The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-15 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 15, 1853.

AZTEC LILLIPUTIANS.—Patronised by her
MAJESTY the QUEEN.—A7,rECS at the HANOVER-
SQUARE ROOMS.-11Bparalleled success and extraordinary excite-
ment ! The guardians of the Aztec Lilliputians avail themselves of
this—the first opporbauty—to return thanks to the nobility and
public, for the unexpected success with which they have been
honoured. The fact of upwards of 3,000 persons having visited
these strange end beautiful matures iu two days sufficiently attests
their popularity.
TO-MORROW (Saturday), from 12 to 4 p.m., and from 8 to 10
p in. Admission : Reserved Seats and Promenade, ss. ; Second
Seats, 2s. 6d. Children--Reserved Seats, 2s. (id. ; Second Seats,
An Illustrated History of the Aztecs, ls.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
PATRON-11.R.1L PRINCE ALBERT.

The PATENT NEEDLE SEWING MACHINE exhibited in Use
and explained Daily, at a Quarter to Three, in addition to the varied
SCIENTIFIC LECTURES and EXHIBITIONS. OA TUESDAYS
and FRIDAYS, at Four o'clock, and Every Evening (except Satur-
day) at Nine, the FIRST PART of an HISTORICAL LECTURE
on " THE THAMES," fl'om its Source to Its Estuary, by GEORGE
BUCKLAND, Esq., assisted by Miss Blanche Younge, with appro-
priate Songs and Dissolving Scenery.
Open Mornings and Evenings. Admission, Is.; Schools, and
Children under Ten years of age Half-price.

TO MERCHANTS, BANKERS, MANUFACTURERS,
ANL) OTHERS.
Attention is particularly directed to the

PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL LIFE
ASSURANCE ASSOCIATION.

Established 1840.
TRUSTEES.
Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P. I W. G. Prescott, Esq.
Thomson Hankey, jun, Esq. I Baron L. De Rothschild, M.P.
Treasurer of the Benevolent Fund —John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P.
Every description of Assurance granted, with or without profits.
Annuities, immediate and deferred.
•
Endowments for Children.
Nine-tenths of the Profits divided amongst the Assured every five
years, on policies of three years' standing.
The calculations of the Actuaries being nearly completed,
The Board will shortly announce the result of the operations of
the Association for the five years ending the list December last ; in
the meantime, they can state with great satisfaction that the bonus
will be equal to Twelve Shillings per Cent. per Annum, after making
ample reserve for any policy which will not participate.
Policies may be made absolutely to the WIDOW, WIDOWER,
and CHILDREN of the ASSURED, FREE of PROBATE and
LEGACY DUTY.
Loans to the full value of the policy.

Policies Indisputable, except in cases of absolute frauds.
Clerks Assuring with the Association derive very great advan-
tages from the Benevolent Fund attached thereto, full particulars of
which may be obtained at the office, or of the Agents of the Associa-
tion.

PHILIP HENRY BYRNE, Secretary.
42, Moorgate-street, July 9, 1853.

The usual Commission to Solicitors and others.

G R A

N:other Packets

The Packets call
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WEEK

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SUNDAYS

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Direct Trains from the Buats marked t
Omnibuses from Fenchurch-street Station to all parts of London
every quarter of an hour.
BRUNSWICK WHARF, BLACKWALL, on the arrival of the fol-
lowing Trains from the Fenehurch-street Station.

WEEK DAYS.

t

Time.

Time.

SIJNDATB.

E
tls

Passages marked * are run direct.
Fore Cabin. Saloon.
To or from Gravesend and London.... •• .. .. 10d. .. Is. 2d.
~ Gravesend and Blackwall or Woolwich Bd. .. Os. 10d.

Between Gravesend and Intermediate Piers.. 6d. .. Os. Bd.
BOAT TECKETS.—TweIve Months, st. Os. ; Six Months, 31. Os. ;
Three Months, 21. Os. ; to be had of the Collectors on board the
Packets; or of Mr. Monk, Terrace Pier, Gravesend.
Fast and Commodious Packets to Let for Excursions. For Terms,
apply to Mr. W. Morgan, Agent, Star Office, Fenchurch-street Ter-
minus, Blackwall Railway.
July, 1853.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

GLOUCESTER, JULY 14.—1 n the midst of torrents of
rain, which continued to descend steadily till 2 in the
afternoon, the cattle yard was thrown open to the public'
this morning. Considering the state of the weather, and
that every step was taken much more than ankle:deep
in mud, the attendance was surprisingly good, great
eagerness being shown to ascertain the merits of the dis-
play and to know whether in the quality of the stock
exhibited the meeting bore the same high character
which it had achieved with respect to implements. The
manner in which the rules adopted, at the late Lord
Ducie's suggestion, for disqualifying animals too fat for
breeding purposes, would operate was also looked for-
ward to with much interest.' We regret to say that the
expectations formed of the show have hardly been re-
alised. There is reason to believe that the rules referred
to have frightened away several of our best breeders, and
Mr. Townley's name may be especially mentioned as
missing from the list of short-horn exhibitors. As will
be seen, however, from the awards which we subjoin,
the most successful competitors of former years are the
men who still carry away the chief prizes in their respec-
tive classes ; Mr. George Turner, of Barton, takes the
lead in North Devons, and Mr. Jonas Webb in South-
downs, Mr. Sanday in Leicesters, and so on in the other
divisions. The truth is that the questions of merit and
over-feeding are quite distinct from each other, and,
however Lord Ducie's rules may operate, they are not
at all likely to displace the hard-earned pro-eminence
which our best known stock breeders have already
obtained.

The following is selected from the list of first-class
prizes :

SHORTHORNS.
Class I.—Bulls, calved previously to the 14 of July,
1851, and not exceeding four years old.—First prize of 401.
to Right Hon. Lord Bernors, of Keythorpe-hall, Tugby,
Leicester. Second prize of 201. to Richard Stratton, of
Broad Hinton, Swindon, Wilts,

themselves. His books had been referred to, but he
never could have written them if he had nut spent
his life in the country, and never lived in towns, but
among his countrymen the farmers. (Cheers.) He
loved them, and from the opulent farmer to the log
but his happiest days had been passed in their so-
ciety. It was by talking to them and knowing
their feelings and prejudices—for they had their pre-
judices—klaughter)—that he had acquired some insight
into the human heart, and bad been enabled, they
said, to put it in his books. (Cheers.) Agriculture was
the most simple, the most innocent, and the most
honourable employment of man—(cheers)—and, though
he could not say that lie had contributed anything to-
wards agricultural shows, a little wooden clock he had
exhibited to his countrymen with moral lessons which,
he hoped, had done them good. (Cheers and laughter.)
These moral lessons, read by the English as well as the
American farmer, showed the value of time, the hours
of work, and the hours of recreation, and how to have
an extra hour and an extra dollar where it was wanted,
and if, as there were in all human machinery defects, this
little wooden clock had one which ought to be copied—
it was that it went on tick. (Much laughter.) He had
not the honour to be an Englishman. He was a native
of another part of the world ; and 150 years ago his
forefathers left these shores. Whether they slipped off
at the time of the assizes—(great laughter), or whether
one of his cloth helped them over at the public expense,
there was no one now old enough to say, and therefore
perhaps it was as well not to make too strict an inquiry.
(Laughter.) His Excellency had talked of that country
being able to receive a portion of the population of this ;
but for his part he should like to work back—it would
be his delight and happiness to do so, and he would
not be sorry, provided it was for no moral delinquency,
if one of his brother judges sentenced him-In..be tran-.
sported back to England. (Cheers and laughter.) He
had never spent two such delightful days in his life
as attending at the present meeting. As a practical
farmer, fond of the cultivation of the soil, he had come
to Glocester purposely from Scotland. (Cheers.), It
gave him great pleasure to state, without attempting to
say anything civil or to flatter, that in the last 10 years
the improvement which lie observed was beyond any-
thing that he could recollect, and that it was more marked
among the lower orders than in any other class. They
were better fed, better clad, better paid, and they re-
spected themselves. , If he might be permitted to men-
tion so trivial an illustration he would take the notice in
St. James's-park, which he saw the other day—" The
public are requested to protect the birds and the trees
in this plantation." No "man traps and spring guns,"
nor prosecutions were mentioned. When at Lough-
borough he saw a similar notice—" These grounds are
for the benefit of the people, who are requested to pro-
tect them." Such evidences showed that the people
respected themselves, and deserved the respect of their
superiors. (Cheers.) When he looked at the improve-
ments that had taken place and the period at which
they had arrived, when there were no prejudices
against machinery to be awakened—when the day of
the demagogue was gone—when there was no idle, lazy,
and pauper population to excite—and when therefore
the demagogues could do no mischief—he asked, did not
these improvements go deeper than many supposed ?
He had trespassed too long on their patience, and he
would conclude by thanking them again most heartily
for the honour they had done him. (Cheers.)
Lord Powis proposed " The health of the President
Elect," Mr. Pusey.
Sir JOHN SHELLEY, in a spirited speech, expressed the
obligations of the society to the railway companies for
their co-operation, and concluded by toasting them.
Mr. SAMUEL BASER, chairman of the Dean Forest
Railway, returned thanks.

The awards for stock having been announced by Mr.
BRANDRETH GIBBS, honorary director of the show-yard,
the proceedings of the banquet terminated.

OONVERSAZIONE AT THE MANSION-HOUSE.

Last night, the city of London, through its Chief
Magistrate, honoured itself in honouring the literature
and science of the kingdom. The Mansi on-house in-
vited all that is distinguished in letters and arts. Artists
and writers—intellect and learning—the masters Of
science, practical and theoretical—congregated in a
splendid metropolitan circle. The present Lord Mayor
(Alderman Challis) has on previous occasions welcomed
the working educationists of the metropolis. We have
had recently to record his well-considered entertain-
ment to the London schoolmasters and schoolmistresses.
The interest of that party perhaps exceeded in moral
dignity his concluding conversazion e ; the graceful
tribute of matter to mind, which was exhibited in the
educational gathering, remains unsurpassed in its pecu-
liar appropriateness. But certainly last night's assem-
bly was a worthy completion of this series of well-
planned entertainments. The nobility of rank and
the nobility of acquirements met together ; and the
tribute to those who, through the press, influence the
public mind, was a worthy conception, and well car-
ried out. The present mayoralty has exhibited a praise.
worthy innovation on the stiff luxury of civic festivals
of the ordinary type. It is a thankworthy sign of the
times that corporate munificence is learning the better
way ; and the city of London, in throwing itself into
the stream of educational progress, under its several
aspects of education, art, and general literature, is doing
much to retrieve its character. Commercial pursuits too
frequently have been found to deaden the mind in the
exercise of its higher faculties, and to the recognition of
the finer and more ennobling arts of life. Municipal
corporations have a wide field of influence, which has
been too long left barren ; but the example set by the
metropolis will have its value in the provinces. And
though it might be said that such a conversazione is but
a small testimony to the intellectual powers of the age to
characterise in such terms, yet it embodies a principle
which will have its way—the principle that society in all
its spheres has duties of a practical character to those
upon whom, after all, not only the national credit and
historic honours depend, but to whose hands, for good
or for evil, are entrusted the destinies and interests of
mankind, and with them the stability of all our institu-
tions. Such assemblies are at least a testimony, however
imperfect, to the great truth that commerce and trade
depend for their extension and continuance on the culti-
vation and application of the higher powers of the mind
—on art, learning, and science, as well as on empiric
practice and traditionary skill.
It seems that nearly 3,000 cards of invitation were
issued for this occasion ; and such was the well-thronged
appearance of the Egyptian Hall, which was illuminated
with more than usual brilliancy, that there could not
have been less than 2,000 persons present. Amongst
the company were—Dr. Spohr, Sir Charles Barry, Mr.
E. H. Baily, R.A., Mr. Benno* Dr. Bowring, Mr.
Edgar Bowring, Dr. Bernays, Sir Henry Bishop, Mr.
Peter Berlyn, the Rev. P. Booth, Mr. Dudley Costello,
Mr. Monckton Milnes, M.P., Mr. David Roberts,
R.A., Sir Charles Eastlake, P.R.A. Mr. Augustus
Egg, Mr. F. Stone, Dr. Forbes, Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P.,
Mr. George Godwin, Mr. Charles Knight, Dr. Mackay,
Mr. Hart, R.A., Mr. T. K. Hervey, Professor Forbes,
Mr. John Martin, Dr. E. Lancaster, Dr. W. Smith,
Mr. T. Landseer, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall, Dr.
Southwood Smith, Mr. T. J. Searle, Mr. Robert
Bell, Mr. Windsor East, and many other gentle.
men equally well known for their successful efforts
in the schools of literature and the liberal arts. It
would be fruitless, however, to attempt to give a complete
list of all the "celebrities" present ; many, whose public
works are conspicuous to the world, being content on
an occasion like this so to mingle with the general group
as to render it impossible that their persons could be
particularly noted. A large number of members of
Parliament were present ; and amongst them the
Duchess of Sutherland and the Duke of Argyll, the
Turkish Ambassador, the Prussian Ambassador, the
Greek Ambassador, the Bishop of St. Asaph, &c.
It would be superfluous to enter into a detail of the
various objects exhibited on the occasion, as the greater
portion of them have been seen at former conversaziones ;
but the tribute of a line is justly due to a selection
of pictures, in which the works of David Roberts, R.A.,
Linnell, Sydney, Cooper, Maclise, and Barker were
amongst the most conspicuous, and these were gracefully
accompanied by specimens of sculpture by M`Dowell,
Adams (whose bust of the Duke of Wellington
is an object of much attraction), Marshall, Foley,
Baily, and others. Included in the objects of art
should be mentioned some beautiful statuettes in
biscuit, from the establishment of Mr. Copeland, and
also some reproductions of the old Wedgwood ware,
which latter were particularly' admired for their
beauty of form and sombre depth of colour. One of the
great merits of the general arrangement was the judi-
cious manner in which the various articles were distri-
buted throughout the rooms, especial care having been
taken to avoid the possibility of too many persons being
thronged together in one spot. Thus the fine arts were
exhibited on the lower floor, whilst the models and
many of the
pupils apparatus were displayed above stairs ; and in these
nterde-
partments the works of the pupils who have received, or
are receiving, their education at the school for teaching
the blind
beingtolind pr
read excited
and themuch company interest,
being
made
to
witness their successful efforts in reading, arithmetic,
i
music, and other branches of instruction. The various
departments of science were effectually represented, and
there was sufficient evidence in the plan which had been
pursued to 'give
to the conversazione the character it was
intended to bear—that the entertainment was the result
of much care and discrimination.

WARRANTS TO OPEN LETTERS AT THE POST OFFICE.
—Yesterday a return showed that from November 1848
to May last, six warrants of the Secretary of State were
granted to open or detain letters at the Post Office.
One warrant in November, 1848, signed by Sir George
Grey, in a case of embezzlement, applicable to one per-
son. One warrant in August, 1849, by Sir George Grey
in a case of murder, applicable to one person. One war-
rant in November, 1850, by Sir George Grey. to return a
letter to the writer. One warrant in November, 1850,
by Sir George Grey, in a case of fraudulent bankruptcy,
applicable to one person. One warrant in January,
1853, by Lord Palmerston, to return a letter to the
writer, and one warrant in April last, signed by Lord
Palmerston, in a case of embezzlement by a country
postmaster, applicable to one person.