The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-31 00:00:00

RAILWAY lIILI.I IN PARLILWENT.

Yeatcrday the atandiug onlera were declared com-
plied with in the CUR Of the following new undertakings:
MIDLAND R.tlLW.ty.—Fora branch from Tit:shelf and To-
venal, at an estimated cost of 43,75 M.
RATNKE MR AND NIEWCIAITTLE JUNCTION RAILWAY.—For
• junction line, •t• cost of 50,0001.
LLANTRIARANT AND TA rr VALE JUNCTION RAILWAY.—
For a line between these inta, at a cost of 51,9001.
LONDON AND NORTH WINTERS, LANCASTER AND CAR-
MLR., AND OALEXIoNIAN RAILWATE—Fe/dlersAion and en-
largement of Citadel station at Cartisie, and for railways and
works I. Coop...Rion therewith, at • met of 50,0001.
WERT OT FIR MINERAL AND CHARIJ2TON ILULWAY AND
HARDoUR (..OIPANIEI.
ENNISKILLEN AND BUNDORAIR RAILWAY.

CORK. BLAILNLV, AND MACKODNI RAILWAY.—For a line
from Cork by Blarney to Macroom, and branch to the
Great tioutlorn and Western, at a cost of 140,0001.
WWI' MIDLAND RAILWAY.—To almodon • part of the
branch to the .therdare branch of the Vale of li'eatb, and
to effect a_pinetion with the Ahenbue line Jostens].
SOUTH WALES MINIULAL RAILWAT.—To extend the line
to the Britoo Ferry Docks, and to raise 30,000/.
FINITDUAT CIRCUS RAILWAY STATION.—For the construc-
tion of • central station in Finsbury and street approaches,
at • coat of 1,300,000/. . _ _

ORLAT NORTHERN AND WESTNRIN (OF IRELAND) RAIL-
WAY.—For extension at a coat of 652000/.
WM MIDLAND, SkiIIR%I4III;RY, AND COAST OF WALES
RAlLWAT.—Adjuurued, to agree upon a reference to en-
gineer as to alleged inaccuracies in levels.
The following hills also passed :- Street Rail Company ;
Dunhlane, DOllOO, sad Callender Railway ; I3oLL West
Dock ; Liverpool Improvement (for now streets, Ice., at an
estimated cost of V 7,000/.) ; and Wallasey Improvement
(purchase of Sescombe Ferry, and power to borrow
90,0001.).

The Church Rate Abolitionists intend putting
forth a great effort during the coming session to defeat the
designs of the conservative party in respect to
the law church rates ; and, among other steps, hate
agreed to hold a conference in the metropilia, at which it is
hoped "no place of importance will be unrepresented ;
that in the case of larger towns several gentlemen mar be
able to be present ; and that a large number of ruralral
pa-
rishes—w' iich are deeply interested in the satisfactory set-
tlement of this question—will send at least one friend on
the occasion." The gentlemen who have taken the initiative
embrace representatives of all the leading religious bodies,
including epooopaliane ; and it is expected that their
summons will be promptly responded to. Abolitionists re-
siding in the provinces wishing to attend are asked to com-
municate with the Secretary, the Item. N. T. Laugridge, 2,
Merjeants'.iun, Fleet-street. London.
EQUALIAATION OT PUCK RATES..—Last evening
a crowded public meeting of the ratepayers arid other inha-
bitants of the Tower Hamlets was held at the Beaumont
Institution, Mile End-road, for the purpose of considering
the gnus injustice to the East end parishes caused by the
preseut system of rating to the poor, and of determining as
to the beet remedy for that injustice. Among those on the
platform were Mr. A. S. Ayrtoa, 11. P., Mr. John Locke,
M.P., the Her. W. Weal, ke. Mr. Robert Charles, jun.,
having beau voted to the chair, opened the proceedings by
referring to the destitution and misery caused by the late
frost, and the inadequacy of the present poor law to meet
it. Ile considered that the only way to remedy the
evil, which had now become so apparent, was an
equalisation of this present poor rate, which
would be the means of placing the burden of sup-
porting the pone on property newest of upon poverty.
7lte Itev.W.C. WWII then moved the first resolution. to,the
effect that the prevent mode of rating for the relief of the
poor was exceedingly unjust, and, inasmuch as it pressed
meet heavily on parishes which were least able to bear it,
the meeting was of opinion that there should be an equali-
entire of the pour rate in the metropolitan parishes. Mr.
Locks, M.P., seconded the resolution, and in doing so ex-
pressed the satisfaction it had afforded
him in co-opending
with their member, Mr. Ayrton, in the House of Commons
on this subject. It was stated that during the
ensuing session a measure would be introduced on the sub-
ject of the removeable poor, awl if that were so, it would
afford a htting opportunity of pressing on the government
this subject of the equalisation of the poor rates. After a
few words freen Mr. Cowell, who considered the question
to be completely a landlord's question, and that it did not
at all affect the pour, Mr. Ayrton, M.P., addressed the
meeting in support of the resolution, which was agreed to.
The Kay. Mr. Atherton next moved a resolution to the
effect that the Tower Hamlets Association be requested to
renew their efforts to obtain an equalisation of the poor
rates, and the mitigation of the evils attendant upon the
present law of settlemeut and removal which was unani-
mously adopted.

- -
TDMIKONIAL TO A SOLWlToll.—Yeoltenlay (Wed-
nesday) an important gathering took place at the public
rooms, Fave*abam, on the occasionrooms, of the presentation of •
handsome testimonial to James Toenail, Esq., the honorary
alto the Agricultural Association and the voluutear
earrst7the district. Sir Norton J. Ku.itchbull, Bart., pre-
sided, supported by the Right Hon. Lord Sondes, Colonel
Ikeda, ]I P., Sir Brook Bridges, M.P., Colonel Tyler,
Major limn, the Hon. G. W. Mines, and the leading reaidenta
lot the neighbourhood. The testimonial oxidated of a very
handsome and highly-finished silver epergne (three figures
grouped round the centre column, representing Justice, In-
slar'', sod Perseverance), four silver side dishes with
covers, and two maven. On the lase of the epergne is the
following inscription :—" Placated to James Tassell, Fag.,
solicitor, Faversham, Kent, with other plate of the colas
of 300 f., by 404 of his fellow townsmen, neighbours, end
friends, av a token of their esteem and regard for his private
character cod public conduct."
THE LIVERPOOL REFORMATORIES AND THE Mt-
earase or JUVENILE CRIEZ.—The Liverpool Reformatory
Committee held their annual meeting in the Town Hall,
Liverpool, yesterday, the Mayor, S. R. Graves, Esq. pre-
siding. The report stated that at the present thew were
153 juvenile delinquents on board the reformatory hulk,
Akbar. In the year ending 1859 the number was 162; in
1660, 42 were admitted, and 50 discharged during the course
of the year. Tho report also showed that since the com-
mencement of the reformatory system juvenile criminals
throughout the United Kingdom had decreased 33 per cent.,
and adult criminals had also gone down le per cent. The
pecuniary affairs of the local reformatories were in • satis-
factory, but not flourishing condition. The Rev. Mr.
Carter, in the course of • few remarks, stated that since
18.55—when reformatories were first established—crime in
Lancashire hail decreased on the average 44 per cent., while
in Liverpool alone, the reduction had been as great as 50.
From this the reverend gentlemen concluded that reforma•
tons were 'lowly and surely reclaiming juvenile offenders,
and that no far from tieing a delusion, reformatories were
doing a great good. Several other speakers having ad-
dreamed the meeting, the proceedings terminated.
hiIItoVENIENT IN THE SHIP LIT= LINT" AT
THE POsT-ovrict. —Many of our readers aro aware that in
the hall of the General Post-office, in St. Martio'sle-Grand,
• list appean daily of letters imperfectly addressed to per-
sons supposed to be in London, whose names are not known
to the Povtoffice officials. For years this " has been
exceedingly ohscure, through its defective arrangement.
Yesterday, however, it assumed • new feature. All the
names are now placed alphabetically, so that the work of
reference u instantaneous. We are glad to hear that this
arrangement is to be permanent

It will be remembered that in the course of last
season Prince George Gs,Blebs gave several concerts, which,
from their peculiar and very interesting character—consist-
Mg, as they did, of choice specimens of the music of his
country—crested a great sensation in our musical circles.
He has resumed these concerts, on a larger scale, and with
ampler appliances, in the shape of a complete instrumental
orchestra and a chorus of 200 voices, both of first-rate
quality, and carefully trained by himself ; for he is an
amateur Comm,' it pen a pre—a thorough maiden, a com-
poser of genius, and one of the ablest orchestral conductors
we have ever seen. The family of Prince Galitzio is one of
the highest among the Russian nobility. His father, the
late Prince Nicholas, was a distinguished patron of the
arts, and of music in particular. He was the firm friend of
Beethoven, whose music be was the first to introduce into
Russia, and who dedicated to him several of the greatest
productions of the latter period of the illustrious
musician's career. Prince George Galitzin possesses
a similar love of art, together with a liberality
of opinion and feeling to which the atmosphere
of the Russian court has not been congenial. When
the Emperor showed so much apparent zeal in his
proposed emancipation of the serfs, the Prince, conceiving
that he might adopt a measure dictated by humanity and
patriotism, gave freedom to the naiads on his own estates,
and by doing so brought upon himself the displeasure of the
Imperial government, and is, consequently, a-resident for the
present in England.
The concert, he is now giving are full of interest, for they
show us what rich treasures of music Russia possesses,
not only in the wild and beautiful strains of popular me
lody, but in the works of many composer., whose MINN
albeit confined to their own country, are worthy of oompa-
uioaship with the most illustrious names of Italy or Ger-
many. Last night we beard two sexed choruses—by lA,
Dubin and Bortrianski--which showed, by their simplicity,
depth, and grandeur, that their authors belong to the high•
est class of ecclesiastical musicians. But the moat interest-
jug of the Russian composers with whom Prince Galitzin is
making us acquainted is Clinks, who may well be called
the Russian Mozart. His operas, judging from the 'elec.
tics from one of them (Life for the Czar) given last night.
must be charming ; and we understand that the subjest of
this piece is as interesting as its music is beautiful. Here
would be novelty for Mr. Gye or Mr. Smith!
One of the pleasantest performances of the evening was a
" Gipsy melody," a kind of music very popular in Russia,
imaged by Prince Galitzin in a very peculiar form, for a
contralto voice and oboe, accompanied by the orchestra and
chorus. The solos were sung by firm Isseelles, and played
by Mr. Lavigne. The ►ir was singularly wild and melan-
choly, and the effect very striking. A Russian quadrille,
too, of which all the subjects were national airs, made a
great impression, and some parts of it were loudly encored.
In listening to all this Russian music, we were much struck
with the strain of madness which pervades it. Almost every
melody is in a miller key ; and even the liveliest dance-
tune has some touch of pain, which shows that there is
grief in the Russian heart even in its gayest moments. We
were reminded of Moose's remark on the national melody of
Ireland.

DRAMA.

DRUZY•LA E,

On Tuesday night Mr. and Mrs. Kean appeared
so Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothino, be-
fore an audience almost as numerous and quite as enthusi-
astic es that which assembled to greet them as Monday.
Perhaps throughout his whole ripertoire there is no cha-
racter in which Mr. Kean is so thoroughly at home es is
Beuedick ; from first to lass it is plain th►t he himself is
=Lein* assneed, a pleasant joyous humour lurks in his
eye, sparkles in his laugh, and rings out in his every word.
His fun is entirely infectious, the audience are caught and
serried &keg by it, and none of our broadest comedians
ever excited users hearty and genuine laughter thaw
rolled through Drurylane Theatre on Tuesday, evoked by
Mr. Keen's excellent impersonation of Beuedick. Mrs.
Kean's Beatrice is one of her happiest efforts; while
spirited and impetuous, she is always refined and ladylike,
and the slight sharpness of the nascent shrew is tempered
by the good breeding of the woman of the world. The
efforts of both these great artists were applauded to the
ocho.

Miss Chapman played Hero with much commendable grace
and propriety. Thia young lady has glened force and earucat-
nese from her pro'incial trip. Her performance of Ophclia
on Monday night was in every respect highly praiseworthy.

OLYMPIC.

Every playgoer must have noticed how, slowly
but surely, Mr. Addison, of this theatre, has been pro-
gressing in artistic excellence until he has proved himself
decidedly the beet artist of the day in that line of character
which he has adopted. He has recently added to his
triumphs by his clever performance of the principal part iu
the best adaptation (ruin a French vaudeville, Us
Vieux tleia Vieille I:4whe, called ON Trusty. Adam Briar
(Mr. Addison) is an old servant, serving Mr. Daventey,
after having served his father and grandfather. Though
honest and trustworthy in the highest degree, he is old,
feeble, useless, and obstinate, and be gives great divatis-
faction to his master's young wife, who brings down to
their Devonshire home a supercilious man servant end a
pert maid, with whom Old Adam is always quarrelling.
Fur a long time Daventry defends the old man, hut at last
his gamekries are so great, and his querulousness so ob-
jectionable, that he is discharged. As he is leaving, how-
ever, a note falls from his pocket, which proves that from
his own savings he has advanced a large sum of money to
save Mrs. Daventry's spendthrift brother from ruin, and
of course he is brought beck and received with the highest
favour.

Mr. Addisoses acting in this trifle was most excellent—
worthy of Mr. 'Tanen in his best days. He was well sup-
ported by Mr. H. Nt'igan, who gave the " Jeames" his due
weed of absurdity ; by Mrs. Emden, who played the pert
maid, and by Mr. Gordon, who played the husband, and
who has adapted the piece neatly and pleasantly.