The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-02 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE.

The programme provided by the directors of the
Crystal Palace for the amusement of their numerous
Whitsuntide patrons is of the most varied character ; and
as yesterday proved extremely fine, the attendance, as
might have been expected, was something enormous.
The palace and grounds were open at an early hour, and
before noon several thousand persons had entered and dis-
tributed themselves about. From twelve o'clock until late
in the afternoon heavily freighted trains arrived in quick
succession, bringing persona from all parts of the metro-
polis and towns in the adjacent counties. By their
appearance alone the great majority of the people
showed that they were bent upon thoroughly enjoying
themselves. Dressed in holiday attire, and with baskets
containing all kinds of creature comforts, they looked as
happy as it is possible for human beings to do. The chief
attraction inside the palace was the performance of the Jape-
nese troupe from the Lyceum Theatre. By dint of patience
and no small amount of bodily inconvenience, the people
were gradually packed in the carriages and returned to
town, no doubt heartily tared, but neverthelen brimful of
pleasant reminiscences of what they had witnessed during
the greater part of the day. These Whitsuntide amuse-
ments will be continued at the Palace to-day, and on
Wednesday there will be an additional attraction in the
concert which is to be given by 5,000 juveniles connected
with the Tonic Sol-fa Association.

ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, RECENT'S-PAUL -
Yesterday Mr. John Waterer opened his annual show of
rhododendrons, which, as everyone knows, is perhaps the
finest thing in its way in the world. The rhododendron in

the hands of scientific cultivators is a Sower of very high
pretensions indeed ; but when a large number of
varieties are brought together and grouped with taste
the result is splendid, almost beyond conception.
If the plant were not scentless, and if it had a
perfume at all worthy of its beauty, Mr. Waterer's tent
would be paradise—as it is, it is a study of oolour not to
be equalled. Amongst his more recent triumphs may be
noted the new seedlings called Aurora, bright rosy trim-
son ; Dictator, dark crimson with dark spots ; Gemmatum,
bright scarlet with dark spots; Joseph Whitworth, dark
purple lake with dark spots ; Lady Grenville, white
centre, with band of purple ; Mrs. Thomas Longman, rosy
crimson ; Ornarnentum, rosy scarlet ; Princess Mary,
white centre, with rosy-purple edging ; Sir Joseph Whit-
worth, very light crimson, J c., &a Mr. Waterer has alao
a fins show of asaleaa and balmlike. The gardens, however,
do not need any special attraction, for they are just now
perfectly charming. The weather, it may be stated, has
been exceptionally favourable. Thus, last March there
were but three days of those easterly winds which, what-
ever Mr. Kingsley may say, floriculturista will always regard
as pestilential, wherees in March, 1867, there were no
fewer than twenty of these visitations. The able sad
energetic secretary, Mr. Sowerby, has arranged an inte-
resting collection of Abyssinian plants, numbering two
hundred specimens. It seems that the Abyednian Flora,
unlike, hat of other Afrieuk countries, has singular affini-
ties with our own.'

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETE'S-GARDENS, REGENT'S-PARK.
—Yesterday being one of the " principal feasts of the
year," thee. gardens were crowded with visitors through-
out the day, as is always the cam os such ocaseloos. when
the weather is favourable. The gams were °peered to the
public at nine o'clock, and wire quickly beast with a
throng of eager applicants for admission, who Increased in
numbers as the day advanced. During the afternoon, not
telqat.te walks, but asarly all the open spaces within the
ti;-were occupied with dense comma of eighteens, and
ep—. favourites among the anima/s, sea as the
rWmarot, and hippopotamuses, were quite now
proaaltable. The gardens were closed at sunset, when the
total number of admissions was ascertained to have beta
2&,0011. In spite of this vast concourse of people, we sae
glad to be able to add that no sort of disturbance took
place, nor was any injury sustained by the society's erten-
dm 'series of living animals, which is new Mated to
mount to upwards of 2,100 in number.

WI,B7IIINE7ZB ABBEY SPECIAL EVENING SIB-
' ricis.—Preaohen for June :—June 7, the Archbishop of
Dublin; June 14, the Dean of Canterbury ; June 21, the
Bishop of Oxford; Jun 28, the iter. Professor Jewett.