The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-25 00:00:00

PROF INCIAL.

TILE RECENT COLLISION ON TUE LANCASTER AND
PRESTON RAILWAY.—The investigation of the circumstances
attending the death of Hemel Airry, the unfortunate woman
who was killed on Monday evening lest by a collision be-
tween the London express train and one of the Lancaster old
company's trains, as reported in this paper, commenced at
Lancaster on Tuesday afternoon. After the testimony of the
medical witnesses, the mo-t important evidenc was, that
both the express and the other train were considorably out of
their regular time. A respectable witness, named Dundee-
dale, deposed to seeing the engine-driver of the exprees train
endeavouring to cheek its speed when the signal of danger
was 115 ing at the Bay-horse station, by letting oft the steam,
and having the brakes put on, but in vain, owing to the
slippery at to of the rails from the wetness of the weather.
On the part of the Lancaster and Preston Company it wee
also shown that the usual care had been exhibited in display.
ing the proper signals at every statkin as the express train
came up. The inquiry was then adjourned till Monday/
Capt. Laffen, one of the inspectors of the Railway Board of
Trade, and the representatives of the London and North
Western, Lancaster and Carlisle, Lancaster Canal, and other
companies interested in the result, were present. Miss Bland,
one of the auffe-ers, is in such a state as to engender the
worst apprehensions. Some of the others, it is expected, will
have to undergo amput►tion.
LIVERPOOL AND TILE SCOTCH MAIM—The in-
convenience with regard to the postal arrangements with
S.xitland, to which we (Liverpool Tittles) adverted some
weeks ago, still continues, much to the annoyance of our
merchants. The mail trains leave Edinburgh and Glasgow
at nine p.m., by which passengers arrive here at seven the
next morning; but, to save some trifling outlay, the bags
are detained at the Newton Junction for a luggage train,
which does not arrive until a quarter-past nine o'clock, and
the letters cannot be given out until about ten. Ihe de-
spatch of the maul also is most inconvenient, the box closing
at half-pest two o'clock in the afternoon, conveying letters
which have to lay overfive or sir hours in the Scotch poet-
offices ere the delivery takes place. The merchants have
repeatedly memorialised the Post-office in vain to grant one
mail to be despatched from this place about seven or eight
o'clock iu the evening, which would be much more conve-
nient than the two mails, as at present. The mail begs
which should here arrived here on fsaturdiy, and which
contain the letters for the Niagara, have been left behind

THE LIVERPOOL GRAND JURY, in the coarse of
Wednesday afternoon, on coming into court w.th their last
bill, presented a memorial to Mr. Justice Creswell on the
subject of illegal clubA, and suggesting that some measurea
should be adopted to put an end to them. Ilia lordship said
he would forward the memorial to the 8 cretary cf State for
the Home Department, and had no doubt it would receive
every at•rntion.

AN AWFUL ACCIDENT occurred at Darwen, near
Bolton on Wednesday morning, by the bursting of a factory
reservoir during a heavy fall of rain. Fourteen persona were
killed.

PETITION AGAINST CACITAL PUNISHMENT.—The
high-sheriff of the county, the jury who tried the accused,
and nearly all the principal inhabitants of the town and
neighbourhood of Newport, have aigned a petition to the
Secretary of S:ate praying him to spare the life of the
aoluier Matthias Kelly, who was last week condemned to
death at the Monmouth assizes, for the murder of the woman
at Newport barracks.
SHROPSHIRE.
_ _

THE GAME LAWS:I-Gu--.Sionday morning, four
watchers, in the employ of Sir F. Lawley, fell in with an
equal number of poachers, beating with a dog for game, on
his lands at Callaughten, having previously well laid the
hedges with wires. The parties being equal in numbers,and
equally provided with heavy bludgeons, a fierce and sangui-
nary combat ensued,whickwas carried on with doubtful suc-
cess for a length of time, the parties on either side being oe-
cssionally knocked down, and again renewing the fight. A
reinforcement arriving on the scene of action, in the shape of
the headkeeper and a helper, the poachers were overcome,
and two hares and some nets taken from them. They ware
taken before the magistrates, who remanded teem to the
petty sessions. One of the poachers was aoseriously wounded
that he was obliged to be conveyed in a cart to Wenlock,
where he remains in a very dangerous state.

CLOSE OF THE ITALIAN OPERA SEASON.—Her
Majesty's Theatre and the Royal Italian Opera closed last
evening fir the season. At her Majesty's Theatre Jenny
Lind appeared in " La Sonnambuls;" at toeent Garden
Grief appeared in " Lucrezia Borgia." Both houses were
crowded; both operas were received with even more than
ordinary applause ; and the principal performers, when they
appeared to make their parting bows and curthie., Mira
amid the acclamations of the audience. At both houses
" God save the Queen was sung by all the vocal strength of
the companies, and received with the usual loyal demonstre.
tions. The verse Bung by Jenny Lind was given with greet
energy and effect. When the curtain had fallen it was
raised again in order thatahe might repeat it.
Thus has terminated the second season of a double Italian
I opera—a season which has exhibited very little variety,
presented few occurrences of any interest, and done next to
nothing for the progress of the musical drama in this
country. The two houses have not, as they ought to have
done, occupied different grounds, and pursued dif-
ferent objects; they have followed the old beaten
track, her Majesty's Theatre with no deviation whatever,
the Royal Italian Opera with very little, and the contest be-
tween them has been carried on much in the same way se
last year, only it has no longer had the interest of novelty.
At Has MAraaTT'e THEATRE, as last year, Mellle. Lind has
been the great object of attraction and the great support of the
establishment. At the beginning of the season, and during
March and April, the strength of the company lay chiefly in
two new performers, Mdlle. Cruvelli and Signor Belletti,
who made a very favourable impression on the public. But
their range (particularly that of the lady) seemed to be in a
great measure confined to the repertoire of the modern Its.
Ilan stage, and they appeared chiefly in the feeble operas of
Verdi, no less then four of which were brought forward-.
" Ernani," " Nino," the " Due Foscari,'• and " Attila."
This last was produced for the first time, and, though
of no merit, was performed four or five timed
runrieZed this period we looked forward with satiafactien to
the great advantage to be gained by the assists ace of them
able performers in enaoling the manager to get up with
proper completeness and effect the new series of operas in
which Jenny Lind was expected to appear. But in this we
deceived ourselves. Mdlle. Lind did not appear in a new
series of pieces, but confined herself to the routine of last
year, with only three exceptions--" Lucia di Lemmerincior,"
the " Blesir d'Atnore," soul the " Puritar.i." After the
arrival of Mdlle. Lind (who made her first appearance on the
4th of May), Millie. Cruvelli appeared only on what were
called the off nights, and never along with Mdlle. Lind, aa.
opt in one opera, the "Nome di Figaro," whoa