The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-06 00:00:00

THE EXHIBITION OF 1862.

The contractors for the great building seem
during the last week to have awakened from 'bat
looked very much like a trance. Spurred on by
commissioners, superintendents, clerks, exhibitors,
public opinion, and a regard for their own repute-
tiou, they have made gigantic strides towards com-
pleting their overdue task. The division of labour
and the pressure of work bays now become more
apparent them they ever were to the visitor, simgly
because they are concentrated on fewer points.
Scaffold poles sad timbers seem to drop like thawed
icicles from the unfinished trensepta. The flooring
in the nave and the northern courts seems to slide
out over the ground like an iron shutter; and the
painters, under the energetic direction of Mr.
Orme, lay OD their colours and ornamentation with
more than same-painting rapidity. The spacious
picture gallery for British art, the length of which
eim only be fairly measured by walking through it,
hes been decorated, and well decorated, in two
keg working days. The dome scaffold at the east
✓ind is being pulled down—the painting of that
eirmular part of the building being com-
pleted, and the scaffolding of the western dome
will begin to disappear at the end of the
week. Mr. Ashton., the superintendent of the iron
work within the building, has constructed a timber
elide, somewhat like the onoe-oelebrated slide of Alp-
nach, and down this the disengaged timbers will glide
from roof to floor with a rapidity not to be attained
by ropes and pulleys. We are sorry to have to re-
cord another workman's death to-day, making ten
fatal accidents since the commencement of the
building.
The arrivals of goods are still not numerous,
partly owing to the backward state in which many
of the home manufacturers find themselves. Dublin
has delivered a small cargo, and the model of the
screen of Hereford Cathedral has come in, but the
British departweut can only boast possession of
about half-a-dozen cases up to the
.present time. In
the Foreign Department the Rumen collection has
' partly been delivered, along with some twenty cases
of Frankfort furniture, and nearly all the .oreign
commisaioners. When the rush of goods in this
department comes on, a uumber of temporary holes
will be knocked out in the Cromwell-mad wall,
ander the picture galleries, where the cases will be
pat through with as much speed as possible. At
present the courts under the British picture gallery
are crammed with pictures of almost fabulous value.
Amongst the things expected is a hue collection
of raw materials, fabrics, tissues, Arc., from Siam,
sent from Sir Robert Schomburgk. A valuable
cargo of woods from Dominica, comprising about
one hundred and seventy valuable and ornamental
samples, has also arrived at Southampton. The
Indian collection also promises to be unusually vast
and complete, if room can be found for it ; but in
1861, and in Paris in 1835, this department suffered
very much for want of space.
The Birmiugham, Wolverhampton, and Walsall
manufacturers have hardly yea got over their dis-
content at the tardy arrangements of the commis-
sioners, although they are determined to make a
good show. The space set aside for the Birming-
ham court is an oblong piece running off one of
the main avenues, and as it extends from this
avenue to the outer wall of the building, part of it
will be beneath the gallery. The permission to
bang chandeliers has been withdrawn as the
engineers of the building, without mistrusting its
strength, will not allow any heavy articles to be
suspended from walls or galleries.
The Wolverhampton exhibitors have also re-
ceived a court, of which the Walsall exhibitors
et saddlers' ironmongery are to occupy a small part.
Special courts iu the hardware section have bees
allotted only to Birmingham, Sheffield, Wolver-
hampton, and Walsall ; and for goods of more than
one hundred weight per superficial foot the cota-1
missionen% require a special foundation.
One department of the Exhibition—the chemical
and pharmaceutical section—which was far from
being prominent in 1831, promises this year to hold
a very important position. It can hardly hope to
be popular in the broad sense of the term, but
those who have feasted their eyes on the brilliant
colours of the textile department way like to see
some of the unsightly agents by which such gor-
geous effects are produced. Thanks to the euer-
getic management of Mr. C. W. Quin, F.C.S.,
there will be such a British collection of drugs and
cheinicahr in the south-eastern portion of the
eastern annexe as the world has never seen before.
The exhibitors will number upwards of two hun-
dred of the first manufacturers in this country, and
hardly • name of any eminence will be missing.
Several collections of great importance will be ex-
hibited. A complete series of drugs, systematically
arranged, is in course of preparation by a commit-
tee of the meet eminent members of the Pharma-
ceutical Society, assisted by Professor Redwood. A
very interesting collection of chemicals, illustrating
the improvements made in calico printing and dyeing
since 1851, is being formed, at the suggestion of Dr.
Lyon Playfair, by Mr. Robert Romney, of Man-
cheater, whose combined knowledge as a chemist
and a manufacturer renders him peculiarly fitted
for the work. In no department of applied che-
mistry has such an advance been made within the
last ten years as in dyeing and calico printing; and
in the history of these useful arts perhaps uo period
has been so fruitful in good results. A collection
of products illustrating the discovery of the mol-
ter dyes formed by the first workman in this fertile
field, Mr. W. H. Perkin, will also be exhibited,
and the various dyes will be remarkably well re-

w.c.

presented.
The proposed supplementary exhibition—if we
are to judge by the silence of its promotera—seems
IMPS LLIBUI and prompt CURE for COl. to be given up. If the scheme had. been carded
out, we have uo doubt that many rejected and di-
.... rgr-rillitA L ►PASIII.I.C.i iit Use til Ut MIT, pillared Ay Pro. satisfied exhibitors
;.--
Ibe."4 UM
("I"Puk
116°16
11"..48.
"tase7. * e"► by
• • would have filled the bnildiug
law PIIIIN A [MN I. chemist. from dopes herbs, witaiiat with goods, but we question very much whether
.44"' eee ''''''..o,.l 1., s,sorde —Who4ilido NO". Mew"' the pected flocks of visitors would have appeared
kSII4.:LA Y sod al IN 4. eL. S eniaaitmastrest, QS'. IL.C. trap ex
11, ea• Fir Sal. Eta laseraitairas. either as purohasers or loungers. The two and

twenty uses of the Great Exhibition,. to say no-
thing of the galleries and stairways, will doubtless
satisfy even the most hungry sightseer, and there is
no chance of the present commisaioners ever turning
money away from the doors. In 1861 a timid policy
prevailed, and officialism seemed to regard the
people as dangerous wild beasts. The army and
the police were gathered in and about the building
u if to smother a revolution (we believe the navy
was not drawn upon), and not one-half of the
Tilton were at first nervously admitted who
swanned into the Exhibition unchecked as official
obnfidenoe increased. Commissioners, like other
people, however, grow wiser as they grow
older, and while Sir Richard Mayne has
had a very liberal order for about 460
choice policemen, we should hope that he
will instruct them not to make themselves

;ff;nitivelyactive.The exhibitors, without whom
the great building would be hardly an attractive
show, are even now suffering in mind, body, and
goods from over-drilling ; and the visitors, who are
Ito pile up a money-surplus for the Royal Commis-
gamin? would like to escape the strong arm of
authority as much as possible. This same tendency
to over-drill thepublic will only raise a real difficulty
out of taw narrow approaches question. A stream
of peopinsaidoin gets into a dead lock and confusion
without is aid of the police ; and while it takes a
Duke of Welliocton to move 50,000 men out of
Hyde-park, six times the number will get them-
selves out in half the time if they are only quietly
left to act for themselves.

Old Swan-wharf, Chelsea, has been licensed to
land goods for the Exhibition. Being very near the
building, this place will prove very useful to exhi-
bitors, a lighterage is much cheaper than cartage.
The wharf is very exteusivr, and contains a large
number of sheds, to which more are being added
by Messrs. Morgan Brothers, who have secured the
whole area for the purpose of storing the empty
cues of exhibitors.

We believe that the latest decision of her Ma-
jeety's Commissioners is to set aside about 30,000
reser►ed Beats on the opening day for the use of the
earliest taken of the season tickets.

DNAMATIC, NQUESTRIAN, AND MUSICAL
ASSOCIATION.

The anniversary festival of this association was
held last evening at Willis'. Rooms. Conventional usage '
being laid aside, ladies were invited to join is the rowed-
logs, and Mrs. Stirling and Nine Amy fiedigwick occupied
seats to the right and left of *so:heiress; Par Charles Tay-
lot. The following members of the corps drama/nue were
likewise among thine present .I—Miss Fanny Stirling, Me
Rosins Wright, Mitt•Wtte Saunders. Miss Sarah
Mies Class Fisher, Mr. IL Wester, Mr. P Bedforr
Mn. Bedford, Mr. and Mrs. Toole, Mr. and Mrs. Swan-
borough, Min Batas, Re. An imminent dinner was pro-
vided, at the conclusion of which, grace having been said
and the usual loyal Meets given,
The CIIAIRMAN, in
tea
Wild Of the evening,
said that the charity, five years ever which the
arsenals extended, had relieved 2,575 days si sickness. it
bad rant LW eases of distress, and had paid for 256 jouraeys
to places where employ meet had been provided for
esesesitous applicants. Its beneficial operation exteeded
Is ell—whether it were the gentlemen who played
Hamlet or Macbeth, she bumbler performer who went
on with • bazaar at ls. a eight, or, the carpenter
who svistaised as iury from a vampire.trap." For
a waist al Sd. • year, or 3d. a week, • sum of
Is weekly wee hound in case of sickness, or 101. to cover
fusecal exposes. Through the kind genermity of patrons
they were ambled to give se. when • benefit society could,
at the rust, prudently sad properly offer 2e.
Mr. B. Wassra, in responding, emend the company
that he felt an interest in the welfare el the association
deeper than many persons could possibly imagism He bad
known the want of • bit d breed; he bed wondered by
the seashore, glad to g, the net inspect the waters
might cast up ;he suffered and worked en industriously
and honotualily in swear which bad at length led him up to I
kis present position. Mr. Webster warmly eulogised Hie
association, and concluded by proposing ' The Health. 4.
the Secretary, Mr. Anew"
In the COMM ef his reworks Mr. Assos statedt
owing to the prevalence of sickness, the eases relined
during the last six mends wen deed at memoir se in
the whole of any previous year. Amities* bed been
afforded in 31 cases, sad 72 bad bees paid for.
Mr. WICBSTRR proposed t • chairman's health, who gave
in return that of Mr. Roberts, coupling his name with the
toast of "The Pine Arts."
Mr. Tatman TAYLOR then introduced • toast which he
mid was always welcome, but was that night attended with
peculiar interest— " The Ladled."
M.lll. STIRLING, on behalf of her professional sisters,
thanked the Dramatic Association for the charge in the
order of their dining, and in a short speech, delivered with
feeling and great ease of manner, touched on the evils
from which the association was calculated to rescue poor
actresses.
The company shortly afterwards adjourned to the han-
som; where the festivities wee prolonged to an advanced
hour. Under the leadership of Mr. Ceram, several well-
known musical artistes contributed to the success of the
festival ; and Mr. Toole, as usual, volunteered his services
as toastmaster. Upwards of 170/. was collected in the
course of the evening.