The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-26 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXPRESS.

Stx —ln your report of the performance of
Jude. Marra/Jew at St. Martin's Hall, on Tuesday evening
last, you state that it wan performed by members of the
"Tonic Sol-fa Association," which is a mistake. It should
have been--as you will see by the bill enclosed—the
" Tonic Sol-fa Choral Society." The " Tonic Sol-fa Asso-
ciation " and the " Tonic Sol-fa Choral Society " are two
separate and distinct societies.
Hoping you will be able to correct this error in your
next,—l am, kc.,

A MEMBER OF THE TONIC SOL-FA
April 26. CHORAL SOCIETY.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—The new season programme,
just issued, presents, as usual, • great variety of attrac-
tions. Foremost among theme are nine grand opera con-
certs on Saturdays in May, June, and July. That these
will be of • varied and interesting character may be
gathered frogs the announcement that, by arrangement
with Mr. Gye, of the Royal Italian Opera, Covent-garden,
and Mr. Mapleson, of Her Majesty's 'Theatre, the artistes
of both opera houses will this year awear at the Crystal
Palace. This liberal arrangement will no doubt be appre-
ciated by the holders of season tickets. Besides the opera
concerts, it is also stated to be the intention of the
directors to undertake a great benefit concert, on a grand
scale, in June, for which very numerous offers of assist-
ancehave been already received. The great flower
show of the season will be held on Saturday,
May 25, and the rose show on Saturday, 29th June.
Amongst the novel features of last year's programme,
none were more successful than the pyrotechnic displays
and illuminations of the fountains, and the ballad con-
certs. They will be resumed this year. Two ballad oon-
certa will be given on the Bth and 20th of May, for both
of which Mr. Sims Reeves is engaged ; and the first great
display of fireworks will take place on Thursday, May 23,
the day after the Derby day. The Dramatic College fetes
will be held as usual abous the middle of July, and some
archery meetings on enlarged and improved arrangements
a little later in the season. The guinea season ticket
admits to all these attractions. Last year's issue of
season tickets was much larger than any former
year, and, with such an attractive programme, it
is confidently anticipated that the forthcoming sea-
an will even show better results. The great holi-
day fetes of the year, viz., Good Friday and Easter
Monday, have maintained their position with regard to
the number of visitors. On Good Friday and Easter
Monday alone upwards of 70,000 persons were present ;
and as more appointments than usual have already been
made for the great excursions, viz., the Odd Fellows,
Foresters, Temperance Societies, and other benefit in-
stitutions, the attendance of large numbers during the
coming season may be fairly anticipated. The season
opens on May-day (Wednesday next) with a great choral
performance by the Metropolitan Choral Schools, to be
conducted by Mr. G. W. Martin. On this occasion the
great Handel orchestra will be filled by the 5,000 singers
in connexion with the schools, who will sing a variety of
national part songs, each part being sustained by up-
wards of 1,000 voices. The first Opera Conoert, which
will be supported by artistes of the Royal Italian Opera,
will take place on the following Saturd.ay, May 4. Not-
withstanding the severe winter, the gardens, although •
little backward, are in excellent condition. The first die-
pla7_of the terrace fountains will be given on May-day.
Mi. COLERIDGE, M.P., AND THE LICENSING
Sywrin.—ln reply to • deputation from the Exeter
licensed victuallers, who waited on him at his father's
residence, Ottery St. Mary, on Tuesday, Mr. Coleridge,
M.P., promised to present and to supporta petition against
the Liverpool Licensing Bill, and against the Sunday
Public-house Closing Bill. The former bill, Mr. Coleridge
said, might possibly be of use in Liverpool, where free
trade liquors had been established by the magistrates,
but it was not suited to the country at large, and he coin-
cided in the opinion that a working man ought to beeble to
procure drink on Sunday at his club, which was the
public-house.---Western Morning News.
THE SHIPPING TRADE AND THE PROSPECT OF
Wse.—The anticipation of war between France and Prus-
sia is attracting considerable notice in the shipping trade.
Perhaps there has never been • time when steamers were
employed at such unremunerating rates of freight as at
present, and the owners of both sailing vessels and steamers
have passed through a depression unknown for years.
With war the prospects would be in favour of • rise in
freights, particularly in the Baltic and White Sea
trader, which are just opening out. The trade with
Palau, KOnigsberg, and Stettin is chiefly carried on
in Prussian ships ; that of Dantzic and Memel
by English steamers and sailing ships of ell nations.
The importation of grain and timber from Germany
is very large indeed, and its cessation would attract atten-
tion to Canada and other ports whence we obtain the same
articles. At the present time, however, flour and wheat
are higher in Montreal than in England. The great ques-
tion will be whether the porta of Bremen and Hamburg
would be blockaded by the French as well as the ports just
named. If coal is to be considered "contraband," then
the increase of employment for our ships would not be so
great, particularly should those countries which are
neutral strictly follow the prohibition. A great guars-
titv of coal finds its way into Germany through
Antwerp and Rottenlam. The stock in Prussia
must be small, as the spring and summer are the
periods for shipments thither from this country. Although
some coal is raised in the Rhine districts, it is not in quan-
tity or quality such as a fleet could depend upon. France
is in a different position ; large quantities are sent to her
ports at all seasons, and it would take but • few days to
supply her with whatever she might require. The import-
ance of the coal question has just been shown in the Mee
of Spain in the Pacific, her great difficulty in the war with
Chili and Peru having been that there were no pinta for
coaling or obtaining provisions and water. Austria and
Italy it is considered could hardly aid Prussia, with such a
navy as France possesses, by opening their porta for cargoes
from this country.— Team
SHOCKING DEATH OF A CHILD.—An inquest, was
held yesterday in Bloomsbury on view of the body of a
child about three years old. The name of the child was
John Willmer, and its father was a teller, who hail carried
on business at 191, Holborn. He was obliged to leave
these premises in consequence of the alterations which are
being made, and about a fortnight ago, after he had re-
moved, the child one day dimppeared, and all inquiries
respecting it were in vain. Bills were circulated, and ad-
vertisements inserted in the daily papers ; but still no
knowledge was obtained of the whereabouts of the child
until Tuesday last. In the afternoon of that day • labourer,
who was engaged in pulling down the premises adjoining
those which Mr. Willmer had left, discovered the dead
body of the child in the cesspool. It appeared certain
that the child bad strayed to the hack of the houses, and
had by accident fallen from the seat of the closet into the
cesspool beneath. The cesspools of both houses were in
such • filthy condition that the coroner decided to adjourn
the inquest, in order that the person or persons who were
responsible for them might be discovered.