The International Exhibition, London, 1862, "Uplift a thousand voices, full and sweet, In this wide hall, with earth's inventions stored, "O silent father of our kings to be, Mourned in this golden hour of jubilee, And lo! the long laborious miles TENNYSON. CHAPTER II. IS AN ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, AND A RECORD OF CERTAIN -- FACTS CONNECTED THEREWITH.-ILLNESS OF PRINCE ALBERT.-A NATION'S SORROW AND THE WORLD'S LOSS.-WAR AND PEACE. THE RECTOR'S DAUGHTER AND HER WORK. UNITED AND SILENT EFFORT.-GLASSPAPERING AND POLISHED STONES.-A ROCK SCORPION.-DEPÔTS ESTABLISHED. THE JOY OF THE LORD. LEVEN years had passed before a universal desire was gratified, by England inviting the world to form another repository in her capital. The Palace of Crystal, with its wondrous contents, had, "like the baseless fabric of a vision," been rapidly removed; but a powerful influence of its own creation remained. The eye had not been satisfied with seeing, nor the intellect with judging, while impulse had been given to improvement in every department of industry and art. Its financial success to some extent provided for this craving after increased knowledge, as the Royal Commissioners closed their accounts with the magnificent balance of £186,000. This was wisely expended in forming that permanent home for products of genius in every department of human effort, the South Kensington Museum. Other cities of the empire and other countries of the world were led by like impulse to gather into buildings of their own the produce of hand and brain. But these were more or less national, and were in some cases the result of energy on the part of rulers and in others of citizens with public spirit. The Palais de l'Industrie, in the Carré Marigny, was for instance the thought of the Prince President; and that of Dublin, the thought of one of her successful citizens, whom the people have honoured with a statue, and also with a ballad expressive of his character and favourite attitude. "Hard work filled his coffers with gold, For the good of mankind he'll unlock it ; By the man with his hand in his pocket." * This multiplying of local exhibitions forced the conviction upon Prince Albert and the English people, that at the end of a decade of years it would be well to witness progress and give impetus to this form of universal good by calling the nations to another festival of peace. The many national were indeed but preparations for another international rivalry in the industries and Great therefore was the satisfaction, and cheerful the response, when the invitation spread from shore to shore, from centre to centre of human effort, to peoples of all tribes and languages, to take part in keen but friendly contests in London during the summer of 1862. In the meantime adequate preparations were being made in the chief city of the world for the fair treatment and for the personal comfort of the representatives of all peoples. Prince Albert, at the head of an experienced * William Durgan. ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE CONSORT. 45 body of Commissioners, designed, controlled, and gave such effect to the gigantic scheme, that another building of immense proportions rose rapidly near the greensward of Hyde Park. The impetus given to Manufacture and Art was felt in ten thousand factories and studios the world throughout. Arrangements for the transit of exhibits of untold number, variety, and worth were being made, and plans for the gathering together of vast multitudes of the people of the earth approached completion. The anticipation of another summer of peace, gladness, and joy was strong throughout the British dominions and neighbouring nations, when the gloom of a deep sorrow gathered over the earth, and made sad the hearts of men. Early in December, 1861, a rumour spread through London that Prince Albert was far from well, and the anxiety became painfully intense as daily bulletins announced that a dangerous disease was prostrating the strength of the royal patient. So general became the distress, that the silence of sorrow hushed the turmoil of the city streets, and sadness was expressed on every countenance. One strong force of solicitude united the subjects of Queen Victoria, so that the highest in rank and the poorest in condition were moved by one emotion of heartfelt care. Many crowded to the temples of the Most High God, in whose hands are the issues of life and of death, and in in them, with earnest and deepfelt utterance, made |