The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDA

MUSIC CLASSES—EXETER-HALL.
PRESENTATION OF A MUSIC-STAND TO
MR HULLAH, BY HIS PUPILS.
Last evening was an era deserving of remembrance
not only in the history of musical education in this
country, but in the history
.of education generally.
It is now some twenty years since that Lord Brougham
announced that the schoolmaster was abroad. The
schoolmaster has now a local habitation and a name,
and the great ones of the earth come and do him ho-
mage. The members of the first workmen's
singing class at Exeter -hall last night, showed
their respect to their teacher, benefactor, and
friend, Mr. John Hullah, by presenting him
with a superb music- stand, value forty gui-
neas, as a testimonial of their respect and
esteem, and Lord Wharncliffe, the President of the
Council, and Chairman of the Committee of Council
for National Education, thought it his duty to be pre-
sent on the occasion, to hear his testimony to the
merits of Mr. Hulli:1), and to take credit to himself
for the efforts which he had made ?to promote the
education of the humbler classes in the delightful
science of music. It was a proud and a grati-
fying thing for those who have laboured through
evil report and good report in the cause of education—
who, in spite of the avowed and active hostility of
some, the galling sarcasm of others, and, worst of all,
the half support of many who
--Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And though not sneering, teach the rest to sneer—
It was a proud and gratifying thing for those who
have been the friends of the education of the masses
in the worst of times, to witness the triumph of lot
evening. The doors were opened at six, and the pro;;
ceedings were advertised to commence at seven. Long
before that hour the immense area of Exeter-hall was
crammed to suffocation. From the platform it pre-
sented the appearance of a sea of human heads. The
galleries were crowded, and on the platform it was
with great difficulty, that even standing room could
be obtained. At seven o'clock Mr. Hullah assumed
his baton, and the proceedings of the evening com-
menced. The classes having gone through their Sol-
fa-ing exercises with a precision which would have
done credit to the best drilled chorus of the most effi-
ciently conducted theatre in Europe,
Mr. EDLIN came forward on the platform, and
presented to Mr. Hullah, in the name of the first
workmen's singing class of Exeter Hall, a most
elegant and elaborately finished music-stand, as a
testimony of the esteem and respect of his pupils be-
longing to that class. In presenting the stand, Mr.
Edlin read a neat complimentary address, in which,
after expatiating on the merits of Mr. ullah as a
teacher, the advantages to be derived from a know-
ledge of the science of music as cheap and intellectual
amusement for the humbler classes, as an amuse-
ment tending to the increase of the domestic com-
forts and to the improvements of their morals,
were dwelt upon. Its higher merits, as tending
to the praise and glory of the Creator, by introducing
a proper and decent method of congregational singing
in our places of religious worship, were not left unno-
ticed, and it was with a praiseworthy feeling of self-
respect that the authors of the address adduced the
nrogress of the workmen's singing class as a proof that
the humble orders were as capable as any class of so-
ciety of duly appreciating those refined amusements
which have hitherto been placed beyond their reach,
and of acquiring a taste for which too many have
thought them incapable. The music-stand itself is a
most elegant piece of workmanship. The desk is sup-
ported by a cherub bearing a palm branch; the whole
is elaborately carved and gilded.
Mr. Hum.air, in acknowledging the gift, ex-
pressed a hope that the classes were not going to se-
parate, but would still further pursue their studies.
They had come, he said, not to the end of their
journey, but to the point where two paths separated,
and he trusted they would journey onward with him.
He could not yet let them go.—(Cheers.) He then al-
luded to the success which had attended his method
of teaching, and expressed a hope that the members
of the class had imparted their knowledge of class-
singing to their wives and families, for the great object
of the illustrious man who had first promulgated the
cloVinilfhoermts,ofohf
isPfaerillos,wh-acdrebateuernestobyinadcrdeasineg
domesticsystem,, M.
A
;o the stock of innocent amusements.—(Cheers.)

Having dwelt on the great importance of Co ngregal
tional singing, as adding to the solemnity of religious
worship, he concluded by announcing his intention of
forming a class of the wives and children of working
men. This announcement was received with loud cheers.
The classes then performed several pieces of cheral
music in excellent time and tune. At the conclusion
of the proceedings,
Lord WHARNCLIFFE came forward and said that he
could not allow the proceedings to terminate without
expressing his high gratification at all that he had wit-
nessed, and his entire concurrence in the sentiments

and address which had been put forth on presenting Mr.
Hullah with that elegant testimonial of their respect
and esteem. There were few men like Mr. Hullah.
Never had it been his (Lord Wharncliffe's) lot
to meet with a teacher who possessed in such
an eminent degree the art of fixing the atten-
tion of his pupils. He (Lord Wharncliffe) congratu-
lated them on the progress they had made in the de-
lightful science of music. It was delightful to see the
working man thus adding to his stock of innocent and
intellectual amusements, and he was proud
to think that he had contributed to pro-
mote their instruction in that most delightful
and beautiful science.—His Lordship was loudly
cheered during the delivery of his speech, and at
its conclusion the classes sang " God Save the
Queen," after which the vast assemblage dispersed.
Great credit is due to the classes for the man-
ner in which they have profited by the instruc-
tions given to them. Great credit is due to Mr•
Hullah for his unwearied assiduity, his untiring
patience, and his lucid, clearness in imparting those
instructions ; but while thus awarding praise
to our own countryman, who .has naturalized, as it
were, the system of class-singing among us, let us
not forget to award honour where' honour
is due. Honour to M. Wilhem, the inventor
of this method of instruction honour to
M. WilheM, the music-master of the masses
—the friend of the poet Beranger, and the man
who, in setting some of the most soul-stirring lyrics
of that poet of the people to appropriate melodies, has
indeed " married music to immortal verse." Honour
to Mr. Wilhem, the benefactor of his species.

HAYMARKET THEATRE.
Webster, taking advantage of the differences which
have arisen between Macready and the Mathews's,
has engaged Madame Vestris and Mr. Charles Mathews
at this theatre. They made their first appearance here
last evening as Lady Teazle and Charles Surface
in the School for Scandal. The house was crammed
to the ceiling long before the rising of the curtain, and
on Madame Vestris making her appearance she was
received, not with three times three, but with nine
times nine, and, many cheers more, every acknow-
ledgment of the compliment on her part being the
signal for a renewal of the applause. Never was
reception more triumphant. Equally en
thusiastic
was the reception of Charles Mathews. At
the fall of the curtain they were called for, and
the applause was renewed with greater en-
thusiasm than ever. The comedy was powerfully
cast, and Went off admirably; indeed, with Farren as
Sir Peter Strickland as Sir Oliver, Stuart as
Joseph Surface,' Charles Matthews as .Charles
Surface, and Madame Vestris as Lady Teazle,
how could it do- otherwise ? The engagement of
Madame Vestris and Charles Mathews at the Hay-
market, is, we consider, a most fortunate cir-
cumstance for all parties concerned ; for while
Webster, by their accession, completes his com-
pany, and makes it by far the most efficient comedy
company in the metropolis, they find themselves in a
position where their talents will not only be properly
appreciated, but where they will have a fair field af-
forded for the display of those talents, andwhore their
exertions will be most efficiently supported. A
pleasant little duodrama (so named in the bills, that is
a farce supported by two persons) followed, entitled
Snapping Turtles, in which Buckstone and Mrs. Fitz-
. william, as a jealous couple, kept the house in a roar
t for three quarters of an hour, by their ingenious
il-
lustration of the art of tormenting.

On Sunday morning a Coroner's inquest was
held upon the body of the fisherman named Hum-
phrey, who was drowned on Saturday week, by the
collision of the steam-packet Albion with his fishing-
boat, off Brighton, and whose body was not recovered
till Saturday. The Jury returned a verdict of " Ac-
cidental death," exonerating the captain and crew of
the Albion from any blame, and strongly expressing
regret that a system were not adopted at the Custom-
house, of requiring signal lights to be provided for
every fishing boat before it obtained a license.
DUNFERNILINE.—Trade in Dunfermline is in a
dreadful state, and getting daily worse. A firm in
the manufacturing line stopped payment last week.
Their liabilities are said to be 1.5,000/., but the assets,
itis thought, will be considerable. It is reported that
other parties in the trade are involved in this failure.
All the old houses are contracting business, either
by reducing the numbers of their weavers, or keeping
them long idle for their webs. Mr. Birrel has put
his factory—the largest in town—on short tithe. The
condition of the working classes is becoming truly
alarming. The following are the numbers of unem-
ployed, with their dependents, in the town alone
Males
Dependants

Those who have been working at the
roads, now discharged for want of
funds, with dependents
Total . 1,780
; The Relief Committee have made application for a
share of the funds raised for the support of the unem-
ployed by the " Queen's Lettq. The answer has
4 not yet been received.—Fife Herald.