The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-21 00:00:00

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

On Saturday, owing to the incl'-m.-scy of the weather,
the unusually small sum of 1,36 u/ 15s. was taken at the
doors of the building, the whole number of visitors
being 9,326. The aspect which the in erior now pre-
sents on the last day of the week is a sufficiently tprik-
ing contrast to the crowds of shilling visitors who flock
there between Monday and Thursday. All is compara-
tive quietness and repose, and the greatest bustle caused
is by the movement in different directions of invalid
chairs, the feeble occupants of which seem to enjoy the
magnificent spectacle presented to them almost like a
promise of returning health and strength.
Mr. Belshaw's elephant has at last arrived from Essex.
and been comfortably located in the Indian compartment.
He had not been an hour in the building when steps
were taken to give him a truly oriental equ;pment, and
before the doors were closed on Saturday evening he
was completely covered with costly trappings. Mr.
Belshaw will without delay have the Newab Nazim of
Bengal's magnificently carved ivory Howdah placed
upon his back, and will call in the aid of some expe-
rienced Indian in gettiag him properly caparisoned.
From what we hear, our plate-glass manufacturers
are likely to be entirely distanced by those from Circy
and St. Gobain, in France—a defeat altogether unex-
pected, but about the justice of which there seems to be
no doubt. The French also show some oxide of zinc
glass, the transparent, colourless beauty of which is
very remarkable, and which merits the more praise
from its novelty. The attention of chemists and others
interested in the subject has been much arrested by a
new preparation, called amorphous phosphorus, and by
which all the difficulty encountered in the transport
and use of phosphorus for manufacturing purposes, as in
the making of lucifer matches, is removed. This prepa-
ration is the discovery of a M. Schrotter, who obtains
it by heating phosphorus, in the absence of air, to the
temperature of an oil bath. It then becomes of a scarlet
colour, and can be carried about or packed into barrels,
or even taken into the system, without any injurious
effects. Mixed with any oxidizing substance it recovers
its burning properties.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

THE JULY FETE AT CHISWICK.
This, the third and last fete of the Horticultural
Society, took place on Saturday, and the visitors were,
as usual on such occasions, favoured with about as moist
an afternoon as one often meets with in the month of
July.
Notwithstanding the threatening appearance of the
weather, the company poured into the gardens in larger
numbers than usual, up to half-past three o'clock, and
had not the clouds at length discharged their unwelcome
contents, there is little doubt that this would have been
one of the most crowded meetings ever held in these
gardens. The attendance, as it was, was numerous and
highly fashionable; the dresses of the ladies were most
elegant, but of far too light a texture to enable them
with any comfort to enjoy the promenade in the Duke
Devonshire's grounds, which, as usual on the jete
day, were thrown open by his Grace for the benefit
of the visitors, the atmosphere during the whole
afternoon, even prior to the commencement of the
rain, being so cold as to induce most of the fair sex to
avail themselves of the shelter of the tents in which
the plants, &c., were exhibited. There were, as usual,
three regimental bands present, viz , the Ist Life
Guards, the Royal Horse Guards (blue), and the band
of one of the household regiments, and the selections of
music, which were in great taste, were admirably per
formed. Tho exhibition of plants, flowers, and fruits
was fully equal to any thing of the kind that has ever
come under our notice. The most beautiful among the
plants, we think, were the exotic orchids and the heath
Among the fruits, the pines and strawberries attracted
the greatest notice, and most deservedly, for among the
pines were two grown by Mr. Jones, of Enville, weigh-
ing respectively 8113. 9oz. and 10Ib., and one by Mr.
Briddon, weighing 91b. We were unable to obtain a
list of the aristocratic visitors, but we recognised many ,
of the nobility and tamilies of the highest distinction.
We also observed an'unusually large muster of foreigners,
who appeared to take great interest in the exhibition,
and were evidently much delighted with the rare and
curious plants, of which there was a very large display.
Taking thefeteas a whole, we think, leaving the draw-
back of the weather out of the question, the result of
the day's proceedings must have been highly satisfactory
to the society. The tents and marquees were, as usual,
supplied from the manufactory of Mr. B. Edgington, of
the Borough, and proved most efficacious in protecting
the company from the heavy showers, &c.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
Commander Cumberland Reid fladaway (1846) died
at Southall, Middlesex, on the 14th instant. He entered
the navy in 1810, passed his examination in 1816, and
was promoted in 1828. flis last service was as first
lieutenant of the Albion, 90, from which ship he was
Promoted in 1846. We believe he was one of the ma-
jerity of the officers of the ward-room of the Albion,
who, when it was put to the vote whether the private
letter of a seaman supposed to contain information of
the behaviour of the ship should be opened, voted against
an expressed opinion that a " common seaman had no
business to write to a gentleman," and thus helped to pre-
serve the seaman's letter from being violated.
Assistant-Surgeon—Dr. William Smith (1843), of the
guard-ship at Pembroke, has been appointed to the
Ajax, 60, screw two-decker, flag-ship, at Queenstown.
Hermes, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Fishbourne, has
been ordered from the Cape of Good Hope to the 'East
Indian and China stations.
Odin steam-frigate, Lieutenant Sandford command-
ing, that arrived at Spithead on Thursday last, did not
come into Portsmouth harbour till Saturday evening,
and the men of the Dauntless still remain on board her.
We suppose they have been kept there in case any
further accident should occur to the Sidon ; however, by
this time, the latter ship and the Retribution must have
progressed considerably on their passage, and therefore
the crew of the Dauntless will probably rejoin their own
ship to-day or Tuesday.
Tiger steam-frigate returned, with Captain Hen-
derson on board to Spithead on Saturday at noon, and
in the evening went into harbour and took in the moor-
ings off the King's Stairs. She brought up 20 second-
class boys from the St. George at Devonport.
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.—We have had a summer
gale for the last two days; it commenced on Friday,
blew a hard gale from the S.W., with much rain all
Saturday; th© rain cleared off this morning, and the
wind shifted to W. It still blows hard. The Owen
Glendower Indiaman lies windbnund at Spithead.
TIIE MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON.—The squadron
under Admiral Sir W. Parker, Bart., consisting of the
Queen (flag), 116; Albion, 90; Superb, 80; Ganges,
84; Indefatigable, 50, frigate, and steam-frigate Fire-
brand, msde its appearance off Malta on the morning
of the 9th, from Tunis. The steam-sloop Spiteful,
Commander G. Parker, entered the harbour at midnight
of the Bth, for the purpose of conveying to the flag
ship Sir William's family; she left again at eight the
following morning, and was expected to return in the
evening to wait the arrival of the London mail of the
7th inst.