The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-25 00:00:00

THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

There probably never was a more gigantic illus-
tration of the mere principle of work than is shown
by the every day progress of the interior of the
building. To be seen as an industrial exhibition it
should be seen now, with its thousands of opera-
tives of every class, trade, and profession, from the
bricklayer to the sculptor-artist, all hurrying, all
striving to perfect their own individual tasks, all
labouring or made to labour with such an unre-
mitting perseverance and economy of time as changes
the aspect of every part of the interior with every
hour that passes. Each visit shows a newer and,
generally, better arranged display. What in the
morning is only roughly prefigured as an exhibitor's
stall is a trophy or a beautiful case before night,
and from early dawn till dusk all the hive is busy,
and there is such multiplied subdivision of labour
as proves that even by Thursday next something
like order will be worked out of the present chaos
of packing-cases, straw, lumber, deal, barricades,
bricks, and cordage. That the Exhibition will be
complete in all its wonderful details of art and in-
dustry is literally almost impossible, but it will be
as much more perfect in its arrangement for the
opening than that of 1851 as the Exhibition itself
will be superior in nearly all that relates to material
progress. Every day shows more and more clearly
that as an exhibition of arts and manufactures it
will be one of such general perfection and complete-
ness as the world has not yet seen. Each class and
each country confesses itself surprised at what
others have accomplished. Thus, France says,
" We knew what we intended to do, but we had no
idea that Prussia and Austria were coming out so
strong." Pottery is surprised at hardware, machi-
nery at textiles, Sheffield at Birmingham, and so on
through them all. Eazb is conscious of how they
themselves have striven for perfection, though none
seem to have thought that others were actuated by
the same motives ; and the result of the combined
efforts is a general astonishment at the completeness
and worth of all, even rivals. The foreign division of
the building, in si ite of the care and labour of
its indefatigable superintendent, Mr. Owen, can-
not possibly be even half-arranged by Thursday
next. As a rule, most, though not all, of our foreign
competitors are behind, and almost as much so in
their picture galleries as they are in their courts. A
day or two after the opening, however, will soon
overtake this lost ground, when the English will
have to look to themselves, for the continental
courts being limited in space, and therefore in con-
tribution, show only their chef d'oeuvres in each
class, and the general perfection of our own branches
of manufacture may be lost sight of before the sur-
passing excellence of isolated specimens from abroad.
Austria has sent some superb groups in marble to
decorate the entrance from the dais leading to her
court, though unfortunately, as most of these are
evidently only intended to be seen from the front
they lose half their effect when placed as central
figures. Belgium has also sent some admirable
bronze statues, but one of the best and most spirited
came in from Sweden yesterday. This represents
two men strapped together after the old Runic
fashion of duelling and fighting to the death with
knives. The story of the fatal encounter, from its
first outbreak to the widow weeping before the un-
couth Runic stone which marks the grave of
husband and lover, is simply but forcibly told in
bas relief beneath the groups, some of which are
literally copied from the old Runic original. These
fine statues are cast in zinc bronzed over, and, even
allowing for some slight faults, which are probably
due to the metal itself, the whole group is beyond
a doubt the most spirited and lifelike in the build-
ing. Berlin is showing a very beautiful collec-
tion of porcelain works of art under the western
dome. Conspicuous among these are two exqui-
site busts in Parian of the Crown Prince and
Princess of Prussia, which are actual portraits in
their minute resemblance to the originals. In this
class also Dresden has entered the field in great force,
and the works from the Royal Saxon manufactory at
Meissen will be among the chief attractions in this
Portion of the foreign side. Some of the Dresden
Chandeliers, mirror frames, and groups of figures,
are real
marvels of ceramic excellence, both as to
colouring
; and form of figures and outline. Sevres,
also, is sending, . some superb objects to the French
court, wnich,lik
e those of Dresden and Berlin, will
be characteristic of their own peculiar excellence;
and,
each branch •
it is said the English
collection
0 e, be equal to its many
un tllig
w h
il in
as a whole,
rivals, it will not, as a national manufacture, be
characteristic of anything beyond our successful
and, too often, almost servile imitation of the forms
of others.

The painting and gilding of the trophies in the