“On arriving at the Derby Station, I met Mr. Robert Stephenson, a member of the Building Committee, who was also on his way to the Metropolis. Mr. Stephenson minutely examined the plans, and became thoroughly engrossed with them, until, at length, he exclaimed that the design was just the thing, and he only wished that it had been submitted to the Committee in time. Mr. Stephenson, however, laid the plans before the Committee, and at first the idea was rather pooh-poohed; but the plans gradually grew in favour, and by publishing the design in the _Illustrated London News_, and showing the advantage of such an erection over one composed of fifteen millions of bricks and other materials, which would have to be removed at a great loss, the Committee did, in the end, reject the abortion of a child of their own, and unanimously recommended my bantling. I am bound to say that I have been treated by the Committee with great fairness. “Mr. Brunel, the author of the great dome, I believe was, at first, so wedded to his own plan, that he would hardly look at mine. But Mr. Brunel was a gentleman, and a man of fairness, and listened with every attention to all that could be urged in favour of my plans. As an instance of that gentleman’s very creditable conduct, I will mention, that a difficulty presented itself to the Committee as to what should be done with the large trees, and it was gravely suggested that they should be walled in. I remarked that I could cover the trees without any difficulty; when Mr. Brunel asked, ‘Do you know their height?’ I acknowledged that I did not. On the following morning, Mr. Brunel called at Devonshire House, and gave [Illustration: “ALBERT! SPARE THOSE TREES.” Page 103. ] me the measurement of the trees, which he had taken early in the morning, adding, ‘Although I mean to try to win with my own plan, I will give you all the information I can.’” These trees caused a happy modification of Paxton’s plan, and to them we owe the transept, which redeemed the building from being a long and ugly glass shed. As it was, the trees suffered no damage, and really were a very effective feature in the Exhibition. Some other and smaller trees were cut down, which were thus bemoaned by _Punch_.[38] “ALBERT! SPARE THOSE TREES. “Albert! spare those trees, Mind where you fix your show; For mercy’s sake, don’t, please, Go spoiling Rotten Row. “That Ride, that famous ride, We must not have destroyed, For, ne’er to be supplied, Its loss will leave a void. “Oh! certainly there might Be for your purpose found A more congenial site Than Hyde Park’s hallowed ground. “Where Fashion rides and drives, House not Industrial Art; But, ’mid the busy hives Right in the City’s heart. “And, is it thy request The place that I’d point out? Then I should say the best Were Smithfield, without doubt.