The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-09 00:00:00

ONE PENNY.

SIR ROBERT NAPIEIt AT THE CRYSTAL
PALACE.

The public reception of Sir Robert Napier at
the Crystal Palace yesterday went smoothly from
first to last. The crowds assembled were as en-
thusiastic as the most indent advocate of hero-
worship could desire; the General and his Staff
looked stout and strong and happy, and from
their first being recognised on the outside balcony,
when the entire system of fountains played,
through the concert, to the time of their leaving
the building, their appearance was the signal for
loud and prolonged cheers. Such members
of the staff as accompanied Sir Robert
Napier to the Crystal Palace were, like
their chief, in plain clothes; and at the
luncheon table nothing was to be seen more mar-
tial than at any semi-public breakfast to which
ladies and gentlemen are asked. This took place
in a private corridor between the back of the date
boxes in the centre transept and the opening to
the balcony overlooking the grounds. It was
quite private, and not more than forty or fifty
people sat down. Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P.,
occupied one vice-chair, and among those present
were— Major-General Baker. Major-General Boi-
leau, Major-General Scott and Mrs. Scott. Mrs.
Cavendish Bentinck, Mrs. Dundas, Miss North-
cote, Captain Napier, A.D.C., Captain Holland
and Miss Holland, Coma Moore, Mr. and Mrs.
Gordon, Mr. J. Peters, Major C. Scott, Lord
Petersham, and Mr. and Mrs. Hecley.
During the progress of the banquet, the crowds
which bud cheered their fill during the half-hour
preceding it, divided. Half kept in the gardens
listening to the band instrumentalists playing
before the centre transept entrance, and half
took up their positions m the transept itself,
patiently waiting for four o'clock, when Sir
Robert Napier and his friends were to show them-
selves again. This was the great reception of the
day, and took place at four o'clock. The people
seemed as if they could never tire of expressing
their loud-mouthed congratulations. Again and
again did the mighty volumes of sound burst forth
from hundreds of stout lungs; and again and
again did the quiet-looking gentleman with
the black hair and the white moustache bow
pleasantly to his constituents. It was rather
like a popular electioit, at which lady
voters were in the majority. Immediately below
the state boxes, and opposite the orchestra, were
assembled the soldiers and non-commissioned
(Accra who had served with Sir Robert Napier in
Abyssinia. Their bright uniforms and bronzed
faces made u distinct line; next to which came the
gay dresses and animated forma of the general
public. The reserved scats were full, the un-
reserved seats were full, the galleries were
full, and every inch of standing room beyond
was crowded too. At a few minutes before
four there was that peculiar hum and bustle of
anticipation which always denotes an excited
crowd. In spite of the cheering a vast portion of
those present indulged in at two o'clock, they were
evidently anxious to begin again, and when a
couple of volunteers in uniform strayed into some
unoccupied seats, they were saluted from all aides
with the sort of indiscriminate and sweeping chaff
given to the familiar racecourse dog. But when,
after a false alarm or two, the hero of the day
really came to the front the entire assembly rose
and with ono voice proclaimed their welcome.
After Beethoven's Battle Symphony a concert was
given, at which Mr. Sims Reeves sang " England
yet " and the " Death of Nelson," and where a
variety of other artistes sang other songs, some
appropriate and some inappropriate to the emir
don. The grand display of fireworks and illumi-
nation of the fountains took place at a quarter to
ten.

A word as to the refreshments supplied to the
general public at the Crystal Palace. It is well
known that those astute purveyors, Messrs. Ber-
tram and Roberts, cater energetically, and in the
main well. Their viands yesterday all were
ex-
cellent of their kind. But on what principle is
one shilling and ninepence charged for a pint of
rin ordinaire ? At this moment some of the lead-
ing West-end clubs are supplying a sound claret at
one shilling the bottle, and sixpence the pint ;
and at many railway refreshment rooms, notably
at Ludgate-hill and Victoria, an excellent wine is
sold at two shillings the bottle and one shilling
the pint. In these days, when light wine is the
formidable and growing rival of malt liquor, a
minimum charge of one shilling and ninepence
for a drink of it must often act as a prohibition.

THE EXPERIMENTS AT f3HOEBURYNESS.

SOUTHEND, WEDNESDAY.
Another day's experiments at Shoeburyness have
not brought us much further than we were before,
although it has made assurance doubly sure with
respect to the inadequacy of the Plymouth Break-
water fort target in resisting the attacks of the
rifled guns and Palliser missiles. The trials com-
menced much earlier than usual, and were con-
tinued during heat the hire of which has not been
known for many years upon that defenceless heath.
Four more shells, making the number 36 in all,
were fired from the land defence mortar as before,
at an angle of CA degrees, at the concrete roof of
the Plymouth Fort target. Strange to say, not a
shell has hit the mark. although the other day,
when it was protected with a seven-feet depth of
earth, two shells were pitched upon it in the
course of an hour. Wherever the concrete has
been hitherto struck it bus not been in vain, and
there was little hope amongst the spectators that
the live shell at any rate would have wrought its
mission without some very decided consequences.
The experiments, as on previous occasions,
have been keenly watched by officers belonging
to foreign governments and by many eminent
scientific men and manufacturers of our own
country. The courtesy of Colonel Eardley
Wihuot, superintendent of experiments, Major
Curtis, Major Alderson, Captain Noble, and
other gentlemen officially concerned in the
xperiments, entitles them to the thanks of all
uho have from time to time come in contact with
them. The next experiments will be with the
3lillwall shield.

A great demonstration in support of the estab-
lished church in Irelaxd is, it is raid, to take plans at the
Crystal Palace on Monday, the 17th of August. Amongst
those who will take part in it are the Marquis of Exeter,
the Marquis of Cholmondeley, the Earl of Harrowby, Earl
Manvers, Lord Nevill, Sir Walter R. Farquhar, Bart., and
Mardinge Giffard, Q.C.
The Simoom, screw troopship, Captain S. B.
Lethbridge, arrived at Portsmouth from Alexandria and
Malta, with Abyssinian and other troop! on board, cam-
priming the 10th company of Royal Engineers under the
command of Major E. D. Pritchard, 21 other officers, and a
number of soldiers from various regiments, and some sea-
men and marines from the ships of war at Malta. The
Simoom sailed from Alexandria on the 20th of June, from
Malta on the 25th, and called in at Gibraltar on the Ist of
July. The troops were disembarked yesterday, and sort
on by rail to regimental headquarters.
ADMIRALTY, JULY B.—APPOINTMENTS.--(iorn-
mender P. H. Colomb, to the Dryad ; Sub-Lieutenants
A. C. Carew and B. J. 8. 0. Carter, to the Irresistible;
and Navigating Sub-Lieutenant unes B. Clark, to the
Ifstma.
RAILWAY An) OTHER BULB BEFORE PARLlA-
=sr.—Yesterday, in the House of Lords, in Group C in
Lord Relierdale's committee. the Chichester and Midhurst
Railway, the East London Railway, and the Great Eastern
Railway Bills were pawed with amendments, and ordered
to be repotted. In the House of Commons, in Mr. Dod-
eon's cslumittre, the Bristol and North Somerset Raikway,
the Ardmore Harbour, the Star A.seurance Society, and
the Laml.eth Market Bills were pawed and ordered to be
into t

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