The Express.
London, England, 1855-10-13 00:00:00

EXHIBITIONS.

MR. FENTON'S PHOTOGRAPHIC VIEWS IN THE

CRIMEA.

This exhibition has become a special favourite, as
we prognosticated would be the case in our notice of
the private view of its contents, six to seven
hundred persons visiting the gallery daily at this slack
season of the year, drawn thither by the certainty
of seeing truthful repretrutations of the human beings
engaged in, and the scenes connected with, perhaps,
the meet momentous struggle that has ever yet taken place
OS earth. Among the distirgnished persons who have
visited the gallery are the ea-Queen of the French, the
Duke and Duchess de Nemours, the Dukes de Joir.ville, d'Att
male, and di liontpt nsier. The royal party, who remained a
long while in t►e gallery, and attentively inspecting the nume-
rous pictures, recognised at once the portraits of the French
generals, and many of those of the officers of the French
army. Sir G. Brown, the Earl of Cardigan, Sir Richard
England, Commissary-General Filder, and numerous of
now recovering from their wounds in England, have
visited the gallery in Pall-mall, and have ezpremed them-
selves much gratified with Mr. Fenton's exertions. Several
very interesting subjects have been added to tie exhibition
since it first opened. In a few days the portrait of the
highly esteemed General Canrobert will grace the col-
lection, Mr. Fenton Laving lately gene to Paris for the
express purpose of seizing the gallant general's likeness.
Many of the brave men represented to the life in this
gallery have passed from this world since their portraits were
taken. At every step in the exhibition some subject of
melancholy interest arrests attention—a sad feature insepa-
rable from so sad a subject.

EGRESS FROM PLACES OF AIIUSEMENT: EXETER-
HALL.—The lug. hall may ba taken as capable of mating
3,000 persons. It has but three points of exit, their united
width being about 18 feet. Thera are two tiers of offices
under the lugs hall, so that at least fifty steps haws to be
descended before the street keel is gained. It does not re-
quire ranch discrimination to perceive that a building used

for large assemblies, at a considerable height from the
ground, presents points of danger greatly in excess of one
that is on the ground level. Two of the three swimming
are very narrow, full of angler, and awkward turning-
points : in a time of excitement they would be dangerous.
The third staircase, leading into the Strand, is wider, but it
is nearly straight, with but one landing, and the danger re-
sulting from a sudden rush down the fifty or sixty stairs
composing it may readily be noted by any one looking
through the swinging doorway in the Strand. In connexion
with the Sacred Harmonic Sgefety I have had 21 years'
experience of the alarming deficiency of Exeter•hall in this
respect. Through this series of years I can testily to re-
peated complaints and warnings from all classes. The
absolute danger has been frequently pointed out to the
directors of the building, and, although opportunities Dave
offered, and schemes readily practicable been proposed to
them. yet they have been steadily ignored. That you may
' not think lam indulging in unmerited remark, I enclose
you the report of the Sacred Harmonic Society for the past
' year: I refer you to page 30 therein. Even this repre-
sentation has paused unheeded, and thus matters are
likely to remain, unless roma authority interposes. It
would be highly desirable that authority ahuuid reside
somewhere to prohibit meetings in places of public resort
unites previously certified tuba safe and commodious.—The
Baader.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OP A CLERGYMAN.—
No ordinary sensation has been excited in Gloucestershire
this week by the sudden and unaccountable ditappeerance
of a clergyman a few hours before his intended marriage
with a young bride. The parties were resident within. few
miles of Gloucester, the gentleman, the Rev. Mr. —,
being the curate of a parish which has gained some note as
having had established upon it one of the earliest of the
reformatory schools for juvenile delinquents, and the lady
being the eldest daughter of an active =lnnate of Glouces-
tershire, a gentleman of come wealth and influence in
the county. The marriage wes fixed for Tuesday gat, and
was to have been celebrated at the church of -- the
parish in which the lady end her parents resided. Eleven
o'clock wee appointed for the ceremony, and at the; hour
the church was crowded by n teipeotable congregation
drawn together by the occasion and the position of the par-
ties. The path from the entrance-gate of the churchyard
to the porch was carpeted, and garlands of flowers were
prepared for the occasion ; the parish school children
were assembled to strew the brides path with flowers,
the ringers had mustered in the belfry, sod the
presence of the bridegroom was all that was wanting.
The appointed hour, however, passed by, and still no bridal
party approached the chureb, and at the expiration of the
canonical hours it was announced to the people assembled in,
the church that the marriage was deferred in consequence of
the illness of the bride. It soon transpired, however, that
the bridegroom was missing, and that under circumstance. of
a very mysterious character. It appears that he had been
visiting his affianced on the previous evening at her
father's residence, and left for Gloucestershire in the even-
ing. Re called at en hotel in that city between six and
seven o'clock in the evening, and made some inquires re-
specting the trains into Devonshire, and hone that hour all
trace of him has been lost. It was feared that on bia return
home he might, in the darkness of the night, have fallen
into the Illouceeter and Berkeley Canal, which is on the
route between Gloucester and his residence, sod the water
was dragged for some distance, but without effect. The
police were also put in motion, but up to the time of the
despatch of this report no tidings bad been gathered of the
missing gentleman, who was much respected in Iris neigh-
bourhood. Rumours of a strange character are rife respeot-
ing his disappearance, but to which it would be unwise to
give currency.
A COUPLE OF VENERABLE LOVERS.—The gossip*
of the usually quiet town of Clogher (says the ArmegA
Guardian) have had a choice morsel to dwell upon in a
marriage which took place in the Cathedral Church on the
24th nit. The gay Lothario, Jemmy Gordon, is about 91
years of age, and the blushing bride, Anderson, alias Neely,
hes seen upwards of 65 summers. This is the sixth time for
the venerable bridegroom to be joined in Hymen's bonds,
and the third for the blooming bride. It is only about three
months since the hale Jemmy was loft en inconsolable
widower by the death of hie fifth wife. As might be ex-
pected, the assemblage in and shout the cathedral witnessing
the ceremony performed by the Ray. W. A. Ashe was
immense, end in the leveeing the town and neighbouring
hills were brilliantly illuminated by bonfires to mark the
happy mignon.
ANTIQUITIES IN THE ISLE OF WIOHT.—A largo
number of antiquities connected with the Isle of Wight are
in sentence, but scattered about. Latterly many of them
have been sent out of the island. When the Arctsellogical
Society met in the Isle of Wight, a few weeks ago, attention
was drawn to this matter, and Prince Albert and other
principal residing there have been desirous that the anti.
goitres should be concentrated and preserved. The govern-
ment have, therefore, granted the use of apartments In
Cariebecoke Castle for a museum, in which all the island
antiquities ma be carefully preserved and exhibited to the
public.