The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-29 00:00:00

NEW ROYALTY.

Mr. H. T. Craven's new drama, Meg's Divers:um,
is a permanent RUOCIOSS at this little house, but it is fir in-
ferior to the same author's ifit/.9 White or The Pusf 8.),y.
The characters are not so forcibly drawn, nor so form*
acted. Meg, the young lady who gives the title to the
piece, and who tildes for souse time with a rustle lover,
only to throw herself into his arms at last, is a very weak-
minded disagreeable person in whom it is impossible to
feel an interest. She is represented somewhat heavily by
Miss Oliver. Mr. Craven, who plays the humble lover,
has a style of acting which is founded upon the late Mr.
Robson's up to the point where real earnestness begins.
Re is a very insincere actor. The best acted part in
the piece is a crotchety squire, represented by Mr. C.
Wyndham.

The Morning Post says that the following short
address Is open for signature by those of the clergy who
rejoice at every fresh bond of union between the several
branches of the universal church. Authority to attach
names may be sent by letter to the Rev. T. W., 35,
Lin-
coln's-inn-fields :—" May it please your Grace,—We, the
untlernamed priests and deacons of the Church of England,
humbly offer our hearty thanks for the act of communion
with our brethren of the Church of Scotland in which your
grace has been recently engaged.—To the Most Rev. the
Lord Are.hbisho of Canterbui)."
CRYSTAL PALACE.—Prince Napoleon, aCCOßl-
paoiod.by Colonel Ferri Pisani, Dr. Yvan, and Mr. Bran-
ton, visited the Palace yesterday, and spent some hours
inspecting the courts and galleries of fine arts. In conse-
quence of the fog on the last occasion, and in compliment
to Mr. C. T. Block, the pyrotechnist, under whose ma-
nagement the recent displays have taken place, unother
great display of fireworks and illumination of fountains
takes place this evening. The only alteration in the pro-
gramme will be the addition of ten thousand magnesium
stars, or points, to the final shower of rockets. There is
also an alteration in the time of commencement ; it will
on this occasion be a quarter to six, and will terminate at
about a quarter-past six, thus affording opportunity for
early return home.
REFORM MEETING AT PORTS MOL` TR. —An open-
air meeting, oonvened by the local branch of the National
Reform League, was held in St. George's-square, Portreas,
on Saturday evening. About !i,OOO persons were present,
and the proceelinge were conducted with much enthusiasm.
Mr. Willgans, a printer, of l'ortaea, occupied the chair,
and after a few preliminary observations the following
resolution was proposed by Mr. liatelrallor, and se awaited
by Mr. Rayner :—" That this meeting expresses it. indig-
nation at the present represeutative system, which is
alike opposed to justice tad the principle of the
English constitution, and the result of which is
that the great mass of the people aro sot is and
slaves in a country which beasts of its freedom andl:l-e.ty.
And this meeting further esperases its opinion 002. nun.-
hood slefrag..: and vote I.y ballot are the right of every
Englishman of nature age end untainted with crime, and
1.12. t nothing else will the extinction of the piereut
political utottopaly, and be the means of obtaiumg true
liberti, 11..ppinese, awl prosperity for the English p::ople."
Mr. Isdinotel Ernes, the 3:r. staent of the Reform League,
supported the resolution, which wsa carried unenimously.
—Mr. McKay proposed. end Mr. George mound .1, the
following resolution, whiel, was also carried :—"That the
persons eompo.ing this the st ing express their indignation
at the nt.istance offered it: :r iameut to the cult.. ellise-
nent of the working clAsso, and pledge themslves, by
enrolling their usmes as members, to support the lenelon
Reform League till manhood suffrage and vote by ballot
are the law of England."
DENSE FOG IN TIM METROPOLIS. —On Saturday
morning London wet enveloped in a dense fog, from
shortly after eight o'clock until nearly eleven. The shops
and workroom, had to be lighted up as at night. Shortly
before midday the darkness became less intense, and it
was possible to walk through the streets without the aid
of artitickl light, but subsequently the fog again
closed over the metropolis with nearly its former density,
and so continued for some time. On the river reversl
collisions occurred, one of which nearly resulted in the
loss of fire lives. A skiff, containing some men ;wing off
to work averse: out, off Itotherhithe Wall, was cut down to
the water's edge by a collier brig, and the men precipi-
tated into the river. They were saved with difflaulty.
Much confusion prevailed at the dock entrances, where
several collisions °warred, resulting in damage to spars,
rigging, and bulwarks.
MuNirrec!rr Girr. Mr. Richard Thornton
West and Mrs. West have presented to the National Life-
boat Institution 6201., to defray the entire cost of a life-
boat station to be formed at West Wittering, at the mouth
of Chichester harbour, on the comet of Sussex.
THE Or-roan-wager Ptorranow.—lt is not ems),
to look up at what is left of Wyatt's Pantheon facade,
end fancy that nearly a hunured years ago people watched
its progress with intense interest. It will, probably, soon
disappear altogether. It has been the frontispiece to a
" Winter Ranelagh," a ridotto, a theatre, a bazaar, and
the last is about to be converted into a wine depot.
Though the house was once burnt down and twice rebuilt,
Wyatt's front has kept its position. While the original
splendid house was building. 1770-72,people talked in tonal
of wonder of the new bank end houses that had been
thrown down for it, and of the oostof land andcompensation,
amounting to 300,0001. The outlay for building reached
about 40,060!. Just before it opened, in 1772., Oxford-
road was paved for its sake, and during the la rag of the
pavement airflow's of wretches on their way from New-
gate to be strangled at Tyburn, were carried round by tette
New-road. Then, that opening masquerade !--Cohisnuth
was there, in an old Rupiish dress, and the tippling
Duchess of Ancaater, and the wild young queen of beauty
and of folly, Gertrude Conway, and crowds besides, all
streaming through the glittering suite of fourteen rooms,
the ceilings of which glowed with artistic art and inven-
tion. Around the rooms were marble statues of gods and
*dames,: with three in porphyry attracting all loyal
besets—gnat George, the white-armed Charlotte, and Eri-
blank sailing on both. Such another night even the Pan-
theon never raw. It was calculated that in dreams and
" refreibments," the guests expended on that occasion full
10,0001. One cannot look on the smoke-grimed face of the
Paatheors now, and dream of the brilliant madness which
was once noisily, drunkenly, and licentiously et:throned
behind it. Those were day.' when the " company," sober
sad drunken, modest and iutmodest, used to breakfast at
dawn on the remnants of supper, and then fling the bottles
and broken viands among the • howling and hungry crowd
without. The Pantheon, however, was Doi StioDMOrd,
though Walpole admired, and said that Henry VIII., Vs°
bad taste, would have patronised it. Boswell, of course,
agreed with Johrsou that it was inferior to the Sumter
kanalagh, near Chelsea. Even as a theatre it failed.
Sydney Smirke admirably converted its interior into a
bazaar, and now it is undergoing another transformation.
—Atheist dm.
HOEPFTAL TOR DISEASES OF THE CHEST, OTORLA -
YAWL —The number of patients relieved at institu-
tion during last week was 1,406, of which 275 were new
OWL

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