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    June 20, 1857.] THE .IBADBt, _________ 5...

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    THE FUNERAL OF DOUGLAS JERROLD. lie anyt...

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    ACCIDENTS AND SUDDEN DEATHS. A coal mine...

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    The Handel Festival. The. Series Of Full...

    air as though the Palace itself was a vast organ . The Hallelujah chorus could be distinctly heard nearly half a mile from Norwood , and its effect , as the sound floated on the wind , now high now low , was impressive beyond description , and sounded as if a nation was at prayers . " A desirable improvement on the first day was achiev ed by the establishment of screens at the back and eides of the orchestra , through which -contrivance the sound , instead of escaping into the empty galleries and corridors in the immediate neighbourhood of that enormous amphitheatre of timber , was thrown directly upon the area devoted to the audience . Among other objects in the orchestra that attracted general interest were a portrait , a bust , and a full-length statue ( in

    marble ) of the great musician in whose honour this festiv al was instituted . The portrait , hung in front of the organ , was the one painted from life by Denner , -which Handel bequeathed to his amanuensis , John Christopher Smith , and whose lineal descendant , Lady Elvers , recently made a gift of to the Sacred Harmonic Society . It is said , on good authority , to be one of the best likenesses extant . The statue on the right , for which Handel sat ( also in possession of the Sacred Harmonic Society ) , is by Roubillac . Horace Walpole , in one of his letters , affirms that this statue laid the

    foundation of Koubillac ' fame in England . It was his first great work ; and it is worth noting that his last was Handel ' s monument in Westminster Abbey . A cast of it has been forwarded by the Sacred Harmonic Society to Berlin , for the statue to be erected at Halle ( the birthplace of the composer ) at the centenary commemoration in 1859 , upon which a Berlinese sculptor , favoured by His Prussian Majesty , is busily engaged . The bust , on the left , is cast from one belonging to the musical collection in the Royal Library at Berlin . The name of the artist is unknown . "

    The concert on Wednesday was signalized by the presence of the Queen . Of course the company on that day was yet more numerous and brilliant than on the previous occasion , and the appearance within the palace necessarily far surpassed , in richness and spread of colour , that artificial flower-bed of many-tinted ladies ' hoods which Mr . Bickerstaff , of the Tatler , saw in the pit of Drury Lane some century and a half ago—a sight which he has commemorated for all time . " Her Majesty and the Royal party , " says the Times , " arrived at the private entrance a few minutes before one o ' clock . A guard of honour of the Grenadier Guards , under the command of Colonel Hopwood , with the band of the regiment , received the illustrious visitors with the usual salute —arms presented and colours lowered . Sir Joseph Paxton and Mr . Ferguson were in attendance to usher , her Majesty and suite to tlie apartments which have been erected for their accommodation at the north

    end of the building . After the delay of a few minutes , the Queen , accompanied by the Grand Duke Maximilian , and followed by his Royal Highness Prince Albert , his Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia , the Princess Royal , the Prince of Wales , the Princess Alice , and suite , proceeded to the Royal balcony , which had been handsomely fitted up in the north corner of the transept immediately facing the orchestra . As the Queen approached , a buzz of expectation ran through the vast assemblage , which rose by a simultaneous movement , clapping hands , and waving hats and handkerchiefs with

    such enthusiasm that even the Queen , though well used to cordial receptions from her subjects , seemed completely moved , and curtseyed repeatedly in acknowledgment of the welcome . Ere this burst of loyalty had quite subsided , the grand strains of the National Anthem pealed through the building in massive sounding notes , which made the very floors and pillars vibrate as though rustling with a heavy wind . Whon its solemn cadence had completely died a ' way , there was another outbreak of applause , not so much of course for the National Anthem ( though magnificently givon ) as for the august ludy in whose honour it was sung . laces

    " As the audience settled themselves into their p , Messrs . Ncgrctti and Zambra , the photographers of the Crystal . Palace , took a beautiful photograph of the whole scene , making the Royal box its centre . It was a perfect likeness , and so well and quickly done that copies of it wore printed , framed , glazed , and laid before the Royal party before the first portion of the oratorio had concluded . The spot from which it was tukon was the gallery over the organ , whence perhaps the finest coup d ' ceil which the festivals of this country have ever shown was presented yesterday . Immediately beneath was the great organ , like a cathedral of music , with every tower and pinnacle of its vocal frame sending forth a volume of sound amid which even 2000 human voices wore

    almost lost . Round this , in a vast amphitheatre , camo the chorus , —Costa lowest of all , with palo and earnest face , singing in conscientious love every note of the music ho regulated ; while below tlic orchestra , again , was ranged the brilliant mass of viuitora , rank on rank , like the divisions of an army of old , all richness , pomp , and colour . Those features alone would havo made i ( a prospect on which the memory would dwell , but when to it are added the tiers of oloao-fllled , galleries , rising high and spreading wide—the nolso of the chorus as , 4 with the hiss like rustling winds , they rose to volume forth Sing unto God , ' the Roynl visitors all boating time , and watching every note , and the . solemn anxiety

    of attention which seemed to reign over all—it -was grand and impressive beyond all powers of description . " After the conclusion of the Anthem , the principal solo was given by Madame Clara Novello with exquisite effect . Indeed , her singing throughout was of the finest kind ; and there was not one instance in . which , though with such great powers at her disposal , she presumed to add to , or in any way depart from , the intentions of her author . Equal praise may be given to all the performers , among whom were Miss Dolby , Madame Rtrdersdorff , Mr . Sims Reeves , Mr . Weiss , Herr Formes , & c , backed by an unrivalled chorus . Between the first and second parts of . the Oratorio , her Majesty and the court retired—an example followed by the whore orchestra and several of the audience .

    Part the Second opened with the splendid chorus , ' Fallen is the Foe , ' followed by ' Tune your Harps , ' both beautifully given . Then came the astonishing air , 'From mighty Kings , ' which , in spite of all its intricate difficulties , was sung by Madame Novello to perfection , and was loudly applauded . Miss Dolby , who seems almost to have been reserved for this point , then sang a duet with Madame Rudersdorff , and exhibited her usual exquisite feeling and skill . The plaintive chorus , 1 Wretched Israel , ' followed by the allegro of Mr . Weiss , introduced Mr . Sims Reeves in his usually successful bravura , ' Sound an alarm , ' which , with its response , ' We hear , ' again drew from the audience a rushing tempest of applause . So , also , did the trio , ' See the Conquering Hero comes . ' Up to this period the encores had been successfully resisted ; but the requisition now became too powerful . From the Queen downward , the demand was unanimous , and was of course acceded to .

    The oratorio terminated with the singing of ' the Old Hundredth '—it is said , at the Queen ' s . desire . Her Majesty and the whole assembly stood during the performance of this magnificent psalm , which , rolling from the lips of two thousand choristers , produced an effect of unspeakable grandeur . On retiring , the Royal party loitered a little along the gallery , in acknowledgment of the continued cheers of the people , who gradually sauntered to the garden fountains , and terminated a day of tumultuous emotions under the open heavens and the placid influences of cultivated nature .

    On Friday , the third and last day of the Festival , Israel in Egypt was performed . Jn some respects this is the finest of Handel ' s oratorios : it abounds in sublime descriptive music , in majestic choruses , and in concerted pieces full of dignity and solemnity . Less moving and pathetic perhaps than the Messiah , less highly coloured and dramatic than the Judas Maccabaus , it is more strongly impressed with the grandeur and severity of the composer ' s genius than either . For choruses , take ' The people shall hear , ' which lost none of its inspiring majesty at the Crystal Palace yesterday ; ' And with his blast ; ' —' Sing ye to the Lord , ' ( with the solo in which Madame Clara Novello delivered a C

    natural that could be heard like a crystal bell in the remotest gallery on the words , ' Hath he thrown them into the sea ; ' )— ' He spake the word ; ' and , by way of contrast , the ' Hailstone chorus , ' with its overpowering whirlwind of sound , and ' As for his people , ' with its peaceful and pathetic breathings of the altos and sopranos ; and ' I will say unto the Lord , ' a double chorus , in which the altos , tenors , arid sopranos distinguished themselves by their perfect unity of tone , and their wonderful smoothness of accentuation . For concerted pieces , take ' The Lord is a Man of War , ' sung by Herr Formes and Mr . Weiss , and in which the great German bass vindicated his reputation from a comparative failure in the Jtulas Maccabaua ;—' Thou in Thy mercy , ' by Miss Dolby and Mr . Sims

    Reeves . The pieces we have cited were among the mpst successful in performance yesterday . Of the solos , ' Thou didst blow , ' by Madame Clara Novello ; Thou shalt bring them in , 'by Miss Dolby ; ' The enemy said , ' by Sims Reeves ( encored ) , were the most warmly appreciated by the audience . The duo , ' The Lord is my strength , ' sung by Madame Novello and Madame Uudcrsdorff , was almost ineffective . The orchestra was admirable from first to last . At the close , the National Anthem was sung , the orchestra , chorus , and audience upstanding , with immense effect ; under storms of

    and Mr . Costa and Ills army retired redoubled applause . On the whole , the Festival has more than answered the highest expectations , and cannot fail , under favourable circumstances , to bo repeated in future years . We cannot conclude without returning our boat thanks to the Committee of the Sacred Harmonic Society , and to all who were concerned in the administration of the Festival , for tlio perfection of their general arrangements , nud for their marked courtesy to tho public press . Wo believe wo may say that on no occasion havo tho press and tlio public found bo little to complain of , and s 6 much to praioe , without reserve .

    June 20, 1857.] The .Ibadbt, _________ 5...

    June 20 , 1857 . ] THE . IBADBt , _________ 581 — ¦ ~~ " ¦ " ~ .- ¦—¦¦ .. ¦ _ . i I , _— ~ ¦ -

    The Funeral Of Douglas Jerrold. Lie Anyt...

    THE FUNERAL OF DOUGLAS JERROLD . lie anything could consolo us for tho loss of tho wise , witty , nnd largo-hoartod man whom Death hus just snatched from us , It would bo tho spectacle of profound sympathy and brotherly affection , among

    fellow-workmen which was exhibited last Monday at the grave of Douglas Jerrold . While the diaphanous Palace at Sy den ham was ringing with the sublime religious harmonies of Handel , ' the still , sad music of humanity ' went up from the cemetery at Norwood in the shape of sorrowing voices mourning an irreparable loss . With a few exceptions , and those few unavoidable , all the chief men of literature and art now in London joined in one large gathering to signify their respect and affection for him whose mortal part they were then laying in the earth . It is not dften that so many true mourners are to be seen gathered round a grave . Strong men , and men whose names are associated in the public mind with nothing so much as laughter and mirth , were weeping and sobbing , their grief being rendered doubly acute by the recollection of numberless occasions of gladness and heart-ease on which the dead man had been the great source of hilarity . There was but one defect

    in the arrangements , but . that was a serious one : the chapel was invaded by all kinds of people totally unconnected with the funeral—mere sightseers , who came to gaze at the eminent men who formed part of the procession . The result was that scarcely any of the mourners could get into the building . The day , but for a dusty , fierce east wind , was very fine , and the cemetery lovely in its greenness . The coffin , which was of polished oak , was covered with a black velvet pall , trimmed with silver lace , and emblazoned with the initials ' D . J . ' Following the hearse were four mourning-coaches and two lor three private carriages ; and , over and above these , was a large concourse of those who , without forming part of the procession , attended on the ground out of their love for him who was then being laid in the repose and silence of the earth . The service was performed by the Rev- Mr . Hugo , of Bishopsgate ( a personal friend of Douglas Jerrold } , assisted by the Rev . Mr . Cooper , chuplain to the

    cemetery . Among the persons of note who were present were Mr . Serle , Mr . Frank Stone , Mr . George Cruikshank , Mr . Bayle Bernard , Mr . Buckstone , Mr . Westland Marston , Mr . Tom Taylor , Mr . Heraud , Mr . Augustus Egg , Mr . Bradbury , Mr . Evans , Mr . John Leech , Mr . Tenniel , Mr . Peter Cunningham , Mr . G . A . Sala , Mr . James Hannay , Mr . Benjamin Webster , Mr . Augustus Mayhew , Mr . Albert Smith , Mr . Kenny Meadows , Mr . Shirley Brooks , Mr . Robert Bell , and Mr . Edward F . Pigott . The pall-bearers were Mr . Charles Dickens-, Mr . Hepworth Dixon , Mr . Thackeray , Mr . Horace

    Mayhew , Mr . Charles Knight , Mr . Mark Lemon , Mr . Monckton Milnes , M . P ., and Mr . Bradbury ; whilst the gentlemen who occupied the mourning coaclies were Mr . Douglas Jerrold ' s eldest and youngest sons—W . Blanchard Jerrold and Thomas Jerrold—Mr . Henry Mayhew , Mr . Copeland ( brother-in-law of Mr . Jerrold ) , and the three medical men , Dr . Wright , Dr . Quain , and Mr . Cleveland , who attended the deceased in his last illness . They wore round their left arms a crape rosette with ' D . J . ' in the centre . The grave of Douglas Jerrold is immediately opposite to that of his attached friend Lnman Blanchard .

    ' The rest is silence . ' And yet , not so . A man who has enriched the world with the warmth and light of genius such as Jerrold ' s leaves a voice behind him which will continue to be heard when we who mourn have followed him . The reader will be pained to learn that constant and various demands upon Mr . Jerrold ( his heart being of a nature which could shut out no appeal to its generosity ) prevented his making any adequate provision for those who were dependent on him . Under these circumstances , several of his most intimate friends have formed themselves into a committee for organising a series of performances , the proceeds of which are to bo devoted to tho benefit of the family . No words of ours will be needed to help forward that good work , or to exhort ull who love and honour genius to swell the receipts .

    Accidents And Sudden Deaths. A Coal Mine...

    ACCIDENTS AND SUDDEN DEATHS . A coal mine in Staffordshire has been inundated , and one life has been lost in consequence . Some old workings extend under a fish-pond , and these hud been excavated to within about five feet of tho bottom of the water . Suddenly , on tho morning of the 8 th inst ., about three yards square of tho ground gave way , and tho water rushed in with great velocity , and in immense volume . Speedily pouring into tho other workings , where several men and boys were engaged in their duties , it warned them to make a hasty retreat . Two wore placed in especial peril , but escaped ; a third was

    drowned . Brocklehurst ( one of tho men who escaped ) , says tho Staffordshire Advertiser , " found himself surrounded by a largo quantity of water , and was driven by tho stream into an uirroad , whore his leg became entunglod for a minute or two with some of the dibris . Ultimately lie wus forced Into another short level , and finding tho -water increasing ho made a desperate effort to save his life , and ultimately got into tho ouinp or water pit , where fortunately ho was onablod to cling to tho brick and woodwork , when , by calling' out , he waa drawn up , but not before ho had sufltuined a number or outs and brutecs on various parts of tho body , Baddoloy ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 20, 1857, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20061857/page/5/