The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-03 00:00:00

Chtmloal Works—Battersea.

WMEDY for AST II M A.—DATURA
TATULA.—The efiloacy of this plant, in affording
prompt relief to those suffering from Ast,ma, has fully
e.tablished the remedy in professional and public+ estimation.
Introduced into this country and prepared only by SAVORY
and MOORE, Chemists to the Queen, H.R.H. the Prince of
Wales, his Majesty the King of the Belgians, &c., 143, New
Bond-street, London. In tins, at 2s. 6d., 58., 10s., and 18s.
each; or formed Into cigars and cigarettes, in boxes, le., 66.,
Bs., and 15s. Sold retail by all chemists.

THE PALL-MALL GAZETTE of this Even-
ing contains (besides all the News of the Day) the
following Original Articles
Metropolitan Evictions.
Parliamentary Bores.
Futile Falsehoods.
Russia and Our Polish Debates.
Spiritualism at the Antipodes.
Ring Theodorus.
Sketches from Cambridge. No. 4.
iliathrm tics.
Lisabee's Love Story.
April 8, 1865.
" -

Office-14, Salisbury-street, Strand.

The South London Exhibition,

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.

„
On Saturday afternoone'very interesting ceremony took
place at the Lambeth Baths, Westminster-road. Tho at-
tractive little exhibition held in this institution of articles
of various kinds, contributed by the working classes resident
in the southern district of London, closed a week before
under the auspices of Lord Shaftesbury, and now the Premier
himself attended to afford the exhibitors the gratification of
receiving the prizes for his own hands. The day and hour
were considerately fixed so that most of the exhibitors, if
not all, could be present, and the body of the hall, or rather
bath, being given up to them, their friends in considerable
number crowded the galleries, notwithstanding that an
entrance-fee of a shilling had to be imposed, in consequence
of the limited extent of accommodation. Lord Palmerston
arrived at half-past 5 o'clock, and took his seat in what was
stated to be the Speaker's chair of the old House of Com-

mons, a piece of furniture which has somehow found its
way to the southern side of the Thames, where it is re-
garded with great veneration and only brought out upon
State occasions. Immediately around his lordship were
the Earl of Shaftesbury, Mr. Locke, M.P., Mr. Gilpin, M.P.,
Mr. Kinnaird, M.P., the Rev. Mr. Bowstead, the Rev. New-
man Hall, Mr. Watt, the honorary secretary of the late
North London Exhibition, and other gentlemen interested
in the success of this and similar exhibitions. Owing to the
removal of the collection, the building itself would have
worn a naked aspect but for the introduction of some busts
and objects of art, lent by one of the exhibitors for the occa-
sion, and tastefully arranged. Probably the most con-
spicuous object on the platform was a handsome clock of
Benson's make, with which a little incident connected itself.
The proceedings commenced with the singing of the 100th
Psalm ; after which the honorary secretary, Mr. Murphy,
read the report of the adjudicators, which were prefaced
by the intimation that it had been thought desirable, what-
ever the profits of the undertaking, that these should be
distributed among as many exhibitors as possible, rather
than in givinglarge sums tea few. It had also been deemed
advisable that the awards should be of equal value in the
different classes, and that a medal should be struck to com-
memorate the holding of theexhibition, a copy of which (in
either silver or bronze) the holders of the goperior prize*
might take as 6 portion of the valueawarded. The accounts
had not yet been audited, but the distribution assumed a
profit of £3OO. The first-class prizo was £3 ; the second,
£1 108 ; the third-class prizeholders received a bronze
medal in case, and those who obtained honourable mention
an ornamental card. Whatever sum ;of money remained
over when a settlement was made would be distributed in
fair proportions. The following is a summary of the
awards :—First class, 35 ; second, 85 ; third 123, honour-
able mention, 129—total, 372. Out of 120 first and second
class prizeholders, 110 elected that a portion of their prizes
should consist of a medal, 77 choosing silver and 33 bronze
mementoes of the exhibition.

Detailed reports were submitted from the secretaries of
the various classes. The general report concluded with a
warm expression of gratitude to Lord Palmerston, who,
" amid the variety and importance of engagements of na-
tional and world-wide interest, has so kindly undertaken
to be present on this interesting occasion, and to distribute
the prizes so honourably won, which cannot but enhance
their value to the recipients, and may be the means of sti-
mulating some to higher and nobler efforts. My lord," the
report continued, " the committee earnestly desire that
your lordship's valuable life may be long spared to advance
the interests of the country in whose history your lordship
has played so conspicuous and important a part, and to wit-
ness a closer communion between the different classes of

the land ; and when retirement and rest shall come may it
be but the golden sunsetthat shall precede the brighter glo-
ries of an unclouded and eternal day." (Loud applause.)
The ceremony of distribution was then entered upon.
Each recipient ascended the platform as his name was
called, and, passing along between the table where Lord
Palmerston stood and the barriers protecting the edge of
the platform, received from his lordship's hands the prize
awarded to his particular contribution ; and, having tra-
versed the entire width of the hall, turned either to leave
the building, or, at his option, descended again to the level
of the bath to witness the remainder of the proceedings.
This short description is necessary to explain what after-
wards occurred. The successful exhibitors advanced in a
continuous stream to the table, watched with the liveliest
interest by their fellows, who, when their own turns came,
wore just the same flush of satisfaction on their faces, and
evidently felt.pleasure not less real in ". a good close look
at Lord Palmerston." Theetle procession was an interest-
ing and instructive one ; e were but a few paces to tra-
d yet whole biographies were crowded into the
verso, an
transit. There were comfortably:dress?d mechanics and
tradesmen ; there were many., again, with rusty suits of
mourning, telling of domestic sorrow and bitter struggles
with the world. There were Volunteers, with springing
step and military *salute ; there were widows and old men,
maintaining tho unequal contest with difficulty, bent, but
still hopeful and self-reliant. There was a little boy,
smartly dressed, evidently made a good deal of at home, if
not at school ; there was a little girl without a bonnet who
might have been a week ago a wandering street Arab. A
few patient faces passed the table, only conscious when
they were told by friends that Lord Palmerston's was the
hand which put the medal or certificate into theirs ; a few
hopped blithely along in the excitement of the moment, al-
most unconscious of their crutches. The burly drayman was
a vivid contrast to these, as he rolled past in his leisnrelypon-
derous way, waif his dray stood outside andhe had just looked
into the meeting for the purpose of getting tho illuminated
card on the understanding that he was not to be detained.
When, however, the certificate was put into his hands his face
betokened that he had obvious difaculty in keeping down a

N EWSPAPER

4, 'Kgrigi '49.10 - ' 4
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great horse-laugh, and he made for the oo ,a r- 2
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dent object of having it out as soon as po ' (I,v - 7 mirky
have Leen gratifying, infleed, hid all the proc4iingsAno S
`off thus smoothly, but when the list of recipients was about
two-thirds exhausted a man, with a curiously-carved stick
under his arm, and with an expression of countenance that
meant mischief,approached the table. He accepted his orna-
mental card from the hands of the noble lord, and then pro-
ceeded deliberately to tear it into half-a-dozen pieces,
which he threw across the barrier. For a moment or so the
surprise excited by this act was so great that nobody ap-
peared to know exactly what to do. The temporary lull
expired, indignant cries of" Shame !" arose, and there was '
a motion in the body of the hall towards the quarter by
which the malcontent exhibitor has just departed, but the
tendency was seen and checked by those upon the plat-
form,
who hoped and believed that this might be a solitary
exhibition of disappointed or spiteful feeling. Folly, how-
ever, never wants imitators, and soon afterwards a young
man lounged past the table, and taking the card presented
to him, tossed it with a contemptuous air over the barrier
into the crowd below. The would-ba dignity of this action,
however, was impaired by what immediately followed, for
a bystander, taking advantage of the rakish way in which
the ungrateful recipient of honours wore his hat, tilted this
over the barrier also, and being the heavier body it came
to the ground as soon, if not sooner than the discarded
document. It need hardly be added that he did not meet
with much sympathy or assistance in recovering his hat.
There was a third, and only a third, instance of equally bad
taste on the part of a young man seemingly of better station
than either of his predecessors, who first treated Lord Pal-
merston for a statement of grievances, and then proceeded to
tear up his card. No. 3 fell into the hands of the Philistines,
and summarily ejected from the place. In every case the
fragments of the cards were recovered, so that it is known
to the committee who the persons are who wore guilty
of these gross acts of discourtesy. It is but justice to
the body of working men present to say that they seemed
much pained and scandalised by such occurrences. The
prizes were certainly such as any one might receive with
satisfaction ; and Lord Palmerston, by his own acceptance
of one of these distinctions, administered probably the most
dignified rebuke in his power.
The medals were of two classes, silver and bronze, from
the design of Mr. Martin, a working man, exhibitor and
prizeholder, and engraved by Mr. Joseph Moore, of Birming-
ham. The obverse represented Fame crowning allegorical
figures of Design and Manufacture; the reverse had a centre
formed of an oak wreath, surrounding the words " Medal of
Merit." The field of the medal was formed of a number of
divisions radiating from the centre towards the rim, enclos-
ing in each the name of some man eminent in the arts or
sciences who has risen from the ranks of the working classes.
On the rim is the inscription, " South London Working
Classes' Industrial Exhibition, 1865." The design of the
medal was selected by a committee of adjudicator; consist-
ing of Mr. Maclise, R.A., Mr. Redgmve, R.A., and Mr•
Digby Wyatt. The certificates were tastefully printed in
gold and colours by Mr. Hill, of the Westminster-road.
At the close of the distribution,

Mr. Mvmts, on the part of the exhibitors, presented to
Mr. Murphy, the hon. secretary of the exhibition, an ad-
dress, with the handsome timepiece already referred to,
adding that its mainspring would be but an emblem of what
ho had been to the movement.
Mr. MURPHY, having acknowledged the gift in suitable
terms§ said he should have been glad, after the little obuli-
tions of feeling which had that day occurred, if the proceed-
ings had passed off without any personal compliment to
himself. Wherever there was competition, in any grade of
life, there must be disappointment ; but he must say that
the exhibitors having themselves chosen the judges with-
out any interference, a want of manliness--(loud cheers)—
had been shown by those who first by their presence ac-
cepted the finding of the adjudicators and then resented it.
Lord PALMERSTON, on coming forward to address the
assembly, was so cordially cheered that it was some minutes
before he could proceed. He said—Ladies and gentlemen,
I must in the first place express the deep gratification it has
afforded me to be allowed to take part in what has been
truly one of the most interesting ceremonies I have ever
witnessed in my life. What can be more interesting to
a man who takes an interest in the welfare and happiness
of his fellow-countrymen, and the development of talent
among them, than to have seen pass before him that goodly
thread of men, women, and children, recipients of the
prizes awarded for the merits which they have displayed
in the Exhibition just closed this day ? If there be
some whose not unreasonable expectations of higher
rewards have been disappointed, they should recollect that
the judges appointed by the body of exhibitors—(hear,
hear) had a most difficult task to perform—difficult exactly
in proportion to the amount of talent displayed by the ex-
hibitors. Because where there are 600 candidates for dis-
tinction, and 300 prizes to be awarded, great indeed must
be the difficulty of picking out the 800 best. It is impossi-
ble that the most accurate judgment and the most sedulous
care in selecting half the names of so large a body, where
all have displayed great merit, could satisfy every man
that his merits have been duly appreciated and the reward
assigned to him which he thinks ought to have been his
meed. It is, indeed, remarkable that such intellectual dis-
tinction should have been exhibited by persons of all ages,
of both sexes, even by some whose military uniform showed
that their leisure hours are occupied in the service of their
country—(cheers), and by those also who from their afflic-
tions might be supposed disqualified from competing in
such an exhibition as this. (Cheers.) I have seen many
recipients of medals pass before me to-day whom you could
not see on account of the lowness of their stature, children
almost, of precocious talent, for whom we may fairly expect
that in their maturer ago they will arrive at great distinc-

tion in their respective careers. This exhibition and the
works which it contained are extremely significant of the
happy constitution under which we have the good fortune
to live—that constitution which opens to every man hay-

ing talent, industry, perseverance, and good conduct, any
honours and distinctions whichhis turn of mind and attain-
ments may qualify him to aspire to. We live under a con-
stitutional monarchy, and of such a monarchy an aristocracy
of wealth and an aristocracy of rank are essential ingre-
dients. (Hear, hear.) It is true that aristocracies of wealth
and rank exist in many other countries, but unfortunately
there are almost impassable barriers separating them from
the rest of the nation. (Hear, hear.) But no such barriers
exist in this country. (Loud cheering.) With regard to the
aristocracy of wealth, the medals distributed to-day have
inscribed on them the names of a great number of men
who, starting with small beginnings, attained by their ta-
lent, industry, perseverance, and good conduct, the very
highest positions of social merit and distinction. Many
more might have been added to that list. And you must
all have seen in your own experience men starting from
the smallest beginnings who have in this very city realised
princely fortunes. In the manufacturing districts examples
of this kind are abundant ; for no man can go, even for a

few days, into those districts without hearing of great
health acquired by men who started with little, but, by
their talents and genius, raised themselves and their fami-
lies to opulence. (Hear, hear.) Then, again, does the
aristocracy of rank in this country consist simply of those
who can count in the pedigree generations of noble ances-
tors ? Look at all the great men who have figured in public
life. Look at your army, your navy, your law, your
church, your statesmen. You will find in every one of
those careers men who have risen to the highest points, who
have either themselves started from the smallest beginning
or whose fathers began with nothing but their talents, their

industry and their energy to aid them. (Cheers.) Ido not
mention the names of any of these, though for the men
themselves and for their families it would bo a most
honourable roll; but you are all conversant with names re-
nowned in the history of the country, who belonged not to
noble families, but who founded noble families ; springing
many of them from the very class which I have now the
honour of addressing. Does not this afford even greater
encouragement thanthe prizes just distributed to all of you
who have cultivated the talents with which nature has en-
dowed you? (Hear.) Wealth is to a certain extent within the
reach of all; but be assured of one thing, that even if you
in gaining those summits of ambition which I have indicated,
there is no greater source of private comfort and of
indivi-
dual
happiness than the exercise of intellectual faculties
and the enjoyment of domestic affection. (Cheers.) The
exercise of the intellectual faculties, to which the exhibitors
here show that they have devoted themselves, must make
noblest
ttioonf
all
them happier men—(choers)--must contribute to raise them
not only in their ownestinntir estimation, theionthe ies
ti
all who know them, and
exercises, of all pleasures—the cultivation, improvement, and
development of the human intellect. (Cheers.) I may be
told that the examples I have cited of men who attained
great wealth or distinguished positions are few, while the
t i arrive
beginning such
competitors are many, and that to the bulk of those who
struggle to
goals the effort must be hopelossl
I would ask whether many of you have not gone on a fine,
bright day uthe of summer to the great seat of
amusement, Epsom Racecourse, and seen horses run for
that celebrated race the Derby ? (Much laughter and ap-
plause.) Three or four hundred horses entered for the race,
but only one won the prize. (Loud cheers.) All the rest
failed to obtain the object of their ambition. But those
luckless horses that did not win the Derby won other races.
(Great cheering.) If they were good for anything they all
won something. (Much laughter and applause.) And thus
the training, the industry, the pains, and the expense of
those who had fitted them for the competition in which
they were to take part were eventually repaid. And so I
say to you who are competitors for prizes. You may not
all become generals or admirals, you may not all become
Lord Chancellors or Archbishops, you may not become
members of the Cabinet (much laughter and applause); but,
depend upon it, you will, by systematic industry raise your-
selves in the social system of your country, you will acquire
honour and respect for yourselves and for your families.
You will have, too, the constant satisfaction of feeling that
you have materially contributed to the dignity of y
our
country, to its welfare, to its prosperity and greatnpss,d
that you have been worthy of the nation to whichure you I
belong. I beg again to express the extreme pleas
have derived from what I have witnessed to-day, and I
trust that hereafter these exhibitions may be even more
successful than the present, which I am told has exceeded
that of last year. Go on, ladies and. gentle.men, and
.prosper,
and depend upon it that the blesings.which you will confer
upon yourselves and your families will be proportioned to
the industry you display, and to the cultivation which you
give to those faculties—those noble faculties, with which
Providence has endowed you. (Loud and continued
cheering.)
The Rev. J. BOVSTEAD moved a vote of thanks to Lord
Palmerston, whicli was put by Mr. Loma, M.P., and the
proceedings teraunated.