mean temporal independence, which
it has not certainly now ? Does it mean spiritual
independence such as the King of ITALY is willing
to guarantee? All such questions this clever
dispatch leaves unsettled—but the only consolation
the friends of Italian freedom can find, it is that it
does not commit itself to the wrong side ; while at
Madrid and Vienna they are probably but too
thankful that it does not commit the EMPEROR to
the right one.

The Mercnntile Law Amendment Society has
recently forwarded to us certain important argu-
ments of theirs anent the Bankruptcy Bill as
amended by the Lords—arguments that, to say the
least of them, are entitled to very serious conside-
ration. They relate especially to the two princi-
pal amendments suggested by the Select
(and, we may add, Secret) Committee of
the Lords, amendments afterwards carried into
effect by the Lords themselves, and now remain-
ing to be refused or accepted by the Commons,
with Sir RICHARD BETHELL'S bill, as originally
framed by him, and as passed by the House
of Commons with scarcely any modifications,
acting under the guidance of the Attorney-
General. First of all, the amendment striking out
all the clauses relating to the appointment of a chief
judge of the new Court of Bankruptcy. And
secondly, the amendment leaving the creditors'
assignees still without any control whatever over
the official assignees. The arguments adduced by
the Mercantile Law Amendment Society against
this interference on the part of the House of Lords
irtehgear Committee
to the first.of
the I t i s
Mercantile
are chiefly noticeable in regard to the second point,
and scarcely worthy of any lengthened discussion
n
ment Society that h
their memorial of March
one single word in opposition to the appoint-
went of the Chief Jud insisted,
Law correctly
A ee
n
d
by-
t e merchants of Manchester, in
chlast, contained not
ge of the Court of
Bankruptcy. Another ar
at Hudders-
fieldn memorial emanating in
the same month from the Chambers of Com-
merce,
make
ak
Bradford,ea
great
'td
point of telling
us, contained no objection whatever to the sugges-
tion of that New Judicial appointment. There was
moreover, we are reminded, on the 18th April last,
a meeting held in London, attended by representatives
of the Manchester Association for the Protection of
Trade, the Manchester Guardian Society, the Cham-
bers of Commerce at Birmingham, Bristol, Bradford,
Hull, and Worcester, the Law Amendment Society,
the Association for the promotion of Social Science,
And of the Society for the promotiou of Mercantile

Law Amendment. At a meeting a sub-committee
was appointed "to consider what amendments in the
Bankruptcy Bill, as it had passed the House of
Commons, should be pressed in the House of Lords.
This sub-committee met on the,l9th April, and
were engaged the whole day in considering the
bill, but no opposition was suggested to the scheme
for the appointment of a Chief Judge, although one
of the most active and intelligent members of the
Manchester Association was present and took
a prominent part in the discussion. Further
on, taking courage to themselves from all this, in
their advancing of the notice of a new Chief
Judge of the Court of Bankruptcy, the Mercantile
Law Amendment Society's Committee advances
I thus from a negative argument in its favour;
observing—" During the present session, petitions
have been presented to I'arliament, signed by one
hundred and two leading banking establishments,
and between three and four thousand of the princi-
pal mercantile and manufacturing firms in the
kingdom, representing a business whose average
annual returns exceed three hundred millions a
year, and who have outstanding debts exceeding
fifty millions. These petition's prominently asked
that a (hicf Judge should be appointed to preside
over the Court, and that the creditors might deter-
mine whether a bankrupt's estate should be realised
by the official assignee or assignees chosen by
themselves, visited by a paid manager." Which
last sentence, containing within' it a sort of double-
barrelled petition relating to the Chief Judge and
to the creditors' assignees, brings us to the argu-
ments now brought forward in favour of the en-
hancement of the powers proposed to be awarded
to the latter, that is the creditors' assignees. Be-
fore referring to these arguments, however, in
reference to the creditors' assignees—lt is worthy
of remark, en passant, in respect to what has been
here said about the Chief Judge's appointment, that
all the absence of objections to it in this Cham-
ber of Commerce or in that, in this memorial or in
that, nay all the requisitions made in favour of
it at London meetings or sub-committees of mer-
cantile delegates, and so forth—just go for abso-
lutely nothing in the recollection of the statement
made last week in the House of Lords by a noble
and learned lord, speaking upon the subject with
great authority. The statement still remaining to
this moment uncontradicted alike in the Lords and
in the Commons ! The statement namely that, sup-
posing the Chief Judge really to be appointed, it
would be almost impossible to find him more than
fifteen days full work within the twelvemonth. When
Sir R. BETHELL has shown this statement to be
flagrantly founded in error (as he may), then, but
not before, we shall be disposed to enter more fully
into the various suggestions for the maintenance of
this appointment.
Not thus doubtfully, however, are we invited by the
Mercantile Law Amendment Society to rediscuss the
question as to the granting of large powers in the
way of revision to the creditors' assignees. A sug-
gestion thoroughly swept aside, as the public
knows full well by the House of Lords, acting
under the advice of its select committee. " The
Select Committee," we are now reminded, with
much reason " have given :effect to the principle,
that the creditors to whom an insolvent debtor's
estate rightfully belongs, are the proper persons to
decide in what manner and by what agents it shall
be realised. They have passed those clauses in the
bill which enable a majority of creditors to wind up
a debtor's estate under a trust deed, in any manner
they think fit, without the slightest official inter-
ference or control, and without any provision for
the security of the assets; they have also sanctioned
that part of the measure which provides for the
removal out of the Court of a bankrupt's estate at
any stage of the proceedings, where a majority of
the creditors desire to wind it up under a private
arrangement. In direct antagonism, however, to
the principles acted upon in the above instances,
they decided that creditors should not have equal
control in eases where safeguards were provided
for the safety of the assets, and for an efficient
audit of the accounts, and where creditors could
punish a debtor for misconduct. They may do
whatever they please where a majority choose to
keep the estate out of the Court, or to remove it
after it has got there, but so long as it remains in
the Court, a totally different practice is to prevail.
If the Select Committee had laid down a general
rule that all insolvent debtors' estates should be
assignee, that would at
wound up by an official
least have been intelligible, but to afford ample
facilities for creditors to realise their debtors'
estate in all cases except where security is provided
for its proper realisation and distribution, does
appear most incomprehensible." We are yet san-
guine, however, that some honourable compromise
may be arrived at between the sweeping revision
.by the Lords, and the not unatural indignation of
the Attorney-General at the scope and variety of
the Lords' amendments.

We believe that the succession of Sir Richard
Bethell to the Chancellorship has been resolved on.

Earl Granville, Lord President of the Council,
had an audience of the Queen yesterday, at Buckingham
Palace, and delivered to her Majesty the Great Seal of
England.

THE ADRIATIC,—This noble ship made the most
rapid voyage on record. She reached St. John's in five days
and ten hours, and New York in nine days ! This surpasses
anything hitherto accomplished in transatlantic navigation.

BANQUET TO Mn. CDBDEN.—The Lord Mayor
has invited Mr. Cobden to I banquet at the Mansion-house
on the 10th July. A large number of eminent free traders,
both English and foreign, will be invited to meet the hon.
gentleman. Among the latter will be M. Michel Cheva-
lier, whose cordial co operation with Mr. Cobden has con-
tributed so materially to the conclusion of the commercial
treaty baween the two countries.
THE FATAL ACCIDINT IN MOOR-STREET.—The
adjourned inquest on the body of the barmaid who lost her
life by the explosion of a burning cask of rum was con-
cluded before Mr. Bedford yesterday. Several persons were
examined who had been :n front of the cask when the acci •
dent took place. It appeared from what they stated that it
was placed before the bar and some feet from a jet at which
customers were accustomed to light their pipes. No trace,
however, could bo found of the way in which it caught fire,
The top of the cask sudienly blew up, and at the same time
a large volume of flame burst out. In the confusion of the
moment the cask was overturned, and the flames, spreading
on all sides, set the premises on fire. Mr. Findlay, the pro-
prietor, said that the rum, of which there were 20 gallons,
was 32 degrees above hoof, and that it was a common prac-
tice for licensed victuallers to allow such casks to stand in
front of the bar until it could be conveniently removed to
the cellar. The coroner and jury condemned the practice
in very strong terms. A verdict of "Accidental death"
was pronounced.
THE PorE's ITLNEss.—A letter from Rome of
the 16th inst. says —44 On Tuesday next the Pope will
probably be conveyed to his country house at Castel Gan-
dolfo. At court and elsewhere alarming rumours about
his health continue, What is most dwelt on is the gradual
weakening of his mental faculties. As to that lam able to
assure you that the Pope's illness is in fact rather moral
than physical, and that it proceeds especially from the
deep melancholy in which he has been plunged by the re-
ports of the Italian bishops that schism is inevitable, un-
less the church be put in accord with the national senti-
ments and the present needs of the Italian people. You
can easily imagine that the Jesuits are already trembling ;
consequently they surround the Pope as much as possible,
and take him into the country in order to remove him from
every other influence, and manage him after their own
fashion. I know for certain that a personage highly placed
and closely connected w.th the General of the Jesuits has
stated that the Pope his often moments of delirium, in
which he says things t 1 at it is desirable nobody should
hear. It may very well be that what they call his morbid
eccentricities of speech 1,1•3 only some sensible talk on his
part—some expression of views more in conformity with the
interests of the state. tut it is most likely that the great
apprehensions expressed as to the health of poor Pius IX,
are only too well fevwded."

M. BENEDICT'S ANNUAL GRAND
MORNING CONCERT, ST. ,TAMES'S HALL.

We anticipated, from the contents of the pro-
gramme, that this concert, which took place yester-
day, would afford a great treat to those who
attended it ; and our anticipation was amply
realized. The artistes who essayed their services
were of the highest class, evidenced by the names
of Mesdames Alboni, Sainton-Dolby, Lemaire,
Lemmens-Sherrington, Mesdlles. Titiens, Parepa,
Sims Reeves, Guiglini, Belletti, Herr Formes,
Beart,Weiss, Delle-Sedie, and Mr. Santley amcng
the vocalists, while the instrumental department
was supported by Miss Arabella Goddard,
Benedict, Wieniawski, Ole Bull, and Piatti.

The opening trio, "Pappataci," was charmingly
sung by Belart, llelle Sedie, and Belletti, and put
the audience in the best of humours at once.
Madame Alboni gave the cavitina from Oberon,
" Donzella nata in sen," and Rode's variations, " Al
dolce canto," with an effect which elicited her re-
appearance. The entrancing tone and purity of
her voice, combined with the mellifluous ease of her
execution, have rarely been equalled. She sustained
a part of the duet from " Semeramide," " Giorno
d'orrore," with Madlle. Titiens, which was so
deliciously given by both that it narrowly
escaped the cruel trespass of an encore. The
latter lady sang " The Lase Rose of Sumner "
most exquisitely, and was recalled with en-
thusiastic applause. Madame Sherrington, in
Benedict's recitative and air, " Quand tout d'un
coup" created a sparkling effect, and Miss Goddard
wound up the first division of the concert with her
usual brilliant performance of Benedict's solo for
the pianoforte, " Where the bee sucks." Among
the instrumental execution, we must make especial
mention of the duet for violin and violoncello.
played by Wieniawski and Piatti. This violinist
is a most attractive performer, being smooth,
vigorous, and impressive in his touch and tone,
and destitute of much of the mere trickery on four
strings which is often mistaken for sound music.
Piatti's power on the violoncello is beyond criticism.
The mellow softness and speaking notes which he
evokes from his unwieldy agent are wonderful in
effect, and enchanting to the listeners, as they tes-
tified by rapturous expressions of delight. Bene-
dict's "Undine" was supported by. Madlle. Titiens,
Madame Sainton-Dolby, Sims Reeves, Weiss, and
the Vocal Association Choir, The whole of the music
was sung beautifully, Madlle. Titiens rendered the
sweet song, "Nark the Waves that Rippling Play,"
with a delicacy and taste not to be excelled, and
Sims Reeves was quite at home in the recitative
and air, "My own Undine." Indeed, the entire of
the music was exquisitely given ; the only draw-
back to it being that, probably, it was rather too
long for a miscellaneous concert. Giuglini excited
great applause in the romanza, "In terra
ci divisero," and was recalled to receive
the homage due to him. M. Benedict
played a pianoforte composition of his own
with infinite delicacy and richness of style.
The lucid and fresh character of his touch is very
rare, and imparts an interest even to his
accompaniments. The concert was, altogether, of a
character to satisfy the most fastidious lover of
Apollo's art, and arranged and conducted with un-
exceptionable care, merely requiring the "cutting
out" of some of the latter portion of the programme
to bring it within reasonable length. The hall was
densely crowded with a most elegant and select
audience, who seemed to thoroughly appreciate the
zealous endeavours and love of his art so signally
and unceasingly exhibited by M. Benedict.