centre one of which was surmounted by the dome, 170 ft. in diameter and 220 ft. high. The organ-one of the grandest ever built, which stood on the north side of the centre transept-is destroyed, with its complex fittings. It had 101 stops, 80 of which were sounding stops, and was worked by two steam-engines, one eight-horse and another thirteenhorse power. The fine orchestra in front of the organ, which was sufficiently large to accommodate 1000 performers, and the front of which was adorned with busts of Beethoven, Handel, Rossini, Verdi, Mendelssohn, and Auber, has likewise disappeared; and so has the theatre, with its pretty drop-scene, and all the rest of its belongings. The whole interior, in fact, is an unsightly ruin from beginning to end, completely open to the sky, and filled with iron material, twisted into all kinds of fantastic shapes, and other rubbish. Such of the outer walls and towers as remain are in an exceedingly dangerous state. 12. THE ASCOT CUP was run with the following result:- M. Lefevre's Flageolet, 3 yrs., 7st. 5lb, (Newhouse). 1 2 3 In the course of this meeting Kaiser, who had been beaten by a head by Gang Forward for the Two Thousand, and had run a dead heat with him for the second place in the Derby, met his old antagonist again, and this time beat him by a head. 15, HOSPITAL SUNDAY.-Special sermons were preached this Sunday at nearly all the places of worship in the metropolitan district, and collections were made in aid of the fund for the hospitals. The amount collected is estimated at not less than 30,0007. 16. ARRIVAL OF THE CESAREWITCH.-The Imperial Grand Duke of Russia, accompanied by his Consort, the Princess Dagmar of Denmark, and their two little children, arrived at Woolwich from Antwerp, and were met by the Prince and Princess of Wales. The visit is understood to be private, and their Imperial Highnesses are said to be travelling incognito, but the circumstances attending their landing and reception could hardly have been more imposing if it had been a state ceremonial. As the visitors walked along the pier, their reception was most enthusiastic. At the entrance to the pier they were received with great cheering from some thousands of Arsenal workmen. Luncheon had been provided at the Royal Artillery Mess-room, and thither the royal party repaired, but on reaching the barracks they preferred not to alight, and were driven. on to London by way of Blackheath. The Cesarewitch and Cesarevna are the guests of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the rest of the suite being accommodated at Claridge's Hotel. 21. ACCIDENT ON THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.-When an excursion train was approaching Hallfield Gate, near Higham, the tire of the left leading engine-wheel broke. The engine left the line and ran down the embankment. The tender turned over, the stoker was scalded and otherwise injured, the driver was thrown into the road close by and seriously injured, the guard's van was pitched into the river Amber and smashed up, and the guard received some internal injuries, and had his arm broken also. Four other carriages were thrown off the line down the embankment, and two passengers killed. The seriously injured were sixteen in number. 23. AMUSEMENTS.-The Oxford and Cambridge cricket match on this and the following day was won after an exciting contest by the former by three wickets. At the Henley Regatta, on the 25th and 26th, the Grand Challenge Cup was won by London, the Eton Boys beating Balliol, Oxford, for second place. 30. SIR SAMUEL BAKER.-From the correspondent of the New York Herald at Khartoum, we learn that Sir Samuel Baker and party had arrived safely at that place, and were to leave for Cairo in a few days. The following is the text of the telegram received from the Hon. H. C. Vivian, her Majesty's Acting Agent and Consul-General in Egypt, and referred to in the House of Commons:-" Alexandria, June 30 (1 p.m.).-Telegram just received from Sir Samuel Baker, dated Khartoum, yesterday, reports his safe arrival there in good health, with all the other Europeans. The country as far as equator annexed to Egyptian dominion. All rebellions, intrigues, and slave-trade completely put down. Country orderly. Government perfectly organized, and road open as far as Zanzibar. El Zaraf navigable. Victory on June 8, with only 105 men, over army of Onioso. This mission completely successful." The arrival of Sir Samuel Baker and the members of his expedition at Khartoum is officially announced at Alexandria. THE VISIT OF THE SHAH OF PERSIA.-During the past fortnight all England has gone mad over the long-expected visit of the Shah of Persia. It is as idle to attempt to describe the universal enthusiasm as to account for it, and we must content ourselves with a brief record of the proceedings of his Imperial Majesty Nasrood-deen. The invitation graciously sent by our Queen was conveyed to the Shah at Brussels by a distinguished servant of her Majesty, MajorGeneral Sir Henry Rawlinson, who had known the Shah in Persia, and the Shah's father before him. It was on Monday (the 16th), soon after the Shah's arrival at Brussels, that Sir Henry called upon his Majesty, and was formally received, with the other members of this special mission. Sir Henry addressed the Shah in the Persian language, after presenting his diplomatic credentials to the Sadr Azim, and the Queen's letter to the Shah. In replying to Sir Henry, the Shah said he was much touched by the kindness of her Majesty. His tour in Europe was by no means undertaken for the sake of mere pleasure, but with a view to witness European civilization; and the main object he had in setting out on this journey was to visit England. The Starting from the Belgian capital at five o'clock on Wednesday morning (the 18th), at which early hour King Leopold took leave of him at the Brussels railway station, the Persian Monarch reached Ostend by a special train before half-past seven. He was accompanied by Sir H. Rawlinson and the other Englishmen. Ostend railway station was decorated, and there was a guard of honour to receive him. In the port of Ostend lay three Admiralty despatch-boats of the British Government for the conveyance of his Majesty and those who belonged to him across the Channel. The Shah and Persian Princes went on board the "Vigilant," which is a paddle-wheel steam-yacht of 800 tons burden. At a distance of several miles off the shore lay three British ships of war, that strange-looking monster, the new turret-ship "Devastation," of 9500 tons; the "Audacious" and the "Vanguard," each of 6000 tons and fourteen guns, two comparatively handsome ironclads. These were to serve for an escort from Ostend. The weather was misty, but the sea was calm, when the flotilla started at eight o'clock. At noon it came in sight of the detachment of the Channel Fleet which had been sent out to meet the Shah and convey him to Dover. There were eight of these mighty ships, not including the three named as having lain off Ostend. The "Vigilant," "Lively" and "Vixen" (the other two despatchboats) hoisted the Persian flag, which displays a gold lion, sword, and sunrise upon a ground of red or white. This was saluted by the whole squadron, with astonishing effects of sound and smoke, when the ships from Ostend met the ships from Dover. The weather at this time of the day was very fine. The eleven ironclads, united in one squadron under Admiral Hornby, now formed two lines, between which the despatch-boats moved on towards Dover. A crowd of excursion-steamers and private yachts hung about them, and many thousands of spectators at sea, as well as on shore, enjoyed this noble spectacle. The crews of all the ships manned the yards aloft, while the marines paraded at their gangways. The "Vigilant" rounded the Admiralty Pier at ten minutes past two o'clock. As the landing-stage was reached a military band struck up" God Save the Queen," and the garrison troops on the pier presented arms. The Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Arthur were on the pier at Dover to give the Shah his first welcome to England. The Shah, coming out of the deck saloon, showed himself on the quarter-deck of the "Vigilant," amidst a group of Persian grandees, in dresses adorned with gold lace, green ribbons, and flashing stars. He wore a cloak, with a tall black fur cap, in front of which was his diamond aigrette; a pair of spectacles assisted his eyes. As the people cheered him he raised his hand to his cap once or twice, and then re-entered the deck saloon, where he changed his dress. When the Shah stepped on the red-carpeted gangway and gained the shore a royal salute was fired by the castle and other batteries, to which the fleet responded. His Majesty now appeared in a blue military frock-coat, faced with rows of diamonds and large rubies; his belt and the scabbard of his scimetar were likewise bright with jewels, and so was his cap. It was a quarter to four when he left the hotel, accompanied by our Princes, and started by a special train of the South-Eastern Railway for London. The Duke of Cambridge and others were at Charing Cross station, in company with the Prince of Wales. The arrival of the Shah was awaited with much interest outside Charing Cross. People gathered in large numbers, and as the royal carriages emerged from the station there were ringing cheers from the crowd. The entire route through Whitehall and the Mall to Buckingham Palace was lined with spectators. Before the palace was reached, the rain, which began falling on his arrival at Charing Cross, increased to a heavy shower, which speedily dispersed the people. The suite of apartments in Buckingham Palace placed at the disposal of his Imperial Majesty the Shah, under arrangements made between her Majesty's Lord Chamberlain and Dr. Siemens, had been placed in direct communication with the instrument-room of the Indo-European Telegraph Company, and arrangements had been perfected by which the Shah was enabled at any moment, standing in his apartments in Buckingham Palace, to speak direct with his own capital of Teheran, a distance of about 3800 miles. On Thursday his Majesty received the Corps Diplomatique and her Majesty's Ministers at Buckingham Palace. In the evening he dined at Marlborough House with their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, and went to a ball given by the Duchess of Sutherland at Stafford House. On Friday, the 20th, the Shah was received by the Queen in state at Windsor Castle. At Windsor the preparations for the reception of our Eastern visitor were worthy of the royal borough. Like the terminus at Paddington, the Windsor station was hung thickly with streamers and flags of every variety. The platform was covered extensively with crimson cloth, and the reception-room, facing which the Shah would alight, was artistically laid out with flowering plants, while in the station yard seats were erected for the accommodation of the Eton boys and a limited number of special ticket-holders. As the royal train steamed into the station, the Princes and others in waiting to receive his Majesty slightly advancing, the Persian King, who was in a gorgeous state uniform of brilliants, stepped out of the carriage. The Mayor and Recorder then came forward and read an address, to which the Shah briefly replied, both the address and reply being translated by Sir Henry Rawlinson. Accompanied in the same carriage by Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold, the Shah was driven to the Castle, where her Majesty received him at the foot of the staircase. The reception was held in the White Drawing Room. The Shah conferred upon the Queen the Persian Order, and also the New Order which he has instituted for ladies. Luncheon was served in the Oak Room, after which the Queen accompanied the Shah to the foot of the staircase on his leaving the Castle. In the evening there was a magnificent entertainment given to his Majesty by the Lord Mayor at Guildhall, to which 3000 guests had been invited. Buckingham Palace was quitted about half-past nine. The gates were thrown open, and the gilded state coaches, all equipped as in some fairy tale, drove at a gentle and showy trot from the portals of the palace along the open way, lined on each side with masses of the people. The last carriage of the line of ten or more, escorted by the Horse Guards with all the pomp of military display, was that conveying the Persian Monarch. The crowd cheered to the echo. In the Strand a powerful lime-light from the roof of the Gaiety Theatre filled all the thoroughfare. The royal and distinguished personages bowed in recognition of the cheering, the Shah himself frequently waving a white-gloved hand as his carriage went on eastwards. It was ten o'clock when his Majesty and his suite drove up to the entrance in a number of the Queen's carriages, with an escort of cavalry. Long before he arrived his coming was heralded by the cheers of the people in the streets, and this was the signal for a ringing of church bells in the neighbourhood of Guildhall. When the Shah was alighting the bands struck up the Persian national air. There was a general clapping of hands in the vestibule as the Lord Mayor conducted the royal procession on its way to the Library. First came the Shah, leading the Princess of Wales; next the Prince of Wales and the Cesarevna; then the Cesarewitch and the Lady Mayoress, followed by the Duke of Edinburgh and his sister Princess Christian, and then by Prince Arthur and the Duchess of Teck. The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Christian, Count and Countess Gleichen, and Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar were also of the company, whose progress through the building was announced with shrill blasts by four trumpeters in antique dresses of velvet and gold. The procession reached the Library, where a distinguished company had assembled on and around the dais; and the Shah was escorted to his place on the dais, having the Princess of Wales and the Lord Mayor on his left hand and the Cesarevna on his right. The rest of the members of the royal family, with the Cesarewitch, stood on each hand of the Lord Mayor in front of the dais. The Shah wore a blue uniform, with a belt of diamonds, and with the ribbon, the George, and Star of the Garter which had been conferred upon him at Windsor during the afternoon. The variety of costume among the company, the scarlet, blue, and other uniforms, the Court dresses of the old style and the new, the rich colours worn by the ladies in their robes, and the lustre of their jewellery, were displayed to great advantage in the old hall, with its painted giants and marble monuments. When the Shah had taken his seat the first quadrille was formed. Of course the Shah never dances. The Lord Mayor |