The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-21 00:00:00

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY.

The second general floe er show took place yesterday,
in the inner circle of the Regent's Park, the Queen and
Prince honouring the gardens with their presence, cc
companied by the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice,
and their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and
Duchess of Mecklenburg Streliz. Among the visitors
present were the Duchesses of Norfolk, Beaufort, and
Somerset; the Duchess of St. Albans, the Marquises of
Ailesbury, Ely, and Lisboa; the Marchioness of Ales-
bury, the Bishops of Durham and Winchester, the
Earls of Beauchamp, Egmont, and Wilton; Lords Tern-
pletown and Courtney, Ladies Pellew, Fellows, Evans,
Antrobus, Hume Campbell, Molyneaux, Goldsmid, Isa-
bella Baring, Trollope, Bolt, Rolle, Buxton, Carroll,
and Lygon; Sirs E. Johnson, J. Milbanks, R. Joddrell,
M. W. Ridley, F. Booth, W. J. Newton ; F. L. Lush-
ington, J. Cockburn; Baron Goldsmid, Count Kielman-
segge, M. Van de Weyer, Mr. H. T. Hope, M.P., Dr.
Buckland, Colonels Hanmer, Smith, E. Wilmot, Dixon,
Fitzgibbon, Buckley, Newberry,
.Dixon, &c.
The following were the first prizes fur the chief col-
lections :—For 30 stove and greenhouse plants, to Mr.
May, gardener to Mrs. Lawrence; 20 ditto, Mr. Green,
gardener to Sir E. Antrobus; 10 ditto, Mr. Williams,
gardener to Miss Trail; specimen plant, Mr. T. Wil-
liams and Mr. Cole, gardener to H. Collyer, Esq.; 6 tall
cacti, Mr. Green; rare orchids, Mr; May, gardener to S.
Rice Ker, Esq.; rare plants, in bloom, Messrs. Veiteh,
Exeter; plants of economical interest, Messrs. Veitch;
12 Alpine plants, Mr. Smith, gardener to J. Anderson,
Esq,; Cape pelargoniums, Mr. Parker; 15 heaths, Mr.
Mylam; 12 ditto, Mr. Epps, Maidstone; 6 ditto, Mr.
T. Williams; 4 azaleas, Mr. Greet; 25 orchids, Mr.
Mylam; 15 ditto, Mr. Plant, gardener to J. H. Sched•
der, Esq.; 6 ditto, Mr. Dobson, gardener to Mr. Beck;
exotic ferns and 30 British ferns, Mr. Williams, gar-
dener to C. P. Warner, Esq.; 12 pelargoniums, in 8 in.
pots, Mr. Cock, Chiswick; 12 ditto ditto, Mr. Dobson; 6
ditto, in 12 in. pots, Mr. Parker; 6 fancy ditto, R. Mos-
ley, Esq., Pine-apple place; 6 ditto, Mr. Ambrose, Bat
tersea; for seedling ditto, Mr. Holder, 12 pinks, Mr.
Turner, Slough; 24 pansies, Mr. Turner, Slough; 6 cal-
ceolarias, Mr. Henderson, Pine-apple-place; 6 fuschias,
Mr. Robinson, gardener to J. Simpson, Mg.; 12 roses,
in pots, Messrs. Lane and Son; 8 ditto ditto, Mr. Terry,
gardener to Lady Pullen; 6 yellow roses, in pots, Messrs.
Lane and Son; 100 roses, Messrs. Paul and Sons; 50
ditto, A. Rowland, Eiq., Lewisham, and Mr. Terry; 12
I new roses, Messrs. Lane and Sons.

LAUNCH OF THE BRITANNIA.

B3IDGE.
MENAI STRAITS, WEDNESDAT:ThO greatest doubt
and anxiety now bangs over the accomplishment of this
great operation. The excitement here, and, indeed,
throughout the county, is greater than ever, owing to
the unavoidable procrastination that has taken place.
Mr. Stephenson, who has not left the works since
Monday, holds hourly conferences with Captain Claxton,
Captain Moorsom, and his engineering staff. The great
experiment would, unquestionably, have been completed
last evening, had it not,been for the untoward event of
the great capstan breaking. This, it is said, arose from
no insufficiency of strength in the capstan itself, but
from the fact of the shore lashings behind the tube not
having been cut away or detached flora the tube, and, as
a natural consequence, while the capstan was employed
in drawing the tube out into the stream, the shore lash-
ings detained it, and the capstan, failing to overcome
the resistance, started, strained, and broke. On the an-
nouncement of this result, which was immediately com-
municated from point to point along the Straits, the vast
multitude dispersed in a state of great disappointment,
some of the more facetious amongst them denouncing
the whole affair as a " sell." it was announced, far and
e ide, that the floating would take place at seven o'clock
this morning, and even at an earlier hour vast numbers
had assembled; but they were again doomed to disap-
pointment, the capstan, on the renewed attempt, again
failing, and Captain Claxton having received some fall
or injury. Renewed attempts are again fixed for eight
o'clock this evening, when the tide will be 18 feet 11
inches. Two boats employed in conveying the tackle
have been sunk to-day.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
At half-past nine o'clock last night the final operations
for placing this magnificent work were completed, and
the tube fixed firmly upon its bed, amidst the loudest
demonstrations of approbation from all the spectators
assembled upon the interesting occasion.

, .----=---- --- -
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
Yesterday was a proud day for Mr. Mitchell. In the
afternoon he had presented to him, by the patrons of the
St. James's Theatre, a magnificent candelabrum and a
superb silver salver, " as a testimony of the zeal, libe-
rality, and good faith which have characterised the ma THE UNITED LAW CLERKS' SOCIETY.— The
negement of the French plays;" and in the evening the
seventeenth anniversary meeting of the friends of this
house was crowded to excess by those anxious to do
society was held on Tuesday evening at the Free-
him honour on the occasion of his benefit, while the per- mason s Tavern. The duties of the chair were most ably
fortnances were indeed par extraordinaire, seeing that
discharged by the Right Hon. Sir Frederick Pollock,
Lafont had come expressly from Paris to take part in
Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer. The
them, and that Madame Cinti Damoreau appeared once
more on the stage. The reason of all this is obvious, and Chairman, in deviating from the routine of toasts pro-
ased by the committee, said that, at the risk of being
the moral plain; and it is to be wished that other ma- posed
with heading an Inzeute--(Laughter)—he must
Lagers would study the reason and profit by the moral, charged
and follow the example of Mr. Mitchell, who, to use the take the liberty to propose the " Health of His Royal
Highness Prince Albert" separately. The Prince was a
words of the Duke of Beaufort, when presenting to him
the testimonial, ‘• is as, popular behind the curtain as he bencher of Lincoln's Inn, and his acquirements entitled
is before it, because in him the artistes have always found him in every respect to the highest esteem.—(Cheers.)
a benefactor and friend." This is high praise, but not In proposing the toast of the evening, "Prosperity to
higher than the deserts of Mr. Mitchell, who during the Law Clerk's Society," the chairman passed a high
the eight years of his manegerial career at this theatre eulogium upon the profession of which he was an humble
has expended, among dramatic artists alone, upwards of member. Ile might tearlessly say that no profession
120,0001. But it is nut alone the public in general, and was more distinguished for its support of freedom and
the principles of the constitution. Mr. Llamfreys, Q.C.,
the artists who are under obligations to Mr. Mitchell;
roposed the health of the chairman, and referred to him
more indebted to him even than they are the unfortunate P
as an illustration alike of how a sound lawyer, and an
mortgagees of the St. James's Theatre, whose property
English gentleman, could discharge the duties of a high
Was quite valueless until Mr. Mitchell stepped forward
situation. Mr. Bethell, QC., proposed the next toast,
and became the tenant of the theatre, and who, as a tcs-
an
timony of the respect which they entertained fur him, d congratulated the meeting upon having for a chair-
presented him yesterday, through the medium of Dr. men a gentleman who was so highly distinguished and
Daniel, with a costly cup and cover. We were not, esteemed in the discharge of every public duty. The
therefore, surprised to find, last evening, that the theatre chairman next proposed the health of Mr. Charles
was crowded to excess, and was honoured with the pre- Dickens. Mr. Dickens returned thanks in a felicitous
sence of Royalty. Never was manager more highly speech, alluding to " Dick Swiveller," and other legal
honoured than was Mr. Mitchell yesterday, and never characters that had come under his notice, in a manner
has manager more highly deserved such honours. which was received with great applause. In the course
The performances commenced with the quaint drol- of the evening various other toasts were proposed and
lerics of Teterd, in La Vendetta, and then fed- responded to in a manner which reflected the highest
lowed Rossini's comic opera, Le Conde Ory, credit upon the society. Suffice it to say, that, in the
an opera which, according to some dilettante, is almost absence of the requisite space for a proper and more de-
equal to the Barbiere. The opera, under the,
title of // tailed report, the whole proceedings were characterized
Conic Ory, was produced some years ago at her Majesty's by the most enlightened and truly Christian and liberal
Theatre, aut has not been performed of late years; why, 1 feeling, and that the result of the festival was the hand-
some sum of 420/.
it would be difficult to say, for the music is gay spark-
ling, thoroughly Rossini-ish, and, in a word, the opera GRAND SWIMMING FETE.—This evening one of
can be cast without difficulty. The plot lies in a nut- the best ssvimming fetes which has taken place tor many
shell; it consists of the attempts of Count Ory, a young yea ;s past, a ill come off under the direction of the
scapegrace, and his companions, as graceless as himself, ' Swlmming Club, at the National Baths, High Holborn.
to intrude themselves into the chateau of the Countess There are three medals to be contested for; the first a
massive Leander gold medal, valued at eleven guineas,
of Formontiers during the absence of her husband at the
the g ; the second a mas-
ift of Harold Kenworthy, Esq.
Crusades. The scapegraces are, of course, discovered,
sive :liver medal; and the third a second-class Leander
and have to plead for mercy to the Countess not to de-
silver medal, both of which are given by Mr. Hedgeman,
liver them up to the vengeance of her husband, who has
the worthy proprietor of these popular baths. The sue-
unexpectedly returned. The character of Comte Ory
ceseful competitor for the first prize is to be looked upon
was well sustained by M. Octave, and Mademoiselle
as the champion for la'49, the match being open to all
Charton sung tho lively sparkling music alloted
the world. The greatest excitement prevails in the
to the Countess with great brilliancy and effect.
M. Zelger, as the tutor of the Count, always fuming, swimming and bathing clubs as to the result, as there are
worried, and anxious, in consequence of the escapades' three men whose backers state there will not be half-a-
ot' his eharge,seas admirable; and Mademoiselle Giuehard, yard distance between them when they have reached the
asiel 2.lier, the page, who turns the tables completely on goal.
c I Count, was the It. very perfection of pert pagehood. II PRINCE ALBERT'S VISIT TO CHATHAM.—The
ller singing was admirable
throughout,
and her manner 4 Elfin, dispatch tender, is ordered from Portsmouth to
of giving the second soprano part in her trio with M. the Thames, under Commander Master Balleston, on
Octave and Mademoiselle Charton Saturday
Mademoiselle is deserving of espe- next, to attend on Prince Albert and convey
cial mention.Charton was called him to Gravesend, to attend the grand field day that is
for at the conclusion of ihe After the opera to take place shortly at Chatham. Captain Crispin will
Madame Cinti Damoreau, wile". name is fami- go to Londonvee to attend Prince Albert in the Elfin early
jar to every musical amateur as oneh of the next week.
most celebrated singers of the Frenchas'iliavcii ARTILLERY COMPANY.—His Royal
several moreeaux. As a graceful and finishedEe school,
sang
s ;rill.
ecutant Ilighne_s
Artillery Company,
Captain General and Colonel
of music of the florid style, Madame Cinti D'i'l
perhaps never had a superior, and of that
toreau of the Hon.
thetillery has signified his inten-
_ re- lion to review,
__ regiment on Monday next, the 25th
paarkahle facility of Focalization which gained
her inst., at ten o clock.