The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-05-06 00:00:00

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OPENING OF THE GREAT EXHIBMIGN.

On Thursday last, the Ist of May, the unparalleled
Exhibition of the Industry and Arts of all 'Nations was
opened under the most favourable auspices. Her Majesty
in person opened the Exhibition, thus solemnly inaugu-
Tating the metropolis of the British empire as the indus-
trial capital of the world.
Although for many days past the weather had been
threatening, and sometimes downright wet, yet theusual
good fortune which has always attended her Majesty on
her appearance in public did not desert her upon this
memorable occasion. Accordingly to our great gratifi-
cation, in which we have no doubt every subject of her
Majesty participates, the sun rose merrily upon as'nne a
day as could be desired, and that is -saying everything.
The disappointment would have almost been an European
one had it proved otherwise, and there is no doubt a eon-
tiderable damp in both senses of the word would have
been thrown upon the proceedings, especially the -out-
door ones, if they had taken place under that heavy-unin-
terrnitting mizzling rain with which oar climate occasion-
ally celebrates festive occasions or Rational holidays.
such, however, in spite of some 'people who delighted in
dismal- forebodings as to the weather, was not the case.;
and beyond a few drops which fell just as the procession
was passing Hyde Park Corner, the climate, for an
English one, behaved extremely well. The day was
generally described as one of the Queen's " own days:"

The din-of preparation was plainly audible in the neigh-
bourhood of the Crystal Palace during the whole of Wed-
nesday night, and as early as five o'clock on Thursday
morning all London was astir to do honour to so great
an occasion. At seven the Park gates were opened, and
at nine the Exhibition ; but long before the appointed
hour 2 large crowds had begun to assemble, and many

hundreds:of carriages waited patiently at the various
gates leading into the enclosure. The building itsaif—
the 'Crystal Palace—was of course the great object of
attraction-to the gazers on foot, and whither, as soon as
permitted, many thousands of persons were posted the
whole morning ; but there their gratification ended, for
of course it remained a sealed book to all who came un-
-provided with the " Open Sesame" tickets, and the great
majority of the crowd, therefore, were obliged to rest
contented for the present, feeding their hungry eyes upon
its shining exterior, as it stood like some monstrous levia-
than, almost the only tranquil object amidst the general
turmoil. But though the crowd and confusion here were
very great, even at half-past eight, they were by no
means confined to that spot. From every quarter of the
great metropolis thousands upon thousands thronged
westward. Every possible and impossible description of
vehicle that could jolt along on wheels was pressed into
the service, and made subservient to the universal de-

wand for conveyanci
post•chaises that ha 4

es to the Crystal Palace ; old rickety
I lain by rotting in stable-yards for

many a year came forth once more, and blazed their faded
glories feebly in the sun. Spring vans, handsome phae-
tons and carriages, donkey carts, cabs, and even trucks
full of people streamed slowly onwards over Westminster
Bridge and down the Strand, in such numbers as to im-
press beholders with the idea that all London was moving

" crowded to the very roof. rolled
some instances stuck fast at the foot

Out of town. Omnihu
" To the Exhibition
heavily along, a
of Westminst
to pull them c

h, with the road

literati

iblockeci up, the

window occupied

dm, amidst the s

ring of coachmen,

g of pan,

av morning to the inhabitants of

thereabouts. Along Birdcage-walk and
t was much the same, with the excep-
rer the Exhibition the crowd

m more dire

After ten

Ile to pass along Constitution-
oad pathway being literally