The site of such a building, its fitness for its purpose, and the cost of its construction, were the chief points to be considered. Its situation especially was the most important, because that circumstance would greatly influence the number of persons visiting the Exposition, and therefore the amount of the receipts out of which the building was to be paid for. The first principle which should guide the choice of a site, is obviously the _convenience of visitors_; and a little observation, or a moderate share of common sense, will show how the principle should be applied. It is known to all those who have observed the course of crowds of human beings going to and returning from some centre of attraction, that if the spot on which the assemblage is to take place is subject to our choice, much of the difficulty of the arrangements will be removed. Other circumstances being equal, that site is the best which admits of the greatest number of independent channels by which the multitude can arrive and retire. The means of access should be so arranged that various divisions of the visitors would, according to the quarter in which they reside, naturally take each its own most convenient course, without the necessity of any instruction from police or attendants. Various sites had been proposed. Hyde Park;—the Regent’s Park;—Primrose Hill, still more distant;—fields on the south side of the Thames intended to form Battersea Park. It is fortunate that neither of the two latter was chosen, although they had many advocates: for in all probability the receipts would have been diminished by at least a third, if not by a half. Various situations were pointed out in Hyde Park. One on the north nearly facing Hyde Park Gardens—one on the south nearly opposite the Barracks; this latter was ultimately chosen. § But a different position may be pointed out which combines so many advantages that it is much to be regretted it was not placed at the disposal of the Commission. The distance between Cumberland Gate and the gate at Hyde Park Corner, is about 1,300 yards, or nearly three quarters of a mile. On the eastern side of the park, adjoining Park Lane, there is a narrow strip occupied by plantations, the circular reservoir and gardens. On the open ground adjacent to this strip, but rather nearer to Cumberland Gate, the Crystal Palace might advantageously have been placed. Its length being nearly 629 yards, each end would have been about 350 yards from the two great roads of access. This site would have possessed the following advantages:— 1. Its distance from the north or south entrance of the park would, for the average of visitors, have been considerably less than that of the present site. To persons standing at Hyde Park Corner or at Cumberland Gate, the respective ends of the building would have appeared, from its great elevation, almost close to them. 2. There are very few trees upon it, and those few are still young.