The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-30 00:00:00

Royal liorticult-viral Sccicty.

say anything which has not been said many times
before, and even during the present season. There
was visible in every dircetion the same apparent
determination on the part of the exhibitors to sur-
pass each other, as the patrons of these gardens
have always had the opportunity of witnessing;
and the race between the amateurs and nurserymen
was so well sustained, that it would be almost invi-
dious to bestow any special marks of commendation
on any of the competitors. The tea scented and
noisette roses, the yellow and moss roses, and, in
short, every variety of that queen of flowers new
obtainable, were there to captivate the eye, and the
display was in all respects strikingly effective and
satisfactory. It might be possible to particularise
certain specimens which, from their beauty and de-
velopment, commanded somewhat more notice than
others, but as the fortunate exhibitors of these find
their reward in the prizes allotted by competent
judges, it is well that comparisons should be avoided.
A floral show devoted almost exclusively to the ex-
hibition of one species of flower might, not unnatu-
rally, be thought to partake in some degree of mo-
❑otony, but the arrangements were so skilfully
carried out that the prevailing characteristic was
one of harmony rather than sameness. Towards
the latter part of the day the rain poured down in
earnest, and caused a large portion of the company
to bring their promenade to a premature close.
Amongst the more distinguished persons present
were the Marquis of Bristol, Lsdy Egerton of Tat-
ton, Lord H. Lennox, Earl and Countess Grey,
Lady Ross, Lady Lewis, Lady H. Campbell, Lady
Bell Harden, Lady Burgoyne, Lady G. Grey, Lady
Blakley, Lady Laurie, Sir William Topham, Sir W.
W. Wynn, Lord Grantley, Lady Begot, Lady Elcho,
and Lady Sandford.

Tne entertainment was enlivened by the perfor
mantes of two military bands.

The Darien Canal.
As to the undertaking being too stupendous to be practi-
c lb:et we have only to look to the other side of the Pacific,
and reflect upon what has been done in China. Compared
with the canalisation, drainage, and irrigation of the Celes-
tial Empire, to say nothing of its great wall, cutting a canal
across Darien is but a pigmy work after all. " Its execu-
tion," said the engineer sent in 1852 by Messrs. Fox,
Henderson, and Bras:ey, "offers no engineering difficulties
and no risk of future failure; it is simply a question of
cubic quantity of excavation, dependent en the dimensions
of the cross sections." It is, then, merely a question of
pounds, shillings, and pence. Compare the small amount
of work to be done in Darien with the difficulties overcome
in the case of the Forth and Clyde Canal-35 miles in
length, with a aunemit level of 160 feet—which had to be
carried through moss, quicksand, gravel, and rocks, over
precipices and across valleys ; in the course of which, be-
sides smaller ones, 18 drawbridges and 15 aqueducts had to
be constructed. It was commenced in 1768 by Mr
Smeaton, and finished in 1790, at a cost of two
hundred thousand pounds. Compare it also with the
Desagfie Huehuetoca in Mexico, a canal 230 f- et deep and
300 feet wide for 1,000 yards, and above 100 feet deep
through an extent of 3,000 yards, executed c,ithin the last
three centuries by the Mexicans. To expatiate on the in-
conceivable importance of this design woulq be waste of
time; nor is it necessary to allude to the eager anxiety that
has long existed to see a canal across the isthmus effected
somewhere. The Darien route is so feasible, it possesses
so many favourable features, it will be so easy of execution,
and the circumstances attending it-will be so advantageous
independently of the immense, the incalculable result—
that every commercial man, and even the merest smatterer
in science, must feel a deep interest in the consummation of
the greatest work, viewed in connection with its conse-
quences, that the world has ever beheld—a work that will
be the grandest effort of engineering science, and the surest
basis on which to found our hopes of the future esta-
blishment of universal peace and the brotherhood of
nations, forming, as it will, the neutral ground and
place of congress where the nations of the earth
will meet in peace. This design of joining the two
oceans, and thereby, as it were, approximating the two
hemispheres, is worthy of a progressive age, although it
only seeks now to supply an acknowledged necessity to the
commerce of the world. %a hen we look back some 30 years,
there was not one ocean steamer afloat. 'Who shall count
their numbers 30 years hence? Before the discovery of
gold in California there was not one steamer on the Pacific.
Now, from Panama to California, and from thence to China,
the lines are as continuous as on the Atlantic. The result
of inereased facilhies of travel is to diminish distance and
link the uttermost bounds of the earth together. A new
nation is rising in Australia, and in its neighbourhood an
old and powerful empire is gradually expanding its com-
mercial relations with the rest of the world. The jealousies
of monopolised commerce have originated many wars, but
international free trade is the great peace-maker of the
world. Shall a narrow strip of land, not 40 miles across, be
allowed to remain any longer a barrier on the highway of
nations ? Shall the engineering genius of the most civi-
lised, nations confess itself baffled by the notion of cutting
a canal less than 40 miles in length,—The Isthmus of
Darien Ship Canal, by Dr Cullen.

The Undergound Mail between Richmond

and the North,

In several of the most prominent refreshment
saloons and gambling dens in Richmond are posted
placards announcing "Letters sent to Baltimore
and the North, and replies brought in return. For
particulars inquire of the proprietor," The pro.
prietors of these establishments are principally
Marylanders, and therefore favourites with
General Winder. They are permitted by that
functionary to receive letters for the North,
examine them and pass upon their pro-
priety, and despatch them to their desti-
nation. By the proprietors of these dens these
letters are transferred to the carriers, or, as they are
called, blockade runners, who deliver them at regu-
lar depots in Baltimore. The under-ground post-
master at the latter point distributes them in
various ways among the parties to whom they are
addressed. Persons in the city known to be
devoted to Jefferson Davis receive them directly
from the hands of the postmaster—others find
stuck under the dcor, while persons outside the
city receive them through the United States
mail. Hundreds of letters from Dixie, brought
North and thrown into post offices in Maryland,
pass through our mails every week. The different
couriers, in going to and from Richmond, take
different routes. Some work their way up through
Loudoun county, and on reaching the Shenandoah
river, a few miles above Herper's Ferry, pass their
mail over to other parties, and wait on the Loudoun
side until the return mail is brought to them. On
the river mentioned is an establishment known as
Coleman's Mills, about four and a half miles from
Charlestown, which the people of that village
(nearly all of whom are rebels of the most desperate
character) are permitted to go to and from at
pleasure with grain and flour. Several persons in
this village, who profess to be loyal but are iu
reality traitarq, have taken the oath of allegie.nce
in order to obtain permission to go to and from
Frederick and Baltimore to purchase necessaries
for their families, so that there is not the
slightest difficulty in getting the mail from the
Shenandoah to Baltimore. At Coleman's Mills
the letters are concealed in bags of grain or flour,
and are carried to the village, Where they are
taken out and handed over to one of the "loyal"
residents, who happens to be ready to proceed to
Baltimore to procure necessaries for his family.
Other carriers go by way of Mathias and Rock
Points, and at night cross into Maryland, and work
their way to Baltimore, sometimes overland and
sometimes in boats up the Chesapeake. About a
fortnight ago a mail, consisting of upwards of 500
letters, many of them of much interest and impor-
tance, was captured in the Bay on its way to Balti-
more. Carriers proceeding iu this way invariably
have weights fastened to their mail, so that, if they
are in danger of capture, they can readily sink it ;
but in the instance alluded to, es the mail was
thrown overboard the Weights became detached,
and the letters were left fbating on the water.—
New York Tribune.

The great rose show of the season (with which
is incorporated the national rose show) took place
yesterday in the gardens of this society at South
Kensington, and, despite the threatening aspect of
the weather, was numerouslyattended. Fortunately,
however, on the present occasion the rain during
the afternoon, although continually threatening,
did not descend, and the company were not com-
pelled to confine themselves to the conservatory and
the arcades. But still there was wanting the bright-
ness of the sun to reflect the full beauty of the
flowers, and to give animation to the company,
whose enjoyment was too obviously alloyed by the
apprehension that umbrellas and goloshes might
probably be brought into requisition. As to the
floral display itself it would indeed be difficult to