The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-14 00:00:00

HIE DUBLIN EXHIBITION.

DUBLIN, FRIDAY.
! Yesterday was regarded as a "great day for Ireland,"
and we trust that such it will prove. The Exhibition
has been opened under most favourable auspices. The
weather all day had been beautifully fine, and
therein was secured one of the first essentials of sue-
cess in the ceremonial. Such a multitude of
ladies and gentlemen was never before congregated
under one roof in this country. If the Crystal
Palace had not been, it is a question whether a
greater display of intelligence and beauty has ever been
Witnessed in any edifice in the British dominions. Itis cern -
puted that from 15,000 to 20,000 persons were present.
tChose who could not obtain accommodation in the grand
pall found sufficient in the galleries of the halls on the
!north and south sides of it. The appearance of the
grand hall was very imposing. The sun shone brightly
through the glazed portions of its semi-spherical roof, but
the rays falling in an oblique direction had not the un-
pleasant dazzling effect which an entirely glass roof
produces. The hall in which the ceremonial was con-
ducted is 425 feet in length, 100 in breadth, and 100 feet
in height, consequently the proportions harmonise better
than those of the Crystal Palace. The adjoining halls
at either side are only 50 feet in width, 65 in height,
and about 400 in length. There are two others at the
extreme ends, making, as appears from the outside, five
separate buildings ; but within all appear as one. The
surface of ground covered is 210,000 square feet, exclu-
sive of refreshment rooms.
The general aspect of the grand hall reminds one
strongly of the transepts of the Crystal Palace. The
galleries are supported by pillars, between which coun-
ters or stalls are arranged, with here and there pieces of
statuary.
Departmental are distinguished by red flags bearing
the names of the countries whose produce is to be exhi-
bited. Thus the "India " department, the "French,"
and others, are designated.
To-day this hall was kept free from all goods, saving
a few statues and heavy objects. The equestrian statue
of her Majesty, in bronze, by Baron Mariochetti, stood
in about the centre. At the western extremity was the
grand organ from Oxford, made by .Telfourd.
Immediately beneath, on a raised dais, were placed
chairs of state for the Lord-Lieutenant and the Coun-
tess St. Germans.
The doors were opened before ten o'clock, and
shortly afterwards the audience commenced to assem-
ble. About a quarter past twelve o'clock the
Lord-Lieutenant's arrival was announced. At this
time we recognised amongst those present—The Mar-
quises of Kildare, Drogheda and Headfort ; Earls
Granville, Charlemont, Howth, Meath, and the Coun-
tess of Meath ; Lords Gough, Massereene, Castlemaine,
Bellew, Gort, Clancarty, Cloncurry, Naas, Rossmore,
and Otho Fitzgerald ; the Chancellor, ex-Chancellor
Blackburne, the Master of the Rolls ; Judges Moore,
Perrin, Torrens, Lefroy, Monaghan, Keating, Cramp-
ton, Pigot, and Greene ; the Recorder of Dublin, the
Commander of the Forces, the Presidents of the Queen's
Colleges at Cork, Galway, and Belfast ; the Lord Mayor
and Corporation of Dublin, the Mayors of Liverpool,
Manchester, Cork, Belfast, Sligo, and several other
towns ; the Vice-Chancellor, Provost, and Fellows of
Trinity College; Sir Wm. Somerville, Bart.; Mr. White-
side, M.P.; Mr. Napier, M.P.; Mr. C. Lawless, M.P. ;
Mr. Maguire, M.P.; Mr. Jas. H. Hamilton, M.P.; Mr.
Vance, M.P.; the Archbishop of Meath, and several
other dignitaries of the Established Church ; the Roman
Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Cullen, and three
or four other prelates of the Roman Catholic Church.
Guards of honour from all the regiments in the garri-
son, with their colours, were in attendance. Two troops
of the 16th Lancers—the heroes of Aliwal—were posted
within the grand hall, at regular distances, and their
banner lances contributed to the striking coup d'ceil.
The banners of many towns—Liverpool, Dublin, Cork,
&c., &c., were suspended from the compartments over
the galleries.

On
the arrival of their Excellencies a procession was
formed at the entrance, in the following order :—Mem-
bers of the Committee, Knights of St. Patrick, the
Viceregal Household, the Lord-Lieutenant, the Countess
St. Germans, &c.

,
The National Anthem was then played, after which
the Hundredth Psalm was sung by the orchestra, which
consisted of about 1,000 vocal and instrumental per-
formers. The effect was singularly pleasing and im-
pressive. Handel's Coronation Anthem was next per-
formed.

At this stage of the ceremonial the Committee of the
Exhibition approached his Excellency to present an
address, which was read by Mr. Geo. Rowe, the chair-
man.

His Excellency replied, saying—
" Mr. Chairman,—l congratulate you on the completion of
this great work, of which you have so ably and satisfactorily
directed the execution. I can congratulate you also on the
beauty of this building, in its perfect adaptation to its pur-
poses, as well as in the variety of and value of its contents.
The liberal and patriotic conduct of Mr. Dargan, by whom
alone you have been enabled to raise this noble structure,
entitles him to the gratitude of his countrymen, and to the
admiration of other nations. The skill and science dis-
played by Mr. Benson are, indeed, remarkable, and place
him amongst the architects of modern times. As the re-
presentative of our most gracious Sovereign, I receive with
satisfaction your dutiful and grateful acknowledgments of
her Majesty's goodness, and of that of her Royal Consort,
in becoming contributors to the Exhibition. It id gratify-
ing to me to know that the Sovereigns of many foreign
states have generously assisted you from the commence-
ment of your labours to the present time. The Royal
Dublin Society, in promoting the success of the enterprise,
has done that which was to be expected from a body that
has laboured more than a century to advance the progress
of art and science in this country. I learn with pleasure,
though without surprise, that all classes of the community
have evinced a generous and heartfelt desire to aid you in
the performance of your arduous task. 1 concur with you
in hoping that the Exhibition will show in several depart-
ments that Irish productions are already excellent, and
that Ireland possesses sources of wealth which are well
worthy of development. That it may please almighty God
so to further the undertaking as to make it the means of
diffusing throughout the land a love of peace and industrial
pursuits, is a prayer in which I earnestly and fervently
concur." (Loud cheers.)
The Corporation of Dublin next presented an address
to his Excellency, to which he replied :
"My Lord Mayor,—l fully participate in the sentiments
you have expressed. The inauguration of the great Ex-
hibition of 1853 is indeed an event of no ordinary interest
and importance. I concur with you in hoping that this
Exhibition will fulfil the intentions of him whom you have
so justly designated its generous and patriotic originator,
by the promotion and diffusion of industrial enterprise,
and the creation of a taste for the fine arts amongst all
classes of the people."
The applause having subsided, Alderman Roe intro-
duced Mr. Dargan to his Excellency, who shook him
cordially by the hand, and, amid the enthusiastic cheers
of the vast assembly, congratulated him on the success-
ful completion of this noble undertaking.
Mr. Benson was next introduced to his Excellency, to
whom he handed a plan of the building ; and his Excel-
lency, after complimenting him in high terms, requested
him to kneel, which having been done, his Excellency
placed a sword on his shoulder, and conferred on him
the honour of knighthood, amid renewed applause.
At the conclusion of his Excellency's reply, Beetho-
ven's " Hallelujah" chorus, from the Mount of Olives,
followed ; and the entire composition was given with a
power, brilliancy, and force which could not be exceeded,
and has, perhaps, been never equalled as regards this
eottaposition.

.11-procession was then formed, and their Excellencies,
accompanied by their suite, were conducted round the
building by the chairman and members of the committee,
and on leaving the dais the orchestra performed the
March from Athalie.

Of Mendelssohn's march from Athalie it would be dif-
ficult to speak in terms of too great praise. It is a mag-
nificent conception, and even in the Machinery and
Fine Arts Courts it could be perfectly well heard, and
many from the remote portions of the building listened
to the march, and appreciated the manner in which it
was performed. _ _

After a considerable time spent in inspecting various
productions in the other parts of the building, the Vice-
regal party returned to their seats.
His Excellency then in a loud voice said, "In the
name of her Majesty, I now declare this Exhibition
open ; and in so doing, I pray Almighty God that he
will vouchsafe to protect and prosper this undertaking."
A loud burst of applause, which was repeated again
and again, succeeded to these words.
The orchestra then performed successively " The
Heavens are Telling"—Haydn ; the Hallelujah Chorus,
and the National Anthem, after which their Excellencies
left the building with the same ceremony as was ob-
served at their entrance, and the proceedings termi-
nated.
When the ceremonial of the opening was concluded,
the Fine Arts Court was thrown open, and, notwith-
standing the crowd which pressed into it, and the ab-
sence of catalogues to enable visitors to ascertain the
subjects and the painters of the pictures which adorn its
fragile but spacious walls, a general feeling of delight
was manifested by all present.

the day, especially . . .
assemblage of distinguished visitors was so great
i f iiculatnydt o
sculpture. obtain
iithanali
The Exhibitioii wastbc cnronwedAedrtdaurdienpgatrhtene department
; remainder
indeed, o f
the
ath
is rich in works by the Continental School, and has
some of the gems of Rembrandt, Claude, &c., from
celebrated collections, with Hogarth's " Gates of Calais,"
transient it w as
view i et task
ko
of ft
the al
pictures(i
and other engraved productions. It will toe works,
of
pleasure to advert on subsequent occasions the trea•
sures here deposited.
The number of season tickets issued up to Wednesday
evening was 10,138. Of these the ladies secured 6,208
gentlemen, 3,810 ; and the boys, 120. The sum they
produced was 14,645/.

BANQUET AT THE MANSION-HOUSE.
The Lord Mayor—the Right Hon. Mr. Kinahan—gav e
a grand banquet at the Mansion-house last night to th e
Lord-Lieutenant, the committee of the Exhibition, and
the strangers who were invited here to assist at the in-
auguration of the building. Upwards of 700 sat dow
to a sumptuous repast.
The chair was occupied by the Right Hon. the Lor
Mayor.

On the right of the chair were his Excellency the L
Lieutenant, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Granville,
Earl of Meath, the Right Hon. the Recorder, Lord Tal
de Malahide, the Dean of St. Patrick's, the Right if
F. Blackburne, the Chief Justice of Common P
Baron Greene, Sir P. Crampton, &c.
On the left of the chair sat William Dargan, Esq.
Lord Gough, the Bishop of Meath, &c.
The usual loyal toasts having been proposed,
TheeHni proceedings
sd
rEanxkee. ncy
be returned thanks for his health b fiN in
were throughout most satisf