The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-07-26 00:00:00

THE NEW YORK CRYSTAL PALACE.

In its general appearance, as well as the materials em-
ployed, the building resembles the Crystal Palace of Hyde
Park, but in the details of its construction it departs
sufficiently from its prototype to make it quite a new and
interesting object. Its form, as the Germans would say,
is that of a Greek cross, surmounted by a dome at the
intersection. The length of each diameter of the cross,
according to the official description, is 365 feet 5 inches,
and the width of its arms is 149 feet 5 inches. In
length, therefore, it corresponds, with the number of
days in the year. But, although the form is that of the
cross, the outline of the ground plan is more nearly a
regular octagon. By ingeniously filling up the triangular
intervals between the arms of the cross, with a lean-to of
one story, 24 feet in height, the space of the floors has
been greatly enlarged, and the most available use made of
almost every inch of the site. The slight architectural
defect which this arrangement occasions in diminishing the
perspective of the interior is amply compensated by the
substantial advantage of mare room. The slender but
graceful columns of the interior divide it into two prin-
cipal naves, each 41 feet 5 inches wide, leaving at the
centre, just under the magnificent dome, a noble octagonal
space, 100 feet in diameter, which is appropriately occu-
pied by the colossal equestrian statue of Washington, by
the Baron Marocheal, while the sides of the octagon are
devoted to the Amazon of Professor Kiss, and other
grand pieces of statuary. But the columns still further
divide the aisles and the triangular intervals into square and
half-square compartmentsrof 27 feet each on theside,whilst
the isles themselves are covered with galleries of their
own width, to which a multitude of broad stairs conduct
the visitor. The naves are carried above the roofs of the
galleries, to admit light, and are spanned by 16' semi-
circular arches of cast iron, 40' feet 9 inches in diameter,
and placed at a distance of 27 feet from each other. The
building is, of course, much inferior to the Crystal Pidace
of ffyde Park in size and in imposing effect ; but many
persons who have seen both confess that the proportions
are more graceful and pleasing. The immense dome
gives a remarkable elevation and grandeur to the interior,
while the decorative part seems to me more elaborate
and elegant. The management have, however, made
one most damaging mistake in accepting the locality
granted them by the city. It is directly next to the great
distributing reservoir of the Croton Water—a huge square
block of granite, inclosing some 20 acres, which hides it
completely- on one side, and dwarfs and diminishes its'
whole appearance. As the ground, tooer in that neigh-
bourhood was unoccupied, the speculators took hold of it,
and covered it with a multitude of unsightly structures,
which are now used for grog-shops, restaurants, and pup-
pet-shows. The consequence is, that the whole region
presents the aspect-of a miserable, dirty, crowded, half-
finished suburb. Could the palace have been placed in a
fine open space,-it would be ten times the ornament it is
now.
It was to be opened on the 14th instant, the day after
the departure of the steam-ship Africa. An immense
amount of goods had been introduced into the building.
Cipwards of 1,900' packages had' been received over
1,400 more were in the Custom-house, waiting to be
passed ; 700 or 800 more known to be on board ships
then in the harbour; and a large number, of which no
accurate estimate could be made, ware on their way across
the sea. Probably not more than one-third of the articles
intended for the Exhibition had been introduced into the
building ; and yet the following statement of the appraised
value of the articles imported, in the various departments,
will give a general idea of their aggregate value :—English
department, £40,985, or 8"204,925; Italian, =8*57,509;
French, *111,400 ; Holland, $98,008; German, $34,490; -
Belgium, $11,700 ; and Hamburg, 4320,000. The whole
of these articles would not be displayed at the opening
ceremony ; but enough of them would be exposed to
make a very good show, and to give an indication of what
might be expected afterwards. The suits of armour from the
Tower of London, sent over by the English government,
were taken in on the 12tb, but had not been opened.
They were contained in eight or ten large boxes, and
would be displayed in different parts of the building. The
Italian department will contain some magnificent speci-
mens of artistic genius and skill. Besides a very large
collection of pictures, statuary, &c., of the highest merit,
by-some of the most eminent living artists, there are also
several curious ornamental tables, with elaborate pictures
of complicated historical scenes, made entirely of bits of
coloured coed inlaid. They are from Nice, and are the
work of Signor Giuseppe Claud°. For one of them the
sum of 8'2,000 had been• offered. They are among the
most remarkable curiosities-in the Exhibition. There are
also some exquisite specimens of filigree work, one of the
most beautiful being a full-length figure of Columbus. In
the Austrian department some elegant specimens of arti-
zanship have been introduced ; . among them is a single.
small, glass stand, designed as a table ornament, valued at
,1ir6,000. Holland has contributedrery largely to the collec-
tion—works of art, choice pictures, &c. Under her corn.
mission have also been introduced alarge quantity of articles
from Japan, comprising the greatest variety, from mere
playthings to shoes, head-dress ornaments, &c. ;...
teresting group of articles and specie of the native
manufacture and current coinage of the empire of Japan
had arrived, in the steam-boat Illinois, from San Fran-
cisco. Amongst- them were three large lithographic
drawings, or tracings, said to be executed in a style far
superior to anything of a similar-nature produced by the
Chinese. One of the tracings represents the Empress of
Japan attended by her maidens, and is an elegant artistic
production. The second exhibits-the deity which is wor-
shipped in Japan. Among other curiosities which hadt
arrived were two Liliputian working models of steam-
engines, which were, a few years-ago, exhibited at the
Royal Polytechnic Institution, and, for which space has-
been obtained in the English department. These are the
most curious specimens of minute workmanship that will
be exhibited. The smallest one, an oscillating-cylinder
engine, sten& upon. an Englisk. fourpenny-piece with
room to spare !' The cylinder is but one-sixth of..an inch
In diameter, the length of stroke three-eights, and
the diameter of the piston is that of an ordinary
needle. The other is a beam-engine. composed of more
than two hundred pieces. The length of the stand is three
and-a-quarter inches ; length of beam, two-and-a-grrter
inches ; diameter of cylinder,. three-eighths of an inch ;
and the length of stroke seven-eighths of an inch. Both
of these engines are screwed together with the utmost
precision and delicacy. They were made and sent to New
York for exhibition by Mr. Benjamin J. Warner,,the Lon-
don watch-manufacturer. The day before the opening the
interior presented a scene of the greatest confusion. That
term hits off precisely the physiognomy of the building at
the moment. A wilderness. of unassorted, unopened, un-
cleaned ~unnumbered, unnamed, and unadorned bales and
boxes. Polyglot superscriptions on the treasures scattered
in all:directions, met the•eye. " Amid all the hurry and
crash of toil and skill,"• says a New York journal, " it is.
plainly to be seen that, although the inauguration of the-
Crystal Palace will take place to-morrow, in presence of the
national, state and city authorities, the foreign ministers
and commissioners,, and assembled thousands. yet the
Exhibition will not be ready. Not only, will it be
unready to-morrow, but we hazard little in saying that
it will be several weeks before all its: details, including
those of the lateral• arcade, will have reached completion."
President. Pierce had commenced his progress for the pur-
pose of being present at the inaugural. ceremony. At
Baltimore and, Philadelphia he had been received with
great cordiality. He was accompanied by threnmembers
of the Cabinet.. Mr. Secretary Marcy was not among
them. It is said that a difficulty had arisen between Mr.
Marcy and Mr. Buchanan, the newly-appointed minister
to this country, in consequence of which the latter would
throw up his commission. The secretary was unwilling
to give the envoy carte blanche. in regard to the fishery
question, and hence the disagreement between them.
Forty.two Choctaw Indians, had arrived at New York
from the distant south on a visit to the Crystal Palace.
Dressed in their native costume they intend to give exhi-
bitions of their modes of life. national songs and dances,,
the latter being simple recreations in the open air.

TEN THOUSAND rtga AFPtEs arrived lately from
Nassau in good condition, after a quick passage, by. the
Fidget, part of which were sold at auction, on Thursday,
by Messrs. Fletcher and Firth.
MAILS FOR TURREX.—In consequence of a break down
of the Peninsular mail steamer Tagus, the Constantinople
steam packet from Southampton, which would, start on
the 27th inst.., will not be dispatched until the 10th
proximo.
THE EMU, OF MQUNTCASHEL and his youngest son, the
Hon. George Moore, were passengers by the Asia, on
Saturday week. They arrived here by mail,, from Daislin„
the previous morning, and, having proceeded to the resi-
dence of some friends at Oxton, they joined the ship on
the following day. His lordship goes out to visit his
estates in Canada.
INTEMPERANCE AND SUDDEM DEATH.--A woman
named Beattie fell down dead in Dalton-street, West
Derby-street, yesterday morning. Her husband, who is
a tailor, was drunk on Sunday ;.and on yesterday morning,
finding the deceased had taken what money he had left
from his debauch on Sunday, they quarrelled over it, and
the deceased ran out of the house, and instantly fell dead
in the street. An inquest will be held on the body of the
deceased this day (Tuesday).
REVOLTING IMMORALITY.—A seaman, named Daniel
Ford, residing in a house of ill-fame in Spitalfields, was
found dead yesterday morning, in bed with a prostitute
named Ann M'Coy. The deceased bad been drinking for
the last three weeks ; ever sir.ce he has been ashore from
a vessel which arrived from Bombay, he had been re.
siding in this house, in one of the most abominable loca-
lities in the town. From a letter found on the deceased
it would appear that he was a married man, and had a
family in London. The inquest will be held to-day
(Tuesday.)
LAUNCH OF THE CISNE (SWAN).—This fine steamer,
one of the handsomest models of naval architecture afloat,
built by our eminent townsman, Mr. Thomas Royden,
for the highty respectable firm of Messrs. Duarte Bro-
thers and Co.' as a regular packet between Oporto and
Lisbon, was launched on Thursday last, at noon, from
the building-yard of the former gentleman. She was
named by Mrs. Potter, the amiable lady of Edward Pot-
ter. Esq., of that firm. The Cisne has been modelled
especially for speed, and for overcoming the difficulty and
dangers of the bar at Oporto, and the violent gales and
heavy swell of the Atlantic on the coast of Portugal. She
is to have powerful engines and ample boilers, which are
now making by Messrs. Fawcett, Preston and CO,' of thiS
town.