The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-05-26
FIFTEEN CENTS A w


ingenuity and manipulatve skill-the stupendous
project in Short of the Great Exhibition, has at
length been realized in all its entirety-has at
length been translated from great thought INTO
great deed. The achievement stands proudly forth
in all the symmetry of completion The greatest
trophy ever erected Of human progress, industry
and Skill has been triumphantly piled. Yesterday,
amid organ peal and trumpet flourish, and the echo
ing volleys OF artillery, Queen Victoria, from her
throne in her Crystal Palace announced that the
exhibition is now open,' and at the magic words
the mingled sounds of music and ordnance were
drowned together in the mighty surge OF that great
roar of acclamation-the voice OF the multitude
lifted up, like the sound of many waters-in honor
of the proclaimed festival, and joyous recognition
of the'commencemen Of this great Battle OF Peace
between all the nations Of the world.
We copy the following from the European Times
of Mays:
After several days of excitement, during which
the public curiosity has been wound up to the high
est pitch, the morning of Thursday, the day fixed
for the opening of the Great Exhibition of the in
dustry of all nations, opened most auspciously.
On the preceding day we had rain and hail, with
very cold weather, but the glorious first Of May
was uninterrupted by scarcely cloud and al mid
day, when the Queen assembled the throne, the
ehulgence OF the sun left other wish unqualified.
AS far as the mortal arrangements depended
upon man, they were perfect, and l rejoice to say
d
tnat have heard of. L found, upon reaching the 1
Pecadilly, at nine o'clock in the orning, line Of
carriages which reached from the Exhibition to the
eastern end Of Long Acre, good couple of miles;
and the same thing existed west, north and south
Finding this to be the case, | alighted and walked
into Hyde Park, entering the commissioners gate
without the slightest inconvenience. The scene
upon entering was beautiful in the extreme. AL
ready every seat occupied, but member of
Parliament, who an exhibitor, contrived to
make a little cotere in the Tunisian department, to
which | was admitted, and | the whole lnau-
guraton scene under the happiest point OF view.
The company kept pouring in until the last mo-
ment and at half-past eleven o'clock gazed upon
the wonders of the grand transept, and heard the
mighty organ from the west end, the tones waiting
their sounds through the maze of British manuac-
lures and productions; while at the eastern ex-
tremity you the American Eagle proudly con-
spicuous the bold inscription which marked
the region of the United States productions-long
lines of beautiful women, with officers and gentle
men filling up the back ground, and in every way
the eye was turned some surprising natural or arti
fetal object was be seen the tout ensemble was
altogether most beautiful. Punctually at twelve
O'Clock the Queen arrived; her entree being marked
by long and animated cheering. She seated her
self on chair raised on platform, surmounted by
spacious elegant blue canopy adorned with
feathers, with Prince Albert her left. They
were accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the
Princess Royal. The court circle was now com.
pletely formed, making tableau to be for
gotten. The Queen looked remarkably WELL She
the Order of the Garter, pink brocade Dress
shot with gold, and the Prince looked calmly and
proudly happy.
The Duke Of Wellington who this day compile
ted his eighty second year, had been there nearly
two hours before, and the Commis ssioners and all
the officials and ladies' OF the household surround
ing the throne presented of extraordinary
| splendor The National Anthem was performed
Al Ial Il
the glass building. Prince Albert, with the Com.
missloners, presented himself before the Queen
and read the report described in the official pro-
gramme. | could not hear the tones of the Queen
when she read her reply, from the spot where
placed but the fact is, any mortal voice is lost
in the vast edifce. The Archbishop OF Canterbury
| then delivered the prayer of Inauguration, which
/ was followed by the Haelujah Chorus of Handel
under the direction OF Sir Henry r. Bishop. The
| elect of this most striking and the voice o
| the chorsters were here in the fullest perfection.
| A procession then formed of most inter
| esting character. The state herads preceding
| Messrs. Paxton, Fox, and Henderson, led the way
Then all the officials engaged in constructing
the building; afterwards the foreign acting com
missoners; and most singular it to see all the
| various costumes worn by hard-headed capable
| men from every quarter OF the world Then fol
| lowed the Royal Commissioners, among whom
| noticed Mr.. Golden, dressed in plain black coat
| Then followed the venerable Duke of Wellington
walking side by side with the Marquis Of Angle
| sea both were loudly cheered. The Forelgl
| ambassadors, among whom Mr.. Lawrence ap
peared to cons iderable advantage from his age an
commanding appearance, followed, and her Majes
ty's Ministers, headed by Lord John Russell
These were loudly applauded; and lastly, tn
Queen and Prince Albert, the leading tn
Prince of Wales, and the other the Princess Roya
closing the procession, with the Royal Prussia
guests at the palace, and the ladies of the house
hold
The procession first marched along the Britis
| or western nave. and then, recrossng the transep
passed on to the eastern extremity, the Unite
| States end At every step new acclamation
arose the music from the various organs salute
the procession it passed, and thus every perso
| in the building enabled to see every indivdu;
| in the cortege. The Queen then declared "th
Exhibition opened" and the trumpets and artiller
announced the fact to the countless multudes ou
side. The whole auditory arose to give partin
cheer, or series OF deatening acclamatons of jol
and the ceremony terminated by the retirement
the Queen, who went back to Bucking ham roaat
in the state in which she had come
The multtudes in the park were countless.
looked through the glass window and sea
human beings surrounded me on all sides. Ever
body was in good humor, and all the superstto,
, presentiments of mischief which had been forme
, in the imaginations of some minds, were who'll
talsihed. Never was so great spectacle inaug'
i rated with much good order and tranquility,
+ the presence of perhaps half million Of hum;
i | beings.
a The Queen having left the building, the cor
pany began to circulate. Perhaps your readers
n | distance will proceed with me in rapid to
: throughout the various departments of the Exhit
# ton. The first objects which strike the visit
h upon entrance, either at the north or south end
e the transept, are two magnificent gates stretchir
E across, which having passed, he finds himself
e the centre Of the building, amidst statuary, fou
d tans, palm trees and tropical shrubs, I
If equestrian statues of the Queen and Prince Albe
n forming the most prom inent features, amidst
e infinite multitude of objects, each of which is d
IS played to the best advantage. Along the ma,
10 both towards the east and the west there is
cesson of gigantic statuary, in MARBLE iron, bron
n and zinc, the latter Of very remarkable charact
lg Almost the first object which arrests your atte
ton is the Koh-i-noor diamond, secured in stro
OF cage of iron, richly gilded and, by contrivan
nr this precious jewel, which is placed SIN
rs pedestal, sinks at night down into the strong r
~ chest upon which the cage rests, SO that it is ST
Y and secure night and day. Crowds iocked rou
Ii ~ this jewel to admire its size and brancy.
"is Along the whole length of the building, in
20 centre OF the nave is placed succession OF
hss most striking objects, relieved by the statua
m m There are models of bridges and towns all of ella
oh rate execution and among them the model Of Liv
~ pool holds the foremost rank. There are, besiC
M, enormous telescopes exquisite models Of macl
H. cry small chapes to exhibit specimens of stai
III glass, the Acis and Gaatea fountains, the Am
in IN can statues OF the Wounded Indian and the CIR
~ Slave, the statue of Shakespeare, and the crv
,IJ fount in the centre OF the transept, presentin
ha, very graceful and striking appearance. Perh
Nc the whole world has never furnished such RENT
,a able series Of attractive objects are contained
MS. this nave alone.
s,s was prepared 10 find that the articles from
TTniad States xuonId "a nf tho nthar na =,