The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-16 00:00:00

TONIC SOL-FA ASSOCIATION.

This institution gave its annual juvenile choral
festival at the Crystal Palace yesterday, when a
choir of nearly five thousand voices assembled in
the Handel orchestra—the sopranos consisting chiefly
of children belonging to schools in and around
London, where the Tonic Bola method of instruc-
tion Is followed. This system, based on principles first put
forth by Miss Glover of Norwich half a century since, has
been brou‘ht to its present state of efficiency and wide
adoption by the untiring energy and labour of the Rev.
John Curwess--who has simplified and improved the
method, and promoted its extension until it has now be-
come the most successful of the many schemes for facili-
tating the instruction of large numbers in part-singing. The
performance of yesterday was highly satisfactory ; in
quality of tone, truth of intonation, and the alternate
lights and shades of forte and piano, the singing of the
young pupils gave good evidence in favour of the system
under which they are instructed. In various small pieces
—sacred and secular, some accompanied on the organ by
Mr. Coward, and others without such aid—the results
were most satisfactory. Another gathering is to take plate
in Ancust, when music of a more elaborate character will
I be performed by more advanced students of the Tonic
liol-fa system.

Drama.

PRINCESBS.

Miss Glyn (Mrs. E. S. Dallas), whose Shake-
, spearian readings during the lust few months have brought
her most favourably before the public, made her re-
appearance on the London stage art this house last night
in Shakespeare's tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra.
The scenery, by Mr. T. Grieve, first painted fur Mr.
Calvert, of the l'rince'a Theatre, Manchester, who
produced a four•act version of the play in the early
part of the year, has been transferred to London for
this revival, not, however, before it had proved at the
Prince of Wales's Theatre, Liverpool --where the piece
wax also performed—that good fittings, with sixth-rate
actors, will not impose even upon provincial audiences.
This scenery Las been retouched by Mr. Grieve, and addi-
tions have bees made to it by Mr. Lloyds and others,
including a grand ship acene. A ballet and several pro-
cessions bare been arranged for the play by Mr. Milano ;
and Mr. Hall, as he always does, has supplied appropriate
music. Nothing has been spared by the management to
put the play effectivelyand accurately on the stage; but the
central feature is of course the impersonation of Cleopatra.
From first to last Miss Glyn allows little sentiment to
creep into her portrait of the Egyptian Queen, but makes
her a loving, reckless, and somewhat coquettish woman.
In no character has Shakespeare shown more knowledge
of the female heart, and no actress could give a better in-
terpretation of the author's creation. The comedy of the
character has full justice done to it, and the few earnest
passages are delivered with admirable force and meaning.
The minor characters are very numerous, and if the acting
in some of them was not very satisfactory, it was often as
satisfactory as the characters are. The tragedy has been cut
down a little, but not sufficient probably to bring it within
the limits that ordinary playgoers will require. It began at
eight, and did not terminate until twelve. Miss Glyn's
reception was very encouraging, the applause throughout
the performance was discriminating ; she received a call,
in company with Mr. Loraine, at the close of the fourth
act, and was summoned before the curtain at the end of
' the play, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour.

THZ FORTHCORTNO VISIT Or BKLOIAN VOLUN-
Timol.—A meeting of the general committee appointed to
make arrangements for the forthcoming reception of Bel-
gian Volunteers was held yesterday at Willis's-rooms.
Colonel Loyd Lindsay, Id.P.,presided, and there were pre-
sent Lord Wharnehtfe, Major Meek, the Lord Mayor of
York, Colonel Manley, Colonel Gregory, Lieut.-Colonel
Warde, Captain Ellis, Captain M'Swinney, Mr. Graves,
M.P., Mr. Laird, M.P., and other gentlemen. Mr. Cock.
craft read minutes of committee meetings, from which it
appeared that Mr. Buxton, 51. P., bed undertrken to en-
tertain the Belgian Volunteers at Foxwarreff ; a ball at
the Agricultural-hall, Islington, had been talked of ; many
managers of theatre* had undertaken to throw open their
theatres, and many other entertainments were under con-
sideration. The Chairman said that his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales had consented to become president of the
committee. Ile hod not seen the Duke of Cambridge, but he
was quite sure his royal highness would assist them in their
work. From the Lord Mayor he hail received a letter
stating that the question of an entertainment to the Belgian
volunteers had been under consideration in the City, and
would be settled at the meeting of council to-day. As to
the numbers expected, they had been variously estimated
at between 500 and 2,000. He thought they might be
invited on Wednesday, the 10th of July, which would be
ten days before the review. He had been in communication
with the First Lord of the Admiralty, and it would be
arranged that their foreign visitors should be brought in her
Majesty's ships to the river, and small steamers would land
them at Westminster-bridge. He proposed, if possible, to
find them board and lodging free. He also proposed that
they should have one day at Windsor Castle, one day at the
Crystal Palace, and one trip to Richmond by water, on
which occasion he would wiah all the Thames Clubs totem
out, so that they might have a great gala day. The Inns
of Court Regiment also proposed to entertain them in their
gardens, and trips might be arranged to South Kensington,
Oremorne, the Zoological-gardens, and other places.
Another point to which he desired to direct the attention
of the general committee, and to ask their sanction was,
that some badge or medal should be struck cud offered to
every Belgian on his arrival, bearing the head of the
Prince of Wales, or scene other device, in commemoration
of the visit. The next point was, should the reception
committee give the Belgians • banquet. (Loud cries of
" Yes, yes," and " hear.") The last grand event would, as
a matter of course, be the volunteer review at Wimbledon,
when, as well as the English volunteers, no doubt
the Belgian military contingent would fall in and
march past his Royal Higkeess the Commander-
is-Chief, after which it was 'gala proposed to carry them
beck to their own country in her Majesty's ships or by
way of Dover. These were the outlines of what was pro-
posed to be done. (Hear, bear.) Colonel Lindsay then
weal into statistics, to show, in order to carry out these
proposals, what amount of funds would be required,
assuming that we have 1,000 visitor. to cater for, and ex-
pressed an opinion that the gross amount required to
carry out the reception in a liberal and becoming spirit
would not be less than between 7,0001. and 8,000/.
Colonel Gregory summated that, amongst other enter-
tainments, there should be one of • masonic character.
After sense discussion the meeting was adjourned for fur-
ther information. Several subscriptions were announced,
&i:n* them bei the Prince of Wales, 1051. ; Lamle-
iX
ionel Loyd y, M.P., 1001. ; Lord Overatooe,
1001. ; the Duke of Wellington, 1001. ; Earl Spencer, 501. ;
Earl C leper, 25 guineas ; Earl Grosvenor, 201. ; Sir B. 8.
Phillips, 20 guineas ; Mr. Tod Heatley, 25 guineas ; Mr.
K. llenyon, M.P., 29 guineas; Lord Wharncliffe, 25/. ; Mr.
James Howell, a prize value 5001. ; Messrs. Rothschild,
1001., lco. A vote of thanks to Colonel Lindsay for pre-
siding closed the proceedings.
Tan PILCHARD Eleanore Or 1866.—We are now
in possession of farts and figures which show the work of
the peat season. The total number of hogsheads exported
from Cornwall were 14,294, or exactly six under the
average of the past tea ems. The fish were not good in
quality, and were irregular in sire. 5,700 hogsheads were
cared in Mount's Bay ; 2,944 East of the Lizard ; and
5,650 at St. Ives and North of St. Ives. These were ex-
ported, in lota varying from 30 to 7334 hogsheads, between
the 3rd of October and the sth of February, to the follow-
ing places :—To Grimm, 4,017 hogsheads ; to Leghorn
2,58.5 i ; to Clefts Vecchia, 998 ; to Naples, 3,490 ; to
Anemia, 529) ; and to Venice, 2,674. The average prices
paid to the fishermen for 1865 and 1866 are unknown ex-
cept to the exporters. Those, from 1850 to 1864, are
stated. They ranged, from as low as 30s. to 50e. • hogs-
head, in 1652, to Who and 80e. in 1860, when only 3,920)
hogsheads were sold. Within the last 17 years the sales
have varied from 3,145 hogsheads, in 1859, to more than
26,000, in 1.951 and 1863.--CD/wish Telegruplt.