The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-05 00:00:00

THE SUN LONDON, MONDAY' EVENING, MAY 5, 1862.

architects have been dispensed with altogether,
from beginning to end, in the process of its con-
struction. Instead of an architect, the Commis-
sioners of the Exhibition nominated an Engineer to
preside over the labours of its fabrication—and that
Engineer, the same enterprising gentleman who
had already distinguished himself down at the ex-
treme eastern corner of South Kensington by the
botching together of those audacious iron and wooden
hutches, aptly designated by Mr. GODWIN, of the
Builder (and the name has stuck them ever since),
the " Brompton Boilers." Capt. FOWICES, however,
of the Royal Engineers, has—this at least ought,
in simple justice, to be acknowledged, in his regard
unhesitatingly—shown a decided advance in his
later achievement. " Well he might !" many will
doubtless be disposed to interject here: but
we will pass by the more captious critics .of this
Great Innovator upon all our old-world ideas,
in reference to what has until now been
deemed right and proper in the way of any
possible subordination of the art of archi-
tecture to the science of engineering. We
will look at the capacities of the new Build-
ing—and then in regard to these, at least
if in regard to nothing else, we shall find reason to
admire and wonder. A glance down the vast cen-
tral nave, 800 feet in length, from under either the
Eastern or the Western Dome, will almost of itself
suffice. Besides which, at the central point of in-
tersection, in the very core or heart of the structure,
there stretches north and south across the middle of
the Nave, the Central Transept, 635 feet from end
to end—the Central Transept being flanked at
either extremity of the Nave with a Transept here
to the East, there to the West, running parallel to
it, and, of course (like the Central Transept itself),
at right angles to the Nave. Nave and Transepts all
of them being 100 feet high, and all having, at the
least, a width of 85 feet. Perched up aloft, more-
over, there is the mile and half of Upper Galleries
with a width varying from 25 to 50 feet through-
out. It has been calculated, moreover, that the
iron employed in the building of this vast structure
embraces among it " 332 square columns of 12 inches
in diameter for the Nave and Transepts, 321 eight-
inch round columns, and 14912-inch square columns
for the gallery; 138 eight-inch square clerestory
columns, and 160 10-inch square columns, support-
ing the floors of the picture-galleries ; with 62
round columns for supporting the roofs of the glass
courts," And by one of those eccentric little fancies
with which mere arithmeticians indulge themselves
by way of illustrating any more than ordinary
aggregate, it has been remarked that "If all the
columns were put end to end they would extend
from the Exhibition building either eastward as
far as the London Docks, or westward as far as
Kew, or northward as far as Hampstead, or south-
ward to the Sydenham Crystal Palace." Then, in
regard to the mere weight of the iron used in the
construction of this singular edifice, it is surely
something remarkable to know for certain that as
many as 4,000 tons altogether are there in the shape
of girders, shoes, &c.—to say nothing of a whole
1,000 tons of iron additional for the ribs and co-
lumns and girders of the domes above ! These same
domes being:2so feet high and 160 feet in diameter,
and, consequently, the largest ever known to have
been constructed. As we have been lately reminded,
in fact, by an historical computation, to the effect,
that " The dome of the Parthenon is 142 feet in dia-
meter, and 70 feet high ; the dome in the baths of
Caracalla was 111 feet in diameter ; Brunelleschi's,
at Florence, is 139 feet in diameter, and 133 feet
high ; the dome of St. Peter's is 158 feet in dia-
meter, and 268 feet high, from the external plinth;
and the dome of St. Paul's is 112 feet in diameter,
by 215 feet high." Turning, however, from the
building itself, and reverting again for a moment
to the ceremonies of an inaugural character that
took place there on May-day, it was surely but
strictly in keeping with the scale upon which
everything else there was conducted, when we find
that there were in the orchestra 2,000 singers, male
and female, and 400 instrumentalists. Namely, in
regard to the latter,l4B violins, 50 violas, 45 violin-
cellos, 45 double basses, 6 piccolos, 6 flutes, 10
oboes, 10 clarionets, 12 bassoons, 12 horns, 6 cor-
nets, 6 trumpets, 9 trombones, 3 ophicleides, 4 ser-
pents, 4 bombardons, 4 euphoniums, 12 side-drums.
3 sets of kettle. drums, and, together with triangles,
cymbals, and so forth, the Big Drum expressly made
for the great HANDEL Festival. Without remem-
brance of that rolling diapason of sound from the
orchestra on May-day, we close for a while our
running comments upon the mere Statistics of the
Exhibition.

We must now drop the old expression " The army
of the Potomac." Our readers must now look out

for intelligence from two great and hardly con-
nected armies—the army before Yorktown, and
that before the little village of Corinth, important
only as the junction of two intersecting railways.
The two great Federal armies and the opposed Con-

federate armies are distant from each other in a
direct line not less than seven hundred miles; the
Northern communications with the capital are all
quite open ; but the clever seizure of the railway
by General MITCHELL has completely severed the

two Confederate armies from all intercourse with
each other, except indeed by very tardy and cir-
cuitous routes. This will compel BEAUREGARD to
rely on the country south of him, which is little
qualified to supply his wants. The army opposed
to him is supplied from the wealthy and populous
North-west States, and will probably soon recruit

itself after the severe check it has received. It will
probably, however, find that the works thrown up
at Corinth, where no gunboats can approach, are not
to be carried without a severe struggle, if they
be carried at all. To this point, therefore, where
GRANT and BUELL are pitted against BEAUREGARD,
we leek with solicitude on the arrival of each tele-
gram, expecting the news of some serious battle,
Uonnected with this, also, and not far from it, is
the squadron under Commodore FOOTE, and a
smaller land army under General POPE, who are
at work reducing the forts on the Mississippi, and
who, when they have succeeded, will turn General
BEAUREGARD's left flank.

To the Virginian armies under BANKS,
WDOWELL, and MACCLELLAN we shall also be
looking with expectant curiosity. We see from later
accounts that the works at Yorktown are probably
even stronger than we had described them as being,
and such as it is not easy to see what M'CLELLAN
can do with them. Regular approaches will be slo w
work, though, there is little doubt, that like any
other defences they must yield by that method to
superior strength. Accounts up to the 23d by the
Asia, do not mention that any progress has been
made by the federal army, but they do mention that
the Confederate Government has required the
masters in the adjoining countries to furnish the
aid of one-half their negroes to erect fortifications
a little higher up the peninsula then Yorktown, to
cover its rear, and when it is taken, to
prove a fresh and formidable obstacle to
M'CLELLA'xs advance to Richmond. This is the
just penalty paid by the Federals, for their slack-
ness in emancipating the rebel negroes. Those
negroes are now employed in the heavy unskilled
trenchwork, thus leaving the fighting men fresh
and unfatigued to work the guns. Whether BANKS

and M‘DoWELL will ba able separately or unitedly
to fall upon Richmond, while the chief Federal
army in Virginia confronts M'CLELLAN, remains to
be seen. It is evidei that the Confederates do
not mean to surrenderthe Premier State without
a severe struggle.

The chief part of the lows which arrived yester-
day consists merely of ramours, and when the
direct statements we receive become every day less
and less reliable through tie restrictions put on the
press by Government, it s useless to endeavour to
to extract truth, or even probabilities, from ru-
mours. Even the positive issertion that a despatch
of General BEAUREGARD had been intercepted,
whose contents were furnisied, was, it is now said,
false; the despatch is affirned to be a forgery !
Nothing but the utmost sispicion and vigilance
can guard against imposition in the study of news
from Northern sources. Me cannot, however, say
that that from the South is much more trust-
worthy. It is only now tlat we begin fairly to
understand the details of tie great Federal check
at Pittsburg Landing.

We do not mean to-day to discuss the particulars
of alteration in the late Revised Code, but we would
just drop one word of warning in anticipation of the
debate to-night. We wish hon. members to be
aware that sensible people everywhere begin
clearly to understand that all the opposition has
been based on interested lemands on the public
exchequer, and it has succeeded far beyond its
deserts through the sympathy of Toryism with
tax-spending, and through its partisan seizing
hold of any agitation which could annoy the Go-
♦ernment. The country quite understands now that
the fight is not for education but for money, whether
the education be given or not. We all see now that
the concessions made by the Government have been
all in one direction. Their object has been to in-
sure to the former recipients of the public money
that they shall continue to receive the same sum, or
more, although they still continue to secure the at-
tendance only, not the instruction of the children.
One thing is apparent in these, to us, almost
revolting discussions : it is, that they all turn on
how much money the sehooi will get. How much
teaching the poor children will get, we hardly hear
of ; it is all whether managers or teachers
of one kind or another will get as
much money as before.

We shall not be surprised to see a good deal of
the same kind of pauper clamour to-night. Pity
the managers, the teachers, tie pupil teachers, will
be probably the cry. We codd not have supposed
a few years' protective bounfies and State-nursing
for education would so soon have deprived really
respectable and worthy persms of all self-reliance,
and induced them to be.!ome, on behalf of
education, as they profess, tut really on behalf of
themselves, claimants for educational out -door
relief. In truth, the really poor and needy
districts get nothing under the old system, or
under any of the codes. Our whole Privy Council
system is one of helping the rich and sending the
poor empty away. Where there are people who
can subscribe, there the Gcvernment lavishes its
favours ; where men are only poor, the Government
does nothing. Yet the recipients, on this precious
system, move heaven and earth for fear of losing
their bounties, when the State merely says, " at least
show work worth paying for !" Again, we warn
hon. members that the country is opening its eyes
—is beginning to see that educational grants in aid,
mean little more than creating hosts of Government
stipendiaries ; in fact, the system is one which in
the long run will fill all the country with depen-
dents of the Central Government.

LATEST N E WS.

MADRID, MAY 4 (Evening).
According to advices received here from Havan.
nah to the 6th of April, Juarez had ordered Gene.
rals Pinzon, Galvez, and NegretE, to be shot.
The Spanish Government is about to send a rein•
forcement of 4,000 soldiers to Havannah, as a pre-
cautionary measure.

GENOA, MAY 4 (Evening.)
The anniversary of Garibaldi's Marsala expedi.
tion was celebrated by the people of this city to-day,
The population generally, including the Cara.
bineers and the workmen's associations, took part
in the manifestation.

Shouts were raised of " Rome and Venice !"

NAPLES, MAY 3.

Atter having visited the French fleet the King
addressed a letter to the Emperor Napoleon, thank-
ing him for his courtesy towards himself and his
sympathy for the Italian cause.

The King says—" It is long since I have experi-
enced so much emotion as I have to-day. The order
which reigns in the southern provinces, and the
earnest marks of affection which I everywhere re-
ceive triumphantly reply to the calumnies of our
enemies. We shall convince Europe that the idea
of unity rests on solid bases, and is thoroughly
graven on the hearts of all Italians."

ROME, MAY 4.
The Pope returned to Rome yesterday. A large

crowd assembled as he passed through the streets,

TURIN, MAY 4.

It is asserted that Menotti Oaxibaldi lies resigned
the command of the Genoese volunteers. It is
believed that this corps will be disbanded.

FRANCE.

BOURSE, May 3.—The market has been rather
heavy for the rente, and the business done has been
at a slight decline on the price of the previous day.
Threes, for the account are now at 70f. 85c. Rail-
way Shares quiet, but quotations pretty well main.
tained. The market closed as follows :-
4t per per Cents 97 75'
Do, end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 7l 10
New 3 per Cents
Do, end month —
Credit Mobilier..., 848 75
Do. end month 855 -
RAIL'

Bank Shares 3150 -
Credit Fonder 1530 -

Belgian 4i —
Piedmontese Fives —
Italian Loan 7l 30
Austrian
Spanish Threes - --
Home Debt
WAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans 1315 .. 1318 75
Northern ..
New ditto .. 985 ..
Lyons and Mediterranean 1160 .. 1165
Geneva 370 .. 372 50
Southern
Western
Eastern .. ... 582 50 .. 582 50
Sardinian 382 50 .. 388 75
Austrian
Low bard 597 50 .. 598 75

AMERICA.

(Per Asia, by telegraph from Roche's Point.)
NEW YORK, APRIL 22, Evening.
Beauregard's intercepted despatch, the contents
of which were sent to Europe per Hibernian, is LOW
supposed to be a forgery.
The New York tribune says it is believed in some
quarters that the Federal government is disposed to
release the Americans arrested at Tangiers.
The Confederate government has made a requisi-
tion on the slaveowners of Prince George and Sur-
rey counties for one half of their negroes, to erect
fortifications at Williamsburg, for the protection of
Yorktown in the rear.
M. Mercier's visit to Richmond still causes much
speculation.
The Richmond Examiner states that the object
of M. Mercier's visit has not definitely transpired,
but that he is reported to have unofficially expressed
great interest to ascertain what commercial treaties
the Confederate government was disposed to make
with France.
" The Southern people," says the Richmond Ex-
aminer," would applaud a treaty securing to France
an equal right with Southern vessels in the carry-
ing trade to Southern ports, providing France would
raise the blockade."
The Richmond Despatch says that M. Mercier
has opened negotiations with the Confederate Secre-
taries of State.
The Confederate Congress has determined not to
adjourn until the termination of M. Mercier's mis-
sion. Any kind of arrangement will be made with
the Confederate President.
The Richmond Despatch considers this to be a
perfect acknowledgment by France of the indepen-
dence of the Confederate States.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
World says it is believed in some political circles
that M. Mercier will propose to the Confederates
to surrender at discretion.
NEW YORK, APRIL 23 (Morning).
The Federal iron-clad steamer Galena has sailed
for Fortress Munroe.
Beauregard is being largely reinforced at Corinth
from Memphis and New Orleans.
It is supposed that the valley of the Mississippi
will be stubbornly defended by a large Confederate
army.
No further news has been received from York-
town.

The Southern journals report that an engage-
ment has taken place at Elizabeth City with a por-
tion of Burnside's expedition. Heavy loss was
sustained on both sides.
The Federals have commenced an attack on Fort
Macon, Savannah.
Southern newspapers urge a vigorous defence of
Savannah city.
The New York, Bohemian, and Teutonia, have
asrived out.
Mr. John Bright has addressed a letter to the
New York Chamber of Commerce, in which he ob-
serves that there is no country in which men have
been so free and properous as in America ; and that
there is no political constitution in existence in the
preservation of which the human race is so deeply
interested as the American constitution. Mr. Bright
is sure that an overwhelming majority of the Eng-
lish people will rejoice at the restoration of the
Union and the success of the Federals.
The reported departure of the steamer Orvieto
from Liverpool has caused excitement among the
shipping interest at New'York.