The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-13 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN GREAT INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.
(Br ELEcittic Tri.rouscit
DUBLIN, Terasosv.
The opening of the Great Exhibition by the Lord-
Lieutenant took place with great solemnity. More
than 15,000 persons were in the building. The Jay
very fine, and everything passed off with the utmost
DLIsLIN, MLA 12.
The long wished for day for the inauguration of
the Great industrial Exhibition of 1853 has at length
arrived, and most auspiciously has it dawned ; for
summer itself appears to have been waiting for this
morning to visit us in all its cheering brightness.
There is a prospect of a magnificent day for the
grand out-door procession, and even at the early
hour at which I write all Dublin is already on the
" tip-toe of expectation," the bogy hum of life filling
every thoroughfare. The scene here is an entirely
new one, and the excitement is proportioned to the
novelty. The exhibition building was crowded with
workmen during the whole of last night in com-
pleting the preparations for this morning, and it is
satisfactory to find that notwithstanding the
vast quantity of work which remained to
be done, (July twenty-four hours since everything
that was necessary has been accomplished, and by
an t ffutt of energy almost incomprehensible, the
building will be perfectly prepared for the reception
of the tens of thousands aho will occupy it to-day.
Many of the objects to be exhibited have not yet
been finally arranged, some are still arriving, and
many more are expected; but this was the case with
the great Crystal Palace itself for fome weeks after
the opening; and I have no doubt that the visitors
to the building to-day will find, that even as an
Exhibition, nothing will appear to be wanting or out
of place. One word as to the building itself. It
will, no doubt, seem most presumptuous to compare
it in say_ way to the wonder of the world which
stood in Hyde Park, but the truth is, nevertheless,
that nearly all those who arrive here from London
assert that in some respects the Dublin building
strikes them as even grander than the
Crystal Palace itself, its interior being
in • much more imposing and beautiful style of ar-
chitecture. The spectator may fancy himself on en-
tering in a vast cathedral, composed of a labyrinth
of light pillars and lofty circular arches, the grand
nave being 100 feet in width and 425 feet in height.
The trvlliced galleries, raised between the double co-
facades which eepante the navel', have an exceed.
ingly beautiful effect. A light blue tint which per-
vades the whole, with the glass roofs, and gorgeous
escutcheons hanging on either side, have on the whole
an appearance of exceeding great grandeur and
beauty. The rehearsal of the music last evening
passed off extremely well.
The managers of the Dahlia Exhibition are at the
height of their excitement. As was the case at the Great
Eattibition of 113.11, although the collection will not be all
arranged, the public will not be disappointed—or, rather,
it will be agreeably disappointed—for, weather permitting,
the ceruneay of Thursday next will be brilliant and highly
iateresuag.
At present there are not many things fully displayed,
but there are some which deserve special notice. The
French Betswes Jet, which formed so pleasing a portion
of the London collection, begin to show themselves here
and there, and attract many observers. The Prussian
castings in sine and Terra cotta are falling into their ap-
pointed placed The steam power for working the machi-
nery is prepared, and its arrangement is admirably simple
and economical. The entire length of the comeart-
ment devoted to the purpose of maehinery in
motioa is fitted with a row of cast iron pillars,
which support a continuous series of main shafts,
fitted with drums daring their traits length for driving the
machinery which is bring arranged on both sides. The
medieval court is much larger than was that in Ilyde-park,
and is being fitted up with great taste by Mr. Hardman,
stained glass being introduced, as it is also at the end of the
sculpture gallery, with excellent effect.
The sculpture court contains many of the best prods's:-
Cons exhibited in Hyde-perk, and many noticeable pieces
in addition ; amongst others an admirable bust of O'Con-
nell crowned with a wreath of oak, and the bust recently
modelled by Mr. Jones of the Empress of the French, which
gives her Majesty a more classic profile than any of the en-
gravings we have seen. The droop of the shoulders, too, is so
very great that we are involuntarily reminded of the lines—
Lovely, tapering more and more,
Till Beauty, urged by quaint excess,
Approach the verge of ugliness.
There is one division of this exhibition which bad no pro-
totype in that of 1851—namely, the Picture Gallery, which
occupies nearly • fifth of the entire building; and the
number of paintings received is so large as to render that
space barely sufficient for their exhibition. Before quitting
the sculpture department, we should have said that it eon-
tains an admirable statue of Mr. Dargan, the spirited ori-
ginator of the exhibition. When the work made its appear-
ance, the original protested spinet its being exhibited ; but
the committee. "for this occasion only," thought fit to dis-
regard Mr. Dargan's scruples, and the statue will maintain
its place, and doubtless be an attractive object.
Conspicuous amongst the pictures are the admirable like-
nesses of her Majesty and Prince Albert, by Winterbelter,
which have been graciously lent by her Majesty to the Ex-
hibition Committee. We cannot now eater on au enume-
ration of the paintings received, but it may be well to say
that the space is divided into six portions, occupied respec-
tively by the productions of Great Britain and Ireland;
miscellaneous works by the old masters; the French, the
Belgian, the Dutch, and the Prussian schools. The pictures
have been arranged by Mr. Grieve.
There is another collection also which is entirely unique,
namely, • selection of Japanese productions, which have
been lent from the Museum at the Hague by the Dutch
government, and are being arranged with great skill by
M. A. A. van de Kasterle, Director of the Erdal Museum
of Curiosities. The collection includes • large number of
articles appertaining to the several religions of the natives;
arms; musical instruments; banners; a curious collection
of maps, books, drawings, and printing materials; wearing
apparel ; figures exhibiting the dresses of the natives, male
sad female, and 'models of their coiffures; • full-sized
model of a soldier drafted and armed in the most grotesque
manner, in a copper coat of mail, and with terrific horns
of two sorts to give terror to his appearance, which is
further assisted by • souk on the lower part of his face.
This Japanese fighting man would make • good companion
for Wet other geatleman who figured in Hyde Park in the
diving dress. The collection also includes sets of carpenters'
and other tools ; specimens of porcelain and earthenware;
a large collection of articles in papier-mache, remarkable
for the elaborate and highly tasteful character of their de-
corations, many of the pieces being inlaid with gold and
mother-of.peast in the most artistic
pair dual*, remarkable at once for the rudeness of their
appearance and the delicacy of their balance ; a most inge-
nious and elegant palanquin, sad several models of chips.
Artieles of Japes manufacture have been little known in
England ; and the @sport of many of them, such as the
maps, is prohibited es pain of death.
Four small field-pieces, taken by Lord Gough, will at-
tract much attention ; their construction is excellent, and
the ornaments employed in the most fitting and tasteful
manner imaginable.