The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-10 00:00:00

PEACE FETE' AT THE CRYSTAL

PALACE.

As all the world—at least the London world—
has made up its mind that the trumpery exhibition
which took place in the metropolitan streets on
Tuesday week is to be regarded as a pompous
nothing, we may fairly say that the real "procla-
mation of peace" was made yesterday at the Syden:
ham Palace, when Baron Marochetti's " Scutari
Monument" and " Peace Trophy" were 'inaugu-
rated in the presence of her Majesty and the
Royal Family. Here was an imposing ceremony
worthy of an important event.
The " Monument" and the " Trophy" had been
placed—by the labour of a few days only—in the
nave of the Palace, the former on the south, the
latter on the north side of the Great Transept.
When the doors were opened, at 11 o'clock, two
mysterious veils signified to the visitors who began
to pour into the building even at this early hour
the site of both these works of art. A dais also had
been erected in the centre of the Great Transept,
with seats for the Royal visitors, and Baron Maro-
chetti's equestrian statues of Richard Coeur de Lion
arid her Majesty had been placed each in front of
one of the veils. In the vicinity cf the dais a num-
ber of benches had been ranged for the accommo-
dation of spectators, while the nearest galleries
were devoted to the peers and members of the
House of Commons.
Shortly after one o'clock when all the seats ap-
propriated to spectators were already occupied, and
the visitors had been for some time amused by mis-
cellaneous musical performances of the military
bands assembled, considerable excitement was
created by the entrance of the detachments of
Crimean soldiers, who gradually drew up in front
of the dais. They were loudly cheered from all
parts of the building.
Punctually at the time appointed—namely, at
half-past three—the Royal party, comprising her
Majesty, the Duchess of Kent, Prince Albert, the
Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the junior
members of the family, the Duke of Wellington,
the Duchess of Sutherland, the Marquis of Bread-
albane, Lord Spencer, General Grey, General
Phillips, and Sir G. Wetherall, arrived at the
Palace, and, entering by the North Transept,
passed to the dais, where they took their seats
amid enthusiastic cheers, which were gracefully
acknowledged by her Majesty, the bands all uniting
in the execution of the national anthem. Before
the arrival of the party three sides of the square,
of which the dais was the centre, were occupied
by the Crimean soldiers.
The business of the day now commenced, and the
veil on the south side of the transept being lowered,
the model of the " Scutari Monument," made in
imitation of granite, with four weeping figures of
angels at each corner, was discovered. "Here are
buried soldiers and officers who fell in the defence
of Turkey, in the years 1854 5-6, in the reign of
Queen Victoria"—such was the inscription on the
lofty monument presented to the gaze of the spec-
tators.
The following words, by Mr. H. F. Choiley,
were then sung to a " Russian air" by the vocalists
in an orchestra which had been constructed for the
occasion near the dais :
" God, the all-terrible'! King, who ordainest
Great winds Thy clarions, the lightnings Thy sword;
Show forth Thy pity on high where Thou reignest
Give to us peace in our time, 0 Lord !
God, the all-merciful ! earth bath forsaken
Thy ways of blessedness, slighted Thy word ;
Bid not Thy wrath in its terrors awaken :
Give to us peace in our time, 0 Lord !
So shall Thy children, in thankful devotion,
Laud Him who saved them from peril abborr'd,
Singing in chores from ocean to ocean,
' Peace to the nations, and praise to the Lord !"
Now came the unveiling of the " Peace Trophy,"
and a large allegorical figure of Peace clad in
silver and gold, with a real olive-branch in the
right hand, was discovered on a fantastic pedestal,
decorated with garlands, and surrounded by smal-
ler figures, gilt in a similar manner. Loud cheers
followed this exhibition, which foreshadowed the
blessings of tranquillity, whereas the "Monument,"
previously unveiled, had denoted the sad conse-
quences of war.
The soldiers present, comprising detachments of
the Coldstream Guards, of the Scots Fusiliers, of
the Grenadiers, and Artillery, and of almost every
regi nent of the Line, then defiled round the dais,
the bands playing French and Sardinian airs, which
were followed by " Rule Britannia." This ma-
iiceuvre was executed at the suggestion of her Ma-
jesty, who, during the performance of the national
air, descended from the dais with her party, and
retired to the north end of the building. Before
her departure she was presented by M. Negretti,
the photographer, with a stereotypic representa-
tion of the ceremony, taken a few minutes previously
from one of the upper galleries, in spite of the
gloominess of the day.
All the soldiers who appeared on the occasion
were decorated with Crimean medals. A medal
wts also struck by the machine established on the
premises, bearing on one side the trophies of the
allies, with the circumscription, " Fall of Sebasto-
pol, September Bth, 1855 ;" and on the other the
inscription, "The Allies give Peace to Europe,
March 30th, 1856."
The musical arrangements, on the whole, were
very satisfactory. Previous to the ceremony, and
for some considerable time after its termination,
the 'Ands of the Coldstream Guards, and Royal
Artillery, in turns, enlivened the scene with
strains of military harmony —"Il Trovatore,"
" Lucrezia Borgia," " Semiramide," and other
popular works, supplied attractive pieces, while
the Royal Artillery provided even a still greater
treat in Mozart's fine overture to " Zauberflote."
This, although played rather slowly and sedately,
was decidedly effective, and offered besides an agree-
able contrast to Verdi's eternal " Miserere,"
which was introduced on two occasions. The band
of the Crystal Palace, under the direction of Herr
Manus, also did efficient service ; and in the
covered orchestra lately erected for its accommo-
dation sounded to much more advantage than we
had anticipated. The addition of stringed instru-
ments (suggested, we understand, by the new con-
ductor) has proved a happy innovation. The un-
changing monotony of the wind band alone must
always in the end become tiresome. The best
performance of the day was the unaccompanied
quartet from Mr. Costa's Eli, "We bless you in
the name of the Lord," which was sung prior to the
unveiling of the " Scutari Monument" with admir-
able precision by Madame Riidersdorff, Mrs.
Lockey, Messrs. Lockey and Thomas. Of the slow
movement from the Eroica we would rather not
speak. Something might surely have been chosen
which would easier bear curtailment. The sym-
phonies of Beethoven were not made to be treated
with as little ceremony as common interludes ; nor
could the unveiling of the monument have been
rendered less imposinglby its association with music
of appropriate gravity and elevation. The march
chorus from Judas Maccaboeus (including " See
the conquering hero comes") did not go well ; but
the duet from the same oratorio—" Oh lovely
peace" was impressively given by Madame Riiders-
dorff and Mrs. hockey, whose rich and full-toned
contralto voice was heard to signal advantage.
The hymn, "God, the all terrible," set to "a Rus-
sian national air"—to solo verses in which were
declaimed with emphasis by Madame Riidersdorff
—may be found (both the tune and words) in Vol.
I. of Mullah's Part Songs. The melody is flowing
and rhythmical enough, but the last phrase is
nearly identical with the " Blue Bells of Scot-
land."

It is estimated that the visitors who attended on
the occasion were nearly 12,000 in number. This
is a large figure, but not the slightest pressure or
inconvenience was experienced ; and too much
praise cannot be given to the Sydenham authorities
for the accommodation they afforded to so many
spectators, all of whom could view at their ease
the impressive ceremony that took place before
them. The following is the return :—Admission
on payment of 10s. 6d., 1,492 ; ditto by season
tickets, 10,296 ; total visitors, 11,788.