The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-08

praise due 70 Mrs. Alfred Wigan. whose good taste
presdes over the "iSs essceas and dresses, not TO
make Of her +" White Sergeant in "the Olympic
Camp"
We have watched, with some interest, the pro-
gsess Of those musical entertainments at Exeter
Hall, and cannot but admire the energy and enter.
season, showing most Enthusiastically the wish Of
the directors to indoctrinAte and famliariso the
English public with the highest school of musical
art, rather than TO pander TO vicious taste by
serving up the light, senSu0us music Of the Italian
and French composers. Hence knstead Of Rossini
Pasiello Auber Bale, and others Of the like cali
bre We have been presented with the shefs d 9uvre
Of Gluck, Spohr, Hayds, Beethoven, Aendessohn,
and those works of Weber and Handel, with which
the concert going public are less familiar. Bee
thoyen; especially, has had all due honors paid him
nv the performance in q style that would do no dis.
credit even TO tho Philharmonic Society Of several
Of his grandest symphonies, insuding .a,e heroie
Men Of Prsmethens," and "The Mount Of Olives"
and two or three Of his finest pisnoforte sonatas-
the last admirably played by thct wonderful instru-
nent t, Mad lie CLAUS, who has just left Us for
s.. sburg. Then, again, we have been favored
r2 Zen slssohn's wonderful "Italian Symphony"
..sy.u In a style that Lindpaintner himself could
scarcely excel-with q rerve, energy, expression,
and rsaidity that fairly astonishes us at the pre-
cision and perioSton that aIe attained by Q well.
cobdocted full band. The last evSIing, too, in cd.
diton to three or four iHe pieces from beethoven
and Mendessohn We were presented with copious
selection of the best music from Handles "AlexsS-
der's Feast" both vocal and instrumental, the
former being executed by Misses Birch, Poole, Ter.
nan, &c, and Messrs. Gales, Phillips, Herr Pts
chek, 90.
The illustrated London News has this week IA
vored US with striking likeness Of Albert Smith.
This hateroteur resumed his popular enterta lment
of "tbe Ascent of Mont Blanc,' at the Egyptian
Hall, last Monday week. take this opportunity Of
giving slight sketch Of our distinguished lecturer
antecedents The books OF the little quaint old
church az In GA q Wqa hnrn
on the oath May, 1916. He was educated at Mer-
chant Tailors' School, studied medicine at the Mid
dlesex Hospital, and became o member OF the Col
lege OF Surgeons in 1885, after which he continued
bis studies at the Hotel bieu and CLAIMANT, in Paris
and, on his return to England practiced with his
,ather Is . surgeon at Chertsey. Albert Smith was
then recognized author. and his pamphlet, entitled
"Arguments against Phrenoogy," had reached a
fourth tedition. Between 1888 and 1910 he was q
large contributor to the Mirror. the Literary Worid,
the Medical Times, and many other publications,
and was one Of the fist writer's In Punch, the sue
cess of which was mainly attributable to Mr. Smiths
admirable article, generally known as "the Medical
Student" Sketches Of Evening Parties"
Mr.. Smith for many years edited Bentley's Ms
eellany wbe elm appeared The Adventures Of Mr..
Ledbury and his Friend Jack johnson" Blanche
Hei,t,' "The Scattergood Family" The Mar
chioness of Brinsvilliers." Christopher Tad
pole" and the " Pottleton Legacy" &c. During
this time be also enjoyed considerable reputa
ton as dramatist, and wrote for the Surrey.
Olympic, Princess and Lyceum. Next he aP
peared as the author of set of amusing little
books, such as the Gent" the Flirt," the Bal
let Girl" the " ldler upon Town Stuck up PEG
pie" &C., which, by good naturally showing up the
weak points OF very large class of society, insured
q very considerable popularity. Meanwhile, Mr..
Smith occasionally contributed to BtdckCood's Nd
ANNALS and, for several years he was the dramatic
critic Of the Illustrated London Ncps, TO which
journal he also contributed many column Of picto
rial pleasantries He also wrote several songs for
John Parry and his entertainment entitled Lights
and Shadows Of Social Life"
In l849 Mr.. Smith made an excursion to the East,
and on his return home produced his clever and sue
cessful entertainment Of the Overland Mai"
Next year he made the ascent Of Mont Blanc, aud.
upon this perlous journey was founded his ascent
OF Mont Blanc Lecture which was first given at
the Egyptian Hall, March Is 1852, the sue less of
which is best attic sted by the fact that during the
two seasons Of 1852 '53, there paid :0r admissions
1873, persons, realizing the sum Of Ell 900. Mr.
Smith is universally respected. DoE CESAR.
LONDON. Dec. 81, 1853.
Prince Albert and the A6aws Of State Continental
Infuenees-Catina Cowneas-Stafe RuH,ors-
an English Ohri,tmas-Juvenile Cvime-Artif
ciai Propagation Of FISH Aeatrieais.
In tie RussoTurco question: we are told Tin expla'
nation Of certain supineness) that there is certain
power behind the scenes-behnd the throne. Mark
what follows.
1t is painful even to imagine. but most distressing
to know as fact that at the present time the sove-
reign of this free Protestant country is surroun ied by
Influences most prejudicsl to her country interests.
The fact is, that through Belgium, whose ruler is
now connected by marriage relations with Austria,
an infuen is exerted in favor Of the Austrian and
Russian policy which, while it for time. strength.
ems the hands OF the Aberdeen administration, Is
diametrcal y opposed to the general wishes Of the
country; ana every loyal subject and true lover Of
his country must grieve at the reflection that our
Queen is placed in 30 false position. Indeed, now
that Lord Palmerston, from whatever cause, has
ceased to form part Of the government, the sove-
reign has not at present single truly English minis
ter in her councils and though the Times wishes to
gloze over the breach, and as,ribe it to some pay
difference about the forthcoming measure Of parlia-
mentary reform, we have no hesitation in saying
and the Emperor of the French believes il too
that the late Home Secretary (the only honest man
among his coeagues) has been compelled to retire
because he Dol iy Loyalty, and periodically resisted
the anti English influences to which we have alluded,
and with the contact Of which he was daily and
hourly disguised. Even the Duke Of Newcastle,
who was sometime ago almost as hostile as Lord
Pamerston to the influence Of Germanism at Court,
seems now to have be ,ome completely entanged in
its meehes; and all things are carried wi h high
will OF the people. advocating Russian politics at
Court. But let them beware ere too late, for II
this unhoy alliance be once generally known TO the
English people, q catastrophe may possibly be pro
duced as bad as :" the Spanish marriages. and
ministers will surely rue the day on which they
began to adopt so ruinOus policy.
Cabinet councils are Of as daily occurrence al are
| luncheons.
It is generally believed that Sir James Graham &C
| cepts the Office of Secretary OF the Home Depart
ment, and that Fox. Maule Uord Panmure) is to be
| the First Lord Of the Admiralty.
| The hospitabe season, which is now so close at
| hand, always calls for busy preparation among the
authors, Illustrators, and publishers who cater for
| the amusement Of our young folks. This year, how
ever there seems to have been more than the usual
| amount Of industry bestowed, and the reviewers
tables groan beneath the weight Of the many works
OF every varying hue and shape that they called
on to notice. Frst and foremost, We have beauti-
| fully illustrated edition of The Sermon OF, the
Mount got up with lavish expenditure, by Long
mans house then sn edition OF Gray's Elegy,,
| spt ndidly pIioted. and embellished with exquisite
| tngravinls, from the MessIs. Tegg thirdly, q
| s,,op Eaat EavOritss y R,s