The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-16 00:00:00

THE GREAT SALE AT ALTUN TOWERS.

ALTON TOWERS, WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

The sale of the collection of armour and arms
commenced on Monday, and was continued yester-
day and t9-day, and brought to a close this after-
noon. The attendance of buyers was numerous,
and included agents on the part of Government
from the Tower of London. The interest attach-
ing to the sale seems to increase, and the number
of visitors during the last few days who have per-
ambulated the grounds is very large. The railway
has each day brought thousands from different parts
of the country.
The s Ile of Monday commenced with the armour
and arms in the entrance hall ; after which the
contents of the armoury were disposed of. In ad-
dition to :shiel4ls, halberds, swords, and helmet s, they
consisted of several full figures in cap-a-pie suits.
A lay figure in a splendid cap-a-pie tilting suit of
plate armour sold for 20 guineas. The day's sale
realised 455/. 2s. 6d.
Yesterday a fine fluted steel Cuirassier helmet of
the time of the Restoration sold for 19/. 19s. A
fine circular shield sold for 91. 9s. A figure in a
superb .Spanish cap-a-pie -suit, 22 guineas ; a lay
figure in a three-quarters suit of tilting armour, 15
guineas. Several other suits sold for from 151. to
201. each. The produce of the day's sale was
490/. lls. 6J.

The finest portion of the armour was sold to-day,
consisting of several splendid suits in the Talbot
Gallery—a very fine tilting cap-a-pie suit of plate
armour, engraved, 82 guineas ; a suit of fluted ar-
mour, of globose form, date 1550, 91 guineas ; a
grand equestrian figure of a knight, in a complete
suit of plate armour, fluted, the figure holding in
his hand a beautiful State sword, inscribed, " Ego
sum Talbotti, pro vincere inimicos suos," sold for
71 guineas. Several flags and banners in the ar-
moury were next sold. A blue silk flag, carried by
the Earl of Shrewsbury at the funeral of Wm. IV.,
was withdrawn. A number of curiosities and orna-
mental objects closed the sale. These included
figures of Le Grand Talbot and his Countess—sold
)r 155.! ; and a bu,t of Sir Gilbert Talbot, of Graf-
ton Manor, carved in wood.
The proceeds of the day's sale was upwards of
900/. being nbout.l,7oo/. for the whole.
The sa'e of the porcelain, sculpture, marbles, and
marble tables in the Talbot Gallery, the Picture
Gallery, and the Conservatory will commence to-
morrow, and the general impression is that for
several of the articles there will be great competi-
tion and high prices realised. The marbles include
the celebrated mosaic Boman table, wita, exotic
birds in the centre, said to be the most splendid of
its kind in the empire.

THE CROPS I V TIIE MIDLAND

COUSTIES.

We are now arrived at a crisis in the growth of
the cereal crops of the country when some estimate
can be formed of the prospects of the approaching
harvest, and for many years it has not been the lot
of the reporter to have so favourable a report to
present as at this moment. The extremely hot
weather towards the close of last month, when the
wheat was in blossom generally throughout Wor-
cestershire, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire, led
to some apprehensions of a failure in the kerning,
but happily at the critical moment when it was
wanting we bad some most acceptable thunder
showers, which did no harm to the crops, but had
a wonderfully fructifying effect, and have added
some bushels per acre to the produce. The wheat
is now full, and in forward situations is betginning
to harden. The present sunny hot weather just
suits it, and unless a very great change takes place
we shall have a very early and no doubt a very
bountiful harvest; for, independent of the average
produce being larger than usual, there is an
increased breadth of wheat planted, especially
in Herefordshire. The barley also was much
benefited—indeed, saved by the rain, and is now in
ear and looking promising. Oats are but litt'e
grown in this district. Beans were just come into
pod when the rain opportunely arrived. They are
a most excellent crop, being moderately long in the
straw, without any appearance of the black bight,
which sometimes shortens the crop by destroying
the late blossoms. Peas are promising. The hay-
making is now drawing to a close. The week's
interruption from rain has not been injurious, only
discolouring some of the grass just cut. The crop
is very good in this district—above 1 ton to the
acre, and, with very little exception, will be got
up in first-rate condition. The turnips have been
much infested with the fly, so that they have had
to be sown two or three times. The turnip crop
will be short. We have heard reports of the reap-
pearance of the potato di,ease, but have seen none.
The early crop is abundant in quantity and of go)d
quality. The apples are partial. In some parts of
Herefordshire, where the bloom promised a large
crop, they have almost failed. The hop plantations
are looking beautiful ; the bine has thrown out a
promising midsummer shoot, and is free from
blight. The Worcestershire plantations in this re-
spect pave a great advantage over the Kent and
Sussex this year.