The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-30 00:00:00

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. _
The opening will be proclaimed by a flourish of
trumpets. As the procession returns to the South
Central Court the bands will play, and- at the con-
clusion of the ceremony the military hat;ds. will
play the following pieces :-
0 verture—" Fut. Diavolo" . • .. . , Auber.
March of the Israelites—" Eli" .. .. Costa.
Overture—" Robin Hood".. ' .. , Macfarren..
Fackeltanz .. .. • • • . .. Meyerbeer.
Invocation March—" Cola Rienzi- .. Wagner.
The Coronation March—"Lo Pr,i.hetc" Meyerbeer.
The sevsnmlickets still continue to he kold in
groat numbers, and the sum taken for them is
larger by some £lO,OOO than the amount received
at the corresponding period in 1851.
Yesterday there was a rehearsal at Exeter-hall
of the instrumental music to •be performed at the
opening of the Exhibition to-morrow. The band
consisted of about four hundred performers, includ-
ing all the most noted instrumentalists in London.
They occupied the body of the hall, facing the
orchestra, in the front of which the conductor was
stationed, the space behind him being filled by the
invited visitors, a large assemblage of ladies and
gentlemen, among whom were Earl Granville,'
several of the commissioners, and a number of dis-
tinguished persons interested in the Exhibition.,
The rehearsal began with "God save the Queen,"
which, -played by such a band, even without the
voices, had a grand effect. Then M. Meyerheer's-
composition -was rehearsed, the band being con-
ducted by Mr. Costa, while the composer stood by
his side. He was greeted with load applause by
the whole assembly. His woe.: may be called au
overture in the style of a' triumphal march. Of
course it is impossible, on a single- hearing, to give
any account of the construction of such a composi-
tion ; we can only give a vague idea of its general
effect. It opens impressively with a few distant
sounds from the drums, which at once awake
attention ; they are followed by an introductory
movement gradually increasing in strength, till
the theme of the grand marck is given out by the
, full clang of the brazen instruments. In the massive
breadth, and full resonant harmony of this move-
ment, we are reminded of the march in the " Pro-
phete," but this is still more gorgeous and imposing.
Presently the music changes to a grave and solemn
strain, as of a funeral dirge. To produce a mourn-
ful effect the ordinary expedient of resorting to a
minor key is not adopted, the whole of this fine
passage being major. The measure then becomes
rapid and impetuous; our national song, "Role
Britannia," is combined and blended with the
rhythm and melody of the march with consummate
skill and marvellous effect; and in this manner
the music is worked up into a climax of astonishing
power and grandeur. When this rehearsal, on
which. Mr. Costa bestowed great care, was over,
Lord Granville addressed a few complimentary
words to the composer, expressing the satisfaction
of the Commissioners that this national solemnity
has been graced with the presence and co-opera-
tion of an artist of such world-wide cele-
brity. M. Meyerbeer made a brief and modest
reply, at the same time expressed his admi-
ration at the manner in which the orchestra '
had at first sight executed his work. When it
was over Mr. Costa sat down on the platform ; M.
Sainton took his place at the conductor's desk; and
the instrumental accompaniments of Dr. Bennett's
Ode were rehearsed without the vocal parts. They
would have been very well had it been a rehearsal
and nothing more ; but to perform, before a large
audience, the mere accompaniments of a long choral
work was placing the composer at a disadvantage.
We do not, however, blame anybody for this, as we
understand (though no intimation has been given
to that effect) that this music is to be fully re-
hearsed at the Exhibition to-day. Lastly, M.
Auber's march was rehearsed, Mr. Costa resuming
the baton. It fully realised the expectations of the
veteran composer's admirers. It is a splendid work ;
clear, brilliant, full of flowing melody and delight-
ful effects of instrumentation ; redolent of Auber in
his brightest and happiest mode. There can be no
doubt, --in short,, that these new_cornrcia are
anfir.lj. _.,.....4.1.7--...4,61... 15.4t-littional celebratit n to
which they owe their birth.

Marine Forces. The day was unusually flee,- and
a large number of spectators were present. .
The detachmenta of titne-expired utcn and inva-
lid troops who arrived from Calcutta, in the East
India troopship Holmsdale, 1,520 tons, Capt. W. J.
Ferris, were inspected at St. Mary's Barracks, Chat-
ham, yesterday, previous to the men who have com-
pleted their period of service going before a Chelser
board to be discharged. TheHein:lE4lale sailed from
Calcutta on January 14 last, but in going down the
Hooghley took the ground, which delayed her some
time. Before proceeding her bottom was examined
by the divers, and the vessel, havitag been found to
have sustained no injury, continued her voyage.
The passage to Gravesend, including detentions,
occupied 103 days. The troops brought home num-
bered 184 men of all ranks, together with the fol-
lowing officers, viz.—Capt. J. B. Campbell, 27th
Regiment ; Lieut. G. B. B. Hobart, Royal Artillery;
Quartermaster W. J. WoodrUffe, 97th Regiment;
and Staff Assist.-Surg. J. F. Deakin, M.D. Col.
Sismore, of the Indian Artillery, arrived in the same
vessel as passenger. Two men and
_one woman died
on board during the voyage. LpE:

In the evening, between 7 and 8 o'clock, the
International Exhibition Chorus (about 520 to a
part—in all little short of 2,500 singers) assembled
in the same hall, which they so completely filled that,
except in the gallery and side balconies, there would
have been no room for visitors, had any been in-
vited. The conductors, MAI. Costa and Sainton, were
stationed on a platform in the centre of the area,
nearest the orchestra. Nothing but the choral
music was tried, and the only accompaniment was
on the organ, at which Mr. Brownsmith, of the
Sacred Harmonic Society, presided. First we had
the National Anthem, the melody of which was
sung alternately by the different sections of the
chorus (sopranos, tenors, &c.) in unison, till at last
the familiar strains burst forth in ample harmony.
What we have already said of the orchestra, in
alluding to the morning rehearsal, may be applied
to the chorus with even stronger emphasis. The
deputations from the Sacred Harmonic Society,
appointed to select the most competent singers from
the various country districts, have performed their
difficult task with remarkable judgment. If the
chorus of yesterday evening is to be the nucleus of
the Handel Festival chorus at the Crystal Palace,
all the prodigies yet achieved at those gigantic ex-
hibitions will be far excelled. We remember no
such chorus. The National Anthem is, of eourse,
child's play to practised amateurs ; but the unfa-
miliar harmonies of Professor Bennett's Ode—a
work in every sense new and original—offered a
severer test. When we say that, with but few stops
(and those generally occurring at the pauses be-
tween the different movements), it was sung from
end to end with the utmost smoothness and pre-
cison, some idea may be formed of the excellence
of the choral force which the Sacred Harmonic
Society has succeeded in bringing together on this
great occasion. Nevertheless, M. Sainton went
through the Ode a second time, and, as a matter of
course, with proportionately good results. Of the
" Hallelujah" and " Amen," which were to follow
(under Mr. Costa's guidance), we need say nothing.
Both conductors were welcomed with reiterated
plaudits from the whole multitude of singers, the
reception accorded to M. Sainton amounting to
little short of what, in the glowing and occasionally
fantastic language of musicians, is termed an " ova-
tion."

Mails for the Channel Islands will be mad© up
daily in the General Post-office from the 2d of May.

REPRESENTATION OF LAMBETH. Yesterday
evening both the candidates who aro at present in the field
for the representation of this borough addressed meetings
of their friends—Mr. Sleigh at the Camberwell-hall, and
Mr. Doulton at the Rosemary Branch, Peckham. The sup-
porters of both gentlemen express themselves very sanguine
of success, and a close struggle is anticipated. There has
been some talk during the last day or two of a Conserva-
tive candidate in the person of Mr. Marcus Beresford, a
gentleman who resides in the borough, and who is closely
identified with the volunteer movement in the locality, but
he has not yet issued an address.

THE STOCK OP COTTON.—The considerable re-
ceipts of cotton at Liverpool last week caused a slight rally
in the stock, which, however, continues on the whole to
decline. The movement of affairs this month has been as
follows as compared with April, 1861 anff'6o

- 1862. 1861. 1860
Stock, April 4 .. Bales. Bales. Bales.
455,950 942,330 906,040
„ 11 .. 429,730 884,860 955,640
18 389,530 874,330 1,015,880
1) /, 25 .. 398,570 952,740 1,027,290
The quantity taken for consumption and export this
year to the date of the last figures was 554,545 bales,
being at tho rate of 32,620 bales per week, as compared
with 888,437 bales, or 52,260 bales por week in the corre-
sponding period of last year. Deducting the quantities ex-
ported, the average amount taken for home consumption
this year has been 26,741 bales por week as compared with
43,394 bales per week in the first four months of 1861. Not-
withstanding this great curtailment of operations it will be
observed that the stock exhibits an extraordinary decline as
compared with 1861 and 1860. This may well be the case,
seeing that the total imports to April 25 this year were
only 330,212 bales against 1,295,644 bales in the corre-
sponding period last year,