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~ re than 13 i guineas . For all this , the sale was well SSdefT and- few if any of the lots went below their mE Mr et Arthur Ashpitel , F . S . A ., a gentleman whose classical scholarship is perhaps unsurpassed in his profession cave a lecture on Tuesday evening at tlie Archir Ltural Photographic Society on the Ancient Buildings of Rome , illustrated by more than 100 photographs from the Eternal City , taken by Mr . Maepherson . flie discourse branched into consideration of the temples , aqueducts , the Forum , the Cloaca Maxima . The latter apnears to have been composed of three rings of masonry , some of the stones being five feet long by three feet'thick . The Mausoleum of Hadrian , now the Castle of St . Arigelo , and the ancient statuary were the next and concluding topics of this instructive lecture , which was listened to throughout with the attention it deserved .
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LYCEUM . OS Saturday evening last Mr . Falconer ' s comeAy , Extremes ; or , Men of the Day , was produced at the Lyceum , and , to do that gentleman justice , seems to bavebeeii as well received by a full house as though it had not been performed on ninety previous occasions . The truth is that , in spite of certain defects , the comedy offers tlie public the luxury ( not an every day one ) of at least one character " , over and above the usual number of parts fitted with " characteristics . " The original cast will be well remembered , and 'Mrs . Weston , who , as Dame
Witdbriar , is the prop of the piece , is still included in it . The substitutions are , Miss Portman for Mrs . Mellon , in Lucy Vavasour , Mr . G . Murray for Mr . F . Cbarles in The Hon . A . Adol phtis , and Mr . Falconer is announced to play the part of Frank Jlawthorne , the hero , alternately with Mr . Vandenhoff , for the present . That there is plenty ¦ of " run" yet in Extremes we are aware , and for the fortunes of this favourite theatre we hope it will ^ successfully stop the gap until the lessee shall have diligently crystallised and polished up the new work of his own " which that poor authority , Gossip , tells us is on the stocks . ' ¦ .
OLYMPIC THEATRE . . The Olympic management seem doomed to fail in getting up quite a successful comedietta or farce exclusive of Mr . JKobson . But as that gen tleman cannot perform in every piece every night , the desideratum must still be sought for , and hence the necessity of " writing to Browne . " I ' ve Written to Browne , which the " Browne" of the managerial difficulty has supplied on this occasion is not the best specimen of that author ' s work , being a slow redundant comedietta , written in specially gentish , though inoffensive , English . Tlie hero , Peregrin Dotts ( Mr . Lewis Ball ) , and the heroine , Mrs . Walsingham ( Mrs . Leigh Murray ) , find , after pledging their troth , that they have mistuken the nature of their
sentiments . While Dotts goes abroad , Mrs . Walsingham gives her heart to a Mr . Uetheringtoti , and the former , on his retnrn , falls in love with his fiancee ' s sister Laura . Each is puzzled how to announce the change ; and each believes in the other ' s continued affection . This protracted situation becoming intolerable to Dotts , he sends for his friend , Otway Sheridan Browne ( Mr . George Vining ) , a London dramatist , who enn get any number of characters into and out of any extent of complications . He instanter suggests that Dotts shall extricate himself by pleading ruin . This does but deepen the poor Waiaing / tam ' s sense of honour . She resolves to snerifice herself , but is relieved by the accidental discovery of " Lines to . Laura , " written by tho
inconstant . An explanation ensues ; tho parties change corners , and Browne , as bold ' as if successful , mounted on a drawings-room chair , bestows a blosaing with outspread arms . Mr . Vining and Mrs . Murray between thorn carried tho littlu piece to a not unsuccessful conclusion . Tho . splendid flowing inane ( not head oi hair ) and Byron collar of the former was telling to bogin with . His importance , conceit , and assurance , secondly , wore very good . Tho smart things of tho pioco seemed all to fall to him , and ho did tho best ho could for it . Mr . Ball did his best with Dotts , but that
was little . Thoro was not muoh to bo done , it is true ; hut ,, partly from his superior power , partly because tho public ipdulgo tlioir habit of laughing—causo or no ¦ cause—at their favourites , Mr . Kbbson would havo made tho house scream . Tho public in question laughed a llttlo and gaped a good doal at this now comodietta , Some braved it out , they did not know why ; some because thoir carriages , had not como . Many wont homo iu peace during its porformunoo , and , thoso who saw tho lost of it never thought of applauding , or of inquiring * w tho author .
» T ., JAMBS 8 . nALT-, — - "MONDAY KVBNING OONOEUTS . At the last of theBO entertainments , M . Wleniawski , t'lo Polish , violinist , bo well known in connexion with M . JulUen ' fl last series of concerts , made a favoumblo imprewlon in his old favourite , Viouatomps ' s " Air varl < V ' ana . ln ft trio with Mr , Benedict ( pianoforte ) and M . ^ nB el ( harmonium ) , based on ono of Bachte proludos . Wftwamo aBIbUod was encored in Schubert / a beautiful Avo Maritt : " Miss Pooio in Haydn ' s " Mermald ' a
Song ; " and Madlle . Behrens in "By the sad sea wave . " Miss kemble succeeded but moderately in Schubert ' s two songs , " Hark , the lark , " and" Who is Sylvia . " Mr . Wilbye Cooper sang the tenor solo from ^ The May Queen" very elegantly , and Mr . Santley gave Itobinson ' s ballad , " Tears and Smiles , " with truly artistic feeling . The programme was a long one , but we have not space to record more than , the above ,. the more striking features of the evening ' s entertainment . -. "" - * ¦ '__*_ -. «* ' « -v m •_ £ / 11 ^ J J . K * MK ~^ x . aa w ^* j » hWrf ^ ''
ST . JAMES'S HAtL . THE VOCAL , ASSOCIATION . The first of the series of six " dress concerts " of the Vocal Association was given , tinder Mr . Benedict ' s direction , on Wednesday evening , at which several of the choral pieces given at the " undress concert , " noticed in our paper of the 29 th , were repeated . In Meyerbeer ' s difficult " Lord ' s Prayer , " and Mendelssohn ' s "In the forest , " there was marked improvement . The " Festival Overture " of Mr . Benedict , which is amply scored , and abounds with difficulties , was played triumphantly , and cordially received . The vocal soloists were Misses Stabbach and Palmer , with Messrs . Santley and Wilbye Cooper . The latter gentleman sang for Mr . Sims Reeves , unable to appear . Without stopping to notice briefltouch
their detached morceaux , we must now y upon the Society ' s performance , with their assistance , of Dr . Sterridale Bennett ' s beautifulcantata , " The May Queen . " The classic overture to this work is succeeded by a pastoral chorus of rare and original beauty , " Wake with a sinile , O month of May , " given with all the lungpower of the Society . The plaintive aria ( No . 2 ) , " O meadow , clad in earlv green , " which follows , was purely delivered by Mr . Wilbye Cooper , whose training would seem to have eminently fitted him for such an air . This vocalist ' s simple and unaffected sty le is as good as several points in his favour . His taste is fine , and his slightly veiled voice has ail excellent quality , and can be brought out powerfully when requisite . In the
next piece , ¦ " ¦ O melancholy plight , " there was a decided vacillation on the part of the chorus . The No . 4 solo and chorus , " With a laugh as we go round . " is _ a glorious operatic one , and was alike creditable to Miss Stabbach and the society . The racing time by which the spiritdsb of the composer was interpreted was certainly unfavourable to both . Amateur choruses should not , in . justice , be driven at a gallop ; and this tempo must have made the successful opening of Miss Stabbach ' s air a matter of some difficulty . In the dub , " Can I not find thee a warrant for changing ? " this lady and Mr . Cooper displayed great industry and intelligence ; and in -Mr ,. Santley ' s splendid bass solo , " 'Tis jolly to hunt , '' - the certaintv and crispness of ¦ his ; , notes were
most effective . The " No . 7 trio for soprano , tenor , and bass , " The hawthorn in the glade / ' which opens with a fine bass air , was over-accompanied , but still enjoyable . The " Pageant musicj" lost by speed , again , much of the legitimate effect of the antique measure in which it is written , and -which should bo indicated by the composer ' s andante graziozo . In this respect it must have been tearful to the latter in spite of the general accuracy ' , of the band as to the mere notes . The charming chorus , " Hark , their notes , " although similarly defrauded of much beautiful shading , was , as it could hardly fail to be , much admired , and Miss Stabbach ' s tour deforce brought the cantata to a successful conclusion . While we have pointed' out ono blemish running through which
the performance—^ namely , exaggerated speed , , adopted , perhaps , to conceal defects , only makes them obvious and creates now ones , we must own to having much enjoyed it . That having much we would have more is not unnatural , and we are sure that tho band and chorus of the Vocal Association are fully capable , under their present zealous guide , and with tho aid of such vocalists as thoso above mentioned , of affording all > that their fxiouds or the public have a right to look for from a body , composed mainly of amateurs . Tho hall was crowded with an evening dross company , whoso gratification wad extreme , and by whom tho singers , tho conductor , and Dr . Storndalo Bennett were all on th usias tically appl muled .
I IAN DEI . OHOHAL SOCIETY ITQUWJDLING HOSPITAL . Qn Monday evening a meeting- took place at tho Foundling Hospital to iuaugurato anew musical society , undo ? the name of the Handel Choral Society . Tho time , ' said the President , Mr . John Benjamin Heath , was auspicious , for it was just about a century ago that Handel had doathlossly associated the Hospital with his name , by preparing within ita walls for tho execution of his oratorio tho Messiah , and by presenting it with tho organ on which ho then played . Kulos wore adopted , and it was resolved that apace should bo lent for the meetings by the Institution ; that their Chapel-master , Mr . Willing , should bo musical director ; and that tho first practice meeting should take place on Monday next . Than will , be submitted the names of tho committee , and a schemo will be considered for toeting tho vooal competency of oandidatos for singing membership .
rOI / VTUOUNIO INSTITUTION . A now , very pleasing , and , we are glad to say , a very successful entertainment has been commenced at this popular resort . TMr . Lennox Horno , a very good lecturer and singer , has , for tho bonollt . of tho immense publlo , who , though they favour not stage players' and opera singers , bullets , ftuu ballet duueors , are not
averse to dramatic readings and operatic recitations , resuscitated , or revived , the good old Beggar ' s Opera . He has associated with himself Miss Uoden and Mr . Thorpe Peed ( of whom the latter takes the piano ) , and preluding with a short life of Gay and history of the opera , treats the audience to the series of charming airs it comprises .. The old melodies , which seem to grow more , rather than less , -into favour from their million-and-one massacres , dissections , variations , pot-pourri-afcioiis , pasticcio-factions , and reverie-ments by native and foreign music-masters for scholastic purposes , were received with delight . " Cease your funning , " and half A «*** . unA 4 . ^^ *\ ha «* a a 4- Z ' A ** s * n y ^ ^ w ^ fv ^ i ** *^ r \ ^ l ^ i ' % *^^^ v ^ j ^^ i rv « n **^^
a dozen more of them , were very perfectly , sung by the artists named , and rapturously encored . Some couplets , very well set as a trio for the occasion by Mr . Thorpe Peed ,, concluded the performance , which afforded much gratification to a numerous audience . We may congratulate the indefatigable managers upon having struck a vein-which will , in our opinion , be found as remunerative-as . it is intrinsically rich . The works of the old composers abound with melodies which may never be heard again upon the stage , but will always please if woven into concert-room entertainments by such . judicious hands as those of Mr . Home .
Cheps . —Within the last few days a stage veteran of some mark has shuffled off the coil . Charles Farley , of the Theatre Royal , Covent Garden , who was born in 1771 , and died on the 28 th ult ., was connected with that theatre from his mere infancy until his retirement from the boards in 1834 . His dramatic experience was , of course , large . He was the call-boy of the theatre when the School Jbr Scandal was first produced ; taught Joseph Grimaldi the pantomime business ; witnessed the entrance and exit from the profession of the great Kembles , G . F . Cooke , Young , Kean , and Macready ; saw gas introduced into playhouses , and the patents taken away from them . He assisted at the birth of melodrama in this country by the production of the Tale of Mystery ;
was the arch representative of Grindoff , of the ; renowned Miller and his Men , a drama which still reigns supreme in the miniature stage of juvenile theatricals . It were a long task to frame a list of the heroes , magicians , and diabolical characters he in his time enacted ia such pieces as The Qherry and Fair Star , Th * Magician of the Ebon Wand ; &c . &c , the glories of bygone Easters and Christmases , but it were unjust to bis memory to suppress mention of his ability in connexion with the more regular drama . He was in his day a noted- inventor and arranger of pantomimes and spectacles , and , somewhat contrary to the custom of his profession , was in veryeasy circumstances for many , years previous to . his death . —Mr . Webster has been so fortunate as to secure the
services of Mr . and Mrs . Alfred Wigan for the summer season at the Adelj > bi Theatre . — -We would with pleasure draw attention to Madame Celeste ' s announcement of her approaching benefit at the Lyceum , when will be produced a new drama entitled The Last Hope , from , the graceful pen of Mr . Oxenford , and the old Adelphi drama , The Child of the WrecJi . —The Brussels Independance hears from Turin that the Milan police have prohibited the repetition of Norma at La Scala . The Signori Soncins , Clerici , Ronner , and Caroli had been severely reprimanded by the Director of Police for their conduct there . The first three were forbidden to enter any of the Milanese theatres , and the latter had been ordered to leave for Bergamo forthwith . — -Mr . Sims Keeves has been forbidden to risk a public appearance for another fortnight ? an engagement at Drury Lane is still at his disposal , but the state of his health would
seem to forbid any hopes of his accepting the arduous work of singing in opera . — The , Invisible Prince , by Mr . Planchg , an old Haymarket favourite , was revived on Thursday at tho Adelphi , and , on the same ^ evening , Fra Diavolo was performed at Covpnt Garden . —In . the matter of lowering the diapason in France , t o which we referred last week , tho Daily JVeio * informs us that the Commission has decided upon a fall of a quarter of a tone . This is not enough , Levassour , the eminent basso , avers that he can recollect tho day when tho pitch was a full tono lower than at present . Conductors , composers , and mnsical instrument makers , have , in combination , raised it as much in London , almost within our own memory , and the " concert pitch" is higher in Dublin than oven horo . Fronqli vocaUsts--thoso especially who are a little past their prime—will bo much relieved by a roduction ; but instrumental brilliancy will correspondingly suffer .
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Publication of Official , Indian Documents . —Wo havo beou informed-and tho information haa afforded us muoh satisfaction—that among other boueucittl practices introduced by Lord Stanley into tho system of conducting business at tho India-ofllco , is ono Intended to secure a largor amount of publicity for the acts of tho Indian Government , both at homo and abroad , than paa hitherto boon accorded to them . Orders havo , wo oro told , boon issuod to tho different secretaries , directing thorn to select for publication every year nU tlio moat important papers in their department not of a nature to demand soorooy . Wo may expect , therefore , every year a cblleotion of far more valuable Indian Blue Books than Parliament has over extracted from ru unwlllipg Govornwout . — Overland Mail ,
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Tin . 464 , Febbtjaby 12 , 1859 . ] THE LEADER . 215 —^—^ " ¦ ' —^^^^^^ M ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ B ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1 ¦ : avi ^ ha
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 12, 1859, page 215, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2281/page/23/
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