The Express. — London, England, 1851-05-03 00:00:00

Tte (ETV rtsl No. 1,463.] [No. 19, EXHIBITION EXPRESS.] THE EXHIBITION EXPRESS, FOlt THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MAY 3. ltiell' oar Ist of May, which 'Ante gentlemen I would 11-1-.. e it was to turn out to be our " Ides of March," has come—and passed. The Exhibition is opened. The Queen was there ; an unparalleled assemblage of people swanned is: the west of Lon- don ; everything was done according to the pre concerted arrangements ; and everything went off well. Cp to the lust moment the Crystal Palace was neither banned by water, nor the Thames by firs. There was, to be sure, an " alarmist " cloud visible now and then in the sky, but nothing came of it. The weather generally was es quiet as the gigantic tranquillity of the proceedings, and the entire May day was a felicitous and decorous Sabbath of labour. 111th a success which has favoured the project front the beginning, the inauguration of it was triumplrint ; and the industrious masses of the world now enjoy the real benefit of the building —the opportunity of seeing as Beauty and Order what has too long been only known to them as the fruit of severe Ted. We have now a national recog- ItitiOn of what is attasctive and m aj estic in the work et the world; wo have eflootineol Mow with recrea tion, gaity and friendly communion. It has been shown that gold may proiluce nationality ;—delight as well as profit —al among the ancients the dwelling of the Ilesperides--wns a garden. The difficulty would be to say who was first up in London on Thursday morning. The mass, ap parently. had breakfasted ts..fore the usual time when the milk" goes its rounds. The town had got the start of the sun. Everybody seemed to have agreed with Juliet, and insisted that the nightingale was officiating instead of the lurk. At eight o'clock swarms of carriages were pouring down towards the Exhibition. Fair-haired peeresses, and ela borate dandies, and portly dowagers, were all abroad by nine—and from that time there were continual streams of vehicles setting westward in order. There was a throng all round Apsley gate—backwards and onwards, as far as the eve could see—down Constitution-hill, and far over the Park. Omnibuses were crammed, and cabs every now and then got stuck together like a bundle of weeds in the tide. There was laughing and hurrying everywhere. All the motion of life set in the direction of the Crystal Palace, where the Hags were dangling like ships Hugs over the sea of glass-roof. By ten o'clock all London seemed to be swarming round it : and as the carriages came up from all quarters, with gaily arrayed ladies towards it, the whole scene, at that early hour for Lon don, looked like the assemblage of an opera night—p/os a holiday and a fair! Those old trees on the Serpentine side of the building, had each two or three adventurous youths perched in them; the Serpentine itself had its banks crowded like Lethe's in Virgil. That well-known building, the house opposite to Mr. Hudson's, had been turned to commercial use, and balconies and roofs were crowded with gazers. Policemen with ornate staves officiated with considerable activity and conscience ; and stout old inspectors gnllopped about with ca valry swords dangling by their sides. Long before noon, indeed, there were traces of weariness here and there on the part of enthusiastic individuals who had begun their day's amusements at an extremely early hour. But a sight of her Majesty's proces sion seemed to repay all. She was to leave Buck ingham Palace at eleven o'clock, a long time before which the Green Park was swarming; Buckingham Palace was surrounded; and all along Constitution Hill there were two lines of people—between whom the road looked as if it had been cut like a trench. The Guards were stationed in couples here and there, keeping the lines. Every now and then a peer's or ambassador's carriage flashed down the way, watched by eager eyes; or a knot of Guards clattered along; or a lady's flowing riding dress waved by. At last, there was a distant rolling cloud of cheering drifted along; the helmets of the Guards gleamed through the green leaves in the distance—and on came the procession. The numbers of people went on increasing during the afternoon. While her Majesty was in the build ing (she was cheered all the way there and back) the crowd in Hyde-park swelled. The windows and roofs of houses were crowded all the afternoon, from Apsley-house to the Exhibition; and as the after noon advanced a greater freedom and jollity pre vailed among the sight-seers generally. Knots of them were gathered outside the various inns, resting themselves in the hot sun, under waving Hags. The parks were still swarmed with parties, chatting, run ning, sauntering, or lying down in groups. But the mw great feature of the day was, that the amusements were all marked by good nature and decorum. With these preliminary words let us turn to an exact account of the memorable event : nature of things their arrangements were defective as regarded the carriages, the very number of which necessitated confusion, delay, and dissatisfaction with all who, unrewarded for early rising, found it out of the question to mach the scene of the dads fete at any greater pace than that of a yard an hOur. But the pedestrian public, more flexible, was quite go vernable and was well governed. It should be un derstood that there was no " mob." There was the metropolitan democracy present to its lowest strata. There were, however, also well-dressed ladies and gentlemen who might have been counted by the thousands ; and among all, on all hands, the greatest good humour and best holiday disposition prevailed. The female put of the crowd received an amount of attention honourable to our national politives.s. While the precession was awaited and in pr arcs, the weaker eex were in front of " the line, and everywhere got the best places. The dise.av of I parasoLs was, of course, enormous; and as they waved over the hutted roof stretching out around them, the parti-colours gave the appearance of glaring shut silk screens. There were not so many foreigners mixed among the multitude as might have been expected ; or, more properly speak ing, the British thee and tourhare were in such majorities, that our cunt inental visitors were too exceptional to become prominent, otherwise than as scattered groups. Hundreds of foreigners ' there were, however; and the greater number of these were clothed in a manner to suggest but a slight connexion with the poor and refugee class of whom some alarmists have so loudly warned us. The Queen is always punctual; and, precisely at the time appointed for her setting oaL lurlf-port 11 —the Horse Guards widened the path, and the Ina gilded band of the household troops within the quad rangle was heard to play God Save the Queen." At this moment the new front of the palace was put to a use never contemplated by those who have been so eager in their denunciation of the architect. The many windows gave to her Majesty's household the opportunity they never before enjoyed be perfectly of seeing a state procession. The balcony over the centre bronzed gateway was occupied by a must in teresting party- -the younger children of the royal family, attended by several ladies. The royal procession was not a state-procession, such as we are familiar with on the occasions of opening or proroguing a session of parliament. The carriages were nut the state carriages; and they were all, even her Majesty's, draw❑ by single pairs of horses. The carriages were driven at a rather smart trot along the route, and thus curiosity was' not so perfectly satisfied as at other times, when royalty in state presents itself in public. The Queen and Prince Albert were warmly cheered as they passed from their palace into the park. To the I'rmts•, us the hero of the day, there was throughout an obvious desire to do due honour. Iler Majesty and her consort received the welcome of the people in a manner intimating undisguised satisfac tion. The mvul rorttlye pasaid in an avenue of human beings along the whole route. 11cr :Majesty never heard more loud and lengthened chem.. Half a million of voices must have convinced her of her popularity. THE BUILDLNG AM) THE CEREMONIAL The note of preparation might he heard in all quarters of the building at a very early hour in the morning ; and indications of the coining festival were most perceptible in the centre of the tran sept. A phittbrm had been constructed, occupy ing its whole extent, and covered with crimson cloth; and at its southern end was a dais, upon which her Majesty was to sit enthroned, while receiving the addresses of her subjects. High up in air a tasteful octagonal canopy surmounted the whole, its interior formed of blue silk, to harmonise with the several decorations, and its upper surface ornamented at all the angles with the heraldic plume of the heir apparent. In front, the splendid glass fountain contributed by Mr. Oder, of Birmingham, although as yet giving no touch of its quality, formed a conspicuous ornament, while the background was filled up with the equestrian statues of the Queen and Prime Albert, the bronze gates which form the entrance to the south transept, and one of the gi gantic geinini, the elm trees, now in full leaf. Meet foot-cloth for royal feet, the dais was covered with i the beautiful carpet, already known as the contribu tion of one hundred and fifty ladies, and which we may here mention was, at a subsequent period of the day, a marvellous centre• of attraction for all the fair visitors. Heedless of Sappers, and despising police men, they continued to crowd upon it, to the utter prevention of all efforts for its removal, until at last, whether by accident or design we know not, a gentle spray began to descend from the crystal fountain, and a general clearance was the immediate and sa tisfactory !vault. The noticeable features in the im mediate neighbourhood of the royal circle were, on one side, a lofty trophy of Spitabields silks in all the colours of the rainbow, and on the other, the far-famed Koh-i-noor in its gilded cage, and looking to the uninitiated observer, a very inadequate representative of two millions of money. The great value of this gain invents it with an almost mysterious sanctity. A strong iron house has been constructed for its permanent residence, and a gilded grating surmounts the top, far within which a glass frame keeps off all intru ders. No human hand must touch this wonder of the east. A spring, communicating with the out side of its house, shoots it up upon its purple velvet cushion in the morning, and another draws it down when it is time to retire for the night. The coup tr(eil of all these congregated attractions was very strik ing, and only wanted the animation that DOW sur rounded them, to make these attractions perfect. The desert was first invaded by strong bodies of police, from all the letters of the alphabet, and subsequently the smart and intelligent Sappers mustered strong, and took upon themselves the duty of guarding the royal platform. Various official uniforms began to drop in and flit across the scene, and soon the plat form became studded with foreigners of every clime, in all sorts of picturesque dresses, not the least con spicuous of which was a Chinese mandarin, who rolled about with a dignity that showed him conscious that on his shoulders rested the duty of represent ing three hundred millions of people. Squadrons of ladies, privileged to an early enter, now began to hurry along the avenues, and at last the ninth hour came round, and with its last stroke there surged in such a mob of well-dressed ladies and gentlemen as it would not be possible to collect in any other quarter of the globe. if we consider that every gentleman paid three guineas and every lade two, for the privilege of getting into that whirl pool, the enormous numbers must strike as a won derful indication of the money-spending pewers of the country. From nine o'clock until half-past In the torrent rolled on without interruption. Elderly gentlemen might be seen helplessly eddying round with hands upraised, a collapsed campstoor in one hand and a packet of sandwiches in the other. Brave youths sought to do their th roil* by protecting the fair damsels committed to their charge, but all in vain—the whole mass drifted helplessly on, and the pressure from behind seemed momentarily to increase. At last, partly from the slackening of the pressure outside, and partly from the exertions of the police within, who behaved with great moderation and tact. free circulation was restored, the eager crowd found ample accommodation, and a company of about 23,000 of the id, of English society sat down pa tiently to await the arrival of her Majesty. _ . At flee minutes before 12 the gentlemen-at-arms, in their splendid uniforms, marched in and sur rounded the dais ; and precisely as the clock struck a flourish of trumpets announced that her Majesty, with her usual punctuality, was at the gates. Then came on a moment of extraordinary bustle. The loyal shouts of the people, by whom the park out siae was covered, came rolling in, and blent magni ficently with the tones of the great organ, which had already struck up the national =them. The INAUGURATION OF THE PALACE OF INDUSTRY, BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. MAY 1, 1851. In the morning the atmosphere was clear and crisp, the sun shone brightly. and there was every indication that. even with regard to her climate England would on this occasion look her be st. The pleasant and promising state of the weather continues! up to about eleven o'clock. The sky then became slightly overcast ; light clouds floated about—the relics of April straying back into May.' and about half-past eleven o clock a sprinkling shower fell over the parks. But it was the shortest shower of the spring, and it ceased exactly and pre cisely as the procession was about to start. It then continued tine until the naval corleye reached the Crystal Palace. Her Majesty went on her war, in the midst of her English subjects, favoured with the most unequivocal English sunshine. Ilyde-park was first the ocean into which the rivers of human beings filling Oxford-street, Pkradilly. Par liament-street, and the Kensington-road poured knees-antly from seven to ten o'clock. The multi tude had a double object—to see at the same time the Crystal Palace and the Queen ; and Hyde park was soonest crowded. St. James's-park was comparatively free fur carriages and equestrians up to ten o'clock. Not until apparently the word had been passed that Hyde-park could hold no more did the people fall back into the neighbourhood of Buck ingham-palace. Across the Green-park, on their way from Westminster-bridge to Hyde-park, sonic hundred thousand men. women, and children might be seen to pour for three consecutive hours up to eleven o'clock. It was a Hight of locusts—and, like locusts, that mass must have destroyed the grass on their way. These. having ascertained that Hyde /ark-corner was impassable, at last sacrificed . the hope of getting into proximity with the palace, and gradually filled the Mall. Constitution-hill, and the ground m front of Buckingham-palace, and the space to the right at the head of Birdcage-walk. Excellent order was maintained throughout. The real work of keeping clear the way for the Queen up Constitution-hill and Rotten-row was entrusted to the police. The Guards, detached along the route in couples, were merely ornamental accessories in the day's proceedings. It was no easy task fur the police commissioners to maintain their regulations • bat, on rho whole, they succeeded admirably , is the; LONDON, SATURDAY 'EVENING, MAY 3, 1851. platform became in a moment literally covered ' , with bullion, and scarlet and blue, and all the otle, r gay and gorgeous colours which mark the &plomatic and military uniforms of the various nations of Europe and the East. Russia, Austrir., Prussia, tho Porte, Portugal, Naples, and Tunis were all repro- , rented in grand costume; while not, the least gorgeous in their display, were our own naval and mifi e tZ officers, who tilled up all the interstices, and corn-' pleted a tableau which several French gentlemen l Li our neighbourhood acknowledged to be un equalled iu splendour. Her Majesty, on alighting from her carriage retired for a few moments to an I elegant drawing-room which had been prepared for her accommodation, and iu the meantime the distiu guished company on the platligin fell into their places and waded the royal guest. tiler Majesty son' entered the transept, leaning upon the arm of I Prince Albert, and accompanied by the royal chil -1 then, and followed by her illustrious guests, cabinet I miui,ters, and officers of the household, amid the most protracted and enthusiastic cheering. The Queen appeared to be iu the best health and spirits, and it will be interesting to our fair readers to learn that she was attired in a robe of Lam , ' (r.lrgent co vering arose-coloured Posit de sok dress. A glitter ing diadem and ostrich feathers formed her head dress, her remaining jewels being a diamond neck lace and bracelets. Her Majesty also wore the rib bon of the order of the garter. Prince Albert wore the uniform of a Field Marshal and the blue ribbon, and the Prince of Wales was attired in a Highland costume. To attempt to enumerate the notabilities , 1 that now attended un her Majesty and crow d e d th e platform would be a hopeless task. The Duke of Wellington was an early arrival, and received a warm greeting. All the foreign ambassadors were present, as well as several of our high nobility either as connected with the cabinet or holding ap pointments at court. Among those not so situated, we observed Lord Stanley. Her Majesty having taken ler seat, the organ again pealed forth the National Anthem, the words being sung by the various metropolitan cathedral choirs, assisted by the chorus of the Sacred Harmonic Society, and the vast assemblage joined in the chorus with the most en thusiastic loyalty and good will. The Hallelujah chorus was also sung, and with wonderful edict. The music having ceased, Prince Albert appeared at the foot of the throne. accompanied by the royal commissioners, and delivered the following address, ut the same time presenting a copy of the illustrated catalogue : THE ANSWER. I rtsoeite with the greatest sati-faction the addreu which you have presented to me on the opening of this Exhi bition. I have observed, with a warm and increasing interest, the progress of your proceedings in the execution of the duties entrusted to you by the Royal Commission; and it affords me sincere gratification to witness the successful re sult of your judicious and unremitting exertions in the splendid spectacle by which I am this day surrounded. I cordially concur with you in the prayer, that by God's ble , sing this undertaking may conduce to the welfare of my people, and to the emainon intereds of the human race, by encouraging tho arts of peace and intluAry, strengthening the bonds of union among the nations of the earth, nail proinoting a friendly and honourable rivalry in the useful exercise ol• those faculties which have peen conferred by a beneficent Providence for the good an I the happiness of mankind. The royal answer having been read. his Royal Highness resunusl his place by her Majesty's side, and his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury deli vered an appropriate prayer in the following words: PRAYER. Almighty and everlasting God, governor of all things, without whom nothing is strong, nothing holy, accept, we beseech Thee, the sacrifice of our praise and thanksgiving, receive our prayers which we offer up to Thee this day, in behalf of this kingdom and land. We acknowledge, 0 Lord, that Thou boat multiplied the blessings which Thou mightest most justly have withheld ; we aeknowledge that it is nut because of the works of righteousness which we have done, but of Thy great mercy, that we are permitted to come before Thee this day with the voice of thanksgiving. Instead of bumbling us for our offences, Thou host given us just cause to praise thee for thine abundant goodness. And now, 0 Lord, we beseech Thee to bless the work which tI but enabled es to begin, and to regard with Thy favour our presentpurpoirtsf uniting together in the bond of peace and concord the different nations of the earth ; fur of Thee, 0 Lord, and tot of the preparation of man, it cometh that violence is not heard in our land, nor conten tion: nor violence within our borders. It is of Thee, 0 I, .rd, that nation does not lift up sword against nation, nor learn war any more. It is of Titer that peace is within our walls, plenteousness within our palaces, and men go forth in safety, and that knowledge is increased throughout the worla. Therefore, 0 Lord, not unto us, but untu Thy name, be all praise. Whilst we survey the works of art and industry which surround us, let not our hearts be lifted up that we forget the Lord our God, or that it is not of our own power, or of the might of our hands that we have gotten iu this wealth. Teach us to remember that this store which we have prepared is all Thine own, in Thine hands it is to make great, and give strength and honour. We thank Thee, we praise Thee, we httreat Thee to overrule this assembly of many nations, that it may tend to the advancement of Thy glory, to the increase of mtg. prosperity, and to the promotion of peace and good will among the different races of mankind. Let the many mercies we have received dispose our hearts to serve Thee more and more, who art the author and giver of all good things. Teach us to use those earthly blessings that Thou haw given us to richly to enjoy, that they may not withdraw our affections from those heavenly things which Thou bast prepared for them that love Thee. through the merits and mediation of Thy son Jesus Christ, to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. The procession was then formed in the following order, and proceeded slowly round the entire building : heralds. Contractor, AmhiaMt , Contractor, Mr. Ilenderson. Joseph Paxton, Esq. Mr. Fox. Superintendents of the Si , orks, C. IL Rild, Eq. Owen Jones, Esq. Financial Officer, F. 11. Carpenter, Esq. Members of the Building Committee, I. K. Brunel. EA. Ch,. Cockerel', Esq. Prof. Donaldson. Mernb:..rs of the ' , Manic Coinmittee, Samuel l'eto, Esq. Sir Alexander Spearman, Bt. Treasurers, Baron Lionel de Rothschild. Sir John Wm. Lubbock, Bt. William Cotton, Esq. Arthur Kctt Barclay, Esq. Secretary to the Executive Committee, Mathew Digby Wyatt, Esq. _ _ Executive Committee , George Drew. Esq. Francis Fuller, Esq. Charles Wentworth Dilke, jun., Esq. Henry Cole, Esq. Lieut.-Colonel William Reid, Royal Engineers, C.B. FOYEIGE ACTING CoMMISSIONERE. Austria Chevalier de Burg. Bavaria M. Theobald Boehm. M. Ilaindl. Belgium M. Charles Caylits. M. de Broucken. Denmark Franco rude. Grand Duchy of Here Greece Manse Towns Holland M. Ooothens. Northern Gnaw M. J. P. Dudok ran Hal. M. Noback. Portugal M. F. J. Vann.ller. M. Antonio Valdez. Prussia Itorne Russia Sardinia Chevalier Lenciaa. Sazuny M. Gustavus !Menaling. Spain M. Manuel de Ysa.,i. M. Ramon de la Sagra. M. Ramon de Ec!meanie. Sweden and Norway Switzerland M. Eichhulzer. Tunis M. Santillana (Interpreter and Secretary). Turkey Tuscany Dr. Corridi. United States Mr. N. S. Dodge (Secretary) Wurtemburg Zollverein Secretaries to the Royal Commis,ion. Edgar A. Bowring, Esq. Sir Stafford 11. Nurtheote, Bart. J. Scott Russell, Esq. Special Commissioners. Dr. Lyon Playfair. Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd. MEE MAJESTY'S CoMMISSIONERS. Mr. Alderman Thompson John Shepherd, Esq. It. Stephenson, Esq. Philip Pusey, Esq. Wm. Hopkins, Esq , Esq. John Gott, EN. T. F. Gibson, . Wm. Cuhitt, Esq. Richard Colalen, Esq. Thomas Barley, I , ,sq. Charles Barry, Esq. Thomas Baring, Esq. Sir Charles Lyell. Sir C. L. Eastlake. Sir R. Westmacott. Rt. Hon. W. E. Gladstone. Rt. Hon. Henry Labouchere. Lord John Russell. Lord Overstone. Lord Stanley. Earl Granville. Earl of Ellesmere. Earl of Russo. Duke of Buccleueh. Iler Majesty's Musteroiilieeereinonii;.. Foreign Ambassadors and Ministers. F. M. the Duke of Welling- F. M. the Marquis of Angle ton. K.G., Commander- sey, K.O. Master-General in-Chief. of the Ordnance. ller Majesty's Ministers. Bishop of London. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. White Wands: Ti!., Comptmller of the Treasurer of the Household : Household. Lord Steward. Garter. --- tord Chamberlain. Principal King of Arms. His Royal Highness TAT PRINCE ALBERT, QUEEN, leading Her Royal Highness leading His Royal Highness The Princess Royal. The Prince of Wales. His Royal Highness Her Royal Highness The Prince of Prussia. The Duchess of Kent. His Royal Highness Her Royal Highness Prince Itenry of the Ne- The Princess of Prussia. thcrlands. His Royal Highness Her Royal Highness Prince Frederick William Princess Mary of Cam of Prussia. bridge. His Serene Highness Ills Royal Highness Prince Edward of Saxe The Duke of Cambridge. Weimar. Mistress of the Robes. Lady of the Bedchamber, Lady of the Bedehandar Marchioness of Douro. in Waiting. Maid of Honour Maid of Honour in Waiting. in Waiting. Bedchamber A oman Lade Superintendent, in Waiting. Lady Caroline Barrington. Foreign Ladies, and Lady in attendance on 11.11.11. the Duchess of Kent. Gold Stick in Waiting. Master of the Horse. Groom of the Stole to 11.R.11. Prince Albert. Captain of the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard. Gentlemen at Arms. Master of the Buckhounds. Lord of the Bedchamber Lord in Waiting to H.R.H. Prince Albert in to the Queen. Waiting. Groom of the Bedchamber Groom in Waiting to H. R. H. Prince Albert to the Queen. is Waiting. THE ADDRESS. May it please your Majesty,—We, the commissioners ap pointed by your Majesty's royal warrant of the 3rd January, IM•i0, for the promotion of the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, and subsequently incorporated by your Majesty's Royal Charter of the pith of August in the same year, humbly beg leave, on the occasion of your Ma jesty's auspicious visit at the opening of the Exhibition, to lay before you a brief statement of our proceedings to the present time. By virtue of the authority graciously committee( to us by your Majesty, we have made diligent inquiry into the mat ters which your Majesty was pleased to refer to us—namely iuto the best mode of introducing the productinus of your Majesty's colonies and of foreign countries into this king dom—the selection of the most suitable site fur the Exhibi tion—the general conduct of the undertaking, and the pro per method •,1 determining the nature of the prizes, and of securing the must impartial distribution of them. In the prosecution of these inquiries, and in the discharge of the duties assigned to us by your Majesty's ltoyal Charter of Incorporation, we have held constant meetings of our whole body, and have, moreover, referred numerous ques tions connected with a great variety of subjects to com mittees, compeeed partly of our own numbers and partly of individuals distinguished in the several departments of science and the arts, who have cordially responded to our applications for their assistance at a great sacrifice of their valuable time. Among the earliest questions brought before us, was the important one as to the terms upon which artielesutfered fur exhibition should be admitted into the building. We con sidered that it was a main characteristic of the national undertaking in which we were engaged, that it should de pend wholly upon the voluntary contributions of the le ople of this country ler its success; and we therefore decided. without hesitation, that no charge whatever should lie made on the admission of such goods. We considered also that the office of selecting the articles to be sent should be en trusted, in the first instance, to local committees, to be este. Wished in every foreign country, and in various districts of your Majesty's dominions ; a general power of control being reserved to the commission. NYC have now the gratification of stating that our antici pations of support in this course have in all respects been fully realised. Your Majesty's most gracious donation to the funds of the Exhibition was the signal fur voluntary contributions from all, even the humblest, classes of your subjects, and the funds which have thus been placed at our disposal amount at present to about 65,0001. Local com mittee., from which we have unitbrmly received the mint zealous co-operation, were formed in all parts of the United Kingdom, it, many of your Majesty's colonies, and in the. temtories of the lion. East India Company.e'lhe most energetic supped has also been received from the govern ments of nearly all the countries of the world, in most of which commissions have been appointed fur the special pur pose of promoting the objects of an Exhibition justly elm racterised in your Majesty's royal warrant as an Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations. We have also to acknowledge the great readiness with which person+ of all classes have come forward as exhibitors. And here again it becomes our duty to return our humble thanks to your Majesty for the most gracious ma nne r in which your Majesty ham condescended to associate yourself with your subjects lay yourself contributing sonic meet valu able and interesting articles to the Exhibition. The number of exhibitors whose productions it has been found possible to accommodate is about 1.5,1100, of whom nearly one-half are British. The remainder represent the ',reductions of more than 40 foreign countries, comprising almost the whole of the civilized nations of the globe. In arranging the space to be allotted to each, we have taken into consideration both the nature of its productions and the facilities of access to this country afforded by its geographical position. Your Majesty will find the pro duc tion. of your Majesty's dominions arranged in the west, rn 'Portion of the building, and those of foreign countries in the eastern. 'lke Exhibition is divided into the four great classes of—l. Raw Materials ; 2. Machinery ; 3. Manufac tures; and 4. ticulpture anal the Fine Arts. A further division has been made according to the geographical posi tion of the countries represented ; those which lie within the warmer latitudes being plated near the centre of the building, and the colder eountries at the extremities. Your Majesty having been graciously pleased to grant a site in this, your Royal Park, for the purpose of the Exhi bition, the first column of the structure now honoured by your Majesty's presence, was fixed on the 20th of September last. Within the short period, therefore, of seven months, owing to the energy of the contractors, and the acti ve in dustry- of the workmen employed by them, a buildin g h as been erected, entirely novel in its construction, covering a *pace of more than IS acres, measuring 1651 feet in length, and 4.s6lfeet in extreme breadth, capable of containing 40,000 visitors, and affording a frontage for the exhibition of goods to the extent of more than ten miles. For the ori ginal suggestion of the principle of this structure the com missioners are indebted to Mr. Joseph l'exton, to whom they feel their acknowledgments to be justly due fur this interesting feature of their undertaking. With regard to the distribution of rewards to deserving exhibitors, we have decided that they should be given in the form of medals, not with reference to merely indi vidual competition, but as rewards for excellence in what ever shape it may present itself. The selection of this persons to be so rewarded loss been entrusted to juries composed equally of British subjects and of foreigners,' the former having been selected by the commission from the recommendations made by the local committees, and the latter by the governments of the foreign nations the pr. ductions of which are exhibited. The names of these jurors, comprising as they do many of European celebrity, atlinal the best guarantee of the impartiality with which the rewards will he assigned. It affords us much gratification that, notwithstanding the magnitude of this undertaking, and the great distances from which many of the articles now exhibited have hied to be collected, the day on which your Majesty has been gra ciously pleased to be present at the inauguration of the Exhibition is the same day that was originally named for its opening, thus atfording a proof of what may. under God's blessing, be aeconipliehed by good will and cordial co-opera tion amongst nations, aided by the means that modern science has placed at our command. Having thus briefly laid before your Majesty the results of our labours. it now only remains for us to convey to your Majesty our dutiful and loyal acknowledgments of the sup port and encouragement which we have derived throughout this extensive and laborious task from the gracious favour and countenance of your Majesty. It is our heartfelt prayer that this undertaking, which has for its end the promotion of all branches of human industry*, and the strengthening of the bonds of peace and friendship among all the nations of the earth, may, by the blessing of Divine Providence, conduce to the welfare of your Majesty's people, and be long remembered among the brightest circumstances of your Majesty's peaceful and happy reign. To which her Majesty returned the following most gracious answer t (PRICE (DOUBLE SHEET) FOURPENCE. Clerk Marshal. Equerry Equerry to R. R. ii. l'rure Albert to the Queen in Waitinr. in Waiting. Gent!tman L'vher. amtlentan Usher. Gentleman L'bher. to the Sword of State. Silver Stick Field Officer in Waiting. in Brigade Waiting. The Gentlemen in attendance upon their Royal Highnesses the Dueltehi of Kent, the Duke of Ciuithridge, and the l'riuce and Princes of Prussia. Heralds. Nothing could exceed the striking character of the scene during this progress. As her Majesty pro ceeded slowly along, leaning on the man of Prime Albert, and followed by her brilliant eorClie, the rustle of ten thousand silk gowns proved the iotcrest taken in her Majesty's movements by the fairer por tion of her subjects. The whole of the vast interior down to its remotest extremity, glittered like a gay parterre., while a running tire of wives sera carried on us her Majesty passed along, only suppressed now and then by are anxiety of all present to catch a glimpse of their beloved sovereign. Curiosity was of course excited as each more noted actor in the ceremo nial was pointed out, but about none were there so many inquiries as Mr. Paxton, whom all seemed anxious to reengage us the originator of the great and admirable building. The distance, which is altogether about two-thirds of a mile, took upwards • of half-an-hour to accomplish, her Majesty's progress being retarded by her frequent gracious trek ledgments of the greetings of her subjects. On her Majesty's return to her dads, the Marq uis of Bread ' albaue. by her Majesty's command, declared " The Exhibition opened," and the National Anthem having been again performed, her Majesty and suite retired in order as they had entered. The ceremonial occupied exactly an hour. Immediately on her Ma jesty a retirement, the barriers were removed, and the vast company scattered themselves among the magasins, and gratified their curiosity with an in spection of their varied and valuable contents. It was estimated that, taking into account the military and police force, the exhibitors (whom we were glad to find were all present), and the general company, there could not have been less than :WMO persona within the Crystal Palace yesterday, but so perfect were the regulations, that not a single accident occurred. r Amid the sculptural prodigies in the nave and not far distant fisint the pealing organ, an improvised little chapel contains the stained glass window executidby G. Bertini. of Milan—a sort of apotheosis or Dante, surrounded by the imagery . which his poems have immortalised. Its scientific com position, its mellow colouring, and even the Romanesque ornamentation of the comport stitlhee i e m loses ndiera t re ft,, la llu ti l o n nshil; H licz tu -ce .,e n , t m h e e nts a , rti tr t no e u l t l i d et in aiming at the breadth and perfection of a modern nil painting, all the nicer gradations of tune in which Albert Durer and his scholars were such adepts, have been sacrificed along with their tradi tional methods of glass staining. rhe shadows have grown denser, and threaten completely too inveigle the light. In spite of these blemishes, there is much to command ndmiration in this lancet window. I tante is represented after the likeness lespicathed to us by his friend Giotto, which has been so lately discovered in Florence. The reflected light in the figure of Beatrice is very beautiful : a t•lutraning and permissibleanachronism is the introduction of Giuttefs catnpanile in the background. Amid the numberless and conflicting claims to our admiration in the vast array of artistic talent and industry at present assembled in close completion ship, either throughout the immense length of tho nave, or the compartments of the two aisles and transept branching therefrom, it is no easy mutter what to select fur preference, or whether to yield the palm to the successful embodiment of coruseal conception's. or to point out the noire unobtrusive, but no less admirable perfornumees in minor groups. But just as such monster gems as the Koh-i-noor will attract notice by their extreme rarity or inesti mable intrinsic value, so we feel bound to pay just deference to the larger and more important works. German sculpture, especially, towers above the rest. and imp oites respet no less by its sterling merits thou its superior dimensions. In the front rank may fairly be placed the amazon group by Pro feseor Kiss of Berlin. Though a pupil of itouch, a title of which both master and pupil seem justly proud, there is nothing in the linseed group which enables one to fancy the subservience to any dominating power of prolessorehip. Indeed, MO strik ingly original are the forms of the Amazon. and so spirited is her action in hurling her javelin at tho tiger clinging with deadly grasp at the flanks of the horse she strides, that we do not recollect anything to be cou g snrd to it in the whole range of moarn sculp ture. The le-autiful forms of the are amply developtsl, and are almost unencumbered wit drupt•ry. The Phrygian cap which surmounts her Medusa-like head, the slender tunic, scarce held by a narrow girdle, end the spurs fixed to her anklets, impart gratw to the figure without impairing the air of phy sical superiority. The terrible spring of the tiger, and consequent shock to the horse are depicted with such life-like energy, that one utmost expects the blow which is to terminate the struggle. Anti quarians tell us that of old there existed a bronze group of this very subject, ascribed to the luutd of nude's, and which was familiarly known us the " Euenentos," front the extreme beauty of the limbs. Mr. Kiss may claim the same title for his Amazon, which is a n•production of the original bronze in front of the Berlin Museum, and executed by the ehrtrotyping process. The amount of zinc which enters this composition scents to vary with the whim or limey of each electrotypist, and there are as many shades almost as there are statues. To the dusky hue of the Amazon is opposed the lighter coppery tone of Mr. Schwan tha ler s minister lion, which is sup posed to be one of four drawing a qundriga. Its purpose of mere traction and sign of subjectiou is at one visible ; not merely by the development of tho muscles of the chest, by which ancient teams aro tetegnisable, but by the addition of a piece of the decorated harness stuck to its mane. The head with its gaping jaws and shaggy mane might pair oft with that noble one, a lock or whose hair Gordon Cumming secreted on his penion, us a lasting token of admiration . A n o bl e herd of wild quadrupeds stalk majestically round their ••so vereign," and seem to tiireshadow the ultimate downfall of those which have hitherto held such undivided sway over the regions of the New-road. Commanding these and facing one another are two groups of horses, held back by horsemen. They aro casts of the groups executed by liver Hoofer for the Royal Gardens at St uttgardt, and are executed much in the style of Coustou's groups in the Champs Ely sees, in Paris, though the impetuous and restrained energy of the original composi tion have been subdued by a nearer op 'broach to the severer outlines of Lymippus. Tito great question which agitated the minds of sculptors of equestrian statues, during the last century, as to what was the proper manner of placing the horse's legs beneath him, has been virtually set at rest, by every man being allowed to follow the bent of Ins inspiration. In truth, it seems to mattt•r little, if the gesture is made to suit the action given to the human master, who controls him with thin bridle. So evidently thinks M. Eugene Sit ttttt tin who, like his hero, Godfrey of Bouillon, wears a dis tinguishing pendant ; far or near one dis tinguishes the standrd held up by the nuts sire broad-chested and bearded crusader, who admirably answers to all prevent:rived standards of chivalry, and it is difficult to conceive how the infl th•ls, be their scymiturs ever so brad, could resist the onslaught of such Initagotasts as these. The fre quent recurrence of festivals in Ik•lgium, in which sculpture plays no mean part, seems to give the Flemish sculptors that great freedom of execution and general grasp of their subject, which can be but dirtily acquired within the limits ()flour walls to which others were subjected. The uplifted head of Godfrey of Bouillon is ex pressive of religious ardour, and that Of his war horse acoming havoc; ns P. specimen of sculptural de tail, admissible in the grandiose• style, the clals.ration of the knights suit of rup,i-pi. mail deserves no tice, no less from the fact that to selecting a mildest from the period of the 11th century, the sculp tor steins, perhaps unconsciously, to have adopted that mid-style in which classical is ready to yield to gothic forms. Of the daring inroads which the latter, or romantic schools oft he continent, have made on the pseudo-classical of the lust century, the largo group of " Satan overthrowing the Archangel Michael," by M. Du Seigneur, is a fair and striking proof. Their source of inspiration is not to be found in the Greek pediment, but rather in the sculptured niches of gothic cathedrals ; there alone are to be found the combats of angels and denim's, the lwautiful and the grotesque Mended, and good and evil spirits contending in never-ceasing strife. Mr. Du Seigneur has developed the poetic side of the subject in a manner worthy of its majesty. plc has merged the habitual mode of representing the devilish encounter, us a mere feat of physical strength in the ass'. rtiun of divine superiority. The sculptor has made the demon crouch beneath the outstretched left arm of the angel, rather than suc cumbing under the slender but &Lining sword otgold grasped in her right. The head-long form of Satan, with the serpent, not, as Usual, substituted for nether limbs, but disentangling its coils from between them, is executed with such strokes as are worthy of mediteval carvers of mon sters; the accentuation of the anatomical forms also alfords a striking contrast with the placid tha tures and demeanour of the celestial messenger, whose einque-cento style of armour would well become the Maid of Orleans. Mr. Etex, well knows as the sculptor of the Parisian Are de Triomphe, exhibits two groups, both having excited consider. able attention in Franco many years since. They were, if we mistake nut, executed in Italy; and the last of the Reimer() is traceable in its effects on tho forms he has delineated. " Cain and his Children" especially is a fine conception and embodiment of remorse. The principal figure represents the sturdy frame a the" tiller of the ground,"but rather that of the Campagna, than the Fugitive from Eden. A companion group, represcntins a mother sur rounded by her sickly infiults, is equally remark able for the admirable modelling adult which THE RETURN OF THE QUEEN. After the procession had 'sowed on, the •• line" be hind was, of course, broken, and for an hour there was great confusion. At the Wellington-arch, where the mass, in its efforts, with a very indefinite object, to get into Piccadilly, became choked into a small space, this confusion began to look thingerous, and the screaming of women—many of those with children in their arms—was painful. It was impos sible that order could have been kept under such circumstances; and it Was not kept. But the crowds showed the utmost good humour, and rather co operated with than impeded the police and military. Piccadilly, for either carriages or pedestrians, um; impassable, after the procession had crossed, until abaut half-past 12. The scene opposite Apsley House and up to Sloane -street, for hail an hour, wits like that witnessed at Epsom when the Derby is being run for. The vehicles were quite stationary, and men stood on the roofs of omnibuses and cabs us if to see a race. Not, indeed, during the whole day was it safe for a pedestrian to venture on the road from the Haymarket to Albert-gate. Some of the charioteers had to submit to that routine smashing of panels which opera nights have made endurable to lAmdon coachmen. The most crowded day of the World's Fair—for we shall see no such crowd again —was, therefore, so far fortunate. The return of the royal party offered no new inci dent. Crowds waited in front of Buckingham Palace for some time after her Majesty's return; and they were rewarded by the appearance of the Queen with her children upon the float balcony. This graceful concession to loyal curiosity gave Muncuse gratification. "CIRCULATION" OF THE VISITORS. After the royal party had left the Crystal Palace, the visitors were to "circulate." The manner in which this operation was performed was curious. From the east and the west, from the north and the south, all pressed forward to the intersection of the nave and transept, so that that large central space soon lxrame as densely packed as can be well con ceived; and, for a time, rendered "circulation" nearly as possible as walking about at some of Jullit;n's "promenade" concerts. Gradually, how ever, the company found this clustering the re verse of an ugreeable amusement, and a great number of the nobility, hulks, and gentlemen residing in town, and who were doubtless some what fatigued with the lengthened proceedings, left the building. To others, however, including those ' who had come up from the country merely to attend the opening (and this appears to have been a very large class). the time seemed to be too valuable to waste, and they commenced the work of inspection at once. Nothing could be more amusing than to' see the bewilderment which the extent of the Exhi bition evidently caused the bulk of those present; for, instead of going into the dilteTent stalls, tiny 1 contented themselves with walking due cast or west and back again. The splendid crystal fountain ap peared to ice n great attraction, us did also the Queen's retiring mom; but the "1' " was perhaps, after all, the Koh-i-noor. The sculpture, too, and none more than the Austrian, seemed much admired. The foreign side, however, king in rather an unfinished state, was not so much visited as the English portion of the building, where the gorgeous display of jewel lery, gold and silversmith's work, watches and clocks, the medimval court, the upholstery, the glass and china, an ingenious envelope machine of It He larue's ; a very clever machine, by Chamberlain, for voting by ballot ; models of the Liverpool Docks, and of a suspension-bridge over the Oneiper, by Vignolcs, found a great number of admirers. Of course there arc multitudes of other things equally deserving of notice, and the general opinion seemed to be that the person mud be a very unreasonable one whose wildest ideas are not more than realised by the Crystal Palace and its contents. CONTENTS OF TIIE GLASS PALACE. THE FINE ARTS. Few sights can be accounted fairer or more striking than that of the Crystal Palace when illumined by the rays of the morning still, diffusing its light throughout the brilliantly decorated facades, or glis tening on the swelling ribs of the transept as of old on the armour of knighthood. The prospect is al most too dazzling to the sight, and both a change and relief are sought beneath the sobered light, and in the Miley vistas of the interior of the building. Beneath the vanishing perspectives of the azure vault are arrayed a vast host of sculptured forms, a perfect army or avalanche of heroes, in marble, in stone, and in metal. Their forms stand forth prominently front the gorgeous hues and varied objects which surround them. The whole is blinded in one vast harmony, over which the lilac colouring of the girders has albeit a predominating influence. Mr. Owen Jones deserves no less credit for the ad mirable way in which his principal views have been curried out, than tier the tact displayed in abandon ing the more objectionable features of his scheme. The partial reduction of the yellows is gratefully ac knowledged, and thought the same can scarcely be said of the virulent reds, with which the under parts of tin. girders are mapped out, still we notice with satisfaction that the nature of the structure itself has in no slight measure served to counteract the noxious introduction of red into shadowy beams. All will acknowledge with pleasure that the most has evi dently been made of the intricate iron tracery of the spanning roof, as well as the fretwork of the gal leries; and a seemingly satisfactory solution found of the system to be adopted in decking out limited sur faces and spare forms : this is especially noticeable where the sun, unimpeded by the linen covering, sheds its own quaint chequer-work of light and shade on the traceries of the iron palace.