This external sameness was much felt in the Hyde Park building; but now the interposition of low square towers at the junction of the nave and transepts, the open galleries toward the garden front, the long wings stretching five hundred and seventy-four feet on either side, produce a play of light and shade, and break the building into parts, which, without in any way detracting from the grandeur or simplicity of the structure, relieves and satisfies the eye, and shows that this kind of buildings, if a due share of attention is bestowed upon the design, may be made to blend much more harmoniously together, as well as with external circumstances, and at the same time possess in a very high degree both architectural beauty and artistic effect.

The removal of this vast structure from its old site in Hyde Park to its present place, shows in a striking manner the adaptability of this material for all kinds of hothouse and conservatory purposes in the United States, where the exchange of real estate and the rapid increase of its value in the suburbs of cities renders the removal of such buildings frequently very desirable. We believe that all the materials of the old building have been used in the present one, except some of the roof-glass, which had to be taken out, and some of the transept framing, which, according to the new plans and improvements, could not be rendered available, but which in all ordinary construction of such buildings need never occur, as such structures may be erected for all purposes to which glazed houses are usually applied, whether large or small, and be removed from one place to another without the disuse or destruction of any portion of them, and that, too, at a comparatively small cost.

The principle upon which the Sydenham palace is constructed, appears to be precisely similar to that of the New York palace; and I think, also, the system of connection between the girders and columns are the same; but I am not certain whether the rods, or diagonal braces of the building, are secured in the same manner, which in the Sydenham palace appear to be both adaptable and necessary in a building exposed as it is to high winds, though not probably in the New York palace in the sheltered spot where it now stands. These rods or bracings are provided to resist the action of the wind, and are strong enough to bear any strain that can be brought against them. They are fitted with screwed connections and couplings, so that they can be adjusted with the greatest accuracy. The roof also is different, being wholly, from end to end, on the ridge and furrow system, though the glass here employed is much thinner and inferior to that employed in the New York palace, being only single glass, about one-thirteenth of an inch in thickness, or what is here generally called 21-ounce glass, that is, glass weighing twenty-one ounces to the square foot - a quality of glass which we consider very poor indeed, and hardly strong enough for common green-house purposes.

The double Bedford glass, which is now frequently used in the United States, when it can be had of a fair equality in thickness, is far superior to the glass used in the Sydenham palace.

Making what we shall call a horticultural tour through the building, we feel nothing but disappointment everywhere we look; and this is the more surprising when we consider who is the horticultural director of the building, and what were the means at his command. The meagre materials and bungling arrangement must at once strike the observer accustomed to look upon such matters, even on a much smaller scale, with an eye to beauty and effect, both present and prospective. But assuredly this department, as it now presents itself to the visitor, making every allowance for the smallnes6 of the plants and their recent removal from other places, is neither on a par with the other departments of this gigantic undertaking, nor what might be expected from the celebrity of those at the head of the horticultural department The most striking horticultural objects that present themselves to the visitor, on entering the palace, are rows of Orange and Pomegranate trees, which are placed at regular distances along each side of the nave and transepts.

These trees are for the most pari round, stiff and formal in their appearance; and with their great old boxes standing high, bare, and all exposed to the eye, produce rather an unpleasant effect upon the mind, as the thing is neither artistic nor natural; yet, by its character and its position, an attempt is clearly perceptible to make it both. This disposition of these specimens may by some perhaps be called good taste, but we are very sure there are many who will take exceptions to such an arrangement It will be remembered that these trees were sold on the confiscation of the Orleans property by the present government of France, and they were collected by Louis Philippe from the gardens of different palaces to adorn his favorite residence at Neuilly. When the property of the Orleans family was sold at auction, they were bought by Sir Joseph Paxton for the decoration of the present crystal palace. Some of these Orange trees are said to be over four hundred years old, but are not by any means the size that such a great age would indicate; but they have been subjected to that system of pruning which in France converts every vegetable product that will bear such infliction, into the shape and form of vegetable sculpture.

It is to be hoped that, under the management of their present possessors, and now that there is no lack of head room, their branches will be permitted to expand in all the irregular beauty of a natural tree, when they will certainly be the most beautiful and interesting objects in the whole vegetable collection of the crystal palace.

We were much struck with the surprising beauty and healthiness of the numerous baskets of flowers that were suspended from the girders, some of them on a level with and some of them above the galleries. We counted nearly three hundred of these baskets, which are made of wire, and suspended by strong wire cord from the girders and braces. They were filled with all kinds of bedding-out plants, many in full bloom - such as Petunias, Heliotropes, Tropaeolums, Verbenas, Fuchsias, Geraniums, etc. - in the most perfect health and luxuriance. We observed some of what we usually call "climbing plants" hanging some fifteen or twenty feet down from the basket, and having a most charming effect On the braces and columns, also, creepers and climbers are planted - such as the Bignonias, Wistarias, Tasconias, etc. - which, in course of time, will clamber over portions of the building, and line with a grateful shade the great arches of nave and transept, and give the palace and the objects within it more quiet beauty and reposing effect.

The south end of the palace contains collections of plants, consisting of Acacias, Camellias, Azalias, Rhododendrons, the rare and delicate Coniferae, and other conservatory plants, among which the New Holland plants are very conspicuous. An attempt has been made, though from necessity a very unsuccessful one, to give a national or tropical character to the grouping of the plants, as well as to the animals; but, although this would be a much desired object, yet even here very little has been accomplished toward that end, except in so far as a promiscuous collection of plants are assimilated, as far as position and other circumstances will admit, to the productions of the country which is represented. Thus, in the portion of the transept facing the Egyptian court, we find the beds filled with Egyptian Palms and other plants indigenoub to that country. One very peculiar and curious production is exhibited in this section, viz., two curious-looking plants called "Elephant's Foot," which are, we believe, the largest specimens ever brought to Europe, and were imported from the Cape of Good Hope by the company to which they now belong. This plant is said to be the longest-lived of any vegetable product, and these specimens are said to be three thousand years old.

This portion of the palace is divided off from the rest by a screen, and is kept at a higher temperature solely for the growth of tropical plants; and here we find, therefore, all those hot-house production* which will not bear the cool and temperate atmosphere of the other portions of the palace, among which are many beautiful Palms. In this part of the building also, there is a large water-tank, in which are flourishing Nymphaeas, Nelumbiums, the beautiful Victoria regia, and many other fine aquatics. The water in this tank is warmed by hot-water pipes running around the sides. But as we will take some notice of the immense heating apparatus of this place in another letter, we will pass this matter for the present, and conclude our notice of the plants.

We have stated that the arrangement of the horticultural department is very disap-pointing, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that we are not singular in our opinion, for notwithstanding the gigantic dimensions of the building, there is a multum in parvo system apparent - a want of length, breadth, and thickness, so to speak - a want of capacity in the ideas of extent in beds and borders, and particularly so in the planting of them, - which to our Americanized view seems very incompatible with the far-famed crystal palace and the gigantic scale on which every thing about it is planned; and, large as it is, it strikes us as having, like too many green-houses and conservatories in the country, twice as many plants as it ought to contain.

Having occupied more space than I intended, I must continue my remarks in another letter, when I have a little more leisure.