The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-08

1 ERIE RAILaoAp.-We see a great deal OF effort
made in various papers to produce feeling in ia
vor Of the construction of the Erie Railroad, and
TO get the consent of the people Of this city to a
loan Of three millions from the Corporation, and
the like sum by private subscription Really we
think it requires the greatest assurance in the world
| for any set of men, after what We have seen OF
the management of th atassociation, to come for
| ward before the public and make second time
| such a request.
| No doubt the construction of the road, at an i'm
mense cost, might be of some benefit TO the city
| of New York, and TO those counties through which
| it passes to Lake Erie. But, we contend, on the
! broad ground of economy and public utility, that
with the canal and the railroad by the way of the
Hudson river, from Albany to Buffalo, on the one
hand, and with the Pennsylvania canal and railroad
on the other and within short distance OF
| each other, the construction Of railroad over
| the mountains that separate Pennsylvania from
New York, is most ridiculous, unsafe, expensive,
and hazardous project, and entirely unnecessary in
| any point of view What is the use of construct
ing railroad in the middle of those already estab-
| ished media OF communication? We are to re-
collect, too, that hereafter the communication to
Buffalo, in the winter season, will be as easy US at
any other season Of the year, in consequence OF
the river being kept open by the new improvements
IN cutting the ice
We repeat it, we see no reason whatever tor sad
ding the people of this city with an enormous ex
penditure, merely TOR the purpose of getting up
clique of officers superntendents, presidents, cash
iers and others, who are thus to be saved from the
necessity of getting living by some other homes
mode.
SENTENCE DAy.-ADMNIsTRATIo OF JUSTICE
We understand that this day is set down for SEN
tence day in the Court OF Sessions. We will see
now whether John Jones, the button-maker, and
Joe Gulick, the militia man, both convicted in that
court, will be brought up to receive the sentence OF
punishment due to their crimes, or whether some
new species of proceeding may not take place to
postpone it. If either OF these characters belonged
to the lower grade of society-we mean as respect
their purses, as otherwise they quite low enough
in the social scaleif they had stolen half pound of
pork to stay the pangs of famine, or piece Of
cloth to make into pair of breeches we have no
doubt they would each have been promptly sem
fenced 10 six months confinement in the peniten-
tiary. But the poor loafers have lawyers to in
terpose obstacles to the course of justice. Let us
| see how many additions are to have to-day to
| the list of forfeited rccognizances
| The FIRST BURsT.-We understand that yester-
day, one of the cotton SPECTATORS engaged in the
recent movement to keep up the price Of cotton,
exploded. No person was killed, however, but
| some of the Georgia Banks have been severely in
jured, and so they deserve to be, if they will med
die with cotton. The sooner they burst and ex-
plode and are scattered to the four winds of hea-
ven, the better. This is only the commencement
of the game tor 1914. Before midsummer comes,
we will have plenty of explosions.
| PALMo's COMPLIMENTARY BENEFrT.-lf ever en-
terprise deserved unqualified encouragement, the
Italian opera, and consequently Mr. Palmo-to
whom alone the lovers of good music are indebted
for this highly refined pleasure-are particularly
entitled to universal patronage. AT the first glance
we do not see any thing in the whole undertaking
| but fortunate speculation, whose only reward
ought to consist in its pecunlary success but the
observer who never separates the future from the
present, will not lose right of the moral effect which
the introduction Of permanent musical establish
ment will and must have upon manners In general
and the cultivation Of music in particular. The
time not far distant when this divine art will not
be mere matter of fashion, but necessity, iden.
tilted with our system of education and not Deepen
dent upon the efforts of single individual. II can
not be denied that the influence of music is more
general than that of poetry and painting, although
| they enjoy higher position in the list of fine arts
than music. Both poetry and painting require an
exalted state of civilization to be duly appreciated
They address themselves to the exception, and not
to the general rule where, on the contrary, music
is understood, at least liked by every body, and
assists in producing that civilization These con
siderations actuated the endeavors of the commit
| tee, into whose hands the whole management was
| given, and who deserve much praise for the man
ner in which all the arrangements were made
The selection consisted of three parts, the two
latter Of which proved extremely acceptable
to the numerously congregated fashion and
beauty. This can by no means be said of the
first part, which was coldly given and coldly
received The overture played by the orches
ira, which has been looked for with SO much
interest was kind of pot pourri not over judcous
| y arranged, and which presented only one interest
ing feature, Rapetti's solo, although it not Of
| a very transcendent nature. II was followed by q
new cantata, "K Prigioniero d. stato,' the work O
| a young composer-Who Is a citizen of America i
we are not mistaken. 1t is very gratifying to wit
ness the efforts made by the adopted sons of Column
| ba I; and the talented maestro in spe can rest as
sured that very great composers nave maze worse
beginning than he; II evinces much taste in thu
| accOmpaniments-has simple and correct instru
mentaiion, and is altogether different from tn
usual style of Italian airs. The melodies are no
always clear, and the closing andante lacks inven
ton. 1t would have produced much more effect
it had been sung in costume-the recitave
being too long for concert piece Valtellin
gave the portamento passages with much expression
but does not possess sufficient volubillty and hegh
of to do Justice to the finale OF the cantata. -
Majocchi and Perozzi introduced the beautiful due
from Comma, which CASTELAR, sang in her concert
at Washington Hall. This piece suits the voice o
the donna, and the part of Antonina does not, al
though they require nearly the same register. Ma
jocchi appeared little nervous in the beginning
but recovered herself in the allegro, which she per
formed in her usual style, avoiding all ornament
and runs. This Duet was well received, but no
quite so well as al the Washington, where il wa
cncored The greatest treat ever offered at thI
opera house, was the second part, CONSISTING
of nearly the first act of Rossini's 'Barbicre.