The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-20 00:00:00

EARL DE GREY ON EXHIBITIONS.

The Fine Art Exhibition was opened on Monday
afternoon, at Ripon by the Right Hon. Earl de Grey and
Ripon. The exhibition has been kvartotiad for the benefit
of the Ripon Scientific Sccieiy and Mechanics' Institution,
and consists of specimens of the fine arts contributed by
the gentry and nobility of the county. It also contains
the regalia from the South Kensington Museum, and the
Abyssinian collection, including the crown and shield of
Theodore and the personal ornaments of his queen.
There is also a collection of pre-historic relics from
the Yorkshire tumuli, which have never been
exhibited before. There was present a very large attendance
of the nobility, clergy, and gentry of the city and
surrounding districts. Earl de Grey and Ripon, who was
called to the chair, delivered the inaugural address. He
congratulated the citizens of Ripon on the success of the
undertaking. He directed especial attention to the pre-
historic specimens. The exhibition, as regarded art, could
not, he was sure, be disappointing to those who visited it.
He could have wished that there had been a larger dis-
play from English schools of painters, because whi e we
had very little to boast of in many branches of art, yet in
painting we had many marked and distinct characteristics
well worthy the attention and admiration of all who took
a delight in art. In spite of our boasting in this nine-
teenth century we must admit that in many departments
of art we were far behind others who had gone before us.
With respect to architecture and ornamental art past ages
had produced an architecture and ornament of their own,
each marked with characteristics peculiar to the race and
the age which produced it, while we in these days rested
upon the imitation of past examples. This was an age of
exhibitions. They were now springing up in every part
of this and other countries. By means of these exhibi-
tions there could be brought within the reach of every
man examples of the best description of art of past ages,
so that by the study of what had been done before, our
manufacturers and our artists might be led, if they could
not create, at least to imitate successfully, and provide
objects of great and real beauty. Not only did benefits
accrue to the producers by these exhibitions, but
those also for whom the works were produced derived an
advantage, for they educated the general taste of the
country, and shewed the purchaser what was not in good
taste or not consistent with art or the principles of beauty.
With respect to this portion of the subject, he greatly
rejoiced to think that the department over which he had
the honour to preside was doing a great work in this
direction, for it had contributed to this exhibition
objects of no inconsiderable interest. It might of
course be said by some, that the science and art depart-
ment at South Kensington Museum was a costly institu-
tion established for the benefit of London, and that the
sums expended on it were not of general advantage to
the country.. That was entirely a mistake, for in these
days of rapid inter-communication, when so many persons
from every part of the country visited London, it would
be an unseemly thing to be without a great national
museum of works of art of all times. By means of it too
education was given to art teachers who spread throughout
the lenghth and breadth of the land, and inculcated in
every part the lessons they had learned. It must also be
remembered that the museum circulated through the
country objects of interest. His lordship concluded by
heartily wishing success to the Exhibition. An address
was also delivered by the Bishop of Ripon.

Twelve casks of gttnpowder, discovered afterwards
to be blasting powder, and sixteen bags of shot, were
seized on Saturday afternoon in a public thoroughfare in
ClonmeL Both casks and bags were addressed to a
woman in Cappoquin. The ammunition is believed to
have been intended for legitimate purposes, but the police
detained its pending inquiries.
An official statement announces that since the
opening of the Suez Canal in November last 131 ships
have passed through it, and that the receipts from transit
dues have been 558,262 francs. The traffic continues to
shew a steady increase. During March, 53 vessels passed
through the canal ; from the Ist to the Bth of the present
month the number has been 23. The total receipts since
the opening amount t01,529,338f. (R 61,173.)

CAPTURED BY BRIGANDS.—The Pall Mall Gazette
believes that Lord Muncaster has been released by the
brigands in Greece. The following prisoners remain in
their hands :—Mr. Herbert, Mr. Frederick Vyner (Lady
De Grey's brother), Mr. Lloyd, and a member of the Ita-
lian diplomatic service. The ladies who are released are
Lady Muncaster and Mrs. Lloyd. Lord Muncaster was
released to arrange the ransom.
A MINIATURE MODEL.—A.n ingenious American
mechanic, by name Trufton, has just finished one of the
most wonderful miniature models ever seen. It is that of
a steamboat, and the whole of the metal out of which it
is made weighs exactly as much as a half-dollar. The
cylinder is the sixteenth part of an inch in diameter, and
in the same proportion is the whole of the lilliputian
fabric, the boiler can just hold eight drops of water, the
half of which
.quantity suffices to keep the machine
many minutes in motion, so perfect is every minute
detail.

DISCOVERY or ANCIENT COINS.—A few days ago
some ancient coins were discovered in Harmondsworth
churchyard. While the sexton was digging a grave, and
when at great depth, in throwing up the earth he heard
a ringing sound and found several shillings. He still con-
tinued to dig, and discovered no less than twenty-five
five of them being placed on the arm bone of the remains
of an adult person. It is supposed that they must have
been buried some 300 years at least, the dates of the
coins being James I. and Elizabeth. They were in a
good state of preservation, and about as bright as when
new.

PRE= e:N T GRANT AND SAN Do MIN G 0 . —The
President's views on the San Domingo question have
been communicated to the Boston Advertiser by a
Mr. Sidney Andrews, who gives them in a
semi-official form. The President says that the
DOminican authorities made him the first
proposals, and pressed annexation upon him. He there-
fore sent confidential messengers to examine the state of
affairs, and the condition of the island. President Grant
has certain Proof that the $1,500,000 which the States are
to pay covers the whole of San Domingq's obligations,
and regards the stories of a concealed debt of fifteen mil-
lions as a device of foreign jealousy. The population he
estimates at less than 200,000, and apprehends no
trouble in governing them. The island ho consi-
ders the finest of the West India Islands. The soil
is rich, and produces all the fruits of tropical latitudes.
In ten years after annexation the exports would, he
believes, exceed $100,000,000 a year. The people of the
States, he argues, would quickly go down there, open
plantations, -attract labour, give employment to the
natives, build railways and telegraphs, lay out towns and
villages and establish lines of steamers to New York and
New Or'leans. Quantities of sugar, coffee, tobacco, and
other tropical fruits would be grown and exported, and
American manufacturing and agricultural interests would
thrive thereby. Acting on the Monroe doctrine, the
President considers that the States cannot refuse to
receive the island, and if the overtures of the people
are rejected, there is danger they may turn
to Great Britain for protection. One of the
next works of the world will be the Darien
Canal and an American station in the West Indies will
be essential to the project. The weak point of America
is the GulA Coast, and it would be folly to reject so
advantageous an opportunity to secure an outpost. The
President thinizs every one would favour the scheme if
they understood the facts, and propose to send,
Couroseional Commiksion to tho