THE CLOSING OF THE GREAT EXHIBITION. (From the Sunday Times, October 19.)

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 612, 25 February 1852, Page 4

THE CLOSING OF THE GREAT EXHIBITION. (From the Sunday Times, October 19.)

On last Wednesday the vast and magnificent building ■which will long be remembered as the chief plory of tbe London Exhibition of 1851, was filled for the last tune by nnother of those enormous assemblages of visitors of all nations which forms one of the most prominent and most gratifying features of i(s history. The occasion was one winch had been looked forward to from the first with feelings of deep and anxious curiosity. Thof=e wbo enjoyed the privilege of witnessing the splendid ceremonial of the Ist of May, and those who were reluctantly obliged to content themselves with a mere description of that grand act of inauguration, having naturally anticipated that a scene of corresponding pomp would mark the close of nn undertaking commenced under Royalty, and iendeied completely successful by the cordial concurrence of contributing nations. TliHse anticipations were on Wednesday realized, if not under tbe most gratifying circumstunces, considering the abaeuae ot Her Majesty, and tbe wretched

state of the we.ithcr, at least in a manner the most satisfactory that could he desired by the millions who have founded hopes of industrial, moral, and political progies.s on the event. Although it wns announced in the programme that the doors" wo\»l I not be opened till 10 o'clock, there was a long line of cabs, carnages, and other vehicles drawn tip°at the different entrances before half-pa>t 8, so eagor were those who had ndrnission cards to secure good places. Beyond the stationing of a large number of police at the ea>-t, west, and south entrance*, and the removal of goods and sculpture from the mum thoroughfares 'the building, where they were likely to receive damog<> fiom the pressure of the croud, the appearance or the intenor of the Exhibition Clifford little from its ordinary aspect. The Executive Commutes, finding I' 1 " 1 some thousands weie already in waiting outside, gave orders that the doors should be opeiuaf bofore nine; and as soon as tins announcement was made, there came a general lush from the vehicles through the mud and lam. and as they enfeied the building the draggled and splashed appearance of thn ladies contrasted strongly with tho brilliant aspect of the company on the Ist M.iy. The number to be nccommod.ited was of cou st» much smaller, nevertheless there were at least Si/WO peisons congregated j incide before eleven o'clock. The platform in the cen.ie was covered with crimson cloth, a^d a raised dais at the southern end had tho additional decoration of a r:ch carpet ; upon this was placed the magnificent carved ivory Throne, presented to ber Majesty by the Rajah of Tr.ivancore, and which lias so long formed one of the gieat attractions of the Indian collection. The throne with its gorgeous trap' pings and foot-stool, was placed so aa to face the north end of the tiansect. In addition to this throne, there were contributions fiom several other countries in the shape of state and drawing-room chairs, and other highly ornamental specimens of the decorative furmtuie of Austria, France, Belgium, England, &c, which were ranged round the platform in a circle facing the thione. From tho four corners of the transept depended gioups of flags and banners of all nations. Beyond this there was no ornament or attempt at display. The whole of the transept was understood to be reserved for the Foreign Commissioners, Jurors, and Lady Exhibitors, aud if these were the oply parties who obtained places there, they-must amount to a very foimidable number, the Beats .which filled the entire of either end and the sides adjoining the naves, being densely and inconveniently crowded. Ihe orchestra and choristers wese placed in front of the s >uth transept gallery ; there were no military bands, and until the whole of the proceedings terminated, neither ll err J?oir.mer nor any of the organs in the building attempted to interfere. A little way down thp British and foreign naves, strong barriers were erected, and behind many thousands were piled and wedged as closely as they could &tand for a considerable distance. The galleries, it is needless to say, were filled in every corner, the topmost ranks touching the chande! era at the north-western corner, and doing, we regiet to say, a considerable amount of damage to the glfSi and other frail articles uear them, in their eagerness to obtain a commanding position ; the crowd in tbe galleries adjoining the transept at length becimeso dense, and so eager to obtain a view of the central point of a tnctum orMbe floor, that a general cry was raised for tl c removal of the flags, and these weie quickly laid hold of by persons close to them, and rolled up and removed amidst the most vociferous cheering-. Tbe crowd, having little else to amuse themselves with, seized hold of every trifling incident that promised to while away llie time ,- the upsetting of a form, tbe occasional struggles that took place between over anxious sight-seers and tbe police, or the breaking of some frail < bject by the pressure of the crowd, were received with roais of laughter and applause. A body of the Sappers and Miners having carried some tables to the platform, for the purpose of placing thereon the jurors' reports, tbe performance of the simple act of duty drew down a unanimous burst ofchooiing from these indefatigable claqueurs, who get up occasional noisy demonstrations without any apparent object. As the hour drew near for tbe arrival of the Prince and the Foreign Committees, the scene became extremely animated, while every available corner of the remote galleries, the staircases, and even the projecting ledge from which the arched roof of the transept springs, at a fearful height from the floor, was crowded with spectators. The sculpture, statuary, counters, and ever other 'vantage point, were also tenanted, notwithstanding the strict orders of tho Executive Committee ; and before 12 o'clock, looking fiom one of the centre galleries, the eye encountered nothing but a sea of beads, extending in all directions, flanked at either end by a line of Sap, era and Miners in their scarlet uniforms, and encompass'ng the bnlliai t patch of crimson in the centie, where the platioim nnd state choirs were placed. In this comparatively circumscribed space were to be i-een repre*entati\es of almost eveiy clime and country on the face of the globe ; nnd the pictuiesque and striking costumes of many of the foreign Commissioners and exhibitors added much by their novelty and variety to the singularity and beauty of the spectacle. Precisely at 12 o'clock the cheering outside, wliicb was taken up by tbe persons in the south tiansept gallery, nnnounced the arnral of His Royal Highness Prince Albeit, who immediately afterwauls entered at tbe south cential g.ite, preceded by the members of the Royal Commission, thr Executive Committee, the Architect, Contractor, Foreign Commissioners, Jurors, &c. As soon as the procession a'rived within the gates, the organ and orchestra struck up tbe National Anthem, and the vast assemblage burst into one hearty and enthusiastic cheer, which made the walls and roof of the. Crystal Palace ring again. The cheenng and waving of flags and handkerchiefs were renewed ogam and again, until his Royal Highness arrived upon the platform, when still more vehement acclamations broke forth. The Prince bowed repeatedly on all sides, and appeared to feel tbe coidinlify and heart n-'ss of bis welcome. He was attired in a plain morning dress, and Ins only distinctive decoration was the star and ribbon of the garter. His Royal Highness then took his seat on tbe Indian throne, Lord John Russell occupying the seat immediately on his right. The Earl of Carlisle, the Bishop of London, Eail Granville.and all the other distinguished personages on the platform, took up tbe positions assigned to them. — Among those on or near the plat/brm we observed tbe Eail of Clarendon, Sir George Grey, the Bishop of Oxford, Baron Lionel do Rothschild, Lord Colborne, Mr. Labouchere, M. P., the Duke of Devonshire, Mr. Bariug, M.P., Sir R. H. Inglis, M. P., Mr. Pusey, M. P., Colonel Challoner, Mr. Fox Made, M. P., tbe Chancellor of tha Exchequer, Mr. Cubitt, C. E., Mr. Paxton, several foreign ministers, &c. Colonel Reid, Mr. Dilke, Mr. Cole, Mr. Belshaw, and the other members of tbe Executive Committee stood immediately behind the Prince's chair, and the Foreign Commissioners and Jurors occupied the front seats of the serried ranks that hemmed in the platform on all sides.