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The Great Exhibition

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The interest felt by the public has in no wise diminished since the opening of visitors has exceeded expectation, as will be seen from the particulars which provide below. One Friday multitudes of people flocked into the building, but of a far different class from the swarming bands of workmen who have hitherto been its occupants. The noble, the learned, and the wealthy came to parade its long avenues, and to meditate at their leisure upon the grandeur of the preceding day’s ceremonial, but the last appeared to be the principal object, for the remoter parts of the exhibition were little visited. There was an evident desire to see the arrangements of the state opening before they were removed, and to revive the impressions of an event were removed, and to revive the impressions of an event which everyone who witnessed it will treasure carefully in his memory. The perspective of the nave appeared to engross the attention of all, and expressions of wonder and admiration saluted the ear on every side. The grand design, the artistic decorations, and the regular proportions of the building, were all carefully observed. When this source of enjoyment had been exhausted, the throng of visitors examined closely and in detail the immense number of striking objects which make up the tout ensemble of the nave. They proceeded steadily from point to point, inspecting minutely the long array of varied trophies in arts and industry there gathered together. The Kob-i-noor appeared to be the chief object of attraction among the fairer portion of the assemblage-at least, it came next in favour to the crystal fountain, the elegant proportions and prismatic brilliancy of which were subjects of endless comment. The groups of statuary in the foreign division were eagerly surveyed and much admired. Immense numbers diverged a little from the main avenue to examine the German hall decorated with porcelain, and the Austrian departments fitted up with the splendi

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