Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-12-05
MISCE LLAN Y.
The Great Exhibition of 1851.

Not The least wonderful part Of the exIi-
bition which is 10 he opened next year will
he the editce within which the specimens of
the industry of all nations are TO be collect
ed. Its magnitude, the celerity with which
il is to he constructed, and the materials OF
which II is to be composed all combine to
insure for it a large share Of tha. attention
which the exhibition is likely to attract and
TO render It's progress matter OF great pub
lie interest. A building designed TO cover
752, ,S32 superficial feet, and 10 have an ex-
hibting surface of about ~ acres TO he roof
ed in and handed over TO The Commissioners
within little more than three months from
its commencement, to lie constructed entire
Iy OF glass and iron, the most fragile and the
strongest of working materials, 10 combine
The lIghtness OF Il conservatory with The sta
biity of our most permanent structures
such a building will naturally excite mitch
curiosity as To the mcde in which the works
connected with ii are conducted, and The ad-
vances which arc made towards its compile
ton. Enchanted palaces that grow up in a
| night are confined 10 inlry land, and in this
material world of ours the labors of the ma.
son and the carpenter are never ending. Ii
took 800 years 10 build st. Peters at Rome,
| 30 to complete our own 81. Paurs. The
/
Is years in hand, and is still unfinished
| We run up houses, i; is true, quickly enough
in tins country, but it there he touch OF
magic in the lime occupied, theie is none in
the appearance of SO much stucco and brick
work as our streets exhibit. Something We
ry different from this is promised for the
great edifce in Hyde Park. Not only is it
to rise with extraordinary rapiditv, but in ev-
| M hpr rps : IN bp nf A.
rabiGn .Nights' remcmbrances. la lis favor
The window law is to be ignored, and 90O,-
900 superficial feet Of glass, weighing up
wards of 400 tons are TO be used in its CON
siruclicn. Not stone uor brick will be
employed throughout the spacious structure
which is TO rest upon $500 cast iron columns
and 10 he strengthened and kept together by
2,224 grders of The same material. The
| plan of il which has been published, repre-
sents an editice in every respect qualified 10
becone the repository OF specimens of the
worlds industry; the basement and two up
per tiers diminishing in area they ascend,
| aud thus securing graceful variety of OUT
| line, while the monotonous effect of facade
1913 feet long is broken by spacious tran
sept. This transept, 4OS feet long and y f..
wide, will he arched, and will rise TO the
height of lOS feet, inciosing within it, rs in
a glass case, a row of trees, which respect
for The park timber has induced the commls-
sloners 10 spare. The roof of the entire
building, resting on the cast iron girderS, will
be what is technically called ridge and val
lew aud will look like an undularins sea,
the whole being covered with canvas 10 ex-
cluie the rays of the summer sun and prevent
any Inconvenience arising from excessive
heat. This will he the case in every part OF
the structure except the transept, where the
presence OF trees render light necessary, and
where, lhel eore, the arched glass root will
remain uncovered. When closed in and
completed, the view presented by the interi-
or will, II is anticipated, be wonderfully
graceful and splendid. The central avenue,
l,S44 feet long, u ieet broad, and &c feet
high, with rows of pillars shooting off from
it OH eiIher side, and go arranged that Tie eye
can traverse freely TO every part Of the build
ing; must have a very grand appearance
Care has been taken TO have the columns
upon which the whole fabric rests distributed
with such regularity that no confusion or
forest like effect be produced by them
Il will he the same in all the avenues as in
the central one, although there, from its pro-
portions and the entire absence of galleries
OF upper flooring TO break the perspective
the view presented will be most imposing
Besides the immense space thus devoted
to the general purposes OF the Exhibition
there will be on the north side of the
building room set apart for the reception
ofniachinery. The dimensions Of this apart
ment are on Il scale proportonate to the i'm
portant branch of inventive industry to which
it is TO be dedicated. 1t will be GAG #. long
as feet broad, and "a feet high. Another
feature Of the building will be the Refresh
ment Courts, which, in accordance with The
aristocratic spirit of the country. are 70 be
divided into three classes. Those whost
means and tastes incline them 10 patIon'Zt
the first will discuss the delicacies OF the sea
son under the branches Of the trees wlllci
, occupy the north end of the transep, those
whose habits of lie are less AMBITIOUS, Of
whose palates are less discriminating. mus
move westward while for the crowd of hum
: BILE visitors the requisite accommodation will
be provided on the northeast side of the build
f ing