with the Duchess of Kent on his arm; and then followed a long line of court-officials. Having arrived at the temporary throne, the ministers, and the great officers of the household, gathered around the sovereign in one of the most splendid groups ever brought together. The Queen, standing erect, with the prince and her children on each side, looked for a moment proudly over the assemblage, when there pealed forth another trumpet burst, and as the vast multitude, moved by the impulse, again waved hats and handkerchiefs, the sudden stir through all the aisles and galleries, the flutter of drapery, and flash and glimmer of light upon satin, silk, and velvet, showed like a vast, vivid, gleaming sunburst playing upon the crowd. The effect, as may be conceived, was extremely splendid. This last ebullition over, the actual business of the opening commenced. Prince Albert descended from the throne, and joined the group of royal commissioners. Then advancing at their head, he proceeded to read in a clear and emphatic tone the Report of the Commissioners : A. D. 1851 the Com "May it please your Majesty-We, the commissioners appointed Report of by your Majesty's royal warrant of the 3rd of January, 1850, for missioners. the promotion of the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, and subsequently incorporated by your Majesty's royal charter of the 15th of August in the same year, humbly beg leave, on the occasion of your Majesty's auspicious visit at the opening of the Exhibition, to lay before you a brief statement of our proceedings to the present time. "By virtue of the authority graciously committed to us by your Majesty, we have made diligent inquiry into the matters which your Majesty was pleased to refer to us-namely, into the best mode of introducing the productions of your Majesty's colonies and of foreign countries into this kingdom-the selection of the most suitable site for the Exhibition, the general conduct of the undertaking, and the proper method of determining the nature of the prizes, and of securing the most impartial distribution of them. "In the prosecution of these inquiries, and in the discharge of the duties assigned to us by your Majesty's royal charter of incorporation, we have held constant meetings of our whole body, and have, moreover, referred numerous questions connected with a great variety of subjects to committees, composed partly of our own members, and partly of individuals distinguished in the several departments of science and the arts, who have cordially responded to our applications for their assistance at a great sacrifice of their valuable time. "Among the earliest questions brought before us, was the important one as to the terms upon which articles offered for exhibition should be admitted into the building. We considered that A. D. 1851 it was a main characteristic of the national undertaking in which we were engaged that it should depend wholly upon the voluntary contributions of the people of this country for its success; and we therefore decided, without hesitation, that no charge whatever should be made on the admission of such goods. We considered also that the office of selecting the articles to be sent should be entrusted, in the first instance, to local committees, to be established in every foreign country, and in various districts of your Majesty's dominions; a general power of control being reserved to the commission. "We have now the gratification of stating that our anticipations of support in this course have in all respects been fully realised. Your Majesty's most gracious donation to the funds of the Exhition was the signal for voluntary contributions from all, even the hunblest classes of your subjects, and the funds which have thus been placed at our disposal amount at present to about £65,000. Local committees, from which we have uniformly received the most zealous co-operation, were formed in all parts of the United Kingdom, in many of your Majesty's colonies, and in the territories of the Honourable East India Company. The most energetic support has also been received from the governments of nearly all the countries of the world, in the most of which commissions have been appointed for the special purpose of promoting the objects of an exhibition justly characterised in your Majesty's warrant as an Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations. "We have also to acknowledge the great readiness with which persons of all classes have come forward as exhibitors. And here again it becomes our duty to return our humble thanks to your Majesty for the most gracious manner in which your Majesty has condescended to associate yourself with your subjects, by yourself contributing some most valuable and interesting articles to the Exhibition. "The number of exhibitors whose productions it has been found possible to accommodate, was about 15,000, of whom nearly one half were British. The remainder represent the productions of more than forty foreign countries, comprising almost the whole of the civilised nations of the globe. In arranging the space to be allotted to each, we have taken into consideration both the nature of its productions and the facilities of access to this country afforded by its geographical position. Your Majesty will find the productions of your Majesty's dominions arranged in the western portion of the building, and those of foreign countries in the eastern. The Exhibition is divided into four great classes of—1. Raw Materials; 2. Machinery; 3. Manufactures; and 4. Sculpture and Fine Arts. A further division has been made according to the geographical position of the countries represented; those which lie in the warmer latitudes being placed near the centre of the building, and the colder countries at the extremities. A. D. Your Majesty having been graciously pleased to grant a site in this your royal park, for the purposes of the Exhibition, the first column of the structure now honoured by your Majesty's presence 1851 was fixed on the 26th of September. Within the short period of seven months, owing to the energy of the contractors, and the active industry of the workmen employed by them, a building had been erected, entirely novel in its construction, covering a space of more than 18 acres, measuring 1,851 feet in length, and 456 feet in extreme breadth, capable of containing 40,000 visitors, and affording a frontage for the exhibition of goods to the extent of more than ten miles. For the original suggestion of the principle of this structure the commissioners were indebted to Mr. Joseph Paxton, to whom their acknowledgments were justly due for this interesting feature of their undertaking. 66 With regard to the distribution of rewards to deserving exhibitors, it was decided that they should be given in the form of medals, not with reference to merely individual competition, but as rewards for excellence in whatever shape it might present itself. The selection of the persons to be so rewarded had been entrusted to juries composed equally of British subjects and of foreigners, the former having been selected by the commission from the recommendations made by the local committees, and the latter by the governments of the foreign nations the productions of which were exhibited. The names of these jurors, comprising as they did many of European celebrity, afforded the best guarantee of the impartiality with which the rewards would be assigned. "It affords us much gratification that, notwithstanding the magnitude of this undertaking, and the great distances from which many of the articles now exhibited have had to be collected, the day on which your Majesty has been graciously pleased to be present at the inauguration of the Exhibition is the same day that was originally named for its opening, thus affording a proof of what may, under God's blessing, be accomplished by good-will and cordial co-operation amongst nations, aided by the means that modern science has placed at our command. "Having thus briefly laid before your Majesty the results of our labours, it now only remains for us to convey to your Majesty our dutiful and loyal acknowledgments of the support and encouragement which we have derived throughout this extensive and laborious task from the gracious favour and countenance of your Majesty. It is our heartfelt prayer that this undertaking, which has for its end the promotion of all branches of human industry, and the strengthening of the bonds of peace and friendship among all nations of the earth, may, by the blessing of Divine Providence, conduce to the welfare of your Majesty's people, and be long remembered among the brightest circumstances of your Majesty's peaceful and happy reign." A. D. 1851 Her Majesty's The Open Her Majesty's reply to the address is as follows: "I receive with the greatest satisfaction the address which you have presented to me on the opening of this Exhibition. "I have observed, with a warm and increasing interest, the progress of your proceedings in the execution of the duties entrusted to you by the royal commission; and it affords me sincere gratification to witness the successful result of your judicious and unremitting exertions in the splendid spectacle by which I am this day surrounded. "I cordially concur with you in the prayer, that by God's blessing this undertaking may conduce to the welfare of my people, and to the common interests of the human race, by encouraging the arts of peace and industry, strengthening the bonds of union among the nations of the earth, and promoting a friendly and honourable rivalry in the useful exercise of those faculties which have been conferred by a beneficent Providence, for the good and the happiness of mankind." The whole of these proceedings took place amid deep and respectful silence. Prince Albert then, having received from one of the members of the commission the various editions of the catalogues published, presented them to her Majesty, and then resumed his place by her side. After a brief pause, the Archbishop of Canterbury came forth, and in a loud and sonorous voice offered up the prayers of the church on behalf of the enterprise. After having repeated the Lord's Prayer, the most reverend prelate proceeded with the office of religion as follows: : "Almighty and Everlasting God, who dost govern all things, ing Prayer. both in heaven and earth, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; accept, we beseech Thee, the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and receive these our prayers, which we offer unto Thee this day in behalf of the kingdom and people of this land. We acknowledge, O Lord, that Thou hast multiplied upon us blessings which Thou mightest most justly have withheld. We acknowledge that it is not because of works of righteousness which we have done, but of Thy great mercy, that we are permitted to come before Thee with the voice of thanksgiving; and that instead of humbling us for our offences, Thou hast given us fresh cause to praise Thee for Thine abundant goodness. And now, O Lord, we beseech Thee to bless the work which Thou hast enabled us to begin, and to regard with Thy favour our present purpose of uniting together in the bonds of peace and concord the different nations of the earth. For with Thee, O Lord, is the preparation of the art in man. Of Thee it cometh that violence is not heard in our land, wasting nor destruction within its borders. It is of Thee, O Lord, that nation does not lift up sword against nation, nor learn war any more. It is of Thee that peace is within our walls, and plenteousness within our palaces. It is of Thee that men go to and fro in safety, and knowledge is increased throughout the world; for the spirit of man is from Thee, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding. Therefore, O Lord, not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the praise. Whilst we survey the works of art and industry which surround us, let not our hearts be lifted up that we forget the Lord our God, as if our own power, or the might of our own hands, had gotten us this wealth. Teach us ever to remember that all this store which we have prepared cometh of Thine hand, and is all Thine own. Both riches and honour come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all; and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all Now, therefore, O God, we thank Thee, we praise Thee, and entreat Thee so to overrule this assemblage of many nations, that it may tend to the advancement of the glory, to the diffusion of Thy Holy Word, to the increase of general prosperity, by promoting peace and goodwill among the different races of mankind. Let the many mercies which we receive from Thee dispose our hearts to serve Thee inore faithfully, who art the Author and Giver of them all. And, finally, O Lord, teach us to use those earthly blessings which Thou givest us richly to enjoy, that they may not withdraw our affections from those heavenly things which Thou hast prepared for them that love and serve Thee, through the merits and mediation of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, for ever and ever." At the close of a prayer by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the choir joined in singing the "Hallelujah Chorus ;" and the effect of this performance may be estimated from the fact that the Chapel Royal, St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and St. George's Chapel, Windsor, contributed their entire vocal strength, while there were also present pupils of the Royal Academy of Music, part of the band of the Sacred Harmonic Society, and many other performers, both foreign and English. A. D. 1851 The procession moved to the west end of the nave on the north Procession. side, and as it passed, the glazed roof of the building vibrated with enthusiastic cheers. The coup d'al varied at every step, yet was always picturesque and beautiful. But there was so much to think of, so many points to observe, and the admiration of all had already been so largely taxed, that each new-telling characteristic of the progress scarcely produced its deserved impression. Displays of textile fabrics, of hardware, of cutlery, and of furniture, vistas of courts and alleys filled with the richest materials, objects that at any other time would have been noticed with interest and regard, hardly claimed a moment's attention in that remarkable progress. Still upon the mind the grand impression left was the magnificence of the general spectacle, the loyalty of the great assemblage, the cordial understanding between the sovereign and the flower of her |