New York (NY) Weekly Anglo-African, "Our Detroit Letter," October 7, 1859

            OUR DETROIT LETTER

                     Detroit, Mich., Sept. 28, 1859:

   MR. EDITOR:  --The Juvenile Afric-American Philharmonic Association of Detroit, gave their fourth grand concert and festival on Thursday evening, 15th inst., under the conductorship of Prof. Charles W. Thompson, the able and indefatigable teacher under whose supervision they were organized. It was a grand affair, notwithstanding they were cheated out of the use of the Jefferson-avenue Hall, in which they were advertised to meet. They met in the Second Baptist Church, on Croghan Street. Quite a number of persons, it is stated, went to the Jefferson-avenue Hall, but finding it closed, went away. Nevertheless, the concert was well attended. Master Toussaint L'Ouverture Lambert presided at the melodeon, and Miss E. Thompson at the pianoforte. The instrumental as well as the vocal performances gave great satisfaction. In the [illegible] of the performances the "Jenny Lind Polka" was played by little Miss Louise, aged about seven years, the younger daughter of Prof. T. She likewise sang "The Rose of Allendale," to general approbation.

   Accuracy of time seems to be the great hobby of Prof. T., and in nothing was it so perceptible to me as in the performances of the choruses, all of which were performed exclusively by the juveniles, and seemingly with much artistic skill and beauty. Mrs. L., the lady to whom was awarded the first premium at the last concert, for the superior ability and skill with which she executed the performance of the composition assigned her, occupied a seat on the platform among the senior portion of our musical talent. So also did Mrs. C., another distinguished singer among us. I was in hope to have seen Miss. Fanny B. among the group again, but she was absent. It is a circumstance worth remarking that Mrs. C., who bears quite a resemblance to Mrs. Luca, has likewise a voice similar to hers; while Mrs. L., who, in her proportions and manners, very much resembles the "Black Swan," (but is infinitely better looking,) likewise exhibits much of that pathos, ease, and peculiar delicacy of sweetness peculiar to the vocal powers of the "Black Swan" She sang "What is Home without a Mother." As she came forward on the platform, she was greeted with loud applause, and after having been obliged to repeat her piece the second time, she sat down amid the prolonged cheers of the audience. Mrs. C. sang "List to the Mocking Bird." This was one of the best things of the evening. Indeed, the ring of her clear voice seems even yet to linger in my ear. At the conclusion of these increasing exercises, some of the audience seemed determined on having the affair terminate with a speech, and Prof. Thompson and the Rev. Mr. Berry were loudly called for from different parts of the house; but, as it was then late in the evening, neither of these gentlemen responded.

   On Monday evening, 19th inst., a large and enthusiastic meeting assembled in the Croghan-street Baptist Church, to take in consideration the matter of devising measures for the improvement of our present public school advantages. We have at present in the city of Detroit about five hundred colored children of a proper age to attend school. We have but one pub-school for colored children, and it is not only badly situated, but badly furnished, and many say badly conducted, and certainly badly attended. The average attendance daily is about fifty. The chairman of the meeting was Mr. Malone, the Secretary, Mr. Douglass Carter. Speeches were made by Rev. Mr. Anderson, Mr. John Richards, Mr. O. Woods, Wm. Lambert, and others. The meeting adjourned to meet again next Monday evening. Doubtless this Detroit school movement is destined to furnish the next candidate for school notoriety, to be added to the list of our illustrious "wise men of the east."

   A number of fugitives, I have been informed --fifteen in number --have just passed through from Detroit into Canada. Quite a stampede.

   Mr. J. D. Harris addressed a meeting at the Baptists Church in Croghan street, on Wednesday evening last --subject, Emigration to Jamaica, West Indies. He was listened to with much attention, and at the conclusion of his lecture fourteen persons gave in their names to go out with the Government Agent.

   The Rev. Mr. Berry of this city, delivered an interesting lecture at Windsor, U. C., on Wednesday evening last --subject, "Vindication of the African race from the curse of Canaan." At the conclusion of the lecture a beautiful anthem was sung, after which a unanimous vote of thanks was awarded to Rev. Mr. Berry, and the meeting adjourned.               PENINSULAR.