The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-24 00:00:00

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

We have noticed at different times the dissatisfaction
which has been expressed by the representatives of some
foreign countries with reference to the amount of space
allotted to their exhibitors. Except in the case of France,
these differences had almost entirely disappeared; but
the commissioner of our continental neighbours—M. Sa-
landrouze de Lamornaix—continued still to struggle fur
increased accommodation. Happily the ExecutiveCommit-
tea have been able to settle In an agreeable and friendly
manner their differences with this gentleman, who will
now direct all his energy to the preparation and arrange-
ment of the large area which his countrymen possess in
the building. It appears that from two causes 12 bays
have been placed at the disposal of the Executive Com-
mittee in the eastern or foreign half of the Exhibition.
In the first place Norway and Sweden and the States of
Northern Germany had not supplied a sufficient quantity
of articles to cover their allotments. They therefore
willingly resigned their surplus space. America, again,
wished to exchange a portion of the ground
area assigned her for increased room in the galleries.
Her agent has acted, we understand, with great libe-
rality in the course of theme new arrangements, and
hiss readily and cordially co-operated with the Execu-
tive Committee in securing a satisfactory settlement with
our other visitors from abroad. All parties are now,
we hear, perfectly well pleased with reference to the point
of space; and it is sincerely to be hoped that no fresh
disagreement may arise to destroy that spirit of harmo-
nious and combined action the establishment of which
becomes every day of gae3 ter impertance.France,Belgium,
Austria, and the Z,Alvercin have all been especially
benefittod by the additional accommodation placed at
the disposal of the Executive Committee, and we take
it for granted that the difficulties arising from the
disappointments of intending exhibitors whose contri-
butions, after inviting, we might be obliged to shut
out, have now boon overcome. We have again, however,
to warn our friends fr-m abroad the; their arrangements
are still in a very back ward state, and that they must
without delay put forth their best efforts to have every
thing in order by the Ist of May. Their things come
in slowly, and the Custom-house examinations neces-
sarily occupy a great deal of time. Besides M. du
Seigneur's specimen of sculpture a splendid organ will be
placed in the nave as one of the most striking articles in
the French collection. This is the fourth organ we have
heard of as intended for exhibition, and it is quite clear
that the Crystal Palace may be made available for the
pleasures of sound as well of sight, if the Royal Commis-
sioners think fit that it should be so. Over the vast expanse
the sublime music of the Creation may be made to circu-
late, and while thousands of spectators assemble to ad-
mire the chief wonders of human industry the swelling
notes may be sounded in their ears which so fitly recall
the greatness of that Power by whom are all things.
The American contributions brought over by the
packet St. Lawrence are now rapidly arriving
at the building, and although the quantity is
not so great as was at one time expected, the
quality will, it is believed, be not unwworthy of the
great nation which acknowledges this to be its mother
country. The colhction includes splendid specimens of
copper, iron, and zinc ore, to illustrate the mineral
we ilth of the United States; machinery to show the me-
chanical ingenuity of the people; and a most varied dis-
play of raw produce and manufactured articles, in-
cluding an air-exhausted metal coffin, in which a
human body could, it is said, be preserved for ages
without decay, and which contains, we hear, a
bouquet of flowers as fresh as when it was first placed
there. The Commissioner from Tunis has been the
first foreign agent to unpack. Judging from what
we saw, this small section of the Exhibition will not
be the least interesting portion of it ; and the
fair sex especially will flock to a compartment where
they may have an opportunity cf comparing their own
style of apparel with that of the Moorish ladies.
Among the entries in the catalogue of articles which
the Bey has sent over is oleo which runs thus, " The
beauty's dress on leaving the bath." The display is
rich in specimens of male attire, also in mule trappings
blankets, and stilettos.
Turning to our own part of the Exhibition, there are
several matters of importance to communicate since our
last notice. With reference to the amount of work to
be accomplished before the Ist of May, it now appears
certain that the chief difficulty to be overcome lies in the
completion of the building itself. As if the arrears of work
already existing were not sufficient, new labours arise of a
serious, but, we trust, not insurmountable character. The
ridge and valley roof during wet weather has always
leaked a little at different points, but it was believed that
when the Paxton gutters had been well pitched and the
interior of the sash bars painted no inconvenience on
this score could be experienced. The late heavy rains
have dissipated this idea, and water has penetrated in so
many places that serious fears are entertained by some
as to the practtcabilty of securing that exemption from
drip or damp which is indispeusable iu such a building.
We believe that the desired objected can still be accom-
plished by administering a thick coat of paint to the sash
bars on the outside; but this constitutes a formidable addi-
tion to the work which the contractors have now scarcely
six weeks to finish. Messrs. Fox and Henderson have
done wonders, and we have no doubt will complete
this great undertaking in a manner creditable to them-
selves, to their profession, and to their country.
Their reputation is indissolubly bound up with the
satisfactory manner in which the Crystal Palace fulfils
the objects for which it has been created. If its
gigantic roof cannot be made water-tight, Mr. Paxton's
design, and their execution, will be equally con-
demned as failures. Not only so, but we shonld be ex-
posed as a people, to just complaint from the countries
whose industrial products we have invited to an imper-
feet shelter from our damp and showery skies. Fancy
the exhibitor of costly brocaded silks from Lyons, or of
rich velvets from Genoa, watching the effects of a
summer storm of rain oozing through the great window
frames above his head, and drop after drop irretriev-
ably tarnishing the rarest products of his taste and
skill. The contractors and the Executive Committee
are both fully alive to the necessity of curing this
defect, and accordingly during Friday and Saturday the
glass roof of the building has been in possession of gangs
of painters and glaziere, who, ctarying their scaffolding
about with them, and apparently like flies, without spe-
cific gravity, crawl about in every direction, stopping up
chinks and crevices with putty and paint, and repairing
fractured panes of glass, When in addition to this pre-
caution the calio covering has bees' got up, the wind will
be prevented from driving the rain with such force
I through guy seams that way still remain open.