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

No. 1,523.] [No. 29, EXHIBITION EXPRESS.]

THE
EXHIBITION
EXPRESS,

FOR THE WEEK ENDING

SATURDAY, JULY 12.

Time, that dims other curiosities' and deadens
relish, seems only to whet the taste of the people for
the wonders of the World's Fair. With the public, as
with Hamlet's mother—it is
As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on.
Last week we had to tell of undiminished
thousands crowding day by day to Hyde-park;
this week our story is the same. Indeed, the
numbers rather increase than lessen ; and if any
change be perceptible, it is to be found in the
fact, that those who throng the place appear to
come from greater distances to enjoy the gratifica-
tion than those who made up the majority of visitors
when the Crystal Palace first opened. The provin- 1
culls and the foreigners make now a greater show'
than they did at first ; the smock frocks of the Eng-
lish shires and the moustachiecs of the continental
workmen are now more commonly recognised than
Were. But if some of the early London patrons of
• BiOlace are seen lees often than they were, one
Lady is yet as staunch as ever in her admiration,
and as punctual in her attendance as she was two
months ago. The Queen shows no diminution of
her patronage, as is evinced by her frequent and
early visits; and that she is desirous others should
participate in the enjoyments of this Palace of the
Triumphs of Industry, was shown this week, in the
fact of her having " treated" one hundred and fifty
of her servants and retainers at Osborne, to a trip
from the Isle of Wight to London, to see the Great
Exhibition. This example set by the highest per-
sonage in the realm, seems likely to be imitated with
the best results in other quarters. We had fre-
quently before to record the names of kindly
enipluyers who gave those in their service an oppor-
tunity of enjoying the novel sight which has made the
present year memorable, but now that we have to
add the name of Queen Victoria to the generous list
we shall surely soon have to include many others.
In England the example of the monarch has a wide
influence on the people; and before the Crystal
Palace closes it is probable that almost every
wealthy person in the country will afford such facili-
ties as will enable those in their employment to wit-
ness the marvellous collection that now graces Hyde-
park.
Another feature of the past week has been the
steps already taken by the public to express their
opinions as to the continuance of the Crystal l'alace.
Maryli 'sine has been one of the first to " pronounce"
its verdict in the shape of a petition for the retention
of the building, signed by no less than 30,000 of its
most respectable and intelligent inhabitants. Bramp-
ton, a parish from its position most deeply in-
terested in the question at issue, has also
declared in favour of retention ; and in
other parts of London petitions are in pro.
gre..s. It seems certain that still greater energy
iu the preparation of such documents would be dis-
played should any steps be taken by the authorities,
indicating a likelihood that the Glass Weeder may
possibly be removed. Some such step seems abso-
lutely requisite before any general excitement will
arise. People regard the Crystal Palace as a wonder
accomplished, and to remain. They cannot seriously
realise the idea of anybody being. really bent 'Ton
its removal. To kiive. e.::7.7.1 again this wonderful
structure, raised so rapidly ana so Mil!, we,::: too
absurd to lie really contemplated. The notion is—
like Sibtliorp's iudiguation—a thing to be laughed
ii,',., not dealt with seriously. Hence the few petitions
yet completed. Last night Lord Brougham pre-
sented to the House of Peers a petition from Mr.
Paxton, and, in doing so, said :
His own opinion regarding the Exhibition had been
generally misunderstood. To the Exhibition itself ;le had
not been opposed; on the contrary, he considered it an in-
stance of not only national hat European enterprise. Hie
opposition altogether was to the erection of the building in
Hyde-park, a proceeding which he still considered, as he
ever had, entirely illegal. Ile had not stated this in order
that the proposition of erecting the building in Hyde-park
should be summarily reit cted, but that it should he brought
before the proper tribunal, that was the courts of law. In
continuance, his lordship paid several warm compliments to
klr. l'axtou's abilities, and recapitulated the substmec of
the tition, which was to the effect that the retention of
the Exhibition-building would be serviceable to the sciences
of botany and chemistry, and also be a means of promoting
the health and recreation of the people. It would
also give a facility of relieving the overcrowded
shelves of the British Isluseum of many of its national
curiosities. In conclusion, his lordship recommended that,
before any decision should take place, a full investigation
of the subject should be gone into, with a view to consider
the arguments for and suramst the conversion of the Crystal
Palace into a winter g.irden. Ile (Lord Brougham) was
firmly of opinion that the majority of the public were for
keeping it up: and he thought that if it was taken down,
after the unprecedented success of the Exhibition, it would
be an example of the greatest national fickleness and in-
consistency. The tr.idespeople of London had suffered a
great deal from the Exhibition, and he was sure that suf-
fering would at once cease on the carrying out of Mr. l'ax-
ton's new proposition. He also expressed a hope that when
that was done, due regard should be had to the wants of
the humbler classes.
Lord Brougham is a shrewd man. Like the
Times, he has found out which way the popular
wind blows ; and, like Tire Thunderer' he sets his
sails accordingly. It is a good omen. The Crystal
Palace must and will stand.