The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-25 00:00:00

MONDAY POPULAR CONCERTS.

The concert of last night was rich in attraction,
and would have been richer still but for the absence of
Mr. Sims Reeves, who was prevented by indisposition from
singing. His place, however, was ably supplied by Mr.
Wilbye Cooper. M. Vieuxtemps, whose superb quitrtet-
playing has conduced so much to the excellence of these
moor* made his last appearance this season. He played,
along with Messrs. Riea, Webb, and Matti, fdandelssobn's
Quartet in A minor, Op. 13, and Beethoven's Quartet in A
major, No. sof Op. 18 ; each of them a masterpiece of its
author. Meedelssohn's quartet is one of the works of his
boyhood, having been composed before he had reached the
age of fourteen. It is a prodigy of early genius; for
originality of thought, graceful melody, skill in counter-
point, and masterly construction, it is worthy of comparison
with the finest works of its class. Beethoven's Quartet in
A is an especial favourite among amateurs ; and deservedly,
for it is as remarkable for clearness and simplicity of style
as for the exquisite beauties which abound in every move.
event. The execution of both these pieces may be characterised
as perfect. Miss Arabella Goddard played Woelfi's famous
sonata, entitled by its author the Ne Plus Ultra.
Woefi was a great master, who lived at a period when the
school of the pianoforte was corrupted by a host of inferior
composers, who perverted the public taste by an inundation
of pieces written for display, and full of bravura passages
and unmeaning difficulties. Woeld endeavoured in vain to
oppose the tide of frivolity, till at length he was induced
to swim with the stream, finding himself unable to
strive against it. This, at least, is the theory of the
able writer who enriches with his historical and
critical remarks the books of these concerts. " Woelfit
ways this writer, "in vain opposing the strong tide of
popular caprice, at last hit upon an expedient which, he
thought, might somehow mend the matter, and help to
bring about a better state of things. Inwardly conscious
that he could write display-pieces with • great deal more
facility than any of the pretenders who were feat destroying
the taste for pure and healthy music, and perform them
with an equal superiority, he resolved to give the fashionable
world a test of his ability. Hie fame was European, and he
enjoyed the moat distinguished position as • teacher. Thus
his influence was considerable, and he had only to feign ad.
herence to the present style to swamp all his competitors.
The Ne Plus Ultra was the fruit of his new
resolve." However this may be, it is at all events
certain that Woolf! produced • work which surpassed in
difficulty and outshone in brilliancy the utmost efforts of
his fashionable rivals, nd which at the same time abounded
in the real beauties of a legitimate work of act. The Ne
Plea Ultra is worthy to be preserved among the works
of the greatest masters of the pianoforte. Nothing
can be more charming than the manner in which Arabella
Goddard plays it. Under her fingers its difficulties vanish,
and passages of the most dazzling brilliancy, executed with-
out the slightest appearance of effort, become quite simple,
clear, and flowing. It was evident, from the manner in
which every movement was received by the audience,
that its beauties were fully felt and appreciated.
Equally delightful, but in another way, was Mozart's Sonata
in D, for the piano and violin, played by Miss Goddard end
Vieuxtemps. This is one of the pieces for these
two instruments which it is believed that Mozart composed
for the famous female violinist Madame Strinadieschi, who
was a great favourite of the Austrian public. It is in the
composer's happiest vein—delightfully written for both in-
struments, and full of fancy, grace, and melody. Our two
accomplished performers play with it (as well as played it)
most deliciously.
As we hare said, Mr. Sims Reeves's place in the
programme was filled by Mr. Wilbye Cooper, who sang
Mozart's beautiful air through Mr. Oxenford'e elegant words,
` The very angels weep, dear," and Beethoveu's " Ade-
aide," in which he had the advantage of Miss Goddent's
exquisite accompaniment. The other vocalist was Miss
Clari Fraser, who sang Mendelssohn's "Cradle Song," and
the fine old English song, "The Oak and the Ash, and the
bonny Ivy Tree," with much simplicity, sweetness, and
feeling. It is scarcely necessary to add that the ball was
crowded.

DEATH OF THE REV. DR. ANDREW REED.

(THIS DAY.)

We regret to hoar of the death, this morning, at
his residence, Cambridge-heath, Hackney, of the well.
known philanthropic dissenting divine, the Rev. Dr,
Andrew Reed. The deceased minister had obtained
wide and honourable fame by his indefatigable efforts
in the COMM of Christian charity. Many of the
noblest philanthropic institutions in the country owe their
origin to him. Among these we may enumerate the London
Orphan Asylum, Clapton ; the Infant Orphan Asylum, Wan-
stead ; the Asylum for Father's= Children, near Croydon ;
the Asylum for Idiots, at Reigate ; the Royal Hospital for
Incurables ; and the Eastern Counties Asylum for Idiot' at
Colchester. It was not his time, talents, and energies
merely that he devoted to the cause of charity
but also much of his private means. In 1811;
the deceased published a work entitled "No Fiction,
eighteen editions of which have been published. He was
subsequently deputed by the Congregational Union of
England and Wales to visit America, and to report on the
state of religion and education there, and the nar-
rative of this visit he published in two volumes
octavo. From 1811 to 1861 Dr. Reed was the minister
first at the New•road Meeting and then at Wickliffe Chapel.
Owing to infirmities consequent upon advanced years, and
especially to a severe fall on the morning of the last Sunday
of 1880, while going to his carriage, Dr. Reed, in October
last, resigned his charge, having attained his jubilee. He
was born Nov. 27, 1787, and was therefore in his 75th
year.

In the House of Lords on Thursday the Bishop
of Oxford will present petitions against the Revised Cods
of Education, and call the attention of the house to the
proposed alterations therein.
There seems no probability of a lack of "pri-
vate business" in parliament this session. At the end of
last week above 270 private bills had been already brought
into one or other house. The railwsy bills propose the con-
struction of no leas than 1,800 miles of now line in the
United Kingdom-1,497 in England.
Lord Elcho has given notice that he shall call
attention in the House of Commons to the present and
uture provision for the exhibition of the national collection
of pictures, and to the position of the Royal Academy is
relation to the Bne arts and the National Gallery.

On Thursday the Solicitor• General, in committee
of the whole house, will move for leave to bring in a hill to
amend the law relating to copyright in works of fine art.
_ .

.. -
Mr. Ayrton purposes to ask the Vice-President
of the Education Committee of the Privy Council on Thurs-
day " whether it is the intention of the government to ac-
quiesce in Mr. Walpole's motion for the house to resolve
itself into a committee of the whole house to consider the
best mode of distributing the parliamentary greets for edit-
cation, now administered by the Privy Council ; and, if so,
to ask Mr. Walpole whether be will immediately lay on the
table of the house the resolutions which he intends to move
in committee." _ _ .

On Thursday Mr. Wyld inteud.i to ask the First
Lord of the Treasury if any communication has been made
to the government of the United States upon the withdrawal
of the American squadron from the coat of Africa ; if any
attempt has been made by the British government to induce
the President of the United States to prevent the use of
the United States flag by foreign slavers on the WeatCrnst
of Africa; and if any request had been made to the Presi-
dent of the United States to permit the British ships of
war engaged in the suppression of the slave trade to ascer-
tain (during the absence of the United States squadron)
the nationality of ships which may hoist the flag of the
United States.

Lord R. Cecil intends on Friday to ask the ViCO-
Preeident of the Council whether orders were not issued,
shortly after the promulgation of the revised code, that the
portion of it which concerned the conditions under which
pupil teachers were to be engaged should be acted upon
forthwith, without waitiug for the 'sanction of parliament,
and whether forms of examination, giving notice to that
effect, were not printed. _ .

Mr. Bonomi hike been appointed curator of the
Beam Museum.

The death occurred, on the 14th inst., at Wink
field, Berks, of Mrs. Father Strike, who had reached the
advanced age of 103 years. She possessed all her faculties
to the last. She leaves three eons, aged respectively 79,
77, and 75 years, twenty-four grandchildren, fifty-one peat
grandchildren, and two great peat grandchildren.

The Official Gazette of Turin cleeLsres itself autho.
rimed to state that there is not the slightest foundation in
the story of an attempt on the life of the Marquis de Lava•
lette, the French ambassador at Rome.