The Express.
London, England, 1865-05-05 00:00:00

DUBLIN, Mar 3.
Ireland, or at least Dublin, need no longer com-
plain of an exodus ; the danger which is now most
imminent is of an invasion which shall eat up all
the eatables, occupy all the apartments, and carry'
away everything which the inhabitants have to sell.
The capacities of the enormous packet steamers are
tested to their utmost in bringing over the pes-1
mongers, and the Dublin cabmen are perpetually
kept busy in piling Pollan upon 011414 in the shape
of such enormous luggage as was never seen before
on the tops of cabs which seem intended by nature
to bear any quantity of trunks a-top, and to ao-
oommodate any possible number of peasengers in-
side. The Saxon perhaps never came over to the
west in such force, and certainly never was he
more welcome. The whole community hem,
in fact, seem to be moved only by two
central ideas ; first, that of making their visi-
tor comfortable ; and second, that of making
him pay for his comforts. When the Exhibition
committee opened • registry for lodgings, hundreds
of eager hosts at once rushed to the books : they
would most willingly register their numbers, their
houses, and their accommodations ; but their
pries—not if they knew it. Nething of that un-
important item was to be told of in Oath, neither
to be beard of in the streets of Ascalon. The
landladies obstinately ref used to register their prices
at the Exhibition, but they were willing to under-
take that they would register them indelibly on the
memories of their visitors. The consequence of
this is that the well-intentioned registry is a dead
letter, and the troops of visitors., as they arrive,
wander about picking up lodgings as they sae.
As for the hotels, they have all been taken by tele-
gram long since, and the proprietors, in view of the
influx, are beginning to think of getting them
painted up aud set in order. I saw the painters
at work on the fronts of several as 1 passed
through the streets to day, and I sincerely
hope they may be ready in time. There is
no doubt that an enormous immigration is
en
route for Dublin—not only from England but
from all parts of Swope ; but Dublin will be quite
able to accommodate them so soon as the lodging-
housekeepers and the tradespeople have cooled a
little from the craze which always sets in among
persons of their clam whenever anything extraor-
dinary is on foot in their locality. At present
they are putting " fumy prices" upon everything :
sighteenpeuce • pound for steaks and outlets, two
shillings for butter; and as for tea, they despise
Mr. Gladstone and his budget, and have put on
an extra duty, which is anything but ad valorem.
But this will all cool down in • day or two, and
then everyone will find ample accommodation, and
get all they want at reasonable prices.
My first emotion on looking at the Exhibition
Palace to-day wasoertainly one of pleasant surprise.
The brief notices which had appeared from time
to time in the Dublin papers had by no means
done justice either to its magnitude or its beauty.
Turning in from a new opening that abbean made
in aristocratic Haroourtotzset, you suddenly
on a grand Crystal Palace of perfectly novel design
and imposing dimensions. I was particularly
struck with the form of the roof, which is an
immense advance on either Hyde-perk or
Sydenham, and affords a gratifying indica
tMn of the progress we are making in this en-
tirely new school of architecture. The naves,
although not so lofty as at Sydenham, are light and
cheery, and what is nearly as valuable, roomy; and
the circular dome under which the French goods
will be oollectted is probably the best locale that
could possibly be selected for showing them off
to the beat advantage. There is free circula-
tion at each end into the beautiful gardens, and
easy access into all the galleries and annexes. As
this building is intended to be permanent it is con-
structed half of stone and half of glass ; and the
stone building, in which is the main entrance, is of
a very charming and appropriate deeign. Under
the glass will be the goods of the exhibitors, ar-
ranged in handsome cases, many of which 1 recog-
nised as old acquaintances at Kensington, the
French exhibitors having, moreover, gone to great
expense in providing new iron frames of a light and
elegant construction. The British exhibitors are fa-
vourably located,and are rapidly getting their wares
into place under the able direction of Mr. Wright,
who is superintendent of this department ; and as
I passed along I sew Austria "an ` and
various other nationalities, eq busy getting
ready for the opening day. There are capacious
crevices for machinery, but I think it is doubtful
whether the Exhibition will be very strong iu this
department.
But in two most attractive features the Dublin
International Exhibition will surpass all its prede-
cessors. The magnificent picture galleries, which
are in the stone building, will be filled to overflow-
ing, not only with the choicest works of the old
masters, but with splendid modern pictures of the
various foreign schools, the majority of which have
never before been seen in the United Kingdom.
The old masters are strongly represented by Titieus
and Rubeus, and the moderns come from Dus-
seldorf, and Berlin and Munich, and Brussels,
some decidedly beautiful, some strange, and all well
worth inspection. There will be • fine English
gallery, including one or two famous Sir Joshua's,
and an immense chamber entirely devoted to the
I German cartoons, which have never before been seen
iu this kingdom. As for the sculpture gallery, it
would be impossible to say too much for it. It will
I not only be the best collection of marble we have
ever seen, but arranged in the best possible way to
do justice to the beauties of this, the highest branch
of the flue arts. Mr. Henry Doyle, who did such
wonders with the Homan court in the Exhibition of
1862, has the picture and sculpture galleries under
his exclusive superintendence, and the abundance
of specimens, especially of sculpture, which are
now being poured into Dublin, IS in no small
degree attributable to the confidence with
which his previous success had inspired the
foreign exhibitors. Although so much cramped
in space in 1862, he contrived to plans all
the sculpture in such advantageous positions
that nearly the whole of them found pur-
chasers, and I have no doubt that a similar re-
sult will follow his present arrangements. The
sculpture gallery is, in fact, a perfect gem, beauti-
fully lighted, and painted in the best possible
colour for throwing out the form of the white
marbles, and the specimens which have been already
uncovered show how well worthy will be the collec-
tion of this genuine artistic arrangement. Of course,
after one hasty glance, taken amid all the confusion
and bustle of the opening preparations, I can do
but meagre justice to the art treasures which have
been collected for this Exhibition ; but this much I
have established, that the picture gallery will be
only second to that of Manchester, that the sculp-
ture will surpass anything that has yet been seen
in the United Kingdom, and that the general
exhibi-
tion of jewellery,watches, plate, articles de luxe, and
goods in general, will be • worthy successor to its
great London predecessor of 1862. Our great
Load= horologer, Mr. Blume, has taken up a
strong politico in the nave, and I also saw Mr.
Linton, of piping bullfinch celebrity, getting his
precious wares into position. Mr. Day's chromo-
lithographs are being unfolded, and there will be the
greatest show of photography that has ever yet been
got together. I shall be able to pick up more par-
Keulare in subsequent visits, but at present must
content myself with saying that the exhibitors are
all working with • will, and that, wondrous to re-
late, they seem all to be perfectly satisfied with Mr.
Parkinson, the comptroller's, excellent arrange-
meats. When I recall the manner in which fuse-
fineries in this gentleman's position were abused
and sworn at by irate exhibitors in the London Zx-

hibition of 1862, I can only conclude that amongst
the articles consigned to lam has been a speeimem
of that celebrated four-leaved shamrock which
Ireland is considered to be • talisman capable of
carrying a man through all difficulties.
The promesional arrangements for the opening
day promise a very imposing tableau. The Sri
of St. Patrick will attend, wearing their o
and iasignia, and accompanied by their heralds,
wearing tabards. The judges will be there
in them robes and ermines ; and the Viceroy,
attended by all the officers of the Irish court. The
rulof honour will be furnished by the 11th
ers, the Prince of Wales's own regiment, and
the picturesque Highlanders will line the naves, as
the Cent Gardes do the Tuileries and Versailles on
peat comaions. When the Prince declares the
Exhibition opened three rockets will be sent up
from the gardens, and in response the St. George
guardahip and the guns at the Pigeon-house fort
will thunder a royal salute. The musical
arrangements, which will include about 1,000 re-
formers will be under the management of Mr.
Joseph 'Robinson, of the cathedral choir, and in
short nothing will be wanting to render the opening
ceremonial worthy of the expectations of the public.
Some doubts are entertained about the coming of
the Prince, and more as to the readiness of the
building ; but I believe there is no real ground for
uneasiness on either score. Positive orders for his
royal highness's reception have meshed the Irish
court, and some of Messrs. Jackson and Graham's
moat skilled workmen ass busy fitting up a retiring
room of perfectly marvellous splendour for his
royal highness at the Exhibition Palace. I have
no doubt that when, at the fitng moment, the
word is given to `• clear the siege" the curtain will
rise on a perfectly prepared and truly magnificent
aliment.