The Express.
London, England, 1850-06-17 00:00:00

melody no lees than thirty were designs of foreigner&
?row among the seventy the committee again selected
eighteen, which they reported entitled "to honorary
distinction on seeouct of *sit distinguished malt"
Of these eighteen. one was from %Mils, four fees
Reading. wid one from London. The remainder were
all the designs of foreign architects. The committee
then proceeded still 'nether to reduce the list, and
they ultimately *pleated two as “ worthy of particular
attention, as evioaing the most daring and ingenious
disposition ar.d construetion" Three two designs
were (1) from Mon& liacroa HOZZAII, of Paris, and
(2) from Messrs. RICHARD and THOMAS TOPMSS, of

The committee report of the mime designs rah-
mitted to them, that oar sontiaantal neighbours have
distinguished themselves by compositions of " the
utmost taste and learning, exhibiting features of pan-
dear, of arrangement, and of grace." Of the plans of
our own countrymen they my, "their practical cha-

racier, as might have beim iipeeted, has been re-
markibly illustrated in Isms very striking and
simple methods suited to the temporary pur-
poses of the building, and paying due attention
to the ppeeceuuniary means allotted to this part of
the e " In another class of design
the authors have viewed with enthusiasm the great
00061400 and object of the proposed exhibition and
have waived all cousideratioes of expense. They have
indulged their imaginations and employed the re-
sources of their genius and learning in the composi-
tion of arraneements which present the utmost gram-

deur and beauty of architecture suited to a p rmanent
palace of science and art. These, as addressed to the
architectural student, are of the highest value, and,
though their expense has placed them beyond reach,
they cannot fail to inspire andelevats the treatment of
' the reality."
With regard, however, to that " reality," the com-
mittee, it seems, hive not found it in any of the
numerous pans which engaged their attention. After
acknowledging the assistance they derised from many
oftheprojects, 'he committee state that they" never-
theless arrived unanimously at the conclusion that
there was no single design so accordant with the pecu-
liar objects in view, either in the principle or detail of
its arrangement, as to warrant them in recommending
it for adoption." The committee have accordingly
prepared a plan of their own. The building they
g=s- will fill the entire space of ground between
row and the carriage drive in Hyde-park,
which runs parallel with the road to Kensing-
ton. It will be no lass than 2,300 feet
long, and upwards of 400 feet in breadth,
and the roofed area will monist of asmach as 900,000
square feet. The principal feature of the building
will be a vast central hall surmounted by a dome, the
diameter of which will be no less than 200 feet. This
dome will consequently be nearly double the diameter
of that of S. Paul's, which is only 112 feet. The
Height of the central hall from the floor to the summit
of the dome will be about 160 feet. Its shape will be a
plygon of sixteen sides, andit is proposed to light it
in the day time from the summit and centre of the
dome. The main object of tots dome is stated by the
committee to be "to form a striking feature to
exemplify the present state of the science of con-
rruction."

The building itself will be of briac, except the
dome, which is to be construc'ed of light sheet iron.
Same attempt is to be made to ornament the exter-
nal face of the building by using bricks of different
varieties of colours. There will be four entrances,
the principal being that towards the south imme-
diately in front of Prince's Gate. The north en-
trance, whick will front Rotten-row, will nearly cor-
respond with this ; and there will also be handsome
entrances at the east and west ends. To afford still
greater facilities for exit, there will be 23 corres-
ponding doorways situate at equal distances from each
other at the sides and ends of the building.

The door of entrance at Prince's Gate will lead at
once into the Great Hall. This edifice is to be devoted
to sculpture and the plastic arts. A corridor, 50 feet
in breadth, will run out of it the entire length of the
building. The entire space to the west of the hall
will be devoted to manwactures. The uoif wmity of
its arrangement will be varied by the for-
mation of ornamental gardens under the
clumps of trees, which it is. intended to preserve,
as far as possible, and among which refreshments
are to be provided for those who choose to pay for
them. At the eastern part of the budding there will
be a large central court of the same kind. One half
of this part of the building will be appropriated to
the exhibition of raw materials, and the other
will be devoted to machines, numbers of venial will
be kept in motion by a steam-engine which is to be
provided. We must not omit to mention that a space
adjacent to the (treat Hall is to be appropriated to
agricultural implements, and a corresponding space
to another refreshment court overshadowed by the
park trees.
The principal points the committee have endea-
voured to attain in this plan, are, they say, first,
economy of construction; second, facilities toe the
reception, claseificatton and display of goods ; third
facilities for the circulation of visitors ; fourth, ar-
rangements for grand points of view ; fifth, centrali-
sation of supervision; and, sixth, some striking
feature to exemplify the present state of the science
of construction in this country. The " grand
dome" seems designed to supply the last de-
sideratum, bat it may be very much questioned
whether it will not greatly militate against
the first. The committee, foreseeing this objection,
observe that " a considerable amount of the differ-
ence between the cost of this construction and a
simple arrangement may be recovered, should the
building be hereafter converted to other purposes,
which is more than probable." But here the com-
mittee obviously place themselves in collision with a
largo number of those whose designs they have re-
jected, after reporting upon them as " compositions of
the utmost taste and learning,—worthy of enduring
execution." If a part of the building is to be con-
'trusted with a view to a permanent erection, those
whose dodges are so " worthy of enduring execution°
have came to complain that the committee have
taken the best points of their various projects to make
rep one great which they present to the pub-
lic as their own.
With respect, however, to the cost of building,
there is nothing to guide us in the report of the com-
mittee. Tenders have been invited for the execution
of the works, in accordance with the drawings and
specifications of the committee, and they are also
invited with "suggestions and modifications, ac-
companied by estimates of costs, as may pos-
sibly become the means of effecting a
considerable reduction on the general expense." Con-
tractors are also required to tender on two systems—
one involving a resumption of the property after the
termination of the exhibition ; the other proceeding
on the assumption that the royal commission will
take the risk of disposal on themselves. The whole
building is required Who bailt, finished, and delivered
up to theeomnaittee by the Ist of January, 1831. The
builders, therefore, have by no mans too much time
before them.

EirIIBMON Op 1861.—W0 are lead to her that
the directors of the Brill& Institution at their last meeting
voted the sum of 1001. to the funds now raising towards
carrying into effect the gloat Behilution of Industry. The
corporation of Plymouth leave alto voted the stun of sot , to
which the Chamber of Commerce of that lowa hay, added
a further ma of 101.

THE PRINTERS' AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY
Awn Tall Exszarrion or 1861.-0 a Saturday a meeting
of priatera was held at the Whit* Hart Tavern, Catherine-
street, (bread, for the pimp?, of establishing the " Printers'
ameasur Dramatic Bonet , the object of which is to afford,
lien time to tame, aid hem the funds raised by
mramer dramatis sad sawsisal performeases to the benevo-
lent mil charitable lastintions onanoctod with the print*,
Mai% no manse beldam having been disposal of sad
110 snows of the satiety sleeted, it was resolved that a pro-
made Kr. Tallest, viz., that **society should be
br atrienames, proem& of which should
tweestriba. te fame etas ludastrial Exhibition of 1861,
shawkl *married ions *Seek sad the committee were in-
alreeled r take the umessary stone for etties up the per-
hennees is ths cesne of the swan math.
OLDHAM PREIROLD LAND SOCIETY.—A meeting
of this society took plate la the Working Man's BA as
graseay evening, the 10th fast., for the purpose of smialvlag
seleerlotina, enroll's, Reuben, and, as was samseesd et
the formation of the society, balloting for priority of new
bonkip. P. Saville Req., of Leen, occupied the dank.
There were ea this ;emits about 86 new shares taken up ;
sad the chairman said that arcane would sew-' • be

made for momlap to be Midas at Shaw, Mouley, awl oast
pima. Thu business soutiattod till a lets hour, but the
utmost pool holies primal/ad. A similar meeting, ea a
mom wooded seal* vraa bold is the populous mod at
Wats/head Mill, oa Wedasoday evening, whoa neabalimm,l
with tbe view of extending the operations of the solvommis,
were adoptad, &ha mass Wag ably advocated by Ur.
Pnatioe.