The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-22 00:00:00

WALES.

FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday an
inquest was held at Aberdare, on the bodies of two colliers
named Jones and Clement, who were killed by an explosion
at the Wyrfa Colliery on the previous Monday. Ten other
men were injured. Evidence having been tAken, the jury
returned the following verdict " That the deceased, Wm.
Jones and David Clement, came by their death by accident,
in consequence of an explosion of fire damp in the Wyrfa
Colliery ; and the jury beg to recommend that the proprietor
of the above colliery should keep, in future, a fireman to try
the state of the works before the men enter."

MUSIC.
OPERA COMIQUE, sr. JAMES'S.

A comic opera in three acts, called," Ne toucher pas
ii la Heine," was produced at the above theatre last
eight. The libretto is by the indefatigable Scribe,
and the music by M. Homelot, a composer whose
name is known only in connexion with this piece,
which was brought about oat at the Opera Comique
two years ago, and had a run of many nights. The
drama is written with Scribe's usual vivacity, and
the incidents are comic and amusing ; but it is
so full of plot and intrigue, and requires
so much rapidity of action, tlat music is rather
an ininuabrance than a help to it, more especially as
the music is not of first-rate quality. Indeed, it was
evident last night that the chief part of the applause
was bestowed on those scenes which were free from
music altogether. The plot is founded on an old law
said to have existed in Spain, that no subject was per-
mitted, on pain of death, to touch the person of the
sovereign. A young nobleman of fallen fortunes comes
to the Court of Leon in quest of preferment, and
has the fortune to save the life of the young
Queen, endangered by an accident. He becomes
violently enamoured, and the Queen, in her heart, re-
turns his affection, but conceals her feelings. Finding
her, one day, asleep in the garden of the palace, he is
tran'ported by his passion to imprint a kiss on her
forehead ; a crime for which he is tried and con-
demned to death. The Queen is in devair. Being
still a minor, she is unable to exercise the prerogative
of mercy ; but, being then about to choose a husband
she bethinks herself of the expedient of saving her
lover's life by placing the crown upon his head. The
young Queen was personated by Mdlle. Charton
with much grace, dignity, and spirit ; and Con-
dere acted the part of the amorous cavalier
with warmth and animation. There are several
good subordinate characters ; the regent of the
kingdom, a villain and a libertine, who harbours
sinister designs against the Queen, and attempts to
seduce one of her women, very well acted by M.
Zelger ; Estrella, the object of the regent's pursuit,
a lively little coquet, who makes game of him while
she baffles his designs—a character quite suited to
the very clever Mdlle. Onichard ; and Mafimus,
the Qseen's goldsmith, the buffo of the drams, per-
formed by_ M. Soyer. The whole acting of the piece
was excellent.

DRURY LANE.
Last evening the German company performed Flo-
tow's opera of " Straddle," with a part of the
Reischut& Nothing could be in worse taste than to
g►ve a mutilated performance of Weber's chef d'reurre
for the sake of introducing a piece utterly destitute of
any sort of merit, either musical or dramatic.
The Queen hoeoured the theatre with her presence.
As soon as her Majesty was observed, " God save the
Queen" was loudly called for, tad sang amid the
aoclamations of t e audience. Her Majesty came
forward and gracefully acknowledged these demon-
strational of loyalty and affection.