Oldalképek
PDF
ePub
[graphic][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed]

within it. The reader may be enabled to form some conception of this wonderful chrystal palace, when we state that it is 1848 feet in length, that is, more than one-third of a mile, or three and a half times as long as St. Paul's Cathedral—that it is 408 feet broad, that is, nearly equal to the length of Westminster Abbey; that it is open from end to end, and that the great centre aisle, running from east to west of the length stated, is 66 feet in height, while, nearly midway, 9000 feet to the centre, on the west side, and 948 feet on the east. There is also a transept, with a semicircular roof, running from north and south, 408 long, and 108 feet high, or higher than the nave of the loftiest cathedral in England; and enclosing a row of noble elms, that stood in the park, which remain untouched, and which further serves to break the long line of the side elevation, and marks out the central entrance.

In setting forth the advantages of the plan, the designer says, it gives an opportunity of introducing, at a small cost, six galleries, each twenty-four feet wide, of the entire length of the building, by which the floor surface will be increased above one-third; that the whole outside surface of the roof will be covered with unbleached canvass which will render breakage from hail impossible; that there will be a very large extent of surface fitted with luffer-boards, capable of being opened and shut, as occasion may require, to ensure a proper supply of pure air, the amount of which may be modified by passing through canvas, kept wet, in very hot weather; that by employing iron, wood, and glass only in the superstructure, the building will, from the moment of its erection, be ready for decoration and occupation; that the weight of materials in this structure will not exceed one-fourth of those necessary for a brick building, and that the construction of the building has

been so arranged as to admit of all its parts being prepared and delivered ready for fixing in place, and being put together and taken down far more easily than an ordinary brick building, which will greatly reduce all constructive operations on the ground, lessen the number of labourers employed, and any amount of possible inconvenience to the neighbourhood.

The central entrance will be exactly opposite to the Prince of Wales's Gate, in the Kensington Road, which is obviously desirable. But as this gate is not exactly in the centre of the plot of ground to be covered, the building will not be of the same length on each side of the entrance.

The western half of the building will be devoted to machinery and raw materials; the eastern portion to manufactures and the plastic arts; to which latter also the great hall is to be appropriated. The refreshment places are amidst clumps of trees.

In connection with this magnificent building, and the purpose for which it is erected-the great gathering of the peoples and the staples of the world-we must omit not to observe that the universality, in regard to contributors, and completeness in regard to the objects to be contributed, are striking characteristics in the plan of the Exhibition of 1851. Men, and women too, from ALL nations are invited to it. Specimens of all the valuable products of their iudustry will be seen in it. The entire series of their works, from raw materials to finished fabrics-from the first germ of ingenuity in a rude, simple tool, to the perfect complex machine-will be found there. The history of the arts of life, and the progress of mankind will be traceable there; from the lonely cave, still inhabited by the African bushmen, to the crowded city, where these multitudinous objects are collected from the stern and shapeless trunk of a tree, to the symmetrical winged ship-from the detection of

steam in the hollow iron balls of Hiero and Solomon Caus, to its first application, by the Marquis of Worcester, by Denis Papin, and by Captain Savory, and to its wonderful development in the almost intellectual machinery of James Watt. The records of all time will be consulted, and the secrets of every region searched out, to enrich this peaceful gathering together of the fruits of human perseverence.

This brilliant display of science and art-this glorious triumph of industry and commerce, will illustrate the tendency of our times to "unity" of feeling, without needing the old delusion of the unity of empire. In principle nothing is wanting to it. Even the despised savage is to be called on for his mite on this occasion, to prove his community of origin with ours, and to support his claim to a common destiny.

The amount of the contract by Messrs. Fox and Henderson, for the use and waste of the materials employed in the building, is £79,800, the whole building to become the property of the contractors, and to be removed by them. If, on the contrary, the building be permanently retained, the cost of it will be £150,000.

205

CHAPTER XXII.

OMNIBUS ROUTES IN THE METROPOLIS.

THE principal Omnibus Routes lie north and south, east and west, through the central parts of London, to and from the extreme suburbs. Between the beginning and the termination, the various omnibuses make many deviations, in order to accommodate all the chief tho roughfares lying nearly in a parallel direction, and to collect all the passengers which different streets may supply. The majority of them commence running at eight in the morning, and continue till twelve at night; succeeding each other during the busy parts of the day every five minutes. Most of them have two charges,— threepence for part of the distance, and sixpence for the whole distance. It will be well, however, for the intended passenger in all cases to inquire the fare to the particular spot he is going to; for the conductors will take the full fare if there be any doubt upon the point.

NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN ROUTES.

The ATLAS OMNIBUSES start from Camberwell Gate, and pass along the Walworth Road (Amelia Street, the Surrey Zoological Gardens), and through, by, or over, Elephant and Castle, London Road (School for the Blind, Surrey Theatre), Westminster Road (Orphan Asylum), Westminster Bridge Road (Astley's Amphitheatre), Westminster Bridge (fine view of the New Houses of Parliament), Bridge Street (near Westminster Abbey,

« ElőzőTovább »