or that occasion. We learn by
another letter that on the 23d of May, 1846, the entire first part and
six or eight numbers of the second part were sent to London to a Mr.
Bartholomew, who was engaged translating the text into English. That
Mendelssohn himself was pleased with his work is evident from his own
words, written to a friend after he had finished the first part: "I am
jumping about my room for joy. If it only turns out half as good as I
fancy, how pleased I shall be!" By the latter part of July the entire
oratorio was in the hands of Mr. Bartholomew, and on August 18
Mendelssohn himself arrived in London and immediately began the
rehearsals. The work was first performed on the 26th at Birmingham,
coming between Haydn's "Creation" on the 25th, and Handel's "Messiah" on
the 27th, the latter oratorio being followed by Beethoven's Mass in D. A
correspondent who was present writes:--

"How shall I describe what to-day has been in the Music Hall? After
such an intense enjoyment it is a hard task to express one's feelings
in cold words. It was a great day for the festival, a great day for the
performers, a great day for Mendelssohn, a great day for art. Four
da-capos in the first part, four in the second, making eight encores,
and at the close the calling out of the composer,--are significant
facts when one considers that it was the rigid injunction of the
Committee that the public should not testify its approval by applause.
But the enthusiasm would be checked by no rules; when the heart is
full, regulations must stand aside. It was a noble scene, the hall
filled with men, the galleries gay with ladies, like so many
tulip-beds, added to the princely music and their thundering bravas."

Mendelssohn himself on the day after the performance writes to his
brother in Berlin:--

"No work of mine ever went so admirably the first time of execution, or
was received with such enthusiasm by both the musicians and the
audience, as this oratorio. It was quite evident at the first rehearsal
in London that they liked it, and liked to sing and play it; but I own
I was far from anticipating that it would acquire such fresh vigor and
impetus at the performance. Had you only been there! During the whole
two hours and a half that it lasted, the large hall, with its two
thousand people, and the large orchestra were all so fully intent on
the one object in question that not the slightest sound w