The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-26 00:00:00

Life in London.

With scarcely any check, the births In the me-
tropolis have been expanding year by year. In
1852 the number was 81,250, in 1853 82,251, in
1854 81,885, in 1855 85,532, in 1856 87,430, in
1857 89,577, in 1858 89,012, in 1859 92,909, in
1860 93,414, in 1861 97,064, in 1862 97,850, in
1863 102,119, in 1861102,625, audio 1865 106,803.
While there have been more births there also have
been more deaths, but the latter show great fluctua-
tions. in 1852 they numbered 54,638, in 1853
60,069, in 1854 73,697, in 1855 61,942, in 1856
57,274, in 1857 59,103, in 1858 64,093, in 1859
61,860, in 1860 62,309, in 1861 65,251, in 1862
67,371, in 1863 71,060, in 1861 78,238, and in
1865 73,531. Tho increase in the population of the
metropolis by the excess of births over deaths was
thus as follows in each year :-1852 26,612, 1853
`22,185, 1851 11,188, 1855 23,590, 1856 30,156,
1857 30,474, 1858 21,919, 1859 31,049, 1860
31,105, 1861 31,813, 1862 30,479, 1863 31,059,
1864 24,387, and 1865 33,272.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.-0, Tuesday
evening
the Pall Mall Gazelle had " reason to believe" that
Parliament would reassemble in the month of November,
"to consider the question of supplies for the Abyssinian
expedition ;" but yesterday the Morning Herald declared
that the anticipation of its contemporary would bo "as
great a surprise to the Government as to the Opposition."
There are errors in bath statements. Tho anticipation
could occasion no "surprise," since the necessity of con-
voking Parliament for the particular purpose has undoubt-
edly been under the consideration of the Government ; and
although nothing has yet been positively decided, the
actual meeting of Parliament in November may be regarded
as most probable.—Telegraph.
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Lamont and lattoceoding geueration.

This ball, which took place last night,. was in
most respects one of the most brilliant and magnifi-
cent fetes of the kind which have ever been cele-
brated in London, or, indeed, in England. In splen-
dour of decorations it threw into shade even the re-•
nowned fete given to the Belgians, or the more
s. lectly filed, though far less lavishly decorated, ball-
room improvised at the India-office for the enter-
tainment of the Sultan. 'Till last night many years
had elapsed since a great national Volunteer ball had
been held in London—indeed, none of any magni-
tude have taken place since that in the Floral-hall, .
which, as the first of its kind, was attended by thou-
sands. Brilliant as that fete was in its general sur-
roundings and bright effect, it fell short of the splen-
dour of the mere ball-room last night, and it wanted
nothing but the attendance of numbers to have made
the scene perfect. Perhaps for the season there were
not less than might have been expected, though
there were certainly very much less than could have
been desired to make the scene of revelry complete
in all its aspects. Not more than about 2,600
visi-
tors were present, and of this number only about
500 were Volunteers. This for a -building which
can accommodate at a concert nearly 18,000 lis-
teners, and has actually,- at the Belgian ball, given
space for more than 10,000, made the interior look
by comparison with such great gatherings very
scantily filled. What was wanted, however, in
crowded numbers was amply made up by the in -
creased room left for dancing and promeniang, and
thus the whole affair became what such great public fes-
tivities very seldom are—a real ball, where ladies &did
see and be seen, and where there was room for al
without crowding or inconvenience. Whether such
a pleasant result would have been attained had the
entertainment been given at a proper period of the
season is very much to be doubted. In fact, the
mere holding of a Volunteer ball at this the dullest
period of one of the very dullest autumns known in
London for years past implies no ordinary amount
of confidence in the attractions of the hall itself to
overcome all obstacles as to time or season. It is
never quite safe, however, to ignore these drawbacks
to great success. People who have left town and
look to being up to their chins in the sea each day
will not leave Hastings or Worthing, Scarborough
or Brighton, to come up to a metropolitan Volunteer
ball, which may be exceedingly attr4ctive in its
proper season, but will hardly " draw" well at any
but the proper time. Of the surpassing beauty of
the hall as decorated last night by Messrs. Defries
it would be difficult to speak ton highly. It was
little better than a barn when they got it, and they
leave it little less than a palace. The architectural
features of the building itself admitted of lavish
decoration, and all that could be effected by admir-
able taste backed by profuse expenditure of money
has been carried out by them. On the night of the
Belgian ball nearly £5,000, it is stated, had been
spent on the decorations of the hall alone, the greater
part of which, consisting of rows of lofty mirrors
and massive chandeliers, is, of course, removable.
Since then nearly £3,000 more has been expended
in giving the finishing touches to prepare for last
night's fete, and the effect thus ultimately produced
was not only perfect of its kind, but really such as
has never before been seen in London. One would
require the power of writing chromatically, as well
as in form and outline, to convey an adequate idea
of the wonderful brilliancy of last night's scene
as it appeared before the dancing began. The side
walks beneath the galleries were spanned at inter-
vals by ample rows of coloured lights, very similar
to, but much more brilliant. in effect than, the old
broad walk in Vauxhall
.Gardens. The walls were
tastefully draped with muslin, entwined with wreaths
of artificial flowers, and at frequent intervals large
mirrors, surrounded at their base with ferns and
groups of flowering plants, varied the long vista in
the most charming manner., Some of these mirrors
were lit with jets of gas in front, giving a double
reflection to their rays. At other points they were
left unlighted, little fountains playing over the
flowers at their base, giving a cool and pleasant
aspect to these little nooks of verdure. The main
hall itself was, of course, the great centre of decora-
tion, and attraction also. This was a perfect blaze
of light. From all points of the iron arches of the
roof hung long lines of the most beautiful chan-
deliers--the centre being occupied by one which is,
probably, the largest ever built, and this, filled up
with emblazonments in coloured cut glass, shone
like chains of gems in a brilliant setting. In front
of the balustrade of the galleries running round the
hall were a series of artistic panels in coloured glass.
These represented the arms and regalia of all the
chief countries in the world, and when lighted from
behind their bright and varied tints shone out with
great effect. It was at the southern end of the hall,
however, facing the dais, that the greatest effect was
displayed. Here, on a large sloped base, constructed
of turf, beautiful exotics were planted around and
between rows of cut glass crystal fountains. The
combination of the bright crystal with the leaves of
the palms and ferns and flowers was very fine, and
was enhanced to the utmost at one time by the reflec-
tion of lime lights thrown upon it from above, and
these by passing through glass discs of different
colours, alternately blue, white, orange, and violet,
gave incessant play of tints and beauty to the whole
parterre. At the north end of tho hall was a
raised dais, the same regal canopy that was used on
the occasion of the Belgian Ball. This time, how-
ever, the high raised amphitheatre on either side of
it was filled in with a collection of exotics, inter-
mixed with arches and festoons of coloured lights,
and above these were little balls of fire, which ever
' changing their hues, though neither fireworks nor
illuminations in the common acceptation of the
latter term, partook largely of the nature of both,
and were very beautiful. Banners and flags streamed
from every part of the roof of the interior. Along
the main column of the central hall lay figures clad
in armour were placed. These had been lent from
the Tower, and illustrated almost every fashion, if
we may so term it, in the art of armour-plating
human beings—from the open morion cuirass and
greaves up to the cap-a-pie suits, when the closed
vizor left nothing whatever but steel visible about
the man who wore it. Those figures were very effec-
tive, though, as was not unnatural, they perhaps
attracted in such a scene less notice than they really
deserved, far some of the suits of armour were as
quaint in form as they showed wonderful skill in
workmanship. At the, entrance where the Lord
Mayor was to be received two equestrian figures,
both horse and man being in complete armour, were
placed on either side of the door. Over the main
entrance inside the building through which the visi-
tors passed was a beautiful arched screen of crystal
glass, lit with coloured lamps from behind, and the
effect of this was very striking. Such, in brief
terms, which are far from doing adequate justice to
the brightness of the scene, was the aspect pre-
sented to the visitors to the ball last night. When
to these particulars we add the accessories of per-
fumed fountains, crowds of bright uniforms, the
richness of ladies' dresses, and the strains of a
powerful orchestra, conducted by Mr. Dan God-
frey, we have said enough to give some idea of
the mist en scene of the Volunteer Ball. The
doors were opened at eight o'clock, and shortly
after that time, early as it was for the commence-
ment of such a fete, the visitors began to arrive, and
contingent after contingent followed in quick suc-
cession until ten, when Mr. Godfrey summoned the
assembly to commence the festivities of the evening.
Looking from the galleries as the first quadrille was
formed, the coup (Neil was so striking that those who
witnessed it will, we believe, for a long time retain
the recollection of its beauty. The uniforms of the
officers of the regular army blended gracefully and
artistically with the toilettes of the ladies, and
made the simple and effective full-dress of the Vo-
lunteers appear to great advantage by the contrast.
Soon after teu the Lord Major, attended by the

The whole ball passed off so smoothly that there
is very little to record. Indeed, what can be
recorded of a public ball exept, that the dancing
was sustained with unflagging spirit, and that in
the intervals light refreshments—we may say the
lightest refreshments, as, perhaps, they should be
on these occasions—were provided in the refresh-
ment rooms? For all who chose to pay there was
an ample supply of everything. Bat the ad libitum
issue of refreshments was restricted to such light
diet as sandwiches, tea, coffee, and lemonade. For
the rest there is very little to say ; but, considering
the time of the year, the fete may be considered a
success,, and certainly had it been held earlier in the
season it would have been most brilliant. As it was,
everything passed off well, for the, arrangements
from first to last were excellent, and the lights
began to pale their ineffectual fires against the misty
autumn dawn before the fete was brought to a close.
Those who have seen the Agricultural Hall in
its present state of cLeoration will regret to
hear that it is to be entirely dismantled after Satur-
day next, when the occupancy of Messrs. Defries
expires. Only three nights more remain during
which it will be open in its gala dress to the public
—to-night, to-morrow, and Saturday. - To-night
there will be a Volunteer concert, to-morrow the
Messiah," under the direction of Mr. F. Kings-
bury, and on Saturday a grand finale of music.
Without these extra attractions, the Hall itself
would be well worth a visit to see it lighted up in
its present splendour. it is much to be regretted
that Messrs. Dairies so soon resign their occupancy,
of it; but they have, at least, set a splendid ex-
ample of how such a building can be utilised, and
proved how liberally the public respond to really
fair efforts made to entertain them. There is no-
thing nowadays which pays like entertaining the
public, and after all there is nothing so easy.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

WEST CORK.

The report of the directors states that since the
report of the Committee of Investigation was
adopted by the proprietors, the primary object re-
commended in that report had been carried into
effect, and the management of the line was com-
pletely changed. The bill for the extension of the
time for the completion of the railway and for the
arrangement of capital received the Royal assent on
the 12th of August last. By this act the company
were empowered to raise £15,000 on mortgage, for
payment of land contracted to be purchased and
other defined purposes, and the company were autho-
rised, with the assent of the existing shareholders,
to issue the £59,980 stock hitherto uniesued as 6 per
cent. pre-preference shares, for the sole purpose of
completing the line to Skibbereen. All the old direc-
tors of the company, with one exception, having re-
tired, the board as now constituted consisted of
four directors resident in London, and four in Cork.
It hal been arranged that the former should act as
a financial committee, to deal with the assets and
liabilities of the company, and the directors resident
in the vicinity of the line would . control the
traffic And working expenses, all matters of a
general or permanent nature being left to the united
Board. The receipts of the line since the opening
had hitherto DeCti barely sufficient, after paying a
weekly sum for hire of rolling-stock and the current
working expenses, to supply deficiencies in the ori-
ginal construction of the line. The directors had,
after a careful inspection of the line, found every-
thing in substantially good condition, although the
deficiencies in station aceonunadatioia and other
appliances for working the traffic still operated
against its proper development. A disposition had
been shown on the part of the Cork and Bandon
Company to remove the restrictions which had
hitherto prevented the continuous working of the
trains. The directors believed that if the extension
to Skibbereen were completed at a fair and mode-
rate cost, it would not only add very materially to
the traffic on the existing line, but would also be
itself remunerative on the outlay. The capital
account to the 30th of Juno last showed that
2376,764 had been expended, less plant and rolling
stock taken under execution, £73,896, leaving
£302,868. 'The shire capital issued amounted to
£200,000 ordinary, and £60,020 preference, and
the mortgage debentures to £106,500; total,
£366,520, leaving a balance of £63,652. The traffic
receipts from the opening of the line (17 miles in
length) on the 12th of June, 1866, to the 30th of
June last amounted to £4,430, and the expenses to
£3,484, leaving a balance of £916.