The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-12 00:00:00

MUSIC.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.,
This society's annual Christmas Ketornsanoe d-
el* innaA test place last night—being. the fourth coo-
rest et the ECABOD, and, like the and ..emei emend emcees,
vas hatmaryd by the presence 'AMU Hord Highnesses
tke Crown Prices and Princess cri ?mud,
Per thirty-14.'41i year% 114r•A, this glum society bee
werk.4l,tbs serious and re} view aspect of this WWII by
its 1,1 arst performance of tae " Christian onslocio" of
llstrist-- a wank in w 1 i 3 sublime expression and
'eus:,al science arc combined in • higher degree than
. .

in oily ,ther 'lateness. innumerable repetitions of this
amitotic., instead of lessening its interest, serve torienskr
its traussmnient merits more enema, and its powers of
attraction more evident, as demonstrated by the crowds
'shish it always draws.
the perfetneinee of 1 alit night offered but little occa-
sion for special eosstuent, the performers being all fami-
liar to the public. Every one knows with what earnest-
ness and energy Madame Ruderedorff declaims the
groat tie villa air. "Rejoice greatly:" which is per.
bare better suited to her style than the less
demonstrative solos. " Come unto thin," " How
.Iseautfel,'? and " I know that my Rsdeomer ;"
there latter. however, being given with much earnest
feeling. Little need now be said as to Madame Sainton-
Pelby's impressive singing of the contralto airs—the jubi-
taut "0 Thou that tellest," the pastoral, "He shall
feed," and the deeply pathetic, "He was dovisecl."
The tenor of the evening was Mr. Venn Rigby, who,
it win be remembered, created so groat an impression
Ty his singing of "The enemy said," at the Sacred
Ilarusonie Society's performance of Israel to Egypt a
fortnight since. By his marked success en that occasion
Mr. Rigby made an advance which it rests
with himself to pursue to his own advantage and
that of the public. In his opening solo last night, the
recitative "Comfort ye," and air "Every galley," Mr.
Right' again drew forth a recognition of those qualities
I which, with study, sboukl tender him a valuable acjui-
linen in the present dearth of tenor singers competent to
rope with the grandeur of ITandel's music. Not only in
the instances just specified, but also in his subsequent
roles, the resonant quality of Mr. Rigby' s voice, his dis-
tinct enunciation. and his earnest intention, were exam-
• gifted. In the recitatives, "Thy rebuke" and "He was
cut di." and the airs "Ilehold and see," and " but
thou didst not leave," these merits were again con-
vpieuous ; and still more so in the trying declamatory
sang " Thou shalt Lrval them," which was given with
a rower without exaggeration that drew forth a general
tribute of dh served applause. Mr. Rigby's career is in
his own hands—he has twice made a di-tint and marked
icurrsssion ou an audieriee well able to estimate a singer's
moils. end it remains with him to pursue his success by
still !lot? sr cultivation of the refinements, eve utive

mid irti 17(111:al, of Li- rit. The 11:::41 solos, incluilin;i:
11 at V air. air, "The people that walke I
in dear es," and the declamatory " Why .1.. the
rat.ons.- wcrr riry effee•is..7y sung by Signor Foli : his
air, '• 1 he trunit et shall round," having the advantage of
Thorsias Harper'a exe :Rent obbligato actompawiment.
The noble choruses of this sublime oratorio, esreialy
"For Liao and the " llallelujaik" pro Luce 1 that
yowerful imi rciiiiion which no number of repetitions of
etch mriic can ever winiken. At the conclusion of this
chorus the royal visitors. who arrived blot* thr tom-
mineement of the oratorio, took their it.iputurc.

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 11.
At the quarterly competitive examination for
assistant clerkships in the royal navy, held on board her
Majesty's ship Victory, on Wednesday and Thursday, the
following candidates were successful:—A. K. Mason, T.
West, H. N. H. Harvey. and IL W. Saunders. The re-
sult of the con petitive examination for commisbions in
the Royal Marines, held at the korai Naval College, at
• this port. on the lt•th, 19th. 20th, 21st, 2drch 24th. and
2fith of November, was published to-day. There were 27
candidates. of whom the following were found qualified:—
Henry Vansittart, Parkins Hearle, Thomas I George Waller,
Arthur Rowland, Charles Joseph Ctieetham, Clement
. Witham Hawkins, Vera Alban Butler. Thomas Moore,
C'harleeDashwood Fowler. Frederick William Pole, Charles
William Roes Rittling. Frederick Aetley Wheeler. Charles
George Parlby Ward, Richard Holberche. James Creegh
Richard Nct.tt. and William Wilkinson Scott.
The head-quarters and one battalion of the 21st brigade
Royal Artillery will arrive at this port in the Serapis on
or about the 18th of the present month. and will be tem-
pormilr quartered in the torts at Gosport until the em-
barkation of the 6th Brigade in the Crocodile, on the 10th
of January for Alexandria, when the 21st Brigade will
take up their quarters at Portsmouth.
The 101st Regiment will arrive from India in the
Crocodile early next month. There is no truth in a re-
port publis.bed by a cont..mpurary to the effect that this
regiment will relieve the ::Nth at this garrison. The :lath
Regiment ia not stationed here, and, as yet there is no
prospect of any immediate transfer of any other regiment
in this locality.

VISIT OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF PRIISQIA m
ALDERFAOT.—Yesterdav the Crown Prince of Prussia,
attended by Captain Yon Schleinitz, visited the camp at
Aldershot. On :Thursday afternoon Lieutenant-general
the Honourable Jame. York Scarlett, h.C.8., notified in
a divisional order to the troops, that his royal highness,
accompanied by Prince Arthur, would be present at a
grand review of the troops in the Long Talley. con-
sequently the various brigade, of cavalry, Royal Artillery,
and infantry were astir at an early hoar in the morning.
At half-1 a,t 8 o'clock. in consequence of the unfavourable
state of the weather, au order was issued by the aao.dant
adjutant-general for the troops not to parade, but rem:sin
in their bans. he ready to assemble at a moment's notice.
The weather was cold and gloreny, with exasional heavy
showers ; this, however. did not prevent his royal highness
(who was not accompanied by Prince Arthur) from
carrying out his intention of visiting the camp.
lie t ante ok of breakfast with Sir James and lady Searlctt.
Mt.r a short stay his royal highness, with bar Jaima
Scarlet and stall, proceeded to the mutts camp, and spent
scare time in inspecting the Prince Consort's library.
Teem here the Crown Prince and staff went to the quar-
ters of the Lth (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Dragoon
Guards, in the permanent barrack., and inspected the
effir etc mete, banaek rooms, horses and stablew and after-
wards the regimental riding school. The barracks of the
10th (Prince of Wales's Own Royal) Hussars were after-
wards inspected. Him royal hit:line's next proceeded to the
infantry barman where he was received by Major-General
G. J. Carey, C. 8., conueandiug the 2nd Infantry Brigade,
who conducted the royal visitor over the barracks of the
tad Battalion 2nd of Queen's and 2nd Battalion 45th
Fusiliers. About twelve o'eleek the weather cleared up,
and instructions were suddenly ignited for the troops to
sits ruble and march to the Queen's Parade, North Camp,
to te reviewed. The regimentithad scarcely formed up on
their respective pane!. grounds when the rain commenced
to ram down heavily, and then, by particular de,:re of
the. Crown Prince, the t roope were dimiiesed to their quarters.
His royal highness and the stuff then visided the 1,7 M.•
=Auto, and witnessed the sergeant-instructors go through
a series of exercises and individual feats. The royal visitor
sod party left the permanent barracks al thieve to the
South Camp, and spent a eon,iderable time in exanaiuing
the army instructional cooking kitchen and the cauetree-
Sion of a field cooking kitchen, the partic.ars of will,*
were explained by Captain Home, Royal Engineers, the
superintendent of army waking.
The enlonelcy of the lab Regiment of Iluertri
hecowee van-ant by the death es Wednosday last of
nant-Genei al Allan Til.alaaliackath 'Pawn-.
and V, aterhou veteran.

LAW INTRLLIGENCL

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.—Dzo. 11:
SECOND COURT.
Sittings at Nil Prins in London.—(Batons Mr. Justine
Smith and • Common Jury.)

asosessomow y. suae.
The plaintiff was a lad about 15, and he sued 0.•
de-
fendant, the dust contractor for Mexylebone, fee o.aesages
in comequenoe of hie bevies been run over bile dug cart.
'l6e injury was • compound !mature of the retch: leg, and
the other leg wan bruised.
Dr. Senealey, Q.C.., and Mr. Theorem appeared for
the plaintiff; and Mr. Barrow for the defendant.
The fads were that at 6 o'clock on Sunday morning,
tLo 11th June last, the plaiutiff was lying along the kerb
in Stingo-lane, at a spot where the footway was only one
foot Immo, and meet of the witnesses said that he was
asli ep. & mehow it happened that he was run over ;
hoot era the plaint.frs case it was not very dear how.
It was, however, said that the driver was at the hinder
put of the cart instead of at the horse's head. For the
di ft nee it was sworn that the noise of the approaching
chit awoke the plaintiff, end that he euddenly stretched
his legs over the roadway, and that the acsadent hap-
pened without any fault whatever ou the part of the
driver.
The jury found for the plaintiff—damages 10/.
MINT C. HOLM, H.P.
The plaintiff in this case was • shorthand writer and
reporter, and the defendant was one of the members for
Hackney. 'the plaintiff in September last was engaged
by Dr. Black, the defendant's agent, to report Yr.
Iterris's meetings, at a salary of three guineas a week;
and he now claimed damages noon the ground that he
had been dismlbsed before the expiration of the period for
which he had teen engaged.
Mr. D. Seymour, Q.C., and Mr. Anderson appeared for
the plaintiff, and Mr. Murphy for the defendant.
Evidence was given for the plaintiff that the engage-
ment was to continue until the end of the election, and
that he was dbmissed on the 26th Sept.. eight weeks
before that time. The trial had been once postponed at
the instance of the defendant, in consequence of the
absence of Dr. Black ; but to-day the doctor was not in
attendance, and it was stated that he was ill at Brighton.
Mr. Murphy called no witnesses, but urged upon the
jury that the plaintiff ought not to be awarded the same
amount as if he lied done the work. lie was only entitled
to recover damages for the breach of the agreement, and
the jury should take into consideration not only that he
lied not done the work, but also that the plaintiff could
probably have got some other employment daring the
right weeks if he had tried to do so.
The jury at once found for the plaintiff fur the eight
wNks' salary, 2W.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—DEN. 11.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Bacon.)
IN lIE ADULPIIINI 111APPN. _ . .

The bankrupt, formerly • director of the General
Eitates Cempany (Lituitaa), was described as of Old
Kent-read, out of bushier. This was the sitting for
examination and discharge. The balance-sheet discloses
llalAhtisa of 67,691/., of which about 40,0001. are in respyt
of shares in the Joint-Stock Disemint Company. Them
are no &wet/. Besides the two companios alroveriainad.
the bankrupt bed boon commuted with the Oriental soil
Financial linemint Company, the Linilon and Olamow
Steam& at Bending Company, Charles Latta and (Com-
pany (I imittxl), and (retread, Gainey, and Company
tLimits d).
Mr. Treherne, for the assignee, the lirinidator of tho
Gt neral Fitatr s Company, haying stated thy facts of the
care, examined the bankrupt.
Ibe bankrupt deposed tl a' he was in business in 1861,
when he had a capital of 2,0004 lie then held shares in.
the I. palm and Glasgow Steamboat Holding Company,
which he sold at a loss. Ho wan then prevailed on. haying
known 2.1 r. Wilkinson. totake sharer in the Joint Stock
Discount Company. He afterwards frond he was pat
down for 1,200 shares, much more than ho hart &;;l eed to
take. Mr. Fox al-o induced him to aiarept bills for the
company on the representation that Mr. Wilkins. .11 would
take them up. He did not do so. and ho (bankrupt) had
beta sacrificed. _ .

The Coinwissioner— Awl so have the creditors solo>
tmsted you. You have allowed yourself to be male a
dupe for the sake of deceiving others.
Bankrupt further stated that he held several shares in
the other companies named above, on which he was now
liable. He hie] no property, nor had his wife. Had no
expectation of any. He had soki his furniture for 660/.
in 1866. ne bad made no profit ou the shams in any of
the companios.
Mr. Treherue submitted that a person with no pro-
rerty wat. not justified in entering into such extewive
apeculations. lie might mention that in four similar
eases of other directors of the general Palates Company
which had come before ]fr. Commissioner Holroyst. that

learned commix 'loner had grauttd the orders of di—sehargo,
there being no opposition.
The Conemissioner—lt seems to me that the mum comes
within the act of parliament. From the bankrupts own
statement be has been • shareholder in a number of joint-
stock companies which have all failed—all fraudulent
companies, and by means of which the public have been
greedy defrauded. This is a flagrant ease. The names of
the companies and the persons whom he has mentioned are
familiar to the public how having been before the courts.
The banknipt may pass his examination; the order of dis-
charge will stand adjourned for a month, with protection.
I do not see at present that it is a ease in winch the dis-
charge ought to be granted, as by the bankrupt', ow a
statement he has brought himself within several clams.
of the penal section, under which the eourt is compelled to
refuse the order of discharge.