The Sun.
London, England, 1827-04-27 00:00:00

THE MELODISTS.

The First Annual Concert of the Melodiste took
place, yesterday evening, at Willis's Rooms. Nearly
the whole vocal strength of the metropolis assisted
to give it. brilliancy and effect, and the assembly
was one of the most fashionable we have ever wit-
nessed.

The Society was instituted in 1825, for the pro-
motion of melody and ballad composition, and to
accomplish this object, writers are invited to contri-
bute poetry, which, when approved, is submitted to
the composers, to he set to music; Tuch pieces as
are adopted are published, and the profits of the
work apportioned to the writer, composer, and the
party who shall make it popular by singing it in
public. In conformity to this plan, several beauti-
ful MS. compositions were yesterday performed at
the first Concert of the Society, together with some
of the most popular of our modern airs ; and when
we state, that of the vocal favourites, Miss Paton,
Mr. Braham, Mr. Sinclair, Mrs. Geesin, Mr. Broad-
hurst, Signori De Begnis and Torri, Mr. T. Cooke,
Miss Roche, Mr. Pearman, and Mr. Duruset, as-
sisted—and that of the instrumental performers, Mr.
Parry, Mr. Willman, and Mr. Watson, were pre-
sent, it will be unnecessary to add, that the per-
formance altogether was most successful. In the
first act, a very sweet and plaintive ballad was sung
by Miss Roche. It is the composition of Mr.
Alexander Roche, and possesses much merit. The
finale of the first part was " The Chough and
Crow." Between the two acts, M. Sedlatzek, first
flute performer at Vienna, whose skill has gained
him a high reputation on the Continent, played a
Fantasia on this delightful instrument; and Mr.
Willman executed various national airs on the cla-
rionet, with very great effect. The long-established
favourite, Mr. Nicholson, also delighted the audience
by his unrivalled performance.
The second act contained many beautiful com-
positions, particularly a MS. trio, by Watson—
" Sweet Melody." In this act, Miss Paton was in-
troduced, and was, as usual, received in a gratifying
manner. Signor de Begnis amused the audience by
his comic powers, and was universally encored in the
" Savoyard." His execution of Mozart's celebrated
" Non piu Andrai," evinced the perfect skill of the
master. Our old favourite, Mr. Broadhurst, sang
but one song—the song to which he gives a depth
of feeling and character, beyond which music can
scarcely go—" My ,ain kind dearie 0!" which
speaks to the hearts of all who hear it.

There was no Orchestra, but the singers were ac-
companied on the grand piano by Messrs. Watson
and T. Cooke.

The first hereditary Duke created in England
was the Black Prince, by his father, Edward 111.,
in A.D. 1336. The Duchy of Cornwall, then
bestowed upon him, thenceforward became at-
tached to the eldest son of the King, who is
considered to be dux natu,s. The Duchy of
Lancaster was soon after conferred on his third
son, John of Gaunt ; and thence arose the
especial privileges which these two Duchies still
in part retain. In the following reign, 21
Richard 11., Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk,
was so created for life. In the reign of Eliza-
beth, in 1572, the Ducal order was extinct, nor
was it r‘vived till the creation of Villiers, Duke
of Buckingham, by James I.
Wednesday an Inquest was held at the Port-
man Arms, Park-place, Mary-la-bonne, on the
body of Mr. W. Turner, aged 50 years, who
hung himself. It appeared tl_lat the deceased
had been an Attorney in good practice, and for
several years resided with his wife and family in
Park-place. Within the last few years lie met
with considerable pecuniary losses, and became
much reduced in consequence. These losses
had affected his mind, and he often declared
that lie found it impossible to attend with proper
energy to his professional pursuits. On Monday
morning he hung himself in his bed-room.—
Verdict, Insanity.

LITERATURE.

CONSTABLE'S MISCELLANY.-pp. 353.

Another volume (being the fourth) of this in-
teresting Miscellany, has just appeared, and fully
realises the promise which its Editor held out at
the commencement of his undertaking. In con-
sists of the well-known shipwreck of the Antelope,
and the stay of Captain Wilson among the
Pellew Islanders ; as also of the arrival and death
of Prince Lee 800 in England. To this, in the
same volume, is appended the deeply affecting
account of the mutiny of the Bounty; of the suf-
ferings of Capt. Bligh and his crew during their
voyage across the Pacific ; together with the sub-
sequent discovery of the mutineers at Piteairn's
Island. The bare mention of two such capti-
vating voyages, being both included in the same
volume, will, we think, be sufficient to insure it
very general attention.