The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-19 00:00:00

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The general monthly meeting of the above so-
ciety was held yesterday at the society's rooms, 21,
Regent-street, under the presidency of the Rev. F.
Beadon. The show of plants and flowers was, as
might have been expected from the early period of
the year, rather deficient in quantity, but, never-
theless, contained some exceo4ingly fine specimens.
Amongst the most noticeable were the collection
of plants from the society's gardens, consisting of
acacias and other new Holland plants. Some fine
rhododendrons were exhibited by Messrs. Veitch,
and there were also some excellent plants of camel-
lias, &c., from Messrs. Lee and other exhibitors.
Particular attention was called to a box of black
Barbarossa, grapes, of which the keeping quality
had been tested by their being allowed to hang for
several mouths during the latter part of last year.
The lecture of the day was by Dr. Lindley, the
vice-secretary, on the qualities of British oak tim-
ber. The object of the lecture was show that
under the common name of English oak, there are
certainly two distinct sorts in this country, of
which one grows faster, is handsomer than, and at
least of equal durability with, the other.
durmast
e and
kinds he denominated respectively
common oak. Several specimens were exhibited,
and various proofs were cited, the tendency of the
whole being to show that the handsomer
and more rapidly growing tree is quite
as durable and as valuable for practical purposes
as the other. Under these circumstances Dr.
Lindley recommended the durmast oak to the at-
tention of planters. At the conclusion of the lec-
ture the usual thanks were voted, and the pro-
ceedings terminated.

TREATY BETWEEN ENGLAND AND THE Swiss REPUBLIC.
—A "Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Reciprocal
Establishment" was concluded between her Majesty and
the Swiss Confederation at Berne on the 6th of Septem-
ber, 1355. This was published yesterday. It confers
on the subjects of eaeh Power the privileges of residence
in the country of the other on an equal footing, and the
enjoyment of every right and privilege accorded to the
citizens of the country, or to those of the most favoured
nation. No higher duty or tax is to be levied than is
or may be imposed on the like property of a citizen of
the country. The treaty is to remain in force for ten

years.
SUICIDE Or HERR VAN DER MAST, THE WELL-KNOWN
SWORDSMAN,—Yesterday afternoon aninquest was held at
St. Bartholomew's Hospital on the body of Herr Van Der
Mast, the well-known swordsman, who committed sui-
cide by cutting his throat. The deceased had performed
before her Majesty in Lord Holland's Park, at Saville
House, Leicester-square, and at most of the assaults of
arms at the houses of the nobility and gentry. He was
looked upon as the most expert swordsman in England.
Since the closing of Saville House the deceased has
maintained his wife and family by giving lessons in fenc-
ing, &c„ and by working at his original business, that
of a furrier. One evening last week he left his employ-
ment and returned home. Shortly after, his wife went
down stairs, and en her return she discovered that he had
cut his throat. He was conveyed to St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, where he lingered until Sunday afternoon last,
when he died. The jury returned a verdict of temporary
insanity,