The Press.
London, England, 1856-06-21 00:00:00

Volitiral.

CABINET COUNCILS were held on Saturday and
Wednesday ; all the Ministers were present. The
councils sat three hours and three-quarters and
three hours respectively.
MR. CRAMPTON, late British Minister to the United
States, arrived in London on Monday morning, and
had interviews in the course of the day with the Earl
of Clarendon and Viscount Palmerston.

SIR EDMUND LYONS' it is announced, will he raiPed
to a peerage in consideration of his services during
the war. The gallant admiral will retain the com-
mand of tht Mediterranean fleet. Sir Baldwin Wal-
ker, the Surveyor of the Navy, will have the honour
of a baronetcy conferred upon him.

MR. HINDLEY, M.P., was presented with a hand-
some testimonial on Wednesday by his constituents
at Ashton-under-Lyne. The list of subscribers in-
cluded some 3,000 names. The testimonial con-
sisted of a portrait, a silver inkstand, and a gold
pencil-case.

THE AMNESTY lately granted to political exiles is
held to apply to the Hutiderstield rioters of 1820,
who, tried for high treason, were sentenced to trans-
portation for various periods. A correspondence
upon the subject is at present going on between Mr.
'l'. S. Buncombe, M.P., and the Barnsley Weavers'
Association.
THE

OF THE PRESENT SYSTEX Or
GOVERNMENT AUDIT i.s sufficiently exposed by the
Parliamentary Return No. 215. The last finance
accounts appear to have been published without audit
of any kind, while the Post-office accounts, among
many others, have only been audited to 1851 and
those of the Customs to 1852.

Other resolutions were proposed by the Bishop of
Colombo and Archdeacon Grant, who made earnest
appeals for renewed efforts and assistance. The
room was very fully attended. From a paper circulated
in the meeting, it appears that there are now con-
gregations under the pastoral care of 2,965 clergy.
men, of whom 461, stationed generally in the most
destitute places, are assisted by the society. There
have been established in the British colonies seven-
teen oolleges, in which clergymen are educated. To
fourteen of these the society lends aid. In 1851 the
society's expenditure was 04,143 i., and the demands
on its resources increase year by year.

LORD DALHOUSIE'S ACCEPTATION OF THE PENSION
or 5,0001. A YEAR, lately conferred upon him by the
East India Company, was read at the Quarterly
Court on Wednesday. The noble lord, in his letter
of acknowledgment, begged the chairman to express
to the honourabie court his respectful expression of
gratitude for the munificent reward.
THE FRENCH INUNDATION RELIEF FUND has been
headed by her Majesty and Prince Albert with sub-
scriptions of 1,0001. and 5001. respectively. Public
meetings have been held in the provinces to raise
subscriptions, and there is every anticipation that
the fund will realise a handsome amount.
A MEETING OF WESTMINSTER SCHOLARS took place
on Thursday, to consider what memorial should be
raised to the " Old Westminsters" who had fallen
in the late war, and at the head of which the name
of Lord Raglan appears. A committee was appointed
to consider the most suitable form the memorial
should take.

AN INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION of articles manufac-
tured in the "reformatories and refuges " of the
kingdom, was opened on Thursday at Willis's-rooms.
Articles of every trade and handicraft—from cabinet-
work to dressmaking, down to agricultural produce
from the Red-hill School—are exhibited ; while, in
the principal room, many lads are to be seen working
at their various trades. The exhibition is highly in-
teresting. Prince Albert, and the leading clergy and
aristocracy, have honoured the exhibition with an
inspection.

THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS resumed, on
Wednesday, the debate upon the "Engineers' Report,"
when the original motion of Mr. Carpmael, to adopt
the report of the northern district, was carried by a
large majority. The extension of Barking Creek as
an out fall was agreed upon, and on a ruction that
a depatation wait upon Government, to know whether
their co-operation could be secured in reference to
a plan for the embankment of the Thames, the
debate was adjourned until Thursday next.

Catswicx GROUNDS are to be sold, if 5,0001. cannot
be obtained by the 24th of June, to pay off present
encumbrances. 3,3001. have been already subscribed.
1,7001. alone are wanting to make up the sum.
THE ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY held its second ex•
hibition on Wednesday, in the Regent's-park. The
gardens were attendediby mony persons of rank, in-
cluding the Countess de Neuilly and family, the
Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, the Marchioness
of Clanricarde, Earls Waldegrave, Ellesmere, Cra-
ven, and many other lords and ladies; the Bishops of
Winchester and St. Asaph, &c. Although the stove
and greenhouse plants were not so numerous as on
previous occasions, they were in fine condition, espe-
cially the pelargoniums. The fuchsias also were
abundant and beautiful, presenting every variety
of colour. The orchids were generally admired.
The show of fruit was not large but of remarkable
quality. In the course of the day the usual prizes
were awarded to the successful competitors.

THE WATER FETE AT THE CRYSTAL
PALACE.

THE great fountains of the Crystal Palace were
played for the first time in public on Wednesday in
the presence of the Queen and upwards of 20,000
spectators. The day was fine ; the gardens were
opened at noon, and from that hour till five p.m. an
incessant stream of company by train and road poured
into the Palace grounds. The Queen, accompanied
by Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, the Royal
Princesses, and her distinguished guests, arrived
at the Palace soon atter five o'clock. Alight-
ing at the private entrance, her Majesty and
suite passed through the Palace to the garden
terrace, where three of the royal pony phaetons
were in waiting to take the illustrious party
round the grounds. As soon as her Majesty en-
tered her pony carriage the fountains on the upper
terrace and the water temples overhanging the cas-
cades were set in motion. As the royal cortege crossed
the gardens the successive ranges of fountains played,
and by the time her Majesty had arrived at the lower
terrace, the two large waterfalls and the fountains of
the grand lower basins were added to the general
display, and 120,0(X) gallons of water were sporting
up from near 12,000 jets. It would be scarcely pos
Bible to conceive a mere beautiful scene than that
presented by the whole series of fountains at this
moment. The great jets in the centre of the lower