The Press.
London, England, 1853-09-10 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE GARDEN.
Tux out of-door arrangements and preparations at
the Splculiam Crystal Palace are now in a state of
sufficient forwardness to furnish visitors with a good
idea of the expected results. It may he questioned
even whether the contemplated attractions which are
to he uttered inside the edifice will prove more
striking and popular than the gardens without
Even in its present incomplete condition, the do
scription given of the• demesne is highly picturesque,
and the changes which art has effected in the uatu•
ral beauties of the situation little short of miracu-
lous, considering the brief interval that has elapsed
since the company first took possession of l'enge-

park.
Thu greater part of the gardens are Upon the smith front.
of the l'aluce, sloping down a steep hill tos aids the ('roy-
don line. Coming out at one of the three south entrances,
that side of the l'idace rests upon u high bank of made
ground, thrown up to partly counteract the effects of the
slope of the hill. This mound, which of cowse extends
the whole length of the building, is emered with a rich
verdant turf. On the bank, between each of the three
great entrances, are placed groups of trues. I ittler each
of the transept arches are the grand entrances to the
building, Anima by lofty flights of steps of solid granite.
'flame at the east and west ends fire about an feet and the
principal one in the centre 100 feet broad. To aid the
effect of these avenues, the steps are flanked at either side
with 11111/414IVI: blocks of graoite, which are surmounted ut
the terminations by colossal stone sphinxes. Each of the
sphinxes is I feet long by 7 feet high ; and though such
proportimis artc by nit means insignificant, yet they look
mere bagatelles when compared with the gigantic designs
m. 41111111 thaw.
011 u it'VCI with the base of the flight of steps is the
upper terrace, a grand and imposing structure. It ist!.,Otal
feet long, 511 tinsel. and Is high. It is entirely formed of
made ground in thin layers, made solid by continuous
insulating, and is ern illlellted along its whole' length with a
handsome stone facing and balustrude, supported on
stning brick substructions to keep back the ground. )!rive
er six broad Rights of steps lead from this to the gardens
beneath, when. the beauty of the terrace facing is shown
to conspieuous *shanties., and its white stonework ishni•
ruebly emanisted with the verdant slopes around. At the
base of the terrace opposite each of the three greet en-
trouts's are a cinrespouding number of nnwrvoirs, into
which &tan handsome stone niches twelve or fifteen dol-
phins continually slant forth bright streams of water.
I 'is /II all the pedestals of the balustrioling—the designs of
which are exceedingly plain—are to be plactsl a series of
allegorical statues and copies from the antique. At the
cast end west ends of the terrace some of the tignres are
already mounted, out of course their effect considerably
11110'41%1'S the liSpeet of the terries• from below. Among
them is an "Italy" by Monti—a clever statue both for
design and executituii; and an " Australia" by Bell.
Titere is also a copy of the Furless llercules, and two casts
of Esculapitts and Mercury.
Broad gravel walks, which will wind among parterres
and lawns, lead from the upper to the lower tennis.. This
is of the same height. lent h. and lavadth as the one al-
ready described, and the ornamental halustradeswork is
also similar. The only difference between tlwm is that
the lower terrace is faced with a steep sloping bank of turf
instead of carved *atone, and is without the basement, re-
servoirs, and fountains which add so much beauty to the
upper. In the space between the upper and lower ter-
races, and at their vest and west ends, two of the great
fountains will be placed. Their basins. which are 300
feet in eircumference, are already finished, and surrounded
with u headstone coping. The jets of these beautiful or-
naments are intended to be S inches in diameter, and to
rise to the height of Ifto feet. Below the lower terrace,
and opposite the great centre transept. will be the fountain
par excellence. Like the other fistuatains On the grounds,
its gigantic basin, 1,200 feet in circumference, is com-
pleted. and looks as if it were destined to contain a little
lake. As tin the whole, within and without the building,
there will be ten great fmnitains, it has been thought de-
sinible to obtain fresh ideas in the way of designs. A
competition has accordingly been invited on a very stab'.
titetory footing. Ten architects and sculptors. some foreign
and some English, have Is-en selected to give in designs.
and lOW. is to be pant to each. Among them are John
Bell. Hector Honstu, Owen Jones, Keil* (of Berlin), John
Thomas, Dighy Wyatt, etc. The designs. about one him-
tired in number, have just been completed, but the selec•
tions. if yet made, have not been allowed to transpire. The
great fi twin at Chatsworth—the largest in the kingdom
—throws a jet of water, 9 inches in diameter. 2fe2 feet
high With the means and appliances at his command at
Sydenham. Sir Joseph Paxton feels confident that he can
surpass this colossal waterwork. To effect this the greet
fountain will have a jet I I inches in diameter, which, it is
expected, with the amount of pressure applied, can he
thrown mostmls of 300 feet high. To supply all these
waterworks an Artesian well is being bored at the bottom
of the hill. trout which it is expected an inexhaustible sup.
ply can be furnished. The depth of the bore already ex-
ceeds Atm feet. Erns this well the water will be rimmed
up by powerful machines. erected for the purpose, the
main reservoir at the east end of the building, where a
large tank, or rather a small lake, 9 'wrist in extent and 15
feet deep, has been dug for its reception. From here it
will be pumped to the tops of two towers. •240 feet high,
which are in course of erection, one at each end of the
Palace. The impetus it will acquire in its descent. through
pipes from the summits of these towers, will, it is sup-
posed. Is- sufficient to force the jets of the fountain to the
enormous altitude already stated. After it has supplied
all the vie-ions waterworks, four pipes. each 2 feet A inches
in diameter. will convey it down the hill into the lower re.
Inavoir, oats in tatuat. Lit oho centre es ago tooorroir

SATURDAY,

will Les a larg,• ialrul, callod the tieological Island, as on
it will be collected specimens of the principal strata of
earth, from tlitKrciit parts of the United Kingdom.

THE LAWSON OBSERVATORY.
A munificent offer has been by Mr. Lawson, of Bath,
well known for his scientific aequirements, and the
magnificent collection of astronomical and !Althea e-
phicid instruments which he possesses, and of which
he has consented to present the whole for the pur-
pose of funning a Midland Observatory in the neigh-
bourhood of Nuttinghaln, only on condition that a
sum of 111,IMNII. can be raised to build a proper edi-
fice and found an establishment on a fitting scale.
'l'o this fund Mr. Lawson has also volunteered a
sultscriptiott of 1,111111 guineas. A colinnittee
tins
accordingly been formed in order to take step,' for
rendering available the magnificent present ; and
nearly 4,0001. have already been contributed towards
the ftmd. Mr. Lowe, of 1 lighfield-house Observatory,
Notts, has communicated the following description
of the various instruments which Mr. Lawson has
thus placed at the disposal of the public :
" 1. Au extremely fine refracting telescope, with an
object-glass of seven inches clear aperture and a focal
length of 126 inches, having an achtontatic middle lens.
This telescope is of the same size as that with which hlr.
hind has made all his discoveries. It was manufactured by
Dollond, who pronounced it the best he ever made. The
telescope is equatorially mounted, having the right aseen-
abt and declination circles esentplete. A mercurial cheek
(invented by Mr. Lawson) is attached to the axis of the
telescope, in order is, MOW it at the same speed us the eh-
ject under examination ; consequently the heavenly bodies
never move out of the field of the telescope. 'rite collet-
don tif eyepieces is 11111 l terous and very complete—ono set
nnanlifyinif instil till to 1.400 times : another set of 14011 Th
Male eyepiece% are of the celebrated German manuthe-
ture; and a third set are single lens, with convex and con-
cave glasses of equivalent foci. The mien 'meters attached
to the telescope are veil. good, and include a lens miens
meter of double-refracting space. by which the (deserver
can measure the most mi 111 l te angles or elistaneesof double
stars. lit connection with this telescope is a reclinia.
or
reclininit-chair (also invented by Mr. Lawson, and which
obtained the silver medal of the Society of Arts). This
serves to place the observer in the most easy position for
delicate observations.
" 2. A smaller refracting telescope, with object-},lass of
clear aperture, and a 6 peal length of (MI inches, made
by 11olbaul, and possessing meamifying powers front 441 to
Am. This telescope is mounted on HD 11,711111Uth unit
altitude stand, moving horizontally, and so constructed
as to carry any telescope whose length is between 6 inches
and 6 feet. It is exceedingly useful in sseeping for
comets
" 3. I'ariteus smaller telescopes, by lhakmd, with low
powers arranged our comet-sweeping, Lc. Opera-glasses
and other helps for the practical astronomer.
" 4. A small transit instrument by which true time can
be obtained from observe( of the sun or stars. This
instrument gives the suit's altitude, and has in eounection
with it the curious variation cempass, whereby more veer-
wet observations caw lie Male of the magnetism of the
earth, or of matmetic changes.
" rs. A valuable chronometer which marks sidereal time,
and either watches, both curious and usefill.
" 6. A nuignehselectric dial (invented by Mr. Lawson!,
with galvanic battery, &c.
" 7. Quadrant levels. plummets, lamps, and other tools
indispensable in an observatory.
" M. The atmospheric recorder (invented by Mr. Law-
son), which is a mechanical wonder, worked by clockwork,
by which the amount of rain, amount of evaporation,
amount of electricity, direction and force of wind, height
of barometer, height of thermometer, and degree of humi-
dity, are constantly writing themselves down, day and
night, each change being recorded at the precise moment
of occurrence, without the aid of an Ithserver.
" 9. A Lawson thermometer-stand, char}
with ther-
mometers. hygrometers, and ram-gauge.
" 16. A standard barometer, according to the arrange-
ment of the British Meteorological Society.
" 11. A Daniel's hygrometer in a suitable stand, well
arranged for the purpose of accurate and easy registration
of this delicate instrument.
" 12. Electrical apparatus with insulatera,electrometers,
etc., for experimenting on the electricity of the atmosphere,
the close observations of which may elucidate the prievi-
plea of vegetation.
" The objects of the proposed observatory." adds Mr.
Lowe, "would be twofold—first, the extension of the do-
main of actual science ; secondly, the spread among all
classes of more accurate scientific knowledge. The science
of meteorology, premising so much to navigation, agricul-
ture, and the public health, is far from the perfection to
which 'tannagey has almost attained. The multiplication
of records on plans continually improving in accuracy
setillet to he the only way of laying the tiettnehai 111 l of an
exact knowledge of the changes of the atinesphere, as
It
regards heat, pressure. humidity. motion. awl electric
state. which are, doubtless, linketi together by laws as real
as that which connects the planetary system together.
though they have hitherto eluded the search of phileso-
pliers, chiefly for want of observations taken with sufficient
accuracy, regularity. and length of time in well-chosen
situations. and uniformly reduced on one systent. For
astronomical and meteorological olseenstions, few plavea,
if any, oirer so advainageons a position as the neighbeur-
hood of Nottingham. Occupying the venue of at great gap
in our English observatories, it possesses an unusual dear-
ness of atmosphere—no unimportant matter. considering
how firw hours, comparatively,, are available ler astron,,TeJ•
cal observations. its oantrid position in England gives