The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-28 00:00:00

JI USIC.

WORCESTER MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
[raw' ous CORMILSPDXLIENT.)

WORCESTER, WEL/MI.6I)AL
Resuming our notice of this festival at the point
at which we uroke off yesterday—the close of the morning
service at the cathedral—we have now to speak of the first
evening concert. The sat oulance at this (vixen showed a
sad falling off in point of numbers when compared sato the
attendance on the first eve gof the festival of ISIS.
Although the p, ima donna of the festival, was
announced to sing, the whole number of tickets taken
did nut exceed Ytlo (excluding the ell. tickets), and .on the
whole the concert tacked spirit. The had weather through-
out the earlier part of the day nu doubt deterred many
from attending the concert, although it cleared up
long before the hour fixed for its tommencerneta. Thu
chief portion of the first part of the schemq was made
up of Mendelssohn's " Walpurgis Night," with songs by
Cruvelli, Sims Reeves, and Miss Dolby, sod a siolin
solo by Mr. Diagnose. The second part consisted
of disjedla ?ma'am, chiefly Irons Italian operas.
The overture was finely rendered. There was no encore
during the performance of the cantata, and at the close the
audience were kept some ten minutes waiting the appear-
ance of Mulle. Cruselli, who was set down for the next
piece, hut who had not yet shown in the orchestra. How-
ever, as she had nut arrived at the Ilall, Mr. Sous Reeves
proceeded with his arena from " Oberon " mobil
'YOU.") The prim., donna now appeared, but slit was nut
encored at the close ot the air, "0 to la cm &Ice," front
" Fidelio." The only violin solo set down in the festival
programme was played this evening by Mr. Blagrove. It
was one of He beriut's, and the leader met witn quite au
enthusiastic reception, from the band and audience.

The would part of the concert opened with Beethoven's
magnificent Overture to " Egmont." A great feature of ex-
cellence in Moo Birch's i•in6ilig was at mace maric.t, in her
rendering ul the air " Qui In vow," from the " Furitaui,"
every now being remarkable fur distinctness in the einiwaii-
bon, and every weird tuureoughly intelligible to the audience.
lieu Formes was well received. lie sang his favourite
air from Mozart's Zauberflote." In " Basun heil gen
IlalWn" he was heartily encored, the first encore of the
festival, Millie. Cruvelli ming brilliant eavatina
" Ernani involami," with all the florid execution of which
she is mistress; and Miss Williams and Miss Dolby
each mug a ballad. Herr Formes gave the ceerlasting
••Largo al factotum," from the " Barber of Seville."
The concert was wound up with a finale from
and the au Bence was enabled to depart fur their homes at
the reasonable hour of eleven o'clock. _ . .

This morning the weather was more promising, and the
booksellers reported a brisk sale fur tickets. The nave was
pretty well titled before the oratorio commenced, the lathes
outnumbering the gentlemen. The aisles and great western
gallery were nut litany al well tilled as yesterday, and
there wa., a falling off in point of numbers, compared with
the attenda once on the second day of the Lit Worcester fes-
tival, of about 2110.

'he oratorio selected or to-day was Mendchsohn's "Eli-
jah." The effect of the performance of this masterpiece of
Mendelsohn this mornio4 must be to increase it, popu-
larity wore and more with the losers of true classical
music.

The cast was an ezeellent one, Herr Formes taking the
part of the Prophet, Mi., Birch the principal soprano (as-
sisted in one instance bylle. Cravelli), Mies lholby and
Miss Williams dividing the contralto, and Mr. Sims Beeves
and Mr. Lackey the principal tenor parts.
Among the company at the festival are the Bishop of
Worcester, the Dean (Dr. Peel), the Dowager Lady Peel,
widow of the Lite Sir Robert, Lady Henley, Lady raking-
ton, Sir J. Pukington, and Lady Diana Pakington, Sir S.
Wakeman and Lady Wakeman, Hon. General Lyguu,
M.P., Hon. Capt. Itushout, &c. &c. &c.

SALE or VALUABLE ENGRAVINGS.—Yesterday
Messrs. Sothelty and Wilkinson sold by auction a most
unique and valuable collectem of engravings, the property
of a distinguished collector, chiefly from the Durand Col-
lection. Among 11w principal lots were—The Last Supper,
alter Leonardo da Vinci, a verrare proof; 113/. The
Aurora, after Guido, by Raphael Morghen, superb proof
before letters; 76/. The Instruction Paternelle, called the
" Satin Gown," after Terburg, by Wille, a superb proof
with the perfect margin; 481. Dead Christ in the lap of
the Virgin, after Vandyck, by Lucas Vosterman ; IW.
Christ crowned with Than. by Roman soldiers, called the
"Presentation of the !teed," after Vends ek, by Bolswert ;
121. 10s. Concert de Famine, after Schaller, by Willie;
lit The Holy Family with Angels, after Raphael, by
Edeliack ; 101. as. Portrait of Bishop Donnell, very rare,
10/. The Tran.figuration, after Raphael, by Raphael
Morghen, beautiful proof; 321. This collection contained '
but 140 lots, which realised the sum of 3IG'. 4s.
GREAT FIRE AT MILE-END NEW TOWN.—Yes-
terday morning, at a few minutes before one o'clock, a fire
broke out in an immense range of manufacturing premises,
situate, in Pleasant-row, Pelham-street, Mile-end New
Town, used as lard and oil worsts, and belonging to Mr.
Crossley, of Old Montague-street, Whitecliapel. The
building was originally erected for a sugar-house ; and, be-
sides being of great altitude, extended a considerable dis-
tance backwards, whilst the frontage was at the least com-
putation 100 fret. Within a few minutes after the fire was
first discovered, the brigade engines from Jeffrey and Well-
clew-squares were proceeding at a rapid pace towards the
scene of danger, when, on getting into Spitalfields, the two
ponderous machines came into such violent colli
pion with each other that one of the engines was
disabled, the ladder smashed, and the legs of Mackey,
the head engineer, severely injured, so much so that he
was obliged to be removed to the hospital. The shock was
also so severe that a policeman of the 11 division, wha was
directing the firemen, was dashed off the engine and sus-
tained several serious injuries, amongst which were a num-
ber of fractured ribs. Notwithstanding this accident the
engines of the London Fire Brigade, West of England, and
parish wire speedily set to work, but, in spite of the utmost
exertions of the firemen, and the vast torrents of water
scattered over the blazing pile, the work of devastation
went on, and it was nearly two o'clock before the least im-
pression could be made upon the fire and not before the
building was all but destroyed. The iii1;101 continued through-
out the day to hover over the mu* of combustibles satu-
rated as they were with the tons of oil that bad been left
on the premises. The cause of fire is at present unknown.
The following is a copy of Mr. Braidwood's official report
of the damage done : "The manufactory of Messrs. Cross-
ley, oil refiners, in Pleasant-row, Pelham.strect, Mile-end
New Town, burned down; counting-house and offices par-
tially destroyed, and cooperage seriously damaged by water.
The premises were insured in the London Fire Office, and
the contents in the Royal Exchange Office. Tl'e flour ware-
houses of Mr. Dixon have also sustained some damage, the
skylights being demolished and the roof injured. A wooden
builtling belonging to Messrs. Banbury and Truman, the
brewers, has Likcwiae received great damage by fire and
water.
TUE YACHT AMERICA.—PILOTS AND POLITICS.—
A correspondent remarks that a desperate rivalry has for
a long series of years existed between the pilots of the
neighbouring states of New Jersey and New York, in
America. At one time these pilots were so numerous and
influential that they became of importance in political and
other elections. Their success in their calling depended,
of course, entirely on the swiftness of their boats, and
they were always trying every imaginable plan in boat-
building to secure celerity. lo these experiments they
were often peeuniarly assisted by politicians and rich men,
who wanted their electoral support. These pilots being,
from the very nature of their trade, experienced and daring
sailors, they were never afraid to try any experiment in
sailing in any kind of boat that promised swiftness, no
matter how hazardous it appeared. After innumerable
trials and failures in boatbuilding, the builders of these
boats have hit upon a model which, as far as it is adapted
for speed, surpasses anything perhaps in the world. It is
according to this model that the American clipper yacht,
belonging to Mr. Stephens, has been built, and which has
been brought over to this country, and beaten the creek
yachts of our aristocratic yacht clubs. There is no place in
England where any such circumstances exist u could
give rise to the extraordinary competition which exists
amongst the pilots of New Jersey and New York, nor
anything in this country to draw forth such persevering
zeal and ingenuity in boatbuilding similar to that which has
existed in America.

DEPOT 42ND HIGITIANDER4.—A company from
this depiA, consisting of three officers, tw•o sergeants, and
fifty rank and file, has left Aberdeen for Balloter, to act as
a guard of honour during the Queen's stay at Balmoral.

RAILWAY MEETINGS.

OXFORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLVER-

HAMPTON RAILWAY.

The extraordinary generalaiitc;i of this com-
pany, adjourned from July last, to consider the proposal for
leasing the line to the Great Western Company for 999
years, and to receive the report of the committee of share-
holders then appointed to inquire into the subject, took
place yesterday at the London Tavern. Mr. Li lea VitIROOK
in the chair.
The SECRETARY read the report of the committee, in
which they strongly recommended the pr:prieturs not to
confirm the agreement with the Great At estern, and ex-
pressed their opinionthat so soon as they should be free from
the Great Western, a beneficial and liberal arrangement
might be made with the narrow gauge interest ; and stating
that the cuininunication they had opened with that interest
had been met with candour and cordiality, or suggesting
that the line might be carried out as an independent one
with far more advantage to the pruprieturs than could be
obtained from the Great Western agreement.
(This document appeared in the I.:rpress of Monday last.)
r. LAURENCE, a member of the committee, said he
had a bundle of letters from various proprietors, who had
left their proxies w ith the directors desiring to withdraw
such proxies, iu order that they might not be used against
the sense of the meeting. As u member of the committee
representing the shareholders he had asked for information
as to the artaal amount of proxies in the office, properly
signed and authenticated, and he asked for the account of
I these proxies not as a matter of courtesy but of right.
(Cheers front the proprietors and cries of " No, no," irons
the Great Western directors.)
Major COURT must contend that the application just
made was altogether out of order. (Cries of " Oh,"
" Shame," and cheers.)
The SECRETARY observed that his only desire was to
do his duty to the company; but he was placed iu con-
siderable difficulty, the proprietors on the ouc side of the
table calling upon hint to answer the question, while those
who were on the other were telling him that he had no
right to do so, (" Shaine.") Ile tuight.however be allowed
to state that the same request had been made to the board,
and had been refused. It had been moved by Mr. Oliveray
at the board meeting on Monday last, and the directors
then decided by a majority that the account should not be
given. (" Shame.") It was very probable the proxies
would not be used, at the same time if it should be the de-
cision of the meeting that they should be produced, he
could have not the slightest objection to produce them.
(Rear, hear.) -

In r.eplyto'another question put by Mr. Lsiurcnce,
The sEcitETAux added, that many of the proxies
which had been sent in had been subsequently cancelled,
and he believed the number now in the hands of the board
were not sufficient to carry any question against the sense
of the meeting.
Several Proprietor; camplained that this was no answer
to the question. What was wanted was the actual number
of proxies held.
A lung and angry ffiscussion followed, in the course of
which Mr. Barlow and his colleaguos in the Great Western
interest, were charged with attending there merely to run
down the Ehlord and Wolverhumptonproperty, in order
to carry out the purposes of the Great Western Company,
The CHAIRMAN thought it would facilitate the busi-
ness if Mr. Smith (the Secretary) were allowed to answer
the question at once, and alter some further discussion,
Mr. SMITH said the number of shares represented by
proxies on the 15th of July was ,;,055, representing 1,421
votes. Several of those proxies had, however, bccii subse-
quently cancelled. The proxies of 2..5 have been with-
drawn.

'the CHAIRMAN pledged his honour that no Oxford,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton director, or any one con-
fleeted with them had asked for a single proxy on the sub-
: ject. (Hear, and " No, it is the Great Western.") Ile
had a letter front Mr. Walker, the chairman of the com-
mittee, which perhaps they would allow the secretary to
read, as it bore upon the business of the meeting. (Hear.)
The SEGUE CARY then read the letter, which was
dated Great George-street, Aug. 25, and stated that the
writer was unable to attend the ineetingowing to important
business avocations, but expressing his full concurrence in
the report of the committee. The terms offered by the
Great Western, he considered, were those of a conqueror to
the conquered ; and adding that, in his opinion, the policy
of the Oxford and Worcester Company was ha fulfil all their
obligations to the G.cat Western which either law or equity
imposed upon them, and to make the hue in reference to a
connexion with the narrow gauge companies, as likely to be
in the end the most advantageous to their interests. Ile
believed that their line had within itself the elements of au
extensive traffic, and that with a board in which the pro-
prietors had confidence' the completion of the undertaking
on their own credit and resources would not he difficult.
The CHAIRMAN then said the board bail thought it
their duty to draw p certain remarks in reference to the
report of the committee, which would now be read.
The SEctIETARY read some remarks of the directors of
the company on the report of the Committee of Share-
holders appointed at the special general meeting held on the
Vith July, 18-51.
Mr. LAWRENCE, on the part of the committeeof share-
holders, felt it his duty to declare his opinion that the pro.
posed affangeineut fur a lease of 990 years to the Great
%Western Company would be equivalent to the total destruc-
tion of their property. It was a monstrously one-sided
agreement, and he could pot but think it a very barefaced
proposition to ask the assent of the proprietors without al-
lowing even a week's consideration. It it should be accepted
to-day by a majority of the meeting, they would tw, in
point of fact, defunct. and they would be delivered over,
hound hand and foot, to the tender mercies of the Great
Western Company. They were asked to hand over to that
company a line of 91 miles of railway, completed, with
sidings and side-lines, iu which case the Great Western
would camient to pay them the paltry suns of 13,0001. a
year. What security had they that the Great Western
would not throw their traffic on their Birmingham and
Oxford line, to the detriment of the Oxford, Worcester, and
Wolverhampton ? It they agreed, the shareholders would
no longer exist as a deliberative body ; and it was his fixed
opinion that they would never receive one sixpence profit.
The question was, whether they were now to take au irre-
vocable step, which, if adopted by three-fifths of the meet-
ing, would entirely take away from them all power for the
future. Iledid not want to shut the door against negotiation
with the Great Western Company, but ho called on them to
scout the proposed arrangement. (Loud cheers.) Ile moved
that the further consideration of the proposed arrangement
be adjourned to the ordinary half-yearly meeting to be held
that afternoon. He was aware that it was not competent
for them to take it then into consideration ; but he chose
this form as more courteous than a motion to adjourn it to
the haltyearly meeting in January next.
Mr. BRET!' seconded the motion.

Major COURT rose to show that the terms offered by the
Great Western were the best terms that any company could
give. (" Oh, oh," and laughter, and much interruption,
which for some minutes prevented the hon. proprietor from
proceeding.) Re would prove by figures that under that
agreement the Great Western would pay to this company
&if. a year more than they rectived—(oft)—and he believed
the proprietors might calculate upon at once receiving 2 per
cent. (" Will you guarantee it 1") He would guarantee
the accuracy of his calculation.
After some further observations, the interruption con-
tinuing, Major Court, despairing to obtain a hearing, sat
down.

A PROPRIETOR wanted to know whether the proxies
held by the directors would be used in Toting on the present
question.
Mr. PAESONS (the solicitor) said he was a proxy bolder.
(" Hear," and " oh.") lie had not asked for those proxies,
but others bail asked for them fur him without his know-
ledge.
A PROPRIETOR—It is very wrong for the solicitor to
hold proxies at all. (Cheers.)
Mr. PARSONS could assure the meeting that until the
proxies came into him on the last day when they were due,
he did not know they had been asked fur fur him. and when
he found it was so, he felt himself in a very difficult and a
very painful position. (Cheers and " hear.") lie was the
bolder, whether he liked it or no, of • large number
of proxies (he being himself • large proprietor and having
a deep interest in the property) to be used at that meeting.
He had not asked for a single proxy, nor had the board
asked for any.
A PROPRIETOR—But will you use them ?
Mr. PARSONS—If you press the question upon me at
this stage of the proceedings, I answer I will turn to the
parties who are represented by those proxies and will use
them according to their desire; but I presume I shall have
otherwise to exercise my discretion as to whether I shall
use them or not, and how I shall use them. (Hear.)
A PROPRIETOR called attention to a clause in the'
act which prohibited any Great Western director, or officer,
voting on the question of leasing or selling the line to that
company, and inquired whether the proxies in Mr. Parsons
hands had not come from the Great Western Company's
agents.
A PROPRIETOR—Not from Great Western, but South
Wales agents, and that is the same thing. The proxies
were to be used for Great Western purposes they might be
sure. (" Hear, hear," and " Shame. ')
Mr. Seijeant GASELEE maintained that their solicitor
had no right to hold proxies. lle thought that, as a profes-
sional man, he had placed himself in a position of great de-
licacy. (Great contusion.)
Another scene of great noise and confusion took place,
during which Mr. Serjeant Oaaelee moved that Mr. Parsons
be dismissed from the office of solicitor to the company, but
subsequently withdrew it, with the notice that he might re-
peat it on a future occasion.
Mr. PARSONS repeated that he had never asked for a
single proxy, and that he was much pained and embarrassed
when they were put into his possession. In reply to a ques-
tion put to him, Mr. Parsons stated that the proxies were
committed to him by the agents of the Great Western Com-
_ _ _

- Sir 11. FOSTER said Mr. Parsons had cleared himself
from all imputation in the matter.
Mr. TUDOR, after stating that he had been pre-
sent at a consultation with a number of gentlemen
interested in the company, and that they had come
to a resoluti na on the subject now brfure it, moved the
adoption of that resolution as an amendment to the one
proposed by Mr. Lawrence. It was as follows :—" That
there be added to it • clause giving a power of sale
to the Great Western after the expiration of four years
from the date of the agreement, at the price of 301. for each
.SW. share—(" No, no")—or, at the option of the Great
' Western, for a nett annual pa,yment of 3 per cent. on each
50/. share, to be secured by Great Western debentures ;
and that if the Great Western should not, within one year
from the expiration of the tour years, and the Oxford and Wor-
co.ter should not have called for such sale, then the Great
Western should have the power at any time within two
years of the sameperiod to demand it, the agreement not