The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-19 00:00:00

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The precise day is not yet fixed, but there is no longer
any doubt that the Crystal Palace will be opened by
her Majesty towards the end of May, that the ceremo-
nial will be conducted with great pomp, and that the
occasion will be embraced as a fit opportunity for dis-
playing the permanent attachment, not only of the
Queen and her Government, but of the community at
large, to those peaceful arts which have until now been
the glorj and happiness of the present reign. Consider.
ing that a million of money has been thus far spent in
the undertaking, and that a quarter or even half a mil-
lion more may be required before the capital account is
closed—considering how this immense sum has been
raised, and the unprecedented objects, in a com-
mercial sense, to which its expenditure has been di-
rected--bearing in mind, also, the great want which
exists for such a place within reach of a popula-
tion like that of London—it is not too much to
claim for an enterprise so noble and imperial all
the prestige and support which it is within the scope
of our institutions to confer upon it. So much has
been magnificently-accomplished at Sydenham that, if
all classes do not cheerfully and unanimously join in
supporting the enterprise; we deserve never .to have
fact,
we of the kind attempted for us again. In
we are not likely soon to have so expensive .an experi-
ment repeated, if this one fails,; and it is worth while to
remember this, now that the period for testing its suc-
cess approaches. If any delusive hopes are entertained
that the promised scheme of the Royal Commission at
Kensington-gore will supply a rival attraction they had
better be dismissed at once. That body makes no sign
of putting the shilling surplus to such popular uses as
eau give the directors and shareholders of the Crystal
Palace Company the slightest alarm ; en the con-
trary, the commissioners exhibit all those unmis-
takeable symptoms of somnolency - which are so
apt to manifest themselves in corporations having
trust money of which nobody is specially the
cestui que trust, which they have a very doubt-
ful equitable right to hold, and which is appro-
priated to no well-defined objects. It would be much
mAter that the surplus of the Great Exhibition should
remain permanently buried under the mina of the Sym-
posium than that the existence of ouch a fund, with a
tody charged to administer it, should act injuriously
upon the prospects of a healthy' commercial enterpriee
' like that at Sydenham. The Commissioners themselves
' would probably be foremost as individuals in acknow-
ledging this ; and even the Prince has not been slow to
manifest the interest which he feels in an undertaking,
the direct work, indeed, of a private company, but
which can trace its origin by no dubious pedigree to the
industrial gathering of 1851.
Only three short years have elapsed since that event
took place, and but two since the purchase of, the old
building in Hyde-park, and now, on one of the
last days of May, 1854, the Queen goes to crown
with her presence the inauguration of a new palace
for the people, raised on the heights of Sydenham by
the enterprise of a joint-stock company without vo-
luntary contributions or other aids unknown to com-
merce. Under these circumstances, one of the first and
most natural questions to ask is, "Will the works be
sufficiently completed to admit of an effective opening ?"
No one will expect that an undertaking so vast can be
perfected in all its details at once, or that successive
months and years will not witness improved arrange-
ments, attractive additions, and all the other novelties
which are so necessary to maintain the interest of a
permanent institution. Some time must elapse before
the commercial experiment involved in such an enter-
prise can be fairly tested, and during that period the di-
rectors and staff of the company will have ample oppor-
tunities to supply those portions of the general plan
which they have not hitherto been able to overtake or
finish. If we cannot have the entire system of fountains
in play this season for want of the water-towers, we
must rest contented with the upper series until they are
securely reconstructed. If the whole exhibiting space
is not taken up at once,,time mnst be allowed for
the less enterprising to reconcile themselves to
this new mode, of advertising. Dr. Lathom
cannot expect to complete his ethnological collec-
tion from the types of races brought to the port of
London in one year, nor Sir Joseph .Paxton to achieve
in a few weeks, or even months, the full effects of a
developed vegetation. So, in fact, with nearly all the
departments, which, though the chief expense connected
with them has already been incurred, are still capable of
much improvement. But, though in one sense the
Crystal Palace and park cannot be considered complete,
in another, if due exertions are made, there will be more
than sufficient to astonish and delight every one who
goes there. The building itself so far transcends its
original as to make one feel rather ashamed of the admi-
ration which that excited. The grand transept would
alone, from the effect which it produces, justify an open-
ing ceremonial ; and it is impossible, whether the huge
pile is surveyed externally or internally, to shake off the
conviction that so wonderful a structure is destined
to fulfil uses snore than adequate to the objects for
which its construction was undertaken. The same
observations hold true of the architectural courts,
the sculpture. the terraced gardens, the extinct
animals of Waterhouse Hawkins, the natural his-
tory collection of Mr. Thompson, and, indeed, every-
thing that has thus far heed accomplished. The pro-
gress made during the last few weeks in every portion
of the works is satisfactory ' and, though the interval
between this and the end of May seemaentremely short
for what remains before them to be accomplished, if the
heads of departments keep steadily at their posts, and
get their subordinates by constant supervision to exert
themselves to the utmo-,A. the opening will be all that
can reasonably be e,:poofs,il. It would be a thousand
pities, as the Queen is to be present, that through any
want of energy now the ,fieet of the inaugural ceremony
should be lessened

The holders of season tickets only will be admitted on
that occasion, and the sale of these commences imme-
diately at the west end and city offices of the company,
at the London-bridge terminus of the Brighten railway,
and at Mitchell's, Sams's, and Westerton's libraries.
Two kinds of season tickets are to be issued—one
sold for two guineas, admitting to the building
and grounds ; the other at four guineas, and in
eluding," the railway conveyance. Families taking two
tickets of either kind will be allowed 10 per cent. dis-
count ; taking three, 15 per cent. ; four, 20 per cent. ;
and five and upwards, 25 per cent. The directors, fol-
lowing very much the plan adopted in Hyde-park, intend
making Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thurs-
days shilling days, Friday a half-crown day, and Satur-
day aSi day. On the shilling days the whole cost of
'visiting the Palace, with conveyance there and back by
the Crystal Palace Railways will be for first-class pas-
•sengers, 2s. 6d. ; for second, 2s. ; and for third, ls. 6d.,
• children under twelve years of age being admitted at
half these rates. It is proposed to open the build-
irig and grounds on Mondays at nine o'clock ; on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, ,and Thursdays at ten ; and
on Fridays and Saturdays at twelve. We see no-
thing in the programme which the directors have
issued to be objected' to, but The time •is now
rapidly approaching when a question of far more impor-
tance for their interests and for those of the shareholders
than anything involved in these details will have to be
discussed and decided. It is impossible to see the rush
of people already setting in on fine Sunday afternoons
to Sydenhain without feeling that the Sunday question
is shortly to be revived. Had the building remained in
Hyde Park, besides other disadvantages, there would
have been very little chance of rendering it accessible to
the industrious classes on their only holiday. Its
removal gives them an opportunity of pressing the
subject strongly upon the attention of Parliament.
They can now fairly ask whether so vast an expendi-
ture incurred to exercise an elevating and refilling
influence over them is to be thrown away—whether
future experiments of the kind are to be prevented ,
by the failure of this in its main objects—whether
the classes who enjoy wealth and leisure are once more
to have the cheap and exclusive benefit of what was
specially intended for the working man. The former
agitation of the question was premature, and conse-
quently failed, but such is not likely to be the result
now. Every clear summer day on which the Surrey hills
can be seen, with the Palace glittering in the sunlight,
-will add to the strength of popular feeling on the sub-
ject. The company having got their charter on the
express condition that Sunday was to be a dies n"
with them have no right to complain, and, if they study
their own interest, will not stir in the matter. But it
is different with the pent-up masses of this overgrown
metropolis, who will hardly allow bigoted views of reli-
gious duty to overrule what considerations of health and
social welfare so strongly commend.

Btereste -------
TON HOUSE
.—We are much gratified to hear
from undoubted authority that this fine mansion will
be secured to the nation,
of
tiote and thereby be prevented from
h
passing into the
speculators, who were pro-
posing to turn it into aessor:. of London Palais Royal, ex.
perhaps to greater
detans. The Chief Commis-
sioner of Woods and Foresa
become the purchaser,
at the sum, as we understand, of 150,000/. ; and it is
said that the noble family t
r eiwm whore this mansion be-
preserve have red larg offes
it fromfuse desecration. .in their anxiety to
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. The. following gen-
oefxaminations
the college
tlemen, having undergone the necessary
for the diploma, were admitted member
at the meeting of the Court of Examiners on t
inst.:—Messrs. Thos. Joseph Turnbull, North Shields 17th
lelds
Daniel Benjamin Hine, Nottingham ; Albert e
Robert Atkinson, Dublin ; Frewdekireg;
Hitchin," Herts i;
;
George Poulden, Finsbury-square ; William coyti i•
Polstead Rectory. Colchester ; Richard, Sweeting, West
Indies, Thomas Sadler Douglas, Whitehaven, Cumber.
land ; George Robert Thomas Kemp, Philadelphia ;
Alexander Edwin Marsden, Lincoln's-inn-fields ; and
Nottidge Charles Macnamara, Hon. East India Com-
pany's service. At the same meeting of the Court Mr.
Charles Sproule passed his examination for naval sur-
geon ; this gentlemen litel previously been admitted a
member of the college, his diploma bearing date May
the 16th, 1845.
APOTHECARIES'-HALL.---The following is a list of the
names of gentlemen who passed their examination in
the science and practice of medicine, and received cer-
tificates to practise, on Thursday, the I:3th of April,
1854 :—Edward Livesey Dixon, Preston, Lancashire ;
John Skaife, Easingwold, Yorkshire ; Robert Augustus
Pedgrift, Halesworth, Suffolk ; Edward Beck Ham-
mond, Ipswich ; William Henry Crossley, Wath-upon-
Dearne, Yorkshire ; Thomas Russell Johnson, York ;
George William Wood, Bridgman ; Thomas Joseph
Cookson Powell, Bristol ; WilliamWilliamMarshall,
ire ; Thomas Rey-
nolds, Bedford ; John Dizou, Herneworth Yorkshire -
Thomas Forder, Winchester ; William Nathan Chip:
perfield, heading ; Cyril John Vincent •Oxf I • John
Lawrence Grows., Bildeeton, , y or(
—uffolla ; and Ebeuezer
Robert Butic-, H.E.I.C.S.