The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-10 00:00:00

DON CIEBRAS' CONCERT.

On Wednesday Don S. and Don R. Ciebra gave
their morning concert at the Queen's Concert Rooms,
fianoer-square. The list of artists engaged on the
occasion comprised, in addition to the talented entre-
peneurs themselves, many names well known in the
musical world. The programme put forth was of a
very recherché and attractive description, being se-
lected generally from the principal composers of the
modern school. The principal vocal pieces were
the duet between Dulcamara and Mine (L'Elisir
d'Amore), by Madile. Cotti and Signor fat,slia-
fico; Nel dolce Incanto," Madame Letnaire ;
" Stance di piu," Madame Lozano; "Lo
Ye-
dremo" (Erruzni), Mr. F. Bodder ; " Exindi
Deus" (Barnett), Miss A. Taylor; the barca-
role, from Masaniello, Signor Tagliafico ; and a
Spanish song by Madame de Lozano. The Senors
de Ciebra executed a number of pieces on the guitar,
in which they displayed their well-known taste and
skilfulness of manipulation in a manner that elicited
the warmest applause. Don M. Echeverria played a
solo on the bandurris, a modification of the Spanish
guitar, peculiar, we believe to the kingdom of Aragon,
the strings being struck by a reed and not pinched
with the fingers as in the usual instrument. The Don
showed it to be capable of great sweetness and expres-
sion in the hands of a skilful player, although we
doubt whether if struck by an ordinary executant it
would rival tho guitar. Mr. Clinton and Mr. Wil-
liams were very successful in a duet for flute and
clarinet. We must not forget to mention that Miss
Forster took part with Don R. de Ciebra in a duet
in a theme from Semiramide, which was deservedly
encored. The room was filled by a most fashionable
auditory.

POLYTECHNIC INSTITU TION.
The second lecture of Dr. Bachhoffner proves no
lessinteresting than the first of his series, on the
Philosophy of Scientific Recreation. The Doctor in
this explains the principles governing the effects
commonly known as Light, Shadow, and Colour.
Although at first a subject seemingly so devoid of
popular interest, under such skilful management it
b, came an all absorbent theme. The most pro-
minent features connected with the philosophy of
sight were briefly entered into by the Doctor, one
and all tending, in their minute perfection, to evi-
dence the wisdom and skill of an all-wise Creator.
Had one little muscle been forgotten in the construe-
tionof the eye, we should have been under the necessity
o f using one hand to adapt the eye to observe any ob-
ject presented in the other. The involuntary motion,
or winking, of the eye could have 'as little been dis-
pensed with, serving, by its peculiar motion, to clear
and preserve the eye from all adventitious matters.
The movement of the upper lid of the eye is,
as explained by Dr. Bachhoffner when carried
on involuntarily, so extremely rapid as to preserve
the image of the object without cessation upon the
mind ; but however quickly this winking be performed
designedly, we cannot prevent the momentary loss of
the image during such process. This the Doctor made
the basis of a number of explanatory and highly
curious experiments. The next point touched upon
was the operation of seeing, not performed, as we
may imagine, by the eyes, but by the mind. Dr.
Bachhoffner told us we do not see by our eyes any more
appear) than a " Camera Obscure," capable of producing the
Much more
image of an object presented (upon the ground glass
of that machine), can see the image so produced.
~ The
eye performs the part of. such. " camera, . producing
the image, while the brain is the organ of sight ; and it
toseeunintelligible
eninoticed.
with
oured . tetymesa7
is the brain which sees. Therefore the Doctor's as-
sertionjesWs ehr
remains aenivnoe str
u cor-
rect—"fint
e

SOUTH AFRICAN EXHIBITION.
We took an early opportunity of visiting this very
curious and interesting collection, and were forcibly
struck with the beauty of the natural objects shown,
the singularity of those rude specimens of art in its
infancy exhibited, and, above all, with the taste dis-
played in the arrangemt-nt of the whole. To the
lovers of natural history this exhibition recommends
itself by the number, importance, and high state of
perfection of the objects introduced to our notice.
To travellers, or at least to those who like to read of
travels, it presents an opportunity seldom afforded iu
books, by preenting undeniable evidence of thioß
and acts which in type alone might be deemedete
credible ; indeed, before we had seen and iisiesge
of
the whole, we became so impressed with
satheir
the reality of csrtain terrific scenes,
sr of the wor►d
dan-
ger, that we occasionally fancied we were
mentally, of course, to those very
.1!
peirn- owner of this
which the courageous and entehrp.rdi 8
I at the idea of the
collection has visited, and trembled
hbayvebeinu; perils he must have faced—of the difficultiesetineutrai ihBPe°trtn'tu'ldst'
en-
have
travels,now exhibited,
eedo.veTrchoemvee—ryomf
etahnestheoafrhdiss
interest. We were equally
is an object of greatntrefinement could be found com-
bined a portion at leas f co n Ivliesy ahnec emuussetd
qualities required tothrough
go
an herculean task, evidenced by
" i dons which r
alltr"uaßdeurtof curiosities in connexion
fleet great credit
orlon the most remarkable
upon the writer...
with this ex is doubtless
what appearhsibti
be found in the owner's Bushman, a native of the
ri
tasteful,l e asedw i
ttho
poeticaltleoese deacr p , .
.t .
to
mountainous districts of South Africa, who accom-
panied and for four years faithfully served tile enter-
prising traveller, and who now has the good fortune,
which we hope he appreciates, of visiting this (to him)
most singular country : he seems mild tempered and
simple-hearted, and gave us proof of his having already
made some progress in the arts of civilization by
having discovered the popular way of allaying thirst
in this country, and evincing a proper sense of its
efficacy by his willingness to try the experiment;
upon which and other points we were glad to exchange
1 a few words with him. If we may judge of the
future popularity of this exhibition by the growing
interest we took in it as we proceeded to view its in-
structive details, we can only say that we hope, vvhen
next we visit it again, to find it what it, deserves to
be, a favourite with all who seek rational and usei'ill
be amusement.

At the rent audit of the Marquis of Lansdowne,
he'd last week, a reduction of 10 per cent. was mado upo
the rents. Hi. Lordship has given directions for a fresh eon-
vey of the whole of his Wiltshire Otito3.—Both Chr cnsick.