The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-18 00:00:00

THE LIXDB FINE' ART EXHIBITION. •

LEEDS, SUNDA r.
The programme for Tuesday is now definitely
fixed upon. The Pricoe, who will arrive to-mor-
row evening, and will, as previously pub-
lished, stay with Mr. Ingram at Temple-
newsam, will drive from that place on Tues-
day morning, so as to arrive in Leeds about
noon. He will be met outside the town
by the mayor and corporation, and a procession of
carriages, with an escort of yeomanry cavalry, will
be formed to the Exhibition. The Prince will be
received in the Central Hall, an address will be
presented to him, and a numerous choir under the
conductorship of Mr. Ha 11.3 will sing "The
Heavens are telling." The Prince will then inspect
the galleries, while other choruses are given ; and
upon his return will declare the Exhibition opened.
Beethoven's "Hallelujah Chorus" will then be
performed. The day will be observed as a general
holiday in Leeds, and with the Prince as the centre
of attraction, and most of the local aristocracy in
his train, it is not hard to prophesy that every inch
of available space will be occupied.

MUSIC.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Since our last notice of this ceablii.ment
Mille. Pauline Lucca has appeared for the second and
third times this season—on the former occasion in (loaned's
Faug, as Margherits, her performance in al. ink exhibited
the same high dramatic and vocal merit as on many
former occasions. In the dreamy abstraction of the
legendary King of Thule balls I the brilliancy of the
bravura jewel song (encored), the sentiment of the garden
scene, and the tragic passion and emotion of the cathedral
and prison scenes, the powers of this accomplished
artist were again most successfully displayed, and
elicited the same admiration and applause as last season.
Signor Naudin proved his serviceable readiness by the ge-
neral efficiency with which he filled the part of Faust, at
very short notice, in consequence of the hoarseness of
Signor Mario. In other respects the cast of the opera was
the same as that noticed by us a month since. On
Thursday last (the third appearance of Mdlle. Lucca) Fra
Diarolo was repeated, with that lady's excellent imperso-
nation of Zerlina, of which we spoke ten days since. On
Saturday last Bell,ni's best operat La Sonnanemla, 11•14
pet formed, with !Skill'. Adelina ratti'v charming repre-
sentation of Amine, a character in which she combines
the grace and refinement of her Rosins with much of ti e
sentiment and passion of her Lucia.

MIL HENRI' LESLIZ'S CONCRETR.—The last or-
chestral concert of the season of this choir on Wednesday
next is announced as the director's benefit. Mdlle. Titian.
will sing in a selection from Aeis and Galatea, MendeLs-
sohn's " Hear my prayer," with the choir, and the mesa,
"Ocean, thou mighty monster" (Oberon.) Mr. Santley
will sing " 0 ruddier than the cherry," and " Non *u
andrai." Miss Madeline Schiller is the pianist. The
Itelnrination SAntplanyt is included in the programme.
Ei ?SKR HALL —Judas Maccabees will be per-
formed for the last time this season by the National
Choral Society on Wednesday next. Conductor, Mr. G,
W. Martin. Madame Florence Lancia, Miss Lucy Frank•
leis. and Mr. George Perren are among the principal ,o.
cellets "See the conquering hero conies" will be per-
formed by the band and chorus of 700 performers.

THE EDUCATION BILL.
DEPUTATION TO THIC DUCE or NARLSOBOUGI4.

A deputation, consisting Of representatives of
various associations and educational institutions, esta-
blished church and other bodies, waited upon the Lord
President of the Privy Council on Saturday for the pur-
pose of presenting a memorial having reference to the
new government Education Bill, now before the Howe of
Lords. The deputation was introduced by Mr. E. Chad-
wick, C. 8., who briefly explained its ohjeAs, and presented
the memorial. which was signed by the heads of the four
London training colleges (church and dissenting), and by
upwards of SO other gentlemen interested and engaged in
education. Mr. W. Lawson read the memorial, which stated
that the memorialists were sorry to see that it was pro•
posed to embody in the bill so much of the revised code,
bemuse the experience. not only of teachers, but of every
one engaged in elementary education, conclusively proved
that the revised code, whilst it was unfair to the bulk of
existing teachers, was ruinous to training colleges and
small schools ; that it had diminished and lowered the
quality of pupil-teachers, and bad had a generally disastrous
effect upon the education of the country. Mr. R. Chad-
wick, the Rev. J. G. Cromwell, principal of St. Mark's,
Chelsea ; Mr. W. Buzau. bead master of the Wesleyan
College, and other gentlemen addressed )memorial.
in support of the prayer of the
His grace, in reply, said we have been very glad to hear
the opinions of the gentlemen who have been here to-day
to express their views on the important subject of edu-
cation. Several of the topics which have been touched
upon Cr, matters of the greatest possible moment,
especially is that the case with reference to the supply a ,
pupil teachers. It is not to be denied that circumstances '
have arisen, and do exist, which have contributed to the
falling off which has been alluded to. and that is a subject
which mast engage the serious attention of this depart.
went. With regard to the more immediate matter which
has brought the deputation here to-day—the new govern-
ment bill—l think some misconception exists as to the
particular mode in which the revised code has been intro-
duced into the bill—it has been condensed, and some of
its most important provisions have been placed in it, but
it is only those which have been found by experience to
work well which have been incorporated in the statute,
and consequently a far greater amount of latitude is
left to the minister at the bead of the education
department than might at first be supposed to be the case.
The bill has been carefully drawn in order to leave him a
large amount of discretionary power. There may be some
points which have been introduced into the bill upon
which controversy may arise, and they will consequently
become subjects for consideration duricg its progress
through parliament, and possibly some modifications may
take place. (Hear, hear.) With regard to an observation
made by one of the gentlemen of the deputation—l mean
the want of confidence which be alleged was felt by the
public in the gentleman at the head of the education de-
part-cent—they have thought that it would tend to secure
greater confidence if those parts of the revised code which
have been found to work well were put into the bill, and
I think it was wise to place them in such a position as not
to he open to misconstruction or to be easy of alteration.
With reference to making education less mechanical, im-
proving the education of children and the education of
the teachers—these are all matter* of very great import-
ance, and the government will continue—whatever hill is
passed—to direct their earnest attention to them. With
reference to the position of the teacher ! fully acknowledge
that it must be maintained. (Hear, hear.) lam glad to
have heard what has been said about the Union Schools at
Faverheam, and I must say that the argument to be de.
duped from that case appears to be in favour of the advan-
tage of education under skilled mananagement being left
as much as possible to individual and voluntary efforts.
The whole subject, however, is not in a state of infancy,
but in a state of transition and development, and expe-
rience will of course afford valuable results. At present
the evidence seems strongly in favour of the large school
system, the pupils in which appear—in accordance with
their opportunities— to be in a high state of efficiency. I
have nothing further to add, gentlemen, except that I am
glad to have hail en opportunity of hearing your sugges-
tions, and to assure you that they will receive the roost
attentive consideration on the part of the managers of this
department. (Hear, hear.) The deputation, having thanked
! his grace fair the courtesy with which he had received them,
I then withdrew.

THE SUNDAY BANDS IN THE PARKS. —The
National Sunday League Bands in Battersea and Victoria
Parks opened their season yesterday with very large
audiences, who appeared thoroughly to appreciate the
selections of music provided for them, and the same order
and decorum marked the assemblage and dispersion of the
manses as heretofore. The return of the park-keepers in
Battersea gave the numbers who entered the park yester-
day afternoon at 30.000, a very large proportion of whom
attended the performance of the band. From 4 o'clock
until 7 the steamboats from London arrived at the Batter-
sea-park Pier every few minutes, each boat being densely
crowded. Addresses to the public were issued in sec
park, in which the fact was remarked that during the
many years of the bands not a single ease call-
ing for the interference of the police bed oc-
curred. The performance in Battersea-park was the
first on the new orchestra erected by the Commis-
sioner of Public Works in place of the wooden
shamble which had hitherto done duty. The new
orchestra is light and elegant in appearance, and has been
constructed with every attention to acoustic effects. A
considerable space around the orchestra has been carefully
prepared and gravelled, enclosed in • double faros of
galvanised wire. Inside the enclosure are comfortable
seats for 800 people, leaving en ample space for promenade.
The coat of the orchestra and ensure has been 1,0001.
The whole of the seats within the enclosure are provided
by the Sunday League, the admission being ld. each.
From these receipts, and the profit on the sale of pro-
grammes (the sale of which is undertaken gratuitously by
members of the league), the expenses of the bend, 21 in
number, are defrayed. The present number is to be
largely increased. The address maned in the Victoria-park
gave extracts from the Queen's Diary in reference to the
pleasure experienced by the Royal Family from the pidg-
ins of the radririt Windsor and other royal residences on
MR Sunday evenings. As a mark of respect to the meow/7
of Lord Brougham, the Dead March from Saul wee per-
formed by both bands.
The prices of Horniman's Teas are greatly re-
duced : their well-known superiority has attracted a host of spu-
rious Imitations ; therefore notice ali Genuses Peeks", are
" Hornintan and Co., London, Original Importers of the
Tea." 200 confectioners agents In London, ;SOO chendeta
the Produces.--(Advertiaensent.i