The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-03 00:00:00

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7,?____./ .------e.-------x--t ii , ---9" V.
cu Ryapere Sand. ho {ma hone of Nl:_nday, an.
nounces the wreck of the Amy at the Sand Heads.
Departure from Saugor—Appolline, March 12, for
Mauritius.
' I Arrival at Singapore—Lanricic, Langley, Feb. 21,
• I from Bombay; bound-to China.

VESSELS SPOKEN Wrim.—Ann, Calcutta to London,
Jan. 5, lat. 16 S., lon. 77 E. ; Alexander, Calcutta to
Liverpool, March 16, lat. 3 N., lon. 21, by the Tomatin,
Macpherson, arrived at Plymouth. Anna Eliza, bound
to China, Feb. 25, off the North Sands ; Margaret
Kellie, bound to Bombay, March 7. off Mangalore, by
the Sesostris (steamer), =rived at Bombay. llebe. Li-
verpool to Arica, out 67 days, lat.
.27 S., lon. 36 E.
British Isles, Manilla to London, Jan. 7, in•the Straits of
Banca ; Wetheral, Bth, off first point Barter. ; Bleng of
WhitehaVen, Singapore to Liverpool, 12th, in Straits of
Sunda ; Greenlaw, Calcutta to the Cape of Good hope,
Feb. 13, lat. 32 S., lon. 82 ; Pa'estine, Batavia ,to Lon-
don, 21st, lat. 31, lon. 38, with sails, masts, and rigging
much damaged, having encountered a hurricane. Ethio-
pian, Maur►tius to Cork, March 7, lat. 23 S., ion. 1, by
the Charles Jonus, M'Fee, arrived at Cork. Stads
Hertogen Nosch, Meeteren, Flushing to Theatia, 2d ult.,
lat. 43 N., lon. 11 W.

THE EGYPTIAN -HALL, MANSION

HOUSE.

The splendid banquettin7room at the Mansion Ironse
known as the Egyptian Hall. in which the Lord Mayor
entertained the dignitaries of the Church yesterday, and
which has always been admired for its extent and bold-
ness of design as one of the finest apartments to be
found in any public building in the metropolis, has re-
cently been subjected to a process of repairing and de-
corating which now renders it also one of the most
elegant and beautiful.

The series of Corinthian columns ranging along each
side of the hall, surmounted by the rich entablature ap-
propriate to that order of architecture, -and by which the
lofty concave roof is supported, gave to the apartment an
air of nobility which never failed to excite those lams of
stateliness and grandeur which are usually aseociated
with all that pertains to the office of Lord Mayor of
London. The injurious effects of time, however, had
greatly Obscured and nearly obliterated many of•
these less prominent features, which, though compara-
tively insignificant if regarded in detail, when skill-
fully Iplended together, become so essential in enhancing
the general -effect of a building, or any other object of
art. The works reeeetlyexecuted were, therefote, prin-
cipally directed to the restoration of existing details to
their due degree of prominence ; the addition of some
further ornaments and enrichments where most needed ;
and the harmonising of all the component parts, so as to
ensure an unity and consistency of appearance through-
out the whole ; and the way in which these intentions
have been carried out reflect the highest credit upon the
taste and skill of all parties who have been concerned in
the management and execution of the repairs.
The whole of the walls-1;1nd ceilings have been painted
'Several times, and finished off in a delicate fawn colour,
the chasteness of which is considerably heightened by
being what is technically called flatted, which, by pre -
venting the disagreeble appearance of gloss, adds much
to the purity of style and colour. Various ornaments
and decorations attached to the walls and ceilings, as
also the statues occupying the series of niches on that
side of the hall which is opposite the grand entrance,
are picked out in a suitable tint to afford a relief to the
general colour.
The most striking alteration that has been made is in
the appearance of the double row of lofty columns and
pilasters, which extend from one end of the hail to the
other, a id the entablature and carved roof, by which they
are surmounted. The length of the hall being about to
feet, and its breachh;6o, there are ten of these column*
and pilasters on each side, standing out about ten feet
from the walls. The whole of the shafts are being re.cut,
and the arrises of the fillets and sweep of the flutes,m.ide
perfectly true, thus removing many blemishes and irre-
gularities which before disfigured them. Instead of their
former colour, which was ie imitation of Sienna marble,
they are new painted French white, a change which con-
tributes wonderfully to the improvement of the general
aspect of the room, while the effect of this delicate
colour is considerably heightened by the whole of the
fillets of the 'shafts, together with the fillets and smaller
toruses in the bases, and the capitals of the columns and
pilasters, being gilt in pure gold. The several enriched
parts in the entablature, and particularly the cor-
nice, with the enrichments on the modillions, and
rosettes in the s,offites, have also, for the first time, been
heightened up in gold, and now present a peculiarly ele-
gant appearance.
The concave ceiling, which extends the whole length
of the hall, and across from one row of columns to the,
other, is divided into forty-five square compartments, or
coffers, each containing a large rosette. In each of these
coffers there has been added an enriched moulding of
'egg and tongue, corresponding in form and pattern with
similar ornaments in the entablature; besides which, there
has been placed along the centre of the margins dividing
the coffers held wreaths, composed of the laurel leat;
with bands at their intersections. These additional orna-
ments have entirely relieved the ceiling of the plainness
which formerly characterised it, and, together with the
rosettes, being all heightened in gold, make it harmonise
delightfillly with the colouring and enrichments of the
entablature anti columns.

It is almost needless to mention that, in these exten-
sive improvements and decorations, all the incidental
appurtenances of the Hall have received a proportionate
degree of attention—such, for instance, as the frames and
mouldings of the large looking-glasses at each end,
which have been newly gilt, and the splendid cut-glass
lustres and chandeliers-, which have been also cleaned
sad rehung, and their brackets and supports regilt.
The effect of the whole has been to render this truly
noble apartment more than ever deserving of the com-
mendation bestowed on it by that eminent judge in matters
of taste, George the Fourth, who, when Prince Regent,
repeatedly remarked that the Egyptian Hall at the Man-
sion House was one of the finest roems he had ever seen.
The whole of the works have been executed according
to designs and specifications prepared by Mr. Bunning,
the present architect and surveyor of the Corporation.
The Lord Mayor and the members of the Committee of
General Purposes, particularly Deputy Thomas, their
Chairman, have paid muck attention throughout the pro-
gress of the works, and have reason to congratulate
themselves upon the satisfactory result. The contractor
was Mr. Joseph Taylor, who, during the last Mayoralty,
fulfilled a contract admirably for extensive repairs and
decorations in other parts of the Mansion-house. The
amount of the late ,contract was nearly 1,400/. ; and,
notwithstanding the extent and beauty of the works, the
amount has not been exceeded by the addition of the
slightest sum for "extras," a circumstance which speaks
much for the professional accuracy and judgment of the
gentleman who designed and executed them.

SIGHT AND HISABING.-39, Albemarle street, Picca-
dilly. Newly•invented spectacles, telescopes, opera-
glasses, microscopes, &c. Patronised by Generals Sir
Edward Paget, Sir Evan Lloyd, Frederick Meister,
Clayton, Galway, Grosvenor, Morrison, Dyott, Robert-
son, and Mackenzie ; Major-Generals Sir H, Elphin-
stone, I'. Fyers, D. Macleod, Hamilton, and Wemyss ;
Lieut.-Generals Sir Henry Bonverie, Sir J. Macdonald,
Sir R. Barton, Sir T. Dallas, Lord John Hay ; Admirals
Sir George Cockburn, Sir George Munday, Sir G.
Martin, Sir James H. Whitshed, Sir D. Gold, and
Ross. By the use of these newly-invented spectacles,
imperfect vision becomes preserved and strengthened,
and very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight
at the most minute occupation, and can see with those
lenses of a much less magnifying power, nor will they
require the frequent changes to further helps ; also
newly-invented achromatic waistcoat-pocket telescopes
and opera glasses. Every kind of telescope of larger
size with increasing powers, for shooting, sea purposes,
and, upon stands, for astronomical purposes, with the
same celebrated lenses, the powers are so great, and the
lenses so bright and brilliant, that minute ob:ects .at an
extraordinary distance are brought completely under the
eye Sportsmen, tourists, and sea-side visitors will
have a great treat. Their invisible voice conductor gives
immediate relief to old standing extreme eases of deaf-
ness. Caution—Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, opticians
and aurists, are not in any way connected with a person
of the same name in their immediate neighbourhood, nor
in any part of the country. To prevent mistakes be
cautious and observe, only to be had at 39, Albemarle-
street, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel.
Tun WILL FORGERS.—It is understood that in the
course of the ensuing week Barber and Fletcher will
he removed from the Millbank prison on board ship,
for the purpose of being conveyed to New South
nW:oavleeds,
tow htihlee
Newe expected Sr
saot
nS,
pa uennduernsv
ille. Ibte
will
thus be seen that with regard to Barber the hopes, if
any were entertained, of his having his sentence coin-
muted, or of his being pardoned, are at an en& Mrs..
Dorey and her sister, Mrs. Saunders, who, it will be re •
collected, were sentenced to two years' imprisonment,
were removed on the Tuesday previous to the de-
parture of the male convicts from Newgate. As the
sentence on the females was merely that they be im-
prisoned for the period of two years, they were taken
to Giltspur-street Compter, and for the first day or
two they were set to pick oakum, which coming to the
knowledge of the proper authorities, an order was
sent down to take the two prisoners from this species
of labour, and which, according to the regulations of
the Compter, is deemed hard labour. They are now
employed at needlework. Since their conviction and
sentence their health has greatly improved. Previous
to the removal of Mrs. Saunders she was allowed to see
her husband for the purpose of taking farewell, but the
parting was not of that affecting description which too
often occurs within the walls of a prison. They merely
bade each other good by, with a hope that they might
see each other again. While Barber and Fletcher were
in Newgate they never conversed together, the former
invariably doing all he could to avoid his companion in
guilt ; at the same time, whenever he had any occaaiott
to speak to those connected with the gaol, he at every op-
portunity declared his innocence. A short time previous
to being removed from Newgate, Barber requested
Fletcher to sign a declaration to the effect that he was in-
nocent, and that his only eonnection with the will forgeries
was his being employed as the attorney. Fletcher re-
plied that he was very sorry for the situation in which
Barber was placed, but he knew very well that he
(Fletcher) could not sign such a declaration. On being
informed that an order had arrived for his removal,
Barber then for tho first time appeared to sink. -His
spirits
left him, and he evidently became convinced that
11l ebauee of escape was over. When the convict
were brought into the yard to be removed, neither he
nor Fletcher took the slightest notice of each other.
As the expenses of the Treasury prosecutions are paid
by the Government and not by the county, the amount.
of the above trials cannot be ascertained, although it is.
SUU,Sed to be about 1,0001
Mr. A. Lanyon had an interview with Lord Stfeastey
yesterday, at the Colonial-office.