The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-12 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

ffltuotr.

By the arrival of the above mail we have advices I CRYSTAL PALACE CONCERTS.
front Calcutta to Oct. 11, Madras Oct. 13, Colombo
. These entertainments have now, for some years,
Oct. 16, Hong Kong Sept. 27, &c
not only constituted one of the chief attractions to
The Madras Athenaum of the 13th October
my, The terrible state of thins
so long the Crystal Palace, but have also taken the highest
prerank among the musical performances of London—
vailing in Orissa, and less fatally m some other for with these they may be classed, notwithstanding
parts of Bengal, does not appear, we grieve to say, their suburban locale, since railway facilities bring
to have yet experienced material amelioration ; but
them within as easy reach of the whole London
it is hoped that the extreme crisis has passed•
public as the central concert rooms are of those
Stung by the reproaches of the press and public,
visitors who do not reside in their immediate
Sir Cecil Beadon has at length addressed a defence
of the inactivity of his government to the vicinity' The Saturday Concerts at the Crystal
Palace are not only remarkable for excellence in
chairman of the relief committee at Calcutta.
It is, however, a rather lame affair, and has met performance, but have the great additional merit
of generally presenting some feature of novelty or
with a bad reception. He cannot explain away his
culpable absence from the scene of such dreadful special interest in selection.
calamities, nor yet the pertinacity with which he The concert of last Saturday was one of both
refused to take timely and energetic measures, or general and special interest, aa will be seen from
even to believe that there was any prospective call the following programme :
SymphrgnZ minor (No. 9, %Liman set)
for them, although all unofficial persons rung its. Haydn,
incessantly in his ears. His conduct shows very I wiketoes-esttec rZinc;rigg' Madameßeethoven.
badly in comparison with that of our ruler." Ana, " Qnando a te" (Faust) (Madame Whytock
Ooonod
-
The Englishman says :—" The famine relief stPr "honour and Arms" ;Sam (Mr. ) Pater) Handel.
committee have been obliged to make a second ap- ischlentat Music from the Drama of " Rosi.
peal to the public for funds to assist the distressed munde" (first time In England)-1. Grand Ente
districts, and a telegram has been despatched to I Ictit, (B 712.rrn,c tilarmdm" iTirdiVet
London to the Lord Mayor, begging for help from I Eneg!dat). S. Entr'acte 03 flatl—Andaailno .: Schubert.
Awful witwitbetanding renberee,e Mena, • The Captive's Dream" (Mr. Cummings) Osborne.
, Duo " Gardener • tree" (Madame Whytuck.
sunlit,* 'that the government of India had ample Patey and 'Psdn
funds at its disposal." Solo Violin, fantasia on " n Mate" (Mr. lila-
A case of piracy and murder, committed by Arta,v Rogue= net 'Benno" (Lucia) (Mdlle. Magmve.
Chinese pirates, had taken place on board the Enequivt' Donitettl.
American schooner Lubra, on September 23, about Overture. " Meerestille" Mendelsaohn.
75 miles from Hong Kong. The captain was deli-
given—a work that is
At the concert of Saturday next Handel's
berately shot through the head in his cabin, in the , Alexander's Feast to be
certainly far from new, but is too seldom heard,
arms of his wife ; one seamen killed, several
'and the revival of which is another of those special
wounded, one of whom fell overboard and was
drowned. The Opossum,
;features which almost weeklydiatinguish the Crystal
have been actively engaged Haughty, and Osprey
in the suppression of Pelee° concerts.
piracy. The two former had destroyed three junks
and snak -boats, taking a few prisoners.
We learn from Peking that the mother of the
Emperor's tutor has recently died, and in accord-
ance with Chinese custom the latter should now
retire from his functions and all active employment
for three years. The Empress, however, has in-
sisted that so serious an interruption to his
Majesty's studies cannot be allowed, and that the
tutor shall resume his duties after a retreat of 100
days. The Emperor has given tls. 2,000 towards
the funeral expenses.
The Times overland mail gives the following
news from Japan :
The Kestrel entered Simonosaki to procure ooals on the
evening of August 10. The Otentosama was lying in the
harbour, and some little distance from the town, the
Fuseyama and three other steamers of the Shogoon, appa-
rently blockading the entrance of the straits at the
Nagasaki end. Just before midnight the Otentosame was
observed to get up steam and cross the straits, towing a
Japanese built ship full of soldiers. She returned and
towed over a second body of troops, and an attack was
then made upon the town of Kokuro—successfully, for by
4 a.m. the whole place was on fire and the batteries there
silenced, and Chiosiu's people returned to their own side
with seven new Blakeley field pieces as the trophies of their
victory.
When the firing had ceased, the Kestrel once more
started for Nagasaki. When she got a little below the
burning town of Kokura and nearly approached the Sho-
goon's ships, It shell wise fired at her from the Kokura side.
This fell short, and then six solid shot were fired at her in
rapid succession from the battery, but happily without
effect. Coming out of Simonosaki harbour, it is very
likely that the Kokura gunners believed her to be one of
Chioeiu's ships.
We have not heard whether it is intended to take any
notice of this insult to the British flag by the sllo^aon, but
the explanation we have given, of the shots having been
fired at her under the impressi"n that she belonged to
Chicsiu, being probably the true one, would doubtless be
readily received.
Sir Harry Parkes has issued notifications for-
bidding ships to carry Japanese troops, arms, or
munitions through or into the Straits ; or, indeed,
to stop there at all in making the passage, and a
British ship of war will probably be stationed in
the Inland Sea to see these regulations carried out.
The Japan lieraht gives currency to a report of
the death of the Tycoon, who has lately been very
ill. The report wants confirmation. Speculation
as to his successor points to Stotsbashi, the son of
Prince Nuts. He is favourable to foreign inter-
course, but he has no territory and is unpopular
with the Daimios.
Several further sales of steamers to the Japanese
have taken place at Nagasaki. The Prince of Higo
has purchased the Fairy for 23,000 dols. ; the
Japan has been sold to the Prince of Akee for
110,000 dols. ; and the government have bought
the Mercury for 30,000 dols. The late gunboat
Kestrel is also reported to have been sold to the
government, which has chartered the steamer
H logo for Osaka and Yeddo. The Dumbarton
steamer is reported to have been sold to the
Japanese for a sum between 165,000 dols. and
180,000 dols. The Japanese steamer Yangtze was
at Nagasaki repairing injuries caused by a shell
from one of Chiosiu's batteries.

Drama.

STRAND.

A very bright little piece in two acts, full of
real comedy, fun, and humorous dialogue, was produced
at the Strand Theatre on Saturday night, under the brief
title of Neighbours. The author is Mr. John Orenford,
and we believe he has been indebted to one of Goldoni's
comedies for his subject, much in the same degree as many
of our more eminent dramatists have been indebted to
Italian literature. The comedy abounds in " asides,"
which aro not the least diverting part of the dialogue, and
its success was undoubted and well deserved.

NEW SOUTH WALES.
SYDNEY, Srrr. 24.
It is proposed to rendee (levy 1) a gold duty
of Is. per ounce.
The State aid question has been adjourned for
two months.
The bill for the reduction of the Governor's
salary has been defeated.
The Queensland parliament met on the 19th
inst. Certain duties are increased, and Treasury
notes are to be issued.
Advices from New Zealand state that the hostile
natives assembled at Litakura (1) had attacked the
friendly natives. The Governor was proceeding on
a tour in the interior.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
ADELAIDE, Seer. 28.
Telezraphic communication has been opened
with Wentworth, forming the first portion of the
direct line to Sydney.

GENERAL SHERMAN'S MISsION TO MEXICO.—
Toe Washington correspondent of the New York Ames,
writing on October 3(1. says " General Sherman had
another interview with the President to-day, after the
session of the cabinet, at which he accepted the military
diplomatic mission to Mexico, which I stated yesterday
hail been tendered to him. He will, therefore, leave for i
Ohio to-morrow, and, after arranzing some private
affairs, he will leave for Mexico probably within ten days,
accompanied by Colonel Campbell, minister of that re-
public. The administration is gratified at the prompt
action of General Sherman, and the hope is confi-
dently entertained that the presence of an officer I
of such rank and distinction will be a sufficient indication
of the earnestness of this government in the measures it is
taking to aid the restoration of the republic, and that it
will render the actual presence of United States troops on
Mexican soil unnecessary. General Sherman's precise mis-
sion is both military and diplomatic. He goes to sustain
Minister Campbell in all the diplomatic relations which
may be re-established, and empowered also with full
discretion as to the use of military power in any emer-
gency requiring it. The very important nature of this
work is thus apparent, and the President is anxious that
it not only shall be in safe and able hands, but that our
representatives shall reach the scene of action as soon as
possible. The name of General Grant was at first sug-
gested as the proper person for this position of military
envoy, but as he cannot well be spared from the pressing
duties consequent upon the reorganisation of the army,
General Sherman was selected, be having declined the
tender of the War Department, which was made by the
President. When the change does occur in the latter
department it is altogether probable that General Grant
will assume its duties."
THE REPRESENTATION OF THE COUNTY OF WATER-
Fogn.—lt is not improbable (says the Dublin Eriming
Mail) that Captain Walter Talbot, who sat for the county
of Waterford in the last parliament, will again seek the
suffrages of the constituency.
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Foos cures dyspepsia, indigestion, cough, &attune, consninptioll.
debility, constipation, diarrhea, palpitation, nervous, Mims,
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21, Met —The health of the Holy Father is excellent, especially
since, abandoning all other he has confined.Ml:4
entirely to Du Barry's rood, and 11011210111 cannot prates
this excellent food too hlshly."—Gasette du Midi. Do Barry and
00., No. IT, Regentstreet, Landes, W. In tins, at ls. lid.,
lib b. 9d. labs, Eft e,„ 191.--(ARWAblasat•