The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-17
Opening Of the Crystal Palace.
OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENTS
LoNpoS, Friday Evening, Nav 2, 4


Of The interior Of The Crystal Pa,ace.,riroo Of the Queen
EnthusiGsm-1he Royal Pd,ty-The Ceremonies-7Ye
Scene Of the Inau grGtion-Ihe .4naican Compartment
The Opera Houses IN the Erening, &C., &c.
With the sensations of this imposing spectacle still
fresh upon my mind the swelling notes Of the solemn
anthem still vibrating the the eye sti reveng in
Imagination the beauty that thronged that fairy pa
lace, sit down to report TO you the events Of day
memorable in the annals Of the world, denoting the
first landmark to the human traveller Of the amagama
tion Of races the overthrow Of social barriers the ad
vance-hand in hand-of all nations towards mutual
friendship and fraterna love. This is indeed great
event, the Importance Of which cannot be overrated
have witnessed many imposing and awful ceremony In
the course Of my life have beheld Paris pour its thou
sands and tens Of thousands to hail king, and welcome
a republic have behed two emperors review army
Of seventy thousand who obeyed their word like
man, in silence and in dread have Genoa H.
Illuminated at night and the Mediterranean blaze with
meteors have stood the Giants Stairs at Venice
and behed oppressed people forget their wrongs Ia
the bacchanalisn orgies Of their carnival have seen
kings and queens laid out in state the mockery Of royal
yand in the cold slabs of the Morgue the fren-
zed countenance and blue lips Of the innocent girl who
had sought death from despairand the forms of the
derer and the murdered all sights calculated to
emotonsbut never, with sole exception, has any
sight produced so imposing effect upon as the
mony Of the Inauguration Of the Palace of Industry
Of All Nations, on the LIST Of May, 1851.
The sole exception alude to total eclipse Of the
SUM- which visible at Milan the sth OF July 1912
When the light Of day grew dim and darkness oerspread
the Of earth the thousands Of spectators assembled
the roof Of every edice Of the city revercntly
covered many wept and when the earth passed, and
the first brilliant ray Of light again visible a
shout like the distant Of the ocean, greeted
it's genial light The effect imposing beyond descrip
tion. This morning, the effect Of a similar
nature upon many who beheld the tribute and homage
Of the whole globe offered respectfully to gentle lady
who, wherever she passed. greeted with cheers by
from the North and from the South from the East
and from the West 1t sight not to be forgotten
The sun rose bright and clear. with fresh breeze.
Having promised to escort two smable ladies joined
thtm at seven In the morning, when entered
carriage and set out in the direction Hyde Park
The West End already alive with carriages On enter
ing the Park found that line of carriages extended
already from the grand entrance nearly Hyde Park
the gates not to open till nine Half an hour
later, the line Of carriages, in some places six deep
extended all down Pccadiy down Regent street far
as the aymarke and the stream of vehicles continued
TO pour and rattle along from every Of the huge
metropolis At half past eight, were stll at Albert
gate opposite ludsons house As the clock struck nne
the gates Of the Industrial place opened and the
frst and the most patient aligned. As the empty
riages rolled away the others drove up, and the living
the muslin and slken dresses the white
nets. the pink and blue mant as entered the crystal
halls. The arrangements were perfect the ticket
only shown; you received . card which denoted where
you should 90; long lines of red benches having been
prepared the ladies all each side Of the
Of the and of the galleries. the gentlemen
behind them Large bodies Of police horse and
foot patroed outside and kept the carriages in order
Being hne day, the Park dotted with elegant
y dressed ladies and cavaliers foot ceedng to
the building from eight till ten O'clock at which hour
myself and party entered.
Ty
excellent For the details of the ornaments refer you
to the description hereafter uboined startled to
ind that during the twenty hours since last be-
held the inside 20 much could have been done. IL
then all buse-the full Of empty packing In
their stead, clean flooring, dotted with elegantly
dressed and smiling had been substituted IL
by magic. All the remarkable Of London might be
observed walking about whilst the dark face Of the Ia-
isn formed striking contrast to the clear compile xoncd
Saxon the bearded republican of loung France also
there the swartby Indian the Turk the Life Guards
man. with his steel curass stood side by side with the
Quaker and his broad brmmed beaver.
With her ususl punctuaty, the Queen arrived about
two minutes before the clock struck noon flourish Of
trumpets, and deafenng cheer. which heard but
family In some parts Of the building announced her
rival
We had not to wait long Beyond the glass walls was
seen wsvering among the thronging crowd. Then
came the low murmurng sounds Of cheering Anon the
gay pumcs and FURNISHED corsets Of the Guards, aud
then carriage after carriage Of the roya. party fitted
brightly along the crystal wall Silence broken by
the sonorous voice Of the trumpets pcang with
nant notes. All was strong clear mestic and tuneiul
Her Majesty dio ot at enter She passed first
the robingru and second flourish Of trumpets
nounccd her approach Then the bronze ard gilded
gate Of the ransep flew asunder and the full crash Of
chorus, band, and organ swced into God save the
QUEEN The solemn hymn Of royalty being onded, an
outbreak OF sccAmation rose from oor galleries nave
and aos, ~ the royal procession appeared and amid
the whole upsandng multitude, animated % by Que
will every hat waved and every handkerchief whir
ed In the air, like the banners Of mighty army
Aiter the Lord Chamberlain and the principal officers
q the household all walking backwards and ushering
her came the euecn leaning upon Prince Albert arm
and holding the Prince Of Wales by the hand The |
Prince Consort conducted in like the Princess
Royal Her Majesty attirrd in pink aud white.
The dress glistened with pearls In her har sparlcd
diamond tiara and upon the top Of her head she ~orc
immature ~ JeSsled crown rpnee Albert h@d on tne
Of Wales wore plaid and kilt Of the Royal stuart TARTAN
and the Princess Royal frock similar in color and ma
teria 20 that u her mother Behind these gilt
terng line of lords and ladesthe uniforms aud court
dresses Of the gentlemen contracting delightfully."- with
the ball toilets Of the bcry of msds II honor and la
dies in waiting whom they led in Near her Majesty
the Prince Of Prussia. with tn Duchess of Kent
his arm aud then followed long line Of court officials
and beauties.
Graceful Id and digniacd as the department II the
Queen always j., shc looked 10 advantage
She happily blended the feminine grace Of gentle.
minded LADY with the natural aud impressive dignity of
sovereign. Leading her eldest and leaning her
husbands arm she slowly advanced az the head of her
gittering court returning with quiet aud smiling
try the enthusiastic greetings which poured In resist
les hocd around her Arrived at the etemporary throne
the ministers and chief officers gathered around tn
sovereign. more splendid group never brough
together The Queen, standing with the Prince aud her
children crch side, looked for moment the
somblage Then there paled forth another thunder of
trumpcts and As the vast multitude moved by the sud
den impulse svayed amid the waving Of hats aud ker
chiefs the general stir through the acs aud galleries
the simultaneous nuttcr Of drapery the hssh Of light
upon moving satin, silh aud velvet showed like vast
vivid sunburst play ing upon the most brilliant
fancy.
Prince Albert now descended from tho throne, 40
Joined the group OF Royal Commissioners. Then. adj
vancng at their head he read in clear and cmphatc
style the report q the proceedings Of the body
whose deliberations he has presided The Queen made
short and gracious reply Respectful attention pervaded
the assembly Prince Albert then having received from
the Commission he various editions Of the catalogues
published presented them 20 her Majesty aud resumed
his place by her side After this the Most Reverend the
Archbishop OF Canterbury forth. and In q loud
and voice offered up the prayers of tho church
in behalf of the enterprise
During the prayer her Majesty was In attitude Of
reverent stentionthe group clustered around her aud
the Archshops voice died away the thunder Of the
opening chork II the Ialleltyah chorus y burst
forth The chorus the royal procession 70 con-
duct her Majesty through principal of the