Scotland.

previous to his being ushered into the S . S ., in presence of a large number of Craftsmen hailing from many lands , and all of whom seemed deeply impressed with the interesting ceremony . Afterwards the " loving cup " was quaffed , and the evening pleasantly spent—the health of the " youngest Craftsman " being drunk in such a fashion as only tho " enlightened few" of the Emperor Joseph ' s subjects can ever expect to witness .- —Ayr Advertiser .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

MR . ALFRED MELLON'S CONCERTS . Mr . Alfred Mellon , the celebrated orchestral conductor , commenced a series of promenade concerts , a la Jullien , on Monday evening . Mr . Mellon has been fortunate enough to effect an arrangement with Mr . Gye for the use of the use of the incomparable salle of the Royal Italian Opera , ancl thus the intrinsic charms of music played by a superior band—the best , certainly ,

this country can boast—are materially enhanced by its being heard in one of the largest and most splendid theatres in the world . As at old " Jullien concerts , " the pit is hoarded over and mads levei ivith the stage , the orchestra being nearly ( it should be quite ) in the centre of the house . The general effect was exceedingly brilliant , and the greater appropriateness ofthe locality to " promenade concerts , " as compared wtth the Flora ! Hall , where Mr . Mellon gave his admiarble entertainments last autumnwas generally remarked .

, The execution of all the various pieces may be highlycommended ; and it was really gratifying to find great works like the overture to "Der Frieschute , and Mendelsshon's symphony listened to with such respectful attention , and so enthusiastically appplauded . The overture , indeed , was rapturously encored , though not repeated . Mr . Mellon , it appears , is opposed to what has been termed the " encore system , " for even in the case of his own brilliant and eminently tuneful "Dramatic

College Quadrille "—the last movement of which was unanimously redemanded—he declined the honour ivith inexorable firmness . The conductor was , however , more yielding with respect to the vocal music , and thus Madame Laura Baxter was permitted to

favour the audience by repeating the celebrated and beautiful version of " Home , Sweet Home , " and the National Choral Society enjoyed a similar privilege with respect to their precise and spirited rendering of Mr . Martin's choral march , " Forward , " the stamping accompaniment to which might have been omitted with advantage , especially as the choristers were placed in the amphitheatre stalls immediately above the heads of occupants of private boxes . This arrangement was , by the way , a quasi novelty , and ,

" as a stranger , " was welcomed by the audience , who looked very much astonished at the loud ancl unexpected music from the abode of the gods . The part songs and choruses were , ably conducted by Mr . Martin , the commander-in-chief of the National Chora ! Society . In a selection from " La Favorita " those admirable soloists , Mr . S . Pratten , Mr . Hughes , Mr . Levy , Mr . G . Collins , aud Mr . Hill , particularly distinguished themselves ; and we can likewise award high praise to M . Lavigne ancl M . Paquis , a new horn-player from

Paris , who possesses uncommon ability , which he contrived to make indisputably manifest , although the piece upon which he employed his powers is utterly contemptible . Macllle . Parepa sang two airs , like a consummate artist , as she is well known to be , ancl was rewarded with enthusiastic applause iu both instances . Mr . Alfred Mellon has made a brilliant commencement to his series of concerts , and the musical public ought really to feel grateful to him for affording them such first-class entertainment at this dull season of the year . 'The famous English conductor was immensely applauded on entering the orchestra . The house was well attended .

CRYSTAL PALACE . The annual holiday of the Metropolitan Charity Schools on Thursday , tbo Sth inst ., was not , unfortunately , accompanied by sunshine . More unpropitious weather , indeed , could scarcely have been met with , but this did not prevent the gathering of the schools , nor considerable enjoyment on the part of the myriads of children for whose pleasure the festival was got and who took

up , so important a share in the events of the day . The Crystal Palace is , however , conveniently adapted for these gigantic meetings . Comdaratively little disappointment is felt whet the weather is unfavourable , and such was the case upon the present occasion . The children arrived in great numbers during the course of the morning , and surveyed the various courts ancl stalls with obvious pleasure , the entire 5000 being assembled about midday for . the

Public Amusements.

not less agreeable purposes of refreshment . At three o'clock they found their way into the Handel Orchestra , each of the seventy-six schools which constituted the general force , taking its assigned place , aud when wholly seated , presenting a coup d'ceil of remarkable picturesqueness , the costumes of the numeraus groups exhibiting blocks of colour of the broadest and most decided contrast . A scene of greater beauty could not be imagined , while the sentiment involved in it was one of tho profoundest interest .

The musical performance took place uncle the direction of Mr . Henry Buckland , the Alcar-choral of St . Paul ' s , ancl the programme consisted of the "Old Hundredth , " "Luther ' s Hymn , " Haydn's "Hymn to the Emperor , " the "Hallelujah Chorus , " Mendelssohn ' s " Sleepers Awake , " & c , terminating with the " National Anthem . " The whole of these pieces were given with singular precision and accuracy , ancl the effect , weighted as it was bthe organwas richsonorousand impressive .

Altoy , , , gether the spectacle ivas highly pleasing , ancl reflected no little credit upon Alderman Finnis and Mr . Stewart , of Cheap AVard , through whose benevolent spirit the festival was projected , and through whose energetic exertions it took practical shape . On Friday , the 9 th , the directors engaged Mdlle Patti for " one performance only . " The special attendance was not very remarkable , the visitors who paid being considerably within 3 , 000 . Mdlle . Patti sang the well-known eavitanas" Regnava nel silenzio" and

, , " Ah non giunge , " hoth of which were well adapted to exhibit those facilities of execution for which she won her chief laurels at the Royal Italian Opera ; while the clear ancl incisive pungency of her voice permitted her exploits to be fairly heard throughout the neighbourhood of the concert room , notwithstanding the entire absence of strength and volume . Her most successful performances , however , were " Home , sweet home ; " ancl the " Last Rose of Summer "—a pair of ballads that she substituted by way of encores

for an echo song , upon a Swiss subject , by Echebert , and the once famous ballad " AVithin a Mile of Edinburgh Town , " Mdlle . Patti ivas liberally applauded in her efforts , ancl seemed to have lost nonecf the favour ivhich awaited her in so marked a manner at Mr . Gye's theatre . The assistant vocalists were Madame Rudcrsdorffj Signor-Ronconi . Signor Tiberini , and Signor Zelger , whose contributionswere derived from the most hackneyed sources .

GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION . The last evening representation this season at the Royal Gallery of Illustration , 14 Regent-street , of Bro . and Mrs . German Reed ,, will take place on Friday , August 30 th , and the last morning performance on Saturday , August 31 st , at three o'clock . Bro . and Mrs .. German Reed and Mr . John Parry , owing to the great success of the present entertainment , will not visit the provinces this Autumn ,,

hut will resume their London Season in October . Novelties of an interesting character , including several original ballads , will he introduced into " Our Card Basket , " and " The Two Rival Composers . "

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE CouE'r . —The Archduke Maxmilian , of Austria , and his wife , who is a cousin of Her Majesty , have for some time past been staying at Osborne . Two Princesses of Hesse and the Duke of Oporto have also been enjoying the quiet hospitality of the Queen ,, in the Isle of Wight . The Court Circular announces the arrival of the King of Sweden and Prince Oscar at Osborne , her Majesty

having gone in her yacht to meet them . GENEEAI , HOME NEWS . —A not unimportant decrease in the rate of mortality in the metropolis is exhibited by the returns just prepared , the number of deaths last week being 1 , 172 , against 1 , 225 the week preceding . Of births there were 1 , 750 registered—SSI boys and S 7 S hoys . The mean height of the barometer was

29 , 809 inches , and the temperature of the air averaged 64-4 deg . About £ 4 , 000 has been subscribed towards a testimonial to Sir James Outram , the "Bayard of India . " It is announced that the accounts will be closed forthwith , and that the form of the memorial will be immediately decided upon . A further sum of £ 1 , 000 has just- been forwarded to Calcutta hy the committee appointed in

London to receive subscriptions in aid of the fund for the relief of the sufferers from the Indian famine . The committee has , up to the present moment , sent out altogether £ 107 , 500 , this sum being