The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-16 00:00:00

THE

EXHIBITION
EXPRESS,

FOR THE WEEK ENDLNO
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16.

Tice attendance at the Crystal-palace during the
present week has been small as compared with that
of previous similar perinds. On the respective shilling
days of tic week the average number of persons who
visited the building was 53,900 ; but when it is borne
in mind that the first keen edge of metropolitan cu-
riosity respecting the building and its contents is
sow worn oaf, and that the vast majority of the pre-
sent multitudes of visitors is imported from the pro-
vinces or the Continent, these figures must be regarded
as positively large. The oppressive heat which has
been expenenced in London throughout the week
no doubt operated as a strongly-deterring reason for
the absence of ticket holders, so that, all things con-
sidered, it is unlikely that the remarkable diminution
in the amount ofattendatice to which we have adverted
will be permanent. On this day week the Saturday's
price of admission was reduced from :Is. to halta-
crown, and the experiment in a financial point of
view was quite successful, the receipts exceeding
time of most of the previous Saturdays. On the
same day her Majesty and the Prince visited the
building, and devoted a considerable time to the
examination of the most striking of the novelties
which were introduced since their last inspection.
The labours of the juries have been brought to a
clone in the most satisfactory manner. Letters of
felicitation in reference to this subject have passed
between Prince Albert and the president of the
French commission. Bearing testimony to the ad-
mirable skill with which the jurors of that nation
discharged their arduous functions, M. Dupla says:
Three hundred and forty jurors, taken from all nations,
have employed 62 days in prolOund examinations, and dis-
cussions the most earnest, in order to achieve the delicate
task of judging of the products of forty nations. We, the
French juror., should have liked to see rewards of the first
class given fur beauty, exquisite grace, perfection, without
prescriptions of any kind. We hats striven that
restrictions and interdictions should be as limited as
possible, without eseiting repulsion', repugnance", and
commercial apprehensions, even in England. ln the classes
of industry in which all the orders of recompenses an-
nounced by the Royal Commission were possible, we have
'ought to secure the triumph of distributive justice. •
In allusion to the same gratifying topic, Prince
Albert writes as follows :
I appreciate the incessant seal and scrupulous attention
with which, during three months, you have accomplished,
together with a great number of the most eminent men of
all countries, the extremely laborious and responsible duty
of jurymen. The brat recompense that you can receive sill
be given to you by the general approbation of the public,
when the results of your lalsours shall be known. The
royal commissioners are not insensible to the readiness with
which the members of the French commission have con-
formed to the regulations imposed on the subject of tic
conditions on which the first meelals were to be accorded,
though your experience of French Exhibitions caused you
to consider these conditions Minot necessary.
The two letters are given in another column.
Respecting the public adjudication of prizes, no
official announcement has yet been made, but it is
believed that the names of the successful competitors
will be announced very shortly. A considerable period
must necessarily elapse before the medals are ready,
but the rigour and promptitude which have hitherto
characterised the conduct of the executive committee
in effecting the completion of similar matters of de-
tail, leave no ground for apprehension that their pre-
paration will be delayed longer than is absolutely
necessary. It has been rumoured for some time that
every exhibitor will receive a medal as a memorial
of his contributions, even though he may not be for-
tunate enough to carry away a prize,
A statement has been published to the effect that on
Tuesday next a meeting of the Royal Commission
will be held to settle finally certain natters on
which it is necessary to come to a decision before
the Queen and the Prince leave for Balmoral. The
principal questions thus about to be discussed are,
no doubt, the exact date on which the building
should close, and the manner in which that event
should take place. On the first point, it seems pro-
bable that an early day in October (sonic say the I I th)
will be fixed for the purpose, as otherwise con-
tributors from the north of Europe may have their
goods overtaken by the winter ice; and, under any
circumstances, at that period the pleasure-seeking sea- ,
eon of the year is over. We may therefore fairly take
it for granted that the building will clove before the
middle of October. The mode in which the final
closing of the Exhibition is to take place will also form
an important item for consideration, and whether there
is to be on that occasion a court ceremonial or not
will be determined. Public opinion is decidedly in
favour of a display at the conclusion of the under-
taking, no leas impressive than that by which its
commencement was signalised. Referring to this
interesting topic, the .Ithrorasm says:
In (Molar, the Exhibition will probably be closed. When
the present contents are wholly ur in part removed, slut
is there to prevent the holding of a hall orfte in the build-
ing ? Who would not like to ace the beautiful edifice
lightest with gas? We know of no reason why the Execu-
tive Committee may not close their brilliant administration
by a s TIC. of evening receptions. The condition, of such a
fete or fetes are all at hand. The building may be safely and
conveniently lighted. Thousands of jets could no doubt be
borrowed fur the occasion. With a good cause in hand, the
committee might apply to every club in London for the
loan of the devices used tor their illuminations. Most
et the great tradesmen would also, in all probability, be
willing to lend such jets, stars, and other devices
as they possess, for the same purpose. Some oi
the Cosign states would, probably, wish to set
up their own arms ; and our .tmerican friends would no
doubt he anxious to illustrate in this way their gigantic
*ogle. SJ far as we can se-e, no great difficulty or expense
stands in the way of lighting the Glass Palace. In other
respects it is already prepared and decorated for !melt pur-
pose. as we have mentioned. The palace once lighted, it
would attract new crowds of admirers. A new fund would
probahly he raised. The proposed ball would leave a sot-
plu—the receptions would no doubt more than pay the,r
expenu A. The balance PO acenting should, we think, lie
applied to some purposes strictly in connexion with the
other great purposes of the Exhibition; and we know of no
form in which it could he more wisely and forethoughtly
laid out--considering the great attitude which our arts and
asanneketures have taken—the honourable challenge which
we have sent out to the nations, and the bracing rivalry to
which we have given up the future—than in promoting,
enlareinst, and improving our Schools of Design.
Its is' intended, on and atter Monday, and until
further notice, to open the doors each day at nine
instead of ten o'clock, and to close at six instead of
seven of present hour for
Amongst the useful projects which the executive
committee arc engaged in carrying out is the forma-
tion of a statistical record of the contents of the
building, and they have addressed a circular to each
exhibitor requesting a statement of the value of the
articles he exhibits. They are also forming a collec-
tion of all price lists and trade circulars issued by
the exhibitors, which, however, it is not intended
to print. but to preserve as an authentic record of
the value of the articles contained in the building.
The commercial results of the Exhibition are now
admitted on all hands to be most beneficial. Those
exhibitors who have given substantial earnest of
ability in their various trades are now enjoying in
return a large and increasing amount of public pa-
tronage.
The COalbrookdale Iron Company have sold their
remarkable gates for 1,500 t, and*, if report speaks
correctly', have received orders for other copies of
them. Her Majesty has also rewarded their spirited
first experiments in bronze casting by the purchase
of Belts Andromeda, with its pedestal. In fact all
our most eminent manufacturers, as well of orna-
mental as of useful fabrics, aro receiving ample
proof of the value of the Exhibition to them.
The following paragraph presents some interest-
♦ lag details of the influence exercised by the Exhibi-
tion on railway traffic.
The traffic on the Lundm aud Nurth W 'estaa
or So the sad of May last showed aa Immo of 22,61ffe