The Express.
London, England, 1849-09-07 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

ItIKIIISOIIAM, THUMIDAY.
WEDNESDAY EVENING'S PEMPORMANCE.— !Item
was a sec. nil usi.cellaueous eencert tut ree,tior. Tee hall
was immensely crowded. The Bishop of Wu cotter and all
the 1,6,11.4 gi situ of t e a .ratuteg wanton %ere present.
los performancre, which cum ueneed at tight .ck, did
nut tei fulmars until &teeny cit.e in the morning. 'lle pro-
gramme was a must poled ma one; and the pieces
toroughout were admirably execut, d. The concert
opened with Mendelasohn'e symphony in A minor,
a ',rand composni.m, but requiem/ much *kill and
jut *meat in the perfermence. It was splendidly
• ed throughout. It mints duo, " Unii.greto," was sung
• much spirit by higteiti Libische a.d F. L asinine.
Mr. Sims Rectos fullassed in the recitative and sir from
Der Preaches a " Tr:trough the Forrest." Tail was rendered
wi singular chasteutas and cne, tan, of aniculatiou, es-
pi malty in tag latter part, where the eitoth and whites of
on., thrown into the milady product/ a very beautiful effect.
eue, " Lasciau.i," wee next given by Madame
C Arailan and Mille. De Maio with Aqui•i o taste and
lei hog. Athoni meg 1) nie "11 begirt° "in a style of
ex donee which perheps no other tot slot of the present day
could achieve. Mr. R. Chipp followed with a solo
0., tar organ, Hayon's ." ChM teethe cue Emperor," with
the v.inetlons, This piece, plays 4 with great brilliancy
and p twee of execution, was much applauded. Mr. Machin
tens Spohr's " By tales of ear" as affec wily as could be
elisueu for; and to this wet. sums-dad D alizettia duo,
• Lerma," fr.m•eD n Peoqo ale," by Madame Barn
and lesbians. The while was givi n with great spirit and
bnilmuy, especially by the prima sienna, who was tepee-
r ou,le applauded, and whose ese ottml of some
of the p omega was, indeed, marvellous. A trio of
Costa's, " I banns a Wei," was wet sang by Mediae
Castello, Marto, anu ietr. Sias "doom. The meiouy—
eing miserly diversified Jed latent,teal—gas cepetafty rung, and
an sac re was called fir. Mr. T ruit's harp etc mpa ilenent
was a very skilful pertonnance. Miss Cam eine Hayes sang
with great tuts end I. Ling throughout Web. r's recitative
and air, Before mine eyes beheld him." Prince Albert's
new enures concluded the first pert of the evening's
perlerui.atee : it afforded clietl) en opportunity fur the display
the instrumental portion sal the urchrstra. Toe music
was posit riully end e ff.ctortly rendered ihrunahout. The
eocaints in thee' los were !dadmilie Ca.,ellan, hei,, eke', 0,,
Medlle. de Mine, the Moot a Waimea', Maio, Lablache,
Mr. Machin, and Mr. T. Williams.
The seciiso pert opeaed with lieethoven's overture, " Leo-
nora." The ci.iel feature in this performance was in the
solos, which were very beautifully played. liol i ees duet,
" On the wild rocky Alps," sung by the Mews William.,
wee prettily and deuev.dly encored. Toe gem of
the stitnir.g was unquestion Demand's air, "0 lone
di guest' iodine," sung by Madame Sontag. It was a
wonurous performance tnroughout : it i. wit alone the
but this lady's execution potteries. the Mist extra rdinary
excellence; too much cannot be said in praise of her per-
formance of this air. Muth sang "Re del ciell"
in a very finished style; and Mettle. Jetty ue I'reffz ren-
dered cavatii.a, "Ab ion turd 4.," in a very pleas-
ing style. Tnalbere pl tyed a fentacia in his usual brilliant
etyle; end AI and and Lableche gate U.sini's duo
"Corlett" as effectively as might be expected from such
accomplished artistes. Pischek tang The Standard Bearer"
with great said and power ; and toe remainteg parts of the
programme ate only unnoticed bccouse of the %teaseled excel-
truce with which the piece. were executed. The fl-tale was,
appropei *tele etrinsb, Me rides he's "Wedding March,"
Iran the "Midsummer Night's Dream," to welch the spies.-
did band did the fullest justice.
Tits Massian.—The performance of ilandePe immortal
work is always the great feature at this festival: it has
proved BO for many preceding feetivele, and very decidt dly
so tq-day,notwithitabding the great attracti in presented in
the programme for o her parts of the week's performance.
The hall was crowded in every part, so much so, that nct
even standing places were to be obtained for numbers whose
places were unsecured.
It would be useless here to criticise a performance of
" The Messiah " on this occasion, when the capabilities of
the splendid choir eogaud are as well known, and have
been so repeatedly tested ; I shell only, thereto., notice
one or two of the sertking features in this perforinance. I
have before spoken of the *voiles% style in which the
choruses hare been given at this festival; they were (spit-
ci• Ilyse this morning—there was scarcely a fault through-
out ; a fact which, baying in view the fawn proportion
of local ability with which the choir is composed, renders
deserving the highest eulogium on Bienor Costa for the
skill and ability he displayed in conducting. Bevetal of the
cheeses* received an encore from the president; amongst
these were, " For unto us a child is bun," Al; we like
sheep," " Their sound is gone out," &c.
S nos of the recitatives and sirs were rendered with great
beauty and effect, the ope nem one especially, " Comfort ye
my people,", by Mr. Sass U ; so with Mr. Machin's
Thue saith the Lord of Hosts;" not hall a note was lost
throughout—the whu!e perform mar wee so clear and pun.
The ate Why do the nations," sung by the same artist, is
deserving of the highest praise; it was most beautifully
given. Miss M. Williams gave " Behold a virgin"
with mush feeling and precision; and Miss A.
Williams gave " II ..er beautiful are the tett," with equal ex-
eellence. The recitatives by Miss Catherine Hayes," There
were shepherds," and the toree subsequent ones, especially
the lest. were Riven ice aor at effecive style. This lady un-
doubtedly pageants the highest ability and artistic skill,
although occasionally a want of pewee. and volume of tone
may be detected in her performance: this was occasionally
manifested in her singing to-day. The air, " I know that
my Rede emu liveth," was, however, v. ry ti-auttfully sung.
Madame S intag sang in a sty:e of a xeellence not to be cur-
pes.ed, " Came unto him." The president gave hie signal
for an encore: the prima donna hesitate d 6.r a moment or
two, and spoke to U.* conductor, and .uhm quently to Mimi
M. Williams, who bad sung very beautifully the pre•
ceding air, "He shall feed his f10.k." Probably
8 .ntag thought haply just that Miss Wiltiame should share
with her the e)mplimect of the enco-e, woich, in truth, elm
fully deserved. The result was that both pens were song
again, apparently much to the s Abased...a of else audience.
1 must not omit to omit* Madame Castellan in the recitative,
"He was sent out of the land," which was very cleverly
rendeted. The final chorus was given with great spirit,
power, and precision. Certainly the oratorio, take n through-
out. could not have been wee magnificently performed.
The receipts on Wednesday evening were—vice-presidents'
tickets, 1081. 15 ; other tickets. 1.2 i9l. 13s. ; total,
1.3651. Bs. ; number of persocs pri sent, 2,001. This sensing
the receipts in viol-presid.nts• Luken were-2971.3.. ; other
tickets, 1,9161. 15e. 6d.; donations, 2741. 13.. Bd. ; toted,
2,4481. 12a. 2i. Number present —vim-pm:dente, 2b4;
loiter persons, 2,433. Tetal receipts up to the pre.ent time,
6.8891. 19s. 6d. There is another comma to-night, which
will an ,uubtedly be well a tented ; and to-morrow morning
Israel in &opt" is to be performed : the reserves taken
ruder it certain that the atteadance will be very large.

THE CoNner Mircum..—Wet ledra from Per-
sauv,uco that the Ne ,tune, with Mitchel on Word, had
t,oehed there, on her raid to the C.pe of Good live.

RAILWAY MEETINGS.
YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND.

HALT-YEARLY AND EXTRAORDINARY
NIZTINOS.

Tssetreff tbe ball Foley T Nardi
Miglas4 CegalPo7 1•14161:64". 11;11. CaawszAT,
sliairsiss et the dingle's, pessiiiise. Ttr stimAmm,
M ost.boidsra was ass My assasso., .4.• Ds Dm" ma,
Uo Whit* On INA Lw not beim noes fiat ball
Eta.

me BICRIYARY read the directors' :
Year directors sameed bat doeply Lamm that It Is their'
pistol ditty to lay Wier. you at this hall-yearly meeting
of tho proprietors of the York sad North Midland Railway,
a mart sad meemats os ..troy at veriest, with all others
whisk haw bees rasestrd to yea at hewer inestinge.
It weak* have bees a ann. of is. protest grstiamtins to
year pressed dimmers to ham met yes with a motioned as.
roopseity gibe sensors whisk hes her etta.
=to tads Marge, cad with the easeeeetatrat el a
tardier deveLmmeat of trails willed' had hose sesght by a
e m pe
has maded exreeitart of capital.
hue
would also have be.. satafamory to them if they
soold have suited that rapid proems hes bona
made duriug the past hell you is carrying oat a farther
menenre which was calculated to ensure a considerable *d-
ads, to the through trifle of the York sad North Midland
Railway; aa.l it would have been most pleasing to t:"ini to
have been warraated it recommending a matisuanto of the
Imp ridden& which the shareholders of this railway hay-
hitherto received. Bat a wen of duty sad koseety of pith-
yso compel year Craters to deny themselves sad your-
selves for the premiss mama smell gratitimmion sad salts-
Medea as then all reams and mamactawats would have
bleu to them, sad they are iinaysidably drives to lay before
youths Opt Mit yearly soeueuts and rep wt which have
haws submitted to the proprietors of this railway which have
maveyed saytl"na but of the most flattering ammo in re-
gard to this mama
However noplasant or unpalatable them imensats mid this
report may pr ms they cannot be Pt reached with a studied
mast of truth. sad they carry with them in the minds of those
who ham' (retard them a a aisolatios in the reflection, that
burr rer dark the watt statements mar be, there is no pre-
meditate! fa:so coaariag attached to them. They are blood
era truth, as tar as your direct TS have base able to
emertein the tenth, aid they an untainted by as intend=
or desire to d-thive M any way ; and, however Plattant
your dine on mey be to east Alms elsewleseo, they will sat
hesitate to °oedema what they think has bees doss to the
lorry el this eatern or to impute negligence where that
which ought to have bees dose has not born dew.
Your d!r. eters proved then to Este that sines the meet-
lag in York, on the 24th d-y of May lase, they have sow
flood thew tier. loos to petting at the exact ream Malaita
of the company is respect to its liabilities of dab; to all par-
whethsr ors aIITNTIn of cosetrartion or of , and
the seittirment, u far as Feasible, of all matters in
and arrest of payment with con ratters and trait amen
kavieg long standieg claims upon the company: to the cur-
rent conduct of toe railway, and to the earliest pesible
complied"' of toe breach Mum Bor on Saimaa to knotting-
loy, to Wart the junction of the Y vk and North Midland
Railway wall the Urea; Northern Railway, and these par-
ticular p dots • I h the various negotiations wi h other rail
way isenseaniCe 'or Maids aria, runes% have occupied the
attention of your n haters, lea ing the committee of invent.
patina, wh'cb the shareholders weirs pleased to app Ant on
the 24:b day of May, to eztend their exertions and icquiries
to all the =uremia regard to this railway which were en-
trusted to their charge; and while on this pule', year direc-
tcn bog lea,. to rbeer,, that it has been their greatest
pleasure and r davour to forw.rd la every way the object.
of that comm i. tee, and to assist sad consult in all matters
with them, and which c e-operation it is trusted will bes con-
firmed by that committer.
Yost directors have found that very many unsettled as-
WWI% arid of long standing, wen pressing against the com-
pany for payment, b..h on the cu.struction amount hid on
the revenue account. and, sonsequently, heavy payments
have bees mad, to contractors, whath were eharitrahl• to
capital account, and a seceded' of which will be given,
!Mowing precisely of what consist the additional charges to
capital to toe Isst half-year. Several of theme Mils were
long overdue, and interest bad accrued upon them, and has
bees paid; but your directors had no reason la be diesatielle;
with die fairness of any of tae parries in the settlements
which have been made. They c..uld have wished that earlier
Osamu( the coat/acme had hen if, tied, and they regret to
observe that titers are yet 'bre* accounts of the contractors
unsettled, one of which is referred to an i ration. Every
attention wi.i he given to close terse acn)unte as quickly Si
may be coaaatent with the intonate of the company, and
when have already been settled and paid lino. the 30th
Joao Inst. _ -

le regard to the outstanding amounts against the eonipany,
ma the worm of r.vieue, a very gp.at proportion Pave been
got in, and it is a matter of regret that th .t proportion of the
amount wticit did Dot attach to the last lw Ifelieer, hat sot
bus settled in former heLyean, during who the ankles
delivered aid charged were consumed, and the liabilities in.
curved. A system of procrastination and delay in making
just permeate, has for a lope time most 'manifestly misted,
and to the per. judien of the concern is every way.
Is the unreal ...widest of the retie/ay, and i• its re bairns
with other companies, considerable improwistat and Rivals
tepees laT411(40DIOD'Il may yet be made. It spoils to
your mho, direetore that due &nen ion could not by pen.
'ability have been gives by say one head to s many con-
cerns es were chi.ily managed et attempted to he managed
by the late execeitive in this railway.
Ilene *huges in the officers of the company have been
merle. and o.4ises are still 'manifestly neenaary, and arm
under tiesitleratinn ; and in the claws of the wooers, ba h
in regard to the manner of keeping the accounts and to the
paaataality att.t efficiency of the parties employed, champs
lave bees made, cad others are at required sad are also la
progress.
la the very short period which has bees allowed to
year present directors, and that period so much
amemesrily interrupted by the exertion, 4,1 r the enenraile•
of investigation, in their occupation of the books
and servants of the clammy. it has not been in
their power to do all that th-y could have wished, bat
they saddently trust that the committee m investotethot
will Ivore enema fully into every matter of the past
and that their reputes will contain all which may be Load
del miest in this, for tie inlormatina e 4 the proprietors.
Your directors were very muck concerned when they took
office to dad this sot any progress had been aide in the
breach from Barka Saloom to Knott.nctley I The extreme
impetus, el this jeattina att atud their tamed,ate and
imestserissa atteathit, sad they us no. happy to intone you
that considerable progress has already been made in the
weeks ; that the whole "dike land is now agreed for, and L.
pommies of the company, and that toe junction will be)oticl
any
_reasonable doub , be comp/eM tor tniffic by the lest day
of Mirth nest.

It may have been observed by the proprietors
Out in the rep•rt of the directors of the Great
Northern It ,ilway of the 11th August, it is fit role
stated that "the weeks ow the junc..on line of three
Se ks, wades frt.' Knottineley to Burton Salmon by the
York and North Company are is active swamies,
sad it is expected will be finished *oily in the spring."
It appears matter of the utmost imp4rtance mat the
flret engeserneat between Ibis eompaoy and the Groot
Northern Company should have beer. faithful y and panes
orally carried out by (Oil company, both as a matter of in-
tegrity wit► very powerful ells, sad of the 11,11
release to this company, but the &lay which wee alloweA
to newt in the ociastauctioa of this rel. small, though ha.
portant, branch, shows to your prestige di...cum =at a
similar feeling could not have been entertained by toeir pre-
vious enteutive.

This besa-h only 3i miles is *Meat, but witb an impor-
tant bridge over tine titer Aire, will be colatruated, and the
load paid fur, at a cost not azistadiai 76,0001., which amount
will be provided fur by tit • peen already exareised, mud 'et
to be ezerciWri. 3,r borrowing nosey ur der lb. iecority of
the debentures of the company. The cost of this sn..st die
taints, as far as the land is cuocerneo. is izawaire, but your
preseat directors found sgriements for parta of the lead at
eacomivo TSUI.

It is cone: nay expected that a very considerable poetise
the through traffic from the eastern side of the north of
Inland and Scotland will be mildew:l through this June
tiara with the Great North. re Railway, bring the move
direst Ws to the metropolis when opened Swingboat, and
musk is same* by its direeton in " the coaxes of the
maw MUM " 'lt may also have been observed that
at the half yea;ly meeting of that sionmeny, on the 11th of
August, a very partial expression of opinion was aide, that
the direst line from Doc easter to York should be constructed
by the Greet Northern company, but mat the far toner
part of the meeting were in mvour of the Knottituflir and
Banos Selman junction wits the York and North Midland
Railway. Your directors have entire wahine, in the
wisdom of both ponies Mat the arrangement now existing
between the Great Northern asespany sad the York aid
North Midland company, will not only be maintained but
stragatard, sad to which end, nothing Cellitlatllt with the
honour lad fair intense of the shareholders of the Yolk
sad North Midland Railway, and friendly relation with
other rsilsa!a, will be found *amiss is your directors.
In calling year surname now mere pamieulaily to the
revenue samosa% for the last half pier, it will be observed
that it is heeded as " excludes( all payments and receipts not
helonmste to this half year," sad case has been liken, as tar
as posfible, that this point has 'Jen attended to. Ryas]
attention hes also been paid that it does enfant all that eau
be fairly plated to its credit, and a l that can tfe family pissed
to its debit ; and wages, salaries, rates, and tams, and all
charges have beta made up to tae exam day es w eurafely
and fully as possible. All interest amounts an e imileved to
the day. and it is believed that this account as to the lac
halt year is is faithful a stateliest of its :mule as can be
made. It will be wed that not any property ten is charged,
as that tan eel( evidently depends epos the net profit of the
half yeas itself, and can be calculated Rpm that os ly.
The !standee in exhibiting the half-year's amount in re-
lation to the half-year itself only is to lay adore the shar►
be& n thy real premed poetise of their property, in order
that its future protium msy be judged without of renee to
the past ; and your directors will feel prrfeetly w Meat that
the examinatiou of this arena& be submitted to the commit-
me of investigation or any other tribunal which %tom share-
holders may be plowed to adopt.
It will be men that the weekly receipts have avenged
6,6701, and the working expenses 43 per sent As tar se
the latter esieulatioe is a guide, seas little distaste. guy
be effected in the expenses, sad it is biped sad mallently
repotted that these melee of 11.11N01 pt wish have bet a
lower than they will oasis be in tame Nerageedlog half.
years. The weekly maims shies the Sahel (i uPfle the
present automat eta Ote ammo oftlioalgle wake sada'
ge dig 35th of Ansa to 6,1201.
Year dimities prelar, at this melting tame.
ohm le IWO 14111111M1111 of folk with yew pa

'sty, rather that the 4:passim of opinams se elision tofu•
taw rapes% ; bit tarp asset avoid evossiirg ca. it dap
regret that a petrel dilatation of •;se male of
the T.rk and Noah Mins d r
etaebomaba
daring the 1 ant • 'simpered with the publish' d
f°,tulls of the '""P heltyrar of the yes 1849, sod
lua°lllw* 198,4341. It MIMS be flailed that
thew are eaves Ow part of this diaimetiou whisk are
Of Mr, plimasset Waft MN N rel the same time
to be named that No genteel der swiss of the agrieniturel
sad masalesturiag lettersets is Ilnrlnhire, sad the north of
Begland rearally, lies emend a embassies is the travelling
of the periled's, awl aim that the uncionled state of the
method. wed of that part whisk is mere imam. ;
dietely easseetsd with the pert of Hall, his had a very
peening Weft is sespeadiag the immerse sad Gam-
masioades through that important dapple( plow. Both in
regard to the trammel et geode and the eseveyeses of paw
mem. the Teak sad Hoak Midland Railway, thumb its
Lads sad Selby, wad deltry wad Bull Haar, has guff red to
• eensiderable Meat, and it Is acildestly hoped that this
mass of Melanges of Wale base sow removed, the re-
ceipts en this pert of the line will roseate their fonstr
meat. There ere, however, rival commaalcations betimes
the searnahatering distrists of idasichester, likt Said, Leeds
and Hsll, whisk goateed with the York and
Nara Midland Railway Company kw the trails between
these pleas, and mull sae general maderstanding
between the several companies, so essaatly coo-
trading splay tech other for the raw object, can be
a/reaped, it must be waned that the public will
derive ea unfair advaatsge from the sompetitim. Had
the Mil sad unwarranted dividends of 10 per ant. upon the
aphid laid oat is railways sever beat declared, bat the
last acid hones sarongs cooly of the 11,st lime. been paid to
the proprietors, no such ruining cooperation of walla lines
from sad to the some places, and ter the ease objects of
Wale, would have broupht the rats whisk has bona Sedated
spas ths thousands of the new, as well as Use original, ad.
yammers is railways. To this freed epos all pu*s has
the present proprivtary of the York sad North Midland
Kenney to date is present adverse Oilet•Ma010, sad the
depreciated value of Its stook.
It is with pain sad disgust that your dinghies are com-
pelled to atm& to the semi ace-eau of the half-year
another seelent, soder the We of Imposes assonnt.

It will be sien that it consists of "sues wiit► were
chargeable to the revenue account prior to December
31st, UM, and which do not attach to the work
in; of the railway account of this half-year."
The total amount of this account now stands, debtor,
93,4311. 9a. 3d , and it is evident that a considerable addition
cost yet be made to it. The one chugs of property tax
already paid in this half year is not the w►ole Le which the
sonspany are liable to the payment of . There will be some-
where about 20,0001. yet to pay, but of which it is expected
• 'cosi& rah'. pert will be r.ciovered, and there coy pos-
sibly hi other amounts yet, w►lsh it is feared lactose
this very discreditable and disastrous amount. Every ex-
planation which tan be afforded is at the service of the
shareholders, aid a schedule of the details of all the i•etas
is in the room for the inspection of the shareholders, as also
the ledger and journal, to show the entries forming the ac-
counts of " sundries " and " stations," and the vouchers for
that of "general seemints,"

It must be left to the shareholden to deal with this amount
secordimg to their own discretion, and your directors will not
sew take upon themselves the offer of an opinion upon the
sabjeet. They only state the accnust as not applicable in
any one amount to the last halt year, and they deeply lament
even to be the organs through which such an account is
submitted to the shareholders of this railway. It has already
been laid before the committee of investigation, and may
now, at the pleisure of the shareholders, be again refined to
that or any other tribunal.
The second report of your commit'., of investigation is
now also before you, and your directors can only farther
assure you of their earnest desire to 00-operate wit► the com•
mine* and yourselves in every measure which may be deter-
mined sad reenamended for the advantage of this company ;
that they have nothing at heart is the matters of this railway
but its true and fullest interest*, the consideration of which
they are now ready to enter into with you, and to afford
every possible iutormation upon then which lies in their
powsw WILLIAM CLAWIMIAT,