The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-27 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE.-MAY•DA IT FESTIVAL.

On Friday night, at Exeter-hall, there was a
aelisareal of the choral pieces to be performed at the Crystal
Palate on the Ist of May ; on which occasion Mendelmobn's
Mlle for Racine's tragedy of 41/irilie is to be performed on
a male of unprecedented magnificence. The orchestra is to
eempries 196 violins and violas, 90 violoncellos and double-
-20 harps, and an adequate proportion of wind in-
skim:ants ; and the entire bend and chorus will consist of
bleat 2.500 voices.
la addition to the musk of Atka, it, the overtures com-
posed by Meverlueer and Aube: for the opening of the
great International Exhibition on the let of May last will
be performed in a manner calculated to produce a much
greater effect than they did on that occasion. As a vast
reeccurie of visitors from all parts of the kingdom is anti-
cip►ted, extensive arrangements have been made for first.
slam immune@ trains from maay districts of the country,
and for fmihmting the conveyance from the various qnar-
WI of the metropolis.

M. Verdi i., at preAent in Paris, and engaged in
mapeliateoding the revival of his opera of Lea Vtprts
Meilienna.

BOTANICAL GARDENS PLOWER SHOW.

On SAturday the Royal Botanical Society held
Sok third and last exhibition of opriog Boners for 1863,

which isearedenceess. The weather

was delightful ; the bright sunshine, clear blue sky, and
warm balmy atmosphere resembling much more the end
ef May than the third week of April. The gardens are
•ew is all their spring charms, ►nd, with the
sodded attraction of a collection of blossoms and
bilsesoming plants, contributed by the mast suconneful
prefessiolal and amateur growers of the metropolitan area,
attracted. as might be expected, a numerous as well as a
haioriable company. Prominent amongst the exhibited
Sewers were the roma, is whisk, as usual, the Paul, of
Clbsehent and Waltham Creme, and the Turners of Slough,
were the most successful competitors. The azaleas were
enesedingly good, the auriculas and papillae were also de
Earring of praise, but rhododendrons were both scares and
indifferent, owing probably to the same cause which, m
mopeds later flowers, added to the splendour of the show—
via., the forwardness of the season.

HORSHAM, DORKTHO, AND LIATHEETERAD RAIL-
WAY.—the ceremony of cutting the first sod of this new
Los of r won performed on Saturday, at Horsham, by
Seymour Fitzgerald, LP., the chairman of the corn-
gamy. in the presence of most of the directors and a large
preporhoe of the MU of the neighbourhood. Although ik
is intended to carry the line on to Leatherhead, and there
to consent it with the Brighton system—an act for that
perpres baring towed the Home of Common. in the 111.0
met session—parliamentary sanction has as yet only beau
°Mailed for that portion of the project between Horsham
and Dodds'. Commencing close to the existing railway
Mimics at Horsham, the line proceeds northward for 13
odes, through Wareham ()ciley, Copal, and the Holm-
weed, at Mob of which places there will be stations. It is
Imetaded that the line shall be worked by the Brighton Dom-
may, and as a bill is before parliament fat shortening
the distance between Leatberbeed and London by
leer miles, the whale distance frau Victoria Station $
Benham by this route will be 35 miles. At Horsham
vicious rioting Ham of railway converge upon the new
bee, and the result will be greatly to shorten the distaste
between hoodoo awl the west of Amadei. including Chi.
Aim, Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight. Arundel
heat for instance, will he brought within 55 miles of the
metropolis, as against GS mike by the present route. By
this project, in addition to ournemee local advantages, a sew
ma line will be established between London and Brighton.
=g by Shoreham, Horsham, Dorking, and Leather-
which will be entirely distiact from the existing main
Kw, and only a few mites longer. On the line there will
be only two abort tunnels between London and Brightou—
ewe at Dorkieg of a little over 300 yards and the other at'
Ilialeham of sheet 500 yards, the passage through each of
which will only °coop! the fraction of a minute. The
Zof the line from Horsham to Dorking is 13 miles,
leh
the capital is 130,0001. in shares and 40,0004 in dr
botanic
Loss or Arrirrrra, WEALNIML ea—A Tonic.—
Dr. WasesU and the medical profession recommend that 'nimble
WiMaelaat Waters' Quinine Wine." Manufactured only by
Sows Meters. k Martirtstane, Carmonstmet, London. F. C.
aim b's Wooers. Italian warehousemen. and others, at ton a
rbem. 1 leboiwale agents, L !awls and Co., WorceMer.-lAd-
weillsemeet