The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS; FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 12, 1868.

Tula• HANDEL PEST I, REHEARSAL.
(THIS DAY)

(FROZ OUR OWN oolizzaroxourr.)
CRYSTAL PALACE, FRIDAY Arrirrom

The Handel Festival Rehearsal has commenced,
with every prospect of being a great encores, and
a fitting inauguration of the grand performance
of next week. The preparittions and organisation
tseem excellent, and no confusion is likely to mar
the effect. The chairs are arranged on the ground-
floor with mathematical precision, inside the en-
closure. Ten thousand tickets have been sold.

The member; of the orchestra and visitors began
to arrive a little before 10, and thenceforth the
arrivals were rapid. The grounds np to noon
were brilliant with elegantly dressed ladies.
The royal box on the south aide of the transept
will probably not be unoccupied to-day.
At half-past 12 the conductor, Signor Costa,
appeared in front of the orchestra, and was greeted
with a loud clapping of hands from the instru-
mentalists and choristers, who by this time were
all in their allotted places. The audience were
then rapidly gathering, especially towards the
front ; and from the 'galleries the ladies' dresses,
comprising the most attractive hues, presented a
brilliant spectacle.

The rehearsal commenced at 1 o'clock with
the National Anthem, which, swollen as the
choral parts were by such an immense multi-
tude of instruments and voices, produced a
magnificent effect. The solo parts were not taken.
This introduction was immediately followed by
the chorus in the Messiah, " And the Glory
of the Lord," after which came, with grand
effect, the " Hallelujah " and "Amen."
The next portion of the rehearsal consisted of a
selection from Saul, commencing with the
chorus, " How excellent thy name, 0 Lord."
This was succeeded by the air, "An infant raised,"
which was sweetly and effectively rendered by
Madame Lezumens-Sherrington, and this again,
by the semi-chorus, " Along the monster," and
the difficult chorus, " The youth inspired."

After some other choruses the Saul selection
concluded with the " Dead March," the perform-
ance of which was an admirable illustration
of the sublime and incomparable genius
of Handel. The subsequent pieces for re-
hearsal included the touching recitative
from Jephthah, " Deeper and deeper still,"
and the exquisite air, " Waft her angels," in which
Mr. Sims Reeves could not fail, as heretofore, to
carry his audience into the highest region of
musical ecstacy.
The first part of the rehearsal terminated about
half-past 2. The second, consisting of a mis-
cellaneous "selection" and of eight pieces from
Israel in Egypt, would extend to about 5 o'clock.
It may- be added that there were indications
that the country has, as wmal at these festivals,
furnished a large quota of visitors.

RAILWAY, MINING, AND OTHER
SHARR&-(THIS DAL)

COLONIALIGOISICIIIIITIES.
Canada Government, 6 per centv Jan. and July, 1877 to
1884, 106, i.
Do., 6 per cent., Jan. and July, 94.
Natal Government, 6 per cent., April and Oct., 107.
New Smith Wales Ooyernment, 8 per cent., 1871 to
1876, January and July, 102.
Do., 5 per cent., 1868 to 1996, Jan. and July, 991.
Do., 6 per cent., red. by ann. draws. from 1887 to
1876, 102.
New Zealand, 6 per cent., 99.
Nora Scotia Government, 6 per cent. 1886, 1041.
Queensland, 6 per cent., 1891, Jan. and July, 1091.
Victoria Government, 6 per cent., April and October,
112.

ORDINARY SHAMS AND STOCKS.
Caledonian, 74j, I, t.
Great Eastern, 34.
Great Northern A (A receives no dividend until 6 per
hasbeen paid to B), 961.
Great Western, original, 63j.
Do., South Wales, 55.
Lancashire and Yorkshire, 1291.
Loudon, Brighton, and South Coast, 621, j.
London, Chatham, and Dover, 20j.
London and North Western, 1161, j.
Metropolitan, 1111, j.
Metropolitan District, 8.3, 4.
Midland, 106, f.
North British, 341.
PREFERENCE SHARES AND STOCKS.
Great Western, 6 per cent. irredeemable, 1868, 102.
LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS.
Midland Bradford Pref. stock, 92.
Nottingham and Grantham R. and C., 921.