The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-12 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

BOILER EXPLOSION IN NIANCIIESTER.—EPAIT
PEasoss KlLLED.—Yeaterday morning, a great loss of life
occurred from the bursting of a boiler at the manufactory of
a spindle and fly maker, named Thomas Riley, in Medlock-
street, Ardwick, Manchester. The engine-house, part of
manufactory, and a smithy, were shattered to pieces, and
the materials scattered in all directions. Four youths, vary-
ing from 14 to 18 years of age, named Henry Hughes, Jo-
seph Atkinson, Join Davies, and Charles McHardy, all of
whom were employed by Mr. Riley, were removed from the
ruins, quite dead. Samuel Chatterton, the sun of the owner
of the smithy, and two children, aged seven and ten years,
eons ..r butcher named Wordsworth, were playing together
in the ya,il adjoining the engine-hone at the time, and also
met A.rn taeir deaths in consequence of the explosion.
&char.. Wordsworth, four years, who was
also playing in the yard, sustained severe injuries.

There were also arrend others, youths p
injured ld.
bruins; and one of them, Peter Cash, aged 19, diedsc at bail-
out one o'ciack. Four of the others who are injured are is
• dangerous state. The bricks and a portion of the engin,
were thrown • considerable distant.', some as far as
200
yards ; and the bull attached to the boiler entered the roof
of • tailor's workshop, and one or two of the people cm.'
ployed sustained sonic slight injuries. In con.equence of
the reports which were rife as to the dangerous state the
boiler had been in for come time, Mr. Thomas Riley, the
owner of tha manufactory, was taken into custody after the
accident by Mr. Berwick, chief superintendent of police.
Atkinson, mentioned above as only 15 years of age, and
whose life has been • sacrifice with others by this awful cala-
mity, had chirge of the engine; and great blan.• Stand
and the owner ci the manufactory for employing such a young
and inexperienced engineer.

Mote.
DRURY-LANE.—After many postponements " The
Marriage of Figaro" was produced at this theatre last even-
ing, and its performance, on the whole, was succesefol. It
was hand,omely got up in respect to scenery and costumes,
and the music, in general, was well executed. As a dra-
matic representation it was certainly a falure, as not one of
the characters could properly be said to have been pet-
sonated. Indeed, had the actors been ever so good their
efforts would have been marred by their being obliged to
carry on the dialogue in recitative; a thing which We
bane been long convinced is, in comic opera, quite
impracticable. Such is the flexibility of the Italian language,
and its adaption to musical inflections, that Italian actors, in
their own tongue, can talk as lightly and as fluently in recit-
ative u in ordinary speech ; nay, the comic effect of the
dialogue may be heightened by grotesque and uncommon
musical tones and intervals. But no other language has this
capahility—in no other language has it been ever attempted,
till now, to make recitative the vehicle of common dialogue;
and in performing this very opera, in the best theatres of
Germany, the dialogue is always simply spoken. Recitative,
either in German or English, may he used for the broken
phrases of an agitated or pessionste soliloquy ; but fur lively,
busy, rapid conversation, it is wholly out of the question.
Nothing, accordingly, could be more dismal than the
dialogue of this gay opera as it was given.last wipht ; it was
really "tragical mirth." More than half of it was cut out,
and the performers stammered and blundered through the re-
mainder, with the help of the prompter, whose
voice
cessantly audible In every part of the house, and with races
elongated by care and anxiety. Though the dialogue was
thus mutilated, and though whole scenes were omitted, yet
it dragged an slowly, that the opera was not over till between
11 and 12 o'clock. Such, however, are the musical charms
of this opera, that it pleased the audience, notwithstanding
its dramatic nullity. Merely to listen to the delicious har-
monies of the orchestra was delightful ; and it was a pleasure
which never lost its relish, from the overture to the finale.
Miss Birch, as Susanna, sang admirably. Her great effort
was the exquisite ‘• Doh vieni, non tardar," wlsch was as
pure and beautiful a piece of vocaiieation as we have ever
heard. Mrs Lea, tothe Countess, surpassed our exp.
boas. The The latter part of " Dove mono," demanded a greater
, but in other respectsvolume of vo.ce than she possesses
this fine sir was well sung ; and her " Porsi enter " was
really beautiful. Mr. Weiss, though he certainly didnot look
the gay and gallant Count Alniat..va, sang like a good musi-
cian. The duet " Cruuel, perchi floors," between him and
Mia Barch,weut off admirably. Miss Miran,who war pees, rated
by the reason we have already given from personating the
I'age, as she would otherwise have done, sang the music of
the part most deliciously. Her" Vol she ,apete" enrap,ured
the audience. Mr. Whitworth was the I,garo: he sang
carefully and in a pure style, bet without the breadth, bold-
.ness, and spirit which the part demands. The tint concerted
pieces appeared to have been well rehearsed. and had su ex-
cellent effect. The audience expres.-ed their satisfaction by
calling for the principal performers at the end of the piece,
and loudly applauding them. The theatre was crowded.

NAVAL.
ADMIRALTY, Fee. 11. - ArroINTSIENTS. - Lieutenant;
W. 3. It. Card (additi• nal), to llibernia.--Midshipman : F. %ming,
to Wellesley.-Nand Cadets 3. Hey, to Havannah ; E. Deentry, to
Prince K t;J.E. M. Wilco% to thdeduedm--iguana : 11. Baton-
wonto Caledonia.
r FUZZ MONIII.-1 HE tAiGNET.-Notice is teen in last
eight's Gazette to the °Movie and company of her wit ety'e chip
11. Layton, Esq., onumander, that. an to/mount of the proceeds
CanYrt'
f the bounty money on the tonnage of the .:are brigantine%
name untnown, captured 11th 51. ch, 1846, and Clara, on the 12th
March, 1046, will be detomited in the registry of the 1140 Ciurt
Adtainelty, on or before the Bth of Mare% ISIS, agreeably to act of
parliament.-Waratiaritex.-- the account ralea of the promo&
arising from the capture of the clime vessel thaim, by her Majecty'e
ship Waterwtteh; Birch, l'aq., commander, on the tat ol alay.
1846, will be registered in the high (Sort at Admiralty. on or after
the 19th inst.- Wsa cram, -The officers and eompany of Lae Ma.
jemy's 'loop Wanderer, Captain the Hon. .1. Bemoan, then ion-
mender, who were aetuidly present at the dectroc Bon 01 tome clam
barriceonson the Galling, between the 19th and 26th NOVelittlrY.
11140, are tolorme.l that a parliament:o.y grant havn9 rein mete to
them fur the alerts liberated no this uetaudo, a distribution ilareof
will be made, on Friday, the 25th ban., at No. 14, (heat eiconce-..tmet,
Westminster, where the unclaimed ehares will be recalled tor 3 no idler.
Commander, 3381. 19s. 0.d.; 3rd Nash 741. Ble. 6;tl. • ith clas%
371. b.. 31d. ; sth elm% 331. In e. ; 6th elms, 2:/. 71,1 z
elms, 141. 12s. 74d.; Sth clam, itt. lea. lid.; 9th deer, 111.3.. 141.;
10th elms, /1.9.04 d.; .9th clew, 51.11 lid. ; 12th ctn., 31. I I/. Old.;
13th clam, 21. 150.101.1.-Ssasero.-The oflicers and ronspany of
her Mairety's ship Saracen, Lieut. IL W. 1101 cosenuindieg, are in.
formed that, to the 95th Met., they will be paid, at 11, Norfolk
Strand, their proportion. of a grant roierred tar toe destruct=
• barracoons, at the GLUM., between the 111th and the 96th Nor..
1040, Rollo and Wanderer in company; and the eh:tresvill be reatlltd
for three months to mow, agreeably to set of purlianwnt :-'rd dam.
r 449 r. ; 4th claw, 371 5, 30.; Stb chum, ;2. 10s. 1314.;
clam, 22/.7. ; 7th clue, 181. 12s. Bth chase, a 141. I11+.;
9th Nan., 111. 3*. ,• 10th claw% 71. fic.O.d.; 11th clan, 3/.110.94d.;
12th clam, 3/. 14a. 6,10. ; lath elan, 15e. 10/01.-11aiia.-Tha
officers and earnpany of her Sladelny's brig Rolla, C. Hell,
mundit.g, sill be paid on Friday, the 25th of thin month, at No. 22,
Arundetagrem, Boned, their rev dire proportimo of bounties
granted for the liberation of Mares and destruction of banteemaut by
that vessel, in company with her Alints43's hip. Wandertr .aid
an, between the 19th and 20th ot November, 1340; mid that the 114
will be reeohed, tin Wedneaday- and Thursdays ouly, tor the three ad
/owing months, at the same place i--Conunauder, 149/. In. 1d; led;
clam, 14!. lug. Mid.; 4th elan, 37/. Sa 310.; Sth c:asa, 331 10,11p1.
6.h ch.., 22/. o. Lid.; ith claw, 181. 12s. 7id.; Ith Natty
141. tae. 11d.; 9th cltvlt 3e. fild.; It lb clam, 71. tte. 044.; Itch
clam, 5/. Ile. 12th claw, 31.140. 61d.; 13th class, L. lie. 1441.