The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-27 00:00:00

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

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The continued wet weather still keeps alive the fear
that the ridge and valley roof of the Crystal Palace can-
not be made watertight—at least, not in time for the
opening on the Ist of May. Workmen are busily en-
gaged upon it, and there is no doubt that many of the
openings through which the rain penetrates aro broken
panes of glass, which of course can be mended. The
mischief, however, is not altogether of this description;
and we observed that during the heavy showers yester-
day morning the spots of wet caused on the floor by
the drip from above followed very frequently the line of
the gutters. The present state of the building is seized
upon by all who are behindhand in their preparations as
an apology for further delay, and native and foreign
exhibitors who are not ready by the Ist of May will
not be slow to throw all the blame upon the
contractors and the Executive Committee. Im-
mense exertions continue to be made in carrying for-
ward the preliminary arrangements, but the nearer we
approach the time fixed for opening, the more doubtful,
or rather, we may say, impossible, does it seem that all
will then bo in order and fit for publicinspection. Great,
however, as the intervening difficulties may be, we still
regard it as a matter of vital importance to the success
of the Exhibition that the Commissioners should keep
their plighted word. The first few days of the month of
May will probably determine its character, and if during
that critical period the preparations are still going for-
ward, and chaos is not reduced to order, what will be
thought of our punctuality? The Executive Committee
seem determined to do all that in them lies to secure the
derircd result, for they have issued a caution to exhi-
bitors not to delay sending in their goods till the 2d of
April; by doing so at the last moment they may be dis-
appointed of the means of conveyance. Agricultural
and horticultural implements and machines must be de-
posited in the building by the 29th inst. The select iein
for tried will be made by the jury on the Ist of April,
and the actual trials will commence on the 2d. The
arrivals of packages, both from home and foreign con-
tributors are daily and hourly increasing, and an im-
mense number of hands arc incessantly employed in
every part of the building.

MISS CATHERINE IIAYES.
RoME._T tie operatic season here closed last Tuesday,
the 4th of March, with the opera of Maris de Bohan, in
which Miss Catherine Hayes appeared for twelve succes-
sive rights. Nothing could possibly exceed the sensa•
tion her singing and acting created. The enthusiasm
of the audiences, whose delight knew no bounds, was
manifested after a fashion that must have reminded your
fair countrywoman of her glorious reception in her
native city. The cavatina andduet from the Linda also
created great excitement. The last performance on
i
Shrove Tuesday, took piece, as ,s the custom hero in the
morning, commencing at 10 io clock, to allow time for
preparations for the ball, as all the amusements of the
Carnival invariably terminate before 12 o'clock, in order
that Lent should not be infringed on. You will be
pleased to bear that the most distinguished individuals
among the proudest of aristocracies have paid Catherine
Hayes marked attention. No dancing is permitted in
Rome during Lent, but the musical parties commenced
last evening. Miss Hayes had the honour of being
invited to one given by the Princess Borghese, by
whom she was introduced to, the most distinguished of
the noble ladies present.
, She has also been honoured
with the diploma of " bornia della Pontificia Congre-
gazione ed Accedemia di Santa Cecilia," one of the
oldest and most respectable musical societies in Italy, the
last name enrolled in which is that of Madame Malibran.
Miss Hayes purposes to Dave Rome in a fortnight, and
expects to be in London by the 10th of April. She in-
tends to remain in London for the entire season, as she
does not sail for America until autumn. She has had
no less than ten offers to remain in Italy !—Mmical
World.

FINE WarrlNG.—We give the following as a re-
cent specimen of fine writing, from the columns of a con-
e you will
note how as one raging mountain chain has pass d before the
ttehionpNovriahriy :—As youo
scudf the
along a stormy sea, watching
stormy waters
next comes up, you seem to have fallen into a peaceful
valley of still waters : you have fallen below the level of
the tearing wind ; fix your eyes on the surface by the side of
the vessel, and you shall see nothing but little mimic billows,
which seem to chafe in sport; the exhausted ship sinks to
repose. But look closer into the waters, and you shall see
the same boiling seething of the mass; the hiss and jangle
of the little mimic waves within the trough is about to be
again overwhelmed by the roar already
rising from the next
raging mountain as it comes heavily but not slowly on ; find
the vessel does but steady before the next stunning thunder •
clap of the never-staying waters. So it is now in our sea
of politics. It is absolute suspension. Men's minds are in-
capable of forming definite ideas. They sit and wait the
next commotion ; and, from the unaccountable stillness now,
they begin to fear that something is coming which will be
very formidable."
THE SCOTTISE TiosrITAL.—A quarterly meeting
of this institution took place yesterday at Crane-court,
Fleet-street; Dr, ',lobster in the chair. The subject of the
site for the new building, which Lord James Stuart had in-
terested himself in with the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests, was eluded to. A legacy of 1,0001., bequeathed by
Mr. Ross, was also brought before the meeting, but after
some conversation it was agreed that the consideration of tho
matter should be adjourned. Some routine business was
transacted, and the meeting separated.