"from China to Peru." On the Queen's left was Prince Albert, accompanied by their two eldest children. Around were all the great officials, diplomatic corps, the Commissioners of the Exhibition, and various persons of distinction. Of the latter the Duke of Wellington, who this day completed his 82d year, was particularly conspicuous, and also Mr. Paxton, architect of the Palace.

After the national anthem had been performed, Prince Albert and the Commissioners presented themselves before the queen, and read to her a brief report of their proceedings up to that time. They stated that the productions of more than forty foreign countries were on exhibition, comprising almost every civilized nation of the globe. The exhibition was divided into four great classes; 1. Raw materials; 2. Machinery; 3. Manufactures; and 4. Sculpture and the Fine Arts. They further stated that the productions of the warmer latitudes had been placed near the centre, and those of the colder countries at the extremities.

The queen briefly replied, expressing her great interest in the exhibition, her gratification at witnessing the successful results of the Commissioners' exertions, in the splendid spectacle around her, and her desire that the undertaking might conduce to the welfare of her people, and the common interests of the human race. The Archbishop of Canterbury then approached the throne, and with great fervency of manner, offered up a prayer invoking God's blessing on the undertaking; after which the choir sung the Hallelujah Chorus.

At this stage of the proceedings, He Sing, a Chinese mandarin, made his way through the crowd of foreign diplomatists, ministers of state, royal princes, &c., and advancing close to her majesty, saluted her by a grand salaam, which the Queen graciously acknowledged.

After the royal party and the distinguished personages around them had examined the most prominent parts of the exhibition, the Marquis of Breadalbane announced, in a loud tone of voice, that the Queen declared "the Exhibition open," after which a flourish of trumpets proclaimed the fact to the assembled multitudes, who numbered about 25,000. The royal family, attended by the court, then withdrew from the building. The Queen and her party were loudly cheered throughout, both by natives and foreigners. The Prince of Wales, heir-apparent to the throne, was dressed in the Highland garb, and received several special cheers from the assemblage. The barriers which had hitherto restrained the spectators within certain limits, were withdrawn, and the masses spread over the building.

The whole west half of the palace, as already said, was occupied by the productions of Great Britain and her colonies. In the

nave, or great central passage, which ran from the west entrance to the east, and near the transept or cross aisle, running from the south entrance to the north or Queen's entrance, was the celebrated Koh-i-Noor (i. e. Mountain of Light) diamond, of which a brief account was given in our preceding volume. It was secured in a strong iron cage, richly gilded, and placed upon a pedes tal. By a peculiar contrivance, it sunk down at night into a strong iron chest, on which the cage rested, and in which it was secured till the next day.

In the very centre of the palace was a large glass fountain, surrounded by two equestrian statues of the Queen, and several groups of figures. Along the nave were placed a succession of several of the most striking objects in the exhibition, with statuary at intervals. Beginning at the east end, opposite the American contributions, were a fine model of an American bridge, Power's Greek Slave, the Wounded Indian, and a huge block of zinc from New Jersey. On the west side of the transept, the most interesting objects were specimens of Canadian timber, Ross' monster telescope, a lighthouse, and a model of the Liverpool docks.

The American department was less crowded than most others, and the articles exhibited less that was purely ornamental; whence some of the cockney wits took occasion to ridicule this part of the exhibition. But before the close of the fair, these jeers were. all hushed. The collection was very interesting, and upon the whole very creditable, although it is the opinion of good judges, that the American display gave no adequate representation either of the native resources or of the industrial productions of this country. The raw materials of this department vied with any others in the exhibition; the mineral department was very full, and the agricultural productions and implements exhibited were not surpassed by any others in the fair. The American daguer reotypes elicited general praise; and the missionary maps were admirable.

Immediately beyond those of the United States were the contributions of Russia, the Scandinavian countries, Germany, and Austria. Those of Russia were comparatively few, consisting mostly of raw produce, and demand no special notice. The same remark applies to Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

The German department exhibited a full display both of mineral productions and manufactured goods, mostly of the useful kind, in the narrower sense of the term, and also a large amount of good machinery. There was also an extensive display of stained glass, paintings, porcelain, and earthenware goods.

The Austrian department was full, and much resembled the German. It contained several fine specimens of statuary from

Austrian Italy. The contributions of Holland were few and comparatively uninteresting.

Beyond Austria and Holland, appeared the productions of Belgium, which were the fullest in the Fair, considering the narrow territories of that kingdom. They showed a great amount of machinery, raw vegetable productions, and abundance of the lace for which the country has been so long celebrated. There was also a large and creditable assortment of manufactured goods.

Beyond those of Belgium appeared the contributions of France, which were very striking and extensive, as was expected from the long-celebrated skill and taste of that nation. In the amount of its contributions, France was next to Britain; and this department was not deficient in any respect:-useful productions were abundant and conspicuous, as well as the ornamental. There were several fine specimens of mathematical instruments, chemical preparations, preserved meats, and many productions of Algiers, which excited much attention.

West of the French, on the south side of the palace, were the contributions of Switzerland, consisting mostly of light manufactured goods.

On the other side, opposite, were the contributions of Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Among the former were several fine specimens of statuary, mosaic, castings, anatomical wax models, and several kinds of manufactured goods. From the peninsula there were various textile fabrics, minerals, marbles, and raw vegetable productions.

Egypt, Greece, and Turkey, whose contributions were immedi-ately west of the last, sent raw productions, rich silks, carpetings, velvets, minerals, and sword-blades.

Adjacent to the preceding, and immediately east of the transept, were the productions of Brazil, Tunis, China, Persia, and Arabia. These included a rich variety of costumery, carpets, vases, ivory works, japanned works, illuminated lamps, and in

laid cabinet work.

The contributions of the British colonies consisted mostly of raw materials and minerals, of which there was a very rich and varied display, brought from every latitude between the tropics and the polar circles, and from Australia to Hudson's Bay. From India there were several specimens of the light pottery, ivory works and other manufactures, for which the Hindoos have long been distinguished; and the Lahore jewels occupied a conspicuous place in this part of the exhibition.

As was to be expected, the native productions of the British Isles were exhibited in great abundance, and of all kinds, from. aerial vehicles to machinery of the most ponderous description.

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The compartments of machinery, manufactures, and agricultural implements, were particularly full; and there was also a very good display of models; but the minerals and raw productions were not very remarkable. A curious subdivision of this department was Pugin's Medieval Court, which exhibited the English architecture and decorations of the middle ages. Another remarkable part of this subdivision was a large number of Bibles, exhibited by the British and Foreign Bible Society. There were 158 copies, all in different languages, and forming a gratifying proof of the wide diffusion of the Book of Inspiration.

The whole cost of the exhibition exceeded one million of dol lars, for nearly one-third of which, it is said, the Queen and Prince Albert were privately pledged. Before the result appeared, therefore, the risk was great. But the first week dispelled all fears about the subscribers sustaining any pecuniary loss, and demonstrated that the undertaking was completely successful. On the 26th of May, the price of admission, which had been five shillings since the opening, (except during the first two days, when it was £1,) was reduced to one shilling, and a great rush of visitors was expected. But they turned out to be fewer than on some previous days. On the 29th, however, the number of visitors who paid for admission was nearly 50,000, besides those who were admitted on season tickets, who numbered upwards of 7,000. On the 24th of June, the number of visitors was nearly 70,000, and the receipts considerably exceeded £3,000.

The visitors all behaved quietly and decorously, the poor as well as the rich; and we cannot learn of a single untoward occurrence of any consequence, from the opening of the fair till its close. There was not the slightest appearance of disorder at any time, and not a single instance of wilful damage to any of the articles exhibited. Some rumors were circulated, early in the season, to the effect that some great revolutionary plot was hatching by the foreigners in England, which was to break out during the exhibition; but it was not generally credited at the time; and it doubtless existed only in the imaginations of a few persons connected with the newspaper press. There was also a suspicion entertained by some that the English were getting up the exhibition. with a view to take an unfair advantage of the knowledge which they might thereby acquire of foreign machinery, manufactures, and new productions; but such surmises were as groundless as the supposed plot.*

An account of the further progress and close of the World's Fair, and an estimate of its influence, will appear in our next volume.

CHAPTER VIII.

France-Dissensions between the Executive and Assembly-resignation of the ministry -Changarnier-vote of censure by assembly—new ministry—Archbishop of Paris -dotation bill-protest against demands of Austria-troops in Rome-Prof. Michelet-National Guards-another change in the ministry-Algeria—President's speech at Dijon-revision of the constitution, &c.-Germany-settlement of the Schleswig and Holstein difficulty-Austrian troops in Hamburg-restoration of the old order of things-Hesse-Cassel-designs of Austria and Prussia-riots, &c.—Prussia-the reactionary party in power-liberty of the Press—the King's speech-new trades law, &c.-Austria-general condition-police-conspiracytroops sent to Italy-Emperor's visit to Venice-privileges restored-severity at Milan.

FRANCE.

THE early part of the year was marked by a long series of dissensions between the Legislative Assembly and the Executive department of the government, occasioned, as any person of ordinary penetration could easily divine, from the defects of the constitution. The legitimist section frequently united with the ultra-democratic members to assert the sovereignty of the Assembly, contrary to its previous practice; and this increased the difficulties of the Ministry. M. Manguin, a representative, having been arrested for debt, the Assembly ordered his release, notwithstanding the declaration of the Minister of Justice, that the constitution did not decree the inviolability of representatives. About the same time, a set of instructions to the army appeared in a newspaper styled "La Patrie," which it affirmed to have proceeded from General Changarnier, and to be then in force. One of these required the army to reject every requisition issuing from any civil source. General Schram, Minister of War, being interrogated on the subject in the Assembly, said that he knew nothing of these instructions, and that having lately assumed office, he had had no time to ascertain whether they were among the papers of his department. General Changarnier said they were not to be found, as they were not there, and that no such instructions had been issued from the Commander-in-Chief's head-quarters. He added, that no order whatever had been issued from that quarter denying the right of the Assembly to make a requisition for troops. The Minister of War demanded time to search for the alleged instructions; but this the Assembly refused.

In consequence of these conflicts between the two branches of the government, the Ministry resigned in a body on the 4th of January. The President experienced much difficulty in the forma