The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-23 00:00:00

INLA7I\.;D REVENUE .ACTS,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER in com-
mittee moved a resolution relative to the stamp duty on
mortgages, the practical effect of which would be to im-
pose an equal for an unequal charge, and afford relief in
all mortgages below £7,000.
• The resolution was agreed to.

Tho CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then moved
the second resolution, the object of which was simply to
bring under the law loans or shares raised in this country
for foreign Governments as well as those raised at home,
and that for every such transaction there should bo a penny
stamp.
Tho resolution was agreed to.
The third resolution, having reference to stamps on
marine insurance was agreed to.
A fourth resolution, to stimulate the duty on miscel-
laneous insurance, such as that on plate glass, cattle, &c.,
to the duty levied on the railway accidents insurance of 5
per cent., was also agreed to; as was the formal resolution
to bring in a bill to carry the previous resolutions into
effect.
The house then resumed.
SUPPLY.

The report of supply was brought up and agreed to.
GENERAL POST OFFICE (ADDITIONAL SITE)
(RE-COMMITTED) BILL.

This bill passed through committee.
The Churches and Chapels Exemption (Scotland) Bill,
as amended, passed through committee.
Tho Dogs Regulation (Ireland) Bill was passed through
committee, as also the Ecclesiastical Leasing Act (1858)
Amendment Bill.

Tho Public-house Closing Act (1864) Amendment Bill
was further amended and agreed to.

The houso adjourned at 20 minutes to two o'clock.

The Irish International Exhibition,

(From the Tzimee correspondent.)

One of the main sources of attraction in the Ex-
hibition—tho greatest of all, perhaps, to many—is
the Indian Court. In examining its gorgeous trea-
sures the visitor has the advantage of the cour-
teous attentions of Captain Meadows Taylor, who
resided for a long time in India, and has written
several works illustrating its social life and manners.
He seems quite at home on all subjects connected with
the country, its religion, philosophy, customs, manu-
factures, and arts, and feels as lively an interest in all
that concerns its fame as if he were an Indian prince.
Many of the art treasures which ho takes a plea-
sure in describing are not new to those who visited
the Exhibition of 1862. They will remember nume-
rous specimens of the gorgeous manufactures of a
country which was celebrated for the marvellous
perfection of its arts thousands of years ago, and
supplied imperial Rome in the era of its greatest
splendour with its richest dresses and its costliest
ornaments. The gold and silver brocades of Delhi
and the muslins of Dacca were so famous in ancient
times that we might suppose their merits had been
exaggerated if we did not behold in this Exhibition
textile fabrics of inimitable fineness, tapesty glitter-
ing with purest gems, the richest and most elabo-
rate embroideries, silver filagree work of exquisite
delicacy, enamel of the most brilliant hues, inlaid
wares, the;minute beauties of which can only be
revealed by the microscope, cups and goblets ele-
gant and chaste in their design, furniture most ela-
borately carved ; carpets that are works of arts,
astonishing by the exquisite harmony of their
colours and their artistic finish ; swords and other
weapons of the finest temper, superb in their jewelled
ornamentation. As we ascend to.the gallery where
the Indian articles are exhibited, the attention is
arrested by the large crimson carpet of Tippoo Sahib,
and other valuable carpets and matting suspended
along the walls. One of them is a carpet of very
fine quality, 18ft. by 15ft., manufactured by the
prisoners in the central prison, Lahore, and for-
warded for exhibition by Dr. R. Gray, superinten-
dent, with a hearthrug, by the same artisans.
Enormous umbrellas of several domes, in blue and
gold and crimson and gold, with rich fringe, are
conspicuous articles in the collection. There are
fans of gigantic proportions,with ornamented stems,
Bft. long, and otherwise a large as an umbrella. In
the several cabinets shore are collection of silk
shawls and muslin, so rich in material, so elabo-
rately and beautifully embroidered with the hand,
and others woven with so find a texture and with
such artistic mixture of colours, that it would be
vain to attempt to describe them. There is a
square gold-worked shawl from Delhi, exhi-
bited by Messrs. Everington and Graham, and
another from the same place exhibited by Messrs.
Farmer and Rogers, Regent-street, London. Capt.
Meadows Taylor himself exhibits some very curious
articles. There is a profusion of specimens of gold
embroidery, all finished with wonderful delicacy.
One of the most striking things in the collection is
the model in marble and mosaics of the sarcophagus
of Mahal, wife of the Emperor of Delhi, Shah Jehan,
from the orignal in the Taj Mahal, Agra, exhibited
by Lord Gough. We have next a State palanquin,
with carpets, cushions, canopy, and all other fittings
of the most gorgeous description, with a number of
other rare and valuable articles, exhibited by the
Secretary of State for India, among which is the
gold State chair of Runjeet Singh.
For the varied and interesting collection of colonial
products shown in the northern and western gal-
leries, the Commissioners arc chiefly indebted to the
labours of Mr. P. L. Simmonds, who had charge of
the colonial department in the Exhibition of 1862.
Upwards of 20 colonies are more or less extensively
represented—viz., Canada, Nova Scotia, and Van-
couver, of the North American ; the Bahamas, Do-
minica, Jamaica, and Trinidad, of the West Indian
group ; Ceylon, Mauritius, and Malta of the Eastern;
all the five Australian colonies ; Natal, St. Helena,
Sierra Leone, the. Gold Coast, and Lagos, of the
African group ; and the Falkland Islands.

Taking them in the order in which they are placed
in the gallery, wo find first a most attractive display
from Natal round the head of the stairs, where,
Cbe-
sides flax, grain, tobacco, cigars, sugar, coffee, and
other articles for which we had not given the colony
credit, there is a noble trophy of horns, skins,
tusks, and other products of the chase, and a curious
collection of native weapons, paddles, musical in-
struments, State sticks, and other insignia of office
of native tribes. Many of these are curious illus-
trations of native arts and manufacture by tribes in
Central Africa never before visited, obtained by
Mr. S. Baker Barry, who has recently traversed the
country from Walvisch Bay to Natal, and has just
been awarded the Geographical Society's gold medal
for his _explorations.

Canada follows next in order, and occupies three
Courts with an extensive display of her produce and
manufactures. Foremost among these come mine-
rals, cubes of marble, grain, wood, edge tools, and
manufactures of various kinds. There is a large
library of locally published works, educational and
others, in rich bindings, photographs of local scenery,
and two large and creditable oil paintings by R.
Duncannon, of Montreal,—" The Chaudieze Falls,"
and " The Lotus Eaters." Skates, snow-shoes,
sleighs, sleigh robes, capotes, and other fancy fur
coats and wrappers speak of the enjoyments of the
winter.

Nova Scotia, although but recently recognised as
a productive goldfield, shows a small pyramid repre-
senting the gold obtained in the colony since 1862 --
40,000 oz., chiefly derived from quartz crushing—
with an ingot of pure gold, taken from the Waverley
Gold Mine, weighing 471 b. This amount of gold was
obtained by 130 men in 15 days. There is a similar
column of coal to that shown in 1862, erected in the
gardens, illustrative of the depth of the seam of the
Pictou coalfield. There is a fine collection of raw
and prepared furs and manufactured articles, among
which is a splendid black fox-skin. Dr. Honeyman
shows a large geological collection, and there is also
a series of minerals of scientific and economic value
by Dr. How.
Mauritius next puts in a creditable appearance
with samples of her finely prepared:sugars, pickles,
jellies, preserves,
liqueurs, and spices, especially
the fragrant vanilla, in which the colony suc-
cessfully competes with Bourbon. The director of
the Botanic Gardens shows a good collection of
fibres. The adjoining West Indian Courts call for
little notice, except that there are some fine speci-
mens of woods, and a beautifully prepared series of
the fibres of Jamaica, indigenous or cultivated,
showing their suitability to take various dyes pre-
pared by Mr. N. Wilson, of the Botanic Gardens,
Jamaica. Some inlaid tables from Jamaica and
Ceylon are also worth special notice.
The Falkland Tslands Company make a small
display for the colony
with which they are hadenti-

fled, consisting of fur and seal skins, rough and pre-
pared, penguin skins, fur articles, oils, wool, &c.

From the Australian colonies the collections are
not yet thoroughly arranged, owing to the short no-
tice they received and the great distance they had to
send. South Australia exhibits samples of her fine
wheats, for which she carried off so many prize
medals in London in 1862 ; also a series of water-
colour drawings .of the city of Adelaide and the
mining districts. Queensland shows samples of silk,
cotton, woods, and fibres. There is an interesting
case in this department of colonial wools, in all their
stages, with the manufactured articles made from
them, exhibited by Joseph Craven and Co., of Brad-
ford. These thin, all-wool fabrics are interesting as
showing the success with which British manufac-
turers are now able to compete with the French in
this class of goods, for which hitherto they have had
the greatest run. There are some marvels of skill
in fine spinning in this case.
The French Court is the most conspicuous of all
from the centre position it occupies in the place
fronting the Sculpture-hall, and where a very large
apse has been assigned to the Exhibitors. The French
were entitled to the place of honour, not only be-
cause the Emperor himself is an exhibitor, and lent
his patronage in the most liberal spirit, but because
of the number and value of the articles exhibited, and
the exceeding beauty and taste with which they are
displayed, which renders the French Court one
of the chief attractions of the Exhibition, even
to the lovers of the Fine Arts. Nothing need be
said about the well-known Gobelins tapestry, ex-
cept that, the specimens here exhibited from the
Imperial factory excite universal admiration for
their wonderful beauty. In one of the pictures
Venus is seen emerging from the sea attended by a
number of cupids. At a distance it strikes the be-
, holder as an admirable painting, so natural are the
forms, so soft the light, and so life-like the flesh
tints. The Beauvais flowers are not less beautiful
in their way as works of art. In Sevres china there
is a magnificent collection of vases, statues, &c.,
ornamented with the most exquisite art. The col-
lective exhibition of French articles, represented by
Carlhian and Corbiere, London, is contributed by
about 60 exhibitors from Paris and a number of
provincial cities, and they include six of the most
eminent silk manufacturers in France.

The Austrian Court contains a great variety of
articles, whose leading characteristics are utility and
beauty, in combination with cheapness ; for ex-
ample, August Cleine, of Vienna, exhibits a great
variety of fancy goods in leather, gilt, bronze, and
wood, such as bags, albums, writing-table sets, &c.
His stand is one of the best in this court, and at-
tracted the particular attention of the Duke of Cam-
bridge. Moritz Fisher of Herbeust, Hungary, has a
large display of Dresden china, including vases,
figures, &c., so perfect an imitation that it is diffi-
cult to distinguish them from the real china, though
they are only about one-third of the price. Schon-
berger and Kreshpach, of Vienna, exhibit clocks in
a great variety of forms, remarkable for their beauty
and cheapness. Kitschel and Erben have a very ele-
gant set of iron-gilt furniture, at once light, grace-
ful, and strong ; also garden pavilions and seats of
the same material. C. G. Kerne, who exhibits wines
which obtained medals in 1862, has his stand orna-
mented with armour in stone paste, a capital imita-
tion of old rust-eaten metals, designed for the adorn-
ment of entrance halls in mansions, &c.

In the Zollverein department Gebers and Schmidt,
of Schmideberg, exhibit very fine Turkey carpets.
This department also contains a good collection of
lamps ; but the most attractive portion of it—indeed
one of the most curious and interesting things in
the way of furniture in the building—is the stand of
Rampendahl, from Hamburg, containing other arti,
Iles of furniture, composed of the horns of wild ani-
mals, each covered with the skin of the animal to
whom the horns belong. Some of these are exceed-
ingly beautiful, so rare and admirable that they will
be likely to bring high prices. There are also chairs
with ivory arms of very large size. Austria and the
Zollverein occupy a portion of the gallery, as well
as the ground floor, and there wo find a display of
coloured prints looking very like good paintings. S.
Gros and Son exhibit a great variety of vestments,
and other richly ornamented silk goods. Mr. Bunker,
of Dublin, appears here also as an Austrian, exhibit-
ing a variety of large bronze figures, timepieces, &c.
Brucker, from Saxony, exhibits a large variety of
fine paintings on porcelain, most of them copies of
the pictures in the Dresden Gallery. Brussels has
contributed rather largely to the Exhibition. In this
department are exhibited pianos, marbles, China,
enamelled bronze figures, ornamented firearms, agri-
cultural implements, apparatus for regulating the
electric light, woollen and cotton stuffs, diaper and
damask linens, Brussels Taco, tambour embroidery,
telegraphic wire, bronze timepieces and vases, speci-
mens of engraving on platinum, stained glass, printed
crockery ware and porcelain, with a great variety of
articles in papier mache. From Baden we have fancy
clocks and musical instruments, including a trumpet
clock, a grand musical work performing different
tunes. From Bavaria philosophical instruments, a
husking machine to take off the outer skins of grains,
specimens of work in the precious metals, gold and
silver embroidery for ecclesiastical purposes, stained
glass, with Christ and the Madonna; colossal stags'
heads, deer, horses, dogs, tigers, and other animals
copied after nature, in papier mache. There is a statue
of artificial stone, representing Christ teaching, also
a richly gilt altar, carved in oak wood, representing
the coronation of the Virgin, and the adoration of
the Three Kings. Hesse Darmstadt is represented
by fancy articles made of bronzed iron, escritoires,
thermometers, copying presses, &c. From Wurtem-
burg there is a newly invented cotton weaving
machine, polished loather for carriages, &c.