I dare say you would have been delighted with the grand sight:—­first there came a long line of splendid carriages, containing various lords and ladies, in gorgeous costumes;—­diamonds flashing, and feathers waving; next came a troop of Life Guards in scarlet coats, bright cuirasses, and glittering helmets:  they were escorting the Queen’s carriage, which was followed by a goodly number of other carriages.  You should have heard how the crowds huzzaed and shouted when they saw the Queen, who looked very much pleased, bowing and smiling to her people.  She entered the building amid the loud cheers and hurras, followed by Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the Princess Royal.  After staying a short time in the elegant robing-room, which was fitted up in a single night, her Majesty proceeded to her throne, between flower stands, and tropical plants, past the Coalbrookdale gates, and the fountains and statues with which the centre of the palace is adorned.  When she appeared, the twenty-five thousand people, who were present, rose to welcome her.—­Ladies waving their handkerchiefs, the gentlemen their hats;—­and you may readily guess how splendid the scene looked.  Even the sun popped out his head from the clouds, and poured a flood of golden light in through the glittering dome of the transept, to illuminate the brilliant spectacle.

As soon as Her Majesty was seated on her throne, one of the organs commenced pealing forth the notes of the National Anthem, the choir, which was collected for the occasion, singing to the music.  After this, Prince Albert joined those gentlemen who have directed the affairs of the Great Exhibition, and going near to the Queen, read to her an account of the Exhibition from the commencement; to which Her Majesty answered, when the Prince had finished, that she was much pleased with the description of the proceedings, and that she hoped the World’s Fair would do good to all mankind, by encouraging the arts of peace and industry, strengthening the bonds of love between all the nations of the earth, and promoting a friendly rivalry among our fellow creatures, in the useful exercise of those faculties which have been given by GOD for the good and happiness of all mankind.

The Queen having read this answer, the Archbishop of Canterbury approached the throne, and offered up a prayer to Heaven, intreating the Lord’s blessing on the Exhibition; that it might benefit every body on earth, making them love and help each other.  I hope all that heard the prayer, joined in it with heart and soul:  and I hope, too, that my dear little readers will think of it when they go to the Crystal Palace.

At the close of the prayer, the choir sang the Hallelujah chorus, and you may form some idea of the effect of this performance, when I tell you that all the persons who sing at the Queen’s Chapel, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, were all singing together, besides part of the band of the Sacred Harmonic Society, pupils of the Royal Academy of Music, and many other songsters, both foreign and English.