The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-06 00:00:00

THE NEW CRYSTAL PALACE.

RAISING OF THE FIRST COLUMN.

The great work, which for the next few months is
to employ all the ingenuity of dozens of Ilea ts, and the
leboser of thousand. of bends, was commenced yisterday at
Sydenhant, under surparaingly favourable auspices. The
first light column of the Now Crystal Palace, which is to
restore to the people the amusement and instruction which
they so extensively enjoyed from its predecessor, was raeed
with • simple but impressive ceremonial, under a brilliant
sun, and amid the acclamation, of thousands of de-
lighted spectators. A hippy augury we trust may
be derived front the fineness of the weather, the
heat being tempered by a cool breeze, which not
ably "made things pleasant" to the company, but
so cleared the atmosphere as to enab'e them fully to appre-
ciate the magnificent landscape of which the new palace is
to be the centre. Special trains commenced running from
London-bridge at half-past 12, and at half-past 2, when the
ceremonial commenced there were several thousand person,
assembled on the roan.... The site of the future transept
was enclosed with roper, having tall poles placed at inter-
vals, from the tope of which fluttered the flogs of all
nations, end from a temporary triangle in the centre the
solemn itself hung suspended which was so soon to play au
important part in the day's proceedings. The space next
the ropes wee reserved for the ladies, and was soon occupied
by • dense phalanx of gaily attired occupants ; and
outside the " mob of gentle nen " arranged themselves
as best they could with a vie v of seeing sod hearing as
much as possible of the day's proceedings. Two military
bands were stationed in the immediate vicinity, and, by a
strange coincidence, commenced their musical performance
with "Anode Laurie," the last tune which the collected
bands played on the ast great day in Hyde-park.
Close behind, Mr. Edgington had spread out a conside-
rable encampment, of which the gnat ref, eshment pavilion
was not the least attractive feature ; and at a short distance
on the left was • smaller tent, in which were displayed the
drawings and models of the future edifice. The last com-
pleted design, with Mr. Owen Jonta's recent improvements,
excited general admiration; while nut a few of the visitor.
were inclined to prefer the simplicity of Sir Joseph Pazton's
original plan. We have more than once noticed in
the Daily New the particulars in which the new
Crystal Palace will differ from and improve upon its
predecessor, the principal being the entire arched root,
which formed part also of the Hyde-park design, hut was
abandoned on grounds of expense and the necessity for
expedition. As seen in Mr. Owen Jones's finished drawing
lit has • splendid effect, and quite an artistic character is
given to the whole by the addition of these arched recesses
of immense size over the principal entrances, which by
giving light and shade make the garden front • finished
picture and obviate the appearance of monotony so difficult
to avoid in a structure of such great size and built of so
peculiar • material. These, with two small square towers
at the ends, were the last touches to the design, which if
carried out in its integrity will certainly produce
one of the most beautiful and unique edifices
that the world has ever seen. With a frontage of
3,000 feet, ornamented as we have described, and a stretch
of highly ornamented ground., nearly 300 acres in extent,
dotted with statues and enlivened by fountains of every
variety of fanciful design, and having jets of immune
altitude, it is hardly too much to anticipate that " The
People's Palace at Sydenhani" will be worthy of its high
intuition and of the vast masses who, next summer, will be
attracted within its boundaries. At half-put two
o'clock, the directors and officers of the company mus
tercd in one of the small tents, and, headed by six work-
men bearing a large banner, on which was inscribed
•. Success to the Palace of the People," marched in prices.
sion to the centre of the enclosed space, the binds playing
the national anthem. A bottle, containing coins and toe
following inscription, was placed in the socket which was to
receive the column : "'lbis column, the first support of
the Crystal Palace, a building of purely Emil sh architec-
ture, destined to the recreation and instruction of the Mil-
lion, was erected on the 6th day of August, 18.32, in the 10th
year of the reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria, by Samuel
Laing, Esq., M.P., Chairman of the Crystal Palace Com-
pany. The original structure, of which thie column forms
a part, was built after the design of Sir Joseph Paxton, by
Messrs. Fox, Henderson, and Co., and stood in liyde-park,
where it received the contributions of All Nations, at the
World's Exhibition, in the year of Our Lord, 185 L" The
column was then firmly planted in the ground, the direc-
tors taking • pull at the ropes, and being powerfully as-
sisted by three very young gentlemen Masters Fuller,
Fox, and Phillips, who worked as if the whole weight of
the undertaking devolved upon their particular shoulders.
A royal salute was then fired, the band again played the
national anthem, and, when the cheering had subsided,
Mr. S. LAING then addressed the assembly. In the
course of his speech he said: I trust that the assurance
that we are all deeply and intimately impressed with what
1 may almost venture to call a religious policy of our duties
and responsibilities, will be accepted as a guarantee that to
the best of our judgment and ability this great under-
taking shall be constructed in a proper spirit and with
• view to noble and elevating objects. (Hear, hem.)
As regards the material features of the enterprise, words
are but feeble iastraments in which to paint the triumphs
of art and tan Ismilise el nature. It is better to ask you
to look around yea and say for yourselves whether the site
is worthy of the People's Palace and of the People's Park.
Figure to yourselves the surrounding arca which is now
defined by a circle of beauty, converted into a crystal dome,
and raised aloft under the blue vault of Heaven and you
will form some indistinct image of the new central transept
as it units in the genius of a Paxton, and as
it will shortly exist as • tangible reality for
the wonder aid admiration of millions. (Cheers.)
None of us will ever forget to whose comprehensive and
philosophic mind we are indebted for the original
idea of that transcendent Exhibition, and to
whine courage, resolution, and busineu aptitude we
owe the prosecution of that idea to a successful
conclusion amidst all manner of doubts and difficulties.
Nor shall we hastily forget the affable and condescending
in which our gracious Queen, surrounded by her
family, mixed there day after day in free and unreserved
intercourse with her subjects, setting an example by which
all from high to low might profit, of enlightened interest in
worthy objects and unaffected sympathy with the tutu
and enjoyments of her people. With these recollections
fresh in our minds, I must confess it has begs an inspiriting
idea with us that in perpetuating an enduring memo-
rial of that greet and glorious Exhibition, and in ex•
pending the noble and philanthropic idea of Prince Al-
bert into fresh developments, we should be at the same time
rearing a monument, perhaps not altogether inappropriate
or unworthy of the reign under which we have the happy
privilege to live. I feel that you all respond to this menu-
meint, and that in calling on you now to join with me in
eels beating the set of laying the foundation stone of the
People's Felice, I cannot suggest • better mode of express.
ing our common feeling, than —by asking you to unite in one
loud and hearty acclamation of " God save the People's
' (Loud and continued cheering.)
The external ceremonies having been thus brought to a'
satisfactory conclusion, upwards of 500 ladies and gentle-'
men who had received invitations from Messrs. Fox and
Henderson, proceeded with considerable alacrity to the'
large pavilion, in which a magnificent cold collation with
wines of every description in abundance, bad been taste-
fully spread out by Mr. Higginbotham, of the British
Hotel, for their refection. We believe that this was Mr.
Higginbotham's debut as caterer for so large a company,
and certainly it could hardly be possible for a first attempt
to come off with greater &tat The company showed their
deep appreciation of his cautions by the energy with
which they devoted themselves to the demolition of the
good cheer, giving striking proofs of the healthful-
ness of the Sydenhain air in the marked improvement
of their appetites. The chair was taken by Mr. Laing,
who was surrounded by distinguished company.
The toasts of "The Queen" si Prince Albert and the rest
of the royal family" having been duly honoured,
The CHAIRMAN said that in proposing the toast of 1
" Success to the Crystal Palace," be did so with a full con-
viction that all who were amesabled there felt • warm
and deep interest in the
_pmject to initiate which they
were then mumbled. That was no mere festive com-
memoration in which all but complimentary remarks
would be out of place but a meeting for business as
well as pleasure, and one part of the business of the
day was to explain as shortly as he could the objects which
he had already told them at the inauguration the company
had in contemplation. In the first place, he must tell them
that the company did not mean to ask for patronage until
they were in a position to command it; but at the same
time it must he distinctly understoodthat the wise and good
of the realm had not been backward in their expressions of
sympathy and encouragement. (Hear, hear.) As all pre-
sent were conversant with the history of the Gnat
Exhibition of 1851, it would be idle to detain them with
any retrospect, and he would simply any that the idea of
that Exhibition originated in the noble and philosophic con-
ception of the highest personage in the realm next to the
sovereign, and was developed into • world's wonder and
attraction without parallel. (Loud cheers.) When that
unrivalled exhibition had done its work, when the
time had come, as in the case of all sublunary grandeur.
that it must die, a bitter feeling of regret was felt that
that which had been • great opportunity for the instruc-
tion of the people should pain away without an enduring
record. (Cheers.) That idea took *variety of shapes. I a
the tint place, it took the shape of pressure from without
upon the legislature of this country to preserve the Crystal
Palace on its original site. That attempt did not succeed,
and for good reason. He had regretted the failure at the
time, and had been somewhat disposed to re-
proach the legislature for their great indifference
to the wants of the people. But experience had
corrected that short-sighted notion, and taught him that the
legislature had done quite right in leaving the people
of England to their own resources. The consequence of
the vote negativing the maintenance of the old Crystal
Palace had been to give them • new and more beautiful
crystal palace at Sydenham. (Loud cheers.) The old
Crystal Palace would rise, like a phoenix, more beautiful
than ever; and, not to waste words, alter the models which
had been exhibited in an adjoining tent, he would repeat
his belief that on the Ist of May, 1863, they would have a
crystal palace far superior to that which had passed away.
(Hear, hear.) He would now proceed to describe, as briefly
as possible, the objects which they intended to carry out in
that glorious building, which he hoped to see completed in
Sydenham Park. Those objects might be briefly classed
under the head of recreation, instruction, and commercial
utility. With respect to the question of recreation, they
could not but feel strongly that there were some grounds
for the reproach often addressed to Englishmen, that while
they knew better than most men how to work and create
objects of industry, they knew worse than any how to
ammo themselves. (Cheers and laughter.) It must be ad-
mitted that in that respect they . were inferior to many
foreign nations, to whom in other respects thi y