The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-27 00:00:00

THE. SUN, LONIDON, MONDAY -EVENING, FEBRUARY 27, -1854,

KHIVA.-BUSSIAN AGGRESSION.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY.

,§... --.

A recent traveller in the East gives the following par-
ticulars respecting the territorial acquisitions of Russ:a
in her Eastern frontier. They derive additional interest
from the announcement lately made by telegraph of tte
alleged taking of Khiva by the Russians :—The policy of
territorial aggrandisement which has ever characterised
the Russian cabinet has not been confined to Eurone
alone. A powerful motive has never been wanting to
stimulate aggression in the east. The Russian frontier
has been advanced for a thousand miles along the western
shores of the Caspian from the Don to the Araxes, while
upon its eastern coast, and upon Khivan territory, two
forts have been erected, with the ostensible object of
protecting Russian fishermen from Khivan slavery. It
is difficult to define the precise limit of the progress of
Russia in this direction, but an irregular line drawn from
the south-western angle of the Sea of Aral, west by south
to the Caspian, may be laid down as the boundary beyond
which the influence of Russia over the wandering tribes
who inhabit thesteppeis no longerpredominant. The river
Emba is, however, professedly the southern frontier of the
recently-acquired Tartar province, which extends in an
easterly direction to the borders of China, comprising an
area equal to the whole of the south of Europe. This
vast territory contains a wandering population of about
four millions, composed for the most part of Kirgheez
Cossacks, Calmucks, and TurComans. Nothing can be
more cheerless than the aspect of the steppes upon
which these nomadic tribes pasture their camels—
throughout its entire extent not a tree is to be met with
or a single fixed habitation to be seen, with the exception
of a few recently established Cossack posts. Camel-
thorn and wormwood scrub afford but a scanty herbage ;
water is extremely scarce ; a distance of 200 miles often
intervenes between the brackish wells, while extensive
saline deposits are to be met with in every direction. In
winter the cold is intense, and the snow covers the ground
to such a depth that cattle are sometimes starved to
death before the return of spring. Then for a short time
all is verdant and fresh, and caravans leave Khiva
and Boukhara, with merchandise for the Russian fairs.
During summer the burning heat parches up every green
thing, and the arid desert is almost impassable. In
autumn the caravans return. There are two principal
routes from the east of Russia into the countries of Cen-
tral Asia. It is not long since I myself witnessed upon
the borders of Orenburg the division of a large party of
Khiva and Boukhara merchants returning laden with
the spoils of the west. The greater portion took the
route by Astrakhan and Mangishlak, as involving a
shorter land journey. Miserable native craft ply be-
tween Astrakhan and the landing place on the eastern
shores of the Caspian, near which is the small Russian
fort of Alexandrofski. It is about 480 miles from this
fort to Khiva, one of the most trying deserts for
camels in Central Asia. In some places the road
attains a considerable elevation, water and pasture
are both unusually scarce, and for eight or nine days
not even the black 'tent of a Kirgheez is visible. The
accounts which Mouravieff and Abbott give of this desert
are such as might fairly strike dismay into the heart of
the most intrepid traveller, and much more of a Russian
general at the head of an invading army. Indeed,
although this route was preferred on account of its short-
ness by my Asiatic travelling companions, the difficulties
which it opposes to the transport of an army are so great
as to render the invasion of Khiva from this direction a
matter of utter impossibility. This has been long re-
cognised by the Russian Government, who have concen-
trated all their " materiel" at Orenburg, and who, ever
since the celebrated expedition of Peroffski, have been
bent upon again attempting under happier auspices the
enterprise which then so signally failed. Fortunately
for Khiva nature has interposed such stupendous ob-
stacles in the way of the scheme of invasion that even
Muscovite perseverance and hardihood can scarcely be
supposed already to have overcome them. Although
Orenburg is the most fruitful province in Russia, and is
therefore the best adapted as a starting point for an in-
vading army, the desert which intervenes between it and
the Sea of Aral is almost precisely similar in character to 1
that between Khiva and the Caspian. The pasturage is in
parts finer, and the banks of the river Emba form a sort
of oasis in the desert, and nearly divide the distance.
The time occupied by caravans in making the transit
of this desert from Khiva varies considerably, but it is
never less than five weeks. The Kirgheez supply the
camels, and are the cause of innumerable delays to the
unfortunate merchants, who are not unfrequently robbed
by them into the bargain. This miserable race, how-
ever, though too restless and independent in their habits
to do more than own a nominal allegiance to Russia,
however ill-disposed they might feel towards an invad-
ing army, could never be formidable to it in a warlike
point of view. Weak and cowardly, they are treacher-
ous and vindictive, and would no doubt content them-
selves with removing their flocks and herds from the line
of march. The inclemency of the weather and the dif-
ficulty of feeding his men compelled Peroffski to retreat
after he had reached a point half-way between the Emba
and the Sea of Aral. At whatever time of year the
expedition might be undertaken, the latter difficulty
must always exist to a very great extent, for even the
Cossacks at many of the posts which must necessarily be
well garrisoned to keep at bay the Kirgheez and Turco-
mans, have occasionally run short of supplies. Unless,
therefore, the inhabitants themselves can be induced to
sacrifice all their worldly wealth to a power which can
exercise no real authority over them, and voluntarily
deprive themselves of their only means cf subsistence to
satisfy the wants of a host of invaders, I cannot see how
the march can be accomplished; for to suppose that
the entire commissariat of an army sufficiently strong to
capture Khiva can be conveyed from Orenburg across
the most terrible country in the -world to that city seems
to me, in any case, and more especially from what I
know already of Russian commissariat arrangements,
absurd. The Khivan army consists of upwards of a
hundred thousand men, and though, from what little we
have heard of their prowess, they do not seem the bravest
troops in the world ; yet if the condition of the Russian
army, after some months of intolerable hardship, be con-
sidered, even the cowardly but savage Shivans might
prove their equals. Under any circumstances, an expe-
dition such as that against Khiva would be heard of long
before it could reach that distant city, and after the ex-
perience of Peroffski would certainly not again take
place in the depth of winter. Of 10,(00 men that ac-
companied the Russian general on that ill-fated enter-
prise 8,000 are said to have perished in the snow-drifts.
I am, therefore, inclined to look with considerable suspi-
cion upon these floating rumours, and to regard them as
having been originated in the usual way by Russian
agents. But that there is an expedition contemplated
on the part of Russia, I have no doubt, and, probably,
in a few months, we shall hear more authentic accounts
of its progress. Of its political importance there is no
occasion to speak. The tendency of Russia has been to
encompass the Caspian, and by uniting the provinces of
Ghilan Mazenderan and Astrabad with Turcomania, to
consolidate her influence upon the northern frontier of
Persia, and gradually to absorb that kingdom in pursu-
ance of her systematic policy until, pressing upon the
northern slope of the Hindoo Khoosh, and after having
crossed impassable deserts, she may deem her armies
all the more competent to climb impassable mountains,
and find their reward and repose in the sunny plains of
India.

The report of the directors states :
" That they have the pleas tire of announcing that the
various works are so far advi vnced as to leave no doubt
that the opening will take palace at the latter end of
May next. Of course an undertaking of such magnitude
and novelty cannot be expect ed to be complete in all
ts details at its first opening • ; but it will be so in
ts general effect and in all th e leading features which
have been announced to the public, with one excep-
tion only, viz., that, owing to an unforeseen engi-
neering difficulty in the proposed construction of
the tank towers, those towers' will have to be re-built,
and until this is done the jobs of water in the lower
basins cannot be played. This will not affect
the beautiful series of fountair Ls in the building and ter-
race-gardens, and therefore, al though the full effect of the
unrivalled system of water-wo.:•ks designed by Sir Joseph
Paxton cannot be at once displayed, in all other respects
the entire scheme of the palace, gardens, and park will
be substantially completed, producing, as the directors
confidently believe, a result surpassing, in grandeur,
beauty, and interest, all the most sanguine anticipations
that have been formed during its progress. In order to
attain this result, a considerably larger expenditure of
capital will be required than was foreseen last year. Sir
Joseph Paxton's report, annexed, explains in full detail
the causes of this increased ecependiture, which may be
stated generally as follows :--1. The great delay and
difficulties caused by the unseasonable weather and ac-
cidents have occasioned large extra expense not only in
themselves, but also in the exertions necessary to
make up for lost time, so as to insure the opening in
May. 2. The extrawdinary rise in wages and in the
price of materials has affected large portions of the
work, which did not ad,riait of being let by definite con-
tracts. 3. The progress of the scheme has shown the
necessity for embracing o bjects not contemplated in the
original estimates, such a s the widening of roads and
construction of new app. °aches, carriage stands, &c.,
beyond the precincts of th e company's original grounds.
These indispensable improvements, without which
carriage access from London would have been almost
impossible, would have been attended with a much
larger expense, owing to the greatly enharched value
of all property adjoining the palace, had not the
directors fortunately secured for the company a lease
for eighty-four years, of the Dulwich Wood, immedi-
ately opposite to the building, at a rental of 3,0001. a year.
This lease gives them the .control of property which is
invaluable as a security against the creation of nuisances
near the palace, and as a site for hotels and other enter-
prises in connection with it, and at the same time saves
heavy expense in the construction of approaches, and
leaves the company in possession of land which is
already worth considerabAy more than the stipulated
rental. 4. The elaborate manner in which many of the
courts and other denartm eats connected with the fine
arts and industrial exhibiti on have been carried out has
considerably increased their • cost. For instance, the idea
of the Pompeian Court has been expanded from that of
a refreshment room, with s ome decorations in the Pom-
peian style, to that of the c omplete and accurate repre-
sentation of a Pompeian h o use, under the direction of
Signor Abbate—a work whi.th may be fairly stated to be of
the greatest possible value to English art, as well as to
all those branches of manufacture which are allied to
art, and in which beauty of design and colour is an es-
sential element of success. On the whole, considering
the magnitude of the operations, and the very substan-
tial and perfect manner in which they have been con-
ducted, the directors believe that their completion for a
sum not exceeding one million sterling, will be a result
in which this may well bear comparison with other
great public undertakings- The present amount of
share capital is 750,0001., of which 700,1501. has been
received. The amount expended up to the present
time is 679,7201., the details of which are given
in the following statement :--Land, deducting 55,4881.
received for re-sales, 50,2401.. ; purchase and removal of
the original building, 95,000 e. ; construction of the main
building, 135,050/. ; tunnel, heating apparatus, &c.,
24,5361. ; wings of the Crystal Palace, water towers,
&c., 34,090/. ; hydraulic works, fountains, lakes, Arte-
sian well, &c., 93,6701. ; park, terraces, gardens, &c.,
98,214/. ; new roads and approaches, &c., 4,350/. ;
interior of building, plants, garden works, fountains
inside the palace, & 6,450/. ; natural history
illustrations, 11,1761. ;; Fine Arts Courts—Porn-
peian, Alhambra, Assyrian, Greek, Roman, Egyptian,
Medireval, Renaissance, Ktalian, and Byzantine, 52,5001.;
collection of sculpture, 32,060/.; sundry fittings, 7,0001.;
general expenses, 35,3141. ; total, 679,720. The direc-
tors, having carefully considered the best mode of rais-
ing the additional capital: required, have come to the
conclusion that the most advisable course is to issue
among the proprietors, rateably, 50,000 new shares of
51. each, giving one such new share to each registered
holder of three of the present shares, with a deposit of
11. 10s. per share on allotment.

REPORT OF SIR JOSEPH PAXITON TO THE DIRECTORS ON
THE CAUSES OF THE INCREASED EXPENDITURE.
Crystal Palace-office, Rock-hills, Sydenham,
Feb. 6, 1854.
Gentlemen—ln accordance with the minute of the board
of the 25th January, referring to me the question of the
total expenditure of the company, I beg to report to you
that I have gone very carefully and minutely into all the
details requisite to arrive at the amount of the company's
capital expenditure, which I find to bo 997,3721.: and I
now beg to subjoin the best evplanation I am enabled to
give you with regard to the larga`increase in the proposed
cost of the undertaking which appears, on comparing the
present aggregate with the estimate of June, 1853, when it
was considered that the share capital of 750,0001. would
be sufficient for the completion of the works.

Amouut of increase
on the estimate
of June 1853.

A. Reconstruction of the main Building.—
The increase arises from the necessity of putting
in new staircases from the basement storeys, of
further strengthening portions of the building,
and sundry other additions, in all amounting to
B. Wings of the Crystal Palace.—The increase
is entirely in order to provide a larger exhibit-
ing area, and the outlay will certainly be amply
repaid : it amounts to
C. Water Towers.—Doubts having arisen as
to the strength and capacity of these towers, it
has been thought the safest course to take them
down and rebuild them on a larger scale, It is
difficult to estimate the total increased expense
thus occasioned, but from engineering and other
opinions I have taken, I cannot state it at less

£6,500

than
D. Heating Apparatus.—The increase is for
heating the wings, not previously contemplated,
but now found to be necessary partly for the
reason stated in B
E. HydraulicWorks.—There is a very
considerable increase in this item. It
is caused, in the first place, in conse-
quence of our taking the supply of
water from an Artesian well instead of
from the Lambeth Water-works as at
first proposed, thus saving the company
a large annual payment for water rent
This addition I estimate at £20,000
Some additions have been found ne-
cessary to the plan for the cascades,
computed at
For the iron pipes, valves, and fit-
tings connected therewith
Sundry as tistic decorations, such as
dolphins' heads, mercuries, &c., and
my design for temples at the source of
the cascades will an occasion an in-
crease of
Sculptured figures and ornamental
vases required to be distributed over
the cascades
Arrangements to provide against
risk from fire
F. Ground and Terrace Gardens.—The increase
here is attributable to an enlargement of the
original design to an extent of 58 acres
G. Roads and Approaches
H. Interior of the Palace.—The increase here
will be entirely caused by the construction of
seven Industrial Courts of a character not
contemplated in June last, and by other ac-
commodation rendered necessary for exhibi-
tors, and amounts to
I. Geological Illustrations.—There will be an
increase here in consequence of the construction
of a second island, and the extension of the plan
for the preparation of extinct animals and geo-
logical works
K. Sundry small items

24,000

11,000

Total increase in departments under my charge 2183,372
L. Fine Arts.—Messrs. Jones and Wyatt, un-
der whose superintendence the courts and gallery
of sculpture have been prepared, have reported to
me that the amount of increase under this head
willbe ......................................................
M. General Charges.—There will be a consi-
derable increase in the amount of these charges
in consequence of the postponement of the open-
ing and the expenses of application to Parliament
for the diversion of parish roads, and compulsory
powers to enable us to construct new roads and
approaches, undoubtedly necessary to the success
of the undertaking. The amount of this is

50,000

14,000

217,372
750,000