The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-12 00:00:00

MR. PAXTON'S PETITION.

The following is a copy of the petition from which Lord
Ramo HAM read several extracts in the course of his speech :
"TO TILE SIORT HON. THE LORD. SPIULTUAL A.NLI TIM-
-1
PORAL IN PARLIAMENT ASI
" The humble petition of Joseph Paxton, of Chatsworth, 1
" Showetb,—That the building for the Exhibition of the
Works of Industry of all Nations, erected after the design 1
of your petitioner, would, after the Exhibition is closed,
supply a great public want which London, with its two and
a half millions of inhabitants, stands ost essentially in
need of—namely, a winter park and garden under glass.
" That when your petitioner tent in a design for the Glass
Palace he had in view quite as much the after purpose for
which the building could be adapted as the object then more
immediately required.
" That your petitioner respectfully calls the attention of
your eiht hon. house to the fact that within the last 20
years the physiology, economy, and requirements of ani-
mated nature, with the effects which climate, locality, and
various contingencies have upon its health and habits, have
been studied and examined with the hest results.
"That by the aid of chemistry and botany many useful
discoverieshave been made which practical horticulture has
rendered subservient to the comforts and happiness of man,
and that the removal of the duty oa glass has given great
impetus to this science ; indeed, had that duty still existed,
no such building could possibly have been erected.
" That the achievements of horticulture lead onwards to
the formation of climates, which even under opposite in-
fluences are rendered healthy and suited to the wants and
requirements of man.
" That formerly, wherever plants were congregated be-
neath a glass structure, the atmosphere was invariably de-
teriorated and rendered unfit for being more than tran-
siently inhaled, the usual method with visitors being to
take a hurried view of the chief beauties within, and then
retire to a more genial air.
" That now plant structures are no lftpr unhealthy,
pent-up ovens, and that the objects within them grow with
use and natural vigour.
" That the ventilation and climate of our dwelling-houses
have also been considered, and many additions to our com-
fort have in this respect been made. The perfection of
these internal arrangements, contrasted with the atmosphere
without, renders it Wiliam desirable that something on a
large scale should be done to counteract the effects of the
outer air, which in this country, and in the neighbourhood
Of London especially, is often during many months of the
year impure, murky, and nu& for healthy recreation and
enjoyment; and it is to meet this want that your petitioner
offers the present recommendation to the consideration of
your right honourable house.
" That all structures hitherto erected, however great and
noble SOMA of them are, fall far short of anewering this end,
ma that you petiticeser icartfally ratonatande tha Crtn-

such a purpose of anything that hasbeen hitherto attempted,
and that its great advantages should be used for the public

" That the Crystal Palace, if properly laid out, will open
a wide field of Intellectual and healthful enjoyments, and
will likewise stimulate the wealthy in large manufacturing
towns to a similar adoption of what may now be raised FO
eheaply; and when judiciously furnished with vegetation,
ornamented with sculpture and fountains, and illustrated
with the beautiful works of nature, would be pure, elevating,
and beneficial in its influences on the national character.
" That at present England furnishes no such place of
public resort ; for although Kew has a splendid palm-house,
where daily are congregated a great number of individuals,
yet its warm and humid atmosphere is only calculated tat
admit of visitors taking a luny view of the wonders at dr
tropics as they pass in their walks through the
On the contrary, in the winter park and
petitioner proposes, climate would he flaie
studied; all the furnishing and fitting up would have
special reference to that end, so that the plea-
sures found in it would beef a character which all who visit
could share. Here would be supplied the climate of
Southern Italy, where multitudes might ride, walk, or re-
cline amid groves of fragrant trees ; and here they might
leisurely exanuno the works of nature and art, regardless a
the biting east winds or the drifting snow. Here vmenunsa
la much of its beauty might be studied with unusual edemas
tages, and the singular properties examined of those great
filteren of =tan which, during the night season, when the
bulk of animal Ids is in a quiescent state, inhale he
of the air; wine in the day, when the mass of animal -ex-
istence has AMA into activity, they drink in the carbonic
supply gins gat by man and animal+, which goes to form
their soUdenimeanee ; at the same time pouring forth streams
of o nikkilt, mingling with the surrounding ahno-
shere,,pes vigour to man's body and cheerfulness to his
spirits.
" Theta this winter park and garden the trees and plant,
Mss arranged as to give great diversity of views sad
east ; spoors might la set apart for equestrian
amis. while the main body of the building might he ar-
mload with the view of giving great extent and verity for
*sae who promenade on foot.
" Fountains, statuary, and every description of park and
garden ornament would greatly heighten the effect and
I beauty of the scene. Beautiful creeping plants might be
planted against the columns and trailed along the girders,
so as to give shade in summer, while the effect they would
produce by festooning in every diversity of form over the
I building would give the whole a most enchanting and goes
geous finish.
I " That, besides these delightful objects, there might be
introduced a collection of living birds from all temperate
climates, and the science of geology, so closely connected
with the study of plants, might be illustrated on a laree sad
natural scale, thus making practical botany, ornithology,
I and geology familiar to the visitor.
"That should your right hon. house agree to give the
public this source of public enjoyment your petitioner would
recommend that the wood boarding round the bottom tier
of the building should be removed, and replaced with glass,
whereby the appearance would be marvellously changed;
then who drive and ride in the park would, even in winter,
see the objects within as they pass by, and the whole would
line alight aerial appearance, totally unlike what it has at
present.
"That in summer your petitioner would recommend that
the whole lower glass tier should be entirely removed, so as
la give from the park and the houses opposite the Palace an
appearance of continuous park and garden.
I "That the residents opposite the Crystal Palace would 'I
I have within a few minute, walk a beautiful park, decorated I
I with the beauties of nature and art, under a skyroof, having
a climate warmed and ventilated for the purpose of health
alone, furnishing, clic to their own firesides, a promenade
I unequalled in the world, and for the six winter months a I
temperature analogous to that of Southern Italy; and your
petitiouir has no doubt that the property in that iminediute
neighbourhood would front such an arrangement consider-
ably advance in value, because of the recreation and exer-
cise aff wiled to the inhabitants and their families.
"That your petitioner believes many suburbs of London
will be led to desire to have such a winter garden in their
neighbourhoods.
Phut the advantages derivable from such an appropri-
ation of the Crystal Palace would be many, and may ac thus
briefly summed up:
1. In a sanitary point of view its benefits would be in-
calculable,
"2. By its various objects it would produce a new and
soothing pleasure to the mind.
" 3. The great truths of nature and art would be con-
stantly exemplified.
" 4. Peculiar facilities would especially be given for the
development, on a large scale, of the sciences of botany,
geology and and ornithology.
5.A temperate climate would be supplied at all seasons.
" 6. Tzete would be improved, by individuals becoming
!laminar with objects of the highest order of art, and by
viewing the more beautiful parts of nature without its
deformities.
" 7. Pleasant exercise could he taken at all times, and in
every variety of weather.
' If. It would serve as a promenade or lounge, and as a
place which could at all seasons be resorted to with advan-
tage by the most delicate.
' In conclusion, your petitioner submits, as his opinion,
that, having such great public attractions,the Crystal Palace
might be rendered eelf.supporting.
" And your petitioner prays your right hon. house to
preserve the building of time Exhibition for the public uses
above submitted.
" Aud your petitioner will ever pray.
JOSEPII PAXTON."