The Express. — London, England, 1851-07-26 00:00:00

TEI • at v.." -- /fe--1 " : " .. 7 .rte--~---- %~vv' r~"~'~.. 4vbt .*l7x4Jrt No. 1,635.] [No. 31, EXHIBITION EXPRESS.] E EXHIBITION EXPRESS, FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JULY 26. Each succeeding week at the Crystal Palace is now very like its predecessor. Each circle of six days has its tens of thousands of visitors, all coining full of wondering expectation, and all going away satiated with surprise and delighted admiration. In oar reports of each day will be found a notice of each distinguishing feature of the past week, amongst which will be remarked the large number of school children who have been indulged with a sight of the great show. This evidence of kindly anxiety on the part of school managers and masters to give those under their control an op portunity of witnessing the chief wonder of the year appears to afford general gratification. One thing that the past week might and ought to have produced, has not been forthcoming. there has been no sign indicating a decision on the ques tion whether the Glass Palace is to stand or to fall. A lire of letters in the newspapers, and the comple tion of a few petitions, seems to be the whole result of the week on this question. The authorities have given no indication of their intentions, either one way or the other. The public have been told that the decision is in their own hands—that the people at large are to give the verdict on the point. This, though a sufficiently broad and liberal offer, is, at the same time, rather an unsatisfactory one, unless opportunities are given for ascertaining the opinions of those thus placed in the condition of arbiters. The continued throng of thousands to the Ex hibition shows the public interest in it ; within the Crystal Palace is contained the evidence of its true character and value ; those who walk under its noble transept and thread its long galleries, may surely form on the spot a better judgment of its capabilities for future public service than they n uld do elsewhere. Is it not sur prising, then, that no means hare been taken by the Executive Committee for allowing to be given within the building itself, an expression of public opinion upon the vital question at issue? It was suggested in these columns last week, that tables should be placed in the transept with petitions both for and against the retention of the building. Those who think the Glass Palace should stand might sign the one, those who wish for its destruction should put their names to the other. In this way a large ex pression of opinion might be obtained. In all pro bability thousands of persons would declare either pro or mu every day, and in a week it is likely that a hundred thousand votes would be known. There is very little doubt which way the majority would tarn, and if that majority were su ffi ciently large, the affair might probably at once be settled. The session of parliament will soon be over. The ministerial white bait dinner, that tells of early prorogation, has been:announced for the 2nd of August. Ity this fact it is shown very clearly that there is no time to be lost. Crystal Palace ur no Crystal Palace—Win: ter Garden or No Winter Garden—is the question, and the answer should be obtained at once. observed that the general company now retire much earlier then was the ease at the first opening of the Exhibi tion. Thanks to the press and to the previous visits of their friends and neighbours, they have a pretty sharp notion of where the chief objects of attraction are to be found, and consequently get their work done earlier and go off in the evening townie of the public amusements, which now generally speaking draw to the satisfaction of their proprietors. A document has been circulated in the building by which it appears that the commissioners have determined upon forming a collection of specimens of all the articles exhibited where at all portable, and of accurate drawings or talbotypes of those whose bulk precludes collection. Price lists will be added, and the whole, which is expected to be of great public benefit, will be contained within a moderate-sized room. The ma jority of the exhibitors have already been consulted, and have expressed their readiness to co•operate with the com missioner, in this interesting undertaking. The police numbers on Monday were 70,640. Cash account, July 21. Season tickets At the doors 3,338 7 6 Total receipts Telenet. The concourse of visitors at the Exhibition Deems to be a steadily advancing tide. Now and then, as 111 the case of Tuesday week, a billow of enormous dimensions rolls in its 74,000 spectators, and retires in the way of all billows. But it never recedes to its former boundaries. The maxi mum number becomes a new standard, round which the subsequent admissions fluctuate, until another monster day gives a new starting point, a permanent increase being per ceptible in all the future fluctuations. Thus the numbers admitted daily varied from $O,OOO to 60,000, until one day the admissions reached 68,000. Then 60,000 became the standard, until a week since, when the numbers reached 74.000, and ever since 6),000 has been the minimum on shilling days, and will no doubt so 1 continue until somo great occasion, such as the contemplated visit of the teetotaller, who promise • select party of 60,000, when 80,000 will probably be the day's admission, and continue the 'Woolard until the sub jest of thousands of bets is decided by the admissions reaching 100,000. The number of visitors on Tuesday was i clese upon 70,000. They were badly distributed, and the consequence was a suffocating temperature in the more Ifrequented portions of the building. So great was the heat that many hundreds were obliged to leave before half their inspection had been completed, and thus presented the novel feature of long streams of departing visitors so early as two and three o'clock. If something be not speedily done with the ventilation the heat will be too great for curiosity, and the interests of the Exhibition must suffer in the absence of necessary precautions. Various attempts have been made by the Executive Committee to procure an additional supply of fresh air. The two ends of the transept have been almost entirely taken out, and the effect has been beneficial in as far as they are concerned, but the naves still remain close and sultry, and the police and others whose duty com pels constant attendance in these tropical regions, complain of frequent headaches and other derangements of the sys tem in consequence. The ventilation is here interrupted by the refreshment and machinery courts, and until then latter are thoroughly opened, especially on the north side, very little relief can be hoped for. The visitors still consist mainly of country people, and almost all from the agricul tural districts. There were great numbers present on Tuesday from almost every county in England ; and they might be seen leaving about three o'clock in long processions for the various railway sta- tions at which their excursion trains awaited to take them home. There were also some charity schools among others the Foundling hospital, but except a general glance at the building the children could gain but little by their visit. They were completely smothered in the crowd of taller people, and seemed to think the great achievement to be to gat near a fountain mad slake the thirst which the caressive heat was sure to create. Some new cases of china have recently been opened in the Zollvereiu court, and one or two ingenious pieces of clockwork ; but the gem of the recent additions in that department is a shield in plaster, sent by an artist named Krauts from a village in Gotha, Prince Albert's birth-place. It is hung up ag►inst the entrance to the court, and being close to the model of Itosenau Castle, is constantly passed by, for the greater attractions of the little clock work figures who perform an eternal village dance around the aforesaid model. But to those who have taste or pa tienee to afford it • glance it well repays the trouble of inspection. It is divided into a central and six lateral compartments. In the centre is Gambrinus, the Bacchus of beer, crowned with the foliage of the loop, and holdingl in his right hand a foaming tankard of the Bavarian national I drink. The side compartments depict various results of the We of the refreshing stimulant. In one, a couple of hand. some young haymakers are enjoying a cool draught after their day's labour ; in another the sons of the forge are similarly occupied. Lower down old age slumbers over his emptied flagon, and opposite the hunter applies beer to the restoration of his flagging energies. These are the results of good beer, bat the bottom compartments tell the history of the adulterated article. Fidler. tumble over their in- stniments and make wry faces at the discordant music they are supposed to make, and boon companions struggle in fierce and angry contention. Hie satanic majesty is seen at his legitimate occupation of adulterating the beer, while in strong contrast is seen a smiling cherub who pours out foaming libations of the genuine tipple. At the top is the goat, the universal sign of the Bavarian Biertutus, and at the bottom is the furnace upon which the national de coction is prepared. The whole is executed with wonderful skill and truth to nature. The figures are first-rate, and the expression of the countenances cannot be mistaken. They at* full of humour, having withal a spice of that strange devilry which forms so general a peculiarity in German conceptions. The shield is the property of Prince Albert, who has exhibited his usual taste in making so discri minating a purchase. It will please all who take an interest in the feasting department of the Great Exhibition to learn that M. Sallandrouze has returned from Paris, having completed all his arrangements for the forthcoming festi vities. The invitations are by this time all en route, and the invited must remember that they are required immedi ately to notify their acceptance by letter, directed to M. Sallandrouxe, 12, George-street, Hanover-square. This is absolutely necessary, in order that the arrangements in Paris may be porportioned to the influx of company. The police numbers on Tuesday were 68,161. Cash account, July 22. Season tickets E 10 10 0 At the doors 3,236 2 0 Total receipts £3,248 12 • WZDNESDAT The rain set in early this morning, or rather main tamed I, a continuous dropping from the night before, and the consequence was • falling off of 10,000 in the first hour's sppbeations for admission. Subsequent glimpses of fine weather brought up the numbers to a considerable extent, but the day's total was hardly up to the average. One ad vantage of the rather slack general attendance was that the numerous schools and parties from the country had much greater facility than is usual on shilling days in passing from one object of curiosity to another. The consequence was that groups might be seen surrounding many objects, which, although of great interest, have, from their back ward position, hitherto passed entirely unnoticed by the great title of visitors. The Austrian toys had quite a number, and their guardian, quite excited by the unusual concourse of his visitors, set the toys all in motion, to the great delight of the small children as well as of many of • larger growth. Another object in the same neighbourhood which excited the greatest curiosity, partly from its intrinsic merit, partly, perhaps, from the existence of strong international sym pathy, was the Alum &min, or national cloak of Hun pry, which we understand is, with different amounts of ornament, worn by all classes in that country. It is made of the skin of the Astracan lamb, which has been nabs- I ralised sad is herd by thousands on the banks of the Danube, but is dressed in so peculiar a manner, with the wool on, as to admit of the most costly and elaborate embroidery on the oppo site aide. In summer weather and in rain, the Hun garian turns out the woolly side of his bunda, but in clear frosty weather he turns it in, and exhibits the gay cm- THE WEEK AT THE GLASS PALACE. MONDAT. This was decidedly one of the great days at the Crystal Palace. Great In the number of visitors, great is their ininite variety of countenance andeastame, peat in the heat of the Interior, which pee a lively Idea of the black hole at Calcutta, and great in the exercise of the sprinkling function in which the various aquarii were mint zealous, regardless of pumps or petticoats, throughout the slay. Upwards of seventy thousand thinking, talking, sightseeking biped carnivore were at one time congregated within the transparent walls, resolutely determined upon seeing everything in the space of three or four hours, and to cat a dinner besides, at the base of Kiss' Amazon and tiger in the nave, or close by the ruins of the Font Romano in the Italian court. It was in truth the pursuit of knowledae under difficulties. The Kuh-i-noor was in a state of siege; the Spanish diamonds were unapproachable ; and the precious metals were rendered doubly precious by the difficulties with which they were surrounded. Tho company poured in not by desultory twos or threes, but in compact hundreds, organised and marshalled, each detachment bearing some distinctive badge, which served the purpose of classifying the groups, and giving va riety to the general picture. Now, it was some large body of factory operatives with so much greenery in their huts as to make one believe that Bernam wood had truly come to Dunsinanc. Then, it was a close column, in dingy. scarlet, numbered and ticketed, Mr. Cochrane's shoe-black brigade to wit, looking exceedingly like the Spanish legion on its return from Peninsular glory. These worthies, by the way, were by no means the most orderly of the company. They formed in close column and pushed their way through the nave with more vigour than courtesy, and upon their exit gave a noisy cheer, which was nigh Isauling to some incon venience. The great body of people in the nave, hearing the great shouting at the western entrance, thought that some notability was corning. Some said it was the Queen suddenly returned from Osborne, others that it was the Duke of Wellington, and a general rush was made upon the platform upon which America displays her moots:hue contributions. That respectable couple, the " Driving Cloud" and "Strutting Turtle," whom Mr Catlin has placed at the top of the steps, were for the moment very much incommoded, and but for the vigo rous exertions of the police, would have soon fol lowed the course of their fated race, and fallen down under the onslaught of the pale faces. Volunteer music has been stopped, and so must volunteer cheering, as it obvious that anything calculated to cause a sudden con gestion in such a vast assemblage must be pregnant with inconvenience and even danger. The boys of the Duke of York's training school were also present and patterns of good conduct ; various ragged schools sent their quotas, and there was no lack of agricultural labourers who looked as pleasant as the prospect of a bountiful harvest could make them. Even from Buckinghamshire the great centre of agrarian despair, a stout contingent came up under the command of " mine host" of the White Hart, at Aylesbury, and when we add to these , foreigners of every clime and complexion, and an excursion party from Ireland, that took a train of 70 carriages to con vey them from Holyhead, it will be conceded that the as semblage at the Great Exhibition yesterday was as remark able fur variety as it certainly was for numbers. Among the curiosities of the company were two men who walked kisurcly about, enveloped in a complete panoply of straw plait, straw hats, straw paletots, straw gloves, and even straw boots. They were, of course, the objects of much gazing and many inquiries, when it turned out that they were the employi'ss ore straw plait manufacturer in Islington. who had hit upon that ingenious method of publishing his wares and of evading the advertisement duty. Another' novelty in costume came from a great felt manufactory in Warwieltshire, the operatives of which, to the number of '2410, had been scot up to see the Crystal Palace. One of these men had most ingeniously constructed a complete suit of the material without a single scant in any article, and he strutted about in this peculiarly appropriate summer costume, proud as a monarch of his robes, and regardless of a temperature of 90 degrees, which made him perspire at every pore. Two of the Spanish dancers from her Majesty's Theatre were also present in their graceful national costume, and, we are happy to add, were not mobbed, except by some of their own sex, who were rather puzzled to understood how ladies could get on without bonnets. The only novelty among the articles was Mr. Belshaw's celebrated elephant, which has at last arrived from the jungles of Essex, and now gracefully sustains the Howdah of the Newab Mean. He was much visited in the course of the day, and his captor received many iseogratulations on the success of his bunting. It is LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 26, 1851. broidery which is costly and elaborate in proportion to his means. The specimen in the Exhibition is contributed by J. Geyer, furrier of Pesth, and is of the class worn by persons of high quality. The embroidery, which contains the royal arms of Austria and Hungary and other national devices, took a first-rate artiste twelve months to execute, and the value is about 1001. of our money. To all those who go to the Exhibition with a view of making themselves acquainted with the arts and costumes of foreign nations, we can cor dially recommend a look at this curious mantle, which will be found at the back of the Austrian department, and is num bered 316 in that branch of the catalogue. There are seve ral cases of foreign goods waiting emancipation by the fiscal authorities in various places, and some en route, so that every day we may expect some novelty in art or ornamen tal manufacture. A curious incident which occurred very recently ahowi the certainty with which persons of any call ing may be found any day at a moment's notice among the company at the Crystal Palace. One of the female visitors, in struggling to approach the south transept, unfortunately burst a blood vessel. Tu get ready a placard with " a medi cal man wanted at south transept," was only the work of a moment, and it had not been carried ten yards down the nave when half-a-dozen volunteers came forward, and gave the sufferer such professional assist ance as was necessary previous to her removal to the hos pital. Among the schools and agricultural groups present during the day were the Duke of Northumberland's tenants (150), Hill-park (15), Hampstead village school (20), Coln brook school (51), Dartford (54), and Cripplegote-within charity school (102). The police numbers were 50,599. Cash account, July 23. Season tickets At the doors ..... 2,438 14 0 Total receipts THVILBDAT. There was more rain ou this day, and consequently fewer visitors at the Exhibition, than on the day previous. The foreigners, the excursionists, and the schools, had it all to themselves, as, acting of CORM, in pursuance of previous arrangements, they could not delay their visit in deference Ito the elements. Although the number of visitors was comparatively small, the thoroughfares leading to the I Crystal Palace were more crowded than on the finest NMI. ' ling days. The cabs from the various railway stations came on in true Cossack fashion, and the illusion was very decently kept up by the rudeness of the drivers. At Knightsbridge it was almost impossible to get along, the throng being so great as to lead to the belief that we were commencing the most crowded day of i the season. In the building itself the number of foreigners could not fail at once to strike the beholder. A man cleanly shaved was almost a rarity, and the volubility with which French and German was poured out formed a striking contrast with the taciturnity of the Eng. lish visitors. On the other band, it must be admitted, that the envelope folder, the Austrian toys, or the Queen of Spain's jewels were not so much crowded, while the objects of genuine merit had numerous circles of admirers. There is a beautiful bronze statue of Polyhymnia in the nave, remarkable for the exquisite grace and fidelity with which the drapery is moulded. As a general rule, this beautiful specimen of German art is passed by unnoticed, the visitors eagerly hurrying on to Mr.Cutlin's Indian figures which stand close at hand. On Thursday, however, the neglected figure was soon noticed, and was surrounded by numerous groups all day. One discovery which the great foreign influx could not fail to communicate to the native visitors, was that all Frenchmen do not exhibit that mea grenms of figure which is their traditional pecu liarity on the English stage. If they do live upon frogs it is evident that the diet agrees with them, as many of those present on Thursday were quite up to the English standard of comfortable corpulence. One group in particular attracted very general notice. It con sisted of an old soldier of the empire, straight as a maypole, buttoned up to the throat, and with the cross of the Legion of Honour conspicuously displayed on his breast, and a train of three or four Norman peasant women dressed in their peen liar costume, and who seemed as if they did not know which most to admire, the wonders of the Exhibition or the great ness of their military guide. The old soldier himself was quite a realization of Eugene Sue's old grenadier in the " Juif Errant." Like an Indian chief lie won dered at nothing, but marched slowly along, as became the dignity of a man who had seen Jena and Austerlitz. The schools and provincial parties were tolerably numerous. There were 154 boys and girls from the Richmond Union, who sang the National Anthem bet ter than we had before heard it from choristers of a similar class. The boys gave a very respectable bass, and the effect was rather pleasing than otherwise. There were also the Croydon British and Foreign, 8•i; the Christ Church, Hol ton, 27; Kingston Union, 50; Hornsey National, 130; Sailors' Orphan, 17; Wimbledon National, 109; a party from the estate of Mr. Fleming, of Hertford, of about 20; and 88 of Sir John Guest's workmen, from his great iron works in Wales. While on this enumeration we may men tion that we have received a letter from one of the workmen in the employment of Mr. J. Stok waascr, tailor, of Conduit-street, gratefully acknowledg ing that employer's liberality in having treated his men, fifty in number, to the Exhibition, and allowing them full wages fur their holiday. Our correspondent believes Mr. Stokwasser to be the first master tailor who has so acted, and we gladly give his information publicity fur the sake of example. The Italian court was enriched this day with a beautiful Canal vase in silver, and some fresh cases of porcelain were opened in the Zollverein, but they did not contain anything requiring especial notice. The police numbers on Thursday were 44,458. Cash account, July 24. Season tickets £o 0 0 At the doors Total reccipts..L2,2B6 1 9 FRIDAY. The company yesterday at the Crystal Palace was as numerous as on most Fridays, and quite as fa►hionable. Among the persons of distinction present were the Duchess of Sutherland, Earl of Jersey, Baron and Baroness de Rothschild, Countess of Waldcgreve, Countess of Jersey and daughter, Lady Mary Howard, and Lady Fitzwigram. The schools and excursionists were both absent, and the con sequence was that there was plenty of room for inspection in all parts of the building. Sonic alteration has been made in the Swiss department, the watches and musical boxes having ' been removed from the gallery to the nave, where the latter yesterday amused the visitors by their tinkling music. The most noticeable feature of the day's proceedings, how ever, was the examination, by the Governor of the Bank of England and some friends from the City, of an extraordinary calculating machine, which is now placed in the Russian court. It is the invention of a Polish Jew named Stalk', a native of Warsaw, and works sums in addition, subtraction, multi i lineation, and division, with a rapidity and precision that is quite astonishing. It also performs the operation of ex tracting the square root and the most complicated sums in fractions. The machine, which the inventor calls Arith metica Instrumentalis, is about the size of en ordinary toilet, being about 18 inches by 9, and about 4 inches high. The external mechanism represents three rows of ciphers. The first and upper row, containing 13 figures, is im movable; the second and third, containing seven figures each, movable. The words addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are engraved on a semi-circular ring to the right, and underneath is • hand which must be pointed to whichever operation is to be performed. The figures being properly arranged, a simple turn of a handle is then given, and the operation is performed at once as if , by magic. The met singular power of the instrument is, 1 that if • question be wrongly stated, as, for instance, a greater number being placed for subtraction from a lesser, it detects the error, and the ringing of a small bell announces / the discovery. The inventor has exhibited the powers of this wonderful calculating machine to the Queen, Prince Albert, and several persons of distinction, and the experi ments of yesterday seemed quite satisfactory to the very competent judges who had assembled to witness them. The inventor also exhibited a curious machine for ascer taining by weighing, the fineness of gold or silver. This also was much admired, but it to be submitted to further and more severe test. Both machines are, to say the least, extremely curious, and have been re warded with • silver medal by the Russian go vernmetit. There were a good many persons present yesterday who evidently had not oome for mere amusement, and these occupied themselves chiefly with the examination of the flax and cotton goods in the English nave. Some specimens of linen thread, contributed by Messrs. Moulds worth, of Leeds, were much admired for their great even nes., fineness, and high glom, making them quite equal to silk in appearance. We were informed that the exhibitors employ in the manufacture of this comparatively minor article upwards of 1,000 hands, an extraordinary instance of the magnitude of scale upon which every branch of flax and cotton spinning is carried on in this country. We were glad to sec so much interest awakened in objects of utility. as the attention of visitors up to this time has been rather too much devoted to objects of mere curiosity. The police numbers yesterday were 26,882. Cult account, July 25. Season tickets At the doors Total reasipta £2,990 6 0 CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING CONTRIVANCES. Civil engineering appears to be a term used in tho art simply is saatradbeinstias to sanitary easgineeling, otherwise it is very vague and inexpressive in its meaning; it seems to imply all sorts of engineering, or no engineering at all. This is, to a certain extent, exemplified to us in the Exhibition, where the department to which we refer is classed under the head of civil engineering end building contrivances, the latter part of the heading having been added on, as if to confound the term civil engineering all the more. In fact, an inspection of this department is not calculated to produce on the mind of the visitor any very favourable impression either as regards the importance of the profession at large, or as regards the dignity some persons experience in affixing C.E. to their names—an appendage commonly resorted to now-a-days. The collection of models, &c., seems so miscellaneous that it looks as if all such which pre sented any difficulty of classification had been placed here. We must not of course be understood to find fault at the manner this department has been laid out, for doubtless it presented many serious difficulties, civil engineering allow ing of such an extensive range of subject in practice and application. Bridges seem to form the most typical instances of civil engineering extant, though now a-days they are gradually catering more and more into the province of mechanical engineering. There arc three very interesting models of bridges in the nave, namely, the Britannia Bridge, by Stephenson, a bndge over the Wye, at Chepstow, by Brunel, and a suspension bridge over the Dnieper at Kietf, in Russia, by Vignoles. Much has been said and written about the Britannia Bridge, but an inspection of this beautiful model, will give a better idea, and perhaps teach more about the structure than an actual visit to the bridge itself, because the inte rest not ouly rests in the thing itself but the manner in which it was done ; the model being to a scale, all the parts bear an exact proportion to things as they are and as they were. The bridge consists of two tubes, forming the up and down lines ; and each tube was made of four different parts, namely, two land tubes of 230 feet span each, and two centre tubes of 460 feet span ; when these had been raised to their proper position on the piers (at a height of 103 feet above high water mark), they were all joined together to form one. The total weight of the two tubes is about 11,000 tons. In the model one tube is shown com plete stretching across the Straits, and the land tubes having been built on scaffolding in the position they now occupy, the scaffolding is shown in the model. The two central portions of the second tube, illustrate the transits of the tubes from the platforms on which they were built to their ultimate , destination on the piers ; one tube is shown being floated to the basement of the piers, and the other is shown in the act of being raised by the hydraulic presses. It is a pity that the scaffolding used in erecting the piers could not be' conveniently shown. We have already noticed the hydrau lic press which was actually used in raising these tube., and which is exhibited in the machinery department. The model of the railway bridge over the Wye at Chep stow, by Brunel, is a novelty in engineering. It is com posed entirely of wrought iron. One span is 300 feet, and others 100. The principle of construction adopted in spanning the 300 feet seems to be that of an extravagant trellis ; the principle of the trellis is of the same character as the Britannia tubes, or any other beams or girders, that is the top is subject to compression and the bottom to ex tension. This bridge has two lines for the up and down trains. The span of 300 feet, which we allude to more particularly, consists of two huge uncouth-looking trussed girders; the bottom of each girder is composed of two simple wrought iron beams, which resist extension, and between which one of the lines run ; these beams are forn'ed of boiler plate, rivetted together. These two girders are supported at two points, 100 feet apart from each end, from a wrought iron tube above, which stretches across the whole span, and this tube resists the compression. This tube also has been raised at a considerable elevation above the bottom girders, so that the weights, such as trains, &c., passing along the line, may be properly resolved or distri buted over the tube by means of the tie rods and stays ; the 100 feet spans are crossed simply by wrought iron beams. The principle of construction is good, so far as re gards the tubes at top resisting the compression, they being admirably suited for so doing ; still it does not promise to be a form of construction which will be adopted by any other engineer than Mr. Brunel himself. Next is a model of the wrought-iron bar-chain suspension bridge at Kieft, in Russia, across the Dnieper, by Vig noles. It is remarkable for being the most extensive work of the kind which has ever been attempted ; and certainly, to judge from the model, it promises to be a most splendid structure. This bridge has four principal openings, of 440 feet each, and two side openings of 225 feet. On the right bank of the river is a swivel bridge, which gives a free opening of 50 feet fur the passage of boats, &c., on the river. There is a disadvantage in the sus. , pension principle when the chains cannot be moved I from shore to shore, as in this case, an island of mteoary having to be formed in the river as a mooring abutment, to allow of the free passage for boats at the other side ; there are, therefore, three abutments—two for the chains; and one for the swivel bridge, and live piers; all these required coffer-dams of unusual size, particularly for the abutments. The chains are composed of broad flat links, 12 feet long, and weigh about 4 cwt. each. The tie rods, which bang from the chains on each side, are 2 inches in diameter, and are immediately connected to the girders which support the platform. The manner in which the platform is constructed, is the chief novelty which has been introduced in their structure, and consists in a judicious combination of iron and wood, the object being to obtain a light and stiff platform. Two kinds of girders are adopted here, namely trussed girders and tension girders the trussed g;rders are chiefly composed of wood, and are deeper than the tension girders, which latter are rendered rigid by tension bars. One set of chains support the trussed girders, and the other set support the tension girders, and these occur alter nately ; the additional depth ofthe trussed girders is for the double purpose of stiffening the platform and supporting the footpaths which arc outside the chains. The trussed girders arc connected underneath at each end by longitu dinal ties, which run the whole length, and the balustrades separate the carriage way from the footpaths; they act con jointly with the ties underneath in checking any tendencies to undulation, the girders are also braced diagonally to prevent side play. In some suspension bridges, when there is a double set of chains, it very often happens that much more weight is sustained by one set of chains than by the other. This can be avoided, as in the case of the Hunger ford Bridge, designed by Brunel. Here the chains on each side hang over each other, links hang down from each chain and are connected together by a cross head, and the tic rod passes down from this cross head, by which means the weight on the tie rod is equally distributed over both chains. This seems to be a good plan, but why it is not generally adopted we cannot say. The whole of the machinery and iron used in the con struction of the Kieff-bridge was made in England, and weighs about 3,300 tons, nine steam-engines are employed, varying from eight to fifty horses power, in pumping, driving piles, grinding mortar, hoisting timber, &c., dce. The cost of the bridge when finished is estimated at 400,0001. [PRICE (DOUBLE SHEET) FOURPENCE There are other interesting models of bridges in the nave. There is a bridge from America of sufficient size to be of practical utility, constructed on the principle of the trellis, the design of which seems to combine strength and light ness of weight. In the gallery we find a model otonc arch of the high level bridge at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, it is exhibited by Hawks, Crawshaw, and Co., of Gateshead, who were contractors for the iron work. This bri Ige was designed by It. Stephenson, and is certainly a masterpiece in engineering. The bank s of the Tyne, both at Newcastle and Gateshead, are exceed ingly steep, and are connected by • viaduct 1,375 feet in length, running at a height of 112 feet above high-water mark. There are six principal openings, each of 126 feet span, the principle on which this bridge is constructed is the bow and string ; the arches, which form the bow are of east iron, and the rods, which form the strings are of wrought iron, to resist tension; there are four arches to each span, two on each side, which bear properly on the piers through the medium of bed plates on which the arches rest; the strings of each arch consist of two wrought iron rods, keyed to the arches at the abutments. Cast iron columns con• nected to the arches support a platform above, on which three sets of rails are laid, and they also support another platform below foe a carriage-road, the hotpathe Tanning between the two arches on each side ; this road, in fact, runs along the strings, but has no con nexion with them ; the arches take the whole weight of both platforms above and below, leaving the strings inde pendent, to resist only the tension. One cannot examine this bridge with'ut having the mind strongly impressed with the rapid progress made in the mechanical art, a struc ture of this kind, particularly the iron work, requires the adjustment of an immense number of parts, and yet no joints, and hardly any fastenings, are to be seen ; in fact, it is difficult to make out how it has been put together. The piers may look light to the eye for the superincumbent mass, but actually it is another striking feature in the struc ture, and speaks in favour of the progress in another branch of engineering, known as civil. Amongst other objects of interest exhibited by B. Green, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, is a model of the central arch of the Ousc Burn viaduct on the Newcastle and North Shields railway ; the arches arc of timber built up of layers, or planks sufficiently thin to allow being bent to the re quired sweep. The arch having thus been built up to the required size is bound together by iron straps, bolts, &c. It is then scientifically strutted to resist and distribute the thrust properly. A structure like this is no doubt light and economical, but English engineers generally like a more substantial material than timber for works of such mag nitude. MANUFACTURES IN LEATHER.-BOOTS the magic boot continually in motion at the top, or the heroic little boy who patiently submits to incarceration in a sort of watch pocket underneath for nine mortal bows every day, for the purpose of expounding the principle of the patentee. The novelty in this invention consists in what is technically called the waist of the boot or shoe being made elastic with the aid of India rubber, be as to make it give with the motion of the foot, and insure ea easy and natural action in walling. The invention seems to be admirably calculated for the purpose intended. There are various other exhibitors in this section, who display articles of a high order of work manship, but, we believe, that we have indicated every thing that might lay claim to a distinctive character. THE SPANISH COURT. The intelligent visitor to the Spanish court in the Crystal Palace can hardly glance over its scant collec tion without some regretful reflections on the mutability of human greatness, and tho liability to decadence in all great and powerful states. When he thinks that the compara tively unimportant objects there arranged, " few and far be tween " and which only serve to reveal the nakedness of the land, are all that can now be sent forth by the people who overthrew the great sad patent Moors, who colonised America, who received into their laps all the gold of Mexico, aml all the silver of Peru, who equipped the world-famed armada, happily without suc ceo, to "fright this isle from its propriety;" the country of Ferdinand and Isabella, the kingdom of Charles V., the birthplace of the Cid and of Gonsalvo de Cordora, and the foster land of Columbus, how cheap must he not hold the results of mere military glory, and the gains of conquest and rapine, as compared with the honest profits of legiti mate commerce, and the development of the industrial energies, as exemplified in the career of our own happy land. Yet there is hope for Spain. Nature, always young, is as bountiful to that country as when she fed the legions of imperial Rome, or tempted the invasion of the Saracens, or, when at a later period, the invader himself hanging up his sword and buck ler, and betaking himself to the arts of peace, converted the whole surface of the country into one vast garden, glowing with the orange and the grape, and decorated its cities with those light and graceful arabesques which have made the Alhambra one of the architectural wonders of the world. 'I he wheat of Spain is as fine, her olives are as abundant and well flavoured, her timber is as abundant and valuable, as when she victualled vast fleets fur discovery or for con quest, or built those leviathans of the deep which gave Ferrol the foremost place among the nasal arsenals of Europe. What is better still her men have not, in the main, deteriorated, Protracted political convulsions, always demoralising, may have lowered the standard of patriotic fueling and of manly energy in her large cities, where also the strong infusion of Jewish bland has, no doubt, lend its eM•ct in making ava rice take the place of nationality ; but her rural peasantry, her mountaineers, and her muleteer. arc the same brown manly fellows as ever, living frugally, walking proudly, and ready at any moment to play over agaiu the gue rilla game of the Peninsular war, and to teach the in vaders that the spirit of old Gothic Sp an is " not dead but sleep eth," and as dangerous when aroused as at any former period of her history. Foremost in the Spanish Court stands the silver gilt tabernacle from Madrid, a gorgeous specimen of ecclesias tical plate, showing the direction in which Peninsular art has received its greatest stimulus. The world-Mmotia blades of Toledo also hold a conspicuous place, but they have already received full justice is the columns of the hipress. There are several specimens of the black lace of the country in robes and veils with which Byron wiz* so enchanted, when worn " by an Andalusian girl going to niasii,"and some gold and silver stuffs used in the sacerdotal costumes of her innumerable priests. In the more substan tial manufactures there are specimens of coarse woollen cloth, but not so many nor so good as one might expect in a country where the most voluminous of cloaks is an almost universal article of costume. But we believe the fact to be that the best Spanish cloaks are made of Flinch or English cloths, indeed we know that in our own woollen districts there are particular descriptions made expressly for the Spanish and Italian markets. The priests of both countries affect a certain tinge of " blue black" in their ordinary costume, and our English manufacturers, with an expansive liberality that does them infinite credit, contrive to hit their reverences' taste to a shade. The only specimens of metal work in addition to the arms which come from Spain are a few ornamental iron bedsteads, which are cer tainly very creditable specimens of Spanish workmanship, and might take their place beside some of the best articles of the kind made in this country. Another class of Spanish artificial productions that remains to be noticed is the inlaid cabinet work, of which the piece de resistance is the octagonal table sent by Perez of Barcelona. As a monu. meut of patient industry it is certainly wonderful, containing, as we are told, three millions of pieces, worked up into a design of which the most prominent feature is the shield with the arms of England in the centre. The general effect hardly justifies the labour bestowed in the construc tion, the decoration being so minute as to require a power ful magnifying glass to show oil its heauties. There are some other specimens of furniture, but they do not require any special notice. The centre of the court is devoted to a large case containing specimens of the minerals and cereals of Spain, in both of which that country is superlatively rich, and in describing whicltwe can hardly do better than quote M. ltamon de la Sagra, whose " Notes our les l'roduits Espagnols " enter very fully into the subject. The writer commences by complaining that " Lea C:chantillons envoyes par les differentes contries do l'Espagne et an, colonies l'exposition de Londres, Inc peuvent donner qu'une fail& ides de sex richesses naturelles," and affirms that, with the exception of some choice mineral specimens, the articles exhibited arc insigni ficant and ill chosen. Re instances the wonderful quick silver mines of Almaden, of which the specimens sent over " semble plated faite pour la boite d'un ideve, que pour dormer une ides approximative de see merveilleuses galcrics." The writer also complains that the exhibitors want variety in their specimens, and have given mom importance to metallic minerals than to combustibles, in which the mineral wealth of Spain ix most prominently developed. M. Ramon, in his classification, first calls attention to the vast beds of coal, which ho states are to be found in the Asturias and various other parts of the kingdom, and gives tables of the expense at which the article can be delivered at Santander and other places on the coast. But it is to be regretted that his calculations are made in Spanish weights and Spanish money, and would, therefore, hardly be capable of comparison by the general English reader. Ile hopes for a glorious future for this trade when the railroads of Alar and Santander and of Madrid and Valladolid shall be opened to public traffic. Sulphur, he states, abounds in Murcia and in Salamanca, and that recently introduced article of commerce, asphalte, has been discovered in large quantities in the province of Lona, and is now worked by a company. Of the salts to be found in Spain M. Ramon gives a long catalogue, and pro ceeds to the metals, iu which ho very properly gives the first place to iron, the most useful. L 606, he says, abounds with this metal of first necessity, where also is to be found kaolin, that indispensable ingredient in ceramic manufac tures. Abundant mines exist also in .lava and Guipuscoa, and specimens of their produce may be seen in the gallery of the Crystal Palace, in the shape of two pieces of cannon manufactured by the Cialists, in the village of Onate, in the year 1837. The riches of Spain in lead are, according to our author, really surprising, there being hardly a proviaco in which it may not bo found in abundance. Several pages of the pamphlet are devoted to the various lead mines of Spain, but the limits of a newspaper article will not per mit of more extended quotation. Copper, zinc, and tin, antimony, nickel, and cobalt, are also among the mineral treasures of Spain; and, lastly, gold, which is beginning to be sought for in the beds of various rivers. The writer with this enumeration concludes the first section of his pamphlet, the second being devoted to the cereals, which are sufficiently numerous and important to demand a sepa rate article. ---- Ever since the opening of the Exhibition tho number of foreigners who have arrived in this country at the variolit outports has been daily transmitted to the riletroPoVaan police department. A petition to both houses of parliament in favour of the retention of the Crystal Palace as a winter garden lemanated last week from the Horticultural Society at Lin coln, and has since been numerously signed by the inhabt tads of the city. AND SHOES. There are few subjects of more homely interest than the construction of the rather common-place arti ticks that form the contents of this department of the Exhibition. England, thanks to the obstinacy of her shoemakers and the vanity of her sons and daughters with regard to their pedal extremities, has long been the favoured land of corn and bunions, and little advance had been made until very recently in the humanity-department of hoot and shoemaking. Nature had made our feet in one fashion, but the shoemakers had determined they should follow another; and the consequence has been a perpetual struggle between nature and art, in which the 'miner enjoyed all the pain and the latter carried oft all the glory. Who does not feel a reminiscent twinge in the region of the great toe when he remembers the pointed boots with heels of an inch and a quarter in height, in which he has been in the habit of suffering martyrdom, in obedience to the high behests of the sons of Crispin for the last twenty years ? The fact of the matter is, that these gentlemen have been too great votaries of high art to contemplate any use for their work beyond the decorative furnishing of the shop window. They forgot, or scorned to remember, that the foot is a piece of nature's most wonderful mechanism, with bones and muscles, and flesh and tendon, and that any violation of its natural tendencies of development must be attended with constant torture to the unfortunate individual on whose person such atrocity is perpetrated. The great object formerly was to produce a boot or shoe which should look nice on a wooden tree, have the most nicely arched instep, the most palpable hollow underneath, and the narrowest possible resting place for the heart of the foot. Splay feet were ignored, flat feet were held to be impossibilities. The fashionable boot or shoe was constructed like the great bed of \%'are, to whien all sleepers, short or long, slender or dumpy, were, per force, obliged to accommodate themselves. A whole cy clopedia might be written on the past horrors of British boot and shoemaking, and every line would strike a sym pathetic chord in the heart of the thousands of sufferers whose toes have been annually crushed under the leathers of the Sutorial Juggernaut. But we have now, happily, fallen on better times. The French, however— we may conscientiously abhor their wooden shoes—have taught us a more rational node of making leather ones. A proper breadth in the tread, a moderate altitude in the heel, and sufficient room in the " upper " are now desiderata which arc deemed indispensable by every good London shoemaker. The visitor to the great Exhibition, who walking up the British nave, casts his eye on the dis play of boots and shoes tastefully laid out on the right hand side, near the top, will at once see that there is some force 'in these observations. The first stand in the department is that of Me. Sparkes Hall, who has rendered his display doubly interesting by contributing such a historical collec tion of court shoes and bouts, ranging from the sixth century down to the present time. Ws have the open sandal of the Saxon times, and all the varieties of leather and velvet, of pointed and spoon toed, of slashed and embroidered shoes, in which fashion might have frolicked, through Plantagenet and Tudor, York and Lancaster, Stuart and Hanoverian dynasties. Of the whole collection the only graceful and picturesque article is the buff boot of the dashing cavalier of the Restoration, which looks like an article a gentleman might wear, and which it would be presumption in any one else to draw on. The general impression left by the rest is that, however great might be the wisdom of our an cestors, their understandings were by no means properly taken care of. In the construction of boots and shoes of his own time Mr. Sparkes Hall has shown equal ingenuity, and guided by modern lights, has produced a very article. The boots and shoes for men's wear, besides attention to the points before indicated, have commendable elegance of form and workmanship, and arc adapted some for the ball room, sonic fur the sporting or fishing ground, and some fur the racecourse, with admirable fitness and perfection of mechanical skill. The principal novelty exhibited in this stand is the ladies' boot in which side laces are dispensed with, the space usually open being fitted with an elastic material, called stockinet, which opening sufficiently to admit the foot, is then sufficiently elastic to close tightly and hold it, without the pain and labour of ' lacing. The material is used more or less extensively in different patterns, but the principle is thee:erne, being the substitution of an elastic material fur the old mode of fast ening. We understand her Majesty patronises this improve ' ment, and has honoured the patentee with several orders. The next stand is that of Mr. Medwin, of Regent-street, who exhibits a somewhat similar invention, at least in its promised results. This manufacturer calls his wares " Re. silient" boots, and promises an elasticity which shall adapt itself to all the sinuusitics of the foot, and by refusing to re tain any permanent impression, keep inviolate the great bunion secret from the prying eyes of domestics. The articles exhibited display great elegance of form and workmanship, and have every appearance of being calculated to carry out the objects intended. Thomas and Sun of James -street have a small case of elaborately ornamented boots and shoes more calculated to exhibit the taste and skill of the work man, than fur any purposes of general utility. But so orna mental as well as useful work less its customers, it is grati fying to know that our native workmen have attained such a pitch of excellence in its fabrication. Northampton, in which nothing but a shoemaker could exist, is represented by several splendid cases of boots and shoes, one pair of the former being so elaborately decoratel as to deserve a place in the fine art section rather than in the homely leather department. The princi:ad exhibitors from Northampton are Messrs. Parker, Lloyd, Beam and Jeffs, Moore, and Groom, and the goods of all evince the rapid progress going on in that chosen home of the trade. The stand of Taylor and Bew ley is a most conspicuous object in the centre of the nave, in which one is at a loss which most to admire, `~, ~~.~ .~ ~~ - D - C ' M :e. }) n ;.,;?~