The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-06 00:00:00

teristics of the different periods and countries the works
of which are here exhibited to us, and of the influence
which they have exercised upon each other.
" In comparing these works with those of our own
age and country, while we may well be proud of the
immense development of knowledge and power of pro-
duction which we possess, we have reason also for humi-
lity in contemplating the refinement of feeling and inten-
city of thought manifested in the works of the older
•3hools. . . _ _

" I trust that you may reap, in the approbation of the
public at large, and in the remunerative concourse of the
people, the immediate reward of your labours ; And that,
like the Exhibition of 1851, to which you so flatteringly
allude, you may thus al3o find the means of closing your
operations without having recourse to the Guarantee Fund
which this district has so generously put at your disposal.
" Beyond this, however, I trust that the beneficial
effects upon the progress of art and taste in our country,
which we may confidently look to, may be a lasting me-
morial of your vast enterprise."
It is hardly necessary to say that not a single
word of either addresses or replies was heard a few
yards from the dais. In so large a building it was
impossible that all could hear ; but the addresses
-were real in so low a tone that even those nearest

the dais could with difficulty catch two consecutive
sentences. The cons,,quence was that everybody
was glad when this part, of the ceremony was over,
and all felt sensibly relieved whe❑ the orchestra
performed " The Heavens are telling," by Haydn.
That done, the Bishop of Manchester offered up
the following prayer, invoking a blessing upon the
undertaking—

" AlmigutTy God, in whose works we see combined all
that is most grand in conception, skilful in adaptation,
and beautiful in execution, who hast given to us, thy
creatures, the power in some degree to recognise and
adore thy infinite perfections, bless, we beseech Thee, this
work in which we are engaged, and prosper this our un-
dertaking to the advancement of thy glory, and the in-
tellectual, moral, and spiritual good of thy servants.
Grant that this undertaking may be made available to
the exalting our national character, the chastening
and elevating our taste, that, in all that is good
and beautiful, acknowledging Thee, the author of
all good gifts, we may the more readily obey with wil-
lingness thy laws, and walk in thy commandments. And
as this undertaking is intended for the good of many, so
may it too cwitribute to draw theirs together in mutual
here and kindness—the wealthier who have provided
here the mear.s of instruction and improvement uniting
io seeking to promote the common good ; the less favoured

in estate joyfully receiving and thankfully participating
in the opportunities and advantages accorded to them in
this place. While we behold the various degrees and
kinds of exceihnce which the imagination, learning,
skill, or industry of men have at any time attained to,
let us ever remember that all that is good is of Thee done,
that without Thee nothing is strong, nothing is holy.
' Not unto us, 0 Lord, not unto u?, but unto Thy name
give the praise !' "

At the termination of the prayer the orchestra
performed the Hundredth P..aloa, after which a
procession was marshalled in something like the
following order :

The Chief Constalvle of Manchester, Captain Paulin.
Messrs. Young, W. Dredge,
Contractors. Engineer to the Contractors.
E. salemon., J. Crace,
Architect to the Executive Director of the Decorations of
Con, mittee. the Building.
J. C. Deane, Esq., Lieut.-Col. Hamilton,
General Commissioner. Secretary.
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS.

G. Scharf, jun., Esq., F.S.A.,pirector of the Gallery of

Ancieut Masters.

J. B. Waring, Esq., Director of the General Museum.
Augustus Egg, Esq., A.R. ~ Director of the Gallery oi

Modern Masters.

Peter Cunningham, F.5.A.., Director of the Portrait
Gallery.

Edward Holmes, Esq., M.A., Director of the Water Colour
and Engraving Galleries.
J. F. Royle, E3q., F. R.S., Director of the Oriental Court.
Members of tue Manchester Corporation.
The Mayor of Salford.
Subscribers to the Guarantee Fund.

The Members of the City of Manchester and Borough of
Salford.
The Members for the County of Lancaster.
The General Commanding the District and Staff.
The Lard Bishop of Manchester, and the Lord-Lieutenant

of the County.
The High Sheriff.
J. Watts, Esq., W. Eatwistle, Esq. E. Potter, Esq.,
Mayor of Manchester. F.R.S.
T. Ashton, Esq. J. Heron, Esq. S. J. Stern, Esq,
Thowas Fairbairn, Esq., Chairman of the Executive Coal

mittee, and
The Right Hon. Lord Overstone, President of the Gene•

ral Council of the Exhibition.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT, K.G.
The Members of his Royal Highness's Snite, followed by
His Excellency the Earl of Ca!li-de, K.G., Lord-Lieute-

nant of Ireland, anti Suite ;
Members of her Majesty's Miuiatry ;
Foreign Ambassadors andMin:sters;
The Heads of Learned and Artistic Societies and others

specially invited to take part in the Ceremonial, &c.

The procession thus formed moved from the
transept to the right, and, amid the most enthu-
siastic cheers from all parts of the building, entered
the gall ry of ancient pictures at the west-end.
Here the walls are hung with all that is quaint,
ultra-Gothic, and pre-Raphaelite in paining. As
the procession advanced it reached the departments
devoted to the masterpieces of Italy, Spain, Ger-
many, aiid Flanders, and beheld the best existing
specimens of Ritphael and Rubens, Vandyke and
Velasquez, Titia❑ and Teniers, and of every great
paint er that ever lived. It then crossed the main
hall and entered the eastern door of the modern
gallery. Here the paintings commence with the
portraits of Gainsborough and Reynolds, and
continuing with the masterpieces of Mul-
ready, Unwins, Etty, Turner, Wilkie, and
others, terminate with the choiciest works
of artists who fortunately are still spared to
continue their labours. Having proceeded through
this gallery to the northern door adjoining the
transept, the procession turned to the left, and his
Royal Highness was again conducted to the dais.
During the promenade the orche,tra performed the
march from " Athalie," and a selection from the
"Ode to St. Cecilia," "As from the power of sacred
1 iys," with beautiful effect, Madame Clara Novello
singing the solo. The return of the procession was
hailed with loud cheers, which were renewed and
prolonged for several minutes, when his Royal
Highness, standing in front of the chair of stat,,
formally declared the Exhibition open. The orches-
tra concluded the State ceremonial by performing
the "Hallelujah Chorus." Prince Albert then pro-
ceeclsd to inspect in a more careful manner than be-
fore the several departments of tie Exhibition, and
when he left each gallery or court the barriers sepa-
rating it from the central hall were removed and
the public allowed to enter. His Royal Highness
left the palace before 5 o'clock, and at once drove
to Abney-ball, where he was to pass the night.
Thus was opened the Exhibition ofArt Treasures
of the United Kingdom. A more auspicious com-
mencement could not have been desired. Not a
single hitch, so far as we know, occurred during
the day. On the contrary, all the arrangements
were carried out in the most satisfactory manner,
and the Executive Committee have every reason to
be proud of the success which has thus far crowned
heir efforts.

There is a report that Major General Sir. W. Williams,
M.P., will have the governorship of Malta, which will
shortly be vacated by Sir W. RtA. This would leave
the seat for Caine mom
ATTEMPT TO MURDER NEAR BURNHAM, SOMERSET-
SHIRE.—A. " navvy " named John Hickes, employed on
the Central Somerset Railway between 11 ighbridge and
Burnham, and residing at Berrow, a village near Vie
latter place, having spent an hour or two with his fellow-
workmen after his day's work, went home in company
with two of them, aout nine o'clock. His companions
left him at the doer of his cottage, but in a minute after-
wards heard a cry of murder and saw Hickey running
towards them and covered with blood. He had received
a tremendous cut in the throat, and stated that on hi,
entering his cottage his wife had advanced towards him
" as if to kiss him," and inflicted the gash with a razor.
The man's wife, it was found, had been for two days en-
gaged in packing up the furniture, and had given out
among the neighbours that they were going to leave.
In the garden a hole was discovered having every ap-
pearance of a grave, and with it a quantity of quicklime
by the side of it. She was t.ilren before the magistrates
on Monday and committed for trial.
PRICE OF Conn —The quotation of gold at Paris is
about 6 per mills premium, and the short exchange on
London is 25.221 per 11. sterling. On comparing these
rates with the English Mint price of V. 17s. 101 d per
ounce for standasil gold, it rippia,rs that gold is nearly
4-10thF4 per cent. dearer in I),i-is than in London. By
advices from Hamburg the price of gold is 4241 per.
mark, and the short exothange on London is 13 4.} pet
41_1. sterling. Standard gold at the English Mint price i,
'‘erefore about 2-10ths per cent. dearer in Haenbure
E an in London. The coureo of t xchange at New York o'3
L ) idon for bills at 60 days' is 1091 per cent.,
wnich, when compared with the Mint par between the
two countries, sh.iws that the exeliani:e is aboutat par.
And after making allowance for charges of transport
and differenc, of iuterest, the present rate leaves a trifling
profit on the importation of gold from America.
The commercial advices from New York this week
show that remittances of specie may now continue to be
expected by each packet. The stock-market still pre-
sented a downward tendency, the news from England of
the advance of the Bank rate of discount to 61 per cent.
h tying connteracte•! the previous effect of a better supply
of money. Erie Railway was quoted 461 ; Reading,
81 ; Panama, : New York Central, 871 ; and
nr.is Central, 1311.
The Now York Tribune mentions
the suco,ssful negotiation in London of 225,0001. of the
bonds of the Panacea Railroad Company. The last
racket stated that 200,0001. had jut been obtained in
Ike manner on the bonds of some Western lice, and
thus, notv:ithstanding the pressure in our discount mar-
ket, we find capital being subi,cr:Led to be sent away at
the rate of nearly half a inA;ion sterling in a fortnight.
The construction tf the Ohio and Mississippi Railway,
the shares of which are largely held in England, had
been corup!ets-d on the 15111 of April, and regular trains
were ta commence running the entire distance between
Cincinnati ar'd St. Louis on the 1-t May. The length
of the lis,e is 311 miles, of which 105 base been CJI •
itrri,Ctt'd and Lt:cked is tht space of about nine months
nd a half.