The Express.
London, England, 1857-03-07 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

SURREY THEATRE.

The new piece produced this week at the above
theatre, eager the title of Fr....d coat its Fietiate, is a venire
adapted le de English stage of a drama culled Lee POWS/
oh Awes popular at present in the French metropolis. It
a minima of the genuine Porte St. Martin school, aita ja
a psi speelraen of the elms to which it belongs. The. subject
aaandingly Ample. A reputed rich and hie;,ly 4.
eels" Liverpool bookie elopes to Amnion, carrying wide
bin a gnat amount of money deposited in his hinds, his
nit victim bong en old lea captain who has delimited e
Idle the aoeuzeulated riving* of his whole life. Ilie ea&
&anal clerk detects hie intended flight, but his connivent.,
la obtained by an ample douceur. Twelve years afterwards
the freadtdant banker returns, under another name, Ind
nalltomstre ; while the widow and children of his victim awl
thrown Into a state of destitution. The villein is rerograid
by his coondant clerk, who has become ■ thorough weep mid
vagabond, but has a good heart—a passion. sleek, accede
leg to the French stage morality, makes up Gee tag
amount of %Cif.. conduct. By means of We
amiable bleckguanl, after a long complieation of ad.
ventures, the scoundrel is unmasked and brought
to justice, madam intereeting family whom he has plundmid
ale restored to allueue. This framework Ames to in-
troduce a great variety of figures and erne', painting the
hardships and miseries of those classes in greet cities wha
are forced to stnorglo with concealed poverty. In awe
scenes there is considerable pathos, but the details of
physical want are too literal and become occasionally re-
volting. The French expedient of getting rid of dietrese by
the fames of chancel does not heighten our sympathy with
the sufferer. The incidents era often extreme ly improbable
and extravagant—melodramatic in short. But they are well
put together; are eumetiffies very atri king and startling;
and the story altogether excite; a strong interest. Of oeureo
the gloomy character of the subject is relieved by a due
admixture of the 11.mir element, end 1.011/0 of the lighter
steel see lively and amusing. The acting is good, especially
that of Mr. Creawiek, Mr. Shepherd, Mies Clayton, Mr.
Widdieemb, and Miss Ellis; and some of the London West
scenery it beautiful.

Madame Celeqe is tuiderstood to hare retired from
the Adelphi Theatre.

trim is in Manchester, and, it is said, to try her
voicepriranly in the Art-Treasure. Building.
_ _

It is now finally arranged that the annual dinner
of the Royal General Theatrical Fund Mutilation shall take
place at the Frcvnumons' Tavern on Monday, April 6, be*
the twelfth anniversary festival, and the first time it has
been celebrated at the IVeat-end. An actor of whom the
profession may be justly proud—Mr. Samuel Phelps—wa
be chairman, and bests of the "celebrities" will be present

Madame Oury, who has dedicated a new Tanta is
to the !lemmas Alpha°. de Itotbachild, in honour of Per
marriage, has received from that lady a magnitnent bracelet
as a token of her regard.

The Literary Gazette throws out the hint that it
might be interesting to have an exhibition of Handel relics
In the Crystal Palace this summer. There see nanny articles
in this country authentically associated with the nieciory of
the computer, which might be contributed for exhibitielb
There is the bust of Itoubilliec, and the organ which Handel
presented to the Foundling lfo►pital—a relic which the go.
venture of that charity ought not to hare allowed to pus into
privets hands. A selection of his autograph manuscripts,
and the oUginal scores of his compositione, w ith other attb
ales of literary or musical interest, would prove attractim
objects in such an exhibition.
The Midsummer Night's Dream has been pro.
aimed at the Theatre Itoyabfilasgow, in a style of great nag•
lamas, and with the musics' accompaniments of :%lendxls.

sobs. The scenery (mys the Daily Mail) was of a
gorgeous description, end " the moonlight effects and fairy
gambols seemed a perfect triumph of mechanical and drama-
tic arrangement. The holler wen crowded with a regrettable
and delighted audience. Midsummer NigAde Dream, from
the manner in which it was received, premises to have a run
of many nights."
A letter from Oxford, giving an account of one of
the concede presided over by Dr. Cork the other evening—
the second part of which was Aleramkr's Frast—advarta to
the amount of vocal amateur assistance of a good quality now
to be obtnincd from graduates and undergraduates. " The
University has now plenty of resident members who are
always ready to swig in • performance of this kind with
their voice.. Twenty years ago, certainly not twenty—we
doubt whether ten—ceuld have been found in the whole of
the university who could take vocal parts in less difficult
music than that with which wo were delighted on Tuesday
evening."
The New Fork Herald of Feb. 21 says :—" Mr.
Thalberghaa so fee met wit the greatest succors ever achieved
by any artist that has visited us. He commenced his
concerts in this city on the 10th of November, sad
since that period he has appeared ninety times before
the public. lie has given eighteen concerts in New York,
one leleinfie, and three free concerts for the schools; is
Brooklyn, four; in Philadelphia, fifteen; and three for
the schools; in Baltimore seven, and ono for the schools;
Washington four; Boston six, with two matinees and
three fur the schools; in Albany, three; Troy, throe; New
Haven, two; Providence, two; Salem, one; Wilmingtoe,
one; New Bedford, one; Harrisburg, one; Lancaster, one;
Worcester, one ; Hartford, two ; Springfield, one ; Newark,
One. And the clear profits amount to over thirty-two
thousand dollars.
Dr. Lists is named as the conductor of the Lower
Rhenish Musical Festival, which is to be held this Whitsun-
tide at Ain-la-Chapelle, and not at Cologne. He is also an.
nonnced by a contemporary as intending to visit England
this season.
A new opera, by M. Flotow, commissioned for the
inauguration of a new palace at Mecklenburg-Schwerin, will
be represented there, it is said, towards the end of May. It
is described as containing many national German tones.
Another nationality will be presently appealed to
in the Open-house at Postb, for which Herren Meal and
Doppler have boor retained to produce a new opera in
Msgr..
The following epitaph, of one who wan organist of
the cathedral from 1647 to 1676, and is buried in the Gales
at Durham, is quaint and original :

Jahn Beata& body b;ro noth iY.
W. prayard Ood nab band and Taco;
la carsick. twarnily Maxon.
lien ray.. he maid la Goa rejoice.
HS rad lets the beam= le I.
To pate Ilan dillthat ace the aft.

The United Serrice oa;:ette thinks that all who
hare the honour to possum the decoration of the Vidalia
Cross should be permitted by royal ordinance to affix the
initial letters, " V.C.," after their names. The adoption of
this suggestion would be acceptable to the partici pried•
pally interested, so " it would enable them, without ned•
less display, to obtain the recognition of their honourable

distinction."
The Press states that the anxiety outside the
House of Commons on Wednesday morning, to hear there'
suit of the division, was intense. " A crowd of respoetable
persons had oolkieted in Westminster Hall, eagerly waiting
to question the first members who issued from the doors or
the house. Tho process of counting the numbers lasted ease
time, but at length hurried steps were heard, and two or
three members come rushing out in a state of the wildest
excitement, exclaiming at the top of their rules.
' Government beaten by sixteen.' Immediately there rose s
tremendous cheer from the crowd, which wee again and
again repeated. Each leading member of the majority sa he
GSM forth was welcomed with enthusiastic plaudits. Br.
Cobden narrowly escaped being carried round the hell, and
Mr. Disraeli was escorted by a crowd of persons cheering at
the top of their voices, and waving their hats in their bends."
The United &Trice Gatstle says:—" The hot
wattle of Bath are operating very beneficially upon the
health of the men who have been sent there. Several who
were taken into the infirmary have been returned to their
regiment quite cured. It is not merely the mineral springs
which are of so much advantage; the parka, the fine air,
and total relaxation from duty, effect a favourable change
the spirits of the invalid, and that is half the battle in work-
r tag out cures."
An aggregate muting of students at the London
' school. of medicine will be held on Thursday evening nest
at St. Martin's Hell, to consider the subject of Poor Lew

Medical Reform.
WILLS.—The Will of the Right Hon. Nathaniel
Baron Scarsdale arms proved in London under 160,0001%r"
aonalty ; he Ware provided liberally for all his servants—dohs
Gurney, E01.,0f Earth= HaU,Borfolk,2so,oooL—The Rey.
W. Tluesher, ; has lett boquemts to several chard•
able institutions.—)lie Mary Pallimter, of Kensington-
square, 33,0001.; ham alto loft charitable bequests.—ltobed
Lmdaell, Esq., of Bigglemwade, 3.5000/.—John Wood, End.
of Totteridge, 30!t0011!.—Andrew Lire, 10,000/.—lllmr
tnoted London News. , •

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