Crystal Palace.

£ 50 and a ten guinea library of music , presented by Messrs . Chappell and Co . The pieces sung were—by each choir alternately—the chorus "Where is he ? " from Beethoven ' s Mount ol Olives and T . Cooke ' s " Hohenhnden "—the the Fcistol choir bavins * also been heard in

Schubert s " Nachthclle , " and that of Air . Proudman in Ncthcrclift ' s " We happy Shepherd swains . " Some tests in si g ht-singing followed , and thc general result was the award by the judges ( Sir J . Benedict , nnd Alessrs . II . Leslie and J . Barnby ) ofthe first prize to the Liverpool

choir , the second prize to that of Bristol , and a certificate of merit to tlie other competing choir . The chief interest of the day centred in the re-appearance of the South Wales Choral Union , which has become famous since its performance at last year ' s music-meetings , when it carried oil "

the Challenge Prize Cup , value J CIOO , without opposition , it is true , but with a general approbation that was justly earned by the fine singing of these Cambrian choristers * The anticipations raised by the promised reappearance of this choir were hei ghtened by thc knowledge that this

year the claim to the possession of the prize would be disputed b y another competing bod y under Class No . i ( choral societies not exceeding 500 voices ) . This opposition was made by the Yvell-known Tonic-Sol-fa Association , whose capital singing is yearly exemplified at their special concert at the Crystal Palace .

The trial began with the South Wales' Choir , the pieces selected having been , Bach ' s motett , "I Yvrestleand pray ; " the "Hallelujah" chorus from thc Mount of Olives ; the chorus , " See what love , " frorii Mendelssohn ' s St . Paul ; and that from the same composer ' s IFalpurqh' Niifht

music , " Come with Torches . " The singing in each instance full y justified all that has been said in praise of this fine choir . Again , the quality of tone was rich and grand , powerful without thc slightest approach to coarseness ; and , notwithstanding the large number of choristers ,,

readil y graduated arid subdued in force . The vigour and precision of attack in each division ; the general truthfulness of intonation ; the special bri ghtness of the soprano voices , and their unfaltering command of the hi g her range of compass ( admirably exemplified iu the dillicult

secular chorus of Alendelssohn ) , were qualities which won enthusiastic applause , not onlv from the many natives of the Principality , who were among the large audience , but from all others who Yvere capable of judgment on the subject . It was manifest that to surpass such fine

chorussinging was scarcely possible , and accordingly the performances of the same p iece b y the rivaj choir , excellent as they were in many respects , were universall y felt to fall short of the previous displays . There could be Utile hesitation in the case , and the judges ( Sir J . Benedict , Sir J .

Goss , and Mr , Barnby ) speedily gave their decision in favour ofthe South Wales Choir , a judgment which involves the continued holding of the Challenge Prize , and the award of a purse of . £ 100 . To the Tonic Sol-fa Choir a second prize was given—a fifty guinea harmonium ,

presented by Alessrs . Alexandre and Co ., of Paris , The Welsh Choir was conducted by '" Caradoc " ( Griffith Jones ) , the oilier b y Mr . Proudman The announcement of tin * result was received with shouts and cheers from various parts of the

building , followed by a rush to the Telegraphoffice to ensure speedy transmission of the news to distant expectant : * . As on other days , the competitions were followed by a miscellaneous concert , the programme of Yvhich was contributed to by some of the competitors .

Obituary.

Obituary .

THE LATE BRO . II . IIORXUY . Wc hare this week , to announce the death of Bro . H . Hornby , a member of the Alcichants ' Lodge , No . 2 41 , holding its meetings in Liverpool—a brother Yvho was hi ghlv esteemed , not

onl y as a Alason , but as holding a high *; o-. iifon in the town ' s affairs . Unr . llurrib y has represented Lime-street ward since i [ V , S in the Town Council , and during that time has done some good , quiet , ami valuable service to the town . He was the proprietor ofthe Grand Junction Hotel ,

Obituary.

Lime-street , and a wine and spirit merchant ; and while ' ne identified himself with the dominant parly in the Town Council , he took no part in the discussion of public affairs , but confined himself simply lo voting upon f . lre various questions which came under the notice of the council .

Bro . Hornby , who wa . s in tiie prime of life , being * onl y 47 years of age , hid been ailing sometime , birt his friends scarcel y anticipated his sudden decease on the Sth instant . His remains -were interred at Simthdowii-laiic- cemetery on Friday , the 1 ith instant .

Masonic Tidings.

Masonic Tidings .

liro . the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of AIounl-Edgcumbe is to be installed as Provincial Grand AIaster of Cornwall , at Truro , on Tuesday next , the 2 2 ml inst . A very large muster of the brethren and visitors is expected . Brethren will , of course , appear in Alasonic mourning .

though some have doubted the propriety ol so doing ; but , as it is an order of the Grand Lodge , we fail to see how it can legall y be otherwise . In looking over the excellent directory for the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall , edited b y tlie late Provincial Grand Secretary , Uro . Hughan , we find that our noble brother will lie

the eighth so installed since the constitution oi the Province , in if r , 2 . We trust that as successful a career is before his lordship as characterised the rule of his immediate predecessor , the R . W . Bro . Augustus Smith , who commenced his rule , with 15 lodges and 4 A members , and ended with 24 lodges rmd an increase of ' oo members !

Preservation Of Life At Sea.

PRESERVATION OF LIFE AT SEA .

A most interesting exhibition to our numerous seafaring brethren iu Liverpool was open during Inst iveek at the Town I In / I , its object being to gather together the latest and best apparatus for the preservation of life at sea . In the different sections were exhibited models and full sized

life boats , lile rafts , life buoys , belts ea * ., boatlowering apparatus , signals , rockets , eke .., and the entire exhibition wasol the most attractive cl . aracter . 'I'he exhibition was opened by the Worshi pful theMayor Bro . E . Samuelson , and on

each day the vaiue ol the gathering was greatly enhanced by t . ials of full sized apparatus on the river , under the direction of a commit ! , r of " old salts , " having for its chairman Kcar-Admiral Kerr .

The . value of these trials will be seen when it is stated that iruhe five years prceccdiiig the _; ist December , 1 S 71 , over 'A- lives were lost by collisions , and 11 , 102 ships came into collision , of which 8 54 were sunk , the probable monetary loss amounting to about 1 > r millions in that time .

It is therefore satisfactory to know that in the present exhibition the work of many brain ; has been brought lo so much peiforlion , ami it is the opinion ofthe committee-rill uf whom are gvu- tlenicn of great experience- l . h :. t very rard y has a more select collection of appliances beeu brought together .

I'he proceeds of the exhibition will be divided betYveen the Seameus ' Orphan Asylum and the Shipwrecked Mariner :-: Aid Society . At the close o ( the exhibition on Saturdav , Uro . Samuelson , the Alayor , in tire course of an excellent speech , said th ' . * inknst which has been J evinced iu this exhibition had not been confined lo this country , but had extended to our ' n- *

i"hhotirs on tin * other side ol the channel . ( Ilea , * , j hear . ) 'lhc " Socicle Central de Sriuvctage des NaulVages" had scut Captain Delving " , a member I of their council , who had sh . r . vu an appliance for | projecting a line from shore to a ship in j distress . He ( the Mayor ) hoped the result of j

the exhibition would be such as not merely to I allow it to terminate with the possibility and even the probability cf its being repealed —( hear , hear)—and he hoped that there would be some lasting benefit accruing from it . ( Applause . ) (

Hinierlo my . ntors had only scientific journals to 1 resort to , and all knew thai , howi \ vr great thai | ' boon mi ght be , it Inched the ad ,:: nta ' . H ' : i of prac- ! ticnl tests . ( Hear , hear ) Ji . v . a * : li 11 c lhat ill * , re . was a Royal Human' * Society and a National 1

Preservation Of Life At Sea.

Lifeboat Institution , 'I'he ;; had a Polytechnic Society in Loudon ami Liverpool , but he thought these institutions did not perhaps hold out siuri - eient encouragement to inventors , and therefore he and the committee thought something should emanale from this exhibition which should

result inn permanent good . ( Applause . ) 1 le for one—il others who were mere immediatel y connected with mailers of this kind felt disposed to institute rl society for the preservation of life at sea—would have the greatest p leasure in giving it his support—( Jorul applause)—and he reall y

thought they ought not to wait for their metropolitan nei ghbours to take ( lie lead in these matters . Liverpool boasted of being the first maritime port in the world , and , accordingly , iu ill matters of this kind she ourrht to be iii the

vanguard—( hear , hc . * ir ) --e : ; peciall y when the safety of human life nas snch a consideration , lie concluded by expressing his personal thanks to the committee and th <* honorary secretary , for llieir exertions in connection with the

exhibition . It is probable that 1 lie society referred lc * b ) the Mayor will shorlly be instituted .

ROVM . VISIT TO 1 loi . vin : \ n . ~ - -Our Royal Uro . the Prince of Wales , will visi . ' Hol yhead next month for ( he j ) iir /> ose o'' op . '**; -,, * - tfij ln . w and most extensive breakwater there . A meeting of the county of Anglesey— -the High Sheriff presiding -was held on Thursday , the ' " ' oth inst .,

at the Alarkel Hall , lo make the necessary arrangements . The ceremony will probabl y take place on the 12 th or i . jtli of August , and although the Prince has desired that there should lie no public banquet , addresses will be presented from the irounlv and local authorities , and there

will be general rejoicing . It may he stated that the breakwater has cost upwards of a million and a half sterling , and , therefore , ils opening is worth y ofthe Prince ' s presence , especiall y as its object is lo shelter the mercantile navy from storm and shipwreck .

Disiovirnv or ROMAN * P \ VI :. MI : NT . —Some extensive additions are about to be made b y Alessrs . E . Gordon and Co . u , Crosb y HaU , Bishopsgate-street , and , in preparing the foundations , there has this week been discovered part of a Roman tesselated pavement , of considerable

extent , and apparently a remnant of a large floor . The border encloses an elegant leaf , ornamental pattern , aud it is worked in red , yellow , black , and while tessera * . The pavement was discovered by Alessrs . Merrill aud Ashby , the builders , about seven feet onl y from the surface . It has been seen , through the courtesy of Mr .

I . homas Smith , one ofthe firm of Alessrs . Gordon and Co ., b y several members ofthe London and Middlesex Arch .-. ological Society , who pronounce it to be a very interesting specimen ; and it is now , we believe , removed to a place of safety . About two years ago , a similar pavement was discovered , when Alessrs , Gordon and Co wero having the foimd . riion laid .-if ( heir new premises .

ojip'i ' . ile Crosby llall . Pishopsgale was one of lhe main ancries of Roman London , and , doubtless , lu , ! mansions on cither side . At various tunc- ; , there ha \ e been Roman priveiuciils fotin 1 in the inunedia !' . * nei hhouihood -- in Aiislinfiiars , Worm wood -M reel , Old Bioad- s ll ' iet , Thivadiicfdlf- ' -trec ! , . " ve .

, \ 1 i : \ f iiorswi , D . II . I . U ; Un * . . * , ** . — In th book-store ol . Mr . }> iiul < ni , 0 : 1 Broadway , there , is now on exhibition what is certainly the most \ -a ' liable copy ol ' !; ie 1 io ' y I'd ok * ever compiled . J . reprcscnls the industrious loi ! for thiil y years of an English colieemr of Uiblical prints , fit hinrts ,

engravings , original di . iwings in oil and wan r colors , and autlii a nal ye or curious edilions of the Scriptures , and is now roughly valued at 10 , 000 dols ., though irs real price may very likel y prove to be much hi gher . The complete text used is that of Dr . Kitto ' : ; editio . i ol ' l \ ing James ' Bible .

lint this is but a fr . 1 clion . 1 l pari of the sixly huge folio volume : ; tin ough which it is spread . Sometimes th" read , r will turn over fifty consecutive pages of illustrations between those scaltered fragments . Such subjects , for cample , as "Susanna and lis * Elders , ' ' or "Daniel in the Lion ' s Hen . " arc enriched wilh * -cen * - of

illnstrati , . * , i -ir . iwn from ev ry ! i U of an -i : ie convent in A . ils of lire inclkcial nees , the strange , fariA