The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-20 00:00:00

TILE (TREAT NORTHERN PALACE COM-

PANY MUSWELL-HILL.

Last evening a very numerously-attended and
highly-respectable public meeting was held at the
Barnsbury Hall, Barnsbury-street, Islington, con-
yened by the promoters of this undertaking, for the
purpose of eliciting the feeling of the inhabitants
of the district in reference to the proposed People's
Palace. The chair was taken by Mr. J. R.
M'Arthur.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings of the
evening, said he had been called upon to take the
chair at this meeting, and if any influence he pos-
sessed in connection with the Literary Institution
of Islington could be exerted in favour of the un-
dertaking for the erection of a " palace for the
people" at Muswell-hill, he should be happy
to exercise it. He contended that such a struc-
ture could not but be beneficial to every class
of the community. He forcibly dwelt on the
marvellously-improved tastes of the people,
and to all that had been done to promote progress,
and to the realisation of that which in former years
had been regarded as a dream. The time had
arrived when the people required a better sort of
entertainment than that which had satisfied them
many years ago. Thus they witnessed places of
public entertainment thrown open to the people at
low prices, and there was one instance or more
where a picture gallery had been added to the
charms of good music, which were enjoyed at the
lowest possible charge. The proprietors of theatres
had given up the idea of high prices, and by the
numbers who patronised them they were enabled to
secure the services of eminent artists. In the pro-
jected concert room of this intended building 10,000
people could be accommodated apart from any ob-
jectionable influences. Having described the
beauties of the scenery in the vicinity of Muswell-
hill, the speaker observed that there were two ques-
tions asked, first, could the people pay for it ? and,
next, would they pay for these advantages ? Now,
could they pay for it ? Why, the people as a mass
could pay for anything. Why, 15 years ago he had
made a calculation that the people spent in wines
and spirits as much as £50,000,000. If they took
one-tenth of that population, they would spend
£5,000,000 on wines and liquors, They did not
want £5,000,000 here, for the whole amount of
capital required was but £600,000, which at 5 per
cent. would be £30,000. What would not the
people pay for ? If they went out for a holiday
they required something more than dry instruc-
tion—they required intellectual recreation. A
clange had come over these matters. Formerly
authors starved because they wrote for the few ;
whereas they now write for the multitude, and be-
came rich men. He instanced the vast sale of the
Cornhill Magazine as another instance of the im-
proved feeling of the people ; 450 years ago the
great Chaucer had dreamed of a temple of glass,
and that dream had been realised in the present
age. The hon. gentleman concluded an able speech
by calling upon the meeting to support this splen-
did undertaking of erecting a palace in a locality of
surpassing beauty.
Mr. JOHN MASTERMAN rose to state the
objects of the directors and the steps
which had been taken to give effect to
their intentions. He had himself two years since
visited a friend near Colney Hatch, and was struck
with the immense populatioß on this side of the
river, and he made some inquiry as to the means of
amusement which they had, and he found that the
population on the north side of the Thames was five
times larger than that on the south, but he found
no place of importance where recreation and amuse-
ment were to be found. He found there were nu-
merous cemeteries and a large lunatic asylum—(a
laugh)—and it struck him that such a state of things
could not go on. He found out a very desirable plot
of ground, being a property adjoining the railway,
which was for sale, and in bargaining for the pur-
chase, he made it a condition at the outset that the
parties must by no means anticipate a further value
on the land, but be content with the marketable
value. The area of 450 acres was taken, instead of
limiting the purchase to 150 acres, for the palace
and grounds. He knew that the Crystal Palace
Company had made the fortunes of many land-
owners, and he thought it fair that this company
should partake largely of the benefits which they
were about to confer upon others. Sir Charles Fox
had accompanied him for a day, and that gentleman
went over the estate, and he was perfectly satisfied.
He then consulted Mr. Spencer, of Bowood, wh°
gave a decided opinion that the ground was well
adapted for the growth and protection of flowers
and shrubs. Mr. Owen Jones had devoted a whole
month to the consideration of his plans, and he de-
cided to build an edifice which should surpass any-
thing that had ever before been seen. It had been
determined to do nothing in hostility to the existing
Crystal Palace. He trusted there would be only
reflected light from one to the other in the deterral"
nation to provide rational and refined amusement;
for the people; but the promoters were determined
that wherever experience could be brought to bear
they should correct the errors which had been shown

in connection with the Crystal Palace, and to im-
prove upon their arrangements as far as the wants
of the public had been aseertained. There was
one thing which had annoyed the visitors to
the Crystal Palace, and that was the descents

and ascents after leaving the railway station, which
was like undergoing the miseries of a middle
passage ; that difficulty would be entirely removed
here. The passenger would be brought into the
building with only 48 steps, and visitors on horse-
back or in carriages would be under cover and
sheltered from the elements. The concert room
would hold 10,000 persons, and they would sit in
comfort, aye, and in luxury. The building would
be built on the best acoustic principles, and would
be devoted entirely to music. Upon the temporary
arrangements made at the Crystal Palace that com-
pany had improved, but they had not been success-
ful because the original arrangements were not
good. At the Crystal Palace the tropical depart-
ment was at the further end ; here it would be under
the centre, and the dome would be twice the span
of that of St. Paul's, and it would be heated very
Cheaply. The second principle they laid down was,
that unless they found, upon most careful examina-
tion, that the undertaking could be carried out at
a cost which would yield a profit of 10 per cent.,
they would not proceed further with it, and the
directors considered they were within the mark
when they calculated on 10 per cent. only. The
third principle was one of a tender character—the
directors had determined to keep the palace and
grounds closed on the Lord's-day—(great cheering)
—though they had support tendered to them from
persons, who were anxious to. pursue the con-
trary course, but whose assistance they refused.
(Applause.) Lord Brougham had declared that
the undertaking was calculated, in his deliberate
opinion, to bestow inestimable blessings upon
society, and that it would succeed as a commercial
speculation. Lord Torrington was the hardwork-
ing chairman of the company, who was absent, he
was sorry to say, from illness. The directors of the
Great Northern Railway had put themselves for-
ward to aid the scheme. He trusted that those who
joined them would contribute to an undertaking
which would be the honour and glory of the
country.
In reply to a question put by Mr. Edmiston,
Sir C. Fox stated that the estimate would not be
exceeded, that he never had in his experience ex-
ceeded his estimate. The estimate he had given in
to the directors of £200,000 for the building was
sufficient, and, said he, "it shall be sufficient."
(Applause.)
Mr. HAZLEWOOD entered at great length into the
financial view of the question, and referred to a vast
number of items in a printed comparative state-
ment, showing the great difference of charge as
between those of the Crystal Palace and this un-
dertaking, the difference being £1,459,000 against
£400,000 for the People's Palace.
Mr. HOLLAND proposed the first resolution
" That the explanations given to this meeting by
the promoters of the palace of the people at Mus-
well-hill with respect to the nature of the under-
taking and its financial prospects, are highly satis-
factory."
Seconded by Mr. UZIELLI.
Mr. EDMISTON moved the second resolution,
" That this meeting fully approves of the proposed
palace of the people, which the meeting considers
will prove very beneficial to the neighbourhood."
• Seconded by Mr. TEFLON.

Mr. KING said such a palace had become a public
necessity. After some remarks he moved the third
resolution, " That this meeting pledges itself t 0
support the Great Northern Palace Compaq
(Limited), which has been formed for the purpose
of constructing 'the Palace of the People' at Mlle"
well Hill."

Mr. S. TEULON seconded the resolution.
• Several speakers warmly supported the move"
meat,
Several applications for share were forwarded t°
the chairman, and the proceedings throughout were
marked by the greatest cordiality of feeling. s
Mr. Jo/1N MASTERMAN moved, and Sir CnAm
Fox seconded, the resolution, which was carried
unanimously, "That the best thanks of the meet-
ing ing be given to the chairman for the able manner
ton'
in which he bas presided over the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN replied, and the meeting seP4
rated.

The New Brazilian 41 per Cent. Loan ~,1
£1,373,013, announced by Messrs. Rothschild, was :4,l"'t
yesterday I to 1 premium. Reckoning the accrued dividia
and the time allowed for the instalments, the actual prince
will be £BB 3s. Bd. It appears that this loan will not i
volve anyincrease whatever of the liabilities of Brazil. due
whole being intended for industrial undertakings whic
already possess Government guarantees.