The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-10 00:00:00

OPENING

OF THE

CRYSTAL PALACE.
(THIS DAY.)

[FROM OUR OWN REPORTERS.]
The Crystal Palace at Sydenham was inaugurated
this afternoon with the pomp and ceremony be-

fitting so auspicious an occasion ; and Providence,
Smiling upon the peaceful undertaking, blessed the
opening with brilliant summer weather. Up till
to-day the metropolis had been visited with a cold,
Chilly atmosphere, while early this morning there

Was every indication of a heavy fall of rain ; but as
the day advanced, the wind changed to amore genial
quarter, making the air warm and balmy. As early

a-3 seven o'clock season-ticket holders were on

the move, and the trains which left London-
bridge were well filled with passengers. At
least half of the visitors belonged to the
fair sex, whose bright and varie I-coloured
toilets gave the streets a complete holiday aspect.
The number of carriages which passed over the
different bridges must have been immense, since
from eight o'clock in the mornin until three in
the afternoon the approaches to the Crystal
Palace, converging out of Lambeth, presented the

appearance of the carriage -drive in Hyde Park. The
arrangements of the police to meet this tremendous
influx of fashionabics were most admirable; and as
each vehicle set down at one of the many entrances

to the Palace, it was drafted off into the byelane:4

adjacent to the building, being compelled to take
its turn in the order in which it arrived. Never,

Perhaps, were there so many carriages of all de-
scriptions, from the humble cab to the emblazoned
equipage, collected upon one spot. Epsom Downs

en the Derby Day enjoys a full share of
Patronage in this respect, but it can have been
nothing to the scene of to-day witnessed at Syden-
ham. So much, then, for the route by the road,
the pathways of which were as thickly lined. with
Pedestrians as the centre was choked up with vehi-
cles. At, the London-bridge station the scene was
equally crowded and exciting. The trains cora-
taenced running at the early hour of seven o'clock,
and from that period down to three o'clock there
Was a continuous stream of people rolling
over the line between there and the Palace.
Two classes of trains were provided for the occa-
sion, the first for the fortunate possessors of
tickets of admission to the building, and the
second for the miscellaneous public, who, not
feeling disposed, or unable to go to the ex-
pense of becoming a season subscriber to the
Exhibition, were yet anxious to examine the exter-

110.1 part of the glass edifice, while they at the same
time ran a very good chance of witnessing the arrival
of her Majesty. The platforms of the station were
consequently mobbed, not to say crowded, during
the whole of the morning ; but from the
difference in the dress of the two classes it
was easy to distinguish between those who
were going inside and those who would have to
put up with an outside view of the spectacle.
Passing along the line, you catch a glimpse of
the Palace as you approach New Cross, and
this morning there being a bright sun shining
above, it strongly resembled the dancing waters
of a lake ; but, arrived at Sydenham, this illu-
sion soon became dispelled, and the mind
was alternately enraptured and confused by the
surrounding picture. To the right was a fine
woody landscape, while on the left rose, in all
its majestic grandeur, the fabric whichl first
emanated from the genius of Paxton. Threading
the way along the west side of the Palace, the
approaches got almost impassable as the grand
entrance was reached ; but branching off into
the neighbouring underwood, a few minutes'
walk brought us to the extreme end of the build-
ing. Here is the well-known lane leading to
Beaulak Spa, and on all hands fine hotels or
extensive taverns are rapidly springing into
existence. Nothing could better illustrate the spirit
of enterprise that animates the people of this country
than the aspect of this locality—slopesof all kindsare
in the course of erection ; coffee-houses are already
open, while other similar places of entertainment are
building ; and in a very short time that which is
now little better than a ragged wood will be meta-
morphosed into a thriving town. Behind this site
of a future city stands the coppice of Nor-
wood, and it would seem as if all the gipsies in the
kingdom had collected upon this spot to-day.
Descending into the valley though which the rail-
way passes, and to the right of Anuerley, you come
upon an immense field now appropriated to the pur-
poses of a sort of fair. Here were booths of
all sorts, petty gambling booths, gipsey tents,
and hawker's. with all the shows and exhi-
bitions usually met with at Greenwich. Upon
this spot were assembled the peasantry and
labourers of the district : and, as if to remind us,
amidst the excitement of this triumph of peace, of
the ruthless war raging in the East, here
was to be heard above the noise and bustle
the sound of the pipe and the loud rattle of
the drum of a recruiting party. But glorious as
was the interior of this modern wonder of the
world perhaps it was surpassed by the safety
and regularity with which so many myriads of
people were carried at almost lightning speed along
the rrailway, and whatever may be the com-
mercial success of the undertaking, the proceed-
ings of to-day will long reflect credit upon the
railway management of the country in general,
and that of the London and South Coast Company
in particular.
Though the special trains to the Crystal Palace
commenced running from London-bridge as early
as nine o'clock, the doors of the building were not
Open for the admission of the public until eleven,
by which time a vast throng of persons, as well as '
long lines of vehicles of every description, were wait-
ing to set down the company that had collected at the
different entrances. That there should have been
so considerable an assemblage four hours before
the arrival of her Majesty, which was fixed for
three o'clock, may perhaps excite some surprise ;
but it is not to be wondered at, when it is known
that between 20,000 and 30,000 season tickets had
been sold up to last evening, in addition to some
thousands of tickets of admission issued gra-
tuitously to specially favoured individuals
and to parties who were to take part in the cere-
mony. And this large early attendance of visitors
May be accounted for by the desire, not only to
Secure good places for witnessing the grand spectacle
of the day, but to explore the various courts and
galleries, of which they had heard so much, in this
magnificent erection. On reaching the terminus
of the Crystal Palace Railway, the public, instead
of being admitted, as was anticipated, at that end
of the building, had to walk up the hill to
the entrance of the transept on the east side
rather fatiguing journey to all, but especially
sto the fair sex ; and it would have been anything
stmt agreeable had the weather been unfavourable ;
but being a real " Queen's day," and the air being
fresh, mild, and balmy, this pedestrian trip was
both pleasant and invigorating. In truth, all
seemed confident that the presence of her Msjestv
Would scare away those angry elements which tend
1.0. mar so many of our national exhibitions and
displays,
save, indeed, when royalty deigns to lend
its presence. No one seemed to have thought
o taking any precautions against either cold or
rain, for umbrellas and overcoats were not to be seen;