PREFACE. ABOUT two-thirds of the contents of these volumes ́ made their first appearance in "Household Words." Those portions of them have been revised, and a little increased; and the whole of the chapters from the close of the subject of Holland House, are additional. The reason why the criticism on the Gore House Exhibition has been retained, is given in a note. It is pleasant to be able to state (though we are travelling beyond our Suburb in doing so) that the "promises" alluded to, in the notice of the first "Crystal Palace," かん are more than being realized by the second. Common glass has not been understood, hitherto, to be crystal; but it may be allowed, henceforth, the dignity of the title, when use is made of it to such magnificent purpose. The "Bazaar" has now indeed become a Palace, and a palace for a nation, with its proper appurtenances of gardens, fountains, and museums. Even the princely possessor of Chatsworth, under whose encouragement such dreams had a right to expect to become true, expresses his delighted surprise; and Sir Joseph Paxton has taken his stand in the world, as a genius of a new order, confounding the preconceptions of Art, and elevating Horticulture into the study of new groves and mansions, of Academus. JUNE, 1855. |