bright as that clear and brilliant substance; and it has sprung from the earth like a fairy dream, as Mr. Thackeray so aptly sings :

"But yesterday a naked sod,

The dandies sneered from Rotten-row,

And sauntered o'er it to and fro.

And see, 'tis done!

As though 'twere by a wizard's rod,
A blazing arch of lucid glass,
Leaps like a fountain from the grass,
To meet the sun.

A quiet green, but few days since,
With cattle browsing in the shade,
And lo! long lines of bright arcade
In order raised;

A palace as for fairy prince,

A rare pavilion, such as man
Saw never since mankind began,
And built and glazed."

III. SYNOPSIS OF THE CONTENTS OF THE BUILDING.

We have already noticed the four different classes which the Commissioners decided the articles shown should consist of, viz.: raw materials, machinery, manufactures, and the plastic arts.

In the first, we find a great variety of mineral and vegetable substances, from the coal, which is the great motive power in so many processes of manufactures, and contributes so much to our comfort at home, and to our speed in travelling,-through all the various tribes of the mineral and metal kingdom, including the most of the latter. In this department California is a contributor; she has sent 100 lbs. of quicksilver. Some of the masses of coal are very curious, and have required great care in their raising and transit. Cotton and flax, in their various stages, are shown; together with various articles of human and animal food, and animal substances used in manufactures.

The department of machinery is the most extensive. Here there are carriages of every description, a magnificent locomotive being one of them; there are also several other locomotives. Every class of agricultural implement has its representative; and there are many of those ingenious contrivances for abridging human labour in manufactories, which

are amongst the inventions of the age. Manufacturing machines and tools, civil engineering, architectural and building contrivances abound; and also those used in naval architecture and military engineering. Marine engines are exhibited; one of 700 horse power, by Boulton and Watt, is calculated to attract attention. There is another of 100 horse power, by Edward Slaughter, of Bristol. Both these are for screw-propellers. There is very little novel in this department, although there is much that is highly ingenious and clever, and strongly indicative of the inventive faculties of man. Philosophical and musical instruments form a considerable portion of this class. Some very excellent organs and pianofortes are exhibited.

Manufactures are abundant. Here there is scarcely a class omitted, from the rich tapestry, and silks, and carpets of France, down to the sewing cotton of Manchester. Cottons, woollen, silk and velvet fabrics, are there in great numbers; mixed fabrics, including shawls; those made wholly or partly of leather or pile; the paper, printing, and bookbinding; woven, felted, and laid fabrics; tapestry, carpets, floorcloth, lace, and embroidery; articles of clothing; cutlery, edge and hand-tools; general hardware; works in the precious metals, jewellery, &c.; glass, china, earthenware; furniture, upholstery, paper-hangings, papier-mâché, and japanned goods; with a variety of miscellaneous manufactures, will be found in this class. Many of them are extremely beautiful.

In the plastic arts, there are some magnificent specimens of the colossal in sculpture. There are figures of every kind, some exquisitely executed; models; vases of the most admirable workmanship in terra cotta and Caen marble; groups of statuary, and beautiful specimens of carving.

It is impossible to go into particulars. The above gives a general outline of the contents of the Crystal Palace, and we now proceed to

SOYER'S SYMPOSIUM AND WYLD'S GLOBE.

One of the notabilities of the Exhibition is certainly the "Symposium " of M. Soyer, at Gore House. M. Soyer was well known as the head of the cuisine at the Reform Club. His masterly management is of such wide-spread celebrity, and being a Frenchman to boot, that there is no fear but the spot where he has hoisted his flag will be the scene of many a

joyous gathering. That spot is Gore House, once the residence of the philanthropist Wilberforce, of the naval hero Rodney, and of the leader of the gay world of fashion, Lady Blessington; and now converted, in fact, into an hotel, under the imposing title of the "Symposium of all Nations." Much taste has been devoted to its decorations, and no little money expended. The effect is certainly most imposing, and throws all the attempts at display and decoration on the part of our hotel and innkeepers into the shade. The visitor might imagine himself transported to fairy land, so fanciful yet so rich are the decorations. On passing the portal, a vestibule is entered, called, "La Vestibule de la Fille de l'Orage," or the Cupola of Jupiter Tonans." On the wall of this vestibule, over the inner portal, are the words, "Soyer's Symposium," which at night are illuminated, and make a most brilliant appearance. The vestibule conducts to the "Hall of Architectural Wonders,” and that to the “Salle du Parnasse," or "The Blessington Temple of the Muses." M.Soyer would not be a Frenchman if he omitted to pay a compliment to the memory of one who once made the air of Gore House-whatever might be the state of the atmosphere without-genial by her presence. This hall conducts to the "Transatlantic Antechamber," which is decorated with emblems of America ; "La Cabinet de la Toilette à la Pompadour," or the " Alcove of White Roses; " "La Salle des Noces de Danäe," or "the Birth of Gems;" and several other chambers, all fitted up with great elegance. A large "Baronial Hall," 100 feet long, 50 broad, and 30 high, forms one diningroom; and the "Pavillon Monstre d'Amphytrion," or the Encampment of all Nations," which is erected at the extremity of the pleasure grounds, another. M. Soyer has erected this pavilion for those who "prefer the promiscuous refectation of a public banquet to the less joyous society of a private room." It is 400 feet long, and will dine 1,500 persons. Soyer has had a monster table-cloth for the room manufactured at Barnsley. It is 307 feet long, 8 wide, weighs 2 cwt., and cost upwards of 50%.

WYLD'S GLOBE is erected in Leicester-square. It is a model bird's-eye view of the world," painted upon the interior of a vast globe, which is enclosed in a building not unlike, in the exterior, the Colosseum, in the Regent's Park. The building is itself circular, and is 88 feet in diameter. The globe pourtrays all the distinctive physical features of the earth, which Humboldt so well pourtrays. The mountains are to be brought out in relief the regions of ice shown with all their dazzling rainbow

tints; the courses of great rivers, the volcanoes, &c., are distinctly marked, as well as the geographical divisions. This globe is 56 feet in diameter, or about 170 in circumference. It is made on ribs of zinc, each circle in four compartments, fastened together with copper. The scale is about ten miles to an inch. It will be viewed by means of four galleries, one above the other, access to which is gained by winding stairs, and has been erected at a cost of between 4,000l. and 5,000%.

THE

BRITISH METROPOLIS IN 1851.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

HOTELS AND LODGINGS.-CABS AND OMNIBUSES, WITH THEIR FARES.-COMPARATIVE VALUE OF FOREIGN COINS.-LONDON TOPOGRAPHY.-OMNIBSU ROUTES.-HOW TO SEE LONDON QUICKEST AND MOST THOROUGHLY.

WE have supposed the stranger to have neighbourhood of the Bank-Bucklersarrived at one of the railway termini, bury is almost entirely composed of and the first object will be to select a dining-rooms, as also the neighbourdestination; we therefore subjoin a hood of Leicester-square, and most of list of the principal Hotels in London, them respectably managed. Lake's, in and in doing so have abstained from Cheapside, and Izant's and the Hope, in pointing out any in particular. English Bucklersbury, are well frequented; the hotels are generally well managed, and latter is chiefly approved for superior it would be invidious to select from so mutton and the absence of waiters' many good ones any to recommend fees.

specially. It might be perhaps as well

to observe, that Mivart's, the Clarendon, and Long's are considered first class,

and hence are necessarily most ex- LIST OF HOTELS, COFFEE-HOUSES AND pensive. The daily expenses at an

TAVERNS.

English hotel of moderate style are H. Hotel. CH. Coffee House. T. Tavern. from 6s. to 7s. 6d. per day, exclusive

of dinner, and 1s. 6d. per day for Ainger's H. 39 & 40, Green-street, Grosservants. In the subjoined list there venor-square.

will be, no doubt, many whose charges Albion H. Cockspur-street.

are less and more. Dinners are to be Albion H. T. CH. Gt. Russell-street, had at prices varying from 8d. to 10s. Covent-garden.

each, or more. What an Englishman Anderton's H. CH. T., 164, Fleet-st. calls a good dinner is, in London, very Anglesea H. 64, Haymarket. expensive; but there are, of course, Arundel H. Arundel-st., Panton-sq. dining-rooms where a very good plain Ashley's H. 30, Maiden-lane, Coventdinner may be had for 1s. 6d. or 2s., garden.

and in the "city," where the numerous Bath and Oxford H. 156, Piccadilly. merchants and clerks dine, even less. Batt's H. 41, Dover-street.

These dining-rooms are chiefly in the Bedford H. CH. Piazza, Covent-garden.

B