Washington sentinel., 1854-06-21


sons why it has been declared by commanders
Of the United States ocean mail steamers and
Others the best ever invented. d.-IVdsh. UIaion.
Ss~------------ 3s3 /.
MUSICAL CoNGREss.-Thefe have been three
"inaugurations " of the Crystal Palace, and
the third, which took place last evening, under
the direction Of M. julien, was not inferior in
point of attraction to either OF the others
| The precise number of persons present cannot
be given and many made use OF tickets pre-.
viously issued, but at moderate estimate, the
audience numbered over twenty thousand.
ic w reached the ground as early as halfpast
four, and the largest portion of the audience
lad assembled some time before the hour fixed
for the commencement of the performance.
The various railroad lines leading to the city
we're crowded throughout the day with visitors
from the interior, who were attracted by the
announcement ofthe novel entertainment; and
an unusual number Of thH9eIte OF New York
societies, joined with the throng, which for
more than two hours pressed towards. the
palace. In regard to the entertainment ITSELF
there will doubtless be a variety OF opinions,
according to the position OF the spectator.
Those who are acquainted with the interior OF
the immense building, need not be told that it
is not especially adapted for musical enter
tainment; but the arrangement OF the platform
and seats was judiciously made, and no pains
spared to heighten the general effect. That
portion OF the audience best suited for listening,
must have been gratiied beyond measure;
but the finest parts of the performance were
altogether lost upon great part Of the i'm
mense crowd. ss s;: NJ
M The overlures and other orchestral pieces,
and the chorusses, were given with grand ct,
feet but the solos, and especially the duet for
two pianofortes, were nearly lost and should
never have been attempted in such building,
and before so large an audience. The sue
cesses were, on the whole, more striking than
the failures; and although the former were
chiefly produced with the least effort OF re-
fined musical TASTE the approval,of the assem-
bly, was very decided. The Firemen's quad.
rille, composed expressly for this OCCASION by
Julien, is fair illustration Of this statement
According to the programme, the first, second,
third, and fourth, figures Of this quadrie were
descriptions of the annual parade; and the fifth
of the approach of night, the breaking out OF q
| Gre, the gathering of the engines, and the bat
| tie between the elements, until the flame is
| subdued AS compositions, the piece is far
| inferior to the American quad lille, by the same
| hand, but the scenic effect is greater. Ihe
| :dull red glare,n illuminating the horizon, was
| produced BY fireworks upon the roof the palace
and the enthusiasm Of the audience at this point
was beyond description. :,
| Previous to the opening Of. this quadrilie, Mr.
| Barnum, president of the association, and
whose good genius hit upon this scheme for the
relief Of the disheartened stockholders made
his appearance ,-and, in very neat speech, pre-
1 pared the audience for the scene to be repre-
sented which it was feared might otherwise
create some alarm. After it was concluded
M. Julien being called for made Q brief ad
dress, which was very well received. AT tins
point, which ended the second part OF the en-
tertainment, many thousands of the audience
| left. In fact, soon after the performances com
menced many Of the visitors retired, not being
| able to accommodate themselves within hear
ing distance Of a portion of the entertainment
1 Every conveyance to the lower part OF the city
was densely packed, and for several hours the
i cars OF the Sixth avenue railroad were crowded
/ with the returning throng. Before the close
an announcement was made that the congress
would continue its sessions every night tins
week; but the performances are TO be varied
and the price Of admission reduced to 70 cents
| for each regular ticket and 20 cents for re
served seats. The building will probably bt
4 less thronged during the remainder OF the week
which will add materially to the comfort OF thu
audience while the few mistakes OF the hrs
evening win probably be corrected.--Joar. q
Com. 18th se