Star.
London, England, 1826-10-06 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

The performances at the Church on the second day were of the
first description. In the evening a miscellaneous Concert, in two
acts, was given at the Theatre. The whole of the Vocalists exerted
their respective fine talents to the delight of the audience; and this
instrumental department was equally well sustained. Kieswetter,
on his violin, delighted us with a concerto that would have fully
established hit claims to the character of a peerless musician, had
not Lindley contested the palm with such spirit, as to leave the
question of supremacy doubtful. On the whole, we may say of both
what the Mantuan poet said of his shepherds, "et vattici to dignos,
et hic." We subjoin the following Glee:
Thou art beautiful, Queen of the Valley !
Thy walls like silver sparkle to the sun :
Melodious wave thy groves; thy garden sweets
Enrich the pleasant air. Upon the lake
Lie the long shadows of thy towers,
And high in Heav'n thy temple pyramids arise.
Long may'st thou flourish in thy beauty;
Long prosper beneath the righteous conqueror,
Who conquers to redeem. Long years of peace
And happiness await thy Lord and thee,
Queen of the Valley.

Mr. KEAN will resume his station on the boards of
Drury early in February.
Tuesday evening, a son of Mr. Warren, pastry-conk
of Taunton, while amusing himself with some com-
panions, by throwing fire-balls, at the bottom of Ham.
met-street, had one thrown at him, which ignited seve-
ral others, well saturated in turpentine, which he had
oo his person—set firs to his clothes, and speedily
enveloped him in a blaze. He ran into a house in
the neighbourhood, where the flames were soon ex-
tinguished; but he was so dreadfully burnt that he died
in the course of the night.
ROBURT AT THE POST-OPPICZ.—On the 7th or Bth
of December, a letter, containing 1,0001.. in Bank of
England notes, the property of the firm of Sir R. Carr
Glynn, was put into the Post-office by one of the persons
employed by the house. In a few days it was ascer.
tained that the letter had not been received as directed,
and upon enquiry at the Bank, it was found that the
Inotes bad been changed for sovereigns in the morning
after the letter was sent from the banking-house. An
investigation was made into the circumstances of the
loss, and it was thought that the letter might have
dropped in the street: at all events, that it had never
been put into the Post-office. The affair lay quiet for
a length of time, and the impression that the letter had
been lost in the street still existed. A few days ago,
however, information was received at the house of Sir
R. C. Glynn, stating, that one of the letter-carriers, or
sorters, at the Post-office, had broken open the letter, •
and disposed of the notes to a well-known fence. The
two persons who have been thus, as it is reported,
dealing with the property of the bankers, are in custody.
A few days since as a hop-grower from Kent, who
was come to town to dispose of his stock, was passing
near the Catholic Chapel, Moor fields, he was accostei
by a tidyish looking man, who asked him the time of
day, and after proceeding a few yards, picked up a
pocket-book, when a third person stepped up, and cried
halves ; but the tidyish looking man said the Country
Getman was nearest to him, and therefore was alone
entitled to allure the prize, which, on opening, appeared
to contain a sparkling cross, and a check en the fit m of.
Smith and Co. for 3001. The tidyish looking man then
said, that doubtless there would be a handsome reward
offered for the finder, but if the Country Gemman
would give him 101. he should have the prize. No
sooner said than done. The money was given, and the
new friends departed. On the Country Gemman, how!
ever, pursuing his journey, he felt an inclination to take
another peep at his prize, when lo I a metamorphosis
bad taken place orange as any of those of Ovid of old;
far instead of an elegant pocket-book, with its valuablit
enclosure*, a dir%y volume of " Roderick •Random"
appeerad. He immediately related his case. at Lam.
14z:street Office, but refused to tell his name, lest his
country acquaintance should laugh at him.
Lo atniquariaa discovery of some interest has bees
made during*, the recent improvements this year in the
Tbgeoes navigation. The tradition of the precise sta-
-002 of the Co wig stakes, supposed to be set down
where Cesar crossed the Thuile*, had been for some
time lost, though it was known to be between Wey-
bridge and Wakens. In deepening the river about two
bunched yards above Walton bridge, a l'ne of old
broken piles was discovered, some five feet below the
prtviotts bed of the river. They were about as thick as
a naan's thigh. Many have been (hewn, and are ill
?salon of the Gentlemen in the neighbourhood.--..,
-I:4srecity should set up some mark to perpetuate the
ressembrance of the place.
Tae Monsen LAocoott.—..Mr. Cops, the keeper of
tbe. Lion-office in the Tower, was a few weeks ago .
holding a fowl to the head of the largest of the five
snakes there, when the snake darted at the bird, missed
-it, but seized the keeper by the left thumb, and watt
coiled round his arm and neck in a moment. Mr. Cops,
whir was alone, did not lose his presence of mind, and
immediately attempted to relieve himself from the
powerful constrictor, by getting at its 'tea.] but it had
so knotted itself upon its own head, that Mr. Cops Foul;*,
not reach it, and had thrown himself upon the Hew, in
order to grapple with a better chance of success, when
two other keepers coming in, they broke the teeth) a
the serpent, and with some difficulty relieved Slr,-C,04
from the Late of Laocuoo, which might otheiwise have
~seen his also