The Express.
London, England, 1865-06-01 00:00:00

A NNW OPERA IN "HIGH LIFE.'

We read in Oedipus/1i of yesterday :—" A most
interesting musical soirle we. given • few eights ego is the
Theatre of the Coomervatoire, to, the' Auditios d'•a Oplre,
as the programme aIIDOILOOKi it. The composer was the
Duke de Maw., a young nobleman well haws in the
fashionable circles of Pais, but likewise eelebrated in the
literary world for his success in several branches of the fine
art& Eaormously rich, young, well-looking, an excellent
painter, an admirable photographs& and an accomplished
11111111iCillIN he still desired to submit to the weer, test of crib'
stem the result of his labours as a composer, and baths& pur-
pose be engaged at • ooesiderable expose the beet artists
of the Grand Opera to be the interpreters of hie bag
work, an opera in four acts. The double position of the
young composer was exemplified in the twofold character
Of the company, for whilst on the one head were to be
Been the Empress, the Princess Mathilds, the Primers
Anna Murat, the Prime sad Maws de Mettersich, Count
end Countess Walewskl, she Count and Countess de Dresx•
Brisk, Barons and Barooseiss de Rothschild, the Marquise
de Galiffet, and • crowd of other high and fashionable per
swiss, then were, on the other hand, M. Thiess, M. Ber-
ry'', M. Anber, Prism Po•iatowski, M. Perrin (of the
Opera), M. de Paadeloup, and all the musical Wilke of
Park& ladies and gentlemen, all were la full evening dress,
as befitted such a high musical solemnity. The enter-
tainment consisted of two parts, ow with seven pieces,
and the ether with eight. The mute besides was of
two kinds, the far greater portioe written for the voice"
but several morcesux were also Intended for a ballet.

-lance, we may suppose that this opera, the plot of which
could not be guessed at by the public since the solos,
duets, sad thwarted pieces were all taken out of their na-
tural order, and mixed up together indiserhaithatly, is to
be a representation d grand spedecla But however that
may be, the noble composer's work was received with de-
aided favour, sad the audition was heyead any doubt •
sumer. The pervading quality is a charming strain of
melody which is wanting, so matter w►at may be the
character of the situation. In the ' Triumphal March,' with
chorus, in the first act ; the' Corsair's Song,' by Caster,
and chorus, in the third ; the air for barytes° in the second,
splendidly mug by Faun ; and the tenor air, by Gneymard,
in the fourth, the melody was alw►ys clear and agreeable.
As to the ballet music, the composer seemed there to luxu-
riate in charming motives, a ' Waltz, accompanied by
chorus,' a'Pu de deux,' axd the Pas de Mooches' being
enthusiastically applauded. bided, this last, which is of
rare delicacy and elegance, was unanimously encored, and
the audience would, to all appearance, have willingly heard
it a third time. Tee Empress and the persons of the court
remained to the end, and so great was the charm that the
general mass of the audience never thought of moving. In
the course of the evening ices and other refreshments were
hauled about in the theatre; it was, io feat, impossible to
eat mon pliantly than the noble composer."

WORKING MANS CLUB AND INSTITUTE
UNION.

The third of these useful social meetings, held in
the Lower-ball Raster-ball, took place on Tuesday evening ;
the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot presided. Among there
present were Mr. Wilfrid Lawson, M.P. ; Mr. John Abel
Smith, M.P. • the Rev. Demmer Burns, and the Bev. IL
SoUy, Secretary to the Working Men'. Club and Institute
Union, 150, Strand. The noble chairman said he had
much pleasure in calling npos Mr. Lawson to introduce
the discussion for the evening. Mr. Lawson, after dwelling
on the evils of the drinking customs which prevailed in this
country, said all were agreed that there were great evils
which required removal. Many legal remedies bad hem
nought but hitherto they bad not been found offers- •
teal. The remedy of " five shillings and caste
for drunkennem had failed. So also had the law
which demanded a good character prior to a Bosom
being granted; legal and moral remedies, including the total
abstinence pledge, had all hitherto been ineffectual, Thom
reroalsod, *meters AO expedient 14101 11,, Tama
would prove an effectual our., and this wee the Penned,*
Bill, the effect of which he stated would be to put into the
bands of two-thirds of the ratepayers in any district the
power to control the number of public-homes, and the
traffic generally in that locality. It would close public-
houses not required by public necessity, end prevent their
being Grimed through private interest. Mier as
animated disoussioo, maintained with considerable ability
and good humour, votes of thanks to the noble
chairman and to Mr. Lawson, were moved by Mr.
John Abel Smith, M.P., supported by the Rev. H. Scilly,
sod carried with greet enthusiasm. Referring to the err-
vice rendered by the noble chairman, Mr. Sully said it was
no new thing for noblemen and members of parliament to
take the chair and speak from the platform of meetings fee
the advancement of particular object', but it was a new sod
most important fact that they were presiding over and ad-
dreenieg meetings for perfectly fres and frank disonadoo.
Lord Shrewsbury, is returning thanks, observed that it was
not mammary for the chairman to give a very decided
opinion upon the subject discussed, but he would my •
he had great sympathy with the objects sought
for by Kr. Lawson and other speakers, viz., the
ouppremion of intemperance and be was quite min-
rimed that them ought to 'bri considerable diminutioa
in the present numbers( public houses and beer ahem lie
earnestly wished to me his fellowootintrymen in a far
happier condition than many of them at present occupied,
and for that reason he had joined the Worthy Mesa Club
and Institute Union, which he believed was one of the most
efficient agencies of the present day for promoting the wel-
fare of the working dames. Should the council have
another such series of meetings be should only be too
happy spin to accept the duty be had been asked to dis-
charge that 'main. Many persons who had sent up their
names lloi having had se opportunity of speaking wises the
boar for clawing arrived, Mr. Bainbridge moved the adjourn-
ment of the discussion to the following Tuesday, which,
being secoaded, was carried all bat unanimously.

A STORY OF THZ BOURBON RZOINZ AT NAPLIS.-.•
Io the cue of the two gentlemen above referred to, a
false friend had pointed them out m hostile to the govern-
meat. Having fortuestely received timely wandw, they
had contrived for two whole rears to elude the vigl vigilance of
the polio. by inmesaot change of place, repeatedly escaping
over the roofs of homes during dondoiliarr visits. This
wretched eideteaos bad Deems nneodurable, and at al
hazards they resolved to attempt an escape tram the eons-
try. In the Bay of Naples there lay a foreign nian-of-erar
woe leaving for Malta. Were if possible to get en beard
they would be in vasty, and Doe R. was mingled to as
intercessor is this owe of real distress. It was said he was
a eoustrynian of the captain of the frigate, but whether
that were true or sot, It is certain they were one day seen
in earnest confabulation: on the quarter-deck of the --.
It was easy to satiety the commander that the persons
desirous of a gauge ender the protection of his flag were
no criminals, but victims of the most groundless penises-
tion. A few boars after the captain came on shore to bid
his Moods good-bee. and called upon Don E. This visit
was mentioned io the polies diary, bat only as numbers el
others were, and the entry was unaccompanied by com-
ments indicating that any suspicion or importance was
attached to it. We may presume that the pollee nem
knew that a coined of war was held in the drawing-ram
of that house upon the Chia* and that before the capeala
left, the English lady, ea whom so special a watch was
kept, laughingly selected from a basket of visiting-cards
upon the table those of a stanch perdue of the govern-
ment, and cutting them in balms with certain peculiar
snow of the scissors, banded two of the pieces to the
departing sailor. That night ie still wanted some hours to
moonrise when a small boat with muffled oars glided into
the deep gloom below the side of the frigate. A minute
afterwards two stringers stood apse her deck, bowed tom
officer who advanced to meat them, and silently promoted
him with the counterparts a the cards he had received that
miming. He nodded rued the seweocoers went below.
For a few minutes the ahem mood the deck,
deep is thought, sad thee ordered a boat to he ow
Them was a ;mad bell that night at the Acoedemla Reale.
nub, the same roof as the Royal Palace, and at midnight
Captain merle his appearance there. He sought the
English lady, and whimpered, "They are on board ; I sail
is an boar, and have come rely to show myself." "If
thaw snood es did bat ki10.," said the lady, easels( as
the awful itioister of Police the pawing with a lisamiiMit
general well known for his hatred of the liberal party, 'we
should both be arrested." Bat &aged, ever did know. By
daybreak the frigate was miles away from the beautiful
bay, ankle, for scorched and san.browsed Malta. The
diarist poheematianed to sever the lams, sod prowl sate
genets and eves the roofs ; bat their prey bed escaped. sad
their perseestors sever bow bow they had bees outwitted.
lima while the fugitives resolved mow miler fOgsed
mines in Yalta, until the downfall of Bombes role is IMO
missed them ard kaadreds of others tram eslLt and away
from a captivity worm than death. -Blackroods repartee
for Jae,.
The Fychow gigot, whom intended departure On
a European tour we sesommed some time aims, has net
yet started, owing, we am given to understand, to some
dispute wish his showmen. Wm, we believe, sow id
jested, end be will leave kW seers lend far Leaden by the
Vaagsard today.. A dwarf 2 feet 6 Mabee high and weight.
eolbs., lasa arrived bare from Shakos, bestarlealier
femme pies of the rum apesralatisa m set wbaud lee yes
esevreefiseit --Ateseeesi Cortawraida Barri. Apr 8.
Toe TIM RACII..--011tOare• overceate, of the
Sew sedans, are mbe hail at 01181511.0...04:11.0=40Ssad s
041.01.114 .1110/6001,2ffam Ihril, _ . .