The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-24 00:00:00

Yesterday a very attractive novelty was added to the
standard attractions of the above gardens, in the shape
of a numerous and valuable collection of poultry,
pigeons, and rabbits, sent in by all the eminent connois-
seurs, and amongst which prizes to the amount of 2501.
were distributed. The show was pronounced to be first
rate both in quality and in the number of specimens
exhibited, and, notwithstanding the lowering aspect of
the day, attracted a numerous and fashionable assem-
blage. There was a tremendous.array of the fashion-
able cochins, cinnamon, lemon-coloured, white, and
black—the last being the greatest novelty, and some
of them valued at 1001. a pair. These birds, so at-
tractive to the amateur, and so ungainly to the unini-
tiated observer, wax larger at every succeeding show,
as if the growth was stimulated by public approbation ;
so that, at some distant day, we may expect to see
them disputing the palm of stature with the emu or
the ostrich, and ridden, saddled and bridled, into the
show by their enterprising exhibitors. The specimens
exhibited yesterday possessed all the points of the cochin
sangre azule being speckless in hackle, excessively cir-
cumscribed in posterior diminutions, and having coun-
tenances, the expressiveness of which was detected with
intuitive sympathy by the judges. In consequence of
the season of the year, the chickens were in higher
feather than the adults, but the whole collection was
pronounced to be of the very highest character. The
first prize was awarded to Mr. Eason, Thurlow Lodge,
Lower Norwood, for the best cock and two hens ; and
prizes were also taken by Mr. Fanlie, Adkins, Rawson
(a large exhibitor), and several others, indeed the only
difficulty felt by the judges in the class was in the em-
barrass de rickesse, with which they had to deal. In
Hambro' fowl, Mr. Nichol's pen of gold speckled
was much admired, and carried away the first
prize of its class. Epicures will be very glad
to know that the Aylesbury ducks of this year
surpassed all former specimens ; and connoisseurs will
not be surprised to learn that in black Spanish fowl,
Captain Hornby, of Knowsley, carried away nearly all
the prizes. Of seven pens sent in by that gentleman,
five became prizeholders. The dealers prize was carried
off by Mr. Castang, of Leadenhall-market, under whose
superintendence the whole arrangement of the show
were carried out. One of the Spanish fowls shown by
this exhibitor was much admired, and by many considered
to be equal to Captain Hornby's. The pigeons were
not so numerous as had been expected, in consequence
of the sudden death of an intending exhibitor ; but
there were some pens of fantails of rare excellence, to
which first prizes were awarded. In the more miscel-
laneous departments geese, rabbits, &c., the exhibition
was exceedingly well supplied, and many of the spe-
cimens obtained prizes. In addition to the poultry
show, the visitors to the gardens had the opportunity of
inspecting Mr. Marriott's Apiary, in itself a most inte-
resting exhibition, and the newly constructed marine
aquarium, in which the finny inhabitants of the deep
may be seen disporting themselves in obedience to their
various idiosyncracies, and affording to the student in
natural history a complete mine of instruction and amuse-
ment. The erection of this feature in the attraction of
the place has been attended with considerable trouble
and expense, as large glass tanks, filled with salt or
fresh water, had to be provided, and the specimens to be
collected from various and distant quarters. It is to be
hoped, however, that the public patronage will be .such
as to make the aquarium as profitable as it is interesting
and instructive. In the evening the usual concert, in-
cluding Miss Poole's singing, and fireworks, completed
the bill of fare.

THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS.

TO J. P. KNIGHT, ESQ., R.A., SECRETARY TO THE ROYAL

ACADEMY OF ARTS.

SIR,—In reply to your note of the 21st of June, in
which you do not sanction the printing of your private
correspondence, I beg to intimate that I have deferred
doing so less from a sense of impropriety than an un-
willingness to force upon public attention the details of
a correspondence which could only be interesting to a
very small portion of newspaper readers. The publica-
tion, on the 15th inst., of the report of the "Select Com-
mittee on the National Gallery" has, however, thrown a
new light on the subject of our controversy.
When I first took the liberty of addressing you through
the medium of The Suit newspaper, I was under the im-
pression that the Royal Academy of Arts was a char-
tered body, and as such amenable to law for the com-
mission of any act in contravention of its charter. In
my simplicity I thought I had only to duly seal up the
"Rejected Miniature" in the presence of competent
witnesses, and have it submitted to something in the
shape of a Parliamentary committee to meet with proper
redress ; but when, in my communication with " the
Select Committee on the National Gallery," I was in-
formed that the Royal Academy was not a chartered
body, but simply a private society, and as such had a
perfect right to accept or reject any work of art offered
to it for exhibition without being obliged to give a rea-
son for so doing to any person whatever, I was per-
fectly astounded. Thanks, however, to the report just
issued, that which appeared incomprehensible yes-
terday is quite intelligible to-day. The trustees of
the National Gallery and the members of the Royal
Academy have been playing, it appears, rather a nice
" make-things-pleasant" sort of a game. No wonder
the secretary of the latter should consider "the columns
of a public journal not a fit medium for transacting the
private business of the Royal Academy."
But had the Royal Academy been as scrupulous about
appropriating to its own interest that which was the
common property of the public, as it is anxious to keep
its questionable transactions secret, the present con-
troversy would not have occurred.
It is the fate, however, of all long courses of irrespon-
sibility—be the delinquents persons or bodies—to be over-
taken by retribution at last. Rats, however, modest and
retiring at first, if allowed to occupy a hole in a wall for
any considerable period unmolested, will he sure to end
by recognising no rights to the building but their own.
Thanks again to the report just published ; the Royal
Academy is perceived to hold possession of the National
Gallery by a tenure analogous to that by which a com-
munity of rats hold possession of a house. And as with
the one species of vermin, so with the other—skilful
" rat-catching" regime will only do for either.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
THOMAS SKAIFE,
Vanbrugh-house, Blackheath, Aug. 22, 1853.

MABLBOI?,OUGH-STREET. (TILTS DAY.)

IMPUDENT ROBBERY.

Ferdinand Nieman was placed at the bar before Mr.
Hardwick, charged with stealing a glass case contain-
ing a stuffed squirrel, the property of Mr. William
Henry Austin, solicitor, 31, St. Martin's-street, Leices-
ter-square.
Mr. James Austin, the son of the prosecutor, deposed
that, about 9 o'clock on the previous night, he was
standing at his own door, when the prisoner came up,
and wanted to go up stairs. Witness stopped him,
and asked what he wanted. The prisoner replied, "I
beg your pardon, its 32 I want instead of 31," and he
then went to No. 32. Witness passed him, leaving his
own door open, and in about two minutes, on his re-
turning, he met the prisoner coming down the stairs
with something concealed underneath hi▪ s coat. Witness
followed him into the street and gave hi▪ m into custody,
when the property produced was found upon him.
The prisoner, who denied the charge, was committed
for trial.

NATIONAL FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY.—This society
has just purchased another estate of 130 acres at Cardiff.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—Yesterday information was re-
ceived by the police, that on Saturday afternoon, between
four and half-past four o'clock, some expert thief made
his way into a counting-house in Ironmonger-lane,
Cheapside, and stole therefrom a black dress coat, in the
pocket of which was a book containing Bank of England
notes to the amount of 2701., and creeping unperceived
by the clerks out of the office, took to his heels and got
clear away with his booty.
WANT OF " NAVVIES."—A large number of navvies
are wanted for the Manchester and Southport Railway;
and the " want" (an unusual one of these useful indi-
viduals) induces the contractor to offer "liberal wages."
ME REGULATION OF OUR TRADE WITH CHINA.--The
London Ga:.;cttc of last night contains the notification of
the repeal of certain acts for the regulation of our trade
with China, and the new regulations, which arc to take
effect from the Ist of November next.