PUBLIC RECEPTION OF H.R.H. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 32, 19 September 1868, Page 3

PUBLIC RECEPTION OF H.R.H. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

What may be regarded as the first public reception of the Duke of Edinburgh since his return to this country, was given on Saturday afternoon at the Crystal Palace. Notwithstanding that throughout the day tire sky wore a threatening appearance, there were, it is estimated, upwards of 30,000 visitors to the Palace and grounds. The Duke of Bdiubur^a, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, arrived shortly after five o'clock ; and, as the concert was just comm ncing, they were conducted at once to the royal box. The Duke, on being recognised, was heartily cheered, and he repeatedly bowed from the front of the box in return to the greetings which he received. In the second part of the concert, a new song', " God Bless our Sailor Prince," by Glover, and sung by Mr. Curamings and the chorus, was made the signal of longcontinued and tumultuous cheering, which the Duke repeatedly acknowledged. Subsequently, wlj^n the .Duke showed himself" in 'the garden balcony, the cheering was repeated. The royal party dined in the Palace. After dinner, their Royal Highnesses expressed a wish to see- Haramel, the favorite charger of tke late King Tneoilore. Tjte charger was accordingly iu.troduced to the royal party. He is a small bay gelding, and gives but a poor idea of a charger. He is about >as large as a good-sized. mule, thoroughly well built, however, finely formed in the fore and hind legs ; has a small intelligent- ] looking head, and bright eyes. His i teeth are so far gone as to cease to give any correct indication of his age, and he is certainly over twenty years old. Ho has no shoes, and, judging from the appearance of his hubfa, which are as hard as iron, he has never been shod. His coat i& line and sleek ; but the mane and tail have been sadly disfigured by the quantity of relics in the shape of parcels of hair which have been cut off or pulled put by soldiers anxious to possess some memento of the campaign in Abyssinia. He canters well, and was ridden by his cagtor for nearly the whole distance from Magdala to Zoulla, tiud was found remarkably sure-footed., and picked hi* way with the sagacity which might bp expected in an animal accustomed to rou^h and precipitous road*. '

Leila: A Poem. By Mrs Christina Fulton. Dunedin: Printed at the "Evening Star" Office. "Judex damnatur quum nocens absolvitur " is the stern canon of criticiam. A first attempt may bo dealt kindly with ; i but for a second failure, there is neither ixtenuation nor excuse. We convict the mthor of Leila of false pretences nt the fery outset. She calls her effusion a " Poem," in spite of its want of a single poetic thought, expression, or aspiration. This tissue of slipshod doggerel and pretentious silliness, is appropriately introduced by a dedication to Mr. Macandrew, which far excels anything- of the kind ever printed before. After describing the Superintendent as "seated on places high" (query: the Bell Hill?) she concludes thus : — " Our veßsel strives with breakers now, A Christian should be afc the prow j " Where the delicate compliment of assuring his Honor that he is neither Jew, Turk, nor Pagan, is only surpassed by the astounding feat of steering a vessel at the prow. In epithet our author is equally sublime — " Boot-shaped western isle" being an entirely new addition to our poetical nomenclature. We arc almost ashamed to drag suoh rubbish before the notice of our readers, but the following is too rich to be omitted :—: — 11 The Jfapri in his bourne qnec more, As impregnable as before. The Euglish on that plain of dread Behind leave fourteen of their dead, And hurriedly consign to clay The gory victims where they lay. The wounded carefully are laid On litters for the purpose made." We have teen the rule of three in verse, and rhyming instructions to cooks, but never before encountered a Gazette of killed, wounded, and missing done into metre. Before" dismissing the work, we wish to give one word of praise. The printing and binding of the little volumn are exc«llent, and reilect great credit on the publisher— the pity is that good workmanship should have been wasted on such arrant trash.