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

YORkSHIRE MUsldAt PEsTIVAL,

YORK, SEPTEMBER I.
A stranger entering this city at present, and not
re that preparations were in progress for a ge Grand
tsical Festival," or any other novelty which was ex-
' to attract crowds of fashionables, would at once
it down as the cleanest, neatest, and gayest place
Agioable. It is generally known that the houses are,
• modern, mostly built of brick, and the more ancient'
es of wooden frame-work, plastered over the out as
ll as the inside. The casements, doors, &c. of both
have been all painted (externally at least), ap-
trendy within the last fortnight, in the highest hues,
also such parts of the front walls as, from the cir-
Imes already mentioned, presented a smooth
urtace for the brush. The upholsterers have likewim
put in requisition, and the windows everywhere
Lung with muslin, chintz, or morine draperies, fes-
...!l with superlative gracefulness; nor have the
ti 'e and muscle of the servant-maids been unexcited to
airy, the objects of their solicitude into cleanly keeping
Idle rest of the dwellings. The most brilliant part
the spectacle, however, is the display in the shops.
first glance must always suffice to inform a travel-
:r that York is not a place of wholesale, but of retail
traffic, when the greater part of each citizen's stock in
vat,. is exhibited to the street. The adroitness of our
snopkeepers in this art is now exemplified to the highest
perfection; for in passing along the principal avenaes
tine would conclude that the " wealth of Ormus and of
Jar die most exquisite, natural, and manufactured
productions of the earth, were stewed together in the
city of York. The treasures of some fairy palace seen
,posed for sale, and the wardrobes of all harems in
.11,1 turned out to be aired. In Stonegate the vanity is
(Di. equalled by the splendour of the wares in the mil-
-I•Lers' and the jewellers', the tailors' and mercers
s%ea-rooms.
Cyciometry and felt-making have been allied, to pro-
euce opera hats of the true Parisian curve, ranges of
wilch, with glittering loops, attract the eye on every
:ids. Bur the rows of turbans, caps, fill*, fancy
bonnets, &c. &c. raised on a fore-ground of artificial
flowers, which line the streets, bid defiance to descrip-
tion. One only wonders for the moment who are to
Pear so many tine things, scarcely a vititer having yet
arrived; and the city, though sprinkled with a few
genteel loungers, evincing nothing of the crowding and
bustle g(nerally indicative of the eve of a great and
fashionable assemblage. Until Monday next, however,
nothing extensive can be known upon this subject. as,
from the Labittial and reputed dullness of York, people
never th,i.k of c, ming here till the last minute. The
noly dilinguished character that has arrived is Incledon,
Who was a passenger in one of this evening coaches.
On Saturday many are expected, and on Monday the
Duke of Leeds, Earl of Harewood, and some other
Noblemen. The Duke of Devonshire, Lord Morpetl-,
and the other immediate connexions of the late Earl of
Carlisle, will be prevented by his recent death—a cir-1
cumstance much and justly deplored by the managers'
of the festival. They anticipate nevertheless that the
Ligher clas•es from all parts of the country will flock
I,ither. It is asserted, too, and believed, that several
persons from the continent, including some of conse-
quence, are to grace the festival with their presence, as
the steam-packet between Rotterdam and Hull, affords
desirable facility for the Germans to gratify their love
4 f music on this occasion.
The preparations in the Minster are in a state of great
forwardness, but the descriptions of them whicb have
;Ahem appeared do not, perhaps, convey the most cor-
::ct idea of the arrangement. The only part of that
magnificent pile appropriated for the Festival is the
great nave from the western portal to the screen at the
cut ance into the Choir, together with the side aisles to
tie same extent. Tne orchestra is erected in the space
ri::med by the a: ches which support the tower,' and of
coarse faces the west. It presents a concave front to
the nave; the centre to be occupied by the instrumental
performers, and the wings, which recede something on
en!ler side, by the chorus singers. The openings from
the orchestra into the transepts have been boarded up
to a considerable height, to prevent the injurious disper-
sion of the sound, and will be painted a light stone-
Collin., to correspond with the Minster.
Much of the effect of this noble structure has been
destroyed by the manner in which the nave and side
aisles are disposed to accommodate the company. As
you enter at the west door, the whole view of the in-
terior is cut off by an immense•gallery which has been-
raised against that end of the building to face the or-
chestra at the other extremity. After advancing some
paces, two flights of stairs branch off right and left, and
communicate with a long passage which opens into the
centre, and near the top of the gallery beforementioned.
Other parts of the company, instead of turning up those
stairs, proceed a little farther onward still, ascending a
few steps, and reach another opening among the lower
benches of the gallery. In advance of this opening, and
in front of the gallery, is a projecting semi-hexagonal'
space, called the royal box. but having nothing majestic
whatever in its aspect. The gallery is considered ca-
pable of containing 2,000 persons—the benches being
33 in number, running the entire width of the Minster.
They have wooden backs, which, as well as the seats,
are covered with crimson cloth. The workmanship
seems massive and secure: but the former impression
on entering the Cathedral is destroyed. On either side
are other galleries to correspond, which fill the full
breadth of the aisles, and project a short way in advance
of the clusters of pillars. The floor of the nave is pro-
vided with benches like those noticed above, and re-
sembles the pit of the King's or the other large thea-
tres. Theloors of the aisles are also occupied by seats
which, however, run longitudinally and at right angles
to those of the nave. At the last festival there were no
.galleries, and although their erection now affords room
for a much larger audience, it is generally complained
that the plan /cooks too much like a play-house, and
that the sublimity of the effect must be injured in pro-
portion. The charges for admission to the several
benches described, are from a guinea to 7s. each. Some
persons say that the transepts, which are totally shut
out from the body of the Minuet, will be let at ss.
each person, for standing and hearing room.
Of the new Concert-room, which has been lately
built, and which adjoins and communicates with the
old Assembly-room, nothing need be said but that it is
a very elegant apartment, Judiciously and tastefully
arranged, and fitted up for the 'purpose to which it is
destined. It has cost 6001.
The expenses of the present festival, including the
above sum, are estimated at 17,0001. The principal.
vocal performers alone are to receive upwards of 2,1001.
Among the engagements which help to swell this large
amount, are the following : Mlle. Garcia, 3361. Mat
Jame Caraddori, 2621.105. Brahato, `1621.105. Miss

•
Stephens, 2191. Min Wiikinson;2lol. be Begnis, 2101.
Sapio, 1521. 105. Vallghan, 1051.
The lowest chorus singer receives foot guineas, and
the others from that up to twelve guineas ; and thug, so
the band consists of about 200 performers more than
on the last occasion, the expenses on that score only,
are estimated at 2,0001. additional. The principal
singers absorb of this extra charge about 5001.
Madame de Begnis is prevented by indisposition
from coming here, and none of the others hsve yet
arrived.