Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-05-20
CORRESPONDENCE of the Courier.

-. LONDON. APRIL %.
You may well Imagine. Messrs. Editors, from
what you sec in the London papers which
send you hy this steamer, that there Is little
else Thought of here but the Great t'xhl''Itl'"
which now engrosses the attention of every one
l experienced. however, feeling OF dsapp"'"t-
lnrnt at the first sight Of the Crystal Palace
n feeling similar to that felt on approaching
the Pyramids Of Egypt; but this feeling was s'lc-
ceedcd by one of establishment, Oh nearer
view Of the exterior of the immense structure
aud more on entering it and beh"lIins its vast
proportion and dazzling spendor ] shall not
attempt description of it, for no description
can possibly come up to the reality; Its dlnr''-
sions, however, are-length lS4S It. Width l0S
Height 6G feet The Transept lOS feet high,
Iron Columns 1880 #. Iron Girdcrs 22li.
Iron Bearers lbs. 81 miles Of Gutter. 90o,-
600 feet of Glass Gallery 24 feet wide. Site
lS acres. The contract is for E19,s0O, or
fI30000 if the building is retained.
Through the kindness OF friends, have been
enabled to visit the building repeatedly, and
although every thing is in comparative coniu.
sion, and thousands OF workn'en buslly engaged
in completing and decorating the ediiice, and
in fitting up and arranging the multiarious Oh.
jects intended for exhibition, yet very good
opening is afforded to examine those massv
ones, many of which are already in their plat
ces, that are likely to attract universal atentI W.
1t has been officially announced, within Il
few days, that the Exhibition will be opened
by Her Majesty, the Queen, on the first day OF
May, the time originally named for the purpose;
aud although there is vast deal to be done,
TO get every thing in readiness, there is not the
least doubt that this intention will be carried
out. 1t is supposed that there may be some
fifteen thousand parsons present in the building
to witness this imposing and grand ceremony,
admitted by tickets at two and three guneas
each, which will alone furnish handsome pro.
portion Of the expense ofits erection. The SUBJ
divisions of the building have been judiciously y
made to accommodate all the various nations
which have intimated their intention of submit.
ting any of their works of art, manufactures,
or products at this great international fair. The
western end of the palace is appropriated to
the reception and display of the works Of British
artists and manufactures; the east end to those
fronfthe United States, and the intermediate
divisions to the nations Of the East and of Eu.
rope. France and Germany are like to take
the lead in the beauty and elegance of their pro
ductions, whilst England will probably be but
little, il any, behind them in this respect, and
will most likely exceed them in the substantial
value and durability Of many Of their fabrics.
It is not to be expected that our own country
isat all prepared at this early period to compete
with them in the finer descriptions of manufac.
lures or of objects of art, but in many
Of thearticles Of utility and general use
falness, I think we shall be able to com.
pare advadtagsously with any of them In agri
cultural implements, the display of which will
be large and imposing, we shall very far exceed