The Express.
London, England, 1852-06-03 00:00:00

NAVAL.

FORTSMOUTIT, JUNE I.—The squadron under the
command of Rear-Admiral Corry, consisting of the Prince
Regent, 90, dig, Captain Hatton; Hogue, GO, screw guard
ship, Captain 11PDougall ; and Aruthuu, 60, Captain
Symonds, sailed to-day for Cork. The Dragon, steam-
vessel, Captain Gifford, arrived this afternoon from Lisbon,
which she left on the 27th, she consequently brings no news.
Captain Ilillyer comes home in her on promotion from the
Penelope, steam frigate. The Geyser, steam-sloop, Com-
mander Hand (which arrived from Woolwich yesterday),
and the Porcupine, steam-vessel, Lieutenant Commander
Jackson, were both paid advance of wages to-day. The
Porcupine sails to-morrow for the west coast of Scotland to
protect the fisheries. The Gladiator, steam-frigate, Captain
Adams, went out of harbour to Spithead to-day. In doing
so she got aground in the harbour channel, the tide being
very low at the time, and remained there nearly half an
hour. The Black Eagle, Admiralty steam yacht, sailed
yesterday. The Basilisk, steam-aloep, Commander the Hon.
F. Egerton, was taken into the north dock yesterday

DRAMA.
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.-GERMAN PLAYS.

The first performance by Mr. Mitchell's German
company took place at St. James's Theatre last night. The
house was crowded with a most nspectable audience, and
her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the performance
with their presence. Mr. Mitchell has most judiciously
shown" Egmont," the most admired and most abused dart
Goethe's dramatic works, as the first of the series of German
plays. In the hero himself, in the honest, thoughtful, and
prudent Orontes, in Egnsont's faithful secretary, and in the
two sentimental characters, Brackenbery and Ferdinand,
there is an excellent field for German acting. Goethe has
been severely and justly criticised for perverting history
by se presenting Egmont, whoa virtues as a husband
and father are equally authentic with his patriotism,
as devoted to a mistress; and it required all the
charms with which he surrounded the favourite creation of
Clardlen (and of which Walter Scott, by the bye, availed
himself without acknowledgment in " Kenilworth "),
to reconcile even lenient judges to this defect in the
conception. A more valid excuse for the introduction of
ClarcA en may bo found in the centred shown between her
enthusiastic and self-sacriti and ths sowantly
fears of the populace whom hod unsseelegly ,
friended. The plot of " Egmont" la, as war readers are I
aware, founded on history. In the elm& betimes the
want king of Spain, Philip IL end tie tidied Provinces,
Count Egmont proved one of the sees{ MIMS 1111.011 dell 01
the liberty of his countrymen, and wins tie Dub el Alva
was sent at the head of a Spanish amp to mask the
en attempt was made to take Erma sal its rebel the
Prince of Orange prisoners. Tin bider mimed. bat
Egmont, light-hearted, trusting, and hopeful, measked.
was seized and executed. AU these oircemstsasee ate
faithfully delineated by Goethe. Be bas with extreme
skill and matchless art pourtrayed a a few artistic touches
' the kindly but weak and fickle eltarader of the mob, the
devotedness of • loving woman, the faithfulness of
a good servant, the cruel tyranny of Alva, the poli-
tical skill and prudence of the Prince of Orange,
and above all, the exquisitely engaging and charm-
ing character of his hero. In Herr Emil Dent-
cot we had a worthy representative of Goethe's con-
ception. His acting was almost perfect, and In the scene
with Oraniess, as in tho following one with Ales,
could not be surpassed ; indeed, we might follow him
from scene to scene, and find in each matter for enthusiastic
praise. Frau Stone's Clad's,' was a beautiful perform.
ance. Her entire devotion, and artless affection, were
shown in relief against the cool selfishness of the mother; in
the attempt to arouse the love for Egmont in the craven
snob, her acting attained • high degree of pathos. The
character of Brakenburg (the unhappy lover of Clarchen)
was represented by a Herr Onus, who made this sentimen-
tal pan as little tiresome as it could be, and we have no
doubt he will do ample justice to a more grateful character.
(*mien was represented respectably by Herr Lehfeld,
and the Dude of Alm by Herr Kishn. All the minor parts
were done justice to, and above all that of • demagogue
performed by the stage-manager, Hen Bimetal. The miss
en seems was excellent, and the attire of the different pa-
wns most appropriate ; that of Herr Denient most costly,
and in excellent taste. The audience was quiet, attentive,
and evidently highly gratified. The principal characters
were recalled on several occasions, and at the conclusion of
the piece, Egmont and Gunder' received a number of
wreaths and bouquets.
Prior to the commencement of the play an address, called
a prologue,written by Herr Kiinsel,was spoken by Fraulein
Strohmeyer. She appeared as a muse with the 'Aurae-
teristics of Germania, having an oaken wreath in her hair.
Pouring out compliments to Britain, and perhaps justly
claiming for the German drama the merit of truth, beauty,
and depth, acknowledging that it came after the drones of
England, she transfers the wreath to Shakespere's bust, and
concluded with an appeal to the audience to receive with
approbation the tribute the Germans bring them.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE LIVERPOOL CORN
EXCUANOE.—Yesterday an inquest was held before P.
Finch Curry, Esq., upon the bodies of Edmund Culebourn,
labourer, and John Stereos, joiner, who were killed un
the preceding day by the falling in of the arches of the
Corn Exchange. The court was densely crowded and the
teepest interest was manifested in the proceedings, in con-
sequence of a statement that the mortar and workmanship
were both of an inferior quality, to which the origin of the
fatal occurrence was said to he mainly attributable. Mr.
Lai" solicitor, appeared for the committee of the Corn
Exchange, and Mr. Blenkineop on behalf of Mr. Picton,
the architect. The coroner called in this assistance of Mr.
Edwin Woods, civil engineer, and Mr. Weightmaa, the
borough !surveyor, to report upon the probable cause of the
accident. These gentlemen accompanied the jury to view
I the bodies and to inspect the building, when an adjourn.
mat was agreed upon until Monday next, in order that a
model of the Exchange, as it was Wore the falling in of
the floor, might be proms/eel, and that the professional gen-
tlemen might have time to investigato and prepare their
report. Mr. J. It. Jeffery was chosen as foreman of the
jury, by whom &subscription was proposed fur the families
of the sufferers. Colebourn has left a widow and two
children, and Stevens a widow and floe children to deplore
heir loss.