The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-17 00:00:00

FRANCE.

The Paris Savings Bank received in the fortnight
ending the 15th instant deposits amounting to
1,01-1,070 fr., and reimbursed the sum of 588,100 fr.
The total of the payments into the Caisse dQs
itetraites for the Aged during the same period was
552 ,504 fr.

The weather yesterday in Paris was exceedingly
uncertain, rain having fallen several times. At
3 p.m. the thermometer marked 21 Centigrade
(69 4-5 Fah.)
1 he Swiss Federal Council has reduced the charge
of telegrams in the interior of the country from lfr.
to 50c. for 20 words. The new rate is to come in
force the Ist January, 1868.

The Academy of Sciences at its last sitting pro-
ceeded to the election of a member in the section of
Chemistry, in place of M. Pelouze, deceased. M.
'Vurtz, the Senior of the Faculty of Medicine, was
nominated by 46 voters to 7.

The Swiss Federal Council has decided that its
diplomatic representation abroad shall be confined
to four Legations :—France, Italy, Austria, and
Prussia.

Admiral Rigault de Genouilly, Minister of
Marine, intends, it is said, after the vote of the
Budget, to visit the five great military ports of
France, with the view of
personally inspecting the
state of the arsenals.

BOURSE, July 16, Two o'clock.—The bi-monthly
settlement is progressing favourably, The market
closed as follows:
4i per Cents 99 35
Do. and month
3 por Cents
Do. end month 6B 95
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month

Bank 5hare5,........
Italian L0an,,,,..... 50
Do. end m0nth.,,... 05
Mexican Loan
......
Do. 80nd5...,
Spanish Threes
Home Debt ......... Deferred ............

Credit Foncier _ _
Do. end month 1415

For Account.
Orleans ................................... 885
Northern ........ t.. ..................... 1170
Lyons and Mediterranean ..... 885
Southern ................................. 555 Western .................................. 665
Eastern ................................... 540 Sardinian ................................. Austrian .................................
466 25
Lombard . . ..... ................... ........ 381 25
North of Spain ..........................
Saragossa ......................
.......... 105
Roman.. ..................................

VISIT OF THE BELGIAN VOLUNTEERS
TO 7HE CRES7AL PALACE.

The Belgian Volunteers this morning assembled
at the usual place and hour, and proceeded to the
Crystal Palace. They received the same friendly
greeting from the public that has attended all their
movements.

On the arrival at the palace a scene of the
greatest interest and excitement prevailed, the
bands performing the national anthems of England
and that of Belgium. The vast concourse of visitors
assembled on the occasion, and the fineness of the
weather, all combined, produced one of the most
splendid sights that can be imagined.
Our foreign visitors seemed in ecstacies with the
splendour of the Palace and grounds, and the ex-
pressions of wonder and surprise were general, and
heard on every side.
The visit to the Crystal Palace seemed to afford
unbounded delight to the Belgians, who, shortly
after their arrival, were to be seen in small clusters
in every part of the Palace and grounds.

C LDBATII - FIELDS HOUSE OF CORRECTION.—By
a majority of ,60 to 48 the Middlesex magistrates
have at length resolved to permit Roman Catholic pri-
soners in the Coldbath-fields House of Correction to attend
mass. At their previous sessions the justices of the county
decided that there is " no authority for such a proceeding,
and it cannot be allowed." We have already pointed
out in these columns that the resolution was
founded upon an erroneous view of the law. The
Prisons Act of 1865 clearly shows the intention of the
Legislature to be that Roinanist prisoners should be allowed
to attend Divine service according to the forms of their
religion. And this opinion is confirmed by the late Attor-
ney-General and the presdht Solicitor-General, who have
been consulted by the visiting justices of the prison.
Mr. Sergeant Payne, eminent for his zeal in the
cause of Protestantism, moved his brother justices to dis-
regard the weighty legal opinion ; but happily, even at the
Middlesex Sessions, a majority of those who occupy the
bench are willing to recognise the authority of Parliament
The decision which permits a number of the inmates of
Coldbath-fields Prison to worship God in the only way
sanctioned by their consciences will be accepted by the
public as a tardy homage to the sacred principles of reli-
gious tolerance, common prudence, and common justice.--
Telegraph.

VISH OF TLIE SULIAN TO THE CRYSTAL
PALACE.

The musical festival given yesterday at the
Crystal Palace by royal command, in honour of his
Imperial Majesty the Sultan, attracted a large
attendance, and passed off with great éclat. True,
St. Swithiu's sway was unpleasantly felt, and for a
great part of the day the weather was exceedingly
unpropitious ; but it did not prevent the assembling
of a merry and well-dressed multitude large enough
to fill the vast building in every part. Two o'clock
was the time fixed for the opening of the Palace,
but long before that hour the doors were besieged
with crowds eager to obtain admission. For a long
time the rain continued to fall in such torrents that
it penetrated the roof, and from one end of the nave
to the other might be seen that most dreary and un-
poetic of spectacles, a sea of open umbrellas. At
three o'clock the sky cleared, the umbrellas were
put down, and the scene in the interior of the
Palace was brilliant and animated. But during the
remainder of the day occasional showers were the
nearest approach to fair weather. There was no
attempt at special decoration anywhere except under
the central dome, which was hung with flags and
banners of all nations, particular prominence being
given to those of the Ottoman empire. These many-
coloured ensigns commingled with the surrounding
foliage and the pendant flower-baskets had a pretty
and picturesque effect. The whole area beneath
the roof of the central transept was railed off for
reserved seats, every one of which was occupied.
Exactly opposite the Handel Orchestra a state box
in the form of a proscenium was erected for the ac-
commodation of the imperial and royal visitors. It
was divided into three compartments, and was taste-
fully decorated in crimson and gold. In front of
this costly structure—which, gaily appointed and
sumptuously furnished, contrasted strikingly with
the fac-simile of Shakspere's humble cottage in its
immediate vicinity--was a parterre of rare and
bright flowers, arranged with due regard to har-
mony of colours. The musical entertainment con-
sisted of an operatic concert in two parts, supported
by the entire company of Her Majesty's Theatre, as
well as by two military bands, the excellent band of
the Crystal Palace Company, and contingents from
all the most celebrated choral societies and choirs in
London. The first part of the concert began at half-
past 4, and was under the direction of Signor Arditi
and Mr. Manna.

This portion of the concert was performed in ex-
cellent style, but only for the gratification of the
public at large, the great guests of the day not having
as yet arrived. It was near 7 o'clock before the
booming of the royal salute conveyed the glad intel-
ligence of their approach. The Sultan was accom-
panied by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge.
His Imperial Majesty had also with him his Impe-
rial Highness Youssouff Izzedin Effendi, eldest son of
his Imperial Majesty; his Imp',Hal Highness Hamid
Effendi, nephew of his Imperial Majesty; and his Im-
perial Highness Murad Effendi, nephew of his Impe-
perial Majesty ; besides aides-de-camp and various
officers of State. The illustrious party drove over
from Woolwich, and entered the Palace-park by
the Penge-gate. As they drove round the grounds
amid the hearty cheers of the spectators, the foun-
tains were set playing with dazzling effect, and the
Sultan seemed much impressed by the beauty and
brilliancy of the scene. On alighting at a private
entrance on the north side of the central transept
the distinguished visitors were received by Mr.
Grove, Mr. Bowley, and other officers of the
Crystal Palace Company, by whom they were
escorted down the nave, through some of the most
interesting courts, and finally into the ante-room
adjoining the state box. In this apartment, which
was richly appointed and adorned with floral deco-
rations of singular beauty—the work for the most
part of Messrs. Carter, of Holborn—the royal party
dined. At a quarter to nine they made their ap-
pearauce in front of the state box, the Sultan occu-
pying the centre seat, with the Prince of Wales on
his right and the Duke of Cambridge ou his left ;
his kinsmen and courtiers being either grouped
around or accommodated in the other compartments
of the box. 'They were received with enthusiastic
acclamations, which the Sultan repeatedly acknow-
ledged. The National Anthem was then sung with
great spirit and expression by Madlle. Titiens and
other principal artistes of Her Majesty's Theatre;
after which was sung, in the original language, an
ode to the Sultan, written in Turkish expressly for
this occasion by Zafiraki Effendi, and the music
for which was composed by Signor Arditi.
Before leaving the Palace the Sultan presented
the munificent donation of 1,000 guineas to the re-
storation fund.

711 E BELGIANS AT WINDSOR.

Yesterday our Belgian guests paid their promised
visit to Windsor and to its palatial castle, the resi-
dence of her Majesty the Queen, as it has been of
her line for many a century. They were received
with every honour, and such manifestation of hearty
goodwill on the part of the townspeople as all the
rain that fell almost without intermission during the
morning could not damp. The streets were deco-
rated with flags and banners bearing expressive
mottoes ; and at every point of their march from
the railway station the volunteers were greeted with
shouts of welcome. Colonel Loyd Lindsay, M.P.,
and Captain Graves, M.P., of the 42d Lancashire
Rifles, came down in the train with the Belgians.
So soon as all the men had arrived they formed out-
side the station, headed by the Berkshire compa-
nies, and marched to the Castle, moving up Thames-
street and High-street. Passing through the
Horse-shoe Cloisters, they Mel into the nave of
St. George's Chapel, which was carefully inspected
with much interest. The memorial erected by her
Majesty to the memory of the late King Leopold,
and the beautiful monument of the Princess
Charlotte, were objects of particular atten-
tion. Leaving St. George's Chapel, the volunteers
were conducted along the north terrace into the
quadrangle, from which they entered the Castle,
and were taken through all the State chambers and
private apartments. In the riding-school covers
were laid for 1,100 guests, and 700 more of the
visitors were regaled in the glass coach-house, and
the remainder were accommodated in another coach-
house, which had been decorated with equal good
taste. In the riding-school Colonel Percy Herbert
presided, having M. Anspach, burgomaster of
Brussels, on his right, and Colonel Gregoire on his
left. The band of the Life Guards performed during
dinner. When the company were seated the ap-
pearance of the room was very brilliant. Colonel
Percy gave the health of her Majesty and of the
King and Queen of the Belgians, both which toasts
were received with an outburst of enthusiasm. Lord
Royston presided over the other division of the ban-
quet, and the same toasts were there received with
a like enthusiasm. Dinner over, the volunteers
dispersed, and strolled about the precincts of the
Castle, in the Home Park, and the gardens at
Frogmore. In the town the people displayed the
greatest cordiality and courtesy to their Continental
visitors.

The garden fete to be given on Friday by Miss
Burdett Coutts, at Hay Lodge, Highgate, if the
weather—now by its inconstancy become so grave
a consideration in these matters—be propitious, will
probably be one of the most enjoyable incidents in
the visit of our Belgian guests. The preparations
appear to be most liberal, and to be conducted with
a prudent forethought which has not characterised
at least one other of the banquets offered to the
Continental volunteers. The special guests of the
day are to muster, by permission, in the great
quadrangle of the Cavalry Barracks in Albany-
street shortly after noon. Thence without much
delay they will march past Gloucester Gate, down
Park-street, and, crossing by the Mother Red Cap,
proceed direct up the Kentish Town-road to High-
gate-hill, so as to enter the gates of Holly Lodge
not later than a quarter past three. Miss Coutts
has entrusted the direction of the banquet to Messrs.
Gunter. A large number of tents have been
erected, and a plentiful provision both of the most
substantial and the most delicate viands will be
made, with pale ale and champagne ad libitum.

c„,s, 460 c)
Cinurt.'*%_*'
-7: