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Leader (1850-1860), 5th November 1853, Edition Country of 2, Page 3, November 5, 1853.] THE LEA PER. 1059

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      De. Playfair At Sheffield. Sheffield Has...

      study . ' But ask now the beasts , and they shall teach thee ; and the fowls of the air , they shall tell thee . Or speak to the earth , and it shall teach thee ; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee . Who seeth not that in all these t he hand of the Lord hath wrought this—in whose hand is the soul of every living thing , and the breath of all mankind . '" ¦ \ ' Dr . Playfair ' s address was rich in illustration , beautiful in style , yet not above the capacities of those whom he addressed .

      November 5, 1853.] The Lea Per. 1059

      November 5 , 1853 . ] THE LEA PER . 1059

      Close Of The Dublin Exhibition. Tbue To ...

      CLOSE OF THE DUBLIN EXHIBITION . Tbue to their word , the Committee closed the Crystal Palace on the appointed day — Tuesday . Many thousands of persons had gathered for the last time within its walls . Preparations had been made for a solemn ending , and a band of five hundred musicians were there to perform a service of sacred music . About three o ' clock , theEarl and Countess St . Germans entered , and were loudly cheered on their way to the dais . Around them were the Lord Chancellor , the Lord Mayor , the Provost of Trinity College , Lord Talbot de Malahide , Lord Massareene , Lord Ward , Lord Dunboyne , Sir Edward and Lady Blakeney , Sir Edward M 'Donnel , the Earl of Bective , Sir John Young , the Marchioness of Londonderry , Colonel Pennefather , Mr . William Dargan , Viscountess Gort , Colonel Browne , Colonel Eden , the Attorney-General , Sir iJohn Benson , and the members of the committee . As soon as the musical service had ended , the Lord-Lieutenant rose from his seat , and Mr . C . P . Roney , the secretary of the Exhibition , having been introduced by Alderman Roe , his Excellency desired him to kneel , for the purpose of receiving the honour of knighthood . Mr . Roney having obeyed the request , his Excellency touched him with a sword , and said , " Rise , Sir Cusac Patrick Roney , " whereupon a loud and hearty cheer proceeded from the assembled multitude , who thus" evinced their approbation of the honour conferred upon the able secretarv . -

      The Viceroy came forward , and in a clear , distinct voice said : — "I cannot daclare the Great Industrial Exhibition of 1853 to be closed without expressing an earnest wish for the health , happiness , and prosperity of the man to whom wo are all indebted for the instruction we have received from the many productions of art and nature which are contained within these walls . I also desire to acknowledge the liberality of the owners of those treasures for permitting them to be exhibited . Let me also pay a tribute of praise to tho committee , the secretaries , and the other officers connected with it , for the zeal , the assiduity , and the intelligence with which they have discharged then * many duties . Xfistly , let me , in the name of this assembly , ofFer to Almighty God our heartfelt thanks for having blessed and pcospered this undertaking . I now declare this Exhibition to be closed . "

      Lord St . Germans then concluded by calling for three cheers for Mr . Dargan . ( Loud and prolonged applause . ) And so the Exhibition onded , the brilliant audience leaving the building , while the organ , the orchestra , and the military bands played the National Anthem . The Dargan banquet came oft' on Wednesday , in the Mansion- house . Men of all ranks and parties—peers , merchants , and country gentlemen , gathered round the table , and afforded gratifying evidence of the " union " effected by William Dargan .

      Dismissal Of Professor Maurice. On Satur...

      DISMISSAL OF PROFESSOR MAURICE . On Saturday last , the Principal of King ' s College announced that Mr . 'Maurice ' s lectures on Ecclesiastical History would bo discontinued . Early in the summer , Mr . Maurice published a volume of " Theological JiHHayH , " addressed to Unitarians , which were originally delivered , in the shape of sermons . It scorns thai Dr . Jelf h ; w Hpent his vacation in examining into this production , and hao discovered that it contains opinions which he dmim to bo contrary to the teaching of tho Established UmToh . Oix tho mooting of the Collego for the Winter « j"n , a council was summoned , and tho result is , that Mr Maurice lias been forbidden to continue hia lectures to the HtudentR , on the ground that his teaching ihi dangerous . Later information has transpired to tho «» eot that the Bishop of Liohfiold , former Principal of w » o College , never received his HuinmonH to attend tho council , and Mr . Gladstone and tho Rev . James An-< lwHon sent written protests to tho council , deprecating i » i <> hiiHtinoHH of the decision . It in understood that w »<> lliKliop of Liehfiohl lias oxproHsed Iuh < loop sympathy with Mr . Maurice , and regrot at Iuh condonmatl ( >» l > y tho council .

      ^ Im110 Queen At Thk Cryhtal Palace. ¦')...

      ^ IM 110 QUEEN AT THK CRYHTAL PALACE . ¦ ' ) " « Queen and Prince Albert , tho King of tho ilol-K' ^ ih , and tho Duke ami J ) u < shoHH of Brabant , wont on ' ui'Hday to tho Crystal Pnlaco nt Sydcsnham , and H P" » I , three bourn in examining tho works . Thoy iirivod punctually at noon , and were received at tho " <» rU » entrance of tho western transept by . Mr . Laiug l' »« t tin , directors and ohiof oflieeiH of tho company ? ¦ '"' Weather harmonizod with tho occasion , and porous who have boon in tlio habit of going out to Sydoniam Ir ^ piontly to view tho building , remarked that My hud never noon tho atmosphere no free from ha / . o " l tlio proHpoct ho unclouded and splendid . Xho Works , too , havo now reached a point where all tho

      evidences of laborious drudgery through which they have thus far been prosecuted are rapidly disappearing , when the bare skeleton is being clothed not only with the . fibre and tissue , but with the integument of a graceful interior—when every stroke of the , hammer tells in , the general effect , and when , - through the apparent turmoil and confusionsof constructive details , the distinct forms of the architect ' s original design are rising into shape and splendid consistency . It was , therefore , a happy moment to select for such a visit .

      The royal visitors , ascending to the lower gallery at the west end of the building , commenced their tour of inspection by a deliberate survey of the interior , and its general effect . A flood of mellow autumnal light poured through the arched roof , and was agreeably checkered and diversified by the endless , yet fairy-like details of construction and embellishment . Under its influence the remarkable effect of the " long drawn " central aisle was unusually splendid , and , while at the further end scaffolding and a less advanced state of the work indicated that the whole was seen to great advantage , nearer at hand more complete arrangements suggested what it would be when finished . Thousands of

      plants , including camellias , acacias , and pines , have recently been introduced there and distributed in symmetrical order . The colouring which it is proposed to adopt throughout the building has also been carried out up to'the western transept , and so far the royal party were enabled to form some faint idea of the scale upon which it is considered necessary to proceed in providing a suitable palace for that exacting body , the public . Proceeding along the south gallery , the Queen and her guests paused at the end of the western transept to look out upon the park , with its terraces , av enues , and refreshing'diversified slopes . Far as the eye could reach , their view extended over a smiling prospect , in which villages and church spires the rich details of rural

      blended happily with English scenery . Another halt , at the central transept , gave time for a leisurely view of its gigantic proportions , and of the nature of those mechanical arrangements by which Messrs . Fox and Henderson are , at length . bringing this , the m ost formidable part of their work , to a successful completion . Alone it would well repay a visit to Sy denham ; and the difficulties which the contractors have had to contend against in the execution of so remarkable a feature of the building will deservedly add to their professional reputation . From the great transept the Royal warty passed along the gallery overlooking Mr . Digby Wyatt's architectural courts , and which is crowded with casts intended for the embellishment of them . The Templar Knights ,

      the Jonas of Raffaele , the grand creations oi Michael Angelo , copies of the finest gates , doors , relievoes , tombs , friezes , and statues of the modem schools , attracted their attention ; but us these occupy their present position merely in transitu , it would be useleas to linger over them . They each possess great special interest ; bufc until they are seen properly grouped and arranged , it is impossible to appreciate their full value and instructiveness . The eastern end of the building , though roofed , or nearly ho , is that part where the interior work is most behindhand ; and here , beyond pausing for a few moments , to hear from Mr Fero-uson what he intended to make of his

      Assyrian court , which m now being rapidly pushed forward , and promises to be very attractive , the Royal party made no stay . They proceeded at once to tho north gallery , overlooking Mr . Owen Jones's arclritectectural courts . This gallery was at first made the chief receptacle for works of art as thoy arrived in tho building from all quarters ; and , though of late many of its greatest treasures have been withdrawn , it still retains a large number of attractive objects . Among them tho collection of busts now begins to form a prominent feature ; nor can it bo doubted that the study of physiognomy will derive an additional attractiveof observation which micb

      ness through the facilities a . collection presents . Tho sculpture in this gallery waa examined with great intercut ; and bore , also , the attention of tho illustrious visitors wuh directed to a scries of drawings and models sont in by ten of the best artintH in Europe for the purpose , on a requisition of tho Crystal Palaco Company , asking ' to bo furnished with designs for ornamental fountains . Having completed their survey of the objects in tho north gallery , tho Royal party proceeded to examine tlio HerioH of architectural courtn which occupy tho ground-door of tho building , from the ^ central traiiHopt eastward Thews courts aro arranged in historical

      mieouHHion on either side of tho navo , Uusir ^< rya

      the national peculiarities of architectural epochs , but all the leading characteristics in detail , so that the series wall embody a complete course of instruction in art . The Egyptian , Greek , Roman , and Alhambra courts are under the care of Mr . Owen Jones , who ,-ably assisted byMr .. Bonomi and Si gnor Monti , has succeeded in pushing forward all but the last-named court to a point which enables one to form some faint idea of what they will be when completed . It is difficult to gather from bare walls and pillars their exact expression when clothed with brilliant and effective colouring . Still more difficult is it to anticipate the charms- ' of perspectives now closed in on every side by hoardings , but which are destined to be relieved and heightened by the vegetation of the countries the architecture of which is represented . To help the imagination of the

      illustrious visitors Mr . Owen Jones drew their particular attention to his coloured restoration of one of the friezes of the Parthenon . The critics will be in great wrath with him for this innovation on their ideas of classic propriety ; but the effect is undoubtedly excellent , and if the figures in relief were no t so painted the artist will carry the public along with him in saying that they ought to be . With the wall surfaces all prepared , the Egyptian , Greek , and Roman Courts will not take long to embellish . The Alhambra Court is a greater undertaking , and more in arrear . Upon its details the greatest care is to be bestowed , and some idea of the difficulty attending it may be formed from the fact that the honeycombed and painted roof of the inner hall will consist of 5000 pieces , which have all to be fixed before the brush is applied to them .

      In the Byzantine Court , on the southern side of the nave , the principal features will be restorations of the Cloister of St . Mary , in the capitol at Cologne , and of that of St . John the Lateran , with its gold mosaics , In the centre will be the fountain of Heislerback , -in Derbyshire marble , and on doors or built into the walls will be represented the principal remains of Romanesque art from Italy , Germany , and England . A remarkable series of English Kings and Queens from Fontevraud and Mans will also be ineluded in this court . The Mediaeval Court will

      comprise compartments illustrating the German , French , Italian , and Englishs chools , which take the pointed arch as their leading symbol . In this group our own architectural , sculptural , and monumental remains will be most largely represented , and in a national point of view this collection will be the most important one of the kind that has ever been brought together . The German gothic will include examples of the works of Peter Vischer and Adam Krafft—the great Nuremberg door and the remarkable effigies of the Archbishop Electors of Mayenco . Among the more prominent objects of the French and Italian Courts will be the bas reliefs from the Choir of Notre Dame . Mr . Wyatt proposes to make the facade of the Renaissance , Court a restoration of tho Hotel I 5 oim « -t ! m-

      rouhl at Rouen , and to decorate the interior with such objects as the great window of the Cortosa , the Giuberti door from Florence , Cellini ' s Nymph from Fontainebleau , and the Caryatides of Jean Juyon English Hcnaissmtce , or , as it in usually called , Elizabethan , will bo fully illustrated with such objects an the tombs of Henry VII . and Queen Elizabeth ; metal work and ivory and wood carvings . The Later Italian Court will be furnished with Michael Angelo ' h masterpieces , and tho . se of Vignola and other artists , its architectural details being founded on the cortile oi the Farne . se palace at Rome . Such is an outline oi

      the plan which Mr . Digby Wyntt has laid down for himself to execute . Taken in connexion with what Mr . Owen Jones is doing , it brings together nearly everything that in requisite to give the people of this country a just estimate of what the goniun of man , working through bin love of tho beautiful in art , to civilize and reiine the world , has effected in different agon and countries , from the time of tho Phuraohtf down to tho present ago . Such a lesson , pzcjented in so condensed a form , in ho striking a manner , and made ho aceeasible , was , probably , never before presented to any nation .

      From the examination of thts architectural courts the Royal party proceeded' to the Pompeian House , whore , by a happy arrangement , luncheon was provided for them . They wens thus enabled , in perfect , leisure and seclusion , to admire tho exquisite manner in which thhi restoration ha . s boon oilcioted by Signor Abbate . For months be and hitf assistants have laboured at their Work , which will noon bo completed . That it will Heeuro the warm admiration of ovtiry person of tasto wo

      cannot doubt . Even ' , unfinished as they aro , the decorations possess a charm of elegance which is beyond praise , and which one never tiron of wondering at as the Htylo in which houses were adorned seventeen centurion ago . On leaving the apartments to resume their mirvey of the works , Nignor AbbaUi wan presented to Prince Albeit and tho King of the HolgianH , both of whom complimented him on tho huccchm ill'bin labours .

      The Royal party now directed tlioir attention to the grounds , which , by a very simple kind of footpath , made of faggotrt covered over with fine gravel , Lhesy wore enabled to visit , in perfect comfort . Drenchingrains on a heavy clay soil have for some time pant mihIo ovory bit oi' tho PurJt , not turfed over ami out of

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 5, 1853, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05111853/page/3/