The Express.
London, England, 1861-06-06 00:00:00

(Stamped, Id. Additional.) (TWOPENCE

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S
GARDENS.

INAUGURATION BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNERS
THE PRINCE CONSORT.

Twenty-two acres of the land purchased out of
the surplus funds of the Great Exhibition have been
leased to the /fort/mature' Society, and upon it the

garderm are now rapidly approaching to maturity. The
Royal Commissioners retain and have exercised the right

of general superintendence. At their expense the general
levels were made and the arcades erected, which surround
the gardens on all sides. In compliance with the exigencies
of our variable climate these arcades are so constructed as to
afford a sheltered promenade of three-quarters of a mile in wet
weather, whilst in fine the company may wander amongst the
walks, terraces, and cascades, with which the society has, at
its own expense, decorated and diversified the whole of the
great central quadrangle. The north arcade l large and
handsome, copied, we were informed, from the arcade at the
Villa Albani, at Rome ; the central ones are not less im-
posing, and both together harmonise admirably with the
general aspect of the gardens. The conservatory is decidedly
• handsome sad imposing structure, quite a miatature
Crystal Palace, and looking beautiful when filled, as it was
yesterday, with the rarest and most brilliant exotica When
we say that it is 270 feet long, 75 feet wide, andlGebset high,
and of exceedingly handsome design, it will be elm that this
edifice is demised to be one of the greatest attratiiis et the
winless. The waterworks, although not quite es eighmeive
as these of Variance or St. Cloud, me of pretty design,
and when finished will play throughout the day, a feature
which in the very hot weather will add greatly to the com-
fort of the visitors. The gardens have all been laid out
under the superintendence of Mr. Eyles, formerly of the
Crystal Palace, the society's gardener.
Yesterday was not only the day fixed for the inaugural
ceremonial., but it was also that upon which the first fruit
andlower show of the society took place, and certainly the
magnificent display of traits and flowers which wee exhi-
bited yielded nothing in attractiveness to the other and
possibly more important proceedings. The collection of
azaleas was superb, as was also that of stove and peenhonse
plants, and the fruit took the company by surprise, so per-
feet was it in spite of the back want and unfavourable
spring. The roses also were in great abuudanoe, and of the
freest bloom and fragrance, and the whole show looked
splendid, laid out as it was in the long arcades, or in the
beautiful conservatory, which is so constructed as to set off
its contents to the best advantage.
The company assembled was the most numerous and
fashionable of the season. We should think that half the
Bowe of Lords were present, including the Marquis of
Lesadowne, the Lord Chancellor, Earl of Clarendon, Duke
el Sutherland, Earl Granville, Earl of Derby, Lords
Everaley and Llanover, Earl of Cardigaii, he. There was
a brilliant assemblage of ladies, who began to mend in at
about two o'clock, although the weather looked so threaten.
lag as to cause frequent migrations from the open to the
covered ways during the interval that elapsed previous to
the commencement of the ceremonial.

The hour axed for the arrival of the Prince Consort was
half -past four, and shortly before that time the military
preparations were completed, and the guard of honour
drawn up for his Royal Highness's reception. The ground
ape's which a tree was to be planted was kept by the Royal
Engineers attached to the South Kensington Museum,
whilst the let Middlesex Engineers lined all the walks lead-
ing to the conservatory. Military bands were stationed in
different parts of the ground, and it was noticed that in
consequence of the arcades confining the sound the music
was remarkably well beard all over the garden.. ills
Royal Highness arrived punctually at the appointed time,
, and wee received by the authorities with the customary
honours. The Prince, who wore plain black with the
ribbon of the Darter, looked exceedingly well, and
was very much cheered by the company on en-
tering the ground. A procession was funned, con-
sisting of the foremen of gardeners, foremen of works,
Mr. C. F. Harrison, general superintendent, clerks et the
works, the contractors, the assistant secretary, Mr. Andrew
Murray, F.L.S., Mr. Ryles, garden superintendent, and the
members of the various committees. The Royal Commis-
sioners for the Exhibition of 1851, and the Council and Vim-
Presidents of the Royal Horticultural Society were in im-
mediate attendance on the Prince Consort and his distin-
guished party. His Royal Highness, who was preeent in
his capacity of president of the society, was accompanied by ,
the Prince of Wales, the Princeton Aline, Helena, and
Louise, Prince Arthur, the Duchess of Cambridge and
Primer Mary, the Duke of Cambridge, the Count de
Flanders, and Prince Louis of Hesse. The members of his
Royal Highness's suite followed, and the procession was
closed by a body of police.
Very great anxiety was exhibited by the fashionable com-
piny to get a good view of his Royal Highness and party,
and this was heightened by the threatening aspect, of the
weather, which created considerable uncertainty as to where
the principal ceremonial would take place. At one time a
dense crowd surrounded the spot where the bye was to be
planted, but very soon a few drops of rain sent them scam.
paring in different directions. Then they would form three
or four deep on each side of the main pathway, or plant
themselves on terraces from which they hoped to obtain a
good view of the Prince. The police were very attentive in
telling every one where they must not stop, but we were
not soooeedul in obtaining from them any information of an
opposite character. As the Prime and his royal and Ulm-
trio= party proceeded towards the oonservatory, the mili-
tary bends played appropriate music. His Royal Highness
took his station at the top of the steps leading to the car
tral entrance, and a circle having been formed by the troops.
the *modil advanced, and Dr. Lindley, secretary to the
society, read an address, to which his Royal Highness
replied in the following terms:
I thank you for the address which you have just we-
aseled to me. While you have expressed your deep regret
at being deprived, on this occasiou, of the presence of the
gimes, I am enabled and empowered to immure you that
her Majesty, on her part, also sincerely regrets her inability
to mark by her presence the intereit she takes in your
proceedings, and her desire for your sucmes. You have
addressed me in my double capacity of president of your
society, and also of the Royal Commissioners of 1851.
In either of theme capacities, I cannot but be
gratified by the scene now before rue. Having
shared, to some extent, in your labours and anxieties,
I am happy to be able to congratulate you on what has
been effected in so incredibly short a time--effected, not-
withstanding the difficulties to which you have alluded, and
which appeared at times almost to forbid hope of succeed.
That which, last year, was still a vague conception, is to-
day a reality ; and, I trust, will be accepted as a valuable
attempt, at least, to re-unite the science and art of garden-
ing to the sister arta of architecture, sculpture, and paint-
ing. This union existed in the best periods of
art, when the same feeling pervaded, end the same
principles regulated them all ; and if the misuse
and misapplication of these principles in later times have
forced again upon us the simple study and imitation
of nature, individual arta have suffered ky their disjunc-
tion, and the time seems now arrived when they may once
more combine, without the danger of being cramped by
pedantic and arbitrary rules of taste. The Commissioners
of 1851, whose miasma it is to encourage the arts and
sciences, as applied to productive industry, gladly welcome
your society as one of the Ent of those bodies, devoted to
the promotion of special branches of these arts sod
sciences, that has availed Setif of the enlarged means of
development, offered by the commissiouers on their estate.
They are glad to find in your present success, and in the
generous support of the public, the confirma-
tion of their belief, that in securing space on which,
in unison with each other, and with a systematic inter-
change of mutual assistance. separate societies and depart-
ments might attain to a degree of usefulness which their
present confinement and isolation must materially lessen,
the commissioners hail correctly appreciated the great want
of the day and the tequiremeuts of the public, for whose
benefit alone they should work, and by whose assistance
alone they can hops to prosper. We already see, to the south,
rising, as it were by magic, the commencement of • noble
work, entirely the result of the voluntary efforts of that
public ; and this garden, itself the offspring of the Great
Exhibition of 1851, will hardly be completed ere that
Exhibition shall have been rivalled, and, 1 trust,
even surpassed, by the beauty and emcees of
that which we hope next year to witness. This
garden will then open an additional source of enjoyment
to the thousands who may be expected to crowd the new
Crystal Palace of Industry ; nay, we may hope that it
will, at no distant day, form the inner court of a vast quad-
rangle of public bailthop, rendered easily accessible by the
broad roads which will surround them ; buildings, where
science and art may find specs for development, with that
air and light which are, elsewhere, well nigh banished from
this overgrown metropolis. If the works before us are still
incomplete, this must nut be attributed entirely to the short
*pass of time allowed for their execution, or to the ex-

haustion of the funds set apart fur them. It result. also, in
peat measure, from a amlbooosidered purpose on the part
of the society and the commissiouers, rather to present
the public with a framework, to be gradually filled up, as
individual taste, controlled and harmonised by the general
superintendence of the authorities, might direct, than at
once to diaplay a complete creation, which, however at-
tractive for the moment, would Fall upon us and grow stale
by habit. Unrivalled opportunities are here offered for the
display of works of art, end for the erection of monuments
as tributes to mat men and public benefactors. The
memorial of the B=hibrtion of 18M, the result of private
anbseriptioun, will be the first received in these grounds
and, adorned with a statue of the Queen, will soon rise in
the centre of the garden. May yo%r efforts meet with
public approbation ! May that approbation give you all the
support required, not only further to ornament these
gardens, but ado to carry out, even on a larger wale than
during the last forty-eight years, the useful object. for
which you are incorporated.

When his Royal Highness bed finished, the company
cheered loudly, after which an appropriate religious service
and prayer were delivered by the Lord Bishop of London,
' assisted by his chaplain. The procession then reformed,
and heeded by the Prince proceeded to the spot where the
tree, • Wellingtonia Gigantea, stood ready to be planted.
The tree having been placed upright in the hole which had
been prepared for its reception, his Royal Highness took up
an ordinary garden spade in a very vigorous and business-
like manner, and threw in the lust earth. The princesses
next each in turn threw in a spadeful, being gallantly
assisted in their labours by his Royal Highness, but when
the turn of the beirapperent came, the PIiDOO Consort
laughingly told his Royal Highness be was quite strong
enough for the work himself, and should have no help.
This little episode evoked immense laughter and cheers
front the bystanders. The Commander-inCbJef next
plied • most efficient spade, and the implement
being subsequently passed front band to hand
through the suite, the Wellingtonia Gigantesi was
in a very short time thoroughly and properly planted.
Amongst other distinguished gardeners we noticed Lords
Derby and Granville. Mr. Disraeli was also prevent, but we
did not observe that he took any active part in the arboricul-
ture] process. The planting, whin/ was the most interest-
ing portion of the day's proceediap, having terminated, the
Prince, attended as before, returned to the conservatory, and
devoted some time to a careful examination of the fruits and
dower; with all cf which he expressed himself to be entirely
entialied. Refreshments were then offered and acoepted,
after which his Royal Highness and friends retired to their
carriages, receiving quite au ovation as they passed along
the garden.

This terminated the day's proceedinp ; but it was some
time before the company got cleared off, in consequence of
the enormous throng of carriages which filled the road on
both sides of the pond entrance. The gardens were again
opened to-day.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES.
--•---
POOR RILLIJ fl THE METROPOLIS.

This committee met again on Tuesday, Mr. Villiers
in the chair. The following members were aim present :
Mr. Bouverie, Lord Stanle, Mr. Walpole, Sir G. Bowyer,
Colonel Pennant, Mr. Barley, Lord R. Cecil, Sir W. Jol-
He, Lord E. Howard, Mr. Sotberoo Fatcoart, Alderman
Sidney, and Mr. Ayrion.
Rev. Herbert Douglas, of the West HIM district church,
was called by the chairman, and read a long written state-
ment and several depositions of his parishioners, all corn.
plaining of the pressure of great distress during the late
severe weather. After the reading of those documents was
finished the room was cleared. When it was again opened,
The Chairman, addressing Mr. Douglas, told loin the
committee would not now examine him ; but as his state-
ments were so completely at variance with evidence which
had been ifiven before the committee the case would be
fully investigated.
Rey. R. Bagshaw was the next witness. In reply to
questions by Lord E. Howard, he said he was a Roman
catholic pried, sad had been in the habit of attending
Roman catholic paupers at the workhouses of St. Luke's,
Chelsea. and St. George's, Hanover-square. He complained
that the proteetaot chaplain can visit his people whenever
he likes, whereas the greatest difficulties were thrown
in the way of a priest visiting Roman catholic
inmates of unions. At St. George's those paupers
who were allowed to go out to mass were not
allowed to see the priest in the workhouse. Ons of the
cittzt evils of the present system wee that it exposed
catholic paupers to die without receiviug the conso-
lations of their religion. A very common occurrence also
in workhouses were cases of sudden death. He had been
told on several occasions by paupers that when they were
sick they asked for • priest to be sent for, but no priest was
' sent for. He believed that in some of the workhouses there
was a wish to send for the priest when a pauper was ill, but
the danger of delay was great, as the request fora priest
must pas" through the wardkeepere end other'. The
reverend gentleman stated instances of paupers
dying without receiving the rites of the church, owing
to this delay. Roman catholics consider it a matter of the
taestimportance to have the attendance of a priest on
deatla beds, and that the chance of their eternal sal-
vation often depended on their receiving the last rites of the
church. As a remedy for the evils of the existing system
he should recommend that priests; should have free access
to the sick wards, so as to see their people and judge for
themselves of their condition. When mass mild sot be
celebrated in the workhouse, he considered that Roman
catholic paupers airmail be allowed to attend their own
church every Sunday and on the eight holidays of oblige.
tion during the year. It wasaLo %great hardship that Roman
catholic paupers were Dot allowed to use their own religious
books of instruction ; and while Scripture readers and lady
visitors were freely adnottAll to the workhouse, no Roman
catholic visitors whatever were allowed, nor were they
allowed prayer books or catechisms ; and be had been told
over and over again that the Scripture renders were in the
habit of making offensive and injurious remarks spinet the
ROOM catholic religion in the hearing of Roman iotholies
in the sick wards.
The committee adjourned at 4 o'clock.