The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-12 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JUN ..E 12, 1854.

PROSPECTUS of the MIDLAND COUNTIES
FIRE ' and LIFE and HAIL STORM INSURANCE COM-
PANY. (Provisionally Registered.)
Capital, .One Million. in, 80,000 Shares of 121. 10s. each, of which
''sum 11. 10s. per Share is proposed to be paid up.
The liability of the Shareholders will be limited, as in all other
Insurance Companies, by the Deed of Sett!ement, and by the
Policies issued by the Company, to the amount of Shares sub-
scribed for.
The Shares to be divided into separate County Stocks, as follow :
Lincolnshire ...: ........ 17,000 I Leicestershire •• ..•.....
Warwickshire .......... 17,000 1 Northamptonshire ...... 8,000
Derbyshire .• .• ........ 13,000 liathuidshire .... • • .•• .. 3,000
Nottinghamshire .. .• .... 13,000 I T0ta1.... —BO,OOO
PROVIsIoNAL COMMITTEE.
Wm. Ruagard, Esq., Lincoln, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Fire
Office.
Wm. Hy. Brooke, Esq.,-Lincoln, Deputy Chairman, of the Lincoln-
shire Fire Office.
Wm. fly. Adams, Esq., Hoston.
Wm. Foster, Esq., Canwick. near Lincoln. Directors of the Lin-
Wm. Marshall, Esq., Lincoln. colnshire Fire
Jno. Rawson, Esq , Boston. Office.
Jno. Geo. Stapleton Smith, Esq., Lincoln.
Thos.' Winn, Esq., Lincoln.
With power to add to their number.
BANKERS.—Messrs. Smith, Ellison, and Co , Lincoln.
fixatrasear.—Mr. Wm. Andrew, Lincoln.
TEMPORAIty OFFICES.—The Lincolnshire Fire Office, Cornhill,
Lincoln.
In ,placing the Prospectus of the MIDLAND COUNTIES.
INSURANCE COMPANY before the Public, it may be well
first, briefly to glance at the Insurance Companies at present
existing in those counties. Warwickshire has two - the Birming-
ham Fire and the District Fire. Notinghamshire and Derby-
shire one—The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Fire and-
Life Office ; and Lincolnshire one—The Lincolnshire Fire Office. It
will be noticed three of these are Fire Offices only. The two Warwick-
shire Companies are both of them highly respectable and well-
established Companies, but limited in their operations to Fire In-
surances, and doing the bulk of their business in their own
localities. .Tho. Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire has maintained,
for many years, a most respectable position ; but it may be fairly
asserted, without any intention of underrating the Office, that it
does not hold that rank amongst Insurance Companies which is ne-
cessary to render it so profitable to the Shareholders, or extensively
useful to the public, as it might be. Leicestershire formerly pos-
sessd a local Insurce Office, but it was abandoned and sold to the
Sune Fire Office some years ago, although parties, well acquainted
with the Leicestershire officeasserted that it only required
energy and perseverance to have maintained its ground success-
fully. Northamptonshire and Rutiandshire never possessed any in-
surance company of their own.
The Lincolnshire Fire Office is one of more recent osigin, but con-
nected with one of the largest counties in the kingdom. It was
established in 185 ~ is composed of 495 shareholders, resident in
Lincoln or Line ,inshire, and although the business of the Company
has been almost exclusively confined to the city and county of Lin-
coln, it has in three years insured nearly Two Millions of Property.
These/hole of the paid up capital of the Company is entire, and in-
vested upon securities • and out of actually realised profits during
the last three years, all Fire, Losses have been paid, all manage-
ment expenses, Five per Cent. each year to the shareholders
upon the paid up capital, all the charges connected with the
formation of the Company, and still there is a surplus of nearly 1,0001.
tons, and in so short a time, shows what might be done upbusiness
the same
principle, by combinations throughout the whole of the Midland Coun-
ties, taking, too, into account, that by such a combination the per
centage of working expenses would be considerably reduced, and the
amount of local interest brought to bear, tenders success certain.
The shares of the Lincolnshire Fire Office have attained a pre-
mium of cent. per cent upon the paid up Capital. The Office
was originally intended to have been a Life, as well as Fire Office ;
but it was decided first to try its working as a Fire Office
before undertaking Life risks. The success of the office has now,
however, been so great, that It is determined by the shareholders to
undertake Life, and also Hail Storm Insurances, in addition to the
Fi' e business, and to extend the business to the whole of the Mid-
land Counties, wither body of shareholders in each county. This is
proposed to be done by the dissolution of the Lincolnshire Fire-
office, and the formation of an entirely new Company, to be called
" The Midland Counties Fire and Life and Hail Storm Insurance Com-
pany." The books, papers, and business of the Lincolnshire-office to
be handed over to the new Company upon the following terms :
The ehareholdes in the Lincolnshire office to receive in shares (not
in money) 30s. per share premium, as the market value of their
interest in the Company. To raise a fund for this pur-
pose, so as to keep the Capital of the new Company untouched, the
new Shares are -to be allotted at a Premium of 2s. Bd. per Share,
which will raise a fund amply sufficient for the purpose. This 2s.
Bd. Premium will. of course, not be charged upon the Shares allotted
to the Lincolnshire Fire Office Shareholders in lieu of their present
Shares.
To ensure a permanent resident Proprietary, the Shares of the
MIDLAND COUNTIES are proposed to be divided into sepa-
rate Stocks for each County, the shares inothe such severalby Count
par-
y
Stocks not being capable of being held r than
ties resident- in such lints Counties ; and to ensuee a Pro-
priety having an undivided rest in the prosperity of the
Company, no person, whilst holdieg Shares in this Company, is
to be allowed to hold Shares in any other Insurance Company.
These restrictions may at first sight appear stringent, bat they
must and will ultimately tend to promote the interest of the Com-
pany infinitely more than an indiscriminate holding of shares by
parties not resident in the Midland district, and possessing such
isnhaasermceormelypaansieasn,...innvieiosttreigievieitLournwdliivoi,dterod nisupeopoiritfitolettihnge
Cinterests
of which, as shareholders, they ,profess,and ought, to be the sup-
porters.
As to the Life Business, the district of the Midland Counties com-
prises a population of between two and three millions, entirely
destitute, except as to the Nottinghemshire and Derbyshire Office, of
,any local Life Office, and offering to the Midland Counties Company
ample scope for a most profitable business fu that department of In-
surance, and still in so doing to promote a great public benefit, as
every well conducted Life Office undoubtedly is.
As to the FIRE BUSINESS, the district of the Midland Counties
is most favourable, the experience of all the existing Companies in
those counties shows.
As to the HAIL STORM INSURANCE, this has not been added
to the Life and Fire business without careful consideration, and
upon details obtained from sources which may be relied upon; and
the union of these three branches of insurance in a district so good
as the Midland Counties, combined with careful and energetic ma-
nagement, may well be expected, ere many years pass, to enable the
Midland Counties Company to take its stand as One of the most in-
fluential Insurance Companies in the Kingdom.
According to the arrangement entered into with the Shareholders
of the Lincolnshire Fire Office, they will take 12,000 of the 17,000
shares forming the Stock of the Midland Counties Company, in Lin-
colnshire, therefore, there will be only 5000 new shares to allot. at
the 2s. lid. premium, and, although. many of the Lincolnshire Office
Shareholders have a claim to be allowed to increase their amount of
shares, yet the Provisional Committee will view with groat plesure
and carefully consider applications for shares from parties of influ-
ence and standing, who are not at present shareholders in the Lin-
colnshire Office.
'. No person can hold more than 300 Shares in the new Company.—
The Head Office is proposed to be held in Lincoln, with local boards at
Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, and Northampton.—
The Board of Directors to be composed of 25 Gentlemen, chosen as
follows : .
Lincolnshire ....... •••••• . . . . 5 Leicestershire .... ...... ..... 3
Warwickshire •• • • .... ..... . 5 Northamptonshire .• •.. • ..... 3
Derbyshire .•• .. ...... ...... 4 Rutlandshire .. • ....... .....
Nottinghamshire • • •• ........ 4
Three of the Directors to be paid by salary, and expected regu-
larly, if possible, to attend the Board Meetings, so as always to form
a quorum for business ; the remaindeeof the Directors to be unpaid,
but to be allowed their travelling expenses, when they choose to
attend Board. Meetings, at the Head Office.—The Chairman of the
Board of Directors to be ex officio, a member of all the local boards.
The Annual Meeting of the Company to be held alternately, at
Lincoln, Birmingham, Derby, Nott ngham, Leicester, and North-
ampton.
The Provisional Committee will proceed to allot the shares com-
prising the Lincoln stock, but do not propose to allot shares in any
of the other counties until some influential gentlemen connected
with those counties have applied for shares, and whose advice and
direction
pips ocal committees may be rendered avail intendede selec-
tion of ropr parties as shareholders, as it is not to allot
the shares at random to any one applying, but only to such parties
as, by their position, are likely, not only to advance the interests of
the Company by their Insurances, but by their association with it
to givethe public full confidence on the soundness of its foundation.
It should also be stated gene no deposit will be required upon the
allotment of shares, as is grale, the case, for all applicants for
Shares will be held perfectly clear of all individual liability or ex-
pense, as when the Company is actually and legally formed, (which
it is sure to be), then the expense of its formation will be paid out
of the funds of the Company.
ocumnteieestintogse.wpililaibnemhoerlde
This is a brief sketch of the proposed Company, but influential
agents wills eortly be appointed in every county town in the Mid-
land district, who will represent the Midland Company for that
in
nouanl
lt ythaes
principalregards
fully the principles and details of ass Company, but it is confidently
believed that a Company formed this is proposed to be, and com-
i ttsco towns foundation,tn file
prising probably between 2,000 and 3,000 influential shareholders,
and
severalpub lei
cannot fall to prove most creditable, and a profitable investment to
all connected with it.
While thus advocating- the formation of a new Company it ought
not in fairness to be torgotten that half a century ao, the enter-
prise, intelligence, and capital of the Metropolis g,
promoted and
formed Insurance Institutions, which have been, for years, and are
still amongst the proudest and wealthiest of our National Institutions,
and supplied for the provinces of the Kingdom, at that time, what
has been amply rewarded long ago by profits almost beyod
they were not then in a posit on tb supply for themselves. But this en-
terprisenbelief ;in many cases until the pale-up capital has
the
creevelopment
ased to ten
and twelve times its original ansount, and now by
the d
of various national improvements. the Provincial Counties are
as well able to found these Institutions for themselves, as the Capi-
talists of the Metrorolis were in former years; and in confirmation
of this, reference need only be made to such offices as the Norwich
Union, the West of England, the Yorkshire, and other local offices.
It hauler many years, been admitted that investments in well-
estabshed Insurance Companies are the most profi•able, permauent,
and least halt that are ever offered to the pubic ; and it is
believed that many 'will read this Prospectus with doub and hesita-
tion, who, in after years, will regret for themselves and their families
that they did not throw a small amount of their capital, and the
whole of their influence, into the promotion of this Company.
Power will be taken by the Deed of Settlement to increase the
capital of the Company to two millions by the issue of 81,000 fresh
shares, upon such terms as the existing shareholders of the Midland
Counties company shall determine. This is provided for the pur-
pose of meeting any arrangement which may hereafter be thought
advisable for the juncron wish the Midland Counties Company of
any of the Insurance C ,mpanies which at present exist in those
counties.
Printed Prospectuses, and forms of applications for Shares, will be
out in a few days, and may be had upon application to me at the
Lincolnshire Fire Office, Lincoln ; or of any of the A gents of that
Company ; or of any of the Agents of the Midland Counties Com-
pany ; who will shortly be appointed in Birmingham, Nottingham,
Derby, Leicester, Northampton, and Oakham, and of whose appoint-
ment notices 'will from time to time appear in the provincial papers.
By order of the Provisional Committee. ,
WM. ANDREW, Secretary.

Lincoln, 7th Julie, 1854.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE PROMENADE.

ALL Classes will see the Crystal Palace, and
every one will derive a considerable amount of pleasure and
instruction from the visit. The opportunity of witnessing the im-
posing ceremony of the opening was limited to persons of rank and
holders cf season tickets; but the grandeur and Majesty of the spec-
tacle was wonderfully supported by the costume of the Visitors, and
amongst the thousands present on that occasion, it was generally re-
Royalty, nobi Its-, gentry, tradesmen,
marked, " What progress and improvement is made in the ART of
glmiseheitin
ociteett
displayed those elegancies in ATTIRE
which have given the first. rank in the merchant and manufactur-
ing tailoring business to E. MOSES and SON, and in all fu-
DseßrvEaSnStsb, ya English
d
fu-
ture Promenades the Dress they furnish will constitute the chief
novelty, their arrangements for this are based on a plan so ample
that every individual may ensure the first order of fashion, the most
elegant and seasonable Garments, Official Costumes, Liveries,
Sporting Dress, Hats, Caps, Hosiery, Shirts, Boots and shoes, Bpc ,
SC., at their City Establishment and their West-end Branch, and
either to order or ready-made every article is charged considerably
more economical prices than at any other house. For the ensuing
Midsummer Vacation E. Moses and Sox have made entirely new
arrangements, which will secure to young gentlemen the most com-
fortaele, the most fashionle, and the best fitting Dress, for which
the most economical price swill be charge.d. Mer chants, Captains,
Emigrants, and all business men who desire to make the most pro-
fitable investments should visit the gigantic Wholesale Clothing,
Shirt, and Boot and Shoe Department at E. MOSES and Sox's.
CAUTION:—E. MOSES and SON regret having to guard the
pabl c against imposition, having learned that the untradesman-like
falieh od of " Being connected with their Establishment," or " it's
she same concern," has been resorted to in many instances, and for
obvious reasons, they beg to state that they have
No Connexion WITH ANY OTHER HOUSE IN OR OUT OF LONDON,
except their own Establishments, as follows :
London City Establishment, 154, 155. 156, and 157, Minories, 84,
85, and 83, Aldgate, opposite the Church. all communicating.
London West-end Branch, tO6, 507, 508, New Oxford-street, 1,2,
and 3, Hart-street, all commuicating.
Bradtord (Yorkshire) Branch, 19 and 20, Bridge-street.
Sheffield Branch, 36, if argate.
Colonial Wholesale Branch, Melbourne, Australia.
Merchant l'ailors Clothiers, Hatters, Homers, Furriers, Boot and
Shoe Makers, and General it Outfitters for Ladlessand Gtisfactio entlemen.
IMPORTANT.—ShonId any article not givn, will be
exchanged if desired, or, if preferred, the money will be returned
without he:Ration. All goods are marked in plain no•
price, trom which no abatement can be made.--owes, the lowest
The Establishments are clbsed froM sense' on Fridays to sunset
' on Saturdays, when business is resumed till 12 o'clock.
1 A new Book, with illustrations, entitled" The Echo of Pablic Op!-
mcnt, &c.,
&c., may be had on application, or post-free.
' ' nion," containing full lists of prices, our system ci self-meastm-
lei l'on parle Francais. Aqua
Si parla Italian°.
flier oprieht man Deutsch. Aqua aa hubla Espano.

MR. ALBERT. small's MONT. BLANC,
including the BERNESE OBERLAND and the SIMPLON,
THIS EVENING, and Every Evening at. Eight o'Clock, (elm%
Saturday) ; and Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Mornings, at Three.
Stalls, 3s. (which can be taken at the box• office every day from 11
till 4 ; area, 25.; gallery, Is.—Egyptlau Hall, Piccadilly. '

(NZ T. MARTIN'S HALL.—Tenth and Last
1,..3 Concert of the Season.—Mendelssohn's Elijah will be per-
formed on Wednesday Evening neat, June 14th, under the direction
of Mr. John Hullah. Principal vocalists, Mrs. Endersohn, Madame
Weiss, Miss Dolly, Miss Freeman, Mr. Lockey, Mr. Montem Smith,
Mr. Henry Buckland, Mr. Weiss. Tickets, One Shilling ; Galleries,
Half-a-Crown ; Stalls, Five Shillings ; may ae bad of the Music-
sellers, and at St. Marthfaliall.

LAURENT'S CASINO, ARGYLE Rooms,
juj (Lessee, Cuss. C. LAURENT, Onslow-house, Fmaam-read),
The above Rooms are now OPEN FOR THE SEASON.
and will continue open every evening, with LAURENT'S
CELEBRATED BAND. Constantinople Quadrille, Sultan Polka,
Fair Star Waltz, and Overland Mail Galop, by D'Albert ; also, by H.
Laurent , the following Waltzes —La belle Frangaise, Leonora, Yilli-
kins and his Dinah, Admission, is. Doors open at half-past 8.
Dancing to commence at 9 o'clock, and terminate at half-past

PURSUANT to a Decree of the High Court of
Chancery, made in the matter of the Estate of WILLIAM
OLNEY, late of Miley, in the county of Hertford, farmer and butcher,
deceased, in a cause of THOMAS OLNEY and others, against
WILLIAM BATES and others, all persons claiming to be creditors
or who claim to be incumbrancers on the real estate of the above-
named William Olney, the testator in the proceedings in this cause
named, who died in or about the month of January, 1843, are, by their
solicitors, on or before the 29th day of June, 1854. to come in and
prove their claims, at the chambers of the Vice-Chancellor, Sir
Richard Torin Kindersley, No. 15, 01d-square, Lincoln's-inn, Middle-
sex ; or in default thereof they will be peremptorily excluded from
the benefit of the said Decree.
Friday, the 7th day of July, 1854, at Twelve o'clock at noon, at
the said chambers, is appointed for hearing and adjudicating upon the
claims.

Dated this 2d day of June, 1854.
CHARLES P MITT, Chief Clerk.
Further information, if required, may be obtained on application
to Mr. Fesenmeyer, 23, Bedford-row, Holborn, Solicitor for the
Plaintiffs, to whom, and also to Messrs. Hopwood and Son, of No. 45,
Chancery-lane, and Mr. Wade, of Sedalia's-inn, Fieet•street, Lon-
don, Solicitors for the Defendants, notice of the claims, when duly
entered must be given.

TRIESEMAR, protected by Royal Letters
Patent of England, and secured by the Seals of the Ecole de
Pharmacie de Paris, and the Imperial College sf Medicine, Vienna.

TRIESEidArb,
Is a remedy for Relaxation,!,Spermatorrhcea, and Exhaustion of the
System.

TRIESEMAR, No. 2,
effectually, in the short space of three days, completely and entirely
eradicates all traces of those Disorders which Capivi and Cubebs
have so long been thought an antidote for, to the ruin of the health
of a vast portion of the population.
TRIESEMAR, No. 3,
is the great Conttental Remedy for that class of Disorders, which
unfortunately the English physician treats with Mercury, to the in-
evitable destruction of the patient's constitution, and which al the
sarsaparilla in the world cannot remove.
TRIESEMAR, No. 1,2, and 3, are alike devoid of taate or smell,
and of all nauseating qualities. They may lie on the toilet table
without their use being suspected.
Sold in tin cases at I Is. each, free by post, 2s. extra, divided into
separate doses, as administered by Valpeau, Laßemand, Roux,
&c., &c.—To be had Wholesaleand Retail in London of Robert John-
ston, 68, Cornhill ; Hannay and Co., 63, Oxford-,treat; and Sanger,
150, Oxford-street.

FIRE.—A fire of a very alarming character occurred
on Saturday morning on the premises belonging to Mr,
Bowyer, a beershop-keeper, carrying oa business at 13,
John's-row, St. Luke's. The discovery was not made
until the flames were ascending from the rooms behind
the bar through the staircase. At that time the resi-
dents were in their bads asleep. The police on duty hav-
ing raised an alarm, they, after considerable trouble,
succeeded in arousing the inhabitants, some of whom
managed to leave the house in safety ; but upon two
women and a boy reaching the staircase they were driven
back by a huge sheet of flame, and were nearly suffo-
cated with hot smoke before they could get back to their
bedroom. Having, however, regained their apartment,
they opened the window and called for help, and whilst
in this position the heated smoke entered in such dense
bodies that they expected momentarily to fall a prey to
the fire. As a last expedient they got out of the win-
dow, and were seen hanging to the sill. At that moment
John Waken arrived, with the St. Luke's fire escape
belonging to the Royal Society for the Preservation of
Life from Fire. He immediately adjusted the apparatus,
and brought down, amidst the applause of the bystand-
ers, the two females and boy, and thereby prevented a
sacrifice of three lives. The engines of the parish and
two of the London brigade attended as quickly as pos-
sible, and a plentiful supply of water having been pro-
cured, the firemen, strangers, and inmates succeeded in
extinguishing the fire, but not until considerable damage
was done, that part of the premises in which the out-
break began being burnt out, and the remainder severely
injured by the flames. Unfortunately, the sufferer's
stock in trade, eze.'• were not insured, but the building
was insured in the West of England office. The origin
of the disaster is not known.
A FAST VESSEL.—SAN FRANCISCO, April 29.—The
clipper ship Flying Cloud, Captain Cressy, which goes
to sea this morning at daylight, for Hong Kong, will at
that time have been 97 days and 13 hours from New
York. During this time she has made her passage from
New York to San Francisco, discharged her cargo and
taken in ballast, and is ready to start on the return pas-
sage. She is but 2 years and 11 months old, and during
that time has performed two voyages round the world,
one to San Francisco and back to New York, and is
now on her way on her third voyage round the world.
Her first trip to San Francisco was made in 89 days and
• 21 hours, and her last one in 89 days and 8 hours, a
• difference of but 13 hours, exhibiting the fact that the
sailing qualities of this vessel can be made the subject of
calculation.

THE CRYSTAL, PALACE.

In our first edition of Saturday we were enabled
to bring our account of the opening of the Crystal
Palace up to the arrival of her Majesty at three
o'clock. We now proceed to lay before our readers
an account of what took place subsequent to that
hour.

Her Majesty was received at a private entrance
prepared for her on the right of the grand transept
by the directors of the company. Within, the
cheers of the multitude outside proclaimed the
fact, and at once there was a movement of height-
ened interest throughout the building. A short
time previously the police had quietly made all the
arrangements for giving full effect to the proces-
sion by clearing the broad avenue of the nave.
When, therefore, preceded by the directors and sec-
retary of the company, and more especially ushered
in by Mr. Lain°. and Sir Joseph Paxton, the Royal
party appeared in the grand transept, the whole
assemblage, rising to welcome them, thundered
forth its cheers with electrical effect. They pro-
ceeded at once to the raised dais, where the Queen
took up her position, with the King of Portugal
and his Royal Highness the Duke of Oporto, the
Duchess of Kent, the Princess Royal, and the Prin-
cess Alice on her right, and with his Royal High-
ness Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, Prince
Alfred, the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Princess
Mary of Cambridge on her left. Behind stood the
Duchess of Sutherland, the Duke of Wellington,
the Earl of Breadalbane, the Marquis of Abercorn,
the ladies in waiting, household officers, equerries,
and other personages usually upon such occasions
in attendance upon Royalty. They all appeared in
full dress except her Majesty and the Royal chil-
dren, who wore morning costume. Scarcely had
the illustrious party taken their places, and the
cheers with which their arrival was welcomed sub-
sided, when the music of the National Anthem was
rolling in rich volumes of sound over the length
and breadth of the Palace. The solo parts were
sung by Clara Novello with most thrilling effect,
while the reverberation of a Royal salute fired from
the park served to mark with an additional gran-
deur the powers of the great orchestra and chorus.
Never, perhaps, was this noble anthem heard with
more overwhelming effect. When the performance
of the National Anthem had terminated Mr. Laing
came forward, and, having ascended the steps of
the dais, though still " standing afar off," read to
her Majesty the following address :
" May it please your Majesty graciously to accept
the assurance of our devoted loyalty and attachment to
your Throne and person, and of our gratitude for the
kind condescension with which your Majesty has con-
sented to honour with your presence the ceremony of
this day.
"Among the many memorable events of your Ma-
jesty's happy reign, the Great Exhibition of 1851 occu-
pied a prominent place. The idea, for which the nine-
teenth century was indebted to your illustrious consort,
Prince Albert, of an Exhibition open to the products
of all industries and of all nations, marked of itself an
era in the annals of civilisation. It marked the disap-
pearance of old commercial jealousies and international
prejudices, before the combining influence of modern
science, and the liberal spirit of modern legislation.
" The realisation of this idea was worthy its con-
ception. An entirely novel order of archit • Ire, pro-
ducing, by means of unrivalled mechanical 1 igenuity,
the most marvellous and beautiful effects, sprung into
existence to provide a building. In this building, a col-
lection of the choicest products of all that the human
intellect contrives, and the human hand executes, was
exhibited during a period of six months, for the instruc-
tion and delight of assembled millions.
" The conduct of these millions was, of itself, one of the

most remarkable features of this great event. The per-
fect order and decorum which prevailed, the enlightened
interest and ready appreciation which were displayed,
afforded the most conclusive refutation of the prejudice
which regarded the industrious masses of our English
nation with mistrust, and represented them as rude, des-
titute of refinement, insensible to the humanising influ-
ences of art, and incapable of rational and enlightened
enjoyment.
"The Great Exhibition of 1851 afforded a conclusive

proof, by the enlightened interest and ready appreciation
which were displayed, that the people of England were
prepared to receive instruction when it was afforded to
them, and to embrace whatever opportunities were given
for the cultivation of taste and for the development of the
instinctive love of the beautiful.
"The establishment of this fact, and the recognition
of the civilising influences so widely exerted by the
Great Exhibition, led to a general feeling, when its re-
moval from Hyde-park became necessary, that some
attempt should be made to perpetuate those influences
in a more permanent form in another locality.
" This undertaking, the inauguration of which your
Majesty this day honours with your presence, origi-
nated in this feeling—Private enterprise, appealed to
in the interests of civilisation, supplied the funds. The
men whose names had acquired European ability in con•
nection with the Crystal Palace of 1851, placed their
services at the disposal of the directors in their respec-
tive departments. The enlightened patronage of Roy-
alty, the sympathy and support of public opinion, the
generous cooperation of distinguished men in science
and art, urged on the undertaking and impressed it
with a national character. The liberality of foreign
governments threw open every museum, and afforded
facilities never before known for acquiring a com-
plete series of the finest works of ancient and modern
at'

"Thus aided and encouraged, the original idea ex-
panded into wider dimensions. It was resolved to
attempt the creation of a palace and park which should
be at once a fitting ornament of the greatest metropolis
of the civilised world—an unrivalled school of art and
instrument of education—and a monument worthy the

age, and of the British empire.
"It was hoped to prove that the spirit of a free
people can not only create wealth, extend commerce and
colonies, and take the lead in every department of moral
and material progress, but can at the same time rival the
proudest works of absolute monarchs, lavishing the, re-
sources of nations in the decoration of a favourite resi-
dence or the embellishment of a chosen capital.
" With these views the Directors embraced three lead-
ing objects in their undertaking—amusement and recrea-
tion—instruction—and commercial utility.
"The first object was sought to be attained by the
creation of a new Crystal Palace, far exceeding the
original structure of 1851 in dimensions and in architec-
tural effect— of a terraced Garden and Park on a scale
of magnificence worthy of the Palacc—and of a system of
fountains and waterworks surpassing anything which the
world has yet witnessed.
" The educational object embraces a complete histori-
cal illustration of the arts of sculpture and architecture
from the earliest works of Egypt and Assyria down to
modern times, comprising casts of every celebrated
statue in the world, and restorations of some of its most'
remarkable monuments. _ _

"In science, geology, ethnology, zoology, and botany
receive appropriate illustrations ; the principle of which
has been to combine scientificaccuracy with popular effect,
and in its ultimate development the directors are bold
enough to look forward to the Crystal Palace of 1,854
becoming an illustrated encyclopastlia of this great and
varied universe where every art and every science may
find a place, and where every visitor may find something
to interest, and be taught through the medium of the
eye to re2eive impressions kindling a desire for know-
ledge and-awakening instincts of the beautiful.
" Combined with art and science, industry receives its
due representation. The Industrial Exhibition is based on
principles of commercial utility, taught by the experience
of the Great Exhibition of 1351. The advantage to na-
tional interests of a place where the best products of
different inclUstries and localities could be seed and ap-
preciated was no less manifest than the importance to
individual producers of such au unrivalled means of
publicity, and the conveniences to buyers and sellers
of such a World's Fair for the exhibition and inspection
of goods, and the, transaction of mutual business. •
""The Crystal Palace of 1854 will perpetuate these ad-
vantages under regulations suited to the permanent charac-
ter of the Industrial Exhibition. As in 1851, the doors will
be thrown open freely for the products of all nations ;
and the presence of so many distinguished representas
tives of foreign Governments, on this oceasion, affords a
gratifying proof that enlightened men throughout the
world are alive to the advantages of such comman centres
of friendly union, both to the arts of industry, and to
the higher interests of peace and of civilisation.
" Such, may it please your Majesty, is a brief outline
of the objects which the promoters of this undertaking
have proposed to realise. It will be apparent that the
comprehensiveness of the plan precludes the idea of abso-,'
lute completeness. The colossal scale of the proposed
system of water-works makes another year requisite to
insure their proper display. The industrial department
being of a permanent character, cannot, as in the case of
of a temporary exhibition, be finished by a given day. The
plants and flowers which will form such a main feature
of attraction, require time for their growth. The educa-
tional scheme is purposely traced so as to leave room for
future development.
"Under these circumstances, the directors have con-
sidered it their duty to throw the Palace and Park open
to the public as soon as they are sufficiently completed
to enable a fair judgment to be formed how far the under-
taking deserves success, and how far it has achieved it;
"Your Majesty has heard the statement of the motives
in which this enterprise originated, and of' the prin-
ciples on which it has been conducted it rests with
your Majesty now to judge whether the performance
equals the promise, and whether the Palace and Park,
with their varied contents which surround us, are worthy
to lie considered—What the directors, whose organ I am,
wouldthink their highest praise—a' legitimate offspring
of the Great Exhibition of 1851, and an appropriate
development of one of the noblest ideas of modern
civilisation."
To this address, which Mr. Laing presented to