The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-01 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIES.

In Jamaica the event of the fortnight has been
the presentation of the budget by the Finan-
cial Secretary, at a meeting of the Legislative
Council on the 31st December. The probable
amount of receipt from the existing sources of re-
venue during the financial year ending the 30th
September, 1867, has been estimated at 354,8951.,
The total expenditure for the service of the year
has been estimated at 381,1381., and to thisestimate
the sum of 2,000/. has to be added to make good
certain instalments to sinking funds omitted in
the year ended 30th September, 1866. The pro-
bable gross amount of expenditure in the year may,
therefore, be taken at 384,0381., thus showing a
probable expenditure in excess of the probable re-
ceipts of 16,068/.

port%im the other islands the news is without im-
ce.

BISHOP COTTON'S MEMORIAL FUND.

It is proposed, in memory of the late lamented
Bishop of Calcutta, to endeavour to carry out the object
which he had much at heart ; which he had meant to
have urged on the English public, had his life been
spared to return ; and which was cut short by his sudden
death. Those numerous friends and pupils to whom Bishop
' Cotton bad personally endeared himself will, doubtless,
gladly join in the attempt to carry out his wishes. Those
' who have an interest in the welfare of India will, it is
hoped, gladly seize this opportunity of supplying what is
confessedly one of the most crying needs of the Indian
empire.
It is proposed to make over the fund collected in Eng-
' land to the Diocesan Board of Education, established by
Bishop Cotton in 1859 (consisting of some of the principal
residents and clergymen of Calcutta), which has under-
taken the charge of a similar Memorial Fund set on foot
by Archdeacon Pratt in Calcutta. The Memorial Fund in
India is to be devoted to the endowment of the Hill
Schools, and to the general assistance of schools in the
plains, for the children of poor Europeans and those of
mixed race. It is the desire of the Committee for the Me-
morial Fund to be collected in England, to provide, at least
in the first instance. forthe endowment of the three schools
in the Hills (viz., Simla, Mussoorie, and Darjeeling),
according to the design of Bishop Cotton, as expressed in
the foregoing report. It is for these that an endowment
is absolutely essential. The sum needed for the endow-
ment is 50,000!. It is hoped that whatever is contributed
from private sources may be doubled by the Indian go-
vernment. What the bishop had collected before hie
death amounted to about 8,0001. Therefore what remains
to be collected is about 17,0001. Of this it may be ex-
pected that at least one-half may be supplied from the
Memorial Fund in India. The remaining half, viz., 8,504 W.,
is what Bishop Cotton's friends hope to see raised in Eng-
land. With the foundation of these schools his memory is
specially connected ; and it would be the desire of the
committee, in making over this fund to the administra-
tors of the similar fund in India, that these institutions
shall bear the name of Bishop Cotton's Schools. Any
sum in excess of that which will be required for the en-
dowment of the Hill Schools, will remain at the disposal of
the Diocesan Board, to aid in the establishment or im-
provement of schools for the same object in the plains.

THE CATALOGUES Or THE PARTS EX HTBITION.—
The following circular has been issued :—" As consider-
able misunderstanding appears to exist concerning the
various catalogue, which are in course of preparation, the
British executive deem it expedient to give to the British
exhibitors the fullest information in their power. The
following is a translation from an official notice in the
Moniteur of Jan. 19, 1867 :—' The Imperial Commission
has received several letters asking for information as to
the publication of catalogues relating to the Exhibition.
Each foreign commission will have the right to publish the
catalogue of the exhibitors of its own country ; but there
will be only one general catalogue, which will be published
by the Imperial Commission. The contract for this cata-
logue has been assigned to M. Dentu, who, with the
authorisation of the Imperial Commission, has ceded to
Messrs. J. M. Johnson and Son, of London, the exclusive
right of inserting in the general catalogue advertisements
from persons living in Great Britain, and the exclusive
right of translating, publishing, and selling throughout the
exhibition building, the said catalogue in the English
language.' By this notice, it is plainly seen that, although
there will be only one general catalogue winch, will be pub.
listed by M. Dentu, yet that each country is at liberty to
publish a catalogue of its own productions. The catalogue
of the British section of the Paris Exhibition will be pub-
lished tinder th is authority, and, as will be seen from the fol-
lowing extraeta, it will, by permission of the Imperial
Commission, be translated into other languages .—Extiact
from a letter from the Imperial Commission, addressed to
the British Executive Commission, dated August 4. 1866
—` It is well understood that, following the excellent to-'
dition of former exhibitions, the different nations are
at liberty to publish special catalogues in one or more
languages.' Extract from a letter dated Dec. 19, 1866:
' Her Britannic Majesty's Commission will publish a cata-
logue in several languages of the products exhibited in the
English section, and will be at liberty to sell it in that
section without any payment. In order to sell the same
catalogue in the rest of the palace and in the park of the
Champ de Mara, the British Executive Commission will
consent that the name of M. Dentu shall appear as pub-
lisher on the covers of the entire edition, and that he be
entitled to &commission of 2'i per cent. on the selling
price.' Paris Offices, South Kensington Museum,
January 28, 1867."
WRECKS NEAR BoULOGN E.—Our Boulogne cor-
respondent, writing yest-rday, says :—" A Dutch
schooner, the Olga, Captain Hatje, from Jamaica to
Hamburg, went ashore during a gale last night at Andres-
'elle., 15 miles north of this port; crew saved. An
English three•masted ship also went ashore 12 miles south
of this port."

The first subscription concert of the season took
place last night, the performance of January 5 having
been given specially for charitable purposes, Las recorded
by us at the time.
We have on many occasions borne glad testimony to
the exceptional excellence of Mr. Leslie's choir in all the
beat qualities of choral performance—in the freshness
of the voices, unwavering intonation, the alternate
lights and shades of piano and forte, and that
oonsentaneous fusion of style which resembles the
intense expression of • refined individual artist
rather than the combined efforts of many performers.
Such result, can only be obtained from a body of executante
of general as well as musical intelligence, animated by •
love of the art for its own seke, apart from its mere pro-
fessional exercise. Such are the causes that have led to
! the excellence of the German choristers, as specially ex-
emplified by the Berlin " Domebor," and the Cologne
choir, and generally by the choristers of the principal
German opera houses—a most important feature in stage
music, and one which has been hitherto much neglected in
London performances. Mr. Leslie's choir, therefore, cannot
fail to exercises powerful and valuable example as showing
what can be accomplished by English choristers, and
also in affording opportunities for hearing, among other
works, the madrigals of the old English composers sung
with • perfection which cosh' scarcely ever have been un-
pinned, if it has been equalled. Lose nigbt's programme
contained four such specimens—Puroell's "In these de
lightful pleasant groves ;" Morley's "My bonny lass,"
which, although dated 1595, is as fresh and as tittle anti-
quoted as though • modern composition ; Wilbye's "The
Lady Origins" (1603), a masterly piece of part-writing ; and
Saville's quaint madrigal, " The Waits" (16111).
These old and standard pieces, however, bore but
a small (too small) proportion to the number of
modern madrigals and part-songs introduced, some
for the first time of performance. The madrigal
is a form of musical art that has been so thoroughly
wrought out, and is so impressed with the nervous energy
and quaintness of its period, that the attempt to reproduce
it is as hopeless as would be the endeavour of our present
playwrights to cope with the Elizabethan dramatists,
Clever as are the efforts of some of our native musicians
in this direction, they can be but imitations, most of
which will be forgotten long before theold models of which
they are reflections. Mr. Leslie contributed to last night's
programme two madrigals of his own composition, "Thine
eyes so bright," and " My love is fair ;" the latter for the
first time of performance—both of them clever Qom-
, positions, the first having gained the prize at
the British Madrigal Society's competition in 1865 ;
the other an animated piece of part-writing,which pleased
so much as to be redemanded. Several other novelties
were also produced—a part-song by Mr. Barnby, "A
Wife's Song," is melodious and smoothly written, but the
opening is very reflective of Meudelsaohn's lied ohne
vcirte in A (in book 3). Mr. Barnby's piece was also
among the various encores of the evening. Another
novelty was a part-song, " Come live with me," by Pro-
fessor Sterndale Bennett—a well-written piece of vocal
harmony, but without any special interest or character—
which may also be said of Mr. H. Smart's " How soft the
shades of evening," likewise given for the first time. Mr.
Pearsall's madrigal, "Take heed, ye shepherd swains," is
one of the best of the many modern imitations of this form,
being more thoroughly in the school, and more free from
anachronisms of style than is generally the case in such
attempts. Other part-songs were included by Pinsuti,
W. Macfarren, Waley, and Benedict, in all which the
choir exemplified the accuracy of execution and refinement
of expression which have given it so special • place among
London musical institutions. The solo singers of the
evening were Madame Lemmens-Sherrington and Madame
Mainton-Dolby ; each of whom sang two songs, and both
combined in a new duet of Mr. Leslie's, " The Fan," by far
the best novelty of the evening. This piece (in the bolero
style) is full of graceful animation and character,
and written with an excellent knowledge of vocal
effect—it received • general encore and will
doubtless became popular. Melanie Sherrington'a most
successful solo was Macfarren's charming song, "Ah !
why do we love ? "—another encore—and Madame Sain-
ton-Dolby'm least successful solo was Arne'. " In infancy,"
a piece of inane antiquated twaddle, that has no right to
a place in a concert programme. Mere worthy of the
singer and the occasion was Thomas Lipley's song, "Prim-
roses deck the bank's greenaide," simple though it be.
The remaining vocal solo of the evening was Mr. Sullivan's
graceful, but not very original song, " Orpheus with his
lute," which Madame Sherrington gave with much re-
finement. An agreeable variety was given to the vocal
music by Osborne's brilliant duet for two pianofortes, on
themes from the Hugueno4e—cleverly played by Mimes
Austin, and Julia Bennett.

We learn by advertisement that a new choral
society is in course of formation, under the direction of
Mr. Joseph Barnby, organist of St. Andrew's, Wells-
street. In addition to the production of works requiring •
full chorus, this institution purposes , we believe, to de-
vote much attention to the performance of English glees
with a single voice to each part—a feature which will no
doubt prove attractive to the many admirers of a school of
native music formerly so much in vogue, and latterly
so much neglected.

Err'Nn FOREST.—Last night the Marquis Town-
&bend presided over a public meeting held in the Beau-
mont Institution, Mile.end-toad, for the purpose, as stated
in the advertisement, of " taking into consideration the
conduct of the government iu permitting the inclosure and
destruction of Epping Forest, to take measures to prevent
its further inclosure, and to preserve it for the use and
enjoyment of the people." Amongst those who occupied
seats on the platform were Sir F. Buxton, M.P., and Mr.
Shaw Lefevre, M.P. Letters of apology having been read
from Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P., Mr. Ayrton, M.P., the
Rev. Dr. Hansard, cud other gentlemen, the noble mar-
quis expressed the pleasure he felt at presiding on the
occasion, and in the course of an interesting speech said he
considered the question of affording room for the recrea-
tion of the people of the metropolis one of very great im-
portance, affecting, as it did, the physical and moral
health of the inhabitants of London. He promised to give
his best support to any remedial measure that might be
introduced in parliament in reference to the question of
the preservation of the commons and open spaces around
London. Sir F. Buxton moved the first resolution as follows:
" That it is of vital importance to the inhabitants of the
east end of London to preserve from inclosuro the forest
of Epping, which for centuries has been the chief place of
their resort for recreation and health, and this meeting
views with especial displeasure the recent inclosnres at
Loughton, Woodford, and Wanstead." He said that, at
the present time, when building operations effected the
complete demolition of places hitherto used for recreative
purposes, the preservation of Epping Forest, which wa•
now the nearest country resort of the labouring population
of the east end of London, was • matter requiring the
most serious attention. Mr. Johnston seconded the resolu-
tion, and it was supported by Mr. Shaw Lefevre, M.P.
The hon. gentleman referred to the legal complications
which affected the right of the public to Epping Forest,
and said that if the law in its present state did not favour
the claim of the public to be allowed the use of that
place, immediate steps should be taken to have it
amended. He said he had great confidence in the result
of the suit now pending between the inhabitants of Hamp-
stead and Sir Thomas Wilson, owing to his inciceure of
Hampstead-heath. Resolutions urging the formation of
a fund of 10,000/. to defray the expenses of ascertaining
the right of lords of the manor to melon the waste lands
within the forest, and adopting measures to realist illegal
inclosures, as well as requesting the Commons Preserva-
tion Society to communicate with Lord John Manners
with reference to the future action of the government
respecting the forest were proposed, and carried unani-
mously.
ORPHAN WORKING SCHOOL —The annual meet-
ing of the governors and subscribers of this institution
was held yesterday at the London Tavern, Mr. It. Mills in
the chair. The report presented was of • satisfactory
characterf and congratulated the subscribers upon the fact
that, notwithstanding the commercial crisis of the past
year, the institution had been so favoured as to maintain
its position amongst the great charities of England. The
receipts during the year amounted to 7,4701. Iss. 5d., and
the expenditure to 9,376/. its. 3d. A special election had
been held during the last year, at which twenty orphans
whose parents had died of cholera were received into the
institution, involving an additional outlay of 2,500/., to-
wards which only 2,000!. had yet been contributed, and
the committee hoped that the deficiency would be made up
by the public. The report was adopted, and after the
election of 40 children as inmates of the institution, by
which the number is raised to 400, the proceedings ter
minuted with the passing of the usual vote of thanks
to the chairman.