Star.
London, England, 1825-09-10 00:00:00

HEREFORD MUSIC MEETING.

The continued and severe indisposition of Mr.
Vaughan has impeded the completion of the per.
formance of the excellently selected Music for the Fes-
tival. However, hitherto there has been very little
omitted in consequence of the kind exertions of Mr.
Bellamy, Dr. Chard, and Mr. W. Knyvett Mr.
Vaughan was taken, on Tuesday mor.ing, with an
attack of the cholera morbus, which increased to a
violent degree—so much so, that in the course of the
day serious apprehensions were entertained for his
safety. He was attended by two medical Gentlemen,
and a third was about to be called in, when prosi•
dentially, the disorder took a favourable turn, and in
a short time after he was considered out of danger.
On Wednesday he was in a very weak state.
The Concert, on Tuesday evening, at the Shire Hall,
was attended by a very elegant company, and it is
to be regretted tliey were not numerous. The first part
consisted of a Selection from Acis and Galatea; the
whole of this music is so delightful, that it would be
in vain to particularize. Miss Stephens sung her fa.
vourite air, Hush ye pretty toarblingChoir, and the other
principal Soprano songs. Mr. Bellamy shone in More
ruddy than the Cherry. They acre accompanied by
Mr. M. Sharp on the flageolet. The second part was
Miscellan ous Music, in which Mr. Lndley gratified
the andienct as well as the Orchestra with a new Con
cei to on the violoncello. Miss Pawn made her first
appearance at this Festival, which is the 103 d, and sang
two Italian songs, in which she was much appl wded.
Signor de Begnis made his first appearance, and sang
two Italian songs; one of them was in imitation of a
composer, at a rehearsal of his own music, of which he
is an enthusiast, and with his voice and action imitated
several instruments : he was encored. Dr. Chard, of
Winchester, very kindly supported the tenor parts, in
the glees, in the abseece of Mr. Vaughan.
The performance, on Wednesday morning, at the
Cathedral, was the Sacred Oratorio of the Messiah,
which, as usual, filled nearly every seat with company,
elegantly dressed.
The Messiah was opened by. Dr: Chard, in the ab-
sence of Mr. Vaughan, with much taste, and all the
effect the short compass of his voice would admit of.—
The Doctor also supported several of the other tenor
parts; the only omission was the air, Thou shale break
them, which requires great compass of voice, and Mr.
Bellamy was not able to take it, owing to his having so
many bass solos in the Oratorio, which he supported in
a very masterly and effective manner. The other solos
and verse parts were ably supported by Miss Stephens,
Miss Travis, and Mr. W. Knyvett.—The chomsses were
very full and effective—they were given strictly in time,
and as with one voice.—The baud was ably lei by Mr.
Cramer, and conducted by Professor Clarke Whitfield.

The bridge of iron rods thrown across the Rhore,
uniting Tournon to Taie,:was opened to the public on
the 23d of August. It. was a day of rejoicing all over
that past of the country. The strength of it had been
tried on it the evening previous. It has now been proved
that in fifteen month: a bridge fit for every purpose
may be built across. the Rhooe for 200,000 francs
(80000, uniting solidity with a lightness and beauty
not to be imagined without having seen it.
Fines.—Sunday morning, about ten o'clock, a rye
grass stack, near Chance Spring Wood, a short distance
from Dartford, belonging to Mr. Rawlings, containing
about forty-five loads, caught fire from its own internal
heat, although it had been built three months. The
fit e did considerable damage, there being no water but
what was carried in tubs, but it was got under without
destroying the whole of the stack.
About ten. o'clock on Sunday evening, the old Par-
leonage Barn, at Deptford, which was full of corn and
straw, was discovered to be on fire. The flames raged
with considerable fury, but by means of the engines and
gtnty of water, they were prevented from spreading
rther, and the wind blowing from the N.W. to the
garden opposite, the straw and chaff ledges• were saved.
The barn contained at the time about fifty loads truss
bound wheat straw, and about sixty quarters of wheat,
unthrashed, which were insured for 3001. This sum,
however, will only partly cover the loss. The building
was insured for 5001.—1 t has not been discovered howl
the fire originated.
Friday an Inquest was held in St. Martin's Stamford
Baron, by Mr. Hopkinson, Coroner for the soke of
Peterborough, on view of the body of Stephen Black,
aged twenty-nine years, who was run over by the Ex-
press coach about twelve o'clock in the preceding
night. It appeared that the deceased lay in the cent,-
of the North Road, a short distance from the Ram jam
public-house, having, it is supposed, fallen into a fit,
as he was proceeding homewards. The deceased was
taken up and carried to the Coach and Horses, St.
Martin's. Verdict Accidental Death, with a nominal
deodand. It is a singular circumstance, that the father
of the unfortunate man met his death in a similar man-
ner, and within a quarter of mile of the same spot.
HOAZING.—The practical joke, known by the appel-
lation of a hoax, was it seems, not wholly unknown to
our forefathers. We, their descendants, being a livelier
generation, with a higher nest for fun, and more leisure
for laughter, may, indeed, repeat them a little more fre-
quently, but we can hardly invent them with better stage
effect than the following, which is the first hoax on re-
cord,and was p actised by a wag in the reign of her Ma-
jesty Queen Anne. We extract it from Read's Weekly
Journal of Oct. 1713. It appeared in all the other
papers of the time:—" A well-dressed man rode down
the King's road at a most furious rate, commanding each
' turnpike-gate to be thrown open, as he was a Messenger,
conveying the news of the Queen's sudden death. The
alarm instantly spread into every quarter of the city ;
the trained bands, who were on their parade, desisted
from their exercise, fulled their colours, and returned
home with their arms reversed. The shopkeepers be;
ban to collect sables ; when the jest was discovered, but
not the author of it."
This morning, at three o'clock, an alarming fire
broke out in the chair-manufactory of Mr. Nub, Robert-street,
New-cut, Lambeth, which entirely destroyed the whole stock in
trade, together with the building ; the dwelling-house is also
nearly destroyed with all the furniture. Mr. Nash is only partially
tuured. By this calamity nearly forty of his workmen are not
my thrown out of employment,but have lost the whole of their tools.