New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-14
EUROPE REYISITED..-..No. ii.
LONDON, AND HER CRYSTAL PALACE
Editorial Correspondence Of TIE n. Y. Tribans.

thought and said n THIS mighty Emporium D1u1ou
as DC Quincy has well said il more than a cty-it
is, Ike Rome in her glory, an Empire-the CONNER
cal. as Rome long the Political, metropolis
Of the world. Other cities commercially impor-
tant or trivial only they related or auxiliary
to this. Under the canopy Of yellow fog which
covers Ike blanket the district stretching some six
miles in every direction from Temple Bar or Charing
Gross is gathered more wealth. more intellectual force
more commercial activity, than any thousand square
miles beside. meeting OF half dozen plain citizens
in dingy back-room in the city decides on q step
which shall give lie 10 the industry Of province
in Central Asia island in the Pacific. Mexican
mines are worked or deserted, oceans traversed
in ques, OF islands Of guano or beds OF pearls as
few long heads quietly laid together in London,
see ft to direct Here dwels the great heart whose
pu.atons arr felt and obeyed IN China or Australia
Egypt and Brazil and whose liie-giying currents are
constantly returning TO enrich their source and aug
ment it, power And thus, vast as Il already Is, Lon
don still grows, by virtue Of the momentum she long
ago acquired and OF the fact that no railroad can be
constructed, obstacle to continuous navigation re-
moved 10 mine opened, no clearing made, In any
part Of heword which will not increase her trade and
prosperity.
The first impression made on stranger wander
Ing through the streets OF London is OF solidy
and permaEence. Though the town shll grows in Its
circumference especially westward yet little building
or renovation seems TO be in progress in It's more
central portions and you may traverse whole streets
and squares without seeing any evidence that brick
has been moved therein since the beginning of tbs
century. The dark incrustation of smoke which soon
covers and transforms the original white paint OF most
structures contributes to highten the appearance of
sge almost everywhere presented. Trayersing these
miles after mics Of welbuilt dwellings or princeiy
warehouses, it hard y realize that Thebes or
PALMYRA, Nneyeh or Tyre, was ever ike to this
think ore who saw London first in ls5l, and now
sees it for the second time must observe general
gravity Of aspect prevailing here. In the former
year John Bull was on excellent terms with himself
and with all mankind-gratied with the success and
ociat Of the Great Exhibition, with the presence of
crowds Of foreigners admr,ng guests II not as com
mercia customers with the efforts of the Queen Prince
Cousort and Arstocracy 70 carry the enterprise triumph
any forward with the state Of Trade and Industry the
prices Of Bread and Beer aud with the position Of his
country among Nations. do not say how far the case
is altered now but that II Is altered almost every IN
toicent eountonance atesis. The events Of the last
winter in the Crmea, the present attitude OF the con-
tending forces there opposed to each other, the blank
rejection of the proposed terms Of Peace by the Rus
sian Plonipoteutsres a. Vienna the universal convic
ton that Austria is about to prove fathless 70 the
Western Powers, the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequers little bill, and the strong probability
that the bloody and most expensive War
in the East is but just fairly begun-thesc combined
might well lend shadow to the brow OF even the most
inveterately lght-heared; il be wondered that
grumbling John wears decidedly sober aspect Yet
ali
seem resov ed that the war shall be vigorously prose-
cuted at whatever cost; but II England were this day
fairly ont of it believe Russia might march straight
into Corstantinoplc British cannon-shot should
be fired to prevent her.
But a truce to politics. | sat down TO write of
THE CRYSTAL PALACE AT syDENHAM.
lam aware that this magnificent structure has been
frequently described 10 American readers, but had
mad many accounts before visiting it without fully
realiz NJ H. vastness and excellence and may fairly
hope that one more glance at il viii not be wholly de
void ofinieres those already familiar with the
leading facts Briefly, then
THE CRYSTAL PALACE At SYDESHlM, ia southwest
ern suburb Of London, revival and ampfcation Of
that in Hyde-park in which the Great Exhibition Of
the Worlds Industry was held in 1851. That EXhibi-
ten having been triumphanuy closed, the contents re-
moved and the order for the speedy demolition Of the
building hnreratiyey given, the materials were pnr-
chased BY an rising Director FRANCIS Fuller and
his associates for $500 with whom the oris-
nal constructors llessrs. Fox and Henderson, con-
rac;ed TO and reerect them for s6OO 600. The
estate OF IL acres, known Pcnge Park, browning
lovely cminence perhaps ten miles from the centerof
London and four five from the nearest built
portion ofthe great Metropolis chosen for the site of
new Crystal Palace. This property was valued by
dsnieros;ed appraisers ct $4,000, or about 700
per acre and the Company added TO 1t by subsequent
purchases l7s acres at cost Of 100000. They
then sod of 49 acres for s5OOO0o retaining the 200
acres best adapted TO their purpose at cost OF $780,,
eco. Hercupon the revived Crystal Palace was COM
menced on the 5th Of August, 1852. II was to have
been opened to the public the lst Of May, 1854,
bu; not actually opened till the 10th OF June FOL
lowing, when the Queen, Prince Albert and the
Archbishop Of Canterbury participated in the eere-
monies. The grounds decorations Illustrative courts,
&c, were then very imperfect and not even YET
completed. The enterprise. formidable at the outset,
has continued to crow the hands Of lis projectors;
the original capital OF 50 10000 was long since in
creased to IS 900 600 ON TIE back of which debt Of
over 81 Coo coo has already been contracted; Duwich
Wood adjoining the site has been leased al the rate
of els COO year; the c.t of grading planting and
ornamen,ing the grounds i given at $4,000; Ar
tesan well to furnish an abundance OF water IS to
cost 100000; ounians, lakes and hydraulic
works, about $500, ooo Sculpture about $3.50. 900.
Fine Arts, about. s5O0, OO0 the Edhcc ncudng pur-
chase and removal of the original in Hydcpayk,
Aforesaid 81 500 900; Illustrations OF Natural History
and Geology $4,000. The Palace has been