The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-14 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, JULY 14, 1851.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.
One would have thought that decorative ingenuity
bad been exhausted in making the Crystal Palm tae
great centre of metropolitan attroodee, bat so did net Wok
Mr. Ferguson, florist, of Ayleelesgpt w%s Irving one VP
te town betimes on Saturday Memins. Min nib at
dregraot treasures of his roes mass, poseeeded to
bmige
soloed gold," by settMg the greet &estate in deep
of nosing moss studded with roses of all tints sad
eisors, and tastefully arranged into the expansively phi-
L..& uglo ghetto, " God bless all nations." The effect
Si Oil WWI on entering the transept was peculiarly
I=lllMai asinahing. The cool green of the mom
alMlmpmffeig plain for the eye, dazzled by the
new sides rereading objects, and the sweet perfume of
On fresh-gathered flowers rising pleasantly, as it were, on
the moist spray of the fountain, diffused a luxurious atmo.
sphere, which delighted the fair visitors by whom this fa-
voured locality was surrounded during the day. As is the
custom on Saturdays, the general public were not admitted
until twelve o'clock, the morning being reserved for her
Majesty's undisturbed inspection of the contents of the
Exhibition. The royal route was on this occasion somewhat
varied from that of previous visits, her Majesty driving in the
first instance to Prince Albert's model cottage, which she
minutely inspected, and thence walking across the road to
the Crystal Palace, leaning on the arm of his Royal High-
ness. The Queen immediately noticed the floral decora-
tions of the fountain, and walking leisurely round to read
the inscription, smiled with an air of surprise at its compre-
hensive benediction. The royal party then proceeded to the
south-west gallery, where some time was occupied in in-
specting the gorgeous stores of gold and silver plate with
which the precious metals section is crowded. Her Ma-
jesty and the Prince passed along the whole length
of the gallery, allowing nothing to pan without
minute and careful examination. The royal visit
having been previously announced, the exhibitors were
all in attendance, and in answer to the pertinent (luestions
of her Majesty, had every opportunity of describing what
they conceived to be the peculiar features of superiority in
tikeir respective specimens. Messrs. Elkington's clectro-
deposits were carefully examined and commended, as were
also the rich and beautiful plate and jewellery exhibited
by Messrs. Garrard and Mr. Angel. The Elizabethan
group on Mr. Hancock's stand next attracted the royal at-
tention, the Prince admiring carefully the minute accuracy
with which all the details of trappings and costume arc
brought out in the metal. This group has, we understand,
been purchased by Prince Demidoff, whose splendid spe-
cimens of malachite form the leading feature in the Russian
section. The inlaid Etruscan vase and silver table in thy
same stand were also honoured with the royal inspection
and commendation. Her Majesty then examined the
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English silks and ribbons, and took great interest in some
specimens of old English silks which Mr. John R. Lavanche
had the honour of exhibiting. These patterns, which were
made so far back as the year 174.5, afford strong evidence of
the perfection then attained by SpitalBelds weavers, proba-
bly the immediate descendants of the original immigration
after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, with the artistic
traditions of their tasteful fatherland still fresh in
their recollection. The floral patterns have • beauty
of design and a perfection of execution which are
by no means equalled in modern manufacture, and the
silk itself has a richness and substantiality of texture which
shows that our prudent grandmothers calculated on one full
dress lasting them a lifetime. Among the patterns is a
piece of gold and silver brocade made for Queen Caroline,
wife of George 11., and probably intended to:be:worn during
the court rejoicings after the defeat of the young Pretender.
This is also of surpassing richness, and is only approached
at the present day by the brocades in the same materials in
the Russian stand, which are manufactured at Mos-
sow for the gorgeous ceremonials of the Greek
March. The whole of the specimens, full as they
were of historical and artistic interest, were closely
examined by her Majesty and Prince Albert, his royal high-
ness especially commending their truth of colouring and
beauty of design. Her Majesty having concluded her in-
spection, went out fur the first time at the south transept
entrance, and graciously bowed from her carriage to the
poops of fashionable. who were waiting there for admix
ion and who, of course, tendered their respectful homage.
Much amusement was created here by a little child, hardly
three years old, who, running to the edge of the steps, kissed
Re hand with tremendous viaour to the royal party. Her
Majesty quickly noticed the animated gestures of the child,
and smiled graciously in reply to the salutations of
her juvenile subject. The members of the caeca
live committee who escorted her Majtity dur-
ing her inspection were Messrs. Dilke, Roberts,
and Colonel Lloyd. Mr. Belshaw, usistant-super-
intendent, whose special duty it is to make arrangements in
the section to be visited for her Majesty's reception, was
oho in attendance. The general company, which was not
se numerous as on previous Saturdajs, numbers of fashion-
able' having been attracted to the flower show at Chiswick,
still numbered a goodly array of people of rank and fashion.
AXIOM! the visitors were her grace the Duchess of Suther-
land, accompanied by her daughter, the Lady Constance
Gower, both of whom stopped to inspect the fountain con-
structed by Messrs. Freeman, Roe, and Co. of the Strand,
sod which, although exceedingly ingenious, hoe been hitherto
eclipsed by its more splendid neighbour in crystal. There
were also present the Marchioness of Waterford, the Duke
of Argyll. Countess of Minto and party, Miss Burdett
Carus, Lord Sondes, Marchioness of Conynghiun, Lord
itanelagh, Lady Cranworth, and several other persons of
&enaction. Althonah there were nearly 12,000 persons
peesent at one. perind of the .lay, the intern>. ......-
paratively a solitude, especially the side aisles and galleries.
RH the looms were at work in the machiaery in
notion room, but the principal spectator was Mr.
Robert Stephenson, the eminent engineer, who had
that portion of the exhibition nearly to himself.
Now that the excursion trains are in full swing,
and that vast numbers of visitors are expected from the
Continent, in consequence of the vacations in the various
institutions there, and the cessation of fashionable seasons,
it: may not be an improper opportunity for calling the
attention of the powers that be to the increasing exactions
mil Insolent conduct of the omnibus people. On wet days
day absolutely run riot, refusing passengers for less
data a shilling fare, and those which are appointed to
run to long distances, such as Kennington or Isling-
ton, actually declining passengers for those distances
at any price, in order that they may make abort
journeys to Charing-cross, for which they Mist
on the full fare. The insolence of the conductors oa than
oceasions is unbearable. They slam the door in any pee•
senger's face who disputes their exactions, and tell him to
summon them, rightly calculating that in nineteen cases oat
of twenty they will never see him again, and that in the
twentieth, other avocations will deter him from the trouble
and delay of an investigation before the magistrate. If the
police are applied to, they are helpless fur immediate action,
sad only can repeat in miler terms the kind suggestion of
the conductor. The simple remedy would be to appoint a
policeman exclusively to the duty of judge of appeal in
minibus disputes, with power to compel refractory condue-
ten to a fulfilment of the law's requirements. Setiug that
the Great Western Railway brought up 4,000 visitors to the
Inhibition in one day last week, it is frightful to oontem-
OM the slaughter of the innocents that will be committed
by these Herods of the road, if Mr. Mayne should continuo
deaf to the warnings of the press, and the wailing' of the
public. The police numbers were on Saturday 11,181.
Cash account. July 12.
Season tickets
At the doors 1,689 16 0

Total receipts £1,698 3 0

3RIDOE AND I
BANK FAILURE.

A meeting of the creditors in the Bret of these!
banks was held at Stourbridge on Friday, and was attended
Ll:out 120 of the creditors ; amongst these were the ere-
for from fifteen to twenty thousand, and all inter-
Matte grades down to a poor woman who had only •• few
dap prior to the stoppage deposited in the bulk 601., the
savings of a dome years' hard service in the metropolis.
From the report of Mr. Percival, of Birmingham, the ,
seeountaat, It appears that the liabilities of the two banks
approach half a million sterling—those of the Stourbridge
Bank being 250,0001., sad of the Bromagrove Bank,
200,0001. —the latter standing indebted to the for-
mer some 90,0001., all lent within the last three years.
Messrs. Glyn and Co. are covered from loss by securities
upon all the most valuable property of the firm, amounting
to 911,0001., including 4,000 shares in an Alkali Company,
which shares are not registered in the name of Glyn and Co.,
but are held by way of equitable mortgage, and the meteor
Raiford and by
will be liable to Glyn and Co. for the
original value of these shares. The amount of good debts
due to the Stourbridge Bank are not estimated atmore than
25,0001. Ail the partners in these banks have been engaged
in other speculations more or less extensive. Mr. Wragge
was engaged in working a colliery at Blur wich, which seems
to have been a luckless undertaking, for it appears that the
Stourbridge Bank has advanced to the concern alone no leas
than 40,0001. • another colliery at Oldbury with which he
was connected owes the bank 8,0001. Another unfortunate
circumstance has also come to light; a wealthy gentleman,
named Biggs, whose name has long appeared on the Broms-
grove notes, now disclaims all partnership and liability, and
it appears on investigation that he is not registered as a
partner.
This failure will cause more misery in the district than
anything that has occurred for many years. All the bank-
rupts have surrendered ; but Mr. Frances Raiford has not
yet resigned his scat for Worcester.
The Birmingham Journal of Saturday, referring to this
concern, says : " At the meeting of creditors now referred
to, a Mr. Vi siker referred to the rumour that at midnight
on the day before the bank closed, Mr. Wragge and Mr.
Hipkins, the cashier of the Stourbridge Bank, were seen to
superintend the removal therefrom of a heavy box, which
was taken to the house of the former gentleman. This was
deemed by the meeting a very suspicious circumstance. Mr.
Ilareard said he had received the keys of the box in ques-
tion from Mr. Wragge, who informed him that it contained
deeds belonging to his mother, which had been deposited in
the bank for safety. Mr. Walker said the rumour was that
it seemingly contained something more weighty than parch-
ment, as the man who carried it had to rest himself nearly
every fifty yards or so of his journey."
The contemporary from which we have just quoted has
inadverdently fallen into error in remarking on the condi-
tion of the British Alkali Company; the observations would
apply to the Imperial Alkali Company carried on in the im-
mediate neighbourhood.

CRICKET.