The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-25 00:00:00

[I3TAMPID, Id. ADDITIOILIX.]

ilium.

HER SIA.TIIBI'Y'S THEATRE.

reproduced
here oa Tuesday night, w:th I:..portant by Mr. M'Evoy for the repeal of the Ecclesiastical Titles
Mozart's 11 Rao', Magic° (Die 4') was appointed to inquire into the merits of the bill introduced
part of po,natt,io Act resumed their sitting on Tuesday.
changes from the former mak The
which Mille. Titiens appeared for the first is of i Dr. Manning, Boman catholic archbishop, was the first
small dramatic importance, as indeed nay be said of 'Alms esaidnolL
The Chairman (Mt. WEvoy)—You are Archbishop of
every character in the crude and puerile libretto,
which himart wedded some of his best (and, it roost be Westminster?—' am.
Will you be good enough to state the nature of the eel_
admitted, some of his weakest) music—a oonotesion
deuce you are prepared to give in reference to the Becks-
made by the great compoeer to relieve the emb;.:rese..
molts of the author, his boon companion, tichickleideikei Titles Act ?
Dr. Manning said he was prepared to show that the
ender, the manager of a Vienna theatre, whose
creation of a hierarchy was a purely spiritual act without
fortunes were retrieved by this production of .
that '
the latest phase of its composer's genius. The 'it'riLv. ei'fgl tthietZuwengt: oaf, variancejtritandeiett;
eupn-
absurd mixture of stupid buffoonery w:th sombremacyunder the existing state of the laws ; that the
mysticism and frivolous enchantments, surrounding a aiastical Titles Aot went beyond its purpose, and was
story as unintelligible as uninteresting, must always OM. highly penal ; that it placed the Roman catholic church in
demo this opera to very intermittent stage performance ; I btiatenceue,
, t -tal:tta wares
he governmentti had been than itoobadpetiled to theretofore
prettiness 01. regard the enactment, and that the change f • •
while the antagonism between the volatile
some of the music (written avowedly to court immediate I apostolic to ordinary bishops was necessary for the govern.
popularity) and the refined beauty and grand sublimity of meat of the 'rhumb. He was further prepared to slow
other portions, produoes an incongruous and a that the ....„...""T! a gri,raleLiac a___laaa, mad *Pit!
balanced elect that renders the work lea was
our relations with Homan atholie countries.
satisfactory than any other of Mozart's great The Chairman asked whether a territorial title involved
operas. The performance of Tuesday night derived im.ir.b ; the ansumption of any tempuralpower or jurisdiction,
added importance from the impressive singing and i 1-fr• Keneielt—Certainly not. The creation of the
gale mammal; tirarahylstras.alasi, act purely crested . spiritual in its
dearness and.
declamatory style of Mdlle, litiens, who
tual
prominence, to the muaie of Pertains, In the trio "Co- jurisdiction. 'the spiritual power existed dioomes and
throughout the
lombs," in the beautiful duet" La Dove' (so well known r whole Roman empire before the civil, and when the 00.
as " The Manly Heart"), in the exquisite air in the second' existed they did net come into contact. In 601 VoleS
I Gregory tedfoundation o
and the two dioem at Caw act, "Ah: lo so," and in various iseidental wow.
throughout the opera, Mdlle. Titiens proved how a great arch] naratirdirec.wele purely the f
e7irt f
itualab.ac a"
s. The. late bier
ist can give prominence to a part offering but few op- ; dinal Wiseman wrote to Lord John Rumen disclaiming
portunities for display. Her delivery of the intensely any temporal power.
The Chairman asked whether the creation of a bier-
pathetic air last named was received with loud and
prolonged applause. One of the chief features archy wee at tula".• *lit the royal supremacy.
in Tuesday night's performance was Mdlle. Nilssot's ap- Dr. Manning said it was not. In the sense of scam of
the provisions of the acts of Elizabeth it was, but in the
pearanoe as the Queen of Night ; a part which has been sense of the toleration which had bees extended by sob-
among the most successful of that lady's perfonnorces at 'request acts to the catholic church it was not. (Dr. Man-
ning Isere referred to the acts to which be alluded, and to
the Paris Theatre Lyrique. Mdlie. Nilason's light and
certain truthorition.)
flexible voice, her fluent execution, and command of those Mr. Walpole—Those authorities mean that the Xin
exceptionally high notes of the head voice which abound could sot crease the ofkice of a bishop himself, but that
is the music of the Queen of Night, especially fit her for a the King required homage to be done m respect of tempo-
character originally designed for a special singer, ,aul now relithel ?—Quite so.
Then according to the old laws the Pope could not crane '
rarely efficiently filled. The first great recitat:ve a hierarchy or appoint a bishop without the moment of the
and air, " Non paventar," and " a, ritorlu.," crown
" ' ' "'•

were given with such a combination of brilliancy ,
and delicacy, such distinct articulation of the rapid scale
passages, and the staccato notes reaching to F in alt—all
achieved with ease of style and purity of tone, .ustead of
the gasps and shrieks wiiichtharacterise sows atteiopta at
them difficulties—that the audience greeted, the close of
this brilliant display with loud and long applause that pro-
duced a repetition of this admirable pieoecif vital caeca-
tion. In the air in the second act, " Grangui slinferno,"
containing similar bravura passages, snag i'eTth like'
brilliancy and purity of style, the same effect ,
and result were produced ; and Iladlle. Nilssor,
by her performance as the Queen of Night, has
added another to the several successes sho has obtained
mince her first appearance here some six weeks since. It
would be difficult to find a better Tansino than Signor
Gardoni, who gave his principal airs, " Oh ! cars
gine," and the incidental solo in the first finale, " Quel
sumo," with excellent sostenuto sad refined phrasing. The ,
admiring pantomimic beast' who an drawn forth in lie-
tenins delight by the sounds of Tamino's magic
flute in this solo might well be dispensed w.th
in representation—the opera is already too full
of serious dramatic silliness. Mr. Smiley 's Papageno
, is as admirable as it always has been in vocal execution ;
with somewhat more perception than formerly of such ha- ;
mour as the part may be supposed to possess. In the duet
with Pamina, " Li dove" (encored of course), in hie solos
"Gents, e qui Puccellatore," and "Colombo, otortorella,"
111 in the various concerted pieces, Mr. Smithey sang with
his usual finished style and vocal power. The nrssic of
the High Priest Smash* was impressively delivered by
Herrßokibensky, whose sonorous_ andpgn_derons bass
voice is peculiarly well suited to the The well-
known air, " Qui 'draw," produced a strong impression.
The very small part of Papagena derived more than its
wonted importance from the clever acting and
singing of Mdlle. Sink*, while the music of the
three attendants of the Queen and the three
Genii was given with more than usual erect by
Mesdames Trebelli-Bettini and Tagliafico, and Macllle.
Marini, and Mesdlles. Baumeister and Drasdil, and
Madame Demeric-Lablache—other subordinate parts being
efficiently filled by Mr. Lyall, and Signori Foli, Agretti,
Bassi, Manfredi, and Bertaochi.

Dr. Manning—The concurrent action of the two pewee
WY necessa.
Mr. Walpolry e—Then we are agreed upon tii:aA
•
what are called Roman catholic times the Pope
of himself appoint a bishop in this country
consent of the crown ?
laws. I e
Dr. Mantling —He could not under the then ezieffing.,
We are agreed epee that point? Perfectly. t • 'I
In reply to the (,airniaD Dr. Manning continne4lp Mr {
that under statutes of Elisabeth the introduction of any
bill, brief, or lettere apostolic into this country was pee-
hibited, and it wee also made penal to act on them. The
royal supremacy in natters spiritual and ecclesiastical was
afterwards altered. The people of Ireland had never
received that supremacy, and one half of the ;wimple of this
country withdrew from it when they became dissenters cad
nonconformist& In matters temporal and civil all were
subject to the royal supremacy, but in matters spiritual
and ecclesiastical Roman catholic, were no more subject
than other dissenters or nonconformists to the royal supre-
macy. By an act passed in the reign of William and
Mary protestant dissenters were relieved from taking the
oaths referring to the supremacy of the crown in spiritual
matters, and by subsequent sets Roman catholic, were
similarly relieved. The whole Scotch kirk was founded
on what
i they called the headship of Christ, and the kirk
as w quite us independent of the spiritual power of the
erown as esthetics Cr'.
To further questions
Dr. Manning stated that Roman catholic sees were
created in Canada and Australia without any interference
with the civil power, and that the same observation
appled to British Inußa, where there were twenty Roman
catholic bishops.
The Chairman—You say that the Eocledastical Titles
' Act is • highly penal mowers?
Dr. Manning—lt is. Professing to annul territorial
titles, it dues • great deal more. It renders the act of con.
secreting a bishop a penal act, so far as all who are parties
to it are opeommed. Great isamminimiy is also intredeeed
by it es to the validity of many legal documents.
Mr. Bruce—Are you able to state any practical evil
arising from it ?
Dr. Manning—ln aigning documents great ears has to
be taken. for legal questions might arise as to their
validity.
The Chairnuid—ls not the act a dead letter?
Dr. Nanning—The Privy Council, with respect to
schools, have recoguisail the Roman catholic bishops. The
act to all intents and purposes is a dead letter.
To the Chairman—The act it • grievance which no resea-
-1 bet of the committee who may have had a part in the pass-
ing of it could have intended. It was meant, no doubt,
chaffy to relate to territorial jurisdiction, not to spiritual
things ; but either way the act is • grievance. A state-
ment wade in the House of Commons and the House of
Lords was founded upon one of mine. I said, and I
repeat, that I feel it to be a a grievance to be compelled
by a superior obligation to resort to evasion and to violet*
• statute. I think I ought not, as an Englishman, to be
placed in this position. I hold no other °floe ; I
cannot describe myself otherwise than as Arch-
bishop of Westminster, and I cannot fulfil • spiritual
act of duty without coming into contact with the laws. I
do not think it honourable, Christian. or English, to be
compelled to do a thing in the dark which I would not do
openly. I cannot have two modes of describing myself.
A superior obligation compels ma to do every
day • number of acts at variance with the
statute, but which I think it never was intended
to prohibit. It is a public stigma—dormant perhaps in
times of peace, Let active in times of excitement. The
sword ought not to be hung over our beads. It is further
inexpedient that when we exhort our flocks to submit to
the law of the land. they should say,'as many of them had
said, " You do not obey it yourself.'
The Attorney-General for Ireland asked whether it
would remove the grievance, end satisfy the beads of the
Roman catholic eharth, if their bishops were known, for
instance, as " Roman Catholic Bishop, of Kerry," or
" Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. '
Dr. Manning replied that they would not object to any
modification which parliament, In its wisdom, might make,
and be was sure the titles they would legalise would be re-
spectful and proper. But whetherthe change suggested would
be satisfactory was a question he could not answer. There
was this objection to it, that it woold imply an admission
that as there war • " Roman catholic bishop " or " arch-
bishop," there was another bishop or archiffshcp of the
same diocese, and they held that no consecration was
I lawful except by or from their own spiritual authority.
So far as description in legal documents was concerned,
there could be uo objection to the change suggested.
Mr. Fortescue—You would not object to he so described,
but you would object so to describe yourself?
Dr. Manning said before replying decisively he would
like to commit with others. The *lenge suggested would
place the Homan catholic hierarchy in a different position
trom that which they occupied throughout the world.
To Mr. W. K Forster—ln two of the Wart India
islands, where the Anglican church is established, the
Roman catholic church is governed by vicars apostolic.
The establishment of the hierarchy in Scotland has not yet
taken place ; it is only • question of time. It is impoesthle
to establish epiecoral authority without apportioning to
each bishop a territory. The vicars apostolic had their
districts, which were virtually sees. Without a territory
• bishop would be like a judge without • court or • circuit.
To Mr. Peace—ln Ireland, where there may be two
bishops, Roman catholic and protestant, in the one diocese,
the only inconvenience or confusion which he had heard
of arose from the wrong delivery of letters, or legal ques-
tions as to the leg silty of the signature of the Roman

catholic beams; .
Mr. Bentin —You are aware that in Howe sad other
places equally intolerant the appointment of a protestant
bishop would not be allowed.
Dr. Mooning—lt should be Immemhered that in Italy
the people are all of one opinion.
Mr. Dentine& —What of France and Spain
Dr. Manning In Franco then is toleration—there.
think. it would be permitted. The unity of the rehgiuu
has never been shattered in Spain. In Austria again
there is toleration.
Mr. Bentinck —ln portions of Austria there are large
protestant communities.
The Chairman thanked Dr. Maiming for his attendance,
and the committee shortly afterwards adjourned.

M•stit AND KtoEs.—The very. remarkable ent. r-
tainment which Mr. Ernest Schulze is giving at the EPT-
tian.hall is to close on the 17th of August, after a career
which is stated to hays bees nowt successful.

MR. AND MRS. BILLINGTON'A BENTE, IT.—Theie
popular tirtiMAl will take their annual benefit at the
Adelpbi Theatre next Monday, July 29, on which 001111110 l
Mn. Alfred Mellon will make her first sad only
anew since her late bereavement, and Mr. Toole willi :it
pear, for this night only, with her in the character of Paul
I Pry. Mr. Billington will also make his first
as Sir Charles Coldstream in the comedy of tra077.7 once
Mrs. Billington will play Margery in the Rottylt Dialourd.

ROYAL ALHAMBRA PALACE.
(Managing Director, Mr. F. strange.) Three Ballets, MU
Dancers, 63 Instrumentalists, flingers, Acrobats, Mimics ; Pic-
tures, Latest Telegram., Saloom, Supper-rooms, Lavatorieq.
Smoking rooms, Evening Paper; 10 Orchestral limes Every
Night. open at Half-past Seven, aat Eight. Prices—le.,
ite , and tid.: Reserved seats, la. ; Private Beim, from Al ls.
Itoe-oMee open from Eleven to Four.