The Express.
London, England, 1864-09-03 00:00:00

[Stamped, id. Additteeal.]

LORD PALMERSTON'S VISIT TO THE
PESTINIOG SLATE QUARRIES.

The Prime Minister of England, though in his
Mit year, appose to be almost übiquitous, and to be
exerope from the wasknese and infirmithe which are the
usual acoompaninments of extreme old age. Ia more respects
than as a statesman, he certainly is one of the most extra-
cedinary men of his time.
On Teasley and Wednesday last, amidst hie other
numerous enpgamenta, he found time to pay a visit to
the Feetiniog Slate Quarries, which, ones a year, is his
usual castor°. Perhaps it may not be generally known
that his lordship and the Duke of Cleveland are the
principal propneton of the quarries which are known as
the "Welsh Slate Company's ;" end we are given to under-
stand that these distinpushed noblemen have commenced
opening a new quarry on Mosley° Mawr. The " Welsh"
slate quarry is on a very large scale, and has bleu worked
with great moors for the last 30 years. The cue st Moel-
wyn Mawr is also on an extensive male, but it was only
opened last year. He visited the former on Tuesday and the
Wier on Wednesday. Although an octogenarian, he went op
the hills and through the works, including the levels and un-
derground °heathen, with the most surpnsrsg vigour ; and he
impacted the whole with that MILDIAIII2OIII &I so details of
which be is so accomplished a master. He maned perfectly
manacled with the progress which had been made at Moelwyn
Mawr, and with the specimen of slate already sot. From
this quarry, tempted doubtless by the Sneers of the day, he
proceeded to visit Cram Fawr slate quarry, which is bees
*peed cm the north aide of his own q • but the
"Cromer" having been counnenced a good Womble
iordehip's, it, is, of course, in a more advanced state, and
exhibits promising signs of snorer, and of becoming me of
Wthe largest underground slate works in ths Principality of '
ales.
On Thursday lie went to Poctmadoe to tamped his sunset-
sive quay at that port, and on the mane day he likewise
I paid a visit to Deudneth Castle, the residence of David
Hal., late High Sheriff of Meriniethshire. From
Portmadoo he proceeded on to Caernarvon, as he ia to be at
Mbe inauguration of the statue erected in Hereford in me-
mory of the Mato Fir O. Cornewall Lewis.
L Ids inspection of the different quarries he was screen- I
paned by his agent., Mr. and Slr. Cheemell ; and
ongoing to Maeatwrog he rode down the rail to the Eidod
Llyn station, from whence be drove to the Tanybwlch Hotel,
whore he stopped for the night.
During his lordship's visit to the quarries we may
state that some interesting and suceemsfoil emporium's
were made in blasting with gun cotton, by Moen. Pren-
tice and Co., of Btowmarket, the patentees, in which his
lordship took peculiar interest, bemuse if the 'upon-
meat be found to answer it will at once supersede gun-
powder in all underground operations, in coesequenos of
the almost smokeless explosions of the gun cotton. To
show the aomprative advantages of it, the men were
mumbled after every blest to commence operatioes spin
immediately ; whilst with gunpowder the quantity of
smoke is so great in underground workings that it often
requires 20 minutes or so, before the nee ma again re-
commeuce their work.

The weather throughout during his lordship's visit
was highly propitious ; and we are glad to say he ap-
peared to much enjoy his visit to Wales, and also his
usual vigour of mind and body ; for the continuums of
which be hail the best wishes of the Milted Kingdom, but
none more so than bar Majesty'. Welsh sabjeota. orth
Wales CAroaiok.