The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-23 00:00:00

Botany as a science and as a pleasure has lately
made great strides among us, and horticultural
societies, assemblies, and fetes have become organ-
ised institutions. Notwithstanding the high reputa-

tion of our existing associations and the beauty and
success of their exhibitions, it seems there was still
room for further achievements in this line, for cer-
tainly the inauguration of the International Horti-
cultural Exhibition yesterday was one of the most
extensive and brilliant affairs of the kind on
record. Probably the expected arrival of the Prince
and Princess of WALES had something to do with
the crowds of visitors who poured in continuous
streams into the gardens, but the beauty and va-
riety of the scene before them was sufficient of
itself to repay any exertion. All that taste and
skill could do had been done in grouping together
the different kinds, in blending and harmonising
the delicate shades of colour, till the gazer scarcely
knew which to wonder at most, the richness and
variety of the works of nature, or the patience and
ingenuity with which man had devoted himself to
their exhibition. As an evidence of the extent
of the exhibition, we may mention that there were
some hundreds of classes, and no less than £2,500
have been given in prizes. The preliminary ex-
penses for the gardens demanded an outlay of
£3,000, and the expenditure has been well repaid
by the varied and beautiful scene which yesterday
delighted the visitors to this botanical congress.
The area of the orchid tent is 400,000 cubic feet,
the length of the pipe which heats it 3,200, feet,
and the quantity of water it requires 1,760 gallons.
The inauguration being happily accomplished,
the weather having favoured the enterprising origi-
ginators of the scheme most kindly, the opening
was celebrated by a grand banquet at the Guild-
hall, which was very numerously attended by
English and foreign guests. The speeches were ap-
propriate and interesting, and just at this time of
threatening war, the contrast between the courtesies
of the botanists and horticulturists and the troubled
aspect of diplomatic affairs was not a little marked.
Professor DE CONDOLLE, who was the spokesman
of the foreign visitors, regretted that the disturbed
state of the Continent prevented many of his brother
horticulturists from attending. The learned Pro-
fessor humorously remarked that the cost of the mil-
lions of soldiers now massed together in continental
Europe for a single day would construct a conserva-
tory reaching from Paris to Berlin. So much for
the rival expenditure of peace and war ! The prin-
cipal address of the evening was, however, that of
the Right Hon. C. HAMILTON, who declared his con-
viction that the exhibition he had seen that day was
the finest he had ever beheld, though he had seen
many in all parts of the world. No less than
300 years ago one of the greatest intellects of
England, Lord BACON, in dedicating an essay to
horticulture, made use of this remarkable expres-
sion—" GOD first planted a garden, which indeed
is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest
refreshment to the spirits of man, without which
buildings and palaces are but gross handiwork." Mr.
NISIIET commented upon the high esteem in which
horticulture was held by all classes in this country,
even the poorest showing their love of flowers by
a single flower-pot or box on a dirty window ledge.
There is little doubt therefore of this exhibition
o-
taining the popular suffrage it deserves, and we
hope that although the first, it will not be the lastof
such congresses, more peaceful and more profitable
than the troubled assemblies of designing diplo-
matists.

einnstiovie
_
fire broke out on Monday
conveyed to Inverness, and every
li ence was immediately
GREAT FIRE 1N THE
inh RiaolithLiANempurSc.—huAs Forest.
however, property to
standing the great exertion;
pounds was destroyed before
the value of several hundred meansg taken to check the progress of the flames. Notwith-
the fire was stopped.—
WORLD. The
Egyptian paddlewheel steam yacht
THE
THE FASTEST STEAMERIN.THE«ortr.n. IN.
Mahroussa, Captain
intendence of the Pen-
insular and Oriental Company, by
Fredrigo Bey, built under the super
stopped.—Edinburgh Evening Courant.
Messrs. Samuda,
Egypt, arrived
•
Brother; of London, for the Viceroy
of
here on Saturday, the 12th inst., at 6 30 p.m) having per-
formed the voyage from Southampton in the unprecedented
short time of 157 hours. When under full steam she con-
sumes seven tons of coal an hour, and is without exception
the fastest vessel afloat. At the measured mile in Stokes
Bay her average speed was upwards of 18.1 knots an hour,
which is equal to about 201 statute miles. After replenish-
ing fuel she proceeded on the 16th inst. for Constantinople,
to meet his Highness the Viceroy, who, it is reported, in-
tends paying a visit toEngland in her this summer. This
splendid vessel is of 1,800 tons, and is fitted with ma-
chinery of 800 horse power. Her interior fittings are of
extraordinary magnificence. Her cost is said to have been
£166,000.-3falta Timm