The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-19 00:00:00

11.

Sonata. In C major, No. 2, for Vtolouccllo, Signor
I•iatti
Sow, •• The sonnet," Mr. eumminza
Sonata. in A major, Op. 47, Pianoforte and Vlo-
lin, Madame Arabella Goddard and Herr Joa-
chim Beethoven.

The feature to which we allude is, of course, Beet-
hoven's great solo pianoforte sonata, the most gigantic
among the many colossal works of the kind included in the
marvellous series of thirty-two such pieces which he has
bequeathed to the wondering admiration of posterity.
Notwithstanding the enonnons length of the work,
three times that of an ordinary sonata, each move-
ment was listened to with unflagging interest by
the large audience assembled in St. James's-hall. The
first allegro, with its alternations of stately grandeur and
graceful fancy—the melodious scherzo with its quaint
trio— the profoundly pathetic adagio—and the ela•
borate finale, with its complex fugal writing—were all
received with an amount of interest and an expression of
applause affording a curious comment on some of
the current depreciatory criticism on Beethoven's later
works. The execution of mach movement of the sonata
was admirable in every respect ; while the playing of the
finale, with its rapid paartages, intricate involutions and
inversions of subject and counter-subject, and the con-
stant succession of shakes thrown in amidst an abund-
ance of other and simultaneous difficulties—alto-
gether formed • truly remarkable performance,
Admirable also, on both sides, was the playing in
Beethoven's duct sonata—alike in the realisation of the
noble majesty of its first movement, the tenderness and
grace of its andante with variations, and the hilarious
vivacity of its concluding presto. More perfectly played
it could not be, and its effect on the audience was such
as to call forth repeated expressions of delight as each
artist in turn gave effect to the many exquisite beauties
of the work. The concert was also highly interesting
in other respects—Mozart's beautiful quartet being
always welcome, especially when so admirably played as
it was last night.

THE FENIAN MOVEMENT.

DUBLIN, MONDAY Nicer.

All is quiet in the city and in the provinces. It
is reported that signal fires were seen on the Cap-
pathwhite mountains, county Limerick, on Sunday
night. Troops and constabulary went in that di-
rection to day. Owing to the severity of the wea-
ther (there was a snowstorm during the whole of
this day) the usual ceremonial of " trooping the
colours ' in the Castle-yard on St. Patrick's-day
was not performed. There were but thirty-eight
charges of drunkenness in the Dublin
.police-court
to-day ' • the average charge on a Monday for this
offence being 300.

MIDDLE CLASS SCHOOLS CORPORATION. —The
annual meeting of the governors of this corporation was
held at the Mansion-house yesterday, the Lord Mayor in
the chair. The corporation was inaugurated on the 22rd
of July last. During the first quarter there were 518
scholars educated in the school in Bath-street. The
number is now 050, and there are 200 applications for
admission which cannot be entertained in consequence of
want of accommodation. Other schools are about to be
built to accommodate 1,000 scholars. A report, embody-
ing these statements, was presented to the meeting
from the council. Mr. Tile, M.P., who moved its
adoption, said 51,Gilf. had been received from the public
for the support of the institution. The working of the
school had fully proved the need of the class of education
provided, and if there were room the number of scholars
could be easily doubled. New schools were projected iu
Lambeth and Southwark. With 1.000 scholars the school
would be self-supporting. The adoption of the report
having been seconded by Mr. Freshtield, M.P., the reso-
lution was unanimously canied. It was determined also
to make fresh appeals for funds. A vote of thanks to the
Lord Mayor concluded the proceedings.

FISHERY SOC I ETV. —7l'ho annual general
meeting of this society was held at Willis's Rooms yester-
day, Mr. i_km. Loch in the chair. The progress of the
works of the new harbour at I'ulteney-town during last
season has, according to the engineer,' report, been satis-
factory. One hundred and ninety-eight feet of masonry
have been executed during the season, the whole length
completed being 508 feet. The outer portion of the work
is built in a depth of 35 feet at low water, making the
total height of the structure at the outer end lei feet.
The nibble mole has been extended 140 feet beyond the
masonry, so that the whole projection of the works into
the bay is now 738 feet. The structure hss been severely
tried on several occasions, particularly in the storms of
October and November, 1665, and February, 1866, and
although the work was in an unfinished state, the aggre-
gate amount of damage done to the permanent work,
on those three occasions, was only 30:2. 7s. lid. The
engineers add, " It cannot be expected that the whole
will be finished without some case or CMS of greater
damage, but yet the fact of the works in their unfinished
state having so successfully resisted the unusually heavy
seas of Wick Bay augurs well for their stability after
their completion. The probable expenditure for next
season is estimated at 15,0001. The receipts from the
society's estate is lniin amounted to 2,2021. 10d. • and
the expenditure to 9091. 121. 341. ; leaving • balance of
1,202/. 19,. 7d. The directors recommended that • divi-
dend at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum be paid on the
Ist of May on each &OZ. share. After the adoption of
the report, and the transaction of some formal betimes,
the proceedings terminated.
TRADES UNION COMMISSION. —The above com-
mission sat yesterday at Park-prospect-honee Queen.
street, Westminster, Sir W. Erie presiding. Messrs. G.
Potter, Connolly, Kane, and Prouaoot again attended as
• deputation from the Trades Conference Committee, for
the purpose of expressing the dissatisfaction of the com-
mittee with the decision arrived at by the commissioners
on Friday last not to allow any member of the committee
to be present at the commission while the witnesses were
under examination. The conuuisaioners having discussed
the matter with eloped doors, the deputation were re-ad-
mitted, and were hafortued that the commissioners had
consented to allow one member of the committee to
attend the commiasion during the examination of wit-
mime, thus virtually acknowledgintthe committee.
THE NATIONAL REFORM UII I ON. —A special
meeting of the executive of the National Reform Union is
convened by circular for to-day, to consider what course
they will adopt in relation to the government reform
measure.