The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-30 00:00:00

MR. ,W Tr4,l4'S MODEL OF THE
EARTH.

(From the Times.)
The strange•looking cylindrical edifice which now fortu-
nately covers the once howling wilderness in the centre of
Leidester-square, and whose rapid growth has for the last
few weeks been the daily wonder of those whose path has
lain, across this region favoured by the foreigner, became
penetrable yesterday to the press and a few favoured visi-
torsi It contains, as all who have seen the building have
learnt from the painted boards outside, a model of the earth
constructed by Mr. Wyld, the Queen's geographer. It was
originally that gentleman's intention, as be informs us in a
little pamphlet descriptive of his work, that this huge repre-
sentation of the surface of the globe should figure in the
Great Exhibition, but it was found that the necessary ar-
rangements for erecting and exhibiting the model ware in-
compatible with the space and convenience that could be
afforded by the building in Hyde-park. That this was the
case is far from being a subject of regret, for as,a monument
of our present geographical knowledge, and•of tho enterprise,
industry, and ingenuity of its author,' Mr. Wykra model e-
serves a site and pedestaleif its owe, and'one more perma-
nent, than it would have obtained is the. Crystal;Palace.
Nor :is it a email gain which the pablic. has indirectly
acquired thereby, that a neat and sightly building should
have! taken the place of that hideoas display of decaying
shrubs and putrescent carcases -which 'the inhabitants of
Leicester-square have so long allowed to poison and disfigure
a centre'and populous quarter. " •
To be told that one is about to see e gigantie model of Oa'
earth on a scale of ten mile,: to an inch conveys to the ordi-:
nary sight-seer no very brilliant or attractive promisee'. To
be sure it may be veer instructive and edifyicg, but that any
very immediate pleasureableimpression is to be derived front
a source apparently so dry seems highly probleniatiol; The
visit who notwithstanding ,these unfavourable reflections
may be induced, to stray into the building in Leicester-
square will find his listless' curiosity converted stance into
admiratiohand eeger. interest. The model is constructed on
the concave surface.of the globe, the south pole occupying
the lower portion and the north perpenclicalarlY above-it,
without regerd to the inclination of the ecliptic:'' °neuter:-
ing the globe accordingly, we. find ourselves surrounded by
the South Pacific Ocean, and already we are struck with
the peculiarly picturesque efface of the.muctel. -The-trews
of land surrounded by.a wide expanse of blue. oceatapre-
sent at once a' striking picture.- 'Four galleries count's:Med:
by- stairs, in the centre, enable one ao survey 'the Whole'
internal surface ; and from the !upper gillerY, over,
which the icy regions of the North Pole form a vaulted
canopy, the eye reaches downwards in all directions', and is
able to embrace almost the whole surface of the globe. The
outward circumferences of the galleries' are near enough to
the surface to enable one to examine closely the minutest
details of the model, and the relative positions of plain and
mountain, valley, and table-land. Each part is 'appropri-
ately tinted—the fertile valley, the granite range,'the snowy
peaks, the, volcanic craters, the ',lake, athe riier, and
the sandy plain; and while the charactetiatic features of each
tract are thus rendered apparent at the first glance, all.blericla
and melt together whenztheaVision groups them into masses,
so that the eye as readily gathers: the relative magnitudes of
minor divisions-of sea and eountry as those of 'oceans and,
continents. The choice of the concave surface, whichto most
persons will appear objectionable as not giving a notion of the
globe; as it really; appears, will upon the first inspectionat
once be applauded. Thesuperficial configuration of the Various
tracts of land is exactly identical with what it would be on 'a
convex surface, and the only difference is in the direction-
of the axes of the different elevations, which converge toi
instead of„ diverge from .a common centre—a-difference
scarcely appreciable to the eye, owing to the smallness-of the'
elevations relatively to the extent of the surface.. The ad-
vantage, on the other hand, of the concave surface, hr-allowe
ing the eye to embrace so. large a portion of the globe, is pate- •
mount, the spectator being able to extend his range of vision
almost indefinitely, without, change of positielei anfl-being
thus endowed with a kind of übiquity; whereas only small
portion's at a time of a convex surface could be grasped, and
the survey of any extended region would require a corre-
sponding amount of locomotion, ,while immediate reference
l, the eye from one to the other of two distant points would
be impossible.
On the importance of this remarkab:e work as a means of
instruction to those bent upon the acquisition of solidknow-
ledge, or as a source of interest to the snore worldly and
superficial gatherers of information, it would be sispetiluous
to expatiate. It is evident that the vivid impressionaavhich
such a comprehensive survey of the -varied featurerof the
globe we inhabit as is afforded by Mr.Wyld's model produces
must tend to fix upon the mind deeply and permanently all
branches of knowledge and every variety of fact that may
be conveyed in connexion with' the physical peculiarities of
the earth. Those whose knowledge is already extended, by
having what was an abstract conception solidified as it were
into concrete perception, will find themselves enabled to rise
with greater facility into a higher region of research, while
those who have yet to master the fields of knowledge al-
ready laid open will find the path smoothe I for them, and
many an effort of thought avoided, by what may be called a
material intuition.

The space within which the globe is placed is surrounded
by a circular corridor formed' by the beams and joists by
Which the model is supported, and outwardly again are four
large apartments. These, as well as the corridor, are intended
to contain maps, plans;rhodels, geographical works, and
books of travels relating to every quarter-of the globe. So
th,,t the " Model of the Earth " will be a depository of all
the information that can be obtained of a geographical or to-
pographical nature. Such an institttion as this must neces-
sarily be of immense practical utility, and no less than the
work which has given rise to it is deserving the warmest sup-
port of the public.
_

(From the Observer, and Advertiser.)
The public will, within the next two or three days, have
an opportunity of viewing Mr. Wyld's great globe in
Leicester-square, upon which a large number of artists and
workmen have been fully employed for the last six month!,
and which, we have do doubt, will prove one of the most
interesting and attractive, as well as instructive of the many
exhibitions and sights of the great metropolis. The build-
ing itself occupies nearly the whole of the area of the enclo-
sure in Leicester-square, and is a sort of miniature St. Paul's,
being surmounted by a gigantic and well-proportioned
dome. The entrance is on the north side of the square,
and opens into a lofty hall, paved with patent lava inlaid
flooring in the Grecian style, to correspond with the other
decorations. After passing the turn-tables at the end of
this hall, the visitor is conducted to the central staircase,
which leads him to four tiers of galleries rising one above
the other to the top of the building. The great panorama
or map of the world is here spread out before him, and tho
effect is extremely striking and beautiful. The best idea
that can be given of the design is to conceive a gigantic
hollow globe with all the mountains, rivers, eleva-
tions, and depressions in relief, and then to suppose thisglobe
turned inside oat, and the spectator standing in the centre of
the interior. Above his head, at an elevation of sixty feet
from the ground, are the northern frozen regions, " thick
ribbed in eternal ice." The route ofFranklin, and the daring
adventurers who have been endeavouring to follow in his
track, is easily discoverable. Descending lower to the level
of the upper gallery—which comprises nearly all the civi-
lized portions of the globe, including the whole of Europe, the
north of Asia, and the northern states of America—the accu-
racy and minuteness of the execution become more appa-
rent. The peculiar features and physical characteristics of
the country—the course of every stream and river, and the
height and direction of every hill and mountain range—are
seen all; coloured after nature. In the next gallery,
which approaches the equator, the wide and desert
wastes of Africa, with the lurid red sand colour
of the soil, the overland route and the southern
parts of India, and the islands of the Indian Ocean are
seen; and descending lower, we come upon the great
southern continent of Australia, South America, and the
vast expanse of water which covers more than half the sur-_
face of the globe. The whole of this extraordinary work Las
been laid down with the greatest accuracy, according to
scale, the proportions being the same as those employed in
the Parliamentary railway maps, namely, one inch to ten
miles of horizontal measurement, and one inch to a mile of
perpendicular elevation. Every mountain has its character
indicated, whether covered with hardy pines, presenting
naked granite peaks, covered with eternal snow, or exhibit-
ing volcanic action, which is shown by the red glare of tire on
its summits. All the numerous islands and coral reefs of the
great southern ocean are laid clown with the greatest precision,
and the physical, as well as the geographical features of the
world, are here presented with a startling reality which has
never before been realised. The exhibition may be rendered
available in a variety of ways, for the purpose of indicating the
isothermal lines of temperature, the currents of the great
oceans, the magnetic currents and poles; and in short its
value as a model for illustration and instruction can scarcely
be over estimated. Mr. Wyld has been for many years col-
lecting materials for this gigantic work, and his name is alone
a sufficient guarantee for the fidelity with which it has been
executed. The lower part of the building has been fitted up
as a corridor and promenade geographique, with couches,
and a very extensive collection of maps, globes, Stc. The
style of the corridor is Byzantine, to meet the exigencies of
the building, which takes a considerable curve inwards.
The columns and decorations are exact models of the Al-
hambra, and we understand this is the first attempt that has
been made to introduce this style of decoration in England.
The corridor will be lighted by ground glass lamps in the
Moorish style. Attached to the building is a geographical
library, containing a most complete collection of geogra-
phical, works and maps, which will be accessible to a"
visitors, and the whole will form one of the most interesting
and perfect geographical monuments that has ever been
constructed in any country.
(From the Post.)
Another exhibition has been added to the sig
which, if not equal in magnificence and sptendy Loast hof
Crystal Palace and its contents, may, at :I
Allot the for-
surpassing them in magnitude of design; hts of Lot
on dto_ne,
fors
of the world's
mer profess to exhibit only choice obe itself." The
ope t camel!
industry, this presents to view " the grea gl
he purpose of assisting
construction of a " colossal globe," for
~,i dent tand, occupied the
geographical education, has,
at-
tention of Mr. Wyld, the geographer i'lle-r—to the Queen, for many
of e plan is due to the Great
years ; but the
stimulateddevelopmens
him to make the effort to
Exhibition, which us' e •reject might have remained
realise the idea,' otherwise P
in embryo. It was at first intended that the great globe
should form Part of the contents if the Exhibition building,
but as the plaP developed itself more completely, it was found
la a model of the intended magnitude
ithpossible to Ce as sought for the erection of a build-
ing fitted to 2 receive it. The once deso-
q l‘• .aa .selected, and
therein,
°Lisa' eeswter.s uare •
vaa—ndvaey short time, Mr. Wyld has succeeded
late. area of • eicthereon,
Zbreiling a large and handsome structure for the exhibition
of his immense model of the earth. The great undertaking
is now completed, and we were yesterday favoured. With a
private view of the work before it is opened to public in-
spection. The entrance is under. a Grecian portico into a
vestibule, whence the visitor is introduced to a circular cor—.
tiasinem a embellished with wthieth earth, In
rides round the exterior of the globe. This corridor is very
differentdecorated,appropriactcettlyntriec;
butto
anodb
a! s
thoef
visitor must pass through the crust of the globe. An. en-.
trance is effected through the antarctic when
_ sea, and in-
side, the view is limited to the southernmost parts of
Africa and' America, magnified, in comparison with
the delineations of ordinary globes, to proportions almost
beyond recognition. A staircase., conducts to a zone velure
the central parts of those vast continents are seen broadly
expanded, and exhibiting the diversities of mountains and
valleys in bold relief, and of deserts and verdant plain'',
oceans, lakes, and rivers, represented as they might be sup-
posed to appear when seen from a great elevation. At the
next ascent the spectator is placed on the equinoctial line;
gallery above corresponds in position with the tropic of
Cancer, and a still higher' zone places in sight the whole of
Europe, and most of the civilized countries of the globe. The
higher the ascent, the more interesting and more extended
the view, and by the time the spectator has arrived at the
highest zone, he becomes accustomed to the concave form,
which at first is rather perplexing, as the exterior surfacef of
the globe is seen from the interior. This arrangement was
almost inevitable, and it has the advantage of affording a
more comprehensive survey than would have been possible on
a convex surface. The diameter of the globe is sixty feet,
the whole area occupying ten thousand feet. The model is
executed in plaster, cast from moulded clay, and it is coloured
to resemble as closely, as possible the aspect of the different
countries. Tag absence of the accustomed lines and names,
and divisionssputs the geographical knowledge of the visitors
to the test, but small circles of light indicate the pooitim of

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