The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-26 00:00:00

THE PARIS UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION.

DAILY news.)
PARIS, Moon IS.
The fears of very timid exhibitors are now die.
pawl. The Faiths de rhidestrie is named for 12
millions of francs its contents for 10 millitOsi
while the fine art galleries are assured for onedelle
lion. These mangoes have been effected by*e go-
vernment with ?atone French ooupanies. Other
important steps have been taken Niels my last ono:
munioation. Thus, Prince Napoleon, President of
the Imperial Commissioo, has explored the Exhibition
handier, and
_presided at a fir meeting of the flee
art juries, to disperse them, in sections, to their
Maws. Hs recommended them to exercise "a jos! 1
severity"—to consider only the imputing; which
fairly belongs to France, that she might appear in this
pacific battle with well chosen arms only i that
hereby her artists might peeve themselves worthy of
those other children of France who are so valiantly
fighting her enemies. These recommendations
concluded, the juries for painting, sculpture,
and architecture proceeded to elect their re-
spective presidents and vioe-presidents. By this
Ume the juries mat have made considerable progress
in their labours. Meantime contributions of import-
ance are on the point of arrival. Daily paragraphs
announce the approach of Algerian and other goods,
and the farther nomination of oornmisaiooers. To
former lists of these commissioners I will now add
the names of M. Bleymuller, for the Elector of
Hesse; and the Baron du Havelt, for the Papal
government
Of private enterprises which have burst into public
light lately, I might give you a long list. Agencies
threaten to buy up all the rooms to let in the Boule-
vards; bat before engaging with any of them, I
would recommend English exhibitors to be extremely
careful. I hays heard of one enterprising lodgieg-
hones keeper, who has long enjoyed the patronage of
very select customer", but who, taken with a violent
attack of Exhibition fever, Liu; given all her lodgers
warning. She is about to turn all her rooms into,
bed-rooms, and is to realise, according to her exceed-
ingly moderate calculations, one hundred francs per
night per room throughout the summer. After the
summer she will probably paper her first floor with
waste bank-notes. Turning from thin private ape
culatioss to official life, let me proceed to describe
the arrangements already made by the English sew
missioners, headed by Mr. Cole. A flue house has bees
hired in the Rue du Cirque, No. 14, within five
mi-
notes' walk of the Palate de l'lndestrie. It is now
nearly furnished, sufficiently at all events to enable
me to describe the advantages it will afford to Eng-
lish committees and exhibitors.

(nom T*s

Oe the ground Boor, on entering, exhibitors will
Boa a neat little post2offloe ; that will be a poste re-
'tante to which they may have their letters addressed,
and where they may. post letters for England.
Crossing the hall the visitor will reach a fine large
room, to be comfortably furnished for the exclusive
me of visitors. Here they may meet, and transact
their business; or, bstttr still, should the room be
crowded, they may stroll, into the garden beyond,
where a marques will be ever ready to lend them its
grateful shade. All this is very pleasant, and will,
probably excite the envy of German and other foreign'
exhibitors. Certainly the most exacting exhibitor
will be content with his qu ;acre in the Rue du
Cirque.

The first floor of the house is devoted to the offices,
board-room, &a, of the English Exhibition authori-
ties. The board-room is a most stately apartment.
The second floor is marked off into a series of rooms,
devoted to various committees. Thus the Fine Art
Committee has its room, the Potteties Committee its
separate apartment, and of course Manchester enjoys
the dignity of a distinct locale. These arrangements,
it must be honestly confessed, leave nothing to desire ;
land it is our duty to congratulate the English peo-
ple on the reputation for exactitude and oomplete
organisation which their English representatives' will
undoubtedly leave behind them in Paris. Thus, for
instance, we are certainly the only nation that ►as
yet advanced to the catalogue form.

MUSIC.

-M. BILLET''S PESTOEMANCES OF CLASSICAL PLiNO-

701T1 MOBlO —M. Alexandre Billet has oomme•oed his
I series of performances at Bt. Martin's H dl, whieb
be has given fee several years put with much memo. He
is • pianist of the first order, thoroughly conversant with
the works of the great masters; and a series of his perform-
ance, may be described as • highly interesting and Untrue-
ties Course of lectures on the progress of the pianoforte.
He began on Friday evening with Duseek's sonata in F sharp
minor, entitled " Harmonic Elegy," a beautiful specimen
of the genius of • composer who, before the end
of the last se•tary, raised his inetnuasot to' a
height namely exceeded at the present. His sonatas
are tall of imsginetion, fire, expression, and brilliaaey,
and are as fresh es if they were written yesterday. In the
pre.ent inerrant craving for novelty, them cad many other
fine productions of the old school are too Mach neglected,
and such of our modern pianists as have the good taste to
select them ter piddle performance deserve the thanks of
every lover of classical music. M. Billet also played Men-
delaso►a's prelude in fugue in B fist; Beethoven's sonata
In C, ep. b 8; Chopin's nocturne in C minor ; Weber's rondo,
" La Gal d," and several smaller pieces. His performances,
as usual, were admirable in mention, style, and charatter,
and were warmly applauded by a numerous anthem
Several vocal Owns were song by Wes Palmer, • young
contralto anther of great promise.

The Sacred Harmonic Society time established a
lund for the relief of persons Is distress, who me or have
been at say Wee connected with the society. This steamer*
was adopted by a general meeting of the society es the 14th
instant. It is prepaid to raise a certain amount of perma-
nent capital, to be invested in government securities in the
names of triages, the dividends Inns whisk, and a propor-
tion of the maul aeatsibatione, to be applicable to the eb-
jest of the had. The encomium of assarsment *maim of
a certain somber of masters et the satiety, and the'
remainder are chose■ by the governors of the fund. As
maul su►su:ption of half &guinea sad upwards meal-
time a go‘ernor ; sad a donatita of dee spinosa sod up-
wards, at can time, a life governor. Coetribaloss es a non-
durable moist (is appears (rem the published list) have
already been received; and this beaeveleat scheme promises
to do mach good.
Sussex-HALL—On Saturday evening, a musical

entertainment took plain at the above hall, for the benefit
of Mr. Halm, an old and roweled member of the printing
profession, stiffens' ander illness Cr several asoaths past.
The performers were principally members of the trade, sad
the aoseert wee ettedested by Mr. Arretreadth, B.A. The
programme eensilud of pieces selected Iron the popular
Inuit of the day, which were eneuted is a very satisfac-
tory meaner by Misses Parse, Hayden, sad Morrell,
Mews. Maddiek, Clayton, H. Dustin, Tellurian, Am. Mr.
Edmonds, the favourite mimic tocsins, attended in the
coarse of 'the evening, tad gave twe of his annulus
seep. Mr. Arrowamith also iatrodseed Masi buffo songs
die John Perry. The favourite ballad of " Minnie " was
delightfully given by Miss Farm end Miss Merrell
tem warmly applauded is the cantata of Deminsitt, " Oh,
that I sever mote might see," mid she is
the balled of "Annie Laurie." This lady has
may flee contralto voice, with considerable powers
of suestioe, end will undoubtedly attain • high
panties ion the musical world, should she deride
epos followier the profession. Messrs. Henry Bastin
sad Kaddish deserve hvonrable notice ham the masser in
which they eseeetill tbe swigs allotted to them in the pro-
grsame. TM former gentleman received h hearty mean
the sea tong of " The Queen's Letter." • bribe Metro•
metal perilous of the sonnet a deckes the violin and_plano-
forte, by Mr. Pisgah* add Mier -Tb.ter, tad Hat Indp's
performance es the Firm* moordiats' sail toss nape.l,
prone. Mr. F. Tall se, Mr. While, sedemeral ether tame.'
hers of the Pristine Draniatie Bodily, eine Revs their am.
TWOS, sad vetted the ereriag's estertainmemes by some et-
Annelid dramatis readings. The hell was wanted respeMably
Aug 4 544 the esseatag passed off evidestly kt the great
secistestioe of tbi indium, sad we trust she to that Of the

Quis.tortos Nbrica.—LlSßON' MARCH rit,l—By
as o/dn of Oa Board of Health, of Merck 15, is tbs Diana
Otte Ititb, Athensia declared "easpooted" front the 12th
of Faireery, tad (fa frog Messes trosafinsee deme—ill the
ocher ports of f3reess„ thus revoker( this eau of the 12th
of Miami last (Mario, No. 189).
7he oriolooo of Tube states that the price of
sera has expereassed a seesidrrable fall is the oeistoi•
tae markets, sad that baud has Sanaa b seats. pa kilo-
gramme la coassiasass.