The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-14 00:00:00

AMERICAN ADDRESS TO THE RUSSIAN

EMPEROR

[REUTER'S EXPRESS.]
ST. PETERSBURG, August 8.
The extraordinary mission from the United States
of America, accompanied by General Clay, the
American Minister at this Court, was received to-
day by the Emperor at the Palace of Peterhof.
The Lion. G. V. Fox, Under-Secretary of the U.S.
Navy, presented to his Majesty the address voted
by Congress congratulating him upon his escape
from the peril of assassination. Mr. Fox made
the following speech :
" Sire, —The resolution which I have the hon-
our of presenting to your Imperial Majesty is the
voice of a people whose millions of lips speak from
a single heart.

" The many ties which have long bound together
the great empire of the east and the great republic
of the west have been multiplied and strengthened
by the unwavering fidelity of the Imperial Govern-
ment to our own throughout its recent period of
convulsion. The words of sympathy and friend-
ship then addressed to the Government at "Washing-
ton, by command of your Imperial Majesty, are
fixed in the eternal remembrance of a grateful
country.

" As one of the wide family of nations, we yield
our willing homage to that noble act of hamanity
which is especially referred to in the resolution of
Congress. The peaceful edict of an enlightened
sovereign has consummated a triumph over an in-
herited barbarism, which our western republic has
only reached through long years of bloodshed.
" It is therefore with profound emotion that I
offer to your Imperial Majesty, to the emancipated
subjects, to all the people of this vast realm, our
heartfelt congratulations upon the providential
escape from danger which led to this spontaneous
expression of regret for the attempt, and thankful-
ness for its merciful arrest and failure.

" The story of a peril from which a kind Provi-
vidence has delivered your Imperial Majesty brings
with it the remembrance of the mighty sorrow which
so lately filled every loyal heart in our own land at
the sudden loss of our chief, our guide, our father.

" We thank God that a grief like this was spared
to our friends and allies, the Russian people.
" May the Father of all nations, and all rulers,
protect, prolong, and bless the Ffe which He has so
signally preserved, for the service of the people to
which it belongs, for the good of mankind, and the
glory of His holy name.

(Signed) G. V. Fox,
Assistant-Secretary of Navy.

Agricultural Prospects.

The week opened with showery weather, but was
mostly fine during the after part of the day, with
occasional bright gleams of sun, and strong breezes
from the west and south-west. On Mllonday the
morning was thick, with an uncertain promise ; at
10 a.m. slight rain fell, increasing at noon, and this
proved a settled steady fall during the remainder of
the day, while at night it was very heavy, with a
violent gale of wind from the south-west, the ther-
mometer at noon down to 58 degrees, and the baro-
meter as low as 29.75 inches. On Tuesday heavy
showers fell, with a continuance of high gales, and
harvest-work was generally suspended. Our advices
from that day were mostly of an unfavourable cha-
racter. From the East Riding of Yorkshire it was
stated : " Weather has not been at all favourable
for the crops ; a good deal of rain has fallen at in-
tervals, with a low temperature for the season of the
year, and the grain comes slowly to maturity. The
cutting of oats has commenced in some forward
patches in this district, but harvest will not be gene-
ral for a week or ten days, even with hot forcing
weather." From Norfolk : " The weather since
this day week has been unsettled, and a
good deal of rain has fallen. To-day is
fine, with a gale from the S.W. Harvest has par-
tially commenced in this neighbourhood ; both barley
and wheat are reported to be falling light." From
Lancashire it was remarked—" The weather has
boon unfavourable through the week, as we have
had boisterous winds and some heavy falls of rain,
which have laid many of the grain crops, now fully
ripe. Cutting has commenced pretty generally
through West Lancashire ; the farmers speak well
of barley and fair of oats; but of wheat they report
rather despondingly, with lighter sheaves than usual,
and they are anxious for a more genial state of
weather." From Suffolk our advices run—" The
weather continues cold, and with very little sun.
Wheat cutting has just commenced, and as the day
advances will become more general. The opinion
of the crop is not encouraging." From Northum-
berland it was observed—" The weather since our
last report has been cold and unsettled; 'wind va-
riable, s'.nce yesterday S.W., and rain." Wednes-
day was a very showery day, continuing to be quite
unfavourable for harvest work. From the west
coast of Scotland it was remarked—" We have had
much rain during the week." On Thursday some
slight showers fell, but being a very breezy day har-
vest work was partially proceeded with, though our
advices were not very encouraging. From Suffolk,
near the coast, it was written—" The weather con-
tinues dull and unsettled ; the amount of rain, how-
ever, which has fallen is not heavy, but experience
tells us that to produce quality in grain we need a
dry warm sun at the critical period for the ripening
of cereals." From the interior of the same county
our advices stated—" The continuance of unsettled
weather during the week has very much interfered
with harvest operations. Wheat cutting has be-
come general, some fields are already cleared, and
a few samples of Talavera were brought to market,
but the condition is bad." From Buckinghamshire
it was stated—" A large breadth of wheat has
fallen before the sickle ; the same remark applies
to oats, but little of either has been carted. The
weather continues showery, and unless we get
settled weather shortly, I fear the wheat will be hur-
l:led into stacks too quickly. As I have told you
before, the quantity as to yield varies much, accord-
ing to the nature of the soil. On the heavy clay
districts the crop is a light one." From Warwick-
shire—" We have had another week of very unset-
tled weather, which is now looked upon with much
anxiety, interrupting as it does harvest operations,
which otherwise would now be general. On Friday
the morning was fine, and it held up to 1 p.m., when
showers again fell, and continued at intervals for
the remainder of the day." From Devonshire it was
stated—" harvest operations progress. We have
continued threatenings of rain without much falling,
so that large quantities of corn are cut, and a con-
siderable quantity stacked, in condition dry enough
to save it, but not dry enough to come immediately
to market." From Lincolnshire our latest advices
stated—" Since last week a great change has taken
place for the worse as regards the growing crops,
owing, no doubt, to the cold wet and ungenial wea-
ther. All the best crops of wheat arc much lodged and
twisted, which must prevent the ears from being filled
as they should be ; and, besides, mildew has fallen
upon many crop, and when this occurs a great defi-
ciency is the result in both quality and quantity. The
barley is much laid by the rains, and I expect to find
the grain small in consequence." Saturday was the
only day without rain during the week, but it was
dull and gloomy at times, and although the barome-
ter has risen and got up to 30 degrees, the weather
does not seem settled. Still the temperature being
higher gives hopes of improvement, and next week
will be yet more important than this has been, as
harvest work will be more general.-31ark-Lane
Express.

ART UNION EXHIBITION.—The private view of
the pictures and works of art won in 1866 by prizeholders
in the Art Union of London, took place on Saturday at
the Gallery of the Water-Colour Institute, Pall-mall. The
exhibition, including several works of considerable excel
lence : among them Mr. Beavis's "Drawing Timber in
Picardy," Mr. Birket Foster's " Winterbourne, Bonchurcb,
Isle of Wight," and Mr. Henry Warren's " Deborah Sitting
in Judgment." The last-mentioned painting has been won
by a prizeholder i.i New Zealand. Altogether there are in
the exhibition 109 oil and 150 water-colour paintings, to-
gether with a marble bust of Hobe, a pair of bas-reliefs in
ivory, and a vase with Cupid and Psyche in relief, by Mr.
J. Barkeutin. There is, moreover, on view in the collec-
tion a reduced copy of "A Wood Nymph," by Mr. 0. B.
Birch,

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HER MAJESTY.

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OSBORNE, Aug. 13.
Her Majesty walked in the grounds this morning
with Princess Louise.
Princess Beatrice went out also.
Prince Leopold drove out attended by Mr. Legg.

His loyal highness the Prince of Wales has
joined General Hall's select shooting party on th© northern
moors of Yorkshire, where the prince and friends will re-
main for the grouse shooting till Friday, on which day he
will join the princess on her way to .Abergeldie, N. 8.,
from Studley Royal, where her royal highness is now stay-
ing with the Earl and Countess de Grey.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, ac-
companied by Colonel the lion. James Macdonald, C. 8.,
left Grimstono Park, where the duke had been staying
with Lord and Lady Londesborough, for General Hall's
shooting quarters in the north of Yorkshire.

The Duke of Northumberland and Lady Louisa
Percy, who arrived at their residence in Portman-square
on Saturday, from Sion House, Isleworth, loft yesterday
for Alnwick Castle, for the autumn.

The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Ladies
Scott left Dalkeith Palace, near Edinburgh, on Saturday
last, for Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire.

His Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and the
Countess Bernstorff and family left the Prussian Embassy
on Carlton-house-terrace yesterday for Brighton.

The Earl and Countess of ivialmesbury have left
town for Heron Court, near Christchurch, Hants.

The Earl of Bective, M.P., and Lady Madeline
Taylour have left The Lodge, Virginia, Ireland, for Edin-
burgh.

The Earl of Portsmouth left Cataldi's Hotel,
Dover-street, for his seat in Hants.
The Earl and Countess of Dalkeith left Dalkeith

Palace, near Edinburgh, on Saturday for Bowhill, the Duke
of Buccleuch's seat in Selkirkshire. The earl has been do-
ing duty with his yeomanry cavalry regiment during the
past fortnight.

The Duke of Beaufort and Mr. Ron, M.P.

At the annual meeting of the Badminton Agri-
cultural Society just held about 400 ladies and
gentlemen dined together. Among those present were
the Duke of Beaufort, Lord A. Somerset, Lady
Blanche Somerset, Sir J. Neeld, Lady Neeld, Dir•
Rolt, M.P., &c.

Mr. ROLT having proposed " The Health of the
Duke of Beaufort," as patron of the society,
The Duke of BEAUFORT responded, and after al-
luding to local topics, the cattle plague, and cholera,
said that the long peace which Europe had enjoyed
for 39 years had led them to bel'eve that a European
war was hereafter impossible. He believed that 39
years' peace was due to the life of the Duke of Wel-
lington. They all knew that after the battle of
Waterloo there was no such thing as a European
war during the life of the Duke of Wellington. But
no sooner had he died than the Emperor of Russia
moved, and fell upon Turkey. He believed that no
European Sovereign, whether Emperor or King,
dared to move for war so long as the Duke of Wel-
lington was alive. They might congratulate them-
selves that they had kept out of the broil that had
lately taken place; but he was not quite sure that
they might congratulate themselves upon the position
they now occupied as a great power. He believed
that since the European war, and in consequence of
our non-interference, allowing Prussia to have en-
tirely her own way with Denmark, we had lost our
prestige in Europe. Nobody would tell him that at
any time before the Danish war any European
Power would have dared to go to war without mak-
ing alliance with England. He believed the conti-
nental Powers were quite aware that the great bulk
of our army was now absorbed in India, and that
therefore we could bring no adequate land force to
bear against any of their armies ; and he believed
they were also aware of that unfortunate fact which
Sir J. Pakington disclosed the other day, that the
whole of the seven millions—at all events, a great
number of millions—which had been expended in

the construction of the navy during the last seven
or eight years had been entirely thrown away, that
there was net a single ship in reserve that could be
put into commission. He hoped the present Go-
vernment would use such earnest endeavours that
they might shortly be enabled to say that they had
a navy fit to cope with any three navies in the world.
No doubt many of them had recently read in the
Times some articles praising American ships, and
pointing attention to the unsightly monster that
visited our shores the other day. On the very day*
when the last article in the Times appeared an officer
went down to inspect this ship. The officer
inquired with reference to the guns, and the Ameri-
can officers did what they had never done before--
they fired off their guns. They put into them half
a charge of powder and no shot, and the recoil of
the guns was so great that they broke away, and
actually knocked a hole through the turret. (A
laugh.) This was a fact that was not generally
known, but it was an absolute and positive fact, told
to him by one of the naval officers who were pre-
sent. He absolved the late Government in not hav-
ing followed the example of the Americans merely
because they had heard that their ships were effec-
tive, and in not having constructed a navy upon
their very faulty principle ; but he did not absolve
them from the blame of having ineffectually squan-
dered a great deal of money. In conclusion his
grace proposed " The Health of the members for
Gloucester and Wilts."

Mr. ROLT, M.P., responded, and alluding to the
question on which the late Government went out of
office, he said it must not be supposed that the pre-
sent Government were opposed to a reasonable mea-
sure of Reform ; but by " reasonable " he meant a
measure that would be equally just to every class of
the community, considering the agricultural, the
commercial, and the manufacturing interests alike,
and giving to no class any undue preponderance
over the other.

,CROWN CHURCH PATRONAGE.—The Earl of Derby
has presented the Rev. James Jeakes, M.A.. of St. Peter's
College, Cambridge, curate of Harrow, to the incumbency
of Holy Trinity Church, Shoreditch.
THE FUTURE LONDON WATER SUPPLY.—This
subject will in all probability receive full considera-
tion between the present time and the opening of the flat
Session of Parliament. In addition to minor schemes afloat,
and likely to be set afloat, two gigantic proposals are
now before the public. In November, 1865, Job°
Frederic Bateman, C.E., issued an able pamphlet (with a
plan) on the subject of the supply of water to London frol
the sources of the River Severn. His project is a bold one
—namely, to bring water from the Welsh hills, at
distance of 183 miles, at a cost of £8,600,000'
Mr. Bateman states—" No scheme, in my Opinl°lll
is worthy of attention which would bring in
loss than 200,000,000 gallons of water per daY,
at an elevation which would supply nearly the whole of,
the metropolitan district by gravitation without pumping'
„
Mr. Bateman's lecture at Burlington-house, which wag
honoured by the presence of his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, will be still fresh in our readers' re-
collection. Another pamphlet (with plan) has just al)"
peared on the future water supply of London, by George
Willoughby Hemans, C.E., and Richard Hassard,
This project is still more gigantic—it is to turn the lakes
of Haweswater, Ullswater, and Thirlmero in Cumber-
land and Westmoreland into great reservoirs, and t°
convey so vast a body of pure water to London that
there would be ample left to :supply certain towns
in
Yorkshire on the road, and the works would begin to pal
'from their commencement. The distance from Loudon
would be 240 miles and the cost £10,000,000. The authors
of; this pamphlet state : —"Although involving an 3P-
parently larger outlay in the first instance than 31r. Bate-
man's, this scheme will, from the absolute certainty
rainfall, the extraordinary purity of the water, the /twill-,
ties afforded by the existing lakes for the construction 01
immense reservoirs, and from the revenue which may
fair] be expected from the sale of water t 43t
districts traversed by the aqueduct, be found the best
and cheapest which has yet been proposed, and th!irt.
ultimate economy would arise from its selection?' la
Heman's name stands high in the engineering profession,,_
and Mr. Hassard designed the extensive waterworks 110 v
being carried out for the city of Dublin, which will be
and
plied with water from the source of the river Vartry
to
the lakes in the 'Wicklow mountains. Various proje,c_..,
of the
were brought forward for the supply of Dublin with ware'y
but so puzzled were the corporation of that city tliat,t
wisely decided to call over Mr. Hawksh2.w from England;
and to take his decision as umpire. Mr. Hassard's
were selected and adopted. It is to be hoped that ra lo
hers of both Houses of Parliament will give full consice_
ration to all the schemes proposed for Loudon before o /
legislation is attempted..