The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-12 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

Twts DAT.—Morning, 3h. 55m.—Afternoon, 4h. 16m.
TO-Moußow.-Morning, 4.h. 35m.—Afternoon, 4h. 55m.

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LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 12, 1865.

On Saturday evening there was a grand banquet
at the Fishmongers' Hall, which was honoured by
the presence of the Prince of WALES. His Royal
Highness made a very interesting speech on the
occasion, and the entertainment was most satisfac-
tory on the whole. The Prime Warder, in propos-
ing the health of the Prince, observed that it was
not flattery, but a fact, that the " esteem and affec-
tion with which his Royal Highness was regarded by
her MAJESTY'S subjects were owing no less to his
amiable manners, his kindly disposition, and the
condescension which he invariably displayed in his
intercourse with all classes of the community than
to his exalted position." This is true, for the
Prince has on all occasions shown himself most
anxious to conform to the wishes and meet the
requests of all classes ; and by, his ab-
sence from pretentiousness and affectation, he
has everywhere acquired golden opinions. The
Prince, in responding, adverted to the satisfaction
which he felt in being present there as a member, a
freeman of the Corporation. An additional interest
was imparted to the proceedings from the fact of
the Fishmongers' Company being the first of the
ancient guilds of the city which presented
its freedom to the Prince after his attain-
ing his majority. The Prince alluded in a feeling
manner to the loss of Mr. CVBITT, who had been
the Prime Warden when his Royal Highness took
up the freedom of the company. The Duke of
CAMBRIDGE'S remarks on the army were charac-
terised by an appropriate vigour, and his Royal
Highness paid a deserved compliment to its merits
and services. Ile said that the army was scat-
tered over the world, and that in times of peace
they had real and onerous duties to perform.
When we consider the vicissitudes of climate, the
monotony of colonial existence, and the various
hardships they have to encounter, it is impossible to
over estimate or to exaggerate the importance and
interest of their services. As the Commander-in-Chief
the Duke of CAMBRIDGE was the right person to descant
upon the improvements that have taken place of
late in the army, not only as regarded the efficiency
of the service, but its moral and social condition
also. Lord C. PAGET'S speech was very entertain-
ing, and his lordship was enabled to impart an
interesting piece of information, which met with
general approbation. The Emperor of the French
has just sent an invitation to the Government to'
send our armour-plated fleet round the coast of
France, while the French armour-plated fleet will
come round the coast of England. This is, as the
noble lord styled it, a " courteous and friendly
offer," and it is satisfactory to know that it has
been responded to. It will be a fine sight; as was
mentioned there, for any lady or gentleman to go to
Plymouth to see both fleets together. Such an
event as this cannot fail to increase the goodwill
existing between the two nations, and will besides
cause emulation and incite improvement. Lord
ELcno, of course, was quite at home with " The
Volunteers," for whom he returned thanks. His
lordship observed that we may now regard the
Volunteer force as one of the permanent
institutions of the country, and if :we hear less of
it than formerly, it is because it has arrived at a
hum-drum jog trot, which is a token of its flourish-
ing condition. Lord ELCHO contrived to do a
stroke of business while making this little speech,
for he observed that the contest for the prizes at
Wimbledon was near at hand, and he thought that
perhaps the Prime Warden and the Company of
Fishmongers might wish to associate their names
with those of the Prince of WALES and the Duke
of CAMBRIDGE as the donors of a prize at their
annual contest. The noble lord concluded by
hoping that his cool suggestion might not be
considered inappropriate on that very hot evening,
and that in 2865 " when the National Rifle Asso-
ciation entertained the Prince of Wales of that day,
they might be able to point to a sideboard of plate
equally rich and magnificent as the age before
them."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer made one of his
felicitous discourses, in which he alluded to many
interesting questions of the day. He began by
alluding to his own misfortune in having been
blocked up on his way there by a stoppage on Lon-
don-bridge, and from that circumstance he was led
to infer that all desired to belong to the party of
progress. The right hon. gentleman created amuse-
ment by stating that the present Government had
reached what might be called the " natural term of
the life of an Administration." Septennial Parlia-
ments were the law, and although septen
nial administrations were not rendered im-
perative, it is rarely that any Government ever
approaches that time. The years that have passed
since the present Cabinet came to power have been,
as the right hon. gentleman said, of " the deepest
interest to mankind." It is important to dwell
upon the fact that we have great cause for thank-
fulness in having been spared from the struggles
that have convulsed others to a terrific degree. Mr.
GuDgoliE concluded his impressive discourse in

About 2,000 persons accepted the invitation of
the directors, among them being the Right Hon. B.
and Mrs. Disraeli, Colonel the Hon. C. Lindsay,
beside a great many noblemen and other distin-
guished gentlemen. The hotel stands right oppo-
site the church in Langham-place, and is the
largest establishment of the kind in London. It
occupies more than an acre of ground, and being
156 feet in height, it has eight floors, upon which
are more than 600 rooms. Thirty suites of apart-
ments are contained within its walls, there being
more than 300 bed-rooms, and there are 36 baths
and 14 lavatories, while the larger apartments
comprise a salle a manger 100 feet long and 40 feet
wide, a coffee room and other rooms 50 feet square,
ladies' coffee and drawing rooms, billiard and
smoking rooms, and other apartments " too nume-
rous to mention." The entrance hall is 50 feet
square, and two grand stone staircases open from it
reaching to the upper floors. A post and telegraph
office, and a clerk's office in the entrance
hall show that the directors have not been un-
mindful of the small comforts of such an estab-
lishment, while the visitors may, in parties of
six or less, be raised to the upper floors with-
out the trouble and labour of going up stairs.
Bed-rooms for visitors' servants and for the ser-
vants of the hotel occupy a floor between the
kitchens and the grand saloons, this portion of
the building being entirely fireproof ; while ample
means of egress have been secured in case of fire by
the corridors surrounding each floor and opening on
to four different staircases. And two 16-horse
power steam boilers have been put up to fur-
nish steam to the cooking apparatus, and to raise
water to the tanks on the roof, in which no less than
38,000 gallons will always be stored against the
chances of fire.

The furnishing and decorating of the whole of
the interior, by Messrs. Jackson and Graham, is
most magnificent, everything being in the richest
and best material, and all is carried out with that
taste and judgment which so distinguishes the work
executed by this firm. We imagined that the large
hotel in the Strand furnished by Messrs. Jackson
and Graham was a wonderfully well executed task ;
but in the Langham they have fairly outrivalled all
their former efforts, and the compliments bestowed
upon them by his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales when he took his departure were well deserved.
Another very noticeable feature is the extreme beauty
of the plate, the whole of which is en suite of the
old beaded Queen Anne's pattern. This has been
supplied by G. R. Collis & Co., of Regent-street—a
finer specimen of British workmanship we could not
wish to see. The decoration of the different articles
is most artistic, and as they laid glittering on the
sideboard and dining-table the effect was perfectly
dazzling. The next remarkable feature is the
kitchen, which has been fitted up by the Messrs.
Adams, of the Haymarket, in a style which is with-
out parallel in the metropolis. The kitchen of the
Reform Club was at one • time looked upon as a
wonder, but, compared with that of the Langham,
it becomes quite a small affair. The immense ranges
of hot plates, hot chambers, fire-stoves, frying
and a grilling ditto, present a scene at once novel
and remarkable, and one which cannot but increase
the reputation of the firm by which they have been
constructed and supplied.
The tariff of the hotel is at once moderate and
complete ; indeed, so moderate that for the sum
usually charged for very ordinary furnished lodgings
in private houses apartments can be had in the
Langham, and those of the most beautiful descrip-
tion. To-day its rooms are placed at the disposal of
the public ; and it will go hard if the public should not
appreciate the marked advantages here offered to
them.

HERR COENEN'S MATINEE MUSICALE.-011 Wed-
nesday afternoon this accomplished pianist gave
his matinee musicale !at the Hanover-square rooms, which
were crowded with a brilliant and fashionable audience,
and the entertainment passed off with great éclat. Among
the performers were Madame Shepherd Ley, Miss Wilkin-
son, and Miss Mina Poole, M. Lazarus on the Clarionet,
M. Pagncau on the violoncello, and Herr Coenen himself
and a young pupil on the pianoforte. The concerted pieces
were beaitifully played ; one of them, a Sonata in B flat,
was the composition of Herr Coenen, and was very much
admired, especially the scherzo— the last movement but one.
Mons. Payne delighted his audience, as he always does,
with a solo on the violoncello, and the pianoforte solo and
duet were also among the prominent successes. Madame
Shepherd Ley sung a new song by Claribel Dreamland,
with great effect ; and Miss Wilkinson showed that she
had made great progress since her debut. The programme
was not too long, and the instrumental and vocal music
was so well blended that a pleasant variety prevented
any tedium. Altogether, it was a decided success, and
must have been very gratifying to the giver.
THE PRINCE IMPERIAL'S APARTMENTS at the
Tuileries are being refurnished. The bed and toilette-
table intended for the young Prince are just finished, and
are exquisite specimens of wood carving, reflecting the
highest credit on the distinguished artist who undertook
their execution.

The activity displayed by the French troops in
Sinaloa had produced good results. The inhabitantt
are organising themselves for defence, and the
Juarists bands are fast disappearing. The environs
of Mazatlan are perfectly tranquil. While a quar-
ter of the population are under arms, the remainder
are employed in agricultural labours.
The district of Concordia is also in a satisfactory
condition. Lieutenant-Colonel Cottrel occupied
San Sebastian, a small town of 4,600 inhabitants,
15 leagues from Mazatlan, and Las Messilos. The
civil authorities are installed there, and have en-
tered upon their functions. General Lozado has
been successful against the Juarists bands of
Corona.

The agitation caused in Nueva Leon by the ap-
pearance of Negrete at Monterey has not extended
to the department of San Lius de Potosi. The
French columns will very shortly enter the district
occupied by the insurgents. General Mijia, who
had concentrated his forces at Matamoras, was rein-
forced on the 4th May by the battalion of the
Foreign Legion under M. de Brian. The arrival of
this reinforcement determined Negrete to arrest his
march upon Matamoras and fall back upon Mon-
terey.

The interior departments of the Empire remain
secure. The generals appointed by the Emperor
Maximilian to the command of the territorial divi-
sions are now proceeding to their posts, and will
immediately commence the organisation of the rural
guard. The operations of the Austrian Legion in
the Sierra Madre have been successful, and will
shortly bring about the entire submission of that
district.

The steamship Bresilien arrived at Vera Cruz on
the sth May with the complement of the Austrian
contingent, 1,100 strong, who were immediately
despatched to their garrisons.
The health of the troops is very satisfactory.

FRANCE,
RETURN OF THE EMPEROR TO PARIS.
PARIS, June 10.

. •
The Emperor arrived here at five o'clock this
evening. Many houses on the route from the Lyons
railway station were decorated with flags.
The streets were thronged by large crowds, by
whom the Emperor was enthusiastically cheered.
His Majesty is in perfect health.
At night the public buildings and a large number
of private houses were illuminated,
General Mellinet has been elected Grand Master
of the Grand Orient Freemason Lodges of France,
by 142 votes, against 36 given to M. Massol.
BOURSE, June 10.—The chief feature of the
market has been the continued retrogression of
Mexican Stock--the Old Loan, after having lost
per cent yesterday, having receded per cent. to-
day, whilst the New Obligations show a falling off
of 3fr. 75c. The transactions in the other depart-
ments show little or no change on the closing rates
of yesterday. The last quotations were as fol
lows :-
41- per Cents 95 50
Do. end month

Ditto Threes 4l 25
New Mexican
Do. Bonds 327 50
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt
Deferred
Roman 74

3 per Cents. 67 50
Do. end month 67 45
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month

Bank Shares 3675

Credit Fonder 1260
Italian Loan 66 80
Do. end month 66 80

RAILWAYS.
Cash. Acct.
Orleans
Northern 1072 50 ... 1070
Lyons and Mediterranean 847 50 ... 845
Southern 595 ... 500
Western 522 50 ... 525
Eastern ' 505 ... 503 75
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard 498 75 ... 500
North of Spain 206 25 ... 206 25
Saragossa 316 25 ... 322 50
Ditto to Barcelona —.— 1,60 '•-•

M. THIERS.—" M. Thiers," writes the Paris cor-
respondent of the Times, " rarely attains the highest
flight of what is called oratory. He either does not care to
(10 so or cannot do so. There is nothing lofty, or empha-
ti°, or passionate, or declamatory in him. His words, his
tone, and manner are those used in ordinary converse,
and are admirably suited to everyday questions liko the
present. He has wit at his fingers' ends, and galvanises
even arithmetic with it. His comparison of the ordi-
nary and extraordinary budgets to the overladen ship
obliged to transfer a part of her cargo to a smaller
vessel alongside, and then lighten herself to get into port,
and his division of the financial comedy into live acts,
were worthy of Beaumarchais. M. Thiers may not be
eloquent in the ordinary sense of the word r( his force is in
what the French call causerie, but it is a causerie of which
one can never hoar enough, so replete is it with life, so
voluble, sparkling, varied by historical allusions always
appropriate and anecdotes marvellgusly to the point. His
voice shrill, slightly nasal, and southern in accent, pene-
trates every corner of the chamber. There is nothing
emphatic or theatrical in his gesture. He now and then
buttons up his coat and folds his arms, unbuttons and
throws it back from his chest, or leans familiarly on his
desk, with his chin resting on his hand. He hardly ever
refers t 9 a note."