The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-28 00:00:00

SHALL THE CRYSTAL PALACE STAND

OR NOT ?

The subject of the retention of the Crystal Palace
has been much canvassed and commented upon since the
publication of my pamphlet, wherein I suggested the pro-
priety of converting it into a winter park and garden. To
this proposal, objections of several kinds have been raised
and circulated with considerable industry ; sonic of the
objectors assuming that the structure is composed of such
perishable materials, and is so unstable and unfit fur a
permanent building, that they recommend it tobe destroyed
immediately after the Exhibition closes. l'art of these
arguments I have already refuted in my letter to Lord
Campbell of July 14th, and therefore it would be super-
fluous to repeat them on the present occasion. My im-
haession is, that nearly all the objections hitherto made,
h ve been advanced by individuals living in the neighbour-
hood of the building; and, judging of the future by the
pre2ent state of excitement produced by the Exhibition,
have anticipated annoyances which, I believe, will never
be realised.

In my pamphlet already alluded to, I partly anticipated
these mistaken views, and briefly remarked that although
at present the building, to suit the purposes of the Exhibi-
tion, looked heavy from having boarded sides, yet when
the wood was removed and glass substituted, and the can-
vas covering taken down, it would become a really beauti-
ful object; exhibiting through its transparent sashes a pic-
turesque park and garden, the advantages and pleasures of
which these living in the immediate neighbourhood would
possess more than ordinary privileges of enjoying. I like-
wise hazarded an opinion, that property in the vicinity
would be enhanced in value in consequence; and the more
I examine what I then stated, the more lam convinced
that my opinions were neither visionary nor enthusiastic,
but founded upon what I fed sure will be the result. There
is one subject, however, in that pamphlet respecting the
changing of the building into a winter park and garden,
which appears to have been misunderstood, and which I
now beg to correct. It has been supposed that I wish to
produce the summer climate of southern Italy during our
winter, whereas it was my intention to imitate the waiter
temperature of that country, which would be about ten de-
grees colder than the ordinary beat of our dwelling houses.
In order effectually to meet the questions of the stability
and durability of the structure, and also the financial diffi-
culties which are supposed to surround it, 1 now propose to
bring the subject into a very narrow compass ; and there-
fore, since the publication of my letter to Lord Camplx•ll, I
have duly considered the outlay which would be requisite
to put the building as it now stands into good condition for
a permanent use, and have procured from Messrs. Fos and
Henderson an estimate of the cost for removing all the
boarded sides and substituting glass, and also for putting
the roof and every other part in efficient repair, which they
engage to do at a cost of from 12,0001. to 1.5,004/. I have
also procured an estimate from the same gentlemen of
the expenses for keeping the building in perfect repair and
order (luring a period of 21 years, and this they of er to do
for the sum of 5,500/. per annum.
To prove that no public grant will be necessary, highly
responsible parties are ready to take the building on a
lease of 21 years, if permitted to do so ; and that the pur-
poses for which it would be retained might he fully an-
swered, they are willing to subject their tariff of public
admission to the control and supervision of government.
By this means all questions concerning the stability, effi-
cient maintenance, and the non-requirement of a public
Brent, are, I hope, entirely set at rest, and the only thing
now to be decided, is, whether the Crystal Palace shall
stead or not? JOSEPH PAXTON.
Devonshire-house, Piccadilly,
London, July 24, 1841.