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

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

The war between the Free States and the Basutos
Ld 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.

IHE GRAND ENTERTAINMENT 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 au 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 a
l'Albion, Potage a la Victoria, Ris de Veau it la
Lucullus, Filets de Poulets h l'Ecar, late Cotellettes
aux Haricots Verts, Croustades h la Reine, Cailles
it la Macedoine, Crevettes en CAisses, Aspics de
Foies Gras de Strasbourg, Homard it la Venetienne,
Salad ala Russe, Filets de Soles a la Venetienne,
Buisson de Truffes de Perigord, Chartreuse h la
Parisienue, Saumon it la Royale, Galantine de
Volaille aux Truffes, Path it la Francaise, Jambon,
Poulets Rotis, Laugue de Bceuf, Carre d'Agneau
aux Concombres, Filet de Bceuf a la Choisy, Celes-
tine de Fraises, Peches a la Belle Vue, Gelee au
Yin de Madere, Gateau h 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 Pacha, 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 for the exercise of
a profuse and munificent hospitality, which left
nothing to be desired, and completely vindicated, if
itp
edid t notT eclipse,he
Entertainment thei r ancient
Committee
renown inand tthhaetrreest-
sof 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
conducted
willtedto liveain thesuccessful
t
icsosmnem.aanedpilenngdiindteereersetnie theyn
recollection of all who witnessed .

-- -
LORD BYRON.—Madame de Boissy's " Recollec-
tions of Lord Byron" aro to be published by Messrs. Hurst
and Blaekett during tho autumn. Those 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 ptrabge 0110.—AtkiiNZtili.