The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-29 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEA TRL.

A new farce, entitled A Radical Cure, was pro-
duced here last evening, which when a little con-
densed will prove most attractive. The following is
.the plot :—Mr. Alcibiades Bumptious, a London
commercial traveller in Paris on the business of his
house, in the revolutionary year 1848, is smitten with
the mania of the day, and as at► " English sympa-
thiser," frequents the clubs and makes Red Repub!i-
can and Communist speeches. He has a liaison with
Rose, his laundress, whom be has promised to marry,
and take with him to England; but he seconded a
motion ter the abolition of matrimony, and can no
longer keep a promise against his principles. Rase
determines to cure him of his folly by giving a pnc-
tical taste of the blessings of his new doctrines; and,
by herself assuming various disguises and the aid of
some friends, she thoroughly sickens him of them,
and makes him too happy to get off with her to Eng-
land. Buckstone was the cockney agitator, and his
dismay when intruder after intruder came into his
room and made free with his goods, his fright at find-
ing himself chosen lea ler of the attack of a barricade,
and his horror at finding himself about to be sum-
marily shot as an insurgent, were excessively lautol-
- Mrs. Fitzwilliam, too, was very clever in the
part of Rose.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY,
EXETER-HALL.
The ill adaptation of Exeter-hall for the purpose of
a music room, or for oratorical meetings, has been
long known. It would be superfluous to adduce in-
stances of complaint ; they have been so general ; and
the inquiry, why should London be without a good
music hall has been reiterated for years. Far more
forcibly has this cry been repeated since the establish-
ment of the Sacred Harmonic Society. The magni•
nude of the orchestra assembled under the auspices of
this institution has additionally served to illustrate the
need for a better arena in which to display its vast
resources.
Beyond mere suggestion and complaint, however,
nothing has until now been attempted, except a few
abortive proposals to erect music halls. The various
schemes for these buildings, but too often put for-
ward by interested and speculative parties, as fast as
projected fell to the ground.
The great eclat produced by the last Birmingham
Festival, under the able guidance of Mr. Costa, was
the means of arousing the attention of some of the
leading members of the Sacred Harmonic Society to
a full sense of the necessity for a well- adapted music
hall in the metropolis. The opening of-St. Martin's-
hall, shortly after, gave additional stimulus to this
feeling.
After attentive consideration, and the collection of
such information as in the event of its having been
decided upo❑ to erect a new hall would have greatly
facilitated the undertaking, it was ultimately agreed
that the most advisable course to pursue would
be, in the first place, fairly to place the deficiencies of
Exeter-hall before the proprietors of that building ;
and while impressing upon them the necessity fer
immediate attention being given to it, also to point
out that in so far as the Sacred Harmonic Society
was concerned, the members of it were anxious to
'continue their old tenancy in preference to building a
new hall, provided the defects so constantly com-
plained of could be remedied.
With this view a lengthened statement was pre-
pared by Mr. Bowley (one of the committee of the
society, and an auditor of Exeter-hall), which, after
pointing out the position and prospects of the build-
ing, and the probability of a new hall being erected,
unless material improvements were made in Exeter-
hall, ended by urging the adoption of three important
alterations.
These comprised, first, the removal of the central
projecting wall at the east end of the building, and
throwing back the organ nearly eighteen feet, caus-
ing the recesses, with their low ceilings, to appear as
part of the main body of the hall.
(The extent to which this has acted hitherto unfa."
vourably on the performances may be inferred, when
it is borne in mind that this wall, with the organ, di-
vided the bass from the tenor chorus by a projection
of nearly thirty feet square ; the recesses in which
the bulk of the chorus was placed having a ceiling
three feet lower than the body of the hall, with a
projecting beam and cornice in front three feet six
inches still lower.)

The second imliortant point urged upon the notice
of the directors was the removal from the front of
the west gallery, of the four square pillars, with the
heavy cornice and entablature above, and raising the
ceiling to the general height of the centre of the hall.
(Some idea of the inconvenience heretofore experi-
enced may be imagined when it is mentioned that

each pair of these pillars occupied a space exceeding
eight feet in width, and that the only place on the
last row of the gallery, from which the full extent of
the orchestra could be seen at one view, was about
seven feet in the centre. Being also carried up to
the ceiling, they, in appearance, supported a cornice
and entablature six feet six inches in depth, which
most effectually prevented the full effect of the or-

chestra from being, heard by the occupants of the
gallery.) _

- The third and principal alteration suggested was,
either to raise the walls of the building, and gain ge-
neral increased height, or else to remove the lantern,
and curve ,the ceiling upwards, constructing it of
wood, free from all projections and angles.
• This statement was transmitted to the board of di-
rectors, who at first declined carrying out any of the
alterations.

Re-consideration of the question, however, ulti-
mately induced the board to appoint a committee,
charged to consider the possibility of improving the
hall for sound.

As it had been offered in the statement submitted
by Mr. Bowley, that the opinions of the most emi-
❑ent musical authorities should be given in, as to the
propriety of the proposed alterations, immediate steps
were taken to procure them. Sir George Smart, Mr.
Costa, Mr. Benedict, Mr. Tule, Mr. Goss, Dr.
Elvey, Professor Taylor, Mr. Bartley, the leading
vocalists engaged by the Sacred Harmonic Society,
with several of the able critics attached to the metro-
politan journals, and many other high musical
authorities, kindly furnished their views in favour of
the alterations proposed. The directors of the Hall
also applied to several architectural and accoustical
authorities, and the result was the accumulation of a
large mass of evidence.
Two points proposed, viz., the removal of the east
wall, and 'of the west gallery pillars, were quickly
conceded by the board ; but the question of tae best
form of ceiling became a subject of great anxiety,
and caused much discussion.

As the directors, in the outset of the inquiry, ex-
pressly stipulated that the external roof should not be
removed, it became a matter for consideration whether

a slightly elevated flat ceiling, with ornamental plas-
ter work, should be adopted, or whether a boarded
ceiling, curved upwards, should be preferred. The
advocates of the former had all but succeeded in car-

rying their point, when Mr. Daukes, of Whitehall-
place, the architect of the Colney Hatch Lunatic
Asylum, and of many large and important buildings,
on consideration of the requirements and stipulations
annexed to the suggested alterations, proposed to
erect without tie• beams or iron cross-rods, wrought
iron supports to the external roof in such a manner
that they would allow of the ceiling being curved up ;
thus gaining uovvards of 12 feet central height, with
a considerable additional elevation at each end of the
hall, forming the surface of the ceiling throughout
free from all projection, and boarding it as originally
suggested.

This plan, which from its novelty and boldness at
first startled some of the directors, was, after two
months' careful consideration and examination, and
with the approval of the most eminent practical mi-
norities, ultimately adopted, and pos4ession of the
hall was taken on the Ist of September by Mr. Mare,
the contractor for the iron work (who was also the
contractor for the Britannia Bridge), and by Mr.
Myers (the contractor for the Colney Hatch Asylum)
for the other portions of the work, Mr. Daukes super-
intending the whole.

Tne following is a technical description of the plan
as carried into effect :
To the principals of the roof, wrought iron girders
(of a circular form on the uuder side) have been at-
tached, composed of plates of the best boiler iron, va-
rying in thickness from one-half to one-quarter of an
inch, with angle-iron at the top and bottom, and
stiffeners of strong T iron, and strips to cover the va-
various joints.

These girders were raised into the roof in pieces,
and supported in their places from the tie-beams, till
they were rivetted together with red hot rivets ; a
furnace for that purpose having been erected in the
roof. There are in the whole work upwards of 25,000
rivets.

Each girder when it had been placed on the walla,
and completely put together, was weighted with seven
tons of pig-iron distributed over its entire length, and
while thus loaded was bolted to the timber principal.
The deflection from this process was lit of an inch
only.

The ends of the girders were supported upon slid-
ing plates of smooth and greased iron affixed to the

wall-plate, which allowed of the spread corresponding
to the deflection of the arched iron without affecting
the walls : the extent of the spread was one-half of an
inch at each end. By this means the effect of any
thrust upon the walls was obviated previous to the
iron-work being bolted to the timber.

Besides the ten girders which were thus secured to
the timber principals, there are two independent iron
girders of a much stronger construction, weighing
about nine tons each, and nine smaller ones ; all of
these were tested with corresponding weights.
Nearly eighty tons of iron were introduced into the
roof, a weight which, although apparently large, is
considerably less than the old massive timber and
plaster ceiling.

- It was estimated that the girders
ds per square foot, -four poun would have to
bear a weight of sixty

% l tai
t•
1 I
and upon this calculation they were constr e -
whereas the actual weight they have to suppkir4q,,
found to be only forty-five pounds per square-Taff,' 'tlS-it:CV
the breaking weight being estimated at more than
two hundred and twenty pounds.'
When the whole of the iron-work had been fixed to
the wooden principals, the tie-beams, and other
timbers originally supporting the principals, and
which had formed an excellent scaffolding for the
furnace and r;vetters, were cut away to the edge of
the curved iron girders. The ceiling joists end
boarding were then attached to the iron flanges.
During this operation, and since the removal of the
tie-beams not the slightest visible deflection of the
arched girder, or strain of the walls in any way, can
be observed ; thus demonstrating in the plainest
manner the perfect success which has attended Mr.
Daukes's bold and original conception.
The following comparative clear width of various
public buildings additionally attest the merits of the
plan now carried out :

~.;
!/~,~.1

Pr. in.
Exeter-hall . . wido 76 9
Westiniwer-hail ... 68 0
Town hall, Birmingham 65 0
Philharmonic Concert loom, Liverpool ... 64 0
Whitehall Chapel ... 55 0
St. liartin',-hall ... 55 0
Victoria Room, Clifton ... ... 54 0
Guildhall, London ... 4B 0

••• ••• •••
New Houses of Lords and Commons

... 45 0

' King's College Chapel, Cambridge..., 44 0
Freemasocs'-hall
... 43 0
Hanover-squaro Concert Room ... ... 35 6
It will thus be seen that Exeter-ball is capable of
displaying a more extended orchestra than any other
building in this, or probably any other, country.
As the completion of the works have necessarily
somewhat delayed the usual time of commencing the
season, it has been left until the close of the ensuing
summer to carry out the decoration of the hall, the
present painting of ceiling, &c., being temporary.
As no opportunity offered for the rehearsal of a new
work, and as it was considered advisable the Hall
should be opened with the oratorio best fitted to ex-
hibit its improved form, it was decided to commence
the season with a performance of the Messiah, being
for the 56th time in the large hall, by the Society,
and their 227th in the same place.
Advantage has been taken of the re•erection of the
organ to effect considerable alterations and improve-
ments in it. The keys have been reversed, some
larger pedal pipes have been added, and the body of
the instrument much improved in tone.
Considerable additions have been made to the band.
It now includes 16 double basses, and the same num-
ber of violincellos, with 82 violins and violas. Among
the additional professional performers in these de-
partments may be named Messrs. Campanile, Pratten,
H. Chipp, Guest Dando; Doyle, Zerbini, Cusins,
&c., while some increase and modification have taken
place in the repieni wind.
The concert season, which terminated in June last,
was the most successful the society has yet had, and
the already great increase of subscribers over the
amount of any former year, justifies the expectation
that, with increased zeal on the part of the members
of the orchestra, and those who undertake the direc-
tion of the institution, aided by the energy and talent
brought to bear on it by the assistance of Mr. Costa,
an increase of usefulness and service to the art may
be anticipated from the continued prosperity of the
Sacred Harmonic Society.
The performance of the Messiah will be repeated
on Friday next, the 6th of December.
I."Tov. 29, 1850.