The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-10 00:00:00

GREAT HANDEL FESTIVAL.

The Festival Orchestra is now exposed to view in its
entire extent. Nothing short of a visit can give a due
idea of its grandeur. If the space of Exeter-hall were
filled lengthways with a series of semicircular benches
towering high above the roof, it would convey but an
inadequate idea of the extent of the orchestra, which alone
far exceeds the area of any music hall in the country. A
beautiful effect has been produced by colouring the
ranges of benches blue, the division of each seat being
brought out with a white line. A considerable improve-
ment has been effected by the removal of the floor of the
galleries immediately in front of the orchestra, an unim-
peded view of which can now be gained from any of the
thousands of 10s. 61. unreserved tickets which it has
been determined shall be issued. A private trial of the
great organ took place on Monday night before Mr. Costa ;
the result was gratifying in the extreme, the gigantic
instrument answering to the touch, ar.d giving out the
tone with wonderful force. It was stated by 31r. Scott
Russell, who happened to be present, that its
powerful notes were distinctly heard in the vi lage of
Sydenham, a distance of nearly a mile. The police regu-
lations issued yesterday by the authority of Sir Richard
Mayne will, it is anticipated, prevent the least obstruc-
tion on the roads leading to the Palace, and enable visit
ors to set down by either the north or south transepts
without any difficulty. The interest excited by the fes.
tival abroad and in distant parts of the country is very
great. Calculations entered into by the committee show
that of the tickets purchased (already considerably ex-
ceeding in amount the entire expenses of the Festival)
more than three-fourths have been sent out of London,
many of the purchasers coming from great distances
abroad, or remote districts in this country, to attend the
Festival. As, in order to permit due provision of seats,
barriers, stewards, &c., to be made, the admission to
the Palace sill be by tickets only, a notification has
been issued, earnestly recommending intending visitors
is save thetwelves trouble and confusion at the railway
or entrances by securing tickets beforehand—a caution
not to be despised when the magnitude of the whole o
the arrangements is taken into consideration.

COURT OF ALDERISIEN.—At a meeting of the Court
yesterday, the resignation by Alderman Eagleton of his
gown, on account of severe indisprsition, that will pre-
vent his attending to business, was tendered and ac-
cepted.
AUSTRALIAN MAILS.—It was stated last week that
there would be no Australian mail via Egypt despatched
this month on the 12th lest. from SOuthampton, in con
sequence of the break down of the Oneida. Yesterday
the Postmaster-General gave notice that the Australian
mail will be despatched from Liverpool on the night of
the 16th inst., by the steamer Eineu, via the Cape of
Good Hope. Notice was also given yesterday by the
Postmaster-General that mails for the Cape of G
Hope will be despatched by the steam transports Mau-
ritius and Cleopatra, which are expected to leave Ports-
mouth on the 14th.
THE MAINE LIQUOR LAW.--A conference of ministers
of religion from various parts of the country as-embled
yesterday at the Town-ha, Manchester, to devise mea-
sures for aiding the *laine Liquor Law movement. Th.
sittiege are to continue for several days, and are to he
followed by a public meeting at the Free Trade-hall on
Thursday. The conference was attended yesterday
by 300 persens, and the Rev. Dr. M'Kerrow was
elected provisional cchairman,and afterwards a com-
mittee of management was appoint d, and the Rev. G.
T. Fox, incumbent of St. Nicholas' Church, Durham,
was appointed permanent chairman. Letters were read
from various ministers regretting their inability to at.
tend, and a paper was read by the chaplain of the
Northampton Gaol speaking of the sad effects that in-
toxicating drinks have on the people. It is expected
that the conference will Aislcv an address to the Queen
on the subject.