The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-03 00:00:00

Aluott.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.
catablishment opened for the seaa.n last
with the announcement issued by Mr•
...rt., since. During the fortnight that has
.1 e the termination of the pantomime season
• the m:maament of the late Mr. Alfred Mellon the

t ts Ircu restortml to its normal coalition, in the

ilthe.litferent circles otprivateboxes, the pit
The entry of the coriander, Mr. Costa, into the
s.n, the signal fors lona burst of applause,which

!..itli ,ppropriate warmth, the etuitient director,
a h.,. the efficiency of the performances at
.1 It t 'per, is to largely owing. During the
•‘, that Mr. Costa has now presided over the
.• •li., of the, ~tablishinent, by his combination of
acquirements with inexhaustible energy,
..f.oht..: punctuality, respect for himself and for those
%bon, he pn,ides, the band has acquired, under his
Ili me,. a reputation scarcely equalled —certainly
..t • .t..b.d -by any other similar assemblage
I't 1.-ntilists. That most of the artists
;,.. iudivi.hrilly. of high skill as solo players
not &tie ,iitticient to account for the special excellence
ti.., 0., bc.tral effect here—since we have sometimes

..,.1 nearly the aline band, at concerts, under other direr
pnshive a widely different result from that to which
s. are acerratorned at the Royal Italian Opera. On the
r-itig of the curtain the National Anthem was sung by
chorus, after which Rennin' Noreen was given, the
ha ing similar to that of last season. Since the
irement of Maihime Orisi it has been difficult
t.. find a dramatic singer of power sufficient to
ceed in Norma, a part in which (risi's fine impersona-
::ou is still so fresh in the memory of an opera audience.
h. Madame Maria Villa this result appears to be more
....irly achieved than in several other previous attempts.
!1 idiom Villa first appeared here in May last, when her
p rfonmence of Norma, and its several repetitions, at once
,tahlidied her success—and her subsequent represents.
1:..t e: in other operas of tragic interest confirmed her pad-
:mu as an admirable dramatic ringer in the heroic and
,:.• 'amatory style. Since last season Madame Wilda has
cained somewhat in warmth and dramatic passion, and her
performance of last night was of a high order of vocal and
! istrionic power. Her voice is a pure soprano at once
I.‘misuit and sympathetic in quality, with a range of fully
two octaves. Her execution is generally finished and
aecarite—her ornaments in good taste, and her shake
,e,•llent. Her acting is distinguished by a combination
dignity and grace, heroism and tenderness ; her most
impe,sioned gestures and attitudes being always tempered
by refinement. In her great air, "Casts Diva," Ma-
dame Villa produced a marked effect by her admirable
.‘ecution of its timid vocalisation and her artistic phras-
ing; the applause continuing until the singer reappeared
for her exit. Excellent also were her more declamatory
scenes ; especially that at the end of the first act, where
'he upbraids Pollio, and in her denunciations of vengeance
t.wards the close of the opera. It is not often that the
1. irt of Adalgisa finds so good a representative as
Madame Lernmen■-Sherrington, whose brilliant voice
finished vocalisation are most valuable in
e.e great scenes between Atlalgisa and Norms ;
soy shortcomings on the part of the second voice (such
we too frequently bear from representatives of Adal-
vi.al being destructive of the effect, however perfect may
1., the Norma. Signor Naudin's Yoffie too Is largely con-
ducive to the excellence of the present cast of the work
at the Royal Italian Opera; nor most we forget the
nnvom.of signor Attri, who sang like an artist, although
evidently suffering from cold and hoarseness,

Sr. JAMES.B-HALL.—That excellent artist, Miss
Louisa Fyne, gave her first benefit concert last night,
s'aen she was assisted by various eminent singers, whose
h,istell.tneotti performances, well suited to an occasion of
the kind, call for no detailed criticism. The importance
of the programme was much enhanced by Madame Schu.
sann's admirable pianoforte playing. From the good at-
valance we trust the result of the concert may be hugely
a tumour of an artist who deserves well of a public by
mimosa she has long been held in high and deserved esteem.
If all the other elements in the several schemes, in which
Min Pyne has been associated, for the establishment of
baglish Opera had been on an equality with that lady's
excellent singing therein, those efforts would probably
have had a happier result than has attended them.

gorirrr or Droiszen.q.—At the meeting of the
scciety of Engineers, held on Monday last, Mr. W. H.
Feuvre, President, in the chair, the following
pntlemen were elected honorary members :—Sir John
Herschel, Bart., KRA., Sir David Brewster, K.H.,
V.R.S., Messrs. C. B. Airy, F.R.S., Lyon Playfair, F.It.S.,
W. J. M. Rankine, F.H.8., W. Pole, F.R.S., J. C. Adams,
F.R.S., R. Napier, M.1.C.E., J. Penn, F. 5.5., and Joseph
Whitworth, F. 5.8., Monsieur Eugene Flachat, Herr F.
qrashof. Members :—Messrs, John C. Caruthers, Wil-
iam Naylor, Adam Dixon, and Alexander Chaplin.
Foreign members:—Mena. John Skwaroow and David
gsgnns. Associates: Messrs. Thomas Allcock and
Thomas HulhunL

ROYAL INSTITUTION or GREAT BRITAIN.—At
he general monthly meeting on Monday, Mr. William
spottinwoode, treasurer and vioe-preaident, in the chair,
Re. Charles .John Leaf, Mr. John Neal, and Mr. Evan
Ifynne Roberts were elected members of the institution.
The decease of Sir George Everest, C. 8., F.R.S. and of
Powell, M.D., F.S.A., managers of the Royal Insti- I
'take, was announced from the chair. The presents re-
rived since the last meeting were laid on the table, and
he thanks of the members returned for the same.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL Socierw.—At the fort-
,ightly meeting of this society, held yesterday in the
°eclat Room at South Kensington, Mr. William Paul
,whose splendid show still continues to attract numbers of
Halton) delivered another short and interesting ilecture on
•pring flowers, and took for the subject of his discourse
that beautiful dower the rose. The room abounded in
ienutiful and rare plants. Amongst the latter, Athecia
rristata, from Mr. Wilson Saunders', was conspicuous from
It' very curious appearance and structure. Amongst the
Odontogloasum triumphant was 'pre-eminent, and
out dowers of Odontoglossum Phalanopeis were much
admired. Mr. Berkeley made a few observations on the
culture of Sarracenire, under the care of Mr. Vair, in Lady
l'orothy Nevill's garden at Dangstein. Mr. Estonian
also remarked on the lovely orchids which formed the
1.-mere of the day's exhibition, as also on the variet of
louses for their culture. Mr. W. Wilson Saunders,
P.N.S., was in the chair, and addressed the meeting on
some of the plants sent from his own garden. Sixteen
new Fellows were elected, including Mr. W. K Dowdes-
Sell. 11. P., Captain Ferrer, Dr. Herbert Giraud, Lc. • and
the 'WestonDistrict Horticultural Amociation and the
Kirkby Stephen Floral and Horticultural Society were
admitted into union. On the table were exhibited two of
the special prizes to be awarded at the society's show to
he held at Bury St. Edmunds in July. One was a hand-
maw silver cup of the value of 20/. given by the proprietors
the Gardeners' Chronirte, and the other two very
Orli:ant clocks of the value of 10/. 10s. each, and given by
the proprietors of the Jewrsal of Horticulture. At the
Close of the meeting, a large ballot for plants took place
among the Fellows.
THE ARCHDEACON or CARLINLIL—Many of our
Nader, will be grieved to learn that the Venerable Arch-
4. aeon of Carlisle has been given up by his physicians.
Heart disease, with dropsy supervening, has cut short the
lfe of a courteous gentleman who attained alone tees dig-
,'late Soo bite in life to enjoy it long. He possessed in a
zeal measure the benignity and kindly tolerance which
Heed sit well on all men, but especially on dignitaries of
church.—Cueiberland Peltvet.
FUNERAL OF THE LATE REY. DR. CAMPBELL.
Tenerday afternoon the remains of this well-known non-
confeemiet minister were interred in Abney-park Ceme.
lel'. in the presence of a east number of spectators. The
funeral tort, rte numbered fourteen mourning coaches and
most an equal number of private carriages. Amongst
'h.e mourners were Mr. Edward Campbell, only surviving
;41 of the deceased ; the Right Hon. the Earl of Shelter
17. my. the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, Item Dr. F , Rev.
H.illey, Rev. Dr. Vaughan, Rev. Dr. Angus, Bev.
ie. Raleigh, Mr. John Snow, Mr. James Grant, Rev. J.
...14on, incumbent of All Saints Church, St. John's-wood,
IV. P Shipton, and many others. After the Scrip-
rites had been read and prayer offered by the Rev. Dr.
Salley, Principal of New College, St. John's
-wood, the
.:er. Ferguson pronounced a funeral oration. Upon
Le oincluinon of this address the Rev. Dr. Vaughan
'rend prayer, and the congregation adjourned from
4'4,e1 Cape!, where this service was held, to the eeme-
r close by. The coffin was of elm, cased in lead, and
!el the inscription, "John CampbelL Born Oct. fa, 17%.
-t'l March 26, 1847."
Citotv.stieii A KING IN BUNGART.—The corona-
ns certmonyinHungery,aocording to the ancient custom,
rsgulated iii the following manner :—" 1. The king pre-
rues for the coronation by a fast of three days. 2. The
,eniony can only take Tibiae on a Sunday. 3. The king
hound to take the oath in public. 4. The bishop prays
ilk for the blessing of Heaven on him who is about to be
~owned. In the litanies the saints are asked to intercede
`4th Gal in favour of the king, who during that time is
n clung, ti. The bishop consecrates the right arm of the
at the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. 7. Then coo-
: aces the solemn mass which is continued to the epistle.
7/"' bishop next takes the sword, and, after having prayed,
'Hers it to the king, saying, 'Gird on this weapon, but re-
:ember that the saints conquered by the faith and not by
"1"M: H. He places the crown on the king's bead.
He puts the sceptre in his band. 10. He heeds him
the throne, and the mass is continued to the end. The
Art of the bishop belongs by right to the Primate of Hun-
:l7. As to the taking of the oath to the constitution,
4" question remains to be settled between the king and
yc state."