The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-19 00:00:00

DRAMA.

ROYAL SOHO THEATRE.
PAINTERS' DLiMaTIC SOCIVTIr.—The members of
this society (as amateur theatrical 'society) composed prin-
cipally of compositors connected with the various Landon
printimg establishments, and who have been bosomed with
' the patronage of her Majesty, Prince Abort, and the Duke
of Cambridge, gave their fiat performance this season at
the above theatre, on Saturday evening list. The rift's
selected were the Merchant of Venice and Othello
redrafts. The play was very carefidly pat on the stage,
sad sited with great dirminsination. Tha characters of
Shylock, Antonio, Basaanio, and (Matisse, were ably es•
presented by Merin. Fraser, G. Wilson, F. Frilling, and
Wild. The beautifully drawn character of Portia found an
itheellast repressatitiva in Miss Murrell, a young lady
who has recently become connected with this society.
Combined with a tall and graceful figure, this lady has also
en 4:creative countenance and good delivery ; her realist in'
the trial scrag was very effective. Neris'a was carefully
played by Mies E. Wade. In the second piece, the chsracters
of Othello and lago gave excellent nap* to the vomit sad
'Oak powers of Messrs. John Hall and Henry Bennett,
who were ably supported in the fun and parodier, with
which the piece abounds, by Messer. Christian, Porter, and
Tenser, in the characters of Brabantio, Condo, sod Rode.
rig*. In the part of Deedemona Miss Murrell displayed
the versatility of her talents, by the spirit and 'rebates with
which she sang the parodies belonging to it. Between the
pieces was a selection of music, during which Mr. Hear?
Beetle sang the new song, entitled Queen's Letter,
for which he received en encore. The whole performance
reflected the greatest credit on the stage manager and corps
dramatipsio of the society, and gave evident satiefaction to
a home more fully attended than could have been expected
from the state of the weather. The society intend carrying so
their sasspnims with spirit, and espeet their next perform-
eau will be hosoared by the presence of one or more of
their royal patrons.

BRISTOL.-.-The adjourned meeting on the qureHon
of ram or-war took Mass at the &Waned Rota, on'
Tandy, when a resolution romenisien the *ties ma 1240"
emeirrot the war with Base* sad tans fm mob a reform
a oar satin military system as will swore in eigorosepar•
seention, woo carried by an ovorrhalintag majority.

•-' T

NAVAL AND MILITARY. •

THE FLYING SQUADRON.
PORTSMOUTH, Unice le.
The lying or advanced squadron for the Baltic is
owned to leave this port by Tuesday, *wording to resent
aznagements. It Will be under the command id
R. B. Watson, .B ,of the Isperiew (a e.), 51, sad
opmpriee, we odine, the Impaaithae, Earyelue, 61, sersw,
dlepta'a G. Ramsey ; Arrogant, 46, screw, Captain Wm-
tee; Magioisene, 16, paddle frigate, Captain Vansittart
Archer, 16, MOW, fain Heatheote ; lb, MVO,
Commander Pellet; 8, Commander Woad; Dra-
w, S. peddle sloop, Captain W. H. ,fiutwart ; Censer, 6,
=frigate, Csptaia Clifford ; Bulldog, 6, paddle sloop,
er Gordon (all at this port); Amphioe, 34, new,
sad Pylades, 22, screw, at Sheerness. la aecordasess with
the order issued on Friday, the whole of the meek of this
eqpiedran at this port are ready for see.
The log of Rear-Admired the Hon. B 8. :Dundee C. 8.,
the eimmeadet•in- chief of the Baltic lon, was at;nek es
bond the Duke of Wellington, 131, at Spithead, this more-
iag. pro ton.
This nereng the fleet ennienced nacho with their sus,
and at 1 o'clock fired a enteral royal salute of 21 guns each
in nano of the birthday of the Princess Louisa Carolina Al-
berta, who was born Mont 18, 1848. The following are
the ships sow at Spithead: Duke of Wellington, 131,serew'
Captain Caldwell ; Royal George, 120, room, Captain Cod-
Wigton ; St. George, 120, sailing ship, Captain Eyrie ; Nap-
tens, 129, ailing ship, Captain Hutton ; Nile, 1)1, screw,
Captain Mundy ; Majestic, 91, strew, Captain Rope ; He-
lmuth, 91, screw, Captain W. K. Hall ; Calcutta, 84, eni-
ng ship, Captain Stopford ; Creasy, 80, screw, Captain
Warren ; Ajaz, 60, screw, Captain Warden ; Imperious',
51, screw, Captain Watson; Murillo, 61, screw, Captain
G. Ramsey; Arrogant, 46, new Captain YelvieTtals ; Bsk,
20, new, Captain Birth ; Mogielenne, IS. piddle, Captain
Vaunters ; Archer, 16, screw, Captaia Heathoote ; Fenn,
16, screw, Commander Pullen ; Cruiser, 16, screw, Com-
mander Douglas ; Arid, 9, screw, Commander Luce • Con-
flict, 9, screw, Commander Wood ; Dragon, 6, paddie, Cap-
tan W. H. Stewart; Bulldog, 6, paddle, Commander Gerdes.
With the exception of the sailing ships and the Belt, the
whole of the above Sr. under the orders of Admiral Dena&
The effective ships in harbour fitting for the Balt* Be.,
some of which are quite reedy to go out to lipithend, are the
St. Vincent, 120, soiling able, Captain G. A. Elion ; James
Watt, 91, screw, Captain G. Elliot; Blenheim, 80, anew,
Captain W. H. Hill ; Ilainburgh, 60, screw, Captain Hew-
lett; Pembroke, 60, screw, Captain Seymour; Hastings,
60, screw, Captain eolith Retribution, 28, paddle, Captain
Fisher; Centaur, 6, paddle, Captain Clifford ; Genoa, 6,
paddle, Commander Crawford ; Baeilist, 6, paddle, Com-
mander Joiner; shell magazine.
Other ships, to make up the full strength of the Seat, are
hourly sinned round from the other porta.
The port admiral, Vice-Admiral Sir T. J. Cochran, re-
turned to this port this morning from leave of absence.
The Rhadamaothne, steamer, came into harbour this
=mum from Woolwich laden with machinery.
The Edieburgh, 60, screw, bent sails yesterday prepara-
tory to goiag out of harbour to Spithead.
The Crams, screw neon transport (No. 191) sailed
yesterday morning with the Royal Wiltshire Regiment of
Militia, for Corfu to relieve %regiment of the line ordered
to the Crimea. The regiment, as they went out of Inner,
cheered mat lustily ; sad, their beautiful bind playing
" Cheer boys, cbter," the men joining in the chorus, the
effect was exceedingly Inciting. The Militia, as also the
deans of the 20th and 96th Regiments, which also go to
Malta in the Curnie, must have bad a smart testa of a as
voyage during the day aid last night in the Channel, the
vied having blown a gale the whole time. The ship is,
however, a very fine and comfortable vont, and they have,
'Moen and men, every accommodation and necessary on
board.

PLYMOUTH, MAacu

The Weser, gun-boat (formerly belonging to the
Prussian sosvernment) will leave for the Crimea on Wed-
nesday. The Reoehme, stunt-ship, recently purchased
for the Admiralty at Liverpool, will be brought to this
port to be fitted out. The Colossus, 80, screw, Captain
Robinson, is being got ready fur sea with ell possible speed-
The Sardinian war-steamer Victor Emmanuel haying sus-
tained some injury by touching the shore near the Bolt, has
been docked for examination and repair. The Vulture will
sail to day. Ships in Hamosse:—lmpregnable, Royal Wil-
liam, Colossus, Cesar, Ifanier, Rosamond, Cornwallis,
Prometheus, Weser, Recruit, l3elletsle, Thetis (Pruden),
Victor Emmanuel (Sardleiaa), Avon, Sylph, Talavera
(transport). Between Island and Main: Nautilus. In
Sound: Vulture. _ _

71;;detaeltroent of the Horse Artillery which ar-
rived at Plymouth on Fritley with their horses, were, the
came day, embarked on board the Talavera, for the Crimea,
and that ♦easel is probably by this time on her voyage. The
horses were shipped in the Devenport Dockyard, by means
of boxes, under the superintendence of Mr. Brown, the
sawed master-attendant.

SHEERNESS, Ideacu 19.

The Alban, 4 guns, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, is
ordered dawn here to be docked, preparatory to her de-
parture for the Baltic.
The Horatio, screw steam-frigate, was takes into No. 3
i dry duck on Saturday last, to complete a survey on her
hall, &e.
ne Talbot, late 22, Arctic discovery ship, now laying at
Chatham, is ordered to be brought down hers (to-day), and
to be immediately fitted as a floating magazine for the use of
the Baltic fleet.

DUBLIN, MAUCH 17.
It is understood that draughts for the Scots Greys,
the 8.6 H , I Itb Hussars, and 4th and 6th Dragoon
Guards, will sail in a few days for the Crimea. the detach-
ments of h* two latter regiments to halt fora short time at
Constantinople. The training of horses for the Crimea has
been going on vigorously at Newbridge. S I smart
young fellows have been lately enlisted at Dundalk by a
recrui,ing party of lb* tad Queen's Bays, for service in the
4th Dragoon Guards.