The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-06 00:00:00

v .
action, -an'd expression. The:s ritish Mu-
seum is the proud depository of some of
the most sublime conceptions of that genius which
has given to marble the all but immortal embodiment
of heroic fable—the epic grandeur of its divine
poetry. Surely the shrine, within which these pre-
cious and costly relics of an age of intellectual in-
spiration that has not yet been mated by its
parallel, are congregated and preserved, should be
itself an edifice in some degree of= kindred beauty or
magnificence. But when it is considered that within
the circuit of the same walls, which are thus destined
to shield the honoured fragments that still attest
the marvellous imagination and exquisite hand of a
Lysirp,us• or a PREDIAS ; the glorious productions of
English mind, in all its infinite development, whether
in manuscript or in printed records; in every walk
of hunian learning, in every department of science,
philosophy, and poetry, every sentiment of a
genuine nationality must be interested in the dig-
nity and character of the edifice which is to be their
honoured domicile. We perceive with mortifica-
tion—and we participate in all the astonishment
which our Contemporaries are daily giving utterance
to, in this matter—that no such relations are likely to
be observed between the inestimable contents of the
building and the building itself. Exertions, quite
unknown hitherto in the sleepy history of the repa-
rations and additions that have been made, from time
to time, in and about Montague House,since it became
the British Museum, have indeed been put forth of late.
The staff of workmen and artificers, largely increased
in numbers, seems to have been incessantly and
actively occupied for some time past, as if the
selected architect of the new works were
anxious to anticipate—(we are almost tempted to say)
—the expression ofany Parliamentary or public opi-
nion on the course of inviting public competition, to
which we have alluded. So far as we have been able
to collect from the aspects of the works in progress, or
to judge from the design which we have seen, we
cannot believe that in this instance the public will
find, that they have to boast of a fabric above the
average of the more recent productions of the same
professor. As we predicted, some months ago, the
new structure is likely to be Greek, enough in every
feature—except adaptation or fitness, graceful combi-
nation, and elegance of detail. A small—subscription
chilhouse front; sober to Quakerism ; plain to po-
verty ; simple to frigidity; inexpressive, meaningless,
unenriched—these will probably be found the true
features.of the design, whatever' public expectation
may have naturally looked for in their stead. Will
nobody in the Committee for superintending the
building and adornment of Mr. BARRY'S " Parlia-
ment .Houses," make the necessary inquiries, from
his place in the House of Commons, or elsewhere,
to ascertain on whose responsibility the freehold, as
it-were, of all designs' and works for the British Mu-
seum has not only been' given for so many years past,
—but seems destined to be continued during his life-
time,—to one and the same architect ? And why,
it is that, more particularly in relation, to the build-
ing now in course of erection, the designs for eleva-
tions, plans, interior arrangement, &c., &c., have not
been opened to public competition ?

Madrid journals of the 27th ult. have been re-
ceived. The Gazette publishes two dispatches from
General. RONCALI, announcing that on the 26th he
would commence active operations,. against Aiicant,
and after the. reduction of the place would march on
Carthagena. Intelligence from that quarter, however,
is not to be depended on, for in another account, at
least a week previous,it was stated that RONCALI had
opened his batteries_and was pouring in shot on the
rebellious town. The Minister of Justice, at the re-
quest of the QUEEN, had left Madrid on the 27th of
February for Valencia to receive the ex-Regent
MARIA 'CHRISTINA. He was the bearer of an auto-
graph letter from the young QUEEN to her august
mcither, and was accompanied by Messrs. FERNANDO
ALVAREZ and DOMINGO MORENO, two officers of his
Ministry,, and M. SALVADOR BERMUDEZ DE CASTRO,
Secretary of the Council of. Ministers.
On the 27th the Three per Cents. sold for 29i at
60 days; the Four per Cents. at 20 for cash, and 20i
at 60 days, and the Five per Cents. at 221 at 60 days.

The Paris papers have again reverted to, the Ota-
'wit° affair, in conbetincnco of oortoin articles in the

London journals, but we find nothing new in their
remarks, nor any account whatever of the sums sub-
scribed to
.purchcse a sword for Admiral DUPETIT
THOUALES. A Ministerial paper, the Globe, thus
adverts to this foolish scheme for annoying the KING
and his Ministers :—" The Opposition journals of
yesterday contained the joke of a subscription being
opened to offer a sword of honour to Admiral "Dtr-
PETIT Tuovaus. We are perfectly edified with the
patriotic
_subscriptions of the republic. It will be s
with the word of honour, maximum 50c., as with
the million of the Irish; and with M. DUPETIT
TUOUARS as with O'CoNstEx.r., who declared that if
the million had been sent, it would not have been
accepted. 'M. DUPETIT TllGlrdies in fact, a man
of infinitely too much sense and)too much tact,
to let himself be taken in' Tor the- compromising
nonsense of the Opposition. He will perceive
that the nation is rather with 'the imposing
majority 'of the Chamber, who have disap-
proved
of his conduct, whilst 'they preserve' to
hiln all their esteem, than with those singers of the
Marseillaise,' who will come between two bacchana-
lian couplets, and bring their offerings to the .office of
the National."

According to some' of the papers, arrests , have
lately taken place in-the garrison of Paris, chiefly in
the 70th regiment of the line, but on what grounds
we do not learn. " Yesterday," says-the National of
Monday, " and the day before, -the' report has been
circulated at Paris, of a military ,conspiracy having
been discovered. The information carried about by
the news-mongers is rather vague and contradictory,
commissioned officers of
but that which appears beyond d'allbt, is that within
a regiment quartered at Paris have been arrested. It
a few days past several non-
is even said that sundry superior officers are coMpro.:
misect-4- among others, a colonel and lieutenant-
colonel. In a day or two we shall know more -about
this."

The fourof the Legitimatist Deputies, namely, MM.
de LARCY, 13EaRYEn, the Duke de VALMY, and M.
BLIN DE BovEnoN, have been returned at Cette,
Marseilles, Toulouse,
,and Doullens, by large majo-
rities, and no doubt remained that M. LAROCIIEJAC.•
QUELIN would also be returned. The funds on Mon-
day were a little lower than on the previous day, the
Three. per Cents. closing at 821. 75. c., and the Fives
at 126 f. 35c.

The following telegraphic dispatch appears in the
Messager

"PERPIGNAgt FEB. 29.

1 - --:-• . .
,s, Queen CHRISTINA arrived last evening at Fitjue-
ras, Where -she was received with enthusiasm. 'Te
Deum was chanted ?on the, occasion.. Tier 3. 4.l.Esry
i
was to leave to-day for Girona." • '
THE BOURSE-MONDAY, Milieu 4.
First Highest Lowest LW.
. ~ Price. Price. Price. PriJe.
French Five per Cents. .... 126 25 .. -126 30 .. 12G 20 .. 126 20
. Flour per Cents. .... 106 50 .. 106 50 .. 100 50 .. 106 50
..f 8.1.1a..re.5.508600
Three per Cents... —:B2 75 . • 82 80 .. 82 70 .• 82 70
Laffitte Bank, I,ooof. Sharesllo7 50 .. 1107 50 .. 1107 50 .. 1107 50
Belgian Bauk .5.:0414).- , :5068600 ....508m05
. - 1841 ..... .. .. 1080 „1080 • —lOBO • • 1080
Belgian Fives .••• • • • • .... ••• 1041 1041" .• • 1041 • • 1041
1840 ........ 108 •.. 108 • --•1108 .• 108 .
1842 ........ lOW .. 1091 ... 1091 • • 1091
Spanish 4etive • , .......... 331 .. 34 .., 331 t. 34
...."66605
Passive 6 .. 6 •• - 51 •• '5l
Old Deferred....... ' 8 • • 8 • • 8 ..
8
Portuguese Five per Cents— 46" .. 46 • • 46 .. 46
Neapolitan .... . ... .... ~ ~ 101 80 .. lot 80 •.• un 50 .. 101 50.
10G • • 106 • • 106 —lO6 .

RAILWAY. SHARE:Si
Versailles, M 8...—. „„ .. 355 -I ~ 355 ).. 355 .• -355
177150 .. 177 50.•• 175 •.,,175
Rouen '' •'••••a• •• •• •• .. 837 50 .. 837 50 .. 837 50 .. 837 50
Rouen to Havre 675 ..677, 50 ~ 675 .. 676 25
Orleans ....... ..... ... „ ~
.855, .. 838 75 .. 855 .. 85G 25
Strasburg to 8a1e........... 247
Avignon to Marseilles
760. .. 760 .•• ,60 ••- 760
,
• 50 .. 247 50 .. 146 25 .. 246 25
' RAILWAY SHARE 9 FOR THE ACCOUNT.
. ,
St. Germain
Versailles, R. 13. 357 50 .. 3,57 50 .• 355 •• 35
LB • 182 50 .. 182 50 .. 176 25 .• 176 25
Rouen
Avignon to Marseilles-- '462 50 .. 765
gm .. 835 .. 835 ..835
Rouen to Havre.
Strasburg to 8a1e.......... 248 75 .. 248 75 •••247 50 •• 247 50
667 50 .. 680 •• 667 50 •- 675
Orleans • ............ •• •• •• 857 50 .. 857 50 .. 856 25 .. 856 28
Moutpellierjo Cetto.. .. ..
•
.. 762 50 .. 765

• •
We learn that Lords Radnor,, Kinnaird, and
Shrewsbury, with several-other peerS, have signified
their approval of the dinner to be, given to Air. ()Von-
nell, next Tuesday ; and that the feelings expressed
bithe promoters of this demonstration of English.
concern for Ireland, find manyresponses in
the House
ppor
of Lords. One of the toasts is " The Seventy-eight
Peers who, su ted Lord A.Norinanby's motigi,7
which will be acknowledged by a Noble Lord. No
se94l4l9tAilklbe given at the dinpqr in which ever
friend to Ireland, be his political creed what it may,
1