The Express.
London, England, 1863-06-29 00:00:00

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

By the erection of the Crystal Palace, horticul-
ture, in the person of Sir Joseph Paxton, has fairly check-
mated that surly deity, " the clerk of thew eather," whale
aversion to floral exhibitions used appareny to equal that
which Lord Burleigh is said Where cherished for theimmor-
tal versed Spenser. Having found that he can now do no
great harm, be (the clerk aforesaid) has grown positively
amiable ; and ea Saturday last, although his early arrange-
ments evidently hinted at a rainy day, he vouchsafed wee-
Cher for the great rose show at Sydenham, that in the
glades of Chiswick would have been bailed with de-
light. It is noneceseary to tell how many thoomnd persons
hurried down to the palace as soon as it became
clear how matters were going to be ; and as for the show,
it turned out to be a most remarkable spectacle. On •
long range of tables, reaching about half the length of one of
the naves, roses in unusually large numbers displayed their
somewhat monotonous charms, and attracted • crowd of
admirers so overwhelming that it was almost as great a
feat to obtain a glimpse of them as it need to be to fight
one's way to Menem. Garrard's jewel ease when it enshrined
the wondrous lustre of the Koh-i-Noor. The collection
was certainly a splendid one, both in point of numbers and
of excellence. The flowers of Mr. Turner, from the royal
nurseries at Slough, as usual attracted much notice, but
many others were almost equally as good. The company
itself, on such occasions, is always the chief attraction ; and
the promenade appeared to have an irresistible charm
for the crowd of well-dressed ladies and gentlemen who
filled both uaveeduring the morning. Mr. Morton's well.
knew' Haymarket farce, Fitznnytke of Fitzemythritall,wsa
performed by Mr. Buckstone, Mr. W. Farm, Mr. Rogers,
Mrs. Wilkins, &c. ; but the occasion did not prove • very
propitious one for the drama. The buss of couversatioa sad
the ooisa of so many footsteps made the farce almost as
unintelligible to klarge portion of those who listened to it as
the opening piece at an Est-end theatre on • boxing-night.
Mr. Mann's accomplished band entertained the company
with • favourite selection of music, and Mr. Coward also
gave a performance on the great organ.

The arrangements for the present week at Her
Majesty's Theatre comprise Us Salto is Maschers (Tues-
day), Faust (Wednesday, extra night), and Norma (Satur-
day), with Mademoiselle Titiem as Norma, Mademoiselle
Artdt as Adaler, Signora Commie Bettini and Bagagioli
(their first appearance), as Pattie and Groves°.
The arrangements for the week at the Royal
Italian Opera, Covent-garden, include Masanietto (to.
night--extra); Martha (Tuesday); Faust, or se here
'Mat e Marguerite iThnreday) ; Martha (Friday—
extra) ; and Faust e Marguerite (Saturday). The dramatis
persona in M. Gounod's opera are thus distributed :—Mar-
omits, Madame Miolan-Carvalho (its original represen-
tative) ; 3iebel, Madame Didite ; Marta, Mademoiselle
Lustani ; Valentine, Signor Graziani ; Wagner, Signor
Tagliafieo ; Mephistopheles, M. Faure ; and Faust, Signor
Temberlik.
In consequence of the great and increasing success
of the fancy bazaar in the International Exhibition Build-
ing, for the benefit of the Royal Hospital for Incurables,
the attractions of the past week will be cautioned during
to-day ; and that portion of the picture gallery in which
the Guards' ball IVY given on Friday night will also
remain on view, in aid of this benevolent and useful
institution.
The farmers of Essex are rising against the
Bishop of Rochester. That prelate recently rebuked the
Rev, J. C. Davies for varying his ministerial duties with
farming and social convene with farmers. Last week the
annual dinner of the Essex Agricultural Society and the
marriage of Mr. Du Cane, M.P., both took place. Mr. Du
Cane sent champagne in large quantities to the dinner, and
his constituents toasted him. That was not, however, what
they did for the Bishop of Rochester. Fired with indigna-
tion at his treatment of Mr. Davies, they refused to drink
the bishop's health, and the scene became so animated that
the chairmen had to threaten to expel one of the sturdy
agriculturists. There was no stopping the clamour, how-
ever. It grew until speechmaking became impossible, and
the meeting closed in even a noisier fashion than usual.
"The Eton boys," says the Spectator, "have re-
established a magazine called Etonensia, and their first
number is a very creditable performance. There is an essay
on Arthur Hallam, very nicely written, and one on words
set to music, which shows humour and literary skill.
The grandeur of the youthful editors is rather
amusing. Of one essay which they decline, they say,
of this effusion they will say no more than that its went
of the poetic element disqualified it at once from appear-
ance in our pages.' The editors are classical, but, as Mr.
Pecksniff meta it, pagan, we regret to say.' They an-
nounce for July the appearance of certain papers,
not D.V.,' nor even 'Deo volente,' but This volentibus.'
We trust the divinities invoked may prove propitious, as
the lads really show a good share of literary capacity."
Ma. ROEBUCK'S MOTION. —TIIO London Renew
observes of the hon. member for Sheffield :—" If Mr. Roe.
buck hoists himself into Fontainebleau as a ministerialist,
be is thrusting himself into a place which we pay Lord
Russell and Lord Cowley to occupy. If be goes as a private
and independent member, he puts himself in the position of
a minority in the house, intriguing with a foreign govern.
meat for the purpose of forcing the baud of the English
ministry. From either course an !nameable man would
in ordinary cases shrink ; and in pursuing a contrary
line Mr. Roebuck does sot consult his reputation. Ws are
not alone in stigmatising these officious interferences with
the natural channels of diplomacy as a pleas of impertinence
to the nation on the part of the principal offenders. If the
French Emperor inquires of the first Englishman he meets
whet position Mr. Roebuck holds in the estimation of the
world, he will not thank the self-accredited ambassador who
has presented himself at the French palace. The answer
would be, that Mr. Roebuck is a gentlemen who, in the last
ten years, has succeeded in winning the reverse of public
confidence and esteem ; that his violent displays in
parlia-
meet, or on the more congenial stage of a town hustings,
excite the contempt of quiet and educated politicians ; that,
at hest, his highest ambition seems to be to represent the
passions of a by no means exalted class of the public ; and
that his recent iotemperanos of language towards the Ame-
limn race has made him the lest man in Europe who can
poem forward with words of pesos sod dignified couciliatioe."