The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-28 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE.

The directors of the Crystal Palace have issued their
programme of arrangements for the tenth season, com-
mencing on the let of May. The matured attractions of
this popular and delightful place are now in their fullest
perfection, and will amply maintain its prestige as the
most fivoured resort of all lovers of natural and artistic
beauty and refined recreation. Hitherto the price of season
tickets has been either one guinea or two guineas ; the
holders of the former class being required on days of spe-
cial fetes to pay half a-crown extra for admission. For
the•present it has been determined to issue only one uni-
form class of ticket, at one guinea, and this is to admit
the holder to the Palace and park, without any fur-
ther payment on all ordinary and extraordinary
occasions. The directors have merely reserved to them-
selves the right of excepting three days during the year,
should they hereafter think fit to gve some special fete or
fetes which may render a separate charge for admission on
those days justifiable. Considering the numerous and
varied attractions which the Crystal Palace affords, it may
reasonably be supp,sed that this liberal arrangement on the
part of the company will lead to an unusually large demand
tor season tickets. To the residents in the vicinity of the
Palace (where a large number of villas are in progress of
ert c;ien), and on the different lines of railway converging
to it, a Crystal Palace season ticket at this low rate becuMeB
almost a neceesiry.

It is intended to inaugurate the new season, on the let
of May, by a great Musical Festival, which shall revive the
memory of the grand choral effects produced at the
Handel Festivals. It would obviously indeed be unwie°
not to render available for musical purposes so ma'
niticent a hall as the Centre Transept, with its gigantic
orchestra and powerful organ, now forms. On this ocea'
sion Racine's dramatic poem, " A thalie," as set t., music
by Iviendelssohn, will be performed on the most magnificent
scale. The orchestra will comprise 196 violins and violas,
90 viol,ncellos and double basses, 20 harps, and an adequate
number of wind instruments, and the entire band and
chorus will consist of about 2,500 pertormers. Mr. Costa
will conduct, and M-. Phelps will recite Mr. Barth° omew'S
illustrative verses. The great success which attended the
recent performance of " Athalie," by the Sacred Harmonic'
Society at Exeter Hall, has led to a confident belief that
its effect, when given as now announced, will be el"
ceediugly fine. Besides " Athalie," the overtures coat"
posed by sl. Auber and M. Meyerbeer for the opening of
the International Exhibition, will be performed on the
Ist of May, and as the orchestra will be on the same scale
of magnitude as at the opening of the Exhibition, it cannot
be doubted that the effect of these great works in the
properly constructed orchestra at the Crystal Palace will
be surpass•ng:y fine. Arrangements are being carried out
for first-class excursion trains from many country districts
on the opening day.

Among the other arrangements for the forthcoming
reason are the Great Flower Show on Saturday, May 23s
and the Rose Show ou Saturday, the 27th of June. These
shows, as conducted at the Crys al Palace, always Coll'
stitute leading features of the London season, and have the
important advantage, as the Crystal Palace has at all time,
ut being thoroughly enjoyable in any kind of weather.
On eight of the Saturdays in May, June, and July, there
will be a series of grand concerts, of a peculiarly attractive
nature, and the daily per tormances of the company's acl°
'nimble band, under the skilful conductorship of gr.
Menne, will be continued as hereto ore.
Archery fetes will be held on Thursday and Friday, the
11th and 12th of June, and the Royal Dramatic College
will again hold its popular fete and fancy fair in the course
of the summer,

The exhibitors' department of the Crystal Palace will,
the ensuing season, be more than usually attractive and
in erecting, reinforced as it is by a selection of some of the
best productions displayed last year at the Internationo
Exhibition The picture gallery and photographic exhibi'
tion will be maintained, with the addition of many Del,
works, and the general Fine Art Collections, the Maehitiori.
Department, with the Park, the Great Fountains, Crick"
Gi &mud, nd other out-dour tacilities tor amusement will,
usual, afford every inducement for large gatherings of the
working classes.

Not the least point in favour of the Crystal Palace is tb°
readiness of access to it, not only from the London-bridge
and Victoria Station', but aiso by means of the pewit'
opened lines at Clapham and Kensington from all t`.°
northern and north -western suburns of the metropolis.
Last year, notwithsranding the attraction of the Intern
tional Exhibition, 2,W0,'z19 persons visited the errtSi,
Palace, and, with its varied features and the increased fl;
tides above referred to, an equady large attendance 1:1391
fully expected in the ensuing year.