The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-12 00:00:00

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS.

The annual conversazione given by ►Mr. Walker, the
President of this very useful and flourishing Institution,
took p:ace on the evenings of Friday and Saturday last,
when the attendance was even more numerous than usual.
On the former evening about 300 gentlemen were pre-
sent, but on the latter there was a much more brilliant
assemblage, comprising the most distinguished persons for
rank in science or the fine arts, who it was gratifying to
perceive, all felt the hospitality of 'the worthy host who,
attended by Mr. Manby, the secretary of the institution,
received the visitors on arriving, and directed their at-
tention to the objects most worthy of notice.
In the principal saloon we noticed some good busts by
Mr. J. E. Jones, one of Major Blakeney, the other of
Manby, the secretary, both of which were remarkable for
their striking similitude to the originals. There were
likewise other busts by the same talented and rising
artist in the different rooms. A very beautiful, and, at
the same time, simple sketch, made at Strathfieldsaye, of
his Grace the Duke of Wellington on horseback, by Mr. E.
H. Bailey, was much admired. Some bronzes from the
collections of F. Hodgson, Esq., M.P., Mr. Deville, and
Mr. Grissell, were placed in various parts of the rooms,
also wood carvings from Rogers, Pratt, and Vincent. A
very beautiful engraving of the Duke of Beaufort's dog,
by T. Landseer, from a recent picture by his bro-
ther, Edwin, and a Maltese dog, by the same clever
artists, were much admired. Portfolios of sketches
by Oliver, Buss, Kendrick, Tripp, Gastineau, and
Goodall, were exhibited, and a portfolio of litho-
graphs of eminent men, by Bauejeret. Scanlan
had several excellent sketches of scenes of domestic life,
but his best was an Irish scene, and an episode from the
history of the White-boy, in Ireland—an affecting story
--now beimg engraved by Brown. Part of a collection of
rings, formed of beautifully carved heads of the ancient
Greek philosophers and poets, attractedmuch attention, as
did also some natura flowers coated with metal by the
electro-deposit by Elkington and Co's process, and some
by the simple electrotype itself, from Mr. Ibbet.lon ; Mr.
Dennys contributed some choice articles in the fine arts de-
partment ; one was a bust of Lorenzo de Medici by Michael
Angelo, the other a painting by Denner, supposed to be
of his mother, which was the most exquisite thing we
have seen for some time. Professor Wheatstone's re-
cently-constructed magneto-electric telegraph was ex-
hibited, two of the apparatus being placed in different
rooms to telegraph signals from one to the other, which
was done with the utmost facility. Advancing further
into the rooms, we found some chronometers from Den
and Fradsham ; and also a machinery for tracing ellipse
by Mr. Farey, a gentleman well known in the, scientific
world

In the model-room, which was lighted by. two gas
chandeliers on Faraday's 'ventilating principle, were
various models of steam-engines, by Lord Dundonald,
G. Rennie, Maudslay and Field, Boulton and Watt, and
Barrie. In the centre table was a full-sized model of
Greener's harpoon gun, which has been found so useful
in whale fishing, and a life-boat by the same gen-
tleman ; around were neatly arranged models of
Captain Bullock's beacon, which is erected on the
Goodwin Sands ; the South Bishop's Rock, and Coquet
Island Lighthouses, a ballast-lighter, and raft of the
Maplin Land Lighthouse, frum the Trinity-house ; a
Russian camel for lifting large vessels over sand-banks, a
model of the Victoria and Albert Yacht, of her Ma-
jesty's ship Rattler, of Sir W. Symond's schooner yacht,
and other very interesting models from the Admiralty.
Models of various forms of screw propellors from Ren-
nie, F. P. Smith, Galloway, and Grantham ; Mitchell's
screw pile lighthouse battery. ; Bush's caisson and com-
pass by the same, intended for the Royal yacht ; a model
designed to show the principle of the atmospheric rail-
way, from Mr. Vignoles ; Prosser's timber railway and
locomotive, with guide wheels for traversing very sharp
curves ; Barlow's hollow iron keys for fastening the rails
in the chairs ; and Wood's soft metal bearings for rail-
way axles ; models of agricultural implements, from
Mr. Cottam ; models of London-bridge with its coffer.
dams, and part of the centering, Stoneleigh Abbey Bridge,
by the late John Rennie. The walls of this room were
beautifully ornamented with specimens of Adams's
baunabic composition, a new material for architectural
decoration.
In the lower rooms NN ere the heavier models of ma-
chinery, consisting of Burnett and Corpe's concentric
steam-engine, Bodmer's breaks for heavy machinery;
also screwing tops and cutters, and a machine for form-
ing the cutters; various tools from Holtzapffie and Whit-
worth ; Mereweather's cabinet fire-engine ; Davison and
Synington's mode of cleansing brewer's casks ; Haddan's
railway wheel; and a gas meter by Clegg, besides many
other very beautiful models, which want of space alone
prevents us from noticing.
Among the distinguished visitors present we noticed
particularly the Marquis of Northampton; the Earls of
Lincoln, Devon, Dundonald, and Lovelace; Lords
Blayney and Courtenay; the Bishop of Lichfield; Mr.
Baron Parke and Mr. Baron Rolfe ; his Excellency Ali
Effendi, the Turkish Ambassador, and suite ; Sirs R.
Peel, M.P., W. Burnett, E. Cust, J. Rennie, P. Laurie,
W. Clay, M.P., J. Barrow, T. D. Acland, M.P., C. Bur-
rell, M.P., C. Pine, R. Inglis, M.P., H. Fleetwood, M.P.,
W. White, J. Trollope, M.P., H, Ellis, G. Murray,
H. Webb, H. Douglas, T. Goldsmid, J. Lnshington,
G. Clerk, M.P., W. Tuyll, and H. T. De la Berhe ;
J. Masterman, Esq., M.P., P. Pusey, Esq., M.P.,
H. G. Knight, Esq., M.P., B. Estcourt, Esq., M.P., Em-
merson Tennent, Esq., M. P., Brotherton, Esq., H.Drum-
mond, Esq., M.P. ; Admiral Sir B. Martin; Major-Ge-
nerals Monteith and Pasley ; Colonels Maberley, Sykes,
Jackson, Herbert, and Sloane ; Lieutenant-Colonels
Spottiswoode, Sabine, Alderton, and Wells ; the Lord
Mayor, Meer Jaffer Ali Khan, Loof Oolah Khan, Mo-
hammed Alice ; Counts Gola, Lopez, and De Rosen ;
Messieurs Horace Vernet, Baugmet, Godershall, Siemens,
Shalenees, Bindervald, Vanzellers, Hebeler, and Mix ;
Barons De Gerlach and De Linden, &c.
It were injustice to forget to state that the scientific
enjoyments of the evening were greatly enhanced by the
generous hospitality and attention of Mr. Walker, who
received the mosl zealous and efficient co-operation from
Mr. Manby, the Secretary.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
YORK RACES.

The Stewards have given notice that no horse will be
allowed to start for any stake at York, in the present year,
without his mouth being examined (if required) by one or
more veterinary surgeons, to be appointed by the Stewards.
If an objection to a horse's age shall not be made until after
the races the Stewards will insist upon a similar examina-
tion; and if the owner or trainer of any horse which has
come in first shall refuse to allow the examination, such
horse shall not be considered the winner, but the stake shall
be given to the first horse in the race which is duly qua-
....

•
The Marquis of Exeter has accepted the office of Steward
of the Jockey Club, in the place of Thomas Thornhill, Esq ,
deceased.
NEWMARKET, 1844.
FIRST OCTOBER 'METING.
Mr. Ford's Sir Diggory Diddle, 3 yrs, Bst, agst Mr. E.
Walker's black cob horse (half bred), 6 yrs, 7st. T. M. M.
150 h ft.
The match between Minotaur and Wee Pet, for Monday in
the Second October Meeting, is off by consent.
SECOND OCTOBER MEETING, 1846.
WEDNESDAY.
Sweepstakes of 200 sous. ea C
ch, h ft, for fillies, Bst 71b. each.
T. Y. .

Duke of Bedford's fby Gladiator, out of Misnomer—Lord
Exeter's fby Hetman Platoff, out of Amina—Mr. Payne's f
by Camel, out' of Vat—Duke of Rutland's f by Gladiator or
Th e Doctor, out of Flambeau's dam.