Of course all the attention of the public was concentrated on the expected arrival of Patti, which in due course took place. There was the usual crowd on the wharf all night awaiting the ship's arrival. I had left orders for a telegram to be sent to me as soon as the vessel passed Fire Island in order that I might be in time to dress and go down to one of the specially chartered steamers with Signor Franchi, Patti's agent, Commander Herbert Gye, and a party of artists and reporters, accompanied by military bands, fireworks, etc. The _Servia_ was out in the middle of the stream, and we steamed up alongside, when we saw Patti, who had been up since half-past four in the morning, in feverish anxiety to reach _terra firma_. Our band struck up "God Save the Queen" and everyone bared his head; the Englishmen partly from traditional reverence, but most of those present from admiration of the lyric queen who had come for another reign to the delighted people of New York. Handshaking and greetings followed. After we had got the Patti through the Custom House she was placed in a carriage and taken to the Windsor Hotel, the room being piled up with telegrams, cards, and bouquets. There was also a large set piece with the word "Welcome!" embroidered on it in roses. In the evening there was a midnight serenade in front of the Windsor Hotel, and ultimately _la Diva_ had to appear at the window, when orchestra and chorus, who were outside, performed the grand prayer from _I Lombardi_. After three hearty cheers for Adelina Patti people went home, and she was left in peace. Mdme. Patti made her _début_ a few days afterwards as "Lucia di Lammermoor," followed by the _Traviata_, etc. To describe in detail her success would be to repeat an oft-told tale. Amongst the numberless inquiries at the box-office several were made as to how long Mdme. Patti remained on the stage in each of the different operas; and the newspapers busied themselves as to the number of notes she sang in each particular work; larger demands for seats being made on those evenings when she sang more notes. _La Traviata_ generally carried off the palm, perhaps because one journal had calculated the interest of the money accruing on her diamonds, whilst she was singing in that work. A party of amateurs would buy a ticket between them, each one taking 20 minutes of the ticket and returning with the pass-out check to the next. Lots were drawn to decide who was to go in first; and in the event of anyone overstaying his 20 minutes he had to pay for the whole ticket; correctness of time being the essence of the arrangement. CHAPTER XIX. NON-ARRIVAL OF SCALCHI--GENERAL INDISPOSITION--KING KALAKAUA ENNOBLES PATTI--RAVELLI CONSULTS HIS DOG--THE COMPANY VACCINATED--PATTI EATEN BY MICE--ARRIVAL OF ALBANI--CINCINNATI OPERA FESTIVAL OF '83--FREEDOM OF THE CITY.