The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-06 00:00:00

THE NEW CRYSTAL PALA..CE
(sYDAtiaam).

--anon__
RAISING Oct TE.tst FIP.ST COLUMN.
The ceremony of raising the first column of this nra
edifice. was yesterday performed' in the presence 0 -
numerous and highly
respentable assemblage at Penge
park, the site of the new sitaa:are. The circumstances
connected with the ceremony were well calculated to
ex=
cite the interest and awaken ihe sympathies of all who
were present. We could
not but recollect that but e
few short mouths had elepaed since the erection of tb
predecessor of the ieter tid structure at Sydenham was
reiterated against a structure eo pre
commenced; and we remembered well the scientific, pro-
fessional, and learned objections which were then con-
stantlyvariance with the erections of other days. Wo recill to
mind how greatly our disregard of the aptiquated notions
of brick and mortar, with all their massive accneapaiii-.
ments of buttress and foundations, was smiled at, and
how our faith in the possibility of erecting, in an nlasoste
fabulously shert period, an. unprecedented edifice 01
glass and iron, was ridiculed by " professional" and,
" scientific" individuals. The prophetic imaginings of
an Airy, and the world-famed accuracy of a Lard-
-eminently a
ner, were pressed, into 'requisition for the Pur-
pose of showing the ilapossibility of the thing, or, at
any rate, of proving that
were put together, the first manifestation of the displea-
sure of Bareas would serve to wetter it to the winds. In
fact, men of science and rising architects then conspired
together gravely to preve to demonstration that the
consumption of air by the • myriads of visitors to the
Exhibition Building, tent:lin—if . the "house ot cards"
5 to produce a vacuum in the
interior, would cause the external pressure of the at-
mosphere to force the building with its gewgaws and
contents half way to the Antipodes. We declined to
give in our adhesion exolueLesly to the men of science
and imagination, Preferring rather to deil with those
more practical geniuses who completed and opened the
Exhibition Building on the Ist of May, 1851. Of the
fate of that building, and the means taken to preserve it
upon i:s original site, our readers are all .awaret ano
we apprehend that, after the recent improvements which
will be carried out in the building upon its present site
at Sydenham, few persons will regret the decison of the
Government, or be displeased that the affection of Lore
Seymour for " the favourite pump," or the aristocratic
tendencies of Lard John Manners should have suc-
enteoerdmeds hi na
d accomplishing
ab;e to
effect—viz., the removal of the
building from Hyde-park.
It is not necessary for us to detail the various step-
by which the Crystal Palace Company have become pea-
syssed of the material of the Exhibition building, ane
which, under the magic genius of a Paxton, a Wyatt
and a Jones, will sh...rtly assume the proportions any
appear-glee which shall justly entitle it to the designatioe
of the New Crystal Palac; suffice it to say that yester
day was seh cted us the day upon which the first column
~f the new edifice should be erected. A special trai,
was hcc adingly provided for the conveyance of betweei,
t hree and tour hundred visitors to witness the ceremony,
who were assured, by means of printed programmes,
that conveyances would be in waiting to convey visitor.
to the park from the Sydenham station. Right merrily
the train proceeded to Sydenham, and three hundred ano
fifty passeneers alighted there, and rushed frantically e
leek fur the convey ances. There must be some mistake;
nothing was to be found but a travelling" tinker's cart."
The train bud better go on to Anerley. The passenger-
, esumed their seats amid sundry misgivings as to the tim,
that the nest,. down train would be due. Ul itnately Aner
ley station was reached, and, animated with that insane
live love ot " Belt" common to Englishmen, the road t. the park was reached, when, lo! and behold, one "Brix-
ton omnibus," " licensed to carry twelve inside," ano
an indefinite number outside. It was clear to demon.
stration that neither legally nor physically could 350
visitors be conveyed in the one " bus;" and the remain-
ing animated " bales of silk" and " cheats of bullion,"
according to the phraseology of the London and
Brighton directorate, made their way to the entrance o'
the park, about a mile distant from the station, where
the e xpected vehicles and their drivers were quietly re-
posing themselves in the shade. Having thus escaped
the dangers of the rail and the perils of the road, the
visitors were most cordially received by the chairman,
and directors of the company, after which reception
they proceeded to a second tent, where an opportunity
was aff Tded of examining the plans and drawings of
the now buileing and park and gardens. The general
outline of the plans has already been stated by us, and
we need only say that the drawings and model,. were now examined with the greatest admiration.
A card-board model, showing the elevation of
the building, with its three transepts and cir-
cular arched nave, was universally admired, as was also
a view of the interior of the nave, around the columns
and girders of which were most tastefully entwined
beautiful climbing plants; while the palm and other
tropical plants appeared to afford a most agreeable and
refreshing shade. The ground plan of the building and
of the galleries was also examined
interest; and the space set apart for nthe exhibition of
articles ofmanultieture and art was carefully conned overe
.with considerable..
by many who had already achieved their laurels in
.thto
late Great Exhibition, and who were again PrePaerriedthe
stand forward in support of British industry. i
examination of the plans and drawings, "d
in
walking
over the grounds, time wore on; until at length,
shortly
th
after two o'clock, the ladies commenced occupying
seats assigned for them, round a spacious area
marked
off by ropes, and indicating the site of the
future
great central transept; the gentlemen forming a second..
line behind the ladies. Shortly afterwards, preceded
the band of the Coldstream Guards, came a processionlmmense
headed by a number of workmen bearing an white banner, on which was inscribed in blue letters,b
" Success to the Palace of the People," and followed )d
Mr. S. Laing, M.P.,, Mr. C. Fuller, Mr. Schuster, anr
the other directors of the company; Sir C. Fox, hi *
ingrked
Henderson, Mr. Jobson, Mr. Cochrane, Sir J. Paxton,
Mr. D. Wyatt, Mr. 0 ones, Mr. Befeaaw, and a num'
tier of other gentlemen connected with the undertakinE
The signal being given, a number of workmen in
I.: ar,
olg good style, and with lusty lungs, proceeded to haul the column above the base plate and socket, when
..
.1
Laing stepped forward, and deposited in the lower "
Ponrt
glass vessel, containing the coins
tion of the column a
the realm, and bearing the following inscription:—
" This Column,
The first support of the Crystal Palace, for
A Building ot purely English Architecture destined
the recreation and instruction of the Million, ,
Was erected on the sth day of August, 1802'
In the 16th year of the reign of her Illajesty CM--
.„
Victoria,
By Samuel Laing, Esq., M.P Chairman of the Crystal Palace Company.
The original structure, of which this column forms
a part,
-
was built after the design of Sir Joseph Paxton. by ,leases.
s
Fox, Henderson, and Co., and stood in Hyde Park,
wheret's
it received the contributions of all Nations at the World's
Exhibition, _

In the year of our Lord 1851."
e I, your glass,
Will modestly discover to yourself,
That of yourself
Which yet you know not of."
Mr. Laing, M.P., Sir C. Fox, Mr. He
salver,
Vlr. Cochrane then taking a winch from a silver
eaos
of
proceeded to secure the column to the base by /33
as-
berews and nuts in the ordinary manner. A royal,
~,
d the Din"
lUte was then fired by the guns on the group-,
,i, Id and
Stun up the National Anthem, and fro—
rr old
g, from workman and master, rose one tremendous
cheer for " The Queen and the Palace of the People.
Mr. le, and
Mr. LAING, M.P., then addressed the asa-sib :fey the
said—As chairman of the Crystal Palace
Company of
duty has devolved on me of fixing the first
the.glo
the new structure which is intended to embody om as a
rious recollections of the Great Exhibition of
national in-
fixed and abiding reality for Purposes of
ilinaportance
struction and improveme,nt.—(Cheers.) The,' the pre
of such an object might well have demanded
occupies a far
Bence on this occasion of some one who cccupthso
the
nderson, and
however, that it is the very
more conspicuous position in the PliGli° eye 1 believe,
humble individual who now addresses yo to
all enter-
feeling •whi°ll
, „ntional under-
tain of the deep importance of this grea''',hat at this
taking which has led us to the conclusiofn that
stage of the proceedings the ceremony
is of
organ of the
would be most fitly entrusted to the o—el- ewe all do,
c°lnPany.—(Hear, hear.) Recollectiog,a labouring to that the parent idea which we are
now ents originated
carry out in now and untried developments
with the meritorious Prince whose '
the glories of
servedly and intimately associated with
that the fairy
strongly that any
the Great Exhibition—recollecting alsopliceuix from its
structure, which is about to rise
like asence of oar ashes, was so often honoured by the Pre
we feel very
gra-
cious and beloved Sovereign—l confessthe very highest
is so de-
servedly
we aim, and
Would be unworthy of the objects at whichk 0 —(Cheers.)
rta c •
of the enterprise which we have unde _ _
us if
we show
That such patronage will be accorded 1°
doubt.—(llear.)
ourselves worthy of it I entertain
of
f art and science
On all occasions when the intereststhe
moral and intel-
lectual concerned, and, above all, Whe,,n,he population are in
patronage short of the
lectual improvement of the mass o" Lacked question, the country has never
orth all the patron-
the patronage, but that which i 9
A Lion and affectionate
illustrious consort.—(Loud will not say
age in the world—the enlighten() --the Queen and her
solicitude of our Sovereign 14'1Y At the same time,
ordercheers.) 0
that until we have fully command such
every one must feel that, in ~we deserve it; and
patronage, we must show tha" a from the chyrsolite
fess to
state of a emerge'', and given actual
commercial com Part of our power, to
y of ou
Wets by which Vf .
Pledges) not onl r wish,
" 0 pro-
carry out the high and noble 0
nature, and ev.ei
pre
we hope at some future,
Presumptuous and dist-4-BPa° •us enough to aay that
be animated, it would b®
such patronage as we are ambitious
very distant, day to
en°Eneantiaie it only olotain.—(fiear, hear.) In the meantime
the pe. pie. should do
re-
mains that we, the plain men without parade or our work quietly and effectively,
e consider the work
os-
tentation. And, truly, whenThvweommenced it i 3 no
which has thin day been forn33-
us. Former ages have
light enterprise which lies before el
and nut
tO venture to solicit
v them of surpastning
tai e.! palaces en, ugh, and rna°'
palace temples ol Egypt, aria
E"gnifienee. We have all r• ad
ot Babylon, the colessal
~i'''''"'„'",,eand Persepolis. Many
the gorgeoua structure of.o4l° -h of Nero's Golden
menu
of us have seen the scattered frog
of the hanging lorden.
"lace iii the Palatine-hill, saci the "St ruino which