The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-23 00:00:00

TILE CAPE MAILS.

PLYMOUTH, July 23.
The Union Company's steamship Briton arrived
here this morning with dates from the Cape of Good
Hope, June 19 ; St. Helena, 28 ; and Ascension,
July 2. She brings 108 passengers, several packages
of specie, and a large general cargo. Among the
passengers are the Lord Bishop of Cape Town and
family ; the Hon. P. E. Roubaix, Consul-General
for Turkey, on his way to Constantinople ; and Dr.
Lawson, the Inspector-General of Itospitals.
The Cape Parliament was still in session. A bill
introduced by Mr. Solomon to abolish State grants for
religious purposes, and also a bill brought forward
by Mr. Molteno to adopt the principle of responsible
government had both been rejected by 29 against
22 votes. The Government Paper Currency Bill had
also been rejected.
The Colonial Secretary had made his financial
statement, according to which a deficiency of
£59,000 was expected for the coming year. This
would be nearly covered by an already introduced
loan of £50,000.
The Government scheme to substitute a single
House for the present two Houses of Parliament
had been withdrawn.

The Colonial Legislature and the corporation of
Cape Town were nuking every preparation to give
the Duke of Edinburgh a hearty reception on his

arrival.

The Orontes had arrived out, but her troop; as
well as those brought by t'e Himalaya, were still
delayed at the Cape, in consequence of the fever at
Mauritius.

The Osprey had proved a total wreck ; the crew
were all saved but George Devereaux, the leading
stoker, a native of Portsmouth, who was drowned.
The Petrel had visited the wreck, and reported it
was quite broken up. All that had been saved con-
sisted of some articles of clothing, a few rifles and
revolters, a chronometer, two sextants, some sails,

and the remains of the rigging. A court of inquiry
was about to be held.

The war between the Free States and the Basutos
had been brought to a close.

It was reported by the steamship Saxon, which
arrived at Table Bay from the Eastern route pre-
vious to the departure of the Briton, that there was
every probability of Dr. Livingstone being still
alive. Sir Thomas Maclear had not, however, re-
ceived any information on the subject. Sir P. E.
Wodehouse, the Governor of the colony, whose
term of service expires this year, is expected to
leave for England by October in the mail steamer.
There is no particular news from Natal. The
country was looking well, and there was every
prospect of satisfactory crops. Governor Neate
arrived out in Mauritius on the 23d May, and was
received by the corporation of D' Urban. Major-
General Bisset, acting Governor, was to leave
shortly for Algoa, Bay.

771 E GRAND ENTER,TAINIIIEN7 AT
GUILDHALL.

During the last three days nearly 40,000 people
have been admitted to the Guildhall to see it in the
state in which it was prepared and decorated for
the reception of his Imperial Majesty the Sultan.
Yesterday alone, which we regret to say was the
last day it was open to the public, 16,350 persons,
old and young, paid a visit to the hall between 11
o'clock in the morning and half-past 4 in the after-
noon, and crowds continued to flow in until 8 in
the evening, when it was closed. On Saturday
about 15,000 went to see the building. The visitors
were in all cases admitted by tickets furnished
gratuitously.

The records of the Corporation of the City of
London, extending over many centuries, abound
with instances of the splendid entertainment o f
crowned heads, and of other illustrious personages
from time to time; but probably there is no occa-
sion of that kind in its history to vie with the re-
ception of the Grand Turk in munificent hospitality
and stately ceremonial. In the recollection of living
men connected with the Corporation there is nothing
to compare with it in magnificence taken as a whole,
unless, indeed, it be the memorable entertainment
given to their Royal Highnesses the Prince and
Princess of Wales in honour of their marriage ; but
even that, brilliant as it was in all respects, fell
short of the splendid pageant of Thursday evening
last. By common consent a great success was
achieved, delighting and fascinating all who had
the privilege of witnessing the spectacle, with all
the attendant circumstances, and worthy alike of
the exalted personage in whose honour it was con-
ceived and of the Corporation itself. The splendid
fabric erected for the occasion as a reception-hall
was a marvel in itself, having regard to the short
time allowed for its conception and completion, and
to its extraordinary strength, lofty proportions, and
great aptitude for the purposes it was intended to
serve. It was designed by Mr. Horace Jones, the
City architect, and is well calculated to enhance his
professional reputation. The poet Wordsworth has
somewhere said
A thing of beauty is of joy for ever
but it is matter for regret in many quarters that
the fairy structure to which reference has just been
made, and which may certainly claim to be regarded
as "a thing of beauty," is in some risk of being de-
stroyed forthwith now that its temporary purpose
has been answered, in obedience to some utilitarian
considerations with regard to light and air to the
adjacent offices and buildings, which it is said to
obstruct. At a moderate estimate this reception-
hall alone will probably have cost the Corporation
about £6,000, and so substantially is it built that it
might last a century at least. No fewer than five
staircases, one of them of stately proportions, leads
to a spacious apartment above, capable of accom-
modating 300 or 400 persons at a time at an enter-
tainment, and well lighted and ventilated. On great
public occasions, such as Lord Mayor's-day, when a
great part of the company is shunted off into incon-
venient and out-of-the-way places adjoining the
Guildhall, the new building might be turned to
admirable purpose, and at other times of festivity it
might be available for dancing. In view of these
considerations it remains to be seen whether the
Corporation will have the heart to demolish it.
The marvellous splendour and taste with which
the Council Chamber was decorated on the night of
the entertainment as a supper-room for the Royal
and distinguished guests, together with the brilliant
company that assembled within its walls on the
occasion, challenged the admiration of all who had
the privilege of being present. The various civic
guilds had contributed a choice selection of their
most ancient and cherished plate, as had also the
Corporation itself, to grace the banquet., and the
general effect was gorgeous almost beyond con-
ception. The plate so lent consisted mostly of
shields, salvers, flagons, drinking cups, plateaux,
epergnes, vases, and candelabra, some of it being
of solid gold. Every single piece had an histo-
rical interest in addition to its intrinsic value.
One, in particular, was a magnificent candelabra
of solid silver and of great antiquity belonging to
the Fishmongers' Company, and suspended from
the ceiling. The table was laden with these gor-
geous emblems of civic pomp and hospitality as
was also a buffet behind the chair occupied by the
Lord Mayor, and the value in the whole may be
said to have been fabulous. The materials of this
Imperial feast formed a curiosity in their way.
The menu was as follows :—" Potage Pontoise
l'Albion, Potage a la Victoria, Ris de Veau a la
Lucullus, Filets de Poulets a l'Ecar, late Cotellettes
aux Haricots Verts, Croustades it la Reine, Cailles
it la Macedoine, Crevettes en Caisses, Aspics de
Foies Gras de Strasbourg, Homard 4 la Veuetienne,
Salad it la Russe, Filets de Soles it la Venotienne,
Buisson de Truffes de Perigord, Chartreuse a la
Parisienue, Sau:non a la Royale, Galantine de
Volaille aux Truffes, Pate it la Francaise, Jambon,
Poulets Rotis, Laugue de Bceuf, Carre d'Agneau
aux Concombres, Filet de Bceuf h la Choisy, Celes-
tine de Fraises, l'eches it la Belle Vue, Gelee, au
Yin de Madere, Gateau it la Princesse, Ananus aux
Croutons, Compote d'Abricots." It presented an
exquisite specimen of the typographic art, being
printed on satin, with a deep, rich border of gold,
and adorned with :the arms of his Imperial Majesty
the Sultan and of the city of London. Sixty only
were printed, corresponding with the number of
guests. The service used was designed and manu-
factured expressly for the occasion, and has since
excited much admiration. At the Imperial table
the principal guests were ranged
.in the following
order :—On the right of the Lord Mayor were the
Lady Mayoress, his Imperial Majesty the Sultan,
Fuad Paella, the Princess Louis of Hesse, the Duke
of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, the Princess Mary Ade-
laide, the Duchess of Aosta, and Prince 'Peck. On
the left, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of
Mecklenburg Strelitz, the Duke of Cambridge, the
Duke of Aosta, and Madame Musurus (now no
more), the rest of the distinguished guests being
ranged according to rank. A fountain played at the
foot of the apartment, which was further adorned
with a profusion of flowers of exquisite perfume
and beauty, charmingly arranged.
The repast was provided by Messrs. Staples, of
the Albion, as was also the supper for the whole of
the guests invited to the general entertainment, up-
wards of 3,000 in number, and both were well cal-
culated in every respect to sustain the fame of their
establishment. The reception, indeed, was made
the occasion by the Corporation fur the exercise of
a profuse and munificent hospitality, which left
nothing to be desired, and completely vindicated, if
it did not eclipse, their ancient renown in that re-
spect. The Entertainment Committee and the rest
of the civic authorities vied with each other in
courteous attention to the company, and they have
their reward in the reflection that on an occasion of
commandinc, interest they conducted to a
successful
issue a splendid ceremonial, which will live in the
recollection of all who witnessed it.

LORD BYRON.— Madame de Boissy's "Recollec-
tions of Lord Byron" are to be published by Messrs. Hurst
and Blackett during the autumn. These memoirs by the
Italian Contessa have always been expected—and if the
lady has told the truth about her famous English lover,
her tale will be a gtralige one,—Athenaeum.

TIER MAJESTY, &c.

-~-

OSBORNE, July 22.
The Queen and the royal family walked out this

morning.

Her Imperial Majesty the Empress of the French
is expected to arrive at Osborne to-day on a private
visit to the Queen.

DEPARTURE OF THE SULTAN.

a -

(THIS DAY.)

His Imperial Majesty quitted London this
morning, via the South-Eastern Railway for
Dover, en route to Brussels. His Maje3ty arrived
at the Charing-cross station shortly before eleven,
where some hasty but very effective preparations

had been made to receive the illustrious visitor. The
departure platform was made gay with flowers and
scarlet carpeting, and wreaths of laurel were en-
twined around the large and massive lamp standards
that ornament the station. A large number of ladies
occupied a large gallery erected for the occasion ;
in addition to which a large number attended in
their carriages on the roadway at the side of the
station. Altogether the sight was not as imposing
as that which his Majesty met with on his arrival in
London, it was striking enough to convey to his
Majesty the pleasurable feelings his. brief so-
journ in the metropolis had produced. Their
Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the
Duke of Cambridge accompanied the Sultan,
and on the Royal party alighting from
her Majesty's carriages they entered the elegant
saloon carriage of the South-Eastern Railway Com-
pany, and the suite of his Majesty having taken
their places the train Quitted the station amidst the
utmost demonstrations of respect.
Amongst the officials of the company present to
receive his Majesty were Mr. Eborall, Mr. Knight,
Mr. Cockburn, and Mr. Richardson ; and the ad-
mirable manner in which the whole of the proceed-
ings were conducted entitle them to the highest
praise.

TflE SULTAN A 7 71IE TIOR7ICULTUR4L

GARDENS.

Yesterday evening, after being entertained at a
magnificent banquet, followed by a concert, at.
Stafford House, his Imperial Majesty the Sultan
honoured the President and Vice-Presidents of the
Horticultural Society with a visit to their beautiful
gardens. This was a special night fete given sclely
in honour of his Majesty. It was originally fixed to
take place to-morrow. Almost at the last moment,
however, the date was anticipated by two days, and,
as is usually the case with such sudden antedated
festivities, they suffered somewhat in the great pre-
parations for the ceremony. It was only, however,
those who know what was intended to be done on
Wednesday that could at all judge to what extent
the fete of last night fell short of what it would
have been had the original day been adhered to.
To the mass of visitors everything looked wonder-
fully beautiful, and really was so, and it is difficult
to overpraise the zeal and industry that have been
displayed by all connected with the gardens in
transforming them to the aspect they presented last
night at so short a notice. Not until Sunday after-
noon did his Majesty intimate that he would be un-
able to come on Wednesday, but would honour the
gardens with his presence after leaving Stafford
House. On Monday, therefore, everything bad to
be done, and was done, too, effectively and well.
The conservatory was cleared along its centre, and
the rarest plants which could be got from Chiswick
or the nurseries of Messrs. Veitch and Sons were
brought up in haste to add to the attractions of
what was already one of the most beautiful conser-
vatories in London. Carpets were laid, passages
railed off with silk ropes, and a dais with Royal
chairs erected at the opening on the northern side
between the flights of steps leading to the gallery.
On the left side of this gallery a spacious tempo-
rary room, draped with flags and exquisitely
adorned with flowers, had been hastily run up for
the use of his Imperial Majesty and the most
illustrious of the guests who came with him, and
in this a most sumptuous supper had been pro-
vided by the orders of the Duke of Buccleuch, the
President of the Society. A corresponding enclo-
sure was made on the right gallery for the use of the
members of the suite. These preparations, however,
were as nothing compared to those which were made
in the garden. All the coloured lamps which could
be procured at so short a notice, and all the coloured
Chinese lanterns that could be bought or made,
were sent in from every direction. These marked
the rims of the parterres, lit up the statues and
vases, and hung in intricate festoons of coloured
lights. At 9 o'clock, when all these were lit, the
effect was wonderfully beautiful, and the early visi-
tors were rewarded for their punctuality by seeing
the garden under the most striking aspect it hag
ever worn, and which those who came later, after
the inevitable rain had done its work on the illumi-
nation, missed altogether.
'[he hour fixed for the arrival of visitors, of whom
about 1,000 had been invited, was 9 o'clock ; before
that time every place was occupied, and the conser-
vatory, brightly lit up and thronged with ladies, pre-
sented a most brilliant appearance. In its way it
was one of the most perfect pictures of a semi-rural
night fete that could well be conceived. Had his
Imperial Majesty come at the hour he was expected
he would have seen all the preparations made in his
honour to perfection. As it was, ;he did not arrive
until 12, and not until after a tremendous shower
had drowned half the lamps. His Majesty came in
State, attended by an escort of the Life Guards.
Accompanying him in the same cortege were the
Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, and his
chief Ministers of State. Her Royal Highness the
Princess Mary Adelaide, with his Serene Highness
the Prince of Teck, arrived shortly before his Ma-
jesty, as did also their Highnesses the Prince and
Princess d'Aosta, who were attended by his Excel-
lency the Italian Minister, the Marquis D'Azeglio.
The Sultan was received on alighting at the
Prince's entrance by the Duke of Buccleuch and
the chief members of the Horticultural Society.
His Majesty wore a plain, blue frock-coat without
embroidery of any kind, and a plain fez The other
members of the suite were similarly attired. The
Sultan passed at once along the corridors into the
conservatory, where every ono rose to receive hiln,
but of course there was no cheering nor any marks
of welcome beyond deep reverence. The dais being
situated midway down the conservatory, his Ma-
jesty turned off short and went to his chair of
State, having only traversed half the length of the
building. Looks of disappointment from those at
the northern end, who, of course, had not seen him,
were general ; and the Sultan was the first to notice
this, and at once came down from the dais and
walked up the hall and back again that all might
see him. After this the conservatory doors were
opened and 150 men of the Household Brigade
stationed along the terraces, and at intervals in line
near the principal arcades, lit at the signal of a
bugle call the monstrous port fires or signal lights,
two of which each man carried. The effect Wes
..
wonderfully beautiful, and the glare of the
threw quite into the shade the pale flicker of til!
illumination. It was not, however, so effective J,7
the same device used at the Crystal Palace on 01-'
night of the Sultan's fete, awl which so pleased III!
Majesty that it was at his special request an at
s
tempt was made to repeat it last night. After the
fires had burnt out, which was not for sonlo
minutes, the Sultan retired to his own room in tu:
gallery, and as it was then past 12 there was a gene:
ral dispersion of the company. His Majesty, aftLr
i.
about an hour's stay, quitted the gardens, ace''',P`e
panied by the same marks of ceremony and popular
welcome amid which he had entered.

ROYAL GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION.--we Under:
stand that Mr. German Reed has decided on bringing hi:
season to a close on Monday, the sth of August, 101:
there will be a benefit for himself, Mrs. Reed, end
John Parry. All who have enjoyed the present splori
entertainment of " Dream iu Venice," got up 35 it
:.4
with splendid dresses, must wish success to the nann3b-...
on the occasion, and we trust a crowded audience will tos
tify to his enterprise and liberality. To the ig tela
Venice" (for the 140th time) and "Merry Making," I'lll'
added other attractions on the closing night.