The New York herald., 1864-04-04

TAs Metropolitan Paar-Ths Ops~ins
Day.
Ths city will present . scene to-day which
may we'll be regarded a IN evidence. not alone
of patriotism, humanity and loyalty TO the
national cause, but a tho wonderful vitality Of
the metropolis, wholly without parallel. On
great occasions New York has done great
things in the way Of pageautry; but tho luaugu-
ration Of Nc Metropolitan Fair to-day promises
to excel ell previous efforts at display. both In
the military and civic ceremonies attending it.
Never, perhaps, did larger number Of soldiers
parade in this city than will be seen to-day, and
it il remarkable that while there are u the
present time several armies, numbering in
the aggregate perhaps some six or seven
hundred thousand mon, located at di1kr.
ent points throughout the country, yet Now
York city will turn cut to-day an army Of its
own numbering over ten thousand troops,
while the streets will no doubt show another
army Of civilians numbering nearly half q
million.
The Metropolitan Fair is grand conception;
grand, net alone in its object, but in the mag
nifcence With which ii Il gotten up. The
wonders Of the Crystal Palace pale before the
splendor Of this extraordinary exhibition
Lavishnees Of expense, . liberality that knows
no bounds, and fund Of charity, which is
always living and active in this community
are the characteristics Of the enterprise; but
'the greatest Of thess is charity"
II ia almost incredible that our people,
after contributing to the government since.the
outbreak Of tho war thousands Of millions Of
money and hundreds Of thousands Of men; aftcr
furnishing from private individual sources
hundred millions for the outfit of tho
soldiers, should now be able and willing to
supply, through the means of fairs, abundant
comfort to the soldiers who have Suffered in
the cause II the country. In various quar-
tors these fairs have contributed large
snms to the Sanitary Commission. vary.
ing from ten thousand to four hundred
thousand dollars; and new the metropolis
is about to cap the climax Of charity,
liberatity and patriotism by an Offering Of per-
haps million dollars, aud that, too, just three
weeks after the city OF Broeklyn-which may
be almost regarded ~ q ward Of this city
has contributed four hundred thousand dollars
for The same purpose.
The vast amount Of wealth concentrated in
Palace Garden, on Fourteenth street may be
calculated from the full description given in
eur columns. 1t is poured in from all quarters Of
the State and New Jersey. although Of course our
own city furnishes the largest portion Of it. Eu-
rspe also will speak its sympathy for our wosnd-
ed soldiers by magnificent donations Of works Of
art and other materials. Paris, London, Berlin,
Hamburg, Zarich, Dusseldorf, win be represent
Cd; and IL is fact not without significance, that
while tho agents Of tho Southern sonfederacy
IN Europe are bafisd at ell points In their ap
plcstion for sympathy and recognition. the
people Of the great European cities are giving
evidences Of their substantial sympathy win
the cause Of tho North by liberally contributing
to TIE assistance Of Northern soldiers.
We regard ths Metropolitan Fair, upon the
whole. ~ one Of the greatest events which has
ever taken place iu this city and therefore We
give large portion Of our space to-day to .
description OF II, to which we would particu-
larly direct the attention of our readers.
Tue COMING CAxrAIGS n VIRaEIA-GRvRAL
LEES PsERARAqIoxs.--Qur latest reports from
"the fronta Of The Army Of the Potomac say
that the enemy arc digging ride pits on the op-
posite side OF the fords Of the Rapidan, and are
tearing up the fredericksburg and Richmond
Railroad. This means that Gen. Lee Is prepar-
Ing to resist Gen. Grant at the crossings Of the
Rapidan, and to cut him OF from the sdvan-
tagss Of aank movement BY way Of Freder-
icksburg. The Gordonsville or Orange road,