The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-13 00:00:00

TilE VOCAL ASSOCIATION-87'.

JAMES'S HALL,

It was with very sincere pleasure that we at-
tended the First Subscription Concert of the
season given by this admirable Association
last evening. Discriminating applause from
an appreciating public has placed these
concerts in the high ranks of musical enter-
tainments, and they now form a solid and attrac-
tive feature to all who can estimate and enjoy the
elevating delight derived from artistic playing and
perfect singing. Great praise is due to M. Bene-
dict for the energy and devotion he has exhibited
in rendering the Association so efficient and com-
plete as it now is. He is no niggard with his time
or talent—whatever he undertakes he does well
and thoroughly, and his enthusiastic industry in
the general cause of the divine art of music fully
equals his genius as a practical disciple of it. We
cordially compliment him on the brilliant success
which attended the opening concert last evening
—a success well deserved by the pains bestowed on
the whole of the performances and arrangements
connected with it. The programme
.included a
choice selection from first class compositions, bear-
ing the warrant names of Handel, Mozart, Sebas-
. tian Bach, Mendelssohn, Bishop, Benedict, and
others of world-wide fame. The instrumental
performers comprised Miss Arabella Goddard
as pianiste, Messrs. Dando and Westlake,
as violinists : Messrs. Webb, Pettit, and Reynolds
taking viol,violoncello, and contra-bass; and Herr
Oberthur the harp. Madame Laura Baxter and
Miss Banks were the solo vocalists, with a choir of
two hundred carefully trained voices, capable of
executing part-songs with harmonic precision not
frequently attained.

The concert commenced with " Misericordia
Domini," which was carefully given by the double
choir with very impressive effect. Benedict's
cradle song, "Sweet repose is reigning now," re-
ceived full justice from the twelve ladies who were
entrusted with it, and it was rendered with a finish
and delicacy which evinced that the singers had
their hearts in their work. Madame Laura Bax-
ter gave Handel's beautiful recitative and air
" Lascia chio pianga" in her usual style of excel-
lence," and Miss Banks sang " Mark the waves" in
a manner that elicited enthusiastic applause and an
encore. The air is a delicious bit of melody, and
was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience, as
was also that plaintive and exquisite song
"By the sad sea waves," which Madame
Baxter was called upon to repeat. The
part songs, "Where art thou, beam of light," and
" Lovely Night," afforded ample proof of the high
training the choir voices receive—indeed the whole
of the music confided to the members of the asso-
ciation was interpreted with a correct expression
which reflects the greatest credit on all parties.
We must make special mention of Miss Arabella
Goddard, whose power and skill on the pianoforte
are truly fascinating. Her themes last evening
were " Alla Tarantella," by Bach, and a " Fantasia
on English airs," by Benedict—the last creating an
earnest encore.

The hall was crowded with a most attractive and
delighted audience. The advent of these admirable
concerts was most auspicious in every department,
and we cordially commend them to the notice of
the musical public. The next concert takes place
on Wednesday, April 3, when a tempting pro-
gramme and sound artistic performances will doubt-
less insure the patronage so richly merited.

THE RANCLIFFE WILL CASE.—The cause of
Rumbold v. Forteath and wife has been brought to a
conclusion at the Nottingham Assizes. It was brought to
try the validity of the will of George Augustus Henry
Anne Parkyns, Lord Rancliffe, and to obtain possession of
the mansion-house, park, &c., of Bunny. The real de-
fendant Mrs. Forteath, formerly Mrs. Harriet Butt, to
whom he had bequeathed the bulk of his property, had
lived with Lord Rancliffe some 30 or 35 years, and, indeed,
up to the time of his death. The verdict was for the de-
fendant.

BRITISH SHIPS IN THEIR OWN PORTS.—The Board
of Customs have made an important concession, which will
considerably benefit the shipowners of the north-east ports.
Heretofore foreign vessels trading with England were allowed
exclusively to consume stores untaxed by the English Cus-
toms while in our harbours, whereas our shipowners and
their crews were obliged, as soon as their vessels entered an
English port from foreign countries, to consume stores taxed
by the Excise, as all the stores belonging to the ship were
immediately locked up by the Customs. The Board of
Customs have at length decided on placing British ships and
foreign vessels when in British waters on the same footing
as regards the use of bonded stores. British ships in future,
when bound foreign, in our harbours, instead of having to
purchase (duty paid) articles for their crews to live on when
in the harbour, will be permitted to use their free goods on
board, the same as if at sea ; the same privilege is granted as
regards the use of surplus. stores.
The CHURCH RATE BILL now stands for a third
reading ou Wednesday, June 5, that being the earliest
available day on which the measure can be further dis-
cussed. The 22d of May was first named, but as that will
be the day on which the House of Commons re-assembles
after the Whitsun holidays, there would have been no pro.
bability of securing a good house, and the occurrence of
the Derby Day in the following week necessitated the
delay of another week. Although the prolongation of the
controversy is not without its disadvantages, it will afford
to the abolitionists an opportunity of making fresh efforts
to carry the bill through the house by a good majority,
and, more especially, the rural parishes will be able, at the
approaching Easter vestries, to show, in a practical man-
ner, their determination not to have the impost perpetuated
in the country while it is given up in our large towns.
THE NEW GOVERNOR OF NEW SOUTH WALES.—
The Right Hon. Sir John Young, Bart., K.C.8., ,
who has just been gazetted Governor of New South Wales,
in succession to Sir William Denison, K.C.8., promoted to
the Governorship of Madras, was born in 1807, and is the
eldest son of the late Lieut.-Colonel Sir William Young,
Bart., by Lucy, daughter of Lieut.-Colonel Frederick. He
was educated at Eton School and Corpus Christi College,
Oxford, graduating B.A. in 1829. He was called to the
bar, but did not practise. He sat for Cavan county in the
House of Commons from 1831 to 18.55 as a Conservative
and Liberal Conservative, or Peelite. In 1841 he was ap-
pointed a Lord of the Treasury, under Sir R. Peel ; in 1844
Secretary to the Treasury, on the break up of Lord Derby's
Government; in December, 1852, Sir John Young was
sworn of the Privy Council, and appointed Secretary for
Ireland—an office which he held to the great satisfaction of
men of all parties till 1855. Prom 1855 to 1859 he was
Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, and was
made a K.C.8., besides being (necessarily) a G.C.M.G.
He married, in 1835, Adelaide Annabella, daughter of Mr.
Edward Tuite Dalton (step-daughter of the Marquis of
Ileadfort), by whom he has no issue, and succeeded to the
baronetcy in 1818.

THE YELVERTON TRIAL.—The Rev. George
Gilfillan, in preaching on Sunday afternoon on the words
from Proverbs xxviii., 14, " Happy is the man that feareth
alway," alluded to the above trial, and denounced it as a
disgrace to the age. He was disgusted with nothing so
touch about it as with the profane use of the name of God
made both by the counsel and by the judge, as if it were to
rear and promote the morality of the land by public and
profane swearing—as if the judge thought he would get
men and women to keep the seventh commandment better
by openly breaking the third. To hear profane swearing
coming from the mouth of a judge was to him more dis-
gusting than to read the other ineffable details connected
with the male as well as with the female party in that mise-
rable trial.—Dundee Argus.
MRs. (FORBES) YELVERTON.—In reference to the
rumours that were circulated that Major and Mrs. (Forbes)
Yelvcrton had quitted Ireland for America, we have been
requested to give the statement, so far as regards the lady,
a most unqualified contradiction. Mrs. Yelverton left
Kingstown for London on 'Wednesday, to join Lady Ash-
worth and her sisters.—Cork, Examiner of Monday.
HEALTH OF LONDON.—The Registrar-General's
return states that the deaths in London, which had fallen
to 1,238 in the previous week, rose to 1,279 in the week
that ended last Saturday. The average number of deaths
as obtained from corresponding weeks of ten previous years
1851.60, and corrected for increase of population, is 1,422.
The number registered last week is, therefore, less by 143
than the number that would have been returned if the
average rate of mortality had ruled. The births of last
week exceeded the deaths in the same ',erica' by 793.
Seventy-seven children died in the week of whooping-
cough, and of these so many as 9in Hoxton. There were
only 2 deaths from small-pox. There were 37 from scar-
latina, and 13 from diphtheria. Eight infants died from
syphilis. Phthisis was fatal iu 176 cases, whilst the cor-
rected average for corresponding weeks is 169. The mor-
tality for bronchitis was low, 132 deaths having been re-
turned for the week, whilst the average is 178. The
mortality from pneumonia and asthma was also much below
the average. Fifteen women died after childbirth. Four
nonagenarians are retuned, all of whom were widows, and
the two oldest were respectively 95 and 97 years. A gentle-
man, aged 52 years, died of ulenation and perforation of
the crecum caused by a damson stone which he had swal-
lowed about eight months previously. Last week the births
of 1,066 boys and 1,006 girls, in all 2,072 children, were
registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of
the years 1851-60 the average number was 1,799.