1843.] 
THE GARDENERS’ CHRONICLE. 
277 
The Edinburgh and Glasgow line was not opened till last 
year, but already it has paid more for the time than any 
other Scotch railway, namely, 4,9417. The largest amount 
paid per annum to any of the companies for the convey- 
ance of the mails appears to be to the Grand Junction— 
namely, 17,490/. ‘The London and Birmingham receive 
14,5102., the Birmingham and Gloucester 10,1567., the 
North Union and Lancaster and Preston 4,443/. and 
4,745/. respectively, and the Chester and Crew, Midland 
Counties, and North Midland, about 2,600/, each. The 
Greenwich receive 50. per annum, and the Blackwall 
(used on Tuesday and Friday mornings for the Dutch 
mail, and occasionally for the home mail) 5s. per trip. A 
‘return showing the number of mail-bags lost, or detained 
through the carelessness of the servants of the railway 
companies entrusted with the charge of them,” has ‘ nid? 
in reference to bags “‘lost;’’ but as respects “ deten- 
tions,’’ the Grand Junction comes first in mismanage- 
ment. Thus: Grand Junction 11; South Western Gis 
Great Western 5; Birmingham and Gloucester 2; and 
North Midland and Liverpool and Manchester 1. These 
are the whole of the returns, and it is therefore to be 
presumed that, on the London and Birmingham, Bir- 
mingham and Derby, Midland Counties, and other lines 
not named, no detention has occurred.—On Monday after. 
noon, another of those extensive blasts of Dover Cliffs, 
which have excited so much interest, took place at Lydden 
Spont Coast-guard station, and proved proportionally suc- 
cessful in its effects to the former one, when, with the 
enormous quantity of 18,500 pounds of gunpowder, the 
destruction of Round-down Cliff was effected. The mass 
of chalic now operated on formed the base of the same 
cliff, the crown of which, to the depth of 90 feet, was 
blown off, by a blast consisting of 7,000 lbs, of gunpowder, 
on the 2d ult. The present blast consisted of upwards of 
10,000 lbs. of gunpowder, which was placed in fifteen cells 
or chamb at proper distances, along the base of the 
chalky cliff; and the conducting wires being properly 
placed, all were fired at once. This blast, like the others, 
was characterised by the absence of noise or smoke, the 
only difference being that on the present occasion a large 
quantity of chalk blocks and rubbish was projected through 
the air to a considerable distance seaward. The quantity 
of chalk removed is not ascertained, for so dense a fog 
Overspread the abyss below that the eye could not pene- 
trate from the top of the cliff to the bottom. It was clear, 
however, that the mines had done their duty, from the 
tremendous mass that has been thrown down. The shock 
to the very verge.—It is reported, that another year will 
Searcely elapse without measures being taken ‘for com- 
Mencing the formation of a railroad connecting. Holyhead 
with the Grand Junction Railway. Government have, it 
IRELAND. 
Dublin.—We noticed in our last the excitement occ 
sioned by the transfer of the mail-coach 
Mr. Purcell, of this city, to Mr. Croal, 
Scotland. In reply to the address of the Corporation on 
the subject, the Lord Mayor has received a letter from the 
Lord Lieutenant, stating that he has made a representa- 
as 
contract from 
NO well-founded ground of complaint ; 
as been signed unconditionally, and in exact compliance 
With the advertisement ; and, finally, that the affair is 
closed, as far as official forms are concerned.”_Notwith- 
Standing this statement, a petition has been exhibited by 
1 Operative coachmakers, signed by 35,000 inhabitants 
Of this city: it is intended for presentation in Parliament 
immediately after the Easter recess. Petitions have been 
‘ SO forwarded to Dublin, for transmission, from Thomas- 
ue Kilkenny, Waterford, Slane, Dunleer, Drogheda, 
avan, Lisnaskea, and other places. 
ork. — 
i mmence its session in this city on ‘Thursday, the 
as th gust. The attendance is likely to be very large, 
2 meeting commences not only at the termination of 
t : ae 
of teed Visit to Ireland, The resources and hospitality 
Whoa eee for their accommodation, 
: aes lia on their way to or from the meeting, 
exhibitor 6 agent admitted to its public institutions and 
ised one on the presentation of their tickets. The local 
pea Ptions are going on well, The Earl of Rosse, the 
Blekone str mets that his enormous reflecting 
Section of edbeta ees ee nine ate 
tno onaghan—The Northern Standard announces that 
© unfortunate difference between Mr, Shirley and his 
tenantry has been brought to an amicable i 
Mr. Shirley has reduced his bog rents 25 per cent., taken 
20 per cent. off the price of lime which he gives his 
tenantry, and has taken upon himself the payment of the 
entire poor-rate assessed upon his estates. These con- 
cessions satisfied the tenantry ; and it is stated that all the 
Shirley lands are let at rent in no instance exceeding the 
Poor Law valuation, whichis considered areasonableaverage. 
SCOTLAND. 
Edinburgh—The Edinburgh Evening Post, in notic- 
ing the returns to the General Assembly of the Church of 
Scotland, says that a complete revolution has been made 
on the character of that body, and that the schismatics 
have been entirely defeated. The Edinburgh Observer 
Says it is authorized to state that the Very Reverend 
Principal Macfarlane is to be proposed as Moderator of 
the ensuing General Assemb ly. 
Glasgow.—At a recent meeting of the Institute of 
Civil Engineers, Mr. Mackain, engineer of the Glasgow 
Water-works, read a paper giving an historical account of 
the various plans projected and executed for supplying 
that city with water. It commenced the statement from 
the year 1755, at which period Mr. Gibson, in his 
history of the city, noticed the want of foot-pavements, 
street-lights, and a supply of water, &c., which was at 
that time drawn from wells in the streets. In 1780, it 
was proposed to bring, for the supply of the whole city, 
the water of a spring which is now found inadequate to 
the wants of a house of refuge since erected near it. At 
that period many plans were proposed, particularly one 
by Mr. H, Bell. He objected to steam-engines for 
pumping up the water, “because they would be a nuis- 
ance, and hurtful to surrounding property ; and their con- 
sumption of coals would increase the price of fuel in the 
city.” Mr. Telford was consulted, and on _ his recom- 
mendation two steam-engines were erected, with reser- 
voirs. Tis estimate for the Tequisite supply for a popu- 
lation of 80,000 persons was 500 gallons per minute, sup- 
posing that 6000 families would become renters, and the 
produce, at 22. each, would be about 12,0002, per annum. 
The population in 1842 was 300,000, and the annual in- 
come was about 30,5007, making the average payment 
about 9s. per annum for each family. The history was 
then given of the gradual increase of the works until they 
consisted of thirteen steam-engines, with their requisite 
filters, reservoirs, &c.; the fluctuation of the mercantile 
value of the shares, and the purchase of the Cranstonhill 
water-works, thus centering the whole supply in one com- 
pany. The facts detailed were valuable for reference, and 
interesting as history. An appendix, containing an ac- 
Count of the reservoirs and filters, was promised for a 
future occasion. 
THEATRICALS. 
_Itartan Orzra.— Norma was 
night at this theatre, and Mdlle. G 
absence, appeared as the Druid priestess. 
cordially welcomed, and her efforts, 
formed on Tuesday 
2 
rts has been more frequently performed, or is more 
familiarly known to the public than that of Norma. It 
was not to be expected, therefore, that she would give it 
her personation of the character 
was, as it has always been, a wonderful display of impas- 
sioned energy, far surpassing anything that has been seen 
on the Opera stage since Mdlle. Pasta’s Medea. The 
opera received an entirely new feature from Malle. Mol. 
tini’s charming performance of Adalgisa, which gave in- 
terest and pathos to a character which, as usually repre- 
sented, is wholly insipid. §. Mario sustained the part of 
Pollio, and the aged priest was worthily represented by 
S. Lablache. The opera was thus performed in a manner 
that could not easily be excelled. This was 8. Lablache’s 
first appearance this season ; and continued plaudits, on 
his entrance, burst from every part of the house. The 
theatre were crowded, which has been the case every night 
since the commencement of the season. 
Drury-Lane.—The Easter Monday entertainments at 
this theatre were Macbeth, and an * entirely new and 
original Easter absurdity,” called Fortunio and his Seven 
gifted Servants, founded on the familiar fairy tale, in 
which the young knight, Fortunio, overcomes every dif. 
ficulty, no matter how insurmountable, by means of one 
servant who could eat everything, a second who could 
drink everything, a third who could carry everything, a 
fourth who could hear everything, a fifth who could see 
everything, and so forth. The only novelty in the cast of 
Macbeth was Miss Helen Faucitt’s appearance as Lady 
Macbeth, during the temporary absence of Mrs. Warner. 
Both the play and the afterpiece was well received by a 
crowded audience, who, as usual on Easter nights, ap- 
peared determined to be pleased. 
HayMarxer.—This House opened for the season on 
Monday night. During the recess the theatre has been 
much altered and improved. It is now brilliantly lighted 
with gas, many parts have been remodelled, and the whole 
redecorated. The performances were the School for 
Scandal, and the burletta of Riquet with the Tuft. The 
cast of the former was the same, or nearly so, as last sea- 
son; and, with Mesdames Vestris, Glover, Clifford, and 
Edwin Yarnold, and Messrs. Farren, Strickland, Brindal, 
Stuart, Charles Mathews, and Webster, to support the 
characters, the performances went off pleasantly and effec- 
tively, as a matter of course. Riquet with the Tuft is an 
old favourite, and the audience were so well pleased that 
the manager was called before the curtain to receive their 
applause. On Tuesday Miss Julia Bennett, a young lady, 
who has achieved a high provincial reputation, and the 
daughter of Mr. G. Bennett, of Covent Garden, made her 
first apy a before a London audience at this theatre, 
as the Widow Cheerly,in the comedy of the  Soldier’s 
Daughter. She was, altogether, successful, and was called 
for at the conclusion of the comedy. 
Princgss’s THEATRE.—An English version of Tan- 
eredi was performed here on Monday night. Two or three 
adaptations of Italian operas have been produced at this 
theatre in the course of the season with considerable suc- 
cess; but though Tancredi attracted anumerous audience, 
and received loud applause, yet the approbation appeared 
to he more owing to the great beauty of Rossini’s music, 
and to the showy spectacle, than to the quality of the 
performance. : 
Frencu Prays.—The new comedie vaudeville, Les 
Memoires du Diable, was produced at this theatre on 
Monday evening, and is likely to meet with nearly as fa. 
vourable a reception here as it received in Paris, where it 
has been performed upwards of two hundred times. The 
atterpiece was the well-known comic vaudeville, Le Pére 
de la Debutante, in which M. Vernet represented the 
father of the Debutante, with a racy humour, the like of 
which is not to be seen on the English stage. His acting 
showed a genuine comic genius—a thorough perception 
of the ludicrous in character. The dress, the manner, the 
gesture, the gesticulation, the voice, everything was per- 
fect. The house was in a state of the most joyous hilarity 
from beginning to end. M. Vernet was ably seconded by 
Malle. Elise Forgeot, as the Debutante, and the other 
actors filled their respective parts with excellent effect. 
Every part of the house was full. 
JRiscellaneous. 
New Houses of Parliament.—Mr. Barry has presented 
areport to the Royal Commission on the Fine Arts, in 
reterence to the internal decorations of the New Buildings 
and other local improveinents which have suggested them- 
selves. After stating that the walls of the several halls, 
galleries, and corridors of approach, as well as the various 
public apartments throughout the building, should be de- 
corated with paintings illustrative of the history of the 
country, Mr. Barry proceeds to show in detail that the 
employment of sculpture and architectural dec: rations 
may be advantageously combined with the proposed series 
of national paintings. He suggests that Westminster 
Hall should be made the depository, as in former times, 
of all trophies obtained in war with foreign countries ; 
and that un addition should be made to the original plan 
of the New Houses for the purpose of inclosing New 
Palace Yard, and of thus obtaining a long and imposing 
front towards the abbey. By this means Westminster 
Hall, in accordance with the plans of the Ancient Palace 
of Westminster, would be placed in a quadrangle, and 
would be seen to the best advantage ; and the New Law 
Courts, rooms for Commissions and other purposes might 
be provided in the sides of the quadrangle. He suggests 
also that the superstructure of Westminster Bridge should 
be rebuilt upon the old foundations, which are now in 
course of repair, under the superintendence of Messrs. 
Walker. i 
of the arches of the new bridge should be pointed, by 
which great facility would be afforded for accomplishing 
that very important object, namely, by materially reducing 
within what 
is considered necessary for arches of the circular form, J 
am induced also to recommend this form of arch, on ac- 
count of another very important practical advantage which 
it offers, namely, the elevation of its springing above 
the level of high water, by which the water-way 
through the bridge will be the same at all times of tide; 
whereas, at present, the spandrils of the arches offer an 
impediment to the water-way at high Water, nearly 
equal to one-twentieth of its sectional area, occasioning 
rapid currents with a considerable fall, and sometimes 
much danger to craft in passing through the bridge, under 
the influence of high winds. I consider it alsa of the 
greatest importance, in an artistic point of view, not onl 
that the bridge should be materially lowered, but that at; 
should be made to accord with the architecture of the 
new Houses of Parliament, in order that, both in com- 
Position as well as style, the ensemble should be harmo. 
nious and effective. Upon a rough estimate which I hays 
both sides of the river, from Vauxhall-bridge to London- 
bridge, he considers next in importance to the rebuilding 
of the superstructure of W. H 
“As there would doubtless be serious objectio: 
cession of fine views of London, and the best situation for 
views of the principle of the new Houses of Parliament. 
Having maturely considered the subject, I think it would 
be practicable to obtain a public road of ample width upon 
arches, from the termini of the South-Eastem and Dover 
and the Brighton railroads, at the foot of Lond 
to the terminus of the South-Western Railway at Vay 
hall. The road might be raised upon arches to a level 
that woul de with the levels of the roadways of the 
al b s Which it would intersect, by which means 
the waterside frontages € several wharfs need not be 
lnterfered with in any material degree; indeed, the extent 
