The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-19 00:00:00

A NIGHT IN THE SHINING CLIFF.

On the return of the trip from Scarborough, on
Monday night last, there arrived per special train at
Ambergate, a party of travellers. Having to walk a
distance of four or five miles, they held a deliberation
as to whether it would be advisable to take a short cut
through the woods, or keep the main road ; the deci-
sion was given is favour of the former, on two of the
party declaring they knew the road perfectly well.
One of them, to prove his qualification as a guide,
said he could find the road with his eyes shut. On
passing the Forge, which lay between them and the
wood, they proceeded at a rapid pace. After walking
about a mile they found to their mortification they
had taken a wrong turn, and, as was afterwards
discovered, just in the opposite direction to the
one they should have taken ; but as a re-
trograde movement was anything but inspi-
riting, they still determined to advance.
Shortly afterwards they came to a cross-road, when,
thinking it might possibly lead in the right direction,
they passed it. The vexatious disappointment of the
party is more easily to be conceived than described,
when they found that it led to an old barn. After
searching about some time, a footpath was discovered;
the party of disconsolates followed it. but alas I all
traces of it disappeared in a short time. Grown
reckless, the poor unfortunates rushed on, unmindful
of hog, fern, or bramble ; several of them came to a
sticking point—in the mud—and it was only by the
exertions of their companions that they were extri-
cated. Again they came across a road, and it was
proved to the joy of all by the aid of a match, the
night being too dark to see without one, that convey-
ances of some description did occasionally pass that
way. Tills eventually led them to an opening about
400 yards from the place where they had first started,
making a circumambulation of six or seven miles.—
Derby Reporter.

THE NEW COUNTY LUNATIC

ASYLUM AT COLNEY HATCH.

This very extensive and beautifully designed edifice,
which has been in the course of erection since the
spring of 1849, is zo nearly completed as to leave no
doubt that in a few days it will be fit for the recep-
tion of inmates. The grand inauguration will, how-
ever, it is understood, be delayed till the ensuing
spring, at which his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
who laid the foundation•stone in May, 1849, is ex•
petted to officiate. . . _

The site of the structure is on an elevated and sa-
lubrious spot, to the eastward of Highgate, and, being
surrounded. by an amphitheatre of hills, presents a
most beautifully- picturesque appearance. It is in the
Italian style of architecture, with stone coigns
and dressings, from a design by Mr. J. Daukes,
and from its vast extent, being in length 1,881
feet, 8 Inches, and depth 670 feet 6 inches (33
feet longer end 260 feet deeper than the building
for 1851, in Hyde-park), the whole, with
the attached grounds, occupying 118 acres, sur-
rounded by a substantial wall, it has the semblance
of a new town, this effect being heightened by the
numerous and various campanile towers with which
rt is adorned. Nearly 1,400 men have been constantly
engaged in the erection of the building, which has
been rendered perfectly fire-proof. The total num-
ber of rooms, including the chapel, infirmaries, and
other offices, is no less; than OS7. The corridors and
other portions are paved with Orsi and Armani's
patent metallic hva, the centre colonnade with the
seine material, ornamented like mosaic pavement, and
in some places, to relieve the monotony usually pro-
duced by the ordinary brown asphalt,,, a pure white
kind has been intredued. The roofing of the ter-
races and fiats is also covered with metallic lava, which
is perfectly impervious to moisture:
For the supply of water an Artesian well has been
sunk to the depth of 350 feet, and arrangements are
making for the manufacturing of gas on the premises
for the supply of this building and the neighbouring
(the Great Northern) railroad.
Toe builder is Mr. Myers, who is at this time
erecting similar asylums at Lincoln, and at Brent-
wf,o,3, in Essex.

Among the principal apartments may be mentioned
elegant boAri-room, 30 feet by 20 feet,..which, like
th:.! Hotel do Ville, in Paris, the palaces of the Queen
of Spain, Versailles, Sc?.., has the walls covered with
mldern Venetian stucco, manufactured by Orsi and
AT inani, most beautifully polished and colourei, to
represent panels of Sienna marble, enclosed in borders
of Clrira, and decorated with medallions of the vert-
de nzer antique marbles, the whole presenting a cha%te
and elegant appearance.
The largest room, 112 feet long and 58 feet 6
aches wile, is fitted with orchestra, and is to be a;;-
owriated for balk concerts, and other anuieutervs
f ithia unfortunate inmates, and will bear the name
of the " enterthinment-room."

I,ir. B. hutch (chairman of the committee) and
several other county magistrates have paid frtquent
visits to the works, and have expressed unqualified
approval of the nrade in which they have been con-
laded.