The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-26 00:00:00

CONVERSAZIONE.

The first conversazione given by Sir John Rennie, the Pre.
sident of the Institution of Civil Engineers, took place on
Saturday evening, and although we were well assured that
there would not be any diminution i►► the hospitable recep-
tion, and the interesting collection of works of art, to which
we have been accustomed in farmer years, we were not prepared
for the tasteful preparations and brilliant display which awaited
the visitors on this occasion, and more especially, for the presence
•f Lady Its-nnie, and a numerous assemblage of her lady friends.
In addition to the ordinary suite of rooms, a large apart-
ment had been constructed at the rear of the house, adjoin.
ins the second saloon. The walls and ceiling were tastefully
decorated in encaustic painting, by Sang, In the same deli.
sate and tasteful style which he has so well displayed at the
Royal Exchange, the Conservative Club, and in ether places.
The effect of the light upon the well-combined and vivid
colours of the encaustic decorations, and the brilliant furni-
ture, was particularly striking. In the centre of this room
was suspended a magnificent chandelier, made by Mr. Apaley
Pellatt, from the prize-drawing at the School of Design. It
was entirely composed of glass, combining judiciously the
effect of the prismatic colours, of cut white drops, with the Bohe.
mist' stained glass. This chandelier, whether viewed as a speci.
men of workmanship or of taste, was extremely creditable to Mr.
Pellatt, whose productions we have before frequently praised. In
the rooms were several fine specimens of Bohemian glass, also
from his collection.

We can scarcely attempt to particularise all the numerous
works of art, and interesting models, which were profusely
spread throughout the rooms ; but we must notice the
bronzes from Mr. Deville's collection, an exquisite carving in
Caen stone of St. George and the Dragon, by Mr. Thomas ; Mr.
Goadby's interesting anatomical preparations; the paintings
by Boxall, Oliver, Scanlan, Kendrick, Buss, and Tomkins ;
the portfolios of sketches by Gastineau, Buss, Duncan,
Oliver, Kendrick, and others; a fine drawing of Mr.
Walker's new graving dock at Woolwich ; beautiful speci.
mens of Claudet's new process of :Talbotype, by which the
accuracy of Daguerreotype, and the artistic effect of oil painting ap.
pear combined. There were some excellent wood carvings by Ro.
gers, almost equalling a case of ivory carvings by Flamingo, from
the collection of Mr. Vulliamy ; these appeared to excite much
attention.
The models were, perhaps, somewhat less nistrieroue than
usual, but they were select and well displayed. We must
mention from among them, Mitchell's screw-pile battery ;
the Air Point Lighthouse, by Messrs. Walker and 'Burge,;
Captain Boswell's plan for harbours built with arched piers;
the original design, by Mr. Stephenson, for an iron bridge
of two arches, each of 360 feet span, to carry the Chester
and Holyhead Railway across the Menai Straits, but which
is now to be superseded by the suspended tunnel-bridge,
formed of wrought iron; the Folkstone Viaduct, by Mr. W.
Cubitt; an ingenious cast iron trussed.girder bridge, by Mr.
Borthwick ; and a good model of a stone bridge, with Sat
elliptical arches, designed some years since by Mr. Rennie,
to replace Westminster-bridge. There was a fine model of
the "Great Britain," and several of vessels to be propelled
by the screw, designed by Mr. Guppy ; a steam-frigate, with
direct-acting engines and screw-propeller, by Mr. Rennie ;
a beautiful pair of marine engines, by the late Mr. Henry Maud.
slay ; Mr. Bodmer's proposed horizontal engines and screw-pro-
peiler ; Mr. Hick's improved locomotive engine ; Messrs. Grissell
and James's combinations of a weighing-machine and crane, to u.
certain the weight of an object while raising it.
Our limits will not permit a more extended notice, but at the
next corny rsazione, which will take place on Saturday, the 31st
instant, we shall hole to have another opportunity of examining
more minutely those objects which may have escaped our notice on
this ocaasion.

We must, In concluding, congratulate the institution upon
having, in the recent changes in its constitution, secured another
president, who so liberally and indefatigably devotes himself to
its service; and who, If we may judge from the support of the
council, and the numerous attendance of the members and his
friends, appears to enjoy no inconsiderable share of popularity.
The general company included—The Marquis of Nor-
thampton, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl and Countess
of Beauchamp, the Bishop of London, Reverend Sir H. Duken-
field, Lady and Miss Kirkland, Sir J. Rae Reid, M.P.,
Captain Sir George Back, R N., Sir Charles Lemon, M.P.,
Sir James South, Sir Edward and Lady Head, Sir Thomas
and Miss Neave, Sir W. Middleton, Sir Charles Malcolm, Sir
C. Fellows, Sir George Duckett, Sir Peter Laurie, Sir
George Cayley, Sir William Burnett, the O'Conor Don, M.P.,
Mr. Ormsby Gore, M.P., Sir R. Sitemburgh, Mr. and Miss
Estcourt, Colonel and Mrs. Yorke, Mr. G. Stephenson, Dr.
Bowring, M.P., Mr. Mackinnon, M.P.; Colonel Lacy, Mr.
Ilutt, M.P., Mr. E. Buller, M P., Colonel Show, Colonel
Colquhoun, Mr. and the Misses Garf, Mons. Delepierre, M.
Abrosof, Mr. De Wint, Major Clarke, Dr. 'denten, Mr. Mauds-
lay, Mr. W. Cubitt, Dr. and Mrs. Paris, Dr. Granville,
Mr. Copley Fielding, Mr. and Mrs. George Rennie, Captain
Vidal, R.N., Captain Schwabe, Mr. James Walker, 111.
Baugniet, Mr. Field, Lieutenant Pankratieff; Mr. Rendell, Dr.
Ure, Mr. Robert Stephenson, Captain and Mrs. Townsend, Cap-
tain Dundas, R.N., Mr. B. Cubitt, Mr. Westmacott, Mr. John
Scott Russell, Mr. M. Rennie, Dr. Mayo, Mr. Barrow, Mr.
and Mrs, Cockerel!, Mr. T. Grissell, Captain Lacy, Mr.
Behnes, Mr. W. Milne, Mr. A ymot, Mr. Tooke, Mr.
Hallam, Mr. and Mrs. Cocks, Professor Anstead, Mr.
D'Oyle, Mr. Christie, Mr. J. Colquhoun, Mr. B. Williams, Mr.
Bailey, Mr. Dilke, Mr. Biddulph, Professor Donaldson, Mr. T.
Irwin, Captain Boswell, R.N., Mr. Boxall; Captain Lushington,
R.N., Mr. Klengemann, Mr. Poynter, Mr. Britton, Mr. R. It.
Scanlan, Mr. Enys, Mr. Young, Mr. Grainger, Mr. Choverton,
Mr. J. P. Knight, Mr. Martin, Sic.

- -
BRUSSELS, MAY 23.—Thanks to the exertions of
M. Van de Weyer, it is certain that the representations of our
lyrical performers at London will be very brilliant—so many boxes
are already taken that a receipt of 14,000 francs is certain; the
expenses of each evening are 7,500 francs; the King and Queen
of the Belgians, who will go to London, have taken three box(' for
themselves and their suite.
ANCIENT Ce)NCERTA.—There was a private re-
hearsal on Saturday of the selection made by his Royal Highness
Prince Albert for Wednesday evening. The singers will be Ma.
dame Castellan. Misses Schloss and Barrett ; Messrs. Mario, Hobbs,
Hawkins, Machin, OUerhoffer, Pischek, and Staudigl. Among the
novelties will be a trio by the latter three eminent singers.
To-morrow (Tuesday), the day appointed for the
celebration of her Majesty's birth, will be. observed as a holiday at
all the Government offices and other public establishments. This,
with the exception of Christmas-day and Good Friday, is the only
day throughout the year which is observed as a general holiday by
the Customs department, owing to the very great inconvenience
which is thereby caused to every branch of the import and shipping
trade of the port. Even on this occasion, the London and the St.
Katharine Dock Companies have made application and obtained
permission to keep a portion of the bonded warehouses open
during the day for business purposes, in order to meet the emer-
gency of an ensuing public sale on the following day.
THE CONVICT CONNOR.—'the Sheriffs have fix(d
Monday next, the 2d June, for the execution of this unhappy
criminal.