The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-09-09 00:00:00

CONCERT AT THE ROYAL ASSEMBLY ROOMS

On Tuesday evening Signor Rubini gave a concert at the
above handsome room, which was well filled with fashionable
and elegant company. This room has been rendered as con-
venient as possible, and now presents to the eye a pleasing
and tasteful appearance. The first part of the concert con-
sisted of Rossini's " Stabat Mater;" the second part, of
miscellaneous compositions by Mozart, Bellini, Negri, Puzzi,
Mercadante, and Rossini. Of the " Stabat Mater," we
still continue to bold the opinion we first entertained of it
when we heard it performed at the Theatre Royal. It is not,
as far as we have heard, taken altogether of a sacred cha-
racter; it is essentially dramatic, with the exception of the
qnartetto, " Quando Corpus." We speak only of what we
have had an opportunity of publicly hearing in Liverpool,
and depend upon it, although it has been greatly cried up at
home and abroad, and is at present the fashion, the " Stabat
Mater" of Rossini will not take that hold of the public
opinion his other works have done. It is a fine composition,
full of melody and grandeur ; but it is more theatrical than
sacred. " Cuijus Animam" was sung by Rubini splendidly,
and loudly encored. There is no one can come up to him,
either in taste, execution, or quality of voice. We only find
one Shakspeare, one Byron, in an age; we only meet with
one Rubini in the span of a man's recollection. IRubini
astonishes while he delights. His execution is brilliant in
the extreme ; and with what ease he appears to perform these
florid ornaments which so distinguish the Italian school ;
Rubini's voice, now swelling full of richness and volume,
described—not even imagined ;
now sinking so subdued thatit appears as if coming
from
appreciated a
distance,
heard, and heard only to be
;it must
cannot
—it is more like " fairy music—dreamer's songs"—than
anything else we can name. Quit est homo was charm-
ingly sung by Mdlle. Ostergaard and Signora Paciai.
be e u
The " Stabat" was well done, and appeared to give
great satisfaction. In the second part of the concert, Ru-
bini's grand aria from " Pirata," by Bellini, was sung in a
magnificent manner. Such taste—such singing con more
never has been heard of for many a day in Liverpool. It
was encored. The " Terzetto" is a delightful composition
of Mozart's : it went off very well. Madlle. Ostergaard sang
" Schubert's Melodic" with much taste. The Cantabile from
" Beatrice di Tenda," by Puzzi, and the French Horn was
cleverly played. While this artist is performing the aria,
nothing can be sweeter or more delicious than the tones he
produces ; but when he launches out into variations, he, as
well as all others on the same instrument, make what may
be termed " a mess of it." The French Horn is not a fit
instrument for astonishing people, by torturing a simple air
into everything else but itself. Signor Negri sang an unpre-
tending Barcarole of his own composition. The duetto from
Norma " Deli con te" was omitted, greatly, it seemed, to the
dissatisfaction of the audience. Why is a popular and at-
tractive composition put into a programme, and then with-
drawn ? The duett substituted was very well sung, and was
a very good duett, as Signor Puzzi remarked to the audience
when they grumbled. The concert was decidedly a good one,
and reflects credit upon the manager of it.

-

" THE HINDOSTAN" STEAM-SHIP.

(Frow our own Reporter.)

The Hindostan, (which we noticed at some length on the
26th ultimo, as in every respect the finest, best equipped,
and, we may add, the largest steam-ship afloat,) steamed for
Dublin on Tuesday morning, and accomplished the passage,
against a strong tide, in so short a time as to prove herself a
remarkable fast vessel, which, indeed, she had shown herself
to be on a previous trial-trip to Holyhead and Cork. As it
was known that the Urgent Mail steam-ship was to leave
Liverpool on the same morning, considerable interest was
excited in the public mind with respect to the relative speed
of the two vessels, and the race (if it may be so called) re-
sulted in the great success of the larger ship, contrary to an
opinion entertained by many persons, includinr, some nauti-
cal men, and founded on the comparative weight and relative
power of the two ships.
Both vessels were lying in the Sloyne. The Urgent, with
the London mails, via Chester, passed opposite the town at
seven minutes past six o'clock. The Hindostan started
from the same point at five minutes past seven o'clock.
They would. have left simultaneously, but as the Hindustan
drew upwards of 16 feet, and the tide was then at low ebb,
she remained at her moorings until she could safely proceed
down channel, without dodging down at a slow rate.
In an hour and a half the Hindustan passed the Bell Buoy
against a strong upcoming tide, which would rise at Liver-
pool little short of 21 feet at noon the same day. There was
a most agreeable party of saloon passengers, who were highly
delighted with the splendid accommodations on board, and
also by the varied and beautiful marine prospects that ever
and anon presented themselves, as she passed along off the
Cheshire and Welsh coasts. The sea was studded with ves-
sels, even round the distant horizon, some beating outwards,
and not a few reminding the beholder of the words of the
song—

" To England when, with favouring gales,
The gallant ship up channel steers."
The Urgent had the start of the Hindostan by about an
hour, and, having made speedy progress, was not seen by
the former for a considerable time. Her smoke, and finally
her hull, were at length, however, discovered in " the far
west." The Hindostan gained rapidly upon her, and at five
minutes past twelve, (she having then been out six hours,)
she passed her in gallant style, beating her thus far (about
half the passage) by 58 minutes. The Urgent had also a
number of passengers, and friendly cheers were exchanged
between the ships.

To the Ormsheads, and beyond them, the Hindostan made
good probably nine knots an hour, by the land, or, in other
words, progressed at that speed against a very strong tide,
and, be it considered, with new engines, which are always
stiffer than when some time in use. She passed abreast of
Holyhead at 25 minutes past two, her speed (the tide not
being now against her) having for a short time, as she ran
past the Mouse Islands, been very great. The engines made
nearly fifteen strokes a minute, which, however, is not the
highest speed they will yet attain.
The crossing of the Irish sea from Holyhead to port (a
distance, we believe, of about 56 miles) was equally agree-
able, the water being comparatively smooth, with but a slight
breeze from the W.N.W. When about midway across (the
Irish shore being then distinctly visible) the passengers
(amongst whom were several of the proprietors, some ladies,
and also Mr. Shaw, the company's marine superintendent)
sat down to an excellent substantial dinner; immediately
after which, the spacious spar-deck was again the general
resort, as the vessel rapidly neared "the green isle of the
ocean"—the hill of Howth, Ireland's Eye, and Lambay
being fast approached and beautifully defined, as well as the
coast and mountains of Wicklow. On passing the Kish
Lightship much interest was excited by observing the
foundation frame work of the screw-pile lighthouse, imme-
diately to the southward, now in course of erection. The
vessel rapidly neared her port, passing a number of small
craft, including several fine yachts, which abound in this
locality ; and having left the Urgent astern, almost hull
down, at a few minutes past six the Hindostan entered
Kingstown Harbour, having accomplished the passage, under
the disadvantage stated, in 10 hours 581 minutes, beating the
Urgent by an hour and a half. The southern pier, or em-
bankment of the harbour, at its point, was densely crowded
with spectators, who loudly cheered the Hindostan as she
passed. The interior of the harbour presented an additional
demonstration of expectancy and welcome of the noble ship.
The revenue brig Shamrock was fully decorated with flags,
and every vessel (including a government transport ship)
showed their colours. The quay opposite the town was
crowded with thousands of spectators. Yachts and boats of
all sizes, and crowded with well-dressed individuals of both
sexes, moved about in every direction to gaze upon and give
an Irish welcome to the noble ship. The gun-brig fired
repeatedly, as did one of the companies steamers, the Nava-
rino, transport ship, and other large vessels, and the Hin-
dostan replied from her " long toms," till the welkin rang,
and the Wicklow hills gave back the echo. The spectators
who lined the shore also greeting her arrival, and loud
cheers, comingled with music, were long continued. The
evening was fine, and the scene exceedingly lively and
amusing.

Owing to the lateness of the evening when the Hindostan
arrived, a few visitors only, known to the proprietors, could
be admitted on board that night. On "Wednesday she was
visited by the directors resident in Dublin, after which she
was opened on that day, and would also be yesterday, for the
inspection of the public, on payment of a small sum, to be
appropriated to charitable purposes. She would sail from
Kingstown last evening, (Thursday,) at four o'clock, for
Southampton, whence she will proceed, on the 24th instant,
to her destination in the Indian Seas. She will call, ou her
outward voyage, at Gibraltar, the Cape de Verde Islands,
the Cape of Good Hope, the Mauritius, Madras, and Ceylon.
Her appearance and equipment have excited great interest
and gratification in " the sister isle" as well as in this port.
Her commander is a gentleman who has seen much service,
and we can ourselves testify, is a most agreeable and intelli-
gent companion. We learn that a large number of passengers
have already engaged berths by her to proceed to India.