The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-17 00:00:00

[STAMPED, id. ADDITIORAL.]

THE SULTAN'S VISIT TO THE CRYSTAL
PALACE.

The directors of the Palace had done everything yesterday
in their power to receive in a becoming manner the distin-
gashed guest who was to honour them with a visit. The
I royal boxes in front of the great orchestra had been speci-
allydeprated for the occasion. Approaching them from the
tent-like ante-room, the eye fell upon rare pleats and
lovely flowers disposed in the most teetotal manner around
the walls. Here and there groups of statuary had been
introduced, and the effect of the white figures
standing oat against the deep green of the leaves
in -which they were embowered was very charm-
ing. In the corners of the room lofty mirrors
had been placed, and in the centre a sparkling fountaia,
surrounded by flowers. As the flowers were mostly noes,
in ripe luxuriance of bloom, the air was filled with a rich
sweetness that seemed full of Oriental suggestion.
At about a quarter before five o'clock the first part of
the cowed commenced with Rossini's overture to La
Oa= Leder, brilliantly played by the combined orches-
tras of Her Majesty's Theatre and the Crystal Palace, with
the addition of a powerful military band.
The first part of the concert over, the desire to know
something respecting the movements of the Sultan became
general, and many were the inquiries as to when he
might be expected. The we►ther having brightened,
though showers were from time to time telling, a lame
number of the company proceeded to the pounds, which
soon became agreeably diversified by moving groups. It
was not, however, until 7 o'clock that his Majesty entered
the park. So few of those present pen then knew in
what direction to expect him,that when he entered by what is
familiarly called the Scott Russell entrance at Sydenham.
There were only five policemen and one or two stray spec-
tators awaiting him there, although a crowd of several
hundreds had assembled outside. The privileged few,
however, were not much to be envied ; for, partly perhaps
because his Majesty was late, and partly because. a smart
shower was falling, the carriages and four containing the
expected visitors drove in at such a rapid rate th►t it was
almost impossible to identify any of their occupants•
It soon became known, however, that the Sultan and his
suite, together with the Princeof Wales, bad really arrived,
and at once, by preconcerted signal, the whole of the foun-
tains began to play. Then the excitement reached its
height. The grand terrace soon became one mass of spec-
tators ; the avenues and paths in the grounds were astir
with eager crowds. Fortunately the carriages slackened
speed as they passed through the perk, to enable the
Sultan to view the wonderfully beautiful scene about him,
so that the prospect of getting a glimpse at the royal
features by hard running and short cuts was
not so hopeless as it seemed at first. After
passing by the Rosary, just now in its full per
fecticas, the carriages, with their red-coated outriders,
their steaming horses, and their mud-bespattered
postilions, returned towards the upper part of the grounds.
A few minutes afterwards the Sultan reached the small
and out-of-the-way entrance which bad been specially set
apart for him, close to the Alhambra Court. Alighting
there, he passed through the Egyptian Court and
the Fine Arts Court, from which throughout the day
the public had beep rigidly excluded by barriers ;
and so, amid the cheers of those who were able to see
him and of those who were compelled to take his arrival
for granted, he made his way to the saloon attached to
the royal rooms, where dinner had been provided for the
unusual guests.

Shortly after the time appointed (a quarter put eight),
the second part of the concert commenced with the
quartet from Weber's (*mon, " R tempest*" (" Over the
dark blue waters"), snag by Malls. Titiens, Madame Tre-
belli-liettini, Signor Gardoni, and Mr. Bentley. The
Sultan being now seated in the royal box, at about a
quarter before nine, the National Anthem was sung by the
chorus, alternated with role* for the principal vocalists ;
after which the Ode to the Sultan, specially written for
the occasion by Zafiraki Effendi, and set to music by
Signor Arditi, was performed.
Signor Arditi's music is written with much rigour
and thorough knowledge of brilliant orchestral and
choral effects, and some occasional touches of that
special characteristic of musical style known as
"AIL Turca." There are some clever contrasts
in the alternation of the choral and solo strain, ; and some
of the climaxes are brilliantly and effectively wrought.
Both the Ode and the National Anthem were performed
amidst much excitement, and those surging sounds, some-
times subsiding then rising high, which result from
110 immense assemblage whose attention and inte-
rest are fixed elsewhere than on the immediate per-
formance.

Immediately upon the conclusion of the concert the
fireworks commenced, but long before that the grounds,
the terraces, and the rooms from which a good view of the
display could be obtained were crowded with spectators.
The night after so dull and troubled a day was singularly
clear and calm, and the moon shone out with a soft bright-
nese that gave a new beauty to the scene. It was even a
matter of regret with some of the spectators that owing to
the moonlight the fireworks could not be seen to so much
advantage as they would have been had the sky been
darker.

fu the course of the evening a printed announcement was
posted up in the building, stating that his Majesty the
Sultan had generously given 1,0001. to the Palace Resto-
ration Fund.

HEREFORD MUSICAL FESTIVAL. —The programme
of the 144th Festival of the Three Choirs of Hereford,
Gloucester, and Worcester is just completed. The meet
ing will be held at Hereford on Angela 20, 21, 22, and
23, as already announced, and is under the especial
patronage of the Queen, the Prince and Princess of
Wales, and the Duke of Cambridge. The principal fea-
tures in this year's festival will be the re-appearance in
public of Madame Lind-Goldechroidt, and the production
of a new sacred Pastoral by herhusband Otto Goldschmidt.
The other principals engaged are Mdlle. Tistjens, Miss
Edith Wynne, Miss Julia Elton, Madams Patsy Why-
took, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. Montere Smith, Mr. Santley,
and Mr. Weiss. Mr. Townahend Smith, the talented
organised Hereford Cathedral, and upon whom the burthen
of the arrangements falls, is the conductor of the festival.
The order of the proceedings is, in brief, as follows:
Tuesday morning, overture (Lost Judgment), two an.
theme, and Handel's /arse/ in Engpt. Wednesday morn-
ing, Mendelssohn's Elijah (Thursday morning. Otto
Goldschmidt's Ruth and Mozart's Requiter. Friday
morning, the Messiah. Madame Goldschmedt sings at all
the morning performances at the Cathedral, but not at
the evening concerts of secular music. These come off on
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings at the Shire
Hall, and. epeeist for the most part of miscellaneous selec-
tions from the works of the best composers. On Wednes-
dayevening, however, the first part of the concert will
consist. of Handel's Aria and Galatea. There will be •
"chamber concert" on Friday evening at the College
Hall, which will terminate in time for the ball, which, as
usual, winds up the week's festivaL The band and choral
body will both be enlarged. There will be early daily
merning cerviee at the Cathedral, and the usual annual
sermon will be preached by the Dean of Hereford.
ADMIRALTY, .JULY 13. —ROYAL MARINE LIGHT
hammer. —The following named gentlemen have been
appointed second lieutenants :—John Beckwith Leefe,
William Hutcheson Poe, Herbert Eyre Robbins, George
Harker Cooke, Francis Macnamara Faulkner, George
Gillman, Como George Gordon, Henry Byron Woods.
Gaixtte.
ADMIRALTY,_ JULY 16. —APPOINTwasra. —Staff
Commander C. R. P. Forbes to the Formidable. Lieute-
nant J K. Morris to the Royal Adelaide. Assistant Pay-
masters W. A. Stevens to the Mandist, D. Acheson to the
Minotaur. Clerk T. F. Harrison to the St. Vincent. Naval
Cadet (nominated) G. H. Miller.
COFFEE-HOUSE KEEPERS' BENEVOLENT ASSOCIA-
TION.—The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the above
society was held last evening at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet.
street ; Mr. R. Harries in the chair. Mr. Rogers, the secre-
tary, read the repot* which stated that the society was pro-
gressing in the most satisfactory manner. The various en-
tertainments during the half-year in aid of the funds had
proved highly remunerative. The number of pensioners
now on the tuna was 17, and an additional pensioner
would be elected at the present meeting. The total income
for the half-year, including a balance of 391., had been
362/. 14i. 3d., and the expenditure, including 1091. 10s.
paid to the pensioners, had been 142/. its. ld., leaving a
balance of 1591. 16s. 2d. The invested fund now amounted
to 47991. 13e. Bd.
PATTERNS OP MERCHANDISE FOR THE WESTERN
COAST or APRICA.—Book packets and packets of patterns
and samples of merchandise addressed to places on the
Western Coast of Africa will in future be despatched only
by the packet leaving Liverpool oa the 2elh et mob
month.