102 



THE CRYSTAL PALACE AT SYDENHAM. 



[1853 



The portion of Iowa which is most deficient iu timber is north of 

 latitude 42°, especially on the dividing ridges. North of this latitude 

 between the head waters of Three and Grand Rivers, there are dis- 

 tances of ten or fiitceu miles without any timber: while between the 

 waters of Grand River, the Nodoway, and" the Ni>iiuabotona, the opeu 

 prairie is ofteu twenty miles wide, without a bush to I40 seeu higher 

 than the wild indigo and the compass plant. The soil, too, in this 

 region, is generally of inferior quality to thatsouth of latitude 41° 3U'. 



After passing latitude 4? 1 , 30', and approaching the southern con- 

 fines of the Coteau des Prairies, a desolate, barren, knobby country 

 commences, where the higher grounds are covered with gravel and 

 erratic masses, supporting a scanty vegetation, while the vallies are 

 either wet and marshy, or ii 11 'd with numerous pools, ponds and lakes, 

 the borders of "which are inhabited by flocks of sandhill cranes, which 

 fill the air with their doleful cries, and where the eye may often wan- 

 der iu every direction towards the horizon, without discovering even 

 a faiut outline of distant timber. 



This description of country prevails for about three quarters of a 

 degree of latitude, and between three and four degrees of longitude, 

 embracing the water-shed where the northern branches of the Red 

 Cedar, aud the Iowa, and the eastern branches of the Des Moiues, take 

 their rise. After passing the extreme sources of the Mankota, the 

 country again improves, both in quality of the soil aud in the distribu- 

 tion of timber. On fairly entering the valley of the Minnesota River 

 we again find a fertile, well watered, aud desirable farming country. 

 The second terrace of laud bordering the -Minnesota, maybe especially 

 cited for its fertility and advantageous position, elevated entirely 

 above the highest freshets, and in proximity to a belt of forest 

 which crosses the Minnesota about latitude 44° 30 , and which is re- 

 markable for its unusual body of timber, in a country otherwise but 

 scantily supplied with wood. 



nged groups of tombs, idols, sphyuxes, aud gigantic figures, one 

 diieh, seated, will be thirty or forty feet high. This court is much 

 iier advauc:d than any other portion of the works, and is at pre- 



The Ciystul Palace sit Sydenham. 



The Crystal Palace rebuilding at Sydenham, is so for advanced that 

 Messrs. Fox cfe Henderson have undertaken to surrender it to the com- 

 pany in a iiuished state at Christmas. 



The following description of its proposed arrangements is interest- 

 ing:— 



The south-eastern end of the palace is so far finished that the plan 

 of the interior decorations already begins to develop itself A large 

 number of gardeners and their assistants have been for some time 

 busily arranging plants and shrubs in beds aud borders of different 

 forms : and the statue of Charles II., which forms the most prominent 

 object iu this portion of the building, is now almost embowered iu 

 plants and flowers. 



No less than ] 2,000 camelias aud a proportionate number of gera- 

 niums, pelargoniums, with orange trees and other plants and shrubs, 

 have beeu already arranged in this space. They are at present in pots, 

 but the flooring will be cut away, according to the plans marked out, 

 the beds filled up with mould, aud the plants then transferred to thair 

 future destination. The centre will be occupied by a lake extending 

 a considerable way up the nave, and here all kinds of aquatic plants 

 will be placed. The site and extent of this inland sea are already 

 indicated by the brickwork, and the poiuts at which it will be span- 

 ned by light and eiegaut bri 'ges marked out The great subject of 

 attraction at this end of the building at present, is what is termed the 

 Potnpeian Court — a fuc simile of a building discovered wheu excava- 

 ting the ruins of Pompeii. Here the visitor will have an opportunity 

 of observing the style and character of Roman architecture and embel- 

 lishments upwards of 1800 years ago, reproduced iu all its most minute 

 details, and with all its original richness and brilliancy of colouring. 



The building is formed of an open court, with smaller apartments 

 surrounding it. The centre is occupied by a fountain, and groups of 

 richly gilt winged figures support the sloping roof, the emblematic 

 paintings and ornaments being of the most graceful and delicate cha- 

 racter. Iu the large apartment opening out from the central court, 

 termed the peristyle, there are double ranges of columns enriched with 

 paintings, aud flowers and statues, niches for the Penates, or house- 

 hold gods, and other accessories show this to have bpen the state apart- 

 ment in which visitors were received and the banquet spread. It is, 

 however, at the north-western end of the building that the greatest 

 progress has recently beeu made. 



The first court uearest the central transept, is devoted to the. illus- 

 tration of ancient Egyptian and Assyrian architecture and decoration. 

 It will, when completed, be approached from the central nave through 

 a large gateway bordered with shrubs and flowers, and passing up 

 through a long range of richly decorated columns, will disclose welf- 



arran« 

 of wh 



sent receiving its rich and brilliant colouring. Its superintendence and 

 arrangement have been entrusted to the distinguished orieutal travel- 

 ler Bouonii. 



Another step, and we pass to the perfected forms of the Greeks and 

 Romans : aud here, in a series of courts opening into each other, are 

 placed statues aud groups of figures, comprising casts from all the most 

 celebrated works of the ancients. Among them are a large number 

 of nude figures of Apollo, Baccus, Hercules, Jupiter, Athleta; Drosco- 

 rodi, Satyrs, <fec. On the opposite side of the nave, and next the terraca,- 

 is an Italian court, and one illustrative of the florid style of decoration 

 which prevailed during what is called the Renaissance. 



Beyoud these is the mediaeval court, which is considerably advanced, 

 and which will exhibit specimens of Gothic architecture and decora- 

 tions, many of the examples being taken from the old cathedrals of 

 this country, and iu connection with this will be a row of cloisters 

 with quaint buttresses aud groined roof, the whole forming a very per- 

 fect school for students and antiquarians Advancing still further, we 

 reach courts which are to illustrate the details of Moorish architecture. 

 The pillars of the Alhambi a are-just rising from the floor, and the out- 

 lines of the Court of Lions, with its great central fountain, the Hall of 

 Justice aud the other gorgeous illustrations of this luxurious Oriental 

 style are only just developed. 



Great changes are taking place in the exterior, the original design 

 having been so far departed from or improved upon, that two wings 

 proceeding from either extremity of the building, are now in the course 

 of construction, with the object of affording additional space. One ad- 

 vantage gained by these wings will be, that they will mask the lofty 

 forcing pumps. The terrace and gardens, notwithstanding the unfa- 

 vourable slate of the weather, have been considerably advanced, and 

 large quantities of trees and shrubs have been planted. The wells 

 have been sunk, pipes for the supply of water laid down, aud steam 

 engines for the purpose of working the pumps erected in 1 emote parts 

 of the grounds. 



The flights of stone steps conducting from the grounds to the prin- 

 cipal entrance have been decorated with sphynxes, and two large sta- 

 tues have just been completed for the terraces — one is by Monti, repre- 

 senting Italy, a female figure, crowned with turrets, and holding iu one 

 hand a laurel crown, aud in the other implements connect d with the 

 arts. The other is by Mr. J. Bell, aud represents Australia, also a 

 female figure, bearing a crook, and extending her left hand, filled with 

 "nuggets" of native gold. She stands upon a rock, which is also 

 veiued with gold, aud a kangaroo and its young crouch at her feet. 

 These are only the commencement of a series of similar decorations 

 and embellishments which are designed for the grounds, aud during 

 fine weather, the arrangements arc such that recreation and instruction 

 will be judiciously combined iu the open air. 



A very interesting department has its temporary location iu a corner 

 of the gardens near -Annerley-road. This is the restoration or recon- 

 struction of antediluvian monsters, under the superintendence of Mr. 

 Waterhouse Hawkins, who has undertaken to place before visitors of 

 the palace the gigantic animals and reptiles who peopled the earth 

 before it became a fitting habitation for man. Among the inhabitants 

 of "the world before the flood," who are to be resuscitated, are the 

 labyriuthodou, a gigantic frog, upward of seven feet long — the plesio- 

 saurus, an auimal of the same species, with an enormous diagon's 

 head aud jaws. 



The unwieldy megatherium, the iguauodon, and other huge reptiles 

 will also be represeuted, and to render the illusion more complete, they 

 will be placed upon two islands iu the large reservoir, surrounded by 

 the shrubs, ferus and brushwood which formed their habitats. The 

 modern section of natural history is beiug proceeded with in a corner 

 of the building, and many large and fierce animals, denizens of the 

 tropical forests, are already prepared, iu the act of crouching or spring- 

 ing ou their prey. 



A numerous population is rapidly springing up, or rather settling 

 down, around the Crystal Palace — new roads are now being formed, 

 private houses and villas elected, and taverus, coffee-houses aud hotels 

 starting up, as if by magic, iu all directions 



To the Editor of the Maihcay Gazette. 



Ammonia in Rat* Water. River Watei, and Snow* — Snt : As I 

 couceive that one fact adduced on admitted authority will have more 

 influence iu the advancement of truth than a volume of demonstrative 

 reasoning, I am induced, in reference to the papers which appeared in 

 the Mining Journal of 1349 and 1851, to trouble you with the results 

 obtained by M. BouRsingaulr, of the French Institute. " It appears 



