design, THE PRINCE REGENT Condescended to honor the infant commonwealth with his patronage.

An institution so formed could not fail to command success, and accordingly we find the highest degree of reputation following its establishment, and admission eagerly sought. Public estimation has increased at every succeeding season, with the exception of a very short and ineffectual opposition, which about four years since arose out of some slight dissentions, and which gave occasion to a concert (called THE PROFESSIONAL CONCERT,) that was soon abandoned. Few of the members had withdrawn their names, and therefore the Philharmonic Society suffered no diminution worth notice.

The two last seasons have witnessed a material deviation from the original plan in the introduction of single songs. The argument for this innovation, not to call it an absolute departure from the main design, was the difficulty of drawing together a sufficient number of equally great performers to sustain concerted pieces. This season (for the first time,) the singers are, as we understand, regularly engaged and paid. If therefore concerted pieces are displaced by songs, it can only be upon some ground of preference which perhaps will hardly be thought to consist with the nature of the establishment. It may be dangerous to dilute the grand purpose of supporting instrumental music in its excellence. In any other light the change appears of little moment.

The direction during the present season is confided to MESSRS. ATTWOOD, AYRTON, BRAHAM, CLEMENTI, GRIFFIN, NEATE, POTTER, RIES, SPAGNOLETTI, and WEICHSELL. The members are forty-five in number, the associates thirty-three, and the honorary subscribers five hundred and four. In order to complete our view of this society, it remains for us only to subjoin a copy of one or two bills of fare, which we select from the last and present seasons, and to add the laws by which it is now governed, with a list of the present members and associates. It would be superfluous to offer any remarks upon a performance in which most of the finest talent of the country is engaged, upon the principle of surrendering all personal feelings to the excellence of the music. We trust from what we hear of the support afforded to the endeavours of the united professors and of the state of the funds, that there no longer exists a doubt of the permanency of a concert, so well calculated to advance science, to sustain its dignity, and the reputation of the profession,

and which seems to impart the firm and imperishable character to the genius of composers for instruments, that THE CONCERT OF ANCIENT Music has so long assisted in giving to the great masters of vocal art, Long may they both flourish!

LONER, and Lindley

Haydn.

Mozart.

Overture, La Clemenza di Tito

Leader, MR. MORI-at the Piano-forte, MR. BISHOP.

Leader, MR. MORI-at the Piano-forte, MR. CLEMENTI.

The singers have been, besides those mentioned in the bills, MADAME FODOR and CAMPORESE, MRS. SALMON, MISS GOODALL, the DEMOISELLES DE LIHU, MR. BRAHAM, MR. T. COOKE, and SIGNOR CREVELLI.

LAWS, &c.

OF THE OBJECT OF THE SOCIETY.

1. The primary object of the Philharmonic Society is the encouragement of the superior branches of music, by the establishment of a concert, and combining therein the highest talents that can be procured, for the purpose of forming a full and complete orchestra.

OF THE MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES.

2. This society shall consist of two classes, viz, Members and Associates. 3. The number of members shall not exceed fifty; in them is vested the whole property and sole government of the society.

4. The number of associates shall be unlimited: they shall enjoy, in common with the members, the same privilege, both for themselves and their families, of admission to the concerts; and from amongst them shall every new member be chosen.

OF THE ADMISSION OF MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES. 5. The members shall be chosen from out of the class of associates.

6. No person shall be proposed as a member who has not attained the age of twenty-one years.

7. Every candidate, as member or associate, shall be bona fide a professor of music; he shall be proposed in writing by neither more nor less than three members, and his recommendation shall contain his names at full length, with his address and qualifications, in the following manner :

We, whose names are undersigned, do, of our own personal knowledge, recommend A. B. of as a person whose moral character and professional ability qualify him to become [a member, or an associate] of this society.

8. No member or associate shall be chosen until his recommendation shall have been read at three meetings immediately prior to his election, the day of election to be included in this number; and no ballot to take place until two months after the day on which the candidate shall have been proposed. 9. Elections for members and associates shall be determined by a majority of two-thirds of the votes of members present..

10. No election for members and associates shall take place between the annual general meeting and the first Monday in November.

OF THE DIRECTORS.

11. Twelve directors shall be elected from amongst the members only at the annual general meeting, and enter on their offices on the third Monday in July. Three, at least, of the directors newly chosen, shall be members who have not served in that office during the preceding season; but if more than nine directors are chosen who have filled that office the preceding season, the election shall be declared in favonr of the nine who have the greatest number of votes, together with the three next highest on the list who have not served in the preceding year.

12. The directors shall have the management of the concerts, the acceptance and engagement of the performers, and of all other matters immediately relating to the concerts of the society.

13. The directors shall have the power of making bye-laws, for the regula tion of their own meetings, a copy of which shall be delivered to the secretary and be forthcoming at any general meeting.

OF THE TREASURER AND OTHER OFFICERS,

14. The treasurer shall be elected from amongst the directors chosen at the annual general meeting, and shall enter on his office on the third Monday in July.

15. He shall issue all the tickets for the concerts to the subscribers, mem bers, and associates, and receive the money for the same, which he shall immediately pay into the account at the bankers of the society, standing jointly in his own name and that of the trustee.

16. He shall keep a general cash-book of all his receipts and payments, which shall be produced whenever required by a general meeting, or by a meeting of the directors.

17. His accounts shall be presented at the annual general meeting, having been previously examined by the auditors.

18. A trustee shall be elected at the annual general meeting, from amongst the members, in whose name, jointly with that of the treasurer, all monies be longing to the society shall be invested at the bankers.

19. Two auditors shall be elected at the annual general meeting from amongst the Members, who shall examine the treasurer's accounts previously to their being presented.

20. A secretary shall be elected at the annual general meeting from amongst the members.

21. The secretary shall attend all general meetings, the meetings of the directors, and be present at every concert and rehearsal. He shall keep a fairly-written and exact copy of the minutes of the proceedings of the society; he shall issue all summonses to the directors or members, in which he shall dis tinctly notify the object for which any special general meeting is convened. He shall also circulate all letters amongst the subscribers, and perform every other duty that appertains to his office.

22. A librarian shall be annually elected on the third Monday in June he shall have the charge of, and be responsible for, all the music, books, musical instruments, and other moveable property belonging to the society; he shall be present at every concert and rehearsal, to distribute and collect the music, and shall be ready to attend any general or directors' meeting, if called upon.

It shall be his duty to keep the library in perfect order, and to superintend the copyists employed by the society.

OF GENERAL MEETINGS.

23. The annual general meeting of the society shall be held on the third Monday in June; and the general meeting for fixing the concerts, on the first Monday in November.

24. Nine members constitute a meeting for general purposes; but no election for directors, and other officers of the society, can take place, except fifteen members are present. And should the annual general meeting be attended by less than fifteen members, such elections shall be postponed to the day on which such general meeting shall be necessarily held by adjournment, and of which not less than three days' notice shall be given to each member.

25. Seven members, or three directors, shall have the power to call a general meeting, within ten days, and not earlier than three, after they shall have delivered their signed requisition for that purpose to the secretary, to whom the object of such meeting shall be specified.

26. General meetings shall have the power of adjourning from time to time, 27. All questions shall be determined by ballot, if demanded by two members present; upon all other occasions by a show of hands.

28. All resolutions shall be confirmed or rejected at the next general meeting. 29. No law shall be altered or repealed, except by two general meetings, convened or held by adjournment for that purpose.

30. No person shall propose any future law, nor the amendment of any existing law, except in writing.

31. Every member, at a general meeting, shall speak standing, and address himself to the chairman only.

32. In all cases where the votes are equal, the chairman shall have a second vote.

DISMISSION OF OFFICERS.

33. The society shall have the power of dismissing any of its officers, whether director, treasurer, or others, at two general meetings, specially called for that purpose. The notice for the first of such meetings to be delivered at least seven days previous to it; and the following meeting not to be earlier than seven days after the first. At both meetings, held for this purpose, fifteen members shall be present, and vote, or the proceedings shall be void.

OF THE CONCERTS.

34. At the general meeting held on the first Monday in November, the nights of the concert shall be fixed, the terms of subscription shall be regulated, and the mode of admitting subscribers for the following season shall be determined.

35. Each director and the conductor shall have two tickets nightly, and the leader one. No tickets except these, and those of the Royal Family, shall be

transferable.

36. Instrumental solos, concertos, duettos, and concertantes, for less than three principal instruments, are not admissible in the concerts of this society. 37. There shall be no distinction of rank in the orchestra of this society; should any doubts upon this subject arise, the station of every performer shall be fixed by the leader of the night, subject to the controul of the directors.

SUBSCRIPTIONS OF MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES.

38. Each member and associate shall pay, previously to the commencement of the first concert in every season, such sum, or subscription, as shall be fixed