New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-30
THE LONDON SEASON.


and beloved with meodious delight for many weeks
over it's new toy, the International Exhibition, bss
suddenly experienced change Of sentiment. IL not
on the verge of absolute dissatisfaction tho public OF
London is at least wandering among the marshes oil
doubt and distrust. A week before the lst OF May,
and there was no glory on this perishabie earth like
that which tho opening Of the Exhibition would de-
velop. week after the paans are subdued, and
discordant strains of discomfort begin to be beard
amid the chorus of congrasuiation. In some cases,
they deepen to absolute disgust. One authority de-
clares that the Exhibition will be the great bore OF
the season." Another rdicues it as public nuisance
and an eye.sore. The Saturday Rrciew procaims
i, the "Palace Of Pu!Fs" by which transcendental
phrase. we presume i, stigmatzes the moral defects
of the institution. In rebuke of lie material nfrni-
ties, the gnominous epithet Of Dishcover Palace
is hurled at it, The Rerier insinuates that the gen.
tlemsn who planned the ediice wanted nothing but
good taste to mako him an architect. The interior
ARRANGEMENTS are visited with equal coptumely.
Nothing WAS ready, it appears, at the opening All
was confusion TIE 80, 900 people who assisted were
not provided with protection for their personal dig
nifty, and some Of them could not hear the muse
The crowd was great, and nobody felt that he lad
received his moneys worth. The complaint is uni
vcrssl; aud yet are very willing, at this distance
to believe that the Exhib ton is a noble one, that
the opening ceremonials were imposing enough, and
that its partial bemshos are such as ought to be gen.
erouslv disregarded in the view Of the greatness OF the
whole.
The inyincble spirit Of British contradiction is
doubtless whe, leads TO all these murmurintp. Hay.
ing no outside opinion on the subjec, to conirover,
London Turns around and controverts its own. Tho
spirit Of satisfaction with which q British public
knocks over it's own carefully reared opinions is enc
of the most edfying things in the world to encounter
IL is eurious however, th,t in the case OF the Great
Exhibition, the true material for indignation is over
looked. II display Of intolerance were really
needed. AS justification Of public independence II
might properly have been directed agni'si certain
obvious errors Of taste and judgment. There were,
in the arrangements for the opening ceremonies,
exhibitions Of meanness and spite like nothing III the
world 20 much as the jealouses Of po,'house.
Verdi. the most eminent of Italian composers, and
the most successful living oomposer Of any
nation, gave great labor 10 tie preparation
Of an original work FOX the dedication. A
feet respect. But, on the contrary, the composer
was insulted by having notice whatever gwen 10
his production; and this after having been impor-
tuned to bes,ow 1t. Tie only reason we have seea
offered for this behavior is that Of her Maestys
Commissioner. whose public career has always been
violently aniagonis'c TO tho cause OF Italian free
dom, felt aggrcYed by tie warmth In the words OF
Verdis csntata, which bear generally upon the
liberal impulses Italy has lately been inspired with
This nobeman's influence, IL is declared, IVES suih-
cier TO occasion national aron, toward one Of the
most eminent disciples Of art in tho world. 10 no
other nation probably, would such an act lave been
permitted not in France, certainly no. in
America.
Another similar incident was tho revival Of petty
feud between Two musicians engaged in the opening
ceremonies, by which general scandal was aroused,
and personal eQuabbe allowed to take high rank
among the events Of the Inauguration. b.. Sterne-
dale Bennett, an Engsh composer Of merited reputa.
ton, wrote the music to Tennysons ode. Mr. Costa.
skliu leader Of orchestIas, was designated 10 gem
era conductor Of oil the music Blu! M. Bennett
and Mr.. Costa had quarreled once upon d time.
Year, ago. Mr.. Bennett had had the unspeakable
pertinence To suggest 10 Mr. Costa that he under.
stood the proper tine to be taken in composition
which be himself had written. Tie enornty OF this
ofIense disturbed the harmony Of Mr. Costas heart
such degree that he swore by all the loudsounding
brass in bis orchestra that he would never again
conduct piece Of Dir. Bennetls Emolents were
applied in this special Gaze, but unavailingly. Dir
Bennett took gentlemsnIy steps toward rscifcslioD
but Mr Costa was boorish and obduraie. Accord.
ingly Dir. Bennets cantats was conducted, at I'll,
opening, by less experienced, though perhaps
equally able, Directorate. Costa sitting by, and
hurting his eud 10 the sound OF bis enemys music.
Certainly no such trieiug di'play ought u have
iuterfered with tho dignity Of the OCCASION but the
London public breaihed not a word OF reprool, and
Mr. Costa played tue Gorilla without particle Of
medication.
The Japanese ambassadors were Mt the Opening.
Their course in England seems very similar TO that
Of the japanese Embassy in America. Grsvcly and
TRANQUILITY they pursue the purposes for which thoy
were delegated and they accept the public hospitai-
ties Offered ~ them with that exquisite grace which
stamps them the most finished gentlemen il the
world us far az their exterior Can Indicate. A. tho
Opening, thoy appeared very little impressed with
the us,eiy Of the ceremonies II is not their nature
to applaud forms which are immeasurably inferior to
their own. The English papers expressed little
amazemeEt at their indifference, and appeared rather
Disposed 10 attribute it to want Of intelligence
"a most amiable deuson. In all illusions
10 the distinguished strangers, the English jour
nalists betray al ignorance quite objectionable, when
we remember that Mr.. ELEPHANTS fascinating aud
instructive book Oh Japan is within easy reach
of all of them. The japanese Commissioners
have been to 500 Earl Russell, whom they handed
an autograph letter from the Tycoon, which" a