The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-08 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

p. 1 Par. Monk Hall and Virtue. 1350.
Tic ei of this work is an excellet-t one. The
n's, topics. and countries 'het heve occu-
pied 'v.. Attention dui g the pact year, are token,
and C 11411) .1 written upon each, conveying all the in-
telligence that, for common information, one could
desire to knaw. Thus, as the author writes:—
Within the ptessnt field of some three hundred pages we
have the gold of California succeeded Sy the poverty of the
tweed ; the vastness of the Britannic brir'ge. by the
minute mosaic of Comtaatiaople ; the terms of a coal mine
on fire, by the hermetic' of the say north ; the peaceful
festivities of the royal whit to !name!, be the gun.cotios
conquest of the l'sniaab; the antique glories of the Nine-
veh wnlpt errs, by the sew. bon hopes and wiptratims of em-
igra•i•m arida ; and the emigrant settled, by the Preach ex-
pedition to home—a measure which at present scarcely
promises any settlement ►t all.
California is exceedingly well done, as is the Coal
Mine on Fire, and the chapter on Emigration. The
annual is an excellent idea, well worked out, and
Imost deserving of success.

MUSIC.

FRENCH THEATRE, IST. JAMES'S.

Mr. Mitchell has resumed his elegant entertain-
ments at the St. James's Theatre. As last year, he
has begun the season with a musical company, fur the
performance of favourite productions of the Opera
mie. The theatre opened last evening with
" Leval d'Aodorre," the chef (Arerre of Halevy : a
piece which, though originally brought out a little more
than twelve months ago,'has already had above a hue-
died represestations in Paris, besides being performed
at all the principal theatres of Pram', and in many
d those of Belgium and Germany. It deserves its
McGee' ; for the drama, by M. de St. George's, is
pleasing and interesting, and the music, which is of&
=ltsi.gh order,i. a great improvement on Halkvy's
works. There is still something of that over
Mama and elaboration which have hitherto distin.
sirrl him. His orchestral score is written for so
bey a complement of instruments, that it cannot be
t, without mach sacriflte of completeness,
the resources of a small band ; and we cannot
belp sometimes regretting that he does not, like
Agar, in writing in the comparatively light style of
tilt Opp ra Comique, produce his effects with a smaller
expenditure of mesas. But be displays a consummate
knowledge of instrumentation, and his scare is full of
delicious effects. Hisvocal writing is eminently drama-
tic, and we have sever beard wor4l clothed with more
just and varied musical express:on—the words, them-
selves, giving him great facilities in this respect. The
charmer:s are as wed discriminated by the musician
as by the dramatiet Georgette, the lively coquette, and
the quiet and pensive R.ae, are distinguished by their
melodies as well as by their language and deport-
ment. The one is a high soprano, indulging in a pro-
fusion of brilliant passages and cad, nzas ; the rake
of the other is soft and low, breathing little airs full
of simplicity and feeling. There is, too, a military
fnuakneas and decision in every phrase uttered by
Ceplaits Lejoyers. in good keeping with his cha-
racter. A tittle ballad on the subject of an old Basque
legend, sup by Georgette to entertain the company
at a vilageAre, is exceedingly quaint and pleasing,and
there is much character in the light and brilliant
florifirre, with which the composer himself
has embellished the simple strain. Among
the concerted pieces, the scene of the ballot
for the conscription is the most remarkable. The
agitated phrases of the principal actors are accompa-
aied a double chorus, formed of the separate
groups of soldiers and country people, whose exclama-
tions, as they witness the drawing of the lots, are
exceedingly dramatic and give great animation to the
scene. The harvest chorus, " Gai moissonneur,"
with which the opera opens, is full of freshness, and
the chorus of young girls, which begins the seemed
act, is remarkably light and graceful. The martial
couplet, ' Tambour, qui guides no. pas," sung by
10.bgeox, with the chorus of soldiers, terminates the
piece with great spirit.
The op-re teceived jus'ice from Mr. Mitchell's com-
pany. Mademoiselle Charton, our favourite of last
year, personated the interesting heroine, acting
the part with great simplicity and feeling:
and in several scenes rising almost to a tragic in-
tensity of passion. She sang with similar armplicity,
avoiding all florid ornament, and Uniting to the
effect cf voice and expression. Mdlle. Corti, who sus-
tained the part of Georgette, will be en acquisition to
the theatre. She it handsome and lively, and pr..s•
snots a clear, flexible voice with considerable execu-
tion. 3ldlle. Gaicbard, who was so useful a member
of the company last season, was quite at home in the
part of ?cream Chollet, one of the great stars of the
Opera Comique, gave full effect to the part of ,
Lejoyeux : acting with the utmost ease and quiet-
nese et bringing out every trait of the character.'
His voice is not quite what it has been in his more
youthful days, but it is an admirable organ, and he
makes an admirable use of it. Nathan, also a distin-
guish. d member of the Opera Comique, was an excel-
lent repreeretativeof the old goatherd, and his fine bass
voice was heard to great advantage. M. Lac, a tenor
from the theatres of &steels and Ghent, sang with
sweetness, but no great power, in the part of Stephan;
and M. Leroy, as Sateehia, sang respectably, and
showed s 'me gaiety as an actor. As a whole, the
piece sas well put upon the stage, and the orchestra
and chorus were excellent.

At the end of the second act " God save the Queen "
was w.ll sung by the principal performers and
*horns. The theatre was crowded, and the boxes and
stalls were full of fashionable company. Madlle.
Charton wee most cordially welcomed, and M. Chollet
had the reception due to his distinguished merit.

POSTPONEMENT OF THE QUEEN'S NEXT VISIT TO
IRRLORD —A correspondent interne at that it has been
finally *ranged, if no notary's,' canoe wises to provost it,
that her Majesty is to take a yacht voyage durieg the em-
otion summer op the Mediterranean, instead of, as was ori-
ginally intended, again visiting Ireland. Her ildsporty's
second si.i, to Inland, we understand, is merely postponed.
—Elam's; Poet.
ANOTHER DEATH FROM THE BURSTING OP A
131:X•itAititIL.-0a Saturday last a fatal accident occurred
st of

la Lurgsu by the bursting of au over•chargsd fowling-Om.
A young lad, named Stewart Beatty, went out ea tht day oil
which the accident occurred, takias with his a Etta. He
west to th. rear of the Finable sad discharged Aegis., but
the piece bunt, sad a part of the iron lodged in his skull.
Surgical aniseed's was promptly procured, but the woad
proved mortal.—Belfiut News promptly

LIGHT ON TIM ISLAND Or RttllLlN.—For the
two 'wombs put au have beta busily sagged in construct-
's,/ • lighthouse upon Rathlin, which will be found of eves'
use to Ow savisstiou of the dielcult sea which surrounds the
islasid.—Delfast Now Letter.

EMIONATIon.—The number of emigrants who em-
its/kid front Galway daring the year ended 31st of Decem-
ber, 1849. animated to 1,958 make, 1,832 females, with 144
'abet ts: ia all 3,934. From Belfast the amebas
ban besa •—tetal is 1849, 9,630; ditto, 1548, 8,730 ; in-
armee is 1849, 913. &signets eke bare embarked from
Deblia lot the Dated States in the quarter wadies 31st Do.
ember, 1849:—Cable paneugen, ateerege, 724 ; chil-
dren, 284: total, 1,027.

THE LINEN Tiaus.—Tbongh there has recently
be.. • slight deggelgen in this bode, and a masmptent
low-
.rin of wars, we .till as bodied to think that the pros-
pects of the sew yam in ea easevaragieg kind. Though
the numb of Mama and pares from this place last week
were net needy the in half of those of the week preeions,
they were oierable—tris., lianas 594 bons 22 belie ;yarn,
26 bales 11 skip; imeslia, 6 Imam ; thread, 3 hues. The
prime of linen peva remained unchanged ; the demand still
tentinees thalk bet this we. anticipated at the present sea.
ma, and an kneed demand w anticipated.-34 Jag
Nam Lair.

Amid, AIMITIACT 07 VSSSW IBILONOING TO Tall
POST or DOIIIII.-314 Deseusber, 1848, 470 ships, 42,339
Isms, k
2,2,779277
me. nom SW Essessiber, 1849, 476 skips, 42,430
Wo

BIILPAIT tharsato Ligt.—Deliag the par y. thin
Ku Dor • right derma in the mantra et eery. bat •
earidendde Werra is the snout el the era et
the arson et remit rosistared Wad, is reg.
11G, rearrieg 62,671 tom, and to tbs us Oldie 363,
name* 20 703 teas, sheer g an reruns en the repdary of
MSS irk a panty* reet et the sentioned pripeoly et
the shipping lawyer el our pert. andderes the
meet given the repeal .1 the aargehr her.4llll=
liftve the teems, in the renege 54 ail wash swing late
this port, daring the pest year, eseaated to 48,000 tor.—
Bayer New I,Ww.

THE Dime... Mom AT ATLasisuiT.—Ths follow.
ion lam was head la the drawer of Biretta', the clerk
who bee shosondod Whoa Ws is °posed it will .be
fogad out that I lave dais lama. I losa property to
double the mouse of my dedaketirs. I mama that the
balance be gives to may wale Tumor, of Teekteltary, far
himself aad stale Edwards, whose mosey I as obllgod to
use to get away. 1 have taken ao Mee than aseesssry to
take lee is ley far distant deetinatios, and hop ay silt
inflicted punishment will satisfy all. Igo to Maw for my
bread ; u deteemieed not to be takes alive • if attempted t 0
be arrested, the lief will make my wife willOW. I hove *sly
to ask forenames now, mad hops la a brags and to liars
lassoes
will be spay pia" It is expected that the diohisations
s covered.