The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-21 00:00:00

THEATRICAL REQUIREMENTS.-

Tux literary career of the late Mr. STIRLING
COYNE, who is buried at Highgate to-days fur-
nishes a striking proof of the special qualities
necessary in a writer for the stage. Hia pieces
were invariably successful ; yet it is no dis-
paragement to his memory to say that some of
his less fortunate competitoralfar exceeded him in
brilliant qualities. It was Mr. COYNE'S fortune to
be associated for a great portion of his life with
the recognised wits of London. The best sarcasm,
wit, repartee, and humour of the day, were to be
found in the coterie to which he formerly
belonged. Yet none of these gifts could
be counted on for a dramatic success with
the same certainty as the stage instinct, and
intuitive adaptability, of the author of How
to Settle Aeeouhta with your Laundress, Did;
you ever send your Wife to Camberwell t
and a score of other pieces which have
been standing favourites with the town. Mr.
CovNE'a sense of humour was considerable,
and he had the art of making it all available for
the theatre. His power of facile pleasant writing
was also great, and his dialogue was
ever quick and bright. But the special
characteristic for which he was remarkable was
his intimate knowledge of theatrical requirements.
He knew, no man better, that the most charming
writing and the most sparkling wit are of little
worth at a theatre unless they be accompanied by
acute practical stage-craft ; and he had the faculty
of putting himself en rapport both with those who
saw, and those who played his pieces, to an ex-
tent rarely equalled in our time. It was im-
possible not to be amused at one of
Mr. COYNE'S successful farces. Prom first to
last it went trippingly and well, and the
immense number produced by London managers
is no small evidence of their practical value. In
his lifetime Mr. COYNE saw many a pretentious
drama to which mem of acknowledged power had
given their best gifts fail, while his own smart but
modest little craft danced gaily into port; and his
continued success often provoked half humorous
envy from his friends. As a journalist
and writer of books, Mr. COYNE'S pro-
ductions were meritorious, but not remarkable.
As a dramatic author they had the all-importayt
qualities which command success ; and we have to
one before the public now to fill the exact po
tion so long and so honourably held by Mr.
COYNE. '•

Mn. DISRAELI refused to give a plain answer
last night to the questions put to him respecting
his reported intention of seeking to reverse the vote
of Saturday, which throws legitimate expenses
of Elections upon the Counties and Boroughs.
Liberal members therefore must be on their
guard. Many Miniaterialists dislike the clause,
for the reason that it will tend to admit men of
moderate fortune into Parliament, and so shake
the monopoly of wealth in deciding elections, and
it may be they are calculating upon the chance of
Liberal members leaving town to-day in numbers
sufficient to render practicable a return to the old
system.

GOODWOOD Races will take the last shoal of
fashionable. from London after this week. The
QtrEEN waits but for the closing of Parlianient to
depart on her continental trip,—though we
doubt the story of a contemporary as to
her reaching Switzerland through Paris,
and especially doubt the possibility of her
passing through the French capital incog. As to
the harvest,lwhffe evil is apprehended from the
effecta of the drought on the root crops, there is
this to be said on the right side—that the wheat
harvest will be three weeks earlier than usual,
which is a great saving to the country.

Mr. Roebuck will ark the First Laid of ti .
Treasury, on Friday, " whether, in oonsideratein of the
peat public services of Lord Brougham, the government
intend to propose the erection of a monument to his
meson in Westminster Abbey."

On Thursday Mr. Easley will ask the Secretary
of State for India whether Was of girls take place at lie
bazaar of Ilanickgnage, situate within the Burdersa
Zillah ; and, in the event of such being the fact, whitlow/ .
the Indian government will repress those sales, and pos-
vent all tendencies to slavery in the Indian empire.
In the House of Lords on Thursday the Berl of
Shaftesbury will inquire of the Lord Privy SW whethim
the circular of the Russian government in relation tar
explosive materials in was has reached her Majesty's+
ministers ; and if so, whether they are disposed to take ft
into their favourable consideration.

Professor Masson, writing to the Time., says
that the lines attributed to Milton, found by Mr.
Morley, have been known to him (Mr. Masson)
for a considerable time ; and in May, 1866, he
took a copy of them from the volume where Mr.
Morley has also found them. He is sceptical as to the
handwriting being Milton's. If it is, then the lines must
be Milton's also ; but though there are pretty touches
in them, there is nothing specially Miltonic in the whole.
The Bpanieh ambassador at Borne has protested
against the admission into the corps of Zouavea of Don
Alfonzo of Bourbon, son of Don Juan, now residing in
London, and nephew of Don Carlos, Count of Monte-
molin. Cardinal Antonelli replied that the government of
his Holiness recognised the right of all catholic., without
distinction, to serve the Holy See, and the young prince
has consequently donned his uniform, after having per.
formed him devotions, and received the holy sacrament in
the crypt of St. Peter's. He is quartered in the Villa
Lante. Being now only a private soldier, the prince
drops his title of royal highness.