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(DraatmathnH nf tk $wnri*,
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— "TT ^ Tguccessful progress society made h *! 2 £ ? ffSSoe Sf £ opening Oratorio . We US heard a body of « above eight hundred Srmers , " engaged on a work so little worthy STnains bestowed . It may appear to some little S of sacrUege to speak thus of one of Handel ' s ks * but the wisest men have their feeble laments , and in writing Belshazzar Handel ' s e-el appears to have forsaken him . We have a oncentration of all the mannerisms and most of the 01
nbiectionable peculiarities great composer ° ; h Rparcelv one redeeming point—one ray of that nbiectionable peculiarities roe great composer with scarcely one redeeming point—one ray of that Asp iration , which is wont to shine forth so resplene libretto of Belshazzar is very far inferior to almost any other adopted by Handel . It abounds with frivolous and undignified verbiage . The arias are without sentiment , and the recitatives long , rambling , and discursive . The language of the recitatives appears particularly to have troubled the composer , who shifts about most unnaturally ,
scarcely succeeding in one happy inflexion . The imitative passage on the word " wallowing , " in the air " Behold the monstrous human beast 1 " is the most vulgar thing we ever yet met with . " Down among the dead men tis perfectly classical beside it . The choruses are very inferiorto Handel ' s usually powerful emanations , though they were exceedingly well executed ; indeed , the general performance , so far as the society was concerned , was admirable .
We cannot say as much for all the principals . Miss Birch sang more out of tune than usual ; Mr . Lawler would have done better if he had given the music a more attentive study ; Mr . Lockey , who can sing effectively , was unusually tame and spiritless ; Miss Dolby alone warmed the audience to enthusiasm . Her delivery of Daniel ' s interpretation of the " handwriting on the wall" was the most effective piece of recitative delivered in the hall for many a day . The band of the London Sacred Harmonic
Society requires some additions , and it might be made more steady and generally effective . We were pleased to observe , however , that it has succeeded in that which has not yet been achieved by the other Society : keeping down the instrumentation in accompanying the Solo voices . The Chorus also is unquestionably superior to its compeer . It is more steady in its intonation , and the leads are
taken up with greater point and precision . May they both go on and prosper ! We suppose that there is some merit in dragging forward Belshazzar . Let it be fully accorded ; but let us at the same time hope that " duty " having been satisfied , this uncomfortable Oratorio may be permitted to retain an unobtrusive place on the shelves of the library .
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DR . M A I N Z E It . The musical world has sustained a loss in the death of Dr . Joseph Mainzer , who expired at Manchester on the 18 th instant , after a long and painful illness . Dr . Mainzer was born at Treves in 1805 ; he received his education at the College of Troves , and at the age of twenty-one , he embraced the profession of engineer of the mines , and began his experience in the coalfields of Dutweiler and Sieltzbach . The
fatigues of the life of practical engineer were too severe for his bodily strength , and lie was obliged to relinquish that profession and look out for another career . Whilst slowly recovering his health , his early love of music returned to him , and he determined to devote his life to it . He conceived the idea of popularizing the method of teaching music and adapting it as a mode of civilization to the lower classed . II in system wus quite distinct from the method ° f Wilhehn , which Mr . llulluh has introduced
» o successfully in England . To qualify himself to carry out his cherished idea Dr . Mainzer studied under several of the most eminent masters of that ti me—ffinck , had received the traditions of Sebaa-• nan ltach , and afterwards the Abbe Stadler . At the end of two years' residence in Rome be returned to his native place and followed his vocation as a teacher . Subsequently be nt
we to Paris where he opened a gratuitous COur «« of instruction in vocal music , to the yw kinen of Paris at the Place de l'Kstrapadc . We soon numbered more than two thousand pup ils , untirel y gathered from the working classes . 'I hey a adored him , and be exorcised an absolute " » nuence over these unquiet spirits . He was too «« voted to bin art to care for political influence or twnk of iraing his power to any aim beyond the progreag of his pupilu in singing . Nevcrtheleaa ,
his popularity amongst the " dangerous classes gave umbrage to the French police , who politely invited him to close his school . He had , of course , no alternative but compliance . Some time subsesequently he came over to England ; where he was free to succeed as well as he could—but very cheap or gratuitous instruction is not popular here , people are inclined to suspect what they do not pay forand Mainzer ' s success was not remarkable . In 1844 he was invited to Edinburgh , where he effected a footing for his method of class singing * . He subsequently went to Manchester where he laboured with great success to the period of his illness in November last , and which proved fatal after eleven months of unremitting suffering . Dr . Mainzer was remarkable for the purity and simplicity of his private life , his great disinterestedness and devotion to his art . To make money was not his object , and it is to be feared that he has not even left a competence to his widow . His works , in all styles of composition , are numerous . The best are those of a religious nature—his elementary works are good , but he succeeded best in religious music .
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Hammersmith , November 20 , 1851 . Fellow Chartists , —You . are summoned to the task of electing a new Executive , and before any among you may think of my name , I should like you to understand ray actual position with , respect to the objects of our Association . I will leave it to my colleagues in the Executive , and to vourselves , to judge whether I have failed to act with the majority of that body whenever a corporate action was needed ; or to say whether I have at all taken a separate position . In cases of differing opinion I have maintained my own view strongly until a vote was taken , and have then acted with the whole Executive .
My bad health and busy life have at times prevented my attendance at your board ; when absent I have more than once been so in the service of the People . A report was circulated recently that I had resigned . I deliberately resolved not to resign , precisely because our movement was not proceeding satisfactorily , and I thought that , at such a time , resignation would be desertion . If I were to resign , it would damage the cause . The same evil result would not follow if you were to abstain from electing me . Por that reason I would prefer dismissal to resignation .
I am bound to declare , however , that I am not satisfied with the course taken by the Executive as a whole . The Executive adopted the draft which I laid before it as a preliminary programme for the Convention ; I followed that up with a draft to be adopted by the Convention ; but the Committee preferred the draft which was ultimately adopted . The difference between the two drafts was this : —the one adopted was long , and laid down many propositions not to be carried out forthwith ; mine wus short , proposed a few things to be done , and would have set our Association in active movement .
I desire that our Association should make ita utility felt by the working classes in obtaining for them , as speedily as possible , material improvements in their condition , and especially , for thepoorest among them , right of labour with a fair subsistence in return . I was first known to you as a Communist ; such I remain ; and as such I desire to lose not a day that can be employed in promoting the right of the People to fair subsistence , in return for labour , guaranteed on the land and property of the country . 1 have explained this in my letters on " Social Reform "; but 1 mention the point here , in order that you may know the ground on which 1 shall continue to act if . you reeled me .
If you disapprove of ( hat ground , I would advise you not to reeled me , hut to elect a man who holds moro strictly such view « us you ran Himction . If you do reeled me , 1 shall not question the colleagues whom you may appoint , nor discontinue the endeavour to act in unison with the body of the Executive ; but if you do approve of the ground which 1 have declared , sullicicntly to reeled me , pardon me if I say that it would be desirable for you to select colleagues who could act , on the same ground of union between political and social reformer . s .
In any cant ; , let me thank you for the confidence you have already reposed in me ; and let me u . smiio you that my most uctive exertions will continue to promote , on th « one hand , the political power and material improvement , of the working olutiuea , and on tho other , that goncrouK elevation of policy , without wJiicu no cduflg can obtain any power wo-rth having . Your uurvant , Thounton Hunt .
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5 ov . 22 , 1851 . J Wfft QL tatltV . I '
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TO THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION .
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POLITICAL AND SOCIAL . - ?
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NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION . The Executive Committee of this body held their usual weekly meeting on Wednesday evening last . Present—Messrs . Arnott , Grassby , IJunt , Jones , and Milne . G . « T . Hamey , being in the country , was absent , as were also Messrs . Holyoake , Le Blond , and O'Connor . James Grassby was called to the chair . The correspondence received was read . The Secretary called the attention of the Committee to the meeting of the Metropolitan Chartists , to be Tield in the Literary Institution , Leicester-place , Little Saffron-hill , Bay-street , Clerkenwell , on Sunday afternoon , November 23 . The business to be laid before the said meeting was discussed , and the members present expressed their intention to attend .
John Arnott then read , and on the motion of Messrs . Mime and Hunt , the following was adopted ( Ernest Jones dissenting from one portion thereof ) as the Address of the Executive Committee of the National Charter Association to the Chartists . Brother Democrats , —The time has now arrived when it is our duty to return to you the trust which you have placed in our hands ; and in so doing we consider it necessary to render you a brief account of our stewardship . . , ., found the
On accepting the duties imposed on us , we movement surrounded by difficulties , which we at on « e did our utmost to remove by calling a general Convention ; where differences of opinion might be discussed , and an unity of action effected . The Convention met —men of intelligence and business habits from all parts of the country assembled—great social truths were ably debated ; and the result was the adoption ef a programme , which was admitted ( even by many opponents ) to be of such a temperate and practical character , that its equal had never before emanated from any Chartist Convention . Relative to the many thousand copies of that programme which were printed , and the excitement caused in the daily , weekly , and foreign press , you are already cognizant ; therefore we shall only add , that no document ( the Charter itself excepted ) issued by theChartest body ever created 6 O much public attention a « the programme
xn question . What the Convention agreed to we have , to the best of our ability , endeavoured to carry out . From its resolves we have never swerved . While some of us may hold different opinions relative to others advocating a lesser measure of reform , still we emphatically assert ( though averments to the contrary have been published ) that never , in our collective or official capacity , has the moat distant desire been expressed of committing you to any other course than that for which we were elected . We have kept the organization intact . We have not , nor would , mislead or deceive you . have been
During this year 6000 cards of membership issued—many new localities have been formed—lectures have been delivered—public meetings held—and thousands of addresses , tracts , and circulars have been distributed . To those who ask , " What have you done ?" ( it is a general rule that those who are the last to give are the first to ask this question , ) we candidly reply , that wi ; have done all that you have enabled us to do . In fact , taking into consideration the unusual political apathy—the all-absorbing influence of the " Great National Holiday "—and many other obstacles which we have had to struggle against , we feel a conscious satisfaction that we have not damaged the cause entrusted to our caie ; but , on the contrary , that we have devoted the means at our disposal to place the movement on a healthy , 6 ound , and intellectual basis .
Although the present aspect of Chartism is very far from being what we would desire ( because petty jealousies and personal ambition still throw their withering influences around it ) , yet we feel assured that the mind of the people is rapidly tending towards democracy—that intelligence is progressing—and that prejudice to our principles is fast dying away . We are confident that the elements exist for a great and mighty movement , and that the only requisite for its success is a wise , united , aiul energetic action . You are now called on to nominate and elect nine fit
and proper persona to direct your movement through the ensuing year—a period which probably will be the most eventful in the history of the world . Your Executive may be a mere shadow or nonentity to-day , but ciicumstaiices of such a momentous < haracter may ere long arise that would place it in u highly prominent and responsible position ; therefore , it in of the greatest importance that you elect " good , true , and tried men . " Befoie you proceed to exercise your tsulfrageH we beg of
you to consider seriously what you nre about , und if you are not prepared to support an Executive , not to elect one . But , though we imve thought it our duty thus to advise you , we , however , trust that , you will at once re-Holve to lay aside all personal feeling , and enter into this important work with all the energy you oun commund— - that an Kxeeutive will be elected ( by muny thouaundti ) on whom you may rely , find taut yon will determine to support it , UH you muht be equally aware with ournelv « H that for the organization to be now broken up , would be the most disastrous event that could poanibiy happen to
the cause of democracy . Signed on behalf of the Committee , . 1 . Aknoit , ( Jenernl Hecretury . The Secretary having been desired to ihhuc the following iiwtructicma , the Committee udjourncd to WcdncH ( h « y evening , November ' 20 : — Jnbtkuctionh . —Notieo is hereby given ( in accordance with the Hides ) thnt idl localities are r . qucBtcd to nominate nine persons , to act a « an unpaid ( Secretary cncepted ) Executive Committee , for the enauing ye « r ; ettch person * having baen bonfi tide mtmben of the Association for at leuut six raonthu . The nominations to
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 22, 1851, page 1117, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1910/page/17/
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