The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-03 00:00:00

plusstc.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.
After two postponements, owing to the indisposi-
timid Valle. Adelina Patti, Don Giovanni was performed
_ . .

on Friday night with that charming artist u Zerlina (which
subordinate part with her becomes a prominent one)—and
Signor Ootognl for the first time as Don Giovanni. It is

the custom to style this work the operatic masterpiece of
Mozart, but to us it is impossible dispassionately to give
the preference either to it or to Figaro, since the impres-
sion is generally in favour of the one we have last heard— !
THE LATE JOHN' PHILLIP, A.A. —The remaining
so admirable are both these great works. While, on the I works of this lamented painter were on Saturday sold by
one hand, there is no concerted piece in Don Gioranni of Mears. Christie, Manson, and Woods. They comprised
such extended development and elaborate amplification
I about eighty picture(' and sketches in oil, and numerous
(not forget-
drawings In water-colour' and
chalk. The following were
as the great finale to the first act of Figaro
ting the fine finale to the first act of Don Giorannni, and '
the more important spemmens:—Sketches in water-colours:
" A Patio, Grenada," " Houses at Toledo," " The Altar
the sestat,Ja Sala, Sole") on the other hand—sad sees&ateha Bleak Virgin,"anal "Cathedral of Seville." 115
eerily from the difference in subject of the two works— gedU..eza (Agnew.) " Tlie CA
Hig!iland Bridge atourtyard of • Yenta,
"&nrille," ' A Gitana," and "
there is nothing in Figaro comparable to the tragic passion
of the great duet between Donna Anna and Don Ottavio ; ingussie." LIO guineas. (Agnew.) An Incident in
the
American War," " A Spas Wife," and " A Highland
the unearthly music of the statue scene ; and the ' Lassie." 145 guineas. (Irvine.) " Going to Church,"
supernatural effect of the music of the spectral " Same in the Churchyard," and " The Wages of Sin."
Commeudatore in the last finale of Don Gio. 150 guineas. (Irvine.) " Leaving Church, Seville." 140
canal (serving also as the introduction to the over- guinea'. (Whitehead.) "Mendicants receiving Food
ture). Don Giovanni ma be said to have heralded the /
'at the Convent of Santa Paeiay." 170 guineas. (Col-
l" Scene in the Kirk." 570 guineas. (Colnaghi.)
school of romantic opera, afterwards developed by Weber. " The Vintage ;" painted at Seville. MO guineas. (Map-
Gluck, with all his daring innovations and his sweeping Pin.) " The Cradle." 3)0 guineaa. (Agnew.) " Head
,of a Scotch Lassie," Glen Urquhart. 230 guineas. (Form)
reform of the previous conventionalisms of operatic music,
I " e " 315 guineas ora " Scene at a
retained, even in his treatment of such • subject as SptriThu,hSisters. yenta.. 'du-, juin (Agn(Few)'.) ~ Grace Dar.
Amide, much of the cold formalism and stilted declama- ling." 90 guineas. (Cox.) " Winnowing, La Vega
tory style of his age. It was reserved for the glowing' Grenada" 330 gnineas. (.lew.) " Off duty." 230
" Parke." 310
_panel.. Ag
(
imagination and intensely passionate nature of Mozart to I guineasaa.
(Agnew.)
combine, as he has done in the music of Don Giovanni, newl „ 41.an.e.nniia-" 400 guineas. (Fail
the utmost warmth of human sentiment and impulse, with , Wm.
new.) ) "
Asking • Blessing." 410 guineas. (Ag-
" Scene in the Church during Masa." 425
those mysterious foreshadowing' of something beyond, Ismineas. (Agnew.) " Baying Chestnuts" 645 guineas.
which at once appeal to sympathy and terror. The cast I,,ttnew.) ' The Seamstress." 420 guineas. (Earl Fitz-
of Dori nicounni on Friday night was similar to that lain.) " A Female Head." 210 guineas. (Wink.)
" The Oottage Doorway, "in process of engraving. 42.5
of last season with an important exception—that of the vim.. (Addington.) " A Highland Home." 210
hero himself, who was impersonated on this occasion, for guineas. G. Earl.) In the Fair at Seville." 290
the first time, by Signor CotogoL guineas. Colnaghi.) "Gathering the Offerings." 0001
guineas. Agnew.) " Finding the Text." 215 guineas.
(Agnew.) " Students from Salamanca." 150 guineas.
(G. Earl.) " The Confessional." 275 guineas. (Agnew.)
" Palencia La Pays." 330 guineas. (Colnsghi.) " The
Officer's Widow," painted at Seville. 465 guiness.(Agnew.)
"The Widow." 670 guineas. (Earl " Por-
trait of A. Cerro," after Velasquez. 450 guineas. (Agnew.)
" The Surrender of Breda," after Velasquez. 230 guineas.
" Velasquez Painting the Infanta. 640
guineas. (Agnew.) .Portrait of Sir J. Reynolds." 160
guineas. (Agnew.) The whole yielded the large sum of
14,7501.
ROYAL CoLLEGt or Scnoeoes.—The approach-
ing annual election of fellows into the council of this in-
stitution is exciting a considerable amount of attention in
r professional circles, even more so than in July last, when
Mr. Charles Hawkins, the government inspector of anato-
mical schools, defeated Stir. James Luke, • twice elected
president of the college. From • notice which appeared in
I this paper of Saturday last, and has been sent round to the
' 1,300 fellows in whom the election rests, it is stated that
in the ensuing month there will be three vacancies in the
council caused by the retirement, in the order prescribed
by the charter, of Messrs. Frederic Carpenter Skey, Thee.
IWormald, and Francis Kiernan, who, however, offer
themselves for re-election. Of those gentlemen, the first
two named have been presidents, and held other high
loffices in the College of Surgeons both are consulting
surgeons to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and Mr. Skey is
chairman of an important government commission now
sitting. Mr. Kiernan is deservedly well known as one of
the most accomplished anatomists of the day. These
gentlemen, who have done good suit and service to the
cons's, will not on the present occasion be allowed to walk
over the course, as already, according to the Medina/Tines
and Gazett, the fellows by examination, thinking the
time bas arrived when their order should be represented
in the council chamber, intend bringing forward Mr.
Luther Holden, one of the surgeons of St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, a highly popular gentleman, who, from his valu-
, able contributions to science, is highly esteemed. Mr.
I Spencer Smith, one of the surgeons and lecturers to St.
Mary's Hospital, and secretary to the government commis-
ion above alluded to, is another candidate. This gentle.
man retired from the contest last year, in order to secure
the seat for Mr. Hawkins. Messrs. Prescott Hewett and
Henry Lee, of St. George's Hospital, are also named as
candidates for this important post.
THE RIPRIRENTATION or NORFOLK. —At a meet-
ing of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture on Saturday,
the question of the future representation of the county In
t came oo for discussion. Mr. C. 8. Read,
o.anitit's chairman, stated that he had seen the private
seassiary of Mr. Disraeli, and had represented to him the
hardship which Norfolk would sustain if it lost three
seesabeffs, as proposed. The secretary appeared disin-
clined to receive a deputation on the subject—but be said
it nseseed to him only just that the county should be
divided into three districts.
THE 'KISH REFORM BILL.—Some Irish censer-
relive members had an interview on Saturday with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the of explain-
ing their views concerning the Irish form Bill. They
went as a deputation from a meeting held • few days ago
in the House of Commons, when there seemed to be a
general concurrence of opinion against any material lower-
ing of the franchise, county or borough, in the sister wen-
try, and in favour of an extension et boundaries rather
than the grouping of boroughs with other small towns.
Mr. Disraeli heard all the arguments advanced in support
of exceptional franchise legislation for Ireland, and, in
conjunction with the chief secretary, who has charge of
the bill, he promised to consider them, but he gave not
the slightest indication of what were the intentions of his
colleagues, beyond stating that they desired to introduce
such an Irish reform measure as would prove, he trusted, I
eminently satisfactory and beneficiaL --Sunday (Mudge.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

, Oberon was performed here on Saturday night,
I for the first time this season, with Mdlle. Titiens and
Signor Mongini in the principal characters of Reads, and
Sir Huon ; and Signor Bettini (his first appearance this
; season) as Oberon. It is now fullforty years since Weber pro-
, duced the third and last of his great romantic operas, and
died among us immediately after fulfilling his contract
with Mr. Charles Kemble, by superintending the prelimi-
nary rehearsals of his work, and seeing it in course of suc-
cessful performance at Covent-garden Theatre. The sue-
ors, however great at first, rapidly declined, and some of
the most imaginative stage music ever composed soon
fell almost into theatrical disuse. The fact is that, charm.
ing as the music of Oberon is, the opera, as a whole, wants I
stage interest. The characters have no life or indivi-
duality, and the few incidents there are come about with
so much of the crude suddenness of pantomimic
changes, that neither human sympathy nor the
interest of suspense is excited ; yet the origi- I
kid book of Mr. Planche contains some of the
most graceful writing that was ever produced specially
for the purposes of stage music. The lengthening out of
the opera by turning the dialogue into accompanied red.
tative (cleverly as this has been done by Mr. Benedict)
impedes the little action that there is ; but this change is
an inevitable condition of the Italian opera stage. The
interpolation, however, of pieces from Eurpenthe is by ,
no means essential ; and the duet " Hin nimm die made!
meine"(" 0 min bell'anima"), given to Sir Ikon and Reda!
in the second act, and the finale from the same opera,
" Jubeltime" (" Alziam"), placed at the end of Oberon, fine
as they are, are here out of place, and nnneces-
eerily prolong an opera which in representation I.
already too long. Mdlle. Titiens' performance as
Retie is too well known to need fresh eulogy—her fine
declamatory singing throughout, and especially in the
great and trying scene, "Ocean, thou mighty monster "1
(with its merciless demands on the higher notes, B and C),
is such as scarcely any other living artist can approach in
music of this character. Signor Mongini is heard to ad-
vantage in the music of Sir Huon, although his bearing is
scarcely chivalrous enough for the part. The great scene,
" 0, 'tie a glorious sight " (written especially for Bmham
in lieu of the eoena originally provided), was given with '
declamatory energy and facile use of those high chest
notes of which Signor Mongini has such exceptional cam-
' mend. The prayer, " Ruler of this awful hour," was
delivered with so much expression as nearly to pro-
cure an encore. Signor Bettini (who, as already stated,
appeared for the first time this season) gave unusual im•
portance to the part of Oberon, rendered additionally pro-
minent by the assignment to him of the scene originally
intended for Sir Him, and rejected by Braham—• finer
composition than the later one. The difficult declamatory
passages. runs and roulades, reaching to the high B in the
chest voice, were given by Signor Bettini with a force and
brilliancy that produced one of the principal effects of the
evening. Scarcely even by Madame Alboni has the music
of Fatima been more charmingly sung than by Madame
Trebelliffiettini, whom, sympathetic quality of voice and
excellent style are alike admirable. To this lady
were awarded the two emerge of the evening ; the plaintive

REFORM DEMONSTRATION AT MANCHESTER.

The united reform demonstration at Manchester
on Saturday evening attracted an immense concourse of
people to witness it. The weather was exceedingly fine. The
demonstration was composed mainly of deputations from
London, Birmingham, Dublin, Liverpool, Leeds, Brighton,
and other towns, for whom carriages had been provided ; the
members of the National Reform Union at Manchester ;
the trades of Manchester, and members of the National Be-
form League at Manchester, and from some of the neigh-
bouring towns. The members of the National Reform
Union assembled in Albert-square, and left it in procession
at half-put three to four o'clock, headed by the
executive and deputies from distant towns in a line of 58
carriages, and was followed by the procession of trades and
the branches of the National Reform League who had
assembled in Stevenson-square, at four o'clock. The
route taken was through Piccadilly, Market-street,
BLickfrianeetreet, Chapel.street, Bridge-street, John
Dalton-street, Oxford-road, and Stretford-road, to
a field near Brooks's Bar, in Maim*. The
length of the route would be nearly three miles, and the
rear of the procession did not reach its destination till
about 25 minutes put 7 o'clock. Meet of the people in
the procession were well dreamed, and, walking four and six
abreast, marched with great regularity. At intervals in
the procession were about 25 bands, and the 'flags and
banners were nun.erousbeyond precedent. The procession
occupied an hour and five minutes in peeing a given point,
and in the portion of it which occupied the first 23
minutes in passing were counted considerably over 200 flags.
Many of them were very handsome silk banners of great
size, belonging to trade societies. Following the carriages
came, among other bodies, a contingent of reformers from
Padiham, who displayed a banner with an inscription that
in and sheet the township there is a population el Itikeß
without a representativeus parliament. The reformers of
Denton, following were coinposed principally of hatters,
each wearing a white bat. The trades procession included
members of the societies of iron moulders, boiler makers,
machine workers, amalgamated engineers, roller makers,
iron dressers, planers, gnnders,wbitesmiths, bur finishers,
masons, painters, plasterers, carpenters, yainen, cabinet
makers, tailors, coopers, corkeatters, saddler, bleachers,
cottoteeptanen, glass-cutters and blowers, boot and shoe
makers,bookbinders, and bakers.. Amongst rheoontiagentsof
reformers from neighbouring towns there was • very
numerous one from Rochdale. A careful estimate of the
numbers placed the total of people in the procession at
about 10,000. Fully that number of people preceded the
procession to the place of meeting, and the numbers as-
ambled in the streets along the whole line of route,
partly from sympathy and partly from curiosity, would
also amount to many theme/ads. Upon the ground ap-
pointed for the meeting were erected six platforms, with
a complement of speakers to move and second resolutions
at each. At one of the platforms Mr. Jacob Bright pre-
sided, and, after he had briefly opened the proceedings,
Mr. Beaks moved, and the Rev. Richard Williams
seconded, the following resolution :—" This meeting con-
gratulates the liberal party upon the success which hes
attended its efforts, as proved by the concessions
from the hereditary opponent. of progress, andwlM
upon all sections of reformers to eontinue their exer-
tions in order to complete the work them auspiciously
begun." The second resolution, moved by Mr. M..w,
and seconded by the Rev. J. Boxer, was This meet-
ing, whilst acknowledging the eessiderable progress which
has been made in the extension of the borough franchise,
meets the obnoxious restrictions which remain, and con-
siders the inequality yet existing between the county and
borough franchise as most unsatisfactory, inasmuch as the
great bulk of the operative classes in counties will still be
excluded from all representation in parliament ; and this
meting strongly urges the necessity of continued and deter-
mined effort in order to obtain-Ist, the ballot, to secure
freedom of voting ; 2nd, shorter parliaments, to afford an
opportunity for the more frequent expression of opinion ;
and 3rd, the entire revision of the present absurd and un-
just distribution of political power, by the equitable
allotment of representatives in proportion to property and
population." Mr. Radford moved, and the Rev. J. Free-
stone seconded, the third resolution:—" This meeting
hereby expresses its deep gratitude to John Bright,
M.P., for his life-long devotion—under every species
of misrepresentation and abuse —to the cause of
the people ; also to the Right Hon. W. E.
Gladstone, John Stuart Mill, the O'Donoghue, end other
members of parliament and friends of reform who have so
nobly and effectively advocated the just claims of the
unenfrsnchised." The fourth and last resolution was
moved by Mr. J. R. Cooper, and seconded by Mr. W.
Hagan :—" This meeting rampages with pleasure the ca.
operation and assistance which the reform cause has re-
ceived from trade and friendly societies, and hopes that
the success of that cause will lend to • just state of the
law with regard to the legal status of those societies, end
a correct appreciation of their objects." Amongst the
chairmen and speakers at other platforms were Mr. George
Wilson, Mr. It. D. Burden, Mr. Edmund Ashworth, of
Rochdale, Mr. Councillor Murray, Mr. Ernest Jones, the
Rev. Dr. Parker, and Mr. Elijah Dixon. All the resolu-
tions were unanimously carried by the audiences attached
to the various platforms. A great portion of the people
appear to have regarded the proceeding. in the light of •
demonstration only, and many tbouaands moved from the
ground immediately the speaking began, no doubt many of
them basing been many hours without food or drink
under a burning sun, and much needing refreshment. The
sentimentsof the speakers are sufficiently conveyed by those
expressed in the resolutions.

ADMIRALTY, Jtnca I.—SnotNTREItTs. —Corn-
mender IL W. Brent to the Bellerophon. Captains the
Lord F. H. Kerr to the Excellent (additional), for special
service, vice Heath, appointed to the East Indian Ste.
Lion ; W. G. Luard to act in the Ordnance Select Commit.
tee ; E. Tatham to be superinteudent of the Rnyal Wil-
liam Victualling Yard and of Plymouth Hospital, vice
Cold, promoted; R. J. J. G. Macdonald from the Are-
' Rinse to the Bellerophon vies Tatham ; It. Coote to the
Arethusa, vice Macdonald.
THE CIVIL SERVI,E OF INDIA.—The regulations
for the open competition of 1868 have been issued. The exa-
mination will take place an the 31st March and following
days ; but candidates are required to send in their names
by the Ist February, evidence of health and character
bearing date not earlier than the 14 January.
SOCIETY or ERozNEßits.—The president, vice-
president, several members of council, and a number of
members of the Society of Engineers, left London for
Paris, by special train, on Saturday afternoon, to visit the
Exhibition. Dating the week meetings of the members
will be held in Paris.
ROYAL SCHOOL FOR DM:MITI:R.4 OT OFFICERS
OF THE Assts.—We regret to learn from the published
statement of this institution, of which the Duke of Cam-
bridge is president, that although it has been successful up
to the present time, its progress is now arrested by the
want of funds. The daughters of all officers in her
Majesty's army, on full or inclusive of the Royal
Marines, or who may have died in the service, are eligible at
the ages of from 11l to IN. There are, at present, seventy
pupils in the school, but without further donations it will
be impossible. notwithstanding the many pressing applica-
tions, to provide accommodation for any greater number.
The committee, therefore, earnestly appsid to all friends
of sound education, both at home and abroad, and espe-
cially to all who feel for the orphan and other necessitous
daughters of military officers, to come at once to their
aid, by supplying the means for carrying out to its desired
extent this long-needed and now happily established insti-
tution. The offices of the society crest .2, Cockspur-street.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY WIDOWS' AND
ORPHANS' FUND.- Mr. R. Benyon, M.P., of Englefield-
park, near Reading, has again placed the use of bias pie-
tureaque grounds at the disposal of the committee of the
above deserving fund for the annual fete, which has be-
come a very popular institution both to holiday people in
the metropolis and also to the inhabitants of different
towns past which the Great Western line runs. The fête
will be held on Tuesday, the Bird proximo, when there
will be a great variety of amusements.
WEST OF IRELAND FAMINE Fr ND. The last
week's reports exhibit a lamentable increase in the die.
tress throughout Connemara, and renewed efforts are
being made to obtain subscriptions, however small, to be
addressed to Canon M`Manns.Clifilen, county Galway, and
at 3, Canaan-row, Westminster.
THE SVEDAY BANDS IN THE PARRS.—The Re-
gent's, Battersea, and Victoria-parks yesterday presented
their usual summer appearance in the outumencenient of
the twelfth season of the Sunday bands, the audiences
being exceedingly large.
A LADY FRIIIHTENED TO DEATH.—On Thursday,
a lady named Unthank, who had recently taken up her
residence at Hungerford for the benefit of her health,
took a stroll over the dowel, where there are always a
number of cows grazing. It seems that she supposed the
animals were following her, and accordingly ran as fast as
ahe could to get out of their way. After running for some
distance she sat down on the turf, having caned a boy to
her assistance, and expired immediately. Dr. Mayo was
called to her, but his services were of no avail, as the
fright and excessive exertion through running brought on
a fit of apoplexy, which terminated fatally. The coroner
for the district subsequently held an inquest on the body
at the Three Swans Hotel, sad • verdict in accordance
with the medical testimony was returned.
[Advertisement.]—HoEunTAT's PILLS. Confi-
dential Advice To all persons who suffer from bilious head
aches, disordered stomach, biliousness, or flatulency there Mike
are most strongly recommended as the safest, hest, and quickest
mode of obtaining ease without walked= or irritating the
nervous system. Holloway's Pills see especially useful iu clear-
log away the bile, which usually produces fever, unless remodel
mediates be adopted without delay. In asthma, bronchitis, and
eddation of the lungs, they may he relied opus for removing
all danger, and by pacifying sod regulating the armistices they
effectually prevent relapses, and lo rousing the liver to • fair
POCT•l{011 of bile, and quickly carrying it off from the systflm,
these Pills ward off low amnia, Wideness, and those distressing
feelings often called nervoua

i

\