The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-06 00:00:00

.alusu.

Trig CECILI ‘N SICIETY.—Among the numerous
amateur associations in the city of London, which owe their
origin purely and solely to the love of music, the Cecilian
Society, though not equal in magnitude to the "Choral
Harmonists" and perhaps some others, is of longer standing
than any of them, hating, we understand, existed above
six', years, and pursued the even tenor of its way through
all the changes of taste and fashion during this long period.
It holds its meetings in the Albion Hall i❑ Idoorgate, a room
of moderate size and well adapted to such a purpose. We
visited it for the first time last evening, and heard a per-
formance of the oratorio of "Judas Maccalieus:" a per
fnrmance on a small ecale, and which it would be unjust to
treat and criticise as a public exhibition. The performers
were altogether unknown to us ; all, or nearly all of them,
were apparently amateurs; and they were nearly fifty in
number. The chorus singing wan the best, the orchestra play-
ing the worst part of the performance. The choristers were all
efficient; and, notwithstanding the paucity of voices (not
above eight or nine to a part), their harmony was fuller and
more satisfactory than we could have expected. In the
grand chorus, " 0, Father, whose almighty power," we
were struck with the firmness and vigour with which the
fugal points were taken up. The instrumental band had
two or three good performers, but most of them were very
poor hinds, and, in accompanying the songs and recitatives,
they made sad work. There was a violoncellist, however,
who, if he is an amateur, is a remarkable one. He played
the obligate accompaniment to " 0, Liberty," with a tone
and taste that would have done credit to a professor.
Among the solo-singers was a lady, Miss Thornton, who
showed great talent. She has a fine voice, and her
declamation in the recitatives, as well as her pure
style of singing, showed native intelligence and
feeling, cultivated by good musical education. The other
soliates seemed good amateurs, but were too feeble to sing
before an audience. The ball was filled by a very attentive
and seemingly much gratified audience. Upon the whole,
this performance gave us much pleasure, as being one of
the many indications we daily meet with of the spirit and
success with which the highest branches of music are culti-
vated in London among thole classes who are most deeply
engaged in the pursuits of business. Such persons find that
music is truly a " laborum duke knimen"—a delightful and
salutary relaxation from the toils and cares of the work-a-day
world.

lllntbersttp atilt Clerked litbs.
C.ANIMIDOE, Ocr. 3.—The following students have been elected
scholars of St. John's College :—Freshmen: Anvtice, (lowlier, W.
Howse, Kemp, Morley, Powell. Rod Year: W. J. Earle, J. Edwards,
S. F. Williams, Wrench. 3rd Year: Burn, Carr. Hernantan,
Stephen. 4th Year : Charlesworth, Charlton, U. Davies, Fearriley,
Goldie, Hawkins, Hole, Millard, J. Newton, Pieter's, Scott, %Inter,
Ward, W. P. Wilson.
The following students have been elected Proper Slurs of the same
college :—P. Day, Glover, Kingsford, Pell, Rogerson, Selby, Whale.

Paitersiumera.—Rev. J.W. Burrough to be a surrogate, dio. Exeter ;
Rev. W. H. Oakley to Wyfordby K, Leicestershire ; Rev. G. Picker-
ing to be chaplain of Llvenstone Union ; Rev. R. S. Redfern to Christ
Church, P.C., Accrington.
WAN Bvancer Coma' new CRORCIL—(From a
.Correspondent.)
—Some months since it was announced la the public journale that
Mice A. Burdett Coutts had handed to the Lord Bishop of London a
blank cheque upon the fir Coutts and Company, at the name time
authorising the Bight Rev. Prelate to fill it up with such amount an
be might consider necessary for the erection and endowment of •
church, the purchase of a site, the building of schools and parsonage-
home, In a densely-populated portion of Westminster, which city her
father, Sir Francis Burdett, represented PO many yearn in Parliammt.
Estimates for the building were made, and calculations entered intis for
the necessary endowment, when it was found that ;Lawn little less than
300001. would be required, respect being had to the most amp:a gra-
tuitous accommodation for the poor. The announcement of 'ads news
drew down upon the bishop severe animadversions from those who
were ignorant of the basis on which the estimates had been made, the
consequence of which was that the bishop felt some delicacy in pro-
ceeding with the matter; and, until a few days shwa, the subject re-
mained in abeyance. The munificent donor, ho sever, determined
not to be thwarted et her pious punnets, has b-en In personal com-
munication with an architect, and, with tile Bishop's consent, the
new church will be forthwith commene,:;‘, the designs haring been
approved of, and an eligible site obtained. The church will be
erected in Itecheetet-row, and lorangements will be made' in virtue
of which Miss Burdett Omni wilt have ..he first nomination to the
air incumbelleY the Pettanage ever afterward, being 'anted In the Lord
Bishop (Attie

coal,io ea.nd6.-ToSpbehyinnzw,
estteer2iinbytiVe'eniign:ltstiatme4,ol`
when the despatches arrive. Rertantere, troop-ship, • NAVAL.
thisPl)inersrnmin°guTliiii:
and was inspected by the COM.
into harbour this mernt,
department. Scourge, attain-sloop, is quite ready for sea
mender in-Chief Admiral Sir C. Ogle, and by the ship
wright department she has beta in commission five }pars and will be paid off. She is to be docked,
re-ouppered and repaireelfer re-commission. Curler*, 10, brig, fitting for bonne
vessel, will be ready about the end of the next month.
Respecting the plan of mortar with which she is being fisted,
the invention of Licutßoberts, R.M.A., all who have seen it
are convinced of its advantages, Ordinary Commander
Cs ouch is appointed to this station.
(,:UNNtitY PRACTICE IN THE BIMINI NAVY.—It is
wow well known to every person connected with the navy,
that our scanted excel all other nations in gunnery practice
ele Rauch as they have hitherto excelled them in seamanship.
The pet faction that has been thus attaiind is owing to the
system pursued en board Ii.M.S. Ereelkaf, at Portsmouth,
where both offieros and seamen are daily instructed in the
practice as 'well as the theory of naval gannery. When
these seamen and officers ere sufficiently skilled in this art,
they are drafted on beard the newly-commissioned ships as
gunnery officers and seamen gunners, where- they become
the instructors of their shipmates; and honer the crew
of a British man-of-war, can fire a broadside or a single
gun with greater precision than any foreigner. The
accuracy in firing on board the E.reelkue has Seen ao fre-
quently and satisfactorily tested, that no one who has ever
witnessed it Can be otherwise than surprised and gratified
at its remarkable preci-ion. The utility of thir establish-
ment has been so perfectly established that the Lord. of the
Admiralty are holding out inducements to both seamen and
officers to join it, in lacier that the navy may be supplied
with experienced gunners skilled in the theoretical*, well
as the practical knowledge of naval gunnery.
THE COAsT GUARD.—The Commis-ioners of the Customs
have heen authorised to gran' leave of absence to chief
1 officers of the coast guard, without loss of pay, for a. period
not exceeding twenty-eight days in cuch year.
Aret. sTerßes, Nov. 4.—Liontenant M. Harrows, to the Excellent;
Payrnueter and Pulver W. It. natennes, to the tivyreT (acne*); Nur-
goon It. Douglas, to the vanguard ; Aeuetant..sui gnaw J. T. Hoes, to
the Geyser (acting) Nasal Cadet T. J. Bullock, to the (ails.; Mar-
ter's Assistant 11. Bond, to the Caledonia; Clerk wee:urge, JolanJ ones,
to the Helvitkro.
FRENCH NATAL APPOINTMENTS.—We read la the
Courtier Francois :—" It is said that the question of
appointing a successor to Admiral Duperre was yesterday
discussed in the Council of Minigers, and that it was
resolved to raise the Prince de Juitiville to the grade of
Admiral of France." By a royal urelonnence, dated Tues-
day, and made upon a report of the Minister of the Marine
and Colonies, founded upon recommendations from M.
Bruat, Commandant of Tahiti, the King has promoted Capt.
Malnuinche and Lieut. Buyer, of the navy, and Captains
Massey and Perrault, of the Marines, to the rank of officers
in the Legion of Honour, and created forty-one other per-
Sons connected with the army in Tahiti, Chevaliers of the
same order, in acknowledgment of their services. Admiral
Legoarant de Tromelin will, it is said, replace hi. Laine in
the command of the Brazil station.
MILITARY.
CONCENTUATIoN OP THOOI4E—We have heard, on what
we consider to be good authority, *'though we cannot under-
take positively to vouch for the correctness of the statement,
that it is in contemplation of the Commander-in Chief to
effect very considerable changes in the distribution of our
military force. According to the information which has
reached us, the whole of the troops stationed in England
will be concentrated at three points, front which, by the aid
of the numerous railways the; are rapidly covering with
their network the whole surface of the island, the metropo-
lis—the manufacturing districts—and our southern coast,
which would be moat exposed in the event of war—could
receive speedy and effectual protection. The piece* that we
have heard named as likely to be selected fur this purpose
are Woolwich, Birmingham, and Newhaven.—Brighlon
Unzette.

SPORTING.
TATTERSALLM.—Thmoonev.
A•kw of the smell number of subanibers now in town dropped
iu " in the course oi the afteinwoo, more, we imagine, w ith the des-
perate hoope of niecting with some of the alt•enhr., and cloning their
Newmarket amounts, than with any Wen of 1111/4110.4 on future event:,
Vas hop• was not reothisd—thine who writ absent on Monday were
nun rut yesterday, and we are not aware that twenty pounds was
rubbed off the heavy !Walla so due in many quodiers. The Derby
Letting, as may be well imagined, was v e .lams; still, us several
unusual/. acre backed, etnelly its small amouutoi, we are enabled to pre-
sent 41 IllUdenaely gun' list el jprier.._