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THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE AND…

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THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE AND EX- GOVERNOR EYRE. On the judges taking their seats in the Court of Queen's Bench on Monday morning, the Lord Chief Justice said he was very anxious to make a state- ment, to correct an impression that had gone forth to the profession and the world at large with reference to the case of Ex Governor Eyre. It had been stated that the law as laid down by Mr Justice Blackburn in his charge to the grand jury was the law of the members of the court, whilst it was really his own individual opinion. Mr Justice Blackburn, as senior puisne judge, addressed the grand jury; but each member of the court could have done the same. Had he (the Lord Chief Justice) known that Justice Blackburn would have laid down the law as that judge had. certainly he should have been in his place on the bench. With some points of the law, as laid down by the learned judge he did not concur at all, but, in fact, entirely dissented. Mr Justice Blackburn was merely the mouthpiece, the organ, of the court. The Lord Chief justice, after referring to his construction of martial law as laid down in Reg. v. Brand et Nelson,' said that no doubt if Governor Eyre had acted conscientiously and under the advice of those competent to advise him, and there really was a necessity for stringent measures being adopted, he would not be responsible, criminally, at all events, for the consequences that ensued. He did not make the statement in any vain spirit, or with a wish that he might not be considered inconsistent, when they looked at his charge in the case of Nelson and the charge against Governor Eyre, but with a desire that they would, not only at the present time, but in years to come, when he should be no more, not be under the impression that the law as laid down by Mr Justice Blackburn was the law that he and other members of the court had laid down and if in any future years an insurrection should again take place —which he prayed would not happen it would be serious to suppose that the law, as laid down last Tuesday, was that of the whole of the members of the Court of Queen's Bench, the highest (with the exception of the House of Lords) court of criminal (judicalure in the realm. Mr Justice Blackburn said that when he knew that the law as laid down by him was supposed by the world at large to be the opinion of the whole court, he was anxious to correct a mistake. The charge he made to the grand jury was his own charge, and for it he alone was responsible. He laid down the law most conscientiously, and was prepared to stand by the opinion he had then expressed. He was sorry that it had been supposed to be the opinion of the whole court, and of course, as his opinion, it would not have the weight that the opinion of the whole court would have done. The learned judge concluded by saying that he should not then refer to the law that he had laid down, but merely explain what he had done. He had most laboriously studied the case, and had divided the subject,under different headings, which he had submitted to the other mem- bers of the court; but the charge itself was his own. — THE HANDEL FESTIVAL. The energy and promptitude of Mr Bowleyand his fellow-managers have now nearly completed the arrangements for this great musical gathering. Four hundred land twenty players upon instruments are engaged, the London vocal contingent (2,000) has but one more rehearsal to attend, and the work of pre- paring the 1.200 country singers will soon be'finished. Thus far—and it must be remembered that the Festival is above all a choral event—everything pro- mises well. The band may safely be left to Mr Costa's care, since the notion of that orchestral chief heading any but tried and capable followers is not to be entertained. Mr Costa as a leader of possible stragglers would be Mr Costa 'translated.' As to the metropolitan singers, we have already spoken of their fitness. If we do so once more, it is simply because the rehearsal of Friday last made an effect beyond that of its predecessor. The choruses re- hearsed were again chiefly those set down for the 'Selection' day, particular attention being paid to the novelties-as they must be called—from 'Theo- dora' and Semele.' However one may regiet that novelties enter so little into the programme, it is im- possible not to approve the choice of such as do. Handel himself considered that He saw the lovely youth (Theodora) was far beyond anything in the Messiah and, although his opinion may be respected as little as Milton's estimate of Paradise Regained,' the wonderful grandeur of the chorus goes far to justify it. Not less remarkable is Now, Love, I that everlasting boy,' which has so long lain buried in Semele,' the forgotten opera or serenetta (we know not how to call it) produced I after the manner of an oratorio in 1744. If the production of these choruses do not lead to still further research and revival the result will be disappointing. It must be observed, by the way, that the selection performance bids fair to prove the most interesting of the three. Handel's mastery of purely sacred music will he illustrated by the imessiah" as completely and ex- clusively as his power of description by Israel in Egypt but the Selection programme is arranged to show his genius in all its phases. It ranges from the graceful tenderness of Let no rash intruder to the warlike enthusiasm of See the conquering hero comes,' and pruves with what mastery the composer could touch every chord of human feeling. As re- gards the performance of these less familiar works, no. fear need be entertained. The rehearsal of Friday was, in its way, as wonderful as the things rehearsed. The solo engagements just announced are worthy of the occasion. From recognised exponents of oratorio the managers have selected Mesdames Titiens, Rudersdorff, Sherrington, and Dolbv Messrs Reeves, Cummings, Foli, and Santley. In addition they have secured the services of Mdlle. Christine Nilsson. whose singing at the Birmingham Festival proved her no less great in oratorio than in opera; and of Miss Clara Louise Kellogg, whose debut on the Handel platform will be anticipated with interest. Everyone of these artists, not less than their intending auditors, must rejoice to hear that -Itle preparations for rendering the great tran- sept of the Crystal Palace acoustically perfect have been in active progress for many months." We doubt acoustical perfection in such a place, but not the value of the measures now being taken to secure it. On former occasions much of the sound has wan- dered away into empty galleries and courts, and' hence much of the expected grandeur has been lost to the crowded transept. Now, bower, the transept is to be turned into a concert room enclosed on all sides, so that the 4,000 voices and instuments will have a better chance than ever before.—Pall Mall Ga~etle 2nd June, 1868.

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