Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-03
London Correspondence of the Manchester Guardian
The Opening of the international
Exhibition.

LONDON, THURsDAY. MAY l


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 contingents the new
Manchester omnibuses supplied new and at
tractive addition to our public vehicles; coro-
neted carriages dashed through the fashiona-
BILE squares; every description of brougham
and fiy was in requisition; and all the cabs in
London seemed bent upon summer Pilgrim
age to South Kensington, while the carriage
ways were almost impassable and block
soon established itself near the Exhibition
building. The footways adjacent were filled
with motley crowd of ladies in summer cos
tune (who wisely left their carriages to gain
the building on foot,) and the sons and daugh-
ters of toll who had come out to enjoy holi
day and celebrate the Inauguration of build
ing filed with the choicest products of human
skill, and consecrated to the dignity of labor.
The sky was lowering, and little rain fell
early in the morning, but the clouds soon
cleared off, and hot and brilliant summers
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-
dors, the Queens Ministers, officers of state,
and great noblemen kept the West End in
fever of excitement, and made SO gay and
l 4 IL - IL, Il.
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 little screaming among the ladies
when the crowd resolutely set itself (as only a
British crowd can) to squeeze its way through
the entrances; and in went a stream of visi-
tors from half dozen separate entrances.
Admission being gained, they rushed down
the nave, swept across the courts and tram
septs. and flew along the building in state of
wild excitement
The International Exhibition of 1862 is a
1
! but il wants something of the airy lightness of
the Crystal Palace. for the root is not of glass,
/ The Interior however, is nobly prcportioned.
with superb ,istas. two gigantic crystal domes.
and grandeur in its dimensions which fills
without depressing the imagination. The
decorations are more beautiful and elaborate
than those of the HYDE Parke building. Color
j. more plentifully and more richly employed
Ii.
fee. The effect Is. there fore. warmer. and
still exceedingly harmonious. Brghtly-eoloi-
ed flags were Yesterday hung between each
pillar, and the view ot the nave. taken from
either extremity OF the building resembled
for paiety aud richness the colors of kaleid-
uscope. Still. with all these points Of supeti.
ofity. the Exhibition will be to many some.
what of q disappointment II Is compared ID
hnpp uvrtrruwn basaar which in a spnse Il
s. The trophies ahd piatt eases IN the con
,ral nave. not alwats IN the best taste would
always confirm this imptp ssiun. but slill th,
hopes and anticipaliens which the lampniet
Prince tunsur, bfmed " the how bnillnl
sre inllt insiihed and ihp spectacle ~ ia-iat
. ~ usa ,hs Princes avn wofts. Wa calculated
~ espile feeling NJ dpup Ihahkmlnpss I,
tho Almighty mr lhp blessings which hu hal
bestowed upah We alpalls here heew" 4
was painl, leala,, wheih,t lhe wes, ~ eas
,leme furnished ,he beet lein, ~ view, III,
naphessps ef sutherland, hhd Afaile, ios
ehd isdt Constance taSeheh ani lhe
paay, splepled lhe nallps heaf lhe Weslprl
! ilome, liefe decorated ,el,es cseele, vill
! shn,ne, ehaiF ~ state, and leals nt lhe ites a
Commissioners wegu ieanti ani hpre ,eel
: place lhe presentation ~ ,he Ai,ires hy lh'
lsa lsgaasllle ~ tho Commissioners lie
lhn Eastern deme was, apM lhe whsle, lhI
y hsolpi ani hseglle slln, hf husp Was lhl