The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-15 00:00:00

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The following important correspondence between
the First Commissioner of Works and Messrs. Fox
and Henderson was yesterday laid before a meeting
of the General Committee for the Preservation of the
Building, and has the effect of not only putting a stop
to the promenade announced for Saturday, but also of
finally closing the building to the public :
" Office of Works, &c., April 13, 1852.
"Gentlemen,-1 am directed by the First Commis-
sioner of her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings to
acquaint you that his Lordship has received a letter from
the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851, inform.
ing him thrt they have been always anxious to fulfil to
the utmost their engagements to the Crown, and that for
that purpose they had given notice for the removal of
the building in Hyde-park on or before the Ist of June
next; that they have given no approval or sanction to
any proceedings likely to cause delay, or to the appro-
priation of the building to purposes not contemplated in
their charter; that they had also communicated to you
the announcement contained in my letter of the 26th
ult., that the Chief Commissioner of Works could not in
any way countenance the appropriation of the building
to any purposes other than those specified in the royal
warrant of the 26th of September, 1850.
" The Chief Commissioner, however, regrets to find
that, notwithstanding the intimations thus convoyed to
you, the building has been used by you for the purpose
of public promenades and concerts; that you have taken
money for admissions thereto; that by means of adver-
tisements in the public papers, and otherwise, you have
induced a concourse of persons to assemble in the build-
ing, in the park, and in the neighbouring thoroughfares;
and that such assemblages have been injurious to the
park, detrimental to the property in its immediate neigh-
bourhood, and otherwise prejudicial to the peace and
quiet of the vicinity.
" Under these circumstances, his Lordship feels it in-
cumbent upon him, under the advice of the law officers
of the Crown, to take measures for preventing the fur-
ther misappropriation of the building; but, before doing
so, he thinks it right to make you acquainted with his
intentions, in the hope that, upon tho receipt of this
communication, you will see the propriety of forthwith
abstaining from your present course of proceeding. In
the event, however, of your persisting in the application
of the building to its present objectionable uses, or to
any purpose other than those specifically mentioned in
the Royal warrant, the assistance of a court of compe-
tent jurisdiction will be sought to restrain you and all
other persons from a perseverance in that course, and
from proceeding otherwise than Lonii fide for the pur-
pose of taking down and removing the building with the
materials and contents, in accordance wish the terms
therein sot forth.
" His Lordships begs that you will send him a de-
finite answer to this communication in the course of to-
morrow at the latest.
" I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, s
" T. W. FIIILLIP •
" Messrs Fox and Henderson."

"8, New-street, Spring-gardens, Apr the.
" Sir,—We have the honour to acknowledge re-
ceipt of your letter of this day's date, conveying tosioner us
an intimation of the intention of the Chief Commis
of her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings is refer-
ence to the opening of the Crystal Palace to the public.
"In immediate deference to his Lordship's desire, we
have sent to the morning newspapers an advertisement,
of which the annexed is a copy. With a view to pre-
the doors
vent disturbance, we propose to allow the entrance of
persons who, in ignorance of this notico, present them.
selves for admission to-morrow,
but to close
finally on and after Thursday, the 15th instant.
" The Exhibition building has been hitherto preserved
to the public by a vote of the House of Commons,
which (as the Chief Commissioner is well aware) deferred
the period for commencing its removal untilis Lordship
the let of
that
May next, and we respectfully h
submit to
that we were bound to act iu deference to at vote,
and to give every opportunity for the expressionw which
had been invited of general opinion.
" Woo hynovuerteoshtoonhoeudrietnot bil eu,:tSbi ri
0,
e have had no
other object in view.
servants,
" Fox, HE
NDEnsoN, and Co.
" To T. W. Phillips, Esq., Officer
Works, &c., Whitehall. of

(Copy.)
" Closing of the Crystal Palace.—Nutice is hereby
enco of a communication from the
given that, in conseqn,
office of her DlNestY * Works and Public- Building, the

Exhibition building can no longer be thrown open to the
public by the contractors.
" Fox, HENDERSON, and Co.
" ' London, April 13.' "

Another document of interest read before the
General Committee, and unanimously adopted by
them, is the subjoined repot of their sub-committee,
and which they submit to the consileration of the
public:—

" At a meeting of the General Committee, held at the
Crystal Palace yesterday, the following was read and
unanimously adopted:—
`' of Sub•Committeo to the Gencral
Committee appointed to secure the Preservation
of the Crystal Palace, and submitted by the Com-
mittee for the consideration of the Public.
"'A great question must very shortly be decided,
viz., whether the Crystal Palace is to be preserved or
destroyed. The object of this statement is to establish
the advantages of retaining this building, and of apply-
ing it on st4f-supportinr; principles to the public pur-
poses, combining the instruction and recreation of the
people with the promotion of the arts, sciences, and ma-
nufactures. Not only 'Ain a great sacrifice of public
property be thus avoided, but a lasting benefit will be
conferred upon the nation at large.
" ' Two principal difficulties have existed in the public
mind on the question of preserving the building. The
first is the supposition, that if retained it must ba at the
public expense, as private subscriptions would obviously
prove inadequate for an object of such magnitude. The
size of the building and the necessary cost of maintain-
ing, requiring, and rendering it permanently greatly
magnify this objection, which exists in the minds of
many persons sincerely desirous, on other grounds, that
the building should be preserved. The second objection
is that the non-removal would amount to a breach of
faith with, and would be a hardship upon, the owners of
property in the neighbourhood. It is necessary to meet
both these objections. _ _

" It is proposed that the building be vested by Act of
Parliament in trustees, who shall have powers of leasing
it under certain conditions specified in the Act. It is
also proposed that the trustees shall be so selected as to
give the country at large the highest guarantee that
station can afford that tho building shall be appropriated
to no purposes unworthy of the beautiful site upon
which it has been erected, or of the associations of the
Great Exhibition.

" Taking it for granted that the first difficulty ex-
isting in the public mind may be overcome as now sug-
gested, it is proposed to meet the second by buying up
all the house property in the neighbourhood said to be
injured, and fur this purpose, as well as for all other
sources of outlay connected with the building, sufficient
capiml will be provided under the terms of the lease to
be granted by the trustees.
"' Three modes of appropriating the Crystal Palace
may be at present specified with sufficient distinctness to
show how it is intended to combine to instruction and
recreation of the people with the advancement of the
arts, sciences, and manufactures.
" In the first place, a portion of the space may be
allotted to a Winter Garden, embellished with fountains,
statuary, geological specimens, and a great variety of
other interesting objects.
" ' Another portion might be appropriated for the re-
ception of now inventions, and a 'trade collection,' in
illustration of the commerce of the country.
Lastly, the building might contain a gallery of de-
sign, for the promotion of taste among manufacturers
and the public; and lecture-rooms and museums, which
would relieve the already overcrowded state of many of
our greatest scientific institutions.

" It is not extravagant to expect that a sufficient
sum will be realised to effect the redemption of the
building in a very short period. The receipts will be
applied first in providing for the maintenance and repair
of the building, then in paying interest on the capital ex-
pended by the lessees, and the surplus partly in adding
to the works of art, and other objects of attraction which
the institution will contain, but the greater part in form-
ing a sinking fund for the purchase of the building by
the tru,tees for the nation.

" No more is asked for, in carrying out this plan for
the preservation of the Crystal Palace, than has already
been conceded to the Zoological and Botanical Societies
in the Regent's Park.
" The self-supporting principle upon which it is pro-
posed to effect the preservation of the Palace is the same
as that upon which the Great Exhibition was so success-
fully carried out; no better proof can be given of the
confidence felt in tho soundness of that principle than by
mentioning the fact that some of the first capitalists in
the country are prepared to guarantee the fuads required
upon the basis of this statement, and to submit their
guarantee to her Majesty's Government.
" It is believed that an object worthy of the energy
and intelligence of the British nation is now within their
reach. A building has never before existed, and, if the
Crystal Palace is removed, probably never will exist, in
our times, affording such facilities for the moral and in-
tellectual improvement of all classes of the community.
The illustration of nature and the history and progress
of art can here be fully presented under all the advan-
tages which ample space and light adapted to every re-
quirement of the subjects can afford. It cannot be be-
lieved that the people of this country will allow such an
opportunity to be thrown away, and this statement is
submitted with the view of rousing them, before it is too
late, to a decided expression of opinion, which alone is
wanting to secure to them a palaco worthy of the me-
tropolis of the first nation of the world, and a most
appropriate and lasting memorial of the Great Exhi-
bition. " JOSEPH PAXTON, Chairman."

FREE TRADE.
(From the Times.)
It is difficult to keep pace with the daily increasing
crowd of adhesions to the necessity, if not to the
wisdom and justice of free trade. Like Nelson re-
ceiving the swords of his vanquished antagonists, and
passing them by handfuls to the sailor at his side,
free trade may now throw capitulations by the dozen
into the waste-paper basket. As usually happens
when there is plenty of a thing, there is something
to desiderate in quality, and we regret to say that we
have not yet had the fortune to meet with an avowal
so frank, so entire, so unreserved, and altogether so
becoming, that it may be safely recommended to con-
verts in want of a model. Here we have a surrender
before us made by a distinguished man—Mr. Adder-
ley, Member for North Staffordshire, and candidate
once more for that constituency. It must be con-
sidered full enough for most practical purposes, seeing
that the Hon. Member repeats what he said to the
people of Burton early last recess, that Protection
has " became, whether rightly or wrongly, so odious
in the eyes of the general body of the nation, that
it would be unwise to accept it any longer, even
if it could be obtained." Mr. Adderley having
thus determined not to accept Protection, even if
it were offered him, has of course given up that
reference to the " well understood and clearly ex-
pressed opinion of the intelligent classes," with
which so many brother Protectionists are satisfying
the demands of a false shame. After
decisiong
—" Some say it is necessary to postponeappeal to the
of this opinion till the approachingnational feeling,"
country has more clearly tested the obsethrvoi that,
own part, F.or
Mr. Adderley proceeds,—"
is already amply tested.
i Icon-
eiderlbeliethyeatththaet
the
otiooanralil avowed the
a questionbeing better, and I deprecate suchof
the landed gentry after
need-
lessly repeated on the part
or .
~
wrong, is so fully
the national feeling, be it right _
efreethliinsgdecision.
known." The reasons he offers for acquiescence are
will get_ n.eitler little
whether
re says, will
ask
exceedingly good. Then li amnodseidt y g ewn threy.
nor much,
anything at all in the nature
provoke just the same
.0
will not obtain a hearing for other
little or much; they
able demands, and they will lose the
but, as long as they ask,
of Protection, they
redress. It is important to add, that
the main. with the opinions held by Lord
suppo.sea his views on the subject "to
andlst
Mr. moreAchdadn: :el
st otyaf i n
Derby,. Y Prevalent among his party."
But 0 there no saving
coincides
clause,
nolingering glance
I,„itation of the step,
no as the ' painful renunciation is
slight though it be. Mr. Ad-
derley still seems to think it possible that at some
future day, under some new
ter, some change
new condition of of circumstances, not to say some
existence, the industrious people of
this country may spontaneously and imperiously de-
mand a tax on all food, and may tumultuously pre-
vent the arrival of foreign supplies. Such a dream
certainly must have flitted through the writer's ima-
gination when he says, "At all events, until the na-
tion changes its mind on the subject, and ceases to
retain its present repugnance to protective duties, I,
for one, will not seek that kind of boon to a suffering
class of the community, which would only more
deeply
injure them." Till the nation changes it mind
on the subject ! If it is scarcely possible to imagine
a morbid appetite for a scarcity on the part on hun-
gary men, it is still less possible to conceive any cir-
cumstance at all likely to bring about so strange a
delusion. It is not the custom of labour to be as-,
cetic in the article of food, nor do men in the receipt
of daily wages often want their little pittance to go
as short a way as possible. Go to any of our
manufacturing towns, first, second, or third rate,
and ask whether wheat at 425. is or not conducive to
the prosperity of the operatives. 'Why do you see
street after street, nay, whole suburbs, rise up as by
magic from the green sward, from the stubble of last
year's harvest, from the hill side, from the heathery
skirts of the moor, under the very shade of the ancient
oaks ? Why do you see cottages run up for labour-
ing men with a comfort and elegance unknown to ther
last generation ; with good drainage, and pure waritneg.)
abundant and almost free ? Why are there
windows,
plants and worked muslin blinds in all the flowlncie°wBl
new furniture in every room, and the young
111nd happy ?
within well clothed, blooming, plaYll"
Why is it that they who have wanaered and