Star.
London, England, 1831-02-21 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE ORATORIOS.

As our neighbours have appointed abeam for the indulgent:les of '
the carnival, so the caterers of our amusements nit oar graver tastes
by the usual oratorios, or as the betwogeoons mass is now called, se.
lections from ancient and modern music. We believe the seriousness

of some whose motives must be respected, whom, however, nothing
would induce to frequent the Theatre, is shocked by the Introduc-
tion of sacred music on those madam As much may be said on
both sides of the question, we shall sot sow stop to discuss the point,
but proceed to give an account of the Pest of those musical festivals,
which took place on Friday night, at Drury-lane, nude: the directiou
of Mr. Lee.

Miss Paton and Mr. Braham both appeared for the fine time this
9cmon, and both of them, but especially the former, in most excellent I
voice. Perhaps the peculiarity of her situation induced her to exert
herself particularly—she was very warmly greeted ; the public, a very I
selfish, though not always very consistent body, could but ill spare by
far the most accomplished singer of our national stage, who may even
compete with the bnest exotics of the Haymarket. By the bye the
Scorch affair being completed it Is rumoured she is in a few days to
assume her new name. After the splendid overture to Nurmahal by '
Spontini, which, as well as all the instrumental Music, was admirably
performed, the entertainment commenced rather unfortunately with a
new national hymn by Bishop, which was but ill received as it deserved,
and is not very likely to display John Bull's old hymn, notwithstanding
the difficulty that the change of name created. The words, too, by
Slyly, are of a very mediocre order. Braham afterwards, to put the
audience in good humour, gave the fine air, " Oh, 'tit a glorious sight
to we," from Oberon, with great force and brilliancy. The dunces
of " Marcell°, Qual, andante cervo," almost a literal translation of
the beautiful hymn, " As pants the hart," was admirably sung by
him and Miss Paton, and more especially the fine passage commenc-
ing with " I Into piedi ;" but a recitative and air from Handel's Judas
liaccaheos, 0 let eternal honour crown his name" was a still finer
specimen of her powers, as a solo la Handel's Israel in Egypt displayed
the surprising perfection of her upper tones. Sinclair and Phillips at-
tempted& 'erns from Guillaume Tell, beginning with caliber my bride,
but it is impossiLle to congratulate them on seising the spirit of the
original—they seemed perfectly to disregard all emphases and senti-
ment—though the notes were mechanically correct. The first part
ended with a fantasia on the violin in a very masterly and agreeable
style by NIL Oury, we believe, of the Opera House.
In the second part, which commented with the overture of &mfr.
amide, Miss Paton sang the soma from Der Freychuts, " Before my
eyes beheld him" most spiritedly. Perhaps, however, the greatest
treat of the evening was:the veteranilLindley's accompaniment of Bra.
ham in Pepusch's cantata, See I from the silent grove." This skins
was worth sitting out all the makeweights of the whole corps opened-
que—for instance the well known Tenet° from Iticelardo e Zoraide,
" Crude sone," of the singing of which much cannot be said. That
best of ale.drinking songs " Im Herbst da muss Man trinken," which, by
the bye, seemed to be no foreign language to the of the nether or
the upper world, was very well sung by MrPhillips, and loudly
encored. The old English reason for addicting oneself to drink, is well
known :

" Good wine, a friend, or being dry,
Or lest you should be by and by,
Or any other reason why."
The Third Part commenced with one of our greatest favourites of
Bishop's, " Should he upbraid," by NW Paton In none was the
nude of her pronunciation more distinctly displayed ; it was unani-
nously encoved, notwithstanding the odious custom, as also
the Hunting Song, from " Oberon," in which Miss Hughes:sang ex.
credingly well, in place of Mrs. Way'ett, who It news was indisposed.
We have said nothing of the Selections from Hayden, as we cannot
praise the " harmonic twaft "of the Chorus, who left no space for
any thing like a swell, as nothing could be louder than their shouts.—
Though the boxes were but thinly attended at first, the house became
gradually quite full of men—ladles were very scarce. On the whole
Mr. Lee's exertions deserved the public support. The next perform.
ance is to be the " Messiah," with Mozart's Accompaniments, which
all lovers of music have been long anxious for.

A deputation of gentlemen from Kent, beaded by Sir Ed-
ward Knatchbull and Mr. Hodges, the members for the
county, attended at the Treasury on Saturday, and had an
interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
ST. JOHN Lowc.—After a trial, which lasted from ten in
the morning till half-east nine, on Saturday, the jury, after
retiring for nearly an hour, came into court with a verdict of
"Not Guilty." There was a slight burst of approbation on
the acquittal, and the prisoner received the congratulations
(if se‘t,:al friends who stood with him, and near the bar.—
:ereral elegantly-dressed ladies went to the prisoner and
11q4k him cordially by the band. He was ordered to be
iLi.i,e6Ately discharged, and left the court in company with
som of his friends.