The Express.
London, England, 1848-11-06 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

PEACE MEETING AT biANCUEATER. The dele-
gates from the Peace Convention at Brussels, an account of
whose visit to Birmingham was given in this paper of Satur-
day, addressed a large and highly respectable meeting in the
Town-hall, Manoheater, on Friday evening. Mr. Kershaw,
M.P.t presided, and Mr. /Ruble, Mr. Wm. Swart. U P.,
Hindley, M.P.. Mr. Joseph Shale, Mr. Prentice,
and Mr. Vincent addrea-ed the mewing, but the speech of
M. Viochers, ot Brussels (interpreted sentence by sentence
by Dr. Bowling, K P., for the advantage of such of the au•
thence sa did not understand the French language), seemed
to create the greatest interest. Elihu Burr= also delivered
an address in favour of peace principles, which commanded
attestioa.
.....

THIS MEETING OPEISEItaTELECTORS AT WAKE-
Saturday we reported the proceedings at this
meeting on the previous day (Friday, Nov. 3.) The follow-
ing is a summary of what occurred niter our report was
despatched by train : The first resolution, n oved by the
Mayor of Bradford, seconded by Mr. Sully, of Sheffield, wu
adopted by the meeting. The other two resolutions were
also adopted, the second being moved by the Mayor of
Wakefield, and seconded by Mr. T. Todd, of Dewsbury.
The third resolution was moved by Mr. E. Baines, of Leeds,
and seconded by Mr. F. Crossley, of Halifax. Some gentle-
men present who were favourable to Mr. Fliewilliam's
claims then attempted a compromise, but all their proposal-
to that end were negatived, and a resolution was passed
expensing the dissatisfaction of the meeting with the address
white Mr. Fitewillisan had issued. Finally a resolution
was passed, constituting the delegates present a committee,
in order to take the *pistons of the liberal voters for the
riding, in their respective districts, u to the propriety of
bringing out another candidate in opposition to Mr. Fits
willism.—The meeting broke up about five o'clock, having
kited nearly four hours and a half.
_ _SURREY.

SUICIDE OE LORD MIDDLETON.—Lord Middleton,
a man in the prime of life, had been for some time rather
eccentric la his manntr, arising, it was understood, from
fami4 matters. He has latterly resided almost alone in the
mansion in Pepperharrow-park,a short distance horn Oodil.
ming. On the morning of Wednesday last, the old servant
of has lordeMp's feeling uneasy at not seeing Is a muter op
at the usual time, went to his bedroom to see if he was
but on entering he found that his lordship was not
there. He searched the house, and on entering a small
room he found his master lying on the ground,
and an appearance of blood issuing from his month.
He instantly despatched the steward on horseback for the
medical aid of Mr. Steadman, the family servos, but on
a his arrival ha found that Lord Middleton had been dead

some hours, and that death had been moved by the noxious
fames of charcoal. His lordship's will was lying on a table
near, u will es a ring which he usually wore, and a pillow
fetched Iron the deceased nobleman's bedroom was lying
near the brasier, and on it his lordship's head was reclined.-
Letters were also found indicative of his lordship's intention
to destroy his lite. The afflicted lady of the deceased arrived
at Pepperharrow Park on Thursday, sad it is stated that she
was in the set of writing tts his lordship stating her intention
of returning home, when the massager arrived with the
dreadful news. His lordship dies without issue, and is suc-
ceeded by Charley Brodricke, son of the late Archbishop of
Cashel.

A FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE SOUTH WESTERN
RAILWAY occurred at the Farnborough Station on Friday
night. A gentlemen who bad been out shooting with a party
of friends approached one of the trains, when he slipped end
fell headforemest into the narrow space between the wheels
and the wall of the platform. The unfatunafe gentleman
was eventually got out, but the injuries he had sustained
were so severe, Olathe had expired before he was extricated.
POISONING BY WRONG MEDICI/IL—The adjourned
inquiry from Wednesday into the circumstances whkh occa-
sioned the death of Mrs. Sergio= Smyth was resumed at the
White Horse lon, in Ramsey, oa Friday.—Mr. Taylor, sur.
gem, who preheated the post-xsortein examination, deposed
to the healthy state of the body, and that it was impasible
to detect the caws of death, strychnine leaving no indica-
tion of its presence. Assisted by Mr. Randall of South-
ampton, he had analysed the mixture of which Mn. Smyth
took a part, being the outdate of the bottle delivered to him
by the nurse, and the molt by the various tests exhibited
was to prove the presence of poison sufficient to destroy
eight or nine persons. The latter portion of the evidence of
Mr. Jones, the chemist, who mixed the medicine,
wing the strychnine bottle for that containing milking,
was to the following effect :—After I had breakfasted and
gone up stain to dews, I went into the shop as usual. My
young man mid, " Did you see the hone gallop into the town
with Captain Smyth's servant this morning I" I said "No ;
what was the reason, do you know ?" He mid, "No ; but
I saw Mr. Taylor r off Mtn afterwards." I said, " I
hope M. Smyth as not worn,' and turned round towards
my desk. I Shea saw the bottle I had used the previous
night. I took it up, and saw that it was labelled strychnine.
I said "Oh, nay Ood, I have given this in mistake to Mrs.
Smyth." 1 then rushed awitold Mrs. Jones, but I was so
agitated that she did not at first understand me. I then
sent the young men to Mr. Taylor's surgery to know what
was the matter with Mrs. Smyth. He reamed and said he
did not know what was the matter, as Mr. Taylor had not
returned. I had s partial hope that she had not taken the
medicine. I then ordered a horse and chaise to be got
ready immediately, and waited while it was getting ready.
My wife hying me so much excited, met me at the
White Horse gateway to go with me, (cuing lest I should
drive too rapidly and produce another socadont. I soon
got to Jermyn's. When on the grounds 1 met Mr.
Taylor. I asked Mr. Taylor how Mrs. Smyth was 1 He said
she was dead. I cannot cam es what were my feelings. This
is 6111 have to may. At far as I can readied, they are the pehe.
eipal facts. The reason I kept 'Shaine i.t so small a bottle, Is be.
cause I want very little, and the same with strychnine.
That is my name for keeping those articles in ea spur
corner of the shop, because they are seldom woo.
The jcry deliberated f,r nearly two hours, and
then returned a verdict of Manslateghter. The coroner
then informed Mr. Jones of the revolt, and took the
opportunity of complimenting him upon his conduct since
the melancholy mi.adventure, and the frankness and readi-
ness with which he had disclosed all the circumstances con.
netted with it. Mr Jones was committed under the cam
r nor's warrant for trial.

COVENT-OARDEN.—kuber's " Hayden," after seve-
ral pimponements, caused by the illness of Mr. Sims Reeves,
was at lentprodneed on Saturday night with an Mat
which was Mooed by the very nocemful Mit of Miss
Luc iota u a dramatic singer. This opera, originally per-
formed in Paris at the Opera Canique, was considered
worthy to be transplanted to the stage of oar Roysl Italian
Opera, and was among the novelties announced for last
mein bat not bronchi forward; and it has fallen to Mr
Bonn to introduce it to the public in en English dress. The
story of the piece poises= s me interest, big is so involved
and complicated, and so indistinctly developed, that it
is difficult to comprehend it even with the help
of the libretto, and almost impassible to give,
in a reasonable compass, any intelligible account of
it. This is the rook on which almost all our lyrical
dramatists split. They cannot be made to comprehend
(though every day's experience ought to convince them
of it) that the utmost simplicity of plot and had.= is the
moat emend 1 point in the construction of an oars ; that
the tale should tell itself by means of striking and affecting
situations, without requiring the aid of narrative* and ex-
planations ; and that the dialogws should, as far as possible,
be limited to the expeamien of kitbag sad passion. It is
owing to the neglect of this alma self-evident principle that
the music of the greatest oomposen is often thrown away
npoe dramas destitute of the primary elements of popularity.
The hero of the piece, Lomas's°, is the brave and victorious
admiral of the Venetian fleet, in the palmy days of the
republic. He appears, at the outset, as the giver of
a banquet to the officers of his Seel, on the eve
of its =Hag from Zia, in Dalmatia, to Venice. In the
aids of the isetivi Me be appears to labour under a gloomy
melancholy, which excites the surprise and curiosity of his
companioas. All that is known is, that in his loath he had
been wild sad dissipated ; had suddenly changed his life,
become a sailor, and saliva fame and fortune by his ex-
ploits mama= Tor= Loran= is aocrapanied in his
warlike meadow (somewhat &hardly) by Winks, a
yonag orphan, the niece at a Venetian senator, er.io having
lost his bruise at play, had committed suicide. She hat
become (we do not know how) the ward of Loredemo, who
carries her about with him as his fears bride, and has
given to her, SO an attendant, a young Omsk slave, Hari=
the heroine of the pine. lin mooed in sommand Marmiso,:his
secret end =ally enemy, accidentall discovers the mystery
of his constaat en•lanly by overhearing him talk in his
sleep, and unconsciously reveal that he had caused the self-

destruction of Rofoseta'e uncle, by ,Aces ing sad raining
hint at play. Broome for this infamous act had preyed on
Lerederao's mind, and, before falling asleep, be had written
letter to the son of Donato, the man he had ruined, ac-
knowledging his guilt and tendering restitution. lialgersio
takes pomession of this letter and the act closes. In the
sebond act, the scene is on board Lorettano's ship, haw
diately after his fleet has pined a great victory ; and the
set chiefly consists of the joyous festivities of the sailors,
mingled with triumphal wags and choruses. Doreato's son,
who had taken service as a volunteer, and has be-
haved pliantly in the battle, Is invested by toe
admiral with the commend of • vessel taken by
bk bravery, in spite of Malgeotio's claim to this
commend. Andrea declares himself to be the son of Donato ;
sad, is the quarrel that ensues. Malgenin alarms Lorsdono
with dark allusions to his posseesion of the secret of hie die. '
Imam In the third set Loredotso has a triumphal recep-
tion by the senate and people of Venice; sad, the Doge
being dead, the victorious admiral is about to be chosen his
suoccesor. Loredano's inveterate foe is preparing to de-
means him to the senate, but Malgenio's purpose is frets.
mad by an opportune renewers with Andrea (or Donato).
Malgento's death in the duel cuts the knot of the dramatic
difficulties. Loredano's secret is safe ; he eccepta the ducal
crown, pardons Donato his homicide ; bestows on him the
hand of Rajoeta, having discovered their mutual attach.
meat; and gives his own band to iloydce, by whom
he has been constantly beloved, and who turns
out to be a princess of the royal race of Cyprus.
All this is but so-so in respect t 3 distinctness, but we cannot
make it any clearer. The incidents, however, confused as
they. are, give room both for musical end soeuic effects. The
mune contains beautiful and striking things; bat, as a whole,
it cannot for a moment be compared to " blesaniello," nor
indeed do we think it equal to the " Domino Noir " or " Les
Dionne de la Cooronne." The overture begins with •
sweet andante, chiefly for wind instruments, but falls Into an
ordinary waltz in the style of Jullien's promenade concerts.
The opening chorus is an animated anacreontic, the melody
of which, suet by Loredono, is repeated by toe chorus with
great effect. Between the first and second acts there is some
entr'acte music, descriptive of the naval tepee:merit sup-
weed to be raging. It is terribly boisterous, the whale
strewth of the orchestra being combined with the
noise of cannon and other sounds of battle behind
the scenes. It displays no novelty or ingenuity of acetone;
I but still it is a good preparation for the extraordinary 1011111/111
display on the no of the curtain—the stage bring converted
into the deck of a ship of war, with the crew in all the con-
' fission and excitement of victory, singing,. drinking, and
squabbling about their liquor. It is most admirably managed,
end the choral songs of the sailors are full of life and vigour.
it is, indeed, in the choruses' concerted pieces, and orchi s
tral accompaniments, much more than in the airs, that
Auber's genius is exhibited in this opera. The part of Lore.
dono, originally written for and performed by Roger, was
sustained by Sims Reeves with complete guano. His eins-
cdand countenance was too indicative of the severity of hie
recent illness, but hie voice and his energies were very
little, it at all, impaired. He acted the character with
judgment and truth, end wherever there was room
for a fine vocal effect, he did not fail to produce it. The
concerted music of the scene where Loredano's trouhle.l
sleep, in which he betrays his fatal secret, is watched by his
enemy (one of the beet pours in the opera) was rendered
deeply impressive, not only. by the singing and acting of
Reeves, but by the manner in which the part of Malgenio
was sustained by Whitworth, whose whole performance was
that of • judicious actor and a sound musician. Loredan o's
romance in the third act, "Farewell, thou city of my
fathers," a moreeass, the beauty of which is enhanced by the
delicious oft ct of the distant chorus, was sung with ex-
quisite ferliew, and rapturously applinded.—Miss Luoombe,
by her performance of Haydie, bar raised herself at one step
to the highest rank among our English dramatic singers.
She has long been known as an excellent concert se.ger,
but her attainments have been greatly increased by her re-
cent sojourn in Italy—after all, and even in its decay, the
" land of song." bliss Lucombe's voice does not seem to be
naturally of extraordinary quality, much of its excellence
being the evident result of art and cultivation. But it has
acquired volume, smoothness, and equality of tone, and its
compass is tat of en eaten-ice soprano. Her execution is
highly finished, and, in Italian purity and refinement of
style, we have no hesitation in saying that she is unrivalled
by any of her countrywomen now on the stage. Her stature
is small and her figure slight ; so much so that we supposed
her petite appearance would be an obstacle to her mimeses
in a theatre. But she looked the interesting Greek girl
exceedingly well. Her face was animated and Ingres
sive ; she walked the stage (notwithstandiog bar
inexperience) with graceful ease and self-possession ; and but
whole representation of the character was marked by intel-
ligence end feeling. Her vocal efforts wire rewarded by
.ap-
plause, evidently genuine as well es enthusiastic ; particu-
larly her great mesa at the beginning of the third act, a cos
position demanding. powers of the highest order, both of ewe
cution and expression. kliss ?dement looked well and sang '
pleasingly in the Might pert of Rafaela; and Mr. Corti
enacted Domenico, the blunt boatswain, with considerable
spirit. It is imposib'e to speak too highly of the manner in
which the opera nes been got up. The choral and concerted
music was excellently sung : the orchestra (much improved
since the opening of the theatre), did justice to Auber's fine
insaumentetion : the scenery was beautiful, and the spectacle
splendid. The curtain fell amid the acclamations of a
crowded audience. We were told that E.,ger (the original
Loredano), and Jenny Lind were in the boxes, though we
did not see:thein.