The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-04 00:00:00

Gins the state of the church was about as bad as can be
well imagined. Besides the gallery in the south aisle there
were two others at the west end, in the upper of which
was placed the organ. These inappropriate accessories have
been demolished. Owing, however, to the restricted space
for the sittings—about 407 in number—a new gallery
,has
been erected over the entrance porch, but it has been so
arranged that while it does not mar the architectural
effect it serves as a strutt to some pillars which
have a leaning towards the west end. Here the organ,
which—reconstructed and enlarged by Mr. W. J.
Walker, of London—has a remarkably fine tone, is
placed, in accordance with the received opinion that this
instrument sounds better from an elevated position than on
the ground. The huge, unsightly and uncomfortable pews
which hitherto blocked up the area have been removed—
the dibris, as we understand, having served to build one or
two cottages—and their place has been supplied by seats of
plain oak, manufactured by Mr. Burrell, of Norwich.
Such are the leading features of the work already achieved.
More, however, as we have said, remains to be done, and
will be accomplished as soon as the funds are forthcoming.
The repair of the beautiful Lady Chapel on the south is
still dependent on the national bounty.
The anniversary and reopening yesterday were celebrated
by three services. In the morning the prayers were read
by the Rev. James Francis, the incumbent, and the lessons
by the Rev. Mr. Batho, of Cheshunt, and the Rev. R.
Hart, curate of Waltham. The sermon was preached by
the Rev. Harold Browne, Norrisian Professor of Divinity at
Cambridge, who selected for his text Exodus iii., s—" Put
off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou
standest is holy ground." In the afternoon the lessons
were read by the Rev. Mr. Beck, of High Beach, and
the Rev. Mr. Davis, of Yardley House, Waltham ; the
sermon bein,g preached by the Rev. Dr. Jelf, Principal
of King's College. In the evening, when the congregation
consisted chiefly of children, the Rev. J. M'Connell Hussey,
incumbent of Christ Church, Brixton, preached. At the
morning and afternoon services there were very large con-
gregations, many having come from London and the adja-
cent district to be present at the reopening. Collections in
aid of funds for the building were made ater each service,
and we understand that in the morning upwards of £63 was
collected. The musical part of the service in the morning
and afternoon was assisted by the choristers of the Temple
Church and several gentlemen from her Majesty's Chapel
Royal and Westminster Abbey, under the direction of Mr.
Wm. H. Cummings. The members of the Waltham Abbey
choir assisted in the evening. Mr. T. Chalk presided most
efficiently at the organ.

CHAPEL ROYAL, SAVOY-STREET, STRAND. —This
ancient chapel has recently been restored by command of
her Majesty the Queen, under the direction of Sir George
Grey, the Chancellor of the Duchy of 'Lancaster. Many
historical associations cluster round the chapel and its pre-
cinct, with which most people are familiar, but very few of
the ten thousand wayfarers of the Strand have any know-
ledge of the very interesting remains which may yet be seen
in the existing chapel. It is of the plain perpendicular
style of Gothic belonging to the early part of the reign of
Henry VIII. The special beauty of the chapel is to be
found in the ceiling, which is a richly emblazoned network
of quatrefoils extending over the whole surface. The orna-
ments are made up of shields having various emblems of
the Passion and other events of the Gospel history ; the
rest of the space is occupied with a large number of the regal
emblems of the Houses of York and Lancaster. The altar-
piece is also worthy of notice, and many of the monuments
are of much more than average interest. The chapel was
reopened by the Very Rev. the Dean of Westminster, and
may at any time be seen by the public either after the
Sunday services, or by special application during the week.
The restorations have been entrusted to the care of Mr.
Sydney Smirke, A.R.A.

The Scotsman announces the failure of the legal
firm of J. and A. Blaikie, of Aberdeen, and the flight of the
senior partner. The deficiencies, which are rumoured to
have occurred under circumstances of the gravest kind, are
stated at £200,000 or £300,000, and it is feared that many
families will suffer.

The adoption by the Neapolitan Government of
the telegraphic arrangements agreed to at Berne has led to
a great improvement in the telegraphic service from Malta
via Sicily. During the last f‘tw days several messages have
been received in London within a few hours of their de•
spatch from Malta.
THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENG-
LAND.-At a meeting of the council of this society, held on
Wednesday last, it was agreed to hold the annual meeting
of the society at Leeds in 1861. There were application
from the following places besides Leeds—York, Doncaster,
Hull, Wakefield, and Harrowgate. The council decided by
a large majority in favour of Leeds.
EARTHQUAKE IN SPAIN.--A shock of earth-
quake was felt on the 26th ult., at Albacete, in Valencia,
which lasted three seconds. The Madrid journal says that
it was violent, and accompanied by a subterranean noise,
but that it did no injury.

CRINOLINE AND HOOFED PETTICOATS.—The far-
thingale of the time of Elizabeth answers to the hooped
petticoat of the days of Queen Anne and to the crinoline of
Queen Victoria. Against the farthingales the great master,
Philip Stubbes, inveighed with thundering eloquence.
" When they have all their goodly robes upon them," says
he, " women seem to be the smallest part of themselves, not
natural women, but artificial women ; not women of flesh
and blood, but rather puppets, or mewl:lets, consisting of
rags and clouts compact together." The queen herself con-
demned the fashion, and passed laws to put down such ex-
travagance. The wits assailed it, and what was the result ?
the farthingale expanded, and under James I. became as
remarkable for ugliness as for discomfort. Hooped petti-
coats cams into fashion again in the time of Queen Anne ;
and Addison's keen satire wu directed against them. In
the Spectator, No. 272, appears an advertisement, dated
from the parish vestry, January 9, 1711-12 :—" All ladies
who come to church in the new-fashioned hoops, are desired
to be there before Divine service begins, lest they divert the
attention of the congregation." Gay took up the subject,
and handled it very roughly ; more polite wits averred that
these hoops only kept the men at a proper distance ; the
caricaturists represented a fashionably-attired lady as a
donkey carrying two panniers ; and Rogarth picturefl the
inconvenience of a full-dressed belle entering a sedan-chair.
What the wits and caricaturists did, in Queen Bees's time
end Queen „tune's, has been dcge over again in Queen
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