The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-09

We are enabled to-day TO give cur mssioal had
benevolent readers some particulars touching the
distribution OF the one hundred dollars " black
mail sent to us anonymously, by some person,
for the purpose of inserting puff of Benedett,
the distinguished vocalist, and OF saving some
thing in his praise, although. in our opinion,
Benedict has talent and genius; not discre-
ton enough to do without puffs from any quar-
ter other than those that come naturally through
the exhibition of his own skill, and the admira-
BILE tones of his own voice.
AT first, the impulse of our mind was to appro-
pirate the money to lying-ln OF founding hos
ptal; but as there is no institution ofthese kinds,
in this city, of public character-all of them
being private-we were somewhat puzzled in the
matter; when Mrs. B., Ian edition of whose
Letters from Italy and France" are preparing
for publication,) the only musical critic of the
Herald, suggested that perhaps Mayor Brady,
who is very honorable man, would be the best
person to get us out of the dilemma. No sooner
said than done. We accordingly despatched the
following note to Mr. Brady -
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Ney York.
OFFICE OF THE NEw YoRK HERALD, !
Thursday, Jan Q, 1913.
transmit to you the enclosed hundred dollars,
which would beg you to be kind to dispose of In
and Of such public charitable institution
Institutions Of city you may Judge most deserv-
ing would respectfully suggest the two orphan asy-
am, sir, your obsdient servant,
JAMES G. BENNETT.
Mayor Of the City OF New York.
Yesterday morning we received from the
Mayors Office the following communications in
reply =
MAYORS OFFICE, NEw YoRK, Jan. 7, ls4s.
hsvs to acknowledge tho receipt your letter. enoos
ing the of $780, for distribution among such charit
able institutions ss may select
In accordance with your suggestions, and with my
own inclination have divided your generous donation
aud the Roman Catholic Orphan Asyumrtvo in:t,tu
lions eminently deserving Encouragement With my
best wishes for continued hesltn and that prospe
rity which enables to distribute thus literally the
obsdient servant. VIM " BRADY
JAS. GoapoS BENNETT. Esq.
Ed NeW York Herald.
have great pleasure in acknowledging the receipt
OF $780, from the 1und placed in your hands and trust
N. NJ WAINWRIGHT.
Treasurer o. the Protestant Half Orphan Asylum
Wv BRADY, Mayor Of the City Of New York.
Thus far, thus well. We like the manner in
which this black mail has been distributed, ex-
ceedingly- to the Catholics and the
other half to the Protestants-preciselya as we
would have done ourselves for we wish to pat
ronise both religions, and those who believe in
them. 1t is true, we were born and educated
Catholic; and. looking backwards, all our race
were Catholics, from the promu cation of the
Catholic faith, during the middle and barbarous
ages of Europe; but in these latter days, since
the invention and discovery of Morse's tele-
graph and Hoes printing press, and the es-
adjustment of the Herald, we have become
more liberal and comprehensive in our re-
liglous notions, and we now believe in both
the Catholic and Protestant faiths, with all
their divisions and subdivisions, rejecting
only those particular little doctrines of either
that conflict and quarrel among themselves. The
Mayor, accordingly, has pleased us very mach in
the distribution of this black mail, and we re-
turn him our thanks for his kindp ass in taking
the trouble to do it /; and we trust and hope that
Benedettl will sing some of his best pieces, to
please the Mayor, at future day, and help lit
tie farther the half orphans, or full orphans, or
lying-in hospitals, of the city.
Thus much for black mail and babies-now for
Benedict. 1t was perfectly unnecessary fer that
distinguished artist to put himself to so much
trouble about what the newspapers the critics
said of his talents. With some few exceptions, all
the ladies', it seems, are quarrelling about him
they all his friends, nearly sThe whole FASH
ionable coterie are delighted to listen to him, and
don't care button about the critics Yet he
must bear patiently with what the newspapers
say, although his hundred dollars have got differ
ent and better destination than they would have
done if he had sent them to some other critical
quarters. 1t ought to be a lesson to him to
change his tactics in these matters. Ifthat little.
sum of money, 500, had been sent to some O f
his critics, it is very likely we would have heard
no more about it; only suspicious might have
been created by a singular change of opinion in
some of those newspaper wri Some of
those critics, if they had received such present,
would have considered themselves the half
orphans, and the poor, intended to be relieved,
and hsve kept their charity at no We DOM
say all of them; for there is difference among
critics, as there is among pick-pockets.
With these remarks, and this advice, we trust
that Benediti will go quietly to work, care little
for the newspapers, attend TO his diet and his
profession, and he will coon stand higher than
any other tenor that ever visited this country,
with the single exception OF Garcia. Benedett
has fervor aud intensity in his style and man.
ner, which almost approach greatness. lie is a
veritable Italian in all the feelings of jealousy
and love. Mario, with all his beauty of person
aud of voice, does not make half til. impression
on his audience that Benedict does. Benedict
feels what he sings; Mario does not-nor does
GardoDi. What Mario and Gardoni have in
clearness of voice, Benedict makes up in force,
feeling, and intensity. We have heard Mario
again and again, and never once has he
touched our feelings He is cold--cold as
an English audience. In short, Benedict
has not as splendid or rich voice as Mario; but
he has more warmth, more feeling, and more