The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-25 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 25, 1867.

pluott.

MR. BENEDICT'S CONCERT.

This entertainment, which for thirty-one years
past has been one of the chief specialties of the musical
season, took place yesterday morning at St. James's-ball,
which was filled by a crowded and fashionable audience.
This was a result due both to the merits of our excellent
resident professor and to the intrinsic attractions of the
programme of the day ; prominent among which were Mr.
Benedict's recent compositions—his cantata The Leacad of
St. Cecilia, and his new pianolorte concerto—works which
have even enhanced the composer's former high reputa-
tion acquired by the many previous excellent com-
positions produced during his career in this coun-
try. The cantata, composed for, and produced at
the Norwich festival in November last, and performed for
the first time in London by the Sacred Harmonic Society
'in March last, was so fully noticed by us, and its many
high merits co amply disowned on those occasions, that
we need merely now chronicle its repetition and its equally
favourable reception yesterday. The cast was the same as
at Norwich—Saint Cecilia by Mdlle. Titiens, • Christian
woman by Male. Drasdil, Valerianus by Mr. Sims
Reeves, and the Prefect by Mr. Santley. Mr. Reeves,
after singing with admirable expreirion in the first part,
was compelled, by indisposition, to relinquish the re-
mainder of his task to Mr. Cummings, who performed the
remainder of the tenor solo part with his signal efficiency.
The solos assigned to Menlo. Thiene were given with
the same intense expression and elevation that rendered
her performance at Norwich so memorable. The pathetic
prayer, " Father wham blessing," was given with the
same pathos as before by Mdlle. Drasdil ; and the various
declamatory passages for the Prefect, including the capital
dramatic scene, " What mean these zealots vile," were
declaimed with the same admirable power and emphasis
as at Norwich by Kr. Santley. Every movement, in
short, produced a strong impression, especially the final
" canticle," for St. Cecilia, in which Mdlle. Titiens' bril-
liant voice and impassioned yet sublimated style contrasted
so admirably with the subdued choral responses, and the
refined accompaniments of orchestra and harp. Pro-
longed applause and a call for the composer followed
the termination' of the cantata, when Mr. Beno-
diet came forward, leading on Mdlle. Titiens,
whose admirable singing was here, as ►t Norwich, so con-
spicuous a feature in the performance. The pianoforte
concerto, first performed by Madame Arabella Goddard at
the Crystal Palace in April last, and again at the
Philharmonic concert three weeks since, was played yes-
terday by the same hands with the same grand power,
finished execution, and refined grace as on the former

occasions. Each of the three movements of the work
elicited strong demonstrations of approval, especially the
exquisite " andante," with its graceful embroideries and
elaborations. The programme, which was divided into
three parts, comprised a long list of pieces by some of
the most eminent solo vocalists and instrumentalists in
London, prominent among the former being Mdlle. Christine
Nilsson, whose charming singing of two national Swedish
airs (the second encored) was received with the same ex-
pression of delight that has attended ber previous per-
formances of the same melodies. An important item in
the instrumental selection was Bach's concerto for three
pianos, admirably played by Master Cowen, Messrs. Bene-
dict and Lindsay Slopes, with orchestr►l accompaniments
conducted by Mr. W. (3. Cusins. The orchestra, selected
from the bands of the Royal Italian Opera and Her Majesty's
Theatre, with Means. Sainton and Carrodus as principal
violins, was, of course, thoroughly efbcient, as was also the
chorus, consisting of members of the Sacred Harmonic
Socie,y, Mr. Henry Leslie's, and Mr. Ganz's choir.

An interesting " National Ballad Concert" is to
take place at Exeter-hall on Monday evening next, when
Mr. Sims Reeves will sing some of those sterling old
English songs in which Braham was so famous, but which
it may be doubted whether the deceased singer ever gave
with grandeur and refinement of style equal to that of the
living tenor. Selections are also to be given from English
operas—from Arne's Artaxerxes to Loder's Notosahad and
Barnett's Mountain Sylph.

will be produced M. A. DIIIIIIII the younger's new co-
medy, Lee rider de Madame Aw!rny, and a comedie-vande-
villa entitled Le Caporal et la Pape. Twenty-eight
plays are announced for performan^e, including some of
the recent famous bits of M. Angier and M. V. Renton.

ALHAMBRA. —One of those grand scenic apecta-
cies with which the name of Mr. William Callcott has been
successfully connected at this house for nearly two years,
was produced last night under the appropriate summer
title of The Carers* of lee. The scene represents a vast
cave, from the roof of which hang glittering icicles, and
between these icicles a shower of real water descends from
the top of the lofty stage. An elaborate ballet, invented and
produced by Mr. Milano, is introduced in the foreground,
the dances of which are cleverly arranged, so as to avoid the
conventional ballet movements as far as possible, and •
further novelty is introduced in the shape of fourice-fiends,
whoee gambols combine dancing with tumbling. The
dances throughout are very spirited, the dresses are ele-
gant, and the music, by M. Riviere, is lively. Nearly a
hundred dancers are grouped upon the stage at one time.
The " Pearl Ballet" and the comic ballet are still retained
in the bills, and the musical and miscellaneous portion of
the entertainment is as full and varied es usual.
ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION or LONDON.—The
dooms; meeting of the session of this emaciation took place
on Friday evening last, the president, Mr. Robert W. Rdis,
in the chair. After the usual basins of the meeting,
Professor Hayter Lewis gave an able and interesting paper
on " Mosaics." The learned professor entered tally into
the description of the various kinds of mosaic decoration,
which he illustrated by • number of sketches and drawings
from some of the principal Italian churches ; and after re-
ferring to what had been done by Mows. Powell and
Dr. Salviati, towards reviving the art of mosaic decoration
in our time, concluded by hoping that at no distant
period good mosaic work would again be used for the wall
decoration of our churches and public buildings. At the
close of the address, after a vote of thanks had been pro-
posed by the president, the officers for the next ses-
sion were elected, when Mr., R. P. Spier* was elected
president, and Messrs. Sarver and Ridge, vice-presidents.
The annual dinner of the association took place at Rich-
mond on the following evening, when between forty and
fifty members were present, the chair being taken by the
president, Mr. Robert W. F.R.1.8.A.
RAILWAY BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.—The eigh-
teenth half-yearly meeting of members was held yesterday
afternoon at the King's.crou Station, Mr. Henry Oakley
(the secretary of the Great Notthern Railway Company
and chairman of the board of management) occupying
the chair. The report and statement of accounts, which
were read by Mr. W. F. Mills, the secretary. stated that
the total receipts for the half-year ending April, 18i15,
were 1,831/. ; for 1866, 2,276/. ; and for 1867, 2,3241. • the
increase arising mainly from the subscriptions of members.
The sum of 1,050/. had been added to the invested capital,
which now amounts to 14,8001. The board desired pub-
licly to thank Mr. Charles Dickens for his able advocacy of
the interests of the institution at the recent anniversary
dinner, and exprecs a hope that the result of his appeal will
awaken increased publicsympathy and support in its behalf.'
The receipts of the New Year's-der collection in 1865
were 495/. ; in 1866, 0381. ; and in January, 1867, 7921.
The casualty fund continued to grow in popularity, and
enables the board to dispense small grants, not exceeding
5/., to those who suffer from accidents in the performance
of their duties. The increased funds allowed of the admis-
sion of two more annuitants and two more children. It
would have been gratifying to have granted • larger num- '
ber of pensions, as the number of applicants wee unpro-
oedently large at a time, unfortunately, when the public
contributions were less than heretofore. It was hoped
therefore, that the friends of the institution would use
their best efforts to obtain increseed funds, in order to
provide permanent relief for those who were unsuccessful
at the present election. In the corresponding half-year e(
1865 the sum awarded to distressed claimants was 160/.,
1866 it 1•1113661., and in the half-year just ended, 609/.
The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, ob-
served that the gross receipts were only 481. more than
lea year, which was accounted for by the fact that the
donations were 1141. less. All the other items showed •
steady advance, and the number of members had increased
33 per cent., but there was still a wide field open fo•- re-
cruiting members. Mr. Noble, of the Midland, in second-
ing the motion, mentioned the case of • gentleman in the
railway clearing-house who had just died after overtaxing
his energies to secure the election of one of the candidates.
Unfortunately this gentleman bad forgotten to make him-
self a member, and his family could not share in the per-
manent benefits of the institution. Thu report was unen'-
mously adopted, and the executive having been re-
appointed, • vote of thanks to the chairman closed the
proceedings. The result of the election was that Mrs.
Merlins and Mrs. White were declared elected.

CLAIM OP MANCHESTER TO ADDITIONAL Renee-
erwrarme.—Yeaterday morning the large room of the
Manchester Town-hall was filled with a respectable
audience to petition parliament toren addition to its pre-
sent number of representatives. The meeting was • good
deal interrupted by a few noisy opponents. The Mayor
of Manchester presided, and in opening the proceedings
said the meeting had been called in compliance with a
requisition signed by upwards of 1,000 inhabitants. It
had been stated that Manchester did not want additional
representatives because it had not hitherto taken steps
to make • formal claim ; but the fact was that
its claims were thought to be so great and so gene-
rally recognised that they could hardly have been
overlooked in a reform bill proposing to make such
an extensive change as that now before parliament.
Mr. Baxley, M.P., moved the following resolution:—
"That the claims of the city of Manchester to an increase
of voting power in parliament, lihether on the ground of
population, of property, or of its contributions to the
burdens of the state, are indisputable. That there can be
neither justice nor duration in any re-arrangement of seats
which leaves only two members to Manchester, with its
population of 3i17,000, while 30 towns in England of between
10,000 and 20,000 inhabitants are allowed to retain
two members each, and while ten villages with an ag-
gregate population of 40,000 persons continue to return
ten members to the House of Commons. That there are six
English borough., of which Manchester is one of the largest,
having twelve members, with an aggregate population of
1,681,000. That there are six divisions of counties having
also twelve members, with an aggregate population of
1,535,120. That the proposition of the government to
double the representation of these six counties, and to
ignore the claims of the six boroughs, is as unwise as it is
clearly unjust, and if persisted in, this meeting pledges
itself not to rest satisfied until the claims of Manchester
to additional representation be fairly recognised by the
legislature." Sit Elkanah Armitage seconded the resole.
tion, which wee supported by Mr. Alderman Rumney.
An amendment was moved by Mr. Win. Ambrose, bar-
rister, and a leading member of the " Constitutional "
Association, but the resolution was carried with about 20
dissentients. On the motion of Mr. Jacob Bright (the
mayor) a petition embodying the terms of the previous
resolution, to be presented to the House of Commons by
Mr. Baxley, M.P., was also adopted.
THE SHEFFIELD TRADES UNION COMMISSION.
The court was again crowded yesterday, as it was expected
that the trade union secretaries implicated by Broadhead
would be examined. The names of two of these men are
Smith and Skidmore, and at a meeting of the Saw Makers'
Society, held on Saturday, it was resolved that they be
eusperwled from their office until the holding of a
general meeting. A meeting of the Saw Grinders'
Union has also been held, when Broadhead tendered
his resignation as secretary, which was accepted.)
Crooke' was present at the meeting, but very little I
was said upon the subject. Broadhead has been
the secretary for about twenty years, and re-
ceived • salary of 1001. per annum. Besides this he
keeps a public-house, which is a great resort of trades
unionists, so much so that Broadhead is believed to have
amassed considerable property. Crooke. Mao is • man :
very well off in the world, as his average earnings at his'
trade have been more than 3/. per week, besides which
the sums he has received for committing outrage! have
been very considerable. As soon as the Commissioners
took their seats Dennis Clarke was called. It will be re-
collected
that Clarke was examined last Saturday
week, when his memory was entirely at fault. He
could scarcely remember anything that was asked
him, except that he gave Ogden 100. to keep, because
he and Shaw had not a pocket to put it in. It will
also be remembered that out of nine years the witness
bad only worked about six, and in that term he had re-''
ceived from the Saw Grinders' Union about 2001. On hie
coming forward yesterday morning he confessed that he
was employed by Broadhead to blow up Hellewell, and
that he received 31. for doing it. William Skidmore was
then called, and in answer to Mr. Overend said that be
was a lawmaker, and belonged to the Saw Makers' Union,
of which society he was the president. Thomas Smith
was the secretary. It was true be paid some money to
Broadhead in order to get the blow-up done in Hereford-
street. After it was done he paid Broadhead. 15/.
was the amount ; but he did not know the
blowing up was to be done before it took place.
Witness himself had not been in the habit of rattening,
bat ever since he joined the union, 32 years ego, rattening
had been known in his union, and also before be was born.
His society, however, had not gone to those extreme
measuw which characterised the Saw Grinders' Union.
They had never done anything to injure either • man
or his property within the period over which the inquiry
was to extend. They had also been in the habit of rotten.
ing men in other trades in order to make them conform to
the trade rules. A great deal of other evidence was taken,
but it was comparatively unimportant, and had reference
to details of fattening and the keeping M union books.
The inquiry wee again adjoined.