The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-23 00:00:00

SCOTLAIVD.

EDINBURGH, JVNE 21.
The sinecure office of Gazette Writer for Scotland
has been abolished. It was created in 1810, for the
express purpose of rewarding the celebrated Dagald
Stewart, Professor of Moral Philosophy in the univer-
sity of Edinburgh, and was to continue in his family
for forty years, which period expires, of course, in
1848. The income was 6001. per annum, on receiving
which Mr. Stewart resigned his chair. Mr. Lawrie,
who has for some time been the depute printer and
actual manager of the Edinburgh Gazele' receives
the appointment, minus, we believe, the salary, bat
the tariff of charges so remaining as to make it still a
place of some emolument. Had Sewell forms of law
not been somewhat cumbersome, the all-devouring
centripetal gorge of London would probably hare
made the Edinhargh Gazette an appendage to the
London Gazette, and so suppressed it altogether.

PROVINCIAL.
CHESHIRE.
THE ADLINGTON MURDER AND THE " WYATT
FUND."--It will be remembered that some months ago two
highwaymen were pursued by grime country men, and, in
• gallant attempt to capture the Ulcers, who were armed
with pistols, two brothers named Wya.t were shot. One
of the wounded men recovered; the other died. The mur-
derer was tried and executed. The inhabitants of the lo-
cality where all this occurred commenced a subscription to
reward the captors and to provide a fund to support the wi-
dow and childn.n of the intrepid man who lost
his hfe. This lurid having reediti the to:al sum
of 1,6001., a distribution took place lest week.
The first award was that of 11. each to IS individuals who
had aAisted in the pursuit of the murderers. The parties
were informed that the amount had been placed to their
credit at the Savings Bank, in the hope tha it would form
the nucleus for further deposits, each person being presented
with a pass lock. The individuals next called in, and to
whom awards were male, were J. Ardern, J. Jepson, J.
Hunt, and M. Mitchel, to each 161.; and 8. Sheldon, J.
Vere, and M. Wainwright, 20/. each. It was explained that
those who had I.sl.awarded, had previously received, by order
of the judge at the assizes, 61. each, and it was on that account
that the committee had not given them so large a sum as
the others; it was not because they did net equally appre-
ciate their services. Mr. J. Henshall, of Adlington, was
next introduced, to whom was presented a very handsome
silver cup, bearing the following insuiption : " Presented to
John Henshall by the subscribers of the Wyatt Fund, in
order to mark then admiration of his co•dact in the pursuit
and capture of two highway robbers on Feb. 11, 1658."
The presentation to T. Wyatt then took plat* by Mr. J.
Jackson, of Manchester. He expressed his gratification in
presenting him with en award in testimony of his gallant
and intrepid conduct ; and he had great pleasure
in reflecting that the event had proved that, when
the occasion required it, there were not wanting men to
uphold the law, and preserve the peace of society.
The committee had awarded him the stun of 400!., inc:uding
101. appropriated for purchasing a clock, bearing a suitable
inscription. The money had been placed in his name in ;tke
bank ; it was at his own disposal, and he might use it as he
thought proper. He had much pleasure in saying that hie
past character had been such that they felt no hesitation
whatever in placing the money at his free dispoul. A dis-
cu.sion afterwards took place as to the provision for the
widow of Wm. Wyatt. Mr. Barton read the resolution
which had been passed at a joint meeting of the M•uchester
and Macclesfield committees, which nu to the effect that
1,000/. should be invested in trust for the widow and family

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—MdIIe. Lied appeared
last evening in the character of Alice, in " Roberto it
lliavolo," though the opera was not performed. This
sounds like a riddle, but it is quite true. The piece was so
mangled and mutilated that it was reduced to a mere collec-
tion of fragment", not only destitute of dramatic interest and
efll.ct, but, unless to those who knew it in its entire
term, absolutely unint,lligible. The wl.ole character
of the Princess Isabella was cut out; which was
much the same as performing Othello " without
Desdemona, or " The Tempest " without Miranda,
Isabell c is, in reality, the heroine of the piece.
The mutual love between Robert and her is the foundation
on which the drama rests. His prevention, by magical in-
fluence, from contending for her hand at the tournament;
the agency of the fiend in inspiring him with a desperate de-
sign to carry her off and in furnishing him with supernatural
means of entering her apartment; and his abandonment of
his intention, restored to his better feelings by her passionate
supplications, are its leading incidents, and the materials of
several of its finest scenes. The character of Isabella de-
mends an actress and singer of the highest class, and
when the opera is properly produced, is always assigned
to such a performer. In fact, the two parts of Alice
and Isabella stand on an equal footing, and are given to per-
formers of equal rank. Some of the finest and most cele-
brated airs in the opera belong to the part of Is,bella. And
yet—will it be believed ?—this character, with all the
dramatic interest, all the impassioned scenes, and all the
beautiful music belonging to it, has been entirely swept
away '. We heard it said in excuse, that this has been done
in Germany. It may, perhaps, have been done in some par-
ticular instance; but we know that in general tho opera la
performed in Germany with the care and complettne4 which
so great a work deserves. The German artistic feeling is too
strong to permit a different practice. The only conceivable
reason for such mutilation is that the piece is too long, and
requires curtailment. It has never been found too long
when properly performed ; the best proof of wi,ich is that it
is one of the most successful and favourite operas of modern
times, and has been performsd times innumerable through-
out Europe in every theatre which possessed the means of
ks adequate production. But at any rate it could have bees
considerably shortened without such barbarous mutilation,
by condensing some parts of the dialogue in recitative, and
by omitting mere repetitions of passa vs, especially in the
concerted music. This, indeed, might be done with posi-
tive advantage; for such repetitions often have no effect
but that of stopping the current of the action. It is
the more surprising that this mutilation should have taken
place, as Mr. Lumley has, in Mlle. Cruyelli, • performer who
could not have failed to do the great( athletic.: to the part of
Isabella. Of Jenny Lind's performance of the character of
Aloe, it is needless to say more than that it was as exquisitely
beautiful as ever, and was witnessed by an overflowing audi-
ence with the usual demonstrations of delight and admiration.
But these demonstrations were applied exclusively to her.
Gardoni sustained the part of Roberto with intelligence and
ability; but the character demanded greater nobility of
bearing and more physical strength. Belletti, as Bertram,
acted and sang well ; but his voice does not possess the re•
quisite depth. Labocetta, as Rembaldo, sang pleasingly.
But none of these performers made much impression or re-
mired much applause. The audience seemed to care for
nothing but the acting and singing of Jenny Lind.