The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-31 00:00:00

Pttropolitan.

THE FIREWORKS AND ILLUMINATIONS.
Tux display of fireworks and the illuminations of
Thursday evening have been already so fu:1)
descanted on, explained, and paragraphed, that very
little remains to be said. The weather was happily
propitious—for anything short of a shower must be
considered propitious in London- the people were
good-tempered and orderly, the fireworks brilliant,
and the illuminations, though far from being gene.
ral, yet sufficiently so to set all the world and its
cousins traversing London from the Poultry to
Knightsbridge "to see everything." But the people
tevaselves afforded the greatest sight, for never in
the memory of that stereotyped arbiter, the "oldest
inhabitant," were such masses of persons and vehi-
cles seen surging through the streets of London. Men,
women, and children, cabs, carriages, luggage-vans,
omnibuses, broughams, drays, and donkey-carts,
crammed with sight seers inside, outside, and on the
steps, and accompanie d by thousands ot pedestrians,
threaded their way round the main streets, more or
less all day, but especially from eight in the evening
till daylight next morning.
The illuminations of the public buildings were not
remarkable for any very striking magnificence or
much novelty of design ;. nor were some suc-
cessful in even displaying the mere brilliancy they
could boast of, for the wind was fresh, and never
permitted the glories of Somerset-house or the Man-
sion-house to be fairly displayed, and seriously inter-
fered with the effect of those of the Admiralty and other
public buildings. The National Gallery, with its flags
acd laurel branches, was rich and effective, without
being brilliant. The Custom house, with crown and
stars, and" Peace and Commerce" in large letters, was
very brilliant and effective. The clubs, of course, were,
as usual, very brilliant; but the Senior United Ser-
vice, with its stars, crown, thistle and shamrock, over
" Peace ;" and the Guards, with the Royal initials sur
mounting "Sebastopol," and surrounded with "Alma
and Inkermann ;" and the Parthenon, were the best.
But among the private houses of the leading nobility
taste, novelty, and brilliancy were really to be found ;
Lord Ward's house in Park lane had the entire front
of the mansion covered with spiral jets ot gas,
while the Dudley and Ward arms, surrounded by
laurel wreaths, crowned all. Upwards of 20,000 gas
jets were burning at once, and the effect was simple,
beautiful, and brilliant. Lord Ellesmere's also was
light and effective, and Stafford-house showed a
gigantic " peace," which obstinately refused ever to
appear complete,
The houses of the Home ani Foreign Ministers
sere also brilliantly illuminated ; crowns and Royal
initials with wreaths of coloured lamps formed the
principal devices. But the Turkish ambassador illu-
minated hta Mansion upon the raost splendid Beak,

and fairly carried off the the palm from all illumina
tors. Around the fifteen windows in front of the house
ran a beading of variegated gas-lamps, red, green
and white. In the centre of the building on a red
gr 'und was the star and crescent, brilliantly lighted.
On the right and left were the initials " V.R.," sur-
mounted by a crown on a green ground, and the
cypher of the Sultan, on a green ground. Along the
coping, above the second story, ran a continuous
light of jets, reflected through small lamps of
various colours. The balconies of the windows had
transparencies Attached to them representing the
arms of the different European powers engaged it,
the late war. There was the representation of six
urns over as many pilasters. From those imaginal,
urns issued tongues of red flame, which gave at.
outline to the whole picture, and brought forth wit)
greater vividness the white light of the gas. It wa-
ttle most perfect and beautiful illumination in
London.

Among the tradesmen of the metropolis there was
a fair variety in design, though crowns and stars an.'
initials were the most prominent. Regent-street.
Oxford-street, Piccadilly, Bond street, and the Hay
market, made a fairly brilliant display. In Oxford-
street one illumination was remarkable. Two Haas
flags hung from above, one bearing the word "Kars,'
and another the word " Starvation." In one windos
was a design representing a widow mourning for het
husband, and in anothet a mother weeping for hot
son. Nailed in front of the shop was a long strip o
black cloth with the words " Mourn for the lost
brave," and immediately over the door were sixteer
tall black candle-ticks containing as many rushlights,
and below them was inscribed, " Watch-lamps o
the dead." A somewhat similar illumination was to
be seen in Belgrave-square
Of the fireworks there is nothing left to say, but
that, though as brilliant they were not so varied, a-
people anticipated, and were felt to be rather tedious.
An hour and a half of a constant repetition of small
flights of pyrotechnic missiles of aerial tendencies.
though certainly varied with a few very beautifu'
and very novel fixed piece displays, was trying
work on s cold night. The art of firework displays
lays in a constant succession, not of similar, but of
superior expositions, and had the time of displa3
been limited to an hour or less, and the many flights
of a hundred rockets concentrated into tl.e few of a
thousand or so, and everything else in proportion, Of
effect would have been more striking and gratifying.
The display began at half-past nine on all fout
points, in Hyde, the Green, and Victoria Parks, and
on Primrose-hill. A blue light burnt at Buckingham
Palace was the signal agreed on, and to the minute
in the Green-park coloured fires burst from the whole
length of the inclosures, and the thunder of a flight of
maroons cracked upon the ear; then followed in due
order flights of rockets, of brilliant and varied
colours, or throwing out showers of golden rain and
clusters of corn-sheaves. Cascades, fountains, and
trees, represented with wonderful exactness, blazed,
threw out richly-coloured stars, and died away in
dim light; and perhaps one of the most beautiful
features of the display was the formation in the air
of sheaves of yellow corn. But the great triumph
of the night was that which concluded the exhibition.
It consisted of five fixed pieces, including the mag-
nificent fountains on each side of the words " God
Save the Queen," illuminated and in the centre.
At the same moment there was a grand discharge of
Roman candles, parachute shells, pearl streamers,
tourbillons, and rockets in green, blue, red, and
yellow. The effect was very fine, when just at the last
moment 10,000 rockets with a clap like thunder shot
into the air, and with the most magnificent gleam of
white and coloured light concluded the display. From
Hyde and the Green Parks the display of each, and
that on Primrose hill, was distinctly visible. Earth place
was crowded to an incredible extent. In fact the whole
of London was out for the sight ; but the conduct of
the crowd was very orderly, and, beyond a hard
squeeze or two on achieving the exit after the con-
clusion of the fireworks, little inconvenience was felt
by any one. There were a "few" roughs out of
course. In Hyde-park they amused themselves with
" turfing " an unfortunate "gent" in a white hat,
and drove him under a carriage for refuge. In the
Green-park, the roughs entertained the people with
an amateur display of squibs and crackers.
Unhappily, there were several cases of accident
from the falling rocket-sticks. One man struck on
the head died very shortly afterwards, and no less
than soven or eight cases of blindness or fracture of
the skull from the same cause are at present under
treatment in St. George's and Charing-cross Hospi-
tals. Some children are said to have been killed,
and three persons are also report :yd to have been
run over and seriously injured.
In the garrison towns, and throughout the pro-
vinces, as well as in Dublin, Edinburgh, and Glasgow,
the day was kept as a holiday, and reviews, illumina-
tions, fireworks, or other amusements, carried out
with considerable spirit. Birmingham, however, was
an exception. Thera were no demonstrations of' any
importance, and business was carried on as utRl4l.

SATURDAY
.......- I

NM

THE LORD MAYOR entertained the .lu and
several members of the equity and common law b
It dinner on Wednesday evening. The banquet was
served in the Egyptian-hall. In proposing the health
of the judges, the Lord Mayor alluded to the late
remarkable criminal trial as a proof of the excellence
of the administration of justice in England. Lord
Campbell, in reply, said " that to hid for popularity
was not the province of a judge. In the late trial he
lad endeavoured to do what he believed to be his
luty, and he hoped he had succeeded. If the trial
'tad taken place at Stafford it would have devolved
Ilion Justioe Bramwell, wbo be (Lord Campbel )
vas persuaded would have well discharged his duty."
Coward the conclusion of his speech Lord Campbell,
;peaking of the corporation, expressed a hope thst,
"whatever reforms might be introduced into it, the
measures would only tend to make it more vigorous
more usecul. and more consistent with the pro-
gress of the ego."
THE LITERARY ASSOCIATION OF THE FRIENDS 07
PoI.AND held their twenty-fourth anniversary at the
rooms of the institution last Saturday. The Mar-
iuis of Breadalbane presided, and among the noble-
n n and gentlemen present were the Marquis of
rownshend, Earl Fortescue, the Earl of Harrington,
Earl Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Zetland, Viscount
Rayuham, M.P., Mr. R. Monckton Milnes, M.P., &c.
l'he noble chairman, in his address, urged patriotic
Poles to be guided by prudence and moderation,
though he must express his regret that the events of
he last year afforded no ground of congratulation, as
ie believed it might truly be said that the great Polish
question had made no progress either in the war or
ly the peace. Yet it might be that the restoration of
Poland was destined to take place under peaceable
rather than war influences. Earl Fortescue moved a
resolution expressing a determination "to wait
.vents, in the anxious hope that something may yet
ice done for the Polish nation, if not commensurate
with its wants and wishes, yet permanently condu-
cive to Its general prosperity, and not inconsistent
with its national honour." The report was then
read by Mr. Birkbeck, by which it appeared that the
unds of the society last year derived a clear profit
if 4851. 18s. Od. from the concert given last season
by the Princes Marcelline Czartoryski at the house
•,f the Marquis of Breadalbane. The total income
,f the association for the current year had amounted
o 7391. 1-As. 6d., and the expenditure to 8901., of
which 2181. Ils. only had been expended in relieving
535 cases of distress. The report concluded by
asserting the determination of tne association to
fulfil its primary duty of proclaiming the truth
respecting Poland.

THE SUNDAY BAND QuzSTION was practically
tested last Sunday by the performance of private
bands in Hyde and Victoria Parks, and on Primrose-
hill. In Hyde park the performance was quite a
failure, for very few persons cared to listen to it.
On Primrose-hill and in Victoria-park the perfor-
mances were more attended to. The conduct of the
people was in general very orderly, except in Hyde-
park, which ground the "roughs" usually appear to
consider their own especial property when any pub-
lic display is to be made. Three deputations hai
waited upon Lord Palmerston on Saturday, to hear
his lordship's opinion upon the question. Lord Pal-
merston, atter having listened to evelything the de-
putations had to urge, remarked that he entirely
concurred with the playing of bands on Sunda2,s, but
that on the representation of the head of the
Church, and of the expressed feelings of a large
!lumber of the community whose opinions were en-
titled to respect, he felt it. his duty to restore matters
to the status quo ante ; and, as he did not think it
right for the Government to issue an order this week,
countermand it the next, and reorder it a fortnight
after, he could hold out no expectations that the
Government would under present circumstances re-
-.cind their recent decision upon the subject. The
deputations then inquired if the police would inter-
fere with the performances of private Lands, but Lord
Palmerston referred them for a reply to Sir George
Grey, and concluded the interview.
THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S RETURNS for the past
week show 1,041 deaths, and 1,704 births.

THE SANITARY STATE OF THE CITY, from Dr.
Letheby's report, presented on Tuesday to the City
Commission of Sewers, does not appear yrt to be
quite " odeur de rose." On the south side of Hol-
born, extending from Shoe-lane to near Farringdon-
street lies Plumtree-court. It is (says Dr. Letbeby)
about' 240 feet long and from Mt. to 12ft. 9in. wide.
In this court are twenty-five houses, each house occu-
pied by many tenants. Dr. Letheby last week in-
spected the court at an early hour in the morning,
and found as follows : _ _ .

I

At No. 2M, on the ground floor, there was a small frontroom having an area of about 700 cubic feet, in which
there were two wretched beds, from which live adults and
four children had just arisen ; behind this was another dark
den, of 640 cubic feet in aria, on the floor of which there
were three heaps of rags. where two men, one woman, it 3.4
two children were than lying. They were huddled together
without the suasnest regard to decency, and I was informed

MAT 31, 1856.

that they were chance lodgers. The landlord himself was
one of the occupants of this miserable abode. The other
ro mot of the house were in a similarly wretched state, and
for the accommodation of the many families which tenanted
them there was but one watercloset, in a small back yard,
which was so abominably filthy that I could not approach
it. No. 6 The single room which formed the ground floor
had an area of 967 cubic feet. In this there were three
bids lying on the floor, upon which two men, five women,
and flee children had been sleeping. In another small
room at the top of the house there were two wretched fa-
milies of six individuals, who had taken their night's rest
upon a heap of shavings. The room was destitute of every
article of furniture. At No. 9, which is a house of fifteen
rooms. the largest of which is only 825 cubic feet, there
were 67 occupants, consisting of 14 men, 26 women, and
'27 children. In two of the rooms the poor creatures were
wholly destitute, and they were taking their rest upon the
bare floor. This house was so overcrowded that the ave•
rage cubic space per in lividual was only 17'5 cubic feet ;
in one room it was only 86t, awl in another 934. No. 24,
which is a small house of three storeys in height, with
four rooms, contained 40 individuals, consisting of 18
adults and 22 children. It has no back yard, and the
ventilation is most imperfect.
I might in this way ( continues Dr. Letheby) describe
to you the miserable condition of every house in the court,
but I am quite sure that I have presented to your notice a
sufficient body of facts to indicate the necessity for your
interference in the matter, and for the adoption of some
means whereby the habits of the poor may be more health.
fully regulated.
Dr. Letheby then suggests that as these houses
clearly come within the meaning of the term
" lodging-honses," they be at once subjected to the
rules and regulations accordingly—viz., " that when-
ever more than one family occupy a room together,
the number of inmates shall be limited to the area
of 300 cubic feet as a minimum for each adult, and
that not more than two persons over fourteen years
of age, if of different sexes, shall inhabit any one
room at the same time ; and also that all the
dwelling-houses througl.ou' the court be put into
repair, and be cleansed and limewashed throu_ h -mt."
The suggestions were ordered to be immediately
carried out.

(grelant.

THE Freeman's Journal of Monday oontained an
important announcement on the affairs of the

Tipperary Bank—namely, that the assets have
already been made available for striking a dividend
of 24. in the pound, payable on and after the 17th of
June; and that simultaneously with the dividend,
the official assignee proposes to make a call on all the
contributories of 401. per share, or four times the
amount of the nominally paid up capital. The num,
her of shares subject to this call is 5,439; but
from bankruptcies and debts, the amount which the
call will produce cannot possibly be estimated. The
Freeman adds, that heavy as this demand upon the
shareholders is, it is quite clear that it is only a
first instalment, and gives the subjoined particulars:—
The following is the amount of claims as near as can be
estimated :—Deposit receipts admitted, 195,0001. • current
accounts, 49,0101.; Bank of Ireland, Bank of Scotland, and
unpaid letters of credit, 23,000/. ; English drafts overdue,
105,00Ct1.; seetptanees due 414th May, 17,3001 ; deposit
receipts, 41,500/.: total, 430,5001. On the other side of
the account there are—Cash in bank, Government Stock,
and lulls remaining due, 25,0001.; bills overdue at date of
official manager's appointment (a large proportion bad),
58900/.; bills since overdue. 12,0001.; overdrawn accounts,
including John Sadleir's, 350,0001. The official manager
states in his allithe it that he does not believe that 5,0001.
in addition to the sum already realised can be got within
three months, and it is of the greatest importance that an
immediate cal should be made to prevent shareholders
from being exposed to the ruinous consequences of hostile
proceedings.
THE LATE Cum BRAWL at Dublin bas resulted in
the expulsion of eight officers of the 10th Lancers.
A general meeting of the club wait held, at which the
Marquis of Westmeath presided, and the motion for
expulsion carried by a majority of fifty-four to four.

,"liyalv AO Volta.

THE RUGELEY POISONINGS.-TRIAL

OF W. PALMER.
CENTRAL CRISIINAL COURT.—Settlantv.
Tnn (treat case was resumed on the above morning,
adjourned over till Monday, and Anally concluded on
Tuesday afternoon, when the jury rsturned their
verdict.

On Satnrday, when the medical evidence for the
defence was concluded, Mathews, a North Western
Railway police inapector, was called to testify to the
impossibility of Palmer being in Rugeley by nine
p.m. on the Monday evening, as the train he travelled
by did not reach Stafford (nine miles from Rageley)
that night till 8.45 p.m.
Foster, a farmer of Sibhertoft, lbforthamp'on, had
known Cook for years. He was of a delicate con-
stitution, and subject to bilious attacks and sickness.
Had known him to be attacked with gekllos4 out
444041 *l4 14 Pimin 0494