The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-02 00:00:00

EVENING MAY 2. 1851.

The following is a copy of th 7, Commissioners' re-
port o the progress of the Exhibition, which was read
to her Majesty by Prince Albert, as President of the
Commission, yesterday during the ceremony of the
opening

" May it please your Majesty,—We, the Commissioners
appoiu ed by your Majesty's Royal warrant of the Sd of Ja-
nuary, 1830, for the promotion of the Exhibition of the
Works of Industry of all Nations, and subsequently incorpo-
rated by your Majesty's Royal Charter of the 15th of August
in the same year, humbly beg leave, on the occasion of your
Majesty's auspicious visit at the opening of the Exhibition,
to lay before you a brief statement of our proceedings to the
present time.
" By virtue of the authority graciously committed to us
by your Majesty, we have made diligent inquiry into the
matters which your Majesty was pleased to refer to us—
namely, into the best mode of introducing the productions
of your Majesty's colonies and of foreign countries into this
kingdom, the selection of the most suitable site for the Ex-
hibition, the general conduct of the undertaking, and the
proper method of determining the nature of the prizes and
of securing the most impartial distribution of them.
" In the prosecution of these inquiries, and in the discharge
of the duties assigned to us by your Majesty's Royal Chat-
ter of Incorporation, we have held constant meetings of our
whole body, and have, moreover, referred numerous ques-
tions connected with a great variety of subjects to com-
mittees, composed partly of our own members and partly of
individuals distinguished in the several departments of science
and the arts, who have cordially responded to our appli-
cations for their assistance at a great sacrifice of their
valuable time. _

" Among the earliest questions brought before us was the
important one as to the terms upon. which articles offered
for exhibition should be admitted into the building. We
considered that it was a main characteristic of the national
undertaking in which we were engaged that it should depend
wholly upon the voluntary contributions of the people of this
country for its success; and we therefore decided, without
hesitation, that no charge whatever should be made on the
admission of such goods. We considered, also, that the
office of selecting the articles to be sent should be intrusted
in the first instance to local committees, to be established in
every foreign country, and in various districts of your
Majesty's dominions; a general power of control being re-
served to the commission.
" We have now the gratification of stating that our anti-
cipations of support in this course have in all respects been
fully realized. Your Majesty's most gracious donation to
the funds of the Exhibition was the signal for voluntary
contributions from all, even the humblest, classes of your
subjects, and the funds which have thus been placed at our
disposal amount at present to about 65,0001. Local com-
mittees, from which we have uniformly received the most
zealous co-operation, were formed in all parts of the United
Kingdom, in many of your Majesty's colonies, and in the
territories of the Hon. East India Company. The most
energetic support has also been received from the Govern-
ments of nearly all the countries of._ the world, in most of
which commissions have been appointed for the special pur-
pose of promoting the objects of an Exhibition justly cha-
racterised in your Majesty's royal warrant as an Exhibition
of the Works of Industry of all Nations.
" We have also to acknowledged the great readiness with
which persons of all classes have come forward as exhi-
bitors. And here again it becomes. our duty to return our
humble thanks to your Majesty for the most gracious man-
ner in which your Majesty has condescended to associate
yourself with your subjects by yourself contributing some
most valuable and interesting articles to the Exhibition.
" The number of exhibitors whose productions it has been
found possible to accommodate is about 15,000, of whom
nearly one-half are British. The remainder represent the
productions of more than 40 foreign countries, comprising
almost the whole of the civilised nations of the globe. In
arranging the space to be allotted_ to each, we have taken
into consideration both the nature of its productions and the
facilities of access to this country afrbrded by its geographi-
cal position. Your Majesty will find the productions of your
Majesty's dominions arranged in the western portion of the
building, and those of foreign countries in the eastern. The
Exhibition is divided into the four great classes of-1. Raw
Materials; 2. Machinery; 3. Manufactures; and 4. Sculp-
ture and the Fine Arts. A further division has been made
according to the geographic' 1 position of the countries repre-
sented ; those which lie within the warmer latitudes being
placed within the centre of the branding, and the colder
cuuntries at the extremities. _ _

" :Your Majesty having been graciously pleased to grant a
site in this your royal park for the purpose of the Exhibi-
tion, the first column of the structure now honoured by
your Majesty's presence was fixed on the 26th of September
last. h ithin the short period, therefore, of seven months,
owing to the energy of the contractors and the active in-
dustry of the workmen emph yed by them, a building has
been erected, entirely novel in its construction, covering a
space of more than 18 acres, measuring 1,851 feet in length
and 456 feet in extreme breadth, capable of containing 40,000
visitors, and affording a frontage for the exhibition of goods
to the extent of more than ten miles- For the original sug-
gestion of the principle of this structure the Commissioners
are indebted to Mr. Joseph Paxton, to whom they feel their
acknowledgments to be justly due fur this interesting feature
of their undertaking.
" ith regard to the distribution of rewards to deserving
exhibitors, we have decided that they should be given in the
form of medals, not with reference to merely individual com-
petition, but as rewards for excellence in whatever shape
it may present itself. The selection of the persons to be so
rewarded has been intrusted to juries equally composed of
British subjects and of foreigners, the former having been
selected by the Commission from the recommendations
made by the local committees, and the latter by the Go-
vernments of the foreign nations the productions of which
are exhibited. The names of the se jurors, comprising as
they do many of European celebrity, afford the best
guarantee of the impartiality with which the rewards will
be assigned.
"It affords much gratification that, notwithstanding the
magnitude of this undertaking, and the great distances from
which many of the articles now exhibited have had to be
collected, the day on which your Majesty has been graciously
pleased to be present at the inauguration of the Exhibition is
the same day that was originally named for its opening,
thus affording a proof of what may, under God's blessing, be
accomplished by goodwill and cordial co-operation among
nations, aided by the means that modern science has placed
at our command.
" Having thus briefly laid before your Majesty the results
of our labours, it now only remains for us to convey to your
Majesty our dutiful and loyal acknowledgments of the sup-
port and encouragement which we have aerived throughout
this extensive and laborious task from the gracious favour
and countenance of your Majesty. It is our heartfelt prayer
that this undertaking, which has for its end the promotion of
all branches of human industry, and the strengthening of the
bonds of peace and friendship among all nations of the earth,
may, by the blessing of Divine Providence, conduce to the
welfare of your Majesty's people, and be long remembered
among the brightest circumstances of your Majesty's peace-
ful and happy reign."
His Royal Highness handed to her Majesty a copy
of the report, accompanied by a catalogue of the articles
exhibited.
Her Majesty returned the following gracious answer:—
" I receive with the greatest satisfaction the address which
you have presented to me on the opening of this Exhibition.
" I have observed with a warm and increasing interest the
progress of your proceeding in the execution of the duties in-
trusted to you by the Royal Commission, and it affords me
sincere gratification to witness the successful result of your
judicious and unremitting exertions in the splendid spectacle
by which I am this day surrounded.
" I cordially concur with you in the prayer, that by God's
blessing this undertaking may conduce to the welfare of my
people and to the common interest of the human race, by en-
couraging the arts of peace and industry, strengthening the
bonds of union among the nations of the earth, and pro-
moting a friendly and honourable rivalry in the useful
exercise of those faculties which have been conferret by a
beneficent Providence for the good and the happiness of
mankind."

At a few minutes after one o'cluck her Majesty left the
Exhibition, and returned to Buckingham Palace.
Shortly after the departure of her Majesty the inspiriting
air of "See the Conquering Hero comes," told that his Grace
the Duke of Welling,ton was about to leave the Palace. In

a few minutes he was seen stepping into his modest carriage,
A long and hearty cheer was given to the iron Duke.

At ten minutes to one o'clock the distant booming of can.
non was heard at the top of Constitution-hill, and the firing
of a royal salute gave intimation of her Majesty's departure
from the Crystal Palace ; and at a little after one o'clock the
cavalcade proceeded It'd rapid pace down Constitution-bill
to the Palace' where it arrived at a quarter past one o'clock.
The crowd had by thietithe to a certain extent dispersed in
various directions,Cleaving however an immense multitude
befcre the Palace. 'various carriages had set down in
the interior quadrangle, and the empty vehicles drove out
from the Palace. The last had scarcely cleared the
gate when the windows in the centre of the front
quadrangle, on the first floor, over the beautiful bronzed gate,
were thrown open, and, to the delight and surprise of her
Majesty's loyal subjects there assembled, her Majesty, leasing
on the arm of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, came to
the very front of the stone balcony, followed and attended by
his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, her Royal High-
ness the Princess Royal, her Royal Highness the Princess
Alice, bis Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia, and the
Duchess of Sutherland. Her Majesty's appearance was
hailed with cheers that rent the air. On no occasion do we
remember to have beard such long-continued, unanimous,
and spontaneous bursts of applause as those which greeted
her Majesty, who graciously evinced her appreciation of the
welcome given her by a loyal and loving people. Her Ma-
je,ty having withdrawn, the " hosts" separated in various
directions, and the most perfect order and quiet were main-
tained. And thus ended the proceedings of this eventful day.
REPORTED ACCIDENTS.—During the whole of the after-
noon reports were freely and generally circulated throughout
the metropolis that, shortly before the Queen's arrival at the
Crystal Palace, a foreigner attempted to effect an admission
into the Exhibition-building without the necessary authority
of a season ticket, and that his entrance was of course pre-
vented by the police, whereupon an altercation bad arisen,
when one of the policemen struck the intruder with his
baton, which exasperated the foreigner so much that he in-
stantaneously drew from his pocket a sharp-pointed instru-
ment and stabbed the policeman in the breast, upon which
he immediately dropped dead upon the ground. Another
report was that one of the police force had been shot with
a pistol, though not mortally; and that several others bad
been severely maltreated by the mob. As no authentic
accounts of these reported transactions had reached our
ur
office, we personally made inquries upon
are the subject at
head police office in Scotland-yard, and we glad to be
enabled to state that Mr. Inspector Hamacks informed
us that he had been in active communication with all the
superintendents on duty in the neighbourhood of the
to the Cry
mo-
stal
Palace during the whole of the day, an up
ment of our inquiry (eight o'clock), no information had
reached him of any untoward circumstance having occurred
of any descrip
re tion whatever, and that consequently the
above-named ports must have been without the least foun.
dation.
ILLUMINATION AT DER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The front
of her Majesty's Theatre in the Haymarket was last night
most brilliantly illuminated, in houour of the opening of the
Great Exhibition. It consisted of a large imperial crown,
with the jewels
&c, most beautifully displayed in coloured
lamps. Beneath this were the Royal initials V. R., in fine
white lamps, each letter being encircled by wreaths of
laurel, in green lamps, and richly begemmed with ruby-
coloured fruit, the whole design being terminated by a true
lover's knot in lue
buimldin laps. The Royal standard alto floated
from the top of b
the g.

On Saturday. April 19, one of the greatest actors
of his time quitted this mortal stage of life—alas, poor Dow-
ton is no more !—aged 88 years. He died at his residence at
13rixton-hill, and gave up life's latest sigh without a struggle.
STRANGE FREAK OF NATURE.--A calf was yester-
day shown in London, brought from Devonshire, which had
seven legs, three of them fore legs and four hinelegs. One
.of the fore legs has two feet.. It has also two tails springing
from the back of the strange creature, which oaly lived two
days.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS

FRoIV THE MORNING PAPERS CF THIS DAY.
TIMES.--There was yesterday witnessed a sight the like
of which has never happened before, and which, in the na-
ture of things, can never be repeated, They who were so
fortunate as to see it hardly knew what moat to admire, or
in what form to clothe the sense of wonder, and even of
mystery, which struggled within them. The edifice, the
treasures of nature and art collected therein, the assemblage,
and the solemnity of the occasion, all conspired to suggest
something even more than sense could scan or imagination
attain. There were many there who were familiar with
magnificent spectacles ; who had seen coronations, fetes, and
solemnities; but they had not seen anything to compare
with this. In a building that could easily have accommo-
dated twice as many, twenty-live thousand persons, so it is
computed, were arranged in order round the throne of our
Sovereign. Around them, amidst them, and over their heads
was displayed all that is useful or beautiful in nature or in
err. Above them rose a glittering arch far more lofty and
spacious than the vaults of even our noblest cathedrals. On
eithe, side the vista seemed almost boundle.es. Under it was
enthroned a youthful matron, the Queen of this land,
surrounded by her family, her Court, her Ministers;
by the representatives of other countries, and by all
who had any share in the suggestion or management of this
great undertaking. The minister of religion was there to
ask a blessing on the work; the Fong of loyalty and the
anthem of praise rose from the whole assemblage. This is
but the bare enumeration of particulars, which to those who
were present made one vast whole. It was felt to be more
than what was seen or what had been intended. Erume saw
in it the second and more glorious inauguration of their
Sovereign; some a solemn dedication of art and its stores;
some were most reminded of that day when all ages and
climes shall be gathered round the throne of their Maker;
there was so much that seemed accidental and yet had a
meaning, that no one could be content with simply what he
saw. A taste of no common order had contributed to the
illusion, not to say the reality of the scene. Tlie fresh foliage
ra
egi egnof
numerousot
fw tohtleroosf
pt
Sovereign
ve
aee mepimsladnwtwsahrtofhesdeatby the height of the dome, the
throne ser e served toey
adorned;tedl the extendedsplendid
fountains, and the brightness of the decoration, all contributed
to an effect so grand and yet so natural, that it hardly
seemed to be put together by design, or to be the work of hu-
man artificers. Such has been the ceremony of the Ist of
May, the subject of such long anticipations and so many ap-
prehensions. Fortune has at length favoured the coura-
geous and persevering little band who originated and resolved
to carry through this undertaking. If in the result we see
even more than they were conscious of designing, and
if we sometimes suspect that they looked too exclusively or
too much to the mere advancement of art, we cannot, on
the other hand, be blind to the great industry and judgment
they have displayed. We say it advisedly—we believe that
the Royal Commissioners of the Great Exhibition have had
more than the usual proportion of difficulties to contend
with. So vast a building was not to be built and adapted
for the purpose ; so many exhibitors were not to be invited
and provided for; so many objects were not to be accepted
and arranged ; so many smaller affairs were not to be
dispatched, without an amount of hard work and harass
which it is fearful to think upon. Good temper and
honesty, diligence and method, have overcome them
all. It is true that some of our principal exhi-
bitors and nearest neighbours have found themselves
sorely belated. The Ist of May has surprised not a few
who refused to give the Englishman credit for his pro-
verbial punctuality. The grand avenue of the nave, indeed,
is even more than sufficiently stocked and decorated.
Nothing is wanting anywhere to the general view ; but when
we leave the broad walk, with its endless succession of mag-
nificent trophies, and pass under the galleries into the nume-
rous by-paths of the Exhibition, we find ourselves sometimes
in vacant areas, surrounded by unfinished cases, unopened
boxes, and preparations which it will apparently take weeks
to conclude. But what of that? It may be unfortunate for
the country that does not come in for the high tide of inte-
rest and the freshness of curiosity; but, even with these de-
ductions, there is already far more than it is possible for any
ordinary man to master within a moderate time. It has been
estimated that thirty visits will hardly be sufficient for those
who wish to " get up " the whole Exhibition, and make the
best profit of this rare opportunity.. To visitors of this serious
class it can matter very little whether the subjects of their
thirtieth day's study are already open to the view, or are hid-
den in packing-cases. The partial backwardness of
the exhibitors, then, is as little to the injury of the
result as it is to the disparagement of the Commissioners,
who have done their own part in good time. Their success
to the last in minor arrangements is evident from the fact
that 25,000 ladies and gentlemen yesterday assisted, with
comfort, at a grand ceremonial, that a multitude of several
hundred I housand persons surrounded the building without
1 any disorder, that a string of carriages, reaching from Char-
ing-cross to Kensington, set down their occupants easily and
quietly, and that, in a word, hardly a blow was struck or a
temper ruffled during the whole day. Such a result reflects
credit on the character of the country, and proves the deep
fund of good nature and self•government in the mass of the
people. It is not to be expected that all will equally enter
into the sentiment which seems to us proper to such a spec-
tacle. There are those who will see nothing but glass and
iron in the building, men and women in the myriads that
visit it, and cotton or silk in the fabrics exhibited.
We expect to hear it called an overgrown bazaar,
or a vast advertising machine. We will appeal, then, to
sense as well as romance. On the very lowest view of this
_ _

Exhibition it is an opportunity of learning the products o
different regions. and the manufactures of different peoples,
that we could not have hoped to enjoy, and which will not
soon be repeated. Everybody who has to do with teaching
—nay, everybody who wishes for information himself, knows
the comparative unprolitableness of mere reading or hearing.
The ear is slow to receive and quick to lose information.
The eye apprehends quickly, and retains a long hold. Then
here, at all events, if we have nothing else, we have a vast
collection of specimens, with manuals arranging and describ-
ing them. All nature and art are brought under our survey,
and an area of twenty acres is made, as it were, an epitome
of the whole world. As a mere lesson in industrial and so-
cial geography, the opportunity is invaluable. We do not
sea why every child whom its parents can bring up to town
should not take lessons at the Exhibition. But in this
branch of knowledge it is not uncommon to find grown up
people as ill-informed as their own children. All ages,
therefore, will find it to their advantage to go to school for
the season in Hyde-park.
CHRONICLE.—Many words never accompany deep im-
pressions. He who, whether in actual life, or in its more
truthful dramatic representations, is stirred to the inmost core
of feeling, cannot afford to talk; and it is only after a great
whole, either of action or emotion, has had time to settle
down—at the loss, perhaps, of somewhat of its picturesque,
bower vague, entirety—that we can coldly count up what
has combined to produce its influence. It were better, then,
for ourselves if we were not called upon so immediately to
satisfy the very reasonable inquiries of others as to the suc-
cess of the opening of the Great Exhibition yesterday. For
ourselves personally. it were safer merely to speak of that
success as complete and unbioken, and then to withdraw to
its deep and pleasant memories with something of that joy
with which, as we are told, a stranger intermeddleth not.
Because merely to allude to the more obvious and prominent
elements in the triumph of yesterday's pageant would be
comparatively easy easy, since its true grandeur
lies in what scarcely meets the eye or ear. It
asks not much to dilate upon the unequalled beauty
of the weather—se curiously falling in with the popular
feeling about the " Queen's own fine-weather days"—upon
the loyal crowds, and upon the stately throng of those noble
by station and yet nobler by acquirements or gifts—or upon
the scenic beauty of the ceremonial. The success of either
of these singly would present matter for pleasure—their
combination furnishes a more extended gratification. We
may say more. The building itself displayed internal effects
yesterday of which we had scarcely thought it susceptible.
The hard lines and shrunken masses which a metallic con-
struction involved, were hitherto but ineffectually relieved
by the pale and faded colouring which has been adopted ;
the ashy tones and consumptive lineaments of the structure
wanted mass and relief. These were at the opening nobly
supplied. The intense scarlet of hangings and uniforms,the,
rich crimson of carpets and tapestry, the bright floral par-
terre-like effects of the ten thousand pinks and blues of
feminine attire, the sparkling fountains, the masses of
exotic flowers, the golden sunbeams flashing at once
on the delicate spring-tints of our English elms and
the heavier greens of tropical palms—these, with the
sparkling of glass, and the more solid polish of metal, ade-
quately redeemed, by their breadth and harmony, the more
prominent defects of the not unworthily called "Crystal
Palace." To this luxury of colours, which our insular eyes
are beginning to understand, yesterday's ceremonial added
the pleasure addressed to the ear. While organ, and choir,
and trumpet announced the Queen's entrance with a rich and
full " God save the Queen," the triumph of the day was the
Hallelujah Chorus." IS ever did this noble strain fall at
once upon so many auditors, and—judging from many a
moistening eye and kindling cheek—never, we believe, upon
se many hearts. And amongst much that was otherwise
touching and creditable to the national taste and feeling—
besides the reiterated plaudits which saluted England's grea.t.
Duke—besides the bursts of personal salutation which azln
corned her Majesty's progress, beyond even pealing onrebug
and swelling anthem—more touching and more spo o
was the honest domestic delight which hailed the ratanv and
bhaerndhxhbeainzeloyaasi tihneoythjeorinacdptrhine
cperoofcelsis,iaolne,s,haonlddiihge.rb_cothne.
Con-
sort the Princess Royal. In herself aid in her
family the Queen must have felt the best security
of her Throne ; and never has this security been
more amply displayed than in the loyal `personal congratu-
lation which was yesterday offered by the British public. as
well as by the Royal Court, to her Majesty's presence. The
artistic effect of the general grouping presented at the de-
livery of the addresses was striking. Tabard and helm,
halberd and plume, feathers and diamonds, scarlet and gold,
cannot well fail; but it was the mass, and scale, and pon-
derous dignity of the whole, which told. Spenser —votes in
either sense—seems to have actually drawn the more strik-
,ng feature :

The room was largo and wide,
. • •
As it some guild or solemn temple were;
many great iron pillars did upbear •
The massy roof, and riches huge sustain;
And every pillar decked was fall dear.
• . «

A rout of people there assembled were
Of every sail and nation under sky,
Which with great uproar pressed to draw near
To th' upper part, where was advanced high
A stately siege of sovereign majesty ;
And thereon sat a woman gorgeous gay,
And richly clad in robes of royalty."
We can well afford to leave the material aspect of the cere.
monial in this, its vivid and accurate anticipation; but its
moral significance requires a few words. The semi-senti-
mental historian of the day vaticinates the time when a
civilized New Zealander is to survey the ruins of St. Paul's
from a shattered arch of London. bridge. Be it so. Nations
have their appointed course; and the truest triumphs of
empire are other than physical. It is right, morally right,
that she on whose flag and shores the sun never sets should
—once at least before her, perhaps, inevitable fall—translate
t
this splendid metaphor into the prosaic language otfef
d to
that her NM may know what ample duties are entrap
s__.
them, together with this perilous pre-eminenceotooffilywgr
We have now done this—we have summoned
to tell us
and prairie—from Arctic steep and Indian jtVaet
h they are
own artists and artizans, but our colonial childr,eitu,from forest
what manner of men they :have becoemeth
—what
straggled with—
doing for the welfare of fatherland and
rough and strange materials they h
and in them we, have
what-shapely products of skill they.
and intelligence.
added to the sum of industryhumaenne this as the ntrrow
And yet we have not d
1- d all the world to witness,
' We have asked
spirit of boasting.
our failures; and Hyde-park at
have steruraseiveB
not our successes only,
but
few departments of skill in which
we may well contess that we we aro immeasurably inferior
this moment displaYs not to
we how that we are ready to teach, we at
the same moment E
other nations. If
admit that we are not ashamed to be
undue share of national vanity, at
taught. If we have an l benefit of the Great Exhibition will be
moral least one great. .
Had our exposition been merely a col-
lectionthis vice.
to temper
productions, it might well
of Englishhave stood as a
great pretentious obegesang to our insular pride—a cloud of
incense
prepared for. and offered to, mere self-glorification.
Such can hardly be the case when we ask all nations and
languages to this interchange of ideas - this great barter of
the truth* anti experience_o_ ages. We have missed the