The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-05 00:00:00

FINE A.Ii,TS.

We have just been favoured with a sight-of
i-some specimens of a new experiment in en-
graving, which is entitled the " Chromographic
Process," and consists in printing on one piece
of paper, or any suitable material, a succession
of impressions from steel or copper-plates, giving
fac-similes of drawings. in chalk or colour, and
offering them at a cheaper price, and of superior
quality to any other modes of engraving now in
use. The artist's method of proceeding is by ar-
ranging the light and shade of the drawing on
one plate, and the colours on the other (some-
times from two to four plates may be requisite),
which, when charged with the proper tints, are
passed successively through the copper-plate
press, and the work is completed. The imita-
tions in .chalk produced by this process are of
first-rate excellence, and we have now lying
before us the portrait of a little boy, apparently
about five years of age, the colouring of
which is managed with such extraordinary
skill and ingenuity, that we defy the most
experienced connoisseur to • distinguish it
from the real chalk tint. A picture of a race-
horse
with a jockey, in full professional trim,
mounted on his back ,exhibits not less merit.
The colours lightly thrown.in, in the first plate,
are carefully finished off in the second; and on
comparing it with some of the cleverest litho..
graphic racing sketches lately produced in
Paris, we find that its effects are much more
striking, the shades deeper, the lights brighter
—as in the case of the horse's eye, which is full
of brilliant animation—and the impression
cleaner, more distinct, and with more' of decided
character about it. A view of the Interior of a
Cathedral is equally remarkable, for, the neat-
ness and general felicity of the execution. This,
also, has been perfected in two plates, the first
of which giVes the bare outline of the view, and
the second shows it in its complete state. The
various groupes in this engraving display infinite
ease and grace;' and the imitation of lithograph
is as close as it is possible to be. From the in-
genuity and elegance of the " Chromographic
Process" of engraving we augur that it is likely
ere long to come into very general use among
artists. The gentleman to whom we are indebted
for it, is Mr. Henry Griffiths who, we under-
stand, has taken out a patent for it.

ATTEMPT TO UPSET A RAIL-
WAY TRAIN.

On Tuesday evening last a most atrocious attempt
was made to throw the London mail train off the
Birkenhead and Chester Railway ; and it might have
been attended with the most disastrous consequences
to human life, had not the machinations of the party
been happily frustrated. The train left Birkenhead
on the evening in question as usual, a few minutes
before seven o'clock, to proceed on to Crewe, where
it joins the Grand Junction London train, which ar-
rives in London about five o'clock in the morning.
On the train reaching Heath Lower Bridge, near the
Sutton station, about half way between Birkenhead
and Chester, s fearful concussion took place, and the
cause of it being examined, there was found a large
beam of wood called a sleeper, about nine feet long,
which had been placed in the. ground at an angle
of 45 degrees, so as to cause the opposite end of
it to come in contact with the engine ; and it had
actually penetrated the engine, but most fortunately
not the boiler, or it must have burst. As it happened,
however, th(l/2 injury to the train was not so exten-
sive as to prevent it passing on to its destination.
Near the spot were the footmarks of a person, and
these were traced a short distance along the line, up
the embankment, and near to the cottage of a labour-
ing man, named John Morton. In consequence of
this he was taken into custody, and the boots he had
on exactly fitted the marks above-mentioned—one of
them having a curious shaped patch on the sole. On
Wednesday, Morton was brought before J. H. _Harden,
Esq., a Magistrate of the county, at the Town-hall,
Birkenhead, when the above facts were given in evi-
dence by Mr. Yarrow, and James Booth, one of the
Birkenhead police. One of the railway constables
named John Davies, stated that in the performance of
his duty he passed along the line where the accident
happened about half-past six:o'clock, and all was then
safe. The witness then deposed to hearing of the ac-
eidentabout a quarfft past Seven o'clock, and to no-
ticing.; the footmarks las:already related. On the day
previous to the concussion, the prisoner came up to
witness at, the, spot, where it took place, .and, in the
course of conversation, said, •" I wish the rails were
turned upside down and the sleepers topmost—it
would make,sonie work." This being the whole of
the evidence at present forthcoming, and Mr. Yarrow
stating that he had reason to believe he could adduce
further facts tending to implicate the prisoner, he was
remanded until Saturday.—Liverpool Standard.

A COLLISION ON THE MERSEY.
'We regret to state that a collision took place on our
river last night (Wednesday), nearly opposite the
magazines, in consequence of which two fine steamers
were seriously damaged, one life was lost, and three
individuals were seriously injured. The following
are the particulars of the accident, as observed by the
parties on board the steamer Prince of Wales :
The last-named boat, which belongs to the Cork
and Liverpool Steam Packet Company, was putting
out on her voyage to Cork. She had crossed the
river, and got to the Cheshire shore, shortly before
nine o'clock. Captain M'Neilage, her commander,
was on the paddle-box when he discovered a light
ahead, which he conceived to be a steamer inward
bound. He immediately called out to the man at
the wheel to port the helm. This order was repeated
by the mate, and promptly obeyed. The inward-
bound vessel was the Royal Victoria, from Carlisle,
and it appears that she put her • helm to starboard, in
consequence of whiA she passed athwart the bows of
the Prince of Wales, and the latter ran into her just
before the paddle-box. The concussion was, of course,
extremely violent, and both vessels were cut down
within a few feet of the water.

The damage on board the Royal Victoria was much
more serious than that on board the Prince of Wales,
as the latter drove into the engine-room of the other.
Happily no person on board the Prince of Walei was
injured; but we are sorry to say that the concussion
caused serious injury to several individuals in the
Royal Victoria. Four or five individuals have been
carried to the hospital, one of whom has already died
of the injury which he suffered. Both vessels were
got round and taken safely into dock.--Liverpool
Advertiser.

IRELAND.
ANOTHER FRIGHTFUL MURDER OF A

LANDLORD.

DUBLIN, DEC. I.—Another landlord has fallen a
victim to the " wild justice of revenge." The par-
ticulars of this last outrage on the very name of civi-
lization have been communicated by a gentleman who
received the intelligence 'this morning through a letter
from his own steward, who resides close to the scene
of the murder. The letter runs thus :—" About five
five o'clock on Tuesday evening a most atrocious
murder was committed in the very streets of Fresh-
ford, in the county of Kilkenny. Two men attacked
and shot dead Mr. Mortimer while he was standing
at his own door, and afterwards escaped by running
along the high road to Kilkenny. They were pur-
sued, but without success." The unhappy gentle-
man, it is further stated, was the last life in a lease
of lands which he held from Mr. Browne, of London,
the value of which is about 3001. a-year. He is re-
ported to have been litigious in disposition, and not
over-indulgent as a landlord. This, however, is but
a one-sided statement, and therefore must be received
with caution; but even it it were true, it would be
no palliation of the dreadful mode of revenge adopted
by these ruthless lawgivers.
Strange to say, authentic information of this fright-
ful affair only reached the authorities this day, al-
though the occurrence took place, as stated, nearly
two days past, and that, too, within 64 English miles
of the seat of Government.
Mr. Mortimer did not expire till about 9 o'clock on
the night of the murder. A proclamation has just
been issued, in which a reward of 801. is offered for the
discovery of the assassins.
ATTEMPT TO MURDER A CLERGYMAN.—The Lime-
rick Chronicle states that, on Friday evening last,
some men, with faces blackened, attacked Nantenant
Glebe-house, the residence of the Rev. Mr. Coghlan.
They dragged the Rev. Gentleman to the door, forced
him on his knees, and threatened to shoot him if he
did not deliver up his fire-arms. He was then com-
pelled to give them a double-barrelled pistol, being
the only weapon of defence in his possession. The
gang, which consisted of 12 persons, then decamped.
The same band, it is supposed, attacked the house of a
man named James Neil on the same night and robbed
him of his fire-arms.

Leeds is to have a splendid gathering at the Music
Hall on Tuesday next, when Mr. Cobden, M.P., Dr.
Bowring, M.P., Mr. Busfield, M.P., and Colonel
Peyronnet Thompson, as well as our own Member,
Mr. Aldam, are to bd among the speakers. At Brad-
ford a similar meeting is to be held on Thursday
next, at which Mr. Bright and Mr. Moore, the bar-
rister, will attend ; and at Hohnfirth there will be a
very large assemblage on the same evening.—Leeds
Mercury of Saturday.
The large public sales of tea which commenced on
Monday, concluded on Friday. Out of 62,000 pack-
ages offered, 21,000 were sold, establishing a reduc-
tion in price of id. to 3d. per lb

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY ilOttkiSTOT, bECENii3Eit 5, 1842.

NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENI.

The fifth contract for erecting this national and
truly magnificent work, has just been entered into,
and Messrs. Grissell and Peto are again the success-
ful competitors. This contract, or portion of the
work, is by far the most important that has yet taken
place, embracing as it does the Victoria Tower, the
Royal Gallery, the Houses of Lords and Commons,
with other important and necessary adjuncts thereto.
By the courtesy of Mr. Barry, the architect, the fol-
lowing particulars have been obtained :
The Victoria Tower, or Royal entrance, necessarily
occupies the first position in the arrangement, whether
as regards the order of deseription or the, magnitude
of its structure, which, perhaps, will be one of the
richest and most gigantic specimens of Gothic archi-
tecture that this or any other country can boast. Be-
neath this tower the royal entrance will be formed,
presenting an area of 60 feet square, into which the
Royal and other State carriages will be enabled to
drive with the most perfect case, turn round
the foot of the Royal staircase, and depart at an en-
trance on the south side. The upper stories of the
tower will be used as secure depositorieS for public
records and State documents. The externa squarenf
the tower will be 78 feet at the principal floor level,
from which point it will be ornamented with the
richest specimens of Gothic sculpture, to the height of
240 feet, reaching to the base of the four crowned tur-
rets by which it will be surmounted. The entire
height, from the bottom of the tower to the top of the
turrets, will be 300 feet.

It is believed that the ceremony of laying the first
stone, the foundations having been completed, will
take place in the course of the ensuing week, and that
the first stone of the Victoria Tower, so designated in
honour of her Most Gracious Majesty, will be selected
for that important event.
The Royal entrance hall or vestibule is the next ob-
ject of interest included in the present contract, and
will be approached from the right-hand side oC the
tower, leading from the principal staircase to the royal
gallery.
For the Royal gallery, the next in order, no pains
have been spared on the designs to render this portion
of the edifice of surpassing richness and magnificence.
The upper part of the walls will be of the most elabo-
rately-sculptured designs of Gothic ornaments, while
the lower portion of the walls is divided into compart-
ments intended for the reception of the most exquisite
subjects in fresco painting, several specimens of which
were placed in the exhibition of the' Royal Academy
during the past season, and excitedjgeneral 'admiration
The Royal robing-room will t,56: next approached
from the Royal gallery, and will -strictly harmonise
with the fittings and ornaments of: the latter. It will
be a most splendid apartment, 40 feet in length and
30 feet in width,' immediately-adjoining the House of
Lords, with entrances for the Sovereign on each side
of the throne.

The "Bishops' robing-room, a large apartment on
the right-hand side of the robing-room of her Ma-
jesty, will be appropriated to the use of the spiritual
peers.

The House of Lords comes next in the order of
arrangement, and will be situate on the principal
story, preserving a level throughout with the old floor
of St. Stephen's Chapel, so that entrance for the
Peers may either be obtained along the corridors
from the river front, or by that leading from Old
Palace-yard, the size of the House of Lords, as well
as that of the House of Commons, will be reduced to
the smallest possible limits compatible with the re-
quired accommodation, and to give them the form
and arrangement which will afford the greatest num-
ber of sittings in the smallest possible space, bring the
Members nearest to each other and to the Speaker,
and be the most convenienrfor carrying on the ordi-
nary roitine of business. _ _

'.the two Houses will be placed as nearly as possible
'in the centre of the whole mass of buildings, this
being considered the position best adapted for com-
munication with each other, and with their respective
offices and accommodations; for easy access from the
various entrances and approaches, public and private ;
for security from noise and disturbance ; for allowing
their form and size to be exactly fitted to the wants of
each House ; for the purposes of lighting, warming,
and ventilating in the most convenient manner ; and
for making any modifications or alterations in ' them
which may be thought desirab!e without deranging
the general plan and elevations.
~
It has been thought proper tojayoid placing any
Members' seats under the galleries as well as any
seats whatever behind the IVools,aele`ditheigpeaker's
chair.
t idiri 001 t,beiii e_.• •
r_ •
From the House of Lords- E.,,§l,ticiotts lObby and
the • great centre ball,
corridor will lead directly to
immediately under the centre tower. This:hall will be
. .public approach to the
a large apartment, of a circular form, and 60 feet in
diameter, and the principal
Committee-rooms from it will be, by a broad flight of
steps to a large waiting-room on the'',first floor, from
which there will be a direct andimmediate access to
the Committee-rooms of each, houses,and to theofficers
connected with them. When.the-Houses commence
their sittings, and the daily business is at an end, the
public may retire either by the Principal staircase or
by that which will lead to Weitminster-hall. The
central tower will rise in an octangular fOri*'and will
be 270 feet in height.

corridor leading to. the
tFromhec
othmemcoenns,t panroed eleocibibnyg northward, will
,
be
House of Commons, with the residence of officers in
that division on the east side of New Palace-yard.
Attached to each House of Parliament wil he re-
freshment rooms and offices, and the approaches for
the Sovereign, the Members of both Houses, and the
public; the clerks' and other offices are so arranged
as to be wholly independent of each other, with the
means of making them entirely or partially in com-
munication.

Committees, The Members and officers attending
it is arranged, may go and return by private stair-
cases communicating with their respective Houses
and offices.

The whole of the official residences will have sepa-
rate external entrances
and staircases ; the principal
floor of that for the Speaker will be expressly devoted
for State levees or Parliamentary, dinners, and will be
fitted up on a scale of great splendour.
The libraries and Committee-rooms of each House
are placed towards the river, for the convenience of
light and freedom from noise and disturbance, and
the former are so arranged on the principal floor as
to be en suite, with the power of extending them at
pleasure, by including the adjoining Committee-
rooms.

The ancient chapel of St. Stephen, the crypt, and
cloisters are preserved over the crypt the spacious
apartment will form the inner vestibule to the Houses
of Parliament, to be called St. Stephen's Hall. This
hall will be fitted up in the same style of ornament
as the Royal gallery and the corridors, with the in-
troduction of choice subjects in fresco painting.
Another important feature will also be found in the
construction of the two Houses for the purposes of a
complete and thorough ventilation. This department
has been placed under the direction and able super-
intendence who, after a variety of trials
ofdifferentofppr. Reid,lansand experiments, has adopted, a
mode of ventilation by which not only the Houses of
ltdo
towers
tr s pleasure.sh shall
be m
a Itd e i s a
v pariol-
poi-
Parliament, but every apartment and office connected.
therewith
threeb greata eregtte
able for this purpose, and from a certain height that
the masonry of them shall be hollow, and pierced in
several places for the reception and egress of air.
erreedwit h
that
thema y
According to the state of the wind air might be
received from the Victoria, or clock towers, which
will occupy the northern and southern extremities.
The form of the Victoria tower has been already de-
scribed ; the clock tower will also be of the square
form, finishing spirally, and of the height of 270-feet.
The air thus obtained will be forced by machinery
through the vaults under the body of the whole- edi-
fice, from thence it will be discharged by means of
chambers to the body of both Houses, extending to the
Royal gallery and the main and entli e portion's' of the
buildings. After passing through the various apart-
ments, the air will be received by means of perforated
ceilings into chambers to be fitted above the roofs,
and will be carried off up the central tower.
The works that are already in
progress on the
eastern or river front are in a great state of forward-
ness, and will, when completed, extend to 870 feet in
length. The ground floor embraces repositories and
offices, awl the principal one, the Lords' and Com-
mons' libraries, committee-rooms, the conference-hall,
and public and private corridors, The south front
will be 340 feet long, that portion next the river being
appropriated as the residence of Sir Augustns Clifford,
the Usher of the Black Rod. The opposite front, on
the northern wing, will comprise the residence of the
Speaker of the House of Commons, the Sergeant-at-
Arms, and other officers.
The external works of the first and principal stories
on the river front, including the Lords' and Com-
mons' river entrances, are nearly completed, and the
decorations are of the most extensive character. The
northern and southern fronts are ornamented by
elaborately-sculptured niches, in which are placed
statues of the various Kings who reigned in England
prior to the Conquest.
Along the whole eastern front, immediately under
the principal floor windows, is an ornamental band,
on which is displayed, in strong relief; in old English
characters, the name of every Sovereign who has
reigned in England since the Conqueror, commencing
in chronological order with William the Conqueror,
and terminating with that of William the Fourth,
and above each are the Royal arms of England richly
sculptured.

CIIINESE Dom:Aus.--if the 21,000 000 dollars to be
Britain,pGariedatbythofa straight line
peace with
e Chinesemere tn
beon extendedth e treatyin
in 'a horizontal position, edge to edge, they would
more than reach from Brighton to Berwick-upon-
Tweed, or the whole extent of England—computing
each dollar to be 1 inch and 2-10ths in diameter,
which would form a line of 3974 British miles.