The Express. — London, England, 1862-05-29 00:00:00

1.1 1 ,1 li , 1 1 , ir i I , I 1 1 1 HARMONII7MIL—NEW MODEL. camas. BM; sal WOOD. fri. iftgaidroot the Orortoo. TO 00112.11SPONDENTS. drerdsemente intended for The &pima " London Evening Paper, must be at the office, 10, Bourerieatreek by Two o clock on the day of publication. HATKABirir. Tll/3 Eynon°, THE WOLF AND THE LANIA.—Otri. JAMAICAN COUSIN. MessmileAkera, Buckitone . Mrs. Young. Wu Wm.—LA CONTHANANDIATA. Pores Netts anal Senor Iloragas.—And THZ HAPIIINT DAY OF MY LOH. rict Nenn`rn. Tam Evinuno, THE SIDIDIEEVOTHI. —And HAMLET. Meson Charles Kean. J. Cathcart, &nett, Potter, B. Cathcart, ElWe, Garden, Widdlconib, Hastings, Paulo, and meadows; Mrs. Charles Kean and Nina Cbsinnin. Vt. WM& Tuts EVIXISIO, TRU POOR NOBLEMAN. Mr. and Mrs. A. Wtttsn•—And PRINCE ALILIBIL or, The Usk, ROOM WIWI. Mat .hews, Belmore, and A May ; Mar N. Moore, Mrs, P. Matthews, and the Miami Nelson..—Commenee at 71. BPSTANXIA. EnnOWL OUR LOT IN LIM bleadanne S. Lane an t Craulord.—Enteetatnmenta by Min eynytllumn and J. O. toed.. And THE OLD MAID IN THE WINDING SHEET. Mtge E Clayton —Commence at B. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TEM DAT —lfeethig. Atternoen. 2b. ♦sm. TO-NOLROW—Marnia., Si. ... Afternoon. Sh. 20m. LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 29. Tut Report of the Defence Commission was yesterday published, and it will surprise no one to find that its gallant authors have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing since the date of their first Report. The professional mind is peculiarly obstinate in defence, and peculiarly resolute in refusing to capitulate before any raw force of new facts or arguments. We impeach, therefore, neither the ability nor the candour of those officers who, having already arrived at and an nounced the conclusion that Spithead could not be defended otherwise than by fixed forts, now inform us that nothing which has taken place in Hampton Roads or in the New Orleans channel has in any degree modified their opinion. We must indeed acknowledge the frankness with which they admit that, after the action between the Merrimac and the Monitor, "it appeared to them that, under " all the circumstances, the doubt, which took " possession of the public mind as to the expos " diency of constructing the forts at Spithead were " not unreasonable." But the experiments with Sir _ _ W. AB.MBTILONG'S 12-ton gun, when at 200 yards l he broke some damaged plates of the Warrior, and lodged his shot in some sound ones, have reassured them that all such doubts of the power of for Cs to annihilate ships are illusory. To the suggestion that what has been done at 200 yards is no indi cation of what can be done at 2,000, the actual range which the forts will have, they reply with cheering confidence, that Sir W. ARMSTRONG is now engaged in making • 22-ton gun, which, at 1,300 yards, will prove as effective as the 12-ton was at 200 yards, and that "he believes that if " he succeeds in rifling it, an amount of damage " equal to that lately obtained upon the Warrior's " target may be effected at • distance of 3,000 " yards." They abstain, however, from telling us that such an amount of damage would be destructive to an enemy's ship, and they are honest enough to add in a note that the Chairman of the Iron-plate Committee has informed them that armour-plates of 'a inches thick would resist the Armstrong gun, even at 200 yards. But even if we grant the assumption that Sir W. ARMSTRONG can WO ceed in making a gun which he has not yet made, and that no ships shall hereafter be built with armour-plates of 'a inches thick, we shall still have advanced but a very little way along the path which we must take to reach the conclusions of the Defence Commission. For they tell us that, avowedly and of set purpose, they have disregarded all the circumstances of actual warfare in which guns and ships " have lately been tried, " and have thought it safer to draw their conclu " minis from experiments made in this country." That is to say, that they have taken as the basis of their judgment experiments made in cool blood, in broad daylight, against fired targets, at a dis tance of a couple of hundred yards, when the question really involved is the value of such ord nance in the heat of battle, under the darkness of night, the blinding effect of smoke, against moving objects at a mile distance. Obviously, nothing but a foregone conclusion could have so warped the minds of educated men as to lead , them to suppose that arguments drawn from the one set of circumstances could be applied to the other. By all the rules of expe riments, a wooden fleet passing, at half musket range, forts mounting a hundred guns, ought to have been sent to the bottom: yet at New Orleans, in defiance of theory, such a fleet passed such forts unharmed. So, by every principle of gunnery it may be demonstrated that our Spithead forts can hit, and damage passing vessels, and yet if we only suppose the enemy to choose his own time, he may in practice run a whole fleet past them without receiving a shot. Yet such are the data on which this Report is founded. It adopts for its axioms the propositions that Sir W. ArtmsrzoNG will sno oeed in what be has not dared to promise; that the Warrior represents the ultimate strength of which iron-plated ship. are capable ; that an enemy will never make an attack except in broad daylight and in clear weather ; and that artillery in action, at 2,000 yards range, will be precisely as effective against a moving object as against a fixed target, at one-tenth the distance, at Sboeburyness. If one of these propositions fails the case of the De fence Commission is ruined. But if we are to be called upon to grant them all, may we not add the moderate further suggestion, that by the time they all come true mortars will have been invented which will destroy Portsmouth without passing the forts at all ? From the wild flights of the imagination into which the Defence Commissioners lead us, it is a positive relief to drop down into a sober anticipa tion of the actual conditions in which we should be placed by the outbreak of • state of war. That the adoption of steam power, and of all the other advantages offered by modern science, will redound solely to the advantage of assailants, is a theory which few persons except the Passiza are hardy enough to avow. That the end of all disco very will be to reduce us to the positron in which the ancient Britons were when they sought safety from invaders in walls and forts, is a conclusion at which the nation, with all respect for the Defence Commission, finds it difficult to arrive. Rather we turn to the more recent inatancesof warfare, and trust, not un hopefully, that civilization, which has till now only augmented England's relative greatness and security, will not betray her in her future hour of need. Our fathers believed that their true secu rity was in the sea, and we are not degenerate on that element. If iron is to displace wood in the hulls of our vessels, if rifled guns are to super sede long carronades, we still maintain more than our relative superiority in material and manufac ture. Our policy has ever been to maintain the command of the Channel, and to that policy we must still adhere. Bolding that command, we • „ _— - - have before now sealed up our ealtinyte peetsrath than confined ourselves to the defence of our own. • lln the great war we paralysed our enemy's fleets by blockades, though we had only sailing vessels which a storm might wreck or a gale drive away. Now we should effect the same result far more certainly by steamer', which would be unremitting in their watch and unswerving from their post. If by accepting a battle our foes should succeed in getting a few vessels undisabled to sea, there would surely be still found means of meeting them at sea, without letting them within range of our harbours. But if they should adventure on such dangerous service, it is assuredly not a line of fixed forte that would protect Portsmouth. We have shown before now that they might paasthe forts almost undiscovered, and certainly unharmed, and that once within and encountered by our own vends, the forts would not dare to fire for fear of hitting, at such extreme ranges, their friends ' instead of their enemies. Such are the plain answers of common sense and experience to the extravagant theories propounded by strategists in Pall-mall, and endorsed by the astute leader of the aristocratic party in the House of Commons. And such is all the answer that Englishmen need care to give to those who tell them that now there is no safety but in • double line of defence, that they must prepare themselves for the destruction of our whole fleet if hostilities should ever again break out, and must regulate their conduct by the assumption that the enemy's power will be trium phant everywhere, save where our shores lie under the protecting range of a 22-ton Armstrong mounted on a granite fort. be :ours. --- BALMORAL, NAT 27. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Alice, drove A deputation, consisting of Kr. fiempeon Samuel and Mr. Lime' L. Cohen, bad an interview with the Right Hoc. C. P. Villiers yesterday at the °Mos of the Poor-law Beard, Whitehall. The Bishop of Colombo had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday at the Colonial-office. ALMACK'S. The ladies patronesses of Almack'e have just announced the resumption of their bans daring the present season, the d►tes being— Thursday, June 12, Thursday, June 26, and Thursday, July 3. The following is • list of the patronesses this year, to any of whom applications for vouchers may be made : Frances Anne Marchioness of Londonderry. The Marchioness of Clanricaide. The Counter of Derby. The Countess of Shaftesbury. The Countess of KinnouU. The Counter Dowager of Lichfield. The Viscountess Palmerston. The Promoter Combermere. The lady Aveland. The Lady Egerton of Tattoo. There will be several unique attractions this year, among which may be mentioned the Scotch fancy quadrilles from the Caledonian Ball, and the Irish sets from the Irish Volunteer Ball, it being intended by the ladies patronesses to offer the members of each invitations on one or other of the subscription nights. The King of Italy paid a visit of condolence to the Princess of Capita and her children, at the Palms of Stupinigi, near Turin, on his recent return from Naples. His Imperial Highness the Prince Murat has arrived at Claridge's Hotel from Page. Her Royal Rights-es the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelits hoooored the Duchess of Inverness with her company at dinner last evening, at her apartments in Kensington Palace. A select party was invited to meet her royal highness. The Marquis and Marchioness of Ailey have arrived at the Burlington Hotel, Cork-street, from Cohan Castle, Scotland. The Earl and Countess of Abergavenny and Lady Caroline Neville have arrived at 58, Portland-place, for the season. _ _ The CoullteBs Cowper gave her first bad! lad evening at the family mansion in SL James's.square. There was a full and fashionable attendance. . Lord and Lady Otho Fitzgerald entertained at dinner last evening, at their residence on Carlton House. terrace, the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, the Duke and Duchess of Merichtuter, the Duke of Leinster, the Marchioness of Ely, the Earl and Countess of Clarendon, the Earl and Countess de Grey, the Earl and Lady Con stance Grosvenor, Lord and Lady Foley, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Percy Wyndham, the Earl Cowper, the Earl of Senora, Lord Dunkellin, Mr. Bridgernan, tan. Lord and Lady Clermont have arrived at Cla ridge s Hotel for the season. Lady Charlotte Denison gave her first assembly last evening at her residence in the New Palace of West minster. The Minion was most numerously attended. Lady Caroline Kerrison gave her second dancing party on Tuesday evening at her residence in Piccadilly, which was meet numerously and fuloonably attended. Lady Colthurat gave a concert last evening at her residence in Wilton-crescent. The Duchess of Northumberland gave the last of • series of seaemblies last night at Northumberland House. The dabs and duchess previously to the reception enter tained at dinner his Excellency the Belgian Minister, his Excellency the Swedish Minister, the Duke and Duchess of Wellington, the Duke and Duchess of Boxburghe, the and Countess Delawarr, the Earl and Countess of Carnar von, Lord and Lady 1314001111, Lord and lady Leigh, Lord end Lady Naas, the Right H0n..1. W. Henley, and the Right Hoe. James Whiteside. The Earl and Countess of Derby gave a grand entertainment lest evening to their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary. The follow- lag were invited t 4 meet their royal highneeem :—The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, the Earl Grenville, the _ _ . Elul Anusley, the Earl and Countess of Tankers;Us, Viscount and Viscountess Newport, Viscount Canterbury, Lord Stanley, M.P., Colonel the 800. P. W. and Lady Emma Talbot, and Colonel the Hon. Cecil Forester. Lady Geraldine Somerset and Colonel Home Purees were in waiting on their royal highnesses. later in the evening her ladyship bad an assembly. Her Serene Highness the Grand Duchess of Hesse expired on Sunday last. The grand duchess was mother to Prince Louis of Hesse, the future consort of the Princess Alice of England. In all probability this unex pected bereavement will lead to a postponement of the marriage, which is announced to take place next mouth, or early in July. The late (mad duchess was sister to the reigning King of Bavaria. It has been decided not to fill up the Under- Secretaryship of State in the War.offioe, vacant by the death of Sir Benjamin Hawes, but to revert to the original organisation of the department before the appointment of Major-General Sir Edward. Lewd u an Under-Secretary of State—that is to say, that. will be two Under-Secretaries and an Assistant•Under-Seeretary, in the place of three Under-Secretaries; and Captain Galton, F.R.S., who is now in the department, has been appointed by Sir George Lewis to fill the °Mee of Asaistant.Thxler-Secretary of State for War. The meeting now being held in the ancient and beautiful city of Wells bids fair (says the Sherburne Journal) to be one of the most successful, as it certainly will be one of the pleaw.etest, if the weather holds fair, of ! any of the annual gatherings of the Bath and West of Eng ! land Agricultural Society. REPRESZNTATION or SHREWSBURY.—The writ for the election of a representative in the place of the late Mr. Slaney was received on Tuesday by the Mayor, who has fixed the nomination for Saturday next. There are three candidates in the field, viz.. Mr. Banner Oekeley, cousern tire ; Mr. Henry Robertson, liberal ; and Mr. HenryAtkina, wbo, it is understood, is unfettered b party trammels. The two former gentlemen have addre their respective sup porter; but we have not heard that Mr. Atkins has done en yet. All three are actively canvassiog.—Shrterebery Journal. Tflß , • IA z_R§,,AT JOWL THE DEFENCE OF GERMANI. Some correspondence in the Demi.* of to-day states that the military delegates of all the states of the Germanic Confederation have just adopted, with some modifications, the plans pro poeed in 1861 by Prussia and several Northern states for the defence of the coasts of the Northern said Baltic seas. Four forts of the first rank are to be established at the mouths of the principal rivers of those seas, namely, at Cuxhaven, Travemunda, Rostock, and Bremershaven. The largest is to be at Cuxhaven, at the mouth of the Elbe. The cost of construction, which is to be shared amongst the states, is estimated at about 16,000,000 fr. ; but competent authorities believe that, with the ex penses of armaments, dm, that amount will be , doubled. In addition to these maritime fortresses, the military delegates have unanimously voted the construction and armament of eight mailed gun boats and corvettes, with towers, after the American system, each armed with three guns. I The cost has been estimated at 17,000,000 fr. PRUSSIA. The interest in Prussian political circles now turns upon the Address. The form proposed by the Central Left is objected to by other shades of the liberal party. The Nord, discussing the divisions, says that they are attributable to M. de Vincke, " who owes his popularity lees to his political ability than to his caustic wit and the incisive and inexhaustible energy which he placed at the service of the opposition. His party having become the national party, the opposition became the majority, and M. de Vincke, in order again to excite controversy, has begun war against all shades of liberal opinion, even that to which he gave his name, and is trying to make an opposition on his own personal account. The first result of this is to give the discussion on the address, which it was desired should be short, restrained, and grave, the character of a passionate and prolonged debate. However, the true patriots are preaching concord, and do not despair of re establiahing unity by means of reciprocal conces sions." ITALY. The Italian government, wishing to put an end to the agitation in Lombardy, has decided that the proceedings of the rifle shooting societies shall be suspended in the seven provinces into which ancient Lombardy is now divided, and General Garibaldi, who was one of the vice-presidents, has been apprised of the fact. A reply of the Pope to three Neapolitan arch bishops has just been published. The language of the Pontiff in this document has, perhaps, never been exceeded iiiviolence,even in Roman despatches. He represents religion as being persecuted in Italy by men who constitute " a sect of perdition, animated by mortal hatred to catholicism." " These men," says his Holiness, " are impious in all their ways ; like the waves of a stormy sea they throw the foam of their disorders on every side ; they promise liberty while they are the slaves of corruption; they incessantly employ the worst means in their power to carry on au obstinate war with the catholic church and this apostolic see, and amongst them are men who endeavour, by pestilential writings of every kind, and by all the artifices of perversity, , to infect men's minds and souls with their own pernicious errors, to taint them and deprive them r of catholic worship." This language is followed by I a sortie against the Italian government, which is ac ! clued of violating every law, human and divine. GOLD IN NOVA SCOTIA. -- The following is an extract of a mercantile letter from Halifax regarding the present state of the gold fields of Nova Scotia : I have to report very favourable accounts from the gold fields generally. A lead has been discovered on the Carr lot, on the lands of Townsend, and I have no doubt that rich leads run all through these lands. The prospects for new discoveries and of the localities already discovered con tinue good. The miners are beginning to send gold to market. The new discoveries which are exciting most attention are those at Elmrdele, on the line of the canal and railroad, and at Nine-mile River, in Rants county. The latter is spoken of as promising great things, and the people in that neighbourhood are quite con fident that this locality will prove very remunerative. The Lanrencetowo washings look very favourable for the intereste of such as are prepared to go into the work in the right way. Tangier, after a long and tedious winter, is looking up. Many who were driven out of their claims by the heavy and continuous rains last fall have resumed work, and many more will join as they have put in their crops. Those who held on during the winter have uniformly done well. Prospecting, since the weather hes improved, has b.len going on with a good deal of spirit. At present there are three cnishers at Tangier; a ton of quartz is stated to have been put through one of them, which yielded 3oz. Meta. of gold, in addition to 100 dollars' worth of speci mens taken out of the same lot, making the total yield of gold and specimens 157 dollars for a single ton of quartz. (1013Thle8 TZLEGIWOL) ITALY. TURIN, NAT 29. A report is current that a royal decree will forth. with be issued ordering the incorporation of the Chasseurs of the Tiber with the regular army. . . Prince Napoleon has been received with marks of sympathy at Trapani and Calatafimi, and has taken his departure for Girgeati. POLAND. WARSAW, MAY 28. The first meeting of the Municipal Council under the presidency of the Town President Von Woyda took place yesterday. MM. 7.4moyeki, Schlenker, Lewinski, Zulineki, Krageneki, and Natauson were also present. The mania for private theatricals still continues to rage in the grand monde at Paris. The comedy of Henry 111. of Pron.:ghee just been performed at the HStel de Seilliere, the principal parts being acted by the following persons :—Catherine de Medic* by Mina Abeille, the banker's wife ; the Duchess de Guise, by the Princess de Beauvoir ; Mme. de Goodi, by the Baronies Laurenoten ; Marie, by the Counter de Pourteloi ; Henry 111 , by the Marquis de Mornay ; the Duke de Guise, by Count Grabowski, &c., Sc. In short, the entire " peerage "of M:foxier was represented there ; even the lacqueys and dumb parts were played by persons having the noblest motes of France. A letter from St. Petersburg says :—" Herr Dawison, the German actor, is just now creating a great sensation here, both by the excellence of his performance awl the political plays he has been allowed to include in his ripertoiro. As be appears on the boards of the German stage, the government thought a greater license allowable than could be granted to the Russian drama, and the in. diligence has certainly redounded to the advantage of the celebrated player. His remuneration, which is higher than has been corned by any actor who has yet appeared in St. Petersburg, amounts to no less than 10,000 roubles for 15 evenings, in addition to which the entire proceeds of two benefit nights are also included in the contract." The Viceroy of Egypt is expected to arrive at &nary to-morrow or Saturday. A collection of fossil remains found in the Port had (America) stone quarries has been made for the Con- Nedra Historical Society. Professor Hitchcock pre ssroom the fossils relics of remote antiquity. Among the spestessan are footprints of enormous birds and four•footed beasts, impressions of fern-leaves, and fragments of a be ' Mora. r ~ v, - • • • . 0 E . MAY . 4 29, IRO. THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. I /LOYAL BOTANICAL SOCIETY, REGENT'S PAM The eastern annexe, so long cut off and isolated from the mainland of the Exhibition, will, it is to be hoped, to-day enter into • new and sprightlier phase of its existence. The long promised entrance is at length to be thrown open, and the young ladies who have so long been wasting the sweetness of their fragrant essences and international bouquets on the desert air, may expect plenty of company. The tasteful stall upon which Mr. Field has en throned his tapers of transparent paraffin will be surrounded by crowds of curious admirers, and the proprietors of the innumerable washing machines will no longer hold their laundries in strict seclusion. The bank of Kentish wild flowers, all in wax, will rapidly acquire the popularity it so [well deserves, and the preserved salmon as fresh as when caught, and the sausages still plump and moist although having travelled round the world, will be curiously examined, and at last believed in. There is not in the whole building a greater variety of the useful in nature, art, and invention than in this eastern annexe, and as it is to terminate in the best of the third clan refreshment rooms it will have a still farther recommendation to the patronage of the shilling public. On emerging from the annexe the first colonial department that catches the eye is Newfoundland. What could Newfoundland possibly have worthy of a place in the Palace of the Industry of all Na tional Its inhabitants amuse themselves in sum mer by catching codfish, and in winter by playing the fiddle and occasionally kicking up a political disturbance, but beyond the fish and the fiddles, 'and the large black dogs, and the political rows, we never heard of any remarkable speciality connected with Newfoundland. And yet New foundland sends over one of the most precious spe cimens of produce and manufacture in the whole Exhibition. The priceless cod liver oil, the only remedy that has ever been discovered capable of checking the dread phthisis, the national disease of northern countries, comes from this little island in l the St. Lawrence, and the specimens that are sent over will enable those to whom the purity of the medicine is a matter of life and death, to judge of 1 the genuineness of the article sold in this country. Next to Newfoundland is Bermuda, the population of which consists of one battery of artillery and a few hundred convicts. Could Bermuda send over anything worth inspection 1 Bermuda is the home of the turtle, dear to the municipal mind, and sends specimens of the raw material for the in spection of the LOrd Mayor and corporation. Next comes Malta, in which department may be seen the beautiful silver filagree, a legacy of the &manna, and the manufacture of which was subsequently kept up under the patronage of the Knights. There is a lamp in this material which is well worthy of care ful examination, and a little statuette of one of the redoubted knights, clad in a suit of the filagree armour, which would be of little use in resisting the scimitar of the Paynim. These are the mere bye-ways of the Exhibition, but their light must not be hid under a bushel any more than those of their prouder neighbours. The music becomes more general and better organised every day. The jurors have finished their inspection of the pianos, and it is understood to be their intention to give no council medal, but the first-class medal equally to all the exhibitors, stating at the same time the particular point of excellence they had found in each instrument. We cannot of course give this on any authority, but merely as the on dit of the building. Miss Ellen Blies again played on Kirkman's on the eastern platform, and was rapturously ap plauded, especially in the selection from Martha, including the immortal "Last Rose of Summer ;" and Herr Psuer entertained a still more numerous audience under the western dome, being honoured with the attendance of the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary. If these attractions were not enough, we had diamond cutting in the western annexe, under the auspices of Messrs . Hunt and Boolean, where a stone worth 3001. was turned out with all its facets fit for setting in two or three minutes. We trust that the musical performances by competent hands will be continued, but we would suggest that a small space should be railed off round each performer, as the public are not satisfied with listening at a reasonable distance, but crowd up close to the instrument, to the great in convenience of the player, and when the latter is a lady, with the risk of unfitting her for playing altogether. Mr. Hunt's Handbook of the Industrial Depart ment, part the first, was on sale yesterday for the first time. It is to be completed in ten parte, and the name of the author is quite sufficient guarantee of the value of the book for the purpose intended. The number of visitors during the day was as follows :—Season tickets, 4,618 ; on payment, 13,911 ; total, 18529. Amongst those present we observed the Princess Mary and the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Sutherland, Duc de Ne mours and four ladies, Lord Eversley, Lord Beasborough, Lord Dudley, Right Hon. B. Disraeli and lady, General G. Brown, sad General J. Hall. CASH RECEIPTS AT DOORS FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 24, D 16.51. the rival attractions at Kensington appear to have bad a stimulating effect on the established institu tions which furnish Mee and euterfainments to the fashion able public during the season. Whether this is the owe or not, however, the show at the Royal Boteakel Society's grounds yesterday was even more brilliant and successful than usuaL It is true the weather did not at first promise well, the sky being dull and overcast, and more than once during the afternoon grew so dark, and the clouds assumed so threatening an appearance, that signs of panic were visible in the temporary rush of the more nervous visitors towards places of shelter. But the dreaded stern, never came, and the most apprehensive visitors were soon attracted by the music of the hands to the more distant, more exposed, and very delightful spots of these beautiful grounds. The weather not only held up till the close of the fete, but was really very favourable, neither too hot nor too cold, too height nor too dull, but grey clouds over head with a soft and genial air, that made sitting out of doors or promenading through the grounds equally pleasant. The display of flowers was magnificent, the show of azaleas and pelargonium in parti cular being unusually rich and splendid. The prize of beauty must oertainly be awarded to the salsas. They not only umpired every other single flower in number, variety sod general effect, but in profusion of bloom, delicacy of colour, and perfection of form : the best specimens were beyond anything we remember to have seen. There were some very fine roses exhibited, bat it is of course too early as yet to see them in perfection. The dis play of orchids and heaths must also be noted as very rich and various, while the pelargoniums and caloeolaries were present as usual, not only in great number, but in great perfection. Nor must the display of Ame rican plants be forgotten, the rhododeadroos and azaleas in the American department having all the richness and luxuriance of nature combined with the delicacy of colour and purity of form which only careful cultivation can secure. It only remains to add, that the company was as numerous and brilliant as the flowers. Amongst the visitors we observed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Mary of Cambridge, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelits, Duke and Duchess of Northumber land, Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster, Earl of Mornington, the Bishop of Winchester, the Dean of Durham, and the Italian, Danish, Turkish, Brazilian, American, and Japanese ambassadors. The extra gold medal was awarded to Mr. W. May, gar dener to J. Spode, Faq., Burley, for 16 stove and green house plants ; and to Mr. W. MeUord, gardener to E M'Mor. land, Esq., 59, Adelaide-road, Haverstock.hill, for 20 exotic orchids. The large gold medal, to Mr. T. Whitbread, gardener to H. Oolyer ' Eaq., Dartford, for 12 stove and greenhouse plants ; and to Mr. G. Barter, gardener to A. Bassett, Esq., for 20 exotic orchids. The medium gold medal, to Mr. B. Peed, gardener to Mrs. Tredwell, Norwood, for 16 stove and greenhouse plant': Messrs. J. and J. Fraser, nurserymen, Leyton, for 12 stove and greenhouse plants ; Mr. Chillness, gardener to Mrs. Smith, Epsom, for 10 stove and greenhouse plants ; Mr. C. Turner, Slough, for 10 azaleas ; Mr. Carson, gardener to J. C. Sim, Esq., for eight amines ; Mr. C. Peony, gardener to H. H. Gibbs, Esq., Begent's-park, for 20 exotic orchids ; Mr. T. Page, for 12 exotic orchids; and Messrs. Lana and Son, nurserymen, for 10 roses is pots. The gold medal, to Mears. Jackson and ion, nurserymen, Kingston, for 12 stove and greenhouse plants ; Mr. Green, gardener to Sir L Antrobus, Bert., Cheam, for 10 dove and greenhouse plants ; Messrs. Jackson and Son, for 10 Cape heaths ; Mr. IL Peed, for eight Cape heaths ; Memo. Lane, Berkbampetead, for 10 azaleas ; Mr. T. Page, gardener to W. Leaf, Faq., for eight azaleas; Mr. B. S. Williams, nurseryman, Holloway, for 10 orchids ; Mr. B. Peed, for 12 exotic orchids; Mr. W. Paul, nurseryman, Waltham, for 10 roses in pots ; Mr. C. Turner, for 12 pelargoniums ; and Mr. W. Nye, gardener, Clewer Mawr, for 10 pelargoniums. WEATHER REPORT.-(TRD3 DAY.) THIMSDAT, MAT ti, I 4.11 L a asa I a. r. a a'L a NAII .- .... 29.77 44 61 1 N.Z. 6o - 611188111 .•. WS 59 49 , &&L 9 r - LIZWI Sawicz - AIDIOWIJI 29.71 54 91 &W. 6r 1114 /.01294741 20.11 IS U B. 0 -. GALWAY - Imam 29.87 66 51 1 K. U - 804895104r0a 79.90 61 61 i & t - GELI9OSJID 20.05 el 661 N.W.b - Laillool - q 08136101 19.71 68 671 &W. 7 t - 44 ,, +R14 YA , UIoOIII - £68908 20.92 69 67 8.8. W tir &OS - GOY= 29 10 59 57 • W. I - I YOWI6IIOOIII 29.87 61 69 • 8.1. o - 2 10121. AND 2OBB 767 66 , Z. 8.1 - 241 - 2 !MOMS - 2 rf9164601 - 9 Jaen .. - 6 Monday, May 04. 6d. day 01,214 13 0 Tuesday, May 20, 2a 6d. day 1,467 7 Wednesday, May 21, 24. 6d. day I,M7 b 0 Thursday, May 22, Ya. 6d. day 1,478 14 7 Friday May 28, 2s 6a. day_ 1,610 11 4 Mayday, may 24, 64. day Ileuday, MaYl9, I ba day ft,346 0 0 Tuesday, May 20, 58. day Wedneads,y,llaytd, as. day Thursday, May IS, as. day Friday, May St, ss. day Saturday, Nay 24, " da, ' 5,078 0 0 FRIDAY. SATURDAY. N.BIUTAIN.-8.13.E., to W.S.R., &W. to N.W., fresh, rainy. moderate, showery. lantsen.-8.1 to &W. and 8.8. W. to W.W.W., fresh to W., moderate to fresh, rainy. strong, rainy. CIIIIIIAI.-B.L to 8.8. W. and B. to W., fresh, some showers W.S.W., light to fresh, showery. merry.-8.8.E. to W.8.W., B.W. to N.W., light to fresh, moderate, fine. fine. B.IimeLAND.-B.Kto &W., fresh &W. to N.W., fresh to mode to strong, showery. ate. The Paris correspondent of the independence into. that French exhibitors are highly satisfied with their success at Kensington. One of them, whom name be gives, has sold his entire stock. The French artists, it is added, have been particularly successful. M. Reignier has sold to an English nobleman, at a high price, his Troia Couronnes. The Viceroy of Egypt is reported to have said at Perk, relative to the Sues canal, that the waters of the two seas will be united within a year from this date, when an elaborate ceremony and world-wide fête is to take place. Scientific persons from all parte of the world are to be in vited, as well as those who have promoted the work in a financial point of view. It is not, however, pretended that the canal will be open for navigation within twelve months. That event may not take place for at least three years, but there will be " • meeting of the waters" of the two seas, and such a triumph is to be celebrated with great pomp. M. Gudin, the famous French marine painter, is engaged by the Viceroy to be present and make sketches for a large his torical picture. iA letter from Bielefeld (Westphalia) , published in the Cologne Gazette, states that Lieutenant Schoenfeld, of the Landwehr, has been suspended from his functions for having delivered a democratic speech at a Me at Minden. The first shipment to New Orleans on the news of it. capture was made by a Boston firm. It consisted of 1,000 tons of lee. PRINCE ALTHED.—GREAT YARMOUTH, MAT 28. —A portion of the Channel fleet, comprising the Revenge. 90, Captain Fellows, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Smart ; the Trafalgar, 90, Captain Dickson ; the Emerald, 51, CaptainCumming ; the Chanticleer, 17, Captain Stir 'l42;"tlTPOTTeguabc",:riveen thetem yesterday, the arri val of the St. George, 90, Captain &erten, having his Royal Highness Prime Alfred, with Ma* Cowell, he., on board. The St. George was to sail yesterday from Burnt island, and will probably reach Yarmouth this evening or to-morrow morning. Up to • late hour, how ever to-day, she bad failed to make her appearance. The five morels now in the Roads came through the Downs. It is doubtful bow long they will remain at Yarmouth on being joined by the St. George, the officers of the squadron being themselves quite uncertain as to their future move 'Dente. The vessels are at anchor within about a mile and quarter of the shore, and they are objects of much interest to the townspeople and visitors, who have put off to them is steamers and beach gigs, although the °cautions' manors of the weather has somewhat damped the ardour of excur sionists. S P ECIAL SUNDAY MYRNING SIRVICIR IN WERT MINSTER ABBST.—The following is the list of preacher. during the month of June :—,/une 1, the Rev. Erie Ne peep, canon of Westminster ; June 8, the Bishop of Fre denotes ; June 15, the Rev. H. P. Liddon, Vim-Principal of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford ,• June 22, the Rev. the Radar of Trinity College, Cambridge ; June 29, the Bishop of Oxford. The region of the Upper Missouri is destined to attract emigration directly after the close ot the premintwar. • It is far better timbered, better watered, and has a better I soil, than the valleys of the Platt* sad Upper_Arbaseas ; i while its climate, owing to the hillscooe et Pad& wide, ls • far milder than that of the Upper Xismisippi. Gold and • other minerals are being found at various points, sod will ; soon attract crowds of dungarees. A sew territory on the L Upper Missouri and Yellow Math will doubtless be orga abed within the next five or ail yesrs.—disericesi paper. Total £8,67/ 1 3 THE JAPANESE AMBASSADORS IN LIVERPOOL LIVERPOOL, WIDNESDAT. The Japanese Ambassadors, with their suite, and Mr. Meodonald, the interpreter, arrived here from New castle-on ;Fyne shortly after 12 o'clock last night. The mayor's state and pirate carriages were awaiting the arrival of the train, and to them the ambassador' ware conducted to the Adelphi-hotel. Early this morning they were visited by the mayor, who, having made the neon nary arrangements. accompanied them to the landing. stage, where they embarked on beard the stea mer Satellite, and proceeded on • river excursion. The fine range of docks, and the new works proceeding at • the north of the Liverpool range and at Birkenhead, were pointed out and explained to the visitors, who appeared much interested. Mr. Laird's ehipbuiliing yards at Bir kenhead, where the processes of building iron vowel, of the largest size are being conducted, were visited, together with the graving docks and other objects of nautical importance on that side of the water. Sailing up the river through the Sloyne (where the large Cunard steamers anchor) the party visited H.M.S. Majestic, where they were politely received by Captain Ingle fi eld. and also partially inspected the Mer cantile Marine Educational ship, Conway, the design of which was fully explained to them. The men of the Ma jestic manned the yard.. Crossing to the Liverpool aide the visitor' disembarked, and inspected the Mersey Steel end Iron Company's extensive works, at the southern extremity of the docks. Here they were entertained to lunch by Messrs. Horefall and Co. After paying • visit to some other objects of interest in connexion with shipping, the party returned to the Town-hall, and thence to the Free Library, and St. George's-hall. In the evening they were entertained to dinner by the Mayor, Mr. It. Hutchi• son. The Mayor bad 'previously heeo engaged to dine with the officers of the local militia and their friends, but as the visit of the Japanese interposed, his worship invited the officers to join the party at the Town-hall. THE JAPAPTERE AT THE ROOMS OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. —On Tuesday serail officers of theJa embassy, on the invitation of Dr. Norton Shaw, visited the rooms of the Soya Geographical Society, I n I company with Dr. Macgowan, to inspect and articulate a snit of armour from Japan, presented by Mr. Hodgson, late Consul at Hakodade. The armour, which is a fine specimen of workmanship, consists of small steel plates, and under promote covered with chain, the whole, accept the calque, being very light, so light indeed as to expose many vulnerable points. Armour, they my, was in use before they were visited by Europeans, and is still employed in the army. One like that now possessed by the society costs 501. THE SCHOOL OF EDWARD THE SIXTH, BIRMING HAIL—Yesterday, at • meriting of the governors of this weed, the resignation wu announced of Dr. Gifford, the head waster, whole health has been in • precarious state for sane tam past. Dr. Gifford was appointed on the dear Um of the Rev. J. Lee to the Bishopric of Manchester ; and under his auspioes the usefulness of the school has berm lusely Wended. Total 1.32.100 1 0 DEATH PROM CHLOROFORM.-IMPORTANT CASE. 00RONKRI LNQIIi7IT.-(THIS DAY.) - - - This morning an inquiry was opened by Mr. H. ROAM Widths+, the &linty sorceser for the musty of Middle's:, at the Dock Hotel, Etat Smithfield. Tower-hill, respecting the death of PfsrnPelletier, 35 years, a Freochman, lately smployed at We Anthooy Sabi. Shade gold reliaery, ad 1j the Royal Mint, Royal Mint. street, Tower-hill, who died from the administration of cieloniferm. Mr. IL T. Winemte, the solicitor, attended to watch the am by the direction of Sir Anthony Rothschild, and the utmost interest was maaifested during the proceedings. The body of the deceased had bees exhumed from the Tower Hamlets Cemetery by the warned of the coroner, as the deceased bad been interred without an inquest. The jury having been swore, proceeded to view the remains of the deceased, which were lying in the dead• house of Aldgate Without, Cartwright-steeet, Upper Rest Upon their return the followiag evidence wee adduced : Pierre Dimmed, who resided at No. 19 Royal Mint street, deposed that he knew the deceased.who worked os the same premises. He was present when the deceased died from an overdoee of chloroform. He was present when the drug wee administered to allay the pain of an operation which be was to undergo for fistula. Deceased had been afflicted for ten years, but he had been able to follow his occupation. Dr. Diendonne, of Southamp ton-skeet, !Brand, a French physician, had been his medical adviser, and he bad taken medicine for the malady. The operation was to have been perforated at the deceased's resideace on Monday, the 12th lest., and a cons eultation took place there, when another French physician and Dr. Marshall, of Tichboine-street, were present. The first Named gentleman administered the chloroform by the desire et the deceased, but the drug did not take effect for several sates, when more of the chloroform was given to him, sad he became unconscious. The next moment be was foetid to be deed. By the Coroner—l believe that the deceased died from the chloroform s and before deceased became insensible he was pinched and pricked several times, which showed that the drug had not taken effect. After the deceased had expired the physicians tried artificial respiration byrubbing the body and bradhing i¢ the month, but their efforts were of no avail. They left the deceased soon afterwards, and the sitendeate thought that he breathed, when they sent for Mr. Cook, the surgeon, of the Minorite, whose assistant attended, but be prceaunced life extinct. Mr. Frederick James Gant, surgeon and pathological anatomist of the Royal Fro Hospital, wee then called, and said that he had performed a post mortem examination of the body dace the exhumation. He found sufficient to account for death if chloroform was administered. There w i za t z existing disease of the heart, and death would ensue from the administration of such an mint. Ho found the walls of the heart very thin, and the opening between the auricle and the right • ntrele sufficiently large to admit four of hie fingers ventricle The ' heart had undergone fatty degenera tion. The lungs were 'dimity adherent throughout—more especially the right lung. The adhesions were very firm, and it required considerable force to remove them. He wee of opinion that with the feebleness of heart and lungs the administration of chloroform would stop the action o h f t the first named organ, anproduce paralysis and death o y the Coroner—lt was very essential to ascertain the eondition of the heart and lungs before the administration of chloroform. The Coroner asked if the medical gentleman wu present who administered the chloroform, when Mr. Perry, the summoning officer, answered in the negative. The Coroner then gave instructions to the constable to 1111:1101011 the three medical gentlemen who had the an under their joint charge, and adjourned the investigation for their attendance. The proceedings were accordingly adjourned. rsiutrpro EXPLOSION. Last evening, between 5 and 6 o'clock, consider able alarm was °used in the neighbourhood of Church street, Shoreditch, by a terrible explosion. For some time put men have been employed constructing the main drain ers sewer in Church-street, and between the corner of Briek.lane and Club-row in the same street the horse pave. meet had bees pulled up, cod the heavy stones taken there from were piled upon the footpath and the edge of the carriage roadway. - Immediately under those portions of the thoroughfare were the immense mains need for supplying the by etzesta and shops with gas, whilst a little further was a powerful steam urine used for drawing up the earth and lowering bricks as the soil beneath was 'being excavated. The weight on the pavement caused the atones to fall through, and they coming in contact with the length el piping, snapped it at one of the joints, and the gas ex ploded with a fearful report from coming into contact with the furnace of the engine. A number of men in the am ploy of the contractor working in the cutting were pro stated and were all more or less injured. A 1.31Da1l named Jane Smith, who wu passing along the pavement, wee knocked down and her clothing set on fire. The poor crea ture exhibited a complete burning mass, sad, to add kith, N o .. the house of Mr. J. Maya, boot and shoe maker, No. 151, in Church-street, was Mown to the pound- Tloo dibris falling upon the poor woman she was obliged to remain in the midst of the flaming mans until extricated by the firemen and others. She wee then found to be so ex tensively burned that when touched the flesh of the poor creature peeled off. She was immediately upon being extricated removed to the London Hospital, but not the least hopes are entertained of her re covery. The gas having entered several other houses they became ignited, and then a scene occurred which beaus description. The fronts of the houses from 146 to 155 were blown out, and the furniture extensively de. mitred. The house belonging to Yr. J. wee E. Man ning, _haberdasher, No. 150, in Church-street, nearly riddled by the force of the explosion, and the stock in trade and the furniture severely injured. This tamer was insured in the Sun Fire-onlos. The pe next filled the premises of Mr. Gerrard, tobacconist, T . 12, in the same thoroughfare, and blew up the greater portion of the building. Strange as it may appear, no one was ma terially. injured in this house. This sufferer was insured in the Union Fire-of fi ce. The pa then appears to have passed in a dense current scans the roadway sad to have entered every house on the opposite side of the street from No. 44 to 52 inclusive, blowing out the windows and window fames. Several other bonus in the rear to nearly a dozen were likes wise similarly injured. Smith, the parish engineer, and Mr. Bridges. users re markably early in arriving, and a good supply of the Fast London Company's water having been procured, the parish engineer and firemen went to work, and succeeded in extin• guishiog the fire. Thousands of persons Socked to the some of the eater trophe, and it required the assistance of a strong body of police under Mr. Superintendent White and Inspector Broad to keep the crowd out of danger. Yr. Hayes. who is the most serious loser, was insured in the Scottish Provincial Fire•office. The pa directors gave immediate orders for " bladder 'toppers" to be inserted in the mains, sod that having been done, the gas was prevented from again pasuK through that portion of the mains. No further miacLid need therefore be apprehended. FURTHER PARTICULARS.—(THIS DAY.) We regret to state that the unfortunate woman Mm. Smith lived not more than a few minutes after her admix. sion to the hospital. Two boy. and two men still remain in the hospital, end a little girl. The other four cases, although of a serious character, are not expected to termi• nate fatally. The house of Mr. Hayes, the boot and shoe maker, which suffered the most severely, was blown to the ground. The proprietor of the tobacconist's shop (Mr. W. Gerrard) No. 152, and his family were warned by the smell of gm and the loud rushing noise of the vapour, and ran off to • distant place for protection. A WELSH TRAGNDY. About ten days ago the wife of Mr. George Ward, a printer, in Welsepoul, Mootgomeryshire, wee arrested co the charge of robbing a draper s shop in the same town. The search which the police made at der house resulted i 2 the discovery of a large quantity of stolen property, and further inquiries showed that the robbery of this shop bZ the prisoner had been conducted very systematically, and had been carried on for a very long time ; and the police also took into their custody the mother of Mrs. Ward. who was charged with receiving some of this property !mow ing it to be stolen. Both prisoners were taken before the mayor and committed for trial, heavy bail being token foe their appearance. Information of this circumstaace wee 0001111UOleated to Mr. Ward, who occupies a highly respectable position in the town , and it was observed that be became very desponding aud nervous. Urn Tuesday morning the neighbourhood in which he lived was aroused by the alarming cries of his niece, who lives with them. She ran out into the street, imploring anikstance, se her uncle and must had cut their throats. Oa the arrival of the neighbours it was found to be quite correct. Both had dreadful wounds on their thrusts, and the medical met expressed great doubts as to their recovery. At Ormmt they regime in a lingering Mete in charge of the pol It re is rumoured that both had previously arranged to commit suicide together, but the cries heard by some of the wish bones would seem to show that the woman wan not a willing party, and that Ward intended to cut his wife's throat, alti this to out hie own. THE FRUIT CHOPS IN THE VALE OF Et raeey~ It is raid that in thin district a ewers blight las fallen *pal the fruit-trees generally, sad in particular place% has completely destroyed all chance of crops. In fiengeweith sad oa the eastern sod exposed sides of the town the greater iajary his bean done, sad the cherries and damson plums appear to suffer the worst attacks. In some places the trees are quite shrivelled up, sapless and withering, ra ' though a blast from a hot furnace had swept acrov the" and the severity of the blight has gone in belts of varying widths acmes some of the plantations. The common green caterpillar is the 'caret working so destructively. In the more favoured localities there Is still a fair average crop in a growing and vigorous state. The potato and vegetable crops generally are looking U. —l4" orracrehirc rotivt. W .' T • ,