Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-08-30
Editorial correspondence.
New YoRK, Aug. %


in the empire city of the empire State. before
in the rush and tumult ofthe new life | behold.
l have had time. or, indeed, inclination for a
talk with my Virginia friends. The impress
sions of one who visits for the first time tins
vast centre of commerce, with its teeming thou
sands of human beings. its endless stretch oil
streets and avenues, its parks and palaces,
ard looks with an unaccustomed eye upon the
sea like tide of life II presents, arc confused
and indescribable For the present can only
single out from among the countless objects of
note or novelty, that have seen. a few that
are most conspicuous and to speak of which
will be most likely 10 entertain YOU.
The place of most attraction is. undoubred
ly, the CT ystal Palace. have yet had an OBJ
portuniry tn make only n general inspection of
the innumerable trophies and triumphs of la
Dor. art AM genius. tha; i: presents; and. before
] undertake a more minute description ofthem.
] shall give you a preliminary account of The
origin OF the enterprise. and the style OF the
structure winch is at once it's outer symbol
and its browning glory.
Encouraged by the success of the great
scheme in London, a few private iadiyiduals,
in this city and State. applied to the Legisla-
ture of New York, IN The Spring Of 1852, TO be
incorporated into IAN Association for the Ex-
LiLition of The Industry Of all Nations" Their
petition was granted, and, the 17tn of March
Of that year, The Company was oIganized by
the selection of Theodore Srdgwick President.
and The necessary number of sub-oiIicers
Without delay, circulars were issued, setting
forth the object of the Associarion and invil-
ing contributions of suitable articles from all
nations and every department of industry and
art. The stock was thrown into the market
and received a rcady sale. The Common
Council of THIS city lent It's sanction and MD to
the project. by granting free Of rent | believe)
the use oil Reservoir Square, as a site fo~ the
proposed building. The next step was to al
vertise for plans for a suitable cdifce, and n
number OF the most distinguished architects.
both in this country and Europe, among which
latter was Sir Joseph Paxton, the designer
and builder Of the London Crystal Palace. of
fered designs. The choice of the committee
fell upon a plan submitted by Christensen and
Gildermeister, AMI. though | know nothing Of
the other designs pr posed, | cannot con
cieve 1t possible lhnt any could have been sub
milted sn-passing tbls in AL The requisites Of
convenience. cheapness, safety and beauty
Light, spacious, springing and grnceful,it rises
in faultless proportion, and amid the many
princely edifces Of the city, stands superb and
peerless.
Ii would be difficult 10 convey. by words
and figures merely, an adequate idea of its ap.
pearance. The general external figure is that
ofan octagon, with transverse roof, and dome ;
but on entering you find it to consist of The
Greek cross-interrupted in the centre by a
rotunda, and enlarged at the triangular inter.
walls, TO the height of "a feet. by filing in the
angles. The circular space under the dome is
100 feet in diameter. Its height to the crown
of the arch is 1873 feet. Nothing oil its dimcn.
SONS and elevations has ever before been at.
tempted in the United States. and The effect i.
more pleasing than you can wed imagine
From this circular space, The open columns
and galleries mark off four naves running out.
ward into transepts. but connected, as before
mentioned, by having the angles filled IN, and
thus in effect making of the whole first stor,
but one octagonal room. In the rear of the
building, and united by the opening into it b,
one OF the naves, is a spacious arcade, addee
since The building was commenced, and ap
propriated to the exhibition and working o
machinery-for WHICH abundant steam power
is supplied. The galleries, which cover III,
whole space except The rotunda and naves, are
reached by broad flights of stairs leading ur
from each OF the four angles, where The eros.
intersects. The galleries open on balconies
covering each of the main entrance halis-an.
the angles of the four naves are relieved b,
towers, rising 76 feet in height. | need no
inform you that the principal materials EN-
Ployed In this magnificent structure are glas,
and iron. The former is SO cnameled as TO sub
due and tlnge the light in its passage-produ