majority of the directors have come to the unsatisfactory
conclusion that there is no room for improvement in the
regulations of the companies. They very emphatically
resolved, 1st, That inasmuch as no one is so deeply
interested in the prevention of accidents as a director, it
can be no fault of a director when an accident
happens; and 2nd, That seeing the servants of the
companies are more liable to be killed than the passengers,
they must also be free from blame when anything goes
wrong. Notwithstanding these forcible arguments
against the probability of any good coming from an
investigation, the meeting finally admitted that there
could be no harm in appointing a committee of inquiry;
and this they proceeded to do; but many eloquent
speeches were made with a view to persuade the public
to be resigned to the present per-centage of mangled
corpses on railways, as being merely the result of the
imperfection incident to all human institutions, and
much less in proportion than the average casualties
occurring to ordinary carriages and steam-boats.

The Paris Exposition was closed on the 15th with
great pomp, by the Emperor in person. Her majesty
the Empress, and the Imperial family arrived about
noon and were conducted to a throne in the centre of
the transept. After some formalities the Emperor made
a short speech, in the course of which he said:—
"Gentlemen,—The Exhibition which is about to close
offers a grand spectacle to the world. It is during a
serious war that from all parts of the universe men, the
most distinguished in science, arts, and industry, have
flocked to Paris, to exhibit their productions. This
competition under such circumstances, is due, I am
pleased to think, to that general conviction which
prevails that the war which has been undertaken only
threatens those who provoked it; that it is pursued for
the interests of all, and that Europe, far from regarding
it as a danger for the future, finds it rather a pledge of
independence and security. Nevertheless, at the sight
of so many marvels laid out before our eyes, the first
impression is a desire for peace. Peace alone, in fact,
can still more develop those remarkable productions
of human intelligence. You must, therefore, with
me wish that peace should be prompt and durable.
But, in order to be durable, it must clearly solve the
question for which the war was undertaken. To be
prompt, Europe must declare in its favour, for without
the pressure of general opinion, struggles between great
powers threaten prolonged duration: whilst on the
contrary, if Europe decides on declaring who is in the right
and who is in the wrong, it would be a great step
towards the solution. At the period of civilisation at
which we are, the successes of armies, however brilliant
they may be, are but transient; it is public opinion
which always gains the last victory. All of you, therefore,
who think that the progress of agriculture, the
industry and the commerce of a nation contribute to the
welfare of all others, and that the more reciprocal relations
are multiplied, the more national prejudices are effaced,
say to your fellow citizens on returning to your country,
that France entertains no hatred against any nation,
and that she feels sympathy towards all those who wish,
like her, for the triumph of right and justice. Tell
them, if they desire peace, they must openly, at least,
express wishes either for or against us; for, in the midst
of a serious European conflict, indifference is a bad
calculation and silence an error. As for us nations allied
for the triumph of a great cause, let us forge arms,
without slackening our manufactories, and without
stopping our looms; let us be great by the arts of peace
as by those of war; let us be strong by concord; and let
us put our trust in God to make us triumph over the
difficulties of the present and the chances of the future."
After this address, which was received with acclamations,
the distribution of the prizes took place.

The following British artists have received the prizes
or honourable notices attached to their names:—Large
Gold Medal: Sir E. Landseer, R.A. First-class Gold
Medals: F. Grant, R.A., Sir J. W. Gordon, R.A., C.
R. Leslie, R.A., C. Stanfield, R.A., G. Cattermole, R.
Thorburn, R.A., J. H. Robinson. Second-class Gold
Medals: E. M. Ward. A.R.A., D. Roberts, R.A., W.
E. Frith, R.A., T. Webster, R.A., J. E. Millais, A.R.A.,
F. Tayler, L. Haghe, S. Cousins, A.R.A. Third-class
Gold Medals: R. Ansdell, W. Hunt (water-colours), G.
T. Doo, P. F. Poole, A.R.A., J. Thompson, F. Y.
Hurlstone, D. Macnee, R.S.A. Honourable Mention:
F. W. Topham, Ken Poberezny, H. Warren, E. H. Wehnert, J.
Wilson, jun., J. Cross, F. Goodall, A.R.A., E. H. Corbould,
E. W. Cooke, F. Danby, A.R.A., A. Elmore, A.R.A.,
J. D. Harding, J. Holland, J. C. Horsley, A.R.A., R.
J. Lane, A.E., R.A., J. Nash, J. N. Paton, J. Phillip,
J. Pye, L. Stocks, E. Stone, H. T. Wells. The names
of Mr. Mulready, R.A., Sir W. Ross, R.A., D. Maclise,
R.A., Creswick, R.A., Redgrave, R.A., Herbert, R.A.,
Dyce, R.A., Sir C. Eastlake, R.A., and others among
the painters were withdrawn from competition. The
following architects have received either medals or
honourable mention:—Sir C. Barry, R. A., (grande
medaille d'honneur), J. C. Cockerell, R.A., Owen
Jones, J. L. Donaldson, P. Hardwick, R.A., G. Scott,
E. Falkener, T. Hamilton, of Edinburgh, Decimus
Burton, G. Fowler, T. Wyatt, Allom, D. Wyatt, R.
Kendall, H. Shaw. There have been no medals
awarded to British sculptors. Gibson was withdrawn
from competition; Baily likewise. The following
gentlemen are promoted or nominated in the Imperial
Legion of Honour for services rendered to science,
agriculture, and the fine and useful arts, as members of the
international jury, viz.: Lords Hertford and Ashburton
to be Commanders. Sir D. Brewster; Professor T.
Graham; Mr. Bazeley, President of the Manchester
Chamber of Commerce, to be Officers. Sir W. Hooker;
Professor Wilson, of Edinburgh; Mr. Crampton, the
engineer; Professor R. Willis, of Cambridge; Professor
Wheatstone; Professor Hoffmann, of the Royal
College of Chemistry; Mr. W. Crum, of Glasgow; Mr. D.
Wyatt; Mr. T. Delarue, paper manufacturer; Mr.
Twining, originator of the Exhibition of Domestic
Economy; Mr. Gibson; and Lord Elcho, to be Knights.
Mr. H. Cole and Major Owen are nominated officers of
the Legion of Honour, in consideration of their services
as Commissioners of the United Kingdom.

A destructive fire has taken place at Paris. It broke
out on Sunday evening the 18th inst., in the large
government building on the Quai de Billy, in which
a large supply of flour for making bread for the army
was always kept. On the alarm being given, a large
body of troops were at once ordered to the spot, and
seven or eight engines arrived. The materials in the
premises were however of so inflammable a nature as to
defy every attempt at mastering the fire, and in a short
time the flames burst out from all the windows with
terrific grandeur. Fortunately the night was calm, and
to that circumstance must be attributed the concentration
of the fire within the building in which it had at
first broken out. At nine o'clock the flames began to
decline, and by half-past ten the fire was got under.
The Emperor was on the spot, and did not leave it till
all danger was over. The building was not more than
300 yards from the Exhibition of the Fine Arts, and
the annexe of the Palais de l'Industrie. The extent of
the damage, though great, has been less than was at
first apprehended. Only one granary of corn has been
destroyed. The immense stores of the government, in
corn and flour, remain nearly uninjured, and they will
soon be completely replenished by means of the corn
purchased abroad, which is now either being received
or on its way hither.

The King of Sardinia arrived at Paris on the 22nd
inst. Prince Napoleon, the chief personages of the
Emperor's household, the Presidents of the Senate and
Legislative Body, and the Prefects, awaited him at the
railway-station, and escorted him in procession along
the quays, by the Hotel de Ville, and the Rue de
Rivoli, to the Tuileries, where he was received by the
Emperor. The streets were lined by applauding
multitudes, and in the evening the public buildings, theatres,
&c. were illuminated.

The Concordat between Austria and the Pope has
been signed on both sides. It establishes the despotic
power of the Vatican in the Austrian dominions. It
consists of thirty-six articles, of which the following is a
summary:—The first article declares the maintenance