Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-06
opening Of the worlds Fair.


and animated cheering. She seated her
self on chair raised on platform, sur
mounted by aspacious, elegant blue can
opy adorned with feathers, with Prince
Albert on her left. They were accom-
panied by the Prince of Wales and the
Princess Royal. The Court circle was
now com letely formed, making tableau
never to be forgotten. The Queen look
ed remarkably well. She wore the Or
der 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 SD year, had been
there nearly two hours before, and the
Commissioners and all the officials and
ladies of the household surrounding the
throne, presented scene of extraordina-
ry splendor. The National Anthem
was performed, and the music produced
a most delightful effect in the glass
building. Prince Albert, with the Com
missioners, presented himself before the
Queen, and read the Report as desert
bed in the official programme. | could
not hear the tones of the Queen when
she read her reply, from the spot where
l was placed, for the fact is, any mortal
voice is lost in the vast edifice. The
Archbishop of Canterbury then deliver
ed the prayer of Inauguration, which was
followed by the Hallelujah Chorus OF
Handel, under the direction of Sir Hen
ry r.. Bishop. The effect of this was
most striking, and the voice of the Choir
listers were heard in the fullest perfec-
ton.
A procession was then formed Of a
most interesting character. The State
heralds preceding Messrs. Paxton, Fox
and Henderson, led the way. Then
came all the officials engaged in construc-
ting the building; afterwards the foreign
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 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
foreign ambassadors, among whom Mr.
Lawrence appeared TO considerable adj
vantage from his age and commanding
appearance, followed, and her Majesty's
Ministers, headed by Lord John Russell.
These were loudly applauded; and last
". the Oueen and Prince Albert, the one
leading the Prince of Wales, and the
other the Princess Royal, closing 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, and then, re-
crossing the transept, passed on to the
eastern extremity, the United States end.
Atevery step new acclamations arose;
the music from the various organs salu-
ted the procession as it passed, and thus
eyery person in the building was enabled
to see every individual in the cortege.--
The Queen then declared ''the Exhibit
lion opened" and the trumpets and artil-
lery announced the fact to the countless
multiiudes outside. The whole audito-
nv arose to give parting cheer, or series
of deafening acclamations of joy, and
the ceremony terminated by the retire
ment of the Queen, who went back to
Buckingham Palacein the state in which
she had come.
The mulstudes in the park were count
less. looked through glass window
and sea of human beings surrounded
me on all sides. Everybody was III
good humor, and all the supersticious
presentiments of mischief which had
been formed in the Imagination of some
minds were wholly falsifed. Never
was SO great spectacle inaugurated with
SO much good order and tranquility, in
the presence of perhaps half million
of human beings. .
Almost the first object which arrests
YOUR attention, is the Koh-i-noor dia-
lnond, secured in strong cage of iron
richly gilded; and by contrivance, this
precious jewel, which is placed on a
small pedestal, sinks at night down into
the strong iron chest upon which. the
cage rests, so that it is safe and secure
night and day. Crowds flocked round
this jewel to admire lis size and brillian-
cy.
I was prepared to find that the articles
from the United States would fall short
of the other parts of the Exhibition, from
the statements put forth that they had de-
manded more room than they could aG-
equately fill. Through the exertions Of
Mr.. Riddle, the vacant space has been
filed up, and although this division is
not SO crowded as the British side, II
contains national collection highly in
teresting. Their cereals and raw mate
rails are very striking. Their mineral
department. is also very full. The carri-
ages were not the least honorable part OF
their collection. A series of maps pre-
pared for certain lectures at the mission
AIRY meetings, were admirable, and great
" surpassed those of similar charac-
ter in our national and public schools.
The exhibition of DaguerreotyPes is ex-
cellent.
Leaving the division devoted to the