The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-17 00:00:00

FUNERAL
LONDONDERRY.

IF TEE M.

RQUIS OF

On Wednesday—the day preceding the funeral of the
most noble the Marquis of Londonderry—the chapel at
Wynyard was open to the public from twelve to three
o'clock ; during that time several thousands of persons
of all grades were admitted to see the coffin, which lay
in state in the chapel, Crowds of persons thronged the
various roads. leading to the mansion, entering by the
Smith Lodge by a long, picturesque drive, and through
the park, passing through the shrubbery plaatation at
a distance from the front of the mansion, arriving at the
conservatory, through which admission was gained to
the chapel by descending a winding staircase. At the
entrance lodge, and at all the gates on the drive through
the parks, were stationed servants in deep black with
hatbands. Mutes were stationed at all the doors of en-
trance. Above the mansion the flag had been half
lowered. and the windows darkened with black cloth on
the side near the conservatory. Sadness and gloom
brooded over the place ; the crowds of persons who
thronged to pay the last tribute of respect to the de-
parted were mostly clad in mourning, and by their sor-
rowful demeanour seemed to feel the solemnity which
the shades of the departed hero has spread over the
place. On entering the chapel the scene was solemn
and impressive. The many painted windows, partly ob-
scured with black cloth, shed a "dim religious light" upon
the mournful pageant below : over the door was a hatch-
merit, containing the arms of the Londonderry and
Vane families. On each side of the chapel were placed
three massive gold candlesticks, each containing a wax
taper. At the head of the bier was placed acushion and
a clustered plume on a platform raised, and covered
with black cloth. Oil the bier was placed a pall, partly
thrown back, exhibiting the coffin. On the head of
which was placed a crimson velvet and gold cushion,
supporting a marquis's coronet ; at the foot were
placed the helmet and plume of the marquis as colo-
nel of the 2d Regiment of Life Guards, also his
sword and sash—mute emblems of the brave soldier
who lay sleeping beneath them, whose military prowess
they had been instrumental in achieving. It was with
this sword the noble and dashing soldier fought and
captured a French officer who had ridden to the front of
the British line in defiance. At the foot of the bier,
and near the altar, the two executors of the deceased,
Captain Wood and Vandeleur Stewart, Esq.
At the funeral yesterday all the shops and places of
business were closed. His lordship was much and de.
servedly respected by the Inhabitants of the borough

THE ROYAL PANOPTICON.

The vast Mcorish buliding which occupies the eastern
side of Leicester-square, and respecting the purport of
which there has been so much speculation and inquiry,
is on the eve of being opened to the public—its secrets
divulged, and its peaceful mission explained. In plan and
object the Panopticon is something akin to the Polytechnic
Institution. It aspires to be a school for the instruction of
the community in matters scientific and artistic, to gratify
the eye by the grace and variety of its resources, and at the
same time afford the more solid benefits deducible from
practical investigation in all the branches of knowledge
connected with the ordinary pursuits of life. Though.
popular in aspect, the character of the instruction we
believe will be of an elevated kind. The daily lectures
will, of course, be suited to the tastes of miscellaneous
assemblages ; hut others are contemplated in which the
public upon the payment of small fees may pass through
elaborate courses of study, under the direction of
lecturers of the highest standing. But the little
handbook published by the council describes more
specifically the objects of the Panopticon, and the
void which it is its mission to fill up. The writer of
the introduction, in alluding to the institutions of a lite-
rary and scientific nature already in existence, observes,
that "some are encompassed with a degree of exclusive-
ness which prevents the full development of their
powers and capabilities ; others, professing to perpetuate
and extend a taste for purely intellectual enjoyment,
appear frequently to wax lukewarm, and no longer pos-
sessing novelty, or the yet keener stimulus of example
from kindred establishments, become indifferent to the
hopes and expectations which their origin encouraged."
To meet the exigencies of such a state of 'things as this,
the Royal Plnopticon of Science and Art has been in-
stituted.
The Panopticon c,wes its origin to one individual, Mr.
Edward Marinaduke Clarke, who, alive to the defi-
ciencies complained of above, not only conceived the
idea of an entirely new institution, but succeeded in
enlisting the co-operation of a number of influential in-
dividuals similarly influenced in opinion, who, in con-
junction with himself, took the necessary measures to
secure certain privileges under Royal charter. This her
Majesty was pleased to grant in February, 1850. The
claims of Mr. Clarke to the honour of being the original
projector and promoter of thi, association are expressly
set forth in the cli irter to which her Majesty has placed
her hand. This gentleman is no,v the managing director
—an office to .vhich he is no le,s entitled on the score of
past service during the gestation and initiat try progress
of the iii-t,tution, than on the score of wide and general
experience in such matters. "In the year 1826, and, at
a very early period of his life, he was on the committee,
and t sok an energetic part in the formation of the first
mechanics' institution established In the metropolis of
his native country—lreland. He occupied a prominent
position at the science and art exhibition in the King's-
mews, now the site of the Royal Academy, in 1830. He
was also lecturer at the Exhibition of Arts and Sciences
at Edinburgh in 1839 and 1840 ; and lastly, he estab-
lished the London Electrical Society, the early meetings
of which were held at his residence." These are
officially advanced as his credentials to the respon-
sible office which he now holds. That lie has -well
earned it cannot be denied, and we trust he will
be rewarded in witnessing the fruition of the vast
and costly experiment in which he is now so proud.
nently engaged, and which promises to be productive
of so much practical good to the community at large.
The enterprise which has been the foundation of this
undertaking is strikingly manifested in the edifice itself,
furnishing, as it does, a very fine specimen of the Sara-
cent° style of architecture, derived chiefly from the Al-
hambra and other remains of the Moorish rule in Spain.
Here is a very interesting novelty to begin with, for the
building presents us with a perfect reflex of the style in
question, planned upon an enormous scale, and carried
out with a degree of elaboration which has evidently set
cost at defiance. When the spectator passes from the
dingy square through the elegant porch, and under the
massive portcullis into the rotunda, his eye meets a
structure that gratifies him at once by its elegant sta-
bility, its graceful grandeur, and. its dazzling em-
bellishment. The guide-book claims for the rotun-
da that it is "the most splendid room ever apl-
propriated to scientific and artistic purposes."
There is certainky nothing like it in England. The
chamber towers up, supported by elegant tapering
columns, close upon a hundred feet, where a beautiful
circular skylight terminates the view ; and round the
dome are sixteen star-shaped lights. The roof, the
moslem imitation of the blue sky, is fretted with a
thousand golden stars ; and downwards the arches,
pillars, and walls are gilt and coloured with that rich-
ness and effect that are now only beginning to be made
familiar to the English by the genius of Mr. Owen
Jones, and also, we may now say, of Mr. Lewis and
Mr. Fisher, who have superintended and designed the
decorations of this building. Immediately beneath the
central light in the dome is an enamelled fountain, with
a centre jet that can throw up its water to the very sky-
light, a hundred feet. It is surrounded by eight minor
jets, each playing forty feet, and forming a dome of
water playing round the central jet. The tesselation of
this fountain is most elaborate and beautiful, and in sum-
mer time it will impart a delicious coolness to the
building.
" There are three galleries, the one over the "other.
Two traverse the circle of the building ; the third only
occupies the western side. These galleries are occupied
by stalls, after the fashion of the Great Exhibition, and
in them numerous patentees present various processes
in weaving, carving, lithography, d stilling, turning,
shipbuilding, &c. Here almost every process that adds
to our comforts, or supplies us with the infinitude of in-
ventions cultivated society demands, may be seen, in
their latest and most efficient state.
Leading off the grand central chamber are several
other apartments devoted to the purposes of the in ititu-
tion ; such as a laboratory, and the apparatus rooms,
and two handsome theatres ; the one decorated with
paintings for lectures connected with art and literature,
and the other fur scientific discourses and exemplifica-
tions

The first oi,ject that attracts attention is the monster
electrical machine, constructed by Mr. Clarke, the
largest t ver made. Its plate is 10 feet in diameter,
and weighs about eighteen hundred weight. The brass
pear-shaped conductor is 6 feet long, and respectively
at each extremity 4 feet and 2 feet in diameter. The
Leyden battery is of correspoding size, being composed
of 24 glasses, each presenting 12 feet surface of tin foil.
The next grand object is the magnificent organ built by
Hill and Co. It is 48 feet high, 36 feet wide and 28
deep. It has 4,004 pipes and 7 bellows, worked by a
steam-engine, 1 crescendo pedal, 10 composition pedals,
7 couplers, and 60 stops. It far exceeds in tone and
compass the great organs at York and Birmingham, and
any in the metropolis.
Photography has of course its representative, and you
may either wend your way up the interminable stairs
which lead to the domains of the artist, or avail your-
self of an ascending carriage which takes you by a coun-
terpoise process from the pavement of the rotunda, and
deposits you quietly and gently in the regions above.
The private view yesterday was attended by persons
of repute of all classes ; and the entire number who en-
tered from 12 to 4 was upwards of 8,000. The expres-
sion generally uttered was one of great satisfaction.
The band of the Oxford Blues played severalairs ; and the
mighty organ pealed forth its tones with great sweetness
as well as power ; and the building was pronounced to
be well adapted for musical demonstrations.
It may be truly said that the reality surpassed the
expectation, and when got into perfect order, there can
be no doubt it will become one of the. most popular, as
it is one of the most interesting of exhibitions.

Amongst the persons of distinction present we noticed
the following : Lord John Russell, Lord Lyndhurst ;
Earl of Mulgrave, and Earl Devon ; Viscount Camp-
den, Lord Cawdor, Sir George flayter, Lord Cot-
tenham, Earl of Bessborough, Earl Grey, Lord Dynevor,
Lord Tenterden, Earl of Denbigh, Lord Newark, the
Bishop of Lincoln, Duke of Argyll, Lord Seymour, Sir
James Stephens, Lord Cranworth, Duke of Richmond,
Duchess of Sutherland, Lady Palmerston, Sir
-Ortiorson and Lady Tenuent, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lady
Barnes, Lord Palmerston, Viscount Brackley, Lord
Holland, &c., and alio a great number of distinguished
literary and soientie.o