The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-01 00:00:00

'IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In . • si: of Connotes yeaw.: CRAN-
Ch 1.1.4.1: sit ExcitEor tit, in questions
as t.. when the Irish Reform Bill and the Scotch
Reform Bill-will be introduced, said the Scotch
Re.,1111 Bill was more pressing than the Irish,
beer.co• there was an Irish Reform Bill of a com-
paini!,ie! !.t date. He hope,l to iotroduce a
Sc:oteli in Bill soon, but it vas necessary
5r:4 ~atne progress with the English bill.
With reg.,rsi m soother question on the paper,
why tilt.r, I I,:•re tieing no et,inpoun<ling ~f rates in
,I!.• lid, lie ',reposed to give the fr..nch:be to every
aseholder in Scotch burghs, he
said it wo he Inure conveniean than he should
eki,hin the i,rovisions of the bar. when he made
the Lenernl ,tatement with regard to it than in
answer io ,nterrogatori,..s.
leolv Mr. DARBY GRI I F:TI.7,
Lord Srt LEY said :

A great :uany communications, pri.::',cable und im-
pre..ticab,e, wise and foolish, have :addressed to
Ise on the subject of Luxemburg, by various persons,
in the course of the last few weeks ; hut all the
arrangements which will regulate the political future of
that country :oust be made in the conference. And I
soy •ow say I have reason to hope that that conference
will me—t at g very early day. (Hear, bear.) I cannot, of
sou, se, anticipate the exact date ; but my hob, friend has
forgottm one fact. which, of course, be must have known,
namely, that during the last 28 years, since the treaty et
18.31, Luxemburg bas been under European guarantee, to
which England was a party, and it wa in our character as
• signitary to the treaty that we were invited to interfere
ia the negotiations.

Mr. TEEVELYAN called attention to the system
of purchasin4 commissions in the army. He said
the qualification for a commission in the English
army was not skill and knowledge, but the po3ses-
siou of money. The army could never be, in the
red sense of the word, a profession as long as the
purchase system existed, for the very meaning of
the word "profession" was that a man should live
by it. The purchase system did not give any in-
ducement to officers to study their profession. It
formerly existed in other departments, but had
been abolished in them, and why should it find
a home in the army f Was there any reason to be-
lieve that the army would fail to attract a sufficient
body of gentlemen if the purchase system were
abolished f The navy did not fail, nor the church,
and why should the army f One result of the abo-
lition of the purchase system would be to reduce
the enormous half-pay list which was kept up in •
great measure to compensate officers who could not
sell their commissions. He !Loved that the system
of purchasingcommissions in the army tends greatly
to diminish the efficiency of our military force.
Coionel Sykes seconded, and Captain Stanley
sepported, the motion, and it was opposed by
Colonel North and Major Jervis..

kill' J. PAKINUTON said he did not defend the
purchase system in theory, but it had been in
existence a long time ; its abolition would be at-
tended by financial difficulty, and it was argued
that poor officers by this means got more rapid
promotion than they would otherwise obtain. If
it were dealt with at all it must be dealt with as a
whole, and in connexion with other changes. Our
whole military system was in a state of transition.
They bad lately had presented to them the report
of a commission on recruiting ; the late Secretary
for War recently brought before the house a plan
for an army of reserve ; and it would be his duty in
a few day s to lay before the house the report of a
committee over which Lord Strathnairn presided,
and which went to make considerable changes in
the administrative staff of the army. He reserved
to himself the fullest freedom to consider all these
subjects, including that of purchase in the army ;
and he hoped that under these circumstances the
bun. gentleman would not press his motion to a
division

The Marquis of HAETINOTON said the system of
purchase was very objectionable, and he believed
there was no friend of the army who did not wish
to see it abolished, if a system could be substituted
which had not greater disadvantages, but he joined
with Sir J. Pakington in pressing his hon. friend
to be satisfied with the discussion and not press
the motion to a division. He hoped that with the
other contemplated changes the Secretary for War
would take into consideration the desirability of
making some alteration in the system of purchase.
But he believed that neither the house nor the
public was ripe for a decision on the subject.
Before they abolished the system they must make
up their minds what they should substitute for it,
snd most he prepared to pay the sum necessary to
carry out the change, and also to pay the cost of
&liberal system of retirement in order to give the
same amount of promotion that was given now.
And besides voting money they must be prepared
to put an amount of trust in the military autho-
rities, which he had never seen the house disposed
to do.

Mr. TZSYILYAN having shortly replied, the
house divided, and the motion was negatived by
116 to 75.

Mr. R. MILLI§ moved for leave to bring in
a bill to repeal the several acts granting and
regulating the appropriation of 20,3001. from the
Oonsolidated Fund for the ecclesiastical establish-
ment in the West Indies ; and after a few observa-
tions from Mr. ADDERLZY, leave was given.
Lord R. MONTAGU also obtained leave to bring
in a bill to consolidate and amend the laws of

vaccination ; and Sir C. O'Loontis to amend the
law as to the granting of sites for Roman catholic
churches and schools, and to facilitate the creation
of glebes and the erection of residences thereon for
Roman catholic clergymen in Ireland.
One or two bills were advanced a stage; and in
committee of supply 302,000/. was granted towards
the site for the new courts of justice.
The house adjourned a few minutes before eight
o'clock.

LoRD GROAVENOE AND THE 5/. RATIN,: AMEND-
maNT.—The following circular has been sent to the various
municipal bodies throughout the country by Earl Gros-
venor :—" 25, Princes 's-gate, Kensington, W.. April 21.
Having given notice of an amendment in committee of the
Reform Bill to alter the Small Tenements Act by making
its provisions apply to houses below 51. rating, and making
ft compulsory upon landlords of tenements rated at • sum
below that figure to pay the rates themselves, I shall be
much obliged by your kindly giving me your opinion as
to whether such alteration would be likely to cause serious
inoonsenienos to the vestries in their arrangements for
levying the rates."
itKVRRARNTATION or ABERDEENSHIRE.—We
understand that Mr. M'Combie, Tillyfour, the well known
breeder of black polled cattle, is pursuing a regular can.
VASS in the county of Aberdeen. He is attending the
markets, and there soliciting support, and obtaining
signatures to • missive declaring him to be • fit and
proper person to fill the seat which it is anticipated will
be given to that county by the Reform Bill. Various re-
ports sr. current este Mr. M'Combie's political creed. He
stied as one of Sir James Elphinstone's committee last
year, but we are informed that be now intends to support
liberal measures, whatever that may maim—Edinburgh
Courant.

..... .
REFORM MEETING AT NORTHAMPTON.-011 Mon-
day 1:.,t a meting ass held by the Northampton branch
of the Reform League, to oonsider the government reform
bill. There was a crowded attendance, and the chair was
occupied by Mr. Councillor Gurney, who, in his opening
speech, referred to the various clauses of Mr. Disraeli's
bill, which he declared was a gross fraud and an insult to
the people of England. The first resolution was moved by
Mr. James Mien and seconded by Mr. W. Clarke, both
working men. The Rev. T. W. Barlow, rector of Little
Bowden, supported,in an admirable speech, the resolution,
which tow as follows—" That, in the opinion of thin meet-
ing, the measure of reform introduced by the present
government is unjust in principle and intention, and can-
not in any sense be accepted as a settlement of the de-
mands of the people ; and that nothing short of registered
residential manhood suffrage, supported by the ballot,
with a more equal distribution of seats, will be satisfactory
to the nation.' This This resolution was carried amidst loud
cheers —Mr Purser proposed the neat resolution:—
"That while this meeting desires to maintain peace, law,
and order, it believes that the continued obstructions to
reform, and the treachery of the Rouse of COLIMODS in
reference to the greet constitutional question, will tend to
exasperate a loyal and industrious people, and if perse-
vered in may ultimately lead to anarchy and revolution ;
and the meeting further resolves that this and the fore-
going resolution be forwarded to her Majesty's governmest
and the members fur this borough." This was seconded
by. Mr. Stormer' and supported by Mr. Forwell in a
stirring speech. The business, which was prolonged to
beyond the usual hoar, concluded with votes of thanks to
the Rev. T. W. Barlow and the chairman, which were car-
r{ d with acclamation.

Plum.

HE!! MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Lus• right crdi'A I Lombardi was ref ve..l at
this eat sbitshntent after an interval of fifteen years. This
open. to the early period of its compueer. career.
hat rug Ls, a originally produced in 1:i4:1, the year after his
1-O',4er, • and twe year. before Kroner, the opera by which
cele!rity was first esten,ively diffuse
The tits: pe. tui mance of I Lombardi in Engi-ad, according
to M. Lwaley's "'Reminiscences of the Opera." took
place t Her Majesty's Theatre on March 1:Oh,
Ist.; -Grisi. Mario, and Formisari being the principal
singers. In 1.47 the libretto was re-written for the French
11 stage by Messrs. A. Royer and G. Veer. and the opera was
Longlit out ~t Paris under the title of .10,w/rm.
The music of I Lom,,Trafi, while containing abundant
proof of that fertility of melody which Verdi unques-
tionably possesses, offers, hke most of his operas, frequent
instance, of inappropriateness of character—a defect pecu-
liarly be:origins to the modern Italian school—frivolous.
although pretty, tunes being often wedded to situations
of serious interest : and heroic and even tragic sentiment
being *onetime* trilled out to strains of the lightest and
most volatile nature. The opera commences with a short
orchestral prelude, one of those apologies for an overture
so frequently resorted to by Italian composers who have
never been thoroughly trained in instrumental com-
position. Most of the modern Italian composers
have resorted frequently to this poor evasion,
by which a grand opera loses the preliminary importance
conferred by a well-written overture, and the composer
apparently steads confessed as being deficient in a most
essential portion of his musical education. The intro-
ductory chorus, commencing with a series of pompous
chords for the orchestra, at once dashes off into • rollick-
ing kind of dance tune for the instrumental accompani-
ments, the tenors and basses singing a series of unison
passages, which are followed by a second strain likewise
in unison, returning to the first subject in the orchestral ac-
companiment, with a climax in choralluumony. There isno
denying the brightness and tunefulness of this movement,
but it is more fit for a modern ball-room than for association
with such a subject as that of I Lossbardi. Here, as else-
where in the opera, we distinctly trace the abiding indu-
ence of Rossini's earlier style—an influence also observ-
able in the two principal airs for Giselda, " 0 Madre del
cielo," in the second act; and "Non fu sogno," in the fourth
act ; both in the florid ornate style of the great master, but
written with an occasional want of consideration for the
singer's throat that Rossini scarcely ever displayed in his
most elaborate seems. The air last named is especially trying
to the singer from its merciless use of the higher notes
B flat and C above the lines. To Millie. Titiens, how-
ever, these difficulties are as nothing, and to her splendid
singing in these and other portions of the opera, such RUC-
eess as it achieved last night is chiefly owing. ViclintLes
prayer in the first act (expressively sung by Millie.
Coral) is graceful and elegant rather than reli-
gious. and derives much of its effect from the
deter instrumental accompaniments. It is however
rather reflective of the tone of the drawing-
room than of sacred associations. The chief solo displays
for the principal tenor (Oronte) are in the scene and cava-
tins in the first act, and the romance, with chorus, in the
last act—the former including the well-known air " La
min letizia," which is still one of the favourite street-
organ pieces. There is no denying that this is
a beautiful melody of its kind, the love-sick style of Bel-
lini ; and, moreover, it is eminently vocal, a quality not
always belonging to Verdi's melodies, which are some-
times as torturing to the singer as the harshest German
writing. In this piece Mr. Kohler, who appeared at short
notice instead of Signor Mongini, won great applause and
an encore by his graceful vocalization.
This melody, with many others throughout the opera, is
of that pleasing character which procured for Verdi that
rapid and universal popularity which is already beginning
to find its reaction. The music of Pa9ano derived more
importance than it deserved, from the admirable decla-
matory singing of Mr. Santley. His airs, " Scia.
gurata ! " and "Oh ! Speranza," were admirable
specimens of dramatic vocalisation. The secondary part of
Arvin." was well filled by Signor Tama, who gave the air
"Pond° " with excellent effect. The music of Pirro
was excellently given by Signor Gassier, who is always
efficient, however varied the parts in which he appears.
The concerted pieces, although containing occasional
instances of vigorous writing, yet betray the want of that
appropriateness of character which is the chief and highest
quality of dramatic composition. Thus the " Hymn of
War," sting in unison, is nothing better than a pretty and
very danceable quadrille tune—being, in fact, one of
various proofs which Verdi has given in his nu-
merous operas of a want of that distinguishing
feature of dramatic genius, the power of
adaptation to time and place. To sum up the
characteristics of I Lombardi, it contains abundance of
that animated and striking melody of which Verdi pos-
sesses such command, some passages of real dramatic
power, with others of rude violenoe--occasional beauties,
jostled by frequent crudities—altogether indicating, as
most of Verdi's operas do, capacities which with sounder
musical training and more deliberate workmanship might
have produced far better results.