The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-22 00:00:00

THE WAR.

( Front the Examiner. )
The Czar Alexander was the founder and mainstay of
the Holy Alliance. He was also the great gainer by it.
That institution was a contract between the Bourbons,
accsobtuhregrh sw,
ith tort eonpzso ll
againster s , a
tnd he Ra
po mp
raenhoe ffn sa,e o
eassist
eaof their respective subjects to obtain any mitigation of
the bad government which it was the purpose of each to
establish and carry on in his own dominions. It was a
mutual assurance of one another against what they called
revolution. The institution worked with apparent success
for some time. Everywhere was established a system
of government for the profit of the ruling few, and the
interests and feelings of the many were everywhere set
at nought. The Neapolitan and Spanish attempts at
amelioration were successively put down ; the most dis-
tinguished Italians were exiled, despoiled of their pro-
perty, imprisoned, tortured, and put to death ; and the
Czar's success against Turkey in 1829 appeared to
afford the opportunity for correcting the only mis-
take which the leaders in the Congress of 1815
imagined they had made, in permitting a govern-
ment having a constitutional form to be established
in France. Consequently, in 1830, Charles the Tenth
proceeded to rectify this inconsistency. But he was
overthrown so very suddenly, and at such a late period
of the year, that the Czar's intervention before the
spring was an impossibility. We learn, however, from
the papers seized at Warsaw, that on the 10th of
August, 1830, the day on which he rceived the news
from Paris, he gave orders for everything to be got
ready for a march southward in spring—but England
recognising the new order of things in France without a
moment's hesitation, and this encouraging the Poles to
strike for their independence in the ensuing September,
the Holy Alliance failed at this critical moment in
yielding the fruits expected from it.
The advantage which the Czar reaped from the ipsti-
titution of this alliance was altogether different in kind
from that obtained by his copartners in it. Its military
guarantee was of the utmost value to the Haps-
burghs, Hohenzollerns, and Bourbons, because their
systems of government were not founded on the in-
terests or feelings of their subjects, but involved the
constant violation of them ; while the Russian
system is adapted to the national character and
wants of the Russians, who, barbarous and oriental,
neither desire nor have any idea of change in it.
Thus, while the Czar's guarantee to the other members
of the alliance was of great value to them, theirs was of
no value whatever to him, from his not being in a condi-
tion to need it. This circumstance made him the real
political master of the Continent up to the revolution of
1830, and has kept him the master of Germany ever
since. He became a necessity.
The Holy Alliance advanced the scheme which Peter
the Great devised for his successors in the Czarship,
more effectively than even his testament indicated.
Th .t was, that his successors should bend their un-
ceasing efforts to foment constant divisions between
the great Powers of the Continent, and then, as
occasions offered, should league themselves first with
one for extinguishing and absorbing a second, then
with another to extinguish and absorb a third, and by
this process should finally throw the whole weight of
Germany, Turkey, and Russia upon France, and over-
whelm it. But the Czar Alexander, keeping this policy
in the back-ground for the moment, inveigled the Ger-
man Powers and France into establishing, each in its own
territory, a division between themselves and their own
subjects, which rendered them quite powerless to oppose
his future proceedings. We see, by Pozzo di Borgo's ex-
traordinary letter of the 28th November, 1828, that
Charles the Tenth supported the Czar's attack on Turkey
in the conviction that its success would enable him to
overthrow the Frenc Chambers, and re-establish
the ancient regime ; h
that Austria was so paralysed
by her system in Italy, Hungary, &c., that with all her
vast army she would not dare active opposition ; and
that therefore the " malice" (that is the word used)
of M. de Metternich might safely be despised. In
short, the inaccessibility of the Russian system to
overthrow for the frequent strangling of a Czar
leaves the system itself untouched, perhaps strengthens
it—and the danger of internal overthrow to all the
other systems, made the Czar, in his position of a
member of the Holy Alliance, the arbiter, indeed the
Lord, of the other Sovereigns. " Remember," said
Bistireus, of Miletus, to the lonian Princes assembled
to decide upon the proposal of Miltiades to break down
the bridge over the Danube, and, by consigning Darius
and his whole army to destruction, to insure the inde-
pendence of lonia and Greece ; "remember that we are
only enabled to maintain our positions as Princes in our
respective territories, against the universal aversion of
our subjects, by the Power of Persia, and that in over-
throwing that we shall overthrow ourselves." The re-
lative positions of the Czar and the Continental Princes
under the Holy Alliance is precisely similar to this.
We have thus indicated the political effects of the
Congress of Vienna and the Holy Alliance, in order to
obtain a clearer view of what our object should be in the
present war. We aro spending blood and treasure to
purchase peace and security for the future. Peace may
now very easily be obtained, that is nominally. For
the Czar counted on establishing division between
France and England ; and had eithr England at first,
or Louis Napoleon afterwards, listened to his insidious
proposals, he would certainly be now at Constantinople.
But he still further miscalculated in believing a French
and English alliance unattainable. Doubly disappointed,
his reaching Constantinople is now hopeless ; and his
remaining in tLe Principalities, with a hostile fleet and
army capable of operating on his rear, impossible. He
is becoming sensible of all this, and must wish to abridge
the spectacle of his humiliating impotence in the Baltic.
He will do in the beginning, and at once, what he sees
Vie must do in the end, and will lose no time in offering
terms. This is what we have always expected, when
once we should begin in earnest to test the over-esti-
mated power of Russia.
It is also what we dread. Being convinced that the re-
duction of the power of Russia is an indispensable condition
of the development of European civilisation and happiness,
we dread any cessation of war that shall leave her with the
means of influencing either Germany or France. She
stands now before the bar of civilisation the triumphant
perpetrator of acts which must be reversed, before the
Germans, the French, and the English can find any
moral anchorage for a stable peace in Europe. The
successful extinction of one great member of the
European body, and the successful mutilation of another
are deeds that will for ever prevent any settlement of
European affairs until they are annulled. Peace until
lately was only the child of exhaustion, now it is be-
coming the moral want of humanity ; but we can never
possess that feeling of confidence which is prerequisite
for its attainment, as long as we witness that brutal and
treacherous triumph of might over right which the pre-
sent condition of Poland and Finland offers to the bewil-
dered belief in Divine justice. There may be English
statesmen disposed eagerly to snap at the Czar's offers,
and there may be a cessation of war for the moment, but
in the present stage of the European mind nothing can
be permanent but what is just, and a cessation of war
before justice is satisfied will only lead to a con-
tinual and miserable struggle, which must terminate
a few years hence either in the triumph of Rus-
sian barbarism and the retrogradation of civilisation
throughout Europe, or in a renewal of that war which
we have now begun, and which we shall have been un-
wise enough not to bring to such a close as justice and
policy alike dictated. This it is fully in our power (we
speak of France and England conjunctively) now to
compass.
This, therefore, ought to be our object. No
peace, until Russia, reduced to her natural limits,
shall be left without the power of influencing Euro-
pean affairs. We have shown how erroneous is the
estimate which has been formed of the power of Russia,
nor would the delusion ever have arisen but for the
circumstance to which we have just pointed attention,
and of which it was not an unnatural result. For the
mass in every country saw their rulers admitting by sub-
serviency and flattery their own relative weakness, and
looking to Russia with hope and fear, as if she were
absolutely strong. This arose from their being univer-
sally at variance with their subjects, and thus sensible of
their domestic weakness, while the Czar alone, govern-
ing in harmony with the feelings of the barbarians over
whom he rules, was strong at home. The elements
of her real strength for aggressive purposes might have
been inferred by reflecting on her miserable diffi-
culties in 1828 and 1829 against Turkey ; by her
positive defeats in 1831, by the Poles, whom she
only conquered by the actual military interference of
the Prussian army on the left bank of the Vistula ;
and by what she is now labouring in vain to do against
the Turks. If the war continues a very few months
more, the nullity of Russian power and the reality of its
weakness will be fully established ; and the Czar, disap-
pointed in the division between France and England
on which he counted, finding Austria inclining against
him, seeing himself deprived of these artificial supports
and reduced to his own intrinsic resources, will hasten
by offering concessions to prevent that exposure of his
real weakness now so near at hand. The plausible
ground on which lie will place himself is already indi-
cated ; and unfortunate predilections for a quasi-return
to the " Settlement" of 1815 will favour his attempt,
and tend to defraud civilisation and humanity of the
prospects opening before them. But nothing now can
be a "settlement" of Europe which is riot bottomed
on concession to the acknowledged wants and inte-
rests of mankind in the various territories into which
Europe is divided. The partitioning out of Europe
among a score of regal families, and adjusting the shares
allotted to each, never could, and never can be a settle-
ment ; and were it not the misfortune of mankind to
confound ability with wisdom, they would have derided
the arrangements of Vienna in the beginning, not-
withstanding the men who combined their powers to
produce them. However able, they were anything but
wise or long-sighted.
While we write we see news alleged to be authentic,
and which affords a remarkable fact in confirmation of
the view we take of the Holy Alliance. Austria has
suddenly relaxed her tyranny in Hungary and elsewhere.
If this be cohfirmed, we shall take for granted that she
means to take part with the allies at last. Deciding to
oppose the Czar, she loses his external guarantee, and
feels immediately and instinctively that she can provide
a substitute in good government alone.

EVENTS of a RACE.—An ANTICIPATION of
the DERBY DAY —Custom has inured thousands who do
net call themselves sportsmen to visit Epsom on the Derby Day ; a
vast sum will be staked on the race ; but immense numbers will take
a trip to the I 'owns to see the company and enjoy the pleasures of a
country excursion. The events of such a day are ions talked of, and
everybody knows how everybody else were dres-ed. For a number
of MOSES and soN have made the most extensive arrange-
ments years E.
to supply all classes with the most suitable Attire for On.
Derby Day, and have fully entered into the contest of fu nishing every
article better and cheaper than any other house in the world. Daily
events show that they always win the race in the most triumpliaot
manner, and have prepared everyone to anticipate all the novelties
and comtor sof Attire for every season and occasion. In anticipa-
tion of lb Derby Din. as a season of plea ore, every person, sports-
man or not, shoo d nspect the splendid stock of Dress prepared by
E. Moses and eon; it will resist sun and dust, look elegant and feel
comfortable, and may be obtained at their City Establishment, or
their West-end Branch, for considerably less money than might be
paid elsewhere.
The Hat, Cap, Hosiery, and Boot and Shoe Departments are the
recedtacles of a Magnificent Stock, all new, illustrating the skill of
all countries, and the experience and enterprise of E. Moses and Son
in th-ir selection.
The Wholesale Department contains the largest and most select
stock of Clothing, B'ots and Shoes, Shirts, Sze. for the home or ex-
port trade, and furnishes advantages in quality and price entirely
unprecedented.
Outfits for all classes of Emigrants, Ladies and
e.
Gentle Men,
lists of which may. be had on application or p guard the
post f
Malang to
CAUTION. —E. MOSES and SON regret
,üblic against imposition, hxvins learned that the untradesman-like
falsehood of " Being connected with their Establishment," or " It's
ho same concern," has been resorted to in many instanees, and for
,bvious reasons, they beg to state that they have
No CONNEXION WITH ANY OTHER HOUSE IN OR OUT OF LONDON,
except their own Establishments, as follows :
inories, 8 4
London City Establishment, 154, 155. 156, and 157,
IVI
85, and 86, Aldgate, opposite the Church, all communicating.
London West-end Branch, 506,507, 508, New Oxford-Street, 1,2,
and 3, Hart-street, all communicating.
Bradford (Yorkshire) Branch, 19 and 20, Bridge-street.
Sheffield Branch, 36, 6argate.
Colonial Branch, Melbou,ne, Australia.
Merchant rano.= Clothiers, Hatters, Hosiers, Furriers, Boot and
Shoe Makers, and General Oatfltters for Ladies and Gentlemen.
IMPoRTA.NT.—ShouId any article not give satisfaction, its will be
exchangedwithout if desired, or, if preferred, tha money will be turned
nuetwheßasyla,tlon. All goods are marked in figures, the lowest
priThe,etrEono which no abatement. can be made.
A
cos:tali:7g
when business is resumed till 12 o'clock.
Establishments
laisretsclootsed
ifrom sunset on Fridays to sunset
on Saturd
s..o.B,ltee,.klwmimthaaynillahucesito.rratthioenpyir,:eanrstitled " The Echo of Public Opi-
nion,"meAethalrucle ending
gs system et
aent
had,bsee l f -
gratis
had on application, or post-free.
n application.
lon l'on parle Francais.
tiler +r rich' mall Deutsch.

Qui si parla Italian°.
Anua se habla It',van°.

SOHO.—Yesterday
Messrs.tpoerFf :le
oei:en,t '
s tl. da y MESSRS.(S u ni3dEav INGTON'S ORGAN FACTORY,
a fire broke out in Yalbaefitiedrnoon, shortly after one
k,---E,Soho square, occupied by building in Rose-yard, Roqe-
builders, Mr. Littleton, Messrs. B
wholesaleev i n gntiol n
aa
nn
dd
miunseicfprermintecrr,oawnnd.
organHopkinson and Purvis,
minutes
and
nngd after.
stret
othershete
e o
alarml o ilr t
wasnen .
sounded,tl u
the
Brigade o
f aeewt
Crown-
street attended, followed by that of theg
from Wells-street, Holborn, Chandos-street,hK
Golden-square, that of the West of England office,he and
another from Watling-street, bringing with t
Braidwood, the superintendent ; Mr. Staples, tl;fl\Oirre.-
man of the C district ; Mr. Connorton, the' principal
officer of the West of England Insurance Company
Messrs. Fleming and Girand, engineers of thelirfl ;a Brigade.
\ The firemen kept pouring torrents of water u
fire, but nearly two hours elapsed before the col:: on
tion could be extinguished. As to its origin no info the
tion could be obtained. Fortunately, Messrs, Bevrini.
a
ton are insured in the County Fire•offico,

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
It is now officially known here that Vice-Admiral of
the Blue the Hon. William Gordon, February 11, 1854,
supersedes the present gallant Vice-Admiral at Sheer-
ness, whose time expires next month, and that Captain
Cospatrick B. Hamilton, November 9, 1847, takes the
command as Flag Captain to the Waterloo, 121 ; Mr.
Thomas Grant, December 19, 1807, takes the office of
secretary to the new-coming Admiral.
Orders have arrived at Sheerness for the Resistance,
10, troop-ship, Master-Commander Manser Bradshaw,
to wait the arrival of a spare screw propeller and gear,
to be taken out for the use of the St. Jean d'Acre, 101,
Captain the Hon. Henry Keppel, now in the Baltic.
The following officers are ordered to take 'a passage in.
this ship :—Mr. Henry Treleaven, first-class engineer, to.
join the Nile, 91 ; Mr. Robert Harvey, first-class engi-
neer, to join the Penelope, 16 ; Mr, Charles Grey Gib-
son, third-class engineer, to join the Dragon, 6 ; Mr.
John Spinks, third-class engineer, to join the Bulldog,
A draught of fine
nsyoungFriday
d thea men eßna l (ordinary
Baltic,
e,evening,f r m
generaln
chargese a seamen) n)
service
far-
rivedSheernessahneielois:oi,recently passed for Second-Master,
t6petty
ain gndaofficerA. thll rel loaPßm the Fisgard, 42, at Woolwich, for a
i
in the fleet.
The Hannibal, 90, screw steam-ship, at Chatham,
Captain the Hon. Frederick W. Grey, will be ready for
being put out of dry docks next spring tides. She will
then be towed down to Folley Point, there to receive her
armament, &c., after which she will be brought down to
Blackstakes to take in ammunition, shell, rockets, &c.,
and she will there have her compasses adjusted prepa-
ratory to her departure.
The Stromboli, Commander Robert Hall, will drop
down from her moorings, opposite the dockyard, Wool-
wich, to the Royal Arsenal at 6 a.m. this day, and take
on board a large supply of shot and shell for conveyance
to Malta and the fleet in the Black Sea.
The Severn, 50, buildine. at Chatham, has had her
keel and cutwater coppered, and will soon be ready for
launching.
The Rhadamanthus, paddle-wheel steam store-ship,
Master-Commander John Belem, has taken on board a
portion of the machinery of the Royal Albert, 131,
screw steam-ship, and will be ready to convey it to
Sheerness about Thursday next, that it may be fitted at
that port.
Volunteers continue to be received at Liverpool for
the Royal Navy, her Majesty's steamer Prometheus
being still anchored in the Mersey. On Thursday night
a party of 22 seamen volunteers was forwarded to
London.
The port of Dartmouth was visited last week by three
gentlemen from the Ordnance Department—a lieutenant
of the Royal Engineers, and a captain and lieutenant of
the Royal Artillery—for the purpose of inspecting the
castle and forts at the entrance of the harbour. After
completing their tour of inspection, they decided on
removing the guns there, and replacing them with much
heavier metal, so as to put the harbour in a complete
and efficient state of defence.
Nos. 89 and 92 hired transports went down the river
from Deptford on Friday, and did not stop at Woolwich,
but held on for one of the western ports, where they are
to take on board horses and troops for the seat of war in
the East.
The Tynemouth, hired transport steamer, still remains
at Woolwich, and it is expected will embark: the pen-
sioners who have volunteered for service in the ambu-
lance corps or as hospital nurses in the East.
One colour-sergeant and 20 privates of the Woolwich
division of Royal Marines have been placed under orders
to hold themselves in readiness to embark at Woolwich
dockyard for service in the Hornet, 17, screw steam-
sloop, commissioned at that port by Commander F. A.
Campbell.
A letter has been received from the captain of the Hi-
malaya, stating that he will leave Southampton to-day,
and arrive in Cork to-morrow. The new pier at Queens-
town has been fixed on for the embarkation of the horses.
A temporary platform will be run out to the ship, which
must lie at some distance, as she draws 19 feet of water.
The horses will thus be enabled to walk on board.
On Saturday the 97th Regiment of Foot left the Sheet-
street Barracks, Windsor, for Southampton, on their
way to the seat of war in the East. They were headed by
the fine band of the Royal Horse Guards (Blue), and
were loudly cheered on their way to the Great Western
station by the crowds of people who lined the streets. On
their arrival at the railway station they were received
by a crowd of people, including almost all the Eton boys,
and most of the tradesmen and professional gentlemen of
the two towns. Each of the long trains left the station
amid the most enthusiastic cheers of the spectators, re-
echoed by the 97th, the Blues' band playing the national
anthem with great eff:Tt on the platform. Soon after the
departure of the 97th about 460 rank and file of the 46th
arrived, under the command of Col. Garrott, from Wee-
don, and took possession of the barracks, which they
now bold jointly with the depot companies of the former
regiment.
The 97th embarked from Southampton Docks by the
Royal mail steam-ship Orinoco, Capt. A. Wilson. The
men arrived in two special trains from Windsor at 1.30
p.m., and marched into the docks in companies. In
less than two hours the whole of the regiment had been
safely put on board, with but one slight casualty to one
of the men, who slipped upon a piece of orange peel and
cut his forehead in falling. The regiment seemed in ex-
cellent health and spirits, and when the Orinoco hauled
out of dock, with the band playing, the soldiers replied
to the cheering of the spectators on shore by a military
chant in unison with the music, and with repeated
rounds of hearty shouts. The regiment consists of 1,000
rank and file and 40 officers, and is accompanied by 20
women and 16 horses, the latter being placed in stalls
ces the spar sleek. Besides the baggage and military
equipage attached to the 97th, the Orinoco takes out
1,040 barrels of ammunition and 60 tons of Government
stores and provisions. The whole of the provisions and
supplies for the military by the Orinoco, Hydaspes,
Himalaya, and other steamers, have been shipped
at Southampton by Mr. George Drysdale, the Govern-
ment emigration agent. They were contracted for by
Messrs. Linklater, Green, and Co., of London. The
Orinoco anchored in Southampton water during Satur-
day night to permit the men to settle comfortably and
quietly into their quarters before going to sea. At
daylight yesterday the Orinoco weighed anchor and
sailed for her destination. It is rumoured that the 97th
will form a portion of the small army of occupation un-
derstood to be preparing by the British and French
Governments for service in Greece. Orders to this
effect will, it is expected, reach the Orinoco at Malta.
The arrangements for the comfort of the troops on board
the Orinoco are of the same excellent character which
have distinguished the ship during her two
toprevious
voyages to the Mediterranean, and seemed give un-
qualified satisfaction.
Among the passengers which proceeded from South-
ampton on Saturday by the Peninsular and Oriental
Company's steamer Colombo for Malta, were several
commissariat officers. The Colombo also tookot obut ltsboe
quantitytori tons of o
Governmentf fodder
forstores
th
the
and o
rpsreosv igs iooinn; u
and ay large
Himalaya to be transferred at Malta.
A second detachment of the Ist Royal Dragoons, con-
sisting of about 120 men and the same complement of
horses, arrived at Liverpool on Saturday morning from
Manchester, via Prescot, and were immediately em-
campbell. Adjutant-
Winkle for Malta, their ultimate destination being
barked on board the transport ships Arabthiaeadnedtaßchipmveannt
Turkey. The officers accompanying
were Major Wardlow, Captain
Lieutenant Webster, Lieutenant Charlton, Cornet Har-
topp, and Veterinary-Surgeon Poett. A third detach-
ment of the same regiment, under the command of Cap-
tain Stocks, is expected in Liverpool on Monday or
Tuesday, to embark on board the Coronella ; and the
remainder of the regiment will leave as soon as the
means of transport are provided.
The 42d Royal Highlanders, under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, embarked on Saturday
afternoon, at 4 o'clock, from the jetty at Portsmouth
dockyard on board the screw mail steam-ship Hydaspes,
for conveyance to Turkey. They marched from their
quarters in Anglesey Barracks, Portsea, played out by
the bands of the 34th Regiment, and let battalion Rifle
Brigade, to the tunes of "Auld lang syne," " Cheer,
boys, cheer," &c., amid the loyal acclamations and
greetings of the inhabitants who thronged the line of
march. The troops remained in harbour all night.
That day four of the crew of the Hydaspes were taken
before the Portsmouth magistrates, charged by their com-
mander, Mr. Baker, with refusing to obey orders. The
mutineers admitted their offence, and said they would
sail in the vessel with any other commander,
although they had sailed with Mr. Baker before. The
Mayor characterised their insubordinate conduct as most
disgraceful to British seamen, especially at this momen-
tous juncture, when their services were specially required
to aid in the conveyance of troops with l speed to the
seat of war. The prisoners, whose names were respec-
tively Ferguson, Monckton, Gardener, and Thomas,
were each sentenced to imprisonment for 30 days aod to
be kept to hard labour. Captain Baker said he would
consent to take two (Ferguson and Monckton), but with
the others he would prefer the law should take its course,
as they would infect a whole ship's company. The latter,
accordingly, were consigned to gaol, and the former
were sent on board the Hydaspes in charge of the
police. The Hydaspes sailed at 6 o'clock yesterday
morning for Constantinople.
A small detachment of the 11th Hussars embarked
on board the Panola transport at Kingstown on Friday
morning. They left Portobello Barracks at 8 o'clock,
and marched direct for Kingstown, accompanied by a 's Ointment and Pills,
__—
large number of soldiers from other regiments, and a [ArivEnnsEmEssr.]-- -Holloway
croud of civilians, who loudly cheered them as they infallible remedies for bad legs.— Mr. Henry Morgan, of
passed along. The embarkation was effected under the the Commercial-road, Newport, suffered for nine years
direction of the Adjutant-General, Lieutenant-Colonel with bad legs, which were covered with wounds. He
Clarke. The transport will be towed out of harbour had advice from several of the London hospitals, and
this day. consulted some of the local medical gentlemen, but he
A company of the 27th Regiment arrived in Dublin failed to derive any benefit ;Aitntfialicst,eurlistiismhaeteldy, his case
on Friday to join the head- quarters of the regiment, was given up as hopeless.determined
which is under orders for foreign s-ervice. to try Holloway' ointment and crisis e quickly
The 18th Regiment of Foot, recently returned from caused the wounds to heal, and he completely regained
the East Indies to Chatham, are actively engaged in his health in less than three months, to the astonishment
making up their companies front the depot, and it is ex- and delight of the whole of his acquaintances and friends.
petted they will shortly proceed to the northern district. —Sold by all druggists, and at Professor Holloway's
The Sappers and Miners a the East India Company's Establishment, 244, Strand, London.

Few, if any, of the features connected with the enter.
prise at Sydenham, which on the 10th of June will in.
vite the attention of the public, will be more attractive,
or excite nr,re admiration among the great masses of the
visitors, than the terraces, grounds, and park attached
to the palace. Sir Joseph Paxton, ably assisted by Mr.
Milner, has been eminently successful in this depart-
ment ; disavowing the path of tame servility and time-
honoured obedience to the old rules of landscape garden-
ing, he has, in laying out the grounds at Sydenham,
shown not only how readily he can take advantage of
the natural undulations of the surface to produce the
pleasing and picturesque effects of an English landscape,
but also with what ease he can produce all the magni-
ficence of a terraced and the choicest examples of an
Italian style. The series of terraces now completed, and
which were constructed under the superintendence of
Mr. Allen Vickers, are in the best Italian style, and
may, for extent and magnificence, successfully vie with
any that exist in the present day, or which were pro-
bably ever constructed. The building communicates
with the upper of these terraces by means of bold
and magnificent ' flights of granite steps, one at
each transept, and one at the end of each wing.
The front of the terrace is extended by ten bas-
tions, occurring at intervals of 96 feet, the length of
the terrace being 1,608 feet. There is a walk
along this terrace of the breadth of 48 feet. The
pillars which divide the balustrades of the terrace into
compartments of 24 feet are surmounted by statues and
tazzas. A double flight of granite steps, 96 feet in
width, ornamented at each side with a pair of colossal
sphinxes, leads up to the great central transept. At the
north and south transepts and wings, the flight of steps
is 48 feet in width, and upon each side is placed a single
sphinx. The ground immediately in front of the build-
ing is formed into a grassy slope, rising from the walk
up to the building. The lower terrace is 344 feet
wide, exclusive of the bastions ; it extends along the
whole frontage of the building, and is continued for a
distance of 72 feet round each wing, the entire length
being 1,896 feet, or the third of a mile and 46 yards. In
the front of this terrace are four bastions, and the balus-
trades are ornamented in the same manner as those of
the upper terrace, with statues and tazzas. This terrace
communicates with the upper one by a central double
flight of steps 96 feet in width, and two others 48 feet
wide at the ends. A large portion of the front of the
terrace is formed of masonry, divided into compartments
24 feet wide, in each of which are three alcoves, the
basins of which will be kept constantly supplied with
water from dolphins' heads placed in the upper part of
the alcove. The water flowing over these basins is re-
ceived in a general reservoir which extends the whole
distance between the bastions.
Descending a third flight of granite steps, the visitor
reaches the level, from which the surface falls gradually
away, on each side of the central walk, with the natural
landscape and surface formation of the grounds. From
the foot of the steps to the base line of the building the
entire fall is 42 feet 6 inches. In front of the central
transept, at a distance of about 300 feet from the last
flight of steps, is a large circular basin 200 feet in diame-
ter, surrounded by a gravel walk and balustrades orna-
mented with statues and tazzas.
A short distance from this basin are the water temples,
one of which is placed upon each side of the walk. These
temples or towns are octagonal in shape, and constructed
of hollow iron columns and girders, something similar
to those used in the Palace. The water is forced up the
columns on to the roof, whence it will flaw through a
longitudinal slit in a pipe, in the form of a graceful and
transparent crystal curtain. Surrounded by these
watery draperies, there is to be placed in the centre a
charming group of the "Three Graces." On the top of
each of the towers is to be placed a " Mercury." The
water flowing from each of these towers fails into a con-
tinuous step-like cascade, which runs on each side of the
central walk a distance of 550 feet.
At the foot of the cascades are two immense basins,
stretching away for nearly 800 feet upon each side.. The
basins immediately in front of the cascades, and which
receive the water from them, are 120 feet broad ; and
the largest basins are circular in form, and of a diameter
of not less than 360 feet. That there are no fountains
playing in these basins will be a matter of great regret,
as it will be impossible, without them, to judge cor-
rectly of the appearance which the grounds and ar-
rangement of the basins would present if supplied with
its grand system of fountains. For some of the basins
the designs for the fountains are not even yet decided
upon, and the difficulty of obtaining good and suitable
designs for the fountains has been not the least of the
many obstacles interposed in the way of the completion
of the works. As the fountains are not prepared to
play, it is immaterial that the means are not provided
for supplying them with water. Two tall towers, more
than 200 feet in height, were constructed, one at each
end of the building, upon the top of which each was
placed a tank capable of containing about 800 tons of
water. The water flowing from these lofty re-
servoirs would have given to the fountains in
the lower part of the ground a jet of water
nearly 200 feet in height. The mode in which these
towers was constructed was considered, however,
by Mr. Brunel and other engineers consulted on
the subject, as one which would not safely stand against
the vast amount of vibration which must necessarily
take place from pumping the water up to the top, and
the rapid descent of the fluid on its way to the basins.
Some plans were proposed for giving additional strength
and security to the towers, but as the carrying of them
out would involve an immense outlay, which would be
attended with uncertain results, it was considered ad-
visable at once to pull them down and re-construct new
ones of still larger dimensions, and of a more substantial
and secure character. The old towers having been taken
down, the new ones are now in course of erection,
nearly upon the site of the former ones. The new ones
will be 250 feet in height ; they will be twelve-sided
figures, of a uniform diameter of 40 feet, and the tanks
on the top will be made to hold 1,200 tons of water.
A perpendicular brick chimney shaft from the engine-
house will run up the centre, and the towers will be
constructed of iron columns, and gliders on the same
principle as that adopted in the building itself. Although
these alterations will involve an additional outlay of
30,0001., yet an increase of 30 feet in the height of the
water thrown by the largest fountains will be obtained,
and the time during which they will be able to play will
be extended by nearly 20 minutes beyond that which
would have been possible with the towers first constructed.
The water for the supply of these basins is obtained
from an Artesian well which is situated about 100 yards
from the lower end of the cascades, which has been sunk
to a depth of nearly 500 feet, and the process of boring
is still continued. An engine-house is constructed close
by the side of the well, which is fitted with four fine
steam-engines. Two of these engines, of 20 horse power
each, are employed for lifting the water out of the well,
and two others, of 30 horse power, are required to force
the water so raised a distance of about 500 yards, into a
large irregularly-shaped basin of 2i acres in area. Near
this basin, which is called the intermediate one, are four
large and powerful engines of 40 horse power, which
force the water up to the large reservoir at the north end
of the building, near the Queen's entrance. This reser-
voir is about 370 feet square, 12 feet deep, and contains
17 millions of gallons of water. The water has not yet
done its work, and two more engines built close to the
wings of the building, are required to drive the water
from this last reservoir up to the tanks on the top of
the wings, and those which will ultimately be placed on
the top of the lofty water towers. When at full work,
there will therefore be required the employment of ten
steam engines of an aggregate of 320 horse power.
The grounds beyond the large basins, with the excep-
tion of the geological lake and islands, are as yet in a
state of chaos and some months will necessarily elapse
before Sir Joseph Paxton will be able fully to illustrate
his botanical system. Although the whole of the ground
works will not be brought to a conclusion by the 10th
of June, they will still be in such a state of forwardness
as to afford the means of pleasing and healthful recrea-
tion to the visitor.