FOREIGN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 50, 20 December 1851, Page 2

FOREIGN NEWS.

The Exhibition Fexes at Pams.—The Parisian fetes in connexion with the great Exhibition were the absorbing topic of European conversation, and were really brilliant and satisfactory in the highest degree, drawing an immense number of people to the French capital. They commenced on Saturday, August 2, with a grand dinner to 500 visitors at the Hotel de Ville, followed by a concert, in which the celebrated Orchestra of the Conservatoire exhibited its remarkable talent. The Prefet de la Seine, and the municipal council of Paris issued upwards of 1000 formal invitations to the Royal "Commissioners, the foreign commissioners, the members of the various juries, the executive and special commissioners, the mayors of the principal towns of the Kingdom, the presidents and secretaries of the leading scientific societies, and a large number of the nobility and other distinguished patrons of art and science. An especial invitation was forwarded to the Lord Mayor of London and the Lady Mayoress, for whom a suite of apartments was prepared at the Hotel de Ville by the Prefet de la Seine, whose guests they were during the period of the fete. About 250 of those most intimately and actively engaged in the direction of the Exhibition had provided for their use a special train, which left London on the Ist of August. The party proceeded via Boulogne, and arrived in Paris at seven o'clock the same evening.

In addition to the special entertainments arranged for the festive period, every kind of facility was afforded for visiting all that is curious and interesting in Paris and the neighbourhood. The public entertainments extended over a period of five days. On the second day the National Museum and Palace of Versailles were opened to the guests. The English visitors, however they might have been dazzled and astonished by the civic splendours of the Hotel de Ville, were equally delighted with the pleasure of a new and unique character which awaited them on the third day in the gorgeous apartments and enchanting gardens of St. Cloud. The beautiful grounds were literally covered with one of the most brilliant assemblages ever witnessed. Military bands, graceful fountains, and magnificent avenues of trees in turn contributed to the pleasurable excitement. Refreshments were served in the Orangery, the Lord Mayor of London opening the feast in propria persona. The President of the Republic himself promenaded the grounds, and secured the comfort and happiness of his numerous guests. Of the ball at the Hotel de Ville en the next day, it is sufficient to say that about 6000 were present, without the slightest attendant inconvenience, beyond that produced by the excessive warmth, and that every expectation was abundantly fulfilled. Of the high temperature of the atmosphere of the apartments, indeed, proof was given by the Mandarin Keying, who, with his experience of a small cabin in the Junk at the mouth of a main sewer into the Thames, might be observed fanning himself at intervals with a'luxurious looking instrument of Chinese manufacture.

On the fifth day the magnificent hospitality of the French Capital was again exerted, when a breakfast was given to the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London, and the Delegates of the Exhibition. After this the company visited the Jardin dcs Plantes, and the Prison of Magas, and then proceeded to the stands provided for them on the Champ de Mars, to witnes--. a mimic scene of" glorious war." A performance at the Opera formed the las-.t attraction of this day, as well as the last public mark of honour on the occasion from France to her neighbours.