The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-05-17

disposition OF millions of dollars by contracts and
otherwise, and in order to prevent improper action
and avoid even suspicion of wrong and mismanage-
ment, the minority should have been represented
This is bad and unwise movement and should be
reconsidered at once, or many evils may be pro-
duced therefrom.
PosT OFFICE DEpARTMENr.-It is rumoYed in the
newspapers that Mr.. Wickfie is resigning We
really trust it may be so, but fear it is too good
news to be true. The department has, il is said
got into debt about $500, 600 under his manage
ment Mr. Wckffe has certainly been the most
thick headed and inefficient Postmaster General
we have ever had. He first attempted to stop the
transmission of the newspapers between the chief
cities, and from that he went on growing worse
and worse every day, unit the department is now
embarrassed by an immense debt, and is degraded
and disorganized to fearful extent. We do hope
that Congress will go to work and re. organize the
department.
The PAKK THEATRE-The house was not so
good last night as on the first night of Mr.. Ma
cready's engagement. Mr.. Macready appeared for
the first time here in the character of ''The Stran
ger" in the play of that name, supported by Miss
Cushman as "Mrs Haller'' The play is not one
particularly well adapted to display Mr.. Macreadys
strongest points nor is it, as whole, calculated
to make very strong and agreeable impression on
audience But in several of the scenes, particu-
lary that in which the Stranger relates to his friend
the story of his wrongs, and the closing one in
which the interview with his wife occurs, Mr.. Ma
cready's acting was indeed extremely forceful and
impressive, and marked by rather more natural and
lmsassioned feeling than he generally exhibits
The applause was warm on the fall of the curtain,
and both MIR. Macready and Miss Cushman were
called out the latter receiving she well deserved
the most enthusiastic expressions of appreciation on
the part of the audience. Her conception of the
part was exceedingly truthful and just, and was
conveyed with the spirit and sound judgment which
generally characterize her performances. Mr..
Chippendale, as "Soomon," was unexceptlonable ;
and so was Mr. Fishers personation of the simple
"Peter." Mr.. Lowell was highly respectable as
the Count, which is more than could be said of
Mr. Ryder as Baron Steinfort." Tonight, Mr.
Macready plays Othello.
FIRST CONCERT OF HENRI VIEUx TEMps-This
solcnnitf musicale, as the French would say took
place last evening at Pamos lovely theatre to the
delight Of all lovers of sterling music The ar
rangement of the programme was extremely ju
dicious, being divided in two distinct pars-one
dedicated to classical music, the other to specimens
of the romantic, commonly called the young
school, which is destined to introduce a new era
in the art of tones, in imitation of "young Italy,
young France, and young Germany" which have
declared mortal war to the abuses of the a,,ciem
regime We call this arrangement extremely ju-
dicious because nobody is better qualified TO show
Il. 81. = Il
Vieux TEMPS. who belongs to the old or classic age
through The Beethovenllke regularity and grandeur
of his compositions. and whom the romantic claims,
with Beriot, his teacher, and Ernst, his rival
in fame, as their leader, through the luxu-
ling effects Of his playing In the first part, Mr.
Vieux Temps played the allegro from his CON
certo in E major and the adagio and rondo from
his concerts in A; and giving us the three d.
visions, which we find in Hummel and Weber
We merely do justice in calling these eminent com
positions an epopee in notes, combining the grand
and beautiful, and blending them in a manner mas
terly and imposing, which no composer, since
Beethoven, has attained. There is in them a rich
and elaborate harmony; ford and ingenious
counterpart, continuous and unexpected modu-
lation clever and comprehensive design; wondrous
and complete detail one and all of which are amply
apparent, because the outline OF his thoughts is
broad, clear, and open This is the more remarka-
BILE, from his stIct and severe adherence to the
rules employed by the old masters, and from the
nature of his works, which is purely intellectual
he never condescends, for the sake of indiscrmi-
nate applause, to write one atom beneath the stan
dard which his own mind has pronounced the
highest, and which is universally acknowledged
to be so. His orchestral accompaniment are chef
dGuUres of Instrumentation, protoundness, energy.
and vigor; as, for instance, his nroducons tatis,
and particularly the finale of the allegro. How
beautiful the Wharf.-The wrestling of the wind insru-
mens, supported by the tremolGndo of the violins
the sudden stop the abrupt accords interrupted by
a of brill ed OUI hv Io
player, TIL the final stroke recalls the enraptured
mind from the subimlty OF the work to the admi-
ration OF the workman
Great as are his COMPOSITIONS, immense are the
difficulties in them, following heel upon heel, they
are overcome by Vieux Temps; overcome we
say Observation-Disclosures with the force of a
glant--the inspiration of a prophet-with the modes
ty OF the vOet-wih an entire abnegatlon OF pride,
which he must feel. His playing is the beautiful
form to the beautiful soul of his compositions. His
tone is of unrivalled purity and funess he dallies
with it as though it were his creature-as though
the violin were human being, now telling tale
of sadness, now utterlng the widest passion. What
quaint humor-what tantallZing grotesquerie-what
endless wit in his deineation OF the cdrnaUai , =
What sentiment in Beethoven -Berots renloio,
this fragrant nosegay of sweet thoughts Enough
his success was rapturous, the applause, both from
the very fashionable audience and the orchestra, a
perfect phrenZy, and he must have been gratiied in
meeting with that justice which he ought to have
enjoyed at his first visit
and Valtelllna, lent their powerful aid, and earned
much applause. 1t would be unjust not TO speak in
the highest terms of the excellent Rapett and the
orchestra. This was the first opportunity we had
of perfectly witnessing the very great superiority OF
the general and his army. They had an arduous
task, but it could not have been overcome with
more unity and finish, little sluggishness of the
contra basso excepted. We sincerely hope they
will persevere, for they have nowe brilliant reputa
ton to lose.
ORAToRY.-At a time when public oratory is sc
powerful in its effects, and the power Of eloquenct
can lead its possessor to the highest Offices anc
honors, the cburchman, the statesman, and the
lawyer deeply interested in the means of cult
waiting and improving their natural powers. The
old adage "pGta nascitur, orator fit" will hav,
taught them the value of course Of training, un
der judicious guide, in the practical study of ora