The Express. — London, England, 1851-06-28 00:00:00

iL I • 0... .2,1. 1 , 4 K -r - Ttbt 4x43rtsi ....'•"", No. 1,511.] [No. 27, EXHIBITION EXPRESS.] THE EXHIBITION EXPRESS, FOR TILE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JUNE 28. SHALL THE CRYSTAL PALACE STAND? This questionhas been tr.ooted in many quarters, and has great interest. 'One gentleman proposes to buy the building and *its contents, and make it a permanent industrial bestial.; another would make it a covered walk for: all weathers ; a pamphlet issues from Mr. Murrr,y's office with the title, "Shall we keep the Crystal. Palace, and have riding and walking in all wt,athere, among flowers, fountains, and sculpture'" fly Denarium. Then another pam phlet is given UK by Mr. Paxton; and, lastly, a de claration of tlae I'rimo Minister on the subject es made in the /louse of Commons. The first point to establish is, that there will he the necessary funds to buy the building from the con tractors; and this point is set arsitlikbY which shows that on " moderate compltation of re ceipts, a sum of 140,0001. will at the close of the Exhibition remain in the hands of the executive, after the payment of all expenses, including 79,8001. for the hire of the building." When leave was given to the Royal Commissioners to appropriate the pre sent site in Ilvde park, by a vote of the Howie of Commons, in July last, that leave referred to a proe posed brick building, and not to the (ilass Palace which now adorns Hyde-park. As the law on the subject stands at present, the Gloss Palace must be carted away in De cember next ; but the publication of the pamphlet wider notice has appeared, it is to be hoped, in time to draw the attention of the House of Commons to the subject before its adjournment. What claim has the building to stand? How can it be turned to good public account? These questions are shrewdly answered by Denarius: What these grounds are we may now proceed to consider. It is not necessary to reckon among its proved fitness for any future exhibition, because there is a public purpose much nearer at hand, which is certainly a great public want. That want is a covered area, where, in this most variable climate, %funereal from its vicissitudes of wet and cold, the public ut large, and especiallyehe invalid and weaker por tion, might lie free to enjoy air and exercise. The Crystal Palace ha. shown us how a space large enough for a city Noy he covered in, and how walks might be enjoyed, not between dark walls and under roofs , by which the light of heaven is excluded, hut where we have all the charms of out-of-door% without its drawbacks. Twenty acres of grass plat under cover is a novel and substantial advantage; and though you should clear this transparent cover away from Hyde-park, it is not too much to predict that the example of it set and rejected by London will be followed throughout the country by every large town which has a keener sense of its obvious and practical utility. There is hardly any promenade or reethavous in London like that afforded by the Prude at Madrid, or the public walks in Vienna and Breeden, because the climate forbids them. But the Crystal Palate will make us independent of climate, and English people may base a source of enjoyment from it that has not been hitherto revealed to them. Merely as a covering to a grew plat giving a public rendezvous, which would afford a solace to the old and sick, and a useful, purpose-like gratification to the young, the Crystal Palace has claims to be preserved. But we may go further, and find a wiser use for the space. Let U.S imagine the glw house made a garden, and warmed with a summer temperature all the winter. It would seem to he a public want as neon as the idea presents itself. When a man has a house and grounds, one of his first thoughts is to secure the beauty and plea sure of vegetation all the year round. It would be strange that London should never have provided itself with a con servatory or winter garden, if we did not see that the Excise duty on glass hail been the preventive. Having now got a structure through the Exhibition, we find that the same structure may have a second and scarcely leas valuable use. We may conceive the building properly supplied with foun tains and sculpture, arranged be terms groves of orange trees and pathways laid between plantations more or less characteristic of the vegetation of different climates, being, in fact, a most enjoyable and instructive promenade. With the co-operation of the agricultural, horticultural, and bo tanical societies, various popular schools, lectures and exhi bitions connected with the object of these societies, would erne naturally out of such an arrangement, and might be made to have a most important bearing both on the pro ductive resources of the country and on our decorative ma nufactures. The decoration of the building might be made very con ducive to the promotion of sculpture, at present an art almost purposely.. in this country. The garden might be meet appropriately connected with an annual exhibition of sculpture, fur which subjects might be chosen nut of the re markable events of each year, and as memorials of the de parted great. 'The best of these works might be purchased annually to embellish the building itself, and it might be permitted to the artists to furnish casts of them to decorate the town-halls, d.c., in the country. A beginning in this direction might be made by the purchase of a few of the best works now exhibited, and as better works were col lected in course of time selections might be presented to local ;nstitutions. Sculpture might thus be made an set yielding real enjoyment and pleasure to the great mass of the people, who at present have little sympathy with it, be cause it is not used. If the place were recognised as a receptacle for plants and shrubs, it might be expected that in a very short time it would be well furnished with public donations. Proceeding with the development of this idea more in detail, it may be pointed out that the nave and the aisles forty-ci:ht feet high would give a space of ten acres, independently of the galleries, which would give in addition walks exceeding mile. The ground floor might be until for plantation% and sculpture, the galleries for potted flowers and smaller works of statuary ; but care should be taken to consider the pro menade as the chief feature, and nut to occupy too much space with the collections. The public would desire to have walks among flowers and plants—not flowers and plants with some walks. This last kind of treatment belongs to Kew and Chiswick, and the Regent's-park. Spaces at the extreme Side% of the building might he kept vacant, to be applied to various public purposes, such as periodical exhi bitions of agricultural produce, colonial raw produce, ma chinery, perhaps models of objects claiming patent righte, manufactures and tint. arts. These should not be permanent exhibitions, to become stale, and provoke comparisons with the present Great Exhibititm, but essentially temporary exhibitions for short periods, answering to the Wallis and eircumstuncee of the times as they may arise. As agriculture and horticulture have made such great progress since pe riodical exhibitions of them were established, we may infer that unaloaous exhibitions would promote silk-weaving or euttoteprinting, &e., and will be likely to arise. The great City Corporatioas, the Goldsmiths', the Ironmongers', the Mercers', the Byers', &c., might again ally themselves with the practical development of the manufactures front which they take their names. These excellent suggestions present a pleusin( picture for the contemplation of the London public. Here may the toil-worn London mechanics and others resort on summer cveniuis to drink in the beautina of art and nature cunningly displayed under Mr. Paxton's glass roof; here N% 11l be a walk a mile la extent, under secure shelter, for invalids ; here verdure will be protected from the fitful clutches of returning frosts for the especial enjoyment of work ing London. 'Then follow the considerations—who arc to govern the fairy region, and how, in a pecuniary sense, is it to be supported? I kamrius, has his ready reply: The first conlition in carrying out these views is. that the great principle of the Exhibition itself shall he applied to any future toes to be made of the building, namely, the self-supporting and self-managing principle. The success of the Ezhihition itself is mainly due to the adoption of this feature; and no one can doubt that the Exhibition would have been far less popular and far lees successful if it had been carried out by the government instead of the public themeelves. 'The best chance of the building being made fully to answer public wants, and its management progress ing with the growth of public intelligence, is to adopt as a principle of action independence of the government. subject only to its control as the guardian of Hyde-park. Every one is able to foresee what the consequences to the Zoolo- gical Society in the Regent's-park would be if the govern ment should undertake the management of the animals. In fact, the Zoological Gardens have beaten the Royal Me nagerie at the Tower altogether out of the field. The management of the Crystal Pabeee might he confided either to a special corporation created for the purpose, or perhaps to his royal highness Prince Albert, as president of the society of Arts, in connexion with some ar-oeffecio mention of it. Recollecting how vary instrumental that society wee In organising the beginning of the Exhibition, and how readily the members resigned all prospective advantages in its sucesse, it would seem that they have an equitable claim for some eariderstion la en of the future arraegenwate. The his sawy t be awls orliereporibi ea the broadest basis. If the public resigned the management of It to the government, and the government undertook to pay the cost of its maintenance out of the taxes, so as to provide a free admission, the certain decline of the whole institution at no distant period may be predicted. The very motive for fresh and continued exertion to gratify the pub lic would at once be taken away if the building were pen sioned on the Consolidated Fund. Besides, the people in the country would thus be made supporters of an institu tion of which the London public would derive the chief advantage. On the contrary, let those pay for the use of the glass roof who use it; but fix the payment as low as possible during the greater portion of the year, adopting a some what higher charge at other times to obtain revenue. Thus the garden and sculpture portion of the building might be open to the public for the first four days of every week on payment only of Id. each person; on the Fridays the pay must might be Gil., and on Saturdays 6d. Perhaps horse men might he admitted at a higher charge, my Is. It ma be estimated that fur all other purposes of revenue, as well as of additional public convenience, it would suffice to re• serve about twenty days in the year, when a higher pay ment would be made. On these occasions the garden might be turned to a more extended use by holding agricultural, floral, horticultural, and perhaps other fetes to it. The revenue which might be expected from these sources has been estimated to be about 14,0001., and the details are given below.• These elaborate calculations show that the scheme proposed has been thoroughly digested ; but it is not certain that all the details of the plan would be both practicable and popular. No sooner had the pamphlet of Denarius re ceived attention, than out steps the author of the Crystal Palace personally to declare his opinions on NAP sallis*P•Aiii WHAT IS TO BECOME OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE? BY JOSEPH PAXTON. duce cost view which mingling with the surrounding atensiphere, gives vigour to man's body and cheerfulness to hiy spirits. In this winter park and garden, the trees and plants might be so arranged as to give great diversity of views and picturesque effect. Spaces might be set apart for eques trian exercise, and for carriage drives; hut the main body of the building should be arranged with the view of giving great extent and variety for those who promenade on foot. Fountains, statuary, and every description of park and gar den ornament, would greatly 4eighten the effect and beauty of the scene. Beautiful creeping plants might be planted against the columns, and trailed along the girders, so as to give shade in summer, while the effect they would produce by festoon ing in every diversity of form over the building, would give the whole a most enchanting and gorgeous finish. Besides these there might be introduced a collection of living bird: front all temperate climates, and the science of geology, so closely connected with the study of plants, might be illustrated on a large and natural scale, thus making practical botany, ornithology, and paten-, familiar to every visitor. The alterations necessary to the building itself, to pro the effects I have suggested would out be many or much mousy. Shortly will be published by me a showing how the whole may be finished so as to do with all idea of smoke, chimneys, or other kind of —,...ante. The details of the alterations necessary I do nut propose to treat of now ; but I may mention, for the information of those who live opposite the Crystal Palace, that I should recommend the wood boarding round the bottom tier of the building to be removed and replaced with glass ; the present appearance of it is heavy, and gives anything but til t idea indicated by its name; when glass is substituted for wood, the appearance will be marvellously changed ; those who drive and ride in the park will even in winter see the objects within as they bye. sad the whole will have a light aerial appear. ance totally unlike what it has at present. In summer I should recommend the whole lower glass tier to be entirely removed, so as to give, from the park and the houses oppo site the Palace, an appearance of continuous park and gar den. Here I must state what I believe will be the posi tion of those who live opposite the Crystal Palace. I fully admit they have had just cause of complaiut by having all the turmoil of so vast an undertaking as the Great Ex hibition developed under their ey.s end, with all its attendant inconveniences; but if the building is allowed to stand, and be adapted as I propos:, the advantages deriv able to them will fully compensate for all the evil they may have sustained in that respect. The baarding being all removed and glass substituted, they will have, within a few minutes' walk, a beautiful park, decorated with the beauties of nature and art, under a Ay-roof, having a climate, warmed and ventilated for the purpose of health alone, furnishing, close to their own firesides, a promenade unequalled in the world, and, for the six winter months, a temperature =ulcerous to that of Southern Italy ; and I have no doubt the property in that immediate neighbour hood would, from such an arrangement, considerably ad vance in value, because of the recreation and exercise afforded to the inhabitants and t:teir The advantages derivable front such an appropriation of the Crystal Palace would be many, and may be thus sum med up. In a sanitary point of view its benefits would be incalcu lable. By its various objects it would produce a new and tooth iug pleasare to the mind. The great truths of nature and art would be constantly exemplified. Peculiar facilities would especially be Oven for the de velopment on u large scale of the sciences of botany, geo logy, and ornithology. A temperate climate would be supplied at all seasons. Taste would be improved by individuals becoming with objects of thn highest order of art, au.l by viewing the more beautiful parts of nature without its deformities. Pleasant exercise could be taken at all times, and in every variety of weather. It would serve as a drive, for equestrian exercise, for a promenade or lounge, and as u place which could at all navel, be resorted to with advantage by the most delicate. Although the Crystal Palace at priaeut, with its magnifi cent display of useful and ornament 11 articles, is truly won derful, yet if the building be converted into a winter park and garden, and arranged as I propose, 1 feel confident it would become a still more extraordinary and beautiful object These thing; all considered, I cannot help expressing an earnest hope that the building will be allowed to stand, and be converted into so laudable a use. The cost of forming it in the first instance must entirely depend upon the extent to which my proposition is carried out. Should it be decided for the building to stand, and be so appropriated, a calculation of the cost could readily be given. I have, however, thought it right to state what I believe would be the annual outlay, if the whole were kept in first. rate condition and constant repair; of course aless sum would be required if a high standard was not aimed at; and this yearly sum might be obtained either by a national grant, or by making the building itself self , supporting. ANNUAL EXIMNDITUItIi. Labour, fuel, water, implements, gravel for walks, feeding and attendance to birds, and general superintendence Besides the above, constant painting and renewal would be required; fur this a reserve fund should be provided, and by which the building might be renewed for ever Making a total of £12,000 So fur Mr. Paxton. Last, and most important perhaps of all, we have the declaration of Lord John Russell, which ap pears in our parliamentary report this day. This declaration puts the matter as plainly as it can be put. The prime minister says it rests with the peo ple to decide the question, now so keenly discussed. Tlw public are plainly told they may have the Crystal Palace if they please. If they speak out boldly and de cidedly it will stand—if they are lukewarm and careless this structure, that has excited so much wonder and admiration, will, like a vision, dissolve as quickly as it rose, and like the gorgeous palaces of Shakspere's fancy, "leave not a wrack behind." Thehe people are the piry—and the world awaits their det—" To stand" or " To fall." The time is approaching when the World's Fair will terminate, and the vast roof under which it is held, being no longer required fur that purpose, must, according to the terms of agreement with the Commissioners of Wood. and Forests, be removed; and, by this time next year, the ground is to he made as smooth, and the grass to look as green, as before the 2dth of September, 1840. The exhibited articles will all be removed, and many of them will be looked upon as precious relies, connected with an event, the greatest of our times, and they will be cherished more and more a. they become separated further from the day of their great triumph, whilst the building (I hope I may say without vanity)—the great feature of the Exhibition—must, if removed, be either transported to another country, or be rent asunder and dispersed in frag ments to perform a variety of inferior offices. Now, if I can show—as I believe I can—good reasons why the struc ture should remain standing, I trust the Itoyal Commis sioners will do all in their power to further that object. Apart, then, from all thoughts of its present use, and also from all those considerations which fairly entitle it to great attention, the building, I would suggest, should be allowed to remain standing on account of its peculiar fitness to supply a great public want, which London, with its two and a half millions of inhabitants, stands most essentially in need of—namely, a Wintcr Park and Garden under glut. When I determined on sending in a design for the Glass Palace, I had in view quite as much the after purpose for which the building could he adapted us for the object then more immediately required . and in my original prospectus I prominently mentioned the fart as one which had received a large snare of my attention. Since that day nothing has transpired to alter my views; but, on the contrary, every thing has contributed to strengthen and establish them, and to further convince me, if such further conviction had been needed, how valuable an append Igo to this great metropolis would he a large national place of recreation and instruction, such as I propoce. Within the lust 20 years the physiology, economy, and re quirements of animated nature, with the effects which climate locality, and various contingencies have upon their health and habits, have been studied and examined, with the best results. Geology, closely connected with the study of plants, has, in its wondrous discoveries, unfidded to our view the mysteries of ages long gone by, when the earth's inhabitants differed widely from those now seen occupying its surface; of these no recorded history furnishes us with particulars, and but for this science we must have looked hack through the thick mist of time, with scarcely . a glimmering of light to guide us. By the aid of chemistry and botany many useful discoveries have been made, which practical horticulture has rendered subservient to the comforts and happiness of man; and the removal of the duty on glees has given such an impetus to this science which only a short time ago no efforts could possibly have called into action ; indeed, had that duty still existed, no building such as I am now treating of could possibly have been erected, and without an extensive use of glass, to equally admit and diffuse a subdued light, no such disAa e y . • tetypvrxi.;tntst of hav e ulture '' , however, d do not ',top here, or merely consist in what has been accomplished within the Great Exhibition building, where dry and po lished article., and the mast tender fabrics may be safely preserved; but it keels onwards to tho formation of ch ianti., which even under opposite influences are rendered healthy, and suited to the waists and requirements of man. Formerly, wherever plan's were congregated beneath a glass structure, the atmosphere was invariably deterio ft ted, and rendered atmosphere unfit for being more than transiently Waled; the usual method with visitors being to take a! berried view of the chief beauties within, and then retire elm mere genial air. But now plant structures aro no =unhealthy, pent-up ovens; although the immense t r y , of objects they contain form a remarkable contrast with the meagre appearance of former collections, yet these abets are seen growing with an ease and natural rigour width, with the limited knowledge and means we possessed ihremeriy, it was impossible to imitate. The ventilation afsa threats of our dwelling-houses have also been' esedissed, sod many additions to our comfort have in this smut be en made. The perfection of these internal ar tnnownsenu, contrasted with the atmosphere without, ren ame it still more desirable that something on a large scale thstdd be done to tounteract the effects of the outer air, whisk in this country, and in the neighbourhood of London especially, is often during many months in the year impure, murky, and unfit for healthy recreation and enjoyment ; and it is to meet this want that I offer the present recom mendation. All hithertocrected structures., however great and noble some of them are, fall far short of answering this end, and I cannot but recommend now that we do possess a building like the Crystal Palace, which in its dimensions is the best adapted for such a purpose of anything that has been hitherto attempted, that it should be so appropriated—and especially as its peculiar site between Hyde-park sod Ken sington-gardens is the best spot that could have been se lected ; connecting us it does those two great promenades-- it appears exactly calculated to concentrate beneath its roof the pleasures of both. A building like this, if properly laid out, will open a wide field of intellectual and healthful enjoyment ; it will like wise, I hope, stimulate the wealthy in large manufacturing towns to a similar adoption of what may now be raised so cheaply ; sad when judiciously furnished with vegetation, ornamented with sculpture and fountains, and illustrated with the beautiful works of Nature, how pure, ele vating, and beneficial would its studies and exercises be. At present England furnishes no such place of public resort, fur although Kew has a splendid palm-house, where daily are congregated a great number of individuals, yet its warm and humid atmosphere is only calculated to admit of visitors taking a hasty view of the wonders of the tropics, 03 they pass in their walks through the gardens. On the contrary, in the winter park and garden I propose, climate would be the principal thing studied, all the fur nishing and fitting up would have special reference to that end, so that the plea-mres found in it would be of a charac ter which all who visit could share ; here would be supplied the climate of Southern Italy, where multitudes might ride, walk, or recline amidst grovel of fragrant trees, and here they might leisurely examine the works of nature and art, regardless of the biting east winds or the drifting snow. Here vegetation in much of its beauty might be studied with unusual advantages, and the singular pro perties examined of the.: great filterers of nature, which during the night season, when the bulk of animal life are in • quiescent state, inhale the oxygen of the air, whilst in the day, when the mass of animal existence have started into activity, they drink in the carbonic supply, given out by man and animals, which goes to form their solid sub stance, at the same time pouring forth streams of oxygen, • annum or Ter axitrai alessre r, •e nun= rum Tac ru ar Admit:slam is the gardens and caucreatorks : riDdIVIIAIIII. - Id. per rlsy. atersabisrlbers 3.001 average. bar iltst days OS 4. X S. 4. the week ?Mays, at Id. 3O dare ‘3,000 600.00 Saturdays, at 6d 3O dais 1t3,000 900,000 T wo saboartbers, at lc SACO 14000raux., 1.. Ii r day, 6M lye days, average 44. 41. on Saturdays, 30 ksturdays lISO persons 312 I 0 yeasty substribers, at II cub /ATI Camas, 40. per day .... 243 029 930 persons 131 • Is. tratrudays . - SO days 630 poises 70 • lesslyts from 21 special maenad days 1444 pis trams a alfresereed pardon tidos building 2.074000= SA:O 0 0 MSG 0 0 10 0 Dttioate of Cl* of the Ilaxogomitut. - /Ibblissomo of tie bulidoo, ofq =IOM ape of Lars ”olion of wen of loo3puoni Cris begloudoir, to Immo id* moono) 11==.olio" Foamy taker,- ......... •" 0 0 0 W 4. 0 00 ongtilio 100 LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 28, 1851. THE WEEK AT THE GLASS PALACE. MONDAT. Any one who wishes to be profoundly impressed with the difference between one shilling and five, should go to the Crystal Palace any fine Saturday, and repeat his visit on the following Monday. On the former day he would find a select party of some 12,000 or so, wandering listlessly through the nave, or reclining on seats about the great fountain; while on the latter, he plunges into a dense multitude of between 60 and 70,000, of all ranks and cos tumes, of all sires and ages, who press eagerly to and fro, full of eagerness and admiration at all they see, and only regretting at the end, like so many Alexanders, that there is not another Crystal Palace fur them to devour. Mon day was one of the fullest days of the season, nearly GB,OOO persons having passed the barriers. As usual, all ranks and circles in the social system were represented, and all in a most harmonious state of fusion, the only strife being as to which should show themselves most polite and forbearing. The first thing that struck the visitor on entering at the south transept was a prteociouo young gentleman from the "flowery land," with a very promi-ing pig -tail, who sat at the entrance of the Chinese section, and gave audience to a numerous circle of " outer barbarians," who had come up by special train from the province , to see him. He seemed fully conscious that the eyes of Europe were upon him, and conducted himself with a mild dignity that was exceedingly impressive. The next noticeable object was the ill-fated Koh-i-noor, again deprived of its crimson drapery and its gas-light, and exposed to the full forte of public criticism. Never was there a greater instance of the vanity of all mundane grandeur than the history of this luckless gem- Coming over to this country with the moat romantic of histories, and a two-million reputation to support, it has created nothing hut feelings of disappointment from the first, and is now actually pronounced by the public to be decidedly inferior to the flint gla.s copies in the gallery. The only thing that seems to gratify the visitors is that the lapidary who reduced it to such a shapeless mass had his head very properly cut off for his awkwardness. The Russian gold and silver brocades become daily more and more attractive. The glass cases which contain them were all day surrounded by crowds, and the expressions of admiration were general and unequivocal. The Americans, who are slowly struggling to furnish their apartments, pro duced a novelty in the shape. of a portable bed, which is really of very ingenious construction. When in a state of collapse, it fits into a moderately sized portmanteau, but when extended will comfortably accommodate a lean of large stature. It is intended to supersede the hammock as part of the traveller's equipage, and in some cases will, no . . doubt, be an efficient substitute. Some new daguemeoti have also been added in this section, which are very Rupe rior to anything produced in Europe, and being the Poe traits of living American statesmen, arc highly interesting as amount of the certainty of their being correct likenesses. Ow at the most isterwasi fastens of than pest pub& consideration of the executive committee—we mean a change in the hour of closing, from 7 to 5 p.m., and the committee do not consider that our correspondent's gri?vance would be met by the proposed alteration. They say that the great retiring drain is at present between the hours of 3 and 3 o'clock, and that the majority of those who remain after the latter hour are the ticket-holders, who, if possible, would keep the palace open an hour longer. They consider further, that it is quite uslless to expect any one to have a relish for evening amusement after a day spent in the Crystal Palace. To go over it even hastily is a good day's work, and sufficiently fatiguing, as any one who walks round between four and live o'clock, and sees the females perched on every ledge and corner, and sometimes on the ground, can amply testify. It is therefore not at all probable *at there will be any alteration in the hours of exhibition. Another subject of still greater importance m at soon en gage public attention, and that is, what must be the ulti mate fate of the Crystal Palace itself ? There arc few of its visitors who will not admit that amongst all the wonders it contains there is hardly one so great as itself, whether we consider the boldness and completeness of its original design or the marvellous celerity, precision, and efficiency, with which that design has been carried into execution. And yet without some prompt and general manifestation of public opinion, this wondrous monument of English genius, industry, and skill, is doomed to destruction immediately after the closing of its present season. The public perhaps forget that the commission are under heavy penalties to pull 't to pieces within four months after the closing of the Exhibition, and that nothing but parliamentary interference can relieve them from their bond. All those, then—and who does not?—who wish it to be preserved should raise their voices at once, to the commission and to the parliament; and in approaching the latter they should lose no time, as the end of the session is rapidly drawing near, and the work of destruction, if not stayed, will have been completed before the next meeting. The Crystal Palace would make the finest winter garden in the world, might contain within itself the vegetation of both hemispheres, and would afford a ride of a mile, with out the slightest inconvenience to its thousands of prome naders. To add a motive of humanity to the various other good reasons for its preservation, it should be remembered that once winter sets in, the thousands who suffer from bronchial diseases in this moist and variable climate are either practically precluded from outdoor exercise, or fear fully aggravate their malady by venturing to enjoy it. Were a delightful prom:made, with an artificial tlimate, provided fur them in a vast winter garden, there can be no doubt but that many a pleasant hour would be given to the poor invalid, and that valuable lives would be prolonged for years, which are now cut short at the first blast of No- vember. Mr. Paxton has published a plan (given in this day ' s Exhibition. Express) which would make the Crystal Palace a self-sustaining winter garden, abounding in all the rarities of tropical vegetation, and at a charge almost nominal to the visitors. The numbers admitted on Monday were—Eleven o'clock, 22,778; twelve o'clock, 17,465; one o'clock, 11,930; two o'clock, 6,231; three o'clock, 4,204 ; four o'clock, 2,749; five o'clock, 1,359; to which add about SOO ticket hold?rs subsequent to that hour, and the total would be 67,592—the largest number of admissions but one since the opening. TrEPDAY. On Taesday, the attendance at the Crystal Palace was very great, and scarcely inferior to that of the preced ing day. As early u eleven o'clo k, 21,731 visitors had arrived; by noon the number was nearly doubled, amount .. ing 41,868. At 055e01v0,1442.241: and by two, 66,566 per.ons had entered the building. The final returns show that upward. of 3,1001. was received during the day in se parate shillings, so that the number of casual visitors must have been above 62,000, leaving out of the account the holders of season tickets. The Queen and Prince Albert, with the Princess Royal, the King of the Belgians, the Duchess of Brabant, the Count of Flanders, and the Princess Charlotte of Belgium, visited the Exhibition at half-past nine. The Queen, the Prince, and the King of the Belgians leR about eleven. In the course of the day the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred arrived at the Crystal Palace, attended by Mr. Birch. During the day some experiments were made with Hanley's Magneto-Electric Telegraph, from one side of the Serpentine to the other, near to the Kensington Gardens Bridge, under the inspection of the following members of the jury of Class 10—Sir John Herschel, Baron Soggier, Pro fessor Selmbarlt, Professor Potter, Mr. Gluisher, Professor Quitelet. The following are given as the result of the exa mination of the instruments .-Ist Experiment. Two lengths of gutta percha covered wire were taken across and int merwd in the water, and connected to the instruasent, each length of wire had a portion of the pieta percha cut away from the wire, the wire well scraped to a bright surface, and allowed to remain in the water. The instruments worked well through the attractive power of the water. 2nd. The water not having taken the expected effect of deviating the course of electricity, one length of wire was cut in two, and a long length of uncovered bright wire was inserted in between, and again let full into the water. The instruments again worked well. 3rd experiment: The wire was again cut asunder, and each end let fall into the water a distance apart from each other, whereby the circuit had to be made complete through the water intervening between the ends of the wire : even through this defective insulation the instruments worked to the greatest satisfaction. 4th experiment: A greater quan tity of the gutta pereha insulation was taken from off the wire, which had not been eat, and the instruments conti nuing to work well, a correspondence was then commenced and kept up for half an hour, from one side of the Serpen tine to the other, between Mr. Dobson and the gentleman that was with him. Henley's telegraph professes to dispense with the cost and inconvenience of chemical repairs and superintendence involved in the use of voltaic batteries, and to transmit the current much further than telewraphs worked by their means. It is further stated that the needles never move sluggishly when worked from a great distance, but move as rapidly and distinctly through .500 miles as one mile. It is also said to be exempted by its construction from liabi lity to derangement by lightning. Cash account, June 24. Season tickets £ 15 15 0 At the doors Total receipt/ WEDNLSDAY. On Wednesday the number of visitors at the Crystal Palace did not exceed MAO, being a falling off of nearly 10,000 from the admission on the previous day. The com pany was mainly of the middle and upper classes, although there were several strong detachments from schools and factories, who had been treated by their employ, rs or pa trons to a peep at the Exhibition. Miss Burdett Coutts arrived early with the pupils of the school which she muni ficently maintains, and subsequently there was an irruption of 700 of the B'ue-coat boys accompanied by the masters. A number of jolly tars were seen making short tacks in every direction, and eating ices and drinking ginger beer in des peration, in the absence of more congenial refreshment. These were the crew of the Victoria and Albert, her Majesty's steam yacht, and their smart trim and sailorliko appearance gave great vivacity to the picture of which they formed a part. Some very knowing persons asserted that among the visitors they had seen his Majesty the King of the Belgians, who they said was a daily visitor wog., casting aside his dignity, and paying his chilling in order to enjoy an undisturbed inspection of the Crystal Palace and its company. The heat was oppressive through out the day, and the various fountains were almost drained of their contents by the thirsty visitors. It would be very desirable that something should be done to increase the supply of &eh sir hefts the admit of the tleg-days. The days is the eager curiosity with which the crowds rush to the stand upon which is placed the model of 'town au, Prince Albert's birth-place, though the merit of the thing itself is probably not the source of attraction. It was almost ice• possible Monday to get near the model. Immediately out side the Duke of Devonshire has placed a beautiful figure of a hawk, encrusted all over with rubies and other precious stones, which was very much admired. The temperature was exceedingly pleasant, and very different from that of the cheap days last week, but it is doubtful whether the public were indebted for the change to the natural alteration of the weather, or to any improvement in the arrangements for ventilation. A question which was some time since opened by a correspondent of this paper has been under the [PRICE (DOUBLE SHEET) FOURPENCE. machinery-in-motion room was as usual fully attended, but that the Russian diamonds were almost without a visitor ; an accident which had nearly produced fatal results, caused and the policeman who watches over the Queen of Spain's great excitement at one period of the day, and tended very jewel-case enjoyed nearly a sinecure. The only tisism that much to disturb the enjoyment of its visitors. One of its seemed to disturb the listlessness of the company was Lord most conspicuous features is the large sugar mill, sent in by Fuley's mosaic, which mustered rather a decent circle of Me , srs. Robinson and Russel, of Millman. On Wednesday, spectators. Iler Majesty did not visit the Exhibition yes while this powerful machine was in full work, a labourer tcrday, but there was no want of royal and illustrious ascended for the purpose of oiling the governing wheel, visitors. The King of the Belgians arrived early, accosts and incautiously appeoaching too near, his smoekfruek was ponied by the Duke of Brabant and the Friti, , Char caught by the cogs, and in two revolutions of the wheels his lottc, who were shortly followed by the Princesses clothes were torn from his body, and drawn round the of England, accompanied by their govern.... Tho axles. lie shouted loudly to the bystanders to shut off the Duchess of Kent was also a visitor, as were ti,e ex-Queen steam, but no mie understood the method, and another of France and the Due de Nemours. There was, in midi moment would have reduced the unfortunate man to tion, a larger muster of the higher classes generally ; in a mangled m..ss, when providentially one of the policemen deed, almost the whole company, who numbered beyond on duty (fotuani, A 3J3) came up, and understanding his 29,000, were evidently members of the haul ton. The no word:, or rather his gestures, for he was well nigli cx- tiecable exception was a strong detachment preen the Free_ Iboosted, shut off the steam and rescued him from a terrible masons Female School, attended by their teachers, the sleuth. For a few moments the excitement was dreadful, the ' governors of the charity having liberally ileterminA to send room being full of company, and every one briar able to them on the half-crown slay, in order that they 'night have see the poor man's critical position, from the altitude at ! a more uninterrupted view of the wonders of the place. which he stood. One member of the executive committee i The appearance and manners of these children were the was so much affected by his exertions to have the steam ! subject of general commendation. This liberality of the shut off, and his alarm fur the poor man, as to become ! governors of the Freemasons' School deserves high seriously indisposed, and was obliged to leave immediately p ra i se , b u t i t can h ar dl y h e fo l lowed in the for his own residence. This is the second accident which cases of larger scho o l s or p oorer f ioin d at i ons, h as o c curred within a very short period in the moving while, at the same time it must be admitted, that to stud i n machinery room ; and really, when one enters, a nd finds lone Or two hundred poor children to be huddled and oneself completely surrounded by wheels of all sizes in swift smothered up as they principally are on a shilling slay, sle_ be poasible then to make some arrangement by which the mo ti on , an d sees crowds of women and children Peeling tracts very much from the value of the treat. Would it not m an o x v i i o ng usl h y Gd o i z the it be l c o o N ni v p t ri te s i e ue t h h i a i t ig ni t i. he . pupils of public institutions might come curly on Fridays roiling,a uLttuernaofalmst: chances arc not of more frequent occurrence. It is to be or Saturdays, at the low fee, and thus really enjoy what to hoped that every possible precaution will be taken to pre- them must be a rare and much-prized hnlislay % The exact serve the lives and limbs of the exhibitors and the public. numbers admitted up to 6 o'clock were 29,033. The admissions were : 11 o'clock, 19,605; 12 o'clock, 16,722 ; 1 o'clock, 8,508 ; 2 o'clock, 0,036 ; 3 o'clock, 3, 5 76 : Cash account, June 27. 4 o'clock, 2,13 S ; d o'clock, 1,719. Atter that hour Season tickets J.: 4 a s . 0 At the doors a few hundred of the ticket holders dropped in, and made up the total of 58,000. A great increase of vigi• knee was perceptible on the part of the police, in come_ Total receipt,— £2,973 10 0 CONTENTS OF THE MASS PALACE, gucnce of the apprehension on the previous day of a Frenchman calling himself Charles Forn, who was observed by Superintendent Pearce to pocket one of the mineral specimens, obviously mistaking it for silver. A " plain clothes" man was immediately sent after the ntincralogist who followed him for two hours, and apprehended him, when he had his pockets full, and was about to leave the building. Ile made uo resistance, but said he would rather throw himself into the Thames than give his London address. Mr. Bingham has since given this gentleman six weeks in the Rouse of Correction. ('ash Account, June 25. Season tickets At the doors BRITISH FURNITURE. Next to the goods exhibited by Messrs. Gillow, stand the magnificent dining-mom furnituer, prepared especially by Messrs. Hunter, of Moorgate, for exhibition lin the Crystal Palace. This serks; has already been noticed during the private view which took place at the war. house previous to the Ist of May, and the public taste has full; ratified the favourable opinion then expressed by the Express, the collection forming one of the most promi nent features in the English furniture department. It has this peculiar feature, that while other contributors hive Total receipts 112,6U5 18 0 THVIUMAY. manufaet ured their contrilmtions partly .......—...... of English material. Front the Her Majesty arrived for bier almost daily visit to of fore and partly of English murals, the goods of ' the gn Lure, but exclusively the Crystal Palace, at a quarter past nine on Thursday morn ing. The royal party consisted of the Queen, l'riuce Messrs. Hunter are not only English mina Albert, the King of the Belgians, and the Priuceas Char length of time that has elapsed sine • the tette, attended by the usual suite. Mr. Wentworth Dance, , publication of tho former notice, it may Col. Kehl, and Mr. Cole accompanied the illustrious be its well to remind the reader that visitors through the building. The Austrian sculpture- they consist of a sialehoard, cellaret, and two chairs, all con temn was first inspected, after which her Majesty and shorted Of English walnut, anal manufactured with a t ieW friends proceeded to the collection of English marbles, to useful, as well as ornamental, papaw.. In the side which were subjected to a lengthened examination ; Bell's board, the ornamental portions arc of course typical of the "Males in the Wood," and Gibson'a "blunter' receiving genial objecta for which the article is intended. Cornu copia., dolphin s ' h ea d s , an d bacchanals, crowd about the warm commendation. The party then promenaded through the fine arts room, and alter a glance sit the alexia= base in rich profusion, and th e d es i gn is filled up with the ifth e o e v i ne , the hop, figures, went on to the foreign nave, where the beautiful foliagand the oak, the whole being Maattie, newly placed there by Lord Foley, was eagerly carved with great truth of design, and wonderful finish of examined and much admired. This picture, which is a execution. The slab is of black Galway marble, awl from site, p very large specinwu of the art, representing the ruins of its gnaturity,and high polish, FIVIMA the great Paestum, has all the variety of light and shade which one adaptability of that material t o p urposes o f combined hue would expect in a finished oil painting, with the brilliancy and ornament. The natant is also rich in bacchanalian of colour which is peculiar to the material employed. It accessories; but its chief recommen d at i on with time bon vivant will be its admirabl e i n t erna l arrangements for ice much admired. ng was surrounded b ller Majy crowds esty's of vis next itor vi sit s during th to e th e day, En and (he wine, a feature which will be duly appreciated in this was lid) glass and thins , after which the royal party descended g- hot and thirsty aeason. The c h a i rs , a l t h oug h somewhat d'fferent in pattern, harmonise admirably in general to the nave, where the company were (Imam up as on her Majesty's previous visit, in double tile, and greeted their form and proportion with th e ot h er art i c l es. On the verb Sovereign with loyal respect andcourtesy us she passed out opposite side of the nave, ana l h o ldi ng a et the building. Alt cheering was supgamed from (cans preexistent position, is a suite of sculptured' elc of respect, but her Majesty's gracious acknowledgments of relive furniture, repined by Mr. Arthur J the loyalty of her reception were unit ersally and deeply of Stephen's-green, Dublin, and all being of Irish appreciated. The number of visitors was not much greater design, material, and manufacture. The carving is most than on the previous day, and consequently there was free elaborate, and crowned with types of the ancient glories of enoulation throughout the building. Among the nuvelties, the green island. Some of the pieces have been considered all of which, by the way, make their appearance in the of so artistic it character as to be worthy a pluce in the foreign nave, arc some sets of china of novel pattern from flue art court, and have been already noticed under the head of " Fine Arts," and therefore it will be onl y ' Dresden. They consist of tea services with elaborate pat- names nary here to allude to the articles which m a y s t r i ct l y b e turns in high relief, bird', flowers, some beautiful flower baskets, &c., and have great originality to recommend them. called furniture. The sofa is of a handsome and comfort- There is also Is handsome bureau in tortoiseshell, inlaid in able form, anal national even to the pillows, which are in brass, which shows great skill anal delicacy of workmanship. the Conn of shamrock., and the ornaments consist of re- There were u great many foreigners among the company, presentations of the Irish wolf anal deer, animals among whom were several German peasants. The reseals- now extinct and traditional. The occasional table, blance of these elder Saxons to our own people was very with its highly polished slab, shows the close striking, indeed so close was it, that until they spoke one grain and susceptibility of polish of the material. The would have guessed them for Kent or Sussex folk. A great carving represents heads of the bards and wolf hunts, and the interaticea are filled up with scrolls and foliage iu which number of thew homely guests collected round the apiaries at the extreme end of the gallery, and took much interest tho ruse, shamrock, and thistle, are moat amicably blended. In the movements of the inmates. The bees are now in full The teapoy, which is more minutely carved, has a whole work, the young ones building the combs aral tho old ones : history in its p anels, but it will be sufficient to say here that 'storing the honey, for which detachments rush out into the park every five minutes. The whole operation may be I the execution is g ood, and the design, albeit highly compli cated, carved out with great minuteness of fi n i s h an d beauty. The whole collection is a very creditable specimen seen through the glass case, and forms certainly not of Irish art manufacture, and is an interesting mode of pre the least interesting of the innumerable wonders of , serving emblems and traditions of bye-gone days, the Exhibition. There are two or three exhibitors of who .' which now, by the common consent of all sensi ble these very curious little palaces of industry names are very legibly painted over each hive. They I men, are left to form stock in trade for the pen of the poet, the pencil of the artist, or have been frequently visited by her Majesty and 1 , Prince Albert. The various fountains were in active requis the chisel of the sculptor. Such visitors as may wish to enter more minutely into the legislation of 011aun sitien, and, tower& the close of the day, exhibited a pectin- Foallah, or the deeds of atom of Brian Boroihme, as repro arity which would be well worthy of investigation by the • sented In these earrings, can obtain an elaborate and irate cotumissioncre of water supply. Any one mingling at that . rating guide from the attendant in waiting. This quarter hour with the crowds by which they are surrounded, could of the furniture section is also rich la the productions of not fail to detect a strong odour of brandy, and seeing that other provincial ntrnufacturers. The Kenilworth beaufet spirits arc so strictly prohibited in the Crystal Palace, there has already received its mead of critical approbation, and must be some extraordinary quality in the sources of supply the crowds by which it is daily surrounded, and who anx to give rise to so curious a delusion. The number of petty Wady read the description card, as they curiously tau the thefts in the Crystal Palace seem rather on the increase, anal design, show that public curiosity has ill no degree abated. demand increased vigilance on the part of the police This article has also been deemed worthy of a place in tho Another amateur collector was detected on Thursday pocket- , fine arteourt. The cabinet sent in by J.Steevens, Taunton, and ing cigars in the Zollverein section. On his apprehension known to the hubito,'s us the Taunton cabinet, is well he stated himself to Inc a gentleman's servant in Bedford- worthy of its celebrity. It is male of walnut wood grown shire, and urged a curious taste in his smoking as his ex in the neighbourhood, the curving emblematical of the case. Re was immediately despatched to reason the season, gad the various stages of life, being beautifully matter over with the magistrate, who gave him a months' imprisonment. Besides watching the thieves executed ; and the panels of raised embroidery. although perhaps not harmonising very well with the other embed the p o lice have also a goof deal of trouble with lost snick's. lishments, do great credit to the digital skill of the lady Upwards of a hundred articles have already aecumu- (Miss Kingsbury) by whom they were executed. Not the lated at the station, for which no owners can be found, parasols, brae- least interesting features in this department arc the isolated co and people arenstantly coming in with efforts of untaught peasants in various parts of the United lets, and other articles (chiefly female property), which they Kingdom, who, having been roused from the torpor have found in tlae course of their perambulations. It is of rural seclusion by the fame of the Great Exhibition s noticed that very little is lost or found on Friday or Satur- have determined to contribute their mites to its success. day. The following are the numbers for Thursday accord- Considering the resources and education of these humble ing to the police returns , 11 o'clock, 19,756 ; 12 o'clock artists their specimens have wonderful merit, and go ear to 16,008 ; 1 o'clock, 8,682. From this hour the numbers in prove that the artistic faculty lies dormant in the mind of creased in a lower ratio, until, at 6 o'clock, the visitors of . the English peasant, and only requires proper stimulus and the day were found to be 47,673. : cultivation to bring it out in as great prominence as it en- Cult account, June 26. . joys among the people of the continent. Thera Mil lie no Season tickets At the doors 2,722 10 0 : doubt but that the people of this country have a natural / turn fur wood carving. The British furniture department £2,727 15 0 - fully attests the skill of our trained artists, sad the srtidea FRIDAY. : to which we are about to call attention show that this beautiful branch of ornamental art is no forced importation The most noticeable feature in yesterday's pro or modern i n t ro d u ction, but strictly national and r,,ey of ceedings at the Crystal Palace was the extraordinary heat the soil, which beautifully furnishes many of the fine grained of the interior. At mid-day the thermometer reached 94 woods best adapted for its exercise. G. Shacklock, a self degrees in the more exposed portions, and was quite 8.1 deg. taught artist, of Bolsover, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire in the places most sheltered from the sun. But, notwith • has sent in what he calls a royal heraldic chair. standing this Jamaica weather, the throng of fashionables of native oak, in which a fine antique design is profusely showed a considerable increase on the numbers of the pre ornamented with minute and delicate carving, which must ceding Friday. There was very little promenading, and have been the patient work of half a lifetime. A little less Inspection, the company being contented to scat them- instruction in first principle., and facilities of comparison, selves where they could, and to enjoy such ventilation as would evidently make this poor man a high proficient in ! was afforded them. The neighbourhood of the crystal and the ;his: art. Another chair conies from Workington, in the fbantain was much patronised by the fair visitors, far north of England, and is the work of • working ship various doorways were also surrounded by clouds of muslin. carpenter, named Carmichael. Six years, he tells us in his Watts were in constant requisition, aud guide. were : descriptive card, has been devoted to its cons truction, and decidedly at a discount These functionaries have adopted he hopes that the Great Exhibition may afford him the a uniform something between the (ire-brigade and the : chance of fintline some liberal purchaser. His work bears police, but their advance in organisation does not fiCein '4 ia".""i tlwir wtt‘'wtion with the public. As a proof o f ' all theimpress of a strong a illand natural genius, struggling the ia°111 " eeeeekeed by the heat, It way be seettmed I with the obstacle; that ever beset their development inhusble Total