The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-09 00:00:00

THE DINNER TO 141 L PAXTON AT DERBY.

On Tuesday evening but a grand hangers vim
given to Joseph Paxton, Esq., in the N, w.tssembly lieorns,
Herby, by the gentry of that town, O.:inlaying their ,rpre-
t. don of hi• talent and energy in causing to be carried out
his design of th! Crystal Palace. About 300 act down to
dinner shortly after five o'clock, @erred up in a most pro
fuse and elegant manner, by Mr. Huggins, of the Royal
llotel. The rola% wan embellished by }owners ar. I devices
which gave ■ very beautiful cffirt. Amonest the company
we rinti-ed T. Gishorne, Esq. (chairman), supp,,rted on his,
right by J. Patton, Esq., Mr. ilinaerson, the Mayo: ofl
Derby, Hon. Mr. Stratt, Evans, Eeq., M.P., M• 1
Baas, Niq.,11.1'., L. Hcyworth, Eet., 31. P. ; on the chair-
maa's kft, the Date of Devonshire, G. Caventheb,
X.P., the High Sheriff for the county (I'. Bradshaw, Esq.),l
W. Mundy, E.q , M.l'., Sir 11. Wilmot, But., M.P., Mr.
renansissionir It slim, Mark Lemon, Esq., J. Forster,
Y.sq., Horace Mayhew, Esq., dc., de.
The t HAII:MAN, after reading letters from gentlemen
unable to attend, gave The Queen ;" and, in so sluing,
alluded to the fact of her Majesty visiting the scene of
emalry unattended I.y any military or defeusire body
guards.
Air, "God save the Queen."
Thu CHAIItMAN gave •' His Royal Highness Prince
Albert." It was a mod difficult position to occupy, that
of Priem: Cowart, in a nation, and to •step Mimi!. free
from all jealousy and ill-feeling. Yet such had been the
ease by our prtszat Princo Coition. What a mwr.ifieent
and puissant idea it was of l'rince Albert to think of con-
centrating together the skill and ingenuity of all nations,
with which bad been blended so much that was great and.
noble. (Cheers.)

'flit CHAIRMAN, in highly eulogi-tie terms, ear The
Duke of Devonshire, the Lord-Lieutenant of this county."
(Loud applause.)
The Duke of DEVONSHIRE, on rising to return
thanks, was hsileil with several rounds of cheers. He said
that the kiudnea and indulgence of his D srhysthire friends
were always the same to hiin. He wan delighted to meet
ritern on an invasion so interesting, anti to find that so
many had given their nsmes and tin it sanction to the ob-
j•-, tth it had assembled them. (cheers.) lfe said that a
year ago, at a meeting held at Ilakeweil to consider the
new, na.sgaificent, and as it lies now turned out„ the erni-
neatly sueeessfail plan of his Royal Highness l'riem Albert
for an Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations, the design,
description, mill explanation of the building now called
the Crystal l'aluee were fee the first time made
known to a public audience. The diMeulties en-
countered by the royal commisrioners had bizonse ap-
palling, and appeared to be every day irereasing,
till Mr Prisfon came, and will, a plan as simple
n. it was stupendous, roused an immediate chance in the
current of public expectation. (Loud cheer.) At that
II die well meeting he minutely described his intentions,
which ni ease:Only listened to with great astonishment.
ventured (said the Duke) to predict hi. sueetsr—
•—atid I intended those who limn) mi. tai In and, r no sort of
ahem, fir Mr. Paxton had never yet failed in anything he
Lid undertaken. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemi n (eautinued
the Duke),:has not the event justilica my winguioc as-ertion,
and is it not clear that the method employed was not only
the arickea woy, hut the only way by which the expectation
of the whole world would not be ilisappoiuttil ? (lived
beers.) The Duke proceeded to say that it was ar.lmnour.
him to have hail his name connected with thaf gra :if work ;
the perfection of it bad astonished everybody employed
and emarerned. The compliment hail often bean paid to
him of tieing the grandfather of the Crystal
(Intighter and clivers)--Ishielt he thought Mad perhaps!
turned his head a little; but (said his Grace) it was Lot the
possession of a few houses of glass and irou. serving per-
haps in some degree as models--it 11,611 the mind nt their
inventor, well ri gut:dist. dear, and active—and the will,
powerful and le rs, ...ring, that bad given itre,ortiinee to
those objects, awl had It'll hies to the ultimate result ; the
mind, On integrity, t he simplicity, and talent, that had
raised him to he what he is, the pirso.; whom they had met
together to honour, to be connected isith whom w.as lain
pride, and to 1ne01..4 whose confidence was as grut:i.y :rig to
his (Hie duke's) feelings, as his extensive Penile, had been
csinduei sae to his worldly prosperity. (Vehement ;leering.) I,
Ilia firm...then said that he emisiden .1 Mr. Paxton 10114 I
fortonuti in basing selected 3le-sr. Fox and Henderson
for the esecution of Hain great and, rhiLing. Day after day
in the wi-der and in the spring he hi.( witnessed the unre-
mitting c,lll.util ability with which Mr Fox gave his eon-
sLutt and scientific attention to the colossal work in which
hi- was engaged. (Cheers) Muth as Mr. ranee, had been
hue the bet year the object of approlnviou, the duke knew
hir to to alnue of that high feeling and great di Limey I,
that it would have pained him to accept this token of ads
=welkin had not a .iatilar compliment been paid to his
frond awl asoniste in this town. ((•heers.) The Crystal
J'alan• haul had a respite, and it was to be hoped that its
future ds doly was secured ; and quite sure nut I (raid the !
duke) flash should the arTallftalnents and regulations be
confided to the msentor, its merits and advent' ere • in 2 :
act and stile would he. as striking anal as well appe as I
they were in the first, (The noble dale was loudly eliveriii
On resuming his seat.)

The hada Hun. Mr. STRUT I, M.P., propoied
Royal Cunerniosioners."
The CHAI It M AN proposed the t. Health of Jo .ph Pay-
ton, Em.— (C10y..) liar twenty years he had I—s n on
freemenh terns with Mr. Pollen. lint un the present occasion
he only hocw him as the originator of th. Crystal Palace.
When Vs ince Albert's magnilieent idea began to assume an
existent, it was necessary that sonic preparations shai.iid be
made for recces ing the contributions of the industry of all
nations. They meld not invite them to place on the 'Aube.
1.1 SAli.lniry their variant* goods- -no. they mot have some
roVvrint!, AEI nil nations were conseepiently invited to send
in plan, of a building adaptable for the purpose. Great sr-
tinted. and engineers began to knock their heady ao,einet
emote and line I, --(laughter and Qheeree)— to thiouahld
:Moulin mortar and eminent. when • gardener stepped in
iensong them anal said, 't teentlemers, there's nothing like!
glace and iron." (Inughter and cheers.) The chairman
then expeeseed his admiration of the idea which gave birth ,
to the Crystal Palace, the greatness of which no one at-
tempted to dispute except Colonel Silohorp Ile (the!
chairmen) felt murally certain that no man want,' dare
a.. tar to go against the wishes of the people of England as
to pull down that nuhle edifice. (Loud ebeerin4 ) He had
great pleasure in giving them the health of Mr. l'extost.
(Cheer...)
Mr. I'AXTON rose, nod was nueiv..d with several
rounds. Ile said —Mr. Chairman, my lord duke, and gen- I
Vlernen. if ever I laboured under a difficulty in my life, or
required of my friends more than an ordinary share of •
their kind indulgence, it is on the present occasion.
(Cheers.) Owe/powered by your kind response to the tool
'Lettering lecrount of me by my friend Mr. flishorne, I ask you
to forgive me if I fail to express to you lea I ought my most
heartfelt gratitude anal thanks for this mot distinguished
mark of your public approbation. (Cheers.) I 11211 sat
ao vain but I know how much of the prain you are goad,
enough to reined me is due to your own kinder..; butt
it would be affectation more offensive than vanity if I,
did not frankly acknowledge that I am proud at being
connected with anything that h.O this day bniught toge-
ther so large • number of my friend ~ (Loud cheers.)
Wei c Ito consult my own feelings, I should, after offer-
ing my most fervent thanks in. I fear, most (vital* words, re-
sume nay seat, and thus relieve myself of a rather onerous
duty. But, gentlemen, I feel that this is no Ordinary seen-
mon, but one on which I shall be expected to do more than
return you my thanks. (Cheers.) When the Exhibition,'
the great event of our times, WAS first propounded, I hailed,
it with unmixed pleasure ; it appeared to me like a beam
of light of vast magnitude, embracing a field of operation,
the true advantages of which could only be felt in alter'
tames, when the great efforts made would unfold themselves'
he a thousand different and unlooked for channels. This is
the seed time, the harvest will arsurvlly follow. (Cheers)
Not only will the niechauical ingenuity of man find means
for extended improvement, but the social nature of man'
will receive its rewards in the sweeping away of national ,
prejudice, and establishing between nation anal no
-
bon, and man and man, • kinder appreciation of
oath other'. worth, and a more charitable 'new of
tech other's frailties. (Cheers.) The fire; great fruits
which the Exhibition has produced is now taking place at
Paris. Nothing could ho more hearty than the reception
gives to us everywhere from Boulogne to Pais. All ap- •
teemed to vie with each other in giving us a cordial and
hearty welcome. Themagaideent reception given at the
Iliad she Ville sat almost have shaken the prejudices
eves of Colonel Eibtborp. (Laughter.) We have nu place
in England where such a dinner could be given as that of
the Motel de Ville ; sad no place where there could have'
been so magnificent • reception. What has long been de-
aired am .8 nations has been II mere free and unrestrained
communiou of their inhabitants with each other ; when
this shall fully take place it will not require the abstruse ,
study which is now requisite for a foreign se- •
rectory or minister to sonduct, the affairs of na-
tions with utisfaction to all parties. I believe

-
r.lithglend has added another wreath to her crown in
e 21urious part she ham taken its first establishing an
Eaintiition of All Nations. It is rather a curious fact,
that there never has been • national Exhibit'on similar to
that of many other countries, and that we should then at
one, enter upon so gigantic a tusk as an Exhibition of All
Nations behiro we had an exhibition of our own. To his
Ducal lii.tliness Prince Albert the world to mainly indelit.il
fur carrying out this moat wonderful undertaking, and to
his royal Inghures belongs the credit of having persevered
through most difficult and harming circumstances to so
happy a result. (Loud cheers.) It was while this magni-
ficent scheme was passing over the shoals and quicksands
that always beset great undertakings, that my humble
efforts were called into request, and, at the risk of being
thought tedious, I will venture to give you a short history
of my connexion with it, and the reasons which induced me
to furnish a plan. You are aware that as soon as the royal I
commission was formed, gentlemen were selected as a build-
ing committee; to this committee was deputed the onerous
duty of devising a proper building for the Exhibition.
Their brat public act was to send out invitations for designs
for a suitable structure. About 210 designs were sent in;
but the committee, not finding any of these exactly in ae-
cori.ance with their views, set about devising a plan of their
own: and on this being completed, they prepared detailed
drawings and specifications for the purpose of obtaining
tenders, The structure they propased to erect was severely
commented upon in the public journals, on account of the
vast amount of bricks that would be used in its construction,
and the permanent character of the work. It was not until
this war of words was raging with great fierceness that the
thought OKI urred to me of making a design which would
obi iate all objections. Fortunately at that time I we. erect-
ing a house of peculiar construction, which I had designed
fur the growth of that most remarkable plant the Victoria
Itegia ; and it is to this plant, and to this ciecumstanni,
that the Crystal Palace owes it. direct origin. (Ilefee,l
hear.) Being in Landon, and having to SN. Mr. Ellis, the
member for Leicester, on business connected with the
land Railway, I sought him at the Houses of Parliament,:
and found him at a morning sitting in the new Howie of
Common., which was held thereon that day for the purpose
of testing its fitness for use. Sir Charlee Wmal was ad-
dressing the house ; bat not a word of what he said could
be distinctly heard in the Speaker's Gallery ; neem which I
obee.ared to Mr. Ellis that I feared they would make a mis-
take in constructing the Great Exhibition Building, and
that I had some thoughts of sending in a design that would
obviate the difficulties complained of. After a little
further conversation, Mr. Ellis went with me to the Board
of 'trade to ace Lord Granville. We did not find his lord-
ship within •' but Mr. Henry Cole, one of the executive
committee, happened to be there. I went to No. 1. Old
Palace-yard, and after convening sonic time with Mr.
Cole, I found that tle• building committee had advertised
that the plans and specifications for contractor; to tender
would be ready in aboot a fortnight, and I also heard that the
epecilications would contain a clause by which those who!
tendered might also tender for design; differing from the
plan of the building committee. (Hear.) Erum this
=meat I derided that I would prepare plans for • glass
structure, and the first thir.g I actually did W:l4 to go to
Hyde-park and step over the ground, to ascertain the extent
in length and breadth on which the building was to stand.
Having made on engagement to be at the floating u 7 the
thirfix•ilee of the Britannia-bridge, I could not imminence

the plans until after my return ; and it was at the Ntittlitad I
station, in this town, in one of Vie cnmtnittee 1,1111. that
the lira mark on paper was matte of the Crystal Palace ;
and the most remarkable fact connected with the Crystal
Palate is, that the blotting paper sketch indicates the prin-
cipal features of the building as it now stands, as much as
the most finished drawings that have been mole since.
(Loud cheers, ) In nine el tys front the time of making
the blotting paper sketch, I found myself again at Derby,
with a roll of plans under my arm on my way to London.
These plan., live in number, hail, with the exception of one,
been prepared be me at Chatsworth ; the one not pr, pared
there had been made for me by Mr. Barlow, the eminent
engineer of the Midland Railway, who kindly goes, me his
valuable assistance in calculating the strength of the
colitaiito and gird rt. (Chet re.) At the Mlidtmd station I
had Vie good fortune to accidentally meet with Mr. Robert
Stephenson. who had come from Newcastle by the WSW
train in which 1 was going to London. On our kitten, y I
-.booed the plans to Mr. Stephenson, and got him to read
the specith Aiwa lie expressed his untountled admiration
of the in sign, and promised to lay the plans before the
royal commisai'm on the following day, which promise he
fulfillme As Lord Brougham hail said so much in the
Boum of Lords against a Mick building being erected in
Hyde-park. I waited spotn Lie lordship and explained to
him the nature of my plans. From that day Inc.!
Bruit cham has never tattered a word against the
Exhibition building, but on the contrary his lord-
ship became my warmest supporter. (Cheers.) I also
showed the plans to Lord Granville before they went before
the royal cnnamisiitiners ; and here I must remark that to
Lord eiranville the country owes much in respect to the '
men.. of the Exhibition. The easy access and courtesy
of manner displayed by his lordship to all who approach
him, added to moot excellent business habits, ha. removed
many ditterulties that would nut otherwise have been
effected. After sin design had been laid before the royal
commissioners, and had Men inveetigatei by the building
committee, and seen at Buckingham-palace by her Majesty
and Prince Albert, I took the plans to New-strtot, Spring-
gardens, mid hail the good Partuatt to find Mr. Fox art his
°Mee. Mr. Fox was much !slimes,' with the design, and at
'mc', agreed to go heareily into it. Mr. Henderson (Mr.
!Fox's partner), and Mr. Robert Lucas Chalice, the great
m iteer at Birmingham. were telegraphed to trn 'modern early on Monday, and after a long emoted-
I Mann my plaits were sent to Birmingham fur the purpose
iof having detailed estimate, and drawings prepared.
I The nqal conininationtro were Milk' aware of the
I fact of Mew.. Foe and Ilenderson's intention to tender for
my design. and Mr. Cole went to Birmingham to counsel
Messrs. Eta and Ilentleroon to tender for covering the
ground in the exact roof as marked out by the ground pl 111
Iprepari d 'ty the build:sag c entuittee. Mr. Brunel aloft sm..
' grated that tbs' interior tolatuns should be plaeed 2: t'et
avert instead of 20, in order to suit the Exhibition. During!
the preparation of these plans and estimates, Messrs. lux
and I leuderson tame to Cliataworth to nide with mo some
of the more important details, and I went twice to Bir-
I minebtom to age the progrem of the plans and i stimatts.
During the lin Neaten of these plans Mr. Henderson
suggested the transept; to this 1 at first objected ; 1 did
iNfo 101 these Ipound:4—namely, that us the Exhibition WAS
SO be a fair competition of skill fur all nations, I held it
to be fair and rieht that each exhibitor should have an
equal advantage no regards !median—whirl& they could
not have with the introduction of the transept; another
objection I entertained was, that it could not stand in
i the centre of tits baii-lina as the anoint( plan was then or-
I ranged ; but the moment Mr. Henderson said it would Ml-
i port strength and tolidity to the building I assented to its
; tutrodactitel. (Loud cheers.) At length the day for send
. inn in the tender cattle. but considerable delay took plat
j before it was finally accepted. I hare before stated that in
order to get the tender in it was necessary the building
shotold cover the con t orate marked tint by the building
committee ; but in conforming to this plan the transept was
obliged to he put into one side or the building for the pur-
-1 pose of avoiding the great trees which now stand within it,
I but which, au:Jetting to tl.e tender sent in, were to be in
an open court. At one of the meetings with the building
tommittee, it was suggested by them that the transept
enuuld include tlag great tree.: but there appeared at
first sight a :maul deal of difficulty in accomplishing
this, as at that time all the noting was designed to be fiat
We promised to s, a what could to done before the ne...
meeting of the' committee. I went direct with Mr. Fox oi
IC- 'aniy ; and 'Sil;t: lie arranged the termini' plan on as to
Intro the trees int', the centre of the building, I wile con-
triving how they were to be covered. At length I hit upon
the plan of covering the transept with a circular roof, simi-
lar to that un the great conservatory at Chatsworth, and
' made is sketch of it, which was copied that night by one of
Ithe draughtsmen. in enter that I might have it to show to
Mr Brunel. whom I Ind agreed to meet on the ground the
(next day. (Cheers.) Before nine o'clock the next morn-
ing Mr. Brunel called at Devonshire Howe, and brought me
'the height. of all the gnat trees; in the nude containing the
measurementa Mr. Branel wrote thus : " I mean to try and
I win w itli mar pl 04 Its: I lISIS thought it right to give your
I beautiful plan all the advantages it is susceptible of."( Cheers.)
I I then showed Mr. Brunel the plan I had mail, the night be-
, faro, for covering in the trees, with which he was much
pleased. I lose Imo: led into these minute details; first,
to show tliat the circular roof of the transept was designed
Iby myself. and not be Mr. Marv, as currently reported;
secondly. to show the kindness and liberality of Mr. Brunel.
(Cheer..l At the time of the tender being accepted, the
building committee asked me if I had any objections to my
design being improved in mime of its details; my reply
, was to the effect that I should have great pleasure in agree-
! nig to anything that could he shown to be an improvement.
(Rear.) I must here tell you how some alterations had
become necessary. When the gallery columns inside were
changed from 20 to 21 feet apart, it pot the outer columns
; and outer tube* quite out of proportion as to distance;
, instead of there licitia one intermediate column and sash
. between the 20 feet opening. there were twat intermediate
I columns, and two sashes in the 24 feet; and the plan
Mr. Barry made for improving this had my entire ap-
, proval, because it brought back the design to its original
proportions. (Loud cheers.) As soon as my design had
been accepted, it was decided by the royal commissioner to
intrust the superintendence of its erection to Mr. William
: Cubitt, the President of the Civil Engineers' Institute, and
'Meows. Fox and Henderson had, as contractors, to submit
the detail drawing. respecting the strength of the building
for his approval. Jost after the contract had been accepted
I was obliged to nerve England for a month ; and at the last
interview I had with Mr. Fox before my departure, in the
' presence of Mr. Leech, he promised that all should be
carried nut in accordance with the design, and that no
alteration should be made without my apororal. When
I first thought of sending in a design, I had to consider,
not only what I knew well myself• but what would be
thought practicable by others ; In'sides, I had to keep
in view not only the probability of the mechanical
. realisation of my design, but also the possibility of its
, realisation within a given time. That I did not err in
Hai last respect. I owe to the ability, energy, and trans-
cendent skill of Messrs. Fox and Henderson; and if I have
one word more than another that would express my appro-
bation of the'r exertions, I should have infinite
pleasure
entered using It; not only did they arrange all the details for carry-
ing on the works with great precision and speed, but
eisnatereredaitadtoca ofthe pereajcitttdueto with heartygood-will,
inuuaen
anduthpmen;
, design in the manner they did. (Cheer) The structure
' was an entirely novel and new one to them previously.
They had no experience is the peculiar plan of roofing and
drainage, which wea for the first lane brought before them