The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-02 00:00:00

ttrpoot o tanbarb.

FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

MONDAY I.IOBNIN G.

Tor past week has been a singular one, as exhibited
through the sayings and doings of the •metropolis : one of
Ins remarkable peculiarities being the general propriety
manifested by all classes in observance of the day of
national humiliation. All the shops were closed, even in
those districts most open to the charge of Sunday trading ;
the churches and dissenting places of worship were gene-
rally crowded by attentive congreg,ations, and the cus-
tomary concomitants of a cessation from labour—pleasure-
seeking and dissipation—were less prevalent than on most
similar occasions. The outbreak of an eventful war can-
not be other than a suitable season for a Christian nation
to approach with feelings of self-abasement and humilia-
tion to that throne of grace and source of power whence
it nationally looks for aid and hopes for pardon, and whence
alone efficacious support in the day of trial can be derived.
To know, then, that the solemn fast was characteristically
observed throughout the metropolis and the country, is a
ground of satisfaction, scarcely, if at all, impaired by a
knowledge of some proceedings little creditable to the
parties under whose auspices they occurred. An announce-
ment having been made that the Lord BISHOP of LONDON
would preach in St. Paul's Cathedral, and that the Lord
MAYOR and Corporation would attend the service, an
immense crowd was attracted to the church, the arrange-
ments for receiving and accommodating which were
unfortunately defective. Thousands of persons were per-
mitted to congregate round the doors, which were not
opened till within a few minates of the time when the
services were to commence, and the opening of the means
of entrance was followed by a rush of people more fitting
the avenues of a theatre than seemly in the entrance to a
Christian temple. Several parties, among whom was the
LADY MAYORESS, were hustled and knocked about in a
most alarming manner ; indeed, it was said her ladyship
was in imminent danger of being trodden down and
trampled on. The subject of general misarrangement on
the occasion was brought under notice of the Common
Council, on Thursday, by the LORD MAYOR, who com-
plained in strong terms of the incivility, inattention, and
rudeness of the vergers. It was resolved to bring the
matter formally before the Dean and Chapter of St.
Paul's: What the representation may result in, it is no
easy matter to conjecture ; only one opinion, however, can
be formed as to the lamentable impropriety of such un-
seemly displays. In such cases it is not easy to accord
the exact degree of censure to which the parties are re-
spectively open. If the vergers were inattentive and rude,
their conduct is not easily justified, even on the plea of
an over-pressure upon their resources ; but it is at least
equally difficult to exonerate from blame those who seize
the opportunity of converting a solemn religious observ-
ance into something bordering closely on the curiosity
with which they would survey a secular spectacle. If the
parties who are represented as inconvenienced, if not
indeed injured, in the scramble, had contented them-
selves with the observance of such religious ordi-
nances as were celebrated in their respective places of
worship, instead of endeavouring to participate in what
many of them must have regarded as a display at St.
Paul's, the evil complained of would not have occurred.
On Tuesday last, just as the weekly meeting of the
Board of Directors of the Crystal Palace Company was
about to break up, intimation was unexpectedly received
that HER MAJESTY was approaching to view the struc-
ture and the grounds at Sydenham. The QUEEN was
accompanied by PRINCE ALBERT, the PRINCE OF WALES,
the PRINCESS ROYAL, PRINCESS ALICE, and PRINCE
Amman. The bustle and excitement occasioned by the
surprise having subsided, HER MAJESTY was waited
upon by Sir JOSEPH PAXTON, Mr. LAING, Chairman of
the Board, Mr. FULLER, Managing Director, Mr. SCOTT
RUSSELL, Mr. BELSIIAW, Mr. MILNER, and others.
This being the first occasion on which HER MAJESTY
had an opportunity of inspecting the transept, since
the scaffolding was removed, it attracted her special
attention, and she appeared to be much gratified by
the boldness, magnitude, and orderly beauty of this
portion of the edifice ; the Royal party expressing
their satisfaction in terms of warm approbation. HER
MAJESTY and the Royal party visited in succession the
various courts of ancient art, and made a prolonged in-
spection of the numerous objects of interest which fill
without crowding the Assyrian Court and Ninevite
Palace, now nearly completed under the superintendence
of Mr. LAYARD and Dr. FERGUSON. Of these Panics
ALBERT spoke in terms of high and cordial commenda-
tion. Crossing the nave, Mr. DIGBY WYATT conducted
the Royal visitors through the court devoted to Christian
art, and briefly explained the most remarkable objects
with which it is adorned. MYa MAJESTY, with the
laudable spirit of inquiry by which she is possessed, having
intimated her desire to inspect the grounds, irrespective
of the difficulties by which such inspection is beset, was
conducted by Sir JOSEPH PAXTON and Mr. WATER-
HOUSE HAWKINS, along the upper and lower terraces, and
with obvious delight surmounted the difficulties expe-
rienced in traversing rough walks, uneven tramways,
deep cuttings, unfinished slopes, heaps of loose earth, and
hollow basins, until she arrived at the spot on the lower
margin of the lake, which has been selected as the locality
of the antediluvian monsters, by which the geological
section of the institution is to be illustrated. These pre-
adamite wonders having been duly, though in brief terms,
explained, the Royal party prepared to retire. On return-
ing to the building, HER MAJESTY was presented by Mr.
P. DELsaforrE, the distinguished photographist, with
two beautifully executed collodion representations, one of
the exterior of the building, the other of the interior of
the nave. With these, which are 24 by 18 inches, (the
largest yet taken,) Han MAJESTY expressed herself much
pleased, PRINCE ALBERT also condescending to make
inquiry as to several practical points in their mode of
manipulation. After having spent a considerable time in
the inspection of the varied departments, and in peram-
bulating the edifice and the contiguous grounds, the Royal
visitors departed, evidently much pleased with the inspec-
tion. Whispers of HER MAJESTY'S presence having cir-
culated rapidly, a large concourse of people awaited her
departure, and the royal cortege was loudly cheered as
they drove off:

Apropos of the Crystal Palace, at their meeting on the
day referred to, the directors of the company decided that
they shall hold the supply of refreshments in their own
bands. It has also been resolved, if possible, to open the
building by a public inauguration, on Saturday, the 27th
instant, of which circumstance there seems little reason
to doubt the accomplishment, as the works are now very
far advanced, and the remaining preparations are being
rigorously pushed forward.
Parliament, which re-assembled on Thursday after the
Easter holidays, has not, as yet, evinced great eagerness in
the pursuit of business. In the House of Lords attention
was called by Lord ELLENBOROIIGH to the alleged want
of provision and accommodation for our troops on their
arrival at Gallipoli. His lordship founded his inquiry on
the information conveyed by the correspondent of one of
the daily newspapers, in which the preparations for the
reception of our brave troops, and the means for lodging,
feeding, or attending to their necessities of any kind, are
represented as of the most wretched possible description ;
neither mattresses nor blankets being provided for the use
of the sick. The allegations were denied by the Duke of
NEWCASTLE, in a great degree, on his own knowledge,
supplemented to a considerable extent by conjectures
founded on that knowledge, and on collateral circum-
stances. His grace summed up by admonishing newspaper
correspondents to be careful in ascertaining the truth of
their reports before giving them publicity. Of the whole-
someness of such advice the parties lectured will, no doubt,
feel the full force ; and if, at any time, any of them should
stand in need of such sage counsel, they will not fail to re-
member that it -derives additional value as coming from a
member of that cabinet which has acquired a reputation
at least as wide as it is deemed creditable through its con-
nexion with the famous "secret correspondence." In
common with every other Briton, I rejoice to learn that
the state of matters at Gallipoli has not been so shame-
fully bad as the Times' correspondent represented them to
be ; but even his Grace of NEWCASTLE'S assurance does
not amount to a demonstration that those accusations
were " entirely destitute of foundation." In the mean
time the conduct of the war continues to afford much
matter fox cogitation, and is the subject of remark in every
circle of society. One allegation connected with the con-
duct of the war will be found too hard for even:the united
efforts of " all the talents" to suppress or alter, and that
is its dilatoriness. If Russia could be persdaded to take
a lesson from our mode of management, there would be
no haste to cross the Danube, or to push their approaches
to doubtful results ; her generals, like some at least of
ours, would be innocently partaking of entertainments,
and amusing themselves at shows. As often happens with
barbarous opponents, the Russians appear to have little
respect for the measured suavity of our movements ; they
do not seem to understand or reciprocate the graceful
tardiness of our hostile minuet, but have, with savage
energy of purpose, set about the steps of their war dance as
if upon its movements depends the ultimate success of
their undertaking. Ignorance and obstinacy like this, is
as provoking as it is unbecoming ; if they would only
mingle a little more patience with their stupid method of
condacting the war, they would see that about autumn we
ready to commence the spring campaign,
should be and
bring it to a conclusion about the time the winter snows
begin to whiten the summits of the Carpathians. It is
hopeless to look for so much rationality from them. In_
deed, doubtful if they will have as much
deed, it seems
politeness as to wait for the gathering of our troops • and
he would be a bold speculator who should venture to
say they would scruple, should opportunity offer, to re-
enact the massacre of Sinope, although they are aware
Dv easy stages to meet
that our generals are proneedino
them.
The simulated wisdom of the owner of Clamber bebrasPiaaersks
has led me into a wide digression from the
rsda
, HER
y
of Parliament. On re-assembling
on Thu
MAJESTY'S most faithful Commons had their visual
Divans attracted by several little objects, which,
blown dan-
ghng in the air between the galleries, are
by a
about by every zephyr, as readily as a radical
wind of doctrine. Various surmises were freely
hazarded as to the end and objects intended to be
forwarded by this unusual display. At first, it was con-
lectured that they were puff-balls, in some mysterious
manner connected with Mr. GLADSTONE'S financial policy,
and in this light they attracted considerable and rather
awe-inspired attention from Sir CHARLES WOOD ; Mr.
DISRAELI, labouring under a similar delusion, was also
observed to bestow on them a quizzical as well'as an in-
quiring glance. At last Lord Jowls., sorely puzzled as to
their meaning, applied to that veteran solver of difficulties,