The Press.
London, England, 1854-06-10 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

Poland to reconstruct itself.' (` Hear, hear,' and cheers.)
There is an essential difference in this. Nations manu-
factured by diplomatic treaties never have lasted and are of
no use. (Protracted cheering.) To adjourn the question
to some future diplomatic manufacture at the end of the
war would be a gross mistake. It would compromise not
only the issue but also the success of the military opera-
rations during the war. Besides, who knows how matters
will stand at the end should England neglect the means in-
dispensable to success ? Poland reconstructed with its
national territory, and having for its neighbour Hungary
free and independent—such a Poland thus placed will be
secure, independent, free, and an insurmountable barrier
against Russia's encroachments upon Europe. (Cheers.)
Thus only is Russia's power to be reduced ; thus is Turkey
to be secured, and in no other way. If you but wish Russia
to recross the Pruth and patch up some miserable status
quo paper treaty, and then come home to sleep upon your
laurels, it were better to go to sleep at once without any
laurels. But if you are earnest in the profession of your
better aims, then it would appear to me you want, first, to
have the war popular with your own people. The war is
popular with the people of England on the account that
they believe they are fighting for freedom, and they hope
that some good may be brought about by the war for the
oppressed nationalities. lam convinced that it is on this
account that the war is popular with the masses of the peo-
ple of England, who do not measure great objects with the
short yard of small party purposes ; with those who have
some nobler and higher aim than to help the Tories or
the Whigs to make a political capital out of any object what-
ever ; and with those who bear not a sordid piece of coin,
but a stout heart in their true English breast. (Great
cheering.) Now, if England is joined by despotic Austria,
and thus sacrifices Poland, Hungary, and Italy, it is impos-
sible in the long run to throw dust in the eyes of the peo-
ple. The people will see clear, and the war will have
ceased ti be popular. Further, you want the support of
public opinion abroad. You will lose it if you decide for
despotic Austria, because he who fights side by side with
Austria fights for Austria, and to tight for Austria is to
fight against liberty."

Enumerating the populations, from Servia to Sweden,
whose hearty co-operation must be foregone for the
sake of maintaining the alliance with Austria, M.
Kossuth proceeded to inquire whether the strength
which Austria could bring into the confederacy, even
if she joined it most heartily, would countervail the
sacrifice :

" The Austrian compound of armies is certainly conspi-
cuous for bravery and intelligence. I would never wish to
have a braver army to lead, provided that it be heart and
soul enthusiastic for the cause it is led to fight for. But,
precisely, there is the rub with England on the present
occasion. You must recollect that, after what passed in
1848-49, there is no army in Europe wherein the bayonets
could boast of so many thinking elements as that army
which is called Austrian, but the incomparably larger
majority of which is in its heart as little Austrian as I
myself am (Hear, heur.) Remember those numerous
thousands, and the brethren and sons of the thousands,
who fought against Austria, and fought for freedom,
under the gay tri colour, against the yellow-black flag.
One portion of the so-called Austrian army (in the higher
ranks) would not like to fight against Russia ; another
portion would not like to side with England ( remember
they have made themselves conspicuous by their absence
at the Wellington funeral) ; and there is another portion
of the army who would certainly not like to fight for what
your England calls Austria.. Add to this the probable
emergency of certain complications of a national character,
and you must acknowledge that this army, as it is, not-
withstanding its eminent bravery and intelligence, would
prove of a very ambiguous advantage to England in this
war. And, as to the danger of seeing Austria siding with
the Czar, there is not the slightest danger in that direction.
If the dynasty of Austria be against you, the nations
subject toAustrian oppression, and panting for deliverance,
will be with you. (Cheers.) If Austrian despotism be
against you, freedom of the nationalities will be with you.
(Cheers.) Cast your glance to Poland, and thence across
to Hungary and Croatia, down to Italy and back to Swit-
zerland. in three months the Austrian dynasty of the
house of Hapsburg would vanish like a dream, amid the
exultation of all humanity, and to the lasting advantage of
European liberty, incompatible with that dynasty. ( Tre-
mendous cheers.) No ! the danger is quite the other way.
Suppose that Austria could dare to join you sincerely
against the Czar, her redeemer, her saviour, her deliverer.
In justice we must own that it would be the most mon-
strous ingratitude after all. The worst of banditti in the
south, whatever they be for the rest of mankind, are yet
faithful to one another. But vile ingratitude is a leading
feature in the character of the Hapsburgs. Poland has
saved them—Poland was quartered in reward. Hungary
saved them under Maria Theresa—religious liberty was
suppressed and the constitution suspended in reward.
Napoleon saved them—he was sent to St. Helena in reward.
I myself saved them in 1848. Yes, gentlemen, in March
1848, having had the power thus to speak to them within
the very walls of their own imperial palace, I said, ' Be
just to Hungary, and I will give to the old house of Haps-
burg peace anti security here in Vienna.' (Loud cheers.)
Having had the power thus to speak to them—i, un-
attended, alone, and they tremblingly accepting my gene-
rosity—who will doubt my word when I say I held their
existence in the hollow of my hand ? 1, by an excess of
loyalty, saved them. Look to my country ; what is the
reward? (Vehement cheering.) Some months later Lord
Palmerston's diplomacy saved them—he is hated to the
very heart in reward. The hangman Heyman saved them
—he was driven away in reward. Above all, the Czar
saved them—do you suppose they will tight him in reward ?
Well, you can't help acknowledging that such a monstrous
ingratitude can but push the Czar to double his energies
in doing what else also would be perfectly lawfUl for him

SATURDAY.

to do, according to the established laws of war Re will
address himself to some nationalities, and offer his, and
claim their concurrence for punishing Austria. A strange
concurrence, you will say ; strange indeed! but not a bit
stranger than England claiming the credit of fighting for
the freedom of Europe, and yet allying herself to despotic
Austria. (Great cheering.)"
The meeting terminated with several rounds of
cheering for M. Kossuth, after passing a resolution
setting forth " the desirability of reconstituting Po-
land as an independent nation."

OPENING OF THE CAySTAL PALACE.
WHILE the present number of our journal is passing
through the press the opening ceremony of the
Crystal Palace will be in foil celebra4.ion st Sydeu-
ham. Under these circumstances wets iftore
in the way of description than recapitulate the ar.
rangements as set forth in the otLcial programme
issued by the directors for the day's business:—
Holders of season tickets only, or of special cards of
invitation (which are confined to foreign ambassadors, her
Majesty's ministers, and others specially invited to attend
on her Majesty ), will be admitted to the palace and park on
this occasion.

A limited number of seats will be reserved for mem.
hers of the corps diplomatique, of her Majesty's suite, the
House of Peers, and House of Commons, and their filth
lies, and for the families of other persons who are present
officially to assist at the ceremonial.
Exhibitors' attendants who have been sanctioned by the
directors will be admitted at the railway station biter two
o'clock, and will immediately take their places by the
counters or objects exhibited by their employers.
A dais has been raised on au elevated plaforna in the
central transept, on which a chair of state will be placed.
The directors, with the principal officers and otherscon-
nected with the undertaking, will assemble at half-past two
o'clock in the central transept, opposite the dais, in levee
dress or in full evening dress.
His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, her Majesty's
ministers and officers of state, and the foreign
dors and ministers, will take their place on the platform to
the right and left of the chair of state, in levee dress, at
half-past two o'clock. The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of
London, the mayors, provoets, and other representatives
of the municipal bodies of the kingdom, will take their
places, at the same hour, in their rubes of office, in a space
reserved for them in front of the dais. The foreign com-
missioners, the royal commissioners of the Exhibition of
1851 and of the New York Exhibition, the representatives
of the Dublin Exhibition and of the Paris Exhibition of
1855, and the presidents of the principal learned societies,
will take their places in a space reserved for the purpose in
the central transept fronting the dais. Places will be re-
served for members of the House of Peers and their
families in the front gallery on the right hand of the dais,
and for members of the House of Commons and their
families in the front gallery on the left.
Her Majesty, with the Royal Family, and her suite, will
leave Buckingham Palace so as to arrive at the central
transept of the Crystal Palace precisely at three o'clock.
She will ascend the dais and take her seat in the chair of
state.

Un her Majesty's arrival the chorus, comprising 400 in-
strumental and 600 vocal performers of the various mu-
sical societies of the kingdom, in addition to two regimental
bands, and the band of the company, the whole under the
direction of Signor Costa, will perform " God save the
Queen:: .

On the Queen taking her seat, and when the music has
ceased, the directors of the company will proceed to the
dais, and the chairman will read to her Majesty a short ad-
dress describing the origin and objects of the undertaking,
which lie will then deliver to her Majesty.
Her Majesty will be graciously pleased to return an
answer.

Mr. Fuller will present to her Majesty a series of medals
struck to commemorate the occasion. Sir Joseph Paxton . .

will present the general handbook descriptive of the palms
and park. Handbooks descriptive of the tine arts courts,
the portrait gallery, the Assyrian court, the geological,
zoological, and ethnological departments, will be presented
to the Queen by Mr. Owen Jones, Mr. Rigby Wyatt, Mr.
Phillips, Mr. Fergusson, Professor Owen, Professor Forbes,
and Dr. Lathan].

A royal procession will then be formed in the following
order:

Superintendents of Works and Principal Employes.
Contractors.
Architects of Industrial Courts.
Principal Officers and Heads of Departments.
Directors.
Sir Joseph Paxton. Mr. Laing, M.P.
THE QUEEN.
H. R. H. The Prince Albert, the Xing of Portugal, the
Royal Family, H. R. H. the Duke of Oporto, and their
respective suites.
The Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cabinet Ministers.
The Foreign Ambassadors and the Foreign Ministers.
The procession will turn to the right, move to the south
end of the nave by its west side, returning by its east side,
will then pass round the east side of the central transept
and down the north end of the nave by its east side, re-
turning by its west side to the central transept.
All persons not forming part of the procession will keep
their places during it.
On the return of the procession her Majesty will again
take her seat on the dais, and the ministers and ambassa•
dors will take their places as before.
His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury will then say a
prayer, asking God's blessing upon the undertaking, and
the orchestra will perform the " Hallelujah Chorus.'
When the music ceases, her Majesty will declare " The
Crystal Palace opened." The orchestra will then perfonn

JUNE lO, 1854.

" God save the Queen," during which her Majesty will
retire•
The barriers which had kept the nave and transept clear
will then be thrown open, and the public will be allowed to
circulate throughout the palace and park.
The musical arrangements for the opening are on
an unprec,edentedly grand scale. The orchestra,
which is built in an amphitheatrical form, is 144
feet wide by between 69 and 70 feet deep, ascending
gradually from the floor to the height of 42 feet at
the back. It is built of immense strength, under
the superintendence of the proper authorities. The
band will comprise 100 violins, 30 violas, with the
same number of violoncellos and double basses, with
quadruple wind instruments. The most eminent
performers, both professional and amateurs, are
included in its ranks. The chorus of 1,150 voices
has been selected with much care from the most
efficient quarters, and will contain among its mem-
bers most of the leading principal vocalists and mem-
bers of the metropolitan choirs, including also nearly
250 ladies and gentlemen, professional and amateur,
from the choirs and choral societies in the following
towns (amongst others) :—viz., Bradford, Leeds,
Halifax, Huddersfield, York, Liverpool, Manchester,
Birmingham, Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, Bris-
tol, Norwich, Windsor, Rochester, Nottingham,
Coventry, Lichfield, Bangor, Chester, Cambridge,
Oxford, Brighton, Canterbury, Dublin, Belfast, Edin-
burgh, and Glasgow.
The Italian artistes, headed by Lablache, Formes,
Ronconi, Zelger, and Tagliafico, will assist in the
general ensemble; while the names of Mesdames
Clara Novello, Sims Reeves, Birch, Dolby, with Mr.
Sims Reeves, and other musical celebrities, are a
sufficient guarantee that the English principal
vocalists have not been backward in proffering their
assistance at the solemnity. The acoustical proper-
ties of the building are reported to be far in advance
of the 1851 building. A few days since one of the
leading vocalists sang a verse of " God save the
Queen" at the northern end of the building. Not-
withstanding the extreme length of the nave, every
word and tone were distinctly heard at the southern
end, although a distance of upwards of 1,600 feet.
Captain Gallon and some of the engineering staff
of the Board of Trade devoted a great portion of
Saturday last, as well as the preceding day, in testing
the strength of the building, a very proper precau-
tion, seeing that it was so soon to be honoured by
the presence of the Sovereign, attended by probably
50,(X)0 of her subjects. Large troops of the workmen
were collected in particular portions of the galleries,
then made to run irregularly about, and finally to
troop along in military order, the usual means being
taken meanwhile to ascertain the amount of deflexion.
Nothing produced the slightest impression except the
marching, and then the deflexion was so slight as to
be barely indicated by the finest scientific tests.
Captain Gallon, on his departure, expressed him-
self entirely satisfied with the strength of the struc-
ture.

Our Parisian contemporary the Dhbats has sent
a correspondent to London specially to describe the
marvels of the Crystal Palace. The gentleman
entrusted with this task is M. Lemoinne, who exe-
cuted similar functions with regard to the Great
Exhibition of 18$1. A letter on the prescribed sub-
ject, the first of a series, appears in the Debats of
Thursday last. M. Lemoinne characterises the
Hyde park Palace as a vast caravanserai, a glass
tent, under which all nations met to camp and fra
ternise. This tent, he adds, has disappeared from
the original locality, and established itself three
leagues off, in accordance with the genius of a
locomotive age, in which, as Faith removes moun-
tains, so industry transports mansions.
" The new locale," he continues, " has been judi-
ciously selected upon an elevated spot, and in the
midst of one of those admirable landscapes which
make England a garden. One cannot better realise
the general view of the Palace than by recalling
to mind the fantastic pictures of Martin, which have
been engraved in Paris, and represent the Deluge,
Belshazzar's Feast., the Tower of Babel, and other
biblical subjects. The edifice presents the fabulous
proportions which the extravagant fancy of the artist
might create, but of which none had dared to anti-
cipate the realisation. This astonishing work is
entirely accomplished by private enterprise. It is
performed by a company, with capital raised from
shares, and in which the Government has taken no
part. It has cost already nearly a million sterling.
But the Palace will not, like its predecessor, be a
temporary structure : it is built for all time. In
another point of view this work presents a striking
novelty in England. Englishmen, as we all know, do
not like to pay for inutilities. The industrious and
productive qualities which have made that people the
richest in the world have also contributed to make
them the least artistic. But the presententerprise will
be distinguished among all other English enterprises
by the important place occupied in it by the arts.
There will be collected there a museum embracing the
entire history of the world ; a representation of all
the chefs-d'ceurre of art from the earliest times to our