Prior to her departure, Mdlle. Titiens gave four farewell concerts in Ireland; and it was with great difficulty after the last one, at Cork, that she escaped from the concert room at all, so numerous were the encores. The steamer having been signalled, she had to rush straight from the concert room, in her concert dress, with all her jewellery on, to catch the train leaving for Queenstown. In the autumn of 1875 Mdlle. Titiens was replaced on the provincial tour by Madame Christine Nilsson; and the business again was highly successful. The tour continued until Christmas. I came up to London on the 16th December, to be present at the laying of the first stone of the new Opera-house by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. The following was the programme of the ceremonial, which was duly carried out:-- CEREMONY OF LAYING THE FIRST STONE OF THE GRAND NATIONAL OPERA-HOUSE, _VICTORIA EMBANKMENT_. _Holders of Cards of Invitation will not be admitted after 1.15_. "The bands of the Coldstream Guards and Honourable Artillery Company will be in attendance, and a Guard of Honour will line the entrance. "His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and suite will arrive at the entrance on the Victoria Embankment at half-past one o'clock. "His Royal Highness will be received by Mr. W. H. Smith, M.P., Sir James Hogg, Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Mr. F. H. Fowler, the Architect, and Mr. J. H. Mapleson, the Director of the National Opera. "On arrival at the platform an address will be read to the Duke of Edinburgh in the name of the founders of the Grand National Opera-house. "His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh will then proceed to lay the first stone. "The trowel will be handed to His Royal Highness by Mr. Mapleson, the Director; the plumb-rule and level by Mr. F. H. Fowler, the Architect; and the mallet by Mr. W. Webster, the Builder. "On the completion of the ceremony His Royal Highness will make a brief reply to the address. "The Duke of Edinburgh will then be conducted to his carriage at the entrance by which His Royal Highness arrived, and will drive to the St. Stephen's Club. "16th December, 1875." The following address was then read by Sir James McGarel Hogg:-- "YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS,-- "On behalf of the founders of the Grand National Opera-house, I have the honour to present to your Royal Highness the following address in which the objects of the undertaking are set forth:--