Public Amusements.

generally leave an unsatisfactory impression , whilst his acting is more that of an amateur than a professional . His wife , known as Aliss Dyer , has nofc such physical means , but she , nevertheless , is a better singer and actress . Aliss Dyer's Maritana , was a spirited and agreeable performance—a correct conception , skilfully as pleasantly carried out . Aliss Heywood , too , deserves praise , for she possesses a rich ancl sympathetic contralto voice , which she knows how to use purely ancl tastefully . Air . Borraniand Air . Durand ivere alike wanting both iu their acting aucl

singing , and did more to mar than to promote the success of the opera . The band , collected rapidly under peculiarly difficult circumstances , was efficient ancl as much may be said ivith respect to the chorus . Dr . Pech conducted boldly and zealously , but not always with a due regard to time . The entertainments terminated with a bullet divertissement , in which Air . Flexmore ancl Alaclame Auriol appeared . THE E ASIER N OVELTIES . —The crowded state of our columns compels us to defer our notice of the theatrical doings of the past iveek till our next .

THE CRYSTAL PALACE . THE seventh season of the Crystal Palace will commence on the 1 st of Afay , and the programme of fetes , & c , which has been just put forward is as attractive , if not more so , than , any which has preceded it . It is true that oi'er sanguine expectations ancl Lavish expenditure on points not of sufficient public interest led to much loss in its early

career - but new management produced a better state of things , aucl being now on the tide of prosperity , the directors are doing all that lies in their power to secure their position , and give to the public the utmost amount of amusement and information in tlieir various fetes , and in the general arrangements of the Palace . Of course music will continue to be one of the main attractions of the season ancl the first grand fete will be helcl on Friday the 4 th of

, May , for the purpose of inaugurating the colossal bronze statue of Alendelssohn , AA'hich has been designed and executed by Air . Charles Bacon . The principal feature in this festival ivill be the performance of the magnificent oratorio of " Elijah , " which will take place at three o ' clock , the musical arrangements having been undertaken by the Sacred Harmonic Society , with a band ancl chorus of nearly three thousand performers , conducted by Bro . Costa . The statue will be the terraceand the of

placed in a prominent position on , ceremony unveiling it will take place at six o ' clock , and be followed at dusk by a great torchlight procession similar to that which produced so marked an effect at the Schiller festival last autumn . On the 16 th of Alay a performance will take place by the children ancl members of the Tonic Sol Fa Association , numbering close upon 5 , 000 , these performances having hitherto proved highly attractive . The 19 th of tho same month is to be set aside to pay a befitting homa"e to the genius of a British composer—Bro . Vincent AVallace—by a morning concert , the programme consisting entirely of selections from the vocal ancl instrumental compositions of thafc gentleman , who will

preside in person . On the IStli June the concert of the Metropolitan Schools' Society , conducted by Air . G . AV . Martin , will be helcl , ancl early in the same month that of the Metropolitan Charity Children , which cannot fail to be regarded with much interest , in consequence of its having been determined by the Society of Patrons that the anniversary meeting , hitherto held in St . Paul ' s Cathedral , shall be suspended this year , on account of alterations in progress in that edifice .

On the 25 th , 2 Gth , ancl 28 th , performances of a more novel character will take place , arrangements having been completed for a visit by the " Societd des Orpheonistes " of France , a very extensive association for the promotion of vocal part music , which has its head quarters at Paris , but whose branch societies are to be found in almost every town and village in France . The number of members taking part in the performance will be between 3 , 000 and 4 , 000 , the majority of whom will land for the first timeancl will be conducted b

doubtless visit Eng , y AT . Eugene Delaporte , the founder of the society , to whose exertions it owes the success which it has attained . On the 10 th and llth July there is to be a grand contest by brass bancls a novelty which has not hitherto been heard in London or its vicinity , though highly popular iu the north of England . Againin addition to the dailperformance of the excellent band of

, y the palace , conducted by Air . Alanns , there are to be a series of grand opera concerts by the most eminent artistes of the day , the first six of which are fixed for the following Fridays : —llth Alay , 1 st , 15 th , and 22 nd Juno , and Gth and 13 th July . These performances will take place in the new concert hall , which , by the recent alterations , is now larger than Exeter Hall , or any other music hall in or near the metropolis , ancl possessed of admirable qualities for sound , which have been universall y

recognized . Next to the musical festivals the most popular fetes at the palace have undoubtedly been the flower shoivs , ancl , of these , four are fixed . On Alay 26 th , a general show of flowers and fruit ; June 30 fch , the annual exhibition of the National Rose Association ; August Gth , and following days , the national hollyhock show ; ancl November 15 th , and two following days , the annual show of that beautiful winter flower , the

chrysanthemum . The poultry shows , the bird show ( which proved so successful an experiment ) , and the agricultural root show are all to be repeated ; and

Public Amusements.

the directors will avail themselves of various opportunities for displaying the great fountains , and the elaborate system of cascades , waterfalls , temples , and basins in connection , ivhich forms one of the most attractive features of the Crystal Palace , and is every year more and more appreciated by the visitors . Furthermore the directors havo arranged for an archery meeting on the 19 th and 20 th July ; a fancy fair on the 8 th , 9 th , and llth of June , for the benefit ofthe Warehousemen and Clerks - Schools at New-cross ; an exhibitionin Alayof the prizes and

presenta-, , tion works of the Crystal Palace Art Union , consisting of neiv and original Avorks in marble and ivood carving , from commissions expressly given by the council to eminent sculptors ancl wood carvers ; pictures selected from the new exhibition of the Crystal Palace Gallery , & c ., & c . The library aucl reading room , which has made so great a progress in public favour under the direction of Mi * . F . K . J . Shenton , has been removed , to a more convenient position near the Byzantine Court , in connection with which

ample space overlooking the company's gardens has been setaside for the establishment of a school of art , science , and literature , with the view of developing the educational resources of the palace , and competent masters are to be appointed for carrying out , to a great extent , the system that has been successfully pursued for many years at Monsieur A . Roche ' s educational institutes in Cadogangardeusancl other localities in the west end of the townand which

, , have been attended by pupils from all parts of the metropolis aud the suburbs . The scale of charges will not be higher than in the institutes alluded to , and , in addition , the privilege will be given of gratuitous admission to the palace ancl grounds , and to the company ' s library and reading room , to the instructors and pupils when attending the classes , as well as a season ticket , available on all other occasions when the palace is open to the publicat the uniform price of 10 s . Gd . a ¦

, year . There are also to be taken into consideration the varied courts , works of nature and other beauties peculiar to the palace and grounds , which as yrt stand unrivalled , and are likely long to continue so ; and the facilities which are afforded by the boats on the lake , the gymnasium , the cricket _ ground , the rifle gallery , & c , for pleasant and healthful recreation , in one of the mosfc beautiful spots in the neighbourhood of London .

_ AVe have yet one other department to speak of , and that one of considerable importance—the refreshment department . It has long been felt that there was in this department a want of suitable apartments adapted for private dinner parties . These are now being constructed under the direction of Air . Eade , the architect , in the square tower , at the end of the south wing nearest to the railway corridor . The new rooms project into the best portion of the gardens , ancl command beautiful views of the surrounding countrythe whole series of fountainsthe

, , terraces , ancl the palace . These rooms are of various sizes , for large or small parties , from fii'e to fifty , in addition to a great hall for public or other large dinners , capable of accommodating four hundred persons , with a gallery to seat sixty or eighty ladies . Separate kitchens and cellars are attached to these rooms , which are being fitted up with great taste , and ive are informed that the general arrangements hai-e been placed under the management of a maitre d'hOlel of great experience

, and the kitchens confided to one of the most talented French chefs , Bro . Strange having determined to clo ei'erything in his power to render the arrangements as perfect and attractive as possible . The Robert Burns Lodge haA'e already determined on holding tlieir summer banquet here , and other Lodges will doubtless folloiv their example . In concluding , wc have only to speak of the financial arrangements . There will be , as previously , tivo classes of season tickets—two guineas

ancl one guinea—the holders of the former being entitled to admission whenever the palace is open to the public , and of the latter whenever the price of admission for the clay is under 5 s . ; and ivhen the admission is above that rate , by an extra fee of 2 s . 6 d . —season tickets for children being fixed at the uniform price of 10 s . 6 d . per annum . The ordinary rates of admission ivill be for the first five days of the week , Is . ( excepting when otherwise previousl announced for special fetes ) and Saturdays

y , 2 s . Gd . Reductions in the price of admission will also be made to large excursion parties belonging to benevolent or other societies , schools , & c , varying according to the numbers to be admitted—for adults ( including railway fares ) , from Is . Gd . to Is ., and children , 9 d . to Gd . ; and parties by the road—for adults , from Is . to Srf ., and children , Od . to id . each .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

"R . E . X . "—As a Provincial Grand Officer you will bo admitted into Grand Lodge in your purple apron , but you must wear the blue collar of the Loclge you represent . The other questions shall be attended to . "B . B . "—Every Loclge has the right of selecting its own members , ancl if tho brethren think proper to reject a candidate for initiation or joining , he has no appeal . " A . Y . Z . "—A P . AI . ivho takes the office of W . M . pro tern ( he not

, being a P . AI . of the Lodge , nor a AVarden , and consequently not the legal ruler of the Lodge ) may give a second or easting vote if the ballot is even when balloting for a new AV . M ., provided ho is a member of the Loclge ; if not he has no vote .