The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-02 00:00:00

THE I?E7INS OF EDINB UI?GH.

Government, it appears, is busy preparing Edin
burgh for the visit of the New Zealander, having
already created two extensive scenes of ruin am
desolation in the city. For more than two years
the Castle has presented almost the aspect of having
undergone a siege. Some large buildings and the
prominent Mons Meg battery were two years since
demolished, preparatory, it was supposed, to the
restoration of some of the ancient features of the
Castle, and to the erection of a new armoury, from
designs by Lieut.-Colonel Moody, R.E. Eighteen
months ago, however, that gallant officer was ap-
pointed Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia,
and since his departure the Castle has remained in
the dismantled state to which it had previously been
reduced, and the excellent plans prepared have
been no more heard of. The other " ruin " is the
site acquired by Government, in virtue of powers
contained in an Act of Parliament passed in
1858, for :the erection of a new General Post-
office for Scotland.. That site has been bought at
a cost of no less than 50,000, including the pur-
chase of the Theatre Royal, and of the various in-
terests involved, and of the buildings in Shake-
speare-square, enclosing the theatre. The houses in
Shakespeare-square have all been pulled down, and
the Theatre Royal closed, and for some months an
important central position in the city has presented
an aspect of desolation. For the contemplated
building plans for an appropriate structure, in the
Italian style, have been prepared by Mr. Matheson,
of the Board of Works in Edinburgh. and have re-
ceived the sanction of successive Commissioners of
Public Works. They have also been approved by
the city magistrates, who, in the expectation that
a structure would be raised suited to the site and
creditable to the city, made a grant to the Govern-
mstit, .r the aroa of tho et. uct3 iu Shakespeare-
square, which constitute a large portion of the pro-
posed sites. All further progress in the execution
of the plans, however, hag been stopped, and the
project has been revived of transferring some of
the metropolitan departments of the Edinburgh
Post-office to London. A similar proposal to that
now made was before the Post-office Commissioners
in 1854, and was reported ap,iinst in decided terms,
and it was in consequence of the decision then come
to that measures were entered into for the erection
of the new Post-office in Edinburgh, the present
premises in Waterloo-place having become quite
inadequate to meet the increasing business of the
establishment, and being incapable of further ex-
tension. The resuscitation of the plan for carrying
a large part of the business to London has called
forth a very strong feeling in the city, the Town-
Council, the Merchant Company, and the Architec-
tural Institute having held meetings and passed
resolutions on the subject, setting forth the great
loss and inconvenience to Edinburgh and to Scot-
land generally that would result from the adop-
tion of the plan, and the breach of faith implied
in the non-erection of the structure, for which
an act had been passed, and 150,000 spent in
acquiring a site, otherwise useless, and now three-
fourths dismantled, and in anticipation of
which a grant of valuable property had been
made to Government by the city. The Lord Pro-
vost and one of the magistrates have been sent to
London to urge upon the authorities to retain the
whole Scotch metropolitan establishment in Edin-
burgh, and to proceed with the erection. of the new
,edifice according to Mr. Matheson's plans.

FEMALE FASHIONS FOR FEBRUARY.

(Front re Fo
At this season of the year we are sure that a
lengthened description of dresses suitable for ball'
and evening toilette will be useful to our readers.
Some of them, from the lightness of the material,
and the combination of flowers, tulle, &c., may
almost be called fairy-like. One we will describe.
It was composed of white tulle bouillonnee. At
the lower part of the skirt it had three skirts of
double tulle, each caught up by ribbons of white
taffetas, embroiderod with bouquets of flowers, pro-
ducing a fresh and ckarming effect. Nine bouquets
of flowers were placed at the end of these ribbons,
no two alike. The bcdy was in the same style as
the skirt. Upon each shoulder a bouquet of flowers
formed an epaulette.
Home dress may be made either very simple or
very elegant; but in each case there is one requisite,
which is the Zouave jacket. For plain dress it
may bo made of cloth, or eachemire of a dark
colour. Cloth is preferable, particularly brown
cloth. These aro frequently trimmed with gold.
braid ; but, as cloth is not an article of luxury, we
would recommend our readers to substitute for this
untasteful ornament a rich black braid, which is
far more distingue. The lining should be a dark-
coloured silk. "With cloth jackets the chemisettes
are of cambric, in narrow tucks, plain, or mixed
with rows of insertion. Small collar ; the Empresi
cravat ; and under-sleeves to match the chemisette.
A silk or satin skirt may be worn; but the only
trimmings allowable are large buttons, or flat bows
with steel buckles. Many elegantes prefer them
made of velvet, trimmed with gold, and lined
with light-coloured silk ; and some wear them of
light blue or purple cachdenire, almost covered with
gold embroidery ; but this is neither in good taste
nor elegant. Rely on our advice, and be contented
with a velvet jacket ; but if you must use gold
lace let it be sparingly. The chemisette for
this jacket should be of plaited muslin,
trimmed with black and white guipure and
bouillonnes, in which is inserted a ribbon to
match the rest of the toilette. The skirt of moire,
emerald green, violet, or brown, trimmed with
rounds of velvet, trimmed with guipure, or wide
bands of velvet placed a la Italienne. This is a
dress both elegant and distingue.
There is not much change in the style of bonnets
since we:wrote last month. They are still worn
larger, and have generally some black in the trim-
s.
A°novel wreath for dinner dress was made with
a bunch of small inoss•rose buds on the middle of
the forehead, mixed with pansies of light and deep
shades of violet ; then on each side a plait of dark
and light-coloured green velvet reaching a short.
distance, and followed by bunches of violets in
green s,ilin ; again the plait of velvet, followed ;his
time by bouquets to match that in front. The
wreath is finished by a continuation of the plait,
fastened together at the back of the head by a bow
of velvel., ribbon the same shades as the flowers.
This 1104 will not be found to be devoid of ele-
ganee,; and far from unbecoming, when placed on
light hair.

[AnVcatt‘isaidnNT.]—Mr. Benson, Ludgate-hill, has just
}mblished anew illustrated pamphlet on watehee (tree by post
for two stamps). It should be rend by all who are about
buyiug A watch, as it contains prices and important Worms-
*au as to—What watch to buy ! wtwre to buy it ! and how to
use At t

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—Feb. 1.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH,

SittiegA at Nisi Pri us at Westminster, before Lord

ChieEsf Justice Cockburn and a Common Jury.)

FAIRBANK V. GREEN.-TIIE GREAT NASSAU
BALLOON.

This was an action brought by the plaintiff to
recover from the defendant, the veteran aeronaut,
a sum of money for an apparatus mad• by plaintiff,
to order, for propelling and steering "The Great
Nassau Balloon" in her aerie]. ♦oyages.
The defendant pleaded not indebted, that he
never gave the order, and that it was given by a
person named Taylor, who had, at the time, pur-
chased " the Great Nassau."
Mr. Day appeared as counsel for the plaintiff,
and Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., conducted the case for the
defendant.

It appeared from the evidence of the plaintiff
that he had been introduced by Mr. Keane, a lite-
rary gentleman, to the defendant, with the object
of conferring with him about the construction of
an apparatus to propel and steer " the Great Nas-
sau " through the air ; that he subsequently
waited upon him, and was shown a drawing, ac-
cording to which he constructed the apparatus.
He had also, on that occasion, seen Mr. Taylor,
with whom, as somewhat with Mr. Green, ho
was acquainted. In the interview, he was in-
formed that it was contemplated to make " the
Great Nassau" a means of continental inter-
national communication, and that the machinery
or apparatus ordered would, it was expected, be
so practicable as to render her available for that
service. It was also understood that " the Great
Nassau," by aid of her propelling and steer-
ing power, might undertake the perilous and
tedious venture of an aeriel voyage from St. Peter-
sburg, which was to be her head quarters, to Lon-
don, and hence her first starting was designated
" the Russian expedition." The experiment did
not succeed, and plaintiff, unable to get his money
for the apparatus, instructed his solicitor, and
brought his action to recover.
In support of plaintiff's case, Mr. Keane gave
evidence that he had been spoken to by Mr. Green
on the subject of the apparatus, and asked by him
if he knew any intelligent engineer, or mechanic
who could make it. Knowing the plaintiff, he
recommended him, and put the parties in personal
communication with each other. It was further
elicited that Mr. Keane undertook to carry on tie
foreign correspondence necessary, as preliminary,
to the engagements of " the Great Nassau" t,.) un-
dertake the international work contemplated ; and,
in addition to this testimony, a letter was put in in
support of the plaintiff's case.
For the defence, Mr. Green and son deposed,
that they had no faith in the apparatus—their
conviction being that no apparatus could bo con-
structed capable of propelling and steering a bal-
loon, and therefore that they would not, and did
not, give the order. They further deposed that
they sold the balloon to Taylor for a sum of £250,
payable in instalments, out of the profits that it
was hoped would lesult from the ascents ; the bal-
loon to be restored to them should the venture not
turn out successful, or the conditions of the agree-
ment be carried out. They further deposed that
Taylor was not the inventor of the apparatus, and
that it was not until plaintiff discovered that that
person was not in a condition to pay him, that he
made a demand upon defendant for payment.
The evidence was corroborated by that of Taylor.
The Chief Justice summed up, and said if the
jury were not satisfied that the order for the ma-
chinery was given by the defendant, or by Taylor
for him, their verdict should be in his favour.
The jury retired, and, after a long absence from
court, returned and delivered a verdict for the
plaintiff.