The Express.
London, England, 1852-04-20 00:00:00

THE CRYSTAL PALACE AND THE
SURPLUS FUND.

A meeting of the Manchester Exhibition Com-
mittee was held yesterday, at the Town Hall, to consider
the desirableness of petitioning parliament for the retention
or otherwise of the Crystal Palace, and also the propriety
of making an application to her Meiesty's commissioners
for the return of the fund subscribed by Manchester,
in order that it may be devoted to local pur-
poses. Sir John Potter presided, and said they had
before petitioned for the retention of the Crystal
Palace, but it had been again urged upon them. With
regard to the fund he would rather have fetid nothing, but
he maw that Warrington, Bolton, Coekermouth, and Salford
were applying for a return, and, as he had been applied to
on behalfof the Manchester Free Library, and as the fund
vim at present in tact, he thought that the Manchester
I people would prefer the means of applying the money to
bed purposes. He thought they would, at all events,
paw having it expended urn some local institution to
it applied to an institution of practical art,
MI talked of, in Loudon.— The Bishop
off Mennisseter thought they were entering on a
gib field ht asking for the retention of the
01111111 Palace without spetifying the object it should bo
amstind to. He should hie to boar what Mr. Bosley, who
fs a royal commissioner, had to say ?—Mr. Barley said he
was not authorised to my anything, but he thought gentle-
men should recollect that the local subscriptions were
given without condition, and that the surplus was to be
given to establish some kindred institution in London.
His own opinion was, that if the Crystal Palace were re-
tained it would be essentially a place of recreation and
amusement for London, and that other parts of the country
would not derive much advantage. Many sugges-
tions had been made of purposes to which the
surplus could be applied. His own opinion, however,
was that they could not overlook the claims of other parts
of the world. Franco and other parts of Europe made
magnificent contributions, and he thought it became a
question if the money could not be applied to some great
institution in London, from which foreigners would derive
advantage ea well as this country, the idea was a great
industrial institution in London, to which young men
could go up for the purposes of study, with power to grant
degrees and diplomas. He thought the Warringtin local
committee had set up a good claim to have their money
returned, if the commissioners could be induced to divide
the surplus fund, but his own opinion was that they
would not.—The Bishop of Manchester thought they
should have nothing to do with the retention of the
Crystal Palace : that was an affair for London only_
With regard to tne surplus funds, he objected to the divi-
&JOGS into small sums Manchester would get a larger por-
tion than most other towns, but even its share would be of
no gnat moment. As respected the great industrial insti-
tution in London, to which Mr. Bailey alluded, as pro-
posed, he objected to studying in London ; why should sue
young men be obliged to leave Manchester to obtain •
diploma? Why not the institution in London send down
commissioners once • year to make °laminations and grant
diplomas?—Mr. Entwistle objected to the division of the
fund.—Mr. Malcolm Ross spoke in favour of the Crystal.
Palace being preserved, and moved the adoption of
Jas. in favour of the motion of which Mr. J. Ileywood, M.P.
has given notice in the House of Commons.— r. Henhouse
objected to the retention of the building as not calculated
for a pormar.ent purpose. Ho should be sorry if the build-
ing were retained, and anything were done to dim tho
lustre of the great purpose with which it had been arse-
ciated.—Beme further discussion took place, but ultimately
the meeting separated without the resolution finding a
seeontter.

STS Joint Hora, M.P., and the Hon. Mr. Ellis
arrived at the St. Katherine's Steam Wharf, early yetter-
day morning_by the Geatral Steam Navigatk,a Cumptay's
steam *hip Tiger, from Antwerp.