The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-23 00:00:00

TEE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The gale which during the night of Wednesday
and the whole of Thursday swept over the metro-
polis with such unexampled violence, has done
serious injury to the Crystal Palace, though by no
means so much as to justify the alarming and
exaggerated rumours which prevailed yesterday as
to the greater part of the building having been
destroyed. The building itself is uninjured, not a
single pane of glass having even been broken in it.
It is to the north wing .that the damage has been
done, and the destruction of this has been so total
that only a huge pile of ruins—broken columns,
shattered glass, and fragments of painted woodwork
—remain to mark the .spot where the wing so re-
cently stood.
In the first design for the erection of the Palace
at Norwood we believe these side wings were not
included. As the works progressed, however, it
was found necessary to have a wing to the south,
in order to cover in the route by which the building
could be approached from the railway, when, for
the sake of uniformity, a corresponding wing was
built on the north side also. Each of these wings,
as our readers are aware, was carried down the hill
for a considerable distance. Both were constructed
on the same plan as the main building, and both
were, for the greater part of their length, 48 feet
high by 40 feet wide. At the end of each was
built a lofty square tower in four stories, 96 feet
high and 80 feet square at the base. These were
erected to carry the water tanks for the supply of
the fountains, and the iron framework therefore
was of extra strength and laid together with un-
usual care. But, strongly as they were built, it
was found when the tanks had been erected on
their summits that they were not equal to carry-
ing the weight of so large a body of water. The
tanks therefore had to be removed, as everybody
had foreseen they must be, and two water towers
were commenced, which were just completed,
when it was again discovered that they too were
unequal to their duties, and the towers were
accordingly taken down, and the two fine water
towers now standing erected in their place. The
south wing of the building was of course only used
by the visitors going to an from the railway. The
north wing was at first set apart as a photographic
gallery, then as a picture gallery, and latterly it has
only been employed for the poultry exhibitions. It
was found, however, after the removal of the tanks,
that from the want of a top weight to steady them
the wind, when violent, acted more against the huge
square sides of these towers than on any part of the
Crystal Palace itself. When the. tower of the south
wing was given up to Mr. Strange to be divided
into a number of separate summer dining rooms the
topmost storey was removed, but the north wing
was left of the height it was originally built. Under
this wing was a large storehouse, and this has
escaped uninjured, as has also the carpenters' work-
shop at the end of the wing nearest the building.
During all Thursday the wind blew over the hills
at Norwood with extraordinary fierceness full
against the front of the Palace facing towards Lon-
don. That it was more violent here than in other
suburban districts is evidenced by the broken
branches of trees, the palings, and even garden
walls blown down in the neighbourhood. But,
although the pressure of the gale upon the whole
surface of the Palace must have amounted in the
aggregate to several thousand tons, not the smallest
perceptible effect was produced upon it, and, as we
have stated, not a single pane of glass was broken.
All stood well, till about half past 7 o'clock on
Thursday:night, when, during one of the fearful
gusts which then swept over the hill, some men in
the carpenters' room heard a little crashing of glass
and iron, and immediately ran out on to the terrace
garden. In another minute, with an appalling crash,
the huge tower fell over among some trees, and lay
smashed into millions of fragments on the ground.
In the course of two or three minutes more the rest
of the wing went, by 30 or 40 yards at a time, till a
total length of about 110 yards strewed the earth,
a mere mass of splinters of glass, wood, and iron.
Anything more complete than the destruction it
would be difficult to imagine. The appearance of
the ruin rather suggests that every part of the build-
ing has been carefully broken into small pieces than
that it has been merely blown down. A tremendous
explosion could not possibly have shattered the
place more effectually. The woodwork is all in
small pieces, the cast iron columns are broken up
like glass, and the tie rods twisted and torn into
every shape. Fortunately, there was nothing in
this wing but the empty pens used at the late
poultry show, and a number of garden seats; all
these, of course, are more or less destroyed. As far
as can be judged from the way in which the ruins
have fallen, it would seem that the corner column
nearest the railway must
_have bad to sustain the
thrust exercised upon it by the other columns
yielding to the force of the gale. As the wind
came in gusts. it is supposed the tower must
have oscillated to such a degree as to force the
corner column, on which the main strain came, out
of its perpendicular, when, of course, it snapped at
once. It was no doubt the breaking of this which
the carpenters first 'maid, and ran out on to, the
terrace, when the tower, thus deprived of its main
support, fell instantly before the next blast. It is
a great proof, however, of the strength of the
structure, that when the rest of the wing was thus
weakened and broken by the fall of the tower it
was not instantly overthrown also. It stood for
several minutes, and only fell piece by piece as the
wind swept down upon it with almost the force of
a hurricane. The strength of either of these wings
however, is not to be compared with the enormous
strength and compacteess with which the main
building is put together. The cost of rebuilding
the north NVllig, it is stated, would not amount to
more than £6,000, but as lately it was never used
for anything but the poultry shows, which can just
as well be held in the south wing, it is not probable
that it will he rebuilt at all.
The following is the official report of the damage
done :

" Crystal Palace, Feb. 22.
" Sir,—l regret to have to inform you that during the
gale which raged here with excessive violence between 6
and 7 o'clock last evening the square block which formed
the termination of the north wing of the Palace was blown
down, carrying with it a portion of the corridor which led
to it, awl in wich the poultry shows have been recently
held. Both block and corridor were empty, with the ex-
ception of a few garden-seats and trestles stowed there
during the winter. No personal injury has taken place,
nor has anything been damaged, except the shell of that
portion of the structure" above mentioned. The main
building and the other portions of the company's property
are entirely uninjured.
" I may add that the Muck in question, and ifs com-
panion at the opposite end of the terrace, were originally
designed to carry the tanks for pia) ing some of the foun-
tains. But this idea having been at an early period aban-
doned, the upper storey remained without the weight in-
tended to steady it, and was therefore more subject to the
action of the wind. The south block was reduced in height
last year, when it was added to the refreshment department,
and it was in the contemplation of the directors to do the
same by the other.
,6 It appears that the wind must ,have first taken the
upper part of the block, and that this, in its fall, brought
down the adjoining corridor ; but as the accident happened
after the closing of the building, no precise particulars are
known as to the manner of its occurrence.

" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" G. GROVE, Secretary."

STATE all TRADE.

MANCHESTER, FEBRUARY 22.—There has been
little or no business offering, but it is reported that
prices are rather steadier for Blackburn yarns and
shirtings. This is attributed to a rather steadier
cotton market, and to an impression that the strike
at Blackburn will be amicably settled. The mas-
ters have offered to reconsider the question of short
time in a month if the workmen will work full
he
till then, and though at a public meeting. f la
o
operatives on Thursday these terms
were
eet rejected,to-day
the manufacturers attending the inn
appear sanguine that most of theiprriwocraikppaelospalleeswiolfl
resume work on Monday.
The
and
market, bnt the
homein
pr
itcre asdie n,
long cloths and T cloths are
best
to
these goods arc relativelyth the
oe
has been weaker thia
value
yarns has been very limited ,
and for
have had to accept lower
the
week.
mThosetbkuisings ssneeirioef
rates to press 5211et.„....,—......—.
_____ _ _

DEATHTmhoer
ndi
negc aast ehoi
sf
this nobleman
F LORD
oo k place rnß llT°h°uKr sEd;
at Audlcy End. His lordship, whose state has been
seat
ch at
to cause serious apprehension for some time
past, was found dead in his bed. The deceased, Richard
Cornwallis Neville, Lord Braybrooke, Baron Braybrooke
of the county of Northampton, in the Peerage of Great
Britain, and Hereditary Visitor of Magdalen College,
Cambridge (fourth baron), was born OIL the 17th of
Marsh, 1820, and succeeded, on the 13th of March, 1858,
on the demise of his father. He married, on the 27th of
January, 1852, Lady Clarissa Sarah Graham-Toler, fifth
daughter of Hector John, 2d Earl of Norbury, by whom
he leaves issue two daughters. The deceased baron is sue -
ceeeed by the Hon. Charles Cornwallis Neville (now sth
Baron Braybrooke), who was born in 1823, and married in
1849, the Hon. Florence Priscilla Alicia Maude, third
daughter of Cornwallis, 3d Viscount Hawarden. His pre.
sent lordship has no issue, and the remainder is in the Hon.
and Rev. Latimer Neville, Master of Magdalen College,
Cambridge.
THE PROPOSED CITY IMPROVEMENTS AT SMITII.
PlELD.—Yesterda.y notices were issued that, for the pur-
pose of carrying out the intentions of all parties concerned
in the promotion of the establishment a a dead-meat mar-
ket at Smithfield, the promoters of that object have directed
several houses in King-street and West Smithfield to be
disposed of and taken down. The site in question is also
in the line of the several projected railways which are to
hove their termini in the neighbourhood of this locality.resen the
sum of L 2,000 towards the erection ofasoldiers iriiis'o-
in.
Government has determined on presenting
institute,.
, for the exclusive use of the troops at Chatham gar

DITION.

SUN OFFICE, Six o'clock.

AMERICA.

The following are further extracts from the NeW
York Herald of Feb. 9 :

THE ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER EXPECTED TO BE MADE ON

WEDNESDAY NEXT.

Washington, Feb. 8, 1861.
Col. Rayne and Li,iut. Hall, the joint representatives of
South Carolina, and Major Anderson, left this morning for
Charleston.

Lieut. Hall has had the final instructions of the Secre-
tary of War to Major Anderson for several days ; but has
delayed his departure because Col. 'Jayne was not ready.
Up to a very late hour last eveninc, the latter had decided
that he would not leave for several days yet ; but for some
cause he suidenly changed his mind, leaving much work
for Lieut. Hall to execute at a late hour last night. As late
as midnight Lieut. Hall was holding an interview with Mr.
Holt. Secretary of War. He had previously called upon
the President and Secretary Dix. Col. Hayne's sudden
decision last night to leave here this morning was un-
doubtedly in consequence of late advices from Charleston,
to the effect that the populace are ungovernable, and are
determined to attack Fort Sumter, no matter what over-
tures the federal administration here may make.
I am satisfied from positive information received direct
from Charleston, that the attack has only beent postponed
ac-
complish d
until they can erect a sufficient number ofbater
their purpose, and the moment that is done theywill open fire upon Fort Sumter without reference toany-
thing that Col. Hayne may be doing here. His hasty re •
turn undoubtedly has reference to this state of things. If
a fight is to be precipitated, there having been no yielding
to-the demands of South Carolina, he desires to make the
attack in a formal official way, and not allow it to be made
by a disorganised mob.
The time for withholding reinforcements to Major Ander-
derson will cease the moment Lieutenant Hall returns to
Fort Sumter.
I learn trom a reliable source that Wednesday next has
been fixed upon as about the time when the secessionists
will be ready to commence the assault upon Fort Sumter.
Four or five ships belonging to the Gulf squadron will
soon return to Northern ports, most of them to New York.
The impression here among gentlemen who are well ac-
quainted with the subject is, that no apprehension need be
entertained relative to an immediate attack on Fort Sum-
ter, as that question will be referred to the Southern Con-
gress; meanwhile the South Carolina authorities will keep
stricter guard of the coast to intercept any attempt to rein-
force Major Anderson; all domestic supplies and mail faci-
lities are to be denied, and every possible means taken to
weaken and starve out the garrison.
Major Anderson has written to Senator Crittenden, rela-
tive to the charge that on his movement in retiring from
Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter he took the act initiative of a
declaration of war. Major Anderson furthermore declares
that if he had been, or is, attacked under his present in-
structions, he will defend the fort to the last ; and, before
he will surrender he will blow up the works.

Washington, Feb. 8, 1861.

It is reported here to-night, that New York bankers have
decided not to loan money to the Government unless pre-
sent difficulties are settled.

RESIGNATIONS IN THE HOME SQUADRON.

A correspondent at Vera Cruz, writing on the 20th inst.,
states that Paymaster Clarke and Surgeon Grafton, both
of Arkansas, and now in the Home squadron, have sent
in their resignations, and asked to be relieved at once.
Lieutenants Rutledge, Porcher, Ingraham and Evans, of
South Carolina, and Midshipman Read, of Mississippi,
have done the same. Flag Officer Prendergrast has for-
warded their resignations, but refuses to allow them to
return them. These officers have represented to him that
the Union is dissolved, and that they cannet and will not
serve under a flag that is hostile to the South Commodore.
Prendergrast, although a Kentuckian by birth, adheres to
the Central Government, and will probably throw every
obstaclo in the way of Southern officers leaving the service.

A STANDING ARMY FOR VIRGINIA.
A bill is now pending before the Legislature which au-
thorises and directs the Governor to raiso and organise a
military force of not less than 10 nor more than 20 thousand
men, to be called the Virginia State Guard, which are to
be organised like corresponding corps in the United States
army, and to be governed by the same regulations and ar-
eieles of war. The bill empowers the Governor to com-
mission (with the advice and consent of the Senate) a per-
son of suitable military experience and qualification as com-
mandant, with the title of major-general, who shall have
charge of all tha forces of the State while in actual
service. The officers are to enlist to serve a term of years,
and, as enlisted, if not previously competent, are to be
placed at a school of practice to be conducted under the
orders of the Major-General -in-Chief.