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

DE ITH OF CARL M. VON WEBER.

M. Von Weber, the distinguished composer Der
Freischiitz, Euryanthe, Oberon, and other mirsicAl: works
of the first order, died yesterday mormng at she house
of Sir George Smart, in Great Portland street, where he
has resided since his arrival from the Continent. The
event tray be termed sudden, since no immediate danger
was r hendtd on Sunday night by his medical at•
tendan,s; but it was foreseen that his decease could not
be far distant, and all hope of his return to his country
had long been abandoned on the part of his friends.—
His complaint was a pulmonary affection of long stand
ing. His age, we understand, was only g 9; and thus
M.VonWeber, who undoubtedly was one of the greatest
musicians that has existed since Mozart, hits, like him,
been taken from that profession to which he was an
ornament before he could be said, in point of age, to
have attained the full maturity of his genius. The
motoms of his disor!er had not assumed a form in
any material degree alarming otml Frid ,y last, when
M. Von \Veber was compelled to keep his room, but
his spirits and his appetite were good, and he enter-
tained no sense whatever of his approaching danger.—
Tare only change remarked in him wilsin the last
few days was an increasing anxiety to return to hi •
own country. His friends, of course, studied to diver.
him from an idea they foresaw could never be
realized, but all direct opposition only tended to
create in him great uneasiness, and his mind grew'
cheerful in proportion as he conceived the various
4bstacles that presented themselves were capable of
being surmounted. A friend and countryman who
,Isaid him constant attention, supped wiih him, and left
im at .tleven o'cluck on the night before his death,
apparently cheerful, and in 140 immediate danger. He
was found in a lifeless state at seven o'clock yesterday
molting; and though medical aid was promptly resorted
to, it was toe late, the vital spark being quite extinct.
M. Von Weber gave a concert so recently as the 16th
ult. at the Argyli Rooms, at which he presided, and
gratified the audience by several new compositions of
extraordinary merit. One of the mast remarkable
among them was a song from Latta Rooktr, composed
expressly for Miss Stephens, and which was accompa-
nied by M. Von Weber himself on the pianoforte.—
The following are the words to which this composition
was adapted :
From Chindara's warbling fount I come,
Cali'd by that moon.light garland's spell;
From Chindara's fount, my fairy home,
Where in music, morn and night, I dwell.
Where lutes in the air are heard about,
And voices are singing the whole day long,
And every sigh the heart breathes out
Is turn'd, as it leaves the lips, to song I
Hither I come
From my fait y home,
And if there's a magic in Music's strain,
I swear by the breath
Of that moonlight wreath,
Thy lover shall sigh at thy feet again.
For mine is the lay that lightly floats,
And mine are the murmuring, dying notes,
That fall as soft as snow on the sea,
And melt in the heart as instantly !
And the paasiunate strain that, deeply going,
Defines the bosom it trembles through,
• As the musk-wind over the waters blowing,
Runts the waves, but sweetens it too!
So, hither I come
From my fairy home,
Alai if there's a magic in Music s strain,
I swear by the breath
Of that moon-light wreath,
• Thy tom shall sigh at thy feet again.
Only the melody of this song, we understand, has yet
been committed to paper. The composer when it was
performed supplied the accompaniments from recollec-
tion of what had been his own design; but the short in-
terval allowed him previous to the concert has prevented
their being preserved in any shape; and it may perhaps
become a problem among the great musicians of the
present day how that can be best filled up which M.
Von Weber has left unfinished. His anxiety to do
justice to any subject on which he was engaged may be
evident by the fact, that before he would engage in the
composition of the song above quoted, he insisted on
reading the whole.poem, which be had not seen before.
He was impressed by its perusal with the highest admi-
ration of Mr. Moore, and expressed a very strong desire
to be introduced to him.

The opera of Der Freischar, with all the original
music, was to have been performed yesterday evening
at Covent• Garden Theatre, lot the benefit and under
the superintendence of the composer, bit his increasing
indisposition, which prevented his attendance, caused
the postponement of the performance. His family will
not of course lose the advantage, but father, by the
increased sympathy of the public with their misfortune,
lave it MCUC than doubled to them on the first occasion
the managers of the Theatre may offer.
-81.'Von Weber, previous to his arrival in this coun-
try, resided at Dresden, where he occupied the post
of Maestro di Cappella to the King of Saxony, in whose
Court lie was heW in the greatest estimation. Indeed,
in all parts of Germany he is spoken of with enthu-
siasm, as a musical genius of the first order. His
opera of Der Freischutz, though not superior to many
others of his composition, has attr acted the most univer-
sal attention, and its popularity in this counts y first led
to the idea of an invit ttion to M. Von Weber to visit Eng-
tand, and to compose an opera for the English stage. This
lengagement he fulfilled by the pioduction of Oberon,
Iwhicni he has only survived a few weeks, and which, as it
has been the last, will probably be ranked hereifter as
the finest of his dramatic compositions. The state of M.
Von Weber's health, which tendered him peculiarly sus-
ceptible of the variations in the weather of an English
spring, has prevented his being a very frequent visitor
in the fashionable circles; and he possessed, perhaps,
too powerful a consciousness of real merit to descend
to those little arts by which popularity is to be secured
within th. 3 range. We' understand that several seem-
bets of the musical profession have already intimated
fa desire to pay every possible zespect to the remains off
a man who may be truly said to have advanced and
done honour to the art ; and when the loss it has now
sustained becomes more generally known, it cannot be'
doub:ed that the same disposition will manifest itself
more extensively. M. Von Weber, we hear, has left a
wife and two children, but who did not accompany
turn on his journey t s England.
Carl Maria Von Weber was born in 1786, at Eutin,
a small town in Holstein. Ilis father gave him a liberal
education, and in thi. he was assisted by his sin's very
early predilection for the fine arts, particularly paint-
ing and music.
The first regular instruction he received on the piano-
forte, the in.tiumcnt on which he ga;ned such a high
Leeutation a, a player, was from Heuschkel, at Hild-
burgnaJsen, in 1796, and it iv to this learned master
that Weber owed his ennigy, distinctness, and execu-
tion. The mote his father perceived the giadeal de-

Lirelopment taltots, the more. anzleasilso was to
I-sacrifice evirrthing to their cuitivntion; be therefore
took his son to the Michael Haydn, at S•lenrig.
Owing to the austere manners of this master, young
Weber profited hut little by his instructi ins, though he
made great exertions to learn.
. In 1798, be published his fi,st wog k, S.x Fußsset, in
four pails, which are remarkable-for their pinny and
correctness, and received the praise of the Altfsikalische
%tilting. At the end of that year, Weber went to.Monich,
whete hew as taught singing by Valesi, and comp,si-
[ion, as well as tie piano, by Katcher. To him he was
indebted for a full knowledge of the theory of music,
and for a skilful and ready ust all the means it f ut-
nishes to the compmer. Weber was'now more inde-
fatigable in his studies than ever, and began to apply
himself to one particular branch of the art, id prefer-t.ce
to the rest—to operatic music. Under the eves of his
master, he wrote an opera, Die ilfacht.der tie& and des
Weins (the Power of Love and Wine), a Mass, and teve-
tal other pieces; but all these were judiciously corn.
milted to the Haines. •

In 1803 be went to Vienna, where he fini hed his
musical education, under Vogler. He was tubrquentle
called to Breslau, in the character of Maestro di Capella.
As he had to form here an ent rely n.:w oich,stta, and
co•ps c.f singers, he was furnish:d with.a v.ry
favour-
able opportunity ti improve himself in the knowledge
of effect. The only work of c tnsequence doling his
9.ltsian visit, was the opera of ituitezahli i. e, Number
Nip, of which the ill-tamed mountain ghost has fur-
nished the subject.
From 1813 to 1816, Weber was Director of the
Opera at Prague, which he organized quite ac ew, and
a rJ:e here his great Cant eta, Kanyfund Sieg, a rno.t
imposing comno.ition. Atter the object of his visit to
Fugue was fulfilled, he once more ['aliened, without
any permanent appointment. Though he received the
most handsome offers horn all flans of Germany, he
did not accept of any, until he was called to Dresden,
for the purpose of forming there a German lipera. Such
an invitation he could not resist, and it is to thi. o,,era
that he for six years devoted, con arnve, his whole
attention and activity.

It is pleasing to observe, that his labours in this de.
pat talent were not only crowned with complete success,
but received the most fiatteting acknowledgment. It
would, indeed, have been difficult to find a man mote
fit for such an undertaking than Weber, who united so
many splendid talents! He was a eery migiaal and
learned composer, one of the greatest pi.srrofot to players
of the present day, and an extremely spirited director of
the orchestra. To these he added a thorough know-
ledge of the whole theory of music, of dramatic and
operatic effect, and the greatest skill in blending the
vatiJus instruments. Besides which, he was pethaio
not excelled by any artist, except by Beethoven, as a
man of general knowledge and polite literature. His
Freischutx has elevated him, as an opera comp ser,
above all bis German contemporaries : since Muz ot'S
Zaubeulote, no other German opera has become so po-
pular, or received such universal applause.
The circumstances attendant upon Von Weber's vi it
to this country, the performance of his (Amu, and his
reception by all classes in the musical world, ate so re-
cent in the recollection of our readers, that it is mine-
rcessary to derail them in thin memoir; but the sincere
welcome he experienced in this melt °polls, during his
short residence here, can only be equalled by the :vet
that his premature death has occasios

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
BETTING-ROOM TATTERSALL'S, Jeer &
The Room and Yard exhibited the usual throng, the sale of
horses being very heavy. The attendance of the Nobility and ether
supporters of the Turf was strong; but, on the whole, the bus.i.eso
was rather nat. Before entering upon the business of the day, it
may not be amiss to notice, that an account *as stuck tap, that
neither Monarch for the MO sot. Stakes for colts, nor Pasta fur the
ISO *iv. lily Stakes, would start to-morrow (this day) at Ascot.
This plan is highly commendable; and if it bad beam adopted before
the Derby had been run for, muck confusionimight have been pre-
vented. We hope it may be persevered in.
The affair of the General was slightly touched on, and it seemed
to be the current opinion, that the decision of the Jockey Club
Committee entirely exonerated all those who had been supposed to
be implicated, the accusing party having railed to substantiate the
reports so industriously circulated.
Te General has again changed his master, having been pur-
chased by a sporting Gentleman, who, it was said, was determined
to start him to-morrow at Ascot, in the £O5 ores. Stakes for colts,
and he was backed at even against the field ; but just before closing
the doors 5t04,p. p. was offered against him. It is now asserted,
that be is sure to start for the St. Leger, and 15 to 1 was taken.
The following is a correct statement of the odds upon the Ascot
Stakes and the St. Leger :-205 sous. Stakes, Ascot.—Even as
The Gtneral against the field, p. p. no takers.
'The Oatlands—Ascot.-6 to 4 apt Stumps; 2 to I apt Lee-
way; to 1 apt Mortgige.
The Gold Cup—Ascot.--Even on Chateau Alargaex (Addy,.
DOKCASI3II Sr. lanai
4 to 1 agst Belzoni I 23 to 1 wit Fanny
S co 1 agst Bedlamite 20 to 1 agst Pirate
11 to 1 apt The Dragon 125t0 1 agst blacAdam
14 to 1 agit Crusader 30 to 1 apt l'retnier
1$ to 1 agst The General
PIGEON S

LOOTING.

GRAND MAUD NOR 690 Soeramoms.--The first day of the inter.
eating match for the above sum, at 200 birds each, or 50 per day,
between Lord Kennedy and Mr. Arrowsmith, took place yester.
day, at the enclosure near the Red House, Battersea, in the pre.
sence of a great number of sporting Gentlemen. 'The betting was
5 to 4 at starting, on Arrowsmith, and 5 to 2 and 3 to 1 on tho
gun, throughout. In the first 25 birds, Mr. A. ►illed 20, and Lord
K. 11; in the second 25, Mr. A. killed 20, and Lord K. 19; total,
40 and 37, Arrowsmith being three a•bead on the day. Lord
Kennedy's-shooting was remarkably line, and attracted the admi.
ration of all the amateurs present, who also approved more of bis
Lordship's mode of shooting than Mr. Arrowsmith's, the litter
shouldering before the string was pulled (according to agreement)
and his Lordship not till after the bird was out of the trap, giving
a decisive advantage to Mr. Arruwsmith. Two of his Lordship's
missed birds fell within a foot or two of the netting. The match
is to be concluded this day.
A match of seven double shots each, between Dlr. Shoobridge
and another Gentleman, ended in a tie, each killing both birds in
4 of the shots, and 1 in the other three ; and each killing the two
lag birds by the discharge of a single barrel only.

Two persons were executed in March last at the HA.
vannah who bad landed in that Island, and endeavouici
to raise a party there in favour of the Colombians.
Thomas Monk, driver of the Usti .n stage-conb, to
and from Brighton and London, was taken into cus-
toiy from the box of his carriage, at Crawley-gate, on
Tuesdaky, and subsequently gootreyed to the gaol at
Horsham, charged with having violieed the let son of
a el entrusted to his protection a few days
the Russian sloop of war Enterprizt, Captain KOT•
ZEBLIE, has been spoken with in the Indian sex,, a:1 well,
ifter being out two
_years and nine months, on a voyage
of discovery.
The recent popular Novels, " Btanibletye
and" Woodstock," the scenes of which are laid during the times
.of the Commonwealth and the Restoration, exhibit, cutiouly
enough, the effect which party opinion has had Gil the respective
writers. Sir WALTRa enlists the sympathies of the reader in the
lofty cause of the Royalists, and seizes every opportunity to gird at '
the " crop-eared fanatics;" while, on the other hand, Mr. flimsy'
SMITH exposes the debaucheries of COMILkS and his Court, and
inverts cßostwsz.i. and the &Toldleans in all the dignity of ries-
r mounts,.

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