The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-20 00:00:00

TUE NEW COAL EXCILANGE.
Tho very early day fixed for the Royal visit to
celebrate toe opening of the Coal
.Exctioiancogme has occa-
plete the
sioned the greatest stir awl activ. ihty
decorative and wher works whic must be finished
before that interesting ceremonial takes. place. At
present the painters and artists are still engaged at
their wosk, but front the numbers employed there is
o reason to fe that the work will not in a few days
be sufficiently advanced to welcome the notice of the
Royal visitors and of the public, whose admiration it
cannot fail to call forth. As it is, in consequence of
the clearing away of the scaffolding and the various
apparatus of the workmen, it is now practicable to
form a much higher idea than could have been well
formed of the effect of the whole when this most ele-
gant edifice was last made the subject of notice.
A very casual observer of the whole structure must
regard it as a new illustration of the progress of
architectural and decorative art in our country,
. and a
very clear promise of rapid improvement in the
character and style of ,our public buildings. It seems
as if it has been the design of the architect,
and the
artists who have co-operated with him, to erect a
monument to the coal trade of our country, and on
the banks of that river whose pools are filled with
those mineral treasures, to celebrate the worth of this
great staple of English merchandise, the mining pro-
cesses by which it is obtelined, and the good shipping
by which it is conveyed to its destination.
• The style of this edifice is decidedly Italian, with
some peculiar and original features in the structure
and decorations. If it were designed to giv
prominence to another material of vast importance
among the mineral resources of England, the architect
has accomplished his plan, by the liberal introduction
of iron, cast and wrought, in the most original and
agreeable forms. -
The exterior, with its two facades, its tower, and
principal entrance, forms an imposing ensemble. The
principal entrance is still occupied by the artists, who
are just finishing a beautiful piece of decorative art
by which this entrance is surmounted, and which
present§ the figure of Plenty pouring her treasures
out of the cornucopice, and surrounded by figurini.
The planning of the interior strikes the observer
by its originality, and by the excellent manner in
which every superficial foot of ground has been ap-
propriated to its best use. The chief space consists
of a magnificent rotunda, being the Bourse of the
gentlemen who trade in the black diamond. Looking
upwards, the spectator observes three galleries pro-
jecting from the piers, and connecting the numerous
offices surrounding the circular area. The whole is
surmounted by a fine dome, through which a profusion
of yellow and white light descends into the rotunda.
The rotunda is. constructed chiefly of iron, and dis-
plays great ingenuity on the part of Mr. Bunning,
the arcnitect, for his original application of this most
useful material to the ribs and framework of the
dome and circular galleries. The prevalence of cane
and • twisted ropes, formed out of this material, is
calculated to give the idea that it has laid aside the
intractable and stubborn character it has hitherto
sustained.
The whole of this rotunda is covered with encaustic
painting, of high artist excellence, by Slr. Sang,
the distinguished artist whose works in the clubs, the
mansions of the nobility, and the Royal Exchange,
have earned for him the most distinguished reputation.
The twenty• four pilasters or decorated piers represent
the process by which the coals are brought from the
beds in which they are found to the furnaces and stoves
where they are consumed„ The lower range of panels
in the dome contain, on a turquoise blue ground, the
nio:t remarkable fossil coal plants with their botanical
Lames superscribed. The spaces above the piers in
the dome are filled up with well-executed representa-
tions of the apparatus employed by the miners at their
work, such as the shovel, pickaxe, the rake, and the
Davy lamp, most ingeniously arranged in the form of
troohies. The pilasters in the galleries are essentially
ltail'aele!,que, consisting of beautifully painted scrolls,
medallions, and geological specimens, sigillaria, ferns,
and calamites found in the coal beds. There are views
of the various coal-pits of the north, also of thekniners
in their working dresses, and in the various depart-
ments of their labour.
On the lowest range of pilasters are allegorical
representations of the attributes which are essential
to success in mercantile industry, with the designa-
tions appropriately given in English, such as Wisdom,
Justice, Fortitude, Perseverance, and Watchfulness.
At the base of these eight pilasters are given emble-
matical figures of the eight principal rivers in the
kingdom.
No one can view this beautiful erection without
admiring the ingenuity and skill by which all persons
eoncerned in the plan and its execution have united
the utile with the dulce, at the same time securing the
conveniences necessary for trade, and doing much to
encourage and cultivate the fine arts; and for the
liberal manner in which the whole has been conceived,
the corporation of London deserves the highest honour.
The principal public offices surrounding the rotunda
are those appropriated to the corporation officers who
have to collect the coal dues, and who are, we under-
st ind, appointed by the corporation ; the factors'
hoard-room, the weighers' society, and the merchants
and factors, among whom the present Lord Mayor of
London holds a very prominent position.

On Thursday afternoon a gentleman's carriage
came in contact with a phaeton on the King's-road,
opposite Mr. Booty's shop, at the bottom of West-street.
o.le of the wheels of the phaeton was knocked off by the
concussion, and in consequence the vehicle was thrown
violently to the ground, when a lady and gentleman, its
inmates, were thrown out, but happily escaped with a
slieht scratch or two. The footman jumped from the
dickey to secure the horses, and in doing so sprained his
ankle rather severely.—Brigliton Gazette.
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE AT MILLPORT.— On
Thursday afternoon last a very distressing accident
occurred to a sun of Mr. James Begg, formerly of this
city, but who has been for some time past residing in
Millport. On that day the boy had attended school as
usual,: and in the afternoon he, with two of his school-
fellows, proceeded along the cliffs to gather bramble
berries, little dreaming of the sad fate which awaited
him, and the anguish his parents and friends were so
soon to be plunged into. He was an only son, an inte-
resting little boy of nine or ten years of age. Ho had
not been long engaged at what he thought innocent and
safe amusement, when by some treacherous step he was
hurled over the precipice to the depth of 108 feet, un•
noticed by his comrades, for they had left him a little
way. The distance from the top to the bottom of the
cliff is 172 feet, but he fell on a projecting rock 64 feet
from the base. How long the poor little fellow might
have remained in that place is not known, it being a spot
very little traversed; but a gamekeeper happened to see
him fulling, and proceeded to the spot, where a woful
st.ectacle met. his eye. The poor boy was lying with
his skull dreadfully fractured, and otherwise severely
bruised. Ho was conveyed home. still in life, but it was
only to add to the grief of the family, for the agony of
the boy showed but too plainly that he could not sur-
yin,. He lived till Sunday morning. We can easily
imagine the feelings of the bereaved family, and sympa-
thise with them in their grief. Mr. Begg lost an inte-
resting and accomplished daughter but a short time ago,
which adds to the present affliction.—Glasgow Constitu-
tional.
Wheat sowing goes on slowly. On Wednesday
and Thursday last a good breadth was got in; but after
this nothing was done, owing to the rain, until the be-
ginning of the week. The rains have done good, as they
hive "closened " the ground, which was before too light,
and. being full of insects, not in a fit state to receive the
seed. There is a complaint ameng the potato growers
of the tubers being affected; and although they come up
bri,eht and sound they are fast changing, and it is feared
will not keep during the winter. Turnips continue to
grow, and thgre is a good quantity of feed in the grass
lands.—Brighton Gazette.
Loss OF THE COMMODORE isTAPIER.—The following
letter regarding the loss of this vessel has been received
from Captain Thompson:—
" Barque Harbinger, Archangel, Sept. 26, 1849.
" Sir,—l am sorry to inform you of the loss of your
brig, Commodore Napier, on the 21st inst., in the White
Bee, on the Lapland shore, about six miles above Cross
Island. The . weather being very foggy, she ran three
_ or four feet out or 'the water forward. Mr. thy says
he would have got her off by heaving ballast, if the
weather had kept moderate; but it came on to blow on
the shore, and the rock went through her. Being a
great declivity on the rock she slipped off it, and sank
in four fathoms water, with nothing standing above the
deck. The crew are all saved, but have not saved any
thing belonging to the vessel. The consul has got the
log-book to note the protest, and `he crew are put on
board different ships—two of the boys on board the
Harbinger—aed Mr. Hay expects to come home with
me also. My cargo is all down, and I shall be loaded
on the 28th, and leave this as soon thereafter as possible.
"I am, sir, yours respectfully,
(Sigrked) "PETER THOMPSON.
"Thomas Neish, Esq., Dundee."
The Commodore Napier was one of the finest brigs be-
loneing to this port-291 tons register—but was, we
understand, insured.—Dundee Advertiser.
Lpuuay.—CHARGE OF SHOOTING Two BOYS.—

At,the Petty Sessions on Wednesday, Thomas Bean, of
Berrow, was charged with shooting with a gun at two
boys, named. Richard Summers and John Baldwin,
withintent to do them some grievous bodily harm. Mr.
Reece, solicitor, who attrndod on behalf of the prisoner,
hoped the bench would treat the case as a common as-
sault only. He stated that the defendant had merely
discharged the gun to frighten the two complainants,
whom ho caught steali▪
ng his walnuts, and had no inten-
tion of doing them any
harm. After consultation, the
bench agreed to take the i
case asnnaissaul only. Richard
Summers deposed: I li▪
ve at the oi yb. usbt in
,the parish
of FAstoor. I was in company with John Baldwin
throwing at Bunn's walnut-trees, on Sunday evening,
the 7th of October, when Bunn came within thirty
yards of us and presented a gun at
drew the trigger, and the cap snapped, but us. He
the gun
did not go off. We then ran up a lane, and he
followed us, and when about sixty yards from us, as we
turned round to look at him, he fired, and a shot went
underneath one of my eyes, where it now remains. John
Baldwin gave similar evidence, and deposed that some
of the shots from the gun struck his hand. No defence
was offered further than that above stated. The magis-
trate fined the defendant 2/. for the assault upon Sum-
mers, and the like penalty for the assault upon Baldwin,
including costs.— Worcester Chronicle.