was a very good one. The concert was altogether highly creditable to both teachers and pupils, and we wish the society continued prosperity. Mrs. Stapleton, the directress of the society, is an excellent teacher, and we have no doubt that her efforts will be largely crowned with the success she so well deserves. Amateurs' performances must not be reviewed with severity; but we will say that most of the specimens of their talent submitted by the Private Choral Society stood in as little need of such indulgence as any we ever heard, while the high character of the music in the programme did great credit to their choice. Mendelssohn's lovely two-part song, "O wert thou in the cauld blast," was finely given by Mrs. Stapleton and Mrs. Collis. Mrs. Collis also sang Kücken's "Jewish Maiden's Song" with great taste. Miss Barnes and Mr. Howard likewise deserve honourable mention for their rendering of the music committed to them. In conclusion, we can conscientiously advise those of our friends who wish to acquire the delightful art of choral singing to join the Private Choral Society; it comes within the reach of all classes, for the excellence of Mrs. Stapleton's instructions is equalled by the very moderate remuneration she asks for them. BURFORD'S PANORAMA OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. Of the appropriateness of this revival there can be no second opinion. While the town seems still to echo the tramp of the soldiers' feet, and the murmur of the crowds that were gathered in our streets on the 18th ultimo, the deeds of the Great Duke are revived in all memories, and especially that battle which gave Europe its long peace, is thought of, and talked about, and "fought over again" at every English fireside. We cannot take upon ourselves to say how many years it is since the Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo was first exhibited, but we have little doubt it was sufficiently long ago for a new set of visitors to have arisen, and doubtless many even of the public who remember it will like to renew their impressions. Mr. Burford's panoramas are too well known to need praise from us, but we may observe that the "Waterloo" was originally painted from drawings taken immediately after the battle; and though, for the sake of effect, incidents which did not occur simultaneously are here represented together, the circular form of the exhibition permits the beholder to pass as it were from one event to the other, and thus realize the scenes in their historical order. It is well known that the Great Commander, whom England is now mourning, himself praised this representation of his last victory, and was a frequent visitor to it when first exhibited. We must not forget to mention that this Panorama is only to be open for another six or seven weeks, at the expiration of which time it will undergo the usual fate of works of art of this description, and be painted out. MUSIC. EL ADIOS DEL MORO A GRANADA. The Words and Music by the Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley. (Dix and Co., 284, Regent-street.) LOS ENCANTOS DE GRANADA. The Poetry by the Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley; the Music by Francisco Rodriguez Murciano. (Boosey and Co., Holles-street.) In these songs Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley presents a claim to notice beyond those her ladyship has already established, as a poetess naturally gifted, and as a prose writer of sterling vigour and power. To write elegantly in a foreign language is no mean accomplishment, but it is one Lady Emmeline has mastered. She uses the rich soft Castilian with ease and grace, and, as her enthusiasm for the " enchantments" of Granada is fresh and sincere, and her perception of the romance of Moorish history most natural and sympathetic, we need not wonder at the production of these two characteristic songs. The music in both instances is appropriate and national; that of "El Adios" seems to us, however, of the Rossini school; remembering how well the Italian Rossini imagines Spanish character. "Los Encantos" has a melody that grows upon the ear, but appears less marked at first. In both instances the accompaniments are appropriate and musicianlike. THE EARLY CLOSING The fact that the best and wisest of human beings require to be frequently reminded of their duties, must be our excuse for once more introducing the subject of the Early Closing Movement on our readers. Great strides have been made towards a better order of things since first our attention was drawn to the cruel and immoral condition which prevailed in London and our chief provincial towns; but still much remains to be done. Nine-tenths of the evils in the world arise from want of thought, and there are thousands of kind-hearted people who only need to reflect on the hardship and injustice of MOVEMENT. chaining young people to the counter for twelve or fourteen hours a day-and thus depriving them of the means not only of healthful relaxation of mind and body, but of moral and religious improvement-to feel at once that the great evil ought to be promptly remedied. The Secretary of the Early Closing Association has published an address in reference to the subject as connected with Emigration; showing how fast the most respectable class of shopmen are being tempted out of the country. Emigration on a vast scale is so great a boon to our thicklypeopled land, that we can hardly share Mr. Lil wall's dread that it is likely to be carried too far; nevertheless, we extract a paragraph or two from his address, which may speak for themselves: "The practical question suggested by these considerations for solution, ere it be too late, is, how is this fever,' as it is designated, to be assuaged? It is clear that nothing which could be done would wholly subdue it, were such even desirable. But the extent to which it will for the future rage will much depend upon circumstances. As long as fourteen and fifteen hours of drudgery are imposed on the underpaid grocer's assistant, and the still worse remunerated assistant chemist; as long as the assistant draper is (which is still the case in innumerable instances) denied the opportunity for improvement and needful recreation enjoyed by the mechanic and the artisan; as long, in fact, as young men of any branch of trade are continued the serfs of an oppressive, grinding system-of a system which exacts from them far more labour daily than is imposed on the felons at the hulks, or than the very beasts of burden are required to undergo; as long as this cruel system is permitted to remain thus rampant, so long, rest assured, young men will be found wresting themselves from its clutches, and in shoals leaving their native shores. On the other hand, were the period of employment properly reduced (say to twelve hours per diem, including the time occupied by meals), one of the great, indeed the great grievance now endured by shop assistants, would be removed, and, as a natural consequence, content amongst them would, to a large extent, be diffused. "I would suggest, therefore, with much deference, that the large and highly influential section of employers throughout the length and breadth of the land who are favourable to early closing, should forthwith meet in their respective districts, so as to effectuate this much to be desired reform; and I would venture to express my earnest hope, that they will not allow their efforts to be frustrated by any want of compliance with which they might be met by that small minority of unenviable men to whose previous selfish, unchristian opposition, the awful sacrifice of life, and other evils entailed by the latehour system, are mainly to be attributed, and for which they will hereafter be required to render an account. Depend upon it, these persons will soon be reduced to the alternative of capitulating, or of transacting the whole of the business themselves; and I feel sure that in the meantime the rightthinking part of the public will see that those shopkeepers who close early are more than protected from the temporary pecuniary loss which their conscientious conduct might otherwise entail upon them." forget which) that is pretty and sweet, the Parisians and the visitors to Paris fly from the modiste to the Magazin de Nouveautés, to the Lingères, the Fleuristes, and numerous other houses, where they sip with quite as much pleasure as the little butterfly, though with less franchise; for, generally speaking, those who appear to enter into these occupations with the most energy would fain persuade you it is far from a pleasurable employment, that of selecting articles of toilette; they have no interest in the matter; they do not care in the least for dress, but they must appear like other people; they cannot wear last year's things unless they wish to be pointed at. Mothers, who are just as anxious to show themselves as the daughters are, or more so very often, go out into society solely because they must chaperone their daughters; the anxiety they show about their own toilettes, and the expense they go to for them, so far from proceeding from vanity or coquetry, is wholly with a view to the establishment of their children-devoted creatures! And how little is your devotion appreciated even by your children themselves, who, though on other occasions so thoughtful, so affectionate, and so prevenant, seem on this point wonderfully indifferent to your sufferings, and really if one did not hear from your own lips of the sacrifices you make in these matters, superficial observers might believe that you enjoyed yourselves not a little. The seasons, which are even more capricious than the mode, have fairly puzzled every one this year : in Autumn we had resigned ourselves to accept weather somewhat colder than July, but yet a good | many degrees milder than November; to show how fallacious were our expectations, Winter paid us a visit in Autumn-a flying visit if you will, but still for a while we drew round blazing fires, and took to our muffs with feelings of lively satisfaction. "Winter has set in early," said we, and arranged our batteries of defence accordingly, when, no sooner were they completed than, either thawed by the warmth of our reception, or just to show how capricious he could be, Winter fled, and in his place came mild sunshiny weather, varied by mild rainy weather, but always many degrees warmer than we had any reason to expect, particularly after the alarm we had received in the beginning of the season. Instead of fires we placed flower-pots in our chimneys, and opened the windows, that they and we might enjoy the balmy air: parasols drove muffs back to their camphorated boxes, and the warm cloaks, so highly prized a few weeks ago, were found too heavy, too hot, impossible to wear in walking, &c., &c., and laid aside; but in the natural course of things this could not last; even the last two or three days have been much colder, and after complaining, first of the unseasonable cold, then of the unseasonable warmth-which, besides being unhealthy, rendered our winter clothing use- As this winter is to be most brilliant in fêtes and less we now complain again of the cold, but in balls, the toilettes must be proportionally brilliant; more measured tones; and, like the butterfly which besides, are we not to have a cour, and probably an Haynes Bayley describes as flitting for ever from Imperatrice; already is there a gown called l'Imflower to flower, and sipping each cup (or bud, Iperatrice; the reason given for its bearing this name is that the form was one which the Empress | Josephine was particularly fond of, and that it displayed to advantage her graceful figure; however that may be, Monsieurs Bucquet and Charpentier have named it thus; and it was the most admired at the great representation at the Opera Comique the other evening, where the toilettes were more brilliant and beautiful than they have been this long time the material was a rich lampas, with splen-placed by choux composed of ribbon and velvet; did bouquets of flowers, half velvet, half velours épinglé; the foliage in satin: the corsage was made with draperies, coming from the arm-holes instead of from the epaulette, which was platé, and gracefully rounded: the front pieces were cut on the bias without plaits or nerveures, and with a seam in the middle this form makes the waist appear smaller. A gold galon formed the contour of the chest and shoulders; the sleeves were very short and bouffantes, each little bouillonné was marked by a gold galon; down the middle of the front of the skirt was also a gold galon, small at the top, and growing larger by degrees down to the bottom; but this is not all; on this skirt was posé un habit de cour! A second petticoat, forming a train, was fastened behind over the first skirt, and which in front was rounded and evasé. The coiffure for the robe l'Imperatrice was the work of Chagot Merin, and was worthy of the robe and of the artiste. It consisted of a diadem of Narcissus, almost as transparent and as nacré as in nature these flowers came forth from a foliage of green shot with gold, and with golden spangles; perles of the shade of the scarabé, and mounted on golden stalks twined round the flowers and foliage; the bouquet of the corsage was placed on the left shoulder, and four eagles in diamonds were ranged in the draperies. Feathers are very much worn; almost all of them are sprinkled with gold or silver; some are mounted on fonds of blonde, others are supported with ribbons of blue and silver, purple and gold, or pink and silver. The short round waists, which when not exaggerated are, to some figures, pretty and becoming, are quite established; the couturières are attempting a revolution in the sleeves, and are trying to bring back the manches à bouffantes et à crevés, of the time of the Empire; they certainly are more in character with the short waists and belts, and are beginnnig to be adopted. THE But the corsages à basques and the gilets are not by any means abandoned. I saw the other day a dress which was so pretty and so distingué that I must describe it to you; it was violet watered silk crossed over the bosom en cœur, and closed at the skirt and the side with little pattes of black velvet, each fastened by a grelot of passementerie and velvet; sometimes these velvet pattes are reanother pretty dress was a gown of black taffeta with three flounces, ornamented at the bottom with large rounded indentations closed by a small ruche of black satin; between each of these undulations there is placed a chou of black velvet; the corsage is plat and high, opened before and trimmed with undulations of ribbon and small choux en revers, from the shoulders downwards; the sleeves have only two large undulations, one under, and one above the arm, with small choux. In velvet cloaks there are pelisses with or without capuchons, ornamented with fur or trimmed with three deep rows of guipure dentellée. Talmas in velvet à capuchon ornamented with a double row of galons of 20 centimetres wide, and a guipure frangée. Paletots in velvet trimmed with fur. In cloth are Talmas à etoles de velours, plain or de coupés, Talmas à la Viellie, with six large plaits in the back trimmed with wide watered ribbon or application of velvet: there are cloth cloaks also of different forms; the Romeo, the Charles Quint, which is a very large ample cloak, without lining, and trimmed with a wide galon; the Muscovite, which is a paletot, large and very warm, well adapted for travelling. In bonnets, capotes are almost the only kinds worn; a very pretty, simple, morning one is composed of bouillonnés of velvet or black satin with rouleaux of satin or velours épinglé rosé; over the bavolet is placed a large bow of black and pink; the rouleaux may also be made in pink plush. Another capote is dahlia coloured velvet, forming pointed dents, bordered with black lace. On each side of the calotte is a bouquet of ostrich feathers in black and dahlia. In collars the present forms are the mousquetaire and the Valois; the collars are worn larger, and almost all are à dents. Pocket handkerchiefs are very richly embroidered :-What do you say to one costing a thousand franes? For simple morning handkerchiefs les petits plis are a good deal worn. Paris, Nov. 21. GARDEN. DECEMBER. "Winter comes, with icy chain, PLANT-HOUSES. Conservatory-Continue to make this house the centre of attraction, by bringing into it all the flowering plants from the subservient structures, which will bear the temperature and air to which it must be subjected, for the welfare of the permanent plants. It is not advisable to keep any (but particularly hard wooded) plants which require to be kept positively dormant, in this structure. The greenhouse will be found the best place for most kinds. A few which require a similar treatment to Heaths may be placed in that structure; and as 1 FRANCIS BENNOCH. these will require to be kept in a state of rest for some time, they must be kept moderately cool, and a comparatively dry atmosphere (not an arid dry one) maintained about them. Water must only be given when necessary, and then thoroughly. But in order that moisture may be preserved for a longer period, without the addition of water, it is a good plan to plunge some of the more valuable specimen plants of Heaths, Chorozemas, Platylobiums, and similar sorts, into a size larger pot, and fill the vacancy between the two pots with clean damp moss. This will tend very much to the preservation of an |