The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-01 00:00:00

OPENING

THE GREAT EXHIBITION
OF ALL NATIONS.
(THIS DAY.)

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTERS.)

The ceremony of the opening of the World's
Exhibition of Industry and Art took place to-day,
with all the gorgeousness, grandeur, and solemnity
indicated in the programme of the Executive Com-
mittee. If any one ever entertained a doubt that the
weather deity specially controla the elements, so as
to give her Majesty a clear unclouded sky, a bright
shining sun, a genial atmosphere, and those other
things which make up agreeable weather, his confi-
denco must have been lamentably shaken to-day.
rbough for the last few days the metropolis has been
continually visited with rain, and showers of sleet and
bail, been enveloped in dark murky clouds, and ren-
dered cold and comfortless by keen piercing winds,
this morning, to which all looked forward with such
anxiety and doubt, broke with all appearances that it
would usher into existence a day in every way cal-
culated to lend a charm to the scene which was to
follow—the assembling of the people of every nation
in the world in one immense magnificent structure,
to compete in honest, peaceful, and honourable
rivalry. Nor were the anticipations which the
morning gave rise to disappointed as the day advanced
—a passing cloud might have obscured the effulgence
of the bright orb of light but the rain kept off, and
the atmosphere was neither too cold nor too warm,
but kept an agreeable temperature during the whole
morning. Those who were so fortunate as to secure
tickets of admission to the Crystal Palace, and they
were legion, were stirring at a very early hour.
Even by seven o'clock a great number of carriages,
broughams, phaetons, barouches, and vehicles of
every description filled the principal routes to the
different entrances, their occupants seemingly content
to wait with patience until the doors were opened.
At eight that number had so rapidly increased that

one line of carriages extended from the southern en-
trance of the centre transept, along the Park, Picca-
dilly, Coventry-street, Leicester-square, to almost the
eastern extremity of Long-acre a stream of
conveyances which we may venture to say
for length was never witnessed on any former
occasion. As the process of "setting
down" the company was extremely slow, and fear-
fully tedious to those who were more than a mile off,
and were obliged to wait for their turn, it may easily be
imagined that their patience was taxed to the utmost ;
but, nevertheless, they bore all with the best possible
good humour. In the other directions marked out by
the authorities of Scotland-yard for the approach of
visitors there were also long rows of vehicles
slowly but steadily advancing towards the grand ren-
dezvous. A vast number of visitors, if not the ma-
jority, came by foot, and they were more fortunate
than the others in gaining admission to the interior in
time to secure the most eligible seats in the divisions
to which their tickets applied. Along the route of

the royal procession immense crowds of people had
assembled by ten o'clock, a great portion of whom
consisted of the fair sex, who at the risk of having
crushed bonnets, damaged dresses, and sundry un-
pleasant kicks and bruises, were content to push
their way into the midst of the throng, rather

that not have a glance at the Queen
and the distinguished persons who accompanied her.
The space in front of Buckingham Palace, the Green-
park, Constitution-bill, and the entrance to Hyde-
park were literally bristling with human beings.
Of course Hyde-park itself, especially that part
where the Exhibition is situated, proved to
be most attractive to those who were obliged
to be satisfied with witnessing so much of the
ceremony as could be seen outside the building.
Long before nine o'clock the different entrances were
besieged with ticket holders, and their struggling and
elbowing frightened the ladies, and rendered the
more timid fearful of getting admitted before
11 o'clock, the hour fixed for closing the doors. The
police very judiciously, however, refused to allow
the gentlemen to enter until the ladies had gained
admission, an arrangement which was enthusiastically
responded to, as when a pertinacious individual in-
sisted in forcing his way to the exclusion of some of
the gentler sex, he was received with groans and
hisses. It will be gratifying to know, however, that
the whole body of visitors had arrived and gained
admission by eleven o'clock. At this time the exte-
rior of the building had a most splendid effect, the
sun shining brilliantly, and giving it an appear-
Ince well entitling it to be called a Crystal
Palace. About a quarter to twelve o'clock
the royal carriages emerged from Buckingham
Palace, accompanied by a body of the Horse Guards,
and proceeded at a rather quick trotting pace to the
Exhibition. Contrary to the expectation of many,
the Queen did not ride in her state carriage and go in
procession, as is the case when Parliament is opened
or prorogued, but she was well seen, and both the
Queen and the Prince were received with loud, hearty
cheers by the people, and acknowledged this mark of
feeling by repeated bows. In the carriages which
accompanied her Majesty were the Prince of Wales
and Princess Royal, the Duke of Cambridge, the
Duchess of Sutherland, and the other members of

her suite. The Queen arrived at the North entrance
of the transept precisely at twelve o'clock, amidst

enthusiastic cheers and waving of hats and handker.

chiefs. On entering, the booming of cannons in the
distance, a flourish of trumpets, and the striking up
of " God save the Qucen," by the organ and
band, announced the fact to the vast

multitude who had congregated in the building.

(FROM ANOTUER REPORTER.)

This Ist of Ally, 1851, will be, hereafter, con-
sidered as the most glorious day in the history of our
island. The peaceful rivalry in arts to which we have
challenged the nations of the world commenced
this day in the Crystal Palace, which is in

self, perhaps, a more wonderful specimen
of art than any that is exhibited within its precincts.
Eler Majesty in person opened the Exhibition, thus
solemnly inaugurating the metropolis of the British
empire as the industrial capital of the world. The
day was splendidly brilliant, in fact, one of the
Queen's " own days," and as early as seven o'clock
the whole route from Piccadilly-circus to the Crystal
Palace was blocked up by a long line of carriages, and
a crowd of elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen
were awaiting the opening of the doors at the tran-
sept. At half-past eight o'clock, when the doors
were opened, there could not have been less than ten
thousand persons waiting at them.
For upwards of two hours there was a continued
stream of elegantly-dressed persons pouring into the
Palace from every entrance. The coup cr ail pre-
sented by the crowd was very singular, but brilliant
in the extreme. Shortly after ten o'clock, the Duke
of Wellington entered the Palace, accompanied by the
Marchioness of Douro and several ladies, and took
his seat in that portion of the gallery which forms the
western end of the eastern nave, and which is parti-
tioned off from the rest. His Grace afterwards
joined the royal party in the enclosed area. His
Grace was dressed in a field marshal's uniform, and
his breast was covered with the insignia of different
orders of knighthood. He was loudly cheered during
his progress up the Palace. The arrangements
for the accommodation of the public were admirable.
The seats for the ladies w, re barricaded off,
so as to leave a wide and clear gangway up the
centres of the nave and the transept for the circu-
lation of the visitors. The front seats were occupied
by the ladies, and at the back there were standing
places for the gentlemen, the seats being devoted ex-
clusively to the use of the ladies. The same arrange-
ment took place with regard to the seats in the gal-
leries. The northern end of the transept was par-
titioned off for the exclu►ive use of her Majesty
and those personages who had the right of
entree or who were engaged in the ceremonial. This •
portion of the building was kept by the Life Guards.
The appearance of this portion of the transept, as seen
from the entrance, was brilliant in the extreme. Tne
play of the magnificent fountains gave a delicious ap-
pearance of coolness to the whole scene, and the tree
(Colonel Sibthorp's tree), which is just bursting into
leaf, formed, with the crystal walks of the Palace
seen through the foliage, a most picturesque background. f

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