The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-07-26 00:00:00

APOLLO VOCAL CGNCERT.

The second concert, last night, fully sustained the character
of the first, in selection and execution ; and we congfatulate
the town on this return to so agreeable a relaxation from the
severer labours of the day. Beethoven's grand symphony in C
opened the concert, which, as well as the overture to Anacreon,
iu the second part, was well performed. This was followed
by Weber's quartett, " Over the dark blue waters," which
was given in excellent style • and we have seldom heard to so
great advantage that beautiful sestetto of Rossini, taken from
Cinderella, "Midst doubt confusing." The softer parts, espe-
cially, were given with a taste and accuracy of expression which
would have gratified the author, could he have heard them.
The second part contained a selection from some of the
first Italian masters, among which may be noticed, as
given in most admirable taste by Miss Johnson, Mozart's
beautiful aria from Figaro, "Dove soon." The quartetto, from
Rosini's opera of Mose in Egitto, "Mi manna la roes," which
was delicately and beautifully given by Miss Johnson, Miss
Potto, Mr. Caird, and Mr. Entwistle, was as beautifully re-
peated upon a general encore; a compliment that was also de-
servedly. paid to the succeeding morceau, the laughing terzetto
of Martini— "VADAsi VIA DI QUA
Che questo in verita,
Da ridere mi fa,
ahl ah!"
into which Miss Potts, Mr. Caird, and Mr. Aubrey threw the
author's fullest meaning.
We repeat our congratulations on the taste which selected,
and the talent which sustained the evening's entertainment;
and hope to see an extensive revival of what must ever con-
tribute to the refinement of society, lamenting only that the
space allotted to the performance must necessarily restrict the
number of auditors.

ANECDOTE OF ROBERT HALL—Previous to this illness (his
seclusion near Bristol, in 1802,) Mr. Hall contracted the habit
of smoking, of which he was remarkably fond, and thought it
tended a little to relieve the pain he so constantly endured. A
curious colloquy arose out of this circumstance soon after his
admission, which shows his ingenuity in endeavouring to obtain
the privilege of a pipe, and the severity of his sarcasms when
provoked by disappointment. Being invited to dine with the
medical gentleman, in company with other convalescents, he
on the first day said, " Do you know, sir, which is the finest
plant in all the universe?" The doctor answered no, he did
not know,; he had not devoted much time or attention to botany ;
"Do you know which it is, .Mr. Hall?" " Yes, yes," he
quickly replied, " that is easily discovered; it is tobacco, cer-
tainly." The hint did not take effect, and he remained silent
and dejected all that day. On the next opportunity he renewed
the enquiry. " Doctor, do you know the finest scent that ever
accosted the nostrils of man?" " I cannot tell von immediate-
ly; but, is it snuff, Mr. Hall?" " Snuff, mutt! no, sir; it is
the fume of tobacco." Having received no favourable answer,
lie continued silent the remainder of the day. These attempts
to obtain a pipe proving unsuccessful, he the next time put the
question in still plainer terms. " Doctor, do you ever smoke ?"
"No, certainly not," was the reply. " Then, sir, you are an
object of profound compassion and commiseration; why, doctor,
you are destitute of the finest of our six senses !" The doctor
politely thanked him, but assured hint that he needed not his
compassion. Mr. Hall, attempting to justify his remark, re-
plied, " Why, sir, would you not pity a man who had not the
sense of seeing, hearing, or smelling? And as you have not the
sense of smoking, you are an object of the profoundest pity and
compassion." On the fourth day, he openly requested the fa-
vour of a pipe, and could take no rest till he had obtained it.
But he received for answer, " You have been long enough in
this establishment to know, sir, that the rules do not allow of
smoking." " I have : and what is the reason for that, Doctor?"
" Because," replied the doctor, "it was thought to have a ten-
dency to increase the malady which prevails in this house."
" No, no," was responded; that, indeed, is not the reason ;
the true reason is, because the president of this establishment
is a great blockhead." Mr. Hall's propensity for smoking in-
creased so much upon him after this period, that he ruiv,ht be
found occupied with a pipe most hours of the day. In his own
apprehension, the sedative effects of tobacco were beneficial to
his health, tending to alleviate that excessive pain under which
he laboured, or in some measure to divert his attention from it.
A friend having presented him with a portable and capacious
box for the purpose, he seldom went from home without pro-
viding himself with an ample store of kynaster ; and even wlwii
travelling outside a coach, which he commonly preferred, a pipe
was frequently his companion, Unable to continue long in bed,
from the increasing pain it produced, he was in the habit of
rising very early, and lying on the hard floor, and amusing him-
self with a pipe and a book. One dark winter's morning his
candle went out, and as he could nowhere be.found about the
house the family became alarmed; but just as some were going
out with a lantern to search for him, he made his appearance,
saying he had traversed the streets to find a watchman to light
•1 his pipe; so essential was this little indulgence to his personal
cunifori,—Morris's Biodraphicql Recoliections,