AUGUST. 1 C9 



THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 



** What is to become of the Crystal Palace ?" is the ever- 

 recurring query ; and many they are that come to the rescue ; 

 but there must be many more, or that thing of light must 

 pass away, and be remembered but as a dream. We say it 

 in sober earnest, — we believe that its like will never be seen 

 again in the present generation, if it be taken down; and down 

 it must come, unless the general voice be raised against such 

 an act of barbarism. We know how little we can do to avert 

 such a fate ; but that little we must do, and earnestly plead 

 with all our readers, to swell the petition to the Legislature 

 that it may remain. Applied, as Mr. Paxton suggests, to the 

 purposes of a Winter-garden, it will form an object of sur- 

 passing public interest ; and the adjoining property will reap 

 advantages fully compensating for all the temporary depre- 

 ciation occasioned by the Great Exhibition ; for it cannot be 

 doubted that the proximity to such a covered garden would 

 command great rents. This view of the case will, we hope, 

 prevail with the owners of the adjoining estates to withhold 

 any opposition to its permanence. We do not want to see it 

 converted into a tropical house, — we have that in the Palm- 

 house at Kew ; we ask it for the purpose of providing a 

 Winter-garden, the temperature of which shall be genial when 

 all without is the very opposite; in which we shall see such 

 productions as the Norfolk-Island Pine in all their beauty, 

 and our sense be gratified by exchanging for awhile our un- 

 genial climate for that of Madeira. 



There can be no doubt as to the perfect suitability of the 

 structure for the contemplated purpose ; and that it can be 

 made self-supporting may be asserted without fear of con- 

 tradiction. We would therefore earnestly urge upon all to 

 bestir themselves in the matter, and not to neglect tlie only 

 opportunity afforded them for obtaining so great a desidera- 

 tum. Time slips along very fast ; the grouse will soon be 

 inviting our legislators to quit St. Stephen's for the moors; 

 and unless the public voice is unmistakeably heard in favour 

 of its permanence, the opportunity will be lost, and the Crystal 

 Palace will be spoken of as a thing that was. 



NEW SERIES. VOL. I. NO. VIII. Q 



