The Press. — London, England, 1854-06-17 00:00:00

it! 17, 1854. and that the conquests of islands, such, for instance, as Jamaica and Trinidad, could not be achieved from a power like Russia. Indeed, there are none of the possessions of Russia which, if they were offered to us, we should accept, and there are none which I am disposed to covet. (A laugh.) But there is more than this. We have all vene rated the glories of Nelson at St. Vincent, and of Duncan at Camperdown ; but th e . victories by which they achieved their fame were victories achieved against enemies who came out into the open sea—(loud cheers)—who met them in a fair fight, and who in that fair fight were encountered by the valour and the prowess of our admirals and our sailors. We have now to deal with an enemy who encloses his navy within walls of granite--(laughter)—who places his ships behind stone walla and batteries bristling with guns, and who never ventures to meet Dundee or Napier in the open sea—and, if . they did, no doubt thes e ga ll ant a dmirals would be able, in nautical phrase, to give a good account' of those Russian fleets. (Laughter and cheers.) What they may be able to accomplish, as matters stand, it is not for me, nor for any of us, to decide. All we know is, that we have given those commands to gallant and skilful admirals—that all gallantry and skill can do they will accomplish—that they will prove themselves to he won thy sons of England, and that we ought to rest satisfied that that which can be accomplished they will accomplish, and that that which they will leave undone could not be done by human courage or by human skill. (Cheers.) But we have done that which has not been usual in former wars. We have, at the very commencement of the war, sent a land army to the defence of our allies. We know that our military means are far inferior to those of the great continental monarchies—we know that we do not call out our 80,000 or our 100,000 men by the conscrip tion to swell the ranks of our armies, that our armies are slowly raised, raised from volunteers, raised by voluntary enrolment, and therefore we never do send armies, and I do not know that the lovers of the constitution would wish that we should send armies, of 150,000 or 200,000 men into the field. But even the army we have sent has already been the means of furnishing troops to defend a Turkish fortress which was surrendered in the last war to the armies of Russia—l mean the fortress of Varna—and has thus enabled the brave and able commander of the Turkish army—Omer Pacha—(cheers )—to add a con siderable reinforcement to his army, which I trust will en able him to cope with the Russians in the enterprise they are about to undertake. (Renewed cheers.) I have said to you that I think it should be our endeavour to obtain a durable, a solid, and an honourable peace.' Now, I should be guilty of the greatest presumption—l should be guilty of a breach of the most solemn duty—if I were to say what are the terms which in the opinion of her Majesty's Government would make that peace honour able, solid, and durable. That is a question not merely for her Majesty's Government. It is to be decided along with the ally of her Majesty, the Emperor of France ; it is to be considered in conjunction with other powers, if other powers should, as I hope, stand by our side in this con flict for the independence of Europe. But more than this. The exact terms of that peace must depend upon the fort:lnes of war—must depend upon the success with which we encounter the embattled legions of Russia. My hope is that that war will meet with the success which, from its object and its motive, it deserves ; but this I will say, that no insufficient peace ought to be made; that we ought not to lay down our arms until we have obtained se curity for the future—( loud and prolonged cheering)—that, having made the great exertions that we have done, that having our eyes open to the designs of Russia, that other nations of Europe having their eyes open likewise, we should be the most silly of mortals if we were to sign an insecure peace, which would leave it to oar present enemy to bide his time, until by the dissensions of other powers, until by the weakness of some of those powers, he should find a better opportunity of accomplishing his design. (Cheers.) Let us consider for a moment what that design is. I give it from no unfair interpretation of that which has been said by the Emperor of Russia himself. It is that the principalities he occupies and Bulgaria should be held under his protection : it is that Constantinople itself should not be occupied either by the present Government or by any free Government which should harbour those who might be considered his enemies. It is, therefore, that Constantinople should be, like Cracow or Warsaw, subject to Russian protection and Russian influences. I say that such a consummation would be fatal to the liberty of Europe. ( Cheers.) I ask you to oppose such a consumma tion. I believe that British hearts, British courage, British skill, and British power are equal to achieve for us, in con junction with our allies, and in conjunction with the sym pathies of Europe, and not of Europe only but of the whole world, that success ; and I earnestly pray that God may give the victory to her Majesty's arms for that purpose." The speech was followed by cheers, amidst which the noble lord bowed and withdrew. Thanks were as usual voted to the sheriffs for their performance of the functions assigned to them, and the proceed ings came to an end. THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY.-It will be seen from advertisements inserted elsewhere that the Oatlands Grange, Weybridge, formerly part of the domain of the Duke of York, some time ago pur chased for the members of the Conservative Land Society, is to be allotted to the shareholders on the 21st inst. This fine estate will qualify nearly one hundred freeholders for the western division of the county of Surrey. A public meeting will be held in Guildford on Monday evening, when Viscount Itane- Imh, the chairman, and a deputation from the execu tive committee, will attend to explain the plan of the society and of the allotment of the estate. TEE PRESS. OPENING OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE. MAGNIFICENT weather added the last remaining ac cessory to the magnificence of the ceremonial which was on Saturday last enacted at Sydenham. All through the previous day the preparations were completing with active industry, both within the Palace itself and along the whale line of approaches. Inside the sound of hammers and busy hum of workmen were never silent during the night. Besides the re quisite paraphernalia for the inaugural ceremony, a multitude of arrangements were made for the comfort and gratification of the throngs whose presence was anticipated. Among other details, an abundant supply of refreshments was prepared, while 1,200 policemen were stationed within and around the edifice to maintain order, and furnish informa tion and assistance at every need. Enormous preparations were also made for the transport of the thronging thousands to the scene of action. The new Crystal Palace Railway opened for public service on that morning, and crowded trains ran thereon at intervals of a few minutes from ten o'clock. By the Croydon line also con voys of passengers were despatched to Annerley, within half a mile of the Palace, six times per hour all the morning. In addition, omnibuses from the West End and the City were started inces santly, delivering their passengers within five minutes' walk of the entrance ; and private carriages, hired cabs, and vehicles of all descriptions reduced all the avenues from London to Sydenham to the con dition of the Epsom-road on a Derby day. The whole route was thronged with a constant procession of those who were going to the Palace and close ranks of spectators who came merely to see them go. The route appointed for the royal cortege was over Vauxhall-bridge, through Sotith Lambeth, passing the Swan at Stockwell, and thence, by Brixton Church, through East Dulwich and past Dulwich College, to the Penge-road. A private way, lately constructed from this road, led directly to the entrance at the central transept of the Crystal Palace. Before eleven o'clock, the hour appointed for open ing the doors, a vast throng had collected round the various entrances, anxiously expecting the moment when admittance should be granted. Upon the sig nal being given an awful crash ensued, such as seems invariable in England when any attraction collects a crowd, of whatever rank, and which none of the rei terated assurances of the police attendants, that there was abundance of time and plenty of room inside, sufficed to restrain. Entrance once gained, there was another struggle and more confusion to find seats— the holders of different-coloured tickets, after wan dering about in search of their allotted locality, and repulsed by the policemen at all the barriers, settling themselves at last not always to their satisfaction nor in the right place. All difficulties were, however, borne with good humour and overcome by time and pa tience. When seated at last, the first-corners had their patience still further exercised during the wearisome interval of four hours which had still to elapse before the events of the day commenced. Meantime the throng received accretions from all aides every minute. Presently the actors and assistants in the great pa geant began to appear in their places. The func tionaries of the Crystal Palace, who had been bustling about all the morning and much of the previous night in working dresses, reappeared in court costumes. Then came the representatives of the London and provincial corporations, headed by the Lord Mayor, and all in official robes ; followed by the deputations from various learned societies. The members of the two Houses of Parliament upon arriving occupied a series of benches in the galleries, at two corners overlooking very advantageously the principal scene of action. Beneath the centre of the transept a vast circular space had been barricaded off, and was kept clear for the Queen and those favoured individuals who were to assist her Majesty in the opening ceremony. In the midst of this enclosure was erected the dais, forming of course the central point of attraction, and towards which all the seats in the intersecting naves and the galleries above were made to converge, so as to afford an opportunity of witnessing the scene to as many thousands as possible. The dais was octa gonal, surrounded by a double night of nine steps, which gave it a considerable elevation above the flooring, and was large enough to give ample accom modation to the numerous royal and distinguished personages who were to occupy it. The dais was covered with crimson cloth, and, suspended over it by gilt chains pendent from the very top of the transept, at the height of upwards of two hundred feet, was a handsome canopy. The interior of the canopy was lined with sky-blue silk, and upon a shield were the Order of the Garter, the royal arms, and the arms of Prince Albert, the groundwork semie with roses. The exterior was crimson, surrounded and surmounted with a rich gilt cornice. Behind the dais, and rising amphitheatrically from the front to the back of the second tier of galleries, was the orchestra, in which upwards of sixteen hundred vocal and instrumental performers were seated. The instrumental per- 561 formers formed the base of the orchestra, the vocal male singers filled up the centre, the ladies fringed the orchestra on either side, while at the very top were ranged the two military and the Crystal Palace brass bands, like an edging of gold and crimson lace. Surmounting the orchestra was a range of pennons in various-coloured silks, a large banner of blue silk in the centre being inscribed with the words " Honour to Labour," and similar banners were placed at either extremity. By two o'clock every point of vantage from which a view of the ceremonial or pageant could be obtained was occupied : by this time also several of the Minis ters and corps diplomatique, in their state dresses, had arrived, and were dotted picturesquely in groups over the central space, discussing and evidently ad miring the brilliant scene. The light scarlet or blue robes of the municipal dignitaries were conspicuous, although not remarkable for the grace with which they were draped round the municipal person ; some of them gasping in the hot sunlight in the conven tional furs and ample robes, others in the lighter and more elegant court costume ; some gallant citi zens sported military or deputy-lieutenant's uniforms; anti train bands, Lumber Troopers, Royal Artillery, City Rifle, and other nondescript corps had here their representatives. The whole of the Ministers of the present and late Administration and privy coun cillors wore the Windsor uniform ; the Lord Chan cellor and other law dignitaries wore black velvet suits ; while the foreign ministers and suites wore their tasteful, and vaned, and richly-decorated state dresses, blazing with orders, cr osses , d ecora ti ons , and ribbons. As usual, the ladies were among the earliest and most animated of the arrivals ; they were all attired in elegant morning costume or demi toilette. The heat was excessive, there being no awning over the glass roof; and there was a perfect canopy of parasols of every shade and shape waving and fluttering like brilliant butterflies in the bright sunlight. Thus the Palace became filled and decorated until the hour of three struck, when with royal punctuality the approach of the Queen and her cortege was an nounced by swelling cheers without and a few notes of the trumpet. The orchestra struck up the na tional anthem as the procession entered, and, before the solo of the last verse had been sung by Miss Clara Novello, the distinguished group were duly ar ranged upon and around the dais. The tableau thus formed was admirably effective. In the centre stood her Majesty, attired in a light bltie dress, an elegant light white shawl and bonnet. On her left, In the scarlet uniform of a field-marshal, with the riband of the Garter, was Prince Albert; and upon her right, in a uniform of dark blue and gold, the King of Portugal. On the right of his Majesty were placed the Duchess of Kent, the youthful Duo d'Oporto, in uniform of blue and gold, and by his side the Princess Royal, with a delicate rose pink dress and white mantilla. On the left of Prince Albert were the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, each attired in the blue and white naval dress, next the venerable Duchess of Cambridge, by her side the Princess Alice, in rose-pink and white, and the Princess Mary, in a robe of more sombre colour. Behind the royal personages were seen the glittering uniform of a marshal of Portugal, worn by the Dnke of Terceira, the glittering official uniforms of the Lord Chamberlain, the Lord Steward, Lord Camoys, the lord in waiting, and the other lords and equer ries, and officers of the household. Near them show the varied colours of the rich dresses of the ladies of the household (the Duchess of Sutherland, the Countess of Mount Edgcnmbe, and Lady Caroline Barrington) and maids of honour (the Honourable Eleanor Stanley, and the Honourable Beatrice Byng ). On the floor, at the left of the dais, were grouped Lord John Russell, the Duke of Newcastle, Lord Pal merston, the Duke of Argyll, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Sidney Herbert, the Earl of Clarendon, Sir J. Graham, Sir C. Wood, Earl Granville, Sir W. Molesworth, and other members of the Government, in their Windsor uniforms of blue and gold ; and the Archbishop of Canterbury, in his lawn robes. Upon the right Mr. Laing, M.P., the chairman of the Crystal Palace Com pany, in the uniform of a deputy-lieutenant ; Mr. Francis Fuller, the managing •director ; and the other directors and officers of the company, in court dresses or scarlet gowns. Among these the members of the diplomatic corps were also dispersed, including the Turkish envoy, M. Musunis, whose appearance upon first entering was loudly cheered, and the American Minister, conspicuous from his dress of sombre black amid the blaze of variegated uniform, gold lace, and jewels around him. The ceremony then began according to the order prescribed in the programme, which we published last week. First came the presentation of a long ad dress, read by Mr. Laing, to her Majesty, and to which the following gracious reply was given by the Queen : " I receive with much pleasure the loyal and dutiful ad. dress which you have presented to me upon the present, occasion. " It is a source of the highest gratification to myself and to the Prince, my consort, to find that the Great Ixhi• 1