The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-28 00:00:00

thp.pattlie may shortly he winsome of the Gent of this veer
oolb eemilstion of the skill of all countries by the public
of theta design, offering the opportunity, in the
WS spirit of the whole undertaking, of mutual improve-
ment, rasped, and friendship amoopt the motivators of the
libeed sets in the several columns of Europe. It
is re-
I samkshie that, while many of these cosi 'initiate may he
attributed to the laudable emotive of proneadonal reputation
sad sivsecoment oa the p.rt of praetitioners not yin sal&
dmody known to the public, a gnat number are front
gualsemis whose position in the codidence of their
repeal's reverameuts or in the republic of arts end
MOM Is of the highest eminence, and who can have
ben mtnalsd by no such p re/3nel motives. Already
eaddii to respect and admiration, they could have little
to OK while they have something to lose in the compa-
tlt~ glory. The kind and frank conantuoicatioe, there-
fore of stair thoughts and csperienos towards this great
work le to be the more highly commended. Every pod
ble abode of assomplishing the object in view hen been
displayed by the respective contributors as regards economy
of structure and distribution, and there quelitin are united
with various degrees of architectural symmetry and features
is many design. Oar illustrious entinental neighbours
have especially distinguished themselves by compositions of
the snood taste and learning, worthy of enduring

tion—exuaples of what wsighVbe don; in the uchrtectural
illustration of the subject, when viewed in its highest
aspeet, end at all onus exhibitieg features of grandeur,
arrangement, end grace, which your committee have not
failed to appreciate. Amongst these several elutes of design,
the peactical diameter of our own countrymen, se might
have been expected has base remarkably illustrated in emu
very sad simple methods suited to the temporary
of Ors imindllas, due etteatism Meng bele paid to
tit/IPA:niers means allotted to this part of the undertaking.
The principle of suspension has been applied in a single tent
of iron sheeting, covering en area averaging 2,200 feet by
400 feet by • lengthened ridge, or in separate tonnes isolated
supports. Others display the 'Autism of this problem by
she Chapter-house prionele and a few by the umbrella or
circular locomotive eosins:house system of railway sta-
tions, either with a osairal column or groups of oolames
sustaiaing domes or roofs to the extent of 400 feet diameter,
(natant' and simplicity of distribution are caned cut
with gnat architectural effect in other compositions, ante
the general arrangement by columnar supports leis been
else vaiously and elegantly developed. The system of
iron roofing, with all the architectural powers of which that
material is susceptible, has been adopted by some with
signal enterprise, lageniiiiy, and power. In another clue
of design the union hay, viewed with euthanasia the
great occasion sod object of the proposed exhibition, and
have waited all considerations of *epees'. They have in-
dulged their imaginations, and employed the resources of
their genius and learning, in the compisitioa of ge.
menu, which pretest the utmost grandeur and beauty of
architecture, suited to a permanent poises of science and
art. These, as eddreseed to the architectural studeat, are
of the highest veins, reminding him of all the condition of
his art—the Egypt= bypostyle, the Boman therm., or of
the Arabian or liareente inventions. And, thougn their
expence his placed this beyond reach, they canner fail to
inspire and elevate the treatment of the reality. They at
all events confer great obligatioas ce the lovers of the floe
ens, for the authors save evidently felt, that, if one of the
malts to be expected from the proposed exhibiuoa
may be to pc me that the amplest object of in-
(acuity and skill should not be devoid of some
of the attractions of taste, the building itself ought
tee be an illustration of that important principle.
The committee, however, have bun unable to select any
one design is combining all the requisites which varius
considerations render essential. lint the judgment and
taste evinced by a large number of the oontributon have
enabled the committee to arrive more promptly at their con-
elusions, and they have freely availed themselves of most
valuable suggestions in directing the preparation of a fresh
design for the proposed building. They have consequently
been most earnest to the desire to fulfil the fist expectations
of the various oomperiters, and feel assured that your royal
bighners and the commute, will be of opinion that the most
conserved and handsome acknowledgments are due to
those able met of science and art who have in so di•intre
rested a manner submitted such admirable projects for the

and a sinuses of the contaii•teti:"

In the list of architects whom the committee reported as
worthy of honourable mention, out of one hundred end
ninety•five English coatributors, ere find only three names,
while fifteen of the thirty-eight foreign competitors are
commended. This strange inequality called forth severe
comments from the prim, whether with justice or not it
matters not now to inquire. This discrepancy is in a measure I
accounted for by the fact that, among the fonds& competitors
are SOS holding the first recognised plan in their respective
cauterise, whereas the leading architects of Berland did net
enter into the contest. To the plan which the building
committee managed to perfect from the pessimism' sugges-
tions of the competing arcbitests, they added on so their
own exclusive contribution, a dome of gigantic proportioas
with the declared notion of giving a fixed cheroots, to the
structure. This dome was decidedly unpopular. Same
d that it would be imponible to construct it
within the specified time ; others prophesied that
it would fall about the tan of the commissioners.

The proposed site of the building also raised a fierce
controversy which was as disgraceful as it was virulent and
vexations. Suddenly tories became extremely solicitous for
the health and Sunday walks of the industrious classes
Hyde park was christened "an orrery" of London ; and
trees were protected with enthusiasm by men who had
seen children and women perishing on their estates with-
oat experiencing any very scats pangs of remorse. While
the.. nutters were exciting rather angry nerisioations,
Mr. Paxton was busily espied at Chatsworth on a design
destinedto *slime all the ingenious plans of the archiwc-
mini and engineering authorities of the country. His
design was suggested by the experience he had gained from
he eonstroation of glue structures for forcing houses at

Chatsworth. Mr. Paxton first tuned hi. attention
to these Finalise buildings In the year 1828 ; when
having ezperisseed the clumsiness end inefficiency of the
coarse wood work and thick glees with which
conservatories were than constructed, he thought of a
building fashioned with efost-iron and a better kind of glees.
His fleet object was to Lighten the rotten and sash ban by
levelling off their sides. This improventeat having proved
eminntly successful, Mr. Paxton next contrived a light sash
bar, having a groove for the reception of the glass. About
this time the desire for metallic roofs began to extend in
every direction, and as sash etruatures had a light and
pleasing effect, it become a question of importance as to the
propriety of using metal mashes and reform Instead of wooden
ores, for hertit-ultural purposes. The expansion and con-
traction of the natal seemed at first to offer insurmountable

objections to the eurowful practice of this idea. It was next
proposed, in order to obviate these disadvantages in the me
of metal, that the rafters and framework of the sashes
should be made of weed, and the esahhare of metal. Mr.
Paxton went on how par to year improving en
thls principle; the building, however, whisk ware directly
than any other appears to have led him to the peat plan the
binary of which we ars now endeavouriag to Mom was the
gnat Chatsworth cowsrvatory, fee the reception of the
Victoria Begin. The formation of the leaves WOW beautiful
aquatic Biwa suggested to Mr. Paxton those longitudinal
and transverse girders and supporta. " Nature," he tells us,
"was the englamr in title ease." Bet Kr. Patton has
already told his intenstiog history in hie own words.

OP 11211 GLASS PALLOR.

On the 28th at July het the building enmities)
decided dully on the details of Mr. Peatea's pbs,
and as late as as o'clock la the seining ease to the
resoluta= that Mr. Pubis's original plan should be
adopted, with the additioa of transepts and • barrel roof
for *see trumps slue. It wee decided that the root of
the loogitudiaal portion should be Sat. The Filmy ob-
ject of the °maltase in raking the peat Otesupt wit to
obviate the small of felling the row of tress which is sow
&retained within the balding. This regard for Usher bee
bees a continua subject of derbies with the workmen', who
hue 'lutanist! • very troublamme speciosa the Sibtborp
tree. Yet to this accident we owe that feature of the build-
ing which contributes mutely to its graceful propertione to
relieve the senotcaeue of of long uabroken galleries.
Batty is August the Ceamboieners of Woods sad Forests
formally gave up the site In Ifyikolark to the Exhitidon
authorities, sad Mows. Fez and Headmen, of the South-
wick Works, Boradashea, having egned to Ned the
Wading for the sun of 71,6001. sad the tutorial'
miter the clue of the Hikibitku, forthwith soured apes
their labours. Gipatie orders kr iron alum end gir-
ders, for thesauri' of feet el glue, sad know of weed
IMO given, a heradies wee speedily *fowl up, sat Ma-
drid' of busy spades tweed up the tumf. The Mau mil.
lieu of bricks width the Beildlag Committee propenad to
pile up V Hyde-park have vanished, the sombre dans has
&abided to a shadow le the brains of the sesualase, and
a light, (shy bulhibp, mere like a glittering web thee a
substantial 'how Muse, fe
.to rise Whore the windows of
the dhasasolate grandees et Isesiagies. Bear the ha*
datises en soak, the Ones sag whiner win won ben