FOREIGN AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



SO that the pleasures found in it would be 

 of a character which all who A'isit could 

 share; here would be supplied the climate of 

 Southern Italy, where multitudes might ride, 

 walk, or recline amidst groves of fragrant 

 trees, and here they might leisurely examine 

 the works of nature and art, regardless of the 

 biting east winds or the drifting snow. Here 

 vegetation in much of its beauty might be 

 studied with unusual advantages, and the 

 singular properties examined of those great 

 filtcrers of Nature, which during the night 

 season, when the bulk of animal life are in 

 a quiescent state, inhale the oxygen of the 

 air, whilst in the day, when the mass of 

 animal existence have started into activity, 

 they drink in the carbonic supply, given out 

 by man and animals, which goes to form 

 their solid substance, at the same time pour- 

 ing forth streams of oxygen, which, ming- 

 ling with the surrounding atmosphere, gives 

 vigor to man's body and cheerfulness to his 

 spirits. 



In this Winter Park and Garden, the 

 trees and plants might be so arranged as to 

 give great diversity of views and pictu- 

 resque effect. Spaces might be set apart for 

 equestrian exercise, and for carriage drives; 

 but the main body of the building should be 

 arranged with the view of giving great ex- 

 tent and variety for those who promenade 

 on foot. Fountains, statuary, and every 

 description of park and garden ornament, 

 would grcatl}^ heighten the effect and beau- 

 ty of the scene. 



Beautiful creeping plants might be planted 

 against the columns, and trailed along the 

 girders, so as to give shade in summer, while 

 the effect they would produce by festooning 

 in every diversity of form over the building, 

 would give the whole a most enchanting and 

 gorgeous finish. Besides these, there might 

 be introduced a collection of living birds 

 from all temperate climates, and the science 

 of Geology, so closely connected with the 

 study plants, might be illustrated on a large 

 and natural scale, thus making practical 

 botany, ornithology, and geology, familiar 

 to every visitor. 



The alterations necessary to the building 

 itself, to produce the effects I have sugges- 

 ted, would not be many or cost much mo- 

 ney. Shortly will be published by me a 

 view showing how the whole may be finish- 

 ed so as to do away with all idea of smoke, 

 chimneys, or other kind of nuisance. The 

 details of the alterations necessary I do not 

 ose to treat of now; but I may men- 

 for the information of those Avho live 

 opposite the Crystal Palace, that I should 



recommend the wood boarding round the 

 bottom tier of the building to be removed 

 and replaced with glass; the present ap- 

 pearance of it is heavy, and gives anything 

 but the idea indicated by its name; when 

 glass is substituted for wood, the appearance 

 will be marvellously changed; those who 

 drive and ride in the park will even in winter 

 see the oljects within as they pass by, 

 and the whole will have a light aerial ap- 

 pearance totally unlike what it has at pre- 

 sent. In summer I .should recommend the 

 Avhole lower glass tier to be entirely remov- 

 ed, so as to give, from the park and the 

 houses opposite the Palace, an appearance 

 of continuous park and garden. Here I 

 must state what I believe will be the posi- 

 tion of those who live opposite the Crystal 

 Palace. I fully admit they have just cause 

 of complaint by having all the turmoil of 

 so vast an undertaking as the great exhibi- 

 tion developed imder their eyes and ears, 

 with all its attendant inconveniences; but 

 if the building is allowed to stand, and be 

 adapted as I propose, the advantages de- 

 rivable to them Avill fully compensate for 

 all the evil thej^ niaj'- have sustained in that 

 respect. The boarding being all removed 

 and glass substituted, they will have, with- 

 in a few minutes' walk, a beautiful park, 

 decorated with the beauties of nature and 

 art, under a sky-roof, having a climate, 

 warmed and ventilated for the purpose of 

 health alone, furnishing, close to their own 

 firesides, a promenade unequalled in the 

 world, and, for the six winter months, a 

 temperature analogous to that of Southern 

 Italjr; and I have no doubt the property in 

 that immediate neighborhood would, from 

 such an arrangement, considerably advance 

 in value, because of the recreation and ex- 

 ercise afforded to the inhabitants and their 

 families. 



The advantages derivable from such an ap- 

 propriation of the Crystal Palace would be 

 many, and may be thus summed up. In a 

 sanitary point of view its benefits would be 

 incalculable. By its various objects it would 

 produce a new and soothing pleasure to the 

 mind. The great truths of Nature and Art 

 would be constantly exemplified. Peculiar 

 facilities would especially be given for the 

 development on a large scale of the sciences 

 of Botany, Geology and Ornithology. A 

 temperate climate would be supplied at all 

 seasons. Taste would be improved by indi- 

 viduals becoming fomiliar with objects of the 

 highest order of Art, and by viewing the 

 more beautiful parts of Nature Avithout its 

 deformities. Pleasant exercise could be ta- 



