The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-27 00:00:00

SUNDAY TRAIN/J.—The town council of Leith and the the more respectsble portion of the tories are disgusted at the
town council of Cupar-Fife have huh expressed their disap- way in which their too present, members voted on the great
probation of the conduct of the directors of the Edinburgh questions of the Maywooth grant and the corn-laws.
and Glasgow Railway in stopping the Sunday trains. • DORSETSIIIIIE.
DISAPPRAILANCR or A RAILWAY RNDARILSIRST.—ATSI7 REPRESENTATION OF WIITROUTR —On Monday MS-
extraordinary event has just taken place on the works can- hog a meeting of the friends of Mr. Robert Gordon, who
nected with the Scottish Central Railway. It was neeemary has flatly declined the honour of representing this borough,
to erect an embankment fifty feet high in a field near Allan was held at Luce's Hotel, for the parpose of adog
Bridge. The works were accordingly commenced, many as to persuade him to become • candidate. Mr. R.
thousand loads of earth were piled, and the work was left to H. Swaffield took the chair, and Mr. W. Hodges proposed
negates solidity, hut it soon sunk to en elevation of a few Mr. Gordon as a candidate, whenever a vacarey=
list above the ground. On inquiry it was found that the occur. This proposition having been assented to, a coin
field bad originally been a bog, and brought into cultivation mittee was appointed to wait on Mr. Gordon, and obtain
fifty years since, his ultimate determination. A correspondent says: "It is
quite evident that there will be a struggle for the represen-
WALES. tation of this borough, whenever a general election arrives.
A STRANGE PLACII FOR A NEW CHIIRCIL—A come- Mr. George Whieldon is about to be brought forward (in
spondent states: "On Friday, the 20th instant, Lewis Wil- conjunction with • gentleman, whose name is not yet
hams and Margaret Thomas, of Llandudno parish, were to known), by the Conservative party. If Mr. Gordon is pm-
have been married at the parish church of Llandisilio ; but, Tailed on to stand, there will th^n be three parties to the
unfortunately, when the clergyman arrived he found there contest, via., Mr. Christie and Col. Freestun, on the Liberal
was no access to the church either by land or water, owing interest; Mr. Whieldon and another, on the Conservative
to the sea breaking over the causeway which leads to it, interest ; and Mr. Gordon, on an intermit well known in
therefore the would-be happy couple were disappointed, and religious matters, but hardly understood in polities—the In-
obliged to defer the matter until a future day. The church dependent."
being upon an island, this is not an uncommon occurrence SOMERS""'""•""
during the winter months, and it is right that the public
should know that this spot is selected by some inoividuals in
the neighbewhood as a most eligible point to erect a new
church upon for the now populous parish of Llandisilio."

Coo:sr: Pourtca.—At the meeting of the Anchor Society
in Bristol (which appears generally to be used as a medium
for the politics of the city members), the Hon. F. H. F.
Berkeley, in the course of his speech, observed, he was loth
to follow protection beyond the walls of the House of Com-
mons; but he had heard rumours that two of the great
leaders—unwilling followers in the humble footsteps of
Cobden and Co.—had been going about the country en-
lightening the protectionists, agr.culturists, farmers and
ot.,ers, with their eloquence, and ne heard, moreover, that a
vioitation was threatened to Somerset—even their own
neighbourhood—and that Lord George Bentinck and
Mr. Disraeli—the general who led the van, and
the general who brought up the rear, were to sato-
nish Somersetsh're with their wonderful powers. No
doubt they were coming to the support of a very strong pro-
tectionist, Mr. W. Miles, but if they thought they were .
going to shake the position of his old and venerated friend,
CoLnel Gore Langton, they would be deceives'. He (Mr.
Berkeley) should like to see tke brilliance and bitterness of
Mr. Disraeli, and the sternness and statistics of Lord 0.
Bentinck, applied diligently to one small fact—the fact that
the registration of that division of Somerset bad Unproved
by 1,500 liberals upon the roll within the last two years—
even giving them the 50 which hail been swept off to boot.
(Cheers.) How would they deal with that fact he did not
know, nor could he guess—it was an awkward fact, espe-
cially upon the approach of an election, seeing arguments
and brilliant sayings could not change the register before
• another election.

PROVINCIAL.
LANCASHIRE.
The ELEVENTH A.NNITERSARY MEETING of the Rochdale
Total Abstinence Society was held at the Public Hall in that
town. Several speeches were delivered, and considerable
interest was manifested in the proceedings by the assembled
company.
THE GALE which did so much mischief in Liverpool on
Friday, also affected the Isle of Man. The new pier, or
red quay as it is called, was completely covered with water
as the tide rolled in. The sea-wall at the ship-yard was
carried away, and the end of the smithy which abuts to the
bay washed down—the water making a complete inroad
upon the loose timbers in the yard. In Strand•strect the
devastation produced by the inshore wind was beyond the
ordinary run of casualties. The street was completely
flooded.
INFLUX OF IRISH I'AtIFERB INTO LITSRPOOL..—During
the last month or two, as we have before stated, immense
numbers of Irish paupers have immigrated to this town in
the hope of being able to obtain charity or employment.
The moment, however, they have been found begging in the
streets, they have been taken up, and sent back to Ireland
at the expense of the parish. This expense is likely to form
no inconsiderable portion of the parish outlay at the close of
the present year, because the average number of those sent
back has amounted to 270 per week since the first reports of
the famine in Ireland were circulated. The expense of
sending them back is very great, and, sooner or later, it may
become a serious question for the consideration of the in.
habitants. To Dublin and Newry, for instance, it amounts
to 2s. per head ; to Waterford, 6s. ; to Cork, 10s. ; and so in
proportion to distance to other places. Mayo and Rae-
common seem to be the principal counties in Ireland which
are at present sending us their pauper population in droves,
and the cost per head of sending these unfortunate people
beck again to the harbour of Westport, which lies on the
west coast of Ireland, is becoming enormous. It seems that
the creatures themselves do not come here by West-
port, but they walk to Dublin on foot, and then come across
here by steamer. How they manage to pay for their passage
across is a mystery ; for when landed on our quays they an
in the most destitute condition, seldom or never basing eves
so much as a sixpence in their possession. On Friday ass
veral of them, consisting of women and children, covered
with rags, were brought up to the Liverpool police-comet,
on a charge of having been found begging in the
street. Some of them stated that they had not had a
mouthful of victuals, and had no means of getting
any; and one old woman said, herself, her husband, and
her tour or five children, had nothing to subsist upon but
water. Mr. Rushton asked what was to be done with
them? Mr. Evans, of the Parish-office, said he was really
unable to tell. They were coming over here by thousands,
and, in all probability, we should be inundated with them
this winter. Mr. Rushton said, it was most melancholy to
see the wretched creatures landing on the English shore
without a farthing ;n their pockets. And what was to be
done with them was a question which now called for pressing
inquiry. He suggested to Mr. Evans the propriety of
inquiring at once how they came across here from Dublin,—
whether or sot they paid for their passage, because, if they
did not, some prompt measures must be taken. Mr. Evans
promised to make the inquiry, and the prisoners were
removed.—[lt is suspected that the parish or other autho-
rities in Dublin are actually paying their pasuige•money in
order to get rid of them, utterly careless as to the result.]
AN INTERESTING AGRICI*LTURAL EXPERIMENT has
been made upon a farm in South Lancashire in the
growing of roots that might, if successful, serve to counteract
the injurious effects of the failure of the potato crop. We
(Leeds Mercury) have now the pleasure to state the result
of this experiment, which has answered, and even exceeded,
the expectation that we then formed of its success. The land
occupied by this experiment we found, on correct measure
ment, to have been 3 acres 1 rood and 83 yards. The land
was sown in alternate drills at a distance of 30 inches
between each, first a drill of potatoes (cups as they are ,
called) and then a drill of Swedish turnips' so that the
potato tops in one drill did not come in contact with three of
the neat drill of the same root. The potatoes and the tur-
nips thus grew together till about the middle of last month
(October) when the potatoes which had been partially
attacked by the prevailing disease, were dug up and sent to
the Manchester market, %%here they were sold at 12s. per
load of three bushels, but the turnips remain in the ground
and arc growing vigorously, each drill having now twice the
accustomed room for nourishment Bud growth. The quan-
tity of potatoes produced proved to be 68j loads of large, 10
loads of small, and five loads of decayed potatoes, which sold
as follows :
681 loads at 12.
10 loads of small at es.
5 buds bad, unproductive.

HEREFORDSHIRE.
THE FATE OP A SWINDLER.—SOMC months ago public
attention was attracted to the exploits of a fashionable
swindler, who, under several aliases, including Wyndham
and Wellesley, contrived to plunder innkeepers, bankers,
and tailors at Slough, Windsor, Gloucester, and other local
towns. For some months past his names and deeds have
not been before the public. This is now accounted for—he
died, it is stated, on the 20th of June last. It appears that
when inquiries were rather urgent as to his whereabouts,
he shrouded himself in London, whence, when the fame of
his banker's cheques had in some measure declined, he de-
parted into Wales, and took with him a young female. The
character he assumed was that of a lover of the picturesque,
and he and his companion started on the romantic tour of
the Wye, which they pursued together for some distance,
when the gentleman, while fishing iu the above beautiful
river, caught a violent cold, and was compelled to take to
bed at an inn. A medical man was sent fur, who at once in-
formed the supposed wife that her husband's condition was
hopeless, and that he was in fact on the very point of death.
The female thereupon acknowledged that she was not a wife,
and that her male companion was an entire stranger to her till
they encountered each other a few weeks previously in Lon-
don, and that she did not know who he was or who were
his relatives. The fears of the physician were soon realised
—the stranger tourist died almost immediately, and on ex-
amining his luggage iu order to ascertain who his friends
were that the mournful event of his demise might be com-
municated to them, there were found the engraved copper-
plates of two address cards, in the well-known names of
Wyndham and Wellesley, together with an itinerary of tho
various towns and places which be had visited, with the
MOMS of the different banks, &c., which had honoured his
• fraudulent cheques. The real name of the deceased swindler
is said to have been Page; that he was of very respectable
connexions in the county of Hereford ; and that he was for-
merly in the army, which accounts for his knowledge of
military persons and military incidents which he turned to
,o good account in his dishonourable hut adventurous career.
Ile was married, and has left a wife and two children in
destitute circumstances.

HIOHWAY ROBBERS.—On Saturday evening, 21st inst.,
about half-past seven o'elock, as an itinerant vender of
earthenware, named James Varney, of l'enn, Bucks, was
returning from Welwyn to Wheatharastead, Herts, with a
horse and cart, when within a mile and a half of the latter
place, he was attacked by two ruffians, who demanded his
money, and beat him with bludgeons upon the bead until
the blood flowed over the cart wheel. Ills hat was literally
smashed. Varney struggled with his assailants, crying murder,
until nearly suffocated by the blood flowing from his head
and face. The ruffiansrifled his pockets of two-pence, a knife,
and comb, and tore his clothes partly from his body in their
determined search after the hard-earned returns of a fort-
night's sale of his goods. He was nearly exhausted and in-
sensible, when his assailants, hearing a horse approaching,
made off without obtaining his money. Mr. C. H. Latti-
more was returning from Hertford market, and, hearing the
cries of Varney, galloped on and overtook the cart, pro-
cured a light, gave him assistance, and then rode for-
ward to give information to the police, and sent a servant
to accompany Varney to his place of destination. Mr. Ton-
gan, surgeon, was soon at hand, and dressed his wounds,
which he considered of a somewhat dangerous nature. We
arc informed that a great number of young men are living
in this neighbourhood without any visible means of subsist-
ence. Poaching, fowl and wood stealing, and every other
depredatory means are resorted to for a livelihood. -Poach-
ing is pursued here for a subsistence, and from poaching
and field-plunder the road to highway robbery, &c., is open
and easy.
BERKSHIRE.
OPPO,ITION TO SANATORY HEFORR.—An influential
meeting, composed chiefly of owners of property in Reading,
was held on Tuesday, to adopt resolutions in opposition to
the Reading Sanatory Improvement Bill, to be applied for
in the next session by the town-council. The measure is
strongly opposed by the high sheriff of the county, the
ex-high-sheriff (who presided), the two basking firms, and
.1. Weldale Knoll's, Esq., all of whom hold considerable
property in the town, the latter being the largest owner.
The following is one of the resolutions agreed to:
That as it in the intention of the government to introduce, with all
convenient speed, a general measure, comprehending the drainage
and sewerage of the whole kingdom, the interests of the town im-
peratively require that it should remain quiescent until the measures
in wincingteation be laid before the country. Vast expenses may
otherwise incurred, whisk may prove useless, and the rate-payers
may be railed upon to execute the work a second time.

ARV.
THE GBEAHAR LECTURES.—Professor Taylor is at
present delivering his course of lectures on music, for Mi•
ehaelmas term, in Gresham college. lie delivers, each term, a
series of three lectures ; and so well has he conceived and ac-
complished the design and object of these lectures, and suc-
ceeded in rendering them both interesting and instructive to
a popular audience, that ever since they were begun (now a
good many years ago) the lecture-room has, without the ex-
ception of a single evening, been crowded to the doors by
most attentive and delighted listeners. Mr. Taylor does not
discuss the philosophy of the science, or the technicalities of
the art. His lectures arc historical and critical: he takes,
separately, the different branches of the art, traces their origin
and progress, sketches the lives and analyses the works of the
most illustrious musicians, and illustrates his critical remarks
by specimens"of their compositions,:executed by competent per
formers. In this manner he travels over the whole field of his
subject and, as a great portion of his audience, of course, at-
tend his lectures habitually, they acquire an extent of know-
ledge, and an enlargement of views, relative to the art,
hitherto confined to the few who have made it their especial
study. The present series of lectures is on English dramatic
music during the latter half of the last century. The lecture
of Tuesday evening was rendered peculiarly interesting by an
account of the life and dramatic music of Jonathan Mitzi-
shell, one of the most highly gifted and unfortunate of English
composers, who was born in 1738. He struggled through the best
years of his life against unmerited neglect as-d disappointed
hopes, till, before the age of forty, his mind gave way under
the stroke of domestic simity. He degenerated from a man of
strong intelligence, liberal attainments, and refined pursuits,
into the victim of intemperance, and, after living the
wreck of what he had been, till 1801, sank into the grave
in obscure misery. In dramatic music he made but one
attempt, and it was a failure ; in consequence, as Professor
Taylor said, of two errors: the first, having recourse to
Drury-lane, where music was then neglected, instead of
Covent-garden, where it was cultivated ; and the second,
employing his talents on a moat wretched drama—
no obstacle to success, it would seem, now-allays.
" Almena " failed entirely on the stage ; but its
music still exists, though in a state of the most
utter oblivion. Of this music Mr. Taylor gave ample speci-
mens, by the performance of several arm and chorueee,which
justified his eulogy of their author. One chorus, in parti-
cular, which was so enthusiastically applauded that the
Professor permitted its repetition, would have done honour
to any dramatic composer of that age, English or foreign.
The latter part of the lecture was devoted to an account of
an opera, written by Richard Cumberland, called " The
Summer's Tale," the music of which was contributed by
several composers of that day, particularly the celebrated
John Christian Bach, and Dr. Howard, of whose airs several
elegant specimens were given.

- _
A new opera, by Pacini, " La lidanzata Coria," was pro-
duced last week at the Italian Opera, at Paris, and narrowly
escaped a total failure, absolute condemnation being con-
trary to the polished manners of the habitats of the Salle
Ventadour, as well as those of the Haymarket. The libretto
was found to be far below mediocrity, and the music one of
the weakest specimens of the modern Italian school.
The Academie Royale is unremittingly occupied with the
rehearsals of Rossini's much-looked-for " Roberto Bruce."
Mr. Lumley has arrived at Paris, on his return from Italy_
A burlesque piece has been produced at Hamburg, under
the title of " Gut. Cotton."
Verdi is writing a new opera for the Pergola Theatre, at
Florence. Its title is " Macbeth ,"—a trying subject for the
maestro.
The week before last, Auber's " Illasaniello" was about to
be revived at Berlin, where it had already been performed
more than a hundred times ; but on the day before that filed
for the first performance, it was interdiotod by the police.