The Express.
London, England, 1852-04-29 00:00:00

PRESERVATION OF TIIE CRYSTAL PALACE.

Yesterday a public meeting took place at the
Town-hall, Southwark, for the purpose of testing the opi-
nions and feelings of the inhabitants of the borough upon
the subject of retaining the Crystal Palace as • place of
resort for amusement, recreation, and improvement, and to
petition parliament for that object. Hr. W. PIitTCHARD,
the High Bailiff, occupied the chair, sod in opening the
proceedings, observed that they were assembled to-day for
an object of considerable public importance. It had long
been a reproach to this country, that however great we
might be in commerce and manufactures, we had not paid
that attention to the more refined arts of lile which ought
to have been bestowed upon them. In this respect they
had certainly been exceeded by their continental neigh-
bours, but pest changes had taken place in the public
mind within the last few years, and many of those build-
ings—such as the British Museum, the National Gal-
lery, and other institutions to which the people
wewre forniterly c
ree. Aleend
the
nowteor tufiyttdaodmhsw
cwwiodn,wowtea
nviisiter nnntil a recent period except at an expense which
the great majority of persons were unable to pay. A de-
aire, however, had lately sprung up to give • more elevated
turn to the minds of the people, and during the last year a
palace was constructed in Hyde Park whose object was to
display the arts and manufactures of ell quarters of the
world. The success of the experiment was beyond a doubt ;
but more luting results might be expected from the oppor-
tnnitim which would be afforded for the refinement and

improvement of tha people and the promotion of the beet
interests of the country. The results chaired could not be
obtained by a mere evanescent effort; and as they had be-
gun well it was essential that the building should be conti-
nued and be made to amuse a permanent character is
order that the objects which they had successfully
commenced might be effectually carried out. The objections
which had been urged against the retention of the building
were untenable, and foreign nations were absolutely aston-
ished at the contemplation of such an act of Vandalism as
would destroy a building which hail excited the admiration
and envy of the world. (Cheers.) _
Mr. N, ICKERS proposed the first resolution : "Thatthe
Crystal Palace should be preserved on its present site, on
account of its being so admirably fitted for educational pur-
poses, and for affording the means of rational recreation to
all classes." He contended if the government should dare
to pull down so magnificent a structure, it would deserve
the contempt and ridicule of mankind. The public had
subscribed freely for the erection of the building, and, if
it was to be destroyed, their money ought to be returned
to them ; but he, for one, would rather subscribe double the
amount that he had given, than that such a result
should take place. If the government should adopt
the step which they were now protesting against,
the inhabitants of the borough would hold another meet-
ing to petition the Queen to dismiss such a government, and
they would maids in a body to present the petition.
(Cheers and laughter.)
Mr. WALKER seconded the resolution, which was sup-
ported by Mr. HOWARD.
The Outman then read letters which be had received
from the sumbsu for the borough, Sir Wm. Molesworth
and Mr. Aliens Hamphery, in answer to a request that
they would attend the meeting. Sir W. Moleewortb's
communiontku was to this effect :—" I must say that I am
not in favour of the pr seration of the Crystal Palace—.
Fint, his... I ooaslder that public faith was, to a certain
sena; pledged net to Mop it up, and not to spend public
swam wee k. , bemuse a large sum of public
=b wesid be le purchase it, and also a con-
tent be repired to defray its annual en-
rols Hit were thrown spina to the public without an
ISIVISIO hei NA oven If It were sot thrown open without
as estrsses *On was would be essined to a very limited
maw of Thirdly, it wouldibe far better for the
so-Ad tM sole) n of the inhabitants of the metropolis
to 'spudtin sona of messy which the Crystal Palace would
met la hanky moodier park, which the Chancellor of the
lizeberpeebestihmead to do in consequence of the expense.
In the Crystal Palace has admirably answered
the eijei he mil* it wee built, and I entertain a firm con-
viatica that if it be preserved it will prove a miserable fail-
ure, unaMie • ISMISIbRibill sum of public money be annually
expended ups it, and I doubt whether it is proper to tax
the Mims **what et most will only be beneficial to a
smell whin of the inbsbiteMM of London." Mr. Alderman
Huspesey said, "Do you sot think it would be bad faith
in the government to allow the building to remain, and
also a grant expense to the public to keep it
? Under these eiremistasen. I fear I must
vets oohed its ranaislog in Hyde-park." Cur-
ios the reeding of those Wen the meeting testified
their tion by peens sod hisses ; and Mr.
Thw•itss, nesakiag to the ressistform stated that he was
fully con that if the ameba he Southwark should
give an adverse vote ongsseing the preservation of the
Crystal Palau, it would bob Om& punishes as the repre-
seatatives ethos Immesh. (Hese, beer.) Mr. Oliviers,
ON of the sonmilleie kr the teslontios et the Crystal Pa-
lau, stated that be myna to Mr. Aldsomm liumphery
to allow his name to be pieced upon that sommittee, and he
at once gave hie mesa& (" Hear, bear," and hisses.)
Mr. Oliveira outsold into sem statistic* to prove the groat
advantages MO night be halved from the preservation of
the building, end he salenkted that they could raise
78,0001. a year by a makeate shags for entrance, and ad-
mitting the pub& two dap a week free of aspens'. it had
been stated UM*, austrestces had a personal interest in
tin retention alike beilemt. Now he could assure the
smelting that it would be more to the advantage of those
gentleman to dimes* of the building at once, but they felt
the vast importune a preeerving so magnificent and useful
a work of art.
Mr. Brewton sad Dr. Clostixo, none-residents of the
borough, supported the resolution, which was carried unani-
mously.
A resolution was then proposed, to the effect "that a
petition to both houses of parliament be adopted in favour
of the retention of the Crystal Palace, and that the mem-
bers for Southwark be requested to present the petition to
the House of CAWIRICES, and Lord Shaftesbury to the house
stLinds."
Upon this nestetion Mr. MARTIN observed that be wite
grostly bribes& le think. that when Sir William Moles.
worth was behests& that the continuance of the palace
would am involve the public in any expense, he would
alter hie mind upon the subject. (Hear, hear.)
The modest was carried unanimously, and was followed
by a resolaties—. That the two members for the borough
having expense* opinions upon the subject of retaining the
Crystal Palaes at direct variance with the feelings of the
meeting, it was resolved that such an expression of opinion
without any coaference with their constituents was deserv-
ing ofthe strongast disapprobation."
After a vote of thanks to the chairman the proceedings
terminated.

LAMBETll.—Yesterday evening a public meeting
of the inhsbitants of the borough of Lambeth eras held at
the Horns Tavern, Kennington-common, fur the purpose of
taking into consideration the measures necessary to be
adopted for the preservation of this structure. The chair
was taken by the Ron. C. Tennyson D'Eyncourt,
who said that the course proposed to be taken with refer-
ence to the preservatiostof that bstntifid building met with
his entire concurrent,. It should be retained for the par-
pose of exhibiting works of art, science, and manufactures.

An act of parliament must be passed, and be believed the
permission of the crown to retain it would not be withheld.
He believed the aristocracy wore in the main favourable
and would consent to its preservation. The first resolution.
deprecating the destruction of the building, was moved by
H. Taylor, Esq., seconded by F. Balaton, Esq., and sup-
ported by H. 7. Slack, Esq. The second resolution, ex-
pressing the opinion of the meeting, that the building could
be made seltsupporting, was moved by Thos. Evans, F.sq.,
and seconded by Henry Renee, Esq. Both resolutions
were curried unanimously. The meeting having been ad-
dressed by Messrs. Macgregor, M.P., and B.Oliveira, sepa-
rated after the usual vote of thanks to tile chairman.