THE OPENING of the GREAT HIVE of the WORLD
MAY 1 1851
or the INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION of all NATIONS
Then was sung the National Anthem—the white head and bright blue coat of the courtly old leader appeared in the red rostrum raised above the royal entrance, and high in the air his baton might be seen waving to and fro; while, as the “melodious thunder” of the organ
rolled through the building, the choristers in their white robes chanted in the rich unison of many voices.
The Archbishop then invoked a blessing on the objects of the building—this was followed by a chorus sung in exquisite harmony by the large band of singers—and then the Queen and Prince, preceded by the officers of state, walked round the building in procession; while, as she went, the people who lined the nave and galleries saluted her and her consort with their acclamations.
On her Majesty declaring the Exhibition opened, there followed another flourish of trumpets, and the gorgeous ceremony was at an end. Immediately were heard the booming of the hundred guns without, telling the people of the metropolis that the Great Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations had been formally inaugurated.
And well may the nation be proud of its Crystal Palace. No other people in the world could have raised such a building—without one shilling being drawn from the national resources, or have stocked it with the same marvellous triumphs of industry and art. The machine-room alone, with its thousand iron monsters snorting and clattering, was a sight to overwhelm the mind with a positive sense of awe; stories were current of many of the strongest minds having been affected to tears at the spectacle; and most assuredly, what with the noise and the motion, there was a sense of reverent humility forced upon the mind, together with a feeling of gratitude to the Almighty, who had vouchsafed to confer upon us so much of his own power, that filled the bosom with the very pathos of admiration.
You might wander where you pleased—to “France”—and see the exquisite tapestry; you might step across to “Austria”—and wonder at the carving of the furniture; but though beneath the crystal roof were ranged all the choicest works of the whole world, there was nothing in any way comparable for skill, for mind, for work—nothing so plain, so solid, and yet so eminently handsome—nothing, indeed, so thoroughly English as that iron type of our indomitable energy to be found in the machinery.
One glance was quite sufficient to account for the greatness of the nation to which it belonged!
The foreigners appeared to be in no way prepared for so overpowering an example of England’s immeasurable pre-eminence in this respect. And it was curious to see the Frenchmen and Germans grouped round the several machines in operation, with their noses almost touching the wheels, as they vainly endeavoured to make themselves acquainted with their bewildering details; nor was it less interesting to notice the innocent pride which the attendants appeared to take in pointing out to the visitors of other nations the uses of the several parts of the complex tool.