The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-26 00:00:00

FOR THE WEEK ENDING

SATURDAY, APRIL 26.

THE FIRST OF MAY.

On Monday next the preparations on the part
of exhibitors are to be completed. The galleries
are to be cleared; the shavings are to be swept
*way; the hammering is to cease—all is to be ready
for public inspection. Looking upon the scene yes-
terday, it appeared utterly impossible on the part of
exhibitors to comply wit's these orders. Thousands
of men, of all nation.., were busy, after their several
fashions, but on every side arrangements were fur
from complete. In some of the foreign departments
little more than the counters were erts:ted; and only
on the British side could be seen compart-
ments in a condition of eompleteness.lai:K e throng of
visitors yesterday was very large, and ladies were seen
edging their way through piles of planks and pack-
ing-cases, with the evident determination of seeing
everything. In the transept, bands of men were
rolling articles in from the great doorway; men were
astiPhiPIPORIPIM" jimo stases; crowds
or workmen were hocenng shout the great fountain ;
Turks and Egyptians. Prussians and Frenchmen,
were chatting vigorou%ly ; p,licenten were repelling
Intruders into wrong departments; exhibitors of all
kinds were discussing their grievances or good for-
tune; ladies were asking the precise positions the
principal personages who are to figure in the state
ceremonial were to occupy: and above ull workmen
were preparing to cover the glass with canvas. It
was a bright and animated scene. In the vastness
of the space, the moving crowds looked
like ants; while the thousand hammers, the
blows of which resounded from all sides,
added to the confusion and the half-bewilderment.

Looking down the galleries from the transept, the view
presented, in its entirety, the characteristics of a
gigantic eastern bazaar. Huge tapestries, carpets,
and brilliant linens and silks. hung down from the
galleries in every direction, and of every form and
colour. Here the perspective is intercepted by a
huge organ, there by a gigantic statue, and else-
where by an altar window of splendid stained glass.
And here we may notice ea imm ant a characteristic
of the general efforts of the exhibitors, viz., the
efforts to manufacture all kinds of things on a (silos-
sal wale. Monster organs, monster statues, monster
articles of cutlery, monster squares of oilcloth,
monster carriages, monster blocks of coal and
different ores, figure in every direction ; and it
will doubtless be necessary to warn the juries
against mistaking size for excellence in these speci-
mens. A monster knife is not of necessity a good
specimen of cutlery, neither is a statue a masterpiece
because five-and-twenty feet in height, exclusive of
the pedestal. In fact, these monster specimens block
up the main avenue, and are impressive generally
more from their size than from any strictly remark-
able excellence.
Yesterday the fountain sent in by Mr. John
Thomas, sculptor, of Paddington, known as the
Acis and Galatea Fountain, was to be seen play-
ing fur the first time; and in the main avenue a
brilliant globe for a lighthouse, manufacturrd by
Mr. W. C. Wilkins. of Long-acre, reflects dazzling
rays of light. Aptly placed,looking towards the great
transept. stands a life-size statue of Shukspeare. But in
this vicinity the way was yesterday so blocked up with
wood-shavings and empty packing-ca.ses, that it was
hardly possible to arrive at any idea of its artistic
effect. Workmen were carrying the arms and heads
of statues about ; an industrious gilder was busily
employed upon the nostrils of her Majesty's horse;
five or six carpenters were upon a gorgeous bed in
the galleries, nailing up ornaments; inquisitive
visitors were trying the tones of bells; a musician
was testing the monster organ ; while two or three
Greeks were attending to their departments, carpen-
tering and adjusting their articles, in !Aires. In the
galleries, the exhibitors of the light goods of all
nations were in a fever of excitement. here an old
German gentleman, with a linen yard was calmly
measuring the proportions of a pair of stays ; there
a sturdy Frenchman, of warlike aspect, was bearing
a huge tailor's block to its assigned space.
Hundreds of articles are reported to be intended
as presents to the Queen—splendid cabinets, gor-
geous needlework, and costly ornaments,- all fit to
grace the British palaces. In the refreshment
rooms, exhibitors of all countries, male and
female, were regaling themselves, or hurrying
away to work again. In every part of the
vast building it was evident that there was not a
moment to be lost—and that every minute was of
precious value. The grand confusion in four short
days must assume a harmonious form—the chaos be
mimed to order. At one door, packing cases in vast
heaps were being ejected into the road ; and the sap-
pers and miners might be seen perched upon hilted
deal boxescalling to the drivers of waggonsandearts.
Studded about the main avenues were artists, with
their desks and wood blocks, calmly drawing various
objects. Here a gigantic Amazon was being reduced
within the limits of a 4-inch block; there a vase was
the object to be delineated. Opinions were plentiful
on all sides ; thousands of critics, of confident aspect,
and with emphatic words, pronounced their judg-
ments on every imaginable kind of industry, from
the last improvement in the steam-engine to the re-
gularity of a lady's crochet work. Each article was
twenty times commended, and twenty times con-
demned, within the space of as ninny minutes. Yet,
if k were passible to run up and compute the years
of patient, honest toil, the fever and the heart-aches
which are here represented, harsh criticisms would
hardly be passed even upon the poorest and most in-
significant objects.

PARIS Aram 2i.

At this moment the hotels of Parienre thronged
with visitors from the provinces, who arc bound for
London to sec the Exhibition. Many of these will
stop for the fide of the 4th of May. During the last
two or three days from 20 to 23 thousand passports
have reetived the rise of the prefecture of police fur
England.
The task of selection by the central jury of the
French contribution to the Exhibition is terminated.
To-day will start the last baggage-train with the
packages to which an exceptional delay has been
grunted. The most notable contributions are splendid
specimens of jewellery from the house of Odiot, arti-
cle,. of furniture and art from the house of Culla. and
Barbeditnne,including a marvellous reproduction. on
a small scale, of the fatuous bronze door of the
baptistery of Florence, gorgeous painted 'tapering of
the Mader manufactory, and works of art by M.
Fronts nt-Meuriee. 4,000 packages have lx,eu exa-
mined by the jury.
A pop sal has been made to the government to
send the hand of the tlth Dragoons to London,
during the Exhibition. as a specimen of the military
music if France. M. Sax, who is the manufacturer
of the greater number of the musical instruments
used by such bands, was the first to originate the
idea, and has matde an application to the Minister of
War on the subject, which has been warmly sup-
ported by M. C. I)upin, the president of the French
committee.
A cabinet-maker of Vienna, named Leistler, has
just left that city for London, taking with him 38
out of the 260 workmen whom he employs, as well
es a number of articles, which he has manufactured
for the Exhibition. Among them is the furniture of
a bedroom and boudoir inlaid with gold and silver
and which is intended as a present from the Em-
peror of Austria to Queen ictoria. The furniture
of tho bedroom has cost 120,000, and that of the
boudoir 200,000 florins.