The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-26 00:00:00

THE HEAVY BOMBAY MAILS.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Nyanza, Captain Curling, with the heavy Bombay
roads, arrived at Southampton on Saturday evening. She
brings 51 passengers, 18 packages specie, value 4,9751., and
a gene-al ciao. The Nyanza experienced fine weather
throughout the passage. On the 18th she spoke the
steamer Celia, steering north-west ; 19th, steamer Syria
and British barque Ambassador ;'22nd, exchanged colours
with steamship Ceylon • 23rd, steamship Mooltsin ; and en
the 24th inst. the British ship Glenmark. Her Majesty's
ships Hydra and Hibernia were at Malta.
GIBRALTAR, AUGUST 20.
Her Majesty's ship Simoom arrived yesterday from
Halifax and Nova Scotia, with the head quarters of the 15th
Brigade Royal Artillery for this place. She proceeded to
Malta this morning ; en her return she will embark the
last detaehment of the Ist Brigade Royal Artillery for con-
veyance to Halifax.
The following British ships have arrived here since the
last mail left for Southampton : Steamer Lady Derby,
from London ; steamer 't mistime, from Liverpool ;
steamer Macedon, fromeilaagow ; brig Helen Richards, from
Rio Janeiro; steamer Galicia, from London ; Syria, from
Sou lampton ; schooner Star of Peace, from Rio Janeiro ;
and *teazel). Venice from London. . .

The United States sloop Shamrock, 10 guns, arrived at
Cadiz on the 15th.

The Italian .crew frigate Principe Umberto saluted the
garrison with 21 guns on the 16th, which compliment was
returned.

The Paris Mottiteur of Saturday publishes a long
report to the Emperor from the Marquis de Iloustier,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, and M. de Forced° la Roquette,
Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works,
giving an account of the measures adopted in accordance
with the recommendations of the International Sanitary
Commission, which met last year at Constantinople with
regard to the Mecca pilgrimages, and stating the satisfac-
tory results.
Fastrce AND Rotts.—A letter from Rome, in the
Italie of Florence, corroborates the statement that Count
de &stip', before be left for Paris, signed, with the Pon-
tifical government, a literary convention and a treaty of
commerce between France and the Holy See. By the
stipulations of the former, all literary and artistic produc-
tions are to enjoy reciprocally, in France and in the States
of the Church, the advantages which are or shall be
accorded by law to such property, provided the author
prove that 'Ms work Is original. The commercial treaty
reduces by one-half the Roman customs duties upon
French silks and wines. The same journal is informed by
its correspondent that the agent of the Italian government
has come to an undentaeding with the Holy dee on the
hoses of an arrangement respecting the obligations con-
tracted by Italy for the payment of the portion of the
debt of t e Roman States belonging to the annexed pro- ,
vines.

BIRMINGHAM ARTISANS AT THE PARIS Eximit-
tion.—ln accordance with the scheme of the &lady of
Arts, the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce have
selected from sixty. applicants twenty-five artisans to
visit the Paris Exhibition, and report on the branches of
manufacture in which they are severally skilled. The
chamber met on Saturday afternoon, when the artisans
were present, and were addressed by Mr. J. S. Wright,
president of the Chamber of Commerce ; Mr. Dixon,
51. P., and Mr. W. C. Aitken. The latter gentleman will
accompany the artisans on their visit. They are to start
on the 2nd of next month ; each will recive 10/. to defray
hie expenses.
THE Pus-ANGLICAN SYNOD. —The John Bull is
desired to state that the Archbishop of Canterbury has
given no one any authority for saying that he intends to
cone a prayer during the Pan-Anglican Synod for public
use, nor has his grace at present issued any for private
use. Several colonial bishops are at present in London,
and the Cape mail just orris ed has brought the Bishops
of Grahamstown and the Orange Free State. The Bishop
of New Zealand is on hie way to England. The Bishop of
Honolulu will be here in about a fortnight. It is expected
that about eighty bishop will be present at the Pan-An-
gnaw Synod which will be held at Lambeth in September.
At the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the in-
auguration sermon will be preached by a bishop of the
Gutted States of America, and Dr. Wlaitehouee, Bishop of
Illinois, has been selected for the purpose.
CRYSTAL PALACE. HALT-A-CROWN DAY.—
SATURDAY, AUGURS 24.—Admission on payment, 4,8.58;
ditto by mason tickets, 6.761; total visitors, 10,619.

Pluitt.

THE BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
Omit 0171 SPICIAL COSAMPONDM.)
BIRMINGHAM, Barranar.
Birmingham will again, on this 00004/012, distin-
guish itself above most other provincial music-1
meetings. by the production of novelties specially
commissioned for the occasion. For many years
past this has been a marking feature of these fes-
tivals. Passing over Neukomm's two oratorios,
produced here more than thirty years since, we
come to the first efficient performance in England
of Mendelsohn • St Paul in 1837, conducted by
the composer, when of course it was heard
to far greater advantage than on its first
hearing at Liverpool the year previous.
The actual first hearing in haigland of the
same composer's symphony-cantata, Lohgesatig
(Hymn of Praise)took place at the Birmingham
festival of 1840--alsounderita composer's direction.
But the crowing triumph of Birmingham, and one
which will ever redound to its honour, and connect
the name of that town with the annals of high
musical art, was the first production of Mende
*ohm's immortal oratorio Elijah, conducted by him-
self, at the festival of 1848, this glorious work
having been almost invariably given at the succeed-
ing festivals ; a just tribute at once to its tran-
scendent merits,and to its special association with the
town of Birmingham. Not to mention all themany
commissions given by the directors of these great
music-meetings to both foregn and English com-
posers we may specify Mr. Costa's oratorio Eli,
compoled for and produced at the festival of 1865 ;1
and the same composer's still more elaborate work
of the same kind Naainan, produced at the last fes-
tival in 1864,whenalsowere brought forward Mr. H.
Smart's cantata The Bride of Dunkerron, and Mr.
Arthur Sullivan's cantata, Kenilworth, both being
also commissions for the occasion. For the present
festival we are to have two new works—Professor'
Sterndale Bennett's sacred cantata, The Woman of
Samaria (to be given at the Wednesday morning's
performance), and Mr. J. F. Barnett's setting of
Coleridge's Ancient Mariner, included in the pro-1
gramme of Thursday evening's miscellaneous oon-1
cert.

The festival commences on Tuesday morning I
with Elijah; on Wednesday morning Professor
Bennett's new cantata and Handel's Judas will bel
given ' • on Thursday morning the Messiah, the
fourth and last morning's performance consisting
of Gounod's Masa (in C) and Handel's Israel in
Egypt. The evening performances will con-
sist of, on Tuesday, Handel's Alexander's
Feast and a miscellaneous selection ; on Wed-
nesday Mr. Benedict's Legend of St. Cecilia
and a miscellaneous selection ; on Thursday
Mr. Barnett's new cantata, also followed by a mis- ,
cellaneous selection ; and, on the closing evening
of the festival, Mendelssohn's St. Paul—the latter
replacing the ball which was formerly given, as at
other provincial festivals, on the last night, but
which has recently been discontinued here. The
orchestra and chorus are, as usual at the Birming-
ham meetings, on the grandest and most compre-
hensive scale. The band, including the finest of
our orchestral players, consists of 28 first violins,
headed by M. Sainton ; 26 second violins, with Mr.
J. T. Willy as princiw.l; 18 violas (tenors), Mr. I
Doyle being principal ; 17 violoncellos, principal,
Mr. G. Collins ; and the same number of double-
basses presided over by Mr. Howell. There
will be a double wind band consisting of four
flutes, principals Messrs. Pratten and De Folly—
four oboes, principals Messrs. Barret and Nichol-
son; four clarionets, Messrs. Lazarus, Mayoock,
&c. ; four bassoons, Messrs. Hutchins, Anderson,
&c. ' • four horns, Messrs. C. Harper, Mann, &' c. •
two trumpets, Messrs. T. Harper and Irwin ; be-
, &des two comets, three trombones, ophecleide
two serpents, double drums, side drum, basis
drum, harp, &c. With this splendid orchestra
will be conjoined a chorus consisting of 96
sopranos, 91 contraltos and altos, 88 tenors, and
the same number of basses— almost exclusively
local choriste—together forming a choir of 363
voices • comprising members of the Birmingham
Festival Choral Society, and the local Amateur
I Harmonic Association, Mr. W. C. Stockley and
Mr. A. J. Sutton (of Birmingham) having acted as
local chorus-masters. The principal soprano solo
singers will be Mdlle. Titiens Madame Lemmens-
Sherrington, and Mdllo. Christine Nilsson—the
last-named lady (whose recent great success,
at Her Majesty 4 Theatre is generally known)
making her first appearance here in oratorio,
being announced for Judas Mecca:mu, on Wednes-
day morning. The contralto solos during the fes-
tival will be divided between Madame Sainton-
Dolby and Madame Patey-Whytock. Mr. Sims
Reeves and Mr. W. H. Cummings are the solo
tenors ; Mr. Santley and Mr. Weiss being the
barvtone and bass. The miscellaneous concerts

will present the attractive features of instrumental
solos by Madame Arabella Goddard (pianoforte)
and M. Sainton (violin). Among the lady's per-
formances will be Mr. Benedict 's new concerto
(noticed by us on several recent occasions) and
Professor Bennett's fourth concerto (in F minor).
The whole performances will be (as thuy
have been for the last six festivals) under the
admirable guidance of Mr. Costa, who has been
here for some days conducting the choral rehearsals.
Preliminary rehearsals, chiefly for the orchestral
accompaniments, were held in London last week--
or, speaking with reference to publication, the
week before last. General rehearsals, for band,
chorus and principal singers, are fixed to take place
at the town-hall on Monday morning at 9, and
on the evening of that day at 6.
The festival is on this occasion under the presi-
dency of the Right Hon. the Earl Beauchamp,
and a large number of vice-presidents.
Mr. J. Oliver Mason, whose active energy as
chairman of the orchestral committee has been of
such valuable service for the last six festivals,
again on the present occasion fills that
important office. All promises a more than
usually successful result for the present occa-
sion ; the balloting for tickets having shown a
considerable increase on the numbers of 1864;
being up to the latest return 6,313 for the morning
performances at 11. Is., and 3,136 for the evening
concerts at 155., which, together with the sixty
special tickets at 51. be., makes a total of 8,2461. ;
being beyond the expenses incurred in the festival
arrangements, without taking into consideration 1
the donations yet to come, and the casual sale of
tickets still to follow. The general result, as
already ascertained, is even more favourable than
that of the last meeting, that having been among
the most successful of the past Birmingham Musi-
cal Festivals.

BIRMINGHAM SOCIETY OT ARTINTS.—The "pri-
vate view" of the year's exhibition took place on Saturday.
Amongst the pictures exhibited there are the productions
of Sir John Noel Paton. R.S.A., Vicat Cole, R. Thorn-
burn, J. E. 3fillais, R. A., T. Feed, R.A., R. V. Martineau,
James Denby, W. H. Fisk, G. R. Hicks, F. Dillon, J.
Sant, A.R.A., E. Nicoll, A.8.A., the late J. Philip, ILA.,
the late C. R. Leslie, 8.A., Eyre Crowe, George Sant,
James Archer, R.S.A., Itc. Amongst the principal pic-
tures in the great room are " The Rape of the Lock," the
late C. F. Ledie, R.A. ; "The Return of the Dove to the
Ark," J. E. Millais, R.A. ; "Enoch Arden's Farewell,"
G. E. Hicks ; " Afternoon at Chios:M." J. H. S. Mann ;
"The Pirate's Isle," James Denby; "Spring Time," Viost
Cole • "Christ Welling on the Sea," Charles Francois
Jalagert ; " Charles the Second Knighting the Loin of
Beef," Eyre Crowe ; " Christ the Consoler," G. W. E.
Armitage, ILA.: and " Rembrandt going to the School of
Anatomy at Antwerp," G. C. Biaachop. The local artists
came out creditably ; amongst the most prominent of this
class of contributors are Charles Burt, W. Hall, C. W.
Rodclyffe, F. H. Renshaw, J. P. Pettit, W. 7'. Roden,
P. M. Feeney, Allen E. Everitt, John Steeple, R. S. Chat-
task.
THE ROYAL HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OF THE
CREST, CITY-110AG, E.G.—The number of patients under
treatment at this hospital during the put week amounted
812, of which 67 were new oases.

A SEVER SHIP.

The brig Day Star arrived off Gravesend on
Friday in Marge of the chief mate and part of
the crew of the ship Golden Dream, now ea her
voyage to Japan, having picked her up at sea with
• portion of her own crew dead under shocking cir-
cumstances. The report made by the chief mate of
the Golden Dream is as follows :—" At 5.30 a.m. of the
I.lsthJuly, St. Nicholas, one of the Caps de Verde Islands,
bearing N. 8., distant 45 miles, saw • sail two points din.
tent on our starboard bow. As we approached saw that
she had • signal of distress flying in bee main rigging,
and her sails all aback. On getting within bail aaked
what was the natter. A very feeble voice answered,
' The ship is half full of water, and our crew are all dyer'
with fever.' Our captain ordered a boat to be lowered, and I
put off to the vessel, our captain (Wing strict orders to be
careful in boarding. On getting alongside found her to be
the brig Day Star, from Bathurst, Rio Grande, bound to
r London, in ballast. On boarding her found the crew in
the last stem, of exhaustion ;they were lying on the deck,
some evidently dying. The chief mate of her could jest
manage to crawl about, and be referred are to the ship's
log-book for information. In it I found that the day
after the ship sailed from Bathurst • fever Woke oak
which in a few days completely prostrated the
satire mew, two only being able to navigate
the ship, and these were subsequently stricken down,
and the ship laid helpless. On the 10th of July an able
seaman, named H. Nichols, was the first to perish from
the effectaof the fever. He was found dead in his berth.
His corpse was at once committed to the deep. The next
victim was the master, Captain Lever; then • cabin boy;
sad so it went on till only five remained alive, and them
were considered in dying ocradition when I wanton board
the vemeL The vessel, when off Kayo, sent a fishermen
to ask permission to amber the brig Day Star off the
Wand. The Portuguese boat came off with • letter
from H.B.M. Omni, stating that, as the ship
bad sickness en beard, it would not be permitted,
and directed her to proceed to St. Vincent; and it
was while ahe was thus proceeding that she wee Wien
in with by the Golden Dream. On attempting to leave,
the survivors implored to be taken into my boat, as they
knew they should all die. I told them not to think I fa.)
tended to abandon them, but I most report the cenchtera
of the vessel to my captain, and that I would soon return.
I then had the steward lowered into the boat, and took him.
with me to the Golden Dream. Captain Wise, on hearing
the condition of the ship, determined to remove the sur-
vivors to his vessel, which was directly done, where they
received every comfort and attention. Five of our crew
volunteered with me to return to the brig, and took to the
pumps, and succeeded in pumping the water out. They
then well washed and fumopted the cabins, and then made
I sail for London. The crew of the Day Star went on in the
Golden Dream to Japan."

' On Saturday a grand concert was given in the
'Handel orchestra of the Crystal Palace by the members
of the Tonic 801-Fa Ansodation. Nearly 4,500 voeslisli
of all ages took part in the performances. The prise
which was awarded to the contingent which represented
the association in Paris during the great contest of choral
societies in July, was exhibited in front of the audito-
rium, and the successful oompetitors wore upon their
I breasts the badges of honour which they had on that coos-
, sion won.

AGRICULTERAL HALL.—The concerts at " The
Fairy Palace" diaries the put week have attracted large
audiences. The programme for the ensuing week, how-
! ever, is of • still more attractive character. To-nights
to be devoted to what is termed a military concert, com-
prising the three entire bands of her Majesty's Household
Brigade, viz.:—The Grenadiers, Coldstream, and Soots
FuailierGuards' bands,united under the three bandmasters,
the brothers Godfrey. Oa Tuesday there is, amongst other
things, to be an operatic selection from " II Treaders,"
Miss Louisa Fyne, Mdlle. Liebbart, Miss Julia Derby, Mr.
Lewis Therms, Mr. George Perren, and Mr. Levy on the
cornet, being the solo performers, aided by the chorus of
the Theatre Royal, Covent-garden, under Mr. Smythson.
On nuncio a second operatic night will consist of " Lucia
di Lammermoor," and on Saturday a repetition of "Il
Trovatore," with all the musical effects the brilliant and
poyerhil bend and chorus an produce. Three Sacred
Harmonic nights, ioduding oratorios of the " Messiah,"
"Judas Maccabees," and "Elijah,' with a choir of 1,000
voices under Mr. 0. W. Martin, are arranged to take pleas,
as well as other entertainments of a high-class character.
TIMBER FlREE.—Yesterday morning a fire, at-
tended with the destruction of some thousand pounds'
worth of property was discovered in College-wharf, the
property of Mmes. Meredith Brothers, proprietors of the
sawing and planing steam Mlle. The property covers
over half en acre of land, extending from the river side
into Belvidere-road, Lembeth. Lofty stacks of timber,
including Honduras and Spanish mahogany, with Danzio
and Meppla deals, averaging between 40 and 50 feet high,
surrounded the large steam mill. There was neer an
immense building filled with steam machinery of every
I description. In order to protect the several buildings ad-
joining each other they were parted by means of the patent
Reliance fireproof doom, but unfortunately one of thole
doors had been left open, and the flames being consequently
tuirestrained, rushed into the large building leading to the
river side. Apprehensions were felt that the piles of
timber in the open yard would have been burned, but
the Reliance doors being firmly fastened on the eastern
and western sides of the building prevented such a ca-
amity. Several large blocks of mahogany and deals bad
just become ignited, when the water from the engines had
the desired effect. Eventually the firemen managed to put
out the are, but not until the saw mills, with their timber
' and machinery, were destroyed. The adjoining buildings
and stock in open yards were only triflingly injured.
Yesterday afternoon, about one o'clock a fire
was also discovered in the timber-yard of Yr. Bettis,
builder, in Clarence-road, Kentish-town. It raged with
considerable violence for some time. A valuable stock of
timber was speedily consumed, and the house of Mr. Bevis,
in the rear, was completely gutted, and the adjoining
property much damaged. The metropolitan engines and one
stationed in the locality were soon on the spot, and a
supply of water being obtained the flames were subdued.
The police force of the S division rendered effective ser-
vice. The road was thronged, and some of the Fire Bri-
gade, from the smouldetiag nature of the materials, re-
maimed on the premises.
THR OAKS COLLIERY.—IMPORTANT MEETING or
ENGINE ERS. --On Saturday an important meeting of the
principal mining engineers in the kingdom was held at the
offices of the Oaks Colliery, for the purpose of receivang
the report of the viewers in charge, and agreeing to the
immures to be adopted for opening out the workings and
recovering the Was ; Mr. Forster. of Newcastle, occupied
the chair. After mating upwards of three hours the
following resolution was agreed to :—" Resolved : That
the process of opening be proceeded with, and a report for-
warded daily to the chairman, with • view of his sum-
moning another meeting whenever he may think it neces-
sary; and that it be the duty of the acting engineers to
stop the work if any unfavourable symptoms be observed,
and to report the same to the chairman, who is enipowered
to confirm the stoppage of the work and to call a general
meeting if he thins fit: and that it also be competent for
the chairman to stop the work at any time be thinks ne-
misery from the results of the daily reports." In the
course d a day or two the actual state of the mine. it is
expected, will be kuown.
OCR COLONIAL En FIRE. —The official returns pro-
duced from the Colonial-office, describe our Indian pos-
sessions as having au area of 956,436 square miles, with
a population of 144.948,366 ; the native states of
India Pis distinguished from British India) having an area
of 596,790 square miles, and a population of 47,909.100,
besides which there are in India 1,254 square mile* of
native states under the French or the Portuguese govern-
meat, with a population of 517,149. The area of our
North American colonies is 632,361 square miles, with a
population of 3,701,461: and this does not include the
vast territory admiuistereil by the 1 lieleon's Bay Corn.
pany. Australasia contains an area of 2,5112,070 square
miles, and a population of 1,599,560 ; the British West
Indies an area of 88,683 square miles, and • population of
1,007,627; the Cape of Good Hope and Natal, 119,328 square
miles and 425,676 people ; Ceylon, 24,700 square miles,
and a population of 2,049,728. Our other colonies being
added, the general total is as area of 4,427att .square miles,
and • population of 154,810,787 souls ; and this notwith-
standing some omissions on account of returns not re-
ceived—the aborigines of British Columbia, and POMO
150,010 persons on the 6000 square miles of the Gold
Coast settlement. The public revenue of these vast pos-
e... Mons slimed was nearly 63,000,0004. in the year 1865.
The public debt is not quite 140,000,000/. The tonnage
entered and cleared in 1865, exclusive of the rotating
trade, was about 26,090,0001. The imports into these Bri-
tish possessions in 1865, including bullion and specie,
amounted in value to 128,375,0534. ; more than 56,000,(00f.
worth were from the United Kingdom. The exports
amounted to 141,368,102 f. ; 79.419.6591. of these exports
went so the United Kingdom. These great pommions
sent forth, for the supply of the world in that seer, wool
of the value of 12.Z.44 ,5W.• raw sugar. 7,1 ree.1631. ; coffee,
3,308,9634. ; wood, 3,877,1004. ; fish, 1,6,;8,2604. India
alone, in the year seat out raw cotton of the value of
37,573,6371.
On Saturday morning Thomas Hutchings, a fish
hawker, residing in a court is Leicester, cut the throat of
two of his children, and then his own. One of the chil-
dren is not dangerously wounded, but the other is con-
sidered by the medical attendant to be in a very critical
state.
On the afternoon of Tuesday Mr. A. G.
Stephen, telegraph clerk at the Fmserburgh railway
station, was struck does by lightning, and rendered for
some time insensible. He was magnetising the instrument
at the time, and thus received the full weight of the cur-
rent by the wires.
A branch of the North Riding Chamber of Agri-
culture has been established at Ripen.