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Sn&uatrini Cnugrtaa: TII E OPENING.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Foreign police have come to guard the Exposition , and an import of continental pickpocketsthe former sent at the request of Lord Palmerston , the latter voyaging at their " own sweet will" ; so write the Times and Daily News . , But more , iprd Palmerston , it is said , has promised to pay for the police of Austria and Prussia . We do not believe it . And yet it is a pity some Member of the Lower House does not put the question pointblank to the Foreign Secretary . Where are the Radicals ? The Austrian difficulty is again finance . The common delusion that a forced paper currency can
exist , per se , without depreciation , not only as a representative of " value , " but as value itself , and without any sort of basis , either in taxes or lands seems to have become a monomania with Baron Kraus , the Finance Minister . A policy like this leads directly either to bankruptcy , a thing which Austria must be accustomed to , or imperial revolution . The Emperor may confiscate the land or the Chancellor cancel the debt of his subjects , or the People , able to bear this bungling no longer , may confiscate Emperor and Chancellor . 3 Tis a pretty alternative .
" Order" must he saved in France as elsewhere . No doubt . So , " as an abstract proposition , " truth , honour , upright and open-handed dealing , these ought to be saved , or at least respected . But this is not the " practical " view taken by French Ministers or French police . They are now understood to be developing a revolt fur the 4 th of May . An infamous proclamation , signed the " Committee of Resistance , " and addressed to the people , has
been issued , urging upon them to " let 1851 fill up the gap left in 1793 ! " Yet are these men they who are defended , and whose cause is advocated in the British press and the British Parliament ! There are few words in the English language capable of characterizing this atrocity , and these it would soil our pages to write . Fortunately the Democrats of Paris have been warned in time , and the conspiracy is damned .
A new turn has been given to the abolition question in the United States . Mr . Seward , senator for New York , and a man of great influence in the Empire state , has just effected a coalition with Mr . Van Buren on the subject of opposing the recentlypassed law of Congress for the surrender of fugitive slaves . The law works with great harshness , and has caused a feeling of shame and disgust among the Republicans . New York State has , heretofore , remained neutral , rather disinclined to
the mooting of a question which disturbed commercial relations . But Mr . Seward , as the active promoter of the Erie Canal extension , which the state cannot undertake , is acquiring an overwhelming influence among commercial men . And the coalition helps to remove Abolitionism from the category of mere moral or speculative questions to that of active party politics . Henry Clay has already made it one of enlarged statemanship . So that it is really obtaining a position which must secure its practical treatment .
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^ - Thk International . Exposition . is opened . It has been a triumphant success . The great day of 18 / 51 , which has witnessed the inauguration of the Congress of Industry , has passed into a vital fact , and left an indelible impression upon the age . By a little after ten the multitude was so densely packed in front of Buckingham Palace , and every place which , did or did not command a view of the procession was so effectually occupied , sometimes forty or fifty « U < p , that even the most determined
night-Beera were obliged to give up all hope at this pluee , and , with the stream of peoplo which had never ceased flowing in ull this time , Bet off to find some more advantageous point of view . Hyde-paikcorner seemed to be the general resort of those who were disappointed elsewhere , and accordingly , iih the time fixed for the starting of the proeestsion drew nigh , the roads and avenues leading to it became perfectly impassable . I he scene at the gates of Hyde-park itself bailies all description . line of le
One dense , unbroken , never-ending peop awent slowly forw ard through the gates like a huge river , completely deluging the Park-up and down , far and near — never mill , yet never changing , they seemed u swarm of giguntio bees , the hive of which was not inaptly represented by the Crystal Palace . If tho life of every individual present on Thursday had depended upon his being within the enclosure by a certain time , they could not have displayed more anxiety to enter itw precincts , or run more riaka in doinc so . A » to keeping them back ,
soldiers were ineffectual and the police ridiculous ; and even that difficult problem of how to turn the tide with a pitchfork appeared simple and feasible in comparison , with how to turn the tide of human beings * hat parried all before them . Steady , sober , serious-looking men , who no doubt would on other occasions have turned aside from a little gap in their paths , now boldly scaled high railings , dived under horses , jumped over intervening obstacles , and performed various other acrobatic feats inconsistent with the dignities of substantial tradesmen . Boys ran wildly whooping to and fro , making every
policeman ' s life a burden to him . Carriages of every kind came backwards and forwards incessantly , driving recklessly among the people , who seemed to bear charmed lives ; while hairy foreigners , in every description of outlandish dress , ran distractedly about , entreating everybody to direct them anywhere . But people must stop coming , sometime or another , and the Park being positively full to repletion , and it being near the time fixed for the starting of the cavalcade from Buckingham Palace , with great difficulty the Life Guards and police succeeded in making a passage for it , which , however , when once made , it was tolerably easy to keep clear .
Queen Victoria left her Palace of Buckingham , drawn by two creams , attended by the usual courtly appendages , a little before twelve o ' clock . The stately procession moved through the line of soldiers , the shouts of the crowd rent the air , the people were jammed in the Park . Metfnwhile within the Palace the spectators had spread themselves over the nave and galleries ; the ladies had taken their seats ; the Royal Commissioners were standing in groups . Mr . Cobden was introduced to the Duke of Wellington and thf Marquis of Anglesey , and they were joined by the Chinese Commissioner . The great variety of uniforms and costumes worn by the assemblage collected in the
space around the throne , and the remarkable manner in which the proportions and decorative arrangements of the Building brought out their position , rendered the spectacle which the north side of the transept presented a very imposing one . Seated apart from the throng , and accompanied by his chaplains , might be observed the Archbishop of Canterbury , and not far off the Bishop of Winchester , who , in the absence of the Bishop of London , appeared as senior suffragan of the province . The Lord Chancellor was also conspicuous in the assemblage , and our civic dignitaries , in their flaunting scarlet robes , enjoyed their full share of public attention . A chair selected from the Indian collection , and over which a magnificent
scarlet velvet elephant cloth , richly brocaded , was placed as a covering , served as a throne . In front of the raised dais on which it was placed rose the splendid crystal fountain of Mr Osier , the appropriate centrepiece of a palace of glass . An air of expectation—a sense that the Exposition was not yet complete—pervaded the atmosphere of the building . As the clock struck twelve the trumpets sounded , and the Queen entered in state , leaning on the arm of Prince Albert , and leading the Prince of Wales by the hand , Prince Albert leading the Princess Royal . Two children met her at the gate , and presented her with flowers . The Queen wore a dress of pink silk , richly brocaded with silver , and trimmed with white lace ; and on her head a tiara of diamonds , whose sparkling effect was softened , on each side , by a small
white ostrich feather , gracefully arranged so as to fall behind the ear . The Prince Consort wore the full uniform of a field-marshal . The Prince of Wales was dressed in Highland costume , and wore a black velvet tight fitting jacket and the Rothesay tartan . The little hose were of the same tartan , and the whole costume was exceedingly becoming to his youthful form . The dress of the Princess Royal was of white lace , and no colour was visible except a light wreath of pink flowers round her brow . Her Majesty was accompanied by the Duchess of Kent , the Princess Mary of Cambridge , the Duchess of Sutherland , Prince lid ward of Saxe Weimar , and the Prince of Prussia . For a moment the cheers of the spectators drowned the swell of the organs , and the voices of the choir rang and echoed through the galleries , and along the transept and nave .
When the national anthem ceased , Prince Albert descended from the throne , and read the report of the Royal Commissioners , who were presented to the Queen . The Aichbishop of Canterbury then delivered the following address : — - " Almighty and everlasting God , governor of nil things , without whom nothing is strong ; , nothing holy , accept , we bcHeech Thee , the sacrifice of our praitie and tliaukngiving , receive our prayers which we offer up to Thee thin day , in behalf of thin Kingdom and land . We acknowledge , O Lord , that Thou hast inultiplit d the bleuuinirti
which Thou mightetit moat justly have withheld ; we acknowledge that it in not because of the works of righteousness which we huve done , but of Thy groat mercy , that we are permitted to come before Thee this day with the voice of thanksgiving . Instead of humbling uh for our offences , Thou hast given us just cuuse to pruinc thee for Thine abundunt goodin-HH . And now , O Lord , we bcHeech Thee to bless the work which Thou ham enabled us to begin , and to regard with Thy favour our preucnt purpose of uniting together in the bond of peace and concord the different nations of the earth : for
of Thee , O Lord , and not of the preparation of man , if cometh thatyiqlence is , not heard in our land , nor contentions nor [ Violence within our borders . It is of Thee , O Lord , that nation does not lift up sword against nation , nor lea * n , war any more . It is of Thee that peace is within pur - walls , plenteousness within , our palaces , and men go forth in safety , and that knowledge i * increased throughout the world . Therefore , O Lord , not unto us , but unto Thy name , be all praise . Whilst we survey the works of art and industry which surround ug let not our hearts be lifted up that we forget the Lori our God , or that it is not of our own power , or of the might of our hands , that we have gotten in this wealth . Teach us to remember that this store which we have prepared is all Thine ownin Thine hands it is to make great ,
, and give strength and honour . We thank Thee , we praise Thee , we entreat Thee to overrule this assembly of many nations , that it may tend to the advancement of Thy glory , to the increase of our prosperity , and to the promotion of peace and good will among the differeat races of mankind . Let the many mercies we have received dispose our hearts to serve Thee more and more , who art the author and giver of all good things . _ Teach us to use those earthly blessings that thou hast given us so richly to enjoy , that they may not withdraw our affections from those heavenly things which Thou hast prepared for them that love Thee through the merits and mediation of Thy son Jesus Christ , to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory , world without end . Amen . "
As he concluded , to the accompaniment of the organs , the choir sang the " Hallelujah Chorus" ; the voices vibrating through the crystal edifice , especially in the treble passage , with a peculiar but not tinpleasant ring ; and when the last echo died away the gloom which had hung over the scene was suddenly dissipated , a burst of sunlight flashing through the uncovered roof of the transept , and falling full upon the central group , threw the figure of the Queen and her biilliant attendants into strong relief , while all the rest oi the vast palace was pervaded with shadow .
The Royal Procession then formed to make a tcur of the building . First went the heralds , then ihe architect and contractors , and other officers , followed by the various committees . Next in order came ihe Foreign Acting Commissioners , the Royal Commissioners , the Master of the Ceremonies , the Foreign Ambassadors and Ministers , the Duke of Wellington and the Marquis of Anglesey , her Majesty ' s Ministers , the Archbishop of Canterbury , the Queen's official attendants" ; then the Queen , leading the Prince of Wales , and Prince ATbert , leading the Princess Royal ; the Prince of Prussia and the Duchess of
Kent ; Prince Henry of the Netherlands and the Princess of Prussia ; the Prince Frederick William of Prussia and the Princess Mary of Cambridge ; Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar and the Duke of Cambridge ; the whole brought up by the Queen's household attendants . As soon as it was formod , . the procession turned to the right , moving to the west end of the nave by its north side . On its return it moved to the east end of the nave by its south side , including the south end of the transept , and came back to the centre along the north side of the nave .
As the procession passed along her Majesty was most heartily greeted in every part by loud cheers and waving of handkerchiefs , the whole audience standing uncovered . Throughout her course the Queen looked grave and serious , as though she felt that the pageant in which she acted so prominent a part was not a court gala , but a national solemnity . But when she again returned to the chair of state a radiant glow of delight flashed over her features , as if the truly hearty cheers which greeted her had made her really glad . The Duke , who has heard the terrible yet spiritstirring hurrah of a regiment marching to the charge ; , who is now old and feeble , and who places no sort of faith in popular applause , was also cheered , as he passed along , leaning on the arm of Lord Anglesey .
When the Queen again reached the platform hhe stood up and declared the Exhibition opened . The trumpets loudly clanged ; the guns of the Serpentine still more loudly boomed ; the nouthern entrance was again unclosed , and the royal pageantry punned out , leaving behind it the thirty thousand spectators , the beautiful building , and its rich contents . As a spectacle it was unequalled . Not the sli ghtest hitch in the arrangements ; not one drop of rain ; all the persons there who projected and planned , and even those who executed the great work—for happily Mr . Henderson recovered in time , and thus the nations mingled together in unity , a waving vision of light , and form , and colour , which the century may not a <; ain set before the eycH o * f Englishmen .
But , now we have described the ceremony , let us glance at the building and its contents . The general character of the edifice in too well known to need any description : it esta blishes the capacity of the style for architectural beauty though it does not in itself fulfil tho early expectation ; ami tho heavy-tinted varnished punnels , like shutters not taken down , mar the lightness of the general desiim Within however , the effect is beautiful : the i / reat space ; , the flood of li ght , tho hurinoriouH t intinir of the framework—u delicate blue and lake-red , pu ked out with gold-contribute to an . fleet of a new and Btraiige kind : you can scarcely toll whether you are
Sn&Uatrini Cnugrtaa: Tii E Opening.
Sn&uatrini Cnugrtaa : TII E OPENING .
Untitled Article
406 ftDe & * ftttr * „ _ . [ Saturday ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 3, 1851, page 406, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1881/page/2/
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