The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-05 00:00:00

iO•a,i-

AUSTRIA.

THE IMPERIAL VISIT TO PESTH.
PROW OBS OWN 001111118PONDIM)

PESTH, JAL 30, Tar o'CLoce, rat.
This evening their Majesties were present at the
representation of the opera Erzsibet in the Hunga-
rian theatre. The interior of the house is very pleasing.
The inside of the boxes is of a not too dark shade of
crimson, and the front of them, as well as the ceil-
ing and proscenium, white and gold. In Hungary
modern architecture and its ornaments have Inva-
riably a something which reminds us of the East.
Here the style chosen is that of the Renaissance,
which is admirably adapted to that richness and air
of splendour so congenial to the Hungarian mind.
But 3 et, though the flowers and figures belong to
the Renaissance, there are scrolls and intertwining
lines, and slender intermediate columns, the gilded
shafts curiously twisted, which are essentially Sara.
cenic. The great amount of dead gold scroll-work on
the white ground has a rich effect. The piece was
put well upon the stage : the costumes were hand-
some, the decorations good. Indeed it is striking
how the Hungarians always manage that public
institutions, such as a museum, • library, an
academy, picture gallery or theatre, shall be
effective. They like it to appear that they also do
something for art and science, and care especially
that what is done shall show well. On keeping up
appearances they set even more value than we do,
though in a different way, and will make great
sacrifices to do so, the gratification of the passion
making amends to them.
Lung before the appointed hour (8 o'clock) the
theatre was thronged to the ceiling. At half-past
8 the Emperor and the Empress arrived. The
buzz and hum of voices were suddenly bushed in
expectation, and presently the Empress appeared,
the Emperor as before remaining a step behind, as
if to show that the applause and joyful demonstra-
tions belonged to her. Every one rose, and I need not
say that the acclamations were loud and hearty.
Both the royal guests appeared very gratified, and
I have not seen the Emperor look so cheerful and
in such good spirits for a long time. The Emperor
wore the Hussar uniform. The Empress wore a
tiara of diamonds ; a broad band with diamonds
clustered together at short intervals on the dark
ground, and forming a flower, was round her neck,
and the body of her dress was bordered by a similar
band.
I
There was no applause during the representation,
out of respect for the presence of their Majesties.
Between the acts all was quiet, and when, once or
twice, in the higher regions the talking began to
rise to a higher key than was thought fitting, •
slight indication to that effect sufficed to quell the
humming sound at once.
A fashion has of late been introduced by her
Majesty, which, as I think, is not in good taste.
It is to have a diamond, representing a dew drop,
fixed to a real flower. This evening the Empress
had in her hand a bouquet of white camellias, and
on each, in the centre, was a large diamond.
Fashion, with its hair powder and patches, hoops,
high keels, pup and paint, is so unaccountable and
uncontrollable a power, that we may perhapa before
long see a sparkling diamond fixed by a new plan to
the cheek of beauty, to heighten its charms by thus
representing a falling tear.

Boarrr or ARTS.—The ohs:union on the paper
read as November 29 by Mr. William Bases, "On the
Proposal that the Railways be Purchased by the Govern-
moot," will be re-opened by lie. Edwin Chadwick, C. 8.,
on Wednesday evening next, at 8 o'clock.
THE STATE or IRELAND.—Os Saturday a depu-
tation from the meeting of noblemen and gentlemen, held
in the Rotundas. at Dublin, on Thursday, in relation to the
state of the country, waited on the Lord Lieutenant, at the
Castle. The deputation consisted of the Earl of Chub•
mont, the Earl of Longford, the Earl of Erne, Lord Jamas
Butler, the Bon. Cavendish Butler, Lord Oaring, Lord
Cl-rmont, Colonel Knox Gore, and Mr. Alexander Parker,
J.P. The object of the deputation was to present the 1110-
lotions which were adopted, without any disseutiest vows,
at the meeting info/red to. The Lord Liouteoant, in reply,
eakl—" It is a great satisfaction to the government to have
received support from so large and influential • body
of gentleman, from all parts of Ireland, and belonging
to all parties ; and we trust that by a continuance belonging
the measures hitherto adopted, we think, perhaps, with
some swims, we may be enabled to allay the uneasiness
which unfortunately Prevails in many parts of the country.
I can ware the gentlemen who met on that occasion and
passed those tesoleticas that nothing will be wanting, se
I had the honour of stating on a public occasion very
I recently, on the part of the government to give that pro-
; teed= to all the loyal subjects of her Majesty which they
have • right Weil:asst.* Os Saturday the police visited the
premises of Mr. ILisitszd lillEamt, cabinetmaker, No. 15,
Stanced-strest, Dublin, sod in • cellar aommunicating by
• ladder and trap-door with the corner of the workshop.
they found half-mdosen basket swords a
dd' anes, four or
I five rides and bayonets, six pike.heads, bollst.motilL
1 Throb persons wore arrested.

The metropolitan public, moat of whom must
have become acquainted by sight or by use with the street
tramways laid down in ldarylebone, Victoria-street, end
the Westminster-read, through the exertions of Mr. G. P.
Traia, need no explanation of the general features of that
mode of looomotion. They also know that owing to com-
plaints on the part of individuals—partly perhaps well
founded, partly perhaps prompted by interested motives—
the parish authorities interfered, and Mr. Train and his
tramways disappeared and were almost forgotten. It
appears, however, that a fresh effort is about to be made to
reintroduce the system by the Metropolitan Tramway Com-
pany, who have given the usual notices that application will
be made in the present session of parliament for " powers
to lay down certain specified lines on the comple-
tion and satisfactory working of which the tramway
company will be empowered to construct other lines by
arrangement with the local authorities." The great objec-
tion to the street tramways heretofore in use wee that or-
din iry oosveyanoe■ were strained and injured in attempt-
ing berms the rail by "skidding," or sliding in the tram,
whilst the rail itself, projeoting es it did from the whin
of the roadway, was forced outwards by the pressure of the
wheels of heavy waggons, thereby destroying the genie
and loosening the whole structure. The "crescent rail* of
Yews. Jobs Noble and Co.—a model of which was sub-
nahlied for pablie hispestisa on filetrardayiast at the Wants
minister Uses Hotel—professes to meet and to obviate the
inoonvenieartee which were experienced in the tramways
laid down by Mr. Train. Mr. Noble proposes to lay the rail
below the surface of the road, the top of the iron being
level with the road itself—a small groove being ldt
in the pavement for the flange of the wheel to run in.
This groove not being wide enough to admit an ordinary
carnage wheel, i► h assumed that no shock whatever
would be experienced in crowdog a road with Inch a tram
laid in it. Longitudinal sleepers are to be need for fixing
the rill, which i convex on the upper surface, and hence
called the convex rail. The compauy undertake to mass.
tide and repair such portions of the streets and roads along
which the tramways may be laid, the whole not to exceed
seven feet in width for each line of tram. It is quite
certain that a very large section of the public availed them-
selves of Mr. Train's tramways, and regretted the decree
which deprived them of a mode of transit which unques-
tionably presents many advantages over the jolting and
noisy one in ordinary use is the streets of London. We
believe this large section of the inhabitants of the metro-
polis would sae with satisfaction the reappearance of the
street tramways, especially if the objeetions to the former
system should be removed nailer the new plan proposed.