The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-27 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, MARCH 26.
Mr. I). S. Kerr has just issued an address to the
electors of Down. Mr. Kerr offers himself on the
conservative interest, but he abandons protection. As
it is doubtful whether Lord Castlereagh wi I accept
the invitation of the county of Down electors to
stand, Mr. Kerr would seem to have some chance of
getting in with Mr. Sharman Crawford, to whom
the liberal electors of the county stand pledged ;
but Lord Castlereagh and Mr. Crawford are the
popular favourites.
Mr. Serjeant Murphy has published his address to
the electors of the city of Cork.
Mr. C. G. Duffy's canvass in New Ross is still
doubtful, the electors having referred this subject to
the parliamentary committee of the Catholic Defence
Association, and that body not having yet pronounced
an opinion on it.
A portion of his constituents have been for some
time labouring to undermine the interest of the Hon.
Cecil Lawless in Clonmel. A subscription of 5/.,
which he remitted to the parish priest, has been, by
a public vote, returned to him as not accepted.
'Me Cork contested election cost Mr. Scully 5,0001.,
and Mr. Frewen 7,0001.
_ _

A small estate in the county of Galway was sold
yesterday in the Incumbered Estates Court, for 13
years' purchase on the net rental.

BEETHOVEN QUARTETT SOCIETY.—The firet meet-
ing this season of this society took place last night at the
Beethoven Room., Queen Anne-street, Cavendiah-sqluare.
lance A few yearsit would have been held impossib • to
have drawn together an audience by the offer of an enter-
tainment consisting entirely of instrumental music,)elected,
moreover, exclusively from the works of one composer.
Now, however, with the progress of sound musical taste,
we find people intently listening throughout • whole
evening with real comprehension and enjoyment,
to • series of works, any one of which, not very
many years back, would have been " caviare to the gene-
ral." The audience at these performances, " fit though
'few," are evidently drawn from that comparatively small
clam who look on music as • high intellectual enjoyment, I
and not as a mere idle pastime. The programme of last'
night, in accordance with the plan usually followed'
here, contained specimens of Beethoven's style at
three different periods of his career. The early
phase of his genius was illustrated by the quer-
tett in D from opera 18, composed in 1792, when
he was still influenced by the style of Mozart, whom he
took as his model. Still, even here, Beethoven's indi-
viduality is plainly apparent, sod we find frequent traces of
that grand and original genius which was afterwards more
fully developed. The second period was exemplified
by the quartett in C from opera 69, composed in
1808. Hera Beethoven is found in his mature per-
fection. Nothing can be imagined grander and more
original in idea, or more perfect in construction,
than the three quartette which form his opera 69. That in
C, selected last night, was perhaps the most successful per-
formance of the evening ; and the masterly playing of -Mr.
Cooper, who led it, is deserving of unqualified approbation.
The quartett in E fiat, opera 127, was selected as a sped-
men
of Beethoven's third or later period. This work, corn-'
posed in 1824, in common with most of Beethoven's latter
compositions, is deficient in that clearness of design and in-
telligible plan by which his earlier efforts are distinguished;
and the fine thoughts and gigantic conceptions in which it
abounds, are as if "seen through a glass darkly." The
quartette were admirably interpreted by M. Sainton, Mr.
Cooper, Mr. Hill, and Mr. Rouseelot, and were agreeably
varied by Beethoven's pianoforte sonata in D (from opera
10), extremely well played by Mr. Sloper.

OMNIBUS DRIVERS AND CONDUCTORS.—A meeting
of omnibus servants was held on Thursday evening, at
Exeter-hall. The chair was taken by Mr. Spurr, who
stated that the meeting had been convened for the purpose
of contradicting the statements that had been put forth by
interested parties with regard to the treatment of the men
by their employers.-6. Mr. Taylor then rose, and stated
that he had four questions ta ask. This was a sigma foe a
scone of confusion which can be more easily ise thea
described. The business of the meeting was completely
interrupted for some time by shouts, cries, and fighting in
the middle of the room. Interludes of a similar &scrip-
don varied the programme several times during the evening,
in spite of the remonstrances of the chairman and the
more peaceably-disposed part of the mseembly. After some
difficulty the first resolution was read, which wee to the
1 following effect—" That this meeting considers it their
bounden :duty to the public, their employers, and them-
selves, to repudiate thine statements which have been put
_
forth by designing men for their own "—Mr.
Pryor, who moved the resolution, said that Mr. Scully,
the manager of the Provident Society, had set the master
and men at variance, and the latter would be the sufferers.
He hoped that the effect of this meeting would be to put
an end to their differencee.Two other resolutions were passed.
The first denied that any of the servants had been com-
pelled to sign the declaration published by the neadoes a
short time back by thread of dismissal. The second
"censured the conduct of a certain individual," and
stated that they were all well satisfied with their present
situation.. The resolutions were all carried, about a fifth
of the meeting holding up their hands In favour of them.
Very few were raised against the motions.--After the
legitimate business was concluded, Mr. Scully in vain at-
tempted to speak in his defence; another row ensued, in
the midst of which a vote of thanks VI IA carried by melon:A-
Ilion to the chairman. and the meeting setarated.
WEST FLANDPItS RAILWAYS.—Grose traffic for
the month of December, 1861, 1,0141. Ps. Bd. January, 183'l,
1,2141. Is. 3d.