The Washington union., 1857-05-21
THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION OF ART
TREASURES AT MANCHESTER.
[From the London Times, Nay 0.

unique in the history of art in England or perhaps IN h
world, An exhibition of art treasures never bcGmE
equalled for extent and importance opened with
ecid to which nothing but the presence OF the soyeiI
herself could have added The consort of her Maii
presided the ceremony, which witnessed by
large and distinguished assembly, comprising several a
met ministers, the representatives OF various foreign c
tries, many of native nobility and gentry hs n
porate authorities of of prnc.al cities ni
thousands of the inhabitants of the ir,portnt and n
lous district of which Manchester is the centre IN
weather most propitious, and the arrangements LS
within and without the exhibition were autess Itvs
day in short Of marked success and one of which M
city of Manchester may be proud
The preparations which had been made for the oer
mony within the building were of the simplest kind
The great central hall consists Of nave and two sb
alses, and Is lntersected near its western extremity
the ransept row OF tall and slender columns sea
rates the from each of the asles and the pillars an
joined at the top by light and open girders which car
the semi-circuar roof of the The side walls an
hung with portraits of all the principal personageS
English history and biography Below them on the ao
are arranged in handsome the multitude of objects
in ivory wood, bronze and the precious metals which
form the general museum of art In front of the column,
and within the ITSELF either side are placed
double of statues extending the entire length Of M
hall from the principal entrance to the tansept and
leaving broad passage in the centre Na|
the ransept the beautiful and elaborate suits of am
from the Mcyrick and other collections are ARRANGED
IN tasteful and appropriate groups. Beyond the tran.
considerable height above the floor terminating in
grand organ constructed by Messrs Kirkland & jar
dine, the elegant form and elaborate decoration 81
which htly complete the view For the proceedings oil
Yesterday das was erected in the TRANSIENT mmediate
in front of the orchestra. IL octagonGl in fom
raised six steps from the floor and covered with red cloth
On the top square piece of rich tapestry and r
stood the chair of State in crimson velvet and gold used
by Prince Albert during the ceremony. tall Venitn
mast either SIDE from the point Of which depend
q he case Of vallo nd In th
other of blue silk, and bearing the respectively oil
England and Gotha, with the notices. g Dea mon
dfoit, and g TlcG md Fest The union Jack was ds
played at various points in and the tIansept while
at the back of the das the banners of different
countries, with the cf great painters embazone
on them. Behind the chair of State and nearly the
same level with it, number OF benches covered with
green cloth and decorated with fringes, arranged
semi-crcle and reserved Tor the of the dst
guished among the spectators. For the accommodation
of the mass the whole of the central hail. with the S
ception Of passage in the CENTRE the galleries round
the transept and the two limbs Of the tansept ITSELF
was furnished with rows of benches and chairs broad
strip of scarlet cloth up the centre Of the great hall and
heightened the effect of the white marble statues either
hand throwing them out in beautiful relief Eleven ocok
was the time fixed for opening the doors to the public
but long before that hour all the entrances besg
by large number of the rank fashion, and beauty Of
Manchester and its vicinity The doors were opened
gently to avoid rush, and with oftreiteIated cautions
from the inside FOR every to take plenty of time. To
such advice of course paid the slightest regard
There good deal Of pushing and ladies scarcely got
that room to which they seemed to think their ca
pacious skirts entitled them Some insisted trying
the turstiles the wrong way, while Others in Their
anxiety to get good places, would not go right matter
what amonnt of pains taken to guide them in Their
But after the first rush all went smoothly
could he wished, and showed the arrangements to have
been well planned and executed. From the moment the
doors opened the steady influx of visitors ceased
or sackened Among the occupants of the green benches
behind the dais many members of both houses Of
Parliament Lord Broushton wore the uniform of Lord
Lieutenant, and Lord Wrottcsley was also in uniform
The Marquis of Canricarde and Earl Powis were also
present The Marquis of Stafford, the Earl of Burlng
ton, Lord Elcho, Mr.. Mangles Mr. Grogan, Mr. Hankcy
Mr.. Kershaw Mr. Hindley, and Mr. Beresiord Hope rep
resented the House Of Commons. The American, Bel
gian, and Ilayten ministers the only members Of
the corps donat9uc present The Lord Mayors Of Lon,
don and Dublin, the former accompanied by Alder
Copeland, Salomons, and Cubitt, and by Sherih
Mech and Keats, were there in their robes Of Office
The corporation of Manchester took prominent part
in the proceedings Of the day The mayor of Salfor
wearing plain but exceedingly massive gold chan
round his neck spectator Of the ceremony. Sor
Also the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. The cor
porate authorities in their crimson robes, and attend
cd by their servants IN gorgeous hyeres, formed h'
deed not the least brilliant part of the spectacle.
AT o'clock the Lord Lieutenant Of Ireland, accom-,
panied by his staff entered the building, and after that
hour but few visitors Of note arrived The palace was
crowded in every nook and it may well be supposed thai
the scene most animated and magnificent Many oil
the gentlemen in uniform court dress, while Solo
mon in all his glory not arayed with more taste ana
splendor than of the ladies' Their dresses OF the
richest stus WED with the colo OF the rainbow in va
riety and brllancy, making the ornaments of the walls
look mean and dull by comparison. The elegant pro
portions Of the building itself IFS chaste and beautiful
decorations the masterpieces Of art scattered in rich pro
fusion cvery hand the presence of 10000 persons
gay atred and the display of skcn banners and stand
ards combined to form picture such as has rarely oeeh
Witnessed even in the metropolis.
While in Dresden Says correspondent Of the Ohns
tan ENQUIRER. writing yiennal had the delight