The Sun. — London, England, 1862-05-02 00:00:00

A•" OPENING OF THE GREAT 1 EXHIBITION. i FURTHER PARTICULARS. THE PROCESSION. As the head of the procession appeared in the flare there was, as may be supposed, a stir in the mat assemblage, and a surging to and fro of the - many thousands who were in the happy condition of not being able to see anything except the anxious individuals in the galleries or in the body of the nave exactly opposite. The latter, however, were more fortunate—if they esteemed it so—for the con tracted space through which the procession passed brought most of the personages who formed it into close contact with those who occupied the front seats. It must be confessed that there was not much reciprocity in this respect. The members of the procession who chose to cast their eyes on each side of them were gratified by beholding a long line of such charming faces and fine forms as the womankind of no ordinary country in the world could show; while they had the question able privilege of gazing on an as oddly-assorted and queer-looking set of gentlemen as it was possible to bring together in a given area. It is no use disguising: the matter, but the component parts of the procession were not imposing, and in the gross the effect was no means good. There was all ill assortment of costumes; here a splendid mili tary uniform, British or foreign, carried by the wearer as if he was quite comfortable in it ; there a diplomatic blue and gold, with the stiffness which seems inseparable from that peculiar costume ; now a crimson and furred robe, and in immediate proxi mity to these the swallow-tailed coat, and even the shapeless paletot of private life, whose owner seemed principally occupied in wondering how, being neither rich nor rare, he happened to have got where he was. But this was not all ; nobody except the military men seemed to know exactly how they were to walk, and when they reached the grand entrance beneath the western dome, where the thronie—which was to remain vacant, a painful significancy—and the gilded chairs of the Queen's special commissioners were placed, they seemed to tumble on to the dais, and to fall into such places as the genius of mal arrangement suggested to them. Some peculiari ties of the procession may be mentioned. For instance, the Bishop of Winchester, a prelate who is only fifth in the episcopal list, and who en joys special privileges and dignities, to-day walked meekly in hie every-day costume (saving the ribbon and badge of the order of the Garter, of which he is prelate) at the tail of the council of the Horti cultural Society. Sir John Pakington, who is only physically a small personage, was content to walk amongst the guarantors of the Exhibition. Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, Earl Stanhope, the Duke of Sutherland, Sir John Burgoyne, Sir Geo. Clerk, and Lord Taunton figured as chairmen of juries ; the Duke of Buocleuch held a place as one of the commissioners of the Exhibition of 1841, amongst whom walked, side by side, and in amicable if not amiable, and occasionally jocose conversation, Mr. Disraeli and Mr. Lowe, gentlemen who, in another place, have exhibited a certain antagonism, which it would seem is more political than real and personal. Conspicuous amongst that which we do not hesitate to call a crowd, as the procession attempted to deploy on the -plat form, were several black faces, and in one instance a gentleman of colour must have been a distin guished person in his own country, for he wore the star of some order of knighthood. When way was at length made for the passage of the Queen's Commissioners, many eyes sought for the Earl of Derby, for it had been rumoured that that noble man would probably be unable to be present, owing to the indisposition from which he has of late suf fered. However, he was in his place, though walking feebly, and leaning heavily on a stick. Lord Palmerston looked well and cheerful, exhibit ing, however, many marks of the octogenarian. As we are dealing with contrasts, we may refer to that which existed between the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commons, who both, cos tumed in gold and brocaded robes and full-bottomed wigs of the exact same pattern, presented that du ference which may be supposed to prevail between a very tall and stately man and a short—not to speak it profanely—somewhat punchy gentleman. The Duke of Cambridge looked stalwart and imposing, as becomes one of that royal family which has pro duced some of the finest grown men of the last two generations. The Crown Prince of Prussia, notable for the simplicity of his uniform, showed slim and graceful ; and Prince Oscar of Sweden, though somewhat dark, not to say sallow, in com plexion, is the happy proprietor of a tall and well set figure, which displayed to advantage a hand some military dress, conspicuous in which was the - lane yellow plume of his cocked hat. At length the order of things somehow was made to proceed. The Queen's Commissioners took their seats on the platform immediately in front of the throne. The Duke of Cambridge, of course, occupied the central place. On his right were the Crown Prince of Prussia, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and the Earl of Derby; on his left were placed Prince Oscar of Sweden, the Lord Chamber lain, Viscount Palmerston, and the Speaker of the House of Commons. As soon as the Queen's Commissioners had thus " assumed their state," it was necessary that they should have the Royal Commissioners for the Exhibition full in their view. This, howevet, was for the moment prevented owing to a number of the gentlemen who had figured in the procession having ranged themselves in a line in front of the dais, with their backs grace fully and courteously turned on the representatives of her Majesty. Sir Wentworth Dilke, equal to the occasion ' rushed forward, end by a series of vigorous pushes, no doubt accompanied by powerful mental objurgatory ejaculations, cleared off those physical obstacles, who subsided somewhere into the somewhat confused and ill-grouped crowd that occupied the estrade. This was an awkwardness to say the least of it; but happily it did not attract much attention, as it was only a part of the curious divergences from order of a very awkward squad. But the next event was remarkable. In the offi cial programme it was laid down that as soon as the Queen's Commissioners were seated a verse of the National Anthem should be performed by the magnificent orchestra, vocal and instrumental, which was assembled under the eastern dome. But the genius of mischief somehow inspired Lord Gran ville to forget an important portion of the arrange ments, which he must no doubt have had a power ful hand in preparing, and wholly ignoring " God save the Queen," he stepped briskly forward to speak the address which, on the part of the Royal Commissioners for the Exhibition, he was to deliver before the Queen's Commissioners. He had got through his first sentence when there came a wailing sound from the other end of the nave, which by a superhuman effort on the part of the execu tants was in a little time made to reach the ears of those assembled under the western dome in some thing like the phantom of a vocal and instrumental delivery of the National Anthem. This sound, tilint but yet distinct, prevailed during the whole time that Lord Granville was speaking, and when he ceased the Duke of Cambridge, prudently re solving not to have his speech subjected to such an accompaniment, paused for several minutes, until the unconscious orchestra, who no doubt supposed that they were doing their spiriting effectually and effeotively had concluded. The speech which Lord Granville delivered under these unusual circum stances was as follows: m ay it please your Royal Highness and my Lords Cons rnissionerp,—ln the name of her Majesty's Commissioners who have c harge of the International Exhibition of 1862, I have the honour to present to your Royal Highness and the other commissioners for opening the Exhibition a roost humble address. We especially offer to her Majesty our condolence for the lots irreparable which bar M a j es ty an d the cation have sustained, end we thank her Majesty for allowing herself to be represented by your Royal Highness and the other Commissioners on this occasion; an d we beg to express our great gratitude to his Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Prussia and his 'loyal Highness p r i nce Oscar of Sweden, f•r having honoured the Exhibition with their presence this day. We also offer our thanks to th e Commissioners, British and Foreign, who have assisted us in this work ; and we venture to express our confidence that t hi s work will bo thought worthy of ranking amongst the International exhibitions which in the future may periodi pally occur. Aix lordship then handed to his Royal Highness , a printed 4aaress, which was not read, to which ais Royal Highness the Dake of Cambridge thus replied : We cannot perform the duty which the Que:n has done us the honour to commit us as her Majesty's represen tatives on this occasion, without expressing our heartfelt regret that this inaugural ceremony is deprived of her Majesty's presence by the sad bereavement which has overwhelmed the nation with universal sorrow. We share most sincerely your feelings of deep sympathy with her Majesty in the grievous affliction with which the Almighty has seen fit to visit her Majesty and the whole people of this reelm. It is impossible to contemplate the spectacle this day presented to our view without being painfully re minded how great a loss we have all sustained in the Illustrious Prince, with whose name the first Great Inter national Exhibition was so intimately connected, and whose enlarged views and enlightened judgment were conspicuous in his appreciation of the benefits which such undertakings are calculated to confer upon the country. We are com manded by the Queen to assure you of the warm interest which her Majesty cannot fail to take in this Exhibition, and of her Majesty's earnest wishes that its success may amply fulfil the intentions and expectations with which it was projected, and may richly reward the zeal and energy, aided by the cordial co-operation of distinguished men of various countries, by which it has been carried into execu tion. We heartily join in the prayer that the International Exhibition of 1862, beyond largely conducing to present enjoyment and instruction, will be hereafter recorded as an important link in the chain of International Exhibitions, by which the nations of the world may be drawn together inthe noblest rivalry, and from which they may mutually derive the greatest advantages. THE KEY OF THE EXHIBITION. The next portion of the ceremonial consisted in the formal presentation by Lord Granville, of what may be called emphatically "The Key".of the Ex hibition. This is in fact and in reality a master-key to all the looks throughout the building, and has been wrought by Messrs. Chubb, entirely by hand, out of a solid piece of steel. It was enclosed on this occasion in a crimson velvet bag ! With this, the ceremony which was appointed to be held under the western dome was brought to a close. The proces sion was, as the phrase goes, reformed ; and crossing over to the northern side of the nave, passed along the space enclosed within barriers on that side and with the pipers of the Scots Fusilier Guards " skirling" behind it, proceeded slowly along until the space in front of theorchestra under the eastern dome was reached. At this spot had assembled a number of distinguished personages. Here were placed the only members of the Royal Family, be sides the Chief Commissioner of the Queen, who were present on this occasion, namely, the Duchess of Cambridge and her daughters, the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, and the Princess Mary of Cambridge. The diplomatic corps were here as sembled, and a considerable number of noblemen and gentlemen, ex-ministers,ex-chancellors, and the Japanese ambassadors. On the platform seats were provided for the members of the procession, and as soon as every one had been accommodated—an operation which did not occupy any unnecessary amount of time— the orchestra, under Mr. Costa, commenced the very important part of the ceremonial which had been committed to their charge. MEYERBEER'S GRAND OVERTURE. The first piece of the special music was Meyer beer's grand overture. Its effect on the whole did not disappoint the expectations of those who heard it. It consists of three divisions or movements. In the first, a short introductory passage, calculated to awaken the attention of the audience, leads into a triumphal march, in that grandoise and imposing style with which all who know Meyerbeer's prin cipal operas are familiar. No composer excels him in the art of adapting instrumental music to vast localities. Of this Triumphal March it may well be said, that " Jove's own thunders follow Mars' drums," for the thunders of the orchestra rolled through every corner of the building. The second movement was a religious march, of a subdued and mournful character. This is, perhaps, the finest part of the work, and yet it was comparatively in effective, simply because it was imperfectly beard by nine-tenths of the audience. In this movement the stringed instruments are chiefly called into ae tion ; and it is well known that in music performed in the open air (as this music may be said to have been) it is Limpossible to produce, by means of stringed instruments, a full and resonant body of sound. The last movement, however—a quick marsh, or pas redouble, full of fire and energy, again arrested the general attention ; and when the inspiring strain of "Rule Britannia," ming ling with this quick march, and rising by degrees to a marvellous climax of power and grandeur, brought the piece to an end, loud acclamations hailed this triumph of genius and art. DR. BENNETT'S OLE. There was a short pause, and then Dr. Sterndale Bennett's Ode began, conducted by M, Sainton. It was admirably executed, and being a choral work —of all kinds of music the most suitable for per formance on such an occasion as the present—its effect was complete, and it was felt that Teanyson's magnificent poem was united to music worthy of it. Bennett's music in the official programmes is called a chorale; a title which gives an erroneous idea of its nature. The word chorale is technically used to designate a psalm or hymn tune ; whereas this is a work on a large scale, and of grand though simple structure. Still it is not entirely wrong to call it a chorale, for a chorale forms the subject of the piece, and its impression is constantly kept up, though it is expanded by episodes arising out of the theme, and treated with consummate contrapuntal skill. It opens with this choral subject; the whole voices bursting, fortissimo, into the words, "Uplift a thousand voices full and sweet," in four parts of plain harmony ; and the same strain is repeated with still greater force, and reinforced by the whole strength of the orchestra. There is a pause, and the voices, in the softest and most subdued tone, take np in the relative minor the mournful words, 0 silent father a our kings to be, Mourn'd in this golden hour of jubile, with an effect inexpressibly pathetic. It struck us as remarkable that though this movement was sung pianissimo from beginning to end, yet not a note of it was lost, owing to the breadth and simplicity of the melody and the harmony, together with the naturally penetrating quality of the human voice, which no instrument possesses in an equal degree. After this beautiful passage there comes a piece of choral recitative, in which the voices of each part, singing (or rather speaking) in unison, describe the varied riches of the Exhibition—a part of the poem extremely difficult to treat musically, but this mode of treatment is equally ingenious and happy. There is then a recurrence of the opening chorale ; but the melody, being sung in a quicker time, and ac companied by the orchestra in a florid style, as sumes o. more flowing and. airy character. This change occurs at the passage in the poem which begins And let the fair white-winm'd peacemaker fly, To happy havens under all sky. The poet's idea is here beautifully expressed, and echoed, as it were, by the music. After this pas sage has been largely developed, by a variety of fine modulations and effects of harmony, the piece is brought to en end by a few great chords, " alla breve," uttered with the whole power of the voices and instruments. This grand work produced a profound sensation. The deep silence which pre. wailed during its performance enabled every part of it to be clearly heard, and the loud and prolonged applause which resounded through the whole building showed the effect it had produced. AUBER'S MARCH. The last of these special performances, the Grand March, by Auber, was less effective than the others. Without any disparagement to this charming com poser, we cannot but observe that he does not seem to be familiar with the treatment of great masses of sound. His March is admirable, full of melody, grace, and spirit ; but its facture (as the French call it) is too minute far such an occasion as this. Its delicacy and finish would be delicious at the Opera Oornique, but were lost in the vastness of the Exhibition building. The only other great musical performance was tile " Hallelujah Chorus," the effect of which was inexpressibly sublime. Some pieces were played by military bands, but they were scarcely heard. The prayer of the Bishop of London was suc ceeded by Handers " Hallelujah Chorus." As soon as the grand sounds of that superb musical musical thanksgiving had ceased to vibrate through the dome, the Duke of Cambridge, rising, in his loudest tones proclaimed that the Exhibition was open. Like the prayer, this announcement was nevertheless not heard by those who occupied the extreme edge of the platform beneath the dome, and so, of course, did not reach the ears of the occu pants of the nave, who, imprisoned within the long relentless barriers that stretched from dome to dome, had nothing to do all day, except when the procession was passing immediately before them, but to look wistfully at the numerous and gigantic trophies which literally blocked the area before them, and wonder what was going on from time to time. The loud notes of the trumpets soon gave notice that the Exhibition had been declared open, The " removal of the barriers," and the freeing from their somewhat dull bondage the crowd which had sat or stood through some three or four hours of probation, was to have followed. This consum mation, however, was not immediately attained, for the procession moved from the platform beneath the eastern dome, this time passing along the south side of the nave. No order was observed, official pro cessionists and the occupants of the reserved seats roaming about freely. The formality of the order of the going of the Queen's Commissioners wa s broken, inasmuch as the Duke of Cambridge was accompanied by his mother, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge; the Crown Prince of Prussia conducted the Grand Duchess of Mecklen burg Strelitz ; and Prince Oscar of Sweden escorted the Princess Mary of Cambridge. As to the other Queen's Commissioners, we have some notion that the Lord Chancellor was seen struggling through the genteel crowd as well as he /could, and in dan ger of separation from his mace and seals ; but for the others, they got absorbed in the moving mass, and were seen no more in their decidedly formal capacity. It is true that, with something of orga nisation, the Queen's Commissioners, and those who bad been specially attendant on them, passed through the Picture Galleries ; but practically, from the time when the last notes of the National Anthem ceased, the ceremonial proper was at end. The barriers were really removed at last, and the visitors at large roamed through the building at their free will and pleasure. After the ceremony was over exhibitors and their friends made good use of their articles and their space, and we saw more than one jolly champagne luncheon party seated in a railway carriage or peeping from behind a Mock of hardware. The great and little organs are at present removed from the nave, or there is no saying what crowds would have crowned their pinnacles. We believe the com missioners now intend to have these instruments re-erected at their own expense in one of the side galleries. The Prince of Prussia and all the royal and dis tinguished personages present expressed themselves delighted with the Exhibition, and many evidently never expected anything half so brilliant and suc cessful. To-day the Prince of Prussia, having only two days to stay in England, will go carefully over the British collection at an early hour, attended by those best able to explain the leading features of the different classes. Just as he entered the build ing yesterday, a telegram was received from the Princess Royal of Prussia, at Berlin, wishing every success to the Exhibition then about to be opened. This little mark of thoughtfulness from one who is the favourite daughter of him whom all present missed from the great festival, was some reward to the commissioners and their staff for all their labour and anxiety during the last few months. THE JAPANESE AMBASSADORS. The Japanese Ambassadors,who arrived just about noon, were, of course, the objects of unmeasured curiosity. Their dresses were plain and almost sombre in colour, but rich in material. They wore two swords which in their land are the highest in signia of curiosity. The nil admzrari spirit which we are told is one of the chief characteristics of this extraordinary nation was displayed yesterday in a most marked manner by the two senior Ambassa dors. The most blase diplomatists of Europe could not have surpassed the indifferent air with which they marched up the nave without casting an eye right or left, but the third and youngest seemed made of more impressionable materials, and as Le walked along, the quick and almost stealthy glances be from side to side threw, and the half smile on his countenance, showed that he but half acted his part, and that ho was anything but insensible to the forms of beauty through which he moved. THE COMPANY ON THE DAIS. None were admitted within the area on the dais platform itself except in uniform of some kind, and, as the latitude was very great, the variety in fashion and colour was almost infinite. The gorgeous gold and scarlet of the Regulars, the sombrest in visible gray or green of the Volunteers, the dark black velvet of the Judge, and the white silk robe of the Doctor of Music, were all mixed up together with the ten thousand hues of the ladies' spring dresses, and formed a rich mass of colouring, on which the rays of the sun played with a wonder fully brilliant effect. The gay robes and gold chains of office displayed by some of the provincial mayors contributed very materially to the splendours of the scene. The rule as to uniforms was inexorable, and not a few members of the Legislature who neglected the plain warning conveyed on their tickets were relegated to back benches without the slightest ceremony. The struggles between the stern stewards and the would-be interlopers were occa sionally carried to a rather warm pitch, but the strictness of the rule was in no case relaxed. Occa sionally these disputes took a very amusing turn. Mr. Kinnaird, for instance, made his appearance in a black frockcoat and round hat ; he was stopped at once, of course, on reaching the charmed circle, but he soon cut the knot by doffing his coat and appearing in the uniform of the London Scottish. One gentleman, to make assurance doubly sure, appeared in academic gown over a Rifle uniform, and the only difficulty in his case was as to the exact class in which he should be seated. THE RUSH AT THE OPENING. It was nearly eleven o'clock before the much sought for Inspector with the keys of the doors was at last found, and they were opened, and then, indeed, the building filled with a mar vellous rapidity and rush of feet, above all the noise of which could be distinctly heard the oft reiterated words of " Ladies must have their season-tickets ready ;" " It's no use, Ma'am, you can't pass until you sign, it," &c„ &c., all indicat ing that, in spite of every premonitory warning, people would come with their tickets in the unfa miliar pocket of a new drew, and, after much rum maging and flurried search while still in the grasp of the turnstile, produce them—unsigned. Of course, there was some confusion and much incon venience to many while the building filled. Ladies would get into block A with tickets for block B, and into block C without any tickets at all, and before these transgressors the police were power less. What could all the force do against the staid hauteur and passive insouciance of a group of fashionable women, who received the information that they had " no business there" with such slight evidences of satisfaction as seemed to prove that the mere fact of its being forbidden ground added zest to its possession ? THE StIN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 2, 1862. for the opening. This, indeed, was a labour, and at first it seemed hopeless. Our readers may guess what had to be done when we say that Kelk and Lucas retained no less than 1,250 men to assist the executive staff in the hundreds of odd jobs that were still to be finished everywhere. THE PRICE OF BUILDING. When the doors close next October the Royal Commissioners may either pay for' use and waste," or they may buy the building out and out. The contractors are guaranteed in any case the sum of £200,000. If the total receipts of the Royal Com missioners exceed £400,000, Messrs. Kelk and Lucas will be paid £lOO,OOO in addition. This is mere rental ; but if the contractors are paid .£300,000 they are bound to hand over the centre acre of the great picture galleries to the Society of Arts, whose property it will then become. Messrs. Kelk and Lucas may thus receive £300,000, and will also, with this exception, dispose of and re move all the materials. But they may be required to sell all their interest in the building for a fur ther sum of £130,000, so that the building as it now stands may become the property of the Royal Commissioners, at their option, for £430,000. The total area roofed in is 60 millions of cubic feet, about one-third more than the Exhibition of 1851. THE PREPARATIONS FOE OPENING. The actual preparations for getting the building ready for the public may be said to have commenced on Wednesday at 11 o'clock, when the workmen were driven almost by force out of the interior, and the executive undertook the task of clearing it up THE REFRESHMENT Books. When the haven was reached, the spectator might fairly have imagined that a cargo of food and beverages had suddenly arrived after a pro tracted famine. There were contests for the first supply of pale ale, in which even star-decorated valour forgot its deference to beauty, and scarred veterans snatched and appropriated the brimming goblet on its way to the parched lips of the ex hausted belle. On the stairs leading upwards to the dining room, we saw seated a bevy of fair dam sels, attired in the pink of fashion, each with a bouquet of rare exotics in one hand, and in the other a pewter tankard, into which her chiselled nose ever and anon disappeared, while upon her knee reposed a plate garnished with the half of a modest pork pie. THE NATE. The nave is blocked up with unsightly erections popularly known as "trophies." Some of them looked like four-post bedsteads without the cur tains, others might have stood for models of the Eddystone Lighthouse, whilst a third variety were of so nondescript a character as to look as if they had been merely put up, like the Martello towers, for the purpose of puzzling posterity. All these immense piles of Dutch candles, Russian bristles, and Prussian ironwork must—and we understand will—be removed to more fitting quarters, and then the nave will be seen throughout entire length with a glimpse of the domes at each end, and the splendid show of jewellery that adorn its sides. At present, in consequence of those obstructions, if you stand under the eastern dome, you cannot see the western ; and if you take your place in the centre of the nave, you can see neither the one nor the other. SIR THOMAS TROUBRIDGE. Many of us recollect the interest he excited when, his feet having been shot off in the Crimea, be was wheeled to the distribution of Vicioria medals to receive that which he had earned It Inkermann and elsewhere. Yesterday he waked into the building with only the support of a sick—a living evidence of the triumphs of art. THE NUMBER PRESE'N'I. There must have been at the opering close upon 25,000 people iu the Exhibition; bu; except in the passages north and south of the nve, there was little difficulty in moving about. GIBSON'S " TINTED" YEWS. The verdict passed upon the staues is perhaps scarcely worth recording, but it We certainly un favourable, and this most ambitiousffort of one of our greatest English sculptors 013 y showed how utterly modern art has lost that cassie secret of combining form and colour in its sttues. THE NUMBERS OF EXHIBIORS. There are about 22,000 exhibitorsof whom aboul 8,000 are subjects of her Majesty,ind 14,000 o foreign States. THE DOG INTRUDER. Neither narrative nor criticism co. exhaust the subject. There remain upon the ye and upon the mind scattered impressions irtich will not weave into the one and are not übject to the other. There are touches of the udicrous that mingle with the sublime. Therewas, for in stance, the intrusion of a dog—a comion, mongrel dog, young and frisky—into the aid so carefully reserved for the return procession -and that at the height of the ceremonial solemity. How he got in will never be explained—sti less why he appeared at that particular moment. His pleasure in the achievement was evident, buthis behaviour was exemplary. He gave every detonstration of delight short of barking. He fawne on the gloved hands stretched out to pat him—hecapered round the feet that tried to kick him—ht evaded every attempt at eapture—and when aln%t in the grip of a policeman, disappeared beneat the drapery that was kindly raised to cover his great. THE FRENCH IRON-PLAI3D NAVY. The number of the _Revue Corednporaine which will appear today contains an entreating article on the origin and progress of OirPim-plated navy in France. It commences at tV ii rn,a when the Em , peror first resolved to carry out th\long cherished idea by the appointment of a Comtission in 1857. The report of this Commission was oon presented, sanctioned by the Minister of Marin, and approved by the Emperor, and no time was ost in giving it effect. It may be remembered thalat that period, and for some time afterwards, de;ials were more than once given to the EitatementEthat something more was going on than mere tiasformation of sailing ships into steamers. The flowing are ex tracts from the article, which is wrifen by M. Boin villiers, one of the Commission of .157: By order of the Emperor a Cotmission chosen from the members of the Council cf State was ap pointed in the year 1857 to exenine the report presented by the Minister of Mame on the trans formation of the fleet. The memberwere very much struck with the decision with whl M. Dupuy de Lome, lately appointed to the erection of naval stores, presented his views as to the possi bility of constructing ironllated ships as speedy as the fastest wocen ships. He said that the power of these rigatea would be so great that their superiorit: over the vessels hitherto built might be comparel to that of a lion among a flock of sheep. The pans of 11. Dupuy de Lome were adopted, after uaur© reflection, by M. Hamlin, the Minister of Maine, and 4ually by the Emperor, who, if we are wel informed, entered into the minutest details with fiat solicitude which his Majesty feels for everything which may add to the glory and to the security o'France. It may be added that the Emperor participated in the comple tion of the work with that special interest which he attached to the question of iron-plated ships, of which he had been already tie promoter for many years. Colonel Faye, of the artillery, one of his aides-de-camp, was commissioned to attend daily at the trials made at Vincennes, to test the various iron shields, in order to arrive at the best mode of manufacturing them, and to decide upon what manufactory in France could produce the best. The Emperor himself attended several times at the trials. He was particularly pleased with the result of a heavy discharge against an iron plate forged by MM. Petin and Gaudet according to the plan defi nitively adopted. This proof consisted in firing shot in succession at a distance of twenty yards against the pattern plate attached to a wooden plank representing the side of a ship much weaker than the projected frigate. The cannon employed on that occasion were three, one of which was a 5)-pounder on the French model, and the two others, of 68, of the strongest English model exist ing. They were of a smooth bore, throwing round massive shot. These were preferred because it had been ascertained that cylindrical shot, thrown from rifled cannon, are excellent to carry far and true, and to penetrate wood at a great distance, but that at a short distance they possess less power than round shot fired from a smooth-bore with a large charge of powder. These guns, were, therefore, fired with the largest charge of powder they could bear—that is 161 b. for the French gun and 171 b. for the English guns, The three shots were fired so simultaneously that only one report was heard. The Emperor quickly ap proached the plate, the subject of the trial, and found it not the least shaken, but bearing a deep mark of the three shots and perfectly hot to the touch from the concussion, but without the smallest crack. "It was thus that the plan of our three first iron cased frigates was prepared and approved in France before this arduous problem of naval architecture had ever been approached in England or elsewhere. The plan of these frigates received the signature of the Minister of Marine for execution on the 20th of March, 1858, and they were commenced in May and June following —two at Toulon, under the names of La Gloire and L'lnvincible, and the third at Cherbourg under the name of La Normandie. The builder df these frigates devoted himself to uniting the impenetrability of their sides (even to a higher degree than our first floating batteries) with the nautical qualities of our fastest steam vessels . The masts, however, which are as high on board steam vessels as on our old sailing vessels, have been reduced as much as possible on the irou.plated fri gates. The masts are now kept solely to economise the eoal on certain occasions, or to enable them to Gross the Atlantic under sail if not pressed for time, and finally, to enable them to reach a port in case their machinery should be damaged. Their artil lery is composed of 36 rifled cannon, of which 34 are in the battery which is plated with iron from end to end. Two guns are placed on the upper deck, without any cuirass, to serve to fire at a long distance, such as four miles. The crew is composed of 570 men, with provisions for 90 days. The ma chine is of 900 horse power, and its supply of coals 675 tons. The shipwright has succeeded in limiting the length of these frigates to 231 feet. As to the level of the central porthole above the water, it is calculated to vary between 1 meter 85 centimeters when fully laden, to 2 meters 55 centimeters when the greater part of the coal is consumed. While the Gloire, Invincible, and Normandie were being placed on the stocks the Marine Minister was preparing the plan of a fourth iron-plated frigate on a different construction. The object proposed was to try, con jointly with the system of construction of a wooden hull plated with iron, that of an iron hull covered with wood first, and then plated with iron over the hull. This plan was entrusted to M. Audenet, a naval engineer ; and the frigate Couronne, con structed after the latter system, was placed on the stocks at Lorient in September, 1858. Her dimen sions are nearly the same as those of the Gloire, and she is plated from end to end. Her engine likewise is of 900-horse power. Two other iron-plated fri gates on a new plan proposed by M. Dupuy de Lorne were commenced at Lorient and Brest in July, 1859. They are called the Magenta and the Solferino. They differ both from the Gloire and Couronne. Their hull is of wood, like that of the Gloire, but the form of their bow has been modified so as to present a sharp spur. The guns are brought together in the centre on two stages, one above the other. The parts of the ship fore and aft of the central space in which the guns are mounted are allocated to the officers, to the hospital, and to the kitchens. They must be cleared out daring the battle and are not iron-plated. The Magenta and Solferino carry 50 guns and are of 1,000-horse power. During the same year, 1859, the naval department, besides these six frigates, placed on the stocks four new floating batteries of a simple form and drawing little water—supplied with engines of reduced force, and consequently not expensive. They are intended not to go to sea, but for the de fence of harbours and rivers. They are called the Peiho, Saigon, Paixhans, and Palestro. They are mounted with 12 guns, and their engines are 150- horse power. The six frigates and the four float ing batteries commenced in 1858 are now afloat. The frigates Magenta and Solferino and the fiur floating batteries are not quite complete. They have not yet been tried, and we know not what results they may produce, but the four frigates Gloire, Invincible, Normandie, and Couronne have been proved at sea, and we may assert that all four have given a brilliant contradiction to the unfavourable prognostics of the timid and the slan derous, who declared such frigates to be impossible. They have even exceeded the expec tations of those who had full faith in their success. The frigate Gloire was launched on the 24th of November, 1859. The plating and mounting her machine detained her until August, 1860, when she made her first trial." After giving some details of the Gloire's trip to Algiers and back to Toulon the writer resumes as follows: "At this moment France possesses four fine iron plated frigates fit for any service. This series of successes permits us to await with confidence the approaching trials of the four new floating batteries, as well as those of the Magenta and the Solferino. But the works accomplished by the French naval department for the construction of an iron-plated fleet did not stop there. The Emperor occupied himself in indicating some improvements after hav ing visited Toulon. Among them was a moderate increase in the height of the gun-rooms. M. Dupuy de Lorne declared that he could raise the central porthole 2 meters 20 centimeters above the water even when the frigate is fully laden. It was on this new plan that the Emperor commanded, in Nov., 1860, that ten new iron-plated frigates of 1,000 horse power should he placed on the stocks. Their names are to be the Flandie, Gauloise, Guyenne, Provence, Savoie-Magnanime, Revanche, Surveil lante, Valoreuse, and Heroine. Six new floating batteries have been lately ordered of private ship builders at Nantes and Bordeaux by the present Minister of Marine, Count de Chasseloup-Laubat, who is pressing forward the completion of the 10 frigates now on the stocks." The article concludes as follows : " Judging, then, the future by the past, we see with confidence that which presents itself for our war fleet. It has, it must be admitted, been pre pared with remarkable solicitude by the direction impressed for several years on our naval service and by the exalted initiative of an intellect ever alive to the questions which may affect the greatness and glory of France." THE NAVY. By direction of the Admiralty one of the mortar vessels selected from the squadron of mortar -boats at Chatham, which were built during the Russian war, is to be immediately prepared for the recep tion of the trial 150-pounder rifled gun now in course of manufacture by Sir W. Armstrong, in order that some experiments may be made with it upon the iron floating battery Trusty, 14 guns. It is not yet decided whether one of the existing mortar-boats will be used for the experiments, or a new one constructed at Chatham dockyard for the special purpose. The construction of the Prince Consort, armour plated frigata, is being pushed on as rapidly as possible at Pembroke. This vessel was originally named the Triumph, but after the death of Prince Albert her name was changed. The armour plates have been supplied from the Park Gate Ironworks at Rotherham, and weigh each 41, tons, being 15 feet long by three feet six inches in width. Yesterday the large floating shears used at Chat ham Dockyard for masting the various vessels built at that establishment were towed from the harbour to Sheerness by the Adder and Otter steamers, to have some alterations made in them. They are to be considerably strengthened in order to sus tain the additional weight thrown on them in masting the iron steamers, and placing on board the heavy portions of the engines and machinery for the various vessels. The whole of the alterations are to be completed by the end of the present month, when the hulk will return to Chatham. The St. George screw liner, Capt. the Hon. Francis Egerton, is hourly expected to arrive at Spithead from the West India station. Lieut. the Han. F. Charteris is appointed to the ship, and will join on her arrival at Spithead. The Zebra, 17, screw, Commander A.H, Hoskins arrived at Spithead yesterday from Sheerness on her way to the West Coast of Africa. On anchoring she saluted the flag of Commander-in-Chief, Vice- Admiral Sir H. W. Bruce. • The Royal paddle yacht Victoria and Albert was taken into the steam basin yesterday from her moorings in Portsmouth harbour, and will be placed in dock to undergo annual renovation and refit for her summer service. An accurate return having been prepared by the officials at Chatham Dockyard of the sums expended at that establishment in completing the iron screw frigate Defence, 18, Capt. Powell, C. 13., the Go vernment has decided on deducting the sum of £13,157 from the amount to be paid to her contrac tors—namely, £5,458 for materials and £7,699 for workmanship. The above sums represent the amount paid by Government on the hull of the ship, exclusive of the engines, boilers ; masts, rigging, screw, &c. The Coquette screw gun vessel, Commander Alexander, made her official trial of speed, with full and half-boiler power, at the measured mile in Stokes Bay yesterday, under the supervision of the officials of the Steam Reserve and Portsmouth dock yard. She drew 11 feet 6 inches of water aft, and 10 feet 8 inches forward, carrying a Griffith's pro peller with a diameter of 11 feet 11 inches, a pitch of 7 feet 6 inches, and an immersion of the upper i edge of 1 foot 1 inch, The engines are of 200 horse• power nominal. Six runs were made with full boiler power, the mean of the whole being 10.657 knots. With half boiler power four runs were made, which gave a mean speed of 7.767 knots. The temperature ranged—in the engine• room from 75 to 85 ;in the fore stockhole it reached a maximum of 119, and in the after stockhole a maximum of 85. The weather was highly favourable for the trial—light winds off the land, with smooth water. At the conclusion of the runs the ship again anchored at Spithead. She is under orders to proceed to the China station. 211 E ARMY. Major General Stransham,,lnspector-General of the Royal Marine Corps, has now finished his in spection of the Royal Marines. The last division he inspected was the Portsmouth division of Light Infantry at Gosport. Respecting their discipline and efficiency, he expressed himself in the warmest terms of approbation. Major-General Anderson, lately promoted from the command of this division, was present with the Inspector-General. The reinforcements selected from the companies of Royal Engineers at head-quarters, Chatham, to augment the 10th company, recently returned from China, left Brompton barracks yesterday morning for Aldershott, where the 10th company is stationed, to be employed on the engineering duties of the camp. CHARGE OF WIFE MURDER AT PLYMOUTH. At the Plymouth Guildhall, on Wednesday, Charles Joseph Pitcher was charged with killing his wife, Thomazine Pitcher. Eliza Marshall deposed that she lived at No. 9, Higher-street, and on the previous day she was in a room in a beer-house in Stonehouse-lane, between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon. She was there with a woman named Conway, who owed her some money, and other persons were there. Among those present was the prisoner, who was sitting at the table drinking with other men and some women. A woman came from the taproom into the place where the prisoner was, and struck him twice under the ear with her hand. She called him very opprobri ous names, and as she struck him she said, "Where's my money—where's my box F" or words to that effect. They were both tipsy, and the woman re turned to the tap-room. Prisoner arose from the table and followed her, and the tap-room door was shut as soon as he entered it. Witness looked through the glass door, and saw prisoner strike the deceased under the right ear with his clenched fist. It was a violent blow, and the deceased fell to the floor. Witness then entered the room, where she found the deceased lying on the floor. There were two men in the room besides the prisoner, and wit ness asked one of them to lift the poor creature up. The prisoner was then reclining on the settle. One of the men lifted the woman up, and after three or four minutes had elapsed she went over to the prisoner, who was still lying on the settle, and again said, " Where is my box with my money r Pri soner replied, " I have spent it ; I have not a far thing left." Upon that the deceased struck the pri soner two or three times in the face with her fist. The prisoner then got off the settle and struck de ceased several dreadful blows with his fist about the face and neck. He knocked her down, and her head came in contact with the door-post. Prisoner then walked away to another part of the room, and wit ness said to him, " Oh, you bad man, you've killed the woman." He replied, "Do you think I'm going to be struck by a woman ?" Witness turned the woman's head, and saw her bleeding from a large cut over the left eye. She cried and said, " What has he done to me now ?" and exclamations of a similar character, and by this time the prisoner had again retired to lie upon the settle. Witness be lieved the woman's head struck the door-post. The deceased was again lifted up and was placed upon a form; as she leaned against the table her eye still bled. One of the men, addressing the prisoner, said he hope he had not offended him by lifting his wife, and told him she had a tremendous cut across her eye. Prisoner made no reply. Witness then fetched a woman from the court named Mary Burt, and by the time they entered the room the woman's head was under the settle, and prisoner standing close by her. She was groaning, and prisoner was kicking her violently in the lower part of the abdomen. She saw him kick the deceased twice. Burt said to the prisoner, "Oh you blackguard, you'll kill the wo man," and lifted her hand to strike him, but did not. Prisoner desisted, but said, " I'm not going to be struck by her." Witness and Burt lifted the de, ceased from the floor to the form, and she leaned on Burt's shoulder. On looking to the floor witness saw a great quantity of blood. The deceased groaned, but witness did not remember that she said anything, The prisoner again lay on the settle, and witness left the deceased in the care of Burt. She was in the room altogether twenty minutes. The prisoner, on being asked if he had anything on which to cross-examine the witness, replied that he recollected nothing about it. Mary Burt said—l was in a court at the back of the Travellers' Rest, in Stonehouse-lane, yesterday about four o'clock, when Mrs. Marshall came to me, and I went with her into the tap-room. The prisoner and Thomas Richards, now present, and the prisoner's wife (whom I have known many years) were present, and so was Mrs. Marshall. The prisoner's wife was lying on the floor, under the table ; the prisoner was standing outside the table, close to his wife, and was kicking her about the body. She was lying on her back ; they were violent kicks. I said, " Holloa, Charley, what are you doing?" and put up my hand to shove him away. He said nothing, but left the room. Mrs. Dingle, the landlady, and a woman named Eliza Govear, came into the room, and Govear lifted her up, and cleared up a great deal of blood with a ahovel from the spot where she had been lying. I did not see the prisoner kick her more than once ; she groaned. Myself and Eliza Govear carried her to her own room, at 77, Stonehouse-lane. The only words .1 heard the woman say were, " The Lord bless you," which was said to me. We put her on her bed, and I stayed with her until she died, about an hour afterwards. About five minutes after I carried the prisoner's wife home, Mr. Pearse, surgeon, now pre sent, came and attended to her. I saw the prisoner's wife about 11 in the morning; she was then tipsy. I had been drinking with her, and when in the court she fell and struck herself over her left eye. I was not tipsy when Mrs. Marshall called me. Cross-examined by the prisoner—Very shortly after I took her home the prisoner came there, and remained until she was drawing her last breath. Cross-examined by Mr. Phillips—l have known the prisoner and his wife for about nine years, and they appeared to me to be comfortable, unless they , had had a drop of drink. They have three chil dren, the youngest being four or five years old. William Pearse said—l am a surgeon, and have been in practice for upwards of 20 years. On Tues day, the 29th ult., about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, I was called to a room at No. 77, Stonehouse-lane, where I saw the prisoner, several women, and a female (whom I have since ascertained to be Thomazine Pitcher, and I believe to be the wife of the prisoner). I found her in a dying state lying on the bed, her clothes soaked in blood, pulselesa, power of sight quite gone, wholly insensible, skin cold, and unable to speak. She moaned twice or thrice, and turned on one side and then on the other, and attempted to raise her head, but failed. I examined her person, and found she had lo st a great quantity of blood, enough to destroy life. I used all the means I could to preserve life, by applying stimulants, &c., and remained with he r about 30 minutes. I then left, and return ed again about half an hour afterwards, and then found her quite dead. Prisoner was still in the room. He was intoxicated. I examined the deceased after her death, and found the wound to be about an inch in length, in the ex tremities, and found clotted blood. I consider that she died from the loss of blood flowing from that wound. It was done by some blunt instrument —a kick from a hard boot or shoe would have caused it. Whilst I was there the police came an d took the prisoner into custody. Mr. Luscombe asked Mr. Pearse as to the neces sity of a post-mortem examination, to which he re plied that the examination he had already made was sufficient to convince him of the cause of death. Witness—l found a wound on the left templ e , and the parts bruised, which might have occurred from her coming in contact with a stone or leg of a table, but her death cannot be attributed in any way to the wound , She had also m ar k s on th e cheek as if she had been struck there. She was a fine woman, and about 43 years of ago, and appa rently in good health before this wound. Police-constable Manning said—l was on duty in Stonehouse-lane on Tuesday evening, and between six and seven went to a room No. 77, where I found Dr. Pearse, the prisoner, several women, and on the bed I saw a woman lying dead. Prisoner had been drinking very hard, but understood what I said to him. From information I received I said to him, " You must go with me." He said, " What for ?" and I told him for beating, kicking, end killing his wife- He said, " I never touched my dear Tam my." I said he must go, and he replied, " Allow me to kiss her first." He did so, and I then left, with him. While on our way we met police-con stable Julian, who accompanied us to the station house. The bench then remanded the case until next Tuesday. A warrant would be made out to the -,areso• governor of the gaol for his committal thereto until. that day. An inquest was held in the course of the day oa the body of the deceased, and a verdict of man slaughter was returned against the prisoner, who was committed for trial at the next Exeter assizes. RAILWAY INTELLIG.ENCE. GREAT WESTERN OF CANADA• The report of the directors of this company s tates that the receipts on capital account during the last half-year amounted to £5,202 17s 9d, making the total receip:s on the 31st of January, 1861, £5,218,300 ss. The exp e oditure now amounts to £5,001,662 12s 6d. This includes the extra. cost of renewing wooden bridges in stone and iron, and the expenditure incurred in fish jointing 81 miles of rails re newed during the half-year. There are still 901 miles of the main line to fish •joint, and the expense of this as it is hereafter incurred will be charged to capital. It also in cludes a sum of £14,616 Os 4d, which it will be observed has now been charged to capital as loss on value of rails in stock. These rails form the residue of those purchased when the road was first made ; a very large proportion of them were used by the contractors in the construction of the line, and also in completing its ballasting during several years after the railway was opened. The rails in this sway became much damaged in value ; but the stock has nn'W been estimated by Mr. Reid, at its present market price in Canada much below the figure at which the rails were ori ginally purchased, with the duty and other charges upon them. The rails which have hitherto been supplied for the maintenance of the road out of this stock have only been charged to revenue at their proper value. The sum of £8,219 3s 7d advanced for the Port Huron and Milwaukess Railway in 1858, hitherto included in the balance. sheet. under the head of sundry accounts due to the company, has also now been charged to capital. The balance at the cre dit of capital account is therefore £198,637 12s 6d, With reference to the charges against capital, it is stated that during the last two years five additional locomotive engines with their tenders have been built at the company's w erk shops, and paid for out of the revenue, as well as, in accovel. ante with the last report, the cost of fishing-jointing 96i miles of road, amounting in all to £11,762 3d. The revenue account for the half-year ending Jan. 31, 1862, shows the following results :—Gross receipts, £265,951 lie lid ; working expenses, including maintenance, taxes, insurance and rent of suspension bridge, £125,424 17s 10d ; bale nces £140,526 14s Id. From which there has to be deducted Interest on Government loan, £17,498 ss; interest on com pany's bonds, £37,725 9s 3d ; renewals of rails, sleepers, bridges, &c., £27,44215s 4d ; Flamborough accident account, £BB2 lls 8d ; balance of bad debt account, £3,700 5s 6d; total, £87,249 6s 9d. Leaving the balance from the half year's working of £53,277 78 4d, out of which the directors recommend the payment of a dividend at the rate of 3 per cent. per annum, which will absorb £50,142 14s 3d, leaving £3,134 13s Id. To this has been added the surplus from last half-year, £18,373 Os 6d; balance, £21,507 13s 7d. Frons this balance the directors have written off the sum of £7,453 7s ld, being one-third of the arrears of interest, amounting to £22,360 is 4d, hitherto standing in the balance-sheet against the Detroit and Milwaukee Company, leaving to be carried forward to next half-year's account the sum of £14,054 6s 6d, The working expenses of the last half-year are at the rate of 47.16 per cent., and for the whole year 54} per cent. The receipts of the Detroit and Milwaukee line have very satisfactorily increased during the winter, and the traffic brought upon the Great Western Railway by that line is estimated to amount during the past half-year to £25,508 lOs 9d, as against £23,675 19s ld, for the correspond ing six months of 1860. The result of the working of the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad during the year 1861 was that, within £2,500, it earned sufficient to have provided. (but for the debts specially ordered by the court to be paid) for the payment of interest upon the whole of the bonded debt of that company. The anticipations respecting the importance of the earth-oil district as a source of fresh traffic seem likely to be realised, and the plank road to Wyoming station from Bear Creek being found totally inadequate to accommodate the business, the directors requested the sanction of the proprietors to an outlay of about £lO,OOO, which would be sufficient, as they are informed, to provide a rough rail or tramway sufficient to meet the present requirements of the district and prevent the trade taking another channel. The directors have much satisfaction in stating that an agreement was entered into by them with the directors of the Grand Trunk Railway Company on Jan. 31, subject to the sanction of the pro prietors of both companies, for securing the advantages of' economy and unity of interest to both concerns, by placing the whole under one management, with a fusion of all re ceipts. This agreement, however, requires that in the first instance permissive powers be given by the Canadian Legis.. lature, and it is expected that the bill now before it for that purpose will be in committee by the middle of May. Sosoon as the fate of the bill is decided a special meeting of the pro, prietors will be convened. Some of the details of the ar rangements are not yet quite complete. The directors, therefore, trust the proprietors will permit them to abstain from entering at present into farther particulars upon this most important metier until such special meeting is called for its consideration, when they will, of course, be prepared to afford every information on the subject. By a memoraa dum just received from Canada, Messrs. Brydges, Iv atkin, and Carter have proposed to refer the terms upon which the Buffalo and Lae° nurou uompany may Julu E.:Aeration of the Grand Trunk and Great Western Railways to the decision of the chairmen of the London boards of those three companies for settlement. Immediately after the London meeting in December Mr. Brydges laid his resigna tion before the directors, intimating at tho same time his willingness to remain in their service till a successor could quite conveniently be appointed. Mr. Brydges was shortly afterwards engaged by the Grand Trunk Railway Company as their manager. Under the circumstances, when the agreement before referred to was entered into with that company, it became obviously undesirable to appoint any successor to Mr. Brydges if that arrangement were to be carried out. Pending, therefore, the ,decision of the pro prietors upon the agreement proposet, the directors have retained the services of Mr. Brydges in Ihe position he has hitherto occupied. COUNTRY 31ARAL:1-.6•. - I. NEWARK-APRIL 30. There was a fair amount of wheat and barley at market to-day ; business dull, and late prices were reduced from. is to 2s per qr. Other articles a trifle dearer. White wheat new, 60s to 63s Barley, grinding. „29s t o 31 s Red do. 55s to 51s Oats, old, .. )os to 35; Old white 603 to 63s , New do '23; to 27s Red do 46s to 56s i Beans. 46s to 478 Barley, malting 32 s to 39s ) Beans, new 444 s to —8 Peas, ....48s to 54s PLYMOUTH—Arum 29. The market was fairly attended, with a tolerable demand for wheat and flour at about the last week's rates. WLite wheat, 62s to 66s ; red, 63s to 64s per qr ' • French do., €oa to 62s ; American, 58 s to 63 s ; Spanish, 74s to 76s ; Rus sian, 60s to 625. Barley at previous rates -34 s to 38 s per qr for malting ; grinding, 28s to 30s ; oats, 22s to2Bs; beans, —s to —s ; flour, 43s to 44s 6d. EDINBURGH GRAIN-APRIL 30. Wheat on the top 15 Od down average Os 8d down. Barley on the top is Od up. average is 3d up. Oats on the top is 3d up. average Os 2d up. Beans on the top 3s Od up. .. average Os 9d down. - _ Total Supply and Sales. Wheat 946 qrs Sold 446 qrs 8ar1ey........ 296 qrs Sold 273 qrs Oats 1042 qrs Sold 816 qrs Beans 286 qrs Sold 94 qrs CORK—APRIL 30. The following were the quotations this morning :—Red wheat, 22s 9d to 24s 6d ; white, 26s Gd to —s Od; barley 20a Od to —s Od ; oats, 108 Od to 16s Od. DERBY SMITHF: lELD-ArRIL 29. There was a plentiful supply of fat beasts to-day, and a brisk demand. Sheep in good supply, at high prices. Fat and store calves in large show, and sales heavy. Beet 6 d to 6 1c 1 Veal . 6d to 6 1 (1 Mutton .... 6d to 7d Pork .......... 51d to 60 Lamb .. Od to Od Rough fat, 4s 3d per store.. Hides, 3d to 4id ; calf skins. 5d to 6d. AN AMIABLE EScCTISE.—We don't think that Sterndale Bennett 'JEW a right to complain that Mr. Costs will not conduct him, at the Inauguration. Costa some times does not even know how to conduct himself.—Punch. BIRTHS. BUTLER. —On the 30th ult., Mrs. James Butler, of Regent street, of a son. BE►tTHON,—On the 29th ult., at Halton Lodge, Halton, Cheshire, the w.fe of Commander C. H. Berthon, 1.N., or a daughter. - - LENNox.-:On the 29th ult., at Brighton, the wife of Lieu tenant Colonel Wilbraham Lennox, Royal Engineers, of a son. MARRIAGES. DICKSON —ADDINGTON.—On the 29th ult., at Albury parish church, tsurrey, Thomas Goldie Dickson, Esq., of Edinburgh, to the Hon. Louisa Charlotte Addington, second daughter of the Rev. Viscount Sidmouth. NicHoLL—JERNINGIIAM.—On the 3.)th ult., at the Cathe dral, Plymouth, Iltid, second son of the late Right Hon. John Nicholl, D.C.L., of Merthyr Mawr, Glamorgan shire, to Cecilia Mary, youngest daughter of Captain A. Jerningham, R.N. DEATHS. BAINES.—On the 28th dt - 7,`llenii Ramsay Baines, Esq., of Esher, Surrey. BLARE.—On the 29th ult., at Arkley, near Barnet, James Blake, Esq., aged 49. BLACKSTONE.—On the 29th ult., at Hackfield Vicarage, Hants, the Rev. F. C. Blackstone, 8.C.L., 37 years vicar of that place, aged 67. DARLING--On he 30th ult., George Darling, Esq., M.D., of 6, Russell-square. KNIGHT.—On the 30th ult., at Gloucester-place, Brigh ton, John Knight, Esq., late Secretary to the Bank of England, aged 82. WHARTON.—On the 29th ult., at Scarborough, Samuel Wharton, Esq., aged 78. WEDDELL.—On the 29th ult., at 4, Canonbury-grove, Mrs, W. H. Weddell, aged 33. LONDON : Printed and Published by JOHN CHAPLIN, of N 0.112, Strand, Printer, at 'lnn SUN Office, N 0.112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Kiddlegezi—Friday, Kay 2, 1862, I