“Whatever earth, man's heritage, of every sort can yield, From mine and mountain, sea and air, from forest and from field· Whatever reason, God's great gift, can add or take away, To bring the worth of all the world beneath the human sway; "Whatever Science hath found out, and Industry hath earned, - "O, think it not an idle show, for praise, or pride, or pelf; "It is a great and glorious end to bless the sons of man, The exhibition was opened on the 1st of May with great splendor. The queen, and royal family, and England's noblest ones, convened as they never had convened before; and the learned and the great became the patrons of labor and science. The imposing spectacle I did not see. Adverse winds had detained our ship, and on that bright May day, when the nobles of the realm rode along in aristocratic pride, and the poor and trampled turned out by squadrons to view the pageant, and from between their chattering teeth, forgetful of their misery, shouted, "God save the queen!" we were obtaining our first sight of land, and heaving up and down, Mazeppa-like, upon the great deep. I visited the Crystal Palace nine days after it was opened. Seldom have I seen so fine a spectacle as this edifice presented as I approached. The immense size; the peculiar materials, form, color, and adornments; the flags of all nations waving over it in peaceful pride; the long, living stream of humanity rolling towards its open doors, formed one of the most attractive objects upon which I ever gazed. On entering, a new scene presented itself. In the center of the building, an immense crystal fountain was casting out its jets of water, and pouring them into a basin below, around which fresh flowers were blooming and shedding their fragrance. This fountain could be seen from the farthest extremities of the Palace, and was directly in view from every part of the nave and transept. About fifty yards from the fountain, in the transept, on either side, was a fine elm-tree, of the largest size, fresh and green, and lending a delightful charm to the whole scene. Up and down the nave, in the center, were fine specimens of statuary; on both sides were the contributions of all nations, while thousands of persons, from all climes, were moving to and fro, delighted with the gorgeous spectacle. Different departments were assigned to dif ferent nations with great fairness, and each contributor was allowed as much space and prominence as were necessary to display his goods to the best advantage. The admirable order and the exquisite taste displayed in the arrangement and formation of the various departments were most conspicuous, and every article seemed to be in just such a place, and laid in just such manner, as would best draw to it the attention of the visitor. In all the vast arrangement, there was no con fusion. Each man seemed to know his place; and though, in that building, I saw fifty thousand persons at one time, yet in no instance did I observe the least breach of propriety and decorum. It would be useless for me to attempt to give a sketch of any but the most prominent articles, and even the reference to those must be brief and imperfect. Near the fountain in the center is the Koh-i-Noir, or Mountain of Light, contributed by the queen. The value of this trinket is estimated at two million pounds, and came into the possession of the English by the annexation of Lahore to the Indian territories of that kingdom. It was discovered in the mines of Golconda, about three hundred years ago, and was for a long time the property of the Mogul emperors. It has changed hands several times, and been the cause of war and bloodshed, until it is now sent by a Christian queen to grace the congress of art and industry. It weighed, before being cut, eight hundred carats; but a clumsy operator reduced its weight to two hundred and seventy-nine carats; and yet, with this reduction, it is the largest diamond in the world. It is covered by a strong iron cage, and at night is lowered down into the base of an iron pedestal on which it lies. A writer in a British journal says, "A good general idea may be formed of its shape and size by conceiving it as the pointed half of a small hen's egg.' Around this jewel a crowd of persons is constantly collected, eager to obtain a view of a gem of such great value. The British contributions are, of course, the most numerous, and occupy very prominent positions. Every inducement has been given to the English artists to send the products of their skill into this great exhibition, and they have nobly responded to the call. Among their works were several fine models of towns, churches, and public buildings. A complete model of Liverpool, showing its streets, houses, churches, docks, and shipping, drew much attention. It was on a large scale, and was a most perfect thing in its way. The model of the great sepulchral pyramid, which is proposed to be erected in Surrey, is here. It is to be nine hundred feet high, and to contain catacombs capable of entombing five millions of bodies. It is designed to be an imitation of the pyramidal tombs of Egypt, and to stand through all time—a vast monument of human mortality and frailty, speaking alike of the goodness and the depravity of man. If this pyramid shall ever be erected, and rise to its contemplated hight, it will, in time, become an object of more interest to the nation than Westminster Abbey. Other beautiful models are brought forward to attest the high state of art, which win admiration from all beholders. Among articles interesting to the ladies may be mentioned a very fine quilt, wrought by knitting-pins, not a needle stitch being found in it. In the middle is a fine figure, and the corners are filled up with flowers. The whole design is exceedingly beautiful, and worked by the wife of a mechanic without guide or pattern, except such as originated in her own mind. The wife of a clergyman exhibited a scarf, which was manufactured by herself from silk produced by silkworms of her own raising, and which she procured to teach her children the habits of these wonderful little insects. Thus she taught her children habits of industry, and gave them lessons such as they never could forget, and, at the same time, wrought a most beautiful fabric, which, amid the articles in that great assemblage, the stranger found time to stop and admire. A journeyman. tailor presents a quilt about ten feet square, made up of forty-five hundred pieces of cloth, the whole of which is wrought with the needle. The center piece represents Britannia ruling the waves, while the borders and corners are filled up with fine designs and exquisite workmanship. It has engaged the leisure time of the tailor ten years. A carpet, valued at eight hundred pounds, and manufactured for Victoria by several of her lady subjects, drew much attention from those interested in such work. Each lady had the pattern, and a square of two feet, for which she paid one pound. Into this square she crowded her work, and on it displayed her skill; and when the whole were finished, they were framed into one beautiful fabric for the use of royalty. About three hundred persons were employed in its completion. Machinery was contributed in great abundance, from a little tiny model to the huge locomotive ready to start off on its fiery passage. Among other articles, descriptions of which you have read long ere this, are the electric clocks of Mr. Shepherd; a new pump, by which the water, instead of being raised by rod, cylinder, and piston, is brought up by the "centrifugal force," and flows in one continuous stream -- it is designed for draining marshes, and similar purposes, and a machine ten feet in diameter will pump one hundred and forty thousand gallons per minute; a lifeboat of gutta percha, most admirably constructed for its purpose, which may be folded up into a compass of twenty feet long, and two or three feet wide. When in the water, it will hold one hundred men, with provision and baggage. There are also marquees for all the different kinds of manufactures, displayed to the best possible advantage. Of carved work there was a great variety, from a wooden bowl to a splendid pulpit; from a child's toy to a colossal statue. Bronze, glass, and brass work was found in great abundance, and of great value. The immense quantities of rich goods, and the great value of the articles, can hardly be estimated. One firm had over one million dollars' worth of silver |