The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-15 00:00:00

THE NEW HOP AND MALT EXCHANGE.

On Monday the handsome new Hop and Malt Exchange,
which has been erected in Southwark-street, Borough,
was publicly opened without ceremony, and in the most
unostentatious manner. At one time it was expected that
his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales would
have been able to be present at the opening, but
the previously arranged movements of the Prince
rendered this impossible, though it is anticipated
with good and sufficient reason that his Royal
Highness will pay a visit to the building at no
very distant date. The want which this exchange
will supply is one which has long been felt by all who
are in any way connected with the large and important
interests represented in the hop and malt trades. The
general body of metropolitan merchants—the corn, coal,
and other leading mercantile trades—have each their
separate exchange for the concentration and despatch of
business. In this respect, those carrying on the hop and
malt trades were deficient until the movement for erecting
this building was commenced. In 1865 a limited liability
company, with a nomir al capital of £120,000 was started,
and the list of directors and other official persons con-
nected with it was a sufficient guarantee that the under-
taking would be properly and efficiently carried out.
The first stone was laid in August 1866, and the result
now achieved must be such as to exceed the most sanguine
expectations. The building, viewed from a merely archi-
tectural point of view, is one of the handsomest in London,
and as to its practical utility, those most intimately con-
nected with the trades designed to be benefited speak in the
highest terms. Under the roof of this exchange growers,
merchants, dealers, and buyers will have all the advan-
tages of a complete and well-attended market close to the
termini of the chief railways which pass through the hop-
growing districts of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. Some
idea of the extent and character of the building
may be formed from the enumeration of a few
figures. The street frontage extends to something
like 340 feet, and the architectural elevation is
about 100 feet. The interior exchange consists of a
square 80 feet long by 50 feet wide, the whole being
lighted at an elevation of above 100 feet by a large glass.
roof. This secures ample light and ventilation. On one
aide of the square, to the right of the entrance, is a
magnificent room, fitted up for the use of the sub-
scribers alone, writing materials and other suitable
articles being provided. Arranged on the sides of the
square are four storeys of public offices, which
will afford accommodation to something like 120
different firms. These rooms are built in the most
approved and modern style, and are replete with
all the necessary requirements. We believe that
half the stands on the ground floor and half the offices
have already been taken. The opening of the building
drew together a large number of merchants and gentlemen
connected with the hop and malt trades, and all were loud
in their praises of the admirable manner in which the
whole design has been carried out. Unquestionably the
building combines great beauty and architectural effect,
together with the greatest amount of practical usefulness
to secure the object in view. The cost of the building
itself has been about £65,000, while the freehold land was
purchased for £60,000.

EXPECTANT.—Lord Norbury, while on circuit,
being attacked with a fit of the gout, sent to the Solicitor-
General to require the loan of a pair of slippers. "Take
them," said the Solicitor to his servant, "with myrespects,
as I hope soon to he in his lordship's shoes."

ANTIPODEAN WlT.—During a recent debate in
the Victoria Legislature a rather good thing was said by ono
of the members. An unfortunate loyal Liberal, whose
education had been sadly neglected, was reading out a
document to the House, and vainly endeavouring to
decipher an obscure letter; turning to his next friend,
he asked anxiously, "Is that a hem or a ben ? " " Oh,
replied his friend, " call it a hen, and move that it lay on
the table."

THE FRENCH ATLANTIC CABLE.—The manufat
ture of the new Transatlantic submarine telegraph cable
for the French Company (Societe du Cable Transatlantique
Francais, Limited) was, according to the contract with the
Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company
(Limited), commenced at the Gutta Percha, Works, Wharf-
road, City-road, on Monday. It is understood to be
intended to submerge the cable next summer, between
Brest and the United States, rid the Island of St. Pierre
(Gulf of St. Lawrence). The Great Eastern steamship
has been chartered by the contractors for the purpose of
assisting in the operation, and arrangements are perfected
for mooring her in the Medway, where she will be brought
round from Liverpool directly after the equinox, so that
she may receive the cable as manufactured, and shipped
at the contractors' Greenwich works, where the process of
putting on the outer covering, or sheathing, is carried on.

SEVERE TRIAL FOR THE KING OF PRUSSIA.--
The German journals, in announcing how the King of
Prussia was to employ each day during his visit to Dres-
den, stated that after a review on the 9th his Majesty was
to attend a grand banquet in the ancient hall of the
palace at Moritsburg, a residence famous for the fetes
which Augustus the Strong gave there in honour of the
Countess of Konigsmark, the mother of Marshal de Saxe.
They then add : " King William will have to undergo a
singular ceremony on this occasion. In the chateau there
exists a cup made of a stag's skull, still adorned with the
horns, and deep as an ancient Gothic vidrecome. This
vessel is filled with champagne, and every guest has to
empty it as adroitly as he can—a difficult task, howevi r,
in which many a drinker has failed. The King of Saxony„
while the guests take their wine, takes note of their
address, and draws up a report of the trial in an antique
register, which dates from the first days of the Saxon
monarchy. The most illustrious names figure in it, and
that of Frederick the Great amongst others. The Ger-
mans, who are fond of pleasantry at times, are curious to
know how the conqueror of Sadowa will extricate himself
from the difficulty, and whether the misfortune will occur
to him, as to so many others, of spilling some of the con-
tents on his glorious uniform.".