ENGLISH EXTRACTS. THE GREAT EXHIBITION. [From the London "Times,"April 28.]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 560, 27 August 1851, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS. THE GREAT EXHIBITION. [From the London "Times," April 28.]

******* But nil this is a digression, and we return to the specta* cle oflabour which the interior of the building presents. It forms, altogether, a grand and edifying sight. Everybody seems busy about what most concerns himself, I and there is, in the manner and movements of all that throng, a certain driving energy of character which is paiticularl}' impressive. Then there is the hum of mingled sounds which strikes upon and fills the ear, which indicates the gigantic labour in progress*, and reminds one, as it swells and gathers in volume, of a mighty task rapidly approaching its successful completion. In our own half of the Exhibition the din and turmoil are fastest and most furious. People move about there like bees in a hive, the cells of which they are engaged m constructing. Nothing stops them. They whip about ponderous masses of machinery as if they were childien's toys. — Packages and contributions, that had remained carefully and modestly swathed in paper or canvass, they begin to strip of every covering and disguise. The great bronze statue of the Duke of Rutland might be seen on Suurday, removed by them from its former position, near Osier's Fountain, and swinging by the neck at the foot of one of the staii cases. Under their continuous labours, every part cf our native Exhibition assumes shape and consistency. Mr. IJensman Ims got the steam up for the working machinery. All the courts and stalls are filled with contributions, which a few hours would suffice to set in oidor. The nave has its full complement of trophies, which are in process of arrangement. The galleries fill with the lighter products of British skill tnd industry. Where- j ever the eye turns, a hundred different labours approach their successful termination, and from the whole scene ] is gatheied the comforting assurance that whatever o'her country may be behindhand, at least our reputa- | tion for punctuality will be preserved. Next to ourselves, France makes tho greatest show in respect of bustle and apparent effort, yet her preparations continue far in arrear, and it seems utterly impossible that her division can be ready in time for the opening. It may be in part, perhaps, and we trust that those portions neirest the transept will be pushed forward and completed beforo the Ist of May. Switzerland, the Zolverein, Austiia, America, Holland, the Northern States of Germany, Spain, Italy, China, and Tunis, are all in an advanced state of prepaiation. Belgium, Russia, and Turkey have a long arrear of work to bring up, and little time to do it in. Beyond all question our half of the exhibition is much more nearly finished than the other; and, so far, at the outset, contributors from abroad will be at a disadvantage as compared with us ; yet they will probably recover, in public estimation, the ground they thus lose, by the superior attractiveness of (he objects which they have grouped around and I within the nave. Jn the meantime, they seem bent on making a great effort to be in time, and certainly, now that they have set to work in earnest, they make astonishing progress. They are more accustomed to that sort of thing than wo are, and get through it with less bustle and a smaller number of hands. While the labours of exhibitors thus approach a close, those of the contractors have not yet ceased. They are now actively engaged in two great operations — the one is that of covering the roof of the building with calico ; the other consists in erecting around the centre aisle a double row of seats for ladies present at the state opening. These seats are so constructed as to form an effectual hairier againot pressure during the progress of the ceremony, and to offer no obstacle whatever to the free circulation of spectatois when her Majesty withdraws. As to the calico covering, the effect of it upon the internal decorations will, m a remarkable manner, verify the accuracy of the anticipative sketches which Owen Jones month* ago laid before the commissioners. In gloomy dark days, the brilliant appearance of the structure will be somewhat impaired, but when the weather is fine the shade will prove refreshing and agreeable. A considerable portion of the Turkey red cloth used in the lining of stalls, and as a back ground for the gallery railings, has been placed, and this, combined with the masses of brilliant colouis beginning to show all over the nrea of tbe building, tells with the best effect upon the general aspect of the interior. It now gradually expands, and warms into a pet feet picture, the tints of which ate most harmoniously blended, and the coup dad surprisingly beautiful. We turn from the scene of hustle and preparation which the building presents to matters of interest connected with the ceremonial of the opening. In the first place, then, the sale of season tickets has been stopped, up w<ii ds of 15,000 having been disposed of. It is not yet certain that a new issue may not take place after the Hireling of the Royal Commission to-moiro'v afternoon ; hut much will, of course, depend on the way in which they dispose of the claim for admission put forward by a large body of exhibitors. For the sumo meeting is reserved tho fimd adjustment of a moie extended prol>iaiHinp connected with the st.ito opening. That ceremony promises to be an imposing one ; her JMajesty's ontunco into the building is to be announced by a flouush of tiumpeti, Ihe National Anthem is to be sung by n choir ofliom 300 to :>OO, including the choiistors of St. P.iul's, Westminster Abbey, and the Chapol Royal, Windsor, ahd soino of the pupils of (ho Royal Ai'i'idniny oi Music. 'I hpy will occupy ihe northern gallery of ihi> tifiiisept, and will be accompanied by the organ theie, pluved jointly by Meisrti. Goss and Turlc, the whole peifoiiminco being piCMdul over by Sir G. Smart. After the Aicbbisbop of Cnnteibuiy bus ofieied up a piayer, thf Hulleliij.ih Choi its of Handel's " Messiah" will be j)( i (owned under the duoction of Sw 11.

Bishop, accompanied on the organ by Dr. Elvey and Dr. W. Wilde. 'Ihe Royal piocabsion will move around the building in due oider, Mr. Pax ton, as aicbitect, taking tbo lead, and after him Messrs. Fox and Henderson, the contractors. Then will probably come Mr. Owen Jones, Mr. Digby Wyalt, and Mr. Wylde, the officers of tbo Executive Committee, who have had most to do with the building. To these will succeed the Executive Committee, then tlio Foreign Commissioners, then the lloyal Commissioners, preceded by their secretaries and her Majesty and the Court. As the Q ueen passes, the vast assemblage will use to receive her, and the eight great organs, six British, and two foreign, winch the edifice contains, will in succession peal forth their notes of welcome. The present intention appears to be that the lloyal procession should move westward, fiist, into theßiiiish department of the exhibition. It lias been suggested, very propeily as we think, that the foteign contiibutois, as strangeis invited among us, should be visited before our own people. With their quid: warm feelings they would readily appreciate sucb a compliment. ! Tlio following is a return of foreign and colonial goods received up to the 20th April, inclusive :—: —

FRANCE. The advices from Paris are of Monday evening, the 28th April. Some sensation had been created in Paris by the following note, published in the Moniteur, relative to an order of the day recently issued by General d'llautpoul, the Governor-General of Algeria: — An order of the day to the army of Africa, relative to the taking of the village of Selloua on the 10th, has been published by the journals of Algeria, and copied from them into the French papers. This order of the day, which is contrary to military propriety, and to the sentiment of discipline, inasmuch as it leaves to the appreciation of the army the opinions of the generals who command it, and the orders of the Government, has been, on the part of the Minister of War, the object of a formal disapprobation and a severe censure. There probably neve r was so severe and open a rebuke administered by a Minister of War to the general holding not only the high office of Governor-General of Algeria, but who himself has been recently Minister of War. The National Fays that this note is an indication of the dissentions which have already broken out in the Cabinet, and in which M. Barouche leads one party, while M. Leon Faucher leads the other. The National says that the censure passed upon General d'Hautpoul wns at the suggestion of M. Leon Faucher, and that it shows that the paity of M. Faucher is in the ascendant. The Opinion Puhlique says :—: — " We have already published the Governor-General's order of the day. In it Geneial d'Hautpoul inflicts a severe blame on a colonel who, carried away without doubt by his courage, exceeded his instiuctions, in attacking the Arabs v hen he was to have remained on the defensive. Up to that point we had nothing to say, for we are far from approving of any departures from the orders given by the General-in-Chief. And it is because we think that this sentiment of rigorous execution of military instructions and regulations ought always to be borne in mind, that we do no agree with one of our cotemporaries, who blames General d'Hautpoul for having shown such screrity towards an officer who had forgotten that it is not sufficient in the army to be brave. But if General d'Hautpoul was right in the first part of his order, how was it that it did not occur to him that the reproach which he addressed to Colonel d'Aurelle could more justly be addressed to himself for the second part ? Is not General d'Hautpoul that very officer who, under pretext of promotion, inflicted a disguised dismissal on a general who had opposed a violation of the military regulations shown in anti-constitu-tional acclamations in presence of the temporary head of the State. The interview which took place on Friday, the 25th April, between General Cbangarnier and M. de Persigny, is the subject of conversation in all political cir^ cles ; and, as great importance is attached to it, I think it necesbary to give some details, which I believe to be perfectly authentic. The proposition for an interview came from M. de Persigny. He wrote a note on Thursday to General Changarnier, asking a meeting, which the geneial at once appointed for the following day, in his apartment in the Faubourg St Honoi 6. On entering, M. de Persigny said, •' What ! General, how comes it that so great a man as you should be in so small an apartment?" The General replied modestly, by suggesting that it was, perhaps, because the frame was so small that the man appeared great. M. de Persigny then said, " Your geneioaity and your noble feelings are well known. All the friends of the country hope that on an occasion of importance which is not far distant, you will mount tho tribune to support the cause of the Piesndent of the Republic, which is the cause of order and of society* It is thought that you will sacrifice your feelings of anger on the altar of your country." To this formal speech General Changarnier merely replied that " he was not of a resentful disposition, and would be always ready to defend right and law." M. de Persigny then spoke at great length on the state of the country, and hinted vaguely, but in a manner that obliged General Changarnier to answer, at the question of the prolongation of powers. General Changarnier replied in an equally vague manner, and with the greate&t reserve. He showed no hostility to the President, nor any decided intention of taking part against him ; but he nt the same time abstained from anything that could be construed into an intention on his part to second the views of the Elys6e. In the course of the subsequent conversation, M. de Persigny made use of the following expression :— " The Assembly has been vanquished in the question respecting you, and it ought to remain vanquished," — an expression which has given great ofl'ence to the representatives, and to which General Changarrner made no reply. At the end of the interview, M, de Persigny declared explicitly that the President of the Republic was disposed to offer to General Changarnier any post that he might choobe, with the single exception of the command of the army of Paris ; and he added, in speaking of this subject, "that it was not against him (General Changnruier) that the attack was made, when he wa3 dismissed from the command of the army of Paris, but against the Assembly, which had shown him such warm sympathy." These last words were the geneial subject of conversation in the Assembly to-day, and appear to have given deep offence to the representatives of all opinions ; and the ofl'ence is not only with M. de Porsigny, who made use of the words, hut with tho President of the Republic, whose .sentiments ho is supposed to have expms'-ed. 'I ho impression made by tins interview upon thobo who know the details of it is that General CbiingarniGr would coiiHout to rosurno the command of tho army of Paris, if oflorqd to him uncomlnionnlly ; but tlmt ho would not resume it if any attempts wore made to impose conditions upon him. After the interview with

M. de Persigny, General Cbangarnier paid a visit to M. Leon Faucher, who acknowledged tJiat he was aware of the intention of the Elys6e to make advances to him ; but added that he did not only disapprove, hut greatly regretted, the injudicious mnnner in which M. do Persigny had acted. The affair rests in this sta'e at prosent, but it is quite certain that tbe majority of tho cabinet is very anxious to re-pstnblisb a good understanding 1 between the President and General Changarnier. M. Thiers, and the mnjoiity in the Assembly, are by no means pleased by (his attempt to gain over General Cbangsumer to the Elys6e. They consider it an attempt on the part of the Government to break down the majoiity in detail. The Club of the Rue dcs Pyramidos, composed of the adheients of the Elys6e, has appointed a committee composed of M. Beugnot, Admiral Cocile, and the Duko de Broglie, to diaw up a bill for tho Revision of the Constitution. It will be presonted about the end of Mny.

AUSTRIA. Tun Polish RtruoErs. We find the foliowin? paragraphs in a Vienna letter of the 1 9th April :— The Austrian Government seeks everywhere for information about the emigiants, especially about the Poles, whom it fears as the most dangerous conspirators. But the information received gives them an entirely different character. From Turkey they got the following tidings :— ln Ash, three hours eastwaid from the Bosphorus, is the site of the Polish Colony, Adamkivi, founded on the suggestion and at the expense of Prince Czartoryski, to giant a refuge to the Polish exiles. The new settlers ainve here unprovided with any means, but they get here soil, tools, and supplies, which they require for their first establishment. The colony mainly consists of Poles, and its administrative and all the local concerns are treated in Polish language; they have a church and a school. Many refugees from Hungary have joined them lately, and where some years ago all was covered by thorns and thistles, there we see now corn-fields and market-gardens. The reports from New York were of the same kind. There is some difficulty as they say, to ascertain any particulars about the Hungarian exiles, as they, directly after their arrival, set off to the interior to seek for j work, either at the railways, or in agricultural pursuits. i Of the former Polish emigrants, Maszkie lives at Nevr York as a wealthy merchant ; Ilarizewski, who came from London four years past, has established a paper manufactory. Others are busy and successful in different other ways. There are lawyers and engineers amongst them. Tochman writes the biography of Washington ; Count Deoibinski is importer of cigars. They hve all so retired that there is little to report of them. I do not doubt that the reports of Mr. Felsenthal, who ere this must have arrived in London, in order to keep a watchful oy» on the doings of the Hungarian refugees in London, will be quite of the same kind ; but the Austrian bureaucracy is unwilling to admit that it is their misgovernment which fosters discontent, and sows the seeds of revolutions, and not the visionary conspiracies of the refugees.

SPAIN. The Heraldo, of the 23rd April, states that if the general elections prove favourable to the ministry, M. Bravo Murillo intends to appoint a number of Senators sufficient to overpower the opposition his acts had hitherto encountered in the Senate. Placards and proclamations, exciting the Progressistas to arms against the Queen, as well as against the government, were profusely circulated on the 22nd, without producing any other effect than a feeling of contempt towards the projectors. The great aim is to bring about some occurrence which might have the effect to prevent the elections taking place by the Cortes meeting on Ist June, but the concoctors are likely to be sadly disappointed. Things have come to tho point that the people, whatever their political opinions may be, are satisfied with any government that will enter upon a system of economy, morality, and individual security ; hence the reason why M. Bravo Murillo's administration is, thus far, resppcted. General Espartero has published a manifesto to the Progressista paity. lie expresses his gratitude for having been elected its president. The Progressistas have returned three out of the five candidates for Madrid, viz., General Mikuel and MM. Sagrati and Mendizabal. The other elections were to come off oa Sunday, the 27th April. Portuguese affans have lost much of their interest within the last few days. The whole is looked upon as a struggle for palace influence between Marshal Saldanha and Count Thomar.

SWITZERLAND. The CourrierSuisse,of the 25th says:— -The Hunga« rian refugees are awaiting in the Canton of Neuchatel the reply of the French government, relative to their passage through France to America. The cost of their transport to America is to be placed at the charge of the Canton of Tessino. It appears that in consequence of some steps taken by the Chaigo d'Affaires of Sardinia in Switzerland, the residence of Sardinian emigrants who are provided with passpoits is to be permitted. The lumour which has been in circulation, of other Hungarian deserters having taken refuge in the Tessino, from the Austrian regiments is confirmed.

PRUSSIA. Berlin correspondence of the 26th instant, states that a party of the Berlin police is preparing to attend the exhibition in London. M. Rocher ia designated as the Prussian agent at Frankfort.

FoiIEIGN, Belgium 1050 Brazil I China 238 Denmark 63 Egypt 49 Fiance 3829 Germany : Austria. 638 North Hanover .. 11 „ Hamburg . . 125 „ Lubeck .... 3 „ Oldenburgh . 3 Zollverem :: — • „ Bivaria.... 83 „ Baden 2 „ Ifesso 101 „ Nassau .... 14 „ Prussia .... 1072 „ Saxony .... 144 „ SaxeMeininColonial. Australian Colonies :— New South Wales. 12 South Australia . . 29 VanDiemen's Land 80 New Zealand .... 42 Bermuda 4 Canada 315 C. of Good Hope. . 37 Ceylon 9 Hong- Kong 19 India 446 Malta 49 Mauritius 1 Nova Scotia 35 St. Helena 4 West Tndies:— „ Antigua.... 1 „ Bahamas . . 9 „ Barbadoes . . 5 „ Brit. Guiana 16 „ Grenada.... 1 „ Jamaica .... 3 „ Montserrat. . 2 „ Trinidad .. 21 gen 5 „ Wurtemburg IS7 „ Frankfort .. 38 Greece 18 Holland 226 Italy : Naples 3 „ Rome 27 „ Sardinia .... 87 „ Tuscany.... 96 Mexico 4 New Granada .... 1 Peru 4 Persia 1 Po rtugal . . v 109 Rt/aaia 251 Spain 233 Sweden 6c Norway 29 Switzerland 153 Tunis 203 Tuikey 3 United States .... 907 W. Afnca 9 Hayti 2 Society Islands . . 1 Total 1172 Channel Islands : — Guernsey 10 Jersey 23 Total 33 ABSTIUCT. Foreign 9437 Colonial 1172 Channel Islands . . 33 Total 10,678 With customs rotation 10,142 With Executive Committee rotation, or duty paid and free . . 536 Total 9473 Total 10,678