The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-15 00:00:00

PAILU.Rg of the ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.

PLYMOUIit FRIDAY EVENING.
The United States' tea igate Niagara, Capt.
Hudson, from the Atlantic, followed by the Sus-
quehanna, Capt. Sands, and her Majesty's screw
steamship Agamemnon, Master-Commander Nod-
dall, entered the Staind this afternoon on their re,►
turn from their unsucce-sful effort to lay the tele-
graphic cable. On board the Niagara they report
that at the time of the severance, a quarter to four
o'clock on Tuesday morning, 335 nut-tidal or about
380 statue miles had been laid, at a distance of
260 to 280 miles in a direct course from Valentia.
The wind was southerly, there was some sea, and
the ship was going from three to four knots, and
the cable paying out five to 'six, and sometimes
seven, knots.
As the quantity of slack thus expended was
greater than expected at starting, and more than
could be afforded, the retird strain was therefore
increased to a pressure of 3,000 pounds, and the
cable broke.
The extra' expenditure of slack commenced on
Monday evening, when a strong breeze and heavy
swell prevailed, and a powerful undercurrent was
experienced. This current forced the wire from
the ship at a considerable angle.
When the break was applied with increased
power the stern of the Niagara was down in the
trough of a sea, and the extra strain created by her
rising was the immediate cause of the cable's patt-
ing
The Susquehanna was a mile off on the Niagara's
starboard beam ; the Agamemnon, the Cyclops,
and the Leopard were within signal distance.
At 12 o'clock the Cyclops left for Valentia, and
the Leopard for Spithead. The other three re-
mained to make some experiments.
Soundings were found by the Cyclops at 2,000
fathoms. At night they kept a course E.S.E.,
under easy steam, and on Wednesday morning at
10 o'clock bore up for Plymouth Sound. The
Niagara is gone into Hamoaze. The general opi-
nion is that the season is too far advanced for ano-
ther effort now, but every confidence is expressed
in the ultimata success of the undertaking. The
machinery now aboard the Niagara is considered
too heavy for the purpose. It is stated that the
wheels ceased to revolve when the pressure was ap-
lied on Tuesday morning.

THE NEW COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE
AND FLOWER MARKET.

The ruins of the old theatre are now entirely
down and the debris nearly cleared away in prepa-
ration for the new buildings to be erected on the
site. These will consist of a Theatre and Flower
Market, the area of the former of which will be
about 230 feet by 120 feet, and the latter 220 feet
by 75 feet. The new Covent-garden Opera House,
as we believe it is to be called, when completed
will be the largest in London except her M jeety's
Theatre in the Haymarket. The principal entrance
to it will be by a sextile portico in Bow-street,
within which there is intended to be a spacious
entrance hall and grand staircase. The Queen's
entrance will be in Hart-street, communicating
with which are planned staircases and retiring
rooms. The stage will run parallel with Hart-
street. The ceiling of the theatre, together with
the fronts of the boxes, are to be constructed of
the patent fibrous woo 3, sim lar to that used in
the new Reading-loom of the British Museum,
which appears to be admirahly.adapted for such
purpose. The backs and divisions of
can be
boxes are to be so contrived that they be re-
moved, as alio the pit tier, to admit of entire re-
moval and occasional extension of the pit under the
grand tier of boxes. The roof and supporting gir-
ders of the boxes will be of wrought-iron, light•and
elegaßt in design. There are to be no co!umns in
front of the boxes, so the view of the stage will be
entirely uninterrupted. The proscenium is in-
tended to be so constructed that it will admit of re-
moval, so as to convert the entire building, as occa-
sion may require, into an enormous concert room,
combining the whole of tb e stage space and auditory.
The gallery is to extend over the principal entrance,
and into the tympanum of the portico, so that no
space will be lost that can be made available. The
entire area to be occupied by spectators will com-
prise three tiers of boxes, an amphitheatre, pit, and
gallery. The flower market is planned so as to
run parallel with Great ltussell-street, and will
form a highly interesting portion of Mr. Gye's
general scheme, It is intended to be covered by a
light semi-circular iron roof 50 feet in span, the
space underneath which is to be arranged in stalls for
the sale of out, flowers and other floral produc-
tions. There are to be two entrances in the mar-
ket, the principal one of which will be in Bow-
street, adjoining the theatre, and the other from
the piazza on the eastern side of Covent-garden.
The designs for the structures have been prepared
by Edward M. Barry, Esq., architect, under whose
supervision the whole will be carried out by Messrs.
Lucas, Brothers, builders, Belvedere-road, Lam.-
beth.—Building News.