The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-08 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

REPRESENTATION OF LANCASHIRE.—The commit-
tee of Mr. Alex. Henry now numbers nearly 2,000 names,
and there is every probability that he will quieUy take the
seat without the shadow of
RKSH oppneitiolßE.n.
YO
WORK FOR THE SCHOOLMASTER. The local
papers of the present week report several instances of
notable ignorance and superstition. The Leeds Mercury
says: "In spite of the cautions from time to time given by
tha press of the tricks practised by so-called ' fortune-tellers,'
cams still continue to occur, and more victims are added to
the Nat of these previously cheated. A few dart ego a
IMMO between 30 and 40 years of age, with a child in her
saves, sad appearing to be deaf and dumb, visited Otley fbe
the purpose of 'telling fortunes.' A young girl, anxious to
OSlOltsin hers, consulted the Sybil. In order to carry oat
the idorination given, a sovereign was to be sewn inside the
woman's stays; and the money was handed to the
=se-teller for that purpose. The work being fin=
a strict injunction was given that the money
not be looked at for two days, when she would fall
again. Not appearing at the time appointed, her dupe
searched for the sovereign, and found that a farthing had
been substituted. A quantity of wearing apparel was
also obtained from the poor dupe. The fortune-teller
has not since been seen. The Cheltenham Free Press
gives another ease. A married woman in good circum-
stances, living in Winchcomb, having a daughter subject to
fits, consulted a travelling woman, who pretended that she
was able to cure her. A saucer containing some fine salt was
plated on the table, and in the middle of the salt the mother
deposited two shillings. The saucer having been covered
with a hat, the old woman knelt down :near it, and pre-
tended to pray ; she then left the house, giving strict crams
against the removal of the hat for one hour. When the hat
was removed, the shillings had, of course, vanished.—A
third instance appears in the Durham Chronicle. In the
course of last week a woman, respectably attired, apparently
a farmer's wife, entered a poulterer's shop in Sunderland,
and requested the shopkeeper, as • particular favour, to est
off the combs of some young cocks which were contained in
• basket which she earned. The poulterer, with some sur-
prise, inquired the reason of this novel request ; and wee
told by the applicant that " she had a eon who was be-
witched, and she was sure if the combs were cut off he weld
be instantly cured." T heHESII requeDlßst was complied with.
C
REPRESENTATTON OF STOCKPORT.—This contest is
ingested to take place on Monday or Tuesday next, and is
ens which must naturally be looked to with much interest
from the peculiar position of the candidates. Major edam
land to known to have much Influence in the borough, but
Mr. Kershaw, being solicited to ear himself • second time
before the major was thought et, bee, upon the face at the
requisition, the names of ae mead majority of the vet=
pledged to support him. The sal, hags, tirefore, of the
witeemvative party is in the isKeeste they eta bring to beer
agog &portion of the plidgei area to Woos them to hehit
teasheir. }ember. At meeting of the libels' elegem heed is
ea visg, la_ the Ife
Peterßyland,s ilrilgtoe,ero of a Mead of Kr. m
observed that argreate were esseergit
Mes
protectionists, with Lord ettskibliihrWa le
Gesige SWIM It
at their head, in the hope of ems the eivesset et
tree trade by pointing to the Mae ei et the ewe-

quenees of tree trade. They dwelt eloquently upon the
amount of bullion that had gone out of the country to pur-
chase eight million quarters of grain, or the food of six mil-
lions of people ; but he would ask what must have become
of those six millions of people but for freedvade and the eight
million quarters of grain ? Parting with bullion might
have been disagreeable, but parting with six millions of
lives would have been far worse. He should like to know, if
Lord George Bentinek were cast upon a desolate Wand with
a bag containing six million, of bullion, and were without
food fur only three days, if he would not be glad to part with
his whole hag of bullion fur only one single quarter of grain ?
—Mr. Kershaw addressed the meeting at considerable length,
not recepitulatiug the articles of his political creed, but dwell-
ing open the circumstances under which he had come forward,
and the new features whirl had begun to characterise the
contest in consequence of the attempts that were making to
induce hie humbler supporters to break their led. In
fact, Mr. Kershaw and his committee sic that they have the
election in their own hands, if they can only hold up their
pledged men to the point. "It was a very largo and very
well conducted meeting, and there is the greater hope for the
liberal cause," says our correspondent, " an this contest, be-
cause although brandy and water is pretty freely given by
the tories, they have before their eyes the fear of a parlia-
mentary petition to void the other seat on eimilar grounds,
and, therefore, cann
ot OU practice treating an openly?'
CESTERSHIRE.
THE CIRENCESTER AGRICULTURAL MEETING took
place on Friday, at Barton Farm, Oakley Park. The show
of stork was particularly good. At the runner, which closed
the proceedings, the Hun. ?dr. Bathurst said it was not his
intention to give them a lecture upon outselling or deep
draining, on thin or thick soils, bemuse they would hear a
great deal better information from practical farmers. Bat
there was one point on which he would teach, because he
was anxious for the success of agriculture—it was with
regard to the employmi nt of labourers. It was their in-
terest to employ labourers ; and it was a mistaken eco-
nomy in the farmer not to employ labourers to the full
extent of his means. It had been lately determined that
in a sister country the land should support the poor, and
even more so should it be the cue in this country. If
they did not employ the labourers they must go to the poor-
houses, and the benefit of their hamar was lost to those who
supported them out of the rates. He begged pardon for en-
forcing this portion upon the attention of the meeting, but
he always felt that he was usefully employed when doing so.
He thought it a matter for great congratulation that during
the great crush which this country bed suetained, agricul-
ture had stood very strong and firm, and, moreover, by its
attire Titrength. Recollect P. had no defence row from the
legislature—no protection. Not a single shilling of duty
had been taken on the corn imported into this country, and
notwithstanding the forearm were in good heart and pros-
perity. The Agricultural College had been alluded to, and
here he must say that there was an individual present who
had deserved well of his country. He would not call it the
"Cirencester job," for he despised the impuietion which
the expression conveyed; but the college had been esta-
blished not more for the benefit of the farmers of the clis.
trict than that of the firmer% is general. The gentleman he
had alluded to, had come forward with most liberal assist-
ance, at a time when it was doubted whether the whole in-
stitution would n,t tall to the ground ; and he might be con-
sidered the second f 'wider of the institution. His liberality
had, however, put the college, as they had been informed,
in a prosperous state, and it was likely to succeed, at least
till Christmas, which fur one individual to accocapleth was a
great effort. He trwted, however, that the institution
would exist prosperously for many years, as it was not In-
tended to benefit the town or the county, but the country
at large. The institution would throw light upon agricul-
ture, and he looked forward to the time when the &rmer
would proudly say he was not indebted for anything to the
legislature, and would not consent to run in the giacart of
legislation, but d, pending on his own right arm, and aided
by his science, experience, and skill, would gain the victory.

Int 'Drama.
THE SHAKSPEABE NIGIIT.—The dramatic per-
formance in aid either fund fur the purchase and preserva-
tion of Shakspeare's house took place, last evening, at the
Royal Italian Opera, Covent garden. It had created math
public interest, and the theatre was crowded in every part,
and presented a brilliant assemblage of faehionable and dis-
tinguished company, including almost every person eminent
in literature and art. All the artangements—those con-
nected with the entertainments on the stage at well
es the accommodation of the audience—were made
with great judgment ; but this did not prevent the
commencement of the performances front being disagreeably
interrupted by loud cries and hooting from a number of
people in the upper regions of the house ,who felt themselves,
we suppose, incommoded by the crowd and pressure—at
least we could discover no other reason for their conduct.
Beethoven's overture to " Coriolanus " was rendered quite
inaudible by those noises. Mr. Phelps then came forward to
speak the prologue, writ:en for the occasion by Mr. Charles
Knight. lie had not got be) and the first verse when he
was. compelled to stop, and, alter waiting in vein
for silence, he retired from the stage. In a little
while he returned and recommenced the prologue,
but after speaking some twenty lines in the midst of inter-
ruptions u anno)itg to himself as to the audience, he was
again obliged to break off and retire. A performer then
came forward, and said that any persons who felt incom-
moded and desired to leave the theatre should have their
money returned. The malcontents then went away or be-
came quiet, and the entertainments then proceeded. But it
was now too late to go on with the prol.nue, which was thus
sacrificed by the unseemly conduct of some individnals, who,
had they received their deserts, would have been summarily
and speedily turned out. The prologue, which does much
honour to Mr. Knight's feelings as well an his poetical
talent, is as follows :
The Macedonian stood within the gates
Of the devot. d Thebes. Relentless hates
Asked to be loosed in blood-bed and in fire :
Spars not —the conqueror cried —Yet 4117 the lyre
Of glorious Pindariss le Thebes was strung—
Search for his house these toted piles among.
Perish the city. down ill every tower,
But save, from ruin save the Muses' sacred bower
The victor Time has stood on Avon's side,
To doom the fall cf many a hone of pride.
Rapine o'er Evesham's gilded lone has strode,
And gorgeous Kenilworth has paved the road;
But time has gently laid his withering hands
On one frail house—the boon of Shalspeare stands.
Centuries are gone —talc%clouri.capp'd towers in
But elbakepeare'. home, his boyhood'. home, is ours.
Ye who this night kind greetings bring tocheer
The hidrionic groups ...Ambled here,
Cherish the task, with reverent love to hold
One relic of our draros's age of gold.
For there, when Aeon's long•lmmortal wave
Lingers in willowy banks by hbskspeare's grave,—
The Pilgrims come : Ohio and the Rhine
Fend forth their worshippers to Stratford's shrine,—
And still theyoome, to hail, from every clime,
The Poet of all oountries and " all time."
Perchance, in some dark hour, a venal stage
May leave to bookworms Shnkspeare's living page,
Fit on the buskins to some Relegate gang,
And give the coolie mast to drunken slang
Then, when no tear shall hill for Juliet's woe,
Falstaff be voted MI, end EMMA "slew,"—
Then, ere new Bettmll and Govieles nes
To win the crowd tram ems the gnat desphs,—
The lowly roof, which yea are ken to entm
From cold asalestee dasmanan'ashame,
Mat=ittet Mpg eta Boner taste
A smiletthedrataa's waste.
Yea, what a ter erste shall gather round
Ms barer Net rd consecrated ground,
had sant WON OA saes snaden glee,
Mat kis we,-11tissiod's ownjubliee ;
iserrieere. geripe, may turn to this "brief hour,"
War Oar our bar hours to his power—
For Ore sarrliel Maass orar ft rah
Our allsimemirefs Mrs I arathr fres quick decay.
lathe week Ihniuml—ar lea yet heart
grait Mist& Do al taut needs be ere I
llellates rearms be at Varipeasfs esh—
The Mass' bower fa roved—yous le the pledge kw all.
The entertsinnienta enselsted of a selection of scenes from
Shakspeare's plays, so varied as to exhibit his genius in its
different aspects, and at the same time to bring into action
the talents of our most esteemed performers. The first
article of the selection, " The Death of Henry 1V.," consist-
ing of the scene is which the Prince of Wales removed the
own from the couch of his dying father, Mr. Mae:ready'
Ilinssatation of the aged monarch was in his best
fit; and his performance was received with
enthusiastic applause. Then followed " The Death of
Quash Katharine," from " Henry VIII.," in which
Ow Queen was personated with much feeling by Mrs. Butler,
But this performance was lees effective than the preceding,
partly owing to the representation of two dying scenes being
placed in immediate succession. The alight comic fragment
which followed, the scene between Launce and .S'peed In the
" Two Gentlemen of Verona," enacted by Hartey and
Buckstone, produced great laughter. Then came " Fgatars
Recruits before Justice Shallow." in which Farren's delinea-
tion of the old dotard, drivelling about his youthful gel-
lantriee, was a piece of consummate art. Several scenes
from " Romeo and Juliet " were then performed ;
Miss Helen Faucit being the Juliet and Mrs. Glo-
ver the Nurse. Both were received with the warmest
applause. In the scenes from the "Taming of the
Shrew," as it is now performed at the Haymarket,
Webster and Mrs. Nisbett, of course, were the Petra-
chic and Katharine, and Keeley was Orsartio. How
these parts are performed by these actors everybody Imowv.
There were next some portions of "The Merry Wiles of
Windsor," including the scene of the buck-basket, and
Slender's courtship of Anne Page. The " two merry wives"
were enacted by Madame Vote* and Mrs. Stirling.
Mr. Granby was Falstaff, Mr. C. Mathews Slen-
der, and Mtn Marshall Anne Page. These scenes were
exceedingly amusing. Then there were the opening scenes
of "The Tempest,' performed by Mr. Phelps, as Prospero;
Mr. Marston, so Ferdinand; Mr. G. Bennett, as Cafibats
Miss Addison, as Miranda; and Miss P. Horton, aa
This portion of the entertainment was much enhanced by
the way in which the beautiful airs in the part of Ariel—
" 0 bid your faithful Arid fiy," " Come unto these yellow
sands," and " Full fathom five thy father lies,
_" were sung
by Min Horton. The performances concluded with the
statue scene in " The Winter's Tale," in which Mn. Warner
appeared as Queen llermione. In the intervals of the dn.
matic scenes, a number of pieces of music were played by u
large and excellent orchestra, under the direction of Sir
Henry Bishop, and led by Mr. T. Cooke. Upon the whole,
the entertainmenn of the evening were elegeet and in*,
resting; and the proceeds must have largely contributed to
the fund for a truly national object—the perpetual presenta-
tion of the house of our immortal bard.

UNIVERSITY AND CL ":I*afc.,.
CANIIIIDOIL Die. 7.—At a m- •
pimwebal soa.en held last siiht, the • 2 :
ig .
dent. te the chair, A. P, Gnat, • <
Watson, ILA, Qesee's 000•114 Were
&Okia rimel assuoolr On thee:Wed eel. • r
etsies.".
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