The Sun. — 1860-09-12 (London, England)

MADAME CLAIM 1V OV.ELLO'S  FAREWELL.  —the Muscovites ! The mere circumstance of that RUSSlANprevisionby three months of the very contingency which has now sprung from the Syrian massacres, and which is now fully recognised by all Europe, in the glare of those murderous conflagrations lit by the Druses, and spreading rapidly from village to village, from the Lebanon to Damascus—the mere fact of that RUSSIAN prevision in April of what only came to pass in Syria towards the end of midsummer, is of itself frightfully suggestive, is obviously and hideously significant ! The "coincidence" (to call it by no other name) comes as a timely reminder of that famous phrase of M. nu LAMARTlNE—uttered years and years ago  The arrangements for the two great festival performances of the " Messiah" and " Creation," at the Crystal Palace, on Wednesday and Saturday, September 26 and 29, in honour of Madame Novello'p retirement from public life,  are now so far completed, and the time is drawing so near,  that we will venture to direct the attention of our readers  to a " special notice" of this great English soprano. The announcement that Madame Clara Novello is about to quit the scene of all her triumphs and retire into private life, is no longer a matter of uncertainty. The loss 9f one great vocalist is almost invariably compensated by the gain of another. If we trace the line of the most distinguished oratorio singers within the last  sixty years, we shall find it consists of an uninterrupted series. Mara was followed closely by Billington, Billington  by Stephens, Stephens by Paton, and Paton by Clara Novello. In vain, however, do we look for a legitimate successor of the last of this chain of celebrities. Clara Novello's place in the concert-room is not likely to be filled  —that the slope of Russia is towards the East The symbolical eagle of Russia has a keener seen than any vulture for carrion afar off ! Six or seven years ago it fixed a ravenous eye upon the Sick Man in eager anticipation of his coming death ! Three months before the murderous Druses had descended from their mountain strongholds to ravage with fire and sword the then tranquil plains of Syria,• the Russian eagle sniffed a prophetic taint-in-the-air of those coming massacres ! While the Christian Powers of Europe are together about to distribute retribution among the pagan assassins of the Lebanon—it will be well to keep a watchful regard directed to the sinister policy emanating from the imperial councils of St. Petersburg. The tendency of that policy is now more unmistakeably than ever directed eastwards—it is directed due east to the acquisition'of territory, to the extension of commerce, to the absorption of further millions of subjects, no matter whether Turk or Chinese, among the already sufficiently heterogeneous mass of the 60,000,000 of its Muscovite population. Another day we shall mark the latest stage in the development of that policy in Chinese Tartary and Manehooria. To-day we may content ourselves with thus pointing an index-finger at that suspicious foreknowledge by Russia in the spring of events occurring in Syria only towards the end of midsummer, events that have brought the Sick Man of Turkey nearer and nearer to the time of his inevitable dissolution.  up. When she departs the loss will be irremediable. Many of our English singers can boast of considerable endowments and first-rate capabilities, but not one is marked out  by that speciality of talent which throws around its possessor an attraction like a halo. Clara Novello's high