She is universally respected and beloved. England never had a purer Sovereign on the Throne. Prince Albert is of the same age - her first cousin - their mothers are sisters they were brought up together loved each other in their childhood, and married, no one doubts, from real affection. He is a very good looking man — well educated at home on almost all subjects of general literature is quite ingenious in the science of mechanicsis a lover and adept of music-devotes himself to the cause of Agriculture, Literature, and Benevolence, and is very popular in England. He is a worthy companion of the Queen, though below her in rank, and wholly without political power.

The Royal party spend about half an hour in the Palace, and retire amidst the acclamations of the multitudes, and the pealings of all the great bells in the Edifice. This Great Exhibition is the child of the public spirit of Prince Albert and Victoria, who hope, by means of it, not more to promote the arts and sciences universally, than to exert, through its social effects, a power that shall be felt amongst the Nations in behalf of the Peace of the World. The time, we hope, is near by, long since predicted, when "Nation shall not lift sword against Nation, nor learn War any more.'

But we have consumed too much time in obervations from this gallery; let us descend and examine more particularly the articles of utility brought together from the different parts of the earth.

LETTER XXXI.

WALKS IN THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

Western Nave-Venus and Cupid-Precious Stones-A Dragon-Timber Trophy-Church Restoration-Christ on the Cross-Rogers' CutleryLight House-Slain Crusader-Russia Bridge-Liverpool Docks-Yard at the East End.

DESCENDING the Transept Gallery we commence our journey along the western avenue, starting from the great Crystal Fountain which is in the exact centre of the Palace. The whole of the western nave, and almost the whole of the eastern half of the edifice, is occupied by England and her Colonies, from East India to Canada and Van Dieman's Land.

Keeping on a line in the middle of the Avenue, the first object that we meet is a beautiful group in marble, as large as life, of Venus and Cupid enough to make an old man fall in love. On its right, and also on its left, are cases of precious stones brought from the four quarters of the earth. Here too is a lot of English saddles – some for gentlemen, some for ladies, (English women are great riders on horse-back) trimmed with gold. A silver tablestand, weapons of war, models of pagodas, &c., surround a silk Trophy. This exhibits the silk manufacture of Spitalfields in all its variety, from furniture damask to the

finest sewing silk. Here is a cast of Sir William Follet in his legal robes. He was as courteous as he was great, and this cast is life-like and full of character. Next is a Dragon that has seized a noble horse by the neck, and is ready to tear open his body with his murderous claws. It is in marble as large as life. West of this is the Canadian Timber Trophy, a huge pile of pine mill-logs, birch, bird'seye maple, cherry, black walnut and other plank, joists and boards, to tell the world what may be had for buildings and furniture in Canada. I wished there was a Timber Trophy for Maine also there; but this will answer us a pretty good purpose, for we have everything which Canada has in her forests, only a good deal more! New York had a specimen of her forests there. On the left are brilliant specimens of Soda Crystals we never saw the like before. In the middle of the Avenue, we approach a model of Her Majesty's Opera House, as seen from the stage, preserving the most minute details of decoration. On its left is a large Bell, and on its right beautiful Vases in clay. Then comes an elaborately ornamented Mirror of immense size, which duplicates all the rich articles in the nave before it. By its side is a beautiful specimen of inlaying with copper, zinc and brass, used in contrast, working out figures of human faces. On the right is a collection of raw products from Ceylon. minerals, of gold, silver, copper, lead,

Near it, too, are zinc, plumbago,

coal, &c. The island of Jersey has contributed an immense gun, models of boats, &c.

Next comes an inter

esting specimen of Church Restoration. It consists of a portion of the monuments of Philippa, Queen of Edward III., in Westminster Abbey. It was executed in 1730 in alabaster, at a cost of $10,000.

There are statuettes and

angels surrounding it. Near this is a model of the orchestra of the Sacred Harmonia Society; the gallery is full of the Lilliputian performers, looking as earnest and bright as life. Beyond this is one of the best models in the Palace, viz., the Church of St. Nicholas, at Hamburg. Further to the west stands a Crucifix in Caen stone. On one side is represented Jesus in the act of dying; on the reverse, the elevation of the Serpent in the Wilderness; on the arms of the cross are the Good Shepherd, and the Prodigal Son returning; and down the standard of the cross are the four Evangelists and other Disciples. The model of Exeter Hall, supported on the sides by bronze statuettes, and brass ornaments, is in rear of Hamburg Church.

Jordan's machine for carving wood claims superiority by operating on the hardest woods, and producing figures much cheaper than by hand-work.

Next to this are immense crystals of alum, Rochelle salts, and nitrate of potash, and spermaceti, forming a chemical Trophy in the nave.

Next comes the Sheffield Trophy of cutlery, by the celebrated Rogers. Amongst other things, I notice a brilliant star on white ground, made out of two hundred thirty pairs of scissors grouped together in the star shape. Here also is a case containing twelve perfect pairs of scissors, so small that they do not weigh half a grain. There is also a sportman's knife, containing eighty blades; also a knife three-fourths of an inch long with fifty-one blades.

A bronze fountain in the middle of the Avenue, here sends forth its pure jets of spring water, that fall in sweetly murmuring sounds upon fantastic images, and that moisten a bed of tropical shrubs and flowers that surround it. A

statue of Shakspeare stands looking into it. Next to this is a new fashioned light-house. I enter it by ascending steps, and find the glass sides of the lantern of immense thickness, and cut so as to radiate light with a wonderful power. In it is a monster telescope by Ross, the optician, some of the glasses of which are twelve inches in diameter. An equestrian group here strikes my attention. It consists of the steed of a slain Crusader, just fallen from his back; the horse stands with one fore-leg over his body, while his mistress clasping the steed's neck weeps, and finds fellowship in grief with the grave-looking animal. In advance of this is a feather Trophy, embracing a collection of feathers from almost all the birds of the world, most beautifully grouped. Next is a fur Trophy, from Hudson's Bay-displaying a large number of richest skins. Adjacent to these are Irish poplins, brocades, waistcoatings, alpacas, shirtings, leather harnesses, boots, whips, and optical instruments.

Next is a model of a suspension bridge erected over the Dnieper at Kieff in Russia. The model was made for the Emperor, and cost $60,000. It contains 6,880 pieces of wood, 87,097 pieces of metal. It is the most perfect thing of its kind in the Palace. A massive fountain of artificial stone, near this, astonishes and delights a great number of visitors.

A model of the Undercliff of the Isle of Wight, exhibiting the fields, houses, gardens, roads, woods and mills, is an interesting geological representation on a scale of three feet to a mile. There is also a model of the Plymouth Breakwater, showing its action in a storm.

Beyond this is a model of the Liverpool Docks. It is forty feet long, ten feet wide, and on a scale of eight feet