The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-08 00:00:00

MAPS Gratis.—With the DISPATCH of SUN-
DAY nest wIU be peneserthe NORTHERN DIVISION
DOUBLE MAP of the KEAN STATES of SOUTH
ANKRICA. On August Ifith a of the Western Sitharbe of
Lanka . Bayswater, 'lnitial:Aft Ac. August Uth the second
division of the Ores Western lellway, and me September Ist,
the sixth or Northern division of the peat Map of London. Price
a the Dispatch in nastemped. id ; In go free by post,
M. Order of sily sillws4pnit Into sr nand six stamps
ter paper end wimp tis the Mks, LW Imidon.

MUSIC.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

The opera season just terminated has been one
of the moat successful, and the least eventful, that we have
bad for many, ears. Such, indeed, must be the case, in
the common course of theatrical affairs. A judicious, a
fortunate production of a piece, or of a performer, that
pleases the town in an extraordinsuy degree, and is so at-
tractive sa to fill the house for many nights successively, has
the effect of relieving the manager from the necessity of
seeking those efforts to produce a series of novelties which
give interest and variety to the proceedings of the
season. Such has been the ease this year. The introduc-
tion of Mademoiselle Patti to the acquaintance
of the public was no part of Mr. Cys's contemplated plan
of operations. This young lady's name was not announced
in the general programme of the season ; and when, soon
after its commencement, she was suddenly brought for-
ward in the Soo nanibetics, she was almost as much a stranger
as if she had dropped from another planet. Seldom has
been a greater coccus, end seldom a mimeos more legitimate.
" Alone she did it!" She conquered nieces by her own
prowess ; gained every suffrage in one night by her own
sterling unaided merit. This victory completely upset Mr.
(lye's previously-formed scheme of his campaign, but
tt, at once suggested another, and an easier
one. He had only to prodace his unexpected recruit in a
series of parts suited to her powers and qualities. This was
sll that it was necessary for him to do in order to ensure the
soccer of the season ; awl it is very nearly all that he has
done. The events of the season, now that it is over, leave
only two strong impressions behind them—the rise of one
bright luminary, and the setting of another still brighter—
the debuts of Adelina Patti, and the farewells of Grisi.
Another unlooked-for circumstance, at the beginning of the
season, contributed to diminish the difficulties of Mr. Gye's
campaign. This was his riddance of a formidable competi-
tor. At the moment when it was understood that Her Ma-
jesty's Theatre was about to open with a company of extra.
ordinary strength, it was found that Mr. E. T. Smith bed
absedoised the field and left it free to his livid. The
Lyceum, indeed, was opened, and some of the brightest
stars of Her Majesty's Theatre appeared ; but the arrange-
ments were crude and incomplete, and it was, moreover,
too late to contest a field already occupied. Accordingly,
the management of the Lyceum, after forestalling Mr. Gye
in the production of his only novelty, Verdi's last opera,
abruptly retired from the field.

This. unexpected turns in the course of events, however,
if highly advantageous to the treasury of Covent Garden
Theatre, have been far lees satisfactory in an artistic point
of view. For they have coutnbuted to narrow still more
the already by far too contracted repertory of this theatre,
and have prevented the production of several of the greatest
works of the masked stage ; thus rendering the past season
singularly banes of interesting reminiscences-so barren,
that, in surveying its course, we find in it scarcely anything
worthy of commemoration.

The company, as announced in the general prospectus of
' the season, was thus composed :—Soprani, Miolan-Carvalho,
Pence, Ceiling, Tiberini, Budersdorff ; contralto, Didiee ;
team—Tamberlik, Tiberini, Neri-Baraldi; beritoni, Faure,
Oraziani, ltonconi ; bassi, Zelger, Formes, Taglisfioo, with
several lea conspicuoue names. At that time Urisi and
Mario were to have appeared at Her Majesty's Theatre, but
!that house not having opened, they returned to Covent
! Garden. Covent Garden opened on the god of April with
the Prophetr, to which an entirely new interest was given
!by Madame Csillag's magnificent appearance in the
character of Fides. Owing, in • great measure, to
this canoe, it had ten represent/Ikea. The last
was on the concluding night of the season, when
(as we mentioned at the time) C.illag's absence was severely
felt. This great, and, in various respects, incomparable
performer, bad taken her departure long before the end of the
season, finding her "occupation gone in ociesequenes of the
peat domed for Mdlle. Patti. Don Giovanni was injured
is • like mune; and in a still pester degree. As at first
padoced this season, Mozart's chef-d'irerre had probably
never been so superbly performed. Then Grill was the
Donna Anna and Calling the Elvin, and they, with Patti as
&dins, Faure as Don Giovanni, Formes as Leporello, and
Itonconi u Masetto, made up such a "cast" as has perhaps
never been equalled. The opera, consequently, had the most
brilliant succor ; but after a time it was madly shorn of its
beanie. Grisi, having sung her "farewells," was super-
seded by Madame Penco ; and Ceiling (as we have already
said) had left the theatre.
The only new piece of the season was Verdi's last opera,
Us Belo is Maschera, which (as we have said) had been
forestalled at the Lyceum, where, indeed, though produced
with far inferior splendour, it was on the whole better per-
formed. Its success at either house was not great. It
showed the composer's increased command of the technical
resources of his art, but • falling off in freshness of melody ;
and, besides, its inferiority to Auber's fine on the
same sebject, Gustavus the Third, was generally felt and
etlanitted.

BINIVOLINT PEATOZNANCI AT THE VICTOZIA
TQ►7ii.—A performance is to be giveo at this theatre, on
SeAnrday swung next, for the benefit of the widow and
eight ehlleen of the late John Venus, a compositor, who
was for some yams engaged on the daily press, and who
died under peculiarly distressing circumatances. As it is
well known that the compositors of London unite strongly
on such emosions, there u but little doubt of moms.
Amongst other entertainments the Second Surrey Volun-
teer Artillery Band will render their services, and they
wit, it is hoped, be ably supported by many of their
volunteer cones in so good a cause.

CHARITY CHILDREN FIRTIVAL AT THE CRYSTAL

TIE EMBANKMENT Off THE THAMES.

A public meeting of the ratepayers of the me-
tropolis was held but evening at Exeter Hall, to consider
the propriety of adopting resolution, condemnatory of the
plans st present contemplated by the Metropolitan Board
of Brmb in connection with the embankment of the
Thames and the deodorization of the sewage, the chair being
occupied by Mr. HENRY Hoene

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said this
meeting might be regarded as a continuation of • meeting
of the ratepayers of St. Martin's, held at the same place
on the 13th of Jane, 1860, pursuant to public notice, to pe-
tition against the construction of a low level north
sewer along the Strand and Fleet-street. That
meeting was unanimous in favour of some
em-
bankment east of Westminster-bridge, within which
such sewer might be coeitructeaL A etition was ad-
dressed to both Houses of Parliament urging upon them to
give the Metropolitan Board of Works the powers and the
necessary funds for curling outthis important undertaking,
the meeting being of opinion that the charge should not be
exclusively borne by the already heavily taxed ratepayers
of the metropolis, but might fairly be met by an applies.-
don of some portiou of the proceeds of the coal tax, and by
handing over the hackney carriage dues to the M
titan Board of Works. Since that time it tr:str°47l,
that the question bad on the whole made mate-
=progress. The vestry of that parish, which mere-
an important and independent body of ratepayers,
had appointed a committee to attend exclusively to this cme- .
tii.34,6,That oornisittem ltield several meetings, which
n attended by del from several of the metro-
politan districts. Its de deliberations had been conducted
with harmoey, bad resulted is unanimity, and bad
given satisfaction to the vestry which appointed
tt ; and he need not say that unanimity among
• body of gentlemen such as time who composed St.
Martins vestry was not a light or unimportant fact. (Cheers
and laughter.) Resolutions would be proposed that evening
showing the circumstances which had induced the com-
mittee, with permission from the vestry, to call the meeting.
Differenoss of opinion might arise, and it would be his duty
to secure to the several speakers a fair hearing. (Hear,
hear.) The deodoriratioa of the sewage was the main ques-
tion for discumicni, and although its utilisation was • sub-
ject of extreme importance yet there would be no time for
remarks upon liquid manure or upon the details of the ein.
bankment, to which in some form or other he trusted
necessity would drive them. With every disposition to place
a genend confidence in the Board of Works the committee
felt that neither they nor the bawd were infallible, and if •
mistake hail occurred or even was thonht to have occurred
it was better that a friendlyand public discussion should take
Ores now than to wait until further progress was made,
involviag, as it must, a further expenditure of valuable
resources. The extreme difficulty of the subject they ad-
mitted, and they felt that credit was due to the Metropoli-
tan Board for their past exertions, whether or not there
were points in which they were mistaken. All personal
feeling he deprecated, and ho trusted that they would
approach the discussion of a subject of such magnitude and
important,' in • calm, philosophical temper. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. MARSHALL, ia ing the first resolution—" That
the grateful thanks ofthis meeting are due to her Majesty
the Queen, and to both houses of parliament, for securing
by recent enactment the continuance of the coal and wine
dues, with a view to some embankment on the north aide
of the river, between Westminster and Blackfriars bridges,
the construction of which the ratepayers would naturally
wish to see catenated to the Board of Works elected by
themselves ; that, in the opinion of this meeting, the ad.
dittoesl space so acquired should, if equable, be appromi.
aced to purposes of utility and trade, as well as to those of
recreation and ornament ; and that possibly such
portion thereof as lies to the west of the Tem-
ple.garden may be, in part at least, beneficially allotted
to the use of bargee and other craft on the river,"
said it had been the subject of complaint that we did not
maaage so well in England as did our friends on the conti•
nest, great public monuments and national works. He was
prepared to admit that fact., but he thought they might
take some consolation to themselves from the fact that the
'defect did not arise front a want of either engineering skill
'or money, but rather from the superabundance of those
commodities. (Hear, hear.) There could no; be much dif-
ficulty with respect to the desirability of an embankment
of the Thames—(hear, hear)—and they must feel great plea-
sure that the commissioners appointed by the Queen should
at last have decided to recommend this great national
undertake (Haar, hear.) The government was clearly
pledged to ie • bill next session for carrying out this
useful object. • begged to conclude by moving the reso-
lution he had read to them. (Hear.)

gr. BARTON seconded the resolution, having taken some
part in the proceedings at the previous meeting held in
1660, and felt much gratified to find that the recommenda-
tions then put forward had been acquiesced in by the royal
commissioners now inquiring into the "object He perfectly
agreed with all that had been does at the St. James's meet-
log, as he thought it would be decidedly prejudicial to allow
royal commissioners to carry out the *theme. In the first
place they wanted the work. executed cheaply, and he
thought the Board of Weeks elected by themselves would
be more careful of their pockets than a royal commission.
(Hear, hear.) With regard to that portion of the resolution
referring to the desirability of appropriating the land to be
acquired to the purposes of utility and Uncle, they
would find upon examining the design approved by
the commission that a large portion of valuable
land would be acquired, which would yield a large rental if
used instead of being allowed to lie wade, useless to the
public sod every one else, and thus the pockets of the rate-
payers would be saved. (Hear, hear.) He also thought a
canal ought to be left inside the embankment for the non-
violence of who es. These were all matters for their
consideration. He to second the resolution. (Hear.)
After addresses from Mr. Helmore, Mr. Bird, and other
gentlemen, the resolution was put, and carried unanimously.
The CHLIRMAN said there was one little matter to which
be might refer, which was that great damage would be done
to the interests of the heavily taxed Strand shopkeepers, if
their customers were attracted away by • number of shops
proposed to be built, surrounded with beautiful gardens,
on the embankment. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Pesaro moved the second resolution—" That this
meeting prays the said board immediately to direct
its impartial attention to the leading plans for
deodorising the sewage; taking more care than hereto-
fore to promote adequate demonstrations of such plans,
in order that them feasibility or otherwise may be
fairly ascertained, and become publicly known ; the com-
paralive merits of the several chemical agents having been
satisfactorily tested by competent authority. That the at-
tention of the said board be likewise solicited to the circum-
stances of the fiat localities which are found to exist on both
sides of the liver above Westmitisterbridge • and that, in
the opinion of this meeting, the processes of deo;lorisation and
filtration, if adopted any where, should not be disregarded is
' this particular locality, it being considered that both those
promises in combination should be made to precede theeetio•
of the pump, in all cases where such action is required."
Hs thought the deodorising process ought to be carried oat
is the district named in the resolution, as the prepceed sewer
had only • fall of 12 inches in half • mile, which was totally
inadequate for the. purpose. Then there wasgreat
and chap Ivantage to the operation of tunnelling. =eir
r
Deodo-
rising at that point would be practically much better and
cheaper than making the low level sewer ; at all events, a
ought to be tried first, as scientific men stated it to be quite
practicable. It was to be done at Brampton, and why not
at Lambeth _ _ _

PLIIIIOII,II senoaded the resolution, and stated that he
had sees some of the deodorised sewage, and had drank
some of the pare clear water thereby obtained from it.
(Laughter.) The committee had offered to let the Board of
Works experiment at their sewer, and the cost would only
be 1001., but they had refused their offer. The resolution
sow before them for approval was a kind of petition to
the board to make certain experiment, before they pro
ceded further in the matter. (Hear, hear.)
PiDLIII mid he had taken great intoned in Dover's
method of deodornation, which was by the addition to the
mirage of salted iron and hydrochloric acid ; and he had
his doubts as to the practicability of deodorising so large a
quantity without injurious effecte resulting. Thus the hy-
drochloric acid frequently contained large quantities .1
arsenic, and if that were thrown into the Thames it
would be converted into a river of poison. (Hear,
hear.) He thought the deodorising scheme, there-
fore, was a failure, and preferred the grand compre-
hensive scheme now being carried out. London al it
was was healthier than Lancashire, and when the scheme
was completed it would be the healthiest place in the
world. (Hear, bear.) He was sure, on the other hand,
that qesatities of sewage could not be deodoried without
images, quantities of poisonous gases being set free to
pollute the at ere. (Hear, hear.) If deedorisation
woe necemary at all it could be done at the marshes, and he
had no doubt but that in time the sewage of London would
be one of it. moat profitable products. (Cheers.) People
would pray for it to be brought down to them in the country,
and it would be poured over the land, which would
yield in consequence more corn, more grass, and
more animal food. (Cheers.) He hoped the embank-
meet scheme would not get into the hands of the
board, and he begged in conclusion to move the following
amendment to the resolution, " That the deodoriettion of
the sewage of Loodon is impracticable in London, and that
the only plan to be adopted is to remove the sewage into
the country, where it will become of the greatest value."
Mr. Ewe, io seconding the amendment, maid the Board
of Works and the Sewage Commission had for a period of
tea yews given a painful attention to the subject of
deodornation, and they found that 6-7th of the most
valuable portion of the manure was held in chemical aolu-
tion, and that that portion it was impossible to precipitate.
After the solid portico had been precipitated, the water re-
maining looked perfectly clear and pure ; but instead of
being so it was in reality quite poisonous, and be did not
envy Mr. Parsoce his dnnk of it. (" Hear, hear:* sad
laughter.) The sewage is its natural state was worth 21. a tee,
which would yield annually a revenue of 2,000,0001. (Hear,
hear.) This was what was proposed to be thrown away.