The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-16 00:00:00

OUR WINTER GARDEN.

At the invitation of the Royal Horticultural
Society we this morning visited the works now in
progress at our magnificent new Winter Garden
at South Kensington. From the litter of bricks
and mortar, barrows and planks, covering the
chief part of the area surrounded by the arched
eollonade, we cannot but think that their
invitation has been no doubt generously but
rather injudiciously premature. The space
set apart there is very big and that is
all we can say about the enterprise just yet. A
little later on and we may be enabled to under-1
stand better how far the model of the Gardens (as
they are intended to be)—a model now on view at
the entrance—will be realised.

A marriage is arranged, and will shortly take
place, between Lieutenant-Colonel H. F. Ponaonby, Grena-
dier:Guards, Equerry to his Royal Highness the Prince
Consort, and the Hon. Mary Bulteel, Maid of Honour to
the Queen, daughter of Lady Elisabeth Baited, and niece
of the Earl Grey.
The Prince de Sagan has arrived at the Bruns-
wick Hotel, Jorrnyn-street.
Countess Frances Waldegrave has issued cards
for an asmerably on Wednesday.
! 1
The Countess Cowper will shortly leave Pansl
hanger for the Continent.

There is a growing impression that should the
• ecounts from America bo even moderately favourable, the
Bank of England rate of discount will bo lowered to 7 per
cent. on next Thursday.
CAPT. BRABAZON.—A correspondent states that
our Government, struck by some inconsistencies in the
dates and circumstances put forward by the Chinese autho-
rities, have effered the Chinese Government a large sum of
oney (£20,000) for the production of Captain Brabazon
Nsiciv.
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—Miss Herbert, whose
excellent acting has contributed so materially to the success
of the romantic drama called " The Isle of St. Tropes,',
which has been in course of representation for many weeks
past at this theatre, announces her benefit for Thursday
next, when no doubt her well-earned popularity will ensure
the attendance of a numerous audience.
CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS.—This popular troupe
having completed a highly successful provincial tour, will:
commence another London season on Monday next at her
Majesty's Concert Room, the elegant salle attached to her
Majesty's Theatre, and now christened " The Bijou."•
Besides presenting a choice selection from their extensive
repertoire, a new burlesque, by Mr. William Brough, will
be added to the attractions of the opening night. The
length of time they have held their ground in the metro-
polis will induce a belief that their return to the fashionable
region of the West-end will be accompanied by a renewal
of their past successes.—. Era.
THE ARMSTRONG GUN.—At the moment of
going to press our attention was attracted by a most extra-
ordinary statement made to the House of Commons by Mr.
• Baring last night. That gentleman has chosen, we suppose
on information derived from the Woolwich department, to
impugn our statement of the Ist inst. Our reply is simple.
We challenge that gentleman to produce General Croften.
and Major Hay's confidential report already refused to the.
house. If the Government venture to publish these every
word we have stated will be found to be more than sus--
tained.—iffechanics' Magazine.
ESSAYS AND REVIEWS.—AB the church has
eclined to pass any authoritative opinion on them, they
will now be weighed at the bar of public opinion according
to their merits or demerits. This is the more to be regretted,
as it is too much the fashion of the present day to discuss -
and call in question every doctrine in turn. We should be''
glad if some steps could be taken towards putting down :.
the unlimited private judgment, of which the "Essays and;;
Reviews" are, after all, but a fractional result. The neo-
logical views of the so-called Evangelical school, on the
Sacraments, are just as " repugnant to the natural meaning
of our formularies, and inonn.igtent with the teaching of
the Church of England," as anything to be found in the e
" Essays."— Union.

The United Kingdom Electric Telegraph Com-
pany appeared before a committee of the House of Commons'
yesterday for additional powers under an Act of Parliament,
and were heard by counsel. The committee determined
that the preamble was not provel, as the Act of the corn-.
pany of 1851 had not been completed within the prescribed
period. They added, however, that " they would have been
very glad if they could have recommended the proceeding
with the bill, as they were anxious it should have pro-
ceeded."

The commercial advices from New Yofk yester-
Vay contained little of importance. The rate of exchange
was very firm at 1051 to 106. Every hope of a political
compromise seemed now to have been given ap, and the
great wish was that a peaceable adjustment might be
effected with the seceding States. The new taxi
is published in all the journals, but it is of a character so
complicated as to defy analysis. The opinion seemed to
be that, with the exception of iron goods, which are taxed
to an unprecedented point in order to gratify the manu-
facturers in Pennsylvania, the scale of duties will be about
equal to those of the protective tariff of 1846. That tariff,
however, was untrammelled by the complications now
introduced, and which in some cases will be worse than
the duties themselves. The sale of the Adriatic, formerly
belonging to the Collins Mail line, to the Galway Com-
pany had at length been concluded for £87,500, her original
cost having been £240,000.
THE STRANDED STEAMSHIP QUEEN VICTORIA.'
This vessel was successfully floated on Wednesday evening,
from her berth, on Cremyll Beach, Plymouth, about half-
past
six o'clock. One Government tug and three merchant'

tugs assisted on the occasion. She had been previously
rmade almost tight, so that her donkey engine kept her freel
After she was floated off, the tugs brought her round to the
tPlymouth Great Western Decks, where she now lies iU
safety in the floating dock, and would be placed in the
Vk;graving-dock yesterday. During her transit from thei
beach to the dock, the wind was blowing very fresh from;
,the northward, which, combined with its being so close tol
high water before she came off, gave Captain Russell,'
siitho superintended her removal, ample work to do. Shel
.has been "hogged " by her accident, so that much atten-1
tion will be required in placing her on the blocks in the,
rgraving-dock ; but in this case, the resources of the Great!
Western Docks will be favourably exhibited by the facil
lities they will afford for repairing this fine Tem!.