The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-15 00:00:00

FIREWORKS. AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The Handel Festival of 1363 will most likely excel all
its predecessors in the elaboration of the great composer's
selections and the gorgeousness of the pyrotechnic display
which was seen to such advantage on Saturday night. The
first device, on which was inscribed the name of Handel,
surrounded by a gracefully-designed wreath of olive leaves,
was received with vociferous cheering by the thousands
who crowded the terraces. While the fires by
which it was lit up were changing their various
tints, the grounds and terraces were illuminated
by the magnesium light. The balloon to which
it was attached formed as it ascended a perfect spiral
column of smoke, and as it glided across the sky the glit-
tering lines of the Pa!ace itself appeared like the varying
designs of a colossal kaleidoscope. Then the band strack
the first notes of " God save the Queen," and the first
words of the National Anthem appeared in what seemed
Ot a distance to be letters of diamonds surrounded by a
rich deep fringe of golden fire. The most important im-
provement recently made in the pyrotechnic exhibitions
at the Crystal Ralace has been an arrangement by
which rockets are sent up in such quick succession, and
with such regard to their consequent distribution, that,
after explosion their combined fires descend in dazzling
clusters of coloured light. One could scarcely have
imagined anything more brilliant than the constellation
which, on Saturday, the violet, crimson, green, blue, red,
and purple fires of the rockets united to form in their
descent. The set piece erected in honour of his Royal
Highness the Duke of Edinburgh presented the same
elegant design and appropriate inscription as on the
lccasion of the last pyrotechnic fate at Sydenham.
The grand cascade poured forth such a full stream of
golden light that one might have imagined that it had its
source in the fabled Pactolus, and as its flow decreased, the

wavy lines of fire which continued to descend added a

novel and most attractive feature to the display. We can
say without exaggeration that the splendour of all previous
exhibitions was completely obscured by the final incident
in the display of Saturday evening. The air was so still
that the jets of water rose from the basins in almost
perpendicular lines, and, gracefully curving at the top,
formed what might not be inappropriately compared to
pyramids of snow. These coloured lights, like watchfires,
illuminated every portion of the park. The arched sec-
tions of the rosary stood out in high relief against the
almost cloudless sky, and the water temples shone as
brightly as if their domes were constructed of burnished
;old. Then the lights gradually changed their tints, and
the water of the fountains appeared to be green and red
• and blue in turn, and as the fires began to die out a grand
gira,ndole of 10,000 rockets again lit up the grounds and
terraces with an effulgence which it may be truly said no
words are adequate to describe. If a firework display
...ould possibly be worthy of Handel's memott, the fi,te of
last Saturday was a not ungrateful tribute to the name in
whose honour it was organised and completed.

COLLIERYILCCIPtFr:Jay night a maim.-
accident occurred at Dudley Pit, whereby one
man was killed on the spot and another severely injured.
It appears that the men at the time of the accident were
working in the pit, when a fall of stone took place, killing
one mina, called E:isha Whitehead, and severely injuring
the other, George Mountain. Whitehead leaves a wife
and one child.

TILE RETURN OF TILE QUEEN TO WINDSOR.—
ro-morrow, her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by
their Royal Highnesses Prince Leopold and Princesses
Louise and Beatrice, with the suite in attendance, will
leave Balmoral fur Windsor. Her Majesty's special train
will leave Ballater at two o'clock in the afternoon, under
the charge of Mr. W. Cawkwcll, general manager of tho
London and, North Western line, and will arrivl at
Wincl§9r, 691 rik_Ats,j_4l(lnigislutea to nine oVock.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manageress. Mrs. Swanhorongh.
THIS EVENING. at 7.30, SISTERLY SERVICE: Messrs.
Belford, Htnourt; Miss Sheridan.
After watch, THE FIELD OF THE CLOTII OF GOLD.
Mesirs. Thorne, James, and Robaon; Meal:tin:3s Swanborough,
Lydia Thompson. Sheridan, Hughas. &e.
To exit:dude gith MARRIAGE AT ANY PRIDE.