The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-07 00:00:00

MUSIC.

THE BIEMINOILAII MUSICAL FESTIVAL.—The
growth of musical taste amongst the muses in ear large
towns (says a correspoadent) is one of the pleasantest signs
of our time. A very few years sines good music was a
luxury, enjoyed only by the wealthier dames. Nowa-
days the working classes of our manufacturing towns have
the opportunity of hearing the beet of music for the very
smallest consideration, and the manner in which this is
appreciated is evidenced by the crowds who nightly flock to
the " cheap concerts" in such towns as Manchester and
Birmingham. In the latter town the appetite thus
whetted has begotten a desire for even a better clam of
music than hitherto presented, and we are glad to find
that the orchestral committee of the festival are directing
their attention to the reorganisation of the Birmingham
chorus. In this they have succeeded so far as to embody a
numerical strength of singers, who, meeting for practice
coot a week during the intervening triennial period, will,
no doubt, attain considerable efficiency as a compact choral
body, and obviate to a great extent the necessity of bring-
ing extraneous aid from long distances for future festivals.
We look upon the project not only u a means by which
there may be given to the public mot only the greatest
works of merit of the greatest masters, but also them of the
most eminent living composers, thereby providing for and
cultivating a taste for good music, and aiding the pro-
gressive development of the art amongst all classes of
society.

THE DAMAGED AUSTRALIAN MAIL.-It waa 0111 y
the letters for Australia which were transferred from the
Australian packet at Plymouth to the Alexandrian packet
at Southampton in order to be sent yid Singapore. The
newspaper portion for Australia taken from the Plymouth
packet wea reshipped on board the latter, after it had been
taken from the wet and damaged newspaper bags. Tha
Australian mail vii Singapore contained above 60,000
letters.

UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION.— The twenty-
second annual meeting of this institution took place on Sa-
turday, in the theatre of the Museum in Whitehall
yard, the Duke of Northumberland presiding. The report
stated that 133 new members had joined during the ear;y
the total number of life subscribers on the Ist of March was
810; and of annual subscribers 2,291. There war an excess
in the ordinary expenditure over the income of 781., which
had been paid out of capital. This excess had been occa-
sioned by an unusual heavy poor's rate, extraswinting and
advertisements, and an omission brought forward from the
hat year's accounts. The council had received of the
1,2001. awarded as compensation for the damage done
to the building by the operations of the Commissioners
of Sewers 8551., the law costa having absorbed
the remaining 345/., and the re-building of the
premises had cost 8591., in addition to which
2901. had been expended in furnishing and fitting up the
library. Another item of extraordinary expense. war an
urea of poor rate, which had been appealed against, and
decided against the institution, and which, with the soli-
citor's bill, amounted to 3231. The whole of the stock
(rhres-and-a-Quarter per Cents.), which the institution pos-
seemed at the commencement of the year had been sold,
realising 8781., in addition to which there war a balance of
621. in the bankers' hands from last year's account; 1141. had
been received for life subscriptions, and 1121. from the
Waterloo Medal Fund committee ; making together a gross
total of 9881.-8951. of which had been appropriated to the
liquidation of the charges alluded to, and 2001. had been
reinvested. The estimate for the current year's expenditure
was 1,2551., and the receipts were estimated at 1,2811.
Lord Radstock moved the adoption of the document, and
its circulation amongst the subscribers. He dilated on
the advantages the institution was calculated to confer upon
the army and navy, and expressed his astonishment that it
was not more generally appreciated by those services. Col.
Lindsay, in seconding the motion, drew attention to the
present state of the institution, which he said exhibited a
falling off in the receipts from annual subscribers. After
some conversation the resolution was put and carried, raid
the ordinary formal business of filling up the vacancies c n
the council, thanking the rctiricg couucillors, the auditov,
and the president, having been transacted, the meeting
separated.