pecuniary results are not less great and surprising than the other parts of this assemblage. Number of Tickets issued for the various Performances during the Festival MORNING PERFORMANCES. of 1825. Tuesday's Concert 1179-Wednesday's ditto 1894-Thursday's ditto 1353 BALLS. Monday's Ball, 7s...... 734-Friday's (Fancy) Ball, 15s...... 2262 The occasional errors that appear in the conduct and arrangements, though such as to call for notice, and in some instances to deserve not a little censure, must be taken with an allowance for the immense magnitude of the concern, the innumerable points for consideration and adjustment, and the imperfection of all human agency. We know by experience how immeasureably extensive the details of a festival are, and we know also that consummate knowledge, indefatigable zeal, a degree of patience never to be shaken, a tact in dealing with the various tempers, dispositions, and even prejudices and caprices of those who patronize or perform, and above all, a devoted determination to permit no selfish feelings to divert the attention from the main object, are indispensable qualities in those who take upon them the office of management. We mean no offence to the members of the York or any other committee, but the real power is commonly found to reside in a few-a very few of the leaders. The intellect of the greatest strength will obtain the ascendancy, and therefore it is, that the governing minds should be eminently gifted with the rare properties we have enumerated. Others recommend and assist, but the decision as to the measures to be adopted rests with a very very few. Under such a view of the case, which we venture to believe will be found to be just, great praise we say is due to the committee for the energy, unanimity, and skill, with which the whole has been brought to so noble a conclusion. To the assistant conductors much also is due, and to Dr. Camidge in particular, for his performance on the organ-which the best judges allow was masterly. Mr. White appears to have done much in respect to the chorus. Mr. Camidge and Mr. Knapton methodized and exercised a general superintendance and activity. The reputation of Mr. Greatorex needs no eulogy from us. In the minster he was in his proper sphere. Here too he was most ably assisted and supported by Mr. François Cramer. In the evening concerts there were certainly defects which ought not to have appeared— and which can be accounted for only by want of habitude. It might perhaps to some seem scarcely necessary, after the analysis we have given, to say any thing concerning the merits of the several singers-but our criticism has not, to our own eyes, been sufficiently minute to convey even a general judgment of the rank they hold. Miss Stephens seems to have kept her station. Madame Caradori Allan certainly has risen both as a singer of expression and as an English singer. Miss Garcia by no means upheld her rising reputation. She failed entirely and fatally in the morning performances, and nothing that she did in the evening was of a nature to give her precedency, yet she is unquestionably a girl of talent. Miss Wilkinson had to encounter a great prejudice injudiciously raised against her by the demand made for her services, which was at first it appears resisted on the ground of her late introduction into the profession, and which it was thought should have been moderated on the score of her connection by birth with the city of York. The songs she sung, with one or two exceptions, were not such as could set her off to advantage; and upon the whole it must be admitted, she did not come up to the pitch of public expectation, raised as it was by her price. But this must not be suffered to detract from her real merits. She has unquestionably both natural and acquired powers of no ordinary cast. Miss Travis perhaps gained more ground than any other singer, nor did Miss Goodall depart without her share. Miss Farrar had so little to do, and that little so injudiciously chosen that she cannot be said to have had a fair chance to display the endowments which she possesses. Amongst the tenors, Mr. Vaughan, like true gold, shewed his steady lustre and sterling worth. All the songs of passionate expression were given to Mr. Braham-in some instances, it is quite manifest, to the injury of the performance. Mr. Braham certainly has enlarged his reputation, and the means by which he has extended his fame are most important to art. Before such an audience his good taste renewed its rightful dominion. He was less violent, less florid, and more simple. These are concessions which it is highly important to record, because they not only shew the power of adaptation which the artist enjoys, but they demonstrate what is even of greater moment, because it belongs to art and not to person, that he deems it right upon this the greatest occasion of his professional life, to lay aside or overcome, as much as possible, those defects, which are charged against him as the corruption of his manner. This therefore may be considered as one of the triumphs of science. In justice to Mr. Sapio we must state that he was indisposed both in body and in mind. But even under such circumstances in several of his pieces he manifested superior ability. Mr. Wm. Knyvett, it is universally said, sung with more than usual excellence. His air in the Messiah, "He was despised," was more beautifully and chastely pathetic than any other part of the performance. Mr. Terrail also sung sweetly in the concerted pieces. Mr. Bellamy seems to have acquitted himself as heretofore. Mr. Phillips certainly has reached a higher point. Signor De Begnis stands alone in his department. We have thus ventured according to "our vocation," to find faults, and as it may be thought, a good many faults, in a meeting which nevertheless it is equally our duty to declare exhibited many of the noblest traits that ever were witnessed upon similar occasions, and which in not fewer points was never equalled. The spectacle of the Minster was one of surpassing glory. The choral parts were not less magnificent and overwhelming in their effects upon the other senses. We will not say that nothing can transcend the morning performances, because we feel quite certain that the next York festival will surpass, far surpass, the former. Experience will have advanced acquaintance with the necessary preparations, while the very errors on this occasion will sharpen observation, and whet the desire to approximate still more nearly to perfection. To such enterprize nothing seems impossible. For the reasons on which we ground this belief we have only to refer to the pre * "Let me careless" was sung by him and not by Mr. Knyvett, as is erroneously stated in our scheme, we have observed, since the sheet was printed. VOL. VII. NO. XXVIII.-DEC. 1825. 2 L ceding pages-therein may be read that the county of York possesses all the elements of the power as well as of the will to produce the most complete series of musical performances that England or perhaps the world can attain, and our most earnest hope is, that those men who have already done so much for the honour of the county and of art, may be alive three years hence to carry their efforts, prodigious as they have been, still nearer to perfection. DERBY. This meeting appears to be fixedly triennial. It commenced on the fourth of October, by divine service at All-Saints' Church, whither the Corporation walked in procession. The Cathedral service was performed, and the Bishop of Lichfield preached. There were subsequently three morning and three evening performances, and a ball concluded the festival on the Friday evening. The selections exhibited nothing very novel or striking. By this we do not mean to say they were below the ordinary level; on the contrary, they were made up of the most solid materials— but it almost necessarily follows, that the best are the most hacknied. The principal singers were Madame Caradori Allan Miss Travis Miss Wilkinson Mr. Vaughan Mr. Phillips, and Signor De Begnis. Messrs. François Cramer and Mori led, Messrs. Nicholson, Harper, Willman, Mackintosh, Dragonetti, and Lindley, were amongst the principal instrumentalists. The chorus was certainly defective, in comparison with that of other places, in precision, power, and effect. The voices were not well balanced, either in numbers or strength, and the same remark applies to the division of the instrumental performers. There were only eight violoncelli and double bases to thirty-four violins. The grandeur and effect were thus in great measure injured. One of the most perfect specimens of fine taste and legitimate sacred English singing was heard in Dr. Green's anthem, “O Lord give ear unto my prayer," by Messrs. Vaughan and Knyvett, at the church service. The exquisite finish, feeling, and expression, which pervaded the duet, was almost without compare, and was certainly surpassed by no other piece during the meeting. On the second morning, Handel's Coronation Anthem, a selection from Mozart, Haydn, Cimarosa, Handel, Beethoven, and Crotch, with the oratorio of Jeptha compressed into one part, were given. On the third morning, The Messiah; and on the fourth, a selection from Marcello, Guglielmi, Pergolesi, Mozart, Croft, Boyce, and from the oratorios of the Creation, Deborah, Athalia, Samson, and Solomon, were performed. The leading features were "Come unto him all ye that are heavy laden," by Miss Stephens, "Comfort ye" and "Thy rebuke," by Mr. Vaughan, and which, with Mr. Knyvett's "He was despised," left all the other performances throughout the festival at immeasurable distance. "But thou didst not leave his soul in hell," by Miss Travis, who sung it with great feeling and finish; and Mr. Phillips' "The people that walked in darkness" and "Tears such as tender fathers shed." "What tho' I trace," by Miss Travis; "Rejoice greatly," by Mad. Caradori; and "With verdure clad" and "He shalt feed his flock," by Miss Wilkinson. In the evening performances, "Fiero incontro" by Miss Stephens and Miss Wilkinson; “Lo here the gentle lark,” by the former lady, accompanied by Mr. Nicholson with all his richness of tone and perfect execution; "When forced from dear Hebe," by Mr. Phillips; "Vengo a voi," Miss Wilkinson; "Should he upbraid," Mad. Caradori; Mr. Vaughan's "Odi gran ombra,” beautifully accompanied by Mr. Mackintosh; Miss Stephens' "Ah compir," by Mr. F. Cramer; and Miss Travis' "From glaring show"-imparted the most general delight. Nor were the concertos and accompaniments of Cramer, Harper, Lindley, Mori, Mackintosh, Nicholson, and Willman, less appreciated or beautifully executed. We never heard Harper accompany "Let the bright seraphim" so perfectly as on this occasion ;-in fact he bore away the palm even from Miss Stephens. The church was fitted up, at the opposite end to the orchestra, with a gallery for the reception of the patrons and their friends— the admission to this being fifteen shillings-to the body of the |