The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-19 00:00:00

THE WEEK AT THE GLASS PALACE.

1110,IDAT.

The earliest visitors at the Patois Patton, u our
Gallic neighbour call it, on Monday morning were the boys
of the Duke of York's School, numbering, with their
teachers and attendants, 332 strong, who marched up to the
south transept with their hand playing, and who, by special
grace, were admitted one hour before the snug time of
opening. Having rambled over the building fur upwards
of three hours, these gallant little fellows re-assembled close
to the crystal fountain, and, having first obtained permis-
sion from Mr. Mike, treated the assembled company to some
well-executed pieces of music. The youthful musician,
were surrounded by a vast assemblage, who were pro-
fuse in their commendations. The hest order was
preserved, and the " Standard Bearer, " a German
march, and the well known march of their princely
founder having ban isita tall justice to, the little heroes
marched out with all the honours of peace, keeping time to
an exhilarating quirk step. This impromptu concert is
rather suggestive of the addition which some regularly
arranged music would be to the attractions of the Exhibi-
tion. It had been thought that harmony would be com-
pletely thrown away in such a wilderness of glass, but the
•

distinctness with which the strains of the Duke of York's
boys were heard on Monday, proved that the prediction, like
a peat many other speculative philosophic dicta, was
worth little or nothing in practice. The general coin-
pang, which was one of the most numerous of
the season, contained not one person who was re-
cognised as claiming affinity with high life, except
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who paid
a short visit in the course of the day. The company
was nearly all from the provinces, principally farmers and
agricultural labourers, who, taking advantage of the short
passe between the hay and corn harvest., are now pouring
daily in thousands into London. An excursion Great
Western train that arrived on Saturday evening at Pad-
dington, brought up the enormous number of 2,000 passen-
gers, and the scene that ensued on their simultaneous ar-
rival is described as having been the most exciting ever
witnessed in that locality. They had all Sunday to wander
about the streets of " Lennon," and there could be no mis-
take about their being among the earliest visitors at the
Ezkibition on Monday. It was quite refreshing to see
how manfully the farmers bore up against the
ruinous effect. of free trade, their broad-brimmed hats,
smart "cutaways," and unobjectionable top boots, being
all of the most approved rural fashion. Neither did it
appear that many of them had lost flesh in the struggle.
Their weight would be guessed at Smithfield at from eigh-
teen to tire-and-twenty " wan ;" and as for the ladies, one
of them rejoiced in such a plenitude of development as to be
obliged to retire in despair, none of the many entrances in
the transept being wide enough to admit her. At last one
of the attendants led her up to the west end of the building,
where she contrived to squeeze herself through the dour
allotted to pianos and other heavy goods. The number
of smock frocks was truly surprising, and the western
dialects were heard in full chorus in every direction.
A person acquainted with the CUItOI2I, of the west of Eat,
land accounted fur the immense numbers by saying that it
is the custom among the peasants there to save up annually
money fur " feasts," to be held during the short interreg-
num between the two harvests, and that this year, instead
of a feast in the fields, they have treated themselves to the
feast of reason at the Exhibition. It is a curious fact, bat
well attested by the observation of the police, that up to the
preaeut time the proportion of country to town visitors has
been in the ratio of five to two, and that of the five, four
have been front the agricultural districts. The great masses
of the northern operatives have not yet begun to

move in earnest, but have allowed themselves to
be outrun in the intellectual race by their less
intelligent rural countrymen. There were also a great
number of foreigners present, end the demand for the
French and German catalogues was tolerably brisk. The
appearance of the interior from the back for the gallery,
which has been constructed close to Messrs. Gray and
Davidson's grand organ, was at one period of the day
the most imposing that could be possibly imagined. Mr
Dunn, in his best days, and with all his " unparalleled re-
sources," could not have got up such a spectacle. The vast
human current moved slowly backwards and forwards in
great waves, and every now and then there was an immense
overflow into some side court or avenue without any
apparent less of density to the parent stream. The
people seemed actually to be impressed with their own
magnitude of numbers. The greatest decorum and °relir
prevailed, there was no pressing or crushing, and even at
the most attractive objects everyone waited patiently for his
turn, even although his predecessor might be the meet
tedious of sight seekers. One of the greatest crowds was
assembled in the American court, where a sort of cats'-eon-
eert was going on between the detestable piano-violono and
the other instrument, which, like Colt's revolver, proposes
to do on one instrument the duty of Ilk. The performers,
who were inclose vicinity, played different tunes with all
vigour, and when with these sounds were blended the
muffled groans of Spiegclhalter's Euterpion over head, it
may be imagined how like the ensemble was to the music of
Signor Costa's band. If there is to be music in the Exhibi-
tion, why not allot different times for each performer, or else
organise some system by which it might be regularly heard
at intervals during the day. At present the din is worn
than a universal tuning of stringed instruments in exceed-
ingly damp weather. The number of visitors was 62,694.
Cash account, July 14.
Season tickets £3 3 0
At the doors

Total reeeipta—L2,96o 11 •
TVZSDAT.

Cash account, July 15.
Beason tickets
At the doors 3,•502 1 0

Total receipts
WIDNISIDAY.

The attendance, on Wednesday, although many thou-
inads below the monster gathering of the preceding day,
wss yet considerably beyond the number of previous Wed-
nesdays: 68,000 persons were admitted on Wednesday
week,while ouWedneeday thenumbersconsiderably exceeded
61,000. Der Majesty was, as usual, one of the earliest
visitors, and proceeded to inspect the various articles dis-
played outside the west end of the building. Rogers' large
anchor was first examined, the inventor being in
attendance to explain its advantage.. The Queen
then examined the various large specimens of coal.
among others the immense block, weighing 24 tons,
from Stavely work., Chesterfield, which was raised from a
shaft 449 feet deep, and the Earl Fitxwilliam's pillar, ex-
hibiting a complete section of the Barnsley thick bed of
coal from the Elsicot colliery. The royal party then re-
entered the building, and proceeded to the Indian depart-
ment, where Dr. Hoyle was in attendance, and explained
the nature of the mineral and vegetable products, and the
Indian mode of manufacturing cotton and of preparing
opium. The sugar specimens, and the mode of prepara-
tion, were also explained to her Majesty.
The Queen then retired to her carriage, passing through
a double line of the visitors to the door specially reserved
for the royal exit. The temperature of the building was
exceedingly pleasant, and there was not the slightest
crowding or inconvenience throughout the day. The com-
pany, although consisting mainly of new visitors every day,
seem to have found out the way to make themselves com-
fortable in the Crystal Palace. Instead of congregating in
dense masses about the transept and in the entrance to the
foreign nave, they now spread themselves at once through
the building, and immediately find plenty of elbow

roam in its vast courts and avenues. The visitors onWednee-
day were of an exceedingly mixed character, but the
provincial physiognomy was not quite so conspicuous as on
former occasions. There was a great muster of schools both
public and private, the Latter taking advantage of the half-
holiday for their visit. Among the public schools were the
, Greenwich Union, the boys of which after their inqa etion
drew up in the transept and sang " God save the Queen,"
but the mode of execution was not such as to provoke any
wry violent call for an encore. There was also the Alders-
gate school, 114 ; the Seven Oaks, 25; and the Farnham;
I the latter, along with about forty labourers and their falai-
, lies being treated by the Lord Bishop of Winchester.
' There was a body of workmen from. Mr. Kingham's floor
I cloth manufactory, and the scholars from a school at
Carshalton. The most conspicuous of the public schools,
both in numbers and appearance, was the Licensed Vic-
tuallers, the boys and girls of which were sent in by Sir
Henry Metre, and regaled, also at his expense, with a sub-
stantial cold dinner in Mr. Younghusband's dining room
for exhibitors. The respectable appearance of these chil-
dren, so different from the pupils of other public institutions,
was the subject of general praise andobscrvation. A consi-
derable quantity of new and remarkable goods has been added
to various departments in the foreigc nave. The Austrian
stand on Wednesday exhibited some beautiful vases and gob-
lets in Bohemian coloured glass, which had on one of the pre-
vious days been inspected and much praised by her Majesty.
They are carved in deep intaglio, in the most skilful and
elaborate manner, and have all the appearance of high
relief. In the Dresden room fifteen cases of beauti-
ful china were opened on Wednesday, and served com-
pletely to fill the large alcove which has lately
been denuded of its contents to ornament the

nave. They are principally table porcelain, but
exhibit a great variety and novelty of pattern. The
Italian court also exhibited, for the first time, some speci-
mens of Roman art, which will no doubt be sources of
great attraction to the virtuosi. They consist of models in
beautiful Sienna marble of the ruins in the Roman forum,
and, although not more than four feet in height, are
perfect masterpieces in their way. It is intended to
arrange them in positions similar to those in which
the originals are placed, and there is no doubt
but that they will become one of the most prominent at-
tractions of the court. There is also a splend d table inlaid
in various oriental marbles, and a model of a bath in lapis
lazuli, cut out of one of the largest blocks of the material
that has yet been obtained. The last of the new importa-
tions is a small bust, an admirable likeness of Prince
Albert, in antique marble, dug from the ruins of the
Colliseum. This article was respectfully tendered to his
royal highness by Signor Carlo Trebbi, the Italian com-
missioner, but graciously declined, his royal highness,
while warmly praising the workmanship, stating
that his invariable rule was not to receive
gifts from any of the exhibitors. The magnifi-
cent tux* in Egyptian alabaster in this collec-
tion has bees purchased by the Marquis of Westminster for
9001. Some few facts connected with the vehicular statistiet
of the Exhibition may not be uninteresting. It appears thus
270 new omnibuses have been put on the line, in addition
to about 100 regular stagers. Their average receipts are
10s. each journey, and they make eight journeys in the day.
This would give a total of 1,4801. per diem for omnibuses
alone ; but, in addition, the cabs must be taken into account,
the receipts of which are of course inscrutable mysteries,
except to the drivers and the fares ; but an approximate
calculation taken by competent persons, gives the total sum
paid for town travelling, as connected with the Exhibition,
at 3.5001, a day. The police numbers on Wednesday were
60,626. _ _

The most remarkable circumstance to be noted
in the record of Tuesday's proceedings at the Crystal
Palace was the enormous number of visitors who attended
during the day, considerably above 74,000 having passed
the harriers between 10 o'clock in the morning and 6 in the
evening. There was at one period 61,000 persons within
the building, equal to the population of • large continental
city or a fourth or fifth-rate town in our own country. This
extraordinary influx may be attributed partly to the great
attraction of the Exhibition itself, but an accidental circum-
stance contributed to swell the lumbers beyond what would
probably have otherwise been their amount. There were
great numbers of farmers tending from all parts of the
country to the Windsor Cattle Show, and they no doubt
tea London in their way, in order to have • peep at the
weeders in Hyde Park. As Tuesday's numbers may pro-
bably not again be equalled, it will be worth while to note
the rate at which the visitors poured in. 11 o'clock,
22,088 ; 12 o'clock, 21,711; 1 o'clock, 14,713; 2 o'clock,
8,102 ; 3 o'clock, 4,679 ; 6 o'clock, 1,427 ; 6 o'clock, 600.
Such an extraordinary assemblage could not, of course,
be collected in one spot without producing a per-
ceptible increase of excitement in the vicinity. During
the morning the footpaths on both sides of the
road presented one continued stream of pedestrians,
and the carriage-way from Hyde Park-corner down to the
Exhibition was a dense MALI of omnibuses, cabs, vans, and
other vehicles of all sorts and sizes. Her Majesty arrived
shortly after 9 o'clock, accompanied by Prince Albert, and
inspected the Austrian toys and glare. The Queen afterwards
examined the Austrian and Lyons silk, and devoted some
time to the inspection of the beautiful printed =slats in
the Mulheusen gallery. A large party of boys and girls
from the Foundling Hospital School arrived during her Ma-
jesty's visit, and they were graciously permitted to form in
line, and make their obeisances to their sovereign. There
were one or two large detachments from the great towns in
the north, and a band of 150 workmen from Carshalton,
franked by their employer, Mr. Muggridge. These men
marched up to the entrance with a band of music at their
head, and enjoyed themselves exceedingly. Several small
schools also came in, but the vast majority of the

Cuh account, July 16.
&awn tickets
At the doon

Total receipts £2.913 7 0
THURSDAY.

On Thursday, the number of visitor• was 64,000,being
one of the greatest attendances known on the last of the shilling
days. There were very great numbers ef Germans present,
and some Frenchmen ; but, as on previous days, the great
mass of the company were people from the provinces, to
bring up whom seems now almost to be the chief business
of the different railways. The temperature was very agree-
able, and the company moved about with sufficient free-
dom and comfort. Her Majesty's visit was appointed mainly
for the purpose of examining some novelties in the French
department, to which she devoted much time and attention.
A curious and very ingenious machine for making tiles was
first examined, the exhibitor attending and giving practical
illustration of its mode of working by making several tiles
in her Majesty's presence. The process appears to be very
certain and expeditious, and the tiles come out perfect
specimens of the article. The royal party then proceeded
to the richly stored stand of M. Demme, to examine the
arms de hire, of which he exhibits so many beautiful
specimens. The richly ornamented duelling pistols, the
cosireaas de chaste, and the celebrated carbines were all
examined in turn, but that which most especially attracted
the royal notice was • beautiful ease of Lilliputian
pistols, not an inch in length, with chased gold
stocks, and which the maker warrants to fire
with as great precision as the larger articles. The
whole collection is exceedingly beautiful, in so far as

visitoes wee, eountryfolk, with a considerable sprinkling ornament is concerned, and tluisaansfacturer yam* &err
of foreigners. These last were principally Germans. The fitment for the peaceful purpose intended. The nos ezhi..
Hall police authorities sent up 20 of their men, being a bited by MM. Gauvain and Le Page were ales =mined
mead detachment, and we were glad to receive an intim,- and commended. Her Majesty next proceeded to the French
Mem that the hints we recently gave to the Metro- carriage department, and examined a beautiful tatiture
piMan Commissioners are likely to be acted en. It which hwejust been added to the exhibition by M. Mous-
la understood that after the Ist of next month, when sard, the eminent Parisian carriage builder. It is of the
ifs men will be changed according to custom, each newest and most elegant form, and very richly decorated on
nmegable will have a day given him, without deduction I brilliant blue panels. The springs are of a novel construe-
of pay, in order that he may see the Exhibition. The tion, and calculated to give great security and ease in tra-
I arrangements for the Parisian festivities are in se yelling. Her Majesty expressed herself much pleased with
tive progress. They are to consist of a ball this article, and was quite amused with the loquacity of a
at the Hotel de Ville, for which 4,000 tickets will he issued, veritable ganande Paris, whose duty it was to explain its pe-
and a dinner for a more select few with covers for 200, with culiaritles. The Austrian raw materials were nextexamined.
other attractions which are not as yet definitively arranged. I The Royal party, as usual, retired through Holland-gate. In
It is hoped that the time will be so fixed, as to make one of the French fine art department, some beautiful additions
the three days which the visitors will spend in France, the have been made, in the shape of various cups, vases, de., in
Ist of August, so as to enable them to see the annual play oxydized silver. One of them is a chocolate cup, with small
of the great fountains at Versailles. The party from the salver covered all over with the most minute and beautiful
Exhibition will number about 800. The temperature of the chasing, emblematical of the seasons. This article, which is
interior was quite comfortable during the day, the breeze I the property of a distinguished French collector, is valued
being allowed full play across the transept through the at 10,000 Pratte,. M. Marrel's rich case has also been en-
openings recently made. The total police numbers were riched by several exquisite specimens of the goldsmith and
74,12.1. _ jeweller's art. Among others • most lustrous bracelet in
brilliants, with • great central ruby of marvellous richness
of colour, and an elaborately ornamented album, the
covers being appropriately decorated with figures of the
nine muses, and of Apollo, beautifully executed in bronze.
The good knight sans pear et sans reprocAe, is made to do
ding p a paper holder, and there are several other apish-
cadflas of picturesque and historical subjects in the con-
struction of a simple article, which indicate the almost pro-
digality of invention in our French neighbours. There is
also in this collection a renaissance cup in oxydiecd
which it worth half an hour's examination, and a beautiful
reliquaire, the crucifix being an ancient Byzantine carving
in boxwood, and the stand of gold and ivory, profusely
ornamented. The sacred subject which is carved on the
cross is a masterpiece of minute manipulation, and
is the more wonderful from having a different
subject carved on each side, while the material is
perforated through fur both designs. The ingenuity with
which collision is avoided between the requirements of the
two designs is one of the most remarkable features in this
beautiful article. The visitor who now enters the French
department must not content himself with • passing glance
at the gold and silver plate, or larger articles, as many of
the most curious and beautiful objects are the smallest, and
only to be seen on application to the exhibitor. The gen-
tleman who at-ends in M. Marrel's department is most po-
lite and lucid in his explanations, and as he speaks English
fluently, the visitor to this part of the building could not
be in better hands. Let him by no means forget to ask for
Saint Herbert's hunting knife, with the whole of the legend
chased upon the handle, and telling the story with
admirable fidelity. There was as usual a great number of
schools and parties of labourers to swell the numbers on
Thursday, and we record the names with pleasure as • good
example to such institutions as yet withhold the visit from
their little charges. There were the Rumford and Brent-
ford schools, about 26.1 boys and girls; the Old Aylesford,
32; and a party of 130 labourers from Hampton Wick,
marshalled by their pastor, the Rev. Glynn. There
were Llso some other country parties, but we were not able
to get the names of their localities. M. Sax, of Saxhorn
celebrity, treated the company to some good music on one of
his own beautiful instruments, and the other musical in-
struments were tolerably busy during the day. The police
numbers were 63,746.

Cash account, July 17.

_
Season tickets £ 7 7 0
At the doors 3,023 5 0

Total receipts £3,030 12 0
FRIDAY.

Her Majesty paid her last visit, previous to the
departure of the Court to Osborne, to the Great Exhibition,
on Friday morning, and, her intention having previously
transpired, a very large company assembled to bid her
farewell immediately alter the opening of the doors. The
royal party consisted of her Majesty, Prince Albert, and a
rather numerous suite, and was immediately joined by her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and the Princess
Alice with a lady and gentleman in waiting. The royal
party entered of Holland-gate, and proceeded at once to
tire Russian section, which her Majesty looked over for a
minute or two, and thence proceeded to the Zollverein,
where Prince Albert examined the beautiful bronzes and
works in oxidised silver, to the features of which he fre-
/neatly called her Majesty's attention.
The Queen and party stopped for a few moments
bride EranFs Grand Piano, the exhibitor of which was
attendance, and listened to a short prelude, played to
clew the wonderful power and brilliancy of the instrument.
They then ascended to the gallery, sad proceeded at once
to Mr. Willis's grand organ, where Mr. Cooper, organist of
St. Paul's, was in attendance, and played a short selection
of organ music. Some time was spent here in examining
Nasmyth's maps of the moon, the orrery, and two or three
of the numerous astronomical machines which are exhibited
in that part of the buildin By this time the doors had
been opened, and the company rushing in, formed an im-
mense crowd in the nave immediately under that part of
the gallery in which the royal party were walking. The
sight of her Majesty walking along was the signal for a
general cheer, sod on her descending the stairs the police
had some difficulty in protecting her from the toe
zealous homage of her subjects. As the royal party passed
through the north transept the cheering was quite enthusi-
astic, and the well-dressed but not particularly well-behaved
crowd followed, cheering all the way until her Majesty
passed out of Holland-gate: so obstreperous were they in
their efforts to get a parting glimpse of royalty that they
smashed one or two valuable articles in the Holland-court
as they rushed through. Her Majesty looked exceedingly
well, was most gracious in her deportment, and seemed
quit* conscious that the rather boisterous greeting of her
subjects owed some of its vehemence to the fact that the
present would be her last visit to the palace for some
weeks. Mr. Dilke, Mr. Cole, and Dr. Playfair were in
attendance, with all of whom her Majesty conversed
with the utmost affability, and the exhibitors were all
charmed with the courteous bearing of Prince Albert.
It was the subjeet of observation that on this occa-
sion the crowd were more troublesome to the po-
lice than on the most crowded of the shilling days, and
some inconvenience to her Majesty might have been the
result of their eager curiosity, but for the strategic skill
with which Mr. Pearce, the police superintendent, disposed
his forces, so as to secure to the royal party free transit and
a clear spate coned every object of examination. Among
those whkh attracted moat auks was a mechanical figure
of a =a, the invention of a Pate, and Intended to assist the
tailors in the all-important art of fitting. This machine,
which Is all eosaposed of thin bars of steel, and has a most
singular appearance, attracted her Majesty's notice as she
passed through the gallery. Its uses were explained, much
to the royal amusement, end the inventor received a com-
pliment for his whimsical ingenuity. The general com-
pany, which was one of the most numerous (Friday's)
assemblage of the season, contained an immense
number of the better sort of country visitors fresh
from the Windsor Cattle Show, and a great many
foreigners, especially ladies, who were most voluble in their
ex.ressions of delight at everything they saw. On approach-
ing the Austrian furniture department the perfume of Eau-
dc-Cologne was almost overpowering, the real Jean Maria
Farina having set a tiny jet of the "veritable" going, at
which the company were busy saturating every possible vehicle
of perfume. This department has recently been enriched w ith
an ingenious and complicated machine for enabling the
blind to write. It is of metal, of a circular form, and has
round the disc the letters of the alphabet and the ten simple
numerals. Within are rows of points or keys in connexion
with the characters, which on being pressed down makes
an impression on the paper underneath. The person writing
can of course soon make himself acquainted with the
position of each, by the touch, and there is some ma-
chinery on the top to guide the hand and keep it
in proper position. This machine was much examined
as was also the wonderful cloak in the Austrian dining-
room, which simultaneously tells the time in every part of
the world. Some of the country visitors were very much
puzzled to understand how it was, that when it was 5
minutes past one in London it was only a quarter past 12
in Vienna, but were content at last to look upon the die-
crepancy ae one of the wonderful results of the Great
Exhibition. The Italian section has also bans further