This superb instrument, from the manufactory of Mr. Wm. Hill, of London, the builder of the celebrated organs in Christ Church, London, York Minster, the Town Hall, Birmingham, &c., was opened by Mr. Gauntlett, the organist of Christ Church, London, on Friday evening, Dec. 17th. It contains 50 stops, 6 copulas and 4 composition pedals, in three manuals and the pedal board; it is on the German scale from CC to F in alt. on the manuals, four octaves and a half, and it has two octaves and two notes on the pedal board, from CCC to D. The arrangement and names of the stops are as follows.DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGAN.

tensive space, with a freedom from what may be emphatically called noise, seldom attained by common builders in the ordinary trumpet stop or clarion. It is on the swell manual, but may be coupled to the Pedals. The touch is smooth, easy, and equal. On the occasion of the opening, the chapel was liberally thrown open to the public, by tickets distributed to the pew holders, professors and amateurs of music; and the Orchestra was composed of several of the professional singers of the town, with a Chorus of nearly a hundred performers, who gave their gratuitous services.

Mr. Gauntlett is well known to Organists by his excellent arrangements of the Choral fugues of Handel for the German scale of Organ, with the pedals obligato : a compressed style of performance by which the vocal and instrumental parts of those fine Chorusses are brought "effectively within the grasp of the performer." "He trusted in God," from the Messiah, among others so treated by him, is a masterpiece in its effects, and highly creditable to his abilities. Mr. G. proved himself as able a performer in that peculiar style, as he is excellent as an arranger. His two Organ solos at the commencement and conclusion of the first part of the performance of Friday, were the compositions of the immortal Bach, as edited by Mr. G. The first was the celebrated fugue in E flat on the Corale, St. Ann's tune: it consists of three movements, the opening one of which he introduced on the soft Organ; the concluding movement is one of great majesty and beauty, in which the pedals told with fine effect. The second fugue was the celebrated one in G minor: it is of great difficulty, and a stupendous effort of genius and learning, which had the advantage of an instrument and a performer worthy of the music. This is a style of performance little known in Liverpool, although decidedly the highest order of the art: the paucity of Organs with a sufficient number of pedals, and the low state of taste among Organists, as well as congregations, causes music of a lighter, more chromatic, and less scientific character to be practised, and the beauties of this the highest order of music is consequently appreciated by few. We have dwelt longer than we should have done on this subject, as it is in the fugal style that the Organ may be said to be in its proper elements and in which the composer can give loose to his grandest conceptions, his most brilliant ideas, and the most extensive contrapuntal learning: it is in this style, too, that the genius of the instrument is in the ascendant, and in which as a solo instrument it stands alone. As it has been observed before, the trumpets, hautboys, cremonas, &c. &c., or, as they are called, Solo stops, being mere imitations, must be inferior to the ori.. ginals, and, consequently, less worthy of remark; and we trust the example of so eminent a performer will not be lost upon our young Organists, but that all those who have access to instruments of sufficient compass of pedal, will assiduously practice, and remove the reproach from our town of having so few Organists competent to play a pedal fugue, although numbers in London, including some ladies, have acquired that accomplishment.

That this art may become general, the abandonment of the present method of building Organs of one and a half octave, in the pedals, from G to C will be requisite ; and as the fugues

of Bach and Mendelssohn frequently extend to D sharp, it would be desirable to let the range of pedals be one note more than Dr. Raffles's Organ, viz. to extend them to two octaves and three notes.

The vocal performances on this occasion commenced with Attwood's full Anthem, taken from the 92nd Psalm, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." This was very finely given upon the whole, and the crescendo was well managed; but in this, as in some subsequent pieces, Solos as well as Chorusses, there appeared some uncertainty in commencing on the part of the vocalists. This would probably arise from the distance at which the performers were from the Organist, the Conductor, and each other as regarded the several parts, and from the construction of the Chapel it could not be obviated. In singing Recitatives, there is much more difficulty with an Organ accompaniment than that of a violoncello or piano-forte: the accompaniment being usually taken on the swell Organ, its distance and softness makes it difficult to catch the key, and accordingly some awkward commencements occurred on this occasion, requiring, in one instance, a second start. The beautiful recitative, from Mendelssohn's St. Paul, "And he journeyed," with the air, "But the Lord is mindful," were rather ineffectively given by Miss May Swain. The chorus, "How lovely are the messengers," commenced flatly, but was very effective when the full chorus came in. Handel's "Let the bright Seraphim,', was correctly sung by Miss Skinner, but her voice is thin and did not fill the vast space, nor did the Trumpet accompaniment produce a very striking effect.

In reviewing this long performance, one is struck with the small portion selected from that greatest of all composers, Handel. The above Air, one other, and the Hallelujah Chorus, were all that were performed from his works. With Shakspeare, we may exclaim, "What! only one halfpennyworth of bread to all this sack;" for to the true sacred musician, Handel is the staff of musical life; and however popular and beautiful the works of other composers, it is only as they approximate to his grand conceptions that they can be considered to approach the highest range of the art. Almost all Handel's Chorusses are choral fugues, developing the most wonderful contrapuntal skill, and apart from the voices, most effective in Organ performance. We know Mr. Gauntlett to be so inveterate a Handelian, that we conclude he had little to do with the selection, and considering the season, a short selection from the Messiah, the favourite Oratorio of all religious bodies, would have been a great treat.

Dr. Croft's fine Chorus, "We will rejoice in thy salvation," from the 20th Psalm, succceded the Air last mentioned, and was given in excellent style. The fine Duet, "Qual anel 'ante," by Marcello, was the next morceau, sung by Miss Stott and Miss M. Swain: it was commenced somewhat out of tune, but the ladies acquired more confidence as they proceeded, and Miss M. Swain appeared to more advantage than in her former effort, the second voice in a duet being better suited to her peculiar powers. The latter movement was taken so fast as to give an appearance of too much levity to a sacred performance. Dr. Greene's Cathedral Anthem, "God is our hope," appeared to little advantage in the quintett, but the Chorus had a most splendid effect, the vocal masses of sound, at the words, "Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth tremble, though the mountains shake, though the waters rage and swell," with the accompaniment of the Ophi

cleide stop, having a tremendous effect. A Duet and Chorus, by Mr. Gauntlett, "Joy and gladness shall be found therein," reminded us of the compositions of the older masters: the introduction afforded Mr. G. an opportunity of shewing the qualities of some of the Solo stops, among which the piccolo had a brilliant effect. Hummel's Chorus, "Quod in orbe," was one of the best performed of the evening: the light and shade were well managed, and the delicate accompaniments by the flutes and cremona to the softer parts, had a beautiful effect. We wish we could speak as favourably of Haydn's Chorus, "The arm of the Lord," but the pianissimo's were not attended to in this fine Chorus, and, contrary to all established usage, as well as to the marks in the copies both of the original and English editions, the concluding words, "in peace he keepeth Zion, in peace he keepeth thee," were sung and accompanied forte. The quartetto, "Benedictus qui venit," the Aria, Agnus Dei," and the quartetto and Coro, "Dona nobis pacem," from Mozart's Mass No. 1, were the next pieces. Miss Whitnall was heard to advantage in the quartett, and she acquitted herself well in the Air; the Chorus was among the most effective of the evening. We thought the whole a little too slow.

The second part opened with an appropriate Anthem, composed for the occasion by Mr. Gauntlett: the Solo parts were well sung by Miss Whitnall, Mr. H. Dodd and Mr. G. Lunt. Of this composition, we can only say, it is a solid production, rather deficient in variety and with little attempt at contrapuntal effects. The Ophicleide was introduced with powerful effect in the opening of this Anthem and in the concluding Chorus.

Handel's beautiful Air, "Lord remember David," was well sung by Mr. Henry Dodd. A selection from Haydn's Creation was next introduced. The Recitative, "In the beginning God," with the Air, "And the Spirit of God," were given by Mr. Jonathan, the Recitative and Air, "And God saw," and "Now vanish," by Mr. Stott. By one of those accidents so common in new Organs, there was a sticking, or cyphering as it is technically called, in the Ophicleide stop during the performance of Mr. Stott's Air and the succeeding Chorus, which occasioned some merriment from the circumstance of its sounding at regular intervals in the attempts to shut of the stop, and giving an extemporaneous, but not inapt illustration of the words of the Air

"Affrighted fled hell's spirits at the sight;"

and of the Chorus

"Despairing, cursing, rage attends their rapid fall." Mr. G. Lunt was effective in, "And God made the firmament," with the Air, “The raging tempest:" the accompaniments had a fine effect. "The marvellous work" was given to Miss Skinner, although Miss Whitnall's name appears to it in the books of the words. "Rolling in foaming billows," was given by Mr. Jonathan, and "With verdure clad," was a pleasing specimen of Miss Stott's powers. "In splendour bright," was sung by Mr. H. Jones. This beautiful composition requires the greatest powers of conception and execution on the part of the performer: it is, therefore, no wonder if it did not reach our ideas of perfection. The splendid Chorus, "The Heavens are telling," concluded the selection from the Creation. The third Organ fugue announced to succeed "the Creation," was omitted, to our great regret, as was also Handel's Chorus from Belshazzar, which was to have concluded the first part: we could have better dispensed with half a dozen other pieces than two such gesm.

Dr. Crotch's "Lo! star led chiefs," a beautiful quartett, with the "Grand Hallelujah!" from the Messiah, concluded this performance, to the evident gratification of a most numerous and respectable audience, who had occasionally some difficulty in refraining from giving audible expression to their feelings, although the sacredness af the edifice prevented it.

We have heard much criticism on Mr. Gauntlett's style of accompaniment from the musical portion of our townspeople, as well as strictures on the quality of the Organ. These parties, professional gentlemen and others, seem to compare the quality of the Solo stops and Mr. G.'s use of them as accompaniments, with the instruments themselves in the hands of competent performers, as heard at our Festivals and Choral Societies.

We have already observed, that imitations can never be equal to the originals, and in such a comparison Dr. Raffles's Organ must fail. It is by comparing this Organ with other Organs, that we are to judge of its capabilities, and with this proviso, we are of opinion this fine instrument will not suffer by comparison with any other in the neighbourhood.

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AT KNOWSLEY

HALL.

The aviary and museum of natural history at Knowsley Hall, the seat of the Earl of Derby, about eight miles from Liverpool, are great objects of attraction. The principal object of the Earl of Derby, besides a desire to possess living animals for the elucidation of the science of Natural History, has ever been to introduce such animals as are likely to become useful as either food, or to furnish materials for manufacturing purposes. His lordship has been eminently successful as regards the Alpaca or Peruvian sheep, which at the present time occupy so much attention, particularly by those engaged in pastoral pursuits. There is a small flock at - Knowsley, and the wool upon those which his lordship has bred in England is found to be much superior to that imported from South America. There are many species of deer, antelopes, and other animals, which his lordship is attempting to naturalize. The large collection of pigeons and pheasants adds greatly to the beauty of the aviary. The ostrich, emu, rhea, cassowary, and many other beautiful and rare birds, never fail to delight visitors by their grotesque figures and beautiful plumage. There is a numerous collection of carnivorous birds and parrots, both of which engross the visitor's attention. The ponds in the aviary are adorned with a beautiful and valuable collection of rare species of water fowl from most parts of the world; this assemblage of aquatic birds is said to be the finest in Europe. The ornitholopist would ever find a rich treat for observation, which would amply repay a visit from any part of the kingdom. The aviary at Knowsley covers an area of about ten acres. The museum occupies two large rooms in the Hall, which are filled entirely with birds; and it is now in contemplation to put up another room for the reception of other objects of natural history. Some idea may be formed of the extent and value of the collection when it is known the museum contains above 6,700 specimens of birds, and a third of this number unstuffed remains to be added. Admission may be obtained to visit the aviary, museum, and grounds, by applying to the Earl of Derby, who is ever willing to give permission to strangers wishing to see these places either from motives of curiosity or amusement.

INSTITUTIONS.

LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTION, 57, ST. ANNE-STREET.

MR. CHARLES MACKIE'S LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY.

In resuming the task which I have with great good will undertaken for the benefit of the Literary and Scientific Institution, I shall not trouble you with a long preamble. Domiciliated in this quarter of the town, I feel an interest commensurate with the vast moral importance of such an establishment, in a section of Liverpool, too, where vice and immorality reign triumphant under the roof of the Hall of Science.

Many state that this place is ill adapted for this purpose, and not in a central part of the town; I say, that, to my taste, the site of the establishment, under careful and enthusiastic management' is by no means inefficient.

If Socialists from every remote suburb can crawl to the orgies of infidelity without repining at the length of their ignoble pilgrimage, surely the man bent on rational and religious improvement cannot make the locality a reason for withdrawing his presence and his means to support an Institution recommended by humanity. I do not wish to cast any reproach on the management; but, in justice to myself, I must positively state, that had my course of lectures obtained proper publicity, I could have filled every corner of this room.

Paralized in my efforts to do good, I do not yet despair. I proceed in my labours, not like the old woman who sat weeping and alarmed at the foot of a bridge, because she dreamt that a grandchild of her's, then unborn, had fallen over it, but with a spirit of intense determination which no disappointment can subdue-with a courage which no obstacle can cool, and with a confidence in your indulgence which past experience has taught me to hope for.

There is one consideration, above all others, which invigorates my arm in favour of this truly classic Institution. It is poor, but uncontaminated by the indiscreet introduction of vulgar pastimes. We have had no ballad-singers nor bell-ringers to kill our precious hours. On the other hand, I have witnessed in this little room a display of talent on the part of our own members which might have graced any hall, and to such gentlemen it is my ambition to be allied. If we persevere, we must, and shall succeed in bringing our ark through the flood of temporary difficulty and place it on the ararat of glorious independence. We have only to put our hands fairly to the plough, then, like the green livery of nature, mental cultivation will spring up in our neglected soil, and the horn of plenty be restored to our fainting, but not subdued grasp. I trust this evening will commence with a new era in our existence, and that you will, like the genial sunbeam, with rays benign upon our labours, shine and crown with blessed success the dear design.

Astronomy is one of the most interesting, instructive, and ancient of all sciences. Whatever is calculated to afford the most remote glimmering of the power of the Almighty-whatever is instrumental in raising our souls from nature, and all the captivating endearments connected with our transitory existence, "up to Nature's God," can not be supposed to be otherwise than a theme of the most sublime character; yet how few in this land of liberty consider it an object worthy of notice.

Dr. Payson asserts, with much truth, that the reason why the world thinks so little of God is, that we do not look at him; our backs being turned from the Sun, we see our own conceited shadow, and are wholly taken up with ourselves.

In treating of the antiquity of Astronomy, the lecturer proved that the Babylonians had astronomical observations at a very reremote period. When Alexander took Babylon 321 years before

Christ, Calisthenes, the philosopher, who accompanied the conqueror in that expedition, found that the Babylonians had astronomical observations 1903 years before that period, which carries back the account as far as the 115th year after the Flood, 15 years subsequent to the building of Babel, and about 4075 years ago!

The constellation of stars known by the name of the Great Bear must have been the first guide to the mariner. Job, who appears to have given some attention to Astronomy, mentions the Northern stars about 3360 years ago. We regret that our limits will not permit us to follow Mr. Mackie through the many beautiful passages of his introductory lecture; among which he described the invariable course of the siderial system, which has performed their mighty rounds, eclypsing and eclypsed, amidst the flux of many thousand years, that oft has swept the toiling race of men and all their laboured monuments away! Since these orbs first shone over the parents of humanity, the following exceptions were touchingly introduced:-The Sun standing still at the prayer of Joshua-his going backward as a sign to Hezekiah, and the most wonderful of all, his preternatural eclypse at the full Moon, when our Lord and Saviour died upon the Cross.

We must close our present notice of Mr. Mackie's lecture, but we promise ourselves the pleasure of resuming our pen on the same subject. We shall only add, that the lectures are highly worthy the attention of the man of science, as well as the less enlightened individual, being illustrated by an Orrery, and explained with a grace and simplicity which was listened to with the most profound attention.

We were not aware that the Queen had signified her commands to have Mr. Mackie's historical works dedicated to her Majesty until we saw the letter a few days ago,

ROYAL LIVER THEATRE.

The note of preparation is sounded; the clink of hammers, the confusion of joiners, painters, and upholsterers, have all been heard, and on Monday next the Royal Liver Theatre again commences its pleasure-giving career. Many an old face steps before the curtain to receive its wonted tribute of smiles and applause-many a new one comes to solicit the hearty welcome always due at Christmas, and one and all seek from a cheering public a prospering beginning to a happy new year. Mrs. Waylett, with her gleesome voice, that seems to say, "Do you not bid me welcome?" Mrs. Raymond, with a merry laugh and pleasure-beaming eye, that say, and say truly, “You must be glad to see me;" whilst her gifted lord, with a rich Irish brogue and a true Irish smile, cries, "Ah! by my faith, an' I'm glad to see you here ;" and all the company, including several rare old favourites, echo to the cry. Tilbury is there, and calls the universal shout. Higgie is there, and runs and laughs amid the cheering of a hundred hearts made happier by the sound of his familiar voice. Mrs. Gordon appears again to seek their sympathy, and in enacting sorrows past strives to create fresh joys to come. Balls, too, that wild erratic comet, has flitted from his career at Drury, and pauses for a moment in his fleet career to dazzle wondering gazers here and tell them that Christmas feasts will soon be over. (He only stays a fortnight.) There are new comers too, whose fame others have long since stamped, and they should all be welcomed lest they tell sad stories of Liverpool neglect of merit. Once, for all, we wish to Mr. Raymond and his talented company a hearty welcome.

The opening pieces will be Barnaby Rudge, dramatized by Mr. Higgie (now stage-manager) from the popular story of "Boz;" The Dancing Barber; Cousin Peter; and Honest Thieves; which will embrace the whole strength of the company.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

WOMAN.

O Woman! woman! how pourtray thy features, Thou lovely mischief:-Gentlest of God's creatures, And worst of furies; flower of Paradise,

And rank, foul weed, with deadliest poison fraught; Top of all virtue, extract of all vice;

Above all value, yet so cheaply bought; Source of all good, and fountain of all evil; Man's heaven and hell, his angel and his devil. God's favourite, and God's abomination, Our curse and blessing, saviour and damnation ; The rock on which man's shipwreck'd hopes are lost, The haven where his bark in peace reposes, The sea of troubles where his soul is toss'd, The spirit that o'er his life a calm diffuses; Earth's deepest stain, creation's brightest spot, Tell me, what art thou, and what art thou not? It grieves me, ladies, to the heart, to say Things harsh as these, but 'tis a covert way To flatter you, for still the Muses deal

In fiction, so I pray you take the good(Which is all true)-and cast away the ill

As nonsense, slander, by men's malice brew'd; False as the despot's oaths, the devil's wiles, The Statesman's statement, and the courtier's smiles.

ANON.

To H. B.'s Question, "Do the sunbeams extinguish a fire?" we answer, to a certain degree they do; the cause is simply, because the air being rarified by the sun's heat, a sufficiency of it does not reach the fire: on the contrary, when the air is coldest the fire burns brightest, it being then best supplied with oxygen, the constituent of the atmosphere which supports combustion. F. W,

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We are greatly obliged by our generous friend for the loan of Lieut. Col. Read's work on the Law of Storms. It arrived just as we were going to press. It convinces us of the truth of our remarks, and is an evidence of the depths of his philosophy-it is an able and scientific research into the deep order of nature. The bodies of storms are proved to be "light" in the firmament, in contrast to fire and lightning, whilst the elements around and at the sides are black. Thus Storms assume many forms and shapes. It is well worthy the attention of the student and of the scientific world, as well as the seafaring community. Every captain should have the work in question. It will be returned next week to the desired party.

The article on Agriculture, inserted in our last week's number, was partly taken from the Farmers' Magazine of October last. and partly from original communications received from the manager of the Mulmussog estate in Ireland. For the latter we are indebted to the kindness of a zealous friend who gave us the benefit of information acquired by direct correspondence upon the interesting subject.

A detailed notice of the Liverpool Festival Choral Society's performmance of the Oratorio of the Messiah, on Tuesday last, will appear in our next number.

Price of this paper, two shillings per quarter in advance. Liverpool:-Printed at HUGH GAWTHROP'S General Printing Office, Clarence Buildings, 34, North John-street. Published by CHARLES DAVIES 32, North John Street.

No. 14.

THE WORLD AT ONE VIEW,

OR

MANUFACTURES, COMMERCE, AND

AGRICULTURE.

We are commencing a new era in our undertaking to establish a journal of literature and science in our native town. Our thirteenth number, published on christmas day, closed the first quarter of our labours-it conveyed to merchants, underwriters, ship owners, captains, and seamen of Liverpool the subject of a new principle imported from the new world, by professor James Espy, of Philadelphia, founded on the theory of our own countrymen, Leiut. Col. W. Reid, C.B., Sir David Brewster, and Sir John Herchell, to enable mariners to guide themselves from the oft-times fatal storms of the ocean. This most scientific discovery, found to be correct by the examination of upwards of 50storms during the last 70 years, is well worthy of the greatest publicity, and is deserving of the utmost attention from this great emporium of commerce.

Our twelfth number contained an account of the interesting meeting at Mulmossog, in the county Donegal, in August last, on the event of the harvest closing,-the, cultivation of half the quantity of 860 acres of land being reclaimed from a state of nature, that let for 31d. per acre or £12. per annum, when in about twenty months the land was flowing with corn and green crops, valued at £6000 per annum, yielded at the expense of £10 per acre. This is also worthy the consideration of our commercial community, for speculative investment. Our merchants are stimulated by our manufacturers in sending their fabrics to all parts of the world, cultivating and encouraging the production of foreign soils, and neglecting our own lands at home. If we inquire into the origin of our greatest manufacturers, we find them sprung from the farming population, in the vicinity of our great manufacturing towns; they, by their accumulated capital, build large factories, draw from the agricultural districts the industrious population to over stock the foreign market, without sending any portion of the people back again to the soil from whence they came. Manufacturers, as well as other commercial gentlemen, have their duties to perform, in protecting the people, and finding them employment, during the distress in a nation. Independently of their wealth be ing brought forth in such inclement seasons, as the present winter foretells will be necessary-independently of its being brought forth on occasion of such catastrophes as occurred last summer, when 30,000 people were burnt out of their homes and houses, in the city of Smyrna,

1842.

(we hear £10,000 was collected for their relief,) our merchants should propound to themselves employment for their surplus money at home, in growing corn for a starving population. In Ireland we have eight millions of people, who would very soon be our best customers, and in return would give us corn and all other necessaries of life. Truly may this country be called the land of Goshen. Here are the elements of improvement; and consumers, a daily increasing population, on the spot. Our town contains the nucleus of commercial education. The youth in our commercial establishments should be directed to that course of study most likely to yield them the most permanent benefit; the greatest enterprises of our merchants are not the most prosperous, or we should not hear of the great failures of men in foreign trade, both in the metropolis and manufacturing districts, and formerly in our town. Indeed, we have living monuments of many who can testify to one bill for £100,000 floating at one time; and in 1837 kite-flying was seen in our bank parlours to a similar extent. These are not indications of a healthy commerce; and it would be well if the rising merchant would take lessons from the past and profit for the future, by letting his surplus capital be invested in the permanent produce of the soil. This would be true patriotism and sowing seed for future reaping. What can be more philanthropic than laying the foundation for future prosperity and fortune for his rising successors ? numerous instances of merchants losing £20,000, £50,000, and even £100,000, and of banks in our own counties, within a few years, even £1, 2, 3, and 400,000, with two or three houses! Where is all this capital flown to? the question, truly may be asked, and most answers will be to America -America-America.

There are

We read in a valuable publication that £100,000,000 is still owing to Great Britain by that country; and even the canals, banks, and railroads in every state of the union stated to be mortgaged to England for the debts she owes, by over trading and stimulating her and our own merchants in over stocking the American markets. We may look to "The world at one view" in vain for any other source of the evil of our present commercial distress. All the world looks to England for council and advise; therefore, we recommend our mer, cantile friends, our "nation of shopkeepers," our young intelligent readers, and especially our rising generation to patronise our native productions, by all the means in their power, and to look at home-sweet home, for real and solid enjoyment.

As manufactures, commerce, and agriculture must rise or fall together, so they should be studied together; hence the efforts now making in our Mechanics' Institutions, Colle