The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-10 00:00:00

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

Sir E N. Buxton paired in favour of the removal
of Smithfield Market, with Mr. M'Cullagh, against.

TATTERSALL'S—THIS EVENING.
Six (*Loot.
No betting.

AWFUL TI UNDBU ST on—m.—On Sunday last,
about five o'clock in the afternoon, thdeanlliaiggehtonfilißi.styatliccms.
ram. It :cached its
mile due wedsti,' from Blyth
visited by an
i:iairi
mingled
awful storm
clock.
ctbokar.imi , thunderAosfnbeou
a and
hpeairgiihedtalbviotuht
church, on the road leading to Oldcoates an
Mr. George Dickenson, farmer and butcher, had ati'llrban4
sheep grazing is a field ; and about 25 yards from theozek of
was a large ash tree, under which the sheep sheltered. Vividoad
and brilliant lightning struck the tree, and cut the bark tr
the trunk, in r locos four feet long and six inches broad,
which it scattered at a distance in all directions, and the tree'
was shivered the whole length of the trunk. The fluid de-
shlcoten:ri3O;emdoe:::fpouplthh.e sheep, and five of them were struck dead,
andwe two others were almost lifeless. The seven annuals
C
~ re dressed, but it is feared they are unfit for use.—Notting-
ham
ire magistrates have voted a sum of
the. purpose of extending and altering the
House cf Correction at Knutsford, and building a new prison
for femalos.

ME DUKE 02 NORFOLK TURNED
PRESBYTERIAN.
—We have heard, on what we consider good authority:, that
an application has been made by a gentleman professing to
be properly empowered, for seats in Dr. Cummings chapel,
for the use of the Duke of Norfolk.—Adrertiscr.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

_
ird r,anu foleign,
that tile Exhibition positively and undoubtedly open
on the Ist of May. It seems very strange that, after
the repeated and peremptory announcements that
have already been made of this resolution, any idea
should still be entertained that it will be departed
from. On so important a point the Royal Commis-
sioners cannot break faith with the public, and, pre-
pared or not prepared, the opening must take place on
the day so long fixed for it. Our reputation for punc-
tuality is deeply involved in this matter, and any depar-
ture from the original arrangement would be attended
with the most serious inconvenience. It is to bo hoped,
therefore, that exhibitors of every class and country
will no longer cling to a notion which only
serves to relax their exertions and to damage
their share in the general display. How, after the
many positive and authoritative intimations they have had,
they should still in many instances refuse to be convinced,
we are at a loss to understand, but prohably the ex-
planation will be found to some extent in the back-
ward state of the work which the contractors have had
to execute. The painting of the interior, which they
engaged themselves to finish on the 20th of last month,
though very far advanced, has not yet been completed,
and, the inconvenience and interruption arising from this
delay are every day and hour becoming more sensibly
felt. Exhibitors now require a clear field for pushing for-
ward their preparations, and we trust that vigorous steps
may at once be taken in order that this result may be
secured to them. In saying thus much, we are far from
wishing to complain of Messrs. Fox and Henderson,
who, we are quite aware, have had extraordinary diffi-
culties to contend with in the progress of their great and
brilliant undertaking. For months past the firm bas been
deprived of the talents and energy of Mr. Henderson, who,
we are sorry to say, still continues in a very precarious
state of health. The experimental character of the build-
ing also has, from time to time, developed difficulties
against which the utmost foresight could not have guarded.
Even the weather has for the last few weeks con-
spired against the progress of the works; and, to crown
all, there had been a partial strike among the painters.
We observe, by the red-lettered placard already
alluded to, that they have entered into a positive ar-
rangement with the Executive Committee to have every
foot of scaffolding removed from the interior by Satur-
day next, the 12th, and, as it L. a matter of extreme
importance that the building should ba handed over at
the earliest possible moment to the exhibitors, in order
that they may push forward their preparations un-
interruptedly, we do trust that, this time at least. the
promise made may be fulfilled to the letter. No doubt is
entertained by those most competent to judge in the
matter that our half of the Crystal Palace will be in
order for the opening, and we are glad to hoar from
good authority that our visitors from abroad will
also be ready. They are now making great exer-
tions, and from their fittings being brought over com-
plete, and requiring only t 9 be put up, their several com-
partments will be finished off with great rapidity. The
French exhibitors are to have stalls erected of great
magnificence, the ehelvt's in some instances lined with
velvet, and everything in a style worthy of the taste and
elegance of the national industry. I. the other allot-
ments of tu;.sign countries, the fittings are likely to be
of an extremely light character, and the whole will pro-
bably be run up with an expedition which our exhi-
bioare, with their substantial solid notions, and their
love of doing thoroughly and permanently all that
they are about, could not hope to rival. Thus already
the contrasts of nationalities begin to appear through
the labours of preparation. All have work on hand
which will task their utmost energies to accomplish
by the Ist of May. But with the public expectation
concentrated upon them, and with the probability
that her Mejesty will open the Exhibition in per-
son, every difficulty will disappear. Upcn this last
point no announcement has yet been made, but a
general impression prevails that it will he so. Nor can
it be doubted, if such a compliment to the great indus-
trial display of alt nations was contemplated by the
Queen, that an immense impulse would be given to the
work now in progress. Among other suggestions
to which the occasion has given rise, there is one
that seems worthy of more than a passing allusion. To
foreigners we are indebted for the origin of many
branches of our national industry, and the approach-
ing Exhibition offers, it is thought, an excellent
opportunity for suitably acknowledging the obliga-
tions we thus owe. It has been suggested that the great
city companies might worthily assume this duty, and ex-
tend their proverbial hospitality to exhibitors from
abroad, in a manner consistent witn their corporate titles.
The Silk-Mercers', the Goldsmiths', and the Cloth-
Workers, for instance, might initiate foreign visitors
belonging to those trades into the luxuries of civic fare.
An alderman in his robes, imbibing turtle-soup and milk-
punch, is a spectacle which, if it does not legitimately
belong to the Industry of all Nations, will certainly ex-
cite their curiosity.