The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-06 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 6, 1867.

fittnc.

CFIARLI S HALLE'S PIANOFORTE RECITALS.

The eighth and last of the series of these in-
teresting performances took place at St. James's-hall yes.
terday afternoon, when the programme included two of
Sehuliert's solo sonatas—in A minor, Op. 164, and the last
of his ten works of this kind, in B flat, besides several
movements from Bach's "partite" in It minor, Beet-
hoven's variations for piano and violoncello, on the well-
known duet from Zaulwrjb:te, Mendelsaohn's variations for
the same instruments, and Beethoven's great solo sonata
in CI" Waldstein"). During the series of recitals just
concluded, Mr. Halle has performed all the ten great
solo sonatas of Schubert, all the sonatas of Beethoven
for piano and violoncello, many of the forty-eight
preludes and fugues of Bach, besides selections from other
classical writers for the pianoforte; in which performances
Mr. Halls has displayed the same careful and minute
study, earnest and thoughtful reading, and highly finished
mechanism that hive long given him a special position
among the few worthy interpreters of classical pianoforte
music. It is pleasant to see such powers so worthily and
conscientiously applied to the interpretation of what is
great and beautiful in the art, rather than (as in some
recent instances) aiming at self-assertion by pretentious
efforts at composition in the sham4mblime and mock-
heroic styles. Mr. Halle's playing yesterday was in
his best manner—whether in the dreamy grace and
poetical diffuseness of Schubert, the clear anti vigorous
coherence of Bach, the impetuous brilliancy of Mendels-
sohn, or the vastness and grandeur of Beethoven. The
attendance was large ; and the success of the present series
of recitals, as of those of past years, has given them a
special position among the attractious of the Loudon
musical season.

A meeting of the Trades Unions Commissioners
was held yesterday. Present : Right Hon. Sir W. Erie,
chairman; Lord Elcho, M.P., Right Hon. Sir Ed-
mund W. Head, Bart., K.C.8., Sir Daniel Gooch, Bart.,
M.P., Mr. Herman Merivale, C. 8., Mr. James Booth,
C. 8., Mr. J. A. Roebuck,Q.C., M.P., Mr. Frederick Harri-
son, and Mr. William Mathews. Mr. J. H. Patteson,
secretary to the commission was also present.
The Royal Dramatic College will hold its annual
fete and fancy fair on the 13th and 15th inst., at the
Crystal Palace. In addition to the usual display of stalls,
which will be presided over by the youngest and moat
attractive of the metropolitan actresses, Mr. and Mrs.
Howard Paul will make their first appearance in England
since their return from America, in a whimsical entertain-
ment, " Faust in Five Minutes," which will be given in an
elegant little salle, especially fitted up for the occasiou.
The Brothers Payne will introduce their wonderful
Covent-garden donkey ill his droll antics ; and in addition
to " Miriam," the little pianiote, the usual Ric) ardson's
show and other stock forms of amusement, Wombwell's
menagerie will come out in great force with a number of
curious new beasts, that have not hitherto graced previous
zoological collections in this country.
REPRESENTATION OF CHELSEA..—Sir Henry
Ainslie Hoare, Bart., has issued an address to the inhabitants
of the proposed new parliamentary borough of Chelsea and
Kensington, offering his services as their representative.
He proclaims his deep and entire devotion to the real liberal
party of England, and his faith in Mr. Gladstone. He
believes that the government Reform Bill will prove •
substantial gain to the people. He is in favour of the
abolition of church rates, and of the removal of all impedi-
ments and obstructions to the opening of the universities
to members of all religious denominations. He holds it to
be of the first importance that, as the liberties
of the country will shortly rest upon a suffrage
as widely extended as any that the States of America
or Prussia have ever known, the same cheap, diffusive,
and compulsory state education should be within the
reach of Middlesex or Lancaahire as exists in Massachu-
setts or Silesia. He is in favour of the equalisation of poor-
rates in the metropolis, the continual development of the
principles of free trade, and the economical supply of ps
and pure water. Sir Charles Wentworth Mike has also
issued an address to the electors. He would be prepared
to support • bill for increasing the representatiou of large
boroughs, and considers that • definite settlement of the
Irish church question is clearly one of the first steps to-
wards a healthier condition of affairs. He is in favour of
non-intervention iu foreignpulitics,exceptwhere either the
dignity or interests of the country are at stake, and he re-
grets at once the rashness shown in the guarantee of
Luxemburg, and the timidity which has charac-
terised our proceedings in the case of the Bri-
tish captives in Abyssinia. He would rejoice to see
greater efforts to cultivate political friendship with
the North-German people, and would hail with
pleasure an agreement between civilised nations to exempt
frog seizure at sea all goods not contraband of war. Ile
wishes to see au efficient nary and a volunteer force nem-
beriug in its ranks every grown man in the kingdom, but
disapproves of the great increase which has lately
taken place in our military expenditure. He is opposed
to flogging in the army and to the purchase of commis-
siona, and in favour of a separate army for India. Enact-
ments intended to reconcile the interests of capital and
labour would receive his best attention, and he would
support the erection of suitable homes for working men.
As a Cambridge man, he speaks a word for university
reform ; and, as a student of economy, expresses his dis-
trust at the working of the Bank Charter Act of 1844.
REPRESENTATION or BRISTOL —A meeting of
the Bristol Liberal Association was held on Thursday, in
reference to the prospective vacancy in the representation
of the city. The claims of two candidates were promi-
nently brought forward— namely, Mr. Robinson, mayor
of Bristol, and Mr. E. Bowring, son of Sir John. The
name of Mr. Lewis Fry was also mentioned. A warm
discussion took place on the merits of Mr. Robinson
and Mr. Bowling. The mayor was present during
• portion of tits proceedings, and was received with
great enthusiasm. There can be no doubt whatever that
if the selection of a candidate had been passed upon the
meeting by way of resolution the mayor would have had a
large majority. It was deemed desirable, however, that
another meeting should be held before coming to a final
decision. In the meantime a requisition to the mayor,
calling on him to come forward, will be submitted to tl-e
electors. This requisition will, we are sure, be signed by
the great body of electors, and it will, no doubt, lead Mr.
Bowring to relieve these who consider themselves pledged
to him, and thus avoid a division of the liberal ranks.--
Western IMile Press.
LORD JUSTICE TURNER.—Lord Justice Turner is
still unable to sit with Lord Cairns, and the Court of
Appeal cannot he held without two judges. Lord Justice
Turner was yesterday no better. There are about 100
apteals for bearing.
THE RECEPTION OF THE BELOIANS AT WINDSOR.
—Tuesday, the 16th inst., is the day fixed for the visit of
the Belgian volunteers to Windsor, when the South-
Western Railway Company will bring down 1,100 at 11
o'clock in the forenoon, and the Great Western Company
will bring down an equal number sit 12 o'clock. The first
at rival will dine together in the riding school at Windsor
Castle at 1 o'clock, sod the second party will dine there at
4 o'clock. The building will be handsomely decorated
with flags from the Admiralty and the Belgian colours.
The mayor and corporation will hold • meeting to-day or
on Monday to make arrangements for decorating the tows.
The Town-hall is, we understand, to be placed at the dis-
posal of the Belgien committee, in case the riding school
should not afford them sufficient accommodation for the
dinner.

THE TURKISH NAVY.—We hear that the Sultan
has requested the authorities of the Foreign-office and the
Admiralty to select a board of nasal officers to proceed to
Constantinople for the purvnee of taking charge of the
naval administration of the Porte. Captain Sir Wallall*
Wisconsin, Bart., and Captain Beinish will probably be the
officers selected to act in conjunction with a civil com-
missioner.

CRYSTAL PALACE. —The last but one of the Opera
Concerts takes place this afternoon, the principal artis'es
being Mdlle. Titiens, Mdlle. Sinico, Madame Demeric-
Lablache, Signors Mongini Gassier, Bassi, Herr Roki-
Musky, and Mr. Bentley. The solo in the finale to Men.
delasohn's Lovely will be sung by Wile. Titiens.
RAILWAY AND OTHER BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.
--Yesterday, in the House of Lords, in Lord Bedesdales
committee, the Galway Harbour (Composition of Debt),
the Blackwater Bridge; the Waterford and Wexford Rail-
way and Howlers Harbour, the Devon and Somerset
Railway (Deviations), the Devon and honierset Railway
(Extension), and the Dublin Trunk Connecting Railway
Bills were passed and ordered to be reported. In Room C
their lordialips passed the Carnarvonshire and Nantlle
Railway Companies, the Devon and Somerset Railway, the
East London Water (Thames Supply), and the East Lon-
don Water (Various Powers) Bills. Their lordships in the
same committee adjourned the Local Government Supple.
mental (No. 4) Bill ; and the Cameroon and Llanberis
Railway and the London and South Western R •ilway Bills
were referred back to the chairman of committees. In
Room D the Rhymnev Railway Bill passed and was
ordered to be repotted. In the Painted Chamber
their lordships further proceeded with and ad-
journed until Monday the Midland and Glasgow
and South Western Railway Companies end the
Midland Railway Bills. In the House of Commons,
in Group 12. the committee proceeded with the London,
Chatham, and Dover Railway and the London, Chatham,
and Dover Railway (No. 2) Bills, which were again ad-
journed until Monday. Mr. Frere, one of the examiners,
held a court, and declared the further standing orders in
the case of the Rathkeale and Newcastle Junction Railway
unopposed Bill to have been waroplied with.