A HAPPY new year to you, my dear young Friends! I am delighted to be with you (in spirit) while reading this salutation. I hope we shall go on cheerily together through the year, and that our lives will be spared to be better pleased each succeeding month, that a good providence permitted us to speak to each other, the sweet word-"Welcome!" May you be as good in heart, as sweet in temper, and as happy in life, as you are interesting and lovely in years! Shaking hands with you all, in my heart, I will introduce to you a Sight and Description of

"THE WORLD'S WONDER!"

The magnificent Glass Palace now building in London.

(See Frontispiece.)

To Prince Albert, the husband of our beloved Queen, belongs the honour of projecting the Exhibition, which is to take place in this spacious building. The site on which the Palace is being built, is the south side of Hyde Park, between the Kensington Drive, and the Ride commonly called "Rotten Row."

The time, about which the building is expected to be completed, is the beginning of this year. The first of January was the day agreed upon; and the day fixed, by the Commissioners, for opening the Exhibition, is the first day of May, 1851. To enable our readers to form some conception of the magnitude and proportions of the building, we present them with the following brief, but curious particulars of it, gathered from various sources:

The "Palace of Glass" will be 1,848 feet in length—that is, more than one third of a mile; or three and a half times as

long as St. Paul's Cathedral, in London,-it will be 456 feet wide in the broadest part, exclusive of the machinery room, which will be 936 feet long, and 48 feet wide. The building will be open from end to end, and the great centre aisle, running from east to west of the length we have stated, will be 66 feet in height; whilst there will be a transept, or aisle, running across the principal aisle, from north to south, 408 feet long, and 108 feet high; enclosing a row of noble Elm Trees, now standing in the Park, and which will remain covered, but untouched, by the glass roof. The whole will be under one unbroken ceiling of glass! The area, or floor of the building, will be nearly 18 acres; the exhibiting surface, including galleries, will be 21 acres. The Palace will be supported by 3,230 iron columns or pillars of beautiful design, varying from 14 feet 6 inches, to 20 feet in length; 2,224 cast iron girders, and 1,128 intermediate bearers for supporting the floors of the galleries; 34 miles of gutter to carry off water. Length of sash bar, 205 miles! There will be 900,000 superficial feet of glass, (sufficiently strong, or thick, to resist hail and storm) weighing upwards of 400 tons!! The cost of building and maintaining the structure will be £79,800; and if the materials were not to be returned to those who have supplied them, when the building is removed, the cost would be £150,000!

The structure will be provided with canvas blinds, on the south front and roof, to guard against excessive light and heat. The refreshment rooms will enclose three groves of trees. Ample ventilation will be supplied, there being 5,000 superficial feet of ventilators in the transept alone. The form

the Palace is very elegant, consisting of three stories; the

upper ones receding behind the lower; each story to be supported by fluted pillars, and arches of iron, with walls of glass, to be surmounted by ornamental work. The design of the extensive range of arches, is very tasteful. The roofs will be nearly flat, but will consist of a series of ridges and valleys, eight feet wide, so formed as easily to carry off the rain.

The great central walk will be 72 feet wide; gallery 24 feet wide; the length of table space for exhibiting will be 8 miles! The whole was designed by JOSEPH PAXTON, Esq., F.R.S. Gardener to the Duke of Devonshire.

Extensive preparations are already in progress in London, for the accommodation of visitors. Arrrangements are being concluded all over Europe, and in America, for the cheap conveyance hither of persons, of all ranks, who may desire to view the Exhibition. In the United States of America, clubs are formed for the purpose of raising the necessary funds, and contracting with Railways and Ships, for a cheap and rapid transit. It is stated that upwards of ten thousand persons have intimated their intention to come hither from New York alone! Visitors are expected from Vienna, and every part of Germany; from Belgium and Holland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark; Russia, also, it is expected, will send her quota. Perhaps our young readers are not aware that very stringent laws render it difficult for a Russian of rank and fortune, to obtain permission to leave his country for a time; it is however, said that for this special occasion, the Emperor of Russia will relax the rule, and that all persons of previ ously good character, who wish to come, are to be supplied with Passports to England.

It is believed that tens of thousands of visitors will come from the neighbouring country, France; and for their conveyance across the Channel, (a distance of little more than 20 miles) a fleet of cheap Boats will ply from shore to shore, day and night. From India, numerous visitors may be expected; many of the wealthy natives are already making preparations for the journey.

The Queen, it is said, has designed a Carpet, and Prince Albert has executed some pieces of Sculpture, for the Exhibition. Mr. Wyld, a member of Parliament, is constructing an immense Globe, or representation of the Earth. The largest, perhaps our readers ever saw, was not more than 3 or 4 feet in diameter; this will be 56 feet in diameter, and 168 feet in circumference. A Lady in Cheltenham intends to exhibit a lady's Scarf, made from silk, the produce of silkworms kept in an open building in this country.

Not the least curious work of art preparing for the Exhibition, is a piece of Cloth, in which a Weaver of Bradford is employed in weaving the whole of the New Testament! He has already completed the four Gospels, and has made some advance in the Acts of the Apostles.

It has been proposed that a number of the finest sort of Vines be planted in positions in the building, where the foliage will be most needed; thus obtaining a cool and lovely shade. Arrangements being also made, for training their festoons in the most graceful forms.

Our young readers may form some idea of the vastness of the collection expected to be received for exhibition, when we state that an Eminent Printer has given a Premium of £3,000

for the privilege of printing the Catalogue, and 2d. for every copy sold, towards the expenses of the exhibition. The catalogues will be sold at one shilling each.

The productions of all nations will be exhibited together under one general classification; consisting of raw materials, and produce; illustrative of the natural productions on which human industry is employed: Machinery, for every possible purpose; Manufactures, Sculptures, Models, &c.

The building will be provided for the exhibitors, free from rent, and will be fire proof. It is intended that after the various objects are received into the building for exhibition, no charges of any kind will be made whilst they remain there.

All Spirits, Wines, and Fermented Liquors, as well as Gunpowder, Lucifer Matches, &c. are prohibited.

Our young friends will not regret that we have occupied so large a space in giving them a description of a building, and a design which have created an interest in the most distant parts of our globe. Who can tell what blessings to our beloved country, in lasting peace and brotherly kindness with other nations whom we have looked upon as our enemies, may not result from the "Great Exhibition" of 1851?

THE BEES AND THE SABBATH.

MR. LEE and his son Howard were sitting in the Piazza, on the afternoon of a pleasant sabbath, in the latter part of May. Mr. Lee was reading and Howard was looking at the bee-hives which stood near the house: as soon as he saw his father close his book, he said, "Father, is it not wrong for