The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-29 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

BIRMINGHAM, WEDNDWAT Erminic.

An the festival proceeds its success in a pecuniary
point of view becomes lens • matter of anxiety. The even-
ing concert last night wits • bumper, the receipts being
between two and three hundred pounds more than on the
corresponding evening in 1858, so that upon the whole yes-
terday's receipts will be little less —if, taking all things into
account, they are at all below—the Tuesday of last festival.
This morning the hall was so well filled that the receipts
must have been good, but at the moment of writing we are
not in possession of the return.

The concert last evening was a good one in every respect,
though, ee usual with miscellaneous concert*, there was not
much to remark upon ; the selections were the most
admired compositions of the highest class of composers—
Mendelasohn, Ileyerbeer, Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Rossini,
and other composers of that reek. The concert was rendered
additionally attractive by the circumstance that Mdlle.
Patti was to make her tint appearance before au
audience in Birmingham. To • certain extent this was a
drawback, for all interest was centred in this distinguished
lady, and for awhile the audience, not the performances or
the performers, lacked spirit, all interest being reserved for
the distinguished lady referred to. But before her appear.
rum Signor Giuglini woo, and most deservedly, an encore
in Donizettee air, " Spirits gentile," which has seldom, if it
has ever, been rendered in so magnificent • style. It was
towards the close of the first put when Mlle. Patti entered
the orchestra to sing Verdi's air from Premiere, "Ah ! fare
e lei ;" nothing could exceed the warmth of the reception,
though it was evident that curiosity was so considerable an
ingredient in the feeling of the audience as to restrain
enthusiasm ; but, prepared to be pleased, there was appa-
rently en excess of expectation in that respect ; in fact, the
impression left by this, Mdlle. Patti's first effort in this
town, was evidently most favourable, and certainly she has
never appeared to greater advantage. She sang again in
the second part the air from Sontiambula, "Ah I non,
credos minute." This was her greet success with her
audience. When she came to the front of the orchestra
she was greeted with immense applause ; all present now
seemed to feel that they knew this "syren of song"—tbat
her gifts in that respect are wonderful, perhaps unique in
their way, and enthusiasm took the place of mere curiosity
accordingly. Patti was on this occasion encored. Two
overtures, that in the first part of the concert from the
Siege of Corinth, and, in the second, from Der Fee yeehutz,
were rendered to perfection, bringing out fully the powers
of the band ; and Mendelssohn's pianoforte concerto in
minor, by Mine Arabella Goddard, was played with that
lady's faultless execution, the orchestral accompaniments
being given in superb style. Such aro the salient features
el the concert, which was in every respect • success.
The following were the receipts at the doors :—Provident
and viesepreesslent's seats, 451.; secured seats, 691/. 10e; un-
secured seats, 1512.—total, 8921. 10c, making the day's re-
ceipts 2,7021. 7s. 10d.
The performance of Handel's oratorio Samson has been
ooked forward to with more than usual interest. This
work was given for the first time at a Birmingham Festival
in the year 1852, when it achieved • success so far beyond
anticipation, that it is not in the least surprising that the
committee arranged to repeat it this year.
The company included of the Earl of Shrewsbury and
Talbot, president; Lord and Lady Ingestre ; Sir Francis
Scott, lardy Scott, and party ; General Fielding, Lady
Emily Harding', Lady May Fielding, and party ; Esrl of
Powys, the Hon. Miss Herbert, the Bemoan Windsor, the
Hon. Windsor Clive, M.P., and party ; the Rev. Mr. Childs
and petty, the Hon. and Rev. John Bridgeman sod Miss
Monerieff, Viscount Lifford and party, Colonel and Mrs.
&obeli, Edward Lloyd Gam" Earl. ; the Dowager Lady
Ward ; the Rev. Mr. Claughtoes, and the Hon. Mrs.
Claughtors, and party ; the Hon. Mr. and are. Cholmon-
deley and Lady Georgians Leigh ; the Right Hon. Sir J.
Pakington and party, Lady Louisa Cotes, C. N. Newdegate,
BK., M.P., and Mrs Newdegate; W. Scholefield, Peg.,
M.P., and party ; Admiral Parker and party, Dr. Jephson,
Henry Whitmore, Eeq., ILP., Mrs. Whitmore, and party,
the Rev. George Whitmore, Miss Ryland and party, Mrs.
Beriah Botfield and party, Sampson Banbury, Dm., and
party; the Rey. W. Biddulph, the Rev. Thomas Green,
the Hon. Dawson Darner, M.P,, and party ; and Sir Francis
Shuckbergh and party.

. .
The following is the official return of this morning's
attendance and receipts : —President and Vice• President's
seats, at 21s. each, 144, 1511.45. ; secured seats, 21■. each,
649, 6811. 9s. ; unsecured seats, 10s. 6d. each, 396, 2171.18..;
doaations and collections, 262!. 3s. 6d.: total number st
teediug, 1,189; total receipt., 1,302!. 14s. sd.

Her Majesty is expected at Kingstown about 7
o'clock this evening, when, if the west Wee be fine, the royal
yacht will sail directly for Holyhead. Should the weather
be threatening abe will remain in the harbour till morning,
with the Queen and the royal party on board. Her Majesty
is to inspect the harbour works at Holyhead, and then pro-
ceed northward, breakfasting at Perth on Saturday morn-
ing, and arriving at Balmoral in time for dinner on the same
day.

Large crowds visited the royal yacht at Kings-
town throughout the whole of Tuesday. Admission was
granted freely to persons presenting their visiting cards.
The Hero and Trafalgar remain at Kingstown awaiting her
➢(ajesty's departure. The committee of the Arts Exhibi-
tion invited the crew of the royal yacht to visit the Exhihi•
tins yesterday, and the railway company gave them free
transit for the purpose.

The Duke of Hamilton and the Marquis of
Douglas are staying at Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, and
purpose remaining there several weeks. The duchess and
Lady Mary Hamilton are shortly especial to pass through
town on their way to Scotland from Paris.

The Duke of Argyll is still in Scotland. The
duchess is staying with the Duchess (Dowager) of Suther-
land in PIIIii.

The Duke and Duchea4 of Beaufort and the
Marquis of Worcester are at Llaegattock, in Wales.
The duke and marquis have had capital sport In grouse
shooting.

•
We learn that the Marchioness (Dowager) of
Calmham is suffering under severe indisposition at
Bitrens, her seat near Canterbury.

The Earl and Countess Delawarr, who have been
stayieg at Bournemouth with the Marehienese of
Salisbury, have been suddenly called to Scotland by the
serious illness of Sir Alexander Bannerman, Bart., who is
suffering at his seat in Aberdeenshire from an attack of
erysipet.s.
The Earl and Countess of Ellesmere have been
on • tour in Scotland, sod are expected at Wortley Hall,
Lancashire, early in the ensuing week to entertain a large
party of friends._
_ _

. The Earl of Rosalyn has arrived at Claridge's
Hotel from Dpart Howe, N.B.

Lord Stanley, M.P., is making a tour of visits in
Scotland.

The Dowager Lady Kilinable has arrived at the
Queen'. Med, Upper Norwood.

The marriage of lady Julia Villiers, daughter of
the Countess of Jersey. and Sir George Wombwell, Bart,
is appointed to take place on Toesday seat at St. Peter's,
FAke-squarc The Right Hoe. Frederick Peel, M.P., and
Mrs. Peel will rewire the family circle at a dijalacr on the
ocauion at their residence in Chesham-place.
The Lord Chief Justice has appointed Thomas
Hall Terrell, Alfred Hanson, and Henry S. 'it'll!, Erin.,
of the chancery bar, to revise the lists of voters for the
metropolitan boroughs, the city of London, and the county
el Middlesex.