The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-21
The Great exhibition /, !

The Great Exhibition.
Royal Inauguration by The Queen, Prince Albert
i the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Her
j lMajestys Ministers, The Foreign Ambassadors,
! ,oilh an Assembloge aoithin he Crystal Palace
Of 10000 persons.
From the European Times, May 3.
After several days excitement, during which
the public curiosity has been wound up to the
highest pitch, the morning of Thursday, the day
fixed for the opening of the Great Exhibition
Of the Industry of all nations, opened most au-
spciously. On the preceding day we had rain
and hail, with very cold weather; but the glori-
Gus LIST of May was uninterrupted by scarcely a
cloud; and at midday, when the Queen assembled
the throne, the effulgence OF the sun left no
other wish unqualified. AS far as the mortal
arrangements depended upon man, they were
perfect and III rejoice to say that the day passed
i off without single accident that have heard
4 of. found upon reaching Piccadilly, at nine in
the morning, a line of carriages which reached
from the Exhibition to the eastern end OF Long
Acre, a 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. Already
+
/ lament, who was an exhibitor, contrived to
make little coterie in the Tunisian department
to which was admitted, and saw the whole
Inauguration scene under the happiest point of
view. The company kept pouring in until the
last moment; and at half-past eleven o'clock,
gazed u,on 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 manufactures and productions !;
whilst at the eastern extremity you saw the
i American eagle proudly conspicuous over the
4 bold inscription which marked the region of the
/ United States productions--long lines Of beau
tiful women, with officers and gentlemen, filling
up the back ground, and in every way the eye
was turned some surprising natural or artificial
object was to be seen; the tnm ensemble was al
together most beautiful. Punctually at twelve
o'clock the Queen arrived, her entree being
marked by long and animated cheering. She
seate herself on chair raised on platform,
surmounted by spacious elegant blue canopy,
adorned with feathers with P,ince Albert on
her left. They were accompanied by the Prince
of Wales and the Princess Royal.
The court circle was now completely formed,
making tableau never to be forgotten. The
Queen looked remarkably well. She wore 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 completed his eighty second year, had
been there nearly two hours before, and the
commissioners and all the officials, and ladies
| of the household, surrounding the throne, pre-
scented a scene Of extraordinary spendor The
national anthem was performed and the music
| produced a most delightful effect in the glass
building. Prince Albert, with the commission
ers, presented himself before the Queen, and
read the report as described in the official pro-
gramme. | could not hear the tones of the
Queen when she read her reply from the spot
where was placed, but the fact is, any mortal
voice is lost in the vast edifce. The Archbishop
of Canterbury then delivered the prayer of in
auguration, which was followed by the Hal
leluiah chorus of Handel. under the direction Of
Sir Henry r. Bishop. The effect of this was
nest striking, and the voices of the choristers
were heard in the fullest perfection. A process
sion was then formed of most interesting
character The state heralds, preceding
Messrs. Paxton, Fox, and Henderson, led the
way Then came all the officials engaged in
constructing the building; Afterwards the for
eign acting commissioners; and most singular
was IL to see all the various costumes worn by
hard headed capable men from every quarter of
the world Then followed the royal commits
sioners, amongst whom noticed Mr.. Golden,
dressed in plain black coat. Then followed
the venerable Duke of Wellington, walking side
by side with the Marquis of Anglesea; both
were loudly cheered. The foreign ambassadors
among whom Mr.. Lawrence appeared to con-
siderable advantage, from his age and command
ing appearance, followed, and her Majesty's
ministers, headed by Lord John Russell. These
were loudly applanded; and, lastly, the Queen
and Prince Albert the one leading the Prince OF
Wales, and the other the Princess Royal, clos
ing the procession, with the royal Prussian
guests at the palace, and the ladies of the house
hold The procession first marched along the
British or western nave, ard then recrossing the
transept passed on TO the eastern extremity, the
United States end. At every step new accla-
nations arose the music. from the various or
qans saluted the procession. as ii passed, and
thus every person in the building was enabled
10 see every individual in the cortege. The
Queen then declared the Exhibition opened =
and the trumpets and artillery announced the
fact 10 the countless multitudes outside. The
whole auditory arose to give parting cheer, or
series Of deafenng reclamation Of JOY, and the
ceremony terminated by the retirement Of the
Queen, who went back to Buckingham Palace
in the state In which she had come. The null
titudes in the park were countless looked
through the glass window. and a sea Of human
beings surrounded me on all sides. Everybody
was in good humor, and all the superstitious
presentiments of mischief which had been
formed in the imagination Of some minds, were
wholly falsified. Never was so great spectacle
inaugurated with so much good order and tran
guilty, in the presence Of perhaps half million
Of human beings.
The Queen having left the building, the COM
pany began 10 circulate. Perhaps your readers
at distance will proceed with me in rapid
tour throughout the various departments Of the
Exhibition. The fret objects which strike the
yisiter upon entrance, either at the north or
south end Of the transept, arc two magnificent
gates stretching across, which having passed, he
finds himself in the centre Of the building,
amidst statuary, fountains, palm trees, and rare
tropical shrubs, the equestrian statues Of the
Queen and Prince Albert forming the most
prominent features, amidst an infinite multitude |
Of objects, each Of which is displayed to the
best advantage. Along the nave, both towards
the east and the west there is n succession of |