The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-10 00:00:00

THE FXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 10, 1849.

Draws, Dee.
The Warder of this day contains the mooed and
concluding part of the report prepared by the grand
Osage Lodge. As the former portion of the volu-
minous document was a direct charge against the
Irish government for some of those secret and mys-
terious proceedings about which people hear so many
rumours in revolutionary times, and purported, 1•1
fact, to be a revelation of the profoundest secrets, it
possessed no ordinary degree of interest, and was
anxiously sought after by the public. The part nowi
given to the world cannot boast of the same ages& I
tire materials. It is simply the Orange version of
the atrocities of Brse, and of the singular
proceedings of the Orange magistrates on the bench
of Cmtlewellan, and may be looked on as a counter
statement to the report of Mr. Berwick, the govern-
ment commissioner, and to Mr. Redington's letter to
the Lord Chancellor. It will be perceived that this
statement commences the narrative of transactions
with the Orangemen so far beck as 1846, and it is
besides greatly encumbered with official documerts.
The annual meeting of the Royal Irish Agricul-
tural Society was held in Dublin yesterday, and the
proceedings were of interest u throwing some light
on the views entertained by men of intelligence and
',tending, and par eking of different politicil opinions,
on the prospects or the agricultural interests of Ire-
iand. Political subjects being excluded from their
discussions by the rules of the society, the opinions
of the speakers, as developed in their speeches, were
of cJurse greatly restricted.

FINE ARTS.

WATER COLOUR EXHIBITION.

Mr. Grundy, of Regent-street, favoured ns with a
private view of his very interesting exhibition, con-
sisting chiefly of water colours, with a few oil paint-
logs. They are by the favourite names ; and, indeed,
many of the work, are an earnest of what exhibition
loungers may expect to see in the ensuing season.
Mr. Grundy is strong in Cattermoles„ Landseer., and
Harding.. From To?ham's hand, there is only one, and
that a companion to that he exhibited last year
in the old Water-Colour Society, the "Irish
Courtship," which will be remembered with
pleasure by all who have seen it. The
present composition represents what may be pre-
sumed to be the ',me persuntires, at a "holy
well," and watching with mingled anxiety and fear
the restorative effects of o. draft from its waters on
the pallid cheeks of their sickly infant. Poesy atd
pathos lark as much in the subdued harmony of the
composition as in the depth of feeling tt conveys in
the expression.
There are three drawings by Edwin Landseer :
•' A Hunter and Hounds," " Napoleon's Eagle," and
a little sketch, in sepia, the first idea of the picture
known as the " Coming Events." It has been said
that Landseer can do what he likes, and this is felt as
much in these three simple sketches as in his more
finished works. Poetry is recognised in the closed
wings and crest-fallen head of the eagle, as the
profile of the Emperor is faintly discernible, relieved
in white chalk on a coloured ground. There is senti-
ment most refined in the little sepia sketch of
"Coming Elento," within a few hasty touches;
the calm serenity of sky and the line of the
horizon could not be rivalled by successive efforts ;
while nature itself sways the admirable bustle and
motion of "The Huntsman," as he turns round in his
saddle ; the neighing horse, the dogs, and even the
brushwood, are admirable delineations.
There are two admirable sketches by Stan-
field, one a broad expanse of lake win from
a lofty promontory, about which " chougu
and crow " are disputing. Fidelity, admi-
rable dexterity of touch, and brilliancy of tone,
are the too well known characteristice of this painter.
There are some admirable bits by D. Cox, glowing
misses of rock and blue distance ; some fancy
sketches by Poole, which always sparkle when
engraved ; and some sea-views by Bentley. The
Magic East, by the pencil of I). Roberts, who
has made Holy Land and its Titanic monuments his
own. Hunt, Niemano, and Vaoher, with others
equally excellent, fill up the list of this interesting
exhibition.
The chief pictures in oils are glimpses of Spen-
serian wood-nymphs by Mr. Kennedy, who seems
heir to Etty's incarnations. H's bits of Southern
scenery have quite an original harmony.

MUSIC.

PRINCESS'S THELTEE.

A new opera, called " Mina." was produced at this
theatre on Saturday evening. The composer is Signor
Selves, a gentleman of reputation as a singing-master
and orchestral conductor, but hitherto unknown (in
this country at least) as a composer. Tne libretto is
written by Messrs. Val. Morris and G. Linley.
Such a piece was not calculated to give inspiration
to the composer, and Signor Schiras labours have
not been very succes‘ful. He has shown himself to
be a skilful musician, conversant with the me-
chanism and technicalities of his art. His
vocal phrases flow easily, and " lie well "
(as it is termed) for the voices of the
singers; his scenes and concerted pieces are con-
structed according to the most approved forms; and
hie orchestral writing is brilliant and effective, show-
ing knowledge of the powers and uses of the various
instruments. But he is destitute of originality. lie
has no style of his own, and the opera constantly re-
minded us of the popular composers of the day,—now
Rossini (who is Signor Schira's principal model), now
Donizetti, and now Auber, with occasional German-
ism', as in the Weberish drinking song in the second
act. To these varieties arc added the English ballad
ri lu Balfe, a style of music which that composer
found all-powerful in winning the plaudits of the gods
of Drury. All this gives the music the appearance of
mosaic or patchwork, instead of the homogeneous
work of an individual.

The BACH SOCIETY.—An association has just been
formed, under the above title, for the purpose of cul-
tivating en acquaintance with the works of the illus-
trious John Sebastian Bach. The society has been
organised by the appointment of a chairman ()Ir.
William Sterndale Bennett), a committee of manage-
ment, and the necessary officers for transacting its
business, all of them distinguished members of the
musical profevion. The primary objects of the
society are, in the tint pace, the collection of Bach's
musical works, including, as tar as practicable, all the
various editions ; also copies of all available au-
thentic manuscrints, and all Vographical works
relating to him and his family, with the view
of forming a library of reference for the
use of the members ; and, secondly, the pro-
motion of a general acquaintance with the
works of a writer so voluminous, and compara-
tively unknown, by all such means as may be found
practicable. Tne tame of John Sebastian Bach is
(amide: to every lover of music; but it is lisle more
than his name. In this country, even among pro-
fessors of the art, an acquaintance with his works ex-
tends little beyond his fugues for the organ and the
harpsichord; while his sonatas and concerted pieces
for tnstrumen•s, and his numerous ora'orios, masses,
and other musical compositions, many of which', for
grandeur and sublimity, have never been surpassed,
are as completely unknown as if they had never ex-
isted. To unite for the purpose of obleinieg and
studying the works of this great man, and thus mak-
ing them eventually known to the musical public, is
an undertaking worthy of our ablest artists, and one
which ought to meet with every encouragement.

UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF DR. JOHNSON.—The
following letter, written by Dr. John's)* nine we. Its before
his de.th, is published with a fac-simile of his hand writin.t,
in the Literary Gazette:-1e To Mr. Bllaiid, merchant, in
Landon.—Dear Sir, I am glad that so many could yet
meet at the e'ub, where I do n..t yet despsir of some these-
fat hours. Tour amount of poor dear Payne makes me
uneasy; if his diotemprr were only the true vs scurvy, it is
ieeurred easily, and I believe infallinly curable. But lam
afraid it is worts, not a vitiation of particular humuirs, inus
a debilitation of the .hole fume, an effoct not of ciisuality
but of time. I wish his recovery, and hope that ha wishes
and prays tor mine. I have for some days, to apt ak in the
lightest and solve language, made no advances towards
Wealth. My breath is much obstructed, and my limbs are
wells of yew. Hyvever, I have little cause to complain.
My mind, however, is calmer than'. m the beginning of the
le r, and I rotator! myself with hopes of every kind, neither
despairing of tows in this world, nor of happiness in another
I shall, I thiak, not return to town noisier than I loft it, as,'!
unless I gain ground again, not much hatter. But God, I
) humbly Imp, .ill have mercy r 0 me.—l aro, dear elf,
,I yor most humble rerwrit, SAX. Jooseox, Lichfield, Oct.
6,1784.