The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-24 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—l have read with surprise the report of the Corn-
ruissiJn appointed by the Treasury to make inquiries on
the cost and applicability of the Crystal Palace.
The whole bearing of my evidence was iu favour of
the plan suggested by me, and admitted by the Commit-
sion to be the best proposed, viz., to convert the Crys-
tal Palace into a winter garden; but the only portion of
my evidence which has been adverted to in the report
is a detached sentence, the meaning of which has been
totally misunderstood.
If the opportunity which I requested, and which was
afforded to others, of making verbal corrections in my
printed evidence had been given me, I should have made
this sentence clearer; but as it stands now, the sense
which has been attributed to it arises from a strange
misapprehension. I never would have recommended the
conversion of the palace into .a winter garden, if I had
not felt convinced that it was for the public advantage,
even in an economical point of view.
b e t somewhato
n t o that
izd of
Though, in my opinion, the cost of a new building on
the.same scale as the present might
re-
duced, and its plan considerably improved, the mere ex-
pense of adapting what we have got to the purposes of
erectingwinter g aerndde nfi bears
up
n oe
n reasonableedifie e
of
f proportion o
kind and
novo.

The destruction of the building when its purchase has
been so nearly completed would, in my opinion, be a
wanton sacrifice of property, and the reference in the
report to the possibility of constructing a more suitable
edifice at a less expense than would be required for the
necessary outlay on the Crystal Palace, is not only a
misrepresentation of my evidence, but tends to blind
the eyes of the public to the foolish piece of modern
Vandalism which thelreport of the Commission sanctions.
I have the honour to be your most obedient servant,
JosErs FAXTON.

Devonshire-house, March 23.

THE
mitted without chaer into the RYSTAL PALA& E.
The public were on Monday, for the first time, ad-
people who popularity and the interest taken in its
preservation were well illustrated by the numbers of
go interior of this iIIIMCTIEO
building, and its
availed themselves of the privilege thus
afforded by the contractors. Daring the day there was
not less than 30,000 visitors. • They belonged to every
class from the peerage downwards, and all seemed greatly
e
impressed with the grandeur of the spectacle. Many
explaining to them where the most pro-
had
aervdereabgeeernlythere before, and their companions might
be h n
minent objects of the Exhibition stood. The site of the
' crystal fountain and of the other chief trophies of the
nave and transept were all thus carefully indicated.
Many seated themselves on benches and quietly
contemplated the vast ya regular proportions
of the interior, which, cleared of all obstructions
to the view, and seen in their unadorned sim-
plicity, have certainly a very wonderful effect. The
'galleries and the whole area of the edifice from end to
end were thoroughly explored, and the troops of chil-
dren and young people playing about suggested how
easily and well so vast a covered space might be adapted
for purposes of innccent recreation. Willis's grand
organ and the immense mirrors of the Thames Plate
Glass Company are now the sole remaining vestiges of
the Exhibition. The retention of the organ. is likely to
prove a considerable advantage. On Saturday last it
was played by Mr. Best, and the performance drew to-
gether not less than 4,000 people, and induced a sale o.
1,200 otakipleg. Now that the intariot is empty, musks

is heard with much greater effect than formerly, and
the performance will be repeated on Wednesdays and
Saturdays until further notice. The public ought not
to lose the opportunity now afforded them of visiting the
Palace free of charge, and judging for themselves bow
far they are interested in its retention. In a few weeks
henc', unit-Es they bestir themselves, it will disappear
almost as suddenly as it arose, to be remembered only
as a splendid vision—the phantasmagoria of human in-
dustry in 1851.