The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-25 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Surely the Queen is coming in full state to
open the Royal Exchange, or else what use is the
state carriage and all those enormously splendid ap-
pointments—if we are to verge down into plain down-
right democracy at once ? Surely the household
troops, and every other means the Government has at
its disposal, should be brought into action on the
present occasion.
I am sure the whole of the people will be much
disappointed if this event is to be carried through at
a railroad pace, merely for the sake of getting credit
of it, instead of being a national event in the history
of the first city of the world.
Pray say a word or two on the subject in your
powerful paper.—Yours, &c. CIVIS.
24th October, 1844.

THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—Ontheirchitraveortl;norilifaçade of the
Royal Exchange are three inscriptions insculpt in re-
lief, each divided by a simple moulding. The one on
the left of the spectator is the common City motto,
"DOMING. DIRIGB. Nos," and that on the right is
" HONOR. DEO ;" both of which inscriptions every
passer-by, though unacquainted with Latin, can
readily comprehend. But the motto in the central
compartment, " FORTVN. A. MY," appears to puzale
thousands, and the Latin scholar more than any other.
By some it has been deciphered "Fortuna ad Muros"
(prosperity to these walls). But the truth is, that it
is not Latin, but Norman French, and was the motto
of Sir Thomas Gresham's family arms, "Fortune a
moi" (prosperity to my house); or, literally, "For-
tune to me.'
In old Norman French the termination i or of is
usually written y ; the preposition a is not accented;
and the omission of the final e in fortune (leaving it
doubtful whether it is Latin or French) conduces to
the general puzzle.—Yours, &cP.,. A. NUTTALL.
91, Hercules-road, Lambeth, Oct. 24.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, THURSDAY.—The Queen and Prince
Albert took their accustomed early exercise, and in
the course of their morning walk paid a visit to the
Duchess of Kent at Frogmore House. In the after-
noon her Majesty, accompanied by his Royal High-
ness, went in a pony phaeton to the riding-school, at-
tended by Colonel Bouverie.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales
and the Princess Royal were taken for an airing this
morning, but the unfavourable state of the weather
prevented the Royal Family from being taken out for
a drive in the afternoon.
The Earl and Countess of Westmoreland took
their departure from the Castle to-day.
The Earl of Jersey, Master of the Horse, arrived
at the Castle this morning, and had an audience of
his Royal Highness Prince Albert. The Noble
Earl afterwards took his departure.
The morning proving so wet prevented Prince
Albert from going to shoot, as had been arranged
previous to the rain.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert honoured Mr.
Thorburn with a sitting yesterday, for a full-length
portrait.

His Royal highness the Duke of Cambridge
arrived at Cambridge House yesterday morning,
from Kew. His Royal Highness returned to Kew
in the afternoon.

A deputation from the Harwich and Eastern
Counties Junction Railway, consisting of Mr. James
Henry Attwood, Chairman ; Mr. Bagshaw, Deputy
Chairman ; Mr. Braithwaite, engineer ; Messrs.
Bourdillon and Duncan, solicitors; and Mr. George
Rusk, secretary, had an interview with the Earl
of Dalhousie yesterday, at the office of the Board
of Trade.

The Earl of Aberdeen left town on Wednesday for
Scotland.
A deputation on the subject of the London, Cha-
tham, and North Kent Railway, consisting of Sir
Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, Bart., Mr. J. C. Colquhoun,
M.P., Mr. H. T. Prinsep, Mr. Charles MG-arch, Mr.
William Petero, and Mr. George Winburne, accom-
panied by Mr. Vignolles, engineer; Mr. Stephens,
solicitor ; and Mr. Mackarness, secretary, had an in-
terview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the
Board of Trade.

THEATRICALS.
In the auction next week of Drury-lane and Covent-
garden shares, at the Mart, Mr. George Robins
(who
has the conduct of these sales) holds out, amongst
other and very many advantages, that, beside free ad-
missions to all and every dramatic performance before
the curtain at Covent-garden (except private boxes), it
extends to every other species of entertainment, including
"Ithe Corn-law League meeting." Of Drury-lane, it holds
out, beside the pecuniary advantages that they will. pos-
sess, a personal free admission for any one persons life, to
partake nightly of " the unparalleled performances in
progress, and promised by Mr. Bunn, to continue during
the season. The spirited lessee also promises that he will
this year out-do all his previous out-doings; and he ap-
pears not to have promised in the dark, for, beside one
of the first danseuses in the world, Mdlle. Dumilatre, he
has just introduced Mdlle. Plunket, to whom report as-
signs the very first place in the ballet. This would re-
mind us of olden times.—From a Correspondent.

MRS. ALFRLD SHAW: We a
contradict a statement that has been chiarcpuplyated b
ase regards able
this gifted artiste. This statement is the most pathetic
affair imaginable, referring to the loss of her husband,
to a t
o
and other domestic misfortunes of Mrs. Alfred Shaw,
terminating by deploring this lady's ill-health. Whether
envy and professional rivalry have assumed this bene-
volent form, to aim their shafts with more certainty, or
whether it proceeds from sincere solicitude, we are truly
gratified to be able to mention, on the best authority,
that the whole of this lachrymose statement is utterly
devoid of truth, and that Mrs. Alfred Shaw has returned
to town, and was never in better health or better voice.

. Hisoproceedede d variou various
through
cities
ugh
Accounts from Rome (7th inst.), state that the
Pope has, since his sojourn at Castel Gandolfo, attended
inAlbthaneo,l oGme an n.
zano, Marino, Frascatti, Grotta, and Ferrara, where he
made minute inquiries relative to the administration of
bSytat a
States m suite,
n veisssi t
affairs, as well as to the social intercourse of the people
The Venerable Archbishop of Cologne Baron V. Droite
Bishering, who intended to have remained at Rome for
a lengthened period, has quitted that city, the frequent
scirrocco winds having proved detrimental to the Pre-
late's health. his Royal Highness Prince George of
Prussia has gone to Naples via Terracena, but intends
to return to Rome for the winter. The October fetes
have commenced, and there is every appearance of a gay
season.
FIRE AT A CAMPHOR REFINErty.--Yesterday, at
noon, a very alarming fire broke out in the extensive
premises belonging to Mr. Allder, camphor refiner,
situate in Sea ard-street, Goswell-road. It originated in
the refining-house, a building about 26 feet long by 15
wide, and which contained a valuable stock of camphor
undergoing the process of refinement. Such was the
inflammable nature of the contents that in the brief
space of five minutes the whole of the refining-house
became enveloped in one broad sheet of flame, which
shot through the roof with the greatest fury, causing,
as might be supposed, the most lively apprehensions for
the safety of the contiguous buildings. The workmen
exerted themselves to the utmost, and endeavoured to
confine the: destructive element to that portion of the
premises where it commenced, but notwithstanding that
the place was covered with sheets of zinc, the fire
speedily travelled through the same, and communicated
to an adjoining building, about the same size as the
former ono. Finding :it impossible to get the mastery
of tho flames without the aid of engines, information of
the outbreak was dispatched to Whitecross-street, and
other engine stations. Several of the brigade engines,
with the West of England one, promptly attended, and
there being a good supply of water, they were set to
work, and by carrying the hose through the front factory
the firemen were enabled to play with full vigour upon
the flames, thereby preventing the fire from extending
further. The cause of the outbreak was the bursting
of a glass carboy used in the crystallizing process.
Fortunately, the whole of the workmen escaped unin-
jured. We understand that the proprietor of the works
is uninsured.
TROTTING MATCH FOR TWENTY POUNDE.—Yester-
day the match made by Mr. Haynes to trot his pony
(12i hands high) fifteen miles in harness, came off on
Wimbledon-common. Two miles of road were selected,
and the pony, harnessed to a light match cart, appeared
at the starting mark, and then commenced the match,
and trotted two miles in seven and a half minutes, then
turned, completing four miles in fifteen minutes. He
was pulled in, and in two minutes he was at work, and
performed another four miles in fourteen minutes. The
next four miles were performed in fourteen minutes,
and, having been gruelled, in three minutes he com-
menced the last three miles, which were trotted in ten
and a quarter minutes t• thus accomplishing the fifteen
miles in fifty-eight and a quarter minutes. The pony
was ably driven, and appeared quite fresh at the con-
clusion of the match.