The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-11 00:00:00

VISIT OF MAYORS AND DELEGATES TO

THE CRYSTAL PALACE AT SYDENHAM.

The Society of Arts having invited delegates from
mechanics' institutes in all parts of the country to attend
their distribution of prises, and the Lord Mayor having
performed a similar hospitable feat by the mayors, it coin-
cidently struck both hosts that they could not better enter-
tain their numerous guests than by treating them to a trip
to the new Crystal Palace at Sydenham, to see what won
due had already been done, what gre►ter wonders were in
rapid course of development, and the beautiful country in
which the fair palace is rising with a celerity that
is almost magical. A special train was pro-
vided for the accommodation of the visitors, and

was soon occupied by five or six hundred of the pioneers
of provincial progress. Only one of the mayors, however,
showed himself (his worship of Liverpool), his brethren, it
may be presumed, waiting upon the movements of the great
central sun. The company were soon scattered over the
vast skeleton house, amazed at its size, delighted with its
graceful proportions, which can now be distinctly compre.
headed, and almost stunned with the perpetual clang of
labour which ',sounds through every part. In one place
grimy-looking Vulcan, were, with the assistance of • steam
engine, cutting boles in solid iron as readily as if they were
operating on a pat of butter. In another, huge beams were
rising with dignified leisure through the air to the great
alarm of the more timid viaiton, while at the very top of the
seemingly slight frame work, scores of men were
perched like so many crows, following like the " Samphire
Gatherer" their " perilous trade." In short, there was
everywhere the noise of Babel, but none of the confusion.
The guests, piloted by Mr. Belshaw, the superintendent-
who waved an extemporised white banner as a substitute
for the famous plume of another hero at Ivry, soon
found their way to the Egyptian Court, which is far ad-
vanced, and thence to the collection of casts from the
antique, already quite unapproachable in variety and
beauty. The noble east of the Sphynx soon attracted a
numerous group of spectators, and equal curiosity was ex,
hibited with respect to those rarities from the
Louvre, which until now have never found their
way into this country. Everyone felt himself
to be in • complete labyrinth of wonders. Nine-
Tits, classical, mediaeval, and modern, and all expressed
their anticipation of what the effect must be, when, by the
Ist of May next year, there shall be "a place for every
thing, and everything in its place." The progress is remark-
able and simultaneous throughout every department, so that
there is little doubt but that at the abovenamed daub we
shall have an opportunity of judging in its completeness, of
what an honest Lancashire man
_yesterday called the
" eleventh wonder of the world." HaVillit inspected the
labours of Messrs. Owen Jones end Digby Wyat, the com-
pany proceeded to the end of the transept, wham through
a hole conveniently placed for the purpose, they
could look out upon Sir Joseph Paxton's dominions,
and see how the terraces are rising, and the fountains
mustering up their strength to do battle with their famous
rivals at Versailles. The progress here is as remarkable as
in the interior, although as yet it does not tall so palpably,
and the visitor has an additional attraction in the beautiful
prospect that stretches out wide on every side of him,
decked as it now is in that brilliant green which forms
the summer mantle of England. The littlo porthole to
which we have alluded, formed a most attractive peepshow,
and turns were contended for with true British energy.
After • general, though rapid inspection, and sundry
narrow escapee from falling through trap doors or over
scaffolding, the delegates returned to their special train,
much gratified with the treat afforded them by the autho-
rities of the Crystal Palace. Just as they departed by one
door, the carriage of the Lord Mayor drove up to another,
and his lordship was shown over the works by Mr. Fuller,
the managing director, and Mr. Grove, secretary to the
company. Although the exigencies of a special train would
not allow of our remaining to ascertain his lordship's
opinion, we have no doubt that it would be in concurrence
with the unanimous verdict of the earlier visitor'.

MORE BURIALS IN ST. CLEMENT'S CHURCHYARD.
—Burials are still going on in St. Clement's Churchyard,
notwithstanding the promise that the place was to be closed.
On Thursday another interment took place on the south
side, and they will be continued until en order in council is
issued. The notice required by the act of parliament ex-
pired on the 18th ult., and from that day the order hes
been expected, u Lord Palmerston promised that as soon
as the forms could be gone through the churchyard should
be finally closed. The inhabitants feel themselves ag-
grieved, and wonder whether the Home Secretary is aware
that burials are taking place in St. Clement's Churchyard.