The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-06 00:00:00

At 5 o'clock there was a grand musical festival in
the Music-hall, The hall itself is a magnificent
building, noble and lofty in all its proportions, ex-
quisitely chaste and simple in its decorations. It
realises one's idea of what the House of Representa-
tives at Washington ought to be, instead of what it
is. For this occasion, however, the interior was spe-
cially decorated with almost regal magnificence in
honour of the Prince. The first balcony facing the
orchestra was draped with crimson velvet and gold
the upper galleries with blue velvet and gold, while
all around and above were entertwined the flags of
England and America. The effect thus produced
was very brilliant and dazzling, and when crowded,
as it was, with a richly-dressed audience, the whole
hall presented a rich, luxurious, and magnificent
effect.

At the back of the hall was built alarge orchestra,
capable of containing, tier above tier to the height
of 50 feet, 1,200 juvenile choristers. This was filled
from base to summit with a perfect bouquet of
children. They were mostly young girls. All were
dressed in white, looking, in the distance, on a co-
lossal scale, like those soft, snowy banks of azaleas
one sees at flower shows. Every other available nook
and corner of the spacious hall was crowded with
all the rank and fashion of Boston, their rich varie-
gated dresses setting off to the utmost perfection
the great white altar of little singers which rose in
the midst. It was altogether one of the most beau-
tiful scenes which the Prince has witnessed in this
country. The instant the royal party entered the
hall, the orchestra—if I may so call them—of young
people rose en masse. They had been rightly tu-
tored not to cheer, but they seemed to restrain
themselves only by a very great effort, as was plainly
visible in the rapid manner in which they waved
their pocket-handkerchiefs, lashing them about
with an enthusiastic vehemence that was delightful
to behold. The performance equalled all the ex-
pectations which were raised of the preparations
by the appearance of the audience and the building,
It was second to the yearly festival at St. Paul's
only in the number of its young performers. A
new version of •' God save the Queen" had been
composed for the occasion. Nothing I may say is
allowed prominence in these receptions of the
Prince unless it has been prepared en avance as an
honour and a tribute to the Royal guest. This
anthem so fairly represents the feeling of the Ame-
rican people during this remarkable visit that I
cannot refrain from giving it now in extenso. It
was sung with such a depth of feeling, with such a
welcome in every tone, with such a kindly reve-
rence and warmth as can never be expressed in
mere dry words. It was as follows

God bless our Fathers' land,
Keep her in heart and hand
One with our own !
From all her foes defend,
Be her brave People's Friend,
On all her realms descend,
Protect her throne !

Father, with loving care
Guard Thou her kingdom's heir,
Guide all his ways ;
Thine arm his shelter be,
From him by land and sea
Bid storm and danger flee,
Prolong his days !

Lord, let War's tempest cease,
Fold the whole earth in peace,

Under Thy wings I
Make all Thy nations one,
All hearts beneath the sun,
Till. Thou shalt reign alone,

Great King of kings 1

the concert
When his Royal Highness at the conclusion of
quitted the ball the young vocalists rose
again, but this time their enthusiasm could not be
restrained.
One set
the example of a cheer, and
in an instant it
spiread from mouth to mouth, gra-
dually extending
building,omwhere the little choristers
sat, all through the
pttpier till it echoed with an
outburst of long
ent:—of affection, hos-
warm hearty
blenui
pitality, and welcome so g--
shouts of gladness that the ed
in
, could only look on with pride and mute
amazementtor
at such a kindly tribute to his young Prince. Every
day, every hour of this long tour has on].
winced me more and more of how little the Ryi 1
dish c o n -
people know of their brothers in Canada—how
little the English and the Americans really know
of each other. To most Englishmen Canada is a
geographical Pxpression, and they are better ac-
quainted with the Hindoos than the real sterling,