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

OR NOT ?

SHALL THE CRYSTAL PALACE STAND

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;
SOM9 of the objectors assuming that the structure is
composed 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-
bition closes. Part of these arguments I have already
refutt din my letter to Lord Campbell of July 14, and
therefore it would be superfluous to repeat them o❑ the
present occasion. My impression is, that nearly all the
objections 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-
citement 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
sides, yet when the wood was removed, and glass sub-
stituted, 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
upon what I feel sure will be the result. There is one
subject, however, in that pamphlet respecting the
changing of the building into a winter park and garde❑
,vhich app-ars 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
our 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
Awelling-houses.

In order effectually to meet the questions of the sta-
bility and durability of the structure, and also the
rinaucial difficulties which are supposed to surround it,
I now propose to bring the subject into a very narrow
compass ; uud 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
now stands into good condition for a permanent use, and
have procured from Messrs. Fox and Henderson an es-
timate of the cost for removing all the boarded sides
aid substituting glass, and also for putting the roof and
every other part in efficient repair, which they engage
to do et a cost of from 12,0001. to 15,000/. I have also
procured an estimate from the same gentleten of the
expenses for keeping the building in perfect repair and
order during a period of 21 years, and this they offer to
do fur 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
lease 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
admission to the control and supervision of Government.
By these means all questions concerning the stability,
efficient 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.

Devonshire-house, Piccadilly. London, 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 ve,sels will return off Osborne to be in attendance
on the Court. When about preparing to comp up on
Saturday, the American packet steamer the 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, C. 8., of Devonport Dockyard, has been
very unwell for some days, and is still labouring under
d severe cold. He has been attended for some days by
Mr. Tripe, surgeon, of Devonport, under whose skilful
treatment it is hoped his Lordship will be restored to
his wonted strength and vigour in a few days.
Captain William Slaughter, K.ll. (1837), a distill-
guibhed officer, who served afloat for about eighteen
years during the war, but who has not served since be
was posted, has accepted the retirement of 1846. Ho 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-
Tito, on the lines of the Tribune, 28, building at Sheer-
-1 less; and the other, a paddle-wheel steam-sloop, on the
Ines of the Cruiser, building at Deptford Dockyard.
'rho Admiralty have ordered the Apollo, 8, troop-
ship, Constnunder Rawstorne, on her arrival from Hali-
fax with her troops, to proceed to Chatham, and be paid
off at that port. She has dune 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
lienderson's secretary's office.
Magicienne steam-sloop, in charge of Mr. James
Brown, arrived at Spithead on Sunday morning, en route
for Devonport.
Styx steam-sloop, Commander W. K. Hall, will pro-
ceed on the sth proximo to the Cape of Good Hope.
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY, The Oberon steam-vessel
completed her 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.
Who Birkenhead steam troop-ship, Master-Commander
R. Salmond, sailed from Madeira for the Cape of
Good Elope on the Ist instant.
The fine Indiaman Southampton, Captain Bowen,
arrived yesterday from the river for Calcutta.
teeTTtibli)oeu
moDfotanhsaehrecfir steam-vessel, Commander Le Febvre,
sailed last evening for the Channel Islands, for the pro-
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,Tn
hshlenrdyi.aman arrived at Spithead to-day
from London, outward-bound.
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Assistant Surgeon Edwards (1851), to the Express,
6, brig, at Devonport, under orders to proceed to the
Brezih;, to be employed in the suppression of slavery
on thqt station.
Clerk Henry Perry (1849), to the Centaur steam-
-16, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, left
frigate flag-ship for the south-east coast of America
gsihcoierlitlnye'after ten o'clock A.M. today on her
station.\v Toolil
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return to Devonport, in charge of Mr. Diddlecomb, who
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 visit the Exhi-
bition, returned to Devonport in her.