The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-28 00:00:00

OR NOT ?

The subject of the retention of the Crystal Palace
has,been much canvassed and commented upon since the
publication of my pamphlet, wherein I suggested the
propriety of converting it into a winter park and gar-
den. To this proposal objections of several kinds have
been raised, and circulated with considerable industry;
.40E129 of the objectors assuming that the structure is
iomposed of such perishable materials, and is so un-
stable and unfit for a permanent building, that they re-
commend it to be destroyed immediately after the Exhi-
aition closes. Part of these arguments I have already
refuted in my letter to Lord Campbell of July 14, and
therefore it would be superfluous to repeat them on the
present occasion. My impression is, that nearly all the
objectiuns hitherto .made have been advanced by indivi-
duals living in the neighbourhood of the building, and
who, judging of the future by the present state of ex-
, eitemeot produced by the Exhibition, have anticipated
' annoyances which I believe will never be realized.
In my -pamphlet already alluded to I partly antici-
pated these mistaken views, and briefly remarked that,
although at present the building, to suit the purposes of
the Exhibition, looked heavy from having boarded
,ides, yet when the wood was removed, and glass sub-
Aituted, and the canvass coveriing taken down, it would
become a really beautiful object, exhibiting through its
transparent.sashes a picturesque park and garden, the
advantages and pleasures of which those living in the
immediate neighbourhood would possess more than or-
dinary privileges of enjoying. I likewise hazarded an
~pinion that property in the vicinity would be enhanced
in value in consequence; and the more I examine what
I then stated the more I am convinced that my opinions
were neither visionary nor enthusiastic, but founded
tipon what I feel sure will be the result. There is one
~,übject, however, in that p ,mphlet respecting the
;;hanging of the building into a winter park and garden
which sppfars to have been misunderstood, and which
I now beg to correct. It has been supposed that I wish
to produce the summer climate of southern Italy during
-Ur winter, whereas it was my intention to imitate the
winter temperature of that country, which would be
about 10 degrees colder than the ordinary heat of our
dwelling hoio•es.

In or'iier effectually to meet the questions of the sta-
bility and durability of the structure, and also the
financial difficulties which are supposed to surround it,
1 now propose to bring the subject into a very narrow
compass ; and therefore, since the publication of my
letter to Lord Campbell, I have duly considered the out-
lay which would be requisite to put the building as it
aow stands into good condttion for a permanent use, and
nave procured from Messrs. Fox and Henderson an es-
timate of the cost for removing all the boarded sides
and substituting glass, and also for putting the roof and
every other part in efficient repair, which they engage
;co do at a cost of from 12 0001. to 15,000/. I have also
procured an estimate from the same gentlensen of the
expenses for keeping the building in perfect repair and
order during a period of 21 years, and this they offer to
do for the sum of 5,500/. per annum.
To prove that no public grant will be necessary highly
responsible parties are ready to take the building on a
!ease of 21 years, if permitted to do so; and that the
purposes for which it would be retained might be fully
answered, they are willing to subject their tariff of public
Omission to the cot.trol and supervision of Government.
3y these means all questions concerning the stability,
fficient maintenance, and the non-requirement of a
public grant, are, I hope, entirely set at rest, and the
only thing now to be decided is, whether the Crystal Pa-
lace shall stand or not. JOSEPH PAXTON.

Deronshiri—liou,P, Piccadilly, Lo,i(iou, July 25.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Victoria and Albert royal yacht, Captain

Crispin,- and her tender, the Fairy, Master-Commander
Welsh, returned to Portsmouth from Osborne, on Satur-
,lay, and will remain in harbour till this morning, when
both vessels will return off Osborne to be in attendance
o❑ the Court. When about preparing to come up on
Saturday, the American packet steamer th© Hermann
from Southampton for Bremen passed by them; but long
before the vessels reached Spithead the Hermann was
considerably astern of both yachts, although she is con-
sidered a fast and fine vessel.

We regret to state that Commodore-Superintendent
Lord John Hay, GB., of Devonport Dockyard, has been
very unwell for some days, and is still labouring under
.1 severe cold. He has been attended for some days by
Mr. Tripe, surgeon, of Devonport, under whose skilful
ireatmeut it is hoped his Lordship will be restored to
his wonted strength and vigour in a few days.
Captain William Slaughter, K.H. (1837), a distin-
gui,hed officer, who served afloat for about eighteen
years during the war, but who has not served since he
was posted, has accepted the retirement of 1846. He is
in the receipt of the Greenwich out-pension.
The Admiralty have ordered two new screw ships to
be laid down at Pembroke Dockyard—one, a screw fri-
,zate, on the lines of the Tribune, 28, building at Sheer-
laess; and the other, a paddle-wheel steam-sloop, on the
toes of the Cruiser, building at Deptford Dockyard.
The Admiralty have ordered the Apollo, 8, troop-
ship, Commander Rawstorne, on her arrival from Had-
tax with her troops, to proceed to Chatham, and be paid
,4-f at that port. She has done good service since
January, 1849.
Mr. Edward Loney has been appointed assistant-sur-
geon to the Express, at Devonport, for West Indies.
Mr. Henry Perry has been appointed clerk to the
Centaur steam-frigate, for service, in Rear-Admiral
itenderson's secretary'! office.

Magicienne steam-sloop, in charge of Mr. James
Brown, arrived at Spithead on Sunday morning, en route
for Devonport.
Styx st-am-sloop, Commander W. K. Hall, will pro-
ceed on the sth proximo to the Cape of Good Hops.
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY. The Oberon steam-vessel
completed ht.r provisions for Malta, and adjusted her
compasses yesterday.
The Diligence naval transport sailed from Spithead
on Friday evening for Woolwich, to land her stores.
The Rolla, 6, Lieutenant Fenwick, sailed on Friday
night for Devonport.
The Birkenhead steam troop-ship, Master-Commander
R. Salmond, sailed from Madeira tor the Cape of
Good Hope o❑ the Ist instant.
The fine Indiaman Southampton, Captai❑ Bowen,
arrived yesterday from the river for Calcutta.
The Dasher steam-vessel, Commander Le Febvre,
sailed last evening for the Channel Islands, for the pro-
tection of the fishery.
The Monarch Indiaman arrived at Spithead to-day
from London, outward-bound.

APPOINTMENTS.
WOOLWIcEI, JULY 25.—Captain Sir Frederick William
Erskine Nicolson, Bart. (1846), to study steam at the
Royal Naval College Portsmouth.
Assistant. Surgeon Edwards (1851), to the Express,
6, brig, at Devonport, under orders to proceed to the
Pfoerrrythe
Brszils, to be employed in the suppression of slavery
on that station.
(1849),50-east coast of America
uth
to the Centaur steam-
frstation.
The rbgicience, 16, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, left
Woolwich rbortly after Lou o'clock A.m. to day on htr
return to Devonport, in charge of Mr. Biddkcomb, who
iCgaleterkti Henry
Yip
brought her round to this port to take back the riggers
who navigated the Valorous steam-sloop from Pembroke
to Woolwich. Lieutenant-Colonel Fegen, of the Ply-
mouth division of Royal Marines, with his family, and
several persons who had come round to Tisit the Exhi-
bitio, returned to Devonport in her.