The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-10 00:00:00

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

The extensive scaffolding lately erected in front of
the British Museum, for the purpose of placing West-
macott's group of figures in the tympanum of the por-
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the exterior of what may be called a rather massive and
ponderous than an elegant and graceful structure. These
figures, which are intended as allegorical representations
of the different arts and sciences, do great credit to the
taste and judgment of the sculptor, both as regards the
way in which they have been designed and executed, and
the costurPs and positions they occupy in the group.
There is nothing strained, stiff, or unnatural about them,
while they at once strike the eye as the emanations of a
superior mind and the workmanship of a nice
and delicate hand. It may be safely said
that there is no public building in the metropolis

which, in this respect, will be able to com-
pete with the British Museum. The group is made
more effective by the largeness of some of the figures,
and the prominence which is given to them, by the
ground-work being painted blue—a novelty, by the way,
in this country. A small portion of gilding on the
minor matters of detail also forms an agreeable con-
trast. It will not bo difficult to conceive, therefore, that the
long facade of the Museum, destitute as it previously was
of all ornament, has been rendered more cheerful and
attractive, and otherwise greatly improved in appear-
ance. We question, too, whether the effect might not
be heightened by placing some classically designed and
appropriate figure on the plinth or pedestal immedi-
ately over the tympanum, which many regret to
find has been left vacant. Crowds of persons
are daily collected in Great Russell.streot, and
seem to examine with considerable interest
this praiseworthy specimen of the sculptor's art. The
figures, wo may mention, are all cut out of Portland
stone. The screen work dividing the building from the
street is proceeding very slowly and is not expected to
be finished before Midsummer, so that a vast number of
visitors to London during this exciting and bustling
season will not have an opportunity of seeing one of the
best of our public structures in a finished and complete
state. Though the officials or managers, in deference to
public opinion, were compelled to abandon their idea of
entirely closing up the area from the public—as it was
generally said for personal motives arid private conve-
nience—they have taken great pains to effect as much of
that ridiculous object as possible. The central piers,
which are built of granite, are nearly as large as some
moderately-sized cottages, and the stone work on %Ihieh
the massive iron railing is to be fixed, would compel a
little man to stand on his toes in order to get a glance
at the open space within. Notwithstanding, however, these
drawbacks, it is very probable that the architectural
screen, as it is called, will not look amiss when finished. ,

TWO CHILDREN POISONED.

THE LONDON GAZETTE, May 9.

BANKRUPTS.
Richard Gudgin, licensed victua!lor, Cople, Bedford
shire, May 16, and Juno 20, at two, at the Court o.
Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Businghall
street ; Wright, Furuival's-inn, Holborn ; Green,
Woburn, Beds.

John William Creed, innkeeper, Tilbury Fort, May
29, and June 19, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Edwards, official assignee, Sambrook-court, Basingball-
street ; Matthews, Arthur-street West, London-bridge.
John Moores, jun., draper, Aylesbury, May 24 and
June 23, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nichol-
son, official assignee, Basinghall-street; Wilkinson,
Gurney, and Stevens, Nicholas-lane.
Frederick Auguste Dietrich, bat manufacterer, Ben-
nett-street, Stamford-street, May 16, at half-past eleven,
and June 12, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belle
official assignee, Coleman-street-buildings ; Turnley,
Cornhill.

Frederick William Froggett and James Van Mutton,
corn merchants, Mark-lane, May 20 and June 19, at
eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official as-
signer, Coleman-street-buildings; May and Sweetland,
Queen-square, Bloomsbury.
David Kirby, draper, Brackley, Northampton, May 22,
at half-past twelve, and Juce 20, at eleven, at the
Court of Bankruptcy. Cullm, official assignee, Birchin-
lane ; Shattock, Coleman-street.

William Rolfe Golder, miller, Folkstone, May 19, and
June 16, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Pennell, official assignee, Guildhall-chambers, Basing-
hall-strut; Bowes and Son, Chancery-lane ; Watson,
Folkstone.

Charles Thomas Spencer Devey, auctioneer, Woburn,
Bedfordshire, May 29 mud June 17, at two, at thou Court
of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane;
Cobb, Downham-road, Lower Islington.
Thomas Bag,g, victualler, Birmingham, May 24, at
one, and June 9, at ten, ;at the Birmingham District
Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham ;
Gem, Birmingham ; Ito Wan), Knight, and Emmet,
Birmingham.

Isaiah Harper, builder, Dudley, Worcestershire, May
22 and June 17, at twelve, at the Birmingham Distrct
Court. Valpy, official assignee, Birmingham; Wright,
Birmingham.
__

James Merrell, cattle dealer, Walcot, Worcester-
shire, May 22 and June 17, at twelve, at the Birmingham
District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham;
Wrights, Birmingham.
William Gray, grocer, Sunderland, May 23 and June
24, at alven, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court.
Baker, official assignee, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Sale,
Worthington and Shipman, Manchester; Griffith and
Crighton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Charles Salter and Richard Morris Evans, tailors,
Upper King•strcet, Bloomsbury, May 20, at two, and
Juno 24, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom,
official assignee, Abchurch-lane, Lombard-street; Link-
laters, Charlotte-row, Mansion-house; Lindsay and Ma-
son, Gresham-street, City.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
Rear-Admiral Hornby, C. 8., is hourly expected at Ports-
mouth from the Pacific in his flag-ship Asia, 84, Captain
R. F. Stopford.
Mr. Loudon, paymaster of 1799, and formerly secretary to
the commander-in-chief at Devonport, the late Sir David
Milne, died on the Ist inst.

Coznmodore Wyvill, in the Castor, 36, was at the Cape,
April 4.
Herald, 26, surveying-vessel, Captain Kellett, C. 8., left
the Cape, March 27, for England, to be paid off.
Hermes, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Fishbourne, and the
Dee steam-transport, Lieutenant-Commander Crowder, have
been engaged in conveying horses and levies from .Table
Bay and East London.
Fairy yacht-tender, Master-Commander Welsh, and the
royal dispatch tender Elfin, Master-Commander Balliston,
were taken out to test engines and vessels after repairs,
round Spithead, on Thursday, by Captain Crispin. Both
vessels:answered well and are now ready for summer service.
Dart, 3, brigantine, tender to the Castor, Lieutenant-Com-
mander Sterling, arrived at Simon's Bay, from Quillamane,
March 17.

New Liverpool freight-ship arrived at Devonport from
Portsmouth on Wednesday. and embarked a detachment of
the 23d Regiment. She would have sailed on Thursday
morning had not the wind shifted to west in the night, and
blown hard all dey. As soon as the weather moderates she
will sail for Cork, and fill up her complement of troops, and
sail for Quebec.
Ponasmotrar, FRIDAY.—A fatal boat accident occurred
here this morning. The gig of Captain Harris, of the Prince
Regent, 90, was coming from Spithead to Southsea beach,
about a quarter to nine o'clock, when she was capsized by a
sudden puff of wind and a heavy sea striking her simulta-
neously. She had six hands in her (a coxswain and five fine
first-class boys), one of whom, named Charles Hawkins, was
drowned before assistance could be rendered them.
THE TURKISH SHIPS AT SPlTHEAD.—Yesterday morning
their Excellencies Geenaleddin Pacha, Lieutenant-General
(and brother-in-law of the Sultan), and Mustapha Pacha.
vice Admiral of the Turkish navy, arrived here by express
train from London, and were received a', the station by Com-
mander Sir G. Webster, Bart. Their Excellencies' visit was
strictly incognito • they proceeded immediately on board the
frigate Mirat Zafir, mustered and inspected her, after which
they visited the brig for the same purpose. The inspections
lasted four hours. The progress the crews of these vessels have
made in gunnery, and the general good conduct of their
officers and crews during their prolonged stay in this country,
elicited their Excellencies' warmest commendations, and Com-
mander Sir G. Webster received their thanks for his nude-
viating attention to his charge. As a mark of their
oatiofaction, all tllO mate OCI V 10,44; 1u chest, vessels (four in
the frigate and two in the brig) were promoted to the rank
of Lieutenant, and the petty officers and some of the '
crew received similar proofs of approbation. Their
Excellencies returned to town by the 6.30 P.m. express
train ; but it is their intention to pay a visit to our dock-
yard before they leave England. The steam-frigate Feiza
Baari is undergoing repairs at Woolwich, and will be ready
in about a fortnight's time, when these distinguished visitors
will return to Constantinople in her. The lower masts and
bowsprit of the frigate Mirat Zafir, which were known to
be defective some time ago, have been surveyed this
morning, and reported rotten. Application will therefore
be made to this dockyard for a new set, and she will
probably return into harbour early next week for the pur-
pose of taking in her new ones. The Bey, although aware
of their state, did not like to take the responsibility of ap-
plying for a new set without the sanction of his Admiral,
although urged to do so by Sir G. Webster three months
ago. We regret to add that one of the sentries on board
the Mirat Zafir, whilst walking his post on the forecastle
during Wednesday night, fell overboard, and although the
alarm was immediately given, and boats lowered, he sank
before they could reach him, being encumbered by his
great coat and accoutrements. The body has not yet been
picked up.

MAGISTRATES' CLERKS.—The notion of placing
magistrates' clerks upon salary is another of the unsound
" fits and fancies" of the day. " The labourer is worthy or
his hire," and why, therefore, in the name of common sense
and of justice, are magistrates' clerks to be deprived of a
portion of what, by their talents and industry, they earn?
In many instances they get but a trifle of the fee due to
them (in consequence of the poverty of complainants, where
a defendent goes to gaol), and in many other instances they
get no fee at all, the law not authorising any remuneration.
Why, then, are they to be salaried, and surrender a portion
of their fees to the county-rate? To that fund it would
avail little, whilst, individually to the clerks, it would be a
manifest injustice. If some magistrates have a desire to
act upon such a plan, the public, no, even the public, will
not thank them for it: Were it their own case, what woald
they say then 2—From a Correspondent.

FEMALE SERVANTS' TiomE.—The anniversary
meeting of this institution took place last night. In the
report it was stated that the receipts of the society were,
during the past year, 4721. 18s. Gd. ; and after the expendi-
ture of the association, there was a balance in hand of
261. 13s. 2d. Several resolutions were proposed and agreed
to, in support of the objects of the society. The meeting
thin broke up.

The Coventry Parliamentary and Financial Reform
Association held its annual meeting of members in the large
room of the Temperance Hotel, Bishop-street, Coventry, on.
Tuesday evening. The room was inconveniently crowded
with the attendance of members on the occasion. The ob-
ject of the meeting was to hear the accounts for the past
year; to consider the best method of electing the com-
mittee for 1851; and generally to secure a better organiza-
tion of the reformers of this city, upon the principles laid
down in the bill of rights issued by the National Association,
or free trade in all its integrity; financial reform; econo-
mical and equitable, Parliamentary reform, immediate and
complete.

STATE OF TRADE.-MANCRESTER MAY 8.--
Very little alteration has taken place in the
market since
Tuesday. Although on the whole, perhaps, rather more bu-
siness has been done, the market exhibits the same dulness
and depression to-day as it did last week. Where sales have
been effected they have been merely to supply immediate
and pressing wants, and have been generally executed at
prices in favour of the buyer. No material decline 114
taken place, except in the case of some parties whose wants
oblige them to press their stocks on the market with more
eagerness. There is a large stroke of business doing in the
mills, and production goes on largely, whilst the principal
accumulations of stock are confined to the iths printing
cloths, principally of the lower qualities. Of 9-Bths print-
ing cloths a good many have gone off in shirting lengths.
Madapollams and doniestics are also comparatively plentiful
in stock, Generally speaking, however, stocks continue
light.

ON DlT.—Lieut.-Colonel Crabbe, late of the 74th
Highlanders, will shortly lead to the hymeneal altar the
accomplished widow of the late Henry Spooner, Esq.,
formerly an officer in her Majesty's cavalry. The lady
,is
well known and appreciated at Sonthampton by her exten-
sive and multifariouslbenevolent charities.—British Army
Dispatch.

MAY 10, 1851.