The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-09 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, JOLT 8.

The High Court of Justice to-day passed sen-
tence (in contunusciam) upon Count Platen Haller-
mund, Minister for Foreign Affairs to the ex-King
of Hanover, arraigned for high treason. The
accused was condemned in his absence to 15 years'
imprisonment in the House of Correction, and 10
years' subsequent surveillance by the police.
The King leaves on Saturday for Ems, where he
will remain until the second week in August. The
first provincial synod of Hanover will be convoked
in the course of next year.

SPAIN.

MADRID. JULY 8, Eviawns?.

The ministerial journal L'Eapana 'states that
the government has advised the Queen to cause
the Duke and Duchess de Montpensier to leave
the country.
It is also stated that several generals are to be
exiled.

- DENMARK.
COPENHAGEN, Jut: 8.
The Gown Prince of Denmark has returned
from his visit to England.

MUSIC.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Verdi'. Rigoletto was given on Tuesday night,
the part of Gilda by Mdlle. Vanzini (her first performance
of that character in England), and that of the Duke by
Signor Chelli, who made his debit on this occasion.
Mdlle. Vanzini was first heard here in April last as the
Page in fin Balls in .111asehera; since when she has appeared
in several other parts of more importance, such as
Margherita, in Faust; Mathilde, in Till, tic. On these
previous occasions Mdlle. Vanzini met with considerable
success, as recorded by us at the time ; her more recent
performance, now referred to, having still further
advanced her position here. Both in brilliancy
of execution and intensity of expression the
Gilds of Mdlle. Vanzini was a performance of much
earnestness and power, and such as must always be
acceptable. In the elaborate duet with Rigoletto, and
that with the Duke in the first act, her bright and clear
soprano voice, with its extensive upper range, was dis-
played to great advantage ; while in the well-known air,
"Caro nome," her neatness of execution, particularly in
some florid cadenzas, called forth loud applause, which was
renewed after her exit. In the duet with her father,
when recovered by him in the palace of the Duke, Mdllc.
Vanzini gave the recital of her wrongs with much pathos;
and here, as throughout her performance, she was
greatly applauded. The part of the Duke was
filled on this occasion by a gentleman hitherto unheard of
here, and whose namewas not announced in the prospectus
of the season. Of the antecedents of Signor Chelli we are
uninformed. Ho is apparently young, and not very ex-
perienced in the actor's art. His voice is a light tenor,
not powerful, but of rather agreeable quality when not
forced beyond its natural capacity. He sings a B flat, and
even a B natural, with ease from the chest, and occasion-
ally phrases well. His best effects were made in the solo,
" E it sol," in the scene with Glide in the first act—in the
recitative, "Ella mia fu capita," and air " Parmi
redtrle;" and the popular "La donna e mobile."
Although Signor Chelli has yet to gain experience
in stage action and the higher vocal acquirements,
he has kOlllO qualities which may render him serviceable
meanwhile in parts of secondary importance. Signor
Rigoletto, the court jester, was the same
powerful and effective performance that we have already
several times commented on. Millie. Greed gave much
life and animation to the subordinate character of Mad-
da!ena, the only prominent position of which is in the
clever and dramatic quartet near the end of the opera (the
latter portion of the movement encored a', usual). Signor
Tacliatico, as Spariducile, was again a picturesque repre-
sentative of the assassin, and the cast in other respects
was as before.

SERIOUS RAILWAY Mkt DENTS.—Yosterday
morning as Mr. Urquhart, of the Sum of Urquhart and
Adambou, Liverpool, was hurriedly leaving the lloylake
train, near Birkenhead, before it had stopped, he was
caught between the carriage wheels and the platform,
and dreadfully injured. One leg was amputated, and
the enfoi imitate gentleman lingered in great agony until the
evening, when he expired at the hospital at liwkenlusad.
A "hocking railway nocident happened on Tuesday after-
noon at Newport (Montnouthalme), by which a young
woman, named Hodgkinson, aged 20, and residing at
Maindee, Met her life. The Monmouthshire Railway
runs acromthe principal thoroughfare of the town, Com-
mercial-road, and along George-street. Across the road-
way are placed large gates to protect the traffic on the
parsing of trains, and on each side of the gates were small
wicket gates for the accommodation of foot pas-
rengerb. The gate-keeper hoard the approach of
one of the Western Valley Railway passenger trains,
when he closed the large gates. The young woman
was on the west aide, and just as the train was approach-
ing she opened the wicket gate on the left hand side and
attempted to pass over. She was caught by the engine
and thrown a dig:ince of thirty feet to the right hand
gate, and the wheels of the engine and the whole of her
can Imes went over one of her legs completely severing
it. The foot of the other leg was smashed, one of her
thumbs cut off, and her head fearfully cut at the back.
'1 he accident was witnessed by a large number of bysten-
dela, who could not utter any assistance. She was imme-
diately tnken to the infirmary, where sho dial in alma
belt an hour after being admitted.
LONDON GENRRAL OMNIBUS COMPANY
(Luiran).—Tiaffle receipts for week ending July 5,
12.4! 2/. t s.

For 30 years Hornixnun and Co. have co-operated
through a prob., to nu ply tea on more advantageous tor.av than
by the ordinary channel ; the,. 0.. rowdies the consumer in the
salmi pave ~at. as it leaves the grower, as it is secured in packets.
—WAlvertiassisat4