The Management Of Our Art Institutions.

law is raised why sentence should be deferred , thus making thc discussion refer but slightly to the indictment . It is high time that these tactics should bo abandoned , and that the question should be decided upon its merits . Lord H . Lennox may see a vista of promise in the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer . We can

discern there only a desert mirage , and on reaching it we shall expect another attempt to flatter us into silence by a repetition of the illusive promise . What is required for the interest of art is , a minister with a seat in the Cabinet , who shall be entrusted with authority over our art-institutions , and over our public monuments , and who shall be responsible to the House of

Commons , and through it to the country , for the expended money and for the works it is spent upon . When we have that concession made to us we shall have plenty of improvements to make in the management of our art-institutions , but until we possess a responsible director of this department , all reports of committees on the subject and all suggestions as , to their adoption are , it is to befeared , but as seed scattered in stony places .

The Great Exhibition.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION .

The first of May , 1862 , will long be remembered as one of the finest of summer days on which was inaugurated with great pomp and splendour the opening of the second of England's world fairs—though none could attend it without some feelings of gloom , in thc remembrance that the loss of him who alike was the projector

and the promoter of the Exhibitions of 1851 and 1862 , deprived it of the presence of the Queen and tho more immediate members of her family—a presence which for upwards of twenty years has added brightness to every ceremony in which she has taken part . As early as two o ' clock this morning the approaches to

the new Exhibition building presented a most striking scene , and carriages were arriving in quick succession at the various entrances , filled with ladies in bright summer costume , and gentlemen in every variety of uniform ; and , long before twelve o ' clock , every space which would command a view of the proposed ceremony was crowded

—whilst hundreds amused themselves with lounging about amongst the various courts . During the interval awaiting thc arrival of the procession , the military bands

of the Grenadiers , the Colclstreams , and thc Scots Fusilier Guards played a choice selection of music . At a quarter past one , a flourish of trumpets announced the arrival of the Royal Commissioners , when a procession was formed ( tho Duke of Cambridge being accompanied by Prince Frederick William of Prussia and Prince Oscar

of Sweden ) and proceeded to the western dome , where , after the National Anthem had been sung , an address was delivered by the Earl Granville , E . G ., chairman of the Commissioners for tho Exhibition of 1862 , and an answer returned by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge , K . G ., on behalf of the Queen ' s Commissioners

for opening the Exhibition . The procession then moved down the nave to the east dome , where the special musical performances took place ; the orchestra , consisting of 2000 voices and 400 instrumentalists , being presided over by Bro . Costa . The music , specially composed for this occasion , consisted of a grand overture by Meyerbeer ; a chorale , by Dr . Sterndale Bennett ( thc words by the Poet Laureate ); and a Grand March by Auber .

The Great Exhibition.

The following are tho words of the Chorale : — " Uplift a thousand voices full aud sweet , In this wide hall with earth ' s invention stored , And praise th' invisible universal Lord , Who lets once more in peace the nations meet , AVhere Science , Art , and Lahour have outpour'd Their myriad horns of plenty at our feet .

O , silent father of our Kings to be , Mourn'd in this golden hour of jubilee , For this , for all , we weep our thanks to t-heo ! The world compelling plan was thine , And , lo ! the long laborious miles Of Palace ; lo ! the giant aisles , Rich in model and design ; Harvest-tool and husbandry

, Loom and wheel and eiigine ' ry , Secrets of the sullen mine . Steel and gold , and corn and wine , Fabric rough , or Fairy fine , Sunny tokens of the line , Polar marvels , and a feast

Of wonder , out of West ond East , And shapes and hues of art divine 1 All of beauty , all of use , That one fair planet can produce , Brought from under every star , Blown from over every main , And mixfc , as life is mixfc with pain , The works of peace with works of war .

And is the goal so far away ? Far—how far no man can say ; Let us have our dream to-day . O ye , the wise who think , the wise who reign , From growing commerce loose her latest chain , And let the fair white-winged peacemaker fly To happy havens under all the sky , And mix the seasons and the golden hours

, Till each man find his own in all men's good , And all men work in noble brotherhood , Breaking their mailed fleets and armed towers , And ruling by obeying nature's powers , And gathering all the fruits of peace , and crowned with all her flowers . "

At the conclusion of the special music , which was admirably performed , and listened to with great attention , the procession proceeded to the throne in the centre of the nave . A prayer was then offered by the Bishop of London , and the Hallelujah Chorus and the National . Anthem sung , and His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge declared the Exhibition open .

The declaration having been made , it was announced to the public by a flourish of trumpets , and by the firing of a salute on the north side of the Serpentine . The procession then proceeded to the picture galleries , and the barriers were removed , the military bands playing a further selection of music , and the pnblio being free to enjoy the various beauties of the palace , which presented a very gay and animated appearance .

VISIT OP THE DJirEItOK AND Ji . MPBESS OP THE FEENCH . — Puring the approaching season , it is expected that many illustrious foreigners will honour the Metropolis with their presence ; conspicuous among whom will be the French Monarch and the Empress . As usual during such royal visits , the establishments of the principal London tradesmen will be inspected ; hut we doubt whether so much gratification will be experienced at any , as will be , even by their critical taste , at the

magnificent emporium , No . 154 , Regent-street , where Messrs . T . A . Simpson and Co . seem to have taxed all the efforts of art and talent to produce perfection . Combining the most valuable materials , with the most graceful creations of artistic skill , they have collected an assemblage of wares , that , to quote the nursery ballad , is indeed fit " to set before a king . " There is therefore little doubt but that several of Messrs . Simpsons' chefs d ' eeuvreswill hereafter find a . treasured home in many Continental

palaces ; unless our own English nobility and gentry , who daily visit 154 , Regent-street , be first in the field , and obtain a prior right to the possession of the much-admired articles of utility and elegance with which this establishment abounds .