The Express.
London, England, 1860-03-23 00:00:00

MELTON MOWBRAY.

A grand amateur performance, patronised by
the principal families in the neighbourhood and their
Mends, took place in the Corn-exchange at Melton Boe-
hm as Wednesday evening last. Great preparations had
been made for the occasion. The demand far sittimp was
seek that it wee deemed expedient to erect a gallery com-
pletely across the entrance of the room. The original
comedy of Still Waters Bun Deep, in three acts, funned the
first part of the evening's amusements. Lady Mary Craven
as Mrs. Mildmay, and Lady Katherine Egerton as Mrs.
Hector Sternbold, divided fairly between them (says the
Stssford Mercury) the repeated and enthusiastic plaudits
of the audience. Mr. Evans Hartopp as Mr. Putter was ex-
ceedingly graphic, his makeup superb, and his acquaintance
with stage business gives him great ewe of manner.
The member for North Leicestershire (E. B. Hartopp,
Req.) and Ida son (Captain Hartopp), sustained very effec-
tively the parts of John Mikhaay and Captain Hawkaley.
At the conclusion of the comedy the cheering was con-
tinued until the curtain again seconded, and the ladies re-
eived upon the stage several handsome bouquet& The
faros of Betsy Baker, immortalised by Mrs. Keeley, 001I-
eluded the evenings entertainment. Although it would
scarcely be fair to draw a comparison between the original
Betsy and the Betsy al Lady K. Barton, we confidently
my her ladyship esellined tire character admirably. The
other parts wan ABed by Viscount Grey de Wilton,
as Crummy, and by Mr. E. Hartopp and Lady Grey
de Wilton as Mr. and Mrs. Mouser. The general
opinion is that a decided woo= attended the exertions
of all. Among the *impiety present at Wednesday's
performance were Captain and Mrs. Paget ; Hon. IL,
Mrs., and two Mimes Coventry and party ; the' Earl
of Wilton and party; Sir Walter, Lady, and two Mesa
Carew ; Hon. G. Fitswilliarn, the Duke of Rutland, Earl of
Westmoreland and party, Viscount and Viacountese New-
port, Lord and Lady Forester, Lady Chesterfield, Lady
Wallace, Hon. Villiers, he. The music was given se

cording to the following prognunnas:--Bymplony (Amin.),
(Mendelimbo); solo violin, "Souvenir do BMW (Arial),
R. B. Egerton ; Coronation March, from Zr Proptle
(Meyerbeer); solo cornet, " The Exile's Lenient" (Boat-
Albert), Mr. B. 'Wont; and overture, Sandia (Auber).
The Hon. B. Egerton was the conductor, and most skilfully
he acquitted himself, his excellence ea a musician being ex-
traordinary.

His Royal Highnees the Prince Consort has gig-
milled his intention al being present at the dinner of the
Clothworkers'Company (incorporated Edward IV., 1480), on
tie occasion of the inauguration of jheir new hall in Yin-
rinclane, on Tuesday, the 27th inst. Covers will be laid for
150.

Lord Brougham has arrived at hie villa at
Cannes. The noble and learned lord intend/ to remain in
the soath of France until after the Easter holidays.

lady Elisabeth Curt gave birth to s daughter
yester d y, at 13, Eccleston.aquare.

The funeral of the late Countess Granville took
place at Tuceday forenoon, when the mortal remains of the
estimable sad lamented decesaed were consigned to the
eaesstral vault of the Acton family, at Aldenliam,
The Earl Granville ►nd fiir John When Acton, Bart.,
ILP., were the chief mourner%

Mr. Charles Roam, one of the commissioners of
the Audit Beard, died at his reeidence in Portland-place, on
Wednesday morning, after a short illness, in his 61M year.
The assessed gentleman was appointed by the late Sir
Robert Peel a conunissioner of her Majaty's Audit Board
on, we believe, the death of Sir Alexander Grant,

We learn from the lientlurd Journal that the
Right Hon. Lord Uanover will figure at the Monmouth
►vises as defendant in an extraordinary trial for libel pre-
ferred against him by Mr. Stoma, of Llangattook, a gentle-
man well known in t►e fashionable and sporting circles
in this part of the country.

Mr. T. Dunoombe, in committee onChurch Rates
Abolition Bill, will move to add the following dame :
"Be it enacted, that from and after the pinging of this sot.
no church rate made or levied in any parish in England or
Waist, nor any money 'Mad under any ethic rate, be applied
to any of the purposes fur which a church rat* is levied."
A meeting is to ho held to-morrow in the Stock
Exchange, to consider the propriety of revising the existing
goals of broken' C0111113111114)111, and of enforcing the obser-
vance of regular charges.

The legal proomeTtiings on the part of the share-
holders of the Western Bank of &caked spinet the direte
tors continue at intervals to occupy the Scotch journals, bat
must of the points disclaimed are of • technical elmraider.
On Tuesday, however, two mitten of importance were die
tided. The Court of Iliesion ruled that the record of the
complainants mart be amended to put the case in a suitable
position to go to trial ; they also decided unanimously to
reject a petition of the defenders for leave to appeal to the
House of Lords against the judgments recently pronounced
repelling their preliminary dahlia&

The news of the incre•ae of the protective duty
on cotton twist and yarn in India from 5 to 10 per cent, has
created a strong feeling in Manchester. A telegram on the
subject having been received on Monday, the appvehemioea
of the merchants were immediately avowed, and at a meet-
ing of the Chamber of Commerce • deputation was forth-
with appointed to wait upon Sir Charles Wood in London.
They will be received at an may day nest week.

Tamberlik continues his essagenteut at the
Italian Open, Park, with his sr ersolary success, hem.
log, however, only appeared as yet in Wel& and the
2'vvvetore. On the Taney% representation of the last-
aamed opera an inekiest took place which created some
comenotios is W rte. In Use MIA act Adore. Penco,whilo
singing her duet with Taraberilk, astreasei so near the foot-
lights that in turning round the beak part of the
bottom of her dress caught ire. This was fortunately
observed by am at the choristers who instantly and
most courageously rushed forward, ad, cover*
the ignited portion of the dreg' with Mdme. Pence's
robe, at once crashed out the fire, which well in face
extinguished, sad the danger entirely over, before the lady
wee cooscious of the accident. Becoming aware of her *ar-
row serape, ths fair artiste was of course considerably ogi.
tated,, but was sulkiently herself to come forward and
bow her ackoowicelpuente to the audience for the manifes-
to/dor if kindly spa**, evinced on all aides,
The French Minister of State has prohibited the
'atom of the Theatre Inusiais from play* in private
homes, which they have lately been in the habit of dolg
very frequently ; they will, however, be permitted to felill
their westing drawing-mom engagement* fur the short re-
!malodor of the present lemon.

The Mick, referring to the rumour of the excom-
muoiestien of Lb., Kixer of Sardinia, 'aye :--" How times
have 'imaged ! The bearer et a bull of excommunication

formerly spread terror wherever ha passed; the Kings,
struck with the papal anathema, milted it, trembling in
their pelacee, cad the coodemnation thus pronounced drove
their 1.11164 faithful marmite hem their enemies. In the
present day the bearer of eceiseisetical censures has lost Ilde
terrors ; the document which he delivers at the chancellery
Ii coolly examined, like any other law paper, sad after duo
deliberatioe lay judges plash it 44 informal, and, dechwiag
it null sad void, forbid its publioidos."
The Freeze Centrals atatas that the Piedmoatese
government is WON! up a largo amber of horses in the
depseasukt• 4 the ladw sad the Cher.