The Express.
London, England, 1864-11-28 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 28, 1864.

remarks the first old man, a shrewd greybeard,
with an eye like a bead, who takes down the name,
calling, and lastresting place of the people coming in
on one of the slatesjust sneered at. Without quoting
individual cases, it may be remarked generally that
the people who seem least tolerant of the claims
of the houseless are those neatest their own con-
dition. The actual officials and masters of work-
houses show infinitely more consideration and kind-
ness than do the parochial paupers for their
casual brethren, and it would almost seem as if
living in a workhouse on fare provided by the
parish conduced to worldly-mindedness and pride
of spirit. Certain it is that the harshest remarks
we have heard about " some of 'em never
coming here till their ill, and then being
ordered into the house because the doctor
says they aint fit to walk," and about
" nasty wretches, who aint got hardly a
shoe to their feet," have come from gentlemen or
ladies who are themselves only saved from starva-
tion by parish help. A girl of sixteen, who earns
her living by cleaning doorsteps ("I suppose yer
call that charing," from the first old pauper), and
who is looking out for work in London (" of course,
hanging about London, and coming from work-
house to workhouse like the rest of them," from old
pauper No. 2), is the next applicant, and is duly
housed, and provided with a hunch of bread. The
remarks we quote have not been made either to or
at her, but have rather been the uncontrollable
asides of human nature severely tried ; and it is
right to add that there was no want of promptitude
either in answering the gate or in ushering those
knocking at it to the wards. These rooms are
similar in character to those previously described,
and are not filled, up to the time we leave. But
that they will fill, and that people will be turned
away before the night is over, seems certain, and is
no more than the ordinary habit of the place.
Baths are to be erected and the ward considerably
enlarged within the next week or two, and the
guardians hope to thus comply with the regulations
recently laid down.
Arriving some two hours later at the Poland-street
Workhouse, we find that its casual wards are full.
At present only nine men and nine women can be
accommodated here ; but in a fortnight from this
date a new ward, with an entrance in Dufour's-place,
will be opened, baths provided, and beds for twenty
men and twenty women (in all) laid down. In ad-
dition to the eighteen beds already furnished, from
six to eight have for some time been set apart for
cases of emergency and sickness, and at the hour of
our visit there were, including children, twenty-one
"casuals" housed. Some disappointed women were
weeping outside when we left this for the Mount-
street Workhouse. It was not then twelve o'clock,
and making way through the accustomed little knot
of crouching, miserable figures on the steps, we
knocked at the door, only to hear," Full, quite
full," spoken through the grating, and to learn that
it was too late for either the master or his represen-
tative to be seen. Cerberus, who was a highly
peremptory old pauper, opened the upper half of
the door, and consented to parley with us over the
spikes which ornamented its lower portion ; but
the information to be gained from him was but
limited. The place was quite full and had been for
hours ; alterations were to be made, but he didn't
know what ; the master could be seen any time
after eight in the morning, but certainly not now ;
and with a dissatisfied grunt at being disturbed,
the speaker swung to the shutter-door, and the
little knot outside, whose hopes had been roused at
our persistency, resumed their attitudes of listless
despondency and pained fatigue. It is as impos-
sible to make the round we did without learning
that the authorities of the various work-
houses are determined to enlarge the field of
operations as it is to avoid the fear that
such increase in the number of casual beds
as they are able to effect will not fully meet the
difficulty. The Strand Union has handed over the
function of relieving applicants from its own officers
to the police, and from and after this (Saturday)
night the tickets for admission into the Cleveland-
street Workhouse will be given out at the Bow-
street police-office. Divers other modifications are
spoken of, and we not unfrequently heard of Mr.
Parnell having conferred with the guardians on
behalf of the Poor-law Board, and of the guardians
agreeing to carry out his views ; but the great ques-
tion which touches us all is not so much the
willingness of these gentlemen to make the most
of the means at their disposal as whether those
means, limited as they are, will prove adequate to
the claims the coming winter will bring upon them.

Taa Manila in CLaacaNsesma..—On Saturday
Mr. Serjeent Pays* held an inquest at St. Bartholomew's
Hospital on Francis Plowman Roberts, alleged to have been
murdered by a fellow-workmate, named Alfred Thomas Jack-
son. under the circumstances already reported. Gustavus
liaises stated that he was a jeweller, and worked at Messes.
French and Oa's. He left the dammed and Jackson at
work on Wednesday night at half peat ten. He did not
know of any dispute or cause of quarrel between them.
Edward Thomasoo said on Wednesday night he was in his
room whichwas at the back of Messrs. French's workshop,
and Parallel with it. At about half-past eleven he heard
groans, and looked oat of his window, when there was a
cry of "murder," and he mew a man run along the wall
from the workshop, and drop down on the other side. He
knew that man to be Jackson. He went round to the
front door, end was admitted. He thou went into the
workshop and saw the deceased, who was bleeding. He
asked him who did it, and he said Jackson. James Harrison,
a clerk to Messrs. French, spoke to haw* gone into the
workshop as soon as he heard what had taken place. He
asked deceased who did it, and he said Jackson, and gave
him Jackson's address. Witless went to the address with
a policeman, and raw him and his mother. The policeman
charged him with violently assaulting the deceased, and he
mid he knew nothing of it. Joseph William Smyth, a gold
chainmaker, working at Messrs. French's, said he was told
there were thieves in the house, and he weal there. When
he got into the workshop he saw the deceased bleeding from
a large wound in the head. He asked him how it was dose.
He said he had been to:wash his hands, and was going upstairs,
wiping them on his apron. when Jackson met him at the top,
and hit him with the broom. The witeess said the deceased
frequently lent money to his fellow workmen ; be used to
carry a pocket book, in which he kept the promiesory notes
for money lent. Miss French said she was certain that no
one left the house after Mr. Gouges. Several other wit-
nesses deposed to the deceased's having said that Jackson
was the prawn who assaulted him. Mr. Eccles (the Louse
surgeon) stated that he had examined the head of the de-
ceased. He was quite sensible when he first came in. His
face was covered with blood. He had a wound on his right
eyebrow, about an inch losg, two wounds on the frost at
the top of the head, four wounds on the left side of the
head, a bruise on the back of the head, and • slight bruise
and graze on the left shoulder. He was minable for an
Lour and a half. and then gradually became insensible, and
in that state he died. Death was no doubt caused by a
severe fracture of the skull. The marks on the broom were
blood marks. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful
murder against Alfred Thomas Jackson."
TILE ALLEGZD SCICIDL or DS. DEMME.—It seems
that, to spite of the affecting farewell letters of Dr. Demote
and Mane. Trutnpy, doubts are still entertained of their
having committed suicide. Toe Gux ft< cltr Trttuneux has
received on the sus.,ject the following letter, doted Berne,
Nov. 24 :—'• The announcerreet of the suicide of Dr.
Demme and Mdlle. Flora Trumpy is received with a certain
degree of incredulity. Despatches from the prefects of Lan-
ramie and Vevey, as well as front other points on the Lake
of (James, state that the bodies have not been found. The
announcement of the suicide made by the Demme family is,
tho•vfore, only based ou the farewell bitten written by the
' doctor and 31111 e. Fora, and, from the haste in which they
have been published, the truth of the story is mere that
ever doubted ; it is looked upon as a made-up tale, intended
to mask the departure of Dr. Demme, and facilitate his se-
, tabliahment in some other country wider an assumed Same—
' perhaps even his soteptaticei of the peat of surgeon-in-chief to
' the Mexican army, which is said to have been offered him."
l Dr. Demme, senior, writes to the Bumf, of Beres :—" In
reply to rumours circulating among the public and in the
visa, relative to the announcement made by me of the
death of Dr. Hermann Demme and Flora Trtunpy, I declare
on my hewer and conscience that I made that stononoce-
meat with a bleeding heart, and only alter the most minute
inquiries, sad with the full conviction alb* truth of the
fatal news. Now, if it should turn out that the suicide was
a fiction, resorted to in order to oonceal a flight, I was the
first to be deceived by it, and I should agree with public
opinion in condemning such an infamous action. It is to
Le hoped that time will lead to the discovery of the truth.
1 —Dr. DENY; senior."

A singular trial is about to take place before the
Tribuaal of Lille. A dispute had arisen between the
Catholic organ, the Propaguteur. and the other journals of
the town, on the subject of a cantatrioe, and the quarrel at
length became so bitter that blows were ezcLauged between
the clerical and liberal jonniab•ta. A challenge to the
writees in the Propirtesr baying been refused by them
from motives of maw* those gentlemen were held ep to
public contempt by a oota is the other journals of the town.
Io conee9ussee of this proceeding the catholic writers have
now instituted • prosecution for defamation of character
against their adversaries. The public prosecutor at the
same time mamma both parties to appear ye a charge of
smash.

MUSIC,.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN.

Mr. J. L Hathon's new opera, Rose, or Love's
Raw" Performed foe the first time on Saturday ending,
has been expected with much interest by the musical
public ; for Mr. Hatton, though not known as • dramatic
tempoesr, holds a very high place among oar English
musicians. it is in vocal music that he has gained his repu-
tation. His numerous part Wags, especially, are of Pre-
eminent merit; and saving than of Mendeksohn,
we know of no others that an worthy to be
compared with them, whether in reprd to origins-
Illy, variety, richness, and purity of harmony, or
charm of expremion and effect. Mr. Hatton's experience
and skill in writing for the voice are very append in this
ores ; one of its many good qualities being the eseentislly
vocal character of the made In the sirs, concerted pieces,
andi choruses, whatever demands may be made on the
lingers' pewees ot brining execution, or of clear and pointed
thenciatioa, they are over embarrassed by those mecca
phrases or bush instrumental intervals which are sow so
frequent, especially in the vocal music of the modern
German school. The vanes of the performers are heard to
the best adventege ; and the music is doubtless se pleasant
to them to sing as it is for the listener to hear. Mr.
Hades has evidently been a diligent student of the peat
amstres of fames times—of Mozart especially, with
whose style and spiv* though without any servile imitation,
he seems to be thoroughly imbued ; and the fruits of his
studies are apparent, sot only in the vocal portion of his
music, but in the admicable clearness and names of his
instrumentation. This opera, in short, will justify and
strengthen Mr. Hatton'. well-earned reputation, while it
will furnish evidence of hie genius as &dramatic musician.
We an not so sure, however, that its snows' will be
commensurate with its merits. It is true that its meeption
on Saturday night wee, to all appears:wee day eatidadoey.
The house did not show the signs of " packing " whisk
theatres so often exhibit on a first night ; sod the applause,
liberally bestowed sad waning warmer and warmer se the
performance proceeded, bad the ring of sterling meld,
while its discriminating character seemed to express the
genuine sense of the audience. But, independently of ell
consideration of its :sceptics, the piece has detects which,
if not sufficient to muss its failure, may stand in the way
of its complete Buda& And these defects, as has too often
been the case with works of the very greeted composers, lie
in the dramatic more than the musical portion of the work.
The subject a taken from the French—a circumstance
generally in favour of a dramatic piece, whether musical or
son-musical, for it must be owned the modern French
dramatists have more 'kill than ours in the invention and
*contraction of plod ; but in this we the plot is neither
very interesting nor clearly developed. And besides, the
subject is too slight for so heavy a superstructure It
might suffice for a light two-act piece, but is not sufficient
to sustain the weight of an opera which occupies more than
three hours in performance.
The manner in which the pied is got up and performed
dote honour to the theatre. The character of Boles
is sustained by Madman Lammens-Sherriagton. She
11 looks the part charmingly, rota with great spirit and feeling,
and, as a singer, perhaps has never appeared to greater ad-
dling.. It is evident that the composer hen bad in view
her peculiar gifts and qualities,—the elastic lights'ss of her
beautiful voice, the perfect finish sad brilliancy of her
delivery of florid passage, and the happy adaptation of her
fender° to the purpose of expression. The part of Theresa I
wu delightfully performed by Miss Poole, a lady who has
no superior as a genuine English singer ; and
Madame Weiss, both as an actress and a singer,
did full justice to the character of Georgette. Mr.
Perna has never been more successful than
I in the cart of Stephen : the music is well adapted to his
voice, sal his acting evinced intelligence end vigour. Mr.
Weiss made all that could be made of the somewhat pan-
demos part of Jacques ; Mr. H. Corn extracted from the
part of Blanche° such humour as it contains ;andthe recruit-
ing opted had en effective representative in Mr. Aynslay
Cook.

Some curtailment would be of edvantsge. for the opera is
too long ; but thin ie more to be &aired than expected.

SPORTING INTELLIGEIffJE.

CHEETSKY STEEPLECHASEI3.-13457RDAY.
Two MAnno ltrizetacmuss of 3 ion. see, with 2b
added; weight for ago, with rolling allowance& About
three maw.
r. darnhawk, 6 yrs (601.), 104 Clementikl.
Mr. lowlifes Canna, seed 1601). 104 711. (Jewell I
tollowtsgaSso nua :—Remunerator, Milt Bay, V• 64
and 84biles. • - - • - •

to 4 apt Baailistrater, 5 to 2 apt Barbital',
tad to apt Betsy Baker.
Tug SOW= AND MIDDIXHIX 01121 HANDICAP Bratru•
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2ft ; winners orbs. About three mike sad a ball.
Mr.
wl. R. Howlencrs Mesnwood (h by, by Oalstoo, dam by
Co Ilet Mb
(Knott) I
_ -

Hr. Yeller Gal, Ilat 4b (312‘)--,1)
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THE Oran Humus' Stramscasaz, of 3 SOU. each,
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Yr. A. Yaws Stoma, aged, Itlet 71b (401.) (Knott) I
Mr. J. H. Burkilre Holdersyke. aged, 11a8 rOl.l Owner) 2
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MATCH of 50 mows. ; Ust 7lb sae& Mr. Bidellaeocabs's
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A GRAND MLIZrAIT &wI.WHABZ of 5 soya. each ;
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Captain Knor's TWO, llst lib 'Owner) 1
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Betting : 7 to 4 on Wit. 2 to 1 apt Wise GeL

ETON.