The Express. — London, England, 1850-12-28 00:00:00

~T~ L Tibt 41xprt%51 '7 , ; . ••• No. 1,355. J [N . 1, EXHIBITION EXPRESS.] THE EXHIBITION EXPRESS. FOR THE WEEK ENDING •ATuRDAY, DECEMBER 28. . WORD TO OUR READERS. or appearance of the First Exhibition Number c.` 'Le Ezpreu requires a word of explanation u to • ‘iews, objects, and expectations of its promoters. We are on the very threshold of a New Year, '. promises to be most remarkable in the t. -...y of the industry of this industrious and weatthy nation. In a few months we us to see . ected in one building, in London, the choicest mimeos of the choicest workmanship of the most skilled countries of the world. Europe, America, and Asia are to ♦ie with each other in a contest of Industry ; are to enter the lists of a peaceful rivalry that shall test the talents and sharpen the wits of each and improvo the taste of all. No struggle a arms, no waste of energy or wealth in a contest of mutual eximoeity and destruction, but a gathering up of all that is admirable and elegant and costly and asthd into one huge glum corntmonceis, that shall in i't very &Mew give testimony at once to the wealth, me industry, the genius, and the taste of the modern t,vilised world. Such a new year, big with such an event, cannot at time of mental acivity like ours pass without abundant record of its features in type. Already many publications have been projected and com menced (or the special purpose of describing the progress of the Great Exposition of industry. The daily pipers, too, with the vigilance which is their ;mat characteristic, have eagerly sought, and promptly published, a great variety of Leta on the sane subject front day to day. Still, however, the occasion has hitherto proved r ight than the means for coping with it. Small no ramped sheets have often neither the space, nor its organisation, the literary or the monetary capital atai..ent for grasping the huge novelty ; whilst the daily morning papers that wield these hen:Ante for success have other themes to divide their force and pre-occupy their columns. Ihe desired result seemed otErtinable only by the treatien, as it were, of a broad sheet, ample in its el meneionr, and with • literary organisation ready to till it on the instant with the materials most worthy of notice, and most likely to satisfy the wants I the public. Hence the appearance of the Echibition Ewes.. martirg with • large eircolatioa hitherto chiefly In the provinces, it this day doubles its ordinary Satur day's dimensions, with an increue of price only just &Ifticieut to meet the increased charges for paper and rihntion, and with doubled opportunities Le meet trg the tastes of its old readers, and the wants, ex r. cations, and wishes of its new ones, 1 lie heads and hearts and skilful hands now busy in a I the great eiths of this great empire, and busy, toe, :n the great cites of America, of France, of Ger ,,,ant, and elsewhere, preparing and making ready I the coming show, are the heads and hearts and Lanes of the most striving, active, and energetic spirits of our day. Men who lazily enjoy the repose f fanner successes seldom t nt, r such contests. The L acitsment, the vigorous flow of spirit and of blood, rtpay the labour of such conflicts, have no longer thetas for them. They stand by, spectators of the kursamcnt of younger industries; if not thoroughly ntent with their condition, at least unwil- ..s‘ to be exposed to the collisions of ri %sae before the eye of an expectant and curious sod& Such meo have their old papers, with their o d prejudices and crotchets, and to such the thought a new journal beings no expectant pleasure and no arm .I;mpathy. But to the bolderand more striving r who hive entered the lists—the picked 831diers ' the combat of industry—s new paper full of young L and earnest intention, ready to supply their 'slap, to assist their endeavours, to give pub 11c.ty to what is good, and expose and der tr,ar te what is evil, offers another weapon to ,ir band., another warrior for their canes. To r.(l, we address the Exhibition Express with coat i'. 1.: gutiefattion. In them a sure and certain auditory —a a ids constituency—will be found, ready to go with .‘, our Orono, and to reward our exertions. te class moat interested in the Great Exhibition an the very class most alive to the claims of liters- Lie, the improvements in art, and the advance of science ; and the first and most ready to appieciate all improvements in the means and appliances of civilised life. This being the character of its hupporters, the Exhibition Number of the .11x pr.1,. Wii therefore every Saturday give ample spun to th‘ • IR Hatton of new books, and their uprisen ' extracted specimens of their quality—will op thing requiring not ice, in the scientific worlds give, moreover, the amplest attention to all •cites in manufactures, hatdicrafts, and trade; L.- old friends, the agriculturists, being never for r.tes or neglected, and the news of the day being porstully reported. tt•e began by speaking of the New Year and its tarvelloas New Building, but the latter requires at:: a few more word/. Whatever the future Ter dm: may be upon its contents, there can be no mistake or to the Building itself. Already the Dictionary has Lri ft searched for titles, and no word has been Nord so appropriate as to supersede all others in describing it. W h ether it is to be ultimately kroan as the "Crystal Palace," the "Palace of In 4'.‘tri." the " Great Glass House," or " The t rem Exposition," is yet undetermined. Indeed, to see the place as it now Is. —with its area lint" enough for a pyramid its forest of tall gen:kr iron columns—its army of busy workmen six* oures of glue roof, and all-pervading odour of Goo t rrber—excitte a woedering surprise and Bassi- n! -:• ?hat fails at once to find expression in exact tr'lr-. la spits of the danger of broken leg. 00 . r loose timber or spare iron, or broken necks down Lake in tuifiLished floors, the imagination and me. 50 57 ride off together in search of some companion a4lr• No .fact can be found. Infancy, however—a fancy --something analagous existed years ago. bouthey, in his " Thalaba," dreams of such building as or ars shout to me realised. The oppressed widow, sinks ander the WA d her sorrows, whets a cry of ---- lishissat frogs Der son arouses her: She raised her head and saw, Where high in air a stately palms roe*. Amid a grove embowered, Stood the prodigious pile ; Tree, of such ancient mejesty, Tower'd not on Yemeni's happy We, Nor croweed the lofty brow of Llamas: Fabric so trait, so lavishly enriched, For Idol or for Tyrant yet Bawd the slave race of man, In Rome, nor In the elder Babylon, Nor old Persepolis, Nor when the family of GIVIMPO liyaut'd Bleutherian Jove. Here studding snore tablatures And ray'd with feeble light, Star like, the ruby and the diamond shone : Here oil the golden towers The yellow moonbeam lay, Hire with white splendour fl,oda the silver wall. Less wondrou pile and lea meguilluat Sennamar built at Minh, though his art Sealed with one Cone the ample edifice, And made its colours, like the serpent's skim, Play with a changeful beauty : • • • • Ethauted mines Supplied their golden store; For this the astral caverns gave their pas; For this the woodman's see Opened the ceder forest, to the slut ; The silkworm of the Eat Spun her sepulchral egg; The hunter Atri Provoled the danger of the &lookout's rage; The Ethinp, keen of scent, Detects the ebony, That deep-inearthed, and hating light, A leafless tree and bares of all fruit, With darkness feeds its boughs of raven grain. Such were the ensnares lavieked la you pile. THE HISTORY OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE. u all newspaper readers know, the Great Itztaibition was to have been a structure remark able only for its gig►ntic dimensions and a dome of colossal proportions. The designer of the glass palace eras not even among the competitors, whose names were printed in the report of the building committee. One of the first coati deratlme entered into by the r ysl c immiesionere on their appointment war to come to some decision as to the best means of raising a proper receptacle for the contributions which they were about to invite from the four quarters of the globe. Accordingly one of their early decision. produced the follow ing document, which was widely circulated : The committee appointed by II • Revd Commiesion to ad vise on all matters relating to the bui:ding,' having received the sanction at the Commission, are desirous of obtaining from all pail's, _who On disposed to assist them, soggestidra for the general arrsegement et the buildings and premises required for this eakibitimi. Upon the gener.d form of the building In ;Ilte distribution of its parts, the mode of access, sad the Warnl arrangements and coutrivanois will depend the otinveninos and general Moen of such a boild. ing ; and it n upon these points that the commi,tee seek in formation and 'opinions, and wish to encourage the mat ezteeded erompetrion in the preparation of plans. The coin , mitten do not iropowi to offer any pecuniary relent for such plans—they rely upon the desire which men of all countries will feel to forward the objects of the proposed exhibition. The committee think it probable that, when the plans are received, they may net be limited to the selection of any one plan, but may derive tuella ideas from many ; and that the best plan may be determined upon by the help of this general assistance. its the credit of any each plan wiil be due solely to the ci,ntributors, the com mittee propose to make a report, in which they will sa knowledge by name those when plans bad been wholly or partially adopted, or who had afforded the meat useful sug gestions; and the committee hope to be able to offer each other honorary distinction eo the successful contributories the circumstances may appear to warrant. In order to guide the contributors in the preparation of such plans and designs, acd to facilitate theenminstion and the comparison of them when received, tho committee have enumerated mincisely the principal ' desiderata' for such a buddieg. and have laid down certain rules and conditions to which they earnestly request the contr,butors to conform, as the com mittee mill be under the necessity of abiding strictly by the regulation of not acknowledging any plans which may be NM in a form inconsistent with these rules. Copice of the ecgraved plan of the ground referred to may be had on ap plication to the nentsries of the commission at the Now Palace at Westminster. The rules and conditions to be strictly observed in prepar ing a ground plan and section of the building to be erected in Hyde-Park were as follows: — "I. The communications feint eontributon must consisted a single sheet of pew, act larger Mies the meempanying engraving, with • duple ground plan upon a scale of 1-1000 of the full vise, with smelt elevatioas end sections only of the and ea the same sheet, as may be nesremery to ela cidete the system proposed—such elevations and sections not Ming intended to convey more than a general idea of the building, and not entering into deceits of construction or of architectural decoration—to be accompanied by a short clear written explanation of the system recommended, on • separate sheet. Any on:aril:luta walking to Hod two de shim mutt *end separate and distinct. communications, seek conforming to the above soaditions. No oom• mucications made incoseiatent with these conditions, or say plus prepared upon • different scale from that prescribed, can be reohved. Tba plans, &c., mast bream on or before Bth April neat, addremed to the Secretaries of the Eahlbitioa, Now Palace at Westminst,r, London. It is suggested that UN most convenient mode of preparing the plan, elevation, and section, would be to draw theta upon one of the engraved espies of the plan of the ground which scoompany them in. structions. 2. The building is to he erected upon the space marked A B C D, and taunt not extend beyond the boun daries of the shaded portion. The groups of trees shown on the plan must be preeerved. The priaeipal public apprembee are by the roads E F and 13 IL The road K L will be available only for foot passengers. This. will be no °Nee. tion to the formation of CMS reads between the two last, O H and K L, if the design of the liamMireg Trains it. 3. The roofed portion of the building Y M War • epees of 700,000 square feet, or shout 66,000 agnate MlPtille; and the whole buddies suit not occupy, including yea maims, as area of more than 900,000 square feet, or about $4,000 roue metre,. The building generally will be of w story only. 4. No spar will be required for rule, or he grebe or dower. 0. it may be reused, so far as it of the ground plan, that the light will be obtained entirely her the roof, and the M will be ocestruard of fir reef materials. " requirements were.--Elinplioity ell enure sent. _y of space. Capability of intaglio or ear. tailing the building without destroying its syressery as • whole or Sauntering with Or general arrialeasaS it ispos:ibk le determine the rest extent of re( re until a late peeled et seastrastios. Adeptades fee the erect don of messes retire of the b.Yidst addilhenst pededs. Coarsiesseeld egesse~ unfree ere•= parb t e legersan either here dr exte 1 pie 'shirr rior se Means of olimeirsdes of the rises orris if dim derringer Wall spar far co &pry of aerial ••• qurbs it Moans of affording rivals roes sad MED. siodados for exhibitors with sennerriesese, if mid , ornarteei. neer, ocutak.raares, parte eaftrimentrisre. and all ether podia and priers wiessmitheks. (Shi potties of the balding may he is two es non stereo V required.) laternel enirgerssis, by widdi, under were erelatiesa, lamp mends of visitors m eireakke freely, and have sonessisst Geese le all paste . ti the Exbibidon. end uninterrupted muss of erasers the various objeeie exhibited." Thu pabileatios of the above dormer called rub designs trees two hundred and forty-fire erapetiter of than 27 were Frenchmen, 2 Belgians, 3 Thatch, 1 Haze ntrian, 1 Neapolitan, 2 Swim, 1 Rhenish Praise, and 1 from Hamburg. Althoegh then (smother purred plans ia every arriteetuni variety, not one of than caste up to the requirements of the occeeloa. Oa the 9th of May the building cosentitise, baying minutely dammed tie =alkalies mad defeats of the &Ism sabmitted to them, speed epos a report which they premated to the royal emassissios. The pblicatioa of this document was the signal t ee severe ethicists. Some asthorltios objected to the maser f• Via* it wets put together, sad declared that erne plea ought to have bees adages.; while ot►ers were par *Maly laretiom oaths dome cradother points. The following is the first report of the building committee, and It Is re markable sa tie result of the joist deliberations of the most missal eagiseets and ►udders hs the mastcy. We 'say add that the value of the dommest h Iseremed by the lon, that its suggestion wire npiteded hi the ate* poppadom of a puthana who had 00 npotatios either ea builder or asettiteet, bat who had bees knows to the Woad& world wily up to that time as ea neetatipbbi aM aireelose bonnet and praiser. The repast nose with a her metal eapruelese of paha on the Moen of LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1850. the yeekty of euelleseke displayed is the pieas t►ey ex. oraised, and with ea eeksowlerigmeat of the debt dab to these gratbeaes whops ideas they bed aselguested one greet design. The esapstiose ere clew d .M conesatrated es Wows:— " We have the honour to report that we have examined the namorens plan so linerally eassibuted by native sad foreign areititeets in aseordanee with the pnbile invitation. Exhausting in their numerous propane sad suggestions almost every essosivable variety ot buildthg, the authors of these desigas bar materia ll y assisted r in arriving et the sonclasions whisk we have now the bather so report. We have been aided la ear analysis of this subjoin by • great amount of Simla and elaboration thee brought to bear upon it from venous points of view. We have, however arrived at the nineteen's oonclusioa, that able and admirable as mum iof these designs appeared to be, there was yet no ems se sosmulent with the peculiar objects in view, tee plasigle or detail of its orrangenunt, as to warms us la teinimsadiog it for adepties. le memo of lbe Irma ememestal ad the designs submitted, we dad Lodi masa mem sad dillenlties to be avoided, whilst in she sbier and we rudest of them there are valuable ecsesptions sad sespetions which have greatly assisted as in hamlet, the plea we have now the kocour to lay helve you. la preparing this design we have bees governed nudely by three seeniimatione:-1. The provisional nature of the building. 2. The advisability of connect:nisi it as far as porible in such a form as to be available, with least mai fin of labour and material, for other purposes, se sees as ha original one shall have been fuitilled, thus ensarlng a minimum ultimate cost. 3. Extreme simplidty &lauded by the short time in which the work must be sompleted. Yes the arrengements ot the plan we tuft Mr en Yoram of sommetioa, yams. of dimension, end Ohms of each part to its end. The principal points of excellence we have endeavoured to attain Economy of con- Erection. 2. FacLities for the reoeptionolassification, and display of goods. 3. Facilities for the circulation of visitors. 4. Arrangements for grand points of view. 6. Ciwralisation of supervitiou. 6. dome striking feature to exemplify the t state of the science of coostraction in this country. firsthe of thou, economy, is attained by doing away with any 'eternal walls (all divisions bathe made by the sonority stale), t y redccing the whole construction, with the excep tion of the dome, to cast iron columns, eupporticg the lightest form of irin roof in long unbroken lines, and by the whole of the work being done in the simplest mune and adapted in all respects to Wee hereeter :or thee purples.. The second, facilities for the reception, demi flashes, and display of goods. The main cenealentrance for the reeeption of objects for exhibition will, probably, be that most approachable from the publie rood. All sense anxim panyiog goods wall be examined, registered, oatalkiir 4, &c., in the offices of the executive; toe packinreasse will then be put upon a truck ruining on a line of rails laid dowa temporarily, and conveyed to the centre turn-table, tram which they may be carried by a line of rails at right alleles to the first, to the end of the trehovens gallery, in which they may be destined to be placed. The most important col:knitters to enure @etcetera' classificatioa is, that those to whom the duty of arrangemeot may be coed led should be hampered by so fixed itini,a of space, such as would have been the ease had the building been divided Into • number of halls, Hellen,, or chambers. The plan submitted tulle this condition perfectly; as objects con be arranged just as the a_re received, and moved, if necessary, from gallery to with great facility. lie rate. Niel display ot the goods would be hat insured by leaving, nailer certain general restrictions, the fisting up of each stall to the exhibitor, or his spat, fiJOrspacie on y being allotted he each ; end stands, frames, bracken, shelves, dic., being put up by • contractor'. carpenter, at a fixed tariff. The best light is provided, and the meet economical wall spate is proposed to by furnished by connecting pills to pillar transversely, on the extreme north and nub sides of the building, by rode from which drapseits, &c., can be suspended. The third, facilities for the circulation of visitors, are thus attained. The visitor, en arrival at the centr.l hall, proceeds at choice to any one of the four sec tions. He will, most robsbly , desire either to follow the whole coarse of the s Gijon selected, or will wish to go at once to FMK, particular clue Of Objtet. He will be enabled to do either the one or the other, without interfering with the general current, by means of gates or other errangements, which shall ensure the current of visitors passing in one direction. If he desire to proaeed rapidly from one end of the building to the other, and finds the great central gang way at all blocked up, he will, no doubt, be able to get on by either the north or south corridors, 16 feat wide. Nume rous doors of egress in these latter afford ready meow of exit for a large number of person. Seats are provided in the middle of the great central gangway for those who may desire to rest. The fourth, arrangement for graud points of Mow.—The view from or to the centre of the building will eem ite extent be neCePirib . impalas. The slate and Mail avenues are arranged, so that on the *wagon of the dimsibution of the risen an immerse member of persons miry be accommodated. Most lot/resting views might be obtained from galleries constructed at either end of the building, and around the dome, for the admission of the I public to winch some small charge might be made. The fifth centralisation of superrision.—All the busbies+ of the exhibition would be carried on is one spot, and be readily snider control. The royal commission, the principal com mittees, clerks, isamentants, police, deo , wield be together, and in la large an establishment, it would be !absolutely asissmary, or much time would be wasted in walking from ems point to another. Pansies running behind the money. Wm's boxes, with glued doors into them, would enable ear account ant to detect at.ything improper that might be rift on, and to ezehaege and Delano, checks ' money, he., se say smisneat. Telegraphic communication with each of re le. pay Orr will permit orders to be gives,: cash e seelenee, tor, M be issued and retained, from sad to the hest nomentant's office, as often as may be necessary. tent 1111111 little rooms, one for a jury in each section, have bate wwYsd at the extreme emit sad west ends. The datave esemmistees being deliberative, and not executive, it to sot aeseesary that they should be accommodated In the NNW setabliahment, where they would be more liable to be diNnelied than at the extremity of the buildnig. A police men stationed in each gaiety would, from his elevated =, be enabled to observe mach which might easy, on if he mingled only with the crowd. The Issas striking feature to exemplify the present state of the rear of sionstruetion in this country. la order that the building, in which England invites the whole world to display their richest productioes, may afford, at least in one past, a grandeur not incommenearate with Ste occasion, we repose by a dome of light sheet iron, 200 feet in diameter, to an effect at once striking and admirable. Press whisk have been made of the lest of se grand • ball, we have mum to expect that it may be emered Mt a am not greatly exueding the cost of the simplest ism of mast likely to be adopted to cover tie suns area. It Is to be berme in mind that a considerable amount of may such difference may be recovered, timid this portion of the building be converted hereafter to other purposes, whisk is more than probable. This vast dome it is preptered to light mainly from on. circle .f light in its centre, and thee the sculpture will he plemiagly aid suitably lit. Six out of the eight openings is the cylinder of the dome would be well adapted for the exhibition of stained glue windows of great extent, while the two remaining arches will open to the main central gallery. The lower part of some of the voids will admit the eye to tart and shrubs, and produce a great freehnem of effect. The immense continuity aides oestral avenue will be broken and relieved by • varia tion In the roof oppudis thew*. to the second and third sots of refreshment MUMS Oa for the reception of mired glass my be at thus suds of each treamens ' rim te edify, them the vista hr ree t aphis the rum of Mr ws would It s= for Merles so ma as the prelples 111 the plan, he., red be pure* We smarm *WM, an ma air lima width Ps priest somas of lawilsoral and common*" laparty sal star ormitt be aril eat i sad that a gurfous Malty mon those beet dad In more th rl reix: 6 poetises of this ense Wasters may lead le as mama of dram' study that we sell =Lshe to this matter meld supply. We meld, e, reemmaill that every Mortar should be takes of the accumulated end rperimmatel kaowlirdge and re sources of intalligsat and enterprising essitoselles. sad that every opportunity should be airlmil them of distinguishing themselves. We would there 're recommend as tho beet mare of maiming their serious the following coarse of action: Adopting the approved design as • basis, we would present to immediately :prepare such working drawings, andogsdiso tiro m may be necessary, and to Wee invitations huralmo to execute winks in accordant* with them, mambo, fees competitors in addition seek suggestions and modifications, accompanied with estimittee of out, as might possibly berme the war of effecting a considerable redaction apes the generalexpenee. This document was signed " W. Cubitt, chairman." The following document was appended : "Yet seamdttes beg Lear to report, that the Mesh by dte falmunisaionsn, requesting ism orpodsom tar dm general arrangement if ths brig eel probes required dor the exhibition of lin, Ms bra sow prod to in the most ample and astroomey amsort bulb areopesto the variety of useful idea' premeatod to *Orr dieratioa, sad the liberality with which many experlidgpi and skilful men of foreign ocamiee, as less than aloe, eve, have contributed their Wear time to this mat arm earth thereby error the Mike sympathy both with the Wet mare of sees sad &rola in whisk her Ms pay's sommilimmo lass amberlud, and with the arras lams .rt dimiSers of the undertaking. The Mips sad ramrod to the cemasistee messumt dilw member dill, an arm* Ss a f promisaal eisertseir smormare ago sorsiag repores arigeormasidg, mos ma w s kw i residal ft inn SR oa se mad sherso or assorka. Peastrated with sad Mort for these end vidaeldo Mar Mem moreatpled, ray lath e Merry of womplir, yam mommirse have Oa mat motel armor to Ma wriketies of dm*. MOE% end Masa to err these mitaswlemg mate trim mre Mas to their swim, and to the gammas Ba thos width have hi to Ask easoormi and try trust that thp . pattlie may shortly he winsome of the Gent of this veer oolb eemilstion of the skill of all countries by the public of theta design, offering the opportunity, in the WS spirit of the whole undertaking, of mutual improve ment, rasped, and friendship amoopt the motivators of the libeed sets in the several columns of Europe. It is re- I samkshie that, while many of these cosi 'initiate may he attributed to the laudable emotive of proneadonal reputation sad sivsecoment oa the p.rt of praetitioners not yin sal& dmody known to the public, a gnat number are front gualsemis whose position in the codidence of their repeal's reverameuts or in the republic of arts end MOM Is of the highest eminence, and who can have ben mtnalsd by no such p re/3nel motives. Already eaddii to respect and admiration, they could have little to OK while t h ey have something to lose in the compa tlt~ glory. The kind and frank conantuoicatioe, there fore of stair thoughts and csperienos towards this great work le to be the more highly commended. Every pod ble abode of assomplishing the object in view hen been displayed by the respective contributors as regards economy of structure and distribution, and there quelitin are united with various degrees of architectural symmetry and features is many design. Oar illustrious entinental neighbours have especially distinguished themselves by compositions of the snood taste and learning, worthy of enduring tion—exuaples of what wsighVbe don; in the uchrtectural illustration of the subject, when viewed in its highest aspeet, end at all onus exhibitieg features of grandeur, arrangement, end grace, which your committee have not failed to appreciate. Amongst these several elutes of design, the peactical diameter of our own countrymen, se might have been expected has base remarkably illustrated in emu very sad simple methods suited to the temporary of Ors imindllas, due etteatism Meng bele paid to t i t/ IP A:niers means allotted to this part of the undertaking. The principle of suspension has been applied in a single tent of iron sheeting, covering en area averaging 2,200 feet by 400 feet by • lengthened ridge, or in separate tonnes isolated supports. Others display the 'Autism of this problem by she Chapter-house prionele and a few by the umbrella or circular locomotive eosins:house system of railway sta tions, either with a osairal column or groups of oolames sustaiaing domes or roofs to the extent of 400 feet diameter, (natant' and simplicity of distribution are caned cut with gnat architectural effect in other compositions, ante the general arrangement by columnar supports leis been else vaiously and elegantly developed. The system of iron roofing, with all the architectural powers of which that material is susceptible, has been adopted by some with signal enterprise, lageniiiiy, and power. In another clue of design the union hay, viewed with euthanasia the great occasion sod object of the proposed exhibition, and have waited all considerations of *epees'. They have in dulged their imaginations, and employed the resources of their genius and learning, in the compisitioa of ge. menu, which pretest the utmost grandeur and beauty of architecture, suited to a permanent poises of science and art. These, as eddreseed to the architectural studeat, are of the highest veins, reminding him of all the condition of his art—the Egypt= bypostyle, the Boman therm., or of the Arabian or liareente inventions. And, thougn their expence his placed this beyond reach, they canner fail to inspire and elevate the treatment of the reality. They at all events confer great obligatioas ce the lovers of the floe ens, for the authors save evidently felt, that, if one of the malts to be expected from the proposed exhibiuoa may be to pc me that the amplest object of in (acuity and skill should not be devoid of some of the attractions of taste, the building itself ought tee be an illustration of that important principle. The committee, however, have bun unable to select any one design is combining all the requisites which varius considerations render essential. lint the judgment and taste evinced by a large number of the oontributon have enabled the committee to arrive more promptly at their con elusions, and they have freely availed themselves of most valuable suggestions in directing the preparation of a fresh design for the proposed building. They have consequently been most earnest to the desire to fulfil the fist expectations of the various oomperiters, and feel assured that your royal bighners and the commute, will be of opinion that the most conserved and handsome acknowledgments are due to those able met of science and art who have in so di•intre rested a manner submitted such admirable projects for the and a sinuses of the contaii•teti:" In the list of architects whom the committee reported as worthy of honourable mention, out of one hundred end ninety•five English coatributors, ere find only three names, while fifteen of the thirty-eight foreign competitors are commended. This strange inequality called forth severe comments from the prim, whether with justice or not it matters not now to inquire. This discrepancy is in a measure I accounted for by the fact that, among the fonds& competitors are SOS holding the first recognised plan in their respective cauterise, whereas the leading architects of Berland did net enter into the contest. To the plan which the building committee managed to perfect from the pessimism' sugges tions of the competing arcbitests, they added on so their own exclusive contribution, a dome of gigantic proportioas with the declared notion of giving a fixed cheroots, to the structure. This dome was decidedly unpopular. Same d that it would be imponible to construct it within the specified time ; others prophesied that it would fall about the tan of the commissioners. The proposed site of the building also raised a fierce controversy which was as disgraceful as it was virulent and vexations. Suddenly tories became extremely solicitous for the health and Sunday walks of the industrious classes Hyde park was christened "an orrery" of London ; and trees were protected with enthusiasm by men who had seen children and women perishing on their estates with oat experiencing any very scats pangs of remorse. While the.. nutters were exciting rather angry nerisioations, Mr. Paxton was busily espied at Chatsworth on a design destinedto *slime all the ingenious plans of the archiwc mini and engineering authorities of the country. His design was suggested by the experience he had gained from he eonstroation of glue structures for forcing houses at Chatsworth. Mr. Paxton first tuned hi. attention to these Finalise buildings In the year 1828 ; when having ezperisseed the clumsiness end inefficiency of the coarse wood work and thick glees with which conservatories were than constructed, he thought of a building fashioned with efost-iron and a better kind of glees. His fleet object was to Lighten the rotten and sash ban by levelling off their sides. This improventeat having proved eminntly successful, Mr. Paxton next contrived a light sash bar, having a groove for the reception of the glass. About this time the desire for metallic roofs began to extend in every direction, and as sash etruatures had a light and pleasing effect, it become a question of importance as to the propriety of using metal mashes and reform Instead of wooden ores, for hertit-ultural purposes. The expansion and con traction of the natal seemed at first to offer insurmountable objections to the eurowful practice of this idea. It was next proposed, in order to obviate these disadvantages in the me of metal, that the rafters and framework of the sashes should be made of weed, and the esahhare of metal. Mr. Paxton went on how par to year improving en thls principle; the building, however, whisk ware directly than any other appears to have led him to the peat plan the binary of which we ars now endeavouriag to Mom was the gnat Chatsworth cowsrvatory, fee the reception of the Victoria Begin. The formation of the leaves WOW beautiful aquatic Biwa suggested to Mr. Paxton those longitudinal and transverse girders and supporta. " Nature," he tells us, "was the englamr in title ease." Bet Kr. Patton has already told his intenstiog history in hie own words. OP 11211 GLASS PALLOR. On the 28th at July het the building enmities) decided dully on the details of Mr. Peatea's pbs, and as late as as o'clock la the seining ease to the resoluta= that Mr. Pubis's original plan should be adopted, with the additioa of transepts and • barrel roof for *see trumps slue. It wee decided that the root of the loogitudiaal portion should be Sat. The Filmy ob ject of the °maltase in raking the peat Otesupt wit to obviate the small of felling the row of tress which is sow &retained within the balding. This regard for Usher bee bees a continua subject of derbies with the workmen', who hue 'lutanist! • very troublamme speciosa the Sibtborp tree. Yet to this accident we owe that feature of the build ing which contributes mutely to its graceful propertione to relieve the senotcaeue of of long uabroken galleries. Batty is August the Ceamboieners of Woods sad Forests formally gave up the site In Ifyikolark to the Exhitidon authorities, sad Mows. Fez and Headmen, of the South wick Works, Boradashea, having egned to Ned the Wading for the sun of 71,6001. sad the tutorial' miter the clue of the Hikibitku, forthwith soured apes their labours. Gipatie orders kr iron alum end gir ders, for thesauri' of feet el glue, sad know of weed IMO given, a heradies wee speedily *fowl up, sat Ma drid' of busy spades tweed up the tumf. The Mau mil. lieu of bricks width the Beildlag Committee propenad to pile up V Hyde-park have vanished, the sombre dans has &abided to a shadow le the brains of the sesualase, and a light, (shy bulhibp, mere like a glittering web thee a substantial 'how Muse, fe . to rise Whore the windows of the dhasasolate grandees et Isesiagies. Bear the ha* datises en soak, the Ones sag whiner win won ben [PRICE (DOUBLE SHEET) FOURPENCE. t►e Chamber of Representatives; the ereirement was in tense; crowds—not of feroeions and ill•diapoeed canaille de Faubourg St. Antoine and other wretched localities of the city, but of well•deemed and respectable persons, gathered round the edifier, anxious to learn from the speech whether the future was to be one of probable peace or of discard ; and the satisfaction felt at the tone of the address was farmed in no measured or niggardly Wins. Paris saw before her *yea the prospect of continued tranquillity, and with it of advancing prosperity, and, we believe, is now fully awned that there are other glories to be woo than those gained on the tented field, and other sources for developing her spirit and her strength than those she displayed at Jena and. Austerlitz. " There is, however, much for her to learn, and still more to do, ere she can attain commercial greatness ; many obstruc tions have yet to be cleared away, and far more liberal views toward, foreign countries must be entertained, to enable her to occupy the position which a great nation should assume with reference to those around her. There are jealousies to be overcome, imposts to be laid aside, free Intercourse to be encouraged, the elements of distrust to be uprooted, gene rous views in regard to others to be inculcated, both in the spirit and the letter. At the present time none of these exist to any extent ; yet it is not to much the fault of the people generally, as of the government under which they live ; but insomuch a, they who rule do so only by the suf ferance of the governed, the latter have the remedy in their own hands, and it ft their own fault if a better order of things be not enforced. The government of France euumee a power in ammercial matters which the most despotic ruler in the world can scarcely surpass ; and this so much towards her own 'objects as foreigner,. "As in Germany and en Belgium, so in France, the great . _ . . Exhibition of 18514 spoken of in the highest terms of eulogy as worthy of a liberal, enterprising, and enlightened people. The comprehensiveness of the scheme and the vast arrange moots everywhere making in England for efficiently carry ing out the contemplated work, elicit the surprise and the admiration of the Parisian munuf►cturen. bull, many, even of those who purpose contributing, are at a lon to conceive how they are to bs benefited by it. What is the use,' ob served an extensive iron manufacturer to us, ' of my sending specimen, of my works? you have greater facilities than I for producing cheaply. How can I expect to get an order from Eegland ? ' We admitted the justice of his remark, and could only reply that' The superiority of his urnomen tal workmanship might be the mean. of procuring him orders against the men of Birmingham and Glasgow.' Notwithstanding, however, these suspicions of ultimate gain on the part of individuals, we found the leading houses of run, almost without exception, busily employed in pro panties; yet most of them so far bated completion as to necessitate their retention to the very last day when works can be admitted. Tall French comminien requiring that all objects destined for the Exhibition shall be transmitted to them by the 31st of December, seems to have caused great dissatiraction, from the presumed impossibility of getting them ready in time. The uncertainty also which existed. as to the decision of the jury in Paris upon the merits of the productions so transmitted, was felt as a grievance by the lesser manufecturers. We found, too, that many clever workmen who were accustomed to make goads and cell them to the shopkeepers, and who had obtained prizes at their own national expositions, were mating no preparation tor send ing to London, being deterred by the expense, which, unt:l it was too late, they did not kuow would be defrayed by the French government. A register had ben for some time opened at the Hotel de Ville, for the department of the Seine, where all applications for space were made. This list was cloud on the 31st of October, when the books showed the name* of 134 exhibitors who had obtained gold medals at their national exhibitions, and a much larger number of thou who had received awards of lass value, or had not gained honorary distinctions ►t all. The first of these only were admitted to send tneir predictions without the adjudi cation of the central Jury. " The laws concenumt copyright in England have neces sarily attracted the attention of the French mseufacturen, who are desirous to receive some satisfactory inform ,:ion en the subject; they feel that the law, as now existing, gives them little or no protection, and they urged upon our notice the importance of some definite settlement of the question, so as to leave no doubt respecting the result. It was observed to us by the head of an extensive firm who carries on a very considerable business with this country, that his traveller • isit England for orders annually in the months of January and, February. ' Now,' he contioued, laen 'tuna up seine very beautiful things for your expositien is blry, out there is at present nothing to prevent my deei.rne being copied and ritniler goods manufactured by your countrymen. nd sold in Et gland before my agents can go their rounds in 1852. If 1 bud this cannot be prevented, I must decline contributing.' " The silversmiths and jewellers of Paris also complain of the length el time which, is the executive in London have hitherto decided, elapses between the reception of the goods here and the opening of the Exhibition; al expressed their intentions of wilikolding their contributions if they were compelled to keep them packed up for some weeks be fore displaying thus. This, they said, would greatly injure the brilliincy end beauty of their works, while there exists no necessity tor their being thus closed up, inasmuch u the rapid communication between the twocities enables the hoods to be conveyed speedily from one to the other. In short, it is evident from all we heard and saw that, if Cho time for receiving such manufactured articles be not extended to the latest ptssible moment, we shall not get much from the other Bide of the Channel in those departments of Industrial Art. _ . Having thus brkfiy alluded to some of the objections roads, and difficulties felt, by the foreign oompetitor, and which we trust may yet be obviated by the Executive Com mittee in London, when they have the power—we proceed to no:ice what we found to be In progress among the prin cipal manufacturing firms of Faris. We visited more than • hundred of these, and were received everywhere with the greatest courtesy and consideration ; the Art Journal s well known among the manufacturen of the city, especially by the illustrated reports of the French expositions. We were math ratified to hear themoet favourable opinions expressed of our efforts to do justice to their exertions in time past, u well u their ready offers of assistance for the future. It surprised them greatly to find that the conductors of sny periodical publication should consider it worth their while to awed correspondents over half Europe, to ascertain what may be expected for the great festival of Industry. " All the principal silversmiths and jewellers are busily occupied in the work of preparation. We saw in one establishment a magnificent silver tea service, unique in design and of most elaborate workmanship; in another, richly wrought silver jewel box, of Gothic character ; and elsewhere, • 11111.1041 candelabrum several feet high, made for the Facts of Egypt, and a profusely ornamented gold certrldge box, intended for the same destination; while another firm are producing several caskets of great beauty: yet we are bound to state that we have seen in England articles quite equal to then in at the tannish of ex cellent*. A visit to various bronze manufactories afforded us Much pleasure ; we found much there that is good, and much also et en inferior quality. There will be a oonsiderable display of this material in figures, lamps, lustros, vases. One menu facture, is producing a chandelier, set with enamels and imitation pearls, the effect of whisk whoa lighted up is as novel as it is brilliant; and we saw in the atolwr of another some rues of rather small dimensions, but most artistically o d wn esig e n d e As d end w ex. know ecoted that Birmingham , such uiCelliniham has la would not have made edis- ide great strides in this art, we shall feel anxious to see the two in competition. It is extraordinary, with the means and appliances which. Busload has so readily at her command for the production of ornamental ironwork, she is still so fez behind our =di nested neighbours both in the quantity and quality she puts forth. There Is no doubt but that, were the demand for It ratter, far man attention wirdd be given tolls manufacture; but the architects end builders of this *tunny seem yet to be opposed to its free introduction into oar edifices : whether We arises from the additional con it would entail, or from some ether cause which we cannot divine, it is impassible to say; still It is much to be deplored that so beautiful • aiseertp don of external mammal should be denied us, whin' Paris abounds with it in every direction. One count peas through • single street of the city, whether it be new or old, without Mopping to admire he *liberate and rich spseimas of Ina work wlikh meet the eye oar all sides is the shape of Wee nies, versadake, penile inserted la deems, koalas', Ma, Ire. Ths Waste aims, la say Wawa; an peesitarly dir I the Cage; the fires of the glass factory vomit forth red hot glass ; steam spurts into the air from within the moils leukemia; the whirr of scenes is heard; the ground cut up by waggons and men ; thousands of workmen meet the rising sun at the gates; neat, snug rooms for the clerks are ran ap; gallons of paint are manufactured, and curious crowds linger all day about the spot. Every hole in the book'. lag is filled ap with a human eye. Suddenly on the morning of the 26% of September the first column stood at right angles from the ground permanently fired, to for put of the gnat whole—the first of 3,230 to be reared. STA.TISTICS Or TBB BCILDING. Tho building as it now stands is 1,848 :Let long by 408 fest broad, and 88 fest high. This long tins is crossed by a transept 108 fest high, dividing the length with 918 fest _ _ _ on the One side, and 900 het on the other. In addition to the timber for joiatt, flooring, he., the glass and supports of iron cemprise the entire structure. The columns, sest-bars, and panes of glass, we may notice, are similar in form throughout. Thee* are 2.244 cast iron girdetz for supporting galleries and roofs, in addition to 1,128 inter mediate bearers, 358 wrought-iron trusses for supporting I roof, 34 miles of gutters for carrying water to the columns. 202 silos of eashlare, and 900,000 superficial feet of glass weighing 400 tons, and the glaziers fitted in the panes at the rate of 8,000 panes per diem. The building orcupiss in all about 18 acres of ground—giving, with t►e galleries, at exhibition sedges of 21 acres. The galleries are 24 feet wide, sad ex- Orademsely a rails; the greet cmatral arenas being 72;feet in width. The table spies for exhibitors will be no less than eight miles in length. The total cubic contents of the building are 33,000,000 feet—and the cost is a little more than nine sixteenths of a penny per foot cube. These eta Unice are exclusive of the separate building, 936 feet long and 48 feet wide, devoted to the reception of machinery. THE PROGRESS OP THE WORKS. Hating briefly recapitulated the mitt' facts and Want& tiona of the boding, we may now conduct the reader within the enclosure. On pa aing the gates the visitor had at once a striking view of the operations as they were conducted throughout November; but latterly the "filling in" has progressed so rapidly that he can form very little idea of the vast extent of the work until he has gained the central avenue. From this point of view the scene is now ex • namely Impressive. The long lines of glittering galleries stretch into the distance, till they all appear to meet at • point. Bstore the glazing was commenced the works gave the visi , or the idea of a vast tangle, dotted here and there by moving masses of workmen ; the pillsn were like a poplar forest; and the ground was loaded with enormous heaps of material. Now, however, the scene is less confused. From the tangle a beautifully regular, light euucture has been evolved, the pillars of which look like wire in its vas t proportions. The entire absence of ecsffolding has been a remarkable feature of the operations. The system on which the contractors have performed their labours—all the mate rials hiving been prepared away from the site—accounts for this peculiarity. In fact, the building was fitted upon the ground with the exactness and finish of a punk , . Ones hardly cold from the furnace was placed in its final position ; girders and columns went direct from the forks to their destioation. But the preenion and extent of the operations an perhaps more forcibly shown in the distribution of up wards of two thousand workmen about the works. This vast number, hr from crowding one another, is so scattered that the works appear to be but thinly populated. But from the first gallery the best view of toe works may be had. Looking tram this point into the great central avenue below, the *Sect Is very tine. The men and horses and wax• gone appear no bigger than toys; the whirr of the engines is hardly audible; and the details of the operations ars lei, so that the long, unbroken lines of galleries stretch away on both sides. Mounting still higher—to the leads which run on either side of the great transept, the view of the roof of the building can be seen. A vast sea of glass stretches so far on all sides that the view of the park is almost shut out. The great beauty of the design consists in thie—that each section of the building is a multiple of the other. This ar rangement has this effect—that galleries radiate from any point at which the spectator places hiensel , . Thus the thou sands of columns which support the building, and which else would appear like a confused forest, fall, viewed from any point, into avenues, each covering the other. This beautiful arrang. meet is moat striking, and should be noticed by every visitor. As many accounts hate been published deprecating the system on which the workmen who armed this palace were seinuaerattd, we ere anxious to remove, as lee as we are able, any disagreeable impression which may lurk in the public mind on this subject. On icquiry we find that throughout the operations Means. Fox and Henderson have paid, on an go, ao loss a weekly sent than 2,6001. in wages. This large sum, distributed amongst about 1,800 workmen (which may be fairly stated as the avenge number), give a lair week's wage to each. The machinery employed for the rapid payment of the men, is so ingeniously constructed that it was possible to pay 2 000 *operate sums within the space of two boar. As a mark of the growing intelligence and provident habits of working men, we must not forget to notice the Accident Relief Fund, which they established to provide for any casualties which might happen to one of their body._ _ Tuitions. Throughout the program of the works a constant succession of visitors, including all the rank and intellect of the country, continued to arrive ow the ground. After a time the con. tractors found that the crowds who continued to El :eh to the works impeded the operations, and it was resolved that a suns of five shillings should be charged, and that the proceeds of this fee should go to the workmen's fond. The fund has bees considerably increased by this moans ; and as only few accidents have iosurred, the mosey will, in all probability, be devoted in some other way to the advantage of the work men. Prince Albert has visited the works three or lour timse at different periods; and on S►turday last, the Queen ac companied the Prince Consort. In conclusion, we may safely assert that this great palace may be fairly takes as a perfect specimen of the energy, skill, and rabidity with which a great idea may be reduced to a great tact us this country. It will be as remarkable a specimen of the industry of the world is anything from any country, which it is des tined to contain. TM DECORATIONS. The decoration of the budding, entreated to Mr. Owen Jones, will consist of party.colouring throughout the into riot ; but it would be prankster* to declare Ns deal the distri bution of °plow at present proposed. PREPARATIONS ABROAD. By the kindness of Mr. S. Carter Hall we are able to give the following particulars relative to the preparations abroad, reosived from the aorrespondents of tae Art Journal for publication in the forthcoming number of that work: THE PREPARATIONS IN FRANCE. If we have paid to Tram thit het of our continental visite, to ascertain sad report the proves made by her manufacturers in reformat to the ensuing Exhibition, is is not that we amidst her lust in laportenes as regards her claims to orailderatMa, or that she will be loand behind her immediate neighbours in the impeding wettest of the industrial arta. The esperienee of put yule has taught as how muck we have a right to look for from a oountry which bas so long bona regarded as the fountain of all that is brilliant, luxurious, and elegmot ; while her own experience fa! similar Mimi expositions mast have incubated mug her producing classes many lessons of which she will now doubtless avail kanalt, bat whirl other coantries, yet la the (ohm of their knowledge, have still to lure. To Ragland ea exhibition of national issimary is a acuity ; but Pram, during the last hall maim has seen rims natkaal expositions, so that she has beam salleleatly poetised in ell the requirements which sash displays demand; end the gesteratica sow busily eau• pied in loraishleg their cattingent to the mighty array to he assembled la Leaden dartsh the primal yoor, will bring with them the takeritenee of skill end artistic knowledge derived from their forefathers who wee their peaseful booms soda the Consulate, the Empire, end the Restore lira. It is remerkable that during the many yams wherein the popular palace for militant glory bad posesesioa et siae wths of the imbaliteste of Pram, mho server =tinily let go her hold of those adveatega welch the taste mad ingennitt of her aIIaWAIRSIII hod Maud to her ; and though her murals sad the Melte aririag from them alluded but tittle beyond Ire ors Milers for a my oomeidereble arm of yam, they mesa became known mad appulded when her armed logins were ft the most part disbanded, sal her ports sad her roads were spit to the whets world. Bat this 'pleat love of mania mown is rapidly pasting away ham ler moms thoughtful end tabs -minded eillam ; they have hot their whereat MONISM tor wan which "atoll more pail than profit, sad which, though addles largely to naked glory, de aelltine to promote W solid kappisem sad moral elevation el the people and I they shriek beta the id* of maker revolution. Pram is atteely tired ot all soh matters, sad It, with oat desk, desirous of turabieurted into pie*. sham lad spews hate prealathooks." We were ia Paris es the dug whim the Prieldemt deliveral his has lump to It MA Nos. Ow owede 0.14O. 14 IR a l b. lals 0 l . • ber i f. 10110.' pd Sig Mt 3. w. NO W ' 0 0. ON