The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-18 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE.

We were almost surprised to futd at this early period
of the season, and with such unmistakeable signs of wet
weather overhead, so numerous and fashionable an irradiates
as tilled the concert•room at the Crystal Palace on Saturday
last. The company quite overflowed the space allotted, and
blocked up all the doorways. The miscellaneous concert
was good, and carefully performed as usual, but the
peat awl immediate attraction was the famous Belgian
violinist, M. Vieurtemps, who played an elaborate concerto
of Lie own with wondrous tone, certainty, and power, and
afterwards completely electrified the audience by has per-
formance of "St. Patrick's-day." The directors have not
as yet completed their programme for the summer season,
but probably musical entertainment, on a gigantic
scale will be among the most prominent features.
The celebrated M. Blondin has, we understand,
made repeated proposals for a series of his ex-
traordisary performances, but as yet it is not de-
cided whether his name is or is not to figure in the
bills. The success of the School of Art has, we believe,
quite equalled the most sanguine expectations. The draw-
ing and music classes are filling rapidly, and the scientific
lectures are delivered to constantly iocreamieg audiences.
Not only have these schools absorbed all the teaching of the
neighbourhood, but their establishment has caused an in-
creased demand for houses, and given a proportionate im-
pulse to building in the vicinity. The refreshment depart-
ment u being entirely remodelled, under the personal super-
intendence of Mr. Strange, and that enterprising caterer
pledges himself that when the excursion neaten comes
round, "the million" will be better cared for and more
liberally treated than under any previous management.

THE SPECIAL SUNDAY EVENING SERVICES.
YeNtercLty evening the nave of Westminster Abbey was
completely filled by an auditory composed to a consi-
derable eateut of working men, for whom the special
services were mainly designed. Full choral service was per-
formed, the prayers being said by the Rev. Precentor Haden,
who appeared to be labouring under indisposition. Gene-
rally he is well beard by the whole congregation, but last
night his voice *as feeble, and at times he was scarcely
heard half way up the nave. The sermon was preached by
the Rev. Dr. W. C. Magee, minister of Quebec Chapel, 84.
klarylebose, who hes recently been nominated to the rectory
of Roniskillen, Ireland. He selected far his text the second
verge of the second chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the
Hebrews :—" For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast,
and every trampoline and disobedience received a just re-
compense el reward, sew shall we 'Nape, if we meekest so
great eavatios As soon as the mai& pert of the ser-
vice was over, sad the reedier had coesosuced the prayer
preparatory to the Bermes, upwards ol 100 ponces rose and
left the church, nosing much contemns. They were all
well-dressed pineal. Me 'arises at the Abbwzgt
San-
der evening will be preached by the Bev. Dr.
Wordsw, otos el the nacos residestisry. The serums
at St. Paul's, bra sight, was prowled by the Bishop of
Cork. Exeter Ball was dowdy crowded. 7'he serums was
preached by the Rev. Canes M Intr. D.D., rector of
lbea-
iogbam. Neat Sunday the Rev. Emilio Bailey, redo el
dt. George's, Bloomsbury, will he the pereahee.