The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-26 00:00:00

THE ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY.

The first of the summer series of exhibitions of
flowers and plants took place yesterday in the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Regent's Park, and was in all re-
spects one of the most successful which has been held
for many years. The weather was unusually
favourable for such a display. For more than twenty
years past the opening exhibition has fallen uppn a
dull, cold, and rainy day, but yesterday the sun
shone with all the fervour and brilliancy of mid-
summer. At times, indeed, when no friendly cloud
tempered its rays, it was too hot to be pleasant, but
the golden light which it shed upon all around
more than compensated for any inconvenience
which the visitors may have suffered from the
warmth of its beams. . _ _

The doors were thrown open at 2. o'clock, and in
an incredibly short space of time the gardens were
filled by a gay and fashionable company, including
some of the most distinguished members of the
aristocracy. No fewer than 20,336 tickets had been
sold, or something like 2,000 moreethan last year,
and we are rather under than over the mark when
we state that upwards of 12,000 visitors were pre-
sent during the greater part of the afternoon. The
ladies greatly outnumbered the gentlemen, and, as
is usual upon such occasions, formed a much finer
spectacle than the one they had come to witness.
At other exhibitions the flowers are usually dis-
played on wooden stands, but the Botanic Society,
favoured by the nature of the ground, adopt a dif-
ferent arrangement. They cover in a natural
hollow, near the middle of their gardens, so as to
give it the appearance of a gigantic marquee. Here
the flowers are exhibited upon the banks of grass
and moss of different elevations, tier rising above
tier like the seats of an amphitheatre. - The whole
can be taken in at one view ; nowhere else can such
a mass of floral beauty be seen at a glance. Yes-
terday the effect was delightful. The flowers were
arranged in,a highly artistic and effective manner,
with a special view to the harmonious combination
of colours, and so great was the prpfusion of bloom
that scarcely a stem or a leaf was visible. The
predominant colours were pink and red; there
were very few blues or yellows, which would
not have contrasted so well with the green turf
or the lining of the tent. It may be said that
the chief excellence of the show, and that which
distinguished it from even the best of its pre-
decessors, was not the presence of any remark-
able or striking novelty, but the general blaze
of colour which it presented to the eye, and which
is probably due to the fact that, owing to the back-
wardness of the season, the early and late flowers 11
have blossomed together. More than half of the
plants exhibited consisted of pelargoniums and
azaleas, of which there was a magnificent display,
embracing almost every known variety. Some of
the seedling pelargoniums attracted considerable
attention, and almost rivalled the larger flowers in
shape and hue. The orchids were vigorous plants,
fully flowered, and were represented in all their
varied and sometimes fantastic forms. There was
nothing remarkable in the show of roses, but it
must not be forgotten that only a few years have
elapsed since the present mode of i•earing them in
pots was adopted. Already, however, the superiority
of the new system is apparent. The collection of
heaths was much admired, especially a variety, the
Cavendishii, with long spikes of a greenish-gold
colour.

The bands of the Ist and 2d Life Guards and of
the Royal Horse Guards (Blue), played at intervals
during the day, and contributed in no small degree
to the enjoyment of the visitors.
Prizes were awarded to the amount of L. 500. The
following are the more important:—
Extra Gold—Mr. G. Dods, gardener to Sir J.
Cathcart, Cooper's-hill, for 16 stove and greenhouse
plants ; Mr. Gedney, gardener to the Rev. W. Ellis,
Hoddeslon, Herts, for 20 exotic orchids.
Large Gold—Mr. T. Whitehead, gardener to Mr.
H. CulYer, Dartford, Kent, for 16 stove and green-
house plants ; Mr. Ballo!, gardener to Mr. I.
Butler. Woolwich, for 20 exotic orchids.
Medium Gold—Mr. B. Peed, gardener to Mr. T.
Tredwell, St. John's-lodge, Norwood. for 16 stove
and greenhouse plants; Mr. W. Cutbush, nursery-
man, Barnet, -Hefts, for 12 stove and erreenhouse
plants ; Mr. W. May, gardener to Mr.'J. Spode,
Hawksyard-park, Stafford, for 10 stove and green-
house Plants; Messrs. J. Ivory and Son, nursery-
men, Dorking and Reigate, for 10 greenhouse
azaleas ; Mr. Carson, gardener to Mr. W. F. O.
Farmer, Nonsuch-park, Surrey, for 8 greenhouse
azaleas ; Mr. Carson, gardener to Mr. W. F. G.
Farmer,
elwAtunt, Herts,for 16 exotic orchids.;
Mr. Dods, gardener to Sir J. Cathcart, for
nurseryao fat' exotic orchids; Mr. S. Woolly,
, 20
12 erotic orchids ; Mr. A. Paul, nurseryman,
i
Cheshunt, Herts, for 10 roses n pots.
Gold—Messrs. J. and J. Fraser, nurserymen,
Leabridge-road, for 12 stove and greenhouse
plants ; Mr. Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus,
Cheam, Surrey, for 10 stove and greenhouse plants;
Mr.-W. Cutbush, nurseryman, Barnet, for 10 Cape

heaths; Mr. B. Peed, gardener to Mr. T. Tredwell,
Norwood, for 8 Cape heaths ; Mr. Turner, nursery-
man, Slough, for 10 greenhouse azaleas ; Mr. T.
Page, gardener to Mr. W. Leaf, Streatham, for 8
greenhouse azaleas ; Mr. A. Rhodes, gardener to
Mr. J. Philpot, for 12 exotic orchids ; Mr. Turner,
Slough, for 12 pelargoniums ; Mr. Nye, gardener
to Mr. E. Foster, Clewer Manor, for 10 pelargo-
niums ; Messrs. H. Law and Son, Great Berk-
hampstead, for 10 roses in pots.
Among the visitors were Prince Edward of Sax•
Weimar, Prince Gholam Mahomed and suite, the
Comte de Paris, Count Bernstorff, Baron Brunnow,
the Earl of Hardwicke, the Bishop of Oxford, Sir
Robert Peel, and many other distinguished per-
sonages.

NON• INTER VEN7 lON. - DEP UT ATION

TO THE EARL OF DERBY.

A deputation. comprising the Right Hon. the
Lord Mayor, and several gentlemen of the City of
London, waited upon the Earl of Derby, by ap-
pointment, yesterday, at the Treasury, for tho pur-
pose of presenting to his lordship a memorial,
unanimously adopted at a public meeting which
was held at the London Tavern last Friday, in
favour of an English policy of strict noninterven-
tion during the war now raging on the Continent.
Among the gentlemen accompanying the Lord
Mayor we observed Messrs. Charles Gilpin, M.P.,
Samuel Morley, J. A. Nicholay, Charles Warner,
Charles Reed, J. G. Bass, Edmund Fry, H. Anelay,
B. Britton, A. Clarence Symonds, E. Clarke, &c.
The LORD MAYOR, in introducing the deputation
to Lord Derby, stated that they attended for the
purpose of presenting a memorial which had been
unanimously adopted at a meeting held at the
London Tavern. That meeting was held in the
largest room that the City of London afforded, and
was crowded to overflowing. Had it been possible
to obtain a room holding 2,000 or 3,000 persons, it
would have been equally filled. The fee Eng in the
City was unanimous in favour of a policy of strict
and impartial neutrality on the part of this coun-
try, and the course which had been laid down and
pursued by her Majesty's Government in reference
to the war now waging was fully approved and
appreciated by all classes in the City of London.
'He assured Lord Derby that it was the unanimous
desire of the citizens of London to render every
possible support to the Government in carrying
out such a policy. The Lord Mayor then requested
Charles Gilpin, Esq., M.P., to read the memorial,
which was to the following effect :
" To the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby and the
other members of her Majesty's Government, this
memorial, unanimously adopted at a public meeting
held at the City of London Tavern, on Friday, May
20, the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the chair,
respectfully showeth,
" That in the opinion of your memorialists it is
of the highest importance to the honour and in-
terests of England that she should maintain a strict
and impartial neutrality in the..war now waging on
the continent of Europe.
" Your memorialists' have rejoiced to observe that
by royal proclamation her Majesty has declared
her desire t' maintain a position of dignified neu-
trality, and they earnestly trust that neither by
overt act nor by the supposed claim's of entangling
treaties or alliances will that position of neutrality
be abandoned."

Mr. GILPIN, in presenting the memorial, stated
that the brief notice given for waiting upon his
lordship had somewhat limited the attendance, but
the gentlemen present came simply as the repre-
sentatives of the public meeting by which the
memorial had been unanimously adopted.
Lord DERBY assured the Lord Mayor and gentle-
men present that he was glad to find that the views
of her Majesty's Government on this important
subject were such as to command the approval ex-
pressed in the memorial. He had stated the views
of the Government fully and frankly in his place in
Parliament, at your lordship's table (addressing_the
Lord Mayor), and on other occasions, and those
statements they should be prepared to repeat when
opportunity Would shortly be afforded by the re-
assembling of the legislature.

Mr. SI6IITEL MORIEY begged to call the atten-
tion of the Government to the very important in-
fluence which this question exercised upon the
interest of the manufacturing classes, with which
he was largely connected. The recent panic
created by th rumour of a secret treaty between
France and Russia had had the.effect of stopping
orders in various branches of manufacture to such
an extent as to throw thousands of persons out of
employment.
Lord DEnwir said that with reference to the
rumour of a treaty between France and Russia, the
Government. had. received repeated and positive
=assurances from Prince Gortsehakoff that no such
treaty existed, and that the written memorandum
which had been exchanged between the Russian
and French Governments in no way affected the
interests of this country. He could assure the
deputation that her Majesty's Government, having
fully declared their views with respect to English
non-intervention, had no intention or desire in any
way to alter that policy.
The deputation having expressed their obligation
to his lordship for the courteous reception afforded
to them, then withdrew.

THE WRECK OF THE SHIP POMONA'

The following is a copy of the report to the Lord 3
Committee of Privy Council for Trade of the magis-
trates who held the inquiry at,Wexford into the
wreck of the Pomona emigrant ship, on the Black-
water Bank :

We, the undersigned justices of the peace for
the county of Wexford, having been requested by
an officer appointed by your lordships to inquire,
in pursuance of the Merchant Shipping Act of
1854, into the circumstances connected with the
wreck of the emigrant ship Pomona, on Blackwater
Bank, on the 28th of April last, beg to report that
we proceeded to make such inquiry on the. 7th and
9th inst., and after hearing the evidence, which we-
herewith transmit, and availing ourselves of the
co-operation of Captain Harris, nautical assessor
to your lordships' board, submit the following as
our report

" Tlie Pomona, an American ship, of 1,202 tons
register, sailed from Liverpool on the 27th of April
last for New York. She had on board a cargo
of general merchandise, 400 emigrants, a crew of
44 men, and four other persons, supposed to have
been smuggled on board, making a grand total of
448, and. of those only 24 were saved. All the
regulations of the 18th and 19th Vict., called the
Passengers' Act had been complied with. . We
therefore infer that the ship was properly found,
find in all respects seaworthy. The ship sailed on
the morning of the 27th ult., with a fair wind, and
between 4 and 5 o'clock that afternoon passed
Holyhead at a distance of about ten miles. From
thence the course steered was W.S.W. till a quar-
ter to 11 p.m., when a light was observed about
one point on the starboard bow. Shortly after this
the ship was hauled to the northward and east-
ward, or away from the light, and was so continued
till half-past 4 a.m., when the helm seas put up,
the yards squared, the course steered west, and in
a few minutes the ship struck. Such is the brief
account of the disaster which led to the loss of the
Pomona. As often happens when these calamities
occur, few survive to record the particulars, and
those few, as in this case, for the most part illite-
rate seamen, devoid of all responsibility, and
ignorant of the lights or position-of the ship. We
can, therefore, only form our conclusions from the
evidence brought before us. The first position,
then, in which we find the ship, as deposed to by
the third mate (and that without any great cer-
tainty) was between 4 and 5 p.m. on the 27th ult.,
then abreast of Holyhead, at a distance of about
10 miles. The mate states that he thinks the
course steered from that position was W.S.W., the
wind beini, on the port quarter, and the rate of
sailing might vary from 6 to 7 knots. The course
from the position assigned, 10 miles off Holyhead,
to the floating light on the Blackwater Bank, is
W.S.W., and the distance is about GO or 65 miles.
At 11 p.m. a light was seen about one point on the
starboard bow ; it was thought to be revolving,
supposed to be the Tuskar. Some misgiving as to its
being the latter seems to have crossed the
captain's mind, for after this light was seen the
ship was hauled to the northward, anpa-
tently to wait for the daylight. At haltpast 4
a.m., it being then daylight, but thick, showery
,weather, the ship was kept away clue west, and
shortly afterwards took the ground. From the
evidence it appears that the master was on deck
during the first Watch, for he gave the order to
haul the ship off on the starboard tack shortly
before midnight. Again, he was on deck at half-
past 4 when he himself gave the order to the
helmsman to put the helm up and steer her west.
But 1w d )es not I.lyear to have been on deck during
the middle watch!, when the ship was drifting
northward, with the helm a-lee. That morning,
neither at daylight, nor at any time during the
previous day, had the lead been hove, to verify- the
ship's position ; and after the ship beat over the
hank, the anchor was most injudiciously let go.
Had this not been done, it is more than probable
the 'ship would have drifted on shore, a distance of
about two miles, and many lives would have been
saved. The exertions of the Collector of the Cus-
toms and the coastguard to render assistance were
most meritorious, as also that of the lifeboat autho-
rities at Cahore: It is to be regretted that on this
occasion the shoalness of Wexford Bay and the
state of the tide precluded any assistance being
afforded by the large steam vessels lying in the
harbour when this disastrous shipwreck occurred.
Having maturely weighed all the circumstances

which appear to us to have led to this lamentable
shipwreck, we are of opinion that great blame is
attached to the late master, Charles Merrihew,
inasmuch as that when the light was seen, at 11
p.m., and supposed to have been the Tuskar, no
soundings were taken to verify his position, and
subsequently, after standing to the northward for
four hours, he bore up due west before any indica-
tion was given, either by a light of the Blackwater
Light vessel, or a cast of the lead of his then posi-
tion. We therefore find that the Pomona was lost
by default of the master. Rumours have been
circulated that drunkenness and disorder prevailed
on board the ship prior to her loss. We desire to
remark that the evidence adduced before us dis-
proves the truth of such allegations.
" CHAS. ARTHUR WALKER, J.P. and V.L.
" JOHN WALKER, J.P. and Mayor."

An inquest was held yesterday before the
borough coroner at Liverpool, upon the body of
Charles Thompson, one of the crew of the ill-fated
emigrant ship Pomona, which was wracked on
Blackwater Bank, on the 28th ult. Thompson was
one of the very few who managed to reach the
shore alive. He arrived at Liverpool on the 3d
inst., in company with two others of the crew who
Were saved. All three were sent by the American
consul to a boarding-house, where Thompson com-
plained of weakness and excessive purging. At
his own desire he was sent to the Royal Infirmary,
where, though every care and attention were
bestowed upon him, he died on Tuesday. Mr.
Allen, the house surgeon, stated that death was
caused by diarrhoea and fever, the result of immer-
sion and exposure. A verdict to that effect was
returned. The other two men are quite well, and
have gone to sea again.

STRIKE OF 2HE COALTVIIIPPE.RS OF
THE PORT OF LONDON.

Yesterday morning about 2,000 coalwhippers of
the port of London turned out on strike for an
advance of wages, namely, from the sum of sixpence
to ninepence per ton, for their labour.
This hard worked and deserving body of men
went in procession, accompanied by a band of
music, flags, &c., through Wapping, Ratcliff, and
other places near the water. side where the coal-
ships and colliers are daily cleared of their freight,
encouraging each other not to work for the starva-
tion price which the middlemen had been paying
them since the establishment of the truck system
which they had been subjected to.
The strike is the result of a meeting of the men
at the Pheenix Tavern, Ratcliff -cross, on Monday
night last, where resolutions for the advancement
of their interests were unanimously adopted.
The greatest order prevailed throughout the pro-
ceedings, and many poor fellows had starvation
depicted in their faces as they passed along. Bodies
of men were likewise engaged in small boats on the
river, with drums and fifes, and colours flying, with
large placards calling on all the coalwhippers to
assist in the cause.

, A bill, of which the following is a,copy, was ex-
tensively posted round the eastern parts of the
metropolis yesterday afternoon :
" A public meeting of the coalwhippers of the
port of London will be held at the Phoenix Tavern,
Ratcliff-cross, on Friday evening, the 27th inst., for
the purpose Of taking into consideration the best
means in their power to, unite the whole body of
the men, so that their avaricious oppressors may
not hereafter sow discord among them and then
deprive them of their bread. By sweat of brow
mankind must earn their bread, but there is no
cause why the coalwhippers should consent by
sweat of brow to labour for bread that they do not
obtain. The greatest of Lecturers said, Give us
this day our daily bread,' and when he multiplied
loaves he multiplied fishes also. If he considered
they were unnecessary as an addenda to bread as
sustenance for man he would not have multiplied.
Sixpence for whipping coals is not sufficient to
provide the coalwhippers with bread for their
starving families, but ninepence per ton will pro-
videloaves if nothing else. Then hurrah for the
ninepence, the loaves and the fishes also. Be true
to the cause and success will attend your efforts.
The chair will be taken by a poor starving coal-
whipper at eight o'clock precisely."
The men last evening proceeded to their homes
in an orderly manner, and the strike is expected to
last several days.
Subscriptions on behalf of the men have been
opened at several places to defray the expenses.