The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-27 00:00:00

The Crystal Fa ace.

The thirteenth season, commencing on May-dah
is one of great promise. During the past six months
the number of visitors has been considerably greater
than in any former year. Taking the whole period
during which the Palace has been open, these six
months have, as compared with the same period of
previous years, shown an excess of more than 68i
per cent., thus showing how much recent additional
facilities for reaching the Palace are rendering it
available as a place of winter resort. The season
tickets also show a large increase.

The programme of the new season, commencing
on the Ist May, comprises an unusually varied list
of special attractions. On May-day a great concert
of 5,000 voices will be given by children and others
connected with the metropolitan schools, conducted
by Mr. G. W. Martin. Ethardo will also re-appear,
his lofty pole for the nonce being converted into a
gigantic May-pole. On the following day Mr. C.
Dickens has kindly undertaken to give a reading of
" Little Dombey." Other specialities intervene,
and on the following Saturday, May 5, the concert
season will be inaugurated by a great performance
on the Handel orchestra of Handel's " Acis and
Galatea Mdlle. Titiens, Signori Gardoni and
Stagno, with Mr. Stanley, being the principal
vocalists. The'band of the company, largely rein-
forced, and a chorus of nearly 1,000 carefully'
selected voices, under the direction of Mr. Manny,
will, it is anticipated, present this favourite serenata
of Handel's in a manner worthy of the occasion.
Eight other opera concerts will follow on Saturdays.
Seven of these will be supported by such a care-
fully-selected arrangement of artistes of Her Ma-
jesty's Theatre, and by solo instrumentalists (in-
cluding Madame Arabella Goddard, &c.) as Will
render each concert of this series specially interest-
ing.

The Great Flower Show of the Season will be held
under the most favourable auspices on Saturday,
the 12th May. As a feature of additional interest,
and to afford additional accommodation, the beau-
tiful gardens of Rockhills, adjoining the Palace, and
the residence of the late Sir Joseph Paxton, will be
thrown open to visitors. As in front of the surround-
ing verandah there is growing one of the largest
trees of Wisteria Sinensis in the country, and as at
the time of this great show it will be in full beauty,
such an opportunity affords additional interest to
the great show of the coming season. These gardeno
will be again thrown open on the day of the Great
Rose Show, Saturday, June 23.

The revels on behalf of the Royal Dramatic Col-
lege will also be held early in July ; but, probably,
the most popular day (or rather evening) will be the
great display of fireworks, and grand illumination
of fountains, water temples, and temples, and gar-
dens, on Thursday, the 17th of May, the day fol-
lowing the Derby race at Epsom. Preparations
have long been making for this event, and it will
excite no little sensation.

Many other concerts and fetes, including the
archery fete, great gymnastic gathering of unusual
interest, great meetings of various sorts, will helP
to swell up the numbers.

At no time have the palace and grounds been in
better condition, nor have more objects of special
interest been accessible to visitors. The placing 01
all these specialties within reach of a guinea season
i
ticket has been attended with complete success, and
as the High Level Railway—actuated by the same
liberal views—grant the Crystal Palace sewn
ticket holders the privilege of an annual first-class
railway ticket from either Ludgate or Victoria, the
Crystal Palace may now be considered as accessible
as a concert room 'or theatre in the heart of London/
combined with the finest site in the world for health-
ful recreation and enjoyment.

OVERLAND ROUTE.—We observe that the cow
pany which was formed for the purpose of establish-
ing hotels in India and China, and elsewhere on the route,
between England and the British settlements in India and
China, have just completed the first of their establishments/
which is to be opened at Point de Gallo immediately.
Another is in, course of building at Cairo in Egypt. Both
of these will, we have reason to believe, have every com-
fort and convenience of the best English hotels. Any one
who has been along this route must feel how much hotels;
of this description are required, and we only hope that
the success which there is every reason to expect will
attend the first efforts of the company, will be such as to
induce them gradually to extend their system over Egypt'
India, and China, in all of which countries hotel accom-
modation suitable to the requirements of the present dal
is so much wanted.

TIIORNTON AND WILBERFORCE.--It was a curious
spectacle to watch the two menwithin the House of
Commons. The member for Southwark, tall and stately,
sat listening attentively to the debate, weighing every
word, and arriving at length, after a full hearing at a clear
decision. Wilberforce, eager, lively, restless, was writing
notes on the debate ; now dipping his pen in the ink, antl
sputtering it, as he handled it awkwardly, over Sir
Thomas Baring's nankeens; then jumping up in distress,
and dancing round his friend with ludicrous sympathy, s° ag
to set the house in a roar; then seated again, he resume('
his attention, followed the argument; whispered into old
Bankes's ear a witty sally, which convulsed him with
laughter; then, attracted by some speaker on the minis"
terial bench, he nodded assent, and smiled, and moved his
head and body in curious contortions; but when a speaks'
rose on the opposite side, he lifted up his eye-g 135.11
5'
watched him, and followed attentively his words,
caught by some subtle sophism of Fox, or setae
clever statement of Lord Henry Petty, he began to
feel doubtful and embarrassed. Musing over this,
observing how much was said on both sides, 11e
wavers and cannot make up his mind. Thus perturbeQ4
he begins to ask himself how he should vote. Up goes the
eye-glass; he scans the benches till he discovers gent"'
Thornton in his seat. Away he darts, all eagerness, &table
as a boy, but anxious and full of scruples, seats himself be-
side his friend, and pours out his doubts. He argues, ges-
ticulates, and inquires, in an eloquent torrent of words an'
thoughts. The answer soon comes, short and clear; th,°
case stated with a lawyer's astuteness, the argurueeL
summed up with a judge's discernment, the judgment
luminous as a sunbeam. Delighted and satisfied, Wilber.-
force returns to his seat, settled and at rest.—Co/quhOts
Book on WiTherforce and 1 his Friend.