The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-18 00:00:00

itluste.

COVENT-t.ARDEN CONCERTS.

These concerts, which have well sustained their
character and interest for the p.ist two months, are still
attracting good audiences, ;41.1 ihmhtless continue to
do se until their close. as .nn: for the 2titli inst.
" (lassies' " nights have been gicro on the Thursdays,
with the first portion of the 77:1' :devoted eNc!1:•
civet, to the works of one of the gc..t masters, most of
whom have bees thus illustrated during the series. Last
West Beethoven was again the subject of the first portion
of the concert, the progrsuinie of was us follows:

_
Symphony N... 2. In
Romani., im r, Violin. Mr. 1%.1/it r
Overture. •• ...Molan . .
Tit COS, '• A.14.110d4." Mr. V.:rm.:: E.0,;0y.
Ninth Symphony. 1...rz

Up. 34
Op. MO
Op.
Up.

This selcctiou, which illustrates wane widely removed
phases of the genius of the great: of and most compre.
Isensive of all composers, would ha been more complete
had it included some specimen of the pianoforte works
of a master who, more than any other, has dignified
that instrument by his compositions for it. The
orchestral works were very well given by the
capital hand assembled at these concerts—the symphony
in I). marking the first decided departure from the school
of Mozart ; and the selection from the ninth, or " choral"
symphony in which reethoven seems to have attained the
utmost possible expression of abstract sublimity in instru-
mental music-end the noble overture to Corioion us (not
Shaksps re's, hut an original German tragedy)—all these
extract* from the works of the most profound of musical
poets were listened to with earnest attention and received
with demonstrations of real enjoyment. The beautiful
" Romance" for violin solo, a stream of exquisite
melody with some charming embroidery of bravura
passages of display, was admirably played by Mr.
Polliteer, whose purity of tone, style, and execution, is
much as should be moie often heard in solo performance.
His merits were fully recognised by the audience, who re-
called him, and would, apparently, have been glad to
lays heard the " Romance" a second time. Mr. Vernon
Rigby (who recently made a successful re-appearance here
after his studies in Italy) sang the cantata " Adelaide "
with much purity of style and unaffected expression ; and
was ably accompanied by the conductor, Signor Bottesini,
whose command over the unwieldy double-boas by no
means unfits bins for that more delicate instrument the
pianoforte. The cantata was encored from the
final allegro. The second portion of the con-
cert consisted of the usual miscellaneous programme,
including some of the brilliant dance music of Herr
Strauss conducted by himself, and vocal solos by Miss F.
Huddart and Madame Agatha States:.
The concerts are announced to terminate on Saturday
week, when Mr. J. Russell, the manager, will take his
berient, acid the theatre is to re-open next month with M.
Offenbach's successful new opera-buff a, La Grand, bnciic.w.
de acrulah-sa, which will form the attraction previous to
the production of the Christmas pantomime.

RITUALISTII,PRACTICES AT ST. LAWRENCE JEss eV.
—Yesterday afternoon a numerously.attended meeting of
the inhabitants of the united parishes of St. Lawrence Jewry
and St. Mary Magdalen, Ililk-street, was boil in the
vestry-room of the church, when a discussion took place
respecting the recent services which have taken place in
the church and the ritualistic practices connected there-
with, which have given rise to considerable opposition on
the part of a large body of the ratepayers. The chair was
occupied by the senior churchwarden, Mr. R. Kynaston.
After the transaction of certain minor parochial matters,
Mr. C. Lowry gave the following notice of motion :
"That whilst this vestry heartily approve of special
efforts being made by the church for the spread of the
Gospel in our colonies and in foreign lands, and
also consider the circumstance of the visit of numerous
colonial and other Anglican bishops to this metropolis
a fitting opportunity for such an effort being
made in the church of St. Lawrence Jewry,
it nevertheless desires to record its unqualified disapproval
of the processional and other ritualistic or Popish innova-
tions made during the week of such 'Teen] services held
inthis church from the 14th to the 2dne d September as
being repugnant to the feelings of the protestant inhabi-
tants of the parish, contrary to the uniform practice of
Divine worship performed therein, and in no sense elec.
boned by the Book of Common Prayer. This vestry re-
gard it. moreover, as an insidious attempt to a further de.
velopnsent of the Popish or ritualistic practices introduced
into the protestant reformed church of this realm, and
pledgee itself to do all in its power to Kerne a repetition
of such practices." During the reading of the resolution Mr.
Lowry wasfremsently interrupted by expressions of approvaL
Kr. Lowry mid be did not intend to press his motion at
that moment, but he would ask that it should be printed
and circulated throughout the parish,so that the whole of
the inhabitants might be aware of his intention to bring
the subject forward, and be then hoped to obtain a fair
bearing. A question was then put to the churchwardens
respecting the terms upon which they had permitted the
church to be used for the special services referred to, and
both Mr. Churchwarden Surr and Mr. Churchwarden Pill
stated that the application from the vicar was that the
church might he used for one week for special services in
connexion with the Home and Foreign Missions ; and
when they gave their consent to their being ibeld, they
had not the .lightest idea that those services would have
been of a ritualistic character. If they had known it, the
pennissioa would have been withheld.
AN INCIDENT Tug BRADFORD ELECTION,—
An incident has come to our knowledge in connection with
the election which cannot be too severely condemned by
all right-thinking men. An undertaker in the town,
whose Inman well known, is said to have made a bet on
Tuesday morning that he would have a codin made
sufficiently large to hold Mr. Miell, and that he
would have it ready and bring it into the town
before four o'clock. Accordingly, about half-past
three o'clock the inhabitants of Westgate were surprised
to see this man drive a cab down the road,
on which was placed a coffin, covered with black
cloth, boys standing on the steps on either side
of the cab, and drawing attention to the coffin,
which they told the gaping people had been made to place
Wall in and bury him. It is needless to say that this
shameful and moss dangerous proceeding was execrated by
everyone, no matter which side they had espoused, and
the author has earned for himself the detestation of the
whole community. Had he driven the vehicle to the
central committee-room, where it would have arrived
about the time when the row was at its height, the general
impression appears to be that this foolish man might have
lost hi• life, that his cab would have been destroyed. and
that the exasperating consequences on the already over-
excited crowd are fearful to contemplate. This is the worst
incident a the contest—a contest the like of which has
never before been seen in Bradford.—Leeds alfereare.
THE FOLIcE AND TAR CASUAL POOR. —On
Wednesday night an inquest was held in the Strand Union
on the body of Ellen Cox, aged 3N, who, having been re-
fused a night's lodging for herself and child (a boy eight
yeses of age), was ultimately locked up is a cell at Ilow.
street police-station, where she committed suicide. Evi-
dence was given that the deceased was a very sober woman,
who had been deserted by her husband. Inspector J.
Thompson, F division, one of the relieving officers
appointed under the Poor-law, said that on Saturday
night lest he gave the deceased, who seemed perfectly
rational, an order for a night's lodging at the Strand
Vnlon Workhouse. She was refused admittance on the
pound of being drunk, and she returned to the station.
She hail been drinking. He requested her to leave the
elation, anal am she was leaving she had some words with a
constable, whom she struck on the mouth, and was locked
up. At a quarter past 11 he found her dead, with a
handkerchief round her neck, suspended from the venti-
lating holes in the door of the cell. Police-constable
Thompson, 52 F, corroborated the evidence of last witness, li
and said the deceased was very excited and quite drunk.
Mr. &twin Levy, an independent witness, said that about
ten o'clock on Saturday night last he had business at the
station, and there saw the deceased striking and kicking
indiscriminately. She seemed to be worked up to a pitch
of freemy_, and kept exclaiming. " I'm not drunk." Dr.
Alfred Harvey mid that no doubt death was the result of
strangulation by a ligature round the windpipe. Drinking
woiaccelerate the suffocation. Tbo jury returned a
verdict of "Suicide by hanging while in a state of tem-
porary insanity."
FENIAN ALARMS AT CHESTER.—For the last
three weeks measures have been taken by the authorities
at Chester, which have given rise to many absorb stories. A
number of detectives have been placed at the railway sta-
tion and other places where strangers may be expected to
make their first appearance in the city, and the police on
night duty have been furnished with revolvers. The volun-
teer arms were removed from the armoury of the battilion
to that of the Castle, and the guard on the Castle has been
doubled, being on one incision tripled. Rumours have
been spread about that the headquarters companies
of the Pith (or Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot
were seriously disaffected. Our correspondent, how-
ever, denies this. Only a few week, ago a
Fenian brother managed to get acquainted with a number
of these soldiers, and promised a bribe of 201. to such as
by skilful management be considered likely to desert from
the service. Several of the men accepted the bribe, or at
least • goodly instalment of the same, and atter having a
goad " spree," and spending the money. returned and gave
themselves up to their officers, and a renowawaiting punish-
ment. This is the sole extent of the disaffection. The
soldier, say "if the colonel orders us to shoot our
mothers we will do it," and they are exasperated to find
that their loyalty has been disparaged. Yesterday morn-
ing two telegrams were received by the authorities at
Chester to the effect that mischief was intended there
last night.
Miss Burdett Coutte has forwarded an additional
donation of fifty pounds to the National Lifeboat Institu-
tion ; and Mr. William hotly, F.S.A., of Upper Norwood.
Us also sent the society a seatribution of one hundred
visas.