The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL.

Our readers are aware that, the 23rd of April next
being the 300th anniversary of the birth of our great na-
tional dramatic poet, a body of noblemen and gentlemen
have associated themselves together, with the view of com-
memorating the anniversary by raising a noble monument
in Loudon to the memory of Shakespeare. Hitherto the
meetioga of the committee,being entirely preliminary in their
character, have been closed to reporter., but se the time is
rapidly approaching when it will be desirable to hold a great
public meeting, and make a nationalapped, it has been re-
solved to maim a report of the proceedings of the general
committee, which will be submitted for approval to a meet-
ing oo Monday next. A little contreternht, which appears to
have happened at the preoeding meeting in reference to a
vote of the committee (in pursuance of which a proposition
to invite the late Mr. W. M. Tbackeny to become
a vice-president of the general committee was negatived)
Jail* led to some mistakes and misrepresentations. it was
deemed desirable by the executive coencil that, contrary to
their reds, the committee meeting of yesterday, which, by
the kind permission of the Society of Arts, was held at their
room, in John-street, Adelphi, should be open to the repre-
sentatives of the press, in order that any explanations witch
might be offered should receive their full force and effect.
Mr. BRACEBRUNA. of Stratford-on-Avon, presided, and
about 120 of the committee, mostly gentlemen connected
with literature, the fine arts, or the drama, were present.
Mr. HA IN one of the secretaries, opened the proceedings
by reading the minutes of the last meeting, but upon the
motion that they be confirmed being put from the chair,
Mr. V ILITELLT opposed the confirmation, on the ground of
their inaccurately recording the numbers who voted for the
proposition that the late Mr. Thackeray should be invited
to become a vice-president. He thought it an extraordinary
thing that with ten secretaries they could not procure cor-
rect minutes of their proceedings, and he believed that he
was justified in stating that the number who voted for the
proposition in question was 13 and not 9.
Mr. W. HepwoaTH DIXON, general secretary, said that
there was not one among them who contested Mr. Thacke-
ray's high claim to any position on the committee to which
they might appoint him. The whole misapprehension arose
simply out of a matter of form as to the mentor to which
the invitation should be conveyed, 31r. Thackeray Dot having
beet previously consulted, and it being thought by some
that the invitation might be rejected. Not a single person
who voted against the proposition voted upon the merits of
the question, but simply on the matter of form. Consider-
ing the awful event which had happened, and which every
one had heard of with feelings of the deepest regret, be
thought it very undesirable that such a record as that
should remain in their book, which was to be deposited in
the British Museum, and he therefore moved that, before
confirming the minutes, the chairman be authorised teems
entirely from the record the minute to which reference had
been made. . . . .

The CHAIRMAN thought that the minute was scarcely a
record until cuonnued. _ . .

Mr. &Arra DELL objected to any attempt to retrace
their proceedings, by which they would only stultify them-
selves. The but course in his opinion would be to turret
the difficulty by a declaratory resolutiuu.
Mr. orrur said that the committee bad been placed in
a position of great difficulty and delicacy. Had there been
the slightest ground to apprehend the occurrence of the
event which had removed Mr. Thsckerey from among them,
there was not one of those who had voted for the resolution
negativing the appointment of that gentleman as ore of the
vice-presidents of the society who would not Wise concurred
in it. The present motion, however, was simply
to confirm proceedings if they were accurate. He
did not think it proper to alter their previous
proceedings is any other way than by a substantive resolu-
tion. They must act in this matter in a straightforward
and honest manner. The tact that Mr. Thackeray's same
was rejected at their last meeting bad become publicly and
racially known, and although the record of their proceed-
Inge might be sent in to the British Museum with that entry
erased, it would not only not meet the difficulty, but would
lead to a greet deal of corifusiou and doubt as to the nature
of the proceedings of this committee, inasmuch as those
proceedings Wail been commented upon in the public preen,
sod asyboily who might have occasion In-relate' to look heck
to them, and who compared the record in the Museum with
the public papers, would tied that they did out agree.
The fact of Mr. Thackeray'e death ought not to alter their
opinion as to the propriety of having passed that nem
lotion. He for one bad intended to have brought
forward a motion rescinding that resolution, and it would
have beau for the present meeting to have insisted upon it
or not, but the lamented death of Mr. Thackeray had ren-
dered such a motion inopportune and impracticable.
inasmuch as it war not possible to repeat the Teen-
lotion asking Mr. Thanking to become one of their vice-
presidents ; but he was perfectly willing to undo what was
done at the last meeting, and should therefore move as an
amendment, "That this meeting regrets the resolution
come to in respect to the late Mr. Thackeray, sad is of
opinion that if the meeting had considered it more calmly
and deliberately such resolution would not have been ar-
rived at." _ . .

Mr. DrioN asked whether there was any objection to
such a resolution coming after has.
Mr. Orrurr mid that the objection to such a course was
that the secretaries and -Ahem representing the council,
who voted against the appointment of Mr. Tioickeray, now
desired that all record of such a proceeding should be obli-
terated from the books of the committee, and if they could
obtain a sufficient number of votes to carry that he should
be precluded from moving anythieg further, and they would
thus escape by a side wind all the consequences of adopting
such a course of proceeding.
Mr. Tirgonoke Maims pointed out that there were now
three dilating propositions before the meeting—first, the cos.
firmation of the minutes ; aecoodly, the erasure of the vote
corns to on the last occasion ; and thirdly, the motion of
Mr. Ottley. It appeared to him that the last could only be
brought forward on the minutes being coot rrued. They
would be acting very irregularly if they took all three pro-
positions together. If the vote was properly taken the
names of tits gentlemen who voted on each side would be
recorded, and when they had Nettled what had actually oc-
curred the other question Gould be brought forward.
Mr. Vigrrzu.r mid that he could appeal to three gentle-
men in the room whether the Chairman (Colonel Sykee)dial
not declare the members who voted for Mr. Thackemy to
be 13. . .

On this point, however, some difference of opinion seemed
to exist, Mr. Orrur and Mr. stating the number was
13, while other gentlemen said that they counted 9, the
number recorded. __ _ _

At the request ofi Mr. Tumults,
The CUAIIIMAN referred to the minute book, and read
the minute in question, as follows :—'• It was proposed by
Mr. Grueeisear, and seconded by Mr. Bell, that Mr.
Thackeray he Melted to become a vice-president. This reso-
lution was negatived by 2:i to 9."
Mr. TONLIND said that the matter, he was afraid, would
always be one of wailful discussion. He thought some ex-
planation might be entered on the books which would
show that those who voted in the majority did not vote
against Mr. Thackeray, but voted ou a matter of form
against the mode in which he was to be admitted.
Mr. GE anon, as the proposer of the motion on the lost
occasion, thought that, after villa. :lad been stated by Mr.
Dixon anyone would be wanting io good feeling if be did
Dot take tame observations in the spirit in which they had
been offered. There was, is his opiebn, no good in reopen-
ing the question stall ; but as a friend of the late Mr.
Thackeray of thirty years' standing be thonaht it his duty
to propose a resolution, which being recorded would, he
conceived, pleas the matter before the public is its true
light. ft was scarcely worth while to discuss the accuracy
of the numbers, but they ought by a declaratmy resolution
to let their true sentiments with refersoce to this unfortu-
nate circumstance be known. He should propose the fol.
lowing resolution :—"The general co.nmittee deeply de-
plores the prematuredecesse of Mr. Thatekerav, sod regret.
that untoward circumstances should have occurred to pre-
vent the enrolment of his name on the list of vice.
presideete.'
Mr. J. C. Jean-amps seconded the reeolutiou.
Dr. CARVER mid that, as he understood the matter, the
vote was taken entirely upon a point of form, whether the
secretary should be instructed at that pe.iod of the pro-
mediae. to write to Mr. Thackeray and ask him to join, it
being le/presented to the committee that for some unex-
plained imams Mr. Thackeray was unwilling to join. There
was not a single member of the committee that would not
have heard with jay that Mr. Tbackeray had consented to
become a vice-president. He would suggest the introduc
Coo of the words, ' the committee regret that a difficulty
no a matter of form prevented the enrolment of his name
as the committee at a previous meeting."
Mr. CRON eisEs said that be could cot consent to the
amendment, and that if it were pressed he must go into the
whole question.
The amendment was thereupon withdrawn.
Mr. BELL thought that however sell intended the rem..
lotion might be, it was not sufficiently explicit to satisfy
the public mind. He was of opinion that on the wholelthey
hod better leave the matter as it stood.
Mr. S. LUCA. agreed with Mr. Bell that the resolution
was not sufficiently explicit, but differed with him in
thinking that the matter ought to be left as it stood at
present. He had no besit•tme in saying that the proceed.
togs of this committee would be hooded down to posterity
rip:.edrieted at with morn cm account of the resolution
at their last meeting, and the most honourable and

straightforward way was at once to acknowledge their
mistake in not having paid a merited tribute to the genius
of Mr. Thackeray.
The resolution was then slightly modified and put to the
meeting in the following form :—" That the general oom-
mittee deeply deplore the premature decease of Mr. Thacke-
ray, and regret that circumstances should have occurred to
prevent the enrolment of his name on the hat of vice-
presidents."
On being put to the meeting, it was carried by = to G.
The SECRETARY (Mr. Hepworth Dixon) than stated that
he had received the following addition to the bat of vioe-
presidents—Earl Granville, E.G., and the Right Floe. the
Lord Mayor ; sad to the general committee—the Right
lion. the Provost of Edinburgh ; the Mayors of Arundel,
Bolton, Chichmter, Reeds!, Northampton; the Recorder
of Durham. the Sheriff of Midlothian, the Provost of Stir-
liag ; Sir R. Phillinsore, Q.C., D.C.L., Queen's Advocate ;
the Chief Justice of British Guiana, Sir R. Hill. KCAL,
Colonel De Bathe, Sir F. Misdate., K.H., F.R.S. ; Professors
Goldwin Smith and Tycho Manses ; Drs. H. G. Wright,
Angus Smith. and H. W. Diamond ; Mews. J. B. Davis,
Matthew Arnold, J. Crosby. T. W. Davison, Warren De la
Rue, C. J. Dunphy, Otto Goldschmidt, J. Harland.
Thornton Hutt, E. H. Lawrence, Theodore Martin, G. W.
Martin, Alfred Mellon, H. A. Bright, J. Anderson, the
ltev. T. Coiser, Mr. G. Petrie, Mr. J. Spence, and Mr. G.
Vining.
A draught report was then read by the secretary, bet
being merely preliminary to a public statement of the pro-
gress of the committee ..ad its object and intention, and
moreover requiring considerable revision, it would be unfair
to the committee to publish it in its present rough state.
Some obpctioas to the particular es of the report
were pointed out by Mr. Theodore ethergentle-
men, and after some discussion it was agreed that the draught
report should be referred hack to the committee to revise,
that it should be forthwith printed and distributed among
the members of the committee, and that the question of its
final adoption and general issue should be settled at a meet-
ing to be help on Monday nett. It was also agreed, with-
' out however any definite resolution being passed to that
effect at the present meeting, that shortly before the
assembling of parliament a public meeting should be called,
and a general appeal in aid of the fund made.
The meeting having been formally adjourned to Monday
neat, a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the pro-
ceediogs.

MUSIC.

ROYAL ENOLD3R OPERA.

A one act operetta, entitled Fanchcfb., was pro-
duced here last night, the book by Mr. Maddison Mortal,
the music by Mr. W. C. Levey. The action which serves
as the basis of the piece, although simple and uninvolved,
as befits a work of such slight and unpretending nature, is
yet of sufficient interest to sewer the purpose of linking
together a few songs and ballads and small concerted pieces.
such as go to make up the whole of that minor form of
stage composition, the " operetta."
The scam is laid in La Vendee during the French revolu-
tion. The Marquis de Beaupra' (Mr. Harrison), a proscribed
royalist, seeks refuge in the house of the Mayor of a pro-
vincial town, one Cobemouehe (Mr. Corti), whose niece,
Fanchette (Miss Louisa Pyue), is betrothed to a republican
soldier, Pierre l'oulot (Mr. J. Boum). To save the Marquis
from his republican enemies, Fauchotte (who is his foster.
sister) passes him off as her lover Pierre. An immediate mar-
riage being insisted on by the uncle places the young
couple in au enibarramiug predicament, which is heightened
by the arrival of the teal lover ; who, however, (a persuaded
by the threats of his fiancee (Fanchette) to favour the
assumption of the Mayor that he is the royalist Marquis.
The perplexities are still further increased by the
snivel of Hortense de Laval (Miss Thirlwall), be-
trothed to the real Marquis. Some amusing
involvements arise out of these embarrassments. which are
put an end to by the sudden announcement of the fall of
Hobeepierre and the end of the reign of terror, when the
Marquis and Pierre assume their real names, and the two
pain of lovers are rightly matched.
The music, as the production of a young composer, cat-
talos much that promises well for his future. There is a
vivacity of style, and an occasional feeling for dramatic
effect, that may, with continued culture, develop into
something more important thee the present effort. Mr.
Levey's tendencies are evidently towards the French school,
and especially towards the style of Auber, whose sparkling
melodic phrases and brilliant instrumentation appear to have
had • large influence on the composer. The overture con-
sists of an introduction, is which are some agreeable
fragments of melody ; and a &antral " Allegro"
oa a piquant but somewhat commonplace tkeme
which occurs again in the opera. Although there
is net much coherence or design in the overture, being
brilliantly iostrumented and full of animation it makes an
effective prelude to the work. It was loudly encored.
The opening song, " The village maid," is elegant in style,
but has no marked character of melody. Far better is the
mixt, "How sail all nature," which, without plagiarism.
reminds us in its commencing phrase somewhat of Weber 's
" Theo' the forests." Both were charmingly sung by Miss
Pyne, the latter being especially suited to her style ; and
her cadenza, with a series of shakes and concerted passages
with flute obbligato, made the which it received inevit-
able. The duet, " Home of our youth," sung by Mime
Pyne ►nd Mr. Harrison, is flowing and vocal, bet wants
originality of melody ; and the same may be said of Mr.
Harrisou's song, " Look! this is joy," which i■ after
the homely English ballad pattern, but without
any prominent " tune " to render it conspicuous.
It was, however, encored, according to the usual
fate of ballads on first eights. By far the best fea-
tures of Mr. Levey's music are to be found in his concerted
pieces. The trio where Fanchette pares off the Marquis
as her lover, Pierre, contains some capital dramatic writing,
fall of animation and vivacity, and some bright and effective
instrumentation. The laughing climax is especially con.
mendable, and' the whole movement shows a decided apti-
tude for stage composition. There is also some very good
concerted writing in the scene which follows the entry of
Hortense. It is in such passages that Mr. Levey's strength
appears to lie—in his ballads and mop he his yet to find •
vein of original melody which shall give him a specialty
among Eaglish composers. He is, however, young, mid
there is so much merit in his work that wo may fairly expect
from him both progress and adeancemeut. Ills orchestration
isfrequeetly iogenions in its details and brilliant in its effects,
with an occasional tendency, however, towards the Italian
vice of over-instrumentation. But, as before said, them
is so much life and movement in the music that we gladly
record the success of a young composer who has evidently
bestowed his best are ea Lis work. On the fail of the
curtain, Mr. Levey appeared in front in answer to the lend
calls of the audience.

Falhe!tette, which met with decided success, should prove
attractive mail the cessation of the pantomime :Omits of
the production of one of We more elaborate works which
are said to be in preparation. Of Miss Pyne's expressive
and brilliant staging we have already spoken, but it would
be uojust not to refer to Mr. Corns humorous impersona-
tion of the fussy old Mayor, to Mr. Ayesley Cook's per-
formance of the small part of We Corporal, and to the ono
sod painstaking of both tbeee gentlemen in the ousantod
MUM

BUCKS Eutcrios.—The official declaration of the
poll was weds in the County 11.11, Aylesbury, yesterday,
at half past 10, by the high sheriff, Mr. P. C.
Lovett, when the numbers announced were : —Harvey
2,311 ; Leo, 313 ; 'majority for Barney, 1,../98. Beth the
candidates addremed the electors.

MR. COBDEN ON FINANCIAL REFORM.—Some
time ago, Mr. Cobden promised to visit Liverpool and
address a public meeting en political affairs ; and the presi-
dent of the Furaucuil Reform Association recently coniou.
pirated with the lion. getaleinau. reminding him of the
undertaking, Keil soliciting its performance. In reply, Mr.
Cobden states that he acted very imprudently, and con-
trary to the wishes of his medical adviaer, in addressing
the Int. meeting at Rochdele, and that he suffered so much
to consequence that he is compelled for the present to ab-
stain from taking put in any public demonstration. He
regrets this compulsory retirement the more because the
Financial Reform Association is, in his estimation, the only
one inexistence that boa faith iu • political future better
than the present. He deprecates the isn't/ of any particular
plan of direct taxation, such as that to which the associa-
tion his committed itself ; recommends the publication of
• statement showing that the theory of the financial re-
formers is practicable ; arid suggests that 7.7000.0001.
should be taken as the expenditure to be provided for.
Lads Mercury.
THE LATE FIGHT E EIEN
—An application was made yesterday to Mr. Justice Shee at
Chambers, in the case of the queen r. King and others, by
Mr. Thomas Beard, the attorney fur Mug. H., with Hee-
nan, havers, and several others, engaged in the late pries
fight, had been committed by the Wadhurat bench of magis-
trates to take his trial at the quarter Sessions at Lewes for
an alleged breach of the peace. The application was for a
writ of certiorari to remove the indictment from the swains
into the Court of queen'. Beech. His lordship granted the
application, and the indictinent,which was to have been tried
this day, will be rewoved.