The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-18 00:00:00

MUBIC.

TIM MUSICAL UNION.
This distinguished association whose admirable
concerts, under the direction of dr. Ella, have dons
so much to purify and refine the musical taste of ear
fuhionable society, has commenced its eleventh me.
eon. It enjoys the immediate patronage of Prince
Albert, and the Duke of Leinster continues to hold
the office of president. The vice-president is the
Earl of Westmoreland, the representative of his mover
I reign at the Austrian court—a nobleman who, how-
ever liable he may be to criticism in that capacity, is
entitled to unmiegled praise as a titan-at and en-
lightened benefactor of an art in which he himself
is eminently skilled. The affairs of the society see
conducted by a committee of noblemen and gentle-
men, who have the Right Hoe. Sir George Clerk for
their chairman • and its musical management from
the beginning ilia been entirely confided to Mr. Ella,
who has shown himself well worthy of the trust.
The society has been constantly in a progressive
state, and, we believe, has never been in so prosperous
a condition u at the present time. This is the more re-
markable,as the war and the many melancholy bereave-
ments which it has caused in our social circles have
spread a gloom over the public mind, of which the
higher classes have had their full share. Bat, never-
thaisr, die npenini Performimee ci ins MUM; Yel-
terday morning, drew to Willis's Rooms as numerous
and brilliant an audience as we have seen in former
year,.
In one respect the present appearance of public
affairs has had an unfavourable influence on our
musical season—it has prevented the usual influx of
the highest talent to London. Mr. Ella mentions
several eminent artists—among whom are the young
Russian Rubenstein, Henselt, and the celebrated
Madime Schumann—as being among those who,
from this cause, will not visit England this season.
The Paris Exhibition, too, will keep many
artists away from us —as the French capi-
tal, not ours, will be the great centre of
attraction during that period. Still, however, we
treat we shall have among us artists, native and
foreign, in sufficient number and of sufficient excel-
lence to keep up the interest of our musical enter-
tainments.

In regard to the concert of yesterday the musical
reader will be able, from the titles of the pieces and
the names of the performers, to judge of its quality.
The pieces were—Haydn's quartet in B fiat, No. 78;
Beethoven's pianoforte trio in 1), Op. 76 ; and
Mozart's quintet in minor. The performers were—
First and second violins, Ernst and Cooper ; first
and second violas, Hill and Gothic ; violoncello,
Signor Piatti ; pianoforte, Herr Pause. Every
one of the above pieces is a cheprouvre.
Haydn's quartet has a delicious freshness that can
fade. Beethoven's trio is full of deep thought,
which is not immediately fathomed, but gradually
reveals itself to the attentive listener on every succes-
sive hearing. And Mozart's quintet is an unparal-
leled instance of the most profound resosrces of
counterpoint employed to give additional strength
and intensity to the language of feeling and passion.
So finely were all of them performed—so perfect was
the execution of every phrase—so clear the develop.
ment of every design—so delicate the expression of
every shadeof meaning, that even the experienced
amateur, who had often beard them before, must have
felt that he had gained new perceptions of their
numberless beauties.

IRELAND.

- AU
DUBLIN, Aram 17. 2
Yesterday afternoon the Lord-Lieutenant, mom- 5
panied by Major Ponsonby (private secretary), Mr. M.
and Mrs. Greaten. Miss Lowell's, the Rev. Mr. Craig r.
(private chaplain), and other members of the vice- to
regal household, drove to O'Brien's Hotel, on the
North Wall, to visit the invalided soldiers from the et.

Crimea, who had arrived the previous evening from io
Plymouth, and who were comfortably accommodated ri
in the hotel at his Excellency's expense. The die- to
tinguished patty were received by the Rev. Mr. Hort, ri
garrison chaplain, who superintended the arrange- to
menta made for the comfort of the gallant fel- 3
lows, and who introduced his Excellency into the ;
apartment where the iuvalids were assembled. Of is
these there were in all 28 men, namely, one colour-
sergeant, two sergeants, two corporals, and 21 pri st
-
vates, belonging to the 11th Hussars, the 6th Dra-
goons, and the 41st, 42nd, 44th, 67th, 62ad, and 63rd
Regiments. yy
His Excellency, in the kindest manner, spoke to the
men, questioning them individually as to their names, It
the nature of their wounds or illness, their pest life et.
t.
sad future prospects, their present state of health,
the manner in which they had been treated, &c. He 17
manifested the most lively interest is every parti- to
eater related by the heroes, and cordially shook each it
el them by the hand previous to addressing and when st.
taking leave of them. A private (Green) of the 11th
Homers exhibited a large drab travelling coat, said
to have been taken from the carriage of Prince Ment- 111.
ehikoff when the prince's luggage convoy was cap-
tared by the British, and a Russian half sword found et.
on the field after the battle of Alma. After spending
more than half-an-hour in conversation with the s
invalids, his Excellency proceeded to the dor- ro
mitories appropriated to them. The accommo•
dation appeared to be of a very comfortable NI
nature, and met with the approbation of his Excel- ill
lency. The Viceregal party next visited the invalids, is
when they had sat down to partake of a substantial
dinner. The Rev. Mr. Hort informed his Excellency st,
that the men had the liberty of selecting whatever 60
they pleased upon which to regale themselves, and at
that out of a fund which had been raised they were to
provided with carriages to convey them about town, LL
and were supplied with newspapers, pipes and tobacco, 147
&c., so that in fact they had no expense whatever at- It
tending their sojourn in Dublin. One of the objects 1,;
of his Excellency's generosity then rose and, address- et.
ing the Lord-Lieutenant, said, he had to express to
hii Excellency the thanks of his comrades and him- at.
self for the kind condescension with which he had L
that day treated them, as well as for the generous a
meaner in which he had provided for their wants. it
His Excellency
.in reply said it gave him great plea-
sure to meet with so many gallant fellows who had of
fought in the cause of their Queen and country. t
His Excellency and party then bade farewell to the ii
invalids, who proceeded to the quay, and as the f
Viceregal party took their departure gave three cheers 1,
for their noble benefactor, in which they were heartily
joined by the crowds who had assembled on the
quay. His Excellency, previous to leaving, com-
manded that information might be conveyed to him
of the arrival of any invalids from the Crimea, and
expressed his intention of visiting them at the hotel.
The Dublin corporation yesterday adopted an
address to the Emperor of the French, on the occasion
of his visit to her Majesty. The address will be pre-
sented by the Lord Mayor, who is at present in
London.

Yeatarday, the Earl of Monster was married at
All Saint's, Knighubridge, to Miss Wilhebaina Kennedy
Erskine, eldest daughter of the late Hon. Jao. Kennedy
Erskine and Lady Augusta Gordon Hallyburton ; both the
bride and bridegroom being grandeltildrea of the late King
William IV. Kim Millicent Kennedy Erskine, second and
youngest daughter of Lady Augusta, wu married at the
same time to Mr. Wemyee, of WasyseCteuls, son of the late
Admiral Wimps The maniase was solemnised in the
presence of a select circle of the relatives of both families,
among whom were the Dachas of Inverness, the Countess
Dowager of Newburgh, Viseonnt and Visoonetess Falk-
land, Lord Frederick and Lady Augusta Gordon Haliybor-
ma, Lea Loughborough and Lady Harriet St. Clair
Erika*, Leap Alia Peel and Mies Peel, Mr. Duff, M.P.,
and lAIY Asian Duff, Sir Ale:. Woodford and Miss Wood-
ford, Lord Adolphus Fitaluenee, Hon. Lieutenant Filt
clamber, Mhe Ricardo, Miss Wes'ss, Mrs. and Miss
Wyndham, Ito. At tt e conelesims of the solemnity the
wedding party adjoined te Lady Angina Gordon Rally-
button's speruacau at Kensingten Palace. la the after-
noon, the Eul of Munster sad his amiable mums, lilt for
Paris, to pass the Maspassa; Asa Mr. and Mrs. Wasps
aspersed at dm saw Ihm• far • War is Genasay.