The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-14 00:00:00

SPAPER
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[Stamped, id. Additional.

THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

The numbers [of admissions yesterday up to 3
o'clock were—season tickets, 6,3,212; paid at the
doors, 3,295 ; total, 6,507 ; a very fair number for
Tuesday, which is generally considered the worst
day in the week. As great curiosity is felt respect-
ing the success of this Exhibition as compared with
its predeoessorof 1851, the following figures may not
prove uninteresting. We find that up to the Bth
July, 1851, the number of season tickets sold was
26076, producing 66,4911. fe., whilst the number
sold up to the 13th Kay in the present year was
21,461, producing 78,8381.45. Of this sum 8,0191. goes '
to the Horticultural Society, leaving a clear balance
of 70,8191. 45., being an increase of nearly 5,0001.
in the receipts of 1862 as compared with those of
1851, and the money having been taken in nearly
two months less time. As the interior is fast getting
cleared and arranged, it becomes more attractive
every day, and therefore it may reasonably be ex-
pected that by the Bth July this year, the return
will stand exceedingly well in the comparison.
Perhaps one of the most interesting incidents in
ties progress of the internal arrangements or rather
reforms is the throwing open the eastern annexe to
the general public, to whom it was so long almost a
terra in its. The tunnel through which it must
be reached is now easy sailing, and at its end, when
you get in to the weß-ordered dominions of Mr.
Quin, there is probably as great a variety of ob-
jects to be examined as had ever been got together
in the same space. One passage redolent of the
most fragrant odours is consecrated to British prr-
fumery, which, thanks to the exertions of Mr.
Eugene Himmel, is no longer classed under the
ignoble designation of "mixed pickles." Here is
to be seen and examined the genuine attar of the
Persian poets, which it appears can be bought also
at the moderate price of 121. the ounce. Here Mr.
Himmel himself discloses the whole mystery of his
odoriferous manufacture, and, from a still of very•
original design, constantly produces his aromatic
essences. Close at band the representative
of Please and Lubin dispenses the "International
bouquet," by the fragrant agency of which we hope
to catch all foreign nations—in a friendly way—by
the nose. Step across the court and a range of very
different preparations arrests the attention of the
promenader. On oae little shelf the Pharmaceutical
Society has nicely arranged as much poison as
would dispose of the whole of one day's visitors to
the Exhibition. Every fatal secret of the poisoners
from Locusts down to Mr. William Palmer is here
to be seen and examined, but by no means tasted.
Opium in the crude state as it is grown in India
and devoured in China, and the same carefully ma-
nufactured as it is smoked in Constantinople and
Teheran. Morphia is exhibited in various forms ;
and that terrible atrychnia, which is so certain
and so sudden in its effects, can be examined in a
bottle of:the most harmless appearance. Other and
better productions of that chemistry which is to be
the next ruler of the world are scattered about in
rich profusion, and people rim from one case to
another and ask, " What's this 1" and " What's
that 1" with eager curiosity. Under these circum-
stances it is hardly being too sanguine to predict
that the eastern annexe is destined to become one
of the most attractive resorts in the building.
Amongst its visitors yesterday was the distinguished
author of " Vanity Fair," who gave its varied con-
tents a long and careful examination.
In the body of the building we were glad to
perceive that the public spirit of Messrs. Mechi
and Basin was being rewarded with an excellent
position for their case on the platform. People
who think of making presents to young friends can
now examine the 700 guinea dressing-case in the best
possible light, and decide whether it, or some of
its equally rich and costly companions, shall be
theist selection. Messrs. Hunt and R.ell stand
in an equally favourable position on the opposite
side, so that neither of these accommodating and
obliging exhibitors have lost anything by theiroon-
cession. The music has commenced, and is to
be heard at intervals in various quarters. Mr.
Jones's organ, exceedingly well played by Mr.
Biggs, collected a numerous circle round it in the
afternoon, and the tinkle of pianos could be heard
in all directions. As we have noticed that the
trumpet-call of the Sappers can be diatinctly heard all
over the building, perhaps, if musical arrangements
are under consideration, a brass band might be not
a bad idea. On walking through the refreshment
departments we were glad to learn that M. Viellard
was making strenuous efforts to remove all reason-
able cause of complaint, and that Mr. Morrish was
zealously maintaining the system which has already
found such favour with the public. His spacious
rooms, upon which the commissioners were not par-
ticularly extravagant in the way of decoration, now
look quite bright and cheerful, with the aid of Mr.
Nosotti's splendid mirrors, which that gentleman
has liberally hung up in the best 'bile position
for the visitors to see how comf le they look at
dinner. There is an immense range of counter and
' table accommodation in the two departments,

quite sufficient, we should think, to meal any pos-
sible strain when the shilling days come round.
Preparatory to that time, and in order to make
it as productive as possible, a plan is now
under consideration for the issue of shilling
tickets to be distributed amongst the agents
through town, and by them sold at a moderate com-
mission. The scheme also includes half-crown and
five shilling tickets, and if it can be made to work
will, nodoubt, very much increase the receipts of
the Exhibition. Another project which has been
ventilated with a view of increasing the receipts, is
that of illuminating the picture galleries, and
throwing them open in the evenings. If the
danger of fire or of injury to the pictures could he
obviated, this would be probably one of the most
money-producing attractions of the season. A
recent exhibition of paintings in Dublin, which
was open in the evening, attracted immense crowds,
and was exceedingly remunerative.

[TWOPENCE

MUSIC.