The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-23 00:00:00

TURAL soctrnrs GARDENS.

Last evening his Grace the Duke of Bucclench,
as president of the Royal Horticultural Society,
gave a conversazione in the gardens of the society,
South Kensington, in honour of the Sultan and the
Prince of Wales. The society had but short notice
of the desire of his Imperial Majesty to witness one
of their evening filtes, and in consequence no very
elaborate preparations had been made for his re-
ception. The great conservatory was, as usual on
similar occasions, brilliantly lighted with gas, and
the gardens themselves were in a moderate degree
illuminated with coloured lamps. During the
greater part of the evening there was some diffi-
culty in keeping these lamps alight in the face of a
steady fall of rain, and at no period did they make
a very brilliant &hew. The wet weather and the
anxiety to secure good places from which to wit-
ness the arrival of the Sultan prevented any one
from promenading in the gardens, or even in the
arcades ; and drove all the visitors, as they
arrived, into the conservatory, which soon became
inconveniently crowded. Down the centre of the
building a space had been reserved for the progress
of his Majesty and the illustrious persons who
were to accompany him ; and opposite the south
entrance, and immediately at the foot of the stair-
case leading to the galleries, there was an elevated
dais, upon which seats, including two chairs of
state, had been prepared for their reception. Along
the sides of the reserved space were placed rows of
chairs, which were early occupied by ladies in'
evening dresses of the most delicate textures and
the moat varied hues, and behind them the late
arrivals stood among the palms and ferns, which
had been moved aside for the occasion. The con-
versazione was supposed to commence at 9 o'clock
and terminate at twelve, but it was nearly half-past
eleven o'clock before the Sultan arrived. Those
who had come early got rather wearied
with the delay, and for an hour or so all the
' conversation in which they indulged resolved
itself into complaints of his Majesty's tardi-
ness, and the expression of wishes that he
would hasten his arrival. Shortly after eleven
o'clock the Prince and Princess Teck made their
appearance, accompanied by the Duke and Duchess
of Aosta ; and the sensation occasioned by their
entrance slightly relieved the monotony of the pro-
ceedings. About half-past eleven the Sultan and
the Prince of Wales arrived at the western entrance
to the gardens, and having been received by the
Duke of Buccleuch and several members of the
Council of the Society, were at once conducted
into the conservatory. The company rose
from their seats as they entered, and
cheered them heartily as they passed to the
dais, where they remained only a short time, and
then made a progress to the western end of the
building and back again. The Sultan, who—in
consequence, perhaps, of the unfortunate death of
Madame Miusurus—was more plainly dressed than
usual, appeared pleased with the attractive scene
which was presented to his gaze, and responded
frequently, and with a good deal of animation, to
the acclamations with which he was received. As
soon as the Imperial cortige returned to the dais, the
ropes which had hitherto excluded the visitors
from the middle of the building were removed, and
every one crowded towards the centre in order to
stare at the Commander of the Faithful. His Ma-
jesty did not appear much disturbed at the scru-
tiny to which he was subjected, and remained
seated for a short time, while the band played a
selection of music. Before his departure the
, gardens were illuminated with coloured fires ; and
although, if we mistake not, the Turks are some-
what skilled in pyrotechnics, his Majesty was
pleased to express his approval of the modes and
i achievements of the Horticultural Society.

CZYSTAL PALACE.-ONE SHILLTWO DAY.-
MomrDAT, JOLT 22.—Admissions on payment, 5,794;
ditto by season tlasts, 1,990; total Tinton, 7,084.

The 32 miles run thus passed merrily, and the
huge hull of the Seraphs came in view before any
' had begun to think of Gravesend. Here the water
was dotted with boats full of holiday folks, for they
had a regatta in hand as well as the departure of
the Belgians. There was no time for delay now,
the tide being at its lowest, and Captain Soady,
of the Seraph', eager to weigh anchor, or, to
be correct, to cast off from the moorings. The
trans-shipments were made on each aide
simultaneously, and in an incredi short -
time every Belgian was on ,' Mr.
Pascoe, Mr. Cockcroft, Captain Burger d Lieu-
tenant Furley accompanying them as representatives
of the English committee. Upon the main deck
dinner was laid for the riflemen, and there were
meat avid drink in abundance, as we can testify
from personal observation. Hungry as the men
must have been, however, they leaned over the
bulwarks to the last, cheering until the departure
had really been accomplished, shortly after five
o'clock. The English volunteers played the na-
tional anthem, and the Garde Civique the " Bra-
banconne," for the last time, while the Seraphs, by
the aid of a tug, steamed a-head. The Swift
and the ladies' boat accompanied her for half a
mile, then one cheer more, and the Belgians were
gone, withhappy recollections behind, and the pro-
spect of a night of sea-sickness before them. I
Those of the Belgian volunteers who do not
relish the long sea voyage in the Serapis—and they
are not a few—have taken their departure by
way of Dover. Large numbers arrived there on
Sunday by the South Eastern and London and
Chatham lines, and embarked in three of the
Belgian government steampackets, which were
lying in readiness to receive them. Others arrived
from London by the mail and boat trains of the
respective lines yesterday morning, and embarked
in two of the Belgian steampscketa.
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