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^ US jr Invitee ! to thre feast , they have not been inducted into the principal , and more prominent seats , ; aJderj nen , with purple ; and miniver , ^ coinmon-cotmcilmen * n > their . plain rob « s , city officers in their quaint costumes , . military men ia scarlet coats and wJiite ffcusaes , naval oflSeera in blue uniforms ,, ladies in all the ttaightest ao * i gayest at * calottKt ^ the- ' lards of creation ^ " in that wretched aooBbre-lookang attire which mocks , alike 4 he valet and weH » d 8 ess « d < getrtfleu
naan ; and long tows of p » lreeme « , with their dark « n&-8 bingr < head . & « 8 r—a sort of compromise Uetween ' * hat and a helmet . The lower galleries of the tranaept are , crowded with a select asgenttft ^ ge of ladies 4 ad gentlemen , and seated on fcenchea and chairs -on seaclx aide of the north and souta naves , . amid fiwweEa « & = & statues * axe also Ranged a -wast ntwaber of sjaxio £ is * pectatorg ,, ordraary season 4 ieket Sufldttra , and intLurtriai exhibitors .
We «« n but state that the National Anthem was sung—its effect from that grand orchestra , who dball e © nvejr in words t Olios NoveHo sang the solo parts ; , stirif eight hundred voices swelled the chorus . The music pealed tBcoUgh tile beautiful T ) uildurg . ; and -susceptible heads were moved to tears . Thus noble ^ er&rmanee over the tedious performance began . Mf . Law % read-a toe long address , telling everybody what ¦ e . v ^ ig ^ hocli ? knew ; namely , h *> wT why , and for what ihe Ct ^ staL Palfl « erliad been , buitt—with ^ espe -cial compliments to Prince Albert for having so kindly /^ rfgia « te « i the <^ tBKt « h « a * fa ¥ 991 . Then the Queen j » btieftert ^ 3 thaaTe * Ked ;—
"T receive wifclu much pleasure flie loyal and dutiful ad-• ilress Which- youltave presented tame upon the . preaeutac-¦ casion . "It is a source of the highest gratification tojanyBelfand to the ; punce ,, mj consort , to Jind that the Great Inhibition < ff U 85 JI , Whixfli was so happily inaugurated under our auspices , suggested f lie idea of this magnificent undertaking which has produced so noble a monument of tie genius , -science ; , and enterprise of jay subjects . '" It is my earnest wish and hope that the bright anfclcigpations which lithre been farmed as to its future destiny , may , under the blfesging of Divhie Providence , be completely realised : and thflftBis vconcferful structure ,, and the treasures
of art and knawleJgB tfhict it contains , may Jong continue 4 o elevate and instruct ., as well ' as to delight and amuse , the minds of all classes of , my people . " ' J&fter this , m succession , announced by speeches , . the authors of the handbooks were presented to the Queen . They -were ! Sir Joseph P * xton , Mr-Owen Jones , Mr ,. JLugfcy Wyatt , Mr- Samuel JPhtllipa , Mr . JFesgjaasooy iPfofeBsor Owen , Mr . Waterhouse Hawiking ,. Bar , liatihan ^ Me Gould , Mr . Thompson , and JProfeawor iEoiibefc WMle thir part of the ceremony vasin progpes * - the vast assemblage airaused themselves by wntchjitig'the nrannerin whidh tfoe atusning authors of thd Handbooks went through the difficult # the dow
process orr ^ tM o from royal presence n two iigh . es of steps ; without turning , their bocks . Sir ¦ Joseph iPaKton * in designing , the dais ; had probably not foreseen . tbi& formidable ; obstacle Jhe w *» a raising in thepatfc of tayjdgenllenien unaccustomed to perform auchi'aourtbjr esvalulions with anaall swords slung by thair-sides ^ « r per h aps-he intended it as < fikeiy Ho afford some practical -fan by vay of set-off to the -chairmaii ' s ' speecihewj wtiSeh , however well expressed and iust , nobody could hear . Happily all came dawn safely , though two or three bafl very narrow escapes , . and one distinct case of stumbling was followed by a precipitate and unceremonious retceat , much to the ^ unuseoient of the spectators .
At length it was over . TJaen the pacocesaion formed , Mr . JBelsbttw l < eading : Ute : way . Mrst canoe the superintendeots of works and prinoip » l employe * , then the contractors , thearchiteetsi theoffleern of departments , the directors , and'tnen the Queen , ifhe Pi * ince , the Portuguese priticea , theroyat children , the Arclitishop of eanterbury , the Cabinet Ministers , and the Foreign Ministers . A apeutator thus describes its progress : —¦ " Xhe long aanW ^ wenda ha . alow and ; silent way . No enlivening muauxoE stirring , march proceeded from-tlie reaimetital bantts < oc ; pofiesfid oeahestxa . How difFepent in this respect was the procession in Hyde-park , as oxgan after > orgu ( i pealed foatth ito joyona notes as the regal procession
approached . As the procession advances dowa the eastern Dide of the Booth nave , the varied , colours gradually blend in the dUtance into indistinct forms of cadiunt brilliancy ,. It a'Oturns by the wreat sidtf , and . masaeft of scarlet and gold , and blue and-goU , and glitledng- decorations mark the positions of the numeroua itiiiloinattc oorps , the members of tlie Oovemmeat , and . of the fioaaehold of liar Mfycsty . On it pivssea round th-o w * at aide of the cantos ! haiwept , her Majesty stepping u-uide for a moment into the open colonnade to iidinire tho groundu and terraces ; afcill it passos by the west aide of the north navq , b y the gorgeous facades of Mr . Wyatt ' a courts , round the SpWux aveni « by the startling
Aasynnn bulls , . the channuuft Alhivmboa , the facades of tlie Colooaeura . und Vartlienon , and the facaaafenktn decorations of I ' -Kyi't ; a"d ull . Uie way the pracasadon moves amid long arrays of loyal aubjecta ,. the iaic « r portion ourtsoy their homugo and the gpntlemen shout their loyalty , har Majesty willk a grateful feeling which never fluga , and u dignity whidmeems to know no fatigue , acknowledges tho expressions of devoted aLUoJunent ; and her oonsort calmly bat earnestly bowH hiu rucqgikiLion of tho warm and hearty homage . Tli « duis i «> again nautliad , lior Majesty and the royal party arv grouped ua . befonw , Uabinot , Miniatora and diplomatic officers oc oupy tlieir . focvam poaiticav and . G « rt » . ti «* imuk » ned from
the ltfll into which , with the orchestra , he had fallen after the first performance jaf the National Anthem . " Costa . ' s work was to conduct the mighty orchestra through the simple mazes : of thegrand Old Hundredth Psalniy as a . pre&oe to the following prayer by tlie £ rjtmate : — . " Almighty and everiastmg ( SoST who dost gov * rut all fitittgs bath ia heaven and < artb , hr tlrae f hfte « ar ; weewtieait . Tbee , io Tby people , Which call upon TUksto r and grav ciansly receive oar prayers . Wiehoot Thee nothing is strong , aothing is holr . * Except fSe- Lord &mT * ffte * & « ase , Ifieijr 1 abo » r f isJbttt los « who'Biftld it : * Anfl now We entreat Thee to blessUhe work wbidh we have acconajlndjed iir thf » niaca .
and to render it toe means of promotmgr Thy glory . May iHiesfrWho admure-tbe wonders of nsfcrap-wnTdhare here displayed be taught to percetve ii * those the Ti g * ur eff that creative wisdom by Which aH things fuml the parposes Whicl * hey we designea to- servei Enable thos * who > surfer the wonders of art and iodtwtry whroh surrotutii -them to l-ementber Ihat it ia 1 > t Thee that knowledge 5 s joere ^ aed ; att * acience rnnde tomiufatter to the benefit and tttmforfrof mankind ; fofr tire spirit of Tpau is ^ frcmt ' Tnee , and the 1 n » spiration of ttie Almighty giveth him understanding' ; there * ftre ? not mrto ^ tts , t ©* tord ^ not tmto tki , but un «« r Thy nam « b&aH the praise . ' Whilst we contemplate tim ranaras of former ages amd the-monuments of andentsreatnesa . enable
«» to proht by the examples they afford of" the instability of earthly things , and ever to bear in mind that according to Thy- pr < m * eiice' nations flourish or decay ; that Thou hast Uat to-j ^ rdiShe word and the richest may become poor , and theproudest leyelfed' into dua * . Tberawrey 0 Lord ,, we entreat Thee so to regtflattr tfre ^ booghta of one hearts that ° 1 feey may not btf tiffed uf $ that wie ibrgct the Lo » d onr God , asifonrpower or the might of t > or hands had gotten us this weadthi , It cometh of ThineBnnd , anu is all TMne 8 wns both riches » ud iionoor come of T&eef andThon reigne 3 t 'Over « U , and iniairhaBd 1 t fs to make grea-t and to cive
'Wrengthturro * aiF . w * vr theretbw , GT'Lotd , we than ^ Tfheei and praise thy glorious name , and ? beseech Tliee ta grant : that the many blesBinjp ) vouchsafed' to our nation may dfs-i pose oi ? r hearts to serve Thee moce faithfully , and W * H that we undertake to aeek Thy honour and glory ,. Above all , tea « h m to use the > earthly blessings Thou givest pg richly to enjqyj that theyjmay riot withdraw oar affections from those heavenly things that Thou hast prepared ^ fop those that love tmd serve Tnee through the merits and mediation of Thy ^ Sou , JesQ 9 < 6 hrist onf Lord , in wliose prevailing name and words wefuother cafllon Thee . "
The "HaUelujaTi Chorus" pealing grandly tbtoughj tlie buildxag , was softg ^ and as it died away , the Mairq « is of fgreadaibane stepped farward and said : ^ 1 am commanded by her Mngesty to d ' edlare this palace opened . " Uhis was a signal for great and mighty dxeerinff ;; and amid the pulmonary efforts of her subjects the Qjieen aud her p ^ ipj . awa-y . . Tfre > r !^ t&wmy w » 8 aver ; the . palace waa opened ; , jkhe gpoup hsoko up ; the barriers were reuovedi ; . sand , st > oa every avenue was , for « . short time , ^ crowded with gacers .
Refreshments mere not to be had . During the ceremony they had been eaten up . Despairing of obtaining more substantial , refresh ments , a large proportion of the visitors , wfto -Bad for the previous flujei or six hours tieen crowded'together lix an atmosjjthere strongly reminding one of the tropics , were per-mubted to roam at leisure through the grounds , « nd enjoy the refreshing breezes , which , happily ,, the directors could not retail from , the surraunding : biH 8 . aiiaTiichL y woodedoountry . The band » of » tl » e . Grenadier Guaiil » , the Culdatateania , and the Crystal ; Palace , continued
to enliven the scene rantiLdusk by selections of mnsic firomi Meyerbeer , Bellini , Eobl , Flbtow , and other Haxtmrite composers ; _ There were no accidents . In one place a seat givm way ; and ladies shrieked , but no damage was done . A boy , too , fired a cannon as a train passed , ; , the wadding went through the window , And through the Txat of an M . P . ; but fortunately injured no one . Some extracts from Mr . lioutledge ' s handboddc will give an . idea of the size and structure : —
"The Crystal Palace stands marly north and south ., on the summit of the Pcnge-hill , its length being 1608 feet , its greatest breach at the central transept &M , and at the smaller transepts S 36 feet . The general width of the body of the building , between the ttaaaeptq , including the glazed and open corridors , ia 812 feet . In the old building the greatest width was 456 feet ., and » t the tranaeDtit < was 4 C 8 iect . The ground upon which the huilding ; stands slopes very much towards the park , and rows of brick piers are run up to support the front rows of columns . The nave consists of a grand avenue , nearly double the width of tire nave of St . Paul ' s Cathedral , ana more thau three times its length ; it is 72 feet wide , and 1608 feet long , and crosses tlie transepts at right angles . At a height of 68 feet from the floor , I hero springs a semi-cylindrical vault , 72 feet in
diameter , which stretches away from one end of the nave to the othor . The central transept has a vaulted roof of 120 feet span , extending for a length of 884 f « et . The span of this noble arch is about 20 feet larger than that of St . Peter's at 'Koine , and nearly 40 feet greater than that of St . Paul ' s in London . The space cohered by this colossal vault ia considerabl y larger than the whole Minster at York . Tho walls of St . Paul ' s Cathedral are 14 feet thick—those of the Crystal Palace 8 inches ; St . Paul ' s was thirty-five years in building—thu People's Palace has been constructed in liLtlo mope than twice as many weeks . At a distance of 528 f « et on eadi side of the contra 1 transept the nuvo is intersected b y the two-smaller transepts , each of which are , however ^ of the same dimenaiona as that which formed the great feature of the late Exhibition building . They are 72 feet in diameter , and spring from the same height aa tho vaulted roof
of the nave , that is M feet . . Jkt tfhe point of intersection of the nave with , the end transepts the roof is flat ,, and fosas a parallelogram of Jlfbet square . On each sidle of tu ? Srre are aisle * of 24 feet fit width , formed by the catattns wK « h support apportion of iihe building . -Beyond these Urst aisles , *» iP * « "i « them at a distance of 48 feerit are second JSfetes , 48 > fe « t iw bright , mi again beyonff thiew , « n £ «* h . e isamavdiatance , are * hiird afales of the same widtfc aad bright . Afcaltennrte distances . < tf 22 fcet and 2 * feet , «< toani £ toco J « Qt » tiset link * the nsre , which , continued up n « aririeftie ^ po ^^ uppoi * aa ^ i ^ per Hilary , whitth < . runs completekijfMaid r ' gftr ^^^ ft' ^^ s tain . also the arched girders whifin carry tHe semi-ca-cular roof of Qie nave . X gaUerj r 24 &Xin T * ^ ! ^ 18 en ^ 7 rojwdtue building , on tfie sides nearest 'tfae ' C !^ rtiBrto » 'aAarou ^ df ftmr courts , 48 by 120 feet , which * b afrtta tier tsetrtrdl traawtrt . This lov ^ fer tfalfervla W »* ii * Arf
b y ^ rgTrt'doribfefltAn-casies : four beirJt placed at eachOdrtion ¦ d to&HaU # di * Mc * = b ^ e -.-A « S £ ftSSB first or low «* gslleryv Aeons , is obtained to t&e upper «>* feet ^^ lexT- ^ t e ^^ / spiral staircases ) oos ! being . placwat each raft of tbe-ithcee transepts ^ and on * at , « & £ » end at ibe J > oil 4 ing The second * iw of colaMiie ^ Bp < H * s in ^ h « tjfim--sen js ^ llr ^ tf atfotBH j » r landrogfljIace ^ a ^ Jb eUf . itt MHaith aud 72 feet ^ n leiudu ^ wjth tlie execyatuaj of tfiel * MreBJ ( me id the centre , the Tenkti of wliichas J 20 feefj-aud ^ romjIilieBe platformrtt contmuafron of the spiral , staircase feads to the second ' and upper grillerfesl Th&passagealOTiig ~ this ' C « u ^ ry isthrougfe 1 * series * t * n * or * butt ' s eye' giraM ^^ T fe « fc' in dwmetet ; reMTeir HWW > tfi # ^ odluimi 8 wbie& nr ^ recfc Srft * * ftin
n « wei atolkenutt « < tis « niC 8 ^« f 24 and 72 fecti ^ ¦ ; " ThemJacB ^ cmiinn « M the wangs , i » « Q » ix > fted ! 4 « i { he gyowid tbori by 96 § coloinns , secured in >; theac leutiBQLiby a . nearly equal aurobw ^ of , - < oufe . and wr < wgl * i | Bw girders ; the former building ui Byde ^ park rested . upon 1060 ooltuans , or 92 mora tlian , the present edifice ., ithe second tier oiibe ; Building is formed of 8198 colunaiis . and , the fljiwt q £ ^ $ iO colbrans . The entire length of the builoTihgis occuptedPby ' Bafcoiutnim ^ jlrtced ^ ftet apart ; and : & iifteriwttir ^ i ^ t % et » between i ^ eae cofunms an plkcfed 1 f » & ^ ' ^ iMii | Piof wood , of the same form and appei « tenc » w ^ lie # o ^^ o % trti 8 , i « od Haogi l ! 86 >« i nantbsr on tia « lv « i ^ op ^ o ^ btt 5 aing . Tie greatest number £ columns < iu tb ^ tdaeolSfen ^ f ^« ie
. bteadllh « F taie . buildmgiiu 0 b 7 i ,, and ihenvareflixirows of tbose . near the-central transepts . In every ipwt of the bnil < d ») ; the colanMaftarejplaced either : at . distancesflf-aijfeet . ajart , ' . or munijiTes of that Doraber . TJtek : olurana .. whicb ivcmct into the aavo are a feet , or oue-thicd 0 f 2 a feefe ; icuflie ¦ larger cowti ^ iiiey ate so placed' as to forni courts of ^ Tb y ; 72 ; the nave and end -trannepts are colonnades of 7 £ ariirt § 0 ' feet , and fehfr Wings of the briiitRng range iir -width frotnrSetween 82 ^ , 48 , » ntt W feety and tSey are eaelr Sf ^ i ^ t'ia ; length . AHhe point * of corniexiow with the inaiiiibtiildfiig the wings are 96 by 24 feet ; they then assume the-dintfnsion ^ of 72 i * y 4 » -feet .= Nex t , a long avenue , ofr a 8 ** et in length ( , tbe same e » the great transept ) ly -32 ? iwHin . width . £ aeh-wing terminate * in a ccoes of & 6 btMf&if&Mb the centre ofintersectioa ; and on rthe summit of tkagREfags are watex-tanks 48 fwt sauaru , capable of contaiiuipejSo tons of water . " " i ^ ps » ..,.
It is indeed * gteab -and- -trrfy British work Except , perhaps , the Britannia tubular bridge , there is nothing in thJ&eeantr / -WhichConveys so sublime ah idea of what we can accomplish-. It is " , wiftt'libs wings included , 3 , 476 feet in lengthy or afhont- itii&e quarters of a mileJS ^ m . end to end , being thi »<» i ;^ it 8 feet lbnjrer titan the bid palace in Byde- ^ ai * .. ' , . 5 Ets cubic capacity is greater than that of its , orjg ^ aal by one-Iialf . Ifc has a superficial area pn the > ground floor and galleries of 848 , 656 feet . The Monutne , placed under the ajoperb reeeaaedi areh ofthft ' ignttd transept ,, would jicrt oreaeli within two ymd * xits 1 * , cumrovi 4 the glass roof would : cover as aore ^< Of
gxound , andthe panes which give the entire Strtietttte ^» crystal title wouWv if placed end to end' , ejcten ; d 245 T miles . If you were to stretch out in the sAQtB way the light colmrms which lift the etherlal Sfumo to the sky , they would measure more than 1 , 6 jnHes . The type of a new order of architecture ,, in w ; h 4 oh strength , < and lightneas are wonderfully , combined with mathematical . regularity of proportiloins- ^ xts vitreons side wafeare It ^ Lath odf an inch ttui&u Tbe pillaXB ) . which look set frail and are # o etrong ; , toe hollow iifce the bone * of a bwd , and few of th » thousands who traversed the * floor on Saturday Weate aware tiiat 'beneatlt their fleet lay 50 miles of piping-, ratniffed' like an arterial system , to feed with , vital heat tlie vegetation around U ^ aai .
ITrom au official return we learn that the napaAW of season tickets diapered of previously to theoj » ea «> ing was 20 , 157 . It appears also , on the same autdn » - rity , that there were admitted on the L 2 th inst ^ SOO ^ t &s . viaitoB * , and 2685 seasonHicketholdeirs , making a total of 4781 . On the I'Stth , which was wet , l ! 8 < 4 T'Sfr . visitors , and 1633 season-ticketholders , making' ft total of 3065 . On the 14 th , which was dry , buvir * ther overcast , 2641 5 s . visitors , and 2920 season " ticketholders , making a total of 5561 . On Tlaui * day , which was exceedingly wet , foggy ,. and disftgneA * able out of doors , 1413 5 s . visitors , and L 2 & 9 * aeaaon *
ticketholders , making a total of £ 642 . Yestaosdtap the company ga * ve agcand f&te to the Foreign-Convmissioaers , who honoured the opening with 1 tnUhr presence ; and they are preparing to invite' to Londoa , during the present summer , the municipalities of Paris and of the other great towns in France * . A subscription has been set on foot for the purpose ; the proposal , we are told , meets with the warm , approbation of tlie Government , th « approaching ! hospitalities being : intended as a return for tbofto extended- to the X . ord Moyou and Corporation . o £ London and to the Iloyal Commissionora in 1851 .
Untitled Article
Jtm * 17 , 1854 . ] f HI R Ir ^ E ADER . r |^
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Leader (1850-1860), June 17, 1854, page 559, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2043/page/7/
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