The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-11 00:00:00

TEE SURREY GARDENS.

The Surrey Zoological Gardens are about to lose their
zoological speciality, and to appeal to public patronage
on grounds more accordant with the present taste of th•
pleasure-seeking public. The enterprising proprietor, Mr.
Tyler, has lung been a successful caterer for popular
amusement in his individual capacity, but now having de-
termined to eepeud and alter his annual programme to an
extent entirely beyond individual means, bast vitiated a
joint-stock company, with a capital of 40,0001., under
whose auspices the attractions of the gardens are to be
carried on on a scale of magnitude such as has never (ex.
cept in the case of the Crystal Palace) been attempted in
this country. The project is, according to the prospec-
tus, which has appeared in our advertising columns, to
erect on the site of the well known rotundo, within which
lions and tigers have so long been discoursing most elo-
quent, if not sweet, music, a gigantic music hall, to be
constructed principally of the now popular materials,
glass and iron, and to be capable of accommodating an
average audience of 10,000 persons. The elevation of
the proposed building is exceedingly handsome, and toe
ground plan comprehends a monster orchestra, over
which M. Jullien will reign supreme, and have an oppor-
tunity of carrying out to its fullest extent his excellent
notion of making the beet music familiar to the great
body of the people. In addition to this, every exertion
will be made to diversify the out-door amusements of the
gardens, to which visitors will be attracted by the cer-
tainty that, in case of any sudden shower, ample shelter
will be found for their whole number within the capa-
cious area of the music ball. In order to bring all these
facts prominently before the inhabitants of Newington
and IValwortle, and the public generally, Mr. Tyler
convened a meeting of his friends and neighbours, at
the Lecture-hall of the Walwortla Institution, yester-
day evening, being also anxious to obtain their testimony
as to the mode in which the gardens had been conducted
for the last quarter of a ceutury under his managerneat.
Tile hall was exceedingly well filled with some of the
oldest and most respectable inhabitants of the two pa-
rishes, and the most lively interest was exhibited by all
present as to the probabilities of Mr. Tyler's success in
his new undertaking.
In the course of a brief address, Mr. TYLER reminded
his auditory, that the gardens, in their first commence-
ment, were the residuary legatees of the Tower and
Exeter 'Change, with respect to the " Lions of L,ndon."
A. very short experience, however, proved that the won-
ders of zoology wore not sufficient as a permanent attrac-
tion, as even the second live giraffe ever seen in this
country, although brought over at an enormous expense,
failed to draw before the end of the first season. Besides,
the gardens in the Regent's-park sprang up, and they
being more the hobby of a learned society than a com-
mercial speculation, and, moreover, being the constant
recipients of presents of animals from crowned heads,
ambassadors, and other notabilities, had advantages
against which it was in vain for any individual speculation
to contend. It should also be recollected that animals
when losing their attraction did not lose their appetites,
but ate with the same gusto whether they had full houses,
or growled to empty benches. The first experiment in
the way of variety was the introduction of the immense
picture and the fireworks, both of which bad been emi-
nently successful, and both of which attractions it was
intended to retain. But, in addition, and as a substitute
for the zoological collection, it was intended to consult
the prevailing taste for first-class music, by the erection
of a vast music hall, capable of accommodating 10,000
persons, and in which, under the popular baton of M.
Jullien, the very highest and most classical works
would be performed by the best vocalists that money
could secure, and a baud worthy of the task, at
a price, too, throwing open this elevating and
civilising pleasure to all classes of the commu-
nity. To do full justice to such a project capital would
be necessary to an extent beyond individual means,
and in order to provide it a company had been formed
under the Limited Liabilities Act, he (Mr. Tyler) con-
tinuing his services as managing director. With respect
to the financial part of the question, it was proposed to
raise a capital of 40,0001. in shares of 101. each, with
limited liability, but of this 24,0001. had been already
allotted, amongst the present proprietors and the ma-
naging committee, so that all that would be required
from the general public would be the absorption of shares
to the amount of the remaining 16,0001. In conclusion,
Mr. Tyler observed that his name did not appear in the
prospectus as managing director, because the managing
committee thought it only fair that the selection of
officers should be left to the shareholders when the
company was fully formed.
At the conclusion of Mr. Tyler's observations, which
appeared to give general satisfaction,
Mr. AMBROSE BOYSON, a magistrate of the county,
rose to move a resolution approving of the establish-
ment of all public gardens and places of innocent re-
creation for the people, but in the first place wished to
be satisfied on three points. First, whether the proposed
company were to be on the limited liability. principle ;
second, whether dancing was to be included in the pro.
gramme ; and thirdly, whether masked balls and amuse-
ments of that character were even occasionally to be
tolerated. His support, he added, would be contingent
on his receiving an answer in the negative to the two
latter questions.
With respect to the first, he was referred to the pro-
spectus, in which " limited liability" was distinctly set
out, and on the other two points was assured that neither
dancing nor occasional masked balls formed any portion
of the proposed entertainments.
Mr. BOYSON being thus satisfied, proposed his resolu-
,' tics's, at the same time bearing the strongest testimony
• to the admirable wanner in which Mr, T•yler had con-

GLASGOW, WEDNESDAT EVENING.
Yesterday the magnificent iron paddle steam-ship
Persia, which has just been completed by Messrs. Rob.
Napier and Sons, for the Cunard Company, made her
first trip in sea water, subsequent to the adjustment of
her compasses, by running some 20 miles down the Frith
of Clyde, and returning in the afternoon to the "Tail of
the Bank," opposite Greenock. With from 201 b. to
glib. of pressure upon the square inch she sadly made
18i statute miles an hour, while the paddles gave 17i 1
to 18 revolutions in the minute. This day, however,
was reserved for the formal trial or pleasure trip, and
at the same time for the final departure of the ship from
the Clyde for the Mersey, whence she departs for New
York on the 26th current. The Messrs. Burns of this
city, the resident and principal shareholders in the Cu-
nard
Company, had invited a distinguished party to en-
joy the occ talon, and at half-past 8 they left by special
train for Greenock, whence they were carried to the
Persia in a tender, where they met with a cordial re-
ception from Captair. Judkins, the future commander of
the ship. The party on board mustered 220 ladies and
gentlemen, including peers, Glasgow merchants, country
gentlemen, Crimean heroes, &c. The day was surpass-
ingly lovely. The sun speedily brushed away the morn-
ing frost, and shone out with unclouded splendour, while
there was scarcely a ripple on the sea. The ship speedily
proceeded on her way, and stretched down under easy
steam a few miles past the Cumbrae Lighthouse. With
only 15 pounds of pressure and 164 revolutions she
made the distance between Cloch and Cumbrae, the usual
testing ground on the Clyde, in 58 minutes, a distance
of 15 But this day's trip Will not by any
means intended for a trial of speed, being in every sense
of the word a pleasure sail ; and an opportunity for test-
ing the real powers o' the ship being reserved for the
passage to Liverpool, for which she was to sail on re-
turning with the party. It is enough to say that the
performances of the Persia on the Clyde excited the ad-
miration of all.

The Persia, as we have said, is built of iron, and her
engines are constructed by Messrs. Robert Napier and
Sons. She was launched in the Clyde on the 3d of July
last, and the intervening period has been fully occupied
in laying her machinery, and fitting her out as the most
magnificent floating hotel and goods transport that has
ever breasted the waters.

This, as we have said, is the largest steamship afloat
in the world—far exceeding in length, strength, tonnage,
and steam power the Great Britain or the Himalaya,
and exceeding also by no less than 1,200 tons the in-
ternal capacity of the largest of the present splendid
Cunard liners. Her chief proportions may be summed
up as follows :
Length from figurehead to taffrail 39.1 feet.
Length in th 9 water ..
Breadth of the hull
Breadth over all .
Depth
Burden
Diameter of paddlewheels

32 „
... 3,600 tone.
40 foot.

According to the strict Government rule of admeasuro-
ment, her power is equal to that of 900 horses ; accord-
ing to the plan laid down in the Earl of Hardwicke's hill,
her power ij equal to that of 200 horses ; and according
to James Watt's old established rule of 33,0001 b. to the
harFe, she is expected to work up to the pitch of between
4,0011 and 5,000 horses.

Stupen lees as the Persia is, the lines of beauty have
been so well worked out in the preparation of her model
that her appearance is singularly graceful and lightsome.
Yet this mighty fabric, so beautiful as a whole, is made
up of innumerable pieces of ponderous metal, welded,
jointed, ai,d rivetted into each other with exceeding
deftness. The framing of the ship is very heavy. The
space between each frame is only 10 inches, and the
powerful frames or ribs aro themselves 10 inches deep,
with double angle irons at the outer and inner edges. The
bow is constructed in a manner at once peculiar and af-
fording the greatest possible strength to this important
part of the ship. The framing is so placed to the stern,
that the effect, is that, in the case of collision with other
ships, or with rocks or icebergs, the strain would fall on
the very strongest material within the structure, and the
Persia would have a good chance of safety and successful
resistance while ordinary vessels would indeed be in
great peril. She is not clinker-built, as some ships have
been c instructed of late. The plates or outer planking of
the ship, so to speak, are laid alternately, so that one
adds strength to the other, and they form a whole of won-
derful compactness and solidity. The keel plates are
11-16 the of an inch in thickness; at the bottom of the ship
the plates ere 15 10ths of an inch in thickness ; from this
section to the load water-line they area of an inch ; and
above this they are 11-16ths of an inch in thickness. The
plates round the gunwale are iths of an inch in thickness.
The nrsi I has seven water-tight compartments, Ti,e
goods are to be stowed in two of these divisions,"eac't
:bout 90 feet long, by 16 in breadth, and 20 ft. in ;ht.
These goods' stores, or rather tanks, are placed in the
centre line of the ship, with the coal cellars or barkers
on each side of them. At the same time, the vessel is
so constructed as to have in reality a double bottom
under these goods' chambers, se that if the outer woe
beat in or injured, the inner would, in all likelihoml,
protect the cargo dry and intact. The chambers are per-
tectly water-tight ; and in the event of accident to the
hull these tanks would of themselves float the ship. The

liner has two engines, and eight large tubular boilers and
two funnels ; and we need only speak of her machinery
in general, which is all ready, as being first-class. The
firing space for the boilers is placed in the fore and aft
line, instead of across the ship, as is usually the case with
smaller vessels.
She has separate sleeping accommodation for 260 pas-
sengers, disposed along what may be called the main
deck, lying immediately above the goods and coal stores.
These cabins have each 3 feet 6 inches of head-room,
and, coupled with the excellent system of ventilation in-
troduced into all the Cunard liners, we need scarcely say
that they will be alike pleasant, airy, and healthful.
Exclusive of the wholesome accommodation for the offi-
cers and engineers, there are in the forward part of the
ship about 120 berths for the sailing crew, firemen, and
stokers. The total number of persons employed in work-
ing the ship, from the captain downwards, is 150.
Above the main deck there is a deck-house covered
the roof of which affords a promenade from stem to
stern. It contains the main dining saloon, about 60 ft.
in length, by 20 ft. in width, and 8 ft. in height. It is
copiously lighted from the sides by plates of glass placed
.in the alternate panels. In front is that important
adjunct, the pantry, which has about 300 square feet
of area ; and before the funnels is the kitchen, of equal
size, with its cooking raises, exceeding most and equal-
ling any of the culinary establishments of the most ex-
tensive and noted hotels in the kingdom. But we have
not space to enter further into detail than to say that
on this deck and below it are also to be found the bakery,

the butcher's shambles, the scullery, the cowhonse, the
carpenter's workshop, the lamphouse, the doctor's shop,
the icehouses, the bathrooms, and no fewer than 20
waterelosets.
The weight of the iron in the Persia, when launched,
was 2,200 tons. When the engines are on board, and
fully lo.ided, the weight of the immense mass will be
5,400 tons, at which time she will draw 23 feet of water.
Her coal cellars are constructed to receive 1,400 tone of
coal—an ample supply to carry her on her voyage across
the Atlantic as fast as she can burn them. She has also
accommodation for about 1,200 tons' measurement of
goods. This may be considered small when the extra-
ordinary capacity of the Persia is considered ; but it must
be remembered that her main design is that of a floating
hotel, and that the goods of the liners of Messrs. Burns
are principally those by which the manufacturing inge•
nuity and refinement of the East minister to the comfort
and luxury of the West.

LIVERPOOL, Jan. 10.
The large new iron paddle-wheel steamer Persia, re-
cently built at the yard of Messrs. Napier, Glasgow, for
the Royal British and North American Mail Company,
and which left the Clyde yesterday, arrived at this port
this morning, and was immediately taken into the Hus-
kisson-dock, where her graceful lines and noble propor-
tions were ranch admired.
The Persia left the Cloch lighthouse yesterday (Wed-
nesday) afternoon at 4.56 ; reached Cumbraes, a distance
of 14 miles, in one hour and one minute; the Pladda,
south of Arran, 6.54 ; Ailsa Craig, 7.36 ; Corsewall
Point, 8.40 ; Mull of Galloway, 10.12 ; Point of Ayre,
Isle of Man, 11.45 ; Bell Buoy, this morning, 3.40.
The total passage, a distance of 175 knots, or 203 miles,
was thus run in 10 hours and 43 minutes, making an
1 average of speed 16 knots, or 19 miles, an hoar.

BANKERS' CLERKS.—Among the several backing
firma who have presented to their clerks 1,000/, for dis-
tribution since the commencement of the new year are—
Messrs. Heywood and Co., London ; Messrs. Heywood
and Co., Manchester ; Messrs. Prescott and Co., Messrs.
Elankey and Co., and the London and Westminster
Bank. In addition to these gifts, it is understood ad-
vanced salaries have in some cases been granted.

Regarded from our point of view, the 'terms ap-
pear sufficiently reasonable and moderate, and
couched in language studiously measured, so as to
give the least possible offence to the suspectibility
of our antagonists. When we consider the objects
for which we most unwillingly took up arms, we
can hardly imagine that Russia herself can expect
that we should be content with a less extensive
basis of negotiation, unless, indeed, the fortune of
war had declared decidedly against us. It is diffi-
cult to put ourselves in the position of our enemies,
and clearly to represent to our minds with what
feelings a patriotic Russian must regard such an
offer, though even he, we should suppose,
must el that in the demand of such terms
there is nothing either arrogant or presutap-
tuous. No one can suppose, we should
think, that after what has occurred the Allied
Sovereigns could leave the Danubian Principali-
ties iu their present disjointed and disorganised
condition. They must be governed, and governed
by a Power in no respect subject to Russian in-
fluence, if they are not to become again in a few
years once more the Belgium of the East of Europe,
the battle-field on which the advance of Russia is
to be checked, as that of Louis XIT. was on the
plains of Flanders. Neither can it be expected
that the Allies should leave it in the power of Ras-
aia again to place a ligature on the main artery of
Germany by blocking up the Sulina mouth of the
Danube, and thus cutting off the principal line of
communication between the East and the West.
Nor is it conceivable how this is to happen without
requiring the surrender of those fortresses and that
territory which gave Russia the command of th©
river from the embouchere of the Pruth to the sea.
The complete neutralisation of the Black Sea
would also seem the easiest and least offensive
mode of putting an end to Russian domination in
those waters. Limitation carries with it the notion
of the continual pressure of a superior force, and
counterpoise is but a thin veil thrown over a con-
tinued state of hostility ; but the mutual agree-
ment to emancipate the Black Sea for ever from
the presence of hostile fleets, to forbear from the
erection of fortifications, and to admit the Consuls
of the Allied Powers into Russian ports is, we
should imagine, less offensive and less galling to the
pride of our enemy than any other manner in which
the inevitable curtailment of her aggressive powers
can be effected.

While the matter is yet uncertain we challenge
the advocates of Russia or of peace to show that we
ask anything to which we are not well entitled, or
abuse the powers which a series of brilliant suc-
cesses has placed in our hands. The very mode-
ration of these terms makes them the fairest test of
the real dispositions of Russia. If she be content
to live, as other Powers live, in peace and good.
will with all mankind, improving her vast territory,
and seeking in the pursuits of peace and commerce
an indemnification for a century and a half of end-
less war and conflict, she will accept the opportu-
nity to escape from a struggle from which the calm
judgment of her statesmen and warriors must
assure her she has nothing to expect of glory or
success, while, if she still cherishes the wild dreams
of her traditionary ambition, she will yet tempt
once more the fortune of arms. We could not
desire matters to be brought to a fairer issue.
Peace must not be made while Russia pos-
sesses both the will and the power to injure us.
We are content to make peace if she possess the
power without the will, or else forced to continue
the war until she no longer possesses the power. We
are unwilling at such a moment to assume a vaunt-
ing or a threatening tone in speaking of what wo
have achieved and what may be looked for in
the next campaign. We hardly venture to expect
that Russia will give her unqualified acquiescence
to the terms proposed, but anticipate a counter
proposition, dexterously framed, so as, if possible,
to disunite the Allies, fling Austria back into her
former inaction, and introduce discord into the
counsels of France and England. We have said
that these terms are moderate, and in no respect to
go beyond that which, in the most modest view of
our own position, we have a right to demand.
Should, then, the answer of Russia amount to a
direct repudiation of any substantial part of the
terms offered by the Allies, the course of honour and
interest is clear. They are bound to pro.eid
vigorously with the war, and try what effect an-
other year's operations may have in changing the
counsels of the enemy. Should, on the other
hand, the answer amount substantially to " Ye =,"
we are convinced that no idle punctilio, no adhe-
sion to a formal and verbal consistency, will
stand in the way of mutual agreement. The set-
tlement; if settlement there is t ) le, moat be
prompt and definite. We cannot afford t) repeat
in this year the diplomatic, any more chin
the military and naval miAtakes, of th,i last, • and
do not intend to be tricked in council out of terms
which we believe ourselves able to win in the field.
For the event, notwithstanding Mr. Cobden, we
have no fear. We may not indeed b able to pene-
trate to Moscow, or even b St. Petersburg. We
may not feel ourselves in a position to plunge
armies into the vast wilderness, like Charles XII.
or Napoleon, but the process of exhaustion is
surely and steadily going on. Men, money, com-
merce, means of transport, arms, ammunition,
manufactures, and agriculture being gradually ex-
hausted—an exhaustion which can hardly be pressed
beyond a certain point without bursting the bonds
of military subjection which hold the mighty mass
of Russian domination together. If the fear of the
sword be once removed the manumission of the
serfs must follow, and, with it, the destruction of
the territorial aristocracy, and a disintegration and
disruption of the mighty mass which the sword
alone has held together. If Russia has yet a des-
tiny, if she is to be a principal agent in the annals
of the times that are yet to come, she will seize the
present moment of making peace ; if she be des-
tined to expiate her ambition and aggression by
adherepremature
trevolution a n decay,
to
d which
she she w
is lal
t doggedly
present
committed.