European Correspondence

Frora our Jicgular Correspondent. Amstïhdaï, May 8, 1883. l'he ancient capital of the Netberlands has been en f de for the last few dnys. Amsterdam, wliicli jproudly boasts itself the cleanest city in the world, has just eelebrated with all the porno and state possib!e the opening of an "International, Colonial, and Universal ExhibitioD," now Bompleted after inaiiy months of continuous toi!, and after the conquest of many obstados. The enterpiiso has obtained thejwarm sympathyofthepeople, notonly of tlie Diitch towns. naturally riven to a (oreofsljfhtseelng, bnt, if one mlghtjiidge froiii the nuin'ber of country dresses observable in the street?, of the dwellersin rural dls trie tg as well. In the remoter partí of Holland the National costante still is seen, and mannere and ideas are sltnpler Hian in the commercial metropolis. Tlie Infliisnce of the occasion was shown in many forms, amongst which, of course, was a grand display of the national ensign of red, white, and blue stripes,, which bnng from every roof along the busy w.iy llués, dícked the heavy forma oe the pi&turesque barges rroaplng ovor the surfaoe of thesliallow sea Inlets, andstreamed out in bold display froin numberless steeples and towers. Plowerg abounded everywluro tts deoorationt on tbe day of the tete, and every face bore an expression of oheerf ulness and expectatlon. In regard lo the latter condition those who were able to jrratify their curlosity by in inspeeUon of the great new building- whose white roof now furnishea the most striking object of the city- either previously or on the opening diy, were of necessity very limited in point of Dumbers, beinK almost wholly conflaedto the official and a certair. numberof selected gucsts. There is every probability of the general public beiug delayed for a very considerable time, possibly a month or more, before they are put in ful] possession of the show which has been prepared for thelr benefit, owing to several of the departinents being still in a rcgretable state of backwardiR'Ss. These, liowever, wlll be hunitd fonvard ns rapidly as possible, and with the portions inspeeted and ollicially inaugurated, on Tuesday last, by the King and Qneen of tbe Xetherlands, there can be no doubt a very atriklnff and coraprehensivcexhibition wil] have been added to the list of the many kindred speetacles ot tbe present age. At one o'clock precisely on Tuesday the day set apart for the opening ceremony - the sounds of the natioual anthem heralded the approach of the King and Queen, wlio entered from the pórtico of the Kijks Museum, taking up their seats onder the rich canopy in tlie centre of a glittering throng of gay unifonns and sumptuous drenes. Her Majesty ore a very rich and tastcful costunie of dark green vel vet, trimmed with a paler color of the same material, and was graciousnesB itself, bowIngand smiling continually in response to the manifcstations of her popularity. Below the reserved stand, and occupying the wfaole of the sandy open space between the museum and the white elepbants of the exhibition buildings, were several thousand spectators, who had to content themselves with this less commanding poBition, Amongst them were a wonderful variety of uniforms, worn by officers of many home and foreign regiments, tbe gay trappingsof the Netherland Ilussars and Artilleivineu boing everywliere conspicuous, whlle numerous ladies lent the softer charnis of delicate spring toilettes to complete a spectacle which, with a blue sky and a biïght suu over head, tempered by a pleasant breeze rustling the silks and extending the countless flags fixed at every point of vantage, was extremely stiiking and attractive.