Newspaper Page Text
1852.]
THE NEW CRYSTAL PALACE.
* * We copy the following interesting account
of the New Crystal Palace, Irotn the Spirit of
the Times:
Although the works of this new ex
periment lire being carried on with extra
ordinary rapidity, there are great doubts
in some quarters, owing to the immensi
ty of the undertaking, whether it can be
got ready by the Ist of May next. The
permanent character of the building, its
lofty proportions, the inequalities of the
ground on which it stands, the exposure
of so elevated a sight, and the difficulty
of accommodating a vast number of work
men in such a spot —all present obsta
cles of a serious kind. The economy of
time also in undertakings of this sort has
its limits, for things done in a hurry en
tail extra cost for speed, and are gener
ally found defective. Taking all this
into consideration, and remembering the
great strain by which the building in
Hyde Park was got ready, it seems un
wise in the company to bind themselves
to the Ist of May as their opening day.
They have no body of volunteers behind
their backs, like the 10,000 exhibitors be
hind the royal commission, to furnish the
vast interior as soon as it is covered in.
They must do the whole, or nearly the
whole, work of filling up themselves;
and not only have they this task within,
but outside also they have more than
100 acres of land to lay out in the most
elaborate stvle of gardening. In this
garden there will be a system of foun
tains nearly five times as extensive as
those of Versailles on grand days. There
will be every kind of ornamental device
known in works of this sort, and all car
ried out on the most splendid scale.
While the grounds become more elabo
rately dressed as they approach the build
ing, the fountains become more numerous,
varied, and wonderful as they recede
from it. Supplied from great reservoirs
placed on the summits of huge towers,
256 feet high, at either end of the build
ing, the waters will first be seen as cas
cades tumbling through the arches of the
first terrace on the right and left of the
grand central archway. As they descend,
instead of passing beneath, they will ap
pear to bound over the archways of the
lowest terrace, so that visitors may walk
under them as at Niagara. On each side
of the principal approach they will hurry
along in roaring cataracts or rapids, til
ling innumerable tatta-shaped fountains
in their way, and at last terminating far
down in the park in two large basins,
380 feet broad, in the centre of which
will be formed pyramidal fountains of
about 180 jets each, the largest throw
ing water to the height of 230 feet —dan-
cing fountains around these, four in num
ber, rising 130 feet, and outside of them,
again, 16 others, going 90 feet high.
SOUTHERN LITERARY GAZETTE.
There is nothing of the kind in the world
at all approaching in magnificence the
display of water-works contemplated by
the plans at this point.
GARRICK AND THE DEATH
OF WOLFE.
Mr. West’s justly admired picture, the
Death of General Wolfe, at once raised
the painter to a summit of reputation un
attained before, and, by affording an am
ple subject for the talents of Woollet,
laid that foundation of an English school
of engraving, which brought the art to its
present perfection in that country. When
this affecting picture was exhibited at the
Royal Academy, Mr Garrick went one
morning early, that he might review the
exhibition uninterrupted by the crowd,
which constantly attended at the fashion
able hours. A considerable, party was
in the room, drawn there, at that hour,
by the same motive. Os this number
was a young lady, whose personal beau
ty appeared not to be her only accom
plishment. The remarks she made on
many of the pictures showed a delicate
taste, and considerable knowledge of
the arts. They were attended to with
[ pleasure by her friends; and Mr. Gar-
I rick, then unknown to most of the com
pany, paid some handsome compliments
to her judgement. The Death of Wolfe
drew the highest encomiums from every
spectator. The young lady was particu
lar in her commendation, but thought the
expression not absolutely perfect; there
was a something wanting in the Gene
ral’s countenance, which she could not
easily describe ; there was in that coun
tenance, a languor too happily portrayed.
The company was dissatisfied with this
i opinion, and her friends appeared con
cerned on her account. Garrick, who
; had listened, attentively, and viewed the
picture with acute penetration, begged
leave to offer something in support of
the lady’s opinion, which he hoped to
convince the company was not alto
gether erroneous. The ladv, he ob
served, had remarked that there was
something wanting in the General’s coun
tenance ; of that something he would en
deavour to supply an idea. He immedi
ately placed himself in the attitude so
judiciously chosen by the painter, sup
ported by two gentlemen of the compa
ny ; and displayed, in his own face, the
! exact countenance depicted by the artist.
He then assumed a most animated ex
pression of that transient rapture which
history records the dying hero to have
felt at the joyful words “They run !”
“Who run 1” “The French !” He main
tained the representation a sufficient
length of time for every one present to
compare, and feel, the astonishing effect
of his inimitable performance. A burst
of applause followed, which, he politely
declared, was justly due to the discern
ment of the lady, who had suggested,
perhaps, the only improvement of which
that masterly work was susceptible.
\Arvines Cyclopaedia of Anecdotes.
Lesson lor Sunday. December 12.
THE .xUTHOR OF TuE NEW
BIRTH.
“Which were born of God.”—John i- 13.
How mysterious and inexplicable to
carnal reason are many of the doctrines
of Christianity ! Such is that of the new
i birth ; and the language of the natural
man concerning it, is “How can these
( things be?” The Scriptures make known
to us the fact, though they do not explain
! to us the precise mode of the Spirit’s ope
i rations in regeneration. John iii. 8.
Observe.
The Author of tiie new birth. The
melancholy description given us of the
j wickedness and depravity of man in his
natural state, plainly demonstrate to us
! that be cannot effect this change himself;
| it is by the will of God, as the moving
| cause; and the word of life, as the in
! strumental means; therefore, it is said,
“Os his own will begat he us with the
I word of truth.” Every thing in the new
| birth is his workmanship. He gives the
new heart, opens the eyes in the commu
nication of light, and the ears to receive
instruction ; he gives anew name and a
| new nature; he puts his fear in our
! hearts; We love him, because he first
loved usfaith is his gift; Christ is
; exalted to give repentance and the remis
j siou of sins; he imparts joy, and the joy
of the Lord is their strength; he taught
them the language they speak, and first
I enabled them to cry, though in broken
accents, “Abba, Father;” he works in
1 them to will and to do, and without him
they can do nothing. Every one, but an
| atheistical sceptic, will grant that in the
animal world the principles of life and
motion is from God; and in the rational
creation, our souls, with their powers and
faculties, are derived from the same Di
vine Being. Now. if every thing that
lives received its life from God, the foun
tain of life, how unreasonable would it be
to suppose that the Christian could re
ceive his spiritual existence from any other
source. The same power and wisdom
that were necessary in forming man in
the Divine likeness, are requisite in re
impressing the image of God on his soul.
How can we call in question the Uivine
agency employed in this work, when
stones are raised up as children to Abra
| ham, lions are changed into lambs, and
! the dead are raised to life? The finger
; of God is here; this is the Lord’s doing,
, and it “is marvellous in our eyes.”
“I am thy father’s spirit,” as the bot
tle said to the boy when he found it hid
in the woodpile, and wondered what it
was.
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