The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-28 00:00:00

Jausir.

CRYbTAL PALACE CONCLET,;.

Them excellent performances were resume 3 on
Saturday with the following programme :

%.. I. in nat. - IL
Aria, Kati,- Akins 'Wile. lini4ll Hamad.
&ell. and Aria, ••
Minh, . l'44thoyen.
No 4, In 6 %Warne
Ikrthoven.
Willow Milk I/m.lll_ A.

lUii • tbet. • • Yly mother Inds We bind my ban,"
itui tt 11.dtin.
Nen Ihvlt'l7o, In ni,lundani- ... Stan
Vail.
Jlu • • Av.. Ittettinte Slide° and
IPru.hi
Orel e, " f-ite•tt.a"

Schumant's symphony bas been several times previously
given at those concerts, but never more finely than on
the present occaaion. Of Mr. Sullivan's overture we have
already spoken on the ocerkon of its first performance at
the Norwich Festival of last year, and we see no reason to
alter the opinion then recorded. It contains some clever
instrumentation and effective climaxes, but neither
originality of subject nor freshness of treatment. The
name composer's setting of Shakespeare's Willow Soog
has a certain sombre character, but no individuality
of style. It was expressively sung, as was also
Handel's beautiful air, by Mademoiselle Drasdil, the
young contralto who made so favourable an im-
pression at the recent Norwich Festival. Donizetti's
duet (given for the first time in England) is a graceful
piece of vocalisation. but without any of the elevation
appropriate to the text. Madame Sinico gave Beethoven's
great arena expressively, but with an occasional want of
the dignity required iu its grander passages of dechuna.
tion. The same lady's excellent rendering of Haydn's
melodious canzonet would have been even more effective
with the original pianoforte accompaniment than with the
somewhat over-elaborated orchestral instrumentation.
:tuber's bright and pretty overture closed an excellent
concert which most worthily inaugurated the resumption
of this special and inijortant feature of the Crystal Palace
attractions.

Sint Arts.

TILE SOCIETY OF FEMALE ARTISTS.

The annual exhibition of this Society, which
miters tow upon its eleventh season with all the s gns of
an assured and well-merited success, is now open at the
gallery of the Society of Architects, in Conduit•atreet. It
is very satisfactory to be able to congratulate the ladies
who have so long endeavoured to promote the interests of
those of their set who have made art a study and a profes-
sion upon the increasing support given to the good cause
they have taken up. It is not only in the Uricr number
of contributors and improvin; character of the works that
we have to rejoice, but in the more substantial sui port of
certain life subscribers, amongst whom are admitted
several g-ntlemen whose practiced business knowledge, ae
well as their good wishes in favour of all art ente-prbies,
will be sure to mature and strengthen a Society which owes
its origin to the ladies themselves. The names of Mr•
rate, M.P., Mr. Arthur Aahpitel, Mr. H. Bohn, and Mr.
♦rthur Lewis may be mentioned as well known in the in-
terests of art. and these it is hoped will lead to other ac-
owe ions. and induce those Ladies whose talents have a:ready
gained for them a place of honour in the Academy and
ether exhibitions to join the Society. On the whole, the
exhibition may fairly be considered the best that has yet
been achieved by the Society, and will well repay a visit.

Pr:OFESSOR FAWCETT. ILP.. OX FOREIGN

COMPETITIVE LABOUR.

Prf,fcanor Fawcett has addressed the following
letter to the operatives at the Brighton Railway Works,
wbo bad requested his explanation of the question as to
why foreigners can compete so successfully with English
labour. and how English trade can be best prevented from
going to foreign countries :
" Trinity Hall, Cambridge, Jan. 21,1867.
" My dear your letter, you ask me, in the name
of yourself and several of my friends at the railway, whe-
ther I think that England is likely to lose, by foreign com-
petition, various branches of industry, and, amongst
others, that in which you are engaged. In the
first place, I will remark that our government
ought not directly to interfere, even if we should suffer
from foreign competition. The fundamental principle
of free trade is that the capital andlabour of each country
shou:d be applied to those departments of industry for
which the country may possess the greatest natural ad-
vantages; and lam confident that the class whom you
represent would be must reluctant to sanction the slight-
est interference with this principle. Although the go-
vernment ought to do nothing by direct protection. yet
the state can do much indirectly to assist us in our con-
test with foreign competitors. Taxes are paid
by employers and einpluyed, and, therefore, may
be regarded as a burden both upon capital and labour.
If taxation is redeced, as it may be, mid ought to be in
this country, the burden on capital and labour is light-
ego& and hence our industry is made more productive.
Again, if wo had such a system of national education
ea exists in Prussia and the United States, the whole
condition of the people would be improved, we should
have less crime and pauperism, and you know that crime
and pauperism are so costly that they cast a heavy burden
arm industry. It may be further remarked that an edu-
cated labourer is a much more efficient workman than an
Ignorant labourer. If, therefore, the whole caeca was
educated, the labour of the country would be made much
more productive. This would give us a great advantage in
air competition with foreigners, because, when labocr is
made more productive, more is produced by the same
amount of work : therefore, both employer and employed
can receive a better remuneration, and at the same time
commodities can be sold at a cheaper rate to the coneu.ner.
But I ens chiefly induced to look forward hopefully to
Bic industrial future of this country, because I observe
nnmietakeable signs which convince me that the reletions
between employers and employed are destined to be
greatly modified and improved. Hitherto labour has been
too muois regarded as a commodity to be bought and sold
Jost !ike • sack of wheat. The employer has striven to
bay labour at the cheapest possible rate, and the em-
ployed have naturally endeavoured to sell their labour
at the highest possible price. Employers and employed
have thus been parties to a keenly-contested bargain.
It frequently happens that the terms of this bargain
cannot be arranged ; things must then come to a stand-
still ; a strike ensues, and a heavy loss is inflicted both
upon capital and upon labour. If these strikes cannot
be prevented, a great danger threatens English industry ;
for capital and labour, if they have to suffer the loss
consequent on strikes, may seek refuge in other coun-
tries. Now, it has been proved that strikes can be
prevented if employers and employed, instead of having
the feeling of antagonists, me bound together by some
of the bonds of common pecuniary interest. Several
employers in the north of England, who suffered greatly
from strikes, have agreed to give their workmen a certain
proportion of the profits realised, when those profits ex-
msed a certain amount, which amount represents a fair
return to the master for his capital and for his !Omar
of superintendence. The profits which are thus dis-
tributed amongst the men make them interested in the
emcees of the business; employers and employed, in-
stead of being antagonists. are in this way made, in a
certain degree, partners. The workmen, being contented,
labour with greater efficiency ; strikes and other disputes
are prevented ; and the business obtains a prosperity
which it never knew before. Similar happy results will
be obtained if workmen are able to subscribe amongst
themselves a sufficient amount of capital to carry on a
hi/daemon their own account, upon the principles of co-
operation. I have now indicated various reasons which
induce sue to think that we have it in our power to secure
success in our industrial contest with foreign competitors.
—Relieve me to be. my dear sir, yours truly,
" Mr. John Short. " Huang FAWCETT.
" P.S.—You may make what use of this letter you like."

REPRESENTATION OF NORTH NOP.THAMPTON-
!SOM.—Mr. Saukville Rtopford, of Drayton House, bee
•06141 forward as the conservative candidate for the seat
rendered vacant by the accession of Lord Bur!cigb to the
peerage.
THE REPRESENTATION Or STEM-P.—STROP!),
.11% —This scattered borough hi quite in a ferment
of elect:on excitement, consequent on the poaition taken
up by !ORM of the liberal Arty in opposition to Mr. Hors-
BUM The new candidate (Mr. Winterbotham) has leaned
a manifesto offering himself as a candidate " in the pro,-
peel of an early dissolution of parliament," and the chal-
lenge has been answered by Mr. Horsnian's friends in-
viting mat gentleman to a public dinner which is to come
off before the meeting of parliament. Mr. Winterbotham
in his address declares himself "a warm and unhesitating
adherent of liberal principles and the liberal party." He
enters at length into the question of reform, and says he
should have supported the bill of last Seßgion, and be be-
lieves there IS hardly section of the liberal P
honestly in favour of reform who could not acicepts7:.
franchise as a present settlement of the question. He
believes that householdi suffrage and a suitable lodger
franchise will be ultimately adopted as the basis of borough
representation, but Le is not prepared for either the ballot
or universal or manhood suffrage. He is favourable
to Mr. Locke King's HP. county franchise, and says that
any complete measure of reform moat include, not only
extension of the franchise. but a redistribution of seats.
Mr. Scope has issued a denial of his intention to vacate
his seat for the borough.
THE REPRESENTATION OP ARMAGH. —Mr. John
VAISC,... late M.P. for Dublin, Rue addressed the electors
of Armagh. He will maintain the constitution and insti-
tutions of the country, and give unremitting attention to
local interests.