ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 602, 10 May 1851, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

The Queen’s First Visit to the Exhibition Palace.—Her Majesty and Prince Albert came to town from Windsor Castle yesterday, and visited the Crystal Palace of the Exhibition of 1851, in Hyde Park, returning in the afternoon to Windsor. At 11 precisely the workmen were gathered in a crowd about the entrance, and the Queen’s carriage came up amid loud cheers and other demonstrations of hearty loyally. This was her Majesty’s first visit to the works, and her expressions of hearty admiration were frequent. Her Majesty’s attention was particularly drawn to the men employed upon the transept; and while her Majesty was on the ground the first panes of glass were fixed in this part of the building. On leaving the ground, after a stay of an hour’s duration, the royal party were loudly cheered by the workmen. After the departure of her Majesty, Lord Granville climbed to the high* est scaffolding in the building, with the object of getting a view of the entire works; other eminent men have, in their enthusiasm, we are informed, dared the giddy height, and defied the muddy ladders. On September 20th the first column of the building was fixed in its place, and on the 20th of this month the contractors have determined to fix the last; on this day also the last girder will be fixed, and, after a few days’ labour on the part of the glaziers, the great structure, to all external appearance, will be finished. On the 31st, as we already stated, the Society of Arts have been invited to hold a meeting in the building; we may add, that an eminent professor of mechanics, of the King’s College, London, will read to the meeting a scientific lecture on the mechanics and economy of the building. The rooms erected near the transept, for the Royal Commissioners, are commodious as well as numerous. Steam Communication. —A deputation on the subject of steam communication with Australia had an interview with Lord John Russell on the 4th December, at his official residence in Downing-street. His Lordship was accompanied by Earl Grey and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The deputation consisted of Lord Monteagle, Hon. F. Scott, M.P., Mr. Macgregor, M.P., Mr. De Salis, Hon. W. Wrottesly, Mr. Charles Logan, Mr. Donaldson, Mr. Henriquez, and Mr. Davidson.—Daily News. With respect to the Papal aggression, meetings were still being held. At the Surrey County meeting Sir Edward Sugden declared distinctly that the act forbidding the introduction of Bulls into England (13th of Elizabeth) and denying the Queen’s supremacy, was not affected by the minor relief of the act of 1847, which only repealed the severer penalties of the ancient act. In this view of the case the position of Dr. Wiseman would be somewhat perilous, if, as Sir Edward Sugden suggests, it will be the duty of Parliament to restore the penalties, and that such restoration cannot be regarded as an ex post facto law.