The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-03 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, MAT 2.
A subscription is being made here for the relief of
the distress in the west, but the sum of money col-
lected is very mall, In the meanwhile, the state of
Ballinrobe is described u being fearful-136 deaths
last week in its workhouse, exclusive of deaths
outside. . . .

A very numerous meeting was held last evening at
the Rotondo, for the purpose of petitioning for the
abolition of death punishment. Several of our Dublin
humanitarians took part in the proceedings. Amongst
others, Messrs. Ilaughton,R. Webb, R. Allen, Peery,
&c., were in attendance, and moved resolutions. A
deputation from London attended. On the question,
being asked, " What punishment in place of death
was to be substituted?" it was replied by Mr. Gilpin
that "the committee had no fixed plan—ilist the
first thing was to cease to do evil, and learn to do
well ; and that the punishment for wilful murder
might be perpetual imprisonment, without the hope
of a release."

Aloft.

Ef17,564

BT. JAMES% THE&TRZ.

Herold's comic opera, "Le Pre aux Clercs " was
performed at this theatre last evening with but indifferent
success. It is a piece which has had considerable vogue in
France, and was brought out on the English stage some
dozen years—at Drury-lane, we think, under Mr. Bunn's
management—but without producing much effect. The
drama is lively, and keeps up the attention by a rapid saw
Cession of incidents, but the plot is too complicated and full
of intrigue to be well calculated for musical purposes. In
such pieces music merely retards the rapidity of the action, and
produces obscurity. They require, moreover, that the per-
formers, even the subordinates, should be actors as well is
singers ; and few vocal companies, consequently, are able to
do them justice. The" Pre aux Clam,' besides, is • piece
which is entirely dependent on spectacle and scenic effect,
and must fail unless it 11 put on the stage with the utmost
completeness and attention to all the acwessories ni the stage.
Now at happens that the 'rase en sc6te of this opera was in-
ferior to that of any other piece that Mr. Mitchell has brought
out. There was not even an attempt to represent the some
of gaiety and bustle which the ancient public prom.-
' nade which gives its name to the opera ought to exhibit,
at the beginning of the third act, and the ch.iruses were
rendered ineffective from the want of the moving er ,ups that
ought to sing them. Then the acting was very indifferent.
Even Couderc, from whom much might have been expected,
mistook the character of Comensisp, who, though a prig.
fused duelist, is a nobleman of the court, and not a coarse
bully. M. Octave made Mergy • mere walking gentleman;
and Mdlle. Marton could not throw any inter. at into the
insipid character of Isabelk. Mdlle. Ouiehard's liveliness
and good looks carried her pretty well through the part
of the Queen of Navarre, but the music was far
beyond her strength, and precisely the same may
be said of MdUe. Martial's performance of Nialto.
She made a nice little Parisian grisette, but her Total powers
do not go beyond singing a vaudeville.
The theatre was well attended. Her Msjesty and Prince
Albert were present, and there were many distinguished
persons in the boxes.

CLERICAL.
TEM BISHOP OP M&NCHSSTER has licensed the church at
Wordily for the performanoe of marriages, under 7 & 8 Vic.,
0. 66. Also the Church of St. Simon and !it. Jute, In the
city of Manchester.
PIIIIPIRMINTB.—The Rev. Mouiiot BAYLY, to be do-
nestle chaplain to the Earl of Jersey.
Rev. THOltaa MIDDLITON, to St. Oeorge's P.C., 2201.,
Manchester ; patrols, the Lord Bishop of Chester.
Bey. BOLTON WI.LLSZ JOHNSTON*, to Worley C., die.
Manchester.

Leaving the amount as per printed ba-
lsam sheet
The sale of old materials, 1,8221., took plain during last
half year ; they were oli materials, connected entirely with
engines and carriages, such as old tires, old tubes, scrap
iron, and brim borings ; and it is quit* indisputable that the
proceeds of their sale were properly carried by the locomo-
tive superintendent to the credit of his expenditure on en-
gines and carriages during the half year in which these old
materials were sold and realised; the purchases of the new
articles of a similar kind during the half year being charged
against revenue.
The cost of relaying the permanent way—London and
Stratfoad, here stated at 13,5381 —the directors recommeeded, NAVAL
at the half-yearly general meeting, should stand over to the ADMISALTY, MAY 2.—Aproncrnewrs.—To the Cuter;
next half-year, as the works were in progress, end as the Lieutenants, H. Jerrittree, F. H.
;TILING sad A. H.
items involved the consideration of the question of depre- MOSUNS daster,_G. J. lioness Por.er W. CLor
elation as respects rep/acement of the permanent way; and WORTHY ; Second Master, F. Inoue Yates,,
C. W. Mee-
Shay Cessidsred that provision WAS suflicientl made towards eat& and H. CADCPION ; Clerks, T. PRICE and J. WOTTOM;
the outlay in the meantime by the reenv, of
14,0001, in the Maii-er's-Assistaat, J. WOBSLIT ; Midshipmen, H. BMUr
last half-yearly account. But if an actual charge of expen- TAY, 0. L St'LLlTilt, and 4. N. Burr ;B, 1.1, wain, J.
dims kr them works wen to bs made daring .he current Corrisarons ; Carpenter, W. KINGDOM ; Naval Cadets,
halt-year, it could only extend to 5,4481., paid up to the JW. L. O•xms, C. COOTS, Hon. H. MORICOM, and 0. T.
4th Jenusry, UM, for rails and labour, and to a much
mailer sum for deepen tikes out of store; and against this To the Colombia : Litotes/at, J. Bylaws.

To the Cleopatra: Naval Cadets, H. Somaavnie &EA
Roo. J. Caorrox.
To the Fwgerd: Naval Cadets, C. R. Gana sad G. R.
To the Viatoey Boma Mester, A. G. WiIIONELO.
To the H• rota* Midshipman, B. 8 blaotio.
To the Wellesley : Navel Cadet, J. W. CZAPNAN.