The New York herald., 1851-08-15
Our London Correspondence.

LONDON, July %, 1851.
Sarteh Of the Carer of a Man of Gerius-A Brief
Account Of Mr.. Patton, a~d the Origin of the
Crystal Palace.
There is a lull in politics, and temporary cessa-
tion of hustle and stir in fashionable life at the
West End. AS the adjournment of Parlia nent
draws nearer, the great world is gradually leaning
for the country and the watering places. Yet, the
Worlds Fair continues to be an undiminished
attraction, and the crowds which daily flock to it
undi minished in number. These crowds consist
not merely Of those who 60 inside the building, but
the gatherings Of all kinds and classes outside which
Is so great In the vicinity that it looks Ito compare
great things with smalD like bees swarming. l
observed, in former letter. that the Crystal Palace
looks for all the world exactly Like conservatory
in q gentlemans garden, or a hot-house, and in
fact il s nothing more. The history of Mr.. Paxton,
the designer Of the building, and first proposer Of
the plan, Is interesting and curious. He work
ing gardener by profession, and is now about so
years Of age. He was in the employ of the Duke Of
Devonshire, and superintendent Of his hot houses
and conseryatories at Ch stsworth, a celebrated
villa and esae belonging to the Devonshire family,
in Derby shire. One idea often makes mans for
tune; this one idea of his, to construct huge con
servatory, has suddenly raised Mr.. Paxton to
fame and notoriety He is faed everywhere, and
invited, as q lion, to every society. The building
itself is often called the paxton Palace" OF
course, such sudden honors and the increase Of so
much applause and admiration, have had their ma
tural effect upon the mind Of Mr. Paxton and he
deems the achievement Of his idea, and the mag
nitude Of the huge hothouse to be Of the great
est exploits ever accom- plished by So IL is in
one sense. You have seen glass shades pla ,ed over
tender plants in garden; well, this is Of them,
only i Is beyond dispute the greatest glass shade
OF bell that ever was made 10 the world 1t is
due, however, to Mr.. Paxton, to say that he bears
his honors we'll, and his demeanor and department
in private society, as have had opportunities Of
witnessing, those Of per rfect gentleman. There
is something Of the Yankee in the history of the
career Of Mr.. Paxton, AMI in the ease and facility
with which be adapts himself to the high position
20 which be has fortuitously been raised For it is
Characteristic especially sppertaining TO the Ame.
rican, TO bt ar either poverty or wealth With equal
sang frOtd and equanimity-an American feels tnat
be has a right to live, if he is poor, aud
does not forget the rights Of others If be Is ever
rich. Mr.. Paxton was a poor boy, born in the
humblest rank Of life but being naturally shire Fd
and intelligent, he early acquired by industrious
application a decent education, 70 whi;h he
Afterwards added the stores Of knowledge
which reading, observation, and reflection
alone accumulate Not many years ago he was
working as poor day-laborer, for a large market
gardener in the country, at the humble wages of
"a. a week How often Il happens, In individual
life, that an event which appears to us, and per-
haps is, at the time, the very of misfortune,
turns out 70 be the very thing which Afterwards
leads TO Advancement and prosperity. So 1t nap
pened with Mr. Paxton in his lovly condition. He
lad The mistortune 20 quarrel with his employer,
and IN consequence Of angry words VII .ch passed
between them, be was turned out Of his situation.
The situation Of Mr.. Paxton now, with a wife and
child 10 support, out Of work in a country where
empIoymsnt is not 50 easy t,9 procure, was what
be vas not east down 500 much, but maintained
sil a bold and independent spirit In this sond tion
Of misfortune, which he knew not was the en- rance
70 the road which would lead 10 the highes. honor
and preferment, be wandered about the country, in
no very enyable state Of feeling, vainly seeking
employ ment. IL was the custom az that time as il
still IL, for poor laborers who are looking for a
days work, 10 collect at the gates OF such places
where large number Of men in their line Is often
employed. With this view, young Paxton otton
loiered az the gates Of the gardens Of Chas worth,
amoug other workmen, as an humble candidate
for Job. On one Of these occasions, it hap
pened that "a he was standing unemployed
one day, at the dukes garden gate, the duke him
self came by on horseback, and. in passing, spoke
% him, mailing some trihing inquiry. The duke
rerceiving him 60 be q smart intelligent young
man, addressed fe more questions TO hun, and
aving ascertained that be was jourueyman gar.
dener out ofwork, told bim TO come in aud look at
the gardens. He was afterwards ordered 20 call
again the next day, which he did, of course, and
having received employment, aud Often meeting
the duke n the gardens, bis Intelligence and per-
iect kno We lge OF bis profession gradually became
NEE asd more known, and as known, apprcc ated.
his Jed 10 Tho end in due course Of time, TO his
teeomrg the bead gardener aSd superintendent OF
TIE gardens ard grounds AZ Chatsw0rth Here no
became, a' practical and scicath' gardener, at the
very head Ct bic profession. and this positO1 he
uaintnirrd with Increasing ability and honor TIL
time came when the Great Worlds Fair. f,r an
exhibition Of the industry Of all nations, was con
question wa, what sort 0f building shOuldis be