The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-30 00:00:00

THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Looking to the present state of the building, it is
rather difficult to realise the fact that the Exhibi-
tion is to be opened to-morrow. If the Commis-
sioners had at their command one of those familiar
spirits we read of in the stories of diablerie, who
were Perpetnally.toliifehtink their masters for em-
ployment, the chaos which at present reigns almost
supreme might, perhaps, be reduced to order suffi-
cient to make a yay.for: the procession; but at pre-
sent the task seems almost beyond the power of
mortal hands. Still; Should the executive staff, who
have begun to grapple with the work, at last suc-
ceed in 'driving a clear passage through the inzpedi•
nzenta which lie strewed in every direction, so much
the greater will be their credit. Yesterday, to move
about the building was a very delicate matter, and
required more circumspection than was altogether
consistent with a proper observance of the progress
which was being made in the arrangement of the
articles to be exhibited. It was, perhaps, not so
very hard to steer clear of the empty packing cases,
of the rolls of 'matting, and vast piles of chairs
which met one at every turn, nor for people mode-
rately active and sure-footed was it any great trial
to surmount the frequent hills of large planks and
timber. ; but these were" only a few of tfie perils and
inconveniences of the way. If at one point you
started back to avoid running headforemost through
a sheet of plateglass which stood .reared up almost
invisible in your path, it was at the risk of receiv-
ino in your spine the point of another square which
the not very careful workmen were conveying to
its • destined place. Here you had to pick
your wary through a litter of the most delicate glass
or china—there it was with the utmost caution that
you missed damaging- some recumbent statue just
emerged fromits •cOffin-like case, and waiting to be
hoisted to its appropriate pedestal. • Great chasms
in the floor at various points taxed your vigilance
to the utmost, and occasionally it was only by un-
remitting agility that you escaped being swept
away by the zealous. Commissionaires; who were
clearing out the building of the vast mounds of waste
paper, hay, and straye which have been gradaally
accumulating ever slate the unpacking began. The
din of hammering wail' incessant and distracting in
every quarter, and thick clouds of dust floated
through the air visible and palpable as a genuine
November fog. It is to be hoped that this plague
is but temporary, and that 'it will subside when the
process of unpacking and sweeping away is at an
end, otherwise it will be unbearable, for it finds its
way into the remotest corners; and there is scarcely
an article in the Exhibition, though shut up in the
closest of cases, which is not covered with it. The
V sun, too, is not likely to- a very welcome visitor
in 'many of the deprlti .e24and if the present '
Tresuivr is to oe any spalmen of whet t,,,.. .—t, -
expect in the Dog-days, it will be necessary to de-
vise some kind of awning to protect the visitors
from his fierceness.

Great progress has been made in filling the
cases, particularly in the porcelain departments,
and from the display already unfolded it is clear
that the exhibition of pottery ware will be one
of the most attractive features in the building.
A more superb collection of foreign and British
ware has never before been brought together.
The articles already unpacked by the French and
German exhibitors are worthy of their ancient re-
putation; but when the cases of Messrs. Copeland,
Messrs. Minton, and the Worcester manufacturers
are disclosed we shall have no reason to blush for
our countrymen. There is scarcely any department
in which there is greater progress visible since the
Exhibition of 1851. The majolica ware of Messrs.
Minton already makes a fine show ; and the Royal
Pottery Works of Worcester have a case uncovered
which for beauty of design and exquisite colouring
will stand a comparison with the most famous
manufactures of the Continent. Messrs. Copeland's
cases are, for the most part, as yet uncovered, but
enough of them is visible to show that their display
will be magnificent. We shall be much surprised
if this part of the Exhibition does not produce a
great effect. Messrs. Hancock, Elkington, and
others in this class, are beginning to unfold their
treasures, and a close survey of both these depart-
ments, which lie close together, will probably be
rather startling to those who have been in the habit
of talking disparagingly of the art manufactures of
this country. The workmen were busy all day in
hanging the colossal chandelier exhibited by Mr.
Defries, which bids fair to be one of the most
noticeable features in this part of the Exhibition.
The French department is at last making rapid
progress, and some fine bronzes were ranged in
their places yesterday. The talking and singing
machine promised for the Austrian department
has not yet arrived, but there is not the least
doubt that it will be here ultimately. At the
risk of furnishing Sir George Bowyer and his
friends with one or two sophistical arguments, we
must say at once that the Roman Court will be one
of the gems of the whole Exhibition. Besides the
beautiful statuary which Mr. Doyle has already
arranged in a most effective manner, there will be
a fine display of Roman mosaics. Yesterday was
unpacked a magnificent table, a gift from the Pope
to her Majesty ; and Cardinal Antonelli exhibits a
superbly carved and gilt casket. His Eminence is
said to be an ardent mineralogist, and this beauti-
ful piece of workmanship is intended for the dis-
play and custody of the most precious of his speci-
mens.

The arrangements for the opening, as far as they
have been settled, remain unchanged up to the
present. The throne will be erected under the
western dome, though at present no visible pro-
gress has been made towards it, except clearing
away the articles which had been displayed there
with so much care and effect. The bands of the
Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream, and Scots Fusi-
liers, conducted by Mr. Godfrey, will perform at
different periods of the ceremonial. The three
binds are to assemble in the centre of the nave at
11.30, where they will play together until 1.15
p.m., while the public are taking their seats. The
pipers of the Scots Fusilier Guards will also play.
The following pieces will be performed while the
visitors are taking their places--
The Prince of Wales' March .. Costa.
Quick March from Balfe's Opera "Bianca" A. F. Godfrey.
The Schiller March, •Meyerbeer.
Quick March—" The Advanced Guard" C. God frey,jun
Wedding March— " Midsummer Night's
Dream" Mendolssohn,
Quick March from Benedict's Opera " Lily
of Killarney" .. .. D. Godfrey.
March—" Tannhauser" .. • . Wagner.

At 1 15 the band of the Grenadier Guards wil'

proceed to the entrance in Cromwell-road to receive
the Queen's Commissioners and the Royal per-
sonages. A flourish of trumpets will be played by