The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-25 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-
landrouxe de Lamornaix—continued still to struggle for
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 these new arrangements, and
has mistily 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 greater importance. France,Belgium,
Austria, and the Zollverein have all been especially
benefited 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•
buttons, after inviting, we might be obliged to shut
out, have now been overcome. We have again, however,
to warn our friends fr.m abroad that their arrangements
are still in a very backward state, and that they must
without delay put forth their best efforts to have every
thing in order by the let 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 ono 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-
sieners 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.
'rho American contributions brought over by the
packet St. Lawrence are now rapidly arriving
at the buildieg, and although the quantity is
not so great as was at one time expected, the
quality will, it is believed, be not unworthy of the
great nation which acknowledges this to be its mother
country. The collection includes splendid specimens of
copper, iron, and zinc ore, to illustrate the mineral
wealth 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 of comparing their own
style of apparel with that of the Moorish ladies.
Among the entries in the catalogue of articles which
the Boy has sent over is one 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
he 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 bed 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; practicabilty of securing that exemption from
drip or damp which is indispensable in such a building.
We believe that the desired object can still be accom-
plished by administering a thick coat of paint to the sash
bars on the outside; but this ceisstitutes 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 fur 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 should be ex-
posed as a people, to just complaint from the countries
whose industrial products we have invited to an imper-
fect 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 glaziers, who, carrying 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 calico covering has been got up, the wind will
be prevented from driving the rain with such force
through any seams that may still remain open.
We are glad to find that the preparations in every
part of the western half of the building are pushed on
with untiring energy, and with every prospect that our
native industry can by the Ist of May fearlessly invite
the inspection of the whole world. The department
of machinery still takes the lead, and many of
the most interesting objects comprised in it are far
advanced towards completion. The public will
regret to hear that in this part of the col-
lection, closely identified as it is with the industrial
reputation of the country, the Nasmyth hammer, one of
our greatest mechanical wonders, is not to be included.
The space requisite was allotted to Mr. Nasmyth for
the purpose of showing his great invention, and every-
body is quite at a loss to understand why at the last mo-
ment he declines coming forward; the expense of fit-
ting up cannot be the obstacle. Among other objects
which will no doubt attract great attention, we hear of
a model of Plymouth Breakwater, executed with sur-
prising fidelity, and containing, among other things,
the representation of a brig, two inches long,
—the complete epitome of a vessel-of war. All the
guns, masts, yards, rigging, &c., are giving, and even
the ruaning-gear is rove and the deck planked. There
is only one other point which it is proper to touch upon
in this part of the subject. It appears that the local com-
mittee of Sheffield, after attaining a pre•eminenco
among all the towns in England fur the dilatory and
unsatisfactory manner in which they conducted their
preparations for the Exhibition, set the finishing stroke
to their conduct by sending in for the approval of the
Executive Committee a plan for the arrangement of
their goods, which it was quite impossible to accede to.
The proposal to select the principal firm in their own
town to represent the section of cutlery by a trophy in

TUESDAY EVENING,

the centre of the nave awakened among them all the fires
of local jealousy. They had no objection to a London
manufacturer, however small his business, occupying the
pest of honour; but that Rodgers should have it was
not to be endured. Fortunate it is for the Commissioners
that they have deprecated so decisively the idea of
arousing individual rivalries.
It is obvious that however great the progress hitherto
made, and however certain the prospect of all being
ready by the Ist of May, the time is now close at hand
when the Executive Committee must begin to tighten
the screw upon exhibitors, to gather up the ends of the
great work entrusted to them, to get a stage clear of
paint pots and men in paper caps before the curtain
rises and the performance begins. The following
is the substance of some very important resolutions
which they have come to in order that the opening
may take place, as announced by the Commis-
sioners. On the 2d of April the entrance into the
building for carts and waggons is to be entirely closed,
and the flooring still unlaid completed. No goods will
be admitted after that date, except such as do not ex-
ceed six feet six inches in width. Between the 3d and
the 10th of April everything brought into the building
must be brought in unpacked; otherwise it will be put
outside, and remain there till this condition is complied
with. After the 10th, and from then till the 20th
any goods that come in, without special leave for the
delay (this special leave being granted only in rare cases),
must pay a fine towards the funds of the Exhibition
according to the following rates.—For every article
weighing less than 281 b., 10s.; for every article weighing
more, 11. per 281 b. After the 20th no goods can be re-
ceived, except, perhaps, from foreign countries, under
particular circumstances. These stringent regulations,
if resolutely carried out, will do more than anything
else to make exhibitors wind up their preparations in
good time.— Times.

BANK OF FRANCE.
The following is a return of the situation of the Bank
of France on 21arch 20:—

ASSETS.

Cash in hand ... ... f. 384,336,66978
Ditto in branch banks ... ... 144,178,789 0
Bills past due
••• ••• ••• 61,755 38
Bills discounter], but not yet due, of
which 14,613,035 f. were received

from the Bratch Banks ... 48,202,901 25
Bills in the branch banks 77,174,065 0
Advances on coins and ingots... ... 1,214,800 0
Ditto by the branch banks ... ... 1,511,584 0
Ditto on French public securities ... 8,060,962 10
Ditto by branch yanks... ... 2,295,031 0
Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor... 50,000,000 0
Ditto on the loan of 75 millions ... 50,000,000 0
Rentes of the reserve fund ... 10,000,000 0
Rentes, disposable funds 42,675,496 28
Investments of the new branch banks in

the public funds . ... ... 12,952,725 74
Hotel and furniture of the Bank ... 4,000,000 0
Real property of tae branch banks ... 3,615,672 0
Interest in Nationd Discount Bank ... 200,000 0
Ditto branch banks ... ... ... 230,000 0
Expenses of admin,atration of the Bank 194,267 26
Ditto at the brandies ... ... ... 258,911 0
Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... 230,152 30

f. 841,393,782 9

LIABILITIES.
Capital . . f. 67,900,000 0
Ditto of the Branch Banks ... 23,350,000 0
Reserve fund ... 10,000,000 0
Ditto of the branch banks ... ... 2,980,750 14
Reserve-immobiliers 4,000,000 0
Notes to bearer, in circulation 414,210,700 0
Ditto of the branch banks ... .., 92,352,100 0
Ditto to order (post-bills) 6,229,963 56
Account-current with Treasury creditor 116,776,544 84
Various accounts current 68,104,563 48
Ditto in branches ... 23,693,053 0
Bills payable at sight ... 5,905,500 0
Ditto at branches 2,282,943 0
Dividends payable ... . . ... 456,073 25
Liquidation of the Algiers Bank ... 7,760 0
Expenses anticipated ... 141,473 58
Discounts, interest, and expenses ... 640,628 10
Ditto of branch banks ... 986,093 0
Re-discounts of the last six months ... 169,730 65
Ditto in branch banks 287,673 0
Interest on protested bills ... 305,156 37
)4iscellaneous ... 613,076 12

f. 841,393,782 9
Certified by the Governor of the Bank of France,

D'ARGOUT.

It appears by the preceding account that the cash in
hand has increased by 7,400,000 f. The commereial bills
discounted have decreased by 1,000,000 f. The Bank
notes in circulation have decreased by 15,000 e.
The balance to the credit of the Treasury has in-
creased by 2,800,000 f. Sundry credits have decreased by
200,0001.