MR. PAIGE'S FIRST SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT. are not made of leather, and cannot last for ever; Paige sings this, she almost reconciles us to English music. We can give her no greater praise than this admission. The second concert will take place on the 3d March, and is to consist exclusively of classical sacred music, and from what we can learn it will surpass in interest even the first. We shall have, for the first time in Toronto, some of the grand chorusses from the Oratorio of St. Paul, with their grand orchestral accompaniments. Miss Paige will sing "I know that my Redeemer liveth," and that alone will be something, we should say, worth hearing. We intended to have said a few words about the difficulty of concertgiving, but are without space, we will only then observe, en passant, that the getting up an affair in the successful and correct style of the last concert, is not so easy as some may imagine; when, therefore, it is done, and well done for us, we ought to show our appreciation of the trouble taken. We were glad, then, to see the brilliant, fashionable, and overflowing house that had asiembled to stamp Mr. Paiges merits with approval. OUR anticipations in relation to this Concert were fully realized, and seldom has a more flattering reception greeted a corps operatique. The performances were a little late in commencing, but the audience could easily perceive that Mr. Paige was unremitting in his exertions not to keep them longer than possible-so they bore the short delay with good humored philosophy. In so long a programme it is impossible to touch upon everything, and we really find it very difficult to particularize. However, we will begin by remarking that the opening overture was very good, and seemed to give general satisfaction. With the opening part of the opera from "Bella Venezia" to "Vieni! la danza invitaci," we were not satisfied; we did not think that Mr. Strathey seemed at home in his duties, and although he is most undoubtedly a thorough musician, we are afraid that he rather threw the first chorus into confusion from his want of experience as an accompanyist and director. The Brindisi, however, made amends, and we can with justice assure the singers that we have heard it at the Broadway opera house, with Bishop as a prima donna, and Bochsa as conductor, when it was neither as correctly nor as spiritedly executed. Any little defects were, however, speedily forgotten when the first notes of Lucrezia's opening cavatina, "Com'è bello, quale incanto," were heard. We have seldom known such wonderful improvement as we noticed in Miss Paige's voice, both in power and clearness of vocalisation. Her singing of this song was truly artistic; it was given with grace, tenderness, and that truthfuluess of expression which characterizes this young lady's singing. We must not omit the finale, "Maffeo, Since our last notice this Society has changed Orsini, signora, son io," which told with wonderful conductors, and Mr. Paige has been appointed effect. Mr. Paige, as Gennaro, was very effective conductor in place of Mr. Clarke. We are quite in the duet with Lucrezia, and in the beautiful in the dark as to the why and wherefore the change "Di pescatore ignobile." Mr. Hecht was evidently has been made. There is a rumor that the first suffering from a cold, which of course prevented open meeting will be on the 9th of March, but we his doing himself justice; his part was neverthe-are not certain (in fact, we do not see how it can theless well sung. We do not remember ever to have heard Mr. Humphrey's voice to such advantage as on this occasion; he was evidently on his mettle, and right well did he acquit himself. His singing was expressive, and really very fine. The second part of the progrtmme was, with one exception, English. The excoption, however, was one of the gems of the evening-a terzetto sung by Mr. Paige, Miss Paige, and Mr. Humphreys -and was given with such effect as to cause an enthusiastic burst of applause, and a vociferous demand for an encore. While we think of it, we would remind the Toronto audiences that lungs TORONTO VOCAL SOCIETY. be done), that the necessary amount of practice can be got through by that time, as pupils and teacher must still be comparative strangers to each other. We must make one suggestion to the Society. We have been repeatedly asked where tickets for the open meetings could be pur chased, and dissatisfaction is expressed at the difficulty in getting one. We propose to the Society to issue for sale at least two hundred tickets at a quarter dollar, this plan would give general satisfaction, and would add something to the funds, so as to enable the Society to make their bi-ennial concerts more attractive. BOOKS FOR THE MONTH, AT T. MACLEAR'S, 45, YONGE STREET. HARPER & BROTHERS have issued the third volume of the Restitution of Monarchy in France, by Lamartine. The work embraces the history of French affairs from 1815 till 1821, a stirring period in France, during the exile of its idolized tyrant. The work is written in a pleasing, racy style, smooth and attractive. Lamartine as a writer, though he writes with railroad rapidity, is a most engaging author-his long apprenticeship as an editor has given him a commanding knowledge of facts and figures, and his position and occupation as a journalist during the period embraced in the three volumes before us, rendered him eminently fit for becoming the most reliable historian in that country of such a period. BLANCHARD & LEA, of Philadelphia, have issued, in three small 8vo volumes, the entire course of Niebuhr's Lectures, translated by Dr. Schmitz, and universally lauded in Great Britain. The edition before us is in all respects equal to the British edition. (See Editor's Shanty of August.) The Hand Book of Natural Philosophy, by Dionysius Lardner, D. C. L., &c., has just appeared from the same press. The book may be regarded as intrinsically excellent. Dr. Lardner's European fame as a man of science will secure for the work a place among standard works on the sciences of the nineteenth century. But the book has another strong recommendation, it is the appropriate and required sequel of his popular and splendid Treatise on Natural Philosophy and Mechanics. And it has still higher commendations; it treats on the present state of the abstract sciences, as applied to practical purposes. It is divided into books and chapters; Book I. Heat-13 chapters. Book II. Magnetism-4 chapters. Book III. Electricity-13 chapters. Book IV. Voltaic Electricity-15 chapters. Cornelius Nepos, Schmitz & Zumpt's edition. Among the recent issues by the above firm we have one of the most modest and portable editions of this popular classical work extant. It is one of a series of school books now being issued by Blanchard and Lea. For the use of schools and academies, we regard this edition of the classics a most valuable and suitable one. The text is from the most approved Leipsic edi tions. History of Classical Literature, by Rev. R. W. Brown, M. A., recently issued by Blanchard & Lea, a work needed as a hand book for a student, or text book for a professor in that department of study, we have seen none superior, and seldom if ever, any equal to this work. Outlines of English Literature, by Thomas B. Shaw. This is a neat, compendious, little work. It furnishes an epitome of the material which Chambers and others have elaborated into large volumes, and is not like their more ponderous books, likely to produce bibliophobia. LIPPINCOTT GRAMBO & Co. Philadelphia, are issuing a splendid edition, uniform, of The Novels of Sir Walter Scott, which they purpose completing in some nine or ten volumes. The edition before us seems to be one of the best American editions, for the price at which it sells, that has ever been given to the public, and the public would seem to be of our opinion, inasmuch as this edition appears to command a more rapid and extensive sale than any of its predecessors that have been introduced into the Canadian market. Sir Walter has appeared in many a form and many a dress on this continent, and we intend to introduce him in Lippincott and Grambo's habit into our emporium next month. their most recent issues Lippincott, Grambo, and Ancient Christianity Exemplified.--Among Co. have given to the world a book which has placed the Theology of the Nineteenth Century under a great debt of gratitude to Dr. Coleman, of Philadelphia. This really valuable volume is one which must have cost its learned author an immense research. It fills a great blank in the Theological literature of our age-and fills it well. We have seen it highly spoken of by all the leading journals of Canada and the States. The Bible in the Family, or Hints on Domestic Happiness, by the Rev. Dr. Boardman, of Philamany admirable hints to the parent and the Sabdelphia. In ten lectures Dr. Boardman gives bath-school teacher in this neat and well-written volume. J. W. MOORE, Philadelphia, has just published (1853) a magnificent edition of Hebrew Scriptures, stereotyped by L. Johnson, Esq. This is the most recent improvement of the London and Leipsic new editions,—is got up in excellent style, and will, no doubt, become the leading and most current edition in the United States and Canada. The Koran or Alcoran of Mahommed.-Moore has also published, during the present year, a large and fine edition of the Bible of Mahommed. Many editions of this singular work are extant, and it must be a current book. It is the only medium by which we can reach a knowledge of the Faith of the False Prophet. New editions are therefore, appearing constantly-as men grow wiser they want to know what was, and is, and will be. Hence the rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire is become a world's talk, on which account Mohammed, and Bible, and his followers are all prated about. Some two or three years ago, Philips, Lawson, and Co., published in a most valuable 8vo. volume, the Life of Mohammed, by the Rev. Jones Mer. rick, Missionary to the Persians, and member of the American Oriental Society, a book that gave us much satisfaction. This work and the Koran ought to be read together, as a comparison of the two shows plainly how the impostures of the latter gradually sprung up in the mind of the False Prophet. Knapp's Theology.-To Moore we are indebted for a new edition (1853) of the Theological writings of this great German author. In 1836 these works were translated by one of the learned Professors of Andover, and so eagerly were the lectures read, and so popular has the work become in that department of learning to which it belongs, that few libraries and private individuals could be found without it. In January of the present year, Mr. Moore has opportunely furnished the reading public with the course of Evangelical lectures which for many years were read by the venerable Knapp in the University of Halle-we would like to invite old Knapp into our Shanty but our door perfectly devoured in the old country, while some is too narrow to admit polemics of them can scarcely be found in our public G. P. PUTNAM AND Co.-This house has under-libraries in Canada. taken a Monthly Miscellany, two numbers of which Illustrated Magazine of Art, No. 1, Vol. 1.have been issued, and, having had an opportunity The first number of this, a new undertaking, has of glancing at them, we think we may with all been sent as a specimen. The project seems to safety commend this new magazine-we hail every us by no means novel, but certainly most likely effort with delight, that the Press undertakes for to be very popular and very successful. Our pushing forward the cause of Literature. "Put-readers may wonder what the new Magazine bearnam's Monthly," for such is the name given to ing the above title can be. Our reply is, there the new magazine before us, differs from most of was a want in the Magazine department. We are its compeers, and we might add, competitors, in fond of pictures, we are children in this respect; these respects:-1. Its articles are original-not and the readers of the great London Times wanted derived, not copied.-2. Its articles, with some a newspaper with pictures in it-hence the Illus exceptions, contain good wholesome food, and par- trated London News, the most popular paper in take of the solid rather than the light and phantas- the empire. Now the new Magazine before us magorial.--3. It proposes to advocate the Scientific is intended to fill the place in the Magazine deand Metaphysical studies of the country. To this new partment that is filled by the Illustrated News in competitor in the great course of modern Letters the newspaper department of our popular and we say macte virtute--we hail thy birth as we current literature. The publishers are Alexander would that of another child born into our large Montgomery, 17 Spruce Street, New York; Redfamily, not for a moment dreaming that thy food ding & Co., Boston; and J. W. Moon, Philor clothing will either impoverish us, or deprive adelphia. We predict and wish the new Magathy numerous brothers and sisters of one particle zine every success. of their present luxuries. Tennent's (Sir James Emerson)" Ceylon." All North of Ireland men know Sir James. His Letters from the Egean, and latterly his work on "Ceylon," prepared while he was Governor of that island, have given him a place among the literati of Europe; and though some of the British reviewers who were opposed to him and the Government from which he received the appointment bore heavy on his book, still, by the best judges this work has received the highest praise. We may ere long admit it into our Shanty. APPLETON & Co., 200 Broadway, New York. PUTNAM & Co.-Historical Department.-Bun--We can only notice a few of Appleton's most gener's History of the Council of Trent-recently recent issues which have come to hand. The translated from the French, and published by Appletons are at present issuing a uniform edition Putnam-is an authority on the Romish controof the great British bards-Byron, Burns, Milton, versy. It bears a high character in Europe, and Cowper, Moore, Campbell, Beattie, Wordsworth, not less so among the students of Ecclesio-histor- Scott (Sir Walter), &c., with translations of Tasso ical and Polemical Divinity in the United States. and other continental poets, which, when comRuffner-the Father of the Desert. The origin given to the reading public. One or two of the plete, will be one of the best poetic libraries ever and progress of ascetic observation in the Eastern latest of this series must have an early place in Churches, the history of nunneries, external and our Shanty; indeed, we have been so busy of late, internal. Must be a most valuable work. and so occupied by the welcome intrusion of strangers, that we had almost forgotten our old friends, but we plead not guilty of any intentional disrespect towards them, and to prove this we hold out our hand with hearty welcome for the first of those good old gentlemen who knocks at our door. Ha! come in! Tasso, thrice welcome! You are the good old gent, who addressed an ode to your cat begging the light of her eyes by which to write it-being so poor as not to be able to provide thyself with a candle; but you are not alone here- your old daddy, Homer, bad the Encyclopædia Britannica. The seventh edi- fame, when dead, of seven cities striving for the tion, completed in 1842, being now out of print, honor of having given him birth, while he had a new edition, with improvements, additions, and the honor, when alive, of begging his bread in the revisions, is in course of preparation, to be pub- streets of those very cities!-who is that with lished quarterly or in semi-annual volumes. Sub- you? pray walk in, old gentleman! Oh! is it scriptions to be received by Putnam & Co. This possible! Tom Moore! Glad to see you in comoffers a most suitable opportunity for any private pany with Tasso, and in that nice Appletonian gentleman who wishes to possess a copy of this garb. Shades of Moore! speak, and say would you great national work. Mr. Maclear will undertake not rather appear attired in the chaste simplicity an agency for this great work, provided he is en- of Appleton's drapery than in the Russellian couraged by such parties as wish to introduce it dress, flaunting about on the tables of a Cabinet into public or private libraries. The work is too Ministry. Good night, old friends; pray tell Cow. well known to require anything more than a mere per, Milton, and all the rest of your fraternity, mention made of the publication of each volume that we intend to have a jubilee in the Shanty, to as it is issued. which all the poets in Appleton's Series are to be Mathematical.-We have noticed some of Put-invited. Cards will be issued before April, 1853. nam's mathematical works, which we are sorry to see so very limited in their circulation in this country. It is deplorable that a taste for the higher branches of pure science is so very rare. Such works as those of Chauvenet, Comte, Smith, Hahn, Jillet, Loomis, Gregory, &c., would be! Bon soir. |