The Press. — London, England, 1854-06-10 00:00:00

JUNE lO, 1854. " God save the Queen," during which her Majesty will retire• The barriers which had kept the nave and transept clear will then be thrown open, and the public will be allowed to circulate throughout the palace and park. The musical arrangements for the opening are on an unprec,edentedly grand scale. The orchestra, which is built in an amphitheatrical form, is 144 feet wide by between 69 and 70 feet deep, ascending gradually from the floor to the height of 42 feet at the back. It is built of immense strength, under the superintendence of the proper authorities. The band will comprise 100 violins, 30 violas, with the same number of violoncellos and double basses, with quadruple wind instruments. The most eminent performers, both professional and amateurs, are included in its ranks. The chorus of 1,150 voices has been selected with much care from the most efficient quarters, and will contain among its mem bers most of the leading principal vocalists and mem bers of the metropolitan choirs, including also nearly 250 ladies and gentlemen, professional and amateur, from the choirs and choral societies in the following towns (amongst others) :—viz., Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield, York, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, Bris tol, Norwich, Windsor, Rochester, Nottingham, Coventry, Lichfield, Bangor, Chester, Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton, Canterbury, Dublin, Belfast, Edin burgh, and Glasgow. The Italian artistes, headed by Lablache, Formes, Ronconi, Zelger, and Tagliafico, will assist in the general ensemble; while the names of Mesdames Clara Novello, Sims Reeves, Birch, Dolby, with Mr. Sims Reeves, and other musical celebrities, are a sufficient guarantee that the English principal vocalists have not been backward in proffering their assistance at the solemnity. The acoustical proper ties of the building are reported to be far in advance of the 1851 building. A few days since one of the leading vocalists sang a verse of " God save the Queen" at the northern end of the building. Not withstanding the extreme length of the nave, every word and tone were distinctly heard at the southern end, although a distance of upwards of 1,600 feet. Captain Gallon and some of the engineering staff of the Board of Trade devoted a great portion of Saturday last, as well as the preceding day, in testing the strength of the building, a very proper precau tion, seeing that it was so soon to be honoured by the presence of the Sovereign, attended by probably 50,(X)0 of her subjects. Large troops of the workmen were collected in particular portions of the galleries, then made to run irregularly about, and finally to troop along in military order, the usual means being taken meanwhile to ascertain the amount of deflexion. Nothing produced the slightest impression except the marching, and then the deflexion was so slight as to be barely indicated by the finest scientific tests. Captain Gallon, on his departure, expressed him self entirely satisfied with the strength of the struc ture. Our Parisian contemporary the Dhbats has sent a correspondent to London specially to describe the marvels of the Crystal Palace. The gentleman entrusted with this task is M. Lemoinne, who exe cuted similar functions with regard to the Great Exhibition of 18$1. A letter on the prescribed sub ject, the first of a series, appears in the Debats of Thursday last. M. Lemoinne characterises the Hyde park Palace as a vast caravanserai, a glass tent, under which all nations met to camp and fra ternise. This tent, he adds, has disappeared from the original locality, and established itself three leagues off, in accordance with the genius of a locomotive age, in which, as Faith removes moun tains, so industry transports mansions. " The new locale," he continues, " has been judi ciously selected upon an elevated spot, and in the midst of one of those admirable landscapes which make England a garden. One cannot better realise the general view of the Palace than by recalling to mind the fantastic pictures of Martin, which have been engraved in Paris, and represent the Deluge, Belshazzar's Feast., the Tower of Babel, and other biblical subjects. The edifice presents the fabulous proportions which the extravagant fancy of the artist might create, but of which none had dared to anti cipate the realisation. This astonishing work is entirely accomplished by private enterprise. It is performed by a company, with capital raised from shares, and in which the Government has taken no part. It has cost already nearly a million sterling. But the Palace will not, like its predecessor, be a temporary structure : it is built for all time. In another point of view this work presents a striking novelty in England. Englishmen, as we all know, do not like to pay for inutilities. The industrious and productive qualities which have made that people the richest in the world have also contributed to make them the least artistic. But the presententerprise will be distinguished among all other English enterprises by the important place occupied in it by the arts. There will be collected there a museum embracing the entire history of the world ; a representation of all the chefs-d'ceurre of art from the earliest times to our THE PRESS. own day. In the gardens, which will certainly surpass those of Semiramis, but which cannot be completed yet for some months, there will be found faithful counterparts of all the known or extinct animals of creation. Already, in the nave of the edifice, a splendid botanical collection has been got together, and never before have exotic plants and trees obtained such perfect liberty for then• develop ment, or been mustered in so magnificent a hot house." Court ad t astion. HER MAJESTY on Wednesday evening honoured the Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane with her presence at a grand ball given in Breadalbane house. A magnificent new ball-room, which had been actively preparing and sumptuously decorating for several months, was opened on the occasion. An immense number of the fashionable world were pre. sent at this fete. The Queen opened the ball by dancing in the first quadrille with the ho,.t, Prince Albert being vis-a-vis with the Countess Walewski. Later in the evening her Majesty danced again with the French Ambassador for partner. The King of Portugal, with his brother, the Duke of Oporto, was among the royal guests at this ball. The Duchess of Kent was absent from indisposition. Ox Monday the Queen visited the Philharmonic Concert, and on Tuesday the Italian Opera. On Thursday there was a Privy Council at Buckingham Palace, followed by a Court, at which the Marquis of Anglesey had an audience, in order to deliver to her Majesty the insignia of the Garter worn by the late marquis. THE KING OF PORTUGAL, Who arrived on Satur day last, has mingled in all the Court ceremonies and festivities during the week, and on Tuesday ac companied Prince Atbert to Eton to witness the per formances incidental to the annual " Speech Day " at that college. On Monday his Majesty visited the Sydenham Crystal Palace. A CABINET COUNCIL was held at the Foreign-office on Saturday last. LORD HOWDEN, British Envoy at the Court of Madrid, has arrived in Paris, en route for London. Mr. Otway, the chargé d'affaires, will perform the diplomatic duties in Madrid during his lordship's absence. It is rumoured that Lord Howden will not return to Spain, an important command in the East having been tendered for his acceptance. THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE underwent a slight stroke of paralysis towards the close of last week. His grace has since been recovering, and is stated to be progressing towards recovery. Her Majesty has been among the numerous inquirers at Devonshire house during his indisposition. THE DUKE of PORTLAND, after a long and severe indisposition, is now convalescent. THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND and suite have arrived at Milan, from a tour in the Austrian Italian States, en route to England. CHEVALIER BUNSEN'S SON, the Rev. H. G. Bun sen, M.A., Vicar of Lilleshall, Shropshire, and do mestic chaplain to the Duke of Sutherland, has been appointed "Lecture Secretary" for the Church Mis sionary Society in the diocese of Lichfield. THE EARL OF CLARENDON gave a grand dinner yesterday evening, and her ladyship afterwards had an assembly. His lordship will give a cabinet dinner on Wednesday neat. PIPER-MAJOR Ross, of the 42nd Highlanders, who carried off the prize at the Northern Meeting last year, is to be the new royal piper, vice Mackay, de , ceased. Ross gets his discharge from the regiment, and commences immediately his duties at the palace. THE EX-QUEEN OF THE FRENCH, accompanied by the Prince de Joinville, arrived at Dover on Thurs day in the mail-packet from Ostend. The ez•Queen proceeded to London yesterday morning. AN EXTREMELY BRILLIANT ENTERTAINMENT Was given at Washington on the 24th ult. in honour of the anniversary of the birth of her Majesty. Lord Elgin, all the foreign Ministers, the President, Ca binet, and nearly the entire Congress of the United States, were present in honour of the occasion. ON Saturday evening Colonel Stanhope presided at a banquet of theiGrenadier Guards at, the Loudon Tavern. Villa! and Omni. ORDERS have been issued by the Admiralty to corn mence the building of a new el-gun screw-ship, to be called the Hero. The lines are to be laid down at Chatham. The building of a screw-frigate of fifty guns, to be named the Chesapeake, has also com menced at Chatham Dockyard. THE TESTAMENTARY JURISDICTION Bar, which has passed the Lords, stands for second reading in the Commons on Monday next. Mr. Matins, the Chancery barrister, will move that it be read that day six months. CAPTAIN PETER RICHARDS, C. 8., was sworn in on Wednesday as one of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. THE EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN ELECTRIC ParSTINe TELEGRAPH COMPANY are laying down in Deptford yard an electric wire, which is to connect that es tablishment with Somerset-house and CAPTAIN R. SPENCER ROBINSON, who has written a useful pamphlet on steamers, and last commanded the Arrogant, 47, screw.frigate, is named as likely to be selected to commission the Royal Albert. THE VACANT GOOD-SERVICE PENSION, relinquished. on promotion, by Rear-Admiral Michael Seymour, has been conferred on Captain John M.Dougall. Ir is reported that Sir W. Molesworth will shortly be elevated to the peerage. The electors of South wark are already looking about for au eligible SRC cessor in the representation of their borough. THAT " THE NEWSPAPER STAMP Is DOOMED " the Liverpool Times declares it has reason to believe, and expects to find a bill for that purpose p asse d even during the present session. Our contemporary adds :—" The Attorney. General is reported to have said that there were above one hundred papers which weekly offended against the stamp laws, and that if he prosecuted one he must prosecute all. The Chan cellor of the Exchequer declares that the question as one of revenue was not worthy of mention; and, in fact, the matter has been left to the Home Secretary, who will soon bring in a bill abolishing the penny stamp on newspapers, except for postal purposes." THERE IS A "Kum "—it can only be so called—of not less than 150 miles in length, existing in one of the most populated and best traversed districts of England. This agricultural phenomenon is in the occupancy of Mr. Brotherhood, of Chipponhaw, and consists of the narrow strip of land forming the slopes and edges of the Great Western Railway. In some places between the line and the fence there may be 20 yards; in other spots it is not more than 0 feet; but all equally constitutes Mr. Brotherhood's farm, which, however narrow, is literally 150 miles long, and through its whole length—whether in grass or arable —is well, and it is said profitably, kept by the tenant, who has risen by his own industry from originally being a workman on the line. Mr. Brotherhood is besides a contractor, and has an engagement for keeping the permanent way and rails on the line in constant repair. He has a factory at Chippenhani, where lie employs 300 men. TIIE SECOND CHISViICK FLOWER, SHOW took place on Saturday last. The floral exhibition deserves as usual to be highly spoken of, and the musical attrae• tions offered to the visitors were of their wonted ex cellence. Owing, however, to the unpropitious state of the weather, which, if not wet, was almost wintry, the muster of visitors was comparatively meagre. THE OXFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY was formlly opened to the public on Thursday, the Ist inst., in presence of the Mayor and a number of the leading citizens. ANOTHER GOVERNMENT EMIGRANT -SHIP, the Tan tivy, which left Southampton on Saturday, has her passenger-berths fitted upon a new system, called the "block principle." The berths form square blocks, containing each about a dozen sleeping places, and between each block there is an open space, by which a better ventilation is secured. The whole of the blocks are taken to pieces during the day, and packed into a email compass, and thus ample room is afforded for the emigrants to move about. A RESOLUTION giving permission to the burial board to borrow 16,0001. for the purpose of laying out the grounds and erecting a church and chapel on the site of the new burial-ground at Finchley passed the Maryleboue vestry on Saturday last by a large majority. Br way of addition to the National Gallery it is stated that a collection of pictures has been pur chased on the part of the Government from Herr Kruger, of Minden. They are shortly expected to arrive in England, for delivery at their destination. _ THE METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF SEWERS held a special court on Tuesday last. The accounts showed a balance in hand from the draining account of 34,9341. 19s. 9d. ; and from the deposit account 80,0001.. from which payments were ordered to the amount of 7,108/. 15s. 441., leaving a balance of 107,8261.40.4 d. The business transacted was merely formal. THE ANNIVERSARY OF ETON FESTIVAL, " The Fourth of June," falling on Sunday, the event was celebrated on Tuesday last, in order that the preceding day's unavoidable preparations should not interfere with the Sabbath. The festival this year was honoured by the presence of Prince Albert, who was accompa nied by the King of Portugal, the Duke of Oporto, the I'rince of Wales, and Prince Alfred. The speeches were delivered, as usual, in the upper school, where a numerous company had assembled. In the evening the crews manned the boats and rowed in procession to Surley-hall. The day con cluded with feasting and fireworks. THE number of public acts passed in the present session up to the recess was nineteen. A great many private acts have received the royal assent. :