The Express.
London, England, 1863-06-01 00:00:00

MEXICO.

PARIS, MAY SI.

The government has received official despatches
containing details of the operations before Puebla.
On the 14th April a strong reconnoitring de-
tachment under Colonel Brinoonrt defeated 3,000
Mexicans near Atlesco.

The total loss sustained by the French from the
23rd March to the 18th April was 70 killed, 578
wounded, the greater part slightly, and 43 missing.
The despatches add that the state of affairs was
satisfactory.

CRYSTAL Pilaus—The attractions at Hydenham
which are almost bewildering in their number ad variety,
were 'screamed es Saturday by a reprementeMoo of the
popular farm of Box and Car, on a regularly appointed
stage in the meoert-room,:with Mr. Bucketone, Mr. Comp.
too, and Mn. Griffiths in the three characters. Nothing
was said in the bill about this new theatre being duly
licensed by the authorities, but sa We police on duty never
interfered with the actors, the audience, and the menage's
of the palace, we must assume that the performance took
place with the fullest legal sanction. The visitors were un-
usually numerous for a Saturday, and the performers were
very warmly received ma their entrance. The convert-room,
as at present fitted up, is sot a faultless " auditorium " far
stage plays, but a few judicious alteratives would soon inn.
prove it so m to throw the sound to the end of the buildinrg.
There are many vaudevilles and operettas which might be
given here very effectively, if the managers aredetermaied to
adhere to their pleasant scheme of a ' Saturday afternoon
theatre."
FairritY atm.—Under the somewhat drawn-
oat title of "The Canoe, the Rife, and the Axe," Mr. J. K.
Lord, the well-known naturalist to the North American
Boundary Commiesiou, is now giving a very jigreeable and
instructive illustrated lecture at the Fanners Hall. He
ham fitted up his room with much taste, and he shows a
number of effective pictures of California, the Rocky
Mountains, and the Fraser and Columbia rivets. The
lecture is interspersed with graphic and exciting accounts
of Mr. Lord's pennons! adventures in these annals, which
serve to relieve the drier details. The,lecture, or enter.
tainment, could hardly have made its appearance at a better
time, as much interest is now felt is the colony of British
Columbia.
Losnow ORDINATION.—Yesterday morning the
Bishop of London held a general ordination in St. Paul's
Cathedral. There wee a full choral service, and the sermon
was preached by the Rev. F. G. Blonifield, M.A., rector of
St. Andrew Undershaft. The following gentlemen were
admitted into holy orders—the deacons being afterwards
licensed to the curacies set opposite their names :—Deacons
—George Hilaro Philip Barlow, B.A. of Branum' College,
Oxford—Sydenham ; Edward George Harding, B.A. of
Wedham College, Oxford—St. Clement's Danes, Strand ;
John Gilbert Dixon, B.A. of Gonville and Caine College,
Cambridge—St. Thomas's, Portmanequare ; Lewis Fraser,
B.A. of Jesus College, Cambridge—Holy Trinity, Totten-
ham; Charles Godfrey, B.A. of Worcester College, Oxford
—St. Judea, Gray's Inn-lane; Frank Heath, B.A. of
Trinity Hall, Oambridge—curacy of Northolt ; Henry Doti.
well Moore, B.A. of F'embrole College, Oxford--mimay of
Barkingrode ; Michael Plaskett, B.A. of St. John's College,
St. Matthew's, Bayswater ; Charles Augustus
ft Iltel7dlri. of Trinity College, Dublin—St. Simon's,
Upper Chelsea ; Joseph Sorrell, theological moo-
ns Hamburg and American Company's steamer Cilia of Kiss College, London—St. John's, limehonse ;
Taatoata„ Captain hubs, ani,od at Cow. on her Way to John Flavel Steeper, late student of King's College, Lon
Hamburg on Saturday afternoon. She hit New York on dos—St. John's, Stratford ; Henry Arthur Dillon Surtidge,
the 16th ult., at 4 p.m. Amoopt her cargo was specie to M.A. of Magdalen College, Oxford—Fitsroy Chapel. Tot-
the value of 145,701 dollars for Ragland, and 56,400 dollars Bt
• Henryltogrthwitite Webb*, LL.B. of
for Frame. She experienced strong easterly winds the ot.. Mary Cambridge—All Saints',
greatest pert of the voyage. Betwees lat. 42 N. lon. 49 W. Diadem ; John Davies Thomas of the Church Missionarylat. and 45 N. lon. 42 W. she met with a number of ice- College, Islington. Priests: Rev. Herbert Alstoe B.A. of St.
harp. On the 29thshe panedthe English brig El. Jobs College, Cambridge, curate of St. Philip's Church,
Hunter. Islington; Rev. William Barker, of Woronter College,
ARRIVAL OF AUSTEALLIN GI OLD SHIDA—PLY- Oxford, citrate of Hanover Chapel, Regent-street; Rev.
Frederick Bows, theological emaciate of Kizt's College,
mom; BUNDAT.—Yeses Greee's ship Agincourt, LOCO London, , „,,,,,„.,,,, of at. Philip's church, erkenwell •
tons, Osptain W. J. 0. Symoods, from Melbonroe Feb. 4•; r;,,h;;..""'"'" Sampson "' Carte, M.A.of•Sidney Sussex
no
ship Sussex, 939 tons, Captain H. Rodgers, from Melbourne '"" ' a, Cambridge curate of Christ Church, St. Gilea's ;
Feb. 19; aad Mann. Money Wigram, and Sons' ship Rev. Charles Notiai &hoe., B.A. of Magdalene Hall,
lies
pond
1,043 toes, J. S. Atwood, all for London, have
Oxford, curate of Barnes; Rev. William Heaton, M.A.
op Channel. The Agincourt brings 24,962 Christ's C&lege, Cambridge, curate of Bt. Luke's Church,
mane of gold and a full cargo of wool (1,200
bales), tallow and leather, with thirteen chief range-cro—
ws ; Rev. Henry Charles Howard, nominated W
.'"._ the omen of {Holy Trinity Church, Ldingtlslington; Rev. John 1
cabin slid 26 leciad and third dist Pinragtra' ''" nein& Kitto, B.A. of Si, Alban's Hall, Oxford, curate of
war Off Fayal May 14, and on Saturday the 30th Met. fit. Panama ; Rev. John Collimse Nedield, M.A. of Merton
landed a small mail and some peesengers at Penzance. The College, Oxford, curate of St. Michael's Church, Highgate ;
Sussex brings 29,140 of of gold, a full cargo of color:dal Rev. Thomas Herniae Robinson, theological associate of
produm, among which are 980 bales of wool, and 24 chief I Kim& Cones% London, curate of St. Mary's Church,
cabins
apdpao Itutthsr of "wad and thud star PrAss°' I Whateehaped • Rev. Francis Kinston Statham, of King's
gem. She up off here on Saturday. The Paean brings ! Casio._ Laooaa' -- lon, ounte of St. George the Martyr, Blooms.
36,772 ounces of gold, a full cargo of colonial Produce, 34 1 y; Rev. Thomas Nowell Watkins, theological
chief Gabes, and 165 sewed and third class paseengers. Site ..... of ?fl:7°. College,London, curateof tit. Nieboho
was of here at an early hour this morning.
I Church, Deptford ; Rev. Junes Hawes, B.A. Trinity Oa- ,
THS WEATHER AND THE CROPS IN CAMBIUMS- • u.„. Dom., c.ote of ch." Church, wee..
aims—Rain is again very much required, and husbandman I --`-',„,__
seaway ...nog for it moot soxiowy. Th. wheats, ! THE UNITED KINGDOM RAILWAY °MOMS' AND
Assocunott.—The first anniversary of the este.
with their loop fibrous roots, obtain moisture and are look- 1111BV"Ts'
log well, with „,„,7 indication of a „pkadtd rung but blishrneot of this association was celebrated on Friday last
barley, clover, pus. maasoida, 1,,,, ere suffmai jm. at the London-bridge-home Hotel. Mr. W. Dyne presided,
monsely, and of hay ter foam, there will ha „„,,,, . and there were *boot 300 pored. Among the resolutions
although a copious non would no doubt produce effects the . Pilled was the following : Thai this meeting, viewing
nest
honoticiaL The acid fret) nights hey, been very pee- with great satisfaction the mat and first year of the exist-
judicial to the apple asp,
sad
of
that
weal fruit there 0000 of the association, during which newly 900 members
will be a short crop; pears are rather more abundant. The have Soloed, Pledgee Baal to make widely known the be-
-1
little green caterpillias have not made such havoc with the Defies of We smociatioo, and also to solicit their fellow.
tress this year as they did in
the hid and former servants to become members, sod thus 011011/0 by large
I=l2 twos is a witty good crop, „ad also of cherries numbers a lasting success." Some of the members enter-
and wiwts , bat currants, plums, and d...„ app.,to tained the company with some excellent part-conga, td.
Mr. Joseph Sparks presided at the plane. The whets pet •
be thin upon the trees. Lawns are for want of
.1
Tooistarro. sad the ground is as bard as hot as the sassy , oNdioP were moot ottidostorf•
side of Flmt-deed. —Cambridge /adepts/kat. I The King of Prussia addresses his genteela in
I QIIININI.—Dr. Hassall's report on Waters' pre- Sena on day, and his words are in win la London the nest.
1= of Wane (so well )Hewn as .. Wines' guanine ner.) TM Wen Improvements on magnetic
sauce have rendered this
to In vein. Ent Set of testimonials forwarded by So- sad yr ny other results undeviating. For hlllilliOD, Bervines
ben Wad; I. Merthintane. Cannon-street, London, in- iuesisis Brushes, in restoring grey bar to In *sterol colour,
Ind billeecen. Heine warehousemen, and others, at na afters, nein eradicating the agony of tic doloren arid nervous bead.
i Whatnots Mena, I. Lewis sad Co., Woroester.—(adverties., sobs. N.B. Counterfeits ere beteg seage.—Othess, m, Basta&
inset] I lialletren, Loodon.—lAdvertbeittene)

TEE PARIS BOURSE.
PARIS, RAT 30, 3.26 1..11.
The Bourse has been dull. Rented closed at
69.30, or 15c. lower thsu yesterday.

JAPAN AND COCHIN CHINA.
(By Telegraph from Baez.)
POINT DE GALLE, MAT 12.
News received here from Japan states that great
excitement prevailed at Yokohama pending the
Japanese reply to the despatch of the British go-
vernment. The British residents at Yokohama
held a meeting on the 3rd of April.
Advises received from Saigon announce the re-
turn of Admiral Bonnard to that place from Hub.
It was supposed that the Emperor had ratified
the treaty with the French government, confirming
the proclamation of the colony of Saigon as French
territory made on the lit of January last.
Admiral Bonnard returns to France by the
present mail.

[TWOPENCE

THE ACCIDENT OH THE LONDON,
ARJOBTON, AND 15017171410401 RAILWAY.
It amaze that lialmae, the them elm wen net kasi
upon spot, but that alterk seas at Wass
torment comesquent oa the and bmilegd lbe em- •
saki died en Saturday afternoon Bt. Thetheirel Sets
r Burreisfudepe Tribe, the kkimi, who mg as
y scalded and bussed, and whe lies at So am lets
read mak the superintendsece of Mr. &am. vaegekg le
favourably up to last night, hopeso=ebniebeed el hie
recovery. The military at the to Igo
oheeter-rosr were also magremlag se well elsig= ha s-
ported until a late hoar Oat night under the thee et the
medical officers of the establishmeet, DM lass and Wald-
rop. There are 28 at them in all in the was*, between
eight and ten of them labouring under fracture, sad than- '
sons et a very mime =tare. They are romeakably thee
young men, sad the majority of them single. No fatal these
are expected unless eryripalls seta tn.
Yesterday a vmal telegraphic mossyr, of a
kind sod eoedoWt description, leesseethed bytiTe=
mending others from her Majwily at espeuit
her regret at the catastrophe and bee with -
angerers, and an answer was yeakeday to-
knowledgment of it aid elating that the metning
en favourably. Special rossengert were ales
by the Primed Wales darker the day, tagalong tie
welfare at the injured men. Amin them who visited
the 'wapiti' during Bator& Nth
worn_
endwok ter
the wounded lens as Delos el
Bad itheith .Ikrirrial
21= al Manley, and other oaken dr •
The other passengers who have maillered oust pismady
are Dr. Colston rector cat Bt. Marta/Ws, Westminster,
(dreadfully injured about the taro aid legs), and his
daughter, whose lege are also freeturst
Dr. Curate's bead nuns, Lamm Freshwater, had some
et her ribs broken, and her teeth were knocked out. Wary
Woods, the under name, has received several bruises. On
parade yesterday of Colonel Burnaby's compaay, whisk
should muster about 50 men, only 8 appeared aid answered
to their names. The remainder are all more or kr
disabled.
. _ .

JOlie Salmon, the segieedriver, made a statement to
the effect, that the train appeared me* quits wifely and
correctly, until after the momentary jumping, which indi-
cated thatahe had left the rails, when with that slight warn-
ing the boiler of the locomotive burefand the poor man was
throws some distance up the line, and became entangled
in the debris. Tnbe, the fireman, who resides at Batter-
sea, was as severely injured, and as narrowly escaped is-
stenteneous death as his mats. He wee also thrown a,
great distance when the boiler exploded.

The bequest on the bodies of Lacy Elise Miter, aged 53;
Charlie Stone, aged 40, and George Birdie, 27, privates
in the Grenadier Guards, was opened on Saturday at the
Pled Ball, Streatham, by Mr. Carter, the coroner. Mr.
Harrison, of the firm of Mr. kite, diatom to the regi-
ment of Grenadiers, attended to watch the ease on behalf
of the regiment, and Mr. Faithful on the part of the Brighton
Railway Oompany.
Emily Turner servant in the employ of the dressed )Mrs.
Chilver, identified the body of her mistress, end John
Rana, rivate e/ the Grenadier Guards, identified the bodies
of his two comrades. Stone and Birdie.
The jury having seen the bodies and the spot where the
accident occurred, and having returned to the jury room,
James Haan was recalled, and rid that he was in the
next carriage to that in which the decreed soldier" were
travelling. The deceased Birdie be knew to be in the
train, r he had seen him put his bead out of the carriage
window at Hayward's Heath, sad be saw Stone get into the
mime carriage with Blundin. Jost before the accident took
plies the carriages swayed very much to and fro, chiefly to
the right, and in almost a moment the carriage in which he
was sitting was shivered to pieces. He tried to get out of
the window, but before he could do so the bottom of the
carriage slipped away, and he slid out on the ground. When
he got out all the carriages were of a heap, ere of them
being capsized and turned over. Numbers of his comrades
were calling for amistanoe and witness west to their help.
At least five minutes elapsed before he was able to extricate
the derailed men. Birdie was lyir on the ground
wedged in between masses of wood and area. With the help
of some others he removed him from his political, but he
was thenquite dead. He saw Stone about the same time ;
be also was wedged in by iron and wood and a perfect wreck
of broken carriages, and was near to Blundio. A piece of
iron was resting on his head. Whim extricated he was deed.
Mr. Chllver examined, said—l am • medical practitiouer
residing at 14, New Burlingtoa-street. The deceased, BIM:
Myer, was my wife. We wen on oar rerun from fit,
Leonard' to Loudon, and travelling ia a Ant err eerier.
Alter rasing Hayward's Heath there was more shaking of
the carriages than usual. I did not speak of it as I thought
it might create alarm. My opinion wee that the earruges
were not well braced up. The motion afterwards staddena
became very uneasy, the ccarriages rocked vein mech. i
inerreed to a great extent, and it seemed that we were
tearing np the road, as if the carriages were off the line.
The 'wiring increased very rapidly, and the eerier fell
over to the left side. I had hold of the arm band, and kept
my seat ;my wife was thrown on to the floor. The
carriage parted in several places. I bad met much difficulty
in removing the deceased. She was fearfully wounded in
the face and head. Ido not know at what rate the train
was travelling ; can only say that it was going fast.
Dr. Robert Ste wart, physician. of Streatham (examined)
said, that at about six o'clock on Friday something had
occurred on the railway near the dreathani.oiraimen
station. Oo reaching the spot he saw the deceased lady
lying on the aide of the bank. She was then
linos. She had sustained a fracture of the lower
jaw on the left side, and a lacerated torn wound from the
angle of the left lip down to the end of the jaw • sir •
semi-circular scalp wound on the back part of the bead, ap-
t patently about foul or fivo inches in length. The injuries
i wen no doubt caused by violence, end were sufficient to
ores death. There was a quantity of gravel or dirt in the
hair, as though the head had come in contact with the
i She did riot survive more than half an hour after
17:11:blir.. Witness also taw the two soldiers, one of whom

Tfroodiullad apparently been suffocated by—stesm or gas,
or great prearre. The other (Stone) received injuries to the
spine and neck. The deaths in both ores were the rank
of violence.
At this stage of the inquiry the proceedings .ere ad-
journed, in order to afford tune for the attendance of the
professional witnsear and an atomization by the govern-
ment inspector.

A BRATS SOLDIER.—The melancholy story of the
wreck of the steamship Asgto-fl•soe, off Ceps Reosoin th•
27th ult., is not devoid of instances of great heroin= end
patient endurance on the part of some of those who lost
their lives oa that melancholy occasion, as well es ou the
pert of several of the survivors. Among the lamer we may
mention the name of the late Barid-Sergeaat Roberts, of the
lot bettaliost, 17th Regiment, who was lost in the Ululated
wed while on his way to this garrison. It appears from the
serrating of those who escaped that dreadful eacrifice of
human life that, from the moment the reseed struck
the rocks until she west down, the gallant and unfortu-
nate soldier distinguished himself by his efforts to
preserve order among the terrified pamearers, to assist the
captain and offioen in placing the women and children in
the boats, and °thecae" to aid in the saving of his fellow-
beings. A Mrs. Thomas wee the lest prison saved by poor
Roberts. He caught ber by the waist, and with roper-
human early duo( her into a boat that was some distance
from the ship, and threw his great coat after her, telling her
1$ would keep her warm. He then ran to the ladies'
*thin, sad broke open • trunk, from which he took a
garment for the purpose of clothing • female who was
almost in • naked state, and in the act of putting it on her
the ship went down, orresigeieg him to a watery tomb.—
Quebec Morning Ckrostiek, May 16.
THE KILLING or GENERAL VAN BoaN.—The
Chattanooga Rebel lays :—" As yet we have received no
particulate of the killing of General Van Don, nor of the
canoes which led to it, other than from street rumours,
which, if correct, would seam that the killing was justi-
fiable. Dr. Paten, who killed him, was formerly state
senator from liardeman County, is this state, and is •
gentleman of wealth, position, and influence, whose family
connections rank with the first in Tennessee. He is re-
ported to have approached General Vaa Dore is the
street, and, presenting • pistol, shot him in the head."
A CITY WITHOUT ♦ HATOIL—On the 24th ult.,
Lieutenset-Colonel Phillips, with a small command, went
to South Florence, a little village on the opposite side of the
river from Tamable, sod demanded its surrender. Soon
after a lengthy reply was received in due form, s4ned by
David B. Young, chairman of a committee on behalf of the
citizens of Florence. It stated that there had been an elec-
tion in December last for mayor and aldermen, but that the
vote was so slight that the men chosen bad never been
`• qualified," nor bad they ever entered upon the discharge
of their official duties; consequently the city could not los
'snrredered for the want of some one to give it up ! They
used that w►ile they ware not empowered to make • formal
surrender, yet they could Rive assurance that they would
make no resistance to the occupation of the town by the
Federal anthorities.—Ameriters Paper.
HALTING THAD. Manata—A local correspondent
positively assures us that the 15,000 Crimean medal* for-
warded some mooths ago from England for distribution
amongst the Turkish troops are in course of conversion at
the mist into Mo•teosgris sandals. 5,000 of the latter have
been already thus produced, and distributed amongst the
heroes of the late liooteoegrin campaign, and the remaining
10,000 are being similarly intimated as fast as the melting
sad °Mains maohiaery of the &robes' ens effect their
poneersioo. If this In so, the frog is not altogether credit-
able to the Porte, and is bat indifferent good faith towards
mu own goveremeat.—Levent Herald.
CITY OF LONISHe HOSPITAL FOX HUMAN Or
TAR CHART, Vecroofa Pau.—The number of patient. re-
lieved at this institution during last week was 1,383, of
which 900 ware new Gems.

IN FUN THIS WEEK, Price One Penny,
IL o-Too at Court.
The Settling Day.
Adam Mach. see.. Y.P.
Presentations at the late Drawtog-room.
Jones's Lament to Jenny, de,

Now ready, handsomely bound In magenta cloth, in,
price 41. 6t. ; post paid, to.,
THE THIEL. HALF-YEARLY VOLUME of FUN, with numerous
Eugravlnge by talented artlsia, and artioloi by distinguished
*niters.
Toe Tint and Second Volumes., uniform with the third, on age.
80, IfisetstreeL
e

ght earpreffti.

TO 00112113POlfDIN1E.

AlvattlaiMats bialidsT kw " ii;;"6;;;Za " London Ivembeg
mast be at as °Mee, 10, Bouverbeetreet, by Two
O.'agii ow the day at publication.

HA TIE141.51:1.

nue Dining% TIM W 451.7 AND THE LAMB.—FII.IIOI.3F.
Items. A. Wigan. Howe, Suasion.. Gordon. and Farm ; Mn.
A. Wigan, Mr& Wilkins, Inns L Angel, and MIA Y. Wright.—
Asd AT BOY&

PIINCIINII.

llvsenre, PlUtiriaiON DUMP AND CAMP.
Memo. Q. Viand, Weser, W Manton, Delmore, Morree,
rued %Verde ; Mimes Amy dedgerlek. J. Loldlaw, and Lydia
Tbompeum—And A CHADMING PAIL

LTCIU .

TWD Emma, ♦ 817DoiliITT•CIL Yaws. Shore and
Wlddloosato . Mos Henrsas and Mrs. Lse.—•ad THE DUNE'S
moTro. Wises. neater, nor% Brougham, sa4 Raymond:
Wens C. Ledereq, L. Tarry, sad Zlstorllty.

MS Emma, IRII WIDOW AND ORPHANIL—PAITH,
HOPE, AND CHARITY, with Professor Psr a adaptation of
Dlreks's SPECTRAL ILLUSION.—And Tat MALADETTA.

HIGH HAT= AT LOIDON =IDOL
Thu DAT —Hondas 01. 611s.....Mtsrassa. Ih. 235.
Tancsaor—licodlG. lb. am. • •ASlawns. 11. 104

LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 1.

ONE of the last questions asked in Parliament
before the rectos referred to the rumoured pur-
chase by the Government of the International
Exhibition Building of 1862. The CHANCILLOR
of the ExCHNIJNE stated in the House of Com-
mons that there had been some communication

between the Government and other parties on
behalf of the contractors, and that when the House
' re-assembled he hoped either to make a statement
in reply to Sir H. VIAN KY'S question as to the
price of the building, or to lay on the table a paper

. .
that would show more distinctly what were the

views and intentions of the Government. Two
days later Lord GaLxvnis stated in the House of
Lords, in answer to the Duke of RUTLAND, that
there were two parties interested in the building—
the Commissioners of 1851, in whom the site was
vested, and the Commissioners of 1862 ; that the
latter had made a proposal to the Government,
showing the terms upon which they were willing to
dispose of their interest in the building ; and that
the matter would be brought before Parliament on
an early day. This promise is, we tinder-

stand, to be redeemed this evening, when
the Government will state to Parliament the pro-
posal of the Commissioners with regard both to
the site and the building, and suggest the desir-
ableness of its being accepted. The price at
which the building has been offered is, we believe,
180,0001., and if the House can be induced to
vote the money, the Government will probably
close with the offer. We venture to hope, how-
ever, that Parliament will not entertain a proposal
against which there are such strong objections,
and in favour of which there is, on public grounds,
really not • word to be said. The nation has already
paid dearly enough in reputation and discomfort
for this unfortunate building. Since its erection
there has only been one opinion about the struc-
ture amongst those entitled to judge—that it was
incurably ugly, and had completely spoilt, as
many hoped only temporarily, the finest site
in the most fashionable suburb of the metro-
polis. It had no pretensions to beauty or sub-
limity, to harmony or proportion, to variety of
parts or unity of plan, but was simply the mono-
tonous repetition of the or;ginal greenhouse fea-
tures—a dead wall and • glass top—over many
acres of valuable space. The front wee gloomy
and unsightly enough, and the flanks were simply
hideous. Such a building very naturally and justly
exposed us to the scorn and ridicule of Europe.
There was nothing to compensate for this ruthless
sacrifice of all architectural pretensions. The
inside of the building proved to be as inconvenient
se the outside was ugly. It combined mary
of the worst features of a cellar and an attic, the
Boor being considerably below the level of the
street, while the dazzling blaze and pitiless heat
of the skylights were almost intolerable. It was
air-tight, but not water-tight, the rain coming in
at will, while the breath of heaven was carefully
shut out. We need not, however, recall in de-
tail the manifold discomforts which produced so
much well-founded irritation amongst ourselves,
and was the fruitful theme of ironical comment
amongst even the most courteous visitors. All
troubles come to an end; the Exhibition closed, and
the nation congratulated itself on having at length
fairly done with the colossal but sprawling abor-
tion of glass and plaster, of lime and stone.
It is anything but a pleasant surprise to find
that this rational exultation may, after all, be pre-
mature, and that there is still a chance of the
nation being permanently saddled with the object
of its special aversion. Why should the country
be urged to become the proprietor of this unhappy
and forlorn erection ? The only possible ground on
which the purchase can be seriously recommended
to Parliament or the country must be that it is
such a bargain—that the building at the proposed
price is so remarkably cheap. But according to •
well-known and thoroughly sound maxim of do-
medic economy, what you do not really want and
cannot use is dear at any price. This is as true
in public as in private affairs, and the maxim could
not have a more direct and striking application
Shan in the present case. Of what use could the
Exhibition building be to the nation t It might
be turned into a barrack perhaps, but, to say
nothing about the propriety of having barracks in
such • situation, it would cost more to convert the
building into decent and commodious barracks than
it would do to build new ones. And this holds
equally true of any public purpose to which it
could be devoted. The plea of cheapness, therefore,
is an utterly fallacious one. No doubt 180,000 f.
is a considerable sum to give for a useless shell of
brick and iron. But it is, after all, only the first
and smallest item of what the nation would ultimately
have to pay if it were unhappily beguiled into such
a ruinous purchase. An enormous additional
outlay would be presently required to put the
building into decent repair, and fit it up for any
public purpose. And when fitted up it would
inevitably become • source of continual and very
serious expense to the nation. There would be •
large permanent staff to be paid, besides heavy
outlay for annual additions and repairs. And for
what purpose or purposes ? According to the img-
gertion conveyed in Sir H. Vangsy's question,
and indirectly accepted by Mr. °worm, the