The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-20 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

List evening, at the rooms of the Society of Arts,
John's treet, Adelphi, Professor Ansted delivered a
lecture upon the manufactures, not in metal, as illus-
trated by the Great Exhibition of 1851.
The Lecturer commenced by dividing his subject
into thi•se classes—the manufactures in marble and
stone; those in cement and artificial stone ; and those
in brick, terracotta, and other clays. In th first class
the Great Exhibition of last year contained no speci-
mens illustrative of new processes. Very few countries
exist in which so many different kinds of materials
for these manufactures (many of them of the moat
excellent quality) are met with in such great abun-
dance, within a comparatively small area, as in Eng-
, land. We had not, however, attained the excellence
in these manufactures that might be expected ; for all
our large towns afforded numerous examples of ma-
terials.ill-selected and ill-worked. The Exhibition,
however, indicated an increasing demand for good
materials. Great novelty was shown in the manufac.
ture of slate; and there were several new applications
of it, specimens of which were shown and received
much notice. After expressing his surprise at the com-
paratively small use we made of our large fields of mar-
ble, the lecturer stated that the taste displayed by the
exhibitors of marble used for the purposes of furniture
was of the most indifferent description, especially
where there was any pretence to elegance of style.
The manufactures of marble, without reference to the
purposes of furniture, contained some good specimens,
although they were not distinguished by any great
originality. The most interesting of our manufac
tures in marble was that in imitation of the Floren-
tine mosaic, which was introduced into Derbyshire
some few years since, and now furnished an increas-
ing amount of employment to a considerable number
of intelligent workmen. There had, however,
been as yet but little originality shown is obtain-
ing fitted to the present state of the
designsmanufacture; still there had been unquestion-
ably an improvement since the Great Exhibition.
Yawing on to the marble and stone manufactures of
other countries, the professor said that Italy sent
hardly any' specimens of stone to the Great Exhibi-
tion;while she contributed a most interesting series
of specimens of manufactures in marble and all kinds
of alabaster and spar, although there were very few
absolute novelties. After noticing with approbation,
the manufactures of Malta, the lecturer stated that
neither France nor Belgium exhibited anything of
importance ; but that Sweden and Norway contri-
buted some fine specimens of manufacture in granite.
The malachite manufactures of Russia were next
noticed, the lecturer mentioning that the cost o;
malachite at St. Petersburgh was from 12a. to 15s
per lb. avoirdupois, while between two and three
pounds were wasted for one that was used ; and to
3,0001b5. of the material were required for the great
doors shown at the Exhibition, they must have cost
2,0001, before the application of any labour, although
their production occupied as many men as could
work upon them night and day for a whole year,
From India the manufactures in this class were
distinguished by great delicacy of execution.
Referring again to the English manufactures
in this class, Professor Ansted stated that they
were nearly confined to the imitation of models
adopted from other countries, and strikingly illus-
trated the necessity for a diffusion of artistic educa-
tion amongst those engaged in their production.
After entering into a number of details with respec',
to the artificial cements and stones exhibited, the
lecturer stated that England and Italy were pre-
eminently distinguished in this class; nor, con-
sidering that Italy was the country in which
' the manufacture of scagliola took its rise,
and taking into consideration the artistic
position which it had always occupied, was
there any reason to be dissatisfied with
the specimens of English manufacture which the
Great Exhibition contained. Shortly noticing the
articles in terra cottas and clays, the lecturer con-
cluded by briefly resuming the topics upon which he
bad touched, and enforcing the necessity for a wider
dissemination of artistic and scientific education in
this country.
A vote of thanks was very cordially given to Pro-
fessor Ansted at the conclusion of the lecture.

LONDON ILLUMINATIONS.
The illuminations on the Queen's birth-day have
found a severe, but not perhaps altogether unjust
critic in the. correspondent of the Prussian National,
and as it is useful sometimes to see things through
the eye of a foreigner, his remarks, though not flat-
tering, are subjoined; one or two points are worth
attending to :
" the Queen's birth-day has been celebrated in the
usual form. In the morning half-a-dozen soldien
were inspected in the park ; at noon about twice as
many postmen drove through the streets in their
new red coats, cut on the principle of the men grew
ing to fit them; and in the evening some thousand
V.'s," V. R.'s,' and 'V. A.'s,' with suns and stars.
and stars and suns, as a variety, were displayed
in gaslight. I have always to make the two same ob
servations as to those illuminations—that the popular
fancy is b -coming poorer and poorer, and thee
proper aitistic application of gas as the mate
rial of an illumination has yet to be discovered
In the old times of oiled paper, what a variety
of witty mottos and pithy phrases were exhibited
Now all invention seems to be exhausted in three let
tors, and, at the utmost, a wreath of laurel. 1W
indifference as to artistic effect is realty barbaric
Pitch-pot on the roof of the house, lights placer-
in regular. lines in the window, or rows of
lamps that follow the architectural outlines of O.
structure, allow the building to be seen, display it as at
so to say, as a well cut garmen
d
fit it
Asui; hung in the middle of the front
oinnodelyisvidt the
huraofirawstaet. edifice,he house itself into the shade, and thr
spectator may imagine it barn door, or anything,
else he pleases, for 'the back-ground. If thit
fftct is not perfectly produced, became the wind at in
tervala blows out half the sun or star, the window frames
parapets, and other lines of the building appear behinc
the illumination, and the spectacle is a wretched one—
like a brilliant patch of a garment stuck on without re-
gard to the form."

RECKLESS DRIVING 1N TILE STREETS

- -
OF LONDON.
Yesterday at the Mansion-house Court, the Lore
Mayor stated that amongst the letters he had lately re
il
ofLon
ceived complaining of the conduct of omnibus and cab
drivers, was one trona a gentleman who, after repro
ti
consequences of reckless driving iu ths
dun, especially over crossings and
round corners, expressed a fervent wish that the ma
gistracy should cause same mode to be adopted to abate
so serious an evil. His Lordship then read the corn
cseronwndge dthe streets fats
munication to which he referred, and cbserved that with
the assistance of the press he believed the magistrates
would be able to check the evil of which his corre-
spondent made mention. He knew that the death of the
late Mr. Pitcher, near the London-bridge terminus, had
resulted merely from the carelessness of a driver, and be
entertained no doubt of the truth of the statement that
the most deplorable mischief frequently occurred at cor-
ners and crossings of streets.
Alderman Wilson said it was the duty of the police to
report and summon all drivers who drive recklessly in
the streets, whether the driving happened to be furious
or not. The Act comprehended all sorts of driving by
which the safety of passengers was endangered, and he
was convinced that Mr. D. W. Harvey, the commis•
sioner of the City police, would promptly issue directions
to the force to carry into effect in the directest manner
so humane a regulation as that suggested in the letter.
It was necessary to observe that a great deal
depended upon the mode of punishment adopted by
magistrates in cases of reckless driving. The omnibus
and cab drivers exercised a most dangerous power, ac-
companied with a responsibility which often, in conse-
quence of the lenity of the authorities, seemed to be by
110 means adapted to that power. Now he knew that a
driver of a public vehicle would prefor a heavy penalty
to the suspension of his licence, for Slr Richard Mayne
kept a record of the offences endorsed upon the licences,
and was determined to improve the class by weeding it
of the delinquents whose recorded penalties would, not-
withstanding all other ingenuity, store them in the face
upon their customary application.—The Lord Mayor
said be bad reason to believe that his brother magistrates
would unanimously agree in the adoption of extreme
measures in a matter of such serious import as the safety
of the public, and expressed his intention to communi-
cate with Mr. D. W. Harvey on the subject

A concession ante was grd on the 11th inst. by the
Dutch Government to M. Ruyssenaers for a submarine tele-
graph from the Hague to Harwich in England. The pro-
bable cost of the undertaking is estimated at about 100,0001.

---
HEALTHOF LONDON DURING THR WEEK.
(From the Registrar-General's Report.)
fromLt week
48 1. deg, to
The mortality of the metropolis exhibits in this return
mean
hi
h temperature
had
d brown
with remarkable constancy for nearly three months from
a considerable increase ou that of the preceding week.
In the week that ended the Bth of May the deaths fell to
972; in the week ending last Saturday they rose to 1,070.
was
marked
.7 deg.kedl
by atof
wind,which
the north-east, changed to the south-west on Friday, the
7th, and continued in the same direction throughout last
week, and there were frequent showers of rain.
In the ten corresponding weeks of 1842-51 the average
number of deaths was 907, which, if raised in proportion
to increase of population, becomes 998. The deaths of
last week, therefore, exceed the estimated amount by 79.
Compared with the facts of the previous week, the
present return discovers an increase in deaths caused by
epidemics from 193 to 234, while in those from diseases
of the zespiratory organs the numbers are almost iden-
tical. There is an increase from 130 to 142 in deaths
by Phthiais. Diseases of the heart aiao rose in the two
weeks from 37 to 45; those of the digestive organs from
60 to 74.
Amongst epidemics the increase arises ch:efly frcm
small-pox, and in the next place from scarlatina. The
former malady was fatal last week to 38 children and 8
adults—altogether to 46 persona; the latter to 44. In
only 4 cases of small-pox is it stated that vaccination I
had been performed, apparently with r }lad, and in these
the ages were as o ow• fI I •—5 18, 28, and 41
years.
Zymoties in the aggregate produce at present conside.
rably more than the average mortality of the season.

STATE OF THE WEATHER LURING THE PAST WEEK.
SCNDAr.—Thilky 171.4 Or the mat Part 940.144 mead

with cloud till noon, and clear during the remainder of the
ctay. Electricity—Nothing was shown throughout the day.
MONDAY.—The sky was generally covered with
throughout the day; cirrocumulus and cirrostratus. Rain
fell in the afternoon. Electricity—Negative, and very active
during the afternoon.
TUESDAY,—The amount of cloud was very variable
throughout the day ; cumulus, cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus.
Showers of hail and rain were frequent. Electricity—Nega-
tive, and very active during the time of hail falling; sparks
were shown.
WEDNESDAY.—The sky was overcast till evening, and
clear afterwards; cumuloatratus and cirrostratus. Showers
of rain fell frequently. Electricity—Negative, and active
during the morning.
THURSDAY.—The sky was overcast throughout the day;
cirrostratus and scud. Frequent showers of rain. Electricity
—Nothing was shown at any examination.
FRIDAY.—The sky was overcast till noon, three-fourths
were covered till bh. P.M., and clear afterwards; cumulus,
cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus. Rain fell between 7h. and
Bh. r.sr. Electricity—Positive, and tension weak during the
afternoon.

SATURDAY.—Three-fourths of the sky were covered till
noon, and mostly clear during the remainder of the day.
Electricity—Positive, and tension variable throughout
the day.
The mean reading of a thermometer placed on the main-
mast, and read each day at 9h. A.M. was 55.00 ; and the mean
reading at 9h. P.M. was 52.0°; the mean readings at the
Royal Observatory for the same times were 54.64 and 51.0°
respectively.

'The reading of the barometer at the beginning of the
week was 29.93 in.; and this reading continued with very
slight changes till after noon on the 9th ; then decreased to
29.72 in. by 9b. r.m. on the 10th; increased to 2 ).81 in.
by 9h. A M. on the 11th ; decreased to 29.44 in. by 9h. A.M.
on the 14th ; increased to 29.97 in. by 9h. A.m. on the 15th ;
and decreased to 29.89 in. by the end of the week.

PRICES OF SHARES

IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER COAL

PANIES' STOCK.
From the Official List.

PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING.

LINDON, TUESDAY, MAY 18.

IrOrNI'..STOCIL ILAitlin.