Mrs S. C. Hall [Anna Maria Fielding], ‘The First of May at the Great Exhibition’, Art-Journal (1851)

Every attempt to describe the opening of the Crystal Palace to those who were not present, must have the same result as that of picturing the sun’s meridian glory to the blind; they hear, and listen, and feel – but they cannot comprehend; in a word, they cannot See! Those who were invigorated by the sunshine of that immortal “First of May,” and heard the deep-hearted shouts of a loyal people, and saw, until tears of joy and enthusiasm dimmed their eager eyes, will know that all efforts at description of the pageant – so sublime in its simplicity – must be written in vain. The eloquent pen ofJules Janin ¹ has portrayed the sentiment of the gathering of nations by our Island Queen – and thousands felt as he did, as they never felt before, and can never feel again. But it seems to us there is one great object achieved by this reunion of Nations, which has not been sufficiently dwelt upon. We English, are happily well acquainted with our Queen; we meet her in our drives, surrounded – not by soldiers, but by her children; she partakes of our amusements; she fosters our charities; she rises with the lark, and blends, in marvellous order, the sacred duties of a sovereign with the no less sacred duties of an English wife and an English mother. Her court is a model in its purity for all royal courts; and if proof were needed of her sympathy with the working classes, is it not enshrined beneath the covering of the Crystal Palace ?