The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-23 00:00:00

THE MINISTERIAL WHITEBAIT DINNER.
Yesterday evening the preliminary ministerial dinner to
the closing of the session took place at the Trafalgar,
Greenwich. There were present (coven being laid for
46) the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Montrose, the
Duke of Beaufort, the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos,
the. Marquis of Exeter, the Marquis of Abercorn, the Earl
of Loneord, the Earl of Ma o, the Earl of Devon, the
Earl Cadogs.n, viscount Strathallea Viscount
R
Viscount Hawarden, the Lord Chancellor, Lord H. Gordon
Lemnos, Lord Ointon, Lord Colville, Lord Begot, Lord
R. Montagn, Lord J. Manners, the Right Hon. Sir Staf-
ford Norecote, Bart, the Right Hon. Sir J. Pakington,
the Right Hon. Ben amen Disraeli, the Right Hon. Ed-
ward S. Gordon, the • ht }lon. Robert R. Warren, Ge-
neral the Right Hon. Percy E. Herbert, the Bight Hon.
Stephen Cave, the Right Hon. C. R. Adderley, the Right
Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon.
J. R. Mowbray, the Right Hon. Colonel Wilton Patten,
the Right Hon. Gathome Hardy, Hon. Gerard Neel,
Hon. C. Lindsay, Sir 2dishael H. Beach, the Solicitor.
General Sir W. B. Brett, Sir J. Fergana; Sir J. Hay,
Sir J. Karslake, Sir Graham Montgomery,Coloncl Taylor,
Mr. G. Sclater-Booth, Mr. Du Cane, Mr. 11. Whitmo
and Mr. E. C. Egerton. Lord Stanley was
meeting his political friends from other ang marts.
THE NATIONALWELEH FESTIVAL.—The national
Eisteddfod of Wales will this year be held se Retina,
upon the 4th, 6th, 6th, sad 7th of August, and every
effort is being made by the committee to ensure its tw-
eeds. The presidents this year are Sir W. W. Wynne,
Bart., M. Mr. T. Mainwa rag, M.P., Mr. Cornwallis
West, Ruthin Castle, and the Mr
urnricr: Rut his. The
long list of rioe-presidents, incl the names of the
Bishop of St. David's, Lord Hill vor, M.P., the
Right Hon. H. A. Brace, M.P., and many other tnfinen-
tad gentlemen connected with the principality, either by
birth or residence. The general plan of the festival very
nearly resembles that carried out at Carmarthen last year,
the morning sittings being devoted to competitions for the
various prizes offered for musical and !Marary composi-
tion and singing, and the evening to miseous 0011-
°arta, for which Miss Edith Wynne, Mr. Cummings, Yr.
Lewis Thomas, and other popular artistes are
Prizes to the amount of 4801 will he award:V:li
various competitions. In connection with the Eisteddfod
en exhibition of works of art and also of industry and
natural products of Wales will be held in the assembly
rooms. 'lire experiment was tried in a small way at Car-
marthen, but the committee state that the approaching
exposition will be upon a grander smile than bus ever yet
been attempted in the principality, and mention as
amon the contributors the Earl of Denbigh, Viscoun-
te" .rtancilm, Lord Begot, Lord Delamere, Sir W. W.
Wynne, lonel Biddulph, M.P., the Hon. Mrs. Rowley,
and Lady Marshall. Social science meetings, under the
presidency of Mr. Hugh Owen, will on the first three
moinfirgs of the festival precede the general meeting in
the pavilion. A 'al attraction is provided for the lad
day, when a grand performance of the Messiah w).11 be
given by a selection of singers from the famous native
• a*who will have the advantage of the conductorship
Haab.