The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-19 00:00:00

PRIVATE FETE AT CREMORNE.

The favourite Chelsea Gardens were last night
engaged by an aristocratic party, who were deter-
mined to repeat the experiment of 1858, and were
on this occasion more successful than before, for
the fine weather enabled them to enjoy all the
amusements with which the gardens abound.
Mr. T. B. Simpson did all he could to honour his
distinguished guests. The principal walks were'
adorned with countless additional lamps, and the
" monster platform," fitted up with singular taste
and brilliancy, presented a really magnificent spec-
tacle.

And what a quantity of sights wcre offered for
the inspection of the curious ! The evening began
with a juvenile fete, and early corners were amused
with a race contested by a number of small bal-
loons, named after the lady patronesses, with the
performances of the birds who have been brought
to such admirable docility by Mademoiselle Van-
dersmerch, with a " grand balloon ascent," with the
Swiss female singers, and Mr. Cooke's highly-
trained dogs and monkeys. These preliminaries
settled, the serious business of the evening began ;
and adults might witness the capital ballet, the
equestrian feats in the cirque, the graceful ex-
ploits of Leotard, the fireworks, and the fire-
king. All these sights were viewed with infi-
nite delight by the select patrons of Cremorne,
and the gardens would have been quite as lively
as on ordinary occasions if there had been the
usual amount of dancing on the platform. Most
of the refined visitors were, however, content to
see what there was to be seen without becoming,
like vulgar folks, a part of the exhibition. The
proceeds of the entertainment are to be applied
for the benefit of the Spitalfields weavers.
Another fete of the same kind is to take place
next Wednesday, when the stringent regulations
with respect to vouchers—those filters of good
society—will be relaxed for the benefit of the
charity.
The arrangements made by Mr. Simpson were
highly appreciated by the company, and nothing
occurred to mar the pleasure of the evening.
Mr. Simpson takes his farewell benefit on Thurs-
day next, when his usful and popular connection
with these gardens during a period of ten years
will be brought to a close. Mr. E. T. Smith will
inaugurate his succession to the gardens on the 6th
of August.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLN

SHIRE.

The directors of this company have just issued their half-
yearly report. It states that the total revenue from all
sources for the half-year ending the 30th ult amounted to
£340,022, and the total expenditure to £184,028, leaving a
balance of £155,994, which, with the balance of £1,104
from the previous half-year, gives a total sum of
£157,098 available for interest and dividends. The de-
benture and other interest charges against the half-year
amount to £60,127, the canal annuities to £14,143,
the dividend on debenture stock to £1,175, the
dividend on the £6 preference shares to £23,690, the divi-
dend on the 31 per cent. preference stock to £5,959, the
dividend on the 6 per cent. preference stock to £26,160,
and the dividend on the new £lO redeemable 6 per cent.
shares to £9,750, making a total charge of £141,004, and
leaving £16,094 available. A dividend on the ordi-
nary stock at the rate of 15s. per cent. per annum
will absorb £14,699, and leave a balance of £1,395. The
company's share of net profit in connexion with the
South Junction Railway has been £7,544 against £6,673 in
the corresponding half of 1860. During the month of
December, and part of the months of January and Feb-
ruary, the company's canals were almost entirely closed,
in consequence of the very severe frost, and a loss of £3,000
at the least has been caused to the canal revenue thereby.
The whole of the unsettled claims between this company
and the London and North-Western, on both sides, have
been adjusted, balanced, and settled by a fair and friendly
compromise. By the legislation of this session the railways
of this company are extended to the Mersey, and into dis-
tricts of great importance elsewhere. The capital account
shows that £9,269,902 had been expended to the 30th ult.,
leaving a balance of £171,303.