The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-12 00:00:00

THE EXHIBITION HALL.

The scene within this building was ample compensa-
tion for the suffering outside. It is 146 feet it length by
52 in breadth, and about 50 in height. The walls are
nearly completely covered with oil paintings. Of their
value as works of art nothing need be said, as they are
merely intended, we presume, as " furniture." A copy
of Maclire's fresco in the House of Lords, "The Spirit
of Justice," is pointed out with pride by the men of
Cork, as this accomplished artist is a fellow•citizen.
There is a range of casts of celebrated pieces of sculp-
ture on either side of the main avenue in this hall. In
the centre a jet d'eau sheds around its cooling influence,
and at the northern end there is an organ of great
power and brilliant tones from the warehouse of Telford
of Dublin.

Around the organ was an elevated stage for members
of the choral societies of Cork and Dublin, who had
agreed to perform the inauguration ode, written for the
occasion by John Francis Waller, Esq., barrister at law,
the music by Mr. Stewart, musical doctor. ',ewer
down was a raised dais or throne, on which
chairs were placed for the accommodation of
their Excellencies th 3 Earl and Countess of
Eglinton. About one-half of the hall was exclusively
set tpart for ladies, and certainly no portion of it was
so attractively occupied. The " Limerick lasses" are
celebrated for their beauty, but if the ladies assembled
in the fine arts hal at Cork to-day are natives of this
country, their neighbours of the " city of the violated
treaty" ought to look to their laurela.
At half-past one o'clock a loud and protracted cheer
from the exterior intimated the approach of the Viceregal
party, and shortly afterwards their Excellencies the
Earl and Countess of Eglinton were ushered into the
hall by the mayor and executive committee. Their Ex-
oellencies, who arrived from the Earl of Bandon's, were
attended by Captain Thesiger, aide de camp, and Colonel
Campbell, private secretary. The Earl of Bandon and
Lord Bernard arrived in the hall with the Viceregal
party. The reception of their Excellencies was enthu •
siastic. _ _

At this period we observed in the vicinity of the Vice-
regal party Lord Talbot do Malahide, Lord lilassarecne,
the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr. George Roe, Ur. John
C. Deane, and several other members of the Dublin cam-
mittee. The Mayors of Limerick and Kilkenny, with
many other provincial notabilities, were pr esent.
The bueinesn et tho day commenced with the' Halle-
lujah Chorus," which was well rendered by the assem-
bled porformers.
Mr. SuE,k, the secretary to the Cork co; =Nee, then
advancel, and read the following address t o his Excel-

lency :
" We. the Mayor, and Executive Committee of the
National Exhibition, on behalf of the citiz ens of Cork,
greet your Excellency's arrival amongst us: with an ar-
dent welcome.
" We recognise in your Excellency the dfistinguished
representative of oar beloved Queen, the object alike of
our loyalty and our affection, and whose g enerous ex-
ample in sustaining our humble efforts t 5 rouse the
drooping energies and to stimulate into grc rater activity
the exertions of the Irish people, you have :to nobly imi-
tated.
" Wo have marked with pleasure, since your Excel-
lency's official connexion with Ireland, have anxiously
you have availed yourself of every opportunilty to patro-
nize her public institutions, to promote her aative manu-
factures, to inspire our gentry with a re' tpect for her
inherent capabilitieo, and our humble fellow-countrymen
with a just reliance upon their own industry and intelli-
gelle3.
"In the encouragement given by your Excellency's
predecessor to the project of an Exhibition is our city,
which first led its promoters to venture upon extending
the design so as to embrace the arts and 'manufactures
of all Ireland, and in the patronage since necordecl by
your Excellency to the matured undertaking from which
so many advantages have resulted, we recognize conduct
that represents., in the most beneficial manner, the foster-
ing attribute& of a ruler anxious to promote the real in-.
terests of the country.
"Your Erecellency's ready acceptance of our invita-
tion to inaugurate this day's auspicious ceremonial we
regard as e. high compliment to ourselves and to our
fellow-cithens, and we deem the value of that cempli-
=lent gree,tly enhanced by the presence of your amiable
and disFeaguished Countess, to whom we offer the tribute
of our t'remks for thus adding grace and lustre to the
opening scene of our National Exhibition.
Oe.r country has passod through a severe ordeal of
calamity and privations; let us fervently hope that the
procciodings of this day may prove the commencement
of a't era of cheering contrast to the years that have
gore by; that this National Exhibition may be followed
ty those results which we had alone in view to secure,
in. the more profitable development of the resources of
Ireland, the triumph of the ekill and intelligence of her
Pe-Ple; and that your Excellency may hereafter look
bccA upon this scene as 020 with which you will feel
n just pride in having your name associated in the recol-
lection of our countrymen.
(Signed) " WILLIAM HACKETT, Mayor,
" Chairman of the Executive Committee."
His Excellency then read the following reply:—
to Ireland as the representa-
tive GoefEtt:,emgreanc,i—Camino; aaltilligenlightened Queen, whose pa-
tronage of science and art is equalled only by her desire
to promote the best interests and encourage the national
enjoyments of her subjects, I consider it an imperative
duty to give my best aid to a scheme of such great na-
tional importance and utility.
" To revive, the energies and stimulate the exertions

of the peophe—to teach them to rely on the genius and
resources
with which they are so richly endowed in them-
selves and in their country—to foster the industry, the
results of which we see around us in such rich profu-
sion—shall be my constant object so long as I remain
among you, and most fervently do I trust that this mag-
nificent demonstration of what Irishmen can and will do,
when their efforts are well directed, may prove a great
and lasting benefit to Ireland.—(Applause.)
" I beg to express to you on my own part, and on that
of Lady Eglinton, our beat thanks for the kind manner
in which we have been received, and to assure you that
we shall ever retain a most pleasing recollection of the
courtesy, liberality, and public spirit of the inhabitants
of Cork."—(Flear, hear.)
After his Excellency had concluded the reading of this
reply, he intimated his desire to confer the honour of
knighthood upon Mr. Hackett, the mayor of Cork, The worthy mayor, therefore, knelt down, and haeaey re-
ceived the friendly stroke of the sword, arose Sirr.Wm.
Bartholomew Hackett, Knight. Sir William is exten-
sively eregaged in the tanning and leather trade, in whiob,
accord.rag to repute, he has realised a handsome ludo' pendenee.
The REcomeEn then read an address from the corPo-
ration
following answer: of Cork, to which his Excellency
returned the
" G antlemen,—lf anything were wanting to ineTrsk°
the pleasure which I feel in paying my first visit totit'-'the
on such an Interesting occasion, I should find io the
cordiality with which you have received me, mod,ey
flattering terraa in 'which you welcome me to Y°.?'
" As the representative of my not
have fail,xl in te f
r.rillilee of my duty
tie zundertakirg
give my baz,t encourageent to the tasidhouid
PS:tvrie:gi-gsbrouel t t"
which l.hp public sidrit o'' your citizens Lai, 1 should
such a successful issue; end, n 9 on indir yea, it I had
have le ?en wanting in good feelieg to Z.rso promptly
hesitated to accept the invitation wide
and so' kindly proffered to MC'
T h St consult, not Only the
" I am fully convinced that e eeeity of my office, by
interes ts of Irelad, but 00
t sto!sible from keeoi.g myself as much 9136T-f-sre; and that it is only by
moil ol politics and party war.all course, and by ac•duig
PurBu-L3g u fair and imps can hope to make myso ti
Justly* and firmly to at,, tija;rl the religious and politic
reap, and to softetnjno
the
Eglintone
bane ot Ireland. ,
rasp rice which hove ".-----ou the part of Lady
for" I have to thank Y
your kind appreci:tls")o'nf .:,fiehrer
nenadtievaevrouranttrey,p raentndo
to
the 'trade and
h tlndlYafford her the most be artte it gtrrai:
lasses.
assts re
.lion oynotilf t -1
-
her e the condition of the poorer c
It
tffworits in th.cir cause have at all con„
but() I to improve
and dietinct
(Lot id apPlauee') and in a loud
the name of *her Most Gracious Majesty
ELLENce rose again,
Ills Exc
:—ln
vciice said