THE GREAT EXHIBITION. [From the "Britannia."]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 562, 3 September 1851, Page 3

THE GREAT EXHIBITION. [From the " Britannia."]

Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Potersburgh, Pekin, and Constantinople, not to apeak of the towns in Britain, larger than foieign capitals, are pouring into London their lespectivo atroams of human life. The combined current begins to sparkle with tho varied colours of foicign costumes. Languages, stiange to tho mass of our population, mingle with the btreet cries. Beards, and moustaches, and imperials, in grotesque varieties, relieve the plain severity of Anglican faces. Francs, and dollars, and kieutzors, nre cieeping into the currency, and assuming, much to the disadvantage of many a seller, tho province and prerogative of our sixpences and shillings. Great excitement has taken possession of tavern-keepers and lodging-house proprietors. Even the leligious world has been stirred to its depths. Tho Scotch Frpo-churcli Dissenters, the Baptists, Methodists, and Congregational Dissenters, have hired Exeter Hall for special sorvices. The Tiact Society has prepared appropriate tracts. The Bishop of London has opened the churches, or at least ihe chapels of London, for foreign service, and where it is illegal to use any other than the English liturgy, he has authorised tlie use of other edifices for worship according to the rites and languages of our continental visitors. All this is as it ought to be; but ono cannot help, even at the risk of being charged with indulging m promaturo speculation, calculating what will be the moral oflecls of tins extraordinary, though temporary, immigration of so heterogeneous a population ; whatever may bc> its ultimate results, it must bo admitted that its immediate effects will not be beneficial either to tho moial or religious interests of our people. Licentious and dissipated habits, too prevalent in European society, but uncongenial to us— -the gay scepticism of some, and the gloomy superstition of others — and irreligion painfully predominant in all continental society, will not add new virtuos or brighten the ancient and traditional virtues, of our population. The Chartists have already issued their programme of policy and budget for the new era. Cardinal Wiseman has engaged tho Hanover Rooms, and other operatic places, for tho exhibition of tho mass and the performances of Lacoidaire and otlior celebrated Jesuit pieacluTs. 1 between masses at Hanover Rooms, and sermons at Exeter Hall, Dr. Bloomfield at St. Paul's, Dr. Wiseman at St. George's, J)r. Cumming at Crown Court, and G'avaz/.i at Willis's Rooms, all London will ring with eloquence and Babel will appear on the bunks of the Thames. The propagandists of the Chniler, and the propagandists of the Vatican — Ma/.zini and Lodru Rollin on tho one side, and Drs. Wiseman and Doyle on the other, will set up their claims and display their respective charms. AH that is good may rouße itself, but all that is evil will show itself also. The unclean spirits of all lands will be present at tins great experiment on the loyalty, the morals, and the lovo of order of the peoplo of England. Swarms of pickpockets will opetrate on the pune, and hordes of gamblers on tho simplicity of John Bull. Dissipation will be the order of the day, and many of both sexes, wo fear, will long deplore tLe Great Exhibition of JB5l. This is its dark side ; it has also a bright one. At tho expense of partial evil to ourselves, other lands will reap considerable moral and social benefit. Distant, races, witnessing our high moral and political condition will likely enrry back to their own countries large and enlightened views, which will ripen gradually into a new and nobler social existence. Cbineso Mandarins, the intensity of whose conceit is the great defence of j their unmitigated ignorance, and their greatest obstruction to all attempts to Christianise them, may return to the court of tho celestial Emperor and convince him that China has not a monopoly of light, that Britons are anything but barbarous, and that there is much in our habits and laws which the court of Pokin may not disdain to copy. Despots from afar will learn that the secret of the safety of their throues is in their integrity and moderation, and that a people wisely governed are not addicted to revolution. Papal potentates, witnessing a civilization, an order and loyalty so superior in principle and habit to anything they have over seen at homo, may loam to traco to Protestantism alike the grandour, strength, and vitality of all that h.ii made our lulo the mistress of tho seas, the model of domestic purity and joy, and the envy or admiration of all that nro impartial enough to weigh our character and constitution. Our impression is, that partial evil to ourselves, tho puce of greni, lasting, nnd substantial good to the rest of the world, will be the main moral result of tho Exhibition of 1851. Whether we like it or not, tho experiment must be made; we had better make up our minds to render till the good wo can to others at the least possible anciificc of our own integrity. May it please the Ruler of all to proservo and inciease the purity of our national character, nnd impress all nations wnli a just appreciation of the Divine maxim, "righteousness exalteth a people."

Piuvaiu History of iiiE Pilaci; or Gtass — One day, however — it was Friday, the fourteenth of Juno Mi. Paxton happonod to be in the house of Commons, convening on this wibject with Mr. Ellis, a member of it, who accompanied him to the Board of Tiade, to see what could be done. Then, nothing could be done ; for Mi. Pnxton (who is one of the busiest men in England — whoso very leisuro would kill a man of fashion with us hard work) wus off immediately to keep a special appointment at tho tubular bridge, over the Menai. After his journey, the next morning, the convorsation with his friend, the M.P., was clenched by another and more than usually poweiful burst of thunder m that day's issue fiom Blackfriars. His mind was mode up; "and," said tho duke of Devonsluie, at a recent public meeting at Bakowall, '• I never knew Mr. Paxton rt-solvo to undertake what ho did not fully accomplish." To have engagements for rvcry day in the week, in different paits of England and Ireland, together with the management of the estates at Chatsworth, did not much matter; there wab mill time to be found for concocting tho plans and details of a fi*w squaioaocs of building. Tuesday morning, the oightoonth of June, found Mr. Paxton at Dcrhy, seated as Chan man of the Works and Ways Committee of tho Midland Railway, to tiy an offending pointsman. Thib was the first /eiiioe moment ho had been able to secure Hinco ho resolved to plan tho great building. At the end of the table stood the culprit; and upon it, before tho Chairman, was invitingly spread a virgin sheet of blotting-paper. As each witness delivered his evulonco, Mr. Paxton appeared to bo taking notes with uncommon assiduity ; and when the case closed, one of his colleagues turned specially to him. buying, *' Aa you seem to lmvo noted down the whole of the evidence, vo avjll take tho decision fiom you." "The Oath is," whispered the Chairman, " I know all about thisaflair ahoady, having accidentally learned evpry paiticular last night. Tlii> } " he continued, hold-

ing up the paper, " iq not a drift of the pointsman's ctu>c,hut ,\ dusigii for the 1 Gip^t Imluatiiul iJuilding, to bo civctcd in Hyde Park."—Dichen'ii ''Household Wonh."