The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-11-19 00:00:00

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Stove Conservatory, kc.—ln these departments the
taste of the gardener will have ample opportunity for
developement. The scarcity of flowers at this season
renders it necessary that these plants which still enliven
with their blossoms or foliage should be arranged to the
greatest advantage. If well furnished the greenhouse
will not be wanting in gaiety during the winter; but in
order to make the plants show to the best advantage,
great care must be taken to keep them healthy by clean-
liness and judicious watering and ventilation.
Kitchen Garden.—Sea-kale and rhubarb may now be
forced, either in pits or sheds for the purpose, or what is
still better, in the mushroom house. In some of the dry
sheltered situations which are not uncommon even in
this locality, a first sowing of peas and Mazagan beans
may be made during the week.
Flower Garden.—Rose borders will be much benefitted
by a light mulching, which should also be applied to all
newly planted shrubs. On small beds near the house,
where ordinary litter would be offensive, a covering of
moss is excellent, and with a little pains in pegging and
binding it down with a few twigs, it may be made to look
very neat, and will retain its green colour.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

J.N.—The plant referred to we suppose is a species of
Massonia, there being no genus with such a name as
Mussonia.

F. Parnell.—Beurre de Capiamont is a very profitable
market fruit, being perhaps the most prolific pear grown.
it is, however, almost worthless where fruit of a finer
quality is attainable.

Window Gardener.—Jonquils may he cultivated in
glasses if they are procured small enough, but they suc-
ceed infinitely better in pots, and are very desirable win-
dow bulbs, being deliciously fragrant.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.-MR. HORSLEY'S

ORATORIO.

The oratorio of David, recently produced by Mr. Hors-
ley, was performed on Tuesday evening last, at the Phil-
harmonic Hall, in this town, in a most satisfactory style,
and to a very large audience. The whole was conducted
by the talented composer himself, who, on his first ap-
pearance, was hailed with a welcome evidently most grati-
fying to him.

This oratorio is, we think, though unquestionably a
masterly production, open to a good deal of criticism,
into which, however, we have little space and less inclina-
tion to enter. Our business shall rather be to dwell in
our remarks on some of those delicious bits so solacing in
their effects to the great concourse of people who experi-
enced them. We may observe, however, that the cho-
russes, though performed almost without exception in a
most satisfactory manner, appeared to us heavy and mo-
notonous, and by no means so effective—we ought rather
to say descriptive—as the subject gives scope for. Many
may not differ with us if we express an opinion that Mr.
Horsley, though a profound musician, yet lacks ingenuity
as a composer. This, we think, was apparent in the tame-
ness in the style of the musical accompaniment to the
Recitative " Why are ye come out to set your battle in
array ?" and we regret to add that Mr. Machin failed to
do justice to the part appointed to him throughout; and
in the second choral Recitative the part sung by the latter
" How can I go ? If Saul hear it he will kill me," pro
duced a somewhat ludicrous effect to our ears. This,
however, was not entirely the vocalist's fault—it is pro
bably a most unsatisfactory part to sing as it is written.
Mr. Machin was unquestionably not equal to his part—
he evidently felt that to be the case. Miss Williams' voice
is perhaps not surpassed in compass and richness by that
of any other lady living; her most impressive intonation
of the solo part in the first duet, " And none of them
that trust in Him shall be desolate," will not easily be
effaced from our memory. This duet, indeed, was exqui-
sitely given by Miss Birch and Miss Williams, and was
the first part encored. And now we are at a loss for words
adequate to express the delight we experienced on hearing
Mr. Lockey sing the aria which shortly followed, " The
Lord is my Shepherd," &c. ; and although there was in
this, as in other parts, much repetition of the words,
(which we consider a prevailing fault in " David,") yet
we observed the satisfaction the audience felt on the
return of those opening words we have quoted, which
seemed peculiarly suited not only to Mr. Lockey's voice,
but to his soul, for he seemed to enjoy repeating them.
This, too, was most enthusiastically encored. Sub-e-
-quently, the double quartet by the Misses Birch, Wil-
liams, Stott, and Parsons, and Messrs. Lockey, Machin,
Sudlow, and Armstrong, was received with great applause,
and was likewise encored. Mr. Machin, in the recitative,
" Why are ye come out ?" &c., again failed to please, we
regret to say. The solo by Mr. Lockey and chorus pro-
duced the greatest satisfaction, and was perhaps what
might be termed the morceau of the first part.
On the opening of the seeond part of the Oratorio the
march of the tribes of Israel was performed with great
spirit,—the brass instruments producing a most peculiar
effect in parts. The choice morsel of the second part was,
perhaps, the aria sung by Miss Birch, " 0 love the Lord,
all ye his saints," which she gave in a most expressive
manner, and which, as may be supposed, was encored ;
she did ample justice to the composer, who, no doubt,
himself experienced every satisfaction on hearing it : per-
haps
the preceding aria by Mr. Lockey was not more ex-
pressively sung : we may here observe that the hautboy
accompaniment in this aria by Mr. Lockey was introduced
with great taste, and remarkably telling effect. We will
conclude this notice by a passing eulogium on the quartet
sung by Miss Birch, Miss Williams, Mr. Lockey, and Mr.
Machin, "Behold, thouart wroth, for we have sinned," &c:
we regarded it as a concentration of the harmony of the
whole piece, and it created a universal sensation of delight !
We must not close without recording the pleasure we sub-
sequently experienced in the rich notes of Miss Williams'
voice in the aria " The Lord shall endure for ever," which
throughout was sung with the same poetic feeling and great
judgment that marked her previous performances. At
the conclusion, Mr. Horsley received tbespontaneouspalyny
acclamations of the audience, which he acknowledged
with deep feeling.
We hope and we think that Mr. Horsley is not living
and working for posterity abane, as too many artists of
another order have done, but that this great work of his
Will be appreciated by tonere of me* of the Present day.

We hail, indeed, with great satisfaction the recent changei
in fashion that gives proper value to' modern painters,
and which enables them to live and benest by their indus-
try; and we hope it will be found that musicians of such
rare talent as Mr. Horsley pOssesses as well as their
children, also meet with their d'lle; ineed of praise and
support.