The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-02 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE.

The first grand concert of the season was given
yesterday afternoon, A band and chorus number-
ing 2,500 performers, under the direction of Mr.
Costa, took part in the execution of Mendelssohn's
noble music to Racine's "Athalie," in which Mr.
Phelps, the tragedian, recited the illustrative
verses; and the solo, soprano, and contralto parts
were sung by Miss Parepa, Miss Martin, and
Madame Sainton-Dolby. In addition to this the
two grand marches composed by Meyerbeer and
Auber for the opening of the International Exhi-
bition were played, and a part-song by Mendels-
sohn, " Oh, forest deep and gloomy," was given.
The noble overture to " Athalie" admirably played
was warmly applauded ; and the Grand March, still
more finely executed, elicited a rapturous encore.
Mdlle. Parepa's voice told with the happiest effect
in the solo, " The sinner's joys decay ;" the trio,
with chorus, "Hearts feel that love thee ;" and the
solo, " Blooming on Judah's regal stem ;" while the
well-known talent of Madame Sainton-Dolby was
best displayed in the solos, " Alas that all by virtue
sainted," and "Rejoice, exclaims the frantic
throng." The marches of Meyerbeer and Auber
were superbly executed; and the entire concert,
which terminated with " God save the Queen," ap-
pealed to give unqualified pleasure to an audience
of 13,174 persons. 2,1419 paid 75..6d. for admission,
and 10,355 were season tickets.

Mr. J. R. M'Culloch has just ready an enlarged
edition of his work on Taxation.

An Index to the Times for 1862, will shortly be
published by Mr. W. Freeman, and, if successful, will be
continued from year to year.

Professor Pepper's Ghost has beers bought by Mr.
Fechter, and is to appear in " Hamlet" and "Macbeth."
It is now throwing costermongere into fits at the Britannia
Theatre, where it dogs the ruffian in the sensation play,
entitled "The Widow and Orphans; or, Faith, Hope, and
Charity." It is as distinct and positive as real flesh and
blood. It opens its mouth, laughs, and is pierced in vain
by swords.—The

Mr. Robert Browning's poems have hitherto
existed scattered over seven unequal volumes, but the
author, we are glad to see, has undertaken to re •issue the
whole in three volumes foolscap octavo, The first, con-
taining Lyrics, Romances, Men and Women, will be pub-
lished by Messrs. Chapman and Hall in a few days.
Messrs. Tinsley Brothers have raised an action in
Chancery against Mr. Lacy, the theatrical publisher, for
Belling dramas derived, it is said, verbatim from the novels
of "Lady Audley's Secret'' and "Aurora Floyd." The
case is expected to be tried on Thursday next.

The Examiner on Standing Orders has decided
that the bill for the union of the C ity police force with the
Metropolitan must be introduced as a private bill. Under
these circumstances the measure cannot be proceeded with
this session unless a special vote of the House of Commons
be passed suspending the standing orders in its favour,
which is not probable.

It is understood that the Government of the
United States have resolved to send an agent to
this country versed in maritime and international law, to
cooperate with Mr. Adams, the American Minister in
London, in the consideration of the various questions now
arising, or likely to arise, on those points between the two
countries. The object is to' enable such questions in all
possible cases to be settled promptly here, instead of their
being made the subject of tedious correspondence.
It is stated that the Home-office and the Poor
Law Board have conferred very extensive powers on Mr,
R. Rawlinson, acting inspector under the Local Govern-
ment Act, and formerly Sanitary Engineering Commisioner
in the Crimea, for the purpose of providing employment, as
far as may be practicable, in drainage and other works, for
the hands now unoccupied in the cotton districts.
WEST YORKSHIRE REGISTRATION.—There is
every probability that the Hon. George Edwin Lascelles
will bo elected to this office. A comparison of the canvass
books of the two candidates was made yesterday. The
promises in favour of Mr. Lascelles were found to prepon-
derate so much over those for Major Fowkes that the latter,
by the advice of his friends, honourably retired from the
contest. The election is fixed to take place at 'Wakefield on
Monday next, and at present no opposition to Mr. Lascelles
s expected,
DEPUTATION TO SIR a GREY.—On Thursday last
Sir G. Grey received, at the Home. office, a deputation of
the Sheriffs' Substitutes of Scotland on the subject of their
claim to increased salaries and promotion. The deputa-
tion consisted of Mr. Sheriff Bell, of Glasgow, Mr. Sheriff
Jameson, of Edinburgh, and Mr. Sheriff Tennent, of
Greenock, and was accompanied by the following members
of Parliament :—Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Dal-
glish, Sir M. R. Shaw Stewart, Mr. Smollett, Sir J, Ogil-
vie, Mr. Caird, Sir J. Elphinstone, Mr. Mackie, Mr. Grant
Duff, Mr. IVetnyss, Mr. Dundee, Mr. Craufurd, Mr.
Miller, and Major P. Hamilton. The Lord Advocate was
likewise present. me following additional members, who
were also to have accompanied the deputation, were un-
avoidably prevented—viz., Mr. Stirling, Mr. Crum-Ewing,
Sir J. Fergusson, Mr. Ewart, Mr. render, Sir T. E. Cole-
brooke, Mr. Merry, and Mr, Traill,