Star.
London, England, 1830-04-26 00:00:00

HAMILTON PALACE.

ittagnilicent mansion, the principal scat, of hie
Grace t'oe Duke of Hamilton, is now fast advancing to it. cornple-
; and when finished, will be not only by fist the most splendid
lialdta.iln in Scotland, but equal to any in the Island. Last year
upwards of .C 40,000 were expended on the interior of the building,
and an equal sum will be expended during the present year. In
two years mote It is supposed that the whole edifice will be coin.
pleted in all its departments,—its erection thus taking up a period
of eight years, about six having elapsed since it was commenced.
The length of the place is 263 feet ; but, including the elegant
kitchen-court stretching from its south side, there is, in reality, an
uninterrupted front of buildirg cot less than 363 feet. The breadth,
likewise, of the structure, is very great : its height 60 feet. the
Portico, which consists of a beautiful entabliture and pediment,
(with the family arms richly carved in the tympanum of the latter,)
supported upon ten majestic Corinthian columns ; each composed of
a single stone, is exceedingly fine. The stones composing the pd.
lays are the largest ever used in this country for any similar pur-
pose. The pillars are ranged in double rows—six in front anti four
behind ; and immediately behind the latter are four pilastres of the
same orer of architecture. A double flight of stairs, remarkable
for the grandeur and beauty of their proportions, lead up to the pot.
tico, which is an exact copy of that belonging to the ancient temple
of Jupiter Stator at Rome. The vestibule, or hall of entrance, which
opens front the portico, is of great dimensions, and when finished
will be one of the finest things in this kingdom. The ceiling of this
Gall, which is above thirty feet high, is of the most gorgeous des.
eription ; and no less a sum than 3001. sterling expended in the
gilding of it alone. From the entrance, the rooms of the palace
stretch away in all directions. They are, generally speaking.
very large, especially the state rooms, which are eight in number ;
and most of the bedchambers are also of great dimensions.
The ancient parts of the palace are undergoing a complete renova-
tion. The roof of the old gallery has been elevated, and is now re-
markably rich in its decorations. This room, 120 feet in length, is
appropriated fur part of those paintings of which the Doke has so
extensive and admirable a collection : the remainder along with ti.,
fine store of antique statues collected Wills Grusin Italy, distri-
buted in the hall of entrance, and in a few others of the pi incipal
apartment.. In noticing the details of this noble structure, it is im-
possible not to be struck with the substantial manner in which it is
built. In this respect it is almost unequalled. and II:C1114 :IS it•
erected to stand for a thousand years. The walls are very
and even the internal walls arc wholly constructed of the finest hewn
stone. There is no brick about the building, no part of seir'cli has
been done by contract—consequently, it ha% got the most 311+10
justice. 'fire situation of the palace has been censured as being too
low and too near the :own, but in fact it is precisely placed where it
ought to have beer. It stands at the head of perhaps the fittest lawn
anywhere to be seen—.a lawn two miles in length—the v h.,le et'
whose majestic vista can be seen at one glance from the front of the
building. The situation is certainly neither romantic nor pxtur-
coque, but there is an air of lordly grandeur and chastened b. testy
about it, not often to be met with. The sum required fur the com-
pletion of the palace has never been exactly calculated, bet it as
supposed it will exceed 200,0001. ; and would have been still greater,
had the worms not been procured (tom the Duke's own quarries.—
Besides this expenditure, it is generally supposed that 40.039 i. er
50,00 W. will be required to furnish the mansion in a suitable PIM -
ner. lied such a building been raised in England. where the ez
of stones is so much greater than in this country, it would have e,,,t
at least a third mere.

This is the annniversary (April 26) of the drowning of
Prince Leopold, of Brunswick, 1785, by the upsetting of
a boat on the waters at Frankfort upon the Oder, wl:1;.•;t
attempting to rescue the suffering inhabitants of a village
that was overflowed. His Royal Highness died as he is
said to have lived, in the highest exertions of hunianit).
Friday a meeting of the friends to the Londuti
Society for the Improvement and Encouragement of Fe-
male Servants, was held at the London Tavern. Tie -
chair was taken by Mr. Tomkins. A report was read, from
which it appeared that since the Society was formed,
and which was instituted in 1813, to promote the moral
and religious improvement of domestic servants, by re-
wards in money and books for trustworthy and correct
conduct in their situations, 5,3771. had been distributed
in rewards, besides 4,000 tacts, 1,3000 Bibles, &c.
The receipts last year were 7851. 12s. 6d. and the ba-
lance in hand was now 761.45. Several Gentlemen ad-
dressed the meeting on behalf of the Society, after which
the report was adopted, and the meeting adjourned.
STRANGE V ICISSITUDES.—A man named John Ru •
therford has within the last few days been brought up at
the New Bailey on a trifling charge of felony, committed
about eight months ago in stealing a suit of clothes from
a boy with whom he was travelling to Liverpool. He was
apprehended whilst exhibiting some Indian curiosities at
Knott-mill fair The boy not being forthcoming on the
present occasion the prisoner was discharged; he denied
having committed the robbery, saying that the lad had
pledged his clothes. About two years ago the prisoner
was tried at the Salford sessions on a charge of 'lbw
robbery, but the evidence in that case being insuffi-
cient, he was discharged. This man, who is a native of
Manchester, has experienced the most surprising vick-
shades. Some years ago he became a sailor, and the
ship being off the coast of New Zealand, the whole of the
crew, with the exception of Rutherford, and two or three
others, were murdered by the natives. The survivors
were carried on shore, and the whole, with the exception
of Rutherford, were murdered and devoured by the can-
nibals. After some time Rutherford, having found favor
in the eyes of the New Zealanders, was tattooed on the
face, which is an indication of friendship, became a chief,
and married two of the daughters of a native chief. tie
afterwards returned to England, and now gets his liveli-
hood by exhibiting at fairs a number of curiosities, Eta-
thered during his sojourn in the islands of the South Sel.
Perhaps it may not be uninteresting to state, that this is
the individual whose memoirs have just been publi,hed
by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowlet4e,
and which forms one of the most interesting that has is-
sued under their auspices.—Munchestee Aiktrtiscr. .