The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-25 00:00:00

THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Brilliant Prospects for the Season of 1865.
On Tuesday next, the 28th inst., Mr. Gye will
inaugurate—seemingly under the happiest auspices
—another of his notable seasons as Director of this
great Lyrical Establishment. Year after year his
Programme might be filed very judiciously as an
authoritative record cf the progress and develop-
ment of Musical Art in Christendom. This year
it possesses in many respects an interest peculiar to
itself, an interest and s. value upon one or two points
of a really exceptional character. As has been notice-
able before now so conspicuously with regard to the
majority of its predecessors, it is full of promise--but
that, we had almost said, as a matter of course !
Mr. Gye has accustomed us somehow to these radiant
promises, but he has accustomed us as well—almost
equally as a matter of course—to their fulfilment.
It is difficult, no doubt, for any Operatic Director to
illustrate—to the very letter— those household words
of Shakspere's about such as " keep the words of
promise to the ear and break it to the hope."
The difficulty of course, with them, lying in
the simple fact that promises of their's when
kept to the ear cannot by possibility be broken
to the hope! Without, however, resorting to
ingenious quibble or evasion of any kind what-
ever, it so happens that the promises put forth in
Mr. Gye's annual prospectus, as Director of the
Royal Italian Opera, are, as a rule—almost, as we
have said, as a matter of course—kept ! L'homme
propose, Dieu dispose—has its occasional exemplars,
to be sure, here, as elsewhere. Instance, only last
year, in the postponement until the season itself
was nearly over and done with, of the promised
production of " L'Etoile du Nord"—a delay be-
yond all the Director's powers of prevision,
however, seeing that it arose from the un-
fortunate illness of Madlle. Pauline Lucca, to
whom had been allotted the part of Catarina.
Nevertheless, turning now from the past to the future
—heartened in our anticipations of the future by
our remembrance of the past—let us scan for a
moment the fair prospects opened up to our view
by the Director's Programme for this present, or
rather immediately approaching, season a,t the
Royal Italian.
As only befits him in his capacity as the Director
of The Royal Italian Opera at Covent Garden, Mr.
Gye's first words in setting forth his programme
for the season of 1865, are words of homage and
gratitude to the memory of Giacomo Meyerbeer. At
the Royal Italian, under Mr. Gye's management,
the whole of the GRAND OPERAS of that great origi-
nator of the particular style of lyrical drama, now
known and world-famous, under that imposing
but most appropriate title, have, one after another,
been produced. And they have been, there, so pro-
duced, moreover, with a completeness and a splendour
alone attainable through the resources of a lyrical
establishment, as vast and as perfectly organised
as that of Covent Garden. Meyerbeer's Five
glorious operatic masterpieces—Grand Operas not
only in name but in very truth—L'Etoile du Nord,
Les Huguenots, Dinorah, Roberto Il Diavolo, Le
Prophete—have they not been here produced, each and
all of them, in a manner not only worthy of them-
selves but of the marvellous genius of which they
are the strangely varied exponents—at this very
lyrical establishment, under this very manage-
ment ? And, now, yet another of these chefs
d'oeuvres is to be added to the wonderful
catalogue—alas! that we should have to bear only
too painfully in mind, as the very last that can ever
be added to it—the darling work of all by this great,
dead and gone composer, his capo d'opera, accord-
ing to his own estimation of it—his long-promised, his
eagerly looked for, his often delayed, but at length,
quite perfected masterpiece, L'Africaine ! The pro-
duction, for the first time, of this great posthumous
work of Meyerbeer's, L'Africaine, is, in point of fact,
the event par excellence of the Season of 1865
—not for London alone, not for Paris merely, not
for both of those great capitals together, but for all
Europe ! In the musical world, among all the civi-
lised races, the production of Meyerbeer's posthu-
mous opera of " Africaine" is an affair of state—it
is an event to which all are now looking forward with
breathless eagerness and expectation. The manu-
script-score of this last and grandest of his
Grand Operas, Meyerbeer is known to have retained
for fourteen years in his portfolio—touching it, re-
touching it, perfecting it with all the resources of
his refined and experienced genius—loth to part from
it as a work of art actually done with and completed.
Yet, completed this great work of art most happily was
nevertheless—in spite of all these delays—before the
lamented death, last year, of Giacomo Meyerbeer.
Completed even down to the affixing of the very
last note of emendation by his masterhand upon the
manuscript-score but very shortly before the great
maestro breathed his last ! It is touching to bear in
remembrance,now, immediatelybefore the production
of " L'Africaine"—first of all, yonder at Paris upon
the boards of the Academie Royale de Musique and
directly after that, here in London, upon the boards
of the Royal Italian Opera, Covent-garden—it is
exquisitely touching to remember at this moment
the fact that shortly after Meyerbeer's death there
was discovered among his papers, in his own
handwriting, a solemn prayer to God that his life
might be preserved long enough to permit of his
beholding the performance of—his most cherished
work—" Africaine!" The performance, however,
thus at last of that great work—the witnessing
of which was denied to Meyerbeer himself !—we
have now, all of us who may please to do so,
a , very fair prospect of beholding in a few
weeks time within the noble area of Mr. Gye's great
lyrical establishment. The production thus of
" L'Africaine" upon the boards of the Royal Italian
is obviously, therefore, the one grand attraction
held out to us, at the very commencement of the
programme of his new season, by the Director. It is
to be the achievement of the whole season—beyond all
the others, though many of those others are of consi-
derable importance. The exat time when we may
hope to witness " L'Africaine" is alone left a matter
of uncertainty, but it is so left quite unavoidably.
It is contingent, in other words, upon the precise
date at which the opera can be performed at the
Paris Academie Royale de Musique. As to the
other novelties of the coming season, they arc, in a
manner, visible to us through a less hazy atmos-
phere—they are looming in the future, so to speak,
just a trifle more distinguishably. For example, early
in the ensuing month, and not as last year at
the very end of the season, we are to have repro-
duced " L'Etoile du Nord "—with all its superb
adornments in the way of scenery, costumes, and
mise-en-scene! After an interval of fourteen years—
during which that charming opera has been unheard
in London—we are to have revived for us once
more the Linda di Chamounix of Donizetti! After
an interval of seven years—during which it also
has been inaudible to us—we are to have revived,
for us, quite as acceptably in its way, Auber's sprightly
comic opera of Fra Diavolo ! Again—a
good many years having elapsed, during which
Mozart's wonderfully beautiful, but also wonder-
fully difficult chef d'oeuvre, Il Flauto Magico has
remained unrepresented in this country—that famous
opera is, this season, to be added to the Royal Italian
repertoire. A repertoire, nevertheless, otherwise so
marvellously comprehensive in its character as to
comprise within it no less than three-and-thirty operas
by
Gluck, the
ognreeatbeyst
Mercadante, one by Herold, one by Beethoven, two
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yy
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D onizetti !

As to the Artistes still retained or newly engaged
by the Director for this the Nineteenth Season of
the Royal Italian Opera, the mere catalogue
of them is something magnificent. Foremost
among them, there is the young Prima
Donna, Madlle. Adelina Patti, who is pledged
to add as many as four fresh leaves to her already
umbrageous laurels--performing this year for the
first time in England Bellini's Elvira in the " Puri-
tani," Donizetti's Linda in the Opera already par-
ticularised, besides two of Mozart's bewitching
heroines, Susanna in the " IN.Tozze di Figaro," and
Pamina in the " Flauto Magico," blacllle. Pauline

Lucca again, hitherto only known to us here in Lon-
don as a tragic or pathetic songstress—namely, by
her noble impersonations of Margherita in Gounod's
"Faust," and Valentina,"in „Meyerbeer's "Hugue-
nots,"—will perform in comedy this year as Mozart's
Cherubino in the " Nozze di Figaro," and as
Auber's Zerlina in "Fra Diavolo." Conspi-
cuous among the acquisitions to the Royal
Italian company, in the new season about to
commence now' immediately, is that ensuring the
services of Madame Miolan-Carvalho, who will
not only rival Madlle. Lucca as Margherita, and
resume her part of Catarina, in the " Etoile du
Nord," but who will also perform one of the principal
characters in the eagerly looked for " Africaine."
The rare honour and responsibility of per-
forming the chief tenor part in that
grand posthumous opera of Meyerbeer, will
devolve, meanwhile, upon Signor Wachtel, already
renowned in this country as the impersonator of
Rossini's Arnold and Verdi's Manrico. Beyond
which, Signor Wachtel will undertake the part Of
Donizetti's Edgardo in " Lucia di Lammermoor,'
as well as that of Mozart's 'I amino in "Il Flauto
Magico." Signor Graziani will not only this year
repeat his impersonation of Guglielmo Tell, he will
for the first time perform Mozart's Il Conte in the
"Nozze di Figaro," and Verdi's Rigoletto in the quaint
opera so entitled—besides this—most onerous duty
of all—he will impersonate the principal baritone
character in the " Africaine" of our dead and gone
Meyerbeer. Herr Schmidt, the great German Basso
Profundo, who last season achieved so radiant a success
upon his then de'bilt in London will this year per-
form for the first time Mozart's Leporello in " Don
Giovanni," as well as two of Meyerbeer's famous
characters, Bertram in " Robert le Diable," and
Marcel in the " Huguenots." As we began, here, with
the mention of Madlle. Adelina Patti, so let us end
now with two others among the chief glories of the
Royal Italian—Kings of Song, still, after how many
memorable seasons !—Signor Mario and Signor
Ronconi ! Each of those two renowned lyrical
performers, as though each were but an aspir-
ing beginner instead of a laurelled veteran in the
art, undertakes it will be seen to add, this season, a
new role to his already ample re'pertoire! Signor
Mario for the first time performing Fra Diavolo—
Signor Ronconi for the first time assuming the
part of Don Pasquale ! Seven more or less well-
known songstresses from Lisbon, from Moscow,
from Munich, from Berlin, from Milan, will
make, this season, their first appearance at the
Royal Italian, while five male singers of high
reputation will in their turn make their Milt upon
the same boards in 1865, two from Milan,
two from Naples, one from Paris, another of
the five (M. Gassier, to wit) removing simply from
the boards of Her Majesty's to those of the Royal
Italian ! To Madame Isabella Galletti's first ap-
pearance, we will acknowledge that we look
forward with eager expectation, and this simply
because of the repute already acquired by her in
her native land (par excellence the land of song),
among Italian connoisseurs. As a wonderfully at-
tractive commencement of the new season, it will
be seen that Gounod's renowned five act opera
of Faust e Margherita is set down for the very first
night's performance, two debutantes appearing in the
cast of parts, namely Madlle. Honor 6, as the Siebel,
and Madlle. Berini, as the Margherita—Mario, as
hitherto, being the Faust, Graziani the Valentine,
and Attri the Mephistopheles. The matchless
Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Italian
will still be presided over by the magical
wand of Mr. Costa, himself at once Composer, Di-
rector of Music, and facile princeps among Conduc-
tors ! With Mr. Augustus Harris retained as
the stage manager, and Mr. William Beverley
as the principal scene - painter, the splendour
and completeness of the mise-en-scene may still,
of course, be counted upon with implicit confi-
dence. Having added that Madlle. Salvioni is
happily continued by the management at the head
of the danseuses in the corps de ballet, (though
threatened with a rival in Madlle. Johanna Selling,
who is announced as being about to make her first
appearance) it remains for us only to wish all
success to the Director in this his new season, but,
above all, every imaginable success to his chief en-
terprize, the production that is, for the first time,
of the " Africaine" of the peerless Meyerbeer !

Destruction of the Sheffield Theatre by Fire

- -
SHEFFIELD Saturday Morning.

The Surrey Theatre was burnt down at half-past
2 o'clock this morning. A small fire had been dis-
covered in Burgess-street half an hour previously,
and the engines had been called out. The firemen
of the Royal Fire Insurance Company's brigade
were in the act of backing their engine into the sta-
tion, when a bright light was observed in the direc-
tion of Westbar. How long the theatre had been
burning it is impossible to say, but when discoverd
the flames were blazing through the roof, illumi-
nating all the neighbourhood. The fire spread
with frightful rapidity, threatening to destroy
the entire square formed by Westbar, Spring-
street, Hick's-lane, and Workhouse-croft. The
flames had spread from the rear towards the
front of the building, destroying the least hope
that any considerable portion of it could be saved.
It is impossible to ascertain whether any lives have
been lost.

The entire building is destroyed ; the walls are
hanging over, threatening to fall. All the people
have been got out of the surrounding houses.
The premises are insured in the Royal-office.
Immediately on the fire being discovered the
Royal engines were quickly on the spot, but the
flames had obtained such a hold of the building that
it was quite impossible to do anything to arrest their
progress. The fire brigade, therefore, directed their
engines to throw immense columns of water on the
adjoining property, in the hope of preventing the
flames spreading beyond the walls of the theatre.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—At this afternoon's concert
the vocalists are Madame Rudersdorff, Madame Parepa,
Mr. George Perren, and Herr Pass. The programme in-
cludes Mozart's operetta " L'lmpressario" and Mendels-
sohn's overture to " Ruy Blas." After the concert the
usual promenade will take place.
ILLNESS OF MR. DOULTON.—For the last few
days Mr. Doulton, M.P. for Lambeth, has been labouring
under illness, having been confined to his bed, and, though
now stated to be somewhat better, he is not likely to be
able to attend to his Parliamentary duties for some time.
During the absence of the hon. member, the Right Hon
W. Cowper has been provisionally appointed to officiate
as chairman of the committee of inquiry respecting the
open spaces in and around the metropolis.
" L'Africaine" has been fully rehearsed to the end
of the fourth act. The scenery, costumes, &c., are in a very
forward state. The fifth act alone has yet to be "got up."
It is expected that it will be performed in Paris about the
20th proximo.—The Orchestra.

• THE EDMUNDS SCANDAL.—Mr. Hastings, Secre-
tary to the Social Science Association, has stated, at a
meeting of the society, that he is authorised by Lord
Brougham and by. Mr. William Brougham to declare that
there is no foundation whatever for the reported scandals
in the Edmunds' case, and that a complete refutation will
be given of them. This is as we ventured last week to
anticipate.—Law Tunes (this day).
ARCHEOLOGY.—M. Mariette, the distinguished
adept in Egyptian hieroglyphics, had added two
more to his numerous discoveries. The first is that of a
Speos-temple, situated at Assouan, and dedicated to Isis-
Sothis. This denomination, in M. Mariette's opinion, is con-
nected with the position of Syene, which was believed to be
under the tropics; and it was perhaps in one of the temples
of that city that the rising of the star which was to fix the
beginning of the year used to be observed. M. Mariette also
gives some new particulars concerning the excavations of
Abydos, which continue to bring to light walls decorated
in a splendid manner ; a great number of proskynemata, or
votive inscriptions, attest the admiration of the Groek visi-
tors to this:temple,which is particularly mentioned by Strabo.
M. Mariette believes he has found the well mentioned by that
geographer, and is now getting it explored. Denderah also
has been the scene of a most interesting discovery. Here M.
Mariette has found crypts wherein statues, cast in precious
metals and other rich offerings had formerly been
deposited, as the inscriptions on the walls show.
The niches containing these offerings had been walled up
never to be opened again, but this of course is by no means
the case, and they are all empty. The inscriptions, how-
ever, mention historical facts of great importance. The
temple had been founded by Cheops, and subsequently em-
bellished by the Pharaohs of the sixth and twelfth
dynasties. Rhamses 11. had repaired or finished it.
Under Ptolemy (Neos Dyonysos), it was in such a
dilapidated condition that it had to be rebuilt en-
tirely. Such is the short history of this monument; and
it is only the prelude to more important disclosures to be
expected from the inscriptions not yet deciphered. In a
letter to the President of the Academie des Inscriptions et
Belles-Lettres, M. Mariette announces that the Viceroy has
granted him the necessary funds for the publication of the
principal discoveries he has made during the 14 years he
has been exploring the ruins of Egypt.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.
MALTA, MARCH 24.
The Ellora will leave at 4 p.m. and the Massilia
at 9 p.m to-day.
The former may be expected at Marseilles on the
27th inst., and the latter at Southampton about the
2d April.
The Nemesis reached Suez on the 19th inst.
OUTWARD BOMBAY MAIL.

The Delta from Marseilles on the 20th inst.
reached Malta at midnight on the 22d, and left at
7 a.m. on the 23d for Alexandria.

FRANCE.

PARIS, MARCH 25.

M. Truy, vice-consul of France at Callao, has
been appointed Chevalier of the Legion of Honour,
on account of his courageous conduct during a popu-
lar rising against the Spaniards.
BOURSE, March 24.---The market is inactive,
but prices in the principal Securities are well sus-
tained. Threes, for the Account, are now at 67f.
25c. Credit Mobilier have been done at 875 f.
Italian Loan 64f. 75c. In Railway Shares there is
little doing, and quotations remain about the same
as yesterday. The market closed firm. The fol-
lowing are the last quotas
4} per Cents 65 50
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 67 30
Do. end month 67 25
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month
Bank Shares 3535
Credit Foncier 1290
Roman 74

cons :
Italian Loan —
Do. end month 64 80
Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt
Deferred
WAYS.
Cash. - Acct.
Orleans
Northern lO2O 50 ...
Lyons and Mediterranean..., 976 25 ... 977 50
Southern 585 ... 583 75
Western 541 25 ... 545
Eastern
Sardinian ' 301 25 ... 300
Austrian
Lombard 546 25 ... 545
North of Spain 302 50 302 50
Saragossa
Ditto to Barcelona —

The Prussian Army.

BERLIN, March 22.

The following are the most important portions of
the speech delivered yesterday in the Prussian
Chamber of Deputies by Herr von Roon, the Mi-
nister of War. After replying to the arguments of
previous speakers the Minister said—
" It has been stated that the strength of which an army
must consist, to have chances of victory and success, must
not by any means be merely numerical, but that the quality
and condition of the army, its handiness with its weapons,
and the method of its armament, must be taken into consi-
deration. Well, that is perfectly correct to a certain extent.
The superiority of arms compensates for the inequality of
numbers, but only to a certain extent. We must not fancy
that because we, thank heaven, are in possession of a very
excellent armament, we are therefore in a position to beat
double our numbers with half our force. This is not the
case, if we have already limited ourselves in the formation
of our war strength as contrasted with a stronger neigh-
bour, this is because we have various elements in our
favour others cannot bring to bear—viz., the greater intel-
ligence of the people, the ready obedience shown by the
majority of the nation to military laws, and the superiority
of our arms, at which I rejoice. These are certainly ele-
ments which enable us to take up a contest even where not
superior in numbers, but such limitation goes, in my opi-
nion, only to a certain extent. . . . Circumstances in Aus-
tria, France, and Russia may certainly be 'extremely
different from our circumstances, but the plain fact re-
mains that those countries can at any moment dispose
of an army numerically superior to ours, and this being
so, you will understand that a Prussian War Adminis-
tration cannot avoid taking such measures as afford it
the possibility of meeting hostile attack at the decisive
time. I cannot agree with some remarks of a
previous speaker as to the present state of the Russian
army. Its condition has improved, and I am enabled to
state, partly from authentic sources, that the traditions of
a former period no longer apply. Neither do I consider
what has been said as to the probability of a war in the
west as in any way dictating the course to be pursued in
an organic question affecting arrangements for the future.
I, too, believe that the present sagacious ruler of France is
very far removed from overrunning us with war, perhaps
to-morrow, or the day after, or even at an early period.
Yes, gentlemen, he will do so undoubtedly as soon as his
interest demands, but who can say when that moment shall
arrive ? It is, therefore, necessity which drove us to ac-
complish more than it was appointed us to bear."
Alluding to the criticism by aprevious speaker, his having
said that Prussia had been for years in a state of illusion,
the Minister observed, " I have never intended to attack
the constitution of our army, and the fundamental idea upon
which it is based. For the idea of our defensive system is
precisely the fundamental idea of that reorganisatiOn at
present under debate. I should be the last to characterise
our defensive system as defective. On the contrary, it was
a grand and happy ideathat induced the Legislature in 1814
to establish a provision for war. But lam of opinion—and
I believe I shall be supported by the judgment of very many
experienced men—that every institution, however excel-
lent, has its day, and must then be improved. The Govern-
ment wants progress in this matter, and the house is re-
markably conservative. (Much laughter.) Every system
outlives itself. Our Landwehr system is excellent in itself
and correctly designed—it was suited to the circumstances
of the time—suited to our small financial strength. But
whenever we represented to ourselves our Prussian army
at war with one of our stronger neighbours, we involunta-
rily thought, It would be difficult for our men to accom-
plish what is done by the superior hostile army, practised,
able, and disciplined, composed of old and experienced
soldiers.

In conclusion, unwilling as lam to do so, I must say
a few words bearing upon politics. It has been said that
agreement must be brought about through the Govern-
ment ; it is the duty of the GovernMent to pave the way to
reconciliation. Yes, gentlemen, with you ; with the
Chamber of Deputies (a voice,' With the country'). If that
is the case, I ask whether anybody embarks in any under-
taking whose ineffectiveness and impracticability are
shown him beforehand? I willingly believe, as I said yes-
terday, that the number of persons in this house willing
for reconciliation, willing to offer the hand for that pur-
pose, is not small ; but suppose the Government is told over
and over again at sittings of committees and from the tri-
bunes, No, we won't have army agreements with the Mi-
nistry. Let its members rather cease to hold office—we
will come to an understanding with this Ministry.' ;When
it has been said upon another occasion, The conflict is no
misfortune. Let it go on. The country will be able to bear
and swell its bill all the higher—?' And that is about what
was said—gentlemen, any man not deaf remembers such
expressions, and does not find himself encouraged to run
after those who so decidedly turn their backs, pluck them
by the sleeve, and exclaim, ' Here's my hand, take it.'
Further, gentlemen, the conditions of every sort of under-
standing have become more stringent with the lapse of
time. When this military question was first brought before
Parliament the differences were comparatively small. The
correctness of the fundamental idea of re-organisation was
admitted and readiness expressed to allow a considerable
sum for the purpose ; it was thought, however, the amount
asked was too high, and a shorter time of service and re-
tention of the Landwehr was therefore proposed. The
withdrawal of the Landwehr was by no means considered
by the Government as advantageous for that force—but
stress was laid upon 'it on account of the importance to
the country that the Land wehr should be removed from
the force in active service. The Government was also
prepared to retain this institution according to the regu-
lations of 1814, but was at issue with the Chamber of
Deputies as to the two or three years' time of service.
This difference was all that separated us. Subsequently,
gentlemen, demands increased. Different laws were
demanded for the war administration where none had
previously existed, save the Landwehr regula-
tions, the reconstruction of which had been stated to be in-
tended by the Government. But the other demands were
new. For this purpose a new law was invented, an admi-
nistrative order of the King being suddenly called a law of
the country, and declared to be violated by the reorganisa-
tion. But, gentlemen, people went still further. They
asked for new legislation upon these three or four different
points, and now we are even engaged in discussing a new
claim raised by the representatives, or by this house, in
plain, clear words, whose importance has been admitted—
a further surrender of the constitutional right of Govern-
ment is demanded by proposing to grant the taxes annually.
Yes, gentlemen, this is contrary to the right of the Go-
vernment. It is contrary to the constitution ; ind because
it is contrary to the constitution the Government can never
allow such a right; therefore the Government perceives
that you do not wish for reconciliation but constantly ad-
vance further and further, raise new claims, and thereby
widen and deepen the cleft. This is to be regretted, but
the Government is too weak to prevent such proceedings."

MISS RUSSELL.—It is likely that the services of
this favourite soprano will speedily be required in
musical circles. During Mr. Morton's eventful managerial
career, in which several operas by foreign composers have
been introduced into England before their public appear-
ance abroad—" Faust," for example—Miss Russell's vocal
abilities have been warmly acknowledged. They have
been closely identified with the now popular " Operatic
Selection," and have not only preceded but accompanied
the present success of the Oxford and Canterbury Hall
Company. Miss Russell, who is niece to the celebrated
Mr. Henry Russell, is now in treaty for first-class concerts
and oratorios, and the public appreciation will doubtless
follow her in the new musical field she is opening up for
herself.

-
Clint ti•4m- 4", tiro) I

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, March 24.
The King of the Belgians arrived at Windsor to-
day on a visit to the Queen.

His Majesty crossed over from Calais yesterday,
and slept at Dover, where Viscount Torrington and
Lord Alfred Paget were in waiting to attend his
Majesty.

The King left Dover at 10 o'clock this morning in
a special train on the South-Eastern Railway.
The Prince of Wales, attended by Lieut.-Colonel
Keppel, met the King at the Waterloo station in
London, and accompanied his Majesty to Windsor.
Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and
Princess Helena, attended by Lady Caroline Bar-
rington and Colonel the Hon. A. Hardinge, drove
down to the station of the South-Western Railway,
in Windsor, to receive the King.
His Majesty arrived at 1 o'clock, and immediately
proceeded to the Castle with the Prince of Wales,
Prince Alfred, and Princess Helena, where he was

received by her Majesty the Queen, attended by the
Ladies and Gentlemen in waiting.
Count de Moerkerke and Dr. Koepl are in wait-
ing on the King.

Lieutenant General the Hon. Sir E. Cust also
attended the King to Windsor.
The Queen, with her Royal Highness Princess
Helena, drove out this morning, attended by Colonel
the Hon. A. Hardinge. •

The Prince of Wales, attended by Lieut.-Colonel
Keppel, returned to London in the afternoon.

The Prince and Princess of Wales.

The Prince of Wales went to the House of Lords
yesterday afternoon.
The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive, at-
tended by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce.

The Prince and Princess of Wales dined with his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge at Gloces-
tep-house, in the evening.

The King of the Belgians.

Yesterday morning his Majesty the King of the
Belgians, attended by his suite and accompanied by
Mr. Van de Weyer, Lord Torrington, Lord Alfred
Paget, M.P., and other officers of the royal house-
hold, left Dover by a special train at 10 2 for Wind-
sor, on a visit to her Majesty. The royal train was
under, the charge of Mr. J. P. Knight, the traffic
superintendent of the South-Eastern Railway, while
the Hon. Jas. Byng accompanied the train during
part of the journey to London, which was performed
via Ashford and Red-hill. King Leopold reached
the small unused station at the junction of the
South-Eastern with the South-Western Railway
over the Waterloo-road at 12 8, having passed from
London-bridge over the Charing-cross line. On
the platform of this station, which is never used
but on the occasion of a royal trip, a number of
gentlemen had assembled, among whom were Sir
E. Cust, Mr. Godson (the traffic superintendent),
and Messrs. Williams and Verrinder, of the South-
Western Railway. As his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales was expected to accompany his
Majesty to Windsor Castle, the train was kept at the
junction for a few minutes to enable the Prince to
reach Waterloo before its departure. His Royal
Highness, on reaching the platform, walked to the
state saloon, and after a very cordial greeting, took his
seat in the carriage with King Leopold. Shortly
afterwards the train, accompanied by Messrs. God"
son and Williams, left Waterloo at 12.15, and pro-
ceeded along the South Western Railway to
Windsor, where the illustrious travellers arrived at
1 o'clock. Previous to the arrival of the special
train, their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and
Princess Helena, attended by Colonel Hardingel
Lieut. Haig, and Lady C. Barrington, drove from
the Castle to the Windsor station of the South
Western Railway, where they were received by Mr.
G. Hill, the divisional superintendent of the line,
and conducted to the Royal waiting-rooms, where
they remained till the train entered the station. His
Majesty King Leopold and the Prince of Wales, on
quitting the saloon, were met on the platform by
Prince Alfred and Princess Helena, who very affec-
tionately embraced the aged monarch. Accompanied
by the youthful members of the Queen's family, the
King drove from the station in one of the Royal
carriages to the Castle, which was reached shortly
after 1 o'clock, and where his Majesty was most
affectionately welcomed by the Queen. King
Leopold, during his residence at Windsor Castle,
will occupy a suite of apartments in the York Tower.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, attended
by Colonel Keppel, Lord A. Paget, M.P., and Sir
E. Cust, left the Windsor station of the South
Western Railway at 3.30 p.m. and returned to tovin
by a special train in charge of Messrs. Godson and
Williams, arriving at Waterloo shortly after four
o'clock.

• -
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales honoured the Duke of Cambridge by their
company at dinner yesterday evening at Gloucester Sells?'
Piccadilly. The. Prince and Princess of Wales were at-
tended by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce and Lieutenant-Colonel
Keppel. There were present to meet the illustrious guestds
her Royal Highness Princess Mary of Cambridge, attends
by Lady Caroline Cust, their Serene gighnesses Prirjel,
and Princess Edward of Saxe Weimar, the Marchioness
Ely, the Earl of Derby, the Earl Granville, the Earl en,
Countess Spencer, the Earl of Dalhousie, the Earl
Sefton, Lord Henry Percy, Rear-Admiral the Hon. .1._.1,11:
Drummond, and Colonel Tyrwhitt, in waiting on the Du
of Cambridge.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Cholmondeleri
have arrived at Burley, Rutland, on a visit to Mr. 31'0
Lady Louisa Finch. The noble marquis and marchielic"
will return to town on the conclusion of their visit.
The Marchioness of Ely will leave town in a le
days for Ireland.
The Earl of Sefton will leave England about. 1/et
middle of next month for Lisbon, on his mission to prose
the King of Portugal with the Order of the Garter.
The Earl and Countess of Belmore have aril'
at Brown's Hotel. of
We hear that the Earl of Lovelace, widower a
the only daughter of Lord Byron, is about to be me
to a widow lady named Jenkins, residing in Gloaees"'

shire.
LADY PALMERSTON'S RECEPTION. The reception
held by Lady, Palmerston on Saturday evening) tile
18th inst., was attended by most of the diplomatic NAY re-
sident in London, as well as by a considerable nuraher : f
$
the haute noblesse of England. One of the great fet'tnrre-
of the evening was a most life-like model of a fettl-r
marble statue of Lord Palmerston, to be executed for
Ernesto Zuceani, a gentleman of considerable merosn"
standing in the metropolis, who has already obtaioed,,f alr°di
the sculptor of the present work statues of Gen. Gar'„.,-
and the late Count Cavour, intending, it is said, to foi—to be
small gallery of the most celebrated men in EuroPe, nvi
executed by the same artist, the Chevalier Criev-tlh'.-
Pandiani, of Milan, whose statue of Garibaldi Was Awe- i-
bited by Mr. Zuccani in the Exhibition of 1862. In 7our,°
ration of the ability displayed in that of Count On"
the King of Italy was pleased to confer the honl,oo-
knighthood on the artist. Chevalier Pandiani was
oured by an invitation to Lady Palmerston's on Snt-dis
night, where he received the congratulations of raef' the
tinguished persons, including the Marquis d'Azng'torl;/
Italian Minister, who .had taken great interest in the or-
and placed an apartment at the Embassy in Gresll,l- ring
street to be used as a studio by Chevalier Pandiani '4"

his visit to this country.
THE SUNDAY TRAIN QUESTION IN SCOT
A correspondence has been published bete;-
members of the Sabbath Alliance and Mr. Hodgson, c,r11...
man of the North British Railway Company. lbe,;:i:lbe
man closes the correspondence with a letter ",Thv t
says :—" The directors do not believe it to be their 0.11",11:
force that portion of the public who from inclination °rlles,
cessity desire to leave their homes, or to regain their 1161.A1i0
on a Sunday to conform to the bidding of others do
think it sinful to do so. On the contrary,
by
not hold out extra inducements to Sunday trsv°lliittol
means of frequent or excursion trains at low eveninghi
consider that limited service by morning end se
trains is due to the public, especially the humbler clas
tad
who cannot, except by railway, move at all. With ed
to goods trains, the objections and suggestions con
in the document you have transmitted to me are foullueo
in simple ignorance of the matter under discussi;r
whilo they
every goods train which passes by necessity (end ,t other
not one which, in a practical sense, runs from srcY
°A tbo
motive, on the North British Railway) were take° Ico
line, the net profit of the company would not ,0 tbe
minished ; but the insecurity and inconvenience
community would during the wook days he largei.)
creased."