foxspalace

(PP.26) THE CRYSTAL PALACE THAT FOX BUILT

THE
CRYSTAL PALACE

THAT

FOX BUILT

A PYRAMID OF VERSE

"THIS IS THE PALACE THAT FOX BUILT"
p201

THE WORKMEN

These are the Workmen, a busy array -
Two thousand and more, as I have heard say,
Who readily, steadily, toiled away,
And finished before the first of May
THE CRYSTAL PALACE
THAT FOX
BUILT.
p202

THE SAPPERS AND MINERS

These are the Sappers and Miners who ran
To test the girders on Paxton's plan;
And helped the Workmen, that busy array-
Two thousand and more, as I have heard say,
Who readily, steadily, toiled away,
And finished before the first of May
THE CRYSTAL PALACE
THAT FOX
BUILT
p203

THE ARRIVAL OF THE GOODS

These are the goods, - a most definite store
Of ebony, jewels, gold, silver and ore;
An ivory throne and a malachite door;
The diamonds of Spain, and the famed Koh-i-noor;
Mosaics from Rome; and a carved escritoire;
Fans of cobwebs and feathers, of leaves and of straw;
And cottons and silks, both woven and raw;
And wondrous machines, I can't tell you what for;
And implements, -aye, by the dozen and score,
For farming, and weaving, and printing, and war;
And fountains of glass, never seen heretofore;
And statues to rival the sculptures of yore;
And trophies with lace and rich silk covered o'er;
And tap'stry and velvets, and many things more;
Piled over the gall'ries, and counters, and floor,
By the Sappers and Miners, who marched and who ran
To test the girders on Paxton's plan;
And helped the Workmen - that busy array -
Two thousand and more, as I have heard say,
Who readily, steadily, toiled away,
And finished before the first of May
THE CRYSTAL PALACE
THAT FOX
BUILT

p204

THE SHIPS, STEAMERS, AND TRAINS

These are the steamers, the ships, and the trains,
The drays and the barrows, the trucks and the wains,
With the wonderful goods, - a most infinite store,
Of ebony, jewels, gold, silver, and ore;
An ivory throne, and a malachite door;
The diamonds of Spain, and the famed Koh-i-noor;
Mosaics from Rome; and a carved escritoire;
Fans of cobwebs and feathers, of leaves and of straw;
And cottons and silks, both woven and raw;
And wondrous machines, I can't tell you what for;
And implements, - aye, by the dozen and score,
For farming, and weaving, and printing, and war;
And fountains of glass never seen heretofore;
And statues to rival the sculptures of yore;
And trophies with lace and rich silk covered o'er;
And tap'stry and velvets, and many things more;
Piled over the gall'ries, and counters, and floor,
By the Sappers and Miners, who marched and who ran
To test the girders on Paxton's plan;
And helped the Workmen, that busy array -
Two thousand and more, as I have heard say,
Who readily, steadily, toiled away,
And finished before the first of May
THE CRYSTAL PALACE
THAT FOX
BUILT
p205

THE EXHIBITORS AND VISITORS

These are the natives of different lands;
From Siberia's snows and the African sands,
The American States and Ind's coral strands,-
Who were drawn all together in brotherly bands,
Not in battle to strive, but in love to shake hands,-
And who freighted the steamers, the ships, and the trains,
The drays and the barrows, the trucks and the wains,
With the wonderful goods,&emdash;a most infinite store,
Of ebony, jewels, gold, silver, and ore;
An ivory throne, and a malachite door;
The diamonds of Spain, and the famed Koh-i-noor;
Mosaics from Rome; and a carved escritoire;
Fans of cobwebs and feathers, of leaves and of straw;
And cottons and silks, both woven and raw;
And wondrous machines, I can't tell you what for;
And implements, -aye, by the dozen and score,
For farming, and weaving, and printing, and war;
And fountains of glass never seen heretofore;
And statues to rival the sculptures of yore;
And trophies with lace and rich silk covered o'er;
And tap'stry and velvets, and many things more;
Piled over the gall'ries, and counters, and floor,
By the Sappers and Miners, who marched and who ran
To test the girders on Paxton's plan;
And helped the Workmen - that busy array -
Two thousand and more, as I have heard say,
Who readily, steadily, toiled away,
And finished before the first of May
THE CRYSTAL PALACE
THAT FOX
BUILT
p206

THE PRINCE ALBERT, THE ROYAL COMMISSIONERS, AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

This is the Prince, from whose wisdom and weight
This Congress of Peace and World's Fair emanate;
And the Royal Commission; and Chief Magistrate;
And Executive Triad, who settled the rate
And order of entrance, duration, and date
And all questions to ways and to means that relate;
Fox and Henderson too on Her Majesty wait,
Who contracted to build this vast crystal estate;
And Paxton who planned it, -for Industry's Fete;
And the principal natives of different lands,
From Siberia's snows and the African sands,
The American States and Ind's coral strands,-
Who were drawn altogether in brotherly bands,
Not in battle to strive, but in love to shake hands,-
And who freighted the steamers, the ships, and the trains,
The drays and the barrows, the trucks and the wains,
With the wonderful goods, -a most infinite store,
Of ebony, jewels, gold, silver, and ore;
An ivory throne, and a malachite door;
The diamonds of Spain, and the famed Koh-i-noor;
Mosaics from Rome; and a carved escritoire;
Fans of cobwebs and feathers, of leaves and of straw;
And cottons and silks, both woven and raw;
And wondrous machines, I can't tell you what for;
And implements, -aye, by the dozen and score,
For farming, and weaving, and printing, and war;
And fountains of glass never seen heretofore;
And statues to rival the sculptures of yore;
And trophies with lace and rich silk covered o'er;
And tap'stry and velvets, and many things more;
Piled over the gall'ries, and counters, and floor,
By the Sappers and Miners, who marched and who ran
To test the girders on Paxton's plan;
And helped the Workmen - that busy array -
Two thousand and more, as I have heard say,
Who readily, steadily, toiled away,
And finished before the first of May
THE CRYSTAL PALACE
THAT FOX
BUILT
p207

THE QUEEN AND THE ROYAL CHILDREN

This is the Queen, who went in state
On the opening day,
The first of May,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one,
With her eldest daughter and eldest son,
And all that were noble, and learned, and great -
And a crowd of the million no tongue can narrate;
And was met, as she passed through the Colebrookdale gate,
By her Consort the Prince, from whose wisdom and weight
The Congress of Peace and World's Fair emanate;
And the Royal Commission; and Chief Magistrate;
And Executive Triad, who settled the rate
And order of entrance, duration, and date,
And all questions to ways and to means that relate;
Fox and Henderson too on Her Majesty wait,
Who contracted to build this vast crystal estate;
And Paxton who planned it, - for Industry's Fete;
And the principal natives of different lands,
From Siberia's snows and the African sands,
The American States and Ind's coral strands,-
Who were drawn altogether in brotherly bands,
Not in battle to strive, but in love to shake hands,-
And who freighted the steamers, the ships, and the trains,
The drays and the barrows, the trucks and the wains,
With the wonderful goods, - a most infinite store,
Of ebony, jewels, gold, silver, and ore;
An ivory throne, and a malachite door;
The diamonds of Spain, and the famed Koh-i-noor;
Mosaics from Rome; and a carved escritoire;
Fans of cobwebs and feathers, of leaves and of straw;
And cottons and silks, both woven and raw;
And wondrous machines, I can't tell you what for;
And implements, -aye, by the dozen and score,
For farming, and weaving, and printing, and war;
And fountains of glass never seen heretofore;
And statues to rival the sculptures of yore;
And trophies with lace and rich silk covered o'er;
And tap'stry and velvets, and many things more;
Piled over the gall'ries, and counters, and floor,
By the Sappers and Miners, who marched and who ran
To test the girders on Paxton's plan;
And helped the Workmen - that busy array -
Two thousand and more, as I have heard say,
Who readily, steadily, toiled away,
And finished before the first of May
THE CRYSTAL PALACE
THAT FOX
BUILT
p208

FROM:

RIVER, ROAD AND RAIL
SOME ENGINEERING REMINISCENCES by Francis Fox (Memb. Inst. Civil Engineers, son of Sir Charles Fox)
London, John Murray (1904)

Top of Page ; Go to Sir Charles Fox-notes ; Return to Pictures and Poetry Index

6/03/02 Last updated 23/03/02

Acknowledgement: Thanks to the Library of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE THAT FOX BUILT A PYRAMID OF VERSE "THIS IS THE PALACE THAT FOX BUILT"	p201
THE WORKMEN These are the Workmen, a busy array - Two thousand and more, as I have heard say, Who readily, steadily, toiled away, And finished before the first of May THE CRYSTAL PALACE THAT FOX BUILT.	p202
THE SAPPERS AND MINERS These are the Sappers and Miners who ran To test the girders on Paxton's plan; And helped the Workmen, that busy array- Two thousand and more, as I have heard say, Who readily, steadily, toiled away, And finished before the first of May THE CRYSTAL PALACE THAT FOX BUILT	p203
THE ARRIVAL OF THE GOODS These are the goods, - a most definite store Of ebony, jewels, gold, silver and ore; An ivory throne and a malachite door; The diamonds of Spain, and the famed Koh-i-noor; Mosaics from Rome; and a carved escritoire; Fans of cobwebs and feathers, of leaves and of straw; And cottons and silks, both woven and raw; And wondrous machines, I can't tell you what for; And implements, -aye, by the dozen and score, For farming, and weaving, and printing, and war; And fountains of glass, never seen heretofore; And statues to rival the sculptures of yore; And trophies with lace and rich silk covered o'er; And tap'stry and velvets, and many things more; Piled over the gall'ries, and counters, and floor, By the Sappers and Miners, who marched and who ran To test the girders on Paxton's plan; And helped the Workmen - that busy array - Two thousand and more, as I have heard say, Who readily, steadily, toiled away, And finished before the first of May THE CRYSTAL PALACE THAT FOX BUILT	p204
THE SHIPS, STEAMERS, AND TRAINS These are the steamers, the ships, and the trains, The drays and the barrows, the trucks and the wains, With the wonderful goods, - a most infinite store, Of ebony, jewels, gold, silver, and ore; An ivory throne, and a malachite door; The diamonds of Spain, and the famed Koh-i-noor; Mosaics from Rome; and a carved escritoire; Fans of cobwebs and feathers, of leaves and of straw; And cottons and silks, both woven and raw; And wondrous machines, I can't tell you what for; And implements, - aye, by the dozen and score, For farming, and weaving, and printing, and war; And fountains of glass never seen heretofore; And statues to rival the sculptures of yore; And trophies with lace and rich silk covered o'er; And tap'stry and velvets, and many things more; Piled over the gall'ries, and counters, and floor, By the Sappers and Miners, who marched and who ran To test the girders on Paxton's plan; And helped the Workmen, that busy array - Two thousand and more, as I have heard say, Who readily, steadily, toiled away, And finished before the first of May THE CRYSTAL PALACE THAT FOX BUILT	p205
THE EXHIBITORS AND VISITORS These are the natives of different lands; From Siberia's snows and the African sands, The American States and Ind's coral strands,- Who were drawn all together in brotherly bands, Not in battle to strive, but in love to shake hands,- And who freighted the steamers, the ships, and the trains, The drays and the barrows, the trucks and the wains, With the wonderful goods,&emdash;a most infinite store, Of ebony, jewels, gold, silver, and ore; An ivory throne, and a malachite door; The diamonds of Spain, and the famed Koh-i-noor; Mosaics from Rome; and a carved escritoire; Fans of cobwebs and feathers, of leaves and of straw; And cottons and silks, both woven and raw; And wondrous machines, I can't tell you what for; And implements, -aye, by the dozen and score, For farming, and weaving, and printing, and war; And fountains of glass never seen heretofore; And statues to rival the sculptures of yore; And trophies with lace and rich silk covered o'er; And tap'stry and velvets, and many things more; Piled over the gall'ries, and counters, and floor, By the Sappers and Miners, who marched and who ran To test the girders on Paxton's plan; And helped the Workmen - that busy array - Two thousand and more, as I have heard say, Who readily, steadily, toiled away, And finished before the first of May THE CRYSTAL PALACE THAT FOX BUILT	p206
THE PRINCE ALBERT, THE ROYAL COMMISSIONERS, AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE This is the Prince, from whose wisdom and weight This Congress of Peace and World's Fair emanate; And the Royal Commission; and Chief Magistrate; And Executive Triad, who settled the rate And order of entrance, duration, and date And all questions to ways and to means that relate; Fox and Henderson too on Her Majesty wait, Who contracted to build this vast crystal estate; And Paxton who planned it, -for Industry's Fete; And the principal natives of different lands, From Siberia's snows and the African sands, The American States and Ind's coral strands,- Who were drawn altogether in brotherly bands, Not in battle to strive, but in love to shake hands,- And who freighted the steamers, the ships, and the trains, The drays and the barrows, the trucks and the wains, With the wonderful goods, -a most infinite store, Of ebony, jewels, gold, silver, and ore; An ivory throne, and a malachite door; The diamonds of Spain, and the famed Koh-i-noor; Mosaics from Rome; and a carved escritoire; Fans of cobwebs and feathers, of leaves and of straw; And cottons and silks, both woven and raw; And wondrous machines, I can't tell you what for; And implements, -aye, by the dozen and score, For farming, and weaving, and printing, and war; And fountains of glass never seen heretofore; And statues to rival the sculptures of yore; And trophies with lace and rich silk covered o'er; And tap'stry and velvets, and many things more; Piled over the gall'ries, and counters, and floor, By the Sappers and Miners, who marched and who ran To test the girders on Paxton's plan; And helped the Workmen - that busy array - Two thousand and more, as I have heard say, Who readily, steadily, toiled away, And finished before the first of May THE CRYSTAL PALACE THAT FOX BUILT	p207
THE QUEEN AND THE ROYAL CHILDREN This is the Queen, who went in state On the opening day, The first of May, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, With her eldest daughter and eldest son, And all that were noble, and learned, and great - And a crowd of the million no tongue can narrate; And was met, as she passed through the Colebrookdale gate, By her Consort the Prince, from whose wisdom and weight The Congress of Peace and World's Fair emanate; And the Royal Commission; and Chief Magistrate; And Executive Triad, who settled the rate And order of entrance, duration, and date, And all questions to ways and to means that relate; Fox and Henderson too on Her Majesty wait, Who contracted to build this vast crystal estate; And Paxton who planned it, - for Industry's Fete; And the principal natives of different lands, From Siberia's snows and the African sands, The American States and Ind's coral strands,- Who were drawn altogether in brotherly bands, Not in battle to strive, but in love to shake hands,- And who freighted the steamers, the ships, and the trains, The drays and the barrows, the trucks and the wains, With the wonderful goods, - a most infinite store, Of ebony, jewels, gold, silver, and ore; An ivory throne, and a malachite door; The diamonds of Spain, and the famed Koh-i-noor; Mosaics from Rome; and a carved escritoire; Fans of cobwebs and feathers, of leaves and of straw; And cottons and silks, both woven and raw; And wondrous machines, I can't tell you what for; And implements, -aye, by the dozen and score, For farming, and weaving, and printing, and war; And fountains of glass never seen heretofore; And statues to rival the sculptures of yore; And trophies with lace and rich silk covered o'er; And tap'stry and velvets, and many things more; Piled over the gall'ries, and counters, and floor, By the Sappers and Miners, who marched and who ran To test the girders on Paxton's plan; And helped the Workmen - that busy array - Two thousand and more, as I have heard say, Who readily, steadily, toiled away, And finished before the first of May THE CRYSTAL PALACE THAT FOX BUILT	p208