Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-07
London Correspondence of the Manchester Guardian.
The Opening Of the International
Exhl bifiOn.
LONDON, THURSDAY, May

LONDON THURSDAY, May i.
The metropolis was reused to activity and
animation this morning by one of those great
events which happen only two or three times
in the lifetime Of a generation, and which
communicate an electric impulse to the whole
community. From an early hour, and from
the most distant suburbs, the tide of popula-
ton wound itself westward. Early railway
trains brought their c~ontingents; the new
Manchester omnibuses supplied a new and at
t~ractive addition to our public vehicles; coro-
neted carriages dashed through the fashiona-
BILE squares; every description of brougham
and fly was in requisition; and all the cabs in
London seemed bent upon a summer pilgrim
age to South Kensington, while the carriage
WAYS were almost impossible, and a block
soon established itself near the Exhibition
building. The ~foOtways adjacent were filed
with a motley crowd of ladies in summer cos
tune (who wisely left their carriages to gain
the building on foot and the sons and daugh-
tiers of toll who had com out to enjoy a holi-
day and celebrate the Inauguration of a build
ing filled with the choicest products Of human
skill, and consecrated to the dignity of labor.
The sky was lowering, and a little rain fell
early in the morning, but the clouds soon
cleared off, and a hot and brilliant summers
day gladdened the hearts of the entire metrop-
oils. An innumerable concourse of sight
seers surrounded the building all day, and
were amply rewarded by the flashing of steel
blade, curass, and helmet in the sun; and the
glare of scarlet uniforms. The state carriages
of the Royal Commissioners, foreign ambassa-
doris, the Queens Ministers, officers of state,
and great noblemen kept the West End in a
fever of excitement, and made so gay and
and beautiful a show at the doors of the Ex-
hibition, that it is almost doubtful whether the
multitude without the building did not feast
their eyes and enjoy the spectacle provided
for them as wildly as the more aristocratic
occupants of the interior.
Long before the hour for opening the Ex-
hibition, thousands of season ticket holders
had gathered around all the entrances. AT
half-past ten all the doors were opened.
There was a little screaming among the ladies
when the crowd resolutely set itself Gas only a
British crowd cam to squeeze its way through
the entrances; and in went a stream OF vlsl-
tors from half a dozen separate entrances.
Admission being gained, they rushed down
the nave, swept across the courts and tran
septs, and flew along the building in a state of
wild excitement.
The International Exhibition of 1862 is a
more gigantic building than its predecessor,
but it wants something of the airy hghtness of
the Crystal Palace, for the roof is not OF glass,
The interior, however, is nobly proportional,
with superb vistas, two gigantic crystal domes-
and a grandeur in its dimensions which fills
without expressing the imagination. The
decorations are more beautiful and elaborate
than those of the HYDE Parke building. Color
is more plentifully and more richly employed
on the roof than was possible in a glazed edi-
fee. The effect is, therefore, warmer, and
still exceedingly harmonious. Brightly-color-
ed flags were yesterday hung between each
pillar, and the view Of the nave, taken from
either extremity of the building, r~esembled
for gaiety and richness the co!ors of a kaleid-
oscope. Still, with all these points of superb
GRITTY, the Exhibition viii be to many some
what of a disappointment. 1t is compared to
a huge oyergrown bazaar, which in a sense it
is. The trophies and giant cases in the GEN.
trail nave, not always in the best taste, would
always confirm this impression, but still the
hopes and anticipations which the lamented
Prince Consort formed OF the new building
are fully justified; and the spectacle OF to-day,
to use the Princes own words, was calculated
to excite a "feeling Of deep thankfulness tc
the Almighty for the blessings which he has
bestowed upon us already here below" 1t
was a point, to-day, whether the west or east
dome furnished the best point Of view. The
Duchesses of Sutherland, and Argyle, Lord
and Lady Constance Grosvenor, and their
party, selected the gallery near the Western
dome. Here a decorated velvet canopy, with
throne, chair Of state, and seats for the Royal
Commissioners, were found; and here took
place the presentation of the address by the
Earl Granville to the Commissioners. But
the Eastern dome was, upon the whole, the
favored and favorite site, for here was the