The Express. — London, England, 1851-05-10 00:00:00

• - . ,r -l x? f r A d , X," tt No. 1,469.] [No. 20, EXHIBITION EXPRESS.] TILE EXHIBITION EXPRESS, FOR TIIE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MAY 10. On Monday the public weir, for the first time, ad mitted to view the Exhibition, on payment of bi. at the doors. This charge was sufficiently moderate to attract many thousands of people; and throughout the week sums earying from 1,0001. to 2,000 , . have been dude taken at the entrances to the building. Althouglitlwre have seldom been Ices (includiug season-ticket holders) than from twenty to thirty thousand visitors in the building, no crowding has been experienetd. The nature of its contents—pre senting attractions in every nook and corner—ex plains this equal dispersion of this vast number of individuals. Gradually arrangements have been perfirted for the large adtnissiun and dispersion of visitors. The eastern entrance has been selected as that fur the achnissiun of pedestrians only; au office for the reception of lust articles has been instituted; ashimat.haradmpl_nalle la On_ OM a_ ran" : carriages have been finally detemuned upon. Throughout the week many additions have been made to the foreign collections ; and the divisions, as yet incomplete in their ar rangements, have been prom del with. In the main avenue of the foreign half of the building many interesting objects will now be found which had not been finally placed on the gnat opening day ' • and in the French compartments arc many new and bril liant specimens of Parisian taste and ingenuity. The Queen and Prince Albert have been frequent visitors. Daily the numbers of visitors have increased, and altogether the pecuniary receipts for the week cannot fall tar short of 10,000/. The continuous line of car riages which has been seen throughout the week in Piccadilly and Hyde-park, and the crowds of people who continue front sunrise till sunset to loiter about the building, show how the public curiosity is grow ing. The eondition of London streets generally begin rapidly to show that the Great Exhibition time has arrived, even now, before one monster train, bear iag its loud of curious mechanics, hus reached the metropolis. It is expected that full another fortnight will elapse before et-try part of the internal arrangements of the building will be finally completed. The southern gallery of the foreign department is that port of the building which is in the most dis orderly and unfinished state, and the slowness with which the French proceed here has been a matter of genend remark ; but, if pressed by the authorities, there is little doubt thUt it is possible to have every department of the vast collection in thorough order before the great rush of shilling visitors is admitted. In the British machinery department arrangements have proceeded rapidly throughout the week, and now nearly all the models are in excellent working order, hut it yet remains for the authorities to insist upon the erection of secure railings to fenco off the visitors from the saws and wheels which surround them. This precaution will undoubtedly be taken before the shilling visitors are admitted. The English exhibitors have been circulating a ru mour to the effect that they intend to give a grand banquet to their foreign competitors in the course of the summer ; such a mark of cor diality would undoubtedly be responded to enthusi astically. Rumours of other and great fesewities (err ,- pee of the Exhibition are rumoured ; but the ardour of the convivial intention has been as vet somewhat damped by the inclement weather which has pry- Tailed throughout the week. Taking a general sur vey of the present aspect of London in connexion with the Exhibition, it may be confidently said that up to the present time the result even of the most sanguine anticipate has been fully realised, and that the metropolis bids fair to present in the course of a few weeks scenes as unrivalled as they will be curious and interesting. CoNTENTS OF THE GLASS PALACE TILE AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND PUODUCE. There is, perhaps, nu department of the Exhibi tion vehicle has excited more surprise amongst numerous and educated classes of our own country men, or more admiration in the minds of our intelli gent foreign visitors, than the agricultural implements. Our textile manufactures, our hardware, our glass. our poreelain, our furniture, and so forth, are known to all to be of must superior character, and great as are the triumphs of manufacturing art in these branches of native industry, nobody is in any way astonished. Much has 'been accomplished ; true, but much was expected, and the applause accorded is that given to the well graced actor un whose tried powers all relied with confidence. in regard to the implements and machinery used in husbandry there is this difference.one-half our community did not half comprehend what the other halt hat besm doing—what strides it had made—during the last twenty years. Many persons, taking the "agricultural interest" at its word, giving inure or less of quasi-credence to its loud complaints, and assuming the predictions of ruin uud abandonment of culture, vouched by dukes. lords, and squires, to have some slight tbutufation in reality, have felt and expressed utter amazement ut the perfection and cost of the machinery made fur husbandry, and still more at the multitude of com petitors, showing the effective demand which exists fur such articles. They have said, " there may N. difficulties; amongst farmers. there may be some ne cessity fur changes in methods of culture, or for re newed and mare strenuous exertions arising from altered circumstances, hut surely it cannot be a ruined, not even a declining interest, Mr which these in genious and costly implements are made;" and they have judged must truly. Agriculture in this country is adsaucing in all its brunettes, and in none more than in such as are promoted by. ur depend upon the use of, improved machinery. And even those who have been accustomed to visit from year to year the annual shows of the Royal Agricultural Society, cannot fail to be struck with the improved character of the majority of the implements shown during the last few years. When first these annual meetings commenced, now twelve years ago, the stimulus given to mechanical ingenuity, us applied to agriculture, appeared to have the effect of producing a great ninny implements highly ingenious, but too complex to stand the test of trial under the rough work and in the rough han dling of every day fanning. Not a small amount of money was at one time expended in machines which have proved little better than agricultural tors. This has gradually passed away, and nearly all the implements now shown are remarkable for simplicity of construction and adaptation to the rude hands to whom in use they are committed. Of this, perhaps, no class of implements offers a more forcible illustration than that numerous one in tended her the pulverbtat . of the soil, the subsoil ploughs, harrows, cloderushers, cultivators, grubbers. and scarifier& There are exhibited of these machines many in which there are considerable practical variances. such as requiring more or less heirse-power, being suitable more especially to light or strong land, and the like. but they all conform to one purpose—that of deeply stirring or pulverising the soil, and thus shortening the interval between the first turning up of the raw furrow slice. and the formation of a well-prepared kid-bed. Every fanner knows the immense im portance of a good seed-bed to successful cultivation ; when the seed has "gore in well" a good crop is we ll earned, and more than Ralf ensured; but there are multitudes of farmers who do not understand the time and labour which may be saved by the scari fier, the subsoil plough, or the clod crusher, at cer tain seasons, and when the land is in certain condi tions. With the aid of these implements it is that the skilful and energetic farmer of clay land, which has been well drained, has been enabled to. dispense with naked summer hallows, and to grow roots and green crops instead, and thereby to increase the fertility of his land and his own profit. To particularise any num ber of these implements would be treks» to the agri culturist, and would scarcely be interesting to the non-agricultural reader; but there are a few which have obtained such extensive use, or promote or in valve such distinctive methods of culture, that we shall briefly refer to them. Of these, the clod crusher holds a prominent place. There are several of dif ferent forms, but all are intended to divide the hard , upturned soil into minute parts, which but for some such implement must often await the changes of weather to effect the Sallie end. Crosskill's crusher' is one mist ge nerall y known, and being patented others can on ly- adopt the principle without copying the plan. It consists of un iron roller formed of mummy serrated rings, having sharp-pointed teeth to waras the land and projecting bits of iron something like cogs laterally, strung, as it were, on a heavy iron axle, and the implement being one of consider able weight, a rough cloddy piece of ground is pul verised by it with extraordinary celerity. It is also valuable for rolling wheat, oats, or gnus, when tho _ . _ _ tie pressed and consolidated, as it - usualli does in the spring ; and on light laud it is useful for giving pres sure both before and after sowing. The indentations made on the ground by this clod crusher are some what like those made by sheep, and it is well known that such an action on the soil forms ono of the many benefits derived from folding sheep. The ra vages of the wire -worm, too, are soon stopped by rolling the ground with this implement. Indeed, we may say that a clad-crusher is now essential to good and economical cultivation of arable land. Then there are the cultivators and scarifier+, implements formed with strong bent coulters, which may be used either with chisel points, when they may be driven to great depths into the soil, or with broad share points fur paring off the surface gross and root weeds. fhese implements have greatly improved of late years, both in simplicity of construction and is power and strength. Amongst the tools of this mad specially mentioned by theltoyalAgricultural Society at the P.xeter meeting of last year, and which may be seen at the great Exhibition, are the " Uley cultivator," by Crosskill, of Beverley ; Smith's, of Stamford, and Biddell's scarifier. The latter is nn implement of long-standing reputation in Norfolk where it has been used for a great many years ; it is a large implement covering mach ground, and consequently doing a good deal of work in the day, but it requires much horse-power. There arc in the collection several grubbers of moderate size, with five, seven or nine tines, which are better adapted for small farmers than the larger ones, which the large farmer, having inure horse-power at his disposal, is able to use must advantageously. There is no greater mistake a farmer can make than to buy im plements requiring more horse-power than the size of his farm enables him to apply to their use, and not a few good implements have got into discredit with smaller farmers from inattention to this point. And it is a sign that the use ot rural machinery is advancing amongst the men who hold moderate-size farms, that the manufacturers are constantly adapt ing their inventions to moderate means, as re gards both price and power. The sort of trial to which these implements were subjected at Exeter may be understood by the following pas sage front the report of the judges, " Cultivator. grubber, and scantier- of these, eight were selected out of the numerous collection in the yard, which were first tried, as grubbers, on a piece of strong clay that had been ploughed out of condition e. in a wet state) and front drought had become baked and crusty; they were ordered to penetrate as deep as the hind, but from the hardness and tenacity ot the soil, and from the tines being ill-shaped and the man ner in which they were fixed to the frames, which were altogether too light for such work, the motion and work were very irregular, scarcely proceeding five yards together at the same depth." They then go on to speak in commendation of the implements we have mentioned. That the makers generally have since protitefi by the suggestionsof the judges' report is clear, for in most instances the frames and sub stance of the cultivators exhibited have been made moth heavier. It is of course proper to sub ject competing implements to the most severe such as that of a piece of clay land, which' has been ploughed in the wet, and afterwards become kirdened by hot weather; but the farmer need not, and ought not, ever to so mismanage his land as to bring it into such a state. It is an axiom in strong and husbandry never to plough in wet weather, and if this be adhered to. and the land he deeply ploughed up in the autumn, it will be found that by . using the cultivator in place of ploughing in the spring, heavy land may be cropped with almost as much certainty as light. Indeed, spring ploughing is going out on light soils in many cases where it can be avoided, for it is worthy of note, that in some bCll9Olld it becomes almost impossible to keep down the annual weeds where the land. whether light or heavy, has been ploughed is spring; while land w hich has been well ploughedtin t heiautumn, and only stirred and worked with a grubber in the spring., is seldom infested with animal weeds. The importanee of using this class of implements in substitution for the old fashioned system of five or six ploughi rigs, must he an excuse for dwelling so much upon them; but we shall only refer to one other, being a broad share and subsoil plough, made by &Mall at lleybridge, Essex, which strikes us as being admirably suited to the purpose of completely moving land which has been once . ploughed without again turning up the subsoil. It is, in fact, a combi nation of the subsoil plough and the broadshare ; the former enters the ground and moves it deeply, and is followed by a species of broadsharc, which secures that all the soil is moved. There are two-side coul ters as well as the centre one. so that about three feet in width are moved at once. We have recently seen several of these implements in use. and have been much pleased with the man ner in which their work has been performed. Of ploughs there is a great variety ; and hansom s. Howard's, Garrett's, Barrett's, and those of many other makers. appear to approach as nearly to per fection as possible. The furrow-slice, when properly cut, should be taken up by the plough and relad iu a proper position, and not forced over, for though the work may then look smooth and even enough, the land is not so laid as to receive all the benefit it ought from a good ploughing. The furrow slice, when turned over, should lie at an angle ' approaching to 4.1 degrees. in which position it is best exposed to the sun and atmosphere. On light land from five to seven inches, and on strong land from seven to nine inches, arc regarded as the pro per depths for general ploughing. To go deeper requires large heavy ploughs. and our best farmers conceive that when greater depths arc desired, the subsoil plough is the appropriate tool for attaining them,—or by means of trench ploughing to turn out a double furrow from one place. There are several firms of harrows, but we see nothing of this sort which is likely to supersede the well-known implements of this class. The seed•drilis are many, and very perfect. Gar rett's, ffewsby's. and otliers deserve the extensive patronage they have obtained from the farming com munity. The great modern improvement in drills consists in depositing manure at the same time as the seed: and as many of our light manures, if im mediately in contact with the seed, would de stroy instead of promoting vegetation. these machines are so managed as to place the manure some inches lower than, and directly under the wed. There are also broad cast drills, one of which, Mr. Holmes's, received the prize at Exeter meeting. There are also drills which deposit manure and seed, not continu- LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 1851. ously, as in ordinary drilling, but with intervening spates, as if dibbled: we apprehend the use of them is not extending. The liquid manure drill of Messrs. Reeves, of Bretton, in Wiltshire, is a new and valuable implement. On the light soils in a dry sea -1 son nothing brings up the turnip plant like liquid manure, and this drill renders its application compa ratively easy. Next in order arc the horse hoes for weeding the growing crops, and the specimens shown are numerous and good. Smith, of Kettering, in Northamptonshire, has a new one, which appears to be very manageable, having a lateral motion, by means of which the workman guiding it may adapt his boo to any irregularities of lane or surface. Messrs. Garrett is horse hoe for hoeing drilled wheat and other grain is an admirable implement, the use of which is every day extending. The carts shown are generally of very excellent construction, arc more convenient than most of those we sec in use in many districts,and while due regard is paid to strength, lightness is as much studied as possible. Nor is the price of these improved carts higher than that of the ordinary carts in use. Cross- hill has three, each of very different build, vet—and it is a curious illustration of the difference of opinion among agriculturists—each has taken a prize at diffe rent meetings of the Royal Agricultural Society, though on every occasion all were shown. We do not know whether these carts were subjected to a trial on either occasion, but people are little aware of the immense differeneethere is in the ease with whichl carts apparently only slightly different in construc tion carry loads. The above are only a fraction of the agricultural implements at the Exhibition, and are intended for the first and most essential operations of husbandry. On a future occasion we shall insti tute a comparison between them and the analogous implements exhibited by foreigners ; and we shall also refer in some detail to the more complex machi nery now extensively applied to agriculture, as well as to sonic of that which for the present must be deemed to be experimental. Together they prove how much has been done, and what a vast field for further progress exists. some fovea or another to swell the amount and add to the variety of the textile tissues. In some our ad miration is elicited by the texture, the gloss. the richness, and in others by the strength, the thick ness, or the tenuity of the fabric. In most essential qualities our own manufactures fairly claim to be ranked in the highest class, while in beauty and perfect harmony of colouring they are not unfrequently exceeded by the contributions from France, Belgium, Turkey, and Persia. The tapestries, carpets of velvet pile, and silken hangings, aro among the primary objects that catch the eye on taking a first glance round the building. Their superb colours, vast masses, and rich designs, produce a mast imposing effect. Judiciously arranged and exposed along .the walls mid galleries, they greatly enhance the splendour of the brilliant scene, while many of the articles in question testify in the most significant manner the skill and patience of their authors. On the other hand, silks of every hue, lace of the most costly character, cloths so smooth and soft to tho touch that they feel like silk itself, embroideries lin gold, jewels, and silver, fringes of glittering bul lion, and draperies of woven glass, are to he met with along the lower tiers. We will not trust ourselves at this moment, nor will our 'pose admit of our commenting upon the scarfs, the shawls, and other like goodly articles of feminine srarel here collected. On beholding them, a strss.ger light well excitant, iu the memorable words Of Blucher, as he rode with the allied ~over eigns through London, " Mein Gott! mein Gott ! what a place for to sack !" THE COTTON GOODS. Adopting primarily, for the convenience of our readers, the arrangement of the Official Catalogue, though we correct at the same time the errors and supply many of the deficiencies necessarily inherent to the first issue of a work of that magnitude, we proceed to conduct our readers to the north-western extremity of the main transept. Here, assorted under the able superintendence of - Mr. George Wallis and Mr. William Hawkins, will be found all the varied THE TISSUES. productions of British cotton manufacture, comprising Among the bewildering variety of objects that in every direction solicit the attention and dazzle the thread, yarn (bleached and coloured), cloths, mualins, calicoes, dimities, shawls, ginghams, quiltings, table eye of the beholder, none, perhaps), are more inte- cloth, jeans, cumbries, handannas, resting, and yet ut the same time less likely to be , I'haso desirous of understanding thoroughly this dwelt upon by the ordinary spectator, than those interesting branch of art, now brought probably to classified under the denomination of textile tissues. its . hi r ghest perfection, thewiall do well to commence Nationally, their importance is very great ; indeed, investigation att• t able hearing upon its sur it may be questioned whether in this the most compre tsa.cta, by side the rival contributions of two great hensive point of riewther are surpassed by any of the other productions of hinimn ingenuity. f'or this i s . i o nchester manufactumrs, Messrs. Bailey and reason it is desirable to investigate minutely the Ilworth. Here they may see the cotton plant merits of each specimen, to, indicate where requisite, in different stages actually growing before them—in any predominant peculiarity, and to point out for the instance . bearing gruceful leaves of bril ther sciosing the singular pod benefit of the uninitiated those qualities which other- aant green, in another wise they would never detect or appreciate. When that envelopes its delicate wool. it is remembered that out of the whole community In the case (No. 41, sec. 11) immediately below, of this country, not less than two millions are con- specimens of the cotton wool and staple from the tinuully occupied in the preliminary processes items- southern states of America and from the Indian pe sary for the manufacture of clothing of all kinds, ninsula lie side by side, together with yarns of all little more need be added to induce our readers the finer varieties, and threads of every possible to ponder fur a while upon the marvel- tenuity, some, indeed, so exquisitely slender that hilts results of so vast a mass of industry. they more than vie with the spider's web. To scru- By the labour of their lives it is, that the flocculent tunuse with advantage the contents of this ease, the masses of cotton, the slender filaments of silk, of flax, examiner should be provided with a lens of some and of wool, are wrought into those indispensable Power f without such aid he may pass unobserved integuments intended to moderate the severity and the three marvellous threads, strained over a black alternations of the seasons. card in the centre of the lowest compartment, bear- Hence is it, too, that the shops and warehouses of hug the number 1,000. the world are stocked with cheap and gaudy prints, We may here observe, that the degree of fineness filmy tissues of almost impalpable gauze, ponderous is designated by the number of hanks contained in a bales of costly velvet, glossy satins, snow-white pound of 7,000 grains, each hank measuring $4O cumbrics, manv-coloured broadcloths, and all the yards in length, thus one pound of No. 700 would numberless similar commodities adapted to the exi- extend to the astonishing distance of 334 miles geodes of every rank and clime. while a pound of No. 1,000 would measure upwards To examine with minute and careful attention the of 470 miles. different samples here exposed—to review critically Messrs. Houldsworth furnish a specimen of No. the verdicts of the juries—and to express approba- 1,400, together with other sizes somewhat larger, thin or disapproval of the judicial decree—is a task strained over a dark ground in the form of a star, of no ordinary difficulty and responsibility. It re- showing at a glance the comparative dimensions of quires a thorough knowledge not only of every pro- each. they give also specimens of fine doubled cot ma, but of every modification of each process ; an ton yarn, or lace thnwd, cross-reeled, and in hand, intimate acquaintance with each tedious and delicate front No. 100 to 670, the fineness of these being operation intervening between the conversion of the indicated by the number of hanks required to weigh seed-pod of the cotton plant, the cocoon of the silk- two pounds or 14,000 grains. Apoundof this quality, worm, the inner bark of the flux and the fleece of the No. 670, comprises 160 miles. new eases cannot sheep into the different tissues exposed before us. be inspected without exciting a degree of lively in ' Nay, more ; it wile incumbent upon him Wrestm, and astonishment at, the amount of who assumed the present office to be able to pro- labour and ingenuity therein expended. Nor =wee authoritatively an accurate judgment upon will those feelings be diminished by the each individual ease—to detect at a glance the con- consideration that the cotton manufacture of parative value of divers specimens similar in ex- this country has wholly arisen within the last ternal appearance, but, in reality, of very different two centuries. Of the extent to which it is cur quality. This was to be accomplished, moreover, ried at the present day some idea may be formed without those aids and appliances that science has of front the l'act that in the single parish of Bolton there late revealed. Neither microscopic investigation nor are at this moment eighty-three factories, while in a chemical analysis were available. The assistance of circle round Manchester not mans- miles in diameter either would have materially facilitated the duty. there are no less than eleven hunared, many of which It may not, indeed, be generally known that have cost not les , than a hundred thousand pounds to the eye of the skilled observer the con- each. Here it is that the cotton yarn is spun, that is ponent elements of any given tissue are at afterwards consumed according to its quality by the once revealed under the combination of power- bobbin-net maker, the weaver, or the stocking maker. ful lenses ; while chemistry has indicated the In some of the more gigantic factories there are mans whereby the introduction of spurious fabrics looms in which the yarn produced in another isortion into the market, may be immediately discovered. of the building is woven into muslin, or " cloth." For instance, the presence of cotton in a tissue pus- At an adjoining table and on the walls surround porting to consist of linen only, is in a moment ing this compartmeut are exhibited the products of ascertainable by the use of a powerful minerul acid, these looms. which at once dissolves the cotton threads, leaving Amongst these, the fabrics that will in all pallet the linen apparently unchanged. In a given par- bility first attract attention, are the muslin hangings Lion, say an inch square, the threads arc carefully and curtains, remarkable as many of them arc for numb eied bola before and after the immersion in their singular beauty and richness of design, as well the solvent, when the diffitrence, if any, accurately as for their transparency, perfect uniformity, and represents the extent to which the fraudulent prae- regularity of texture. One eqweially, front *lessrs. Lice has been carried. Symington 's manufactory at Glasgow, calls for par- On the present occasion, however, it was not to be ticular commendation. It represents an Oriental anticipated that many faulty or defective attieles forest scene, in which the luxuriant foliage, and would be displayed, or that the nature of the ex- some of the ferocious inhabitants of the jungle, are position would admit of such investigations. delineated with fidelity, and with artistic ability of The majority of specimens now displayed in such no ordinary choracter. Messrs. Young, of Glasgow, magnificent profusion court inspection on very dif- contribute also numerous varieties) of muslin, each fere:agrounds. Manyofthefabriesdeveloped,onThurs- adapted, from some peculiarity in the tissue or in the day week, for the first time to the gaze of men have I pattern, either for the East Indian, the continental, never before been wrought, and in all probability lor the American markets. Nor can we for will never again be manufactured except for a par- j bear from expressing our approbation at the pose like the present. The expense incurred in many light muslin drapery. elegantly arranged under eases in perfecting these show goods would amaze a gilded ccniiee by Messrs. Crocker, of Friday-street. those who are not acquainted with the spirit and , The pattern, no less than the disposition of the folds, enterprise of our manufacturers. j evinces great decorative taste and skill. Much im- To cite an instance, we may call attention ! provement will benefited in the substance, patterns, to a sample of Saxony wool, suppled by and spotless purity of the quilted fabrics, such as Messrs. Pease, of Darlington (it is distin- veatings, toilet-covers, counterpanes, dc.: their guished from their other goods as E. No. 15), whiteness, when the light falls immediately in that and was taken from the third roving frame. In direction, is almost clazzling ; the bleaching has, order to insure the utmost regularity in this roving ' indeed, been here canied to perfection, as has been in the process of drawing the wool or diminishing • the weaving process in a coverlet exhibited by Mr. the size of the thread, it has been doubled more Sudworth. Others, as those from the Tamworth than two million times! The result is, as might be Cotton Mils at Bolton, display a pale, rose-coloured expected, marvellous ; but scarcely any price could ground, upon which the design appears in slight requite the labour herein expended. Prom the same .relief. establishment we have also a gross of Southdown At the western extremity of this transept yarn, weighing just 16 ounces, yet measuring 45 an elaborate and not inelegant coverlet is miles 1,440 yards in length ! The firm above al- to be seen, the production of a poor widow luded to exhibit, under five heads, as many con-' of ('upur. Fifeshire, whose name (Mackenzie) plete aeries of woollen manufacture, from which deserves to be recorded. For fourteen years much may be learned, even by the inexperienced, she has been prevented by severe bodily afflic upon the subject of the relative merits of the fleeces lion from leaving her bed, and during a seventh of of Lincolnshire, the Cheviots, the Southdowus of that period she was continuously engaged in the ma- Australia and Saxony. ' nufacture and completion of this article. But we cannot yet turn to the consideration of in- I Messrs. Lethem. of Friday-street, have forwarded dividual apecimens• or we might at some length i KUM fqxeimens of various muslins woven from the expatiate upon the beauty of the Irish poplins viii- same description of yarn, tamboured muslins and bited by Messrs. Reynolds, of Dublin, at whose knots that will bear minute inspection, together with 'aims the tissue WILS produced which her Majesty , stout and serviceable ginghams. The specimens of wure at the inauguration on May-day. Its hue is filmy window curtains from Messrs. Bradbury and that of the pale rose. bearing upon the surface a rich I Beale, and those from the looms of Messrs. Maw, arc pattern, designed with considerable taste, wmught in I of a very superior order, while the muslin displayed threads of silver. Near it i s ano th er s p ec i men . in by the 'titter house may be regarded WI a marvel of design the same, but in this case the ground is snow- art. Some idea may be formed even by the general white. Should any of our fair readers be curious to I reader of its extreme tenuity. when we add that it know at what coat they may array themselves in jis wholly composed of No. 5,408 s-arn (spun by the royal apparel we inform them that the robe is to beMt,,rs. Houldsworth, above alludCd to). rc puhased at two guineas p e r ya r d. The 1)1.1)(114 0 n of checked muslin cravats, many- These, however, and an infinite number of minutes coloured handkerchiefs, tartan mufflers, &c., will not details, we must defer until we come to treat of them' in all probability be minutely examined by the ordi under their respective heads. I nary visitor, though, to the slated eye of the menu- Every quarter of the globe has contributed in fecturer, merit of a high order wile be discerned is [PRICE (DOUBLE SHEET) FOURPENCE. ' the specimens provided for the Exhibition by Messrs. Anderson, of Glasgow. The peculiarity of different tastes in this depart ment is remarkably exemplified in the diversity of articles destined for different countries. Thus, the soft light mastitis for India, here and there adorned with brilliant flowers and sprigs, contrast strangely with the tasteless and unsightly ginghams that find a ready market at New York. In case No. 20 may be seen six qualities of the latter material from Messrs. McGibbon, of Carlisle, each excellent of their kind, but in appearance so unattractive that it may be questioned whether they would ob tain purchasers anywhere on this side of the At lantic, except . possildy among the least edumted. Their extreme sobriety of colouring and pattern is per haps seen to a disadvantage in juxta position to the brilliant dyed yarns of Messrs. !madam, from the same vicinity. The lawns of Messrs. Young. of Glasgow, more especially the Victoria and the Bishop lawn, court and deserve the closest scrutiny. It may excite astonishment in some minds to ob serve in ease D 4 the care and expense lavished upon what can only be considered as remotely auxiliary pmcesses to that of cotton spinning or vending, namely, the embossing of wood, the adornment of metal, and the elaborate carving of ivory and mother of pearl reels, on which the thread is wound. The effect on each respective material certainly onhances its appearance, though one is at a loss to understand how it operates iu attracting purchasers. The series provided by Messrs. Clarke and Messrs. Ilarris, of Leicester, Is instructive, not only as show ing all the different stages of the manufacture of reels, together with those which effectually prevent imposition as regards the length contained on each, but also the varieties of sewing cotton from the same mills. . ..... Messrs. Evans, of Derby, display similar articles made up in different forms, though compact in bulk. Thus one of their balls of crotchet sisKil, if unwound, would be found to measure 28 miles, and another ball weighing 28 ounces encloses 18 miles of thread. Those who are tolerably conversant with the sub ject of cotton manufacture will come prepared in a great measure to see the diversity of material spring ing from the pod of the cotton-plant, but they will scarcely withhold an exclamation of surprise on find ing themselves confronted with solid articles of fur niture constructed solely of calico! Yet it is even so : Messrs. Lincoln and Bennett, the well-known hatters, are the inventors of a process whereby the most substantial articles are compounded entirely of layers of calico, united only by a peculiar varnish and the action of a power ful hydraulic press. These goods arc evidently stronger than if constructed of wood of the same thickness, and have at a distance somewhat of the appearance of gutta percha or papier avirld . On close scrutiny, however, through the graining with which they are covered, the texture of the e'oth and the mode of nrinufacture is plainly observable. These, we think, may fairly be classed among the marvels of this wonderful age. The chess table, with its tough and solid frame and turned pedestal, adorned with mouldings and imitative carvings, is perhaps the most striking of Messrs. Limsdn's pro ductions in this line, though the casket, watch stand, paper weight, &c., are extremely curious. It is difficult at first to credit that the light fleecy fibres of downy wool, seen on the adjoin ing stall, could by any manipulation be made to assume their present transformation. Yet the pm etssi is evidently simple, and analogous to that by which the bodies of the lighter description of hats are produced. Numbered 48, on a neighbouring counter, maybe seen the long-cloths and skirtings of Messrs.liorrocks and Miller, whose reputation for half a century past has been unrivalled in India. Their's are no show goods, specially produced for the occasion, but taken without selection front their ordinary stock. lie whose experience qualifies him to give an opinion on such a matter will at once perceive that the name and position enjoyed by these manufacturers has been deservedly acquired. We cannot close the present notice without ad verting to the table-cover, on the centre of whieli is an elevation of the Crystal l'alace, surrounded by an allegorical border of considerable elegance (designed by Mr. James Smith of Manchester). The whole has been produced in the little ►oom placed under neath it. Of the outlay necessary to accomplish the intention of the spirited projector some idea may be formed when we add that 90,000 cards were con sumed in its production, the total preliminary ex penses amounting to upwards of 2,0001. ORNAMENTAL ART. The French exhibitors have almost altogether withdrawn the veils which concealed their works, and successively their wonders of ornamental art are being revealed to the sight. And as they were on Thursday inspected by the Duchess ol' Orleans, and the Duke and Duchess of Netnours, who were accompanied by the younger branches of the (Meaux family, this may not be an unfit ting occasion to tike u rapid survey of the works of Continental exhibitors. Ensconced between the velvety texture of the &vres carpet on the une hand, and the bore stitch of the Savonneric tapestry on the other, are placed the large painted vases, and porcelain copies for which Sevres is renowned. Almost without exception the figure pieces will be recognised as reproductions of well-known eliler-dmurres in the Louvre, such as the portrait of Tintoret, of Vandyke, the President lie naudot's head by Itubens, and, lastly, the " Holy Family," from Itafuelle. The old Limoges enamel looks singular dressed with the more perfect, though possibly for that very reason less suitable designs of modern art. A few oval enamel portraits also attract notice from their unusual opacity. They are the result of a novel experiment which has par tially succeeded for the last year or two, of engrafting enamel on iron. The advantage of the process consists in its rendering feasible the covering of large surfaces, which was previously rendered im possible by the brittle nature of the material ; whereby it was confined to ewers and salvers. Those who are initiated in the different mysteries of tapestry tititellCS, will like to compare the pnxhicts of Beauvais with those of the Gobehns; the former the triumphs of mingled mechanical and human labour and ingenuity ,• whereas the latter is so compa ratively slow and intricate in its operations, that every thread must be workee by hand. Sculpture also finds its place here. Clesingers' Bac chante perhaps goes beyond the legitimate bounda ries of art, in tortuous outline, still one admires the genius of the artist who could steer clear of the coarse ness inherent in the subject. The entrance is tastefully arranged with works of sculpture, chiefly executed by the reducing machine of A. Coll as, who still re- I tains the exclusive secret of reducing the largest sized sculpture to any given size. These Mr. Bar bedienne has converted to Lronze, with pleasing effect. In the middle of the entrance door-way arc thus executed the celebrated Gates of Ghilx•rti, which Michael Angelo said were worthy of being those of Paradise. In Florence the bronzes have a greenish east, which is on the whole pleasanter than the russet hue of the present gates. A carved buffet massively modelled here also attracts notice. Cross ing to the other side of the nave, the section of French ornamental art there established shows that those branches, less immediately connected with state support, are in no way inferior. Quite the contrary : one fancies that more spirited workmanship and greater activity is here visible. The silversmith's work of M. (idiot seemed ready to emerge on the stand which has been prepared for it. But by fir the most attractive feature,and eagerlvgazed at through ! out the day, were the contents of M. Froment Men rice's env:compartment, the principal object of interest being an enriched toilet-table, which was presented to the Duchess of Parma by the legitimists. Its style is transitional from the gothic to the renaissance, and of course,is sprinkled withjleur-de-lis and other his torical allusions t 2 the sway of thq B our b on branch. The my is executed both in niello, on silver, and engraved on steel. The armorial bearings of the old provinces arc substituted for those of the pro sentdeparttnents. Two coffers, or shrines, arc placed= each side of this table which are wonders of chisel ling. As a specimen of the relative merits of punch ing and embussing as practised formerly by versus the prevailing method of casting, tho allegorical llesiodie group of figures which ori ginated in the fancy of the Due de 'alines, may bo pointed nut. Amongst other objects of interest col lected here arc to be found the "Pope's Chalice," the swords lately presented to Changaruier and Cavatig nee, the monstiance, or host-receiver, of the Made leine in Paris, and race cups, Se. Emerging ugain into the open space of the nave: yet mute eager groups are collected round the jewellery of iho Queen of Spain, in which a crown, containing, we are afraid to state how ninny thousind pearls and emeralds, is particularly dazzling to tho sight, and which the expieted nadition of the "sap phire diadem " can scarcely surpa.s. Yet oven hero we find some of those startling associations of the ludicrous with the sublime. In one of the side pa nels, and in close connexion with Spanish tEammula of the first water, have been gathered paste dupli cates of the sword, sceptre, and other emblems of Ilititian sovereignty. fhe crown of the Queen is conspicuous on a velvet cushion, but that of the K ing having. proved a comparative fidlure, has been ignominiously placed into a drawer bonsath. Those who have sufficiently taxed the powers of their eyesight seek relief in indulging other senses, ' and are especially attracted by the Inignint retain° emitted by the jet of eau de cologne, which plays by intermittent tits in the MOM% fitted up with the costly and splendid furniture from Vienna. The names those great Viennese upholstemrs.C. Leistler and Son, and that of their architect, Mr. —Bernardo de Bernardis, are not more generally unknown to most people than the style adopted in their decoration of the furniture, or the wood employed in its manutheture. This wood is that of the locust tree, a species of acacia, which is imported from Brazil, which has been for the first time turned to its present account ; and as far as outward app eannwes go, the result seems mast ffivourable. In its solid yet slightly ponderous character one is unconsciously reminded of the contents of old English mansions, though the rich stuffs which used ffirmerly to aid in the embellishment of large rooms, have been almost entirely dispensed with, so as not to distract the eye in any way front the lavish expenditure of carving throughout ; and by that means,that which might have seenusl oppressive with ni i iii tie:Rasa., is rendered remarkalolv aber. Di,. tester of the large bedstead is even covered with a dark brown velvet, made almost to match the colour of the wood. Its general arrankwment, as we have said, is a plea sant departure from any given style; and we may fancy thu puzzled air of un antiquarian compelled to give au opinion on the subject a century or two hewer. Small pillars clustered round a spiral column of equally diminutive proportions, form the fro-posts, in the spaces between which are curved Adam and Ev,., the ffinr ages of man, &c. In another apart ment is a Gothic oak bookcase, sent as a present to the Omen lay the Emperor of Austria; and which contained some books carved and embosstsl. which would make even " Luke Limner" stand aghast. They arc full of original designs in water-colours by German artists. Amid this wondrous work there is ono ornamental contrivantv which has puzz led most people by its novelty, being more like a coat and umbrella stand than anything hitherto known or/Wen. Its four panels, jutting out from their central shaft, which turns on a pivot. however, proclaim its destination as a receptacle for family portraits. There is some thing out of the common ill this fanciful idea, of thus collecting family portraits round a common centre. The artist seems to have selected lighter toned woods, according to the humour or destination of his per formance. In this respect the Hungarian ash seems admirably suited tat the sportive diameter of the cupids dancing together perched on their brawket stands. As for the chairs and sofas, the keeper will have to expend a vast amount of logic before ho can persuade people that they have no right to sit down in them, so inviting are their airs of repose. PARIS, Frtin.ty. By a decree in the Miniteur the following mem ber% have been added to the French jars' of the Ex hihition:--sth Category. hub-jury A. dor carriage*, M. Arnoux, director of the otelicrs of the .Nlessagertes . generates. loth Category, sub-jury A, for Instru ments of musk, M. lterioix. lath Category, huh jury for surgical instruments. M. Roux, M. Ltd lemand. Jul 2 Category, MM. tiallandrouze de La, mornaix and Albert de Lavncs. Palt Category, MM. Pcrsoz and Chevreul. NI. Folder :s attached to the ltith category, in replacement of M. Persou. MM. Louis-Lnclen Bonaparte and Rouse Carbounel are appointed supplement:tny members of the com mission, in the place of MM. Eerily Berlioz, and Fattier. BERLIN, MAY 4. Lord Palmerston's despatch to this and other foreign go vernments respecting the polire to Ise sent over to England during the Exhibit continues the subject of conversation in many eireles. It appears saw that the nature of this de spatch has boas very much misappri 'tended by the tier man papers. In consequence of the numerous application, which had been made to him by the foreign representatives in England to send the Berman and French fugitive', out of our country, :md also of the still more numerous stories of plots and oonspiravies coneortoall by them, Lnnl Palmerston sent a circular despatch to his representatives Amid, in which he rope -tell that tiny would inform the govern ments to which they were accredited that be hail no otojee ' lion whatever to each foreign state sending over to Eng land during the Exhibition one or more of their police agents, capable of watching and detecting the much-feared plans of the political fugitives. Ito requested at the same time that the foreign governments would tea. great precan tious in the choice of their agents. aced not send such personas as would create the dangers they were meant to prevent, or trouble the English police and their own governments with absurd reports of their own imagination. Reaperting the en • prose of these missions Lord Palmerston did not &wont, word. The assertion which has lien made that the agents sent over were mere police, and not political agents or spies. ralM at once to the ground. The choice of this government would sufficiently- establish this, were it not already proved by the nature of Lord Pahuerston's despatch. The parties sent over from Berlin are an Assessor Stieber nod ri Hem Goldheim, both of whose vocations are coo/meted solely with the inquisitorial department of the Prussian Amessor Stieber is a political character of some notoriety. Ile it was who bore the German banner in front of the via looted procession through Berlin Oh the 21st of March, ISIS, and who has since acquired an unenviable reputation as the advocate of the democrats before the kgal tribunals of the country. His connexion with the I police dates, however, from a much earlier 'period he having been employed in 1513 ur 15i1 to watch the democratic movement in Silesia. In comsequenns of this having come to the knualedge of his colleagues. the Referendarian of the chamber courts—they declined having any further connexion with hint, and he was Uompelb ., l to quit his situation; a step which he took very willingly, since I there was no vsy, hut plenty of work attached to the Alice. The other police agent Herr Goldlocion, is the same per son who was seat into Holstein last autumn by Baring Mau teuffel, and who reported to the minister that General Klapka and huge were in Hamburg, waiting fur an open outbreak in the Schlt.swig-Ifolocias army. This statement I denied at the time. Since thou tioldheins woo sent on a mis sion to Meeklehhtlfg, to watch the democrats there. His as all the a very . g n re irin a nv' s r app oi ntmentp oa l i l eintilcu4"ta scandal r P in t h i rewarded, Alic kd a ic co nd n by coction d w ol i t: ti: cent to London. Lord Palmerston's injunction respecting the agent to lie soot has not been attended to in Berlin. MEETING OP Exiiiiamas .1T LEEDS.—On Tlitiesiday a meeting of the exhibitors of woollen cloths ova; It. Id at the Court house, Leeds, to consider what means should bo adopted for the better preservation of woollen goo,IQ, and whether it was advisable to ask for more *pave Ili lug Hodson, Esq., presided. Mr. CAMOO.I, the secretary. said half the Lteds goods had not yet been opened out, un•! that it was felt that the space at their disposal was perfsetly In adequate. Several of the exhibitors also expressed a strong opinion that more space was required, and that the goods c .u h. r .d o f f ro w m a d p us pi t ic b ac y on su f, it: r ab l l; or e ,, ov . tirizts .. and so- thorising suitable coverings to , pepl;p g % lo the goods. m lo u ti s i t on be s in pro fa t o t were passed ; and a suborn An to defog the expenses of the same. , !• • ; • . 7E, : 91 . \ice