t4t atttruputio.

Wednesday was a gala-day at the Crystal Palace. The fountains in the lower basin were to play for the first time, and Queen Victoria was to be there to see. In fact, the whole system of waterworks designed by Sir Joseph Paxton was to be set in motion at once.

It may be imagined that such a programme would attract a large as- semblage. Accordingly, the London Bridge station -was besieged by thousands, and from noon till five o'clock trains ran as rapidly as was consistent with safety. Besides the numbers thus conveyed, hundreds arrived at the Palace by other means ; and not less than 20,000 Were present, admitted by season and half-guinea tickets. The day was very fine. At five o'clock, the Queen, Prince Albert, the Princess Royal and Prince Frederick William of Prussia, the Regent of Baden, the Prince of Wales and the 'Princess Alice, arrived. At the private entrance three pony phaetons were provided to take the party through the grounds. The appearance of the Queen was the signal which set the fountains playing. As the Queen drove slowly along, the wind blew, the spray into her carriage ; which afforded the Regent of Baden an opportunity of gallantly sacrificing his overcoat to shelter her Majesty. In her pro- gress through the grounds, bonds stationed at intervals struck up the national anthem, and the multitude showed its loyalty in cheers.

In the following details the Times has no doubt had the benefit of some official information.

"A few minutes after five o'clock, when the Royal cortege had reached a position commanding the most advantageous view of the spectacle, the whole system of waterworks, including -besides the fountains on the ter- races the water-temples, the cascades, the two large waterfalls, and the fountains of the grand lower basins, were brought gradually into operation. The effect was little less than magical, and for an hour afterwards charmed alike the eye and the ear. The large fountains in the lower basins, and the circular one situated on the plateau, depend solely upon the water for their effect, and not at all upon architecture or sculpture, like the smaller foun- tains on the terraces, with which visitors to the Palace have long been familiar. The water which they contain is made Obedient to the hand of the artist, and shoots into the air, forming innumerable devices of great beauty. Around the circular basin, and in some parts of the larger ones, it becomes a liquid hedge, or plays in a network of Jets, while in the centre and over almost the whole surface of each of the basins it throws up sparkling showers-in all shapes, to various heights, some breaking into misty spray at an immense elevation from the surface. Perhaps no better idea can be given of the magnitude of this magnificent series of fountains and their combined effect, which far excel those Of Versailles, than by stating that when they are in full operation there are 11,788 lets playing, and that the quantity of water displayed simultaneously in them is about 120,000 - Ions per minute In the ornamental basins on the terrace, and below it, there are two distinct series of fountains. The upper series comprises the nine basins adjacent to the main building, and terminating with the large circular basin on the central walk through the gardens. The second seriesincludes all the fountains—namely, the first series, the more extensive fountains in the temples, cascades, and two large basins in the lower grounds, which terminate the water display. The water for supplying the fountains is maintained at three different elevations,—first, in the two high tower tanks, which supply the 250 feet jets in the centres of the lower great basins ; secondly, in two lower tanks, which contain water for fountains and for ordinary use in the building, and are situated near its Northern ex- tremity. The supply of the third elevation is collected An the large u r re- seriroir at the Northern end of the building, which contains about 6,, I 1,000 iallone, and from it the great body of the water displayed in the fountains -To drawn. Mere are two reservoirs for collecting, file water after its display in the fountains—namely, one for the upper and one for the second seines of fountains." Six steam-engines are employed inraieing or returningthe water. "The lower reservoir is constructed in the form of an ornamental lake, and collects the waste water from the entire system of fountains when in full operation. Two 40-horse power engines are provided to tall* or retina this waste water from the lower to the upper reservoir, so as to be again available for display. An Artesian well, 575 feet deep, is also sunk in the Tower port of the grounds for a water-supply, and a small engine provided for raising the water from it to the lower reservoir. The water displayed in the upper terrace fountains is conveyed through pipes to the large circular basin; where it plays a second time in the low network jets round the mar- gin, and in tlie other low jets through the basin. Again, when the lower 'great fountains are displayed, all the waste water from the circular basin' is similarly conveyed to them to play their jets of low elevation. Thus the water from the terrace-fountains is displayed thrice, and that from the cir- cular basin twice throughout the entire operation."

- Before leaving the Crystal Palace, the Queen witnessed the general effect of the display from one of the galleries in the building. She rer tired between six and seven.

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At a quarterly Court of the Proprietors of the East India Company, held on 'Wednesday, the Secretary rend a letter from the Board of Con- trol, stating that the Commissioners had approved of the resolution of -the East 'India; Company granting a pension of 50001. per annum to the Marquis of Dalhousie; and a letter from Lord Dalhousie conveying the expression of his gratitude for that munificent reward, and the approbation and confidence of which it is the token.

At a meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Works on Tuesday, reso- lutions were adopted approving of certain portions of the report of the Engineer of the Board with regard to the main drainage of the districts North of the Thames. Those portions of the report, carried by consider- able majorities, related to "the main high level sewer and the middle level sewer with its branches "; to "the construction of works suitable for pumping the Sewage and rain-water of the low level sewer" in the Western district ; and to "the extension to Barking Creek."

For some time the opening of the new cemetery of the City, at Ilford has been delayed because the various parties could not agree upon the table of fees. At a meeting of the Court of Sewers on Tuesday, the Clerk read a communication from the Home Office stating that . Sir George Grey had approved of the table submitted to him by the Court It was agreed that the cemetery should be opened forthwith. This ceremony will; it is understood, take place on the 24th instant.

The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts held its annual meeting on Wednesday, in Willis's Rooms ; the Archbishop of Canterbury in the chair. The meeting was attended by five Bishops, Mr. Gladstone, and Sir Thomas Acland. The revenue is not equal to the expenditure. The annual subscriptions average between 60,0001. and 70,000/. per annum, but the expenditure in 1854 was nearly 95,000/. Mr. Gladstone however, drew great encouragement from the fact : whereas the SO ' Society, twenty years ago, simply distributed a grant of 16f 000/. from the State, it now raises a large revenue expended in all

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parts. of the world.

Two notions to recover the amount of certain policies of insurance were brought on Monday and Tuesday in the Court of Queen's Bench. The

plaintiff was Mr. Truelock, formerly a member of the Stock Exchange. The defendants were the Householders and General Life Assurance Company and the Prince of Wales Life and Educational Assurer ca Company. The cotuse of the trial was the same in both actions, and in ihe second both sides agreed that the evidence given on the first should be simply read over to the Jury. The sum sought to be recovered was altogether 80001. In 1853, Mr. Truelock was asked to keep up two policies of 5000/. each on behalf of Mr. Joddrell, son of Sir Richard Joddrell of Cbilwick Hall, near St. Albans. The policies were in favour of his wife. Truelock agreed to do so' provided Mr. Joddrell secured him by giving a post-obit for 14,000/. This was done by Truelock and one Brade jointly, in 1854. Subsequently the bond was cancelled, and another executed to the plaintiff only. Two premiums of 330/. were paid on the policies. Truelock then endeavoured to effect 14,0001. worth of insurances on the life of Joddrell. His proposals were rejected by the Kent Mutual Insurance Office but were accepted by the Householders and Prince of Wales Companies ; fourteen and eighteen years being added to the life of Joddrell by the companies respectively. The papers sent in to the companies stated that Joddrell had been in the habit of drinking ; that he had suffered from an attack of delirium tremens, but that he had recovered, changed his habits, and was living temperately. Joddrell died in Novem- ber 1855, of congestion of the brain ; and the companies disputed the payment of sums insured, on the ground that they had been induced to enter into the contract by. the false and fraudulent representations of True- lock. ' Evidence was put in to show that Joddrell had been in charge of a " kegler" ; that at Oxford he was known as "mad Joddrell" ; and some pranksigayed in 1840 were described. But it was not shown that Truelock was a partyto any fraudulent representations. In summing up, Lord Campbell said, that these modern life-assurance companies, by their eager grasping after profits, lied out great temptations, and brought about the most la- mentable consequences. The defendants' company said that all their poli- cies were indisputable except in the ease of gross fraud. It appeared they wereinfarmed that another company had rejected the life, but they accept- ed it, adding fourteen years. That might be done in good faith, but it led to serious consgquences ; and if the company were called upon to pay unex- pectedly, he thought they would have only themselves to blame. He was afraid that some companies were ready to take any risk in order to obtain the premiums, regardless of the consequences. He earnestly and solemnly expressed his hope that this would be a warning to the insurance-companies. One of the Jurymen said that the practice of the modern insurance-offices was most prejudicial, and cut at the root of making provision for helpless families. In this observation Lord Campbell said he most heartily concur- red. Verdict for the plaintiff in both cases

It may be recollected that some months ago a collision occurred off Folkeie one between the Mangerton and Josephine Willis, which led to an inquiry and much remark. The case came before the Admiralty Court- on Saturday. The owners of the Josephine Willis sought to recover compen- sation tor the loss of the ship and cargo ; and there was a cross action for .damages by the owners of the Mangerton. After hearing the cases put for- ward by the respective owners, the Judge and the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House retired for a consultation. On their return into court, Dr. Lushieston said, the Elder Brethren were of opinion that the Josephine Willis was to blame in not porting her helm when the red light of the ateainer was seen, and that she did not exhibit a light conformable to the Admiralty regulations. The omission to do that contributed to occasion the collision. Had a proper light been exhibited in due time, the Mangerton .would have had earlier notice, and might have ported sooner, or stopped her .engines at an earlier period. The Mangerton was not to blame.—Decree in favour of the Mangerton in both actions.

At tliOentral Criminal Court, on Wednesday, Mary Eliza M‘Nair or Mi- nikin was tried for obtaining money on false pretences. She was the widow of Captain114Nair, an officer of the East India Company's service; and the had pensions from the Clive Fund and the Madras Fund. Such pen- sions cease when a widow marries again ; but the accused received the pen- sions up to a very recent period, pretending that she was " Mrs. 314Nair "; though in fact she had married one Minikin in 1846. This fact began to be ;suspected, and the prisoner was warned; after that she still obtained the pension; at last the fact of her second marriage was fully established. Ninikin, the second husband, has kept out of the way. Sergeant Ballantine urged for the piisoner, that she, a native of India, had acted from igno- rance, at the instigation of a worthless husband. The Jury found her guilty, but recommended her to mercy, as having acted under the influence of her husband. Mr. Justice Coleridge, in pronouncing sentence, _pointed out that the prisoner had obtained the pensions after she had received no- tice that she was no longer entitled to them' so that she could not have acted from ignorance. He sentenced her to be imprisoned for twelve months.

On Thursday, William Lewes, the seaman who attempted to induce the erew of the Stebonheath, a gold-ship,, to mutiny, run away with her, and after taking her gold, scuttle her on the coast of Peru, was convicted, and transported for life.

A curious case is under the investigation of the Bow Street Magistrate. A pauper lunatic confined in the • Surrey County Asylum, sixty-five years of age, died after receiving a shower-bath of somewhat long duration—half an hour. The surgeon of the Asylum, Mr. Snape, had ordered the bath, it is alleged by way of punishment for a blow inflicted on him by the lunatic. The bath is a closed box with no opening except the holes in the bottom ; and the patients have no means of communicating with the keepers unless the door is opened. When the lunatic was allowed to come out, some tartar emetic was given him ; and he shortly afterwards died. The queetion seems to be, whether the bath was ordered by way of punishment, or as a part of the medical treatment. The prosecution is at the instance of the Com- missioners of Lunacy. Mr. Snape is at large, bail not being required.

The City Police are taking active proceedings against persons keeping houses where betting on horse-races is practised. Sir Robert Carden in- flicted fines of 201. each in two cases on Saturday ; some were dismissed, and others stood over.

An Irish gentleman, returning from Ascot by railway, was cheated of 291. 108. by card-sharpers. After he bad lost all his ready cash, 4/. 10s., one of the sharpers offered to lend him money ; the gentleman borrowed 251. from this accommodating person; and he was simple enough to take the accomplice to his lodgings and pay 'him the 25l. Subsequently it seems to have struck the Irishman that he had been cheated ; and two days after he complained to the Lambeth Magistrate ; but Mr. Norton could only refer him to the Police.