Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-05-16
From the London Times, April Is.
The Great Exhibition.

From the London Times, April IS.
The Great Exhibition.
The CRYSTAL Palace is now, for the second time, in
its kSief history, emerging from chaos First, it
struggled into architectural symmetry and proper
tions from piles of timber and iron collected for its
orderly construction Its pillared asles its terraced
elevations and it's mathematical details and outlines
were all evolved from huge masses of materials,
which at first sight seemed to defy arrangement
That conversion executed with a speed and
success which excited general astonisbment. Ar
mis- of GLACIERS and painters surrounded the anatomy
of the vast fabric with vitrcous covering and dec
grated the interior with brilliant and well chosen
colors The galleries we're run up, the flooring OF
the basement laid, and the industrial world had its
limits and divisions carefully determined. In this
early stage of its existence, when FORCES occupied
the centre aisle when the ringing of hammers filled
the ears, and everything seemed rough and unfnish-
ed the Crystal Palace might Be compared to new
creaon-is foundations hardly settled its security
doubted vast unoecuped territories stiN remained
to be peoped and wide fields of labor to be occupied
Human industry had found world to inhabit, but
it had not yet taken possession.
In that state of matters deluge of packing cases
and contributors flowed in upon the building and
all was more in confusion. Chaos seemed to
have come again. For some time the task OF ar
ranging those vast piles of material was continued
without much apparent effect But new actors APP
pcared on the scene. Every portion OF the interior
had its occupant. NatiOnalities became realised
Each man put up stall for bis property, ana the
whole available of the building was disposed OF
in an orderly manner Now contributors begin In
earnest to furnish and adorn their respective allot
ments. Having made every suitable arrangement
for the change. they have commenced to cast their
shells. and to out like many butterflies IN
their best and brightest colors The transformation
is q remarkable process and We invite our readers
in order that they may understand it, to accompany
us through the building. We promise not to drag
them every inch of those interminabe passages
not to fatigue them by too minute survey, but ra-
Their to take the most attractive points as tar as
have become distinctly developed. There will be
ample opportunity hereafter for closer inspection
of the entire display, but. in the meantime and be-
fore the opening takes place, the chief features OF
probable interest those only which it seems de-
sirable to sketch.
The grouping and arrangement of statuary and
industrial trophies in the transept and along the
centre aisle now approach completion, and, on the
whole, promise to be most effective: Ihornycrotts
equestrian representation of Her Maj esty still retains
its prominent position in front OF the main entrance
position unfortunate for the character of British
art and still for the reputation OF the ar
fist, but which respect for the subject appears to
render unavoidable. Other specimens OF sculpture,
possessing, with one or two exceptions, no very eX-
traordnary merit, fill up the space towards the CEN
ire of the ransept where within species OF cover
ed tent, workmen are busily engaged IN construct
ing the great crystal fountain. Luxurlatng IN the
pleasant GOODNESS likely to be caused by the vicinity
Of this object stand the colossal statues OF the Duke
of Rutland and DR.. Jenner. His Grace, executed IN
bronze stoops forward as if anxious to say something
to somebody who is not visible; and the civilian
seated in ponderous easy CHAIR reminds one strong
" of that great fundamental law OF matter. that
body at rest will continue at rest MI owen Jones
anpears to have disposed these gigantic OBJ ects
with reference to the effect Of large upon the
eye in such position than for any other reason
They have placed near them groups and single fg-
ures representing classical and NEUROLOGICAL sub
nfp
in which the tricky, frolicsome and fairy character
Of the elf are most happily bodied forth by the ar
tst
From the transept down the eastern half of the
centre aisle the eye is carried perfect of
empty packing which, tumbled out OF the diff
fcrent fore gn compartments, swept away rapid
ly to the end of the building, where they disappear
in wagons In the midst of this debris rise the Or
gan and gigantic plaster statues of the French the
Austrian group of Mazeppa, their preparations for
magnificent stained glass widnow, the Amazon group
from Berlin, the great lion from Bavaria, and the
horses from Stuttgart The horses have not yet had
their tails appended to them, and there several
bronzes and statues intervening between the larger
Objects which still present very strange appear.
ance. For instance, opposite Belgium there is
piece of sculpture representing CAIN his hands out
stretched and his attitude of horror distinctly vis
BILE through mixed swathng of old newspaper and
green cloth. Between the two sections of the Zoll
veren several castings of nude figures in zinc
the blue mercurial color of which looks very odd
BrOnzes of male and female forms observed stand
ing erect in their packing cases, if 10th to leave
that shelter and attract public observation. Two
stays too might be observed yesterday, resting II
the shade of the Amazon group, with their horns
lying on the ground beside them, as if to promote
their comfort. The last object which catches tht
eye towards the eastern end of the is the leg
and lower half of a human figure, apparently max
ing every effort to escape from the building. s.
precipitate retreat the extremties performing
that we have strong doubts whether the merits O
the upper portion when completed will be suf6cien
to justify its detention.
Besides the Elects which, to American
term, are located" in the nave, there are other
which have a temporary usufruct of it, and which
must not be omitted in any description applicable
to the present state of the interior. Yesterday
bronze lion, the paws of which turned out Xix
dancing masters feet loiered about of the en-
frances to the French compartment. as If there wa
some doubt about the safety of admitting it. An
other foreign division barely sheltered within it
boarding very fierce looking panther or tiger, W
cannot undertake to say which. Germany appear
to share the apprehensions of the New York Heral
to revolution in England this year. she dread
eneroachment in some shape, with Russia on on
side and Austria on the other. She now exhibits a
one of the approaches to her compartments from tn
nave formidable piece of artillery mounted and i
gear for immediate service France. Judging OF wha
we see of her in the centre aisle is less beleose blu
still her political state is typfed, for only the da
before yesterday huge boiler slowly moved o.
rollers from the west end of the building into he
space But, not to lnger too long ourselves in tn
centre aisle let US pass through the different oreig
compartments, where collections of interesting an
attn okiv oh haOip tn