The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-01 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE CONCERTS.

Madame Grisi's " farewell festival" took place
yesterday in the great Handel orchestra, profusely
decorated for the occasion with shields, on which
were inscribed the titles of the various operas in
which Madame Grisi has performed, and ever-
greens, emblematical, it is scarcely necessary to
remark, of the famous prima donna's artistic
longevity. All the principal performers belong-
ing to the Royal Italian Opera took part in this
musical "solemnity." There was a very large attend-
ance; and although no particular demonstration
took place in honour of the heroine of the festival,
the concert gave great satisfaction, as indeed it
could scarcely have failed to do with the very ex-
traordinary amount of talent employed. The pro-
gramme was made up almost entirely of extracts
from Italian operas ; and the executancy, that we
have been constantly listening to during the present
season—and, indeed, for many seasons past—de-
mands no criticism.

THE MINISTERIAL FISH DINNER —The custo-
mary Ministerial Whitebait Dinner which precedes the pro-
rogation of Parliament took place yesterday evening at the
Trafalgar, Greenwich. There were present—Viscount Pal.
merston, the Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, the Earl
Russell, the Duke of Newcastle, the Duke of Somerset, the
Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, the Right Hon. Sir G. C.
Lewis, the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, the Right Hon. T. M.
Gibson, the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers, the Right Hon. Sir
C. Wood, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Earl of Ripon,
Viscount Bury, the Right Hon. F. Peel, Lord C. Paget,
the Right Hon. W. Hutt, the Right Hon. W. F. Cowper
the Right Hon. R. Lowe, the Attorney-General, Mr. G.
Clive, Mr. E. H. K. Hugessen, the Hon. H. B. W. Brand,
Mr. Whitbread, the Hon. Capt. Drummond, Rear-Admi-
ral the Hon. Sir F. Grey, Mr. C. S. Fortescue, Capt. C.
Eden, Mr. T. G. Baring, &c. The party proceeded to
Greenwich in a steamer from Hungerford-bridge, engaged
expressly for the purpose.

We believe we may state with certainty that Lord
Elgin has been appointed to succeed Lord Canning as Go-
vernor-General of India. This appointment has long been
contemplated, and is itself an explanation of the fact, which
excited some remark at the time, that Lord Elgin obtained
no office during the late charges in the Ministry.

The Earl and Countess of Derby left St. James's-
square, yesterday, for Knowsley-park, Lancashire, for the
autumn.

The Earl and Countess of Powis and the Ladies
Herbert leave town early next week for Powis Castle;
Montgomeryshire. _ _

_ .
The Countess (Dowager) of Jersey entertained a
select party at dinner last evening at her residence in
Berkeley-square. Her ladyship leaves town to-day for
Brighton.

The Countess of Mount-Edgcumbe has left Far-
rance's Hotel to join the earl, on board his yacht, off
Erith.

The Right Hon. Benjamin Disraeli, M.P., and
Mrs. Disraeli have left Grosvenor-gate for Hatfield House,
on a visit to the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury.
His Excellency the Ambassador of France and
Miss Elphinstone de Flahault arrived in town yesterday,
from `Palmer Castle, Dover.
The Marquis of Bristol and family have left St.
James's-square for Ickworth Park, near Bury St. Edmunds.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Northampton
are expected to leave town shortly, on a tour in Germany.
The Earl and Countess of Mountcharles and
family will leave town in a few days for the Isle of Wight.
Lord Herbert continues in much the same con-
dition. His lordship, accompanied by Lady Herbert and
the Marquis of Ailesbury, left town yesterday afternoon for
Wilton-house, near Salisbury,

Her Majesty has been pleased to confer the
Knighthood of the new Indian Order upon Lord Comber-
mere and Sir George Pollock—two veterans whose services
in India, as those of men now living, seem scarcely credible.
Lord Combermere, before he entered upon the theatre of
his principal exploits in the Peninsula, served with Wel-
lington, then Col. Wellesley, against Tippoo Sultan, and
was " especially distinguished" at the battle of Mallavelly,
fought in 1799. After a long career of success in Europe he
returned to India, and gained fresh honour by the siege
and storm of Bhurtpore, in 1826. Sir George Pollock did
not, indeed, earn his first distinction in the last century,
but he served under Lord Lake at the battle of Ineig and
the capture of Bhurtpore in 1805, in the first war in Nepaul,
in the first war in. Burmah, and in command of the army
which relieved Sir R. Sale and avenged the disasters of
Cabul in 1841.