The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-16 00:00:00

ATLANTIC AND GREAT WESTERN.

The traffic receipts on this company's lines, 507
miles in length, amounted for the week ending 23d
March, to $116,134, against $93,762 on the same
mileage for the corresponding week last year, show-
ing an increase of $22,372. The total receipts from
the Ist of November to the 23d of March (123 days)
amounted for passengers to $357,794, for freight
to $1,527,053, and for sundries to $54,349 —total
$1,939,196, against $2,274,810 in the corresponding
period, showing a decrease of $335,614.

THE MEMBER FOR CORK CITY.—On Sunday Mr.
Maguire, M.P. for Cork, arrivod in Queenstown from Now
York, after a protracted visit to tho United Stator and
Ca114(14.

The Alexandra Palace at Muswell-hill.

If in the selection of the site for the erection of the Crys-
tal Palace at Sydenharn one of the most elevated and com-
manding spots in the county of Surrey was sought to be
'attained as a justification for its removal from so great a
distance from the metropolis, nothing
Call be more appro-
priate to a building devoted to somewhat similar objects
than that obtained for the Alexandra Palace at Mnswell
Hill, which is less than half that distance from the very
centre of the metropolitan population.
Muswell Hill, on the highest pinnacle of which the
Alexandra Palace may now be seen rising in its noble pro-
portions from all sides of the metroplitan county, is in all
probability, with the exception of Harrow, the most lofty
point of land in Middlesex, and without doubt it commands
possibly as extensive, if not the must extensive, at all events
the most diversified views of town and country of any spot
in the kingdom;
and when completed, a result which we are
assured may speedily be looked forward to, the most mag-
nificent panorama of the vastest hive of industry and com-
merce which the world ever saw will lie opened to the sight
from the extensive terraces and galleries of the Alexandra
Palace. In combination with the panorama of the leviathan
metropolis of the Empire, on the extreme south, the
Surrey Hills, with the outline of the Crystal Palace and its
water towers, on a clear fine day are brought prominently
to view, whilst to the eastward may be observed that which
it may be hoped may in a short time again be designated as
the " silvery Thames," meandering between the shores
of Kent and Essex, along which Shooter's Hill, Frith, and
as far as Gravesend and Sheerness, are at times distinctly
visible in its onward course to its outlet at the Nore into
the German Ocean. Westward the heights of Highgate
and of Hampstead somewhat impede an extensive view,
in that direction, but passing more northwardly, by
" Harrow on the Hill," the prominent points of the counties
of Bucks and Berks, even extending to Windsor Castle,
present themselves, whilst further northward and eastward
extensive and pleasant views are obtained of the counties
of Essex and Hertfordshire. So far as site then is con-
cerned, nothing can be left to be desired beyond what has
been attained for that which we think we are correct in
saying was originally designated as the " people's palace,"
but which, in compliment to the'beloved consort of the
Prince of Wales, has now been rechristened as the " Alex-
andra" Park and Palace at Muswell Hill. The project was
originally inaugurated (and the writer of this notice per-
fectly well remembers being present at the splendid sum-
mer entertainment on the site where the " Alexandra"
Palace now stands) by no less a personage and friend of
the people than the venerable Lord Brougham. Many will
remember who were present on that memorable occasion,
no doubt, the practical and spirit-stirring address which
that noble and venerable peer made on the advantages
which these places of recreative instruction conferred upon
the comnsuuity at large—in the elevation of their minds in
the moral and social scale, by bringing them at the same
time in communion with all that is beautiful and sublime,
whether in connection with works of art or works of nature.
Nothing, it is believed, will more closely approach perfec-
tion in both these attributes than the Alexandra Palace
and its site at Muswell Hill, when finally completed.
So much for the site. The next points of importance are
the proximity of such an establishment to the metropolis,
and the facilities for reaching it. By the Great Northern
Railway to Wood Green, the station on which Alexandra
Park abuts, is but a little over a distance of four miles from
King's-cross, and when the various lines in connection
therewith form, as they will do by their platforms, part and
part of the Palace station, the facilities for reaching the
Alexandra Palace from all parts of the metropolis will prove
unexceptionable ; and if travelling by road be preferred,
then the spot is but an inconsiderable distance beyond the
four mile radius at Hornsey. As regards the building it-
self, after considerable mishaps and difficulties, and the
failure of one or two companies, the matter has at last been
taken up by a spirited body of individuals, and is being
carried out by men of known wealth and practical expe-
rience, and the building itself is so rapidly approaching
towards completion, that, if deemed advisable, it is in a
position to enable itto be opened to the public in the course
of the forthcoming summer. In the face, however, of the
attractions of the Paris Exhibition this year, and other cir-
cumstances, we believe we are correct in stating that it is
not contemplated that its actual inauguration shall take
place till the spring of 1868, by which time it is believed
the railways and all other accessories for convenient transit
and comfort to the public will be in full working order.
It may not be generally known that the skeleton of the
building which will be hereafter handed to posterity as the
" Alexandra" Palace has been erected from the materials of
the late Exhibition of 1862 at South Kensington, the design
of which by the late Captain Fowke, R.E., was the subject
of so much criticism and controversy. The architects are
Messrs. Alfred Meeson and John Johnson, the former of
whom was associated with the late Captain Fowke in car-
rying out the details of the 1862 Exhibition building, and
the contractors for its erection are the well-known firms of
Messrs. Kclk and Lucas Brothers, who have a staff of
workmen iu the building and grounds running very little
short, if any, of 1,000 men, exclusive of an immense num-
ber of other ertioeug employed in the workshop of the con-
tractors, and engaged in the prep tration of the internal fit-
ting required for the edifice. The present design is a modi-
fication of the old building, but so added to and altered as
almost entirely to obliterate its original architectural
character, and to appropriate it to the new situation and
purposes for which it is intended. 'rho architectural
order to which the Alexandra Palace belongs may be pro-
perly described as Italian, and its details aro being carried
out in a manner which will in all probability render it as a
its
description structure one of the most noble edifices of
description in this country. As regards the plan of
the building, it consists of a nave 900 feet long and 8
feet wide, with a central transept 430 feet long and
85 feet wide, and two smaller transepts, each 320 feet long
and 80 feet wide, intersecting the nave at a short distance
from either end of the building east and west. Over the
intersection of the nave and central transept is erected one
of the great domes of 1862, which forms the central
and
grand summit of the building. This dome is 220 feet in
height in the interior, and in diameter 170 feet. Much, of
the glass which existed in its construction at South Ken-
sington has been removed and substituted by solid roof,
the interior of which will be, when finished, executed in
highly decorated and ornamental panels, a subdued though
fully suffi:Hent light being admitted near the top of the
dome, and by lunette windows round its sides. The shorter
transepts at their intersection with the nave are surmounted
by a pendentive octagon cupola, lighted by eight ornamen-
tal windows in the sides, finished by a bold enriched cor-
nice and panelled ceiling and pendant. Each end of the
nave and the three transepts are terminated with large
semicircular-headed windows, which when finally com-
pleted are to be filled with stained glass. On each side of
the nave and transept buildings aro erected about 50 feet
wide and two stories high, ying brick external walls,
with arcaded openings and windows. Externally the ends
of the nave and transepts present eight grand pendimented
façades, flanked by supporting turrets, enclosing the large
windows before described and having handsome arcaded
entrances. These façades' aro united by the walls of the
lower buildings, two stories in height, and by the colestory
walls and roofs of the nave and transepts, and the whole is
terminated by a bold and very effective brick and cement
cornice, and by exceedingl ornamental parapets. The
general character of the architecture of the entire building
externally is Italian, and consists principally of brickwork
in two colours, viz., white or yellowish white bricks for the
y
mass, with red brick arches and Portland cement dressings
in imitation of stone. The white bricks, it is stated, are manu-
factured in the adjacent county of Hertfordshire, and are
considered to be of a very superior description, in fact not
inferior to Suffolk bricks, whilst the red bricks aro produced
from the clay, and aro made on ground in close vicinity to
the palace, and are also considered of a very superior
quality. The roofs are covered with " Duchess" slating,
laid on two-inch boards and asphalted felt, and zinc nails
aro used throughout the slating. Above the roofs and from
the centre of the building is a bold, twelve-sided tambour,
pierced with windows, and surmounted with a cornice and
entablature. From this spring the base of the great cen-
tral dome, which is terminated at the top by a balustraded
parapet, from the centre of which, when completed, will
rise a standard mast to the height of 80 feet. This great
dome is covered with Muntz's brass-coloured metal, laid on
with a lap and tongue in a peculiar manner, and panelled in
relief by moulded ribs. The octagon cupolas forming the
summit of the building at the intersection of the smaller
transepts and nave also show above the roof noble tambours
with entablature and cornice, and an Italian roof covered
with zinc in rolls, and terminating with an ornamental final
and spire, which, when finished, will be gilt. The building
is surrounded on all sides, and approached by magnificent
the
terraces, which, in addition to the artistic taste with which,
when finished, they are to be laid out, already possess the
palace. Possibly the
m
advantage of stately trees of the growth of many years, and
which will remain as a part of the natural ornamentation of
theo s gtl
noble
is 1,003 feet long and 100 feet wide; and which by means
of being supported by Italian arcades will corer the railway
.oun d
st
terrace r theac e p
willark b attached
t t (l
on t o
the
northern side, which
station, from which access will be had direct to the build-
ing. This access will be obtained directly at the ends of
the three transepts, and into which station, judging from
the preparations already iu progress, it is expected that
nearly, if not every railway in London will, at no distant
period, have trains running for the convenience of visitors to
the palace. Ou the southern and western sides there will be
a carriage roadway, with a covered carriage entrance, form-
ing at the same time a conservatory at the western end of the
nave and communicating by an easy drive with the public
road. This, then, may be taken as a fair description of the
architectural as well as general character of the Alexandra
Palace externally ; but it must be borne in mind that
among others of the important features connected with this
gigantic undertaking the peculiar beauties of the park have
to be brought into consideration, and also in connection
therewith that which will be looked upon by a very large
section of the community in all probability as the crowning
advantage of this magnificent design, viz., that its slopes
and terraces wilt command a perfect view of one of the
finest race courses in the kingdom. It will not be surpris-
ing in a few years to find that the doings of Epsom and
Doncaster, of Brighton and of Goodwood, aro completely
thrown into the shade by those of the Groat Metropolitan
Laos of Alexaudra Park, Proposing to ula4o the interior