The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-10 00:00:00

EVENING, DECEMBER to,

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
GRAND NATIONAL CONCERTS.
The production last evening of selections from Mr.
Howard Glover's opera of Hero and Leander is a flesh
proof of the determination on the part of the directors
to redeem to the utmost the pledge they gave in
their programme, that they would endeavour to raise
the standard of musical taste in this country by giving
compositions of a high order, and that they would
encourage the English composers by the performance
of their works in the most complete and efficient manner.
The selections consisted of an overture, songs, cho-
russes, &c., but there was no attempt at any deve-
lopment of a plot as there was in Mr. Macfarren's
Sereneta. The overture is a massive composition of
much merit ; the general expression is one of melan-
choly, and it seems admirably adapted as an introduc-
tion to a story so sad as that of Hero and Leander.
Then follows the opening chorus, " What Sorrow has
thy Soul oppressed," to which succeeds a romanza
" Star of the Morning," cleverly rendered by
Mrs. Alexander Newton. Mr. Sims Reeves
(who was evidently labouring under cold and
hoarseness, and who was unable to sing
during the latter part of the performance), then
gave a song, "My fate is in my Hero's eyes." It is a
very sweet composition, and was given with
much taste and feeling by Mr. Sims
Reeves ; but it was evident that the effort had com-
pletely exhausted him, and in a subsequent part of
the evening Mr. Balfe had to apologise for the
omission of various songs which had been assigned
to Mr. Sims Reeves. Miss Poole sung a very pretty
Romanza, "A wild disorder," and and elicited rap-
urous applause. The great solo of the opera is the
ballad which followed this, "The strain I heard in
happier days." It is one of the most beautifully
simple balladcompositions ever heard, it is thoroughly
English in its melody and in its treatment, and was
sung by Angri with infinite grace and
taste, and with that simplicity of style which
is the great charm of English ballad singing.
Miss Stephens, in her best days, Lever
surpassed Angri in true English expression ; there is
a horn obligato which was excellently performed by
M. Steglich, and the ballad was, it is needless to add,
rapturously encored. The gem of the open, however,
is an unaccompanied quartette, " The fated hour,"
song by Miss Poole, Mrs. A. Newton, Mr. Frank
Bodda, and Mr. Sims Reeves ; this also is thoroughiy
English in its style and treatment, the voices har-
monized beautifully, and it also was encored. This ex-
quisite composition will, we have no doubt, become a
permanent favourite with all practisers of part-singing,
and will take its place as a classical composition in
the repertoire of all glee and madrigal clubs. The
grand finale, " His death alone," is an elaborate coni-
position ; the soprano and bass solos were ad-
mirably rendered by Mrs. Alexander Newton and Mr.
F. Bodda, the scoring was full and complete, and the
whole composition, which is of a very high order, re-
ceived ample justice at the hands of the chorus and
orchestra. The second part commenced with Beeth-
oven's symphony in B flat, which was rendered with
all that care and conscientiousness wnich has so dis-
tinguished the performance of classical r2usic at
these concerts ; the conducting of this symphony by
Balfe was beyond all praise. We had also a selection
for the first time from Balfe's opera, The Siege of Ro-
chelle, a well- deserved compliment to the musical
dirt ctor. These selections were admirably rendered
by the orchestra. The Grand Quadrille of All Na-
tions concluded the performance. The concert was
very well attended.
HAYMA RKET THEATRE.

King John has always been esteemed one of Mr.
Macready's finest parts. He played it last night in,
his most effective manner, exhibiting the meannes.ies,
vacillations, and infirmities of mind which go to
make up this ably drawn historical portrait with his
usual discriminative variety. This personation is too
well known to need any panegyric now. No actor has
ever delineated the shifting and petulant wilfulness of
the king with a greater warmth of colour than Mr.Ma-
cready; for no one has addressed himself so immediately,
to the development of its minutest shades and con-
trasts. His delivery of the speech to Hubert when
he concerts the murder of Arthur is a superb passage
of acting—an exquisite portrayal of the moral turpi-
tude which characterises the monarch, and the de-
liberate and specious cunning with which he com-
passes the death of the prince. The whole of this
scene is full of subtle beauties; and the deadly
artfulness of his appeal, his eager, quivering look,
as he watches the working of his half-indicated
wishes, and his relaxation into a sort of hysterical
merriment when the rugged chamberlain with
measured emphasis yields an assent, is replete
with significance and purport. This and the closing
scene—one of the most painful illustrations of phy-
sical agony we know of—have hitlierto been the most
prominent features of the performance, and last night
Mr. Macready exerted himself to paint them as deeply
and as vividly as he did twenty years ago. But the great
incident of the evening was the celebrated interview
with the legate from the Pope. The frequency with
which the memorable defiance of the Papal mandate
has been quoted of late, and the concurrent
spirit of Protestant repudiation in which the public
receive it, promised an excitement of no common
kind. The moment the red hat of the cardinal was
perceived a howl of execration ran through the
house, but he was enabled to get through his open-
ing speech in tolerable quiet. Nothing, however,
could exceed the vehemence with which the fiery
rejoinder of the King was echoed by the audi-
ence, though unfortunately the great point of the
passage was drowned in the hurricane of accla-
mations which the irritability of the audience
would no longer suffer them to withhold. It is
needless to say that the antipathy of the spectators
was not concealed whenever the legate showed hi▪ s
face. The tragedy has seldom been better cast as a
whole. Mrs. Warner has aiwnys been an emphati▪ c
and impassioned Constance, and she delineated the
grief of the unhappy mother of Arthur with telling
torte. The male personages were well supported.
Davenport's Falconbridge, though wanting in the
grace and nobility which belonged to Charles Item-
ble's personation, was nevertheless manly and chivalric,
and the Hubert of Mr. Cooper was intelligent and im-
pre,sive. At the fall of the curtain Mr. Macready was
called for, and also Mr. Davenport.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, DEC. 9.
The Queen and his Royal Highness the Prince
Albert, with their Royal Highnesses the Prince of
\Vales and Prince Alfred, attended by Viscountess
Canning (Lady in Waiting), Lord Elpbinstone (Lord
in Waiting), Colonel Honourable Charles Grey and
Colonel Bouverie, Equerries in Waiting, went to
London this morning at twenty minutes past ten
o'clock.

Her Majesty, his Royal Highness, with the Prince
of Wales and Prince Alfred and suite, travelled by a
special train on the Great Western Railway, and re-
turned to the Castle at two o'clock.

The Earl and Countess of Bessborough and Sir
Charles and Lady Mary Wood are expected to arrive
at the Castle to-day on a visit to the Queen and the
Prince.

The Royal Dinner Circle this evening will include
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady
Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, the Earl and
Countess of Beasborough, and Sir Charles and Lady
Mary Wood.
Her Majesty's private band will attend in the
Castle this afternoon ofter dinner.

Her Majesty and Prince Albert, with the Prince of
Wales and Prince Alfred, arrived at the Smithfield
Cattle-show, in King-street, Portman-square, at a
quarter past eleven o'clock yesterday morning, at-
tended by the Viscountess Canning, Lord Elphinstone,
Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, and Colonel Bouverie.
Her Majesty inspected the Exhibition, and afterwards
proceeded to Buckingham Palace, where her Majesty
and the royal party arrived at twenty-five minutes
past twelve o'clock.
At five minutes past one o'clock the Queen and the
Prince, with the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred,
left Buckingham Palace for the Paddington terminus
of the Great Western Railway, attended by the royal
suite, and returned to Windsor Castle.
The Rev. Sydney Turner and Mr. William Glad-
stone, from the Philanthropic Society for the Refor-
mation of Juvenile Offenders, had an interview with
Sir George Grey yesterday at the Home-office.
Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland
Revenue, and Mr. Pressly, had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday at his official
residence in Downing-street.
Dispatches were sent off last evening from the Co-
lonial-office for the Governor of Sierra Leone.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady' Mary
Wood left town yesterday on a visit to the Queen.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat
yesterday. Present, Lord Langdale, Mr. Baron
Parke, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, and Sir
E. Ryan.
Mr. Baron Parke gave judgment on an appeal
from Bombay, " Pittamberdass v. Ramboll Thac-
koorseydats."
Some motions were disposed of.
Sir Fitzroy Kelly opened an appeal from the
Prerogative Court of Canterbury, " Brayne and
Edwards v. Bather."
The case was adjourned.

THE LORD RECTORSHIP.—We understand that the
decision regarding the suspended Lord Rectorship cannot be
made until near the meeting of Parliament, as Colonel ➢lure,
with whom the matter now rests, will not return from Italy
until the commencement of the session approaches. The de-
cision must be given by Colonel Mure personally, but there
can be no doubt That it will be in favour of Sheriff Alison.—
Glitipto Daily Mail.
The Dulpq f Entlard, we are Imppy to leorn, is
in the enjoyment of excellent health. His Grace left Belvoir
Castle on Saturday, for Stanton Woodhouse, his shooting box
in Derbyshire, where his Grace intends to remain until his
birthday.

1 ot)0

TEE SMITHFIELD CLUB.
The annual show of the Smithfield Club opens to.
day to the public, end will he found, notwithstanding
the depressed stare of British agriculture, both in the
number are; the quality of the stock exhibited, very
greatly in advance of the displays of former years.
The present is one-fourth larger than the last show,
and in a still greater ratio exceeds those which pre-
ceded it. This increase is not confined to any one
department, but extends over the whole ; and some
idea of it may be formed when we mention that there
are 50 additional stands for oxen alone. With refer-
ence to the quality of the stock brought forward, the
judges are unanimous in their opinion on that sub-
jeer, and, having been admitted to a private view last
night, we can fully corroborate their testimony on the
subject. The exhibition has in former years been
blemished by a display of enormously fat and over-
grown animals. Prizes were awarded, and admira-
tion bestowed, not upon those beasts that at the earliest
age, and in the most healthy and regular manner, were
clothed with the greatest amount of wholesome food,
but upon mountains of tallow, ungainly to look
upon, useless for the purposes of subsistence, and
valuable only to be manufactured into candles. The
Smithfield Club have in this respect effected a de-
cided reform. They have at length, and unmistakaby,
surrendered their predilections for the melting-tub,
and the danger, if en y, against which they now re•
quire to be warned, is to prevent their show running
so far into the opposite direction that it may become
an exhibition to promote purity of breed rather than
one which has reference to the supply of our metro-
politan meat markets. The principle on which the
prizes are awarded properly recognises the 'breeder
as well as the feeder of each successful animal, and
the materials upon which it has been fattened are also
specified. These precautions do, to a certain extent,
keep the show true to its original design, and this
result is still further secured by the arrangement and
classification adopted, which place beasts of different
breeds side by side, and induce a general comparison
of merits between the different varieties of stock.
It is quite true that the best bred ox
will generally show himself best adapted
for the purpose fur which nature has
destined him ; but, on the other he'll, the merits of
cross-bred animals ought not to be lost sight of, and
something is due to the appetites of our citizens,
more solicitous about a goad sirloin of beet or haunch
of mutton than as to whether the beasts-that furnished
them were Devons or Herefords, Suuthdowns or
Leicesters. If we were to find a fault with the
general character of the present exhibition, we would
state it thus—that the great breeders, and especially
those who breed for amusement, as, for instance, the
Duke of Richmond, or, to quote another name with-
out any invidious motive, his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, should, with their advantages for mairrtaining
a successful competition, come into the field and
carry away so large a proportion of the prizes against
the men who the whole year round supply Smith-
field-market, and appease the appetites of a population
of 2,000,000. The noblemen and gentlemen who
keep up fine herds of cattle, partly as a matter of
amateur farming, and partly to raise the quality of
stock throughout the country, have their legitimate
sphere of competition at the great annual shows of
the Royal Agricultural Society. The Smithfield
Club ought to encourage a less dignified but not
less useful class of competitors,—the men who sup-
ply the best mutton, the best beef, and the best bacon
to the inhabitants of London. We are far from say-
ing that these last are altogether excluded ; and a
glance at the list of prizes (which we subjoin) will
show that many of our best-known feeders have met
with the success which they deserve. Still, practical
men, looking at the result, would, we suspect, be
disposed to think that several great names occur
therein somewhat too often. The show is particu.
larly strong in Leicester sheep and in crosses. It
has improved greatly also in the display of Devons,
in which hitherto it has been deficient. Mr. Heath's
Hereford ox and Mr. Gooch's short-horned heifer,
each the winner of a gold medal, deserve the particu-
lar notice of all who visit the exhibition, and will, no
doubt, become great favourites and be well " handled"
during the next few days. The pen of South Down
sheep belonging to Mr. Williams, and of Leicesters
belonging to Mr. Foljambe, will also attract notice ;
but, besides these, visitors will not fail to notice the
splendid crosses for which a prize has been awarded to
Mr. J. R. Overman, and 'the fine Cotswold sheep of
Mr. R. Bernard. The exhibition of pigs, seldom the
least attractive part of the annual display at the
Baker-street Bazaar, is not likely this year to lose
any of its usual interest. Here Mr. Fisher Hobbs
still maintains his ascendancy, and, whatever ques-
tion may be raised as to the value of his stock for
breeding purposes, it is impossible to look at them
without being satisfied that they must make most
delicate food. Of late there appears to be a strong
disposition in the pig breeders of the country to claim
each for himself a special variety of that animal.
The consequence is a degree of confusion and mysti-
fication as to what really is the pure porcine blood of
England that would puzzle even the ingenuity of the
College of Heralds. Every exhibitor recognises in
the pen of his neighbour his own favourite form of
grunter, and, while nearly all are striving to secure
the largest amount of meat on the smallest amount of
bone, it is to be feared that the original vigour and
healthiness of the species are greatly impaired.
Apart from the list of prizes, there are some few
animals in the show which deserve a passing notice.
At the head of these must be plated " a four
years and six months old cross-bred heifer, between
the Scotch highland cow and the Brahmin bull, bred
by his Grace the Duke of Wellington, and fed on
grass, chaff, barleymeal, oilcake, and roots." This
singular beast differs no less in shape than in temper
from his companion., having a buffalo hump, drooping
behind like a mule, and launching out its heels with
great dexterity at almost everybody who came within
reach of it. Another point which struck us in the
cattle department of the exhibition was that there
was but one specimen of the polled Galloway breed
exhibited—that breed, such large numbers of which
are brought an Dually to the eastern counties to fatten,
and thence sent into the London market. There is
hardly any more favourite or more profitable descrip-
tion of cattle than this ; but the Norfolk graziers
complain that there is now great difficulty in getting
them at a reasonable price and of goad quality.
The animal referred to is exhibited by Mr. Heath,
and is a remarkably fine ox. Another and
quite a novel feature of the present show
is the introduction of a specimen of Dutch
stock, which, however, without any prejudice towards
foreigners, it must be admitted cuts but a sorry
figure. It m '1.77 convey some consolation to the friends

ofagricultureto state that the Speaker of the House
of Commons is a contributor on the present occasion
of " a pPn of three 21 weeks and two days old im-
proved Essex lleckfield pigs, bred by himself, and fed
on barleymeal, pollard, and skimmed milk." We re-
gret to say that the Right Hon. Gentleman has not

been a sucCes ,ful competitor, but he may console him-
self, as Sir John Conroy and other distinguished
feeders have been equally disappointed. To all who
take an intere at in the quality of animal food, and in
the quantity o f it which can with comfort to the cattle
themselves at d with benefit to man be produced from
one beast—to all who wish fully to understand with
what materials the Christmas hospitalities of London
are furnished 'forth, we recommend a visit to the Baker-

. ... .. _—.
street Bazaar. Let them patiently read how so many
fat oxen, cows, sheep, and pigs have been fed, how
unsparingly every variety of provender has been
supplied to th'sm, how sumptuously they have fared
while their m asters have been ruined by free trade.
The Smithfield Club is as tenacious of life as the

market, though the public has not the same interest
in its death. Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince
of Wales and Prince Alfred, visited the show yester-
day morning, at eleven o'clock ; and, after a stay of
more than an hour, left highly delighted with all they

The following is a list of prizes awarded
OXEN OR STEERS.
Class I—The first prize of 30 sovereigns to No. 16, vii.
to Mr. John Tucker, of Staplegrove, near Taunton—a
silver medal to the breeder, viz. to Mr. John Priscott, of
Staplegrove; the second prize of 15 sovereigns to No. 8,
viz. to Mr. Joseph Phillips, of Ardington, near Want-
ago; the third prize of 5 sovereigns to No. 2, viz. to
his Grace the Duke of Richmond, of Goodwood, near
Chichester.

Class 2—The first prize of 30 sovereigns to No. 33,
viz. to the Right Hon. the Earl of Hardwicke, of Wim-
pole, near Cambridge—a silver medal to the breeder, viz.
to the Earl of Hardwicke; the second prize of 15 sove-
reigns to No. 39, viz, to Mr. Benry Frampton, of Faring-
don-road, Faringdon; the third prize of Si. to No. 24,
viz. to the Marquis of Northampton, of Castle Ashby,
Northampton.
Class 3—The first prize of 251. to No. 52, viz. to Mr.
William Heath, of Ludhani, near Norwich—a silver

medal to the breeder, viz, to Mr. J. Bill, of Whiteway
Head, Ludlow, Salop; the second prize of 151. to No.
56, viz. to Mr. J. S. Bult, of Dodhill, Kingston, Taun-
ton; the third prize of 5/. to No. 45, viz. to Mr. James
Clover, of Creeting St. Mary, Needham-market.
Clahs 4—The first prize of 201. to No. 69, viz. to his
Royal Highness Prince Albert—a silver medal to the
breeder, viz. to Mr. Thomas Sheriff, of Buckton, near
Ludlow. Hereford; the second prize of 101. to No. 79,
viz. to Mr. J. S. Bult, of Dodhili, Kingston, Taunton.
Class s—The first prize of 151. to No. 85, viz, to the
Right Hon. the Earl of Aylesford, of Packington. Co-
ventry—a silver medal to the breeder, viz, to the Right
Hon. the Earl of Aylesford; the second prize of 51. to
No. 92, viz. to Mr. Thomas Boud, of Bishop's Lydeard,
Taun ton.

Class 6—The prize of 101. to No. 101, viz. to Mr.
William Heath, of Ludham, near Norwich. •
Cows AND HEIFERS.
Class 7—The first prizi of 20/. to No. 110, viz. to the
Right Hon, Lord Feversham, cf
Duttoombe-park,
Hvbrc?kY —a silver medat to the breeder, viz; toihe
Right Hon. Lord Fevershatn; the second prize of 10L to
No. 124, viz. to Mr. Stephen Gooch, of lioningham, near
Norwich; the third prize of 5Z to No. 116, viz, to his
'loyal Highness Prince Albert. -