The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-07 00:00:00

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, ac-
companied by two of the Royal children, paid an early
and unexpected visit to the Palace yesterday morning.
They arrived about half-past 9 o'clock, and were attended
round the building and park by Sir Joseph Paxton, Mr.
Digby Wyatt, and Mr. J. C. Deane, the head of the
exhibitors department. After examining and admiring
the architectural courts, the Royal party proceeded to
the elegant suite of private apartments prepared for them
at the north end of the building by Mr. Crace of Wig-
more-street. Having expressed her satisfaction at the
manner in which these roans have been fitted up, her
Majesty traversed the north wing, and went out upon the
lower terrace, along which she proceeded to the south
:wing of the Palace. Ascending thence to the nave, the
illustrious visitors had an opportunity of observing the
extensive arrangements of the refreshment department.
They then examined the ethnological collection and the
industrial displays in this part of the building. Among
the objects whiCh particularly attracted their notice here
was the stall which has recently been fitted up by Mr.
Delamotte for the exhibition of his splendid photographs
and stereoscopic views. This artist has devoted himself,
since the commencement of the undertaking, to the
illustration of its progress and noblest effects by the
processes of Fox, Talbot, and Daguerre. His collection
is extremely interesting, some of the sun pictures helping
the mind to a most perfect and refined appreciation of
the subjects which they represent. This is particularly
observable in the views of the Egyptian Courts, which,
being necessarily reduced models themselves, receive
through the stereoscope ass expansive effect, rising almost
to the grandeur of the originals. After having surveyed
the noble area of the centre transept, which is now being
cleared of the temporary fittings put up for the ceremo-
nial of the opening, the Royal party took their departure,
expressing their high gratification at all they had seen.
This is the first visit which the Queen has paid to the
building since its inauguration by her on the 10th of
last month, and it is worthy of observation that she
came on a shilling day. She was received with the same
marks of quiet and affectionate respect whick distin-
guished her appearance in Hyde-park on similar occa-
sions.

The principal change which has taken place in the as-
pect of the Palace and park since our last notice is, that
the reservoirs are gradually being filled with water, a
supply of which, at the proper temperature for growing
the Victoria Begin, has also been brought into the feuu-
tain basin at the north end of the nave. Some superb
palms have now been placed in this portion of the build-
ing, their huge drooping fan leaves adding a new charm
to the effect of the interior. The clearing out of the
orchestra and raised benches in the transept will be a
great improvement, and enable visitors to appreciate
more fully than has hitherto been possible the stupendous
scale upon which the proportions of the Palace have been
designed.
Although the weather was showery and disagreeable,
15,850 people were admitted yesterday, of whom 14,040
paid at the doors, and 1,210 were season-ticketholders.
On Wednesday, also gloomy and damp, the numbers were
—13,006 paying at the doors, and 1,177 season-ticket-
holders. On Tuesday there were 14,816 visitors, of whom
13,182 paid for admission. Monday brought 12,888
shilling people, and a total of 14,816. Thus during the
first four days of a week not very favourable for sight-
seeing at such a distance from town 53,716 persons,
besides season-ticketholders, have been tempted down to
Sydenham to survey its still unfinished wonders. It is
rather remarkable that the numbers seem to increase from
the Monday to the Thursday in each week, instead of
diminishing, as one would suppose ; and it has been
observed that the working classes do not yet appear to
have found their way to the Palace. The first and se-
cond-class passengers by the railway preponderate to an
extent which has completely upset the calculations of
the Brighton Company, and the accommodation they
have provided is overtaxed before they have at all
reached the limit of the number which their trains can
convey. When the holiday season sets in and the excursion
trips are fully organised, it will be found that the railway
will be quite unable to meet the traffic to and from the
building, and omnibus proprietors will no doubt then
have a busy and prosperous time of it. At present they
do not appear to be making much effort to push the
competition, which they might successfully
iain
against the disadvantages of the crowded
Of
salbinr,idge
000
terminus for West-end passengers. Of h
visitors to the Palace yesterday not more than 3,000
were taken there by the road. School children are now
beginning, after the fashion of the old Exhibition, to
appear in bands, headed by their teachers, on the shil-
ling days. This is a practice which cannot
dcatnhnaottebveertyoofamciulictyh
carry away
encouraged, and it is to be
dents to
will be given to these young st.
with them as large an amount of information as possi-
ble about all they see.
The catalogues, excellent as
they are, rise in most instances beyond the level of the
education of even adult readers, and it would be well
if an extensive system of ticketting or inscription were
adopted, making the different objects of interest self-
explanatory. The directors, we understand, contem-
plater reteh
,
the formation of a picture -gallery in the north
wing, and a number of the best artists in France,
Belgium, and Holland are already preparing to send
over works for exhibition there. The propriety and
success of such an addition to the attractions of the
Palace can hardly be doubtful, and a step in
ep that di-
rection has already been taken in the very remarkable
collection of water-colour paintings executed by Mr.
woo, aud suspended 04 the walla of the Iteilub• court.

These spirited copies of the chef-d'auvres of the great
masters ha. Ve been prepared in the incredibly short space
of 18 mont; tis. They give a comprehensive view of the
different EL chools of painting from the earliest times,
and, apart :from their merit, are highly instructive.