The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-02 00:00:00

PRICE 4d:,
STAMPED sd.

of adornment, and is now gay with flags, wreaths,'
and mottoes; while instructive and appropriate ver-
sical selections from some of our homely poets abound
in all directions, and will serve to impress on the
mind of the spectator the " dignity of labour" and
the virtue of fellow-feeling. At the east-end of the
hall an enormous orchestra served for the accom-
modation of the 500 musicians who yesterday took
part in the opening ceremony, and which, like the
Handel Orchestra at the Crystal Palace, will serve
as a convenient spot from which the spectators can
enjoy a general survey of the hall and its contents.
In the midst of this orchestra rises Messrs. Beving-
ton and Son's grand exhibition prize organ, the tones
of which were yesterday heard to mach advantag,e.
Stretching from one side of the hall to the other is
a large scroll, on -which are visible the scriptural-text,
" The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness therof."
A hasty glance at the exhibition yesterday served
to show that it is at least up to the standard created
by its predecessors, and that in some respects it goes
far beyond them ; though at the same time it must
be owned that many of the articles for which space
has been found are, below mediocrity.. Of the
1,100 objects shown there are many which present
the usual phenomenon observable at similar dis-
plays, such as fancy work executed by people
whose vocation is to perform the most laborious
labour ; and some articles prove, from the intract-
able nature of the raw material and the tools
wherewith it has been fashioned, how great have
been the difficulties overcome, while, as usual,
the number of people of all trades and callings who
have rushed into paint in hopes of securing honours
equal to those bestowed on Royal Academicians
shows that the limner's art is very seductive, if pain-
fully illusory. The ladies, too, have done good ser-
vice in covering the walls with the products of their
needles, whether knitting or crochet, and even the
male sex have not disdained to show tlieir surpris-
ing ability in this respect. For extreme patience
and minute manipulation some specimens of pen
and ink drawing, almost equal to the celebrated
Minasi, may be particularised. One of them, No.
511 in the catalogue, is a group showing the title-
pages of various London journals, in the centre of
which is the Lord's Prayer, containing 280 letters,
written without the aid of a microscope in a space
less than would be covered by a threepenny piece.
No. 398 in the catalogue includes some oil and water
colour paintings of grapes, opened pomegranates,
and other specimens of fruit, some of which were
exhibited at the North London Exhibition, by a
self-taught artist, Henry Archibald Major, a letter-
carrier. A rag-dealer has also exhibited a model of
Venice and a model of the " Lake Cashmere" in
woolwork, and his daughter has shown a well-exe-
cuted album. The ingenious letter - stamping
machine, shown at Lambeth, by which 20,000 letters
can be stamped in an hour, is also to be seen ; but
in this case the maker and inventor is a letter-sorter
in the south-eastern district office, named George
Howell. One of the Grenadier Guards, Robert
Eason, while in Canada, manufactured a large cloth
needlework rug, on which are depicted incidents and
figures which daily met his eye in that country, and
this rug now adorns the wall near the Covent-gar-
den entrance to the building, though the hanging
committee have placed it far above the line of sight.
On the northern wall of the building are several
perspective models, including, amongst others, Spen-
cer House, St. James's Palace, and the Horse Guards,
all executed by a journeyman painter, and very
truthfully has he represented the architectural pro-
portions and features of the different buildings. No.
565 is a picture containing more than 2,000 por-
traits, with a margin represented by an equal num-
ber of postage stamps, British and foreign, exe-
cuted by a grocer's assistant, named Edward Dob-
bin. There are also amongst the multifarious
objects many beautiful examples of inlaid work,
models of fruit and flowers, and some fine specimens
of carving; but all these last-enumerated specimeni
must bow their heads before a large sideboard of
American oak, standing at the western end of the
hall. The subject which has engaged the workman's
attention is the doleful ballad of " Chevy Chase ;"
and in carrying out the various scenes of the ex- '
citing and disastrous story, he has introduced vivid
representations of the meeting of Earl Percy and
Douglas, the chase, the battle-field, the scene pre-
sented the morning after the affray, and the entrance,
to the castle of the Percys, with the body of the
noble owner being conveyed to the grave. How such
a wonderful work of art has not yet adorned the
ancestral halls of those long famed in the story is a
mystery. The price can surely be no sufficient rea-
son, even if the executor of such a marvellous piece
of workmanship should ask to be adequately re-
warded for the five years' labour bestowed upon it.
The catalogue states that it is the production of
Mr. Gerrard Robinson, wood carver, of Duke-street,
Manchester-square.
The hall yesterday at three o'clock was filled in
every part by ladies and gentlemen who had come
to witness the opening ceremony, which was well
arranged. The Right Hon. W. F. Cowper, having
made a tour of the building with various members
of the committee, was conducted to the platform by
Mr. J. A. Nicholay, chairman of the committee.
There were also seated his Grace the Archbishop of
York, the Rev. C. J. P. Eyre, the Rev. E. R.
Eardley Wilmot, the Rev. Henry Howarth, the
Hon. Frederick Byng, Sir Thomas Henry, Sir J. V.
Shelley, M.P., Sir James Hamilton, Mr. Harvey
Lewis, M.P., Mr. Peter Graham, Mr. W. S. Bur-
ton, &c.

As a commencement of the proceedings, the right I
hon. chairman made a few appropriate remarks as to
the objects of the exhibition, and briefly sketched
out the programme that would be gone through.
The Old Hundredth Psalm was then sung, and the
Archbishop of York offered up an eloquent and
touching prayer, which was followed by Handel's
grand Hallelujah chorus from the " Messiah."
Mr. Edmund Phelps recited, with excellent
effect, an ode written by Mr. G. Linnus
Banks, and entitled " Labour's Festival." Many
parts of this ode seemed to touch deeply " the men
of the rough and horny hand," represented by
the exhibitors, who frequently applauded the young
elocutionist most warmly, and, at the conclusion of
his recital, he was greeted with marks of approba-
tion from platform, orchestra, and body of the hall.
After the grand chorus, " The Heavens are telling,"
which was also well executed, _ _

The Right Hon. W. F. COWPER addressed the
assemblage. He commenced by saying that the
arched roof of the crystal palace in which they were
assembled, the many-coloured banners that adorned
the walls, the crowded aisle, and splendid music
which had just been heard, all combined to remind
him of the Great Exhibition of 1851, which was the
parent of all others held since. The present exhibi-
tion, modest as it must be by comparison with that
great national undertaking, yet had some features of
especial interest; for while in the Great Exhibition
there was an opportunity of comparing the produc-
tions of every country—mineral, animal, and veget-
able—and instruments of all kinds were there set in
motion, producing most marvellous results, yet
there could not be seen, as in that hall, the handi-
work of individual artisans. Here they saw this, and
there was an opportunity to give the workman that
honour which was his due. In the Great Exhibition
there were wonderful specimens of art produced by
men who were but little known beyond the precincts
of their workshops, but such men could show in
similar exhibitions to the present what they were
capable of doing, and thus become known to the
community, and receive the natural reward of noble
exertion, the respect of all around. The present ex-
hibition demanded their respect and sympathy as the
product of individual workmen. It was a gorgeous
and magnificent display, and contained many objects
of surpassing excellence. He would only point out
that wonderful specimen of workmanship which
faced him (the carved sideboard representing Chevy
Chase). It was astonishing that one man phould