The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-19 00:00:00

PRINCE OF WALES YACHT CLUB.

The opening match of this club took place yester-
day, the beautiful weather, added to the excellent list of
entries, producing a very large attendance of visiton to ac-
company the race, Waterman No. 2 not only being crowded
with company, but several gentlemen's yachts belonging to
the various club, also being in attendance. The following
were the contending boats :

71118 T CLASS.

Nano. Toni.
Albatross 7 Red

Britannia
Julia 7 Light blue.
Undins

SECOND CLASS.
Idu 6 Red over white.
Truant 6 American flag.

THIRD CLASS.
Demon 3 White, with his Majesty in centre.
Calliope
One minute per ton allowed ; only one vessel of each class
to receive a prize. The distance appointed was from Black-
wall to Gravesend and back, and the Truant, although of
the second class, was backed by her friends to eclipse any
on the larger list. She was declared to be an American
clipper that poueued the advantage of a shifting keel, and
could beat or run at such a pace as to warrant the favour-
able opinion expressed of her. There were other very good
things on the list, but the American so engrossed the atten-
tion of leading yachtsmen that but little thought was be-
stowed upon them.
As the time approached for the start the moat lively inte-
rest prevailed, and as they had to beat against a deed nosey
all the way down, it was quite evident that, barring acci-
dents, the merits of the boats would be tasted, and soon
enough indeed they were. Mr. J. Benseastle, the commo-
dore, having inspected the yachts at their stations, gave the
signal to go off at 11 hn. 44 min., which was most
=Praia y obeyed by the whole of the fleet. The
was first fairly under weigh, and next
the Ida., but the Truant almost immediately took
the lead of the whole of the fleet, and never forfeited her
peed position. Her rig was of the sloop character, her fore-
mil and jib being in one, and, like the America, laced to her
bum. A more handy craft was never seen on the Thames.
Without reference to ber keel shifting at pleasure, she
showed herself infinitely superior to her rivals in working
down. At Woolwich the Britannia was second, the Ides
third, Julia fourth, Calliope fifth. The Julia shortly after-
wards passed the Idas, and in this position they arrived at
the flag-boat, just above Gravesend, the Truant being more
than • quarter of an hour in advance of the Julia, and the
latter 19 minutes before the Ina.. Of the third class, the
Calliope was considerably in front, and in this order they
ran up to the return poet as follows:

H. M. 8.
The Truant 6 13 10
Julia
Idaa _ 6 55 26

Shortly afterwards the Britannia, and the Calliope and
Albatross together at half-put 7.
The prizes were duly presented, with appropriate
speeches, by the Commodore.

NAVAL.

PORTSMOUITI, MAY 18.—The Simoom, 18, iron-
screw steam troop-ship, Captain Kingcome, arrived at
Spithead to-day, having on board the 97th Regiment from
St. John's, Nova Scotia. This Ins steam-ship, having en-
gines of 350 boric-power, has this year made a series of
voyages from different ports with troops. She fitted out at
this port, and on the 11th of January sailed for Queens-
town, where she embarked the 31st Regiment for convey-
ance to Corfu. This regiment comprised 20 officers, 31 non-
commissioned officers, 571 rank and file, 40 women, and 49
children. She sailed from Queenstown on the 24th of
January, and arrived at Corfu about the 13th of February,
and there disembarked the 31st; and then she took on'
board the 41st Regiment, comprising 20 officers, 6 ladies,
584 rank and file, 36 women, and 68 children, and with
these she sailed for bialta,arriving there on the 31st of Feb-
ruary. Having disembarked the 41st, she took on board
the 76th Regiment for conveyance to Halifax, North Ame-
rica, this last-named regiment comprising 23 officers, 6
itches, 40 non-commissioned officers, 700 rank and file, 43
women, and 110 children. With this large number of
human beings on board she left Malta on the 10th March,
arriving at Gibraltar on the 21st, and having remained
there three days, she commenced her voyage across the At-
lantis Ocean. Having arrived at Halifax on the 23rd of
April, and disembarked the 76th, she embarked for convey-
mos to this port the 97th Regiment, comprising about 800
oasors and men, arriving this morning. There were
orders -waiting her arrival at Spithead to proceed to
Deal to dim-bark the troops, and she accordingly, with-
out
anchoring -s Spithead, proceeded on to that port.
The Duke of Wes* -gton, 131, screw steam-ship, Captain'
H. B. Martin, C. 13., laic received orders to-day to prepare
to hold herself in readine.- to proceed to sea. She com-
menced painting ship to-day. Prior to her going to sea,
her blajesty will, it is expected, pay z visit to this splendid
ship. The Fairy, royal steam tender, M... 'sr Commander
Welch, proceeded to Southampton to-day, . convey her
Royal Highness the Duct's, of Kent to Osborne, a visit
to her Majesty. His Ronal Highness Prince Albert ;eater-
day embarked on board the Fairy, and proceeded down is
the new fort erecting at the ceedles, after which he ...Arse
up to Spithead, and after wing round the squat:win
there, came into harbour, anu inspected the York hulk for
the Excellent's firing. The First Lord of the Admiralty,
Sir James Graham, accompanied his royal highness.
MovEataNrs.—H.M.S. 'maxim was at Port Royal ;
Alban at Grey Town. H.M.S. Geyser started for England
on the 27th ultimo from Port Royal. R.M.S. Dtedalus
had been at Panama. At Valparaiso, H.M.S. Portland,
Trincomalee, and Amphitrite. United State' frigate St.
Lawrence, and French corvette La Prudence.

CORK AND BANDON RAILWAY.—Return of traffic
for the week ending 14th of May, 1853 :—Passengers,
parcels, 1211. 16s. Ild. ; merchandise, cattle, &c.,
601. 13s. 9d. ; total, 1831.9 x. Bd. Traffic for corresponding
week last year—Passengers, parcels, &e., 891. la. 3d. ; mer-
chandise, cattle. &e.. 491. 16s. Bd. ; total. 1381. 17e. 11d.
BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN BATLWAY.—Traffic
for week ending May 16, 1853.—Passenger, 1751.155. 7d..
subscriptions, 201.181. 641. ; pods and pascals, 831. 19,. 6d.
total, 2801. 41. 74. Corresponding week last year,
2341. 17s. Od.

DRAMA.

ADE LPH I.

Tho "legitimate cliala'7aeetits to be looking up.
It has invaded that, to all appearance, inexpugnable strong-
hold of melodrama and farce, the Adelphi ; and Shakepeare
himself is now to try his fortune amongst the crowd of more
ephemeral writers whose productions have seen the light
on those boards—dear to the laughter-loving and romantic
community. Perhaps Mr. Webster has exercised a wiser
discretion iu selecting as the trial piece of his new policy a
play like the Merry Wires of Windsor, than which no
more mirthful and playful work ever issued from the pen of
its great author. And yet, atrange.as it may appear, the
experiment was a somewhat hazardous one ; for, despite
the broadness of its humour, the exuberance of
its wit, and the exquisite skill of its construction,
it is not a first rate acting play. It is altogether too void of
incident, and too diffuse for its plot to be a very lively piece
out of the closet; and, as we generally see it performed, it
seems a tame affair by the side of the bustle and fun of an
Adelphic •• screamer." Nevertheless the experiment of last
night was entirely successful. So strong was the cast, so
admirably was the minutest part sustained, and so excel-
lent were the scenery and appointments, that the fatal
doming of interest which is usually experienced in the
earlier acts was never for a moment felt. The readiness of
the troupe to make any sacrifice of personal feeling in order
to render the whole as neatly perfect as possible, really de.
served the greatest credit, and must have been rewarded
by the hearty tribute of applause which was bestowed upon
the whole of the performers at the fall of the curtain. But
to descend somewhat to particulars.
Mr. Webster himself was Falstaff, and both looked and
acted his part admirably. Ile was not the animated bundle
which is all to which ordinary Falstaffs attain, but he bore
his immense Yestutentary burden as if it was a portion of
his own natural self; and he displayed throughout a jollity
and an unction which made us accept him with little diffi-
culty as our very Sir John. The hero of the night, how-
ever, was Mr. Leigh Murray's Ford. Nothing could be
liner than his scenes with the huge Lothario, or more real
and vigorous then his behaviour at the two searching
scenes. As Master Brook he wore an ample scarlet cloak,
act dissimilar to a Roman toga, and there was something
most picturesque and classic in his soliloquies after
his interviews with Sir John. Mr. Wigan's Caius was
also as near perfection as it seems possible for human
ability to reach. Mr. Keeley was not quite so happy in Sir
Hugh Evans, but the choleric and yet good-natured Welsh
priest found in him a tolerably effective representative.
Paul Bedford was a capital Host of the Garter • Land Mr.
Honey did the octogenarian Shallow no wrong. The three
worthy followers of Sir John Falstaff, Bardolph, Pistol, and
Nym (and particularly the lut),were cleverly pourtrayed by i
Mr. Homer, Mr. Cullenford, and Mr. H. Bedford. Miss Wool-
gar was the Slender of the night, and the fact alone sup-
plies its own criticism. No woman can personate the
boobyism of a gawky " hobbledehoy "—least of all an ac-
complished young lady like Miss Woolgar. Mrs. Keeley
played Mrs. Page with great effect; and Madame Celeste
made an excellent Mrs. Ford—that is, if one could reconcile
one's mind to so thorough and true-hearted an English wo-
man speaking broken English. Miss hlaskell and Miss M.
Keeley played Fenton and Anne Page, character in which ,
they had of course nothing to do but to look interesting
and pretty, a feat which they accomplished without any
great difficulty. Lastly, Mrs. Law's representation of Mrs.
Quickly justly earned its share of the applause which was
liberally awarded to the whole " cast." The scenery an
dresses were at once splendid and correct; and, to sum up
our criticism in a word, the Adelphi version of the Merry
II -sees may be
_fpronounced not only as one of the best ever
put upon the London stage, but as equal to any of the
Shakeperean revivals which it has been our happiness of
late to see attempted.