The Express. — London, England, 1851-04-26 00:00:00

r , . 0 " 'p ~ , Tte i No. 1,457.] [No. 18, EXHIBITION EXPRESS.] TliE EXHIBITION EXPRESS, Among the principal exhibitors of musical instru ments from Paris are, as might be expected, Erard, the pianoforte manufacturer; Vuillaume, the violin maker, and Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the Sax horns, Sax-trombas, Saxophones, and other wind instruments of the same family. Erards pianos are not remarkable fur the development of ally new principle so much as for their general perfection and the beauty of their appearance. Of course little novelty can be expected in the construction of violins, although as to their outward beauties few have been produced in which 40 much attention has been paid to decoration as in those of M Vuillaume. Some of these, in imi tation of Stradivarius, cannot fail to wain general admiration. M. Sax is known as the introducer of a new prin ciple in the construction of wind instruments. His invention in the first instance met with the greatest opposie from the supporters of the long-established but somewhat unserviceable contrivances which he was desirous of replacing ; but in the course of time his instruments were granted a hearing. and judg ment was at once pronounced in their favour. Prizes were 'thulium' by the inventor at several of the expositions of Paris; the cross of the Legion of Honour was conferrad on him, and the most distin guished musical authorities have furnished him with certificates, in which the various horns of the Sax I family were raised for the fineness of their tone, the extent of their compass, and the facility with which they could be played. 'the attention of the band-masters of various rest. wet, was_was they have gr . ; n77ll7OrrecrVinany of them, and have been introduced in England, not only into our orrhestras, hut also into the hands of several of our best regiments—thnose of the Life Guards and horse Guards, for instancy. We believe that the Messrs. Distin were among the first to mate known in this country the merits of the Sax horns. M. Sax has sent about eight instruments, of womli and brims, to the liiiposition of London. These con sist of trumpets with cylinders, trombones of various kinds, Sax-trombus, and Sax-horns, with 3,4, and 5 cylinders. Saxophonesof different species, horns with and without cylinders, cornets with pistons, and cornets with cylinders, clarionets, and bassoons Sonic cymbals and drums are also included in M. Sax's villection, and are remarkable for the magnifi- fence of their appearance. Amongst the entirely new instruments will be observed three Sax-horns of unusual dimensions. The largest of these (measuring the extent of the tube before it was curved into its proper shape) is -04 feet long. In its present forin the length Iron on eend to the ot her is ten feet. The mouth pieeemeasures an inehand a half across, and the wide end or bell is a lbot and a half to two feet wide. When placed ',omission" (which can ix done with great ease) it emits a sound like distant thunder; when played fialississo, its sound is like thunder immediately over head. (Inc end of this ponderous instrument is intended to be fixed into the flooring of the orchestra, while the other extremity will tower almost above the head of the conductor. The lowest note produced by this gigantic sax-horn will be found considerably lower than any note ever heard before, and it will in fact make a very admirable bass for an orchestra of 800 or 1,004) musicians. M. Sax also exhibits a bassoon made of brass instead of wood, and a bass clariunet (in silver with gold keys) which gives the low G of the double bars. NAPLES, APRIL 14. As the opening of the world's exhibition ap proaches, one repeats the question, will Naples be self-excluded—does she mean to sit in unenviable solitude, almost the only one amongst the nations of the earth who will not enter into the grand contest of industry, nor unite herself by the bands of friend ship with the great human family? Unhappily there is but one answer. The government will not sanc tion it in any way, nor will it permit any Neapoli tans to go to England. Many persons of distinction have applied for permission to visit London this year, but they have been informed by the authorities, that if they went it was possible that they would not be permitted to return—a hint too well understood to admit of any one's incurring the risk ; and, indeed, it is stated that the highest personage in the realm recently expressed himself to the same effect. Mean time spies will be there—the loathsome reptiles will be on the traces of those whom political vicissitudes have driven to London. Let these spies be well watched—to be forewarned is to be fore-armed. BERLIN, Arßn. 23. The visit of the Prince and Princess of to London, to witness the opening of the Industrial Exhibition, is regarded with anything but satisfac tion by the court party, who desire that their influ ence should be decisive even over the movements of the successor to the throne. The Princess of Prussia has been in great discredit with this party ever since the year IN-is, during the latter end of which she sought the acquaintance and friendship of many of the leading members of the constitutional party. Ifer influence over the prince was at one time very great indeed, and it is asserted that it still remains una bated. Th, princess is known to correspond with many of the friends of liberal government m Germa ny, and to be a great partisan of the schemes for a federal union under the auspices of Prussia. The prince himself is the avowed antagonist of the illiberal bigots whose influence is now all-powerful ; he has taken many occasions to manifest his opinions ; and as the princess has been still less reserved in her conduct, the command of the military district in and around Coblentz was given to him as a sort of exile from Berlin. Under these circumstances, their visit to the land of consti tutional liberty, a state of government deemed revo lutionary by the leaders of the Krell: Zeitanys party, is not at all calculated to please, more especially as the fear is entertained that the stories--well told for Germany—of fearful insurrections that arc to take place, will prove to be wholly unfounded. The l ugu brious warnings of the Ncer Fork ThruM and other transatlantic organs are nothing compared to those which are set afloat here. Ministers are said to have warned the Queen not to open the Exhibition in person, because the mass of fugitives in London were known to be hatching plots of a terrible nature against royalty of every denomination, nation, and age. Your readers would laugh heartily if they were compelled to listen to all the absurd conjectures whispered about without the slightest foundation. FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, APRIL 26. THE FIRST OF MAY. On Monday next the preparations on the part of exhibitors are to be completed. The galleries are to be cleared; the shavings are to be swept *way; the hammering is to cease—all is to be ready for public inspection. Looking upon the scene yes terday, it appeared utterly impossible on the part of exhibitors to comply wit's these orders. Thousands of men, of all nation.., were busy, after their several fashions, but on every side arrangements were fur from complete. In some of the foreign departments little more than the counters were erts:ted; and only on the British side could be seen compart ments in a condition of eompleteness. lai: K e throng of visitors yesterday was very large, and ladies were seen edging their way through piles of planks and pack ing -cases, with the evident determination of seeing everything. In the transept, bands of men were rolling articles in from the great doorway; men were astiPhiPIPORIPIM" jimo stases; crowds or workmen were hocenng shout the great fountain ; Turks and Egyptians. Prussians and Frenchmen, were chatting vigorou%ly ; p,licenten were repelling Intruders into wrong departments; exhibitors of all kinds were discussing their grievances or good for tune; ladies were asking the precise positions the principal personages who are to figure in the state ceremonial were to occupy: and above ull workmen were preparing to cover the glass with canvas. It was a bright and animated scene. In the vastness of the space, the moving crowds looked like ants; while the thousand hammers, the blows of which resounded from all sides, added to the confusion and the half-bewilderment. Looking down the galleries from the transept, the view presented, in its entirety, the characteristics of a gigantic eastern bazaar. Huge tapestries, carpets, and brilliant linens and silks. hung down from the galleries in every direction, and of every form and colour. Here the perspective is intercepted by a huge organ, there by a gigantic statue, and else where by an altar window of splendid stained glass. And here we may notice ea imm ant a characteristic of the general efforts of the exhibitors, viz., the efforts to manufacture all kinds of things on a (silos sal wale. Monster organs, monster statues, monster articles of cutlery, monster squares of oilcloth, monster carriages, monster blocks of coal and different ores, figure in every direction ; and it will doubtless be necessary to warn the juries against mistaking size for excellence in these speci mens. A monster knife is not of necessity a good specimen of cutlery, neither is a statue a masterpiece because five-and-twenty feet in height, exclusive of the pedestal. In fact, these monster specimens block up the main avenue, and are impressive generally more from their size than from any strictly remark able excellence. Yesterday the fountain sent in by Mr. John Thomas, sculptor, of Paddington, known as the Acis and Galatea Fountain, was to be seen play ing fur the first time; and in the main avenue a brilliant globe for a lighthouse, manufacturrd by Mr. W. C. Wilkins. of Long-acre, reflects dazzling rays of light. Aptly placed,looking towards the great transept. stands a life-size statue of Shukspeare. But in this vicinity the way was yesterday so blocked up with wood-shavings and empty packing-ca.ses, that it was hardly possible to arrive at any idea of its artistic effect. Workmen were carrying the arms and heads of statues about ; an industrious gilder was busily employed upon the nostrils of her Majesty's horse; five or six carpenters were upon a gorgeous bed in the galleries, nailing up ornaments; inquisitive visitors were trying the tones of bells; a musician was testing the monster organ ; while two or three Greeks were attending to their departments, carpen tering and adjusting their articles, in !Aires. In the galleries, the exhibitors of the light goods of all nations were in a fever of excitement. here an old German gentleman, with a linen yard was calmly measuring the proportions of a pair of stays ; there a sturdy Frenchman, of warlike aspect, was bearing a huge tailor's block to its assigned space. Hundreds of articles are reported to be intended as presents to the Queen—splendid cabinets, gor geous needlework, and costly ornaments,- all fit to grace the British palaces. In the refreshment rooms, exhibitors of all countries, male and female, were regaling themselves, or hurrying away to work again. In every part of the vast building it was evident that there was not a moment to be lost—and that every minute was of precious value. The grand confusion in four short days must assume a harmonious form—the chaos be mimed to order. At one door, packing cases in vast heaps were being ejected into the road ; and the sap pers and miners might be seen perched upon hilted deal boxescalling to the drivers of waggonsandearts. Studded about the main avenues were artists, with their desks and wood blocks, calmly drawing various objects. Here a gigantic Amazon was being reduced within the limits of a 4-inch block; there a vase was the object to be delineated. Opinions were plentiful on all sides ; thousands of critics, of confident aspect, and with emphatic words, pronounced their judg ments on every imaginable kind of industry, from the last improvement in the steam-engine to the re gularity of a lady's crochet work. Each article was twenty times commended, and twenty times con demned, within the space of as ninny minutes. Yet, if k were passible to run up and compute the years of patient, honest toil, the fever and the heart-aches which are here represented, harsh criticisms would hardly be passed even upon the poorest and most in significant objects. PARIS Aram 2i. At this moment the hotels of Parienre thronged with visitors from the provinces, who arc bound for London to sec the Exhibition. Many of these will stop for the fide of the 4th of May. During the last two or three days from 20 to 23 thousand passports have reetived the rise of the prefecture of police fur England. The task of selection by the central jury of the French contribution to the Exhibition is terminated. To-day will start the last baggage-train with the packages to which an exceptional delay has been grunted. The most notable contributions are splendid specimens of jewellery from the house of Odiot, arti cle,. of furniture and art from the house of Culla. and Barbeditnne,including a marvellous reproduction. on a small scale, of the fatuous bronze door of the baptistery of Florence, gorgeous painted 'tapering of the Mader manufactory, and works of art by M. Fronts nt-Meuriee. 4,000 packages have lx,eu exa mined by the jury. A pop sal has been made to the government to send the hand of the tlth Dragoons to London, during the Exhibition. as a specimen of the military music if France. M. Sax, who is the manufacturer of the greater number of the musical instruments used by such bands, was the first to originate the idea, and has matde an application to the Minister of War on the subject, which has been warmly sup ported by M. C. I)upin, the president of the French committee. A cabinet-maker of Vienna, named Leistler, has just left that city for London, taking with him 38 out of the 260 workmen whom he employs, as well es a number of articles, which he has manufactured for the Exhibition. Among them is the furniture of a bedroom and boudoir inlaid with gold and silver and which is intended as a present from the Em peror of Austria to Queen ictoria. The furniture of tho bedroom has cost 120,000, and that of the boudoir 200,000 florins. AMERICAN GOODS. In that part of the building devoted to the produce of American industry, the most noticeable feature is the largeness, of the space allotted, an compared with the very meagre show of goad•. Whether this inequality will be removed by subsequent arrivals within the very few days which yet remain for pre•parttion we an• not aware, but if not it would be desirable to divide the surplus room be tween those other foreign exhibitors who in the neighbour ing compartments are complaining of undue limitation. Nlany of the articles sent from the Mates are still resting in their packing-eases, and of these. beyond the notification made in the published list•, we can give no ac count. Of those which hare been brought to light, and are now being arranged round the walls and upon the counters mad floor, utility rather than elegance of design, elaborate ornament or high finish, seems to be the chief characteristic. There are two comport- ments of the building assigns d to the States, each opposite the other, at the eastern end of the nave. One of these appears to be intended for the exhibition of heavy goods, and here we have various descriptions of ploughs, harrows, winnows, and other agricultural machines. Some few lathes, a planing machine, and other articles of engineering me chanism, well finished, and in all other respects adapted for their several uses, lie scattered about here and there. Grouping with the agricultural implements, a small steam boiler and engine, a few American house stoves, and ■ number of pots, pans, and other cooking utensils. By the way, of these American house stoves, a hint might well be taken by our own stove makers. They combine in • very small space—not larger than that occupied by an ordinary par lour pate or cottage range—acomplete kitchen ',pintas— LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 26, 1851. oven, stewpans, boiler—all in the most compact form; and, looking at the almost minute fireplace, or furnace, with which the whole is heated, it would seem that economy of fuel had been a primary consideration in the original design. But the article which attracts most attention in this com partment is a grind...tone for hand-working, of a remarkably fine grit, and moving by the aid of entifrietion rollers. The curiosity of the observer, however, is excited not because of any extraordinary peculiarity in the machine, but by an in scription which it bears, informing him that it is a present for Lord Stanley, from Massachusetts. Whether the Malllll. chusetts mechanists (Messrs. Lombard and Hall) con eider the great wear and tear which Lord Stanley's keen edged satire undergoes while leader of the opposition in par liament require the application of the grindstone occasionally, or what other hidden meaning attaches to this strange pre sent, must be left to those who are clever in solving enigmas to discover. Turning to the space on the opposite side of the avenue we find several objects of interest. That which first strikes attention, both front its extent, the complete ness of its arrangement, and the correctness of its classifi cation, is Dr. Feuchtwanger's collection of American mine rals, extraneous fossils, and fresh-water shells. Here we have specimens, arranged in their order, of the mineral productions of the States copper, iron, l lead, gold, silver, sine, native cinnabar, and almost every other known metal. Some of these specimens are of ' extraordinary richness. There is amongst them a ►lock of copper ore, brought from Algonquin, on Lake Superior, weighing 2,44-1 lhs., and of 90 per cent. pure metal ; a block of native cinnabar, from California, weighing 31 lbs. ; mama!ps of argentilaroas lead eieteisiag iiivar la lie of 1 . 00 es. to the taus, 6,11175 per seat. at lead: these are from a vein in New Hampshire said to be very extensive, and which it is proposed to work. Besides these, there are some crystals of grey copper, a number of speci mens of Californian gold generally adhering to quartz, but of extraordinary richness, the quartz in some being scarcely in the proportion of one-fourth to the pure gold. There are also in this collection some very fine specimens of the Georgian diamond--the beryl and the topaz—every variety of American coal, and amongst the extraneous fossils several very perfect teeth, and other remains of the Mastodon from the Mammoth eaves in Kentucky. The shells, of which there are several varieties, from the fresh water rivers and lakes, are curious only from their com paratively large size. At a short remove from this stand there is preparing what promises to oe an interesting botanical display of dried flowers, the growth of the western district+ of New York, preserved and framed, but retaining their natural hues. Then we have a quantity of bar iron and steel, several huge blocks of iron and other ores, and a little farther on a large pyramid of curious shaped yellow canvas packages meets the eye, which, front the inscrip tions they bear, inform us that we have arrived at the coun ters where are to be shown (not tasted), some of the deli cacies peculiar to the tabled of our transatlantic brethren. These yellow parcels, of which, at a distance, we had been speculating whether they were the policemen** staves, or the gaudy and awkward war-clubs of some tribe of abori gines, we now discover to ho spiced American hams, and turning round, we find we have got into something like an " • Italian warehouse on the strike, with boxes of American bite cu its, Indian corn and ineal,dried meats of various kinds, pack ages of pearl starch, bottles of ink and blacking front New York, fancy soaps and perfumes from Philadelphia, parcels of American lustre, which we suppose means black lead, rush brooms and brushes, buckets, and a number of other arti cles of a similar character from other states, all lying about or heaped up one upon the other in the most chaotic disorder. A printed plat:aril on the outside of one of the unopened boxes composing this confused mass is worthy of notice, as showing the anxiety of Brother Jonathan to drive forward the trade in Indian corn, which, as far as regard. this country, has hitherto lagged, we believe. The ia ecription tells us the hoc contains recipes to be circulated gratuitously fur cooking Indian meal in various ways as used in the States. Extricating ourselves with some die catty from this labyrinth, • e come to several bags of Ame rican cotton wool fruits the Southern states ; and a little further on we find a glass Case containing some specimens of manufactured cottons in prints and other fabrics. Of these, though they are very cre ditable evidences of the progress of American manufac tures, our friends on the other side of the Atlaatic will pardon us for saying that they are not of that high den Of goods—especially the prints—that our Manchester man* facturers need fear their competition, at least for the present. There arc also here several casts of carpenters' and other tools, various articles of cutlery—the adzes, axes, and other edge tools, being apparently amongst the best specimens manufacturing art exhibited—some samples of very straw and not altogether inelegant bookbinding from Philadelphia. A four-wheel gig, peculiar for its beauty and lightness, contributed by Tomlinson, of New York; some whale- boats; • couple of beautiful models (section only) of Ame rican clipper-built ships ; a model of the bell telegraph, a substitute for the common house bells in hotels and large establishments, and a number of miscellaneous pro ductions, natural and artificial. In the same compartment are several pianos, one of them differing in some respects from the instruments of this country. This is a sort of double grand piano. In shape it is quadrangular, like a very large " equate," but is furnished with a complete set of keys (7 octaves) at each end, so that two or four players may perform in a concerted piece at the same time on the same instrument, the advantage being, according to the state molt of the inventor and patentee, Mr. Pearson, of New York, • volume of tone equal to two grinds. In the fur. niture department there is a massive four-post bedstead, made of the yew-tree, remarkable neither for the beauty of its material nor the elegance of its design, but calcu lated, by its immense strength, to last for generations. A cabinet or two, a few school chairs—a great improvement upon those backless wooden forms upon which young child ren in our own country are compelled to sit for three or four hours together every morning and afteAcion—complete, as far as it at present extends, the display in this branch of in dustry. In the ornamental maid department there is a pair of ormolu chandeliers, of which all that can be said is, that they are heavy copies of some of our old Birmingham designs; but, like the other articles we have alluded to, evidently made to last. In short, it may be said of the American display generally, that it is evidently the produc tion of a new country, where the useful arts are as yet more in request than the onsamentaL ARRIVAL OF TILE TURKISH PRODUCTS THIS DAY. The Ottoman steam-frigate Feiza Baari arrived at Southampton this morning, from Constantinople, with a caluable collection of Turkish products of industry for the Great Exhibition. She has on board a number of Turkish functionaries and officers of high rank, who bad not landed when our intelligence was despatched. The Fein Baari, on droppin; anchor, saluted the town, and return salutes were fired by the platform battery and the United States frigate St. Lawrence. ankles, yet of so massive a description that it is difficult for Ike uninitiated to conceive how they could be worn, except indeed in a state of complete repose. The little boxes which border the case contain also handkerchiefs and neck kerchiefs, slippers, gilt pouches or wallets, and other slight articles of personal application. The steed of the wealthy inhabitant of northern Africa has often been pourtrayed as the object of lavish adornment ; and of this kind of display the people of Tunis have afforded some interesting specimens. The most prominent eques trian article exhibited is a gorgeously gilt saddle, so large as to form what are commmsly described as the trappings of the animal, as well as a seat for the rider. This article has an extremely rich appearance. The decorative work, if it does not appear 'particularly delicate on a minute inspection, produces a darzling effect at a short distance. The back portion of the scat rises perpendieu larly to the height of about a foot, and there is a similar perpendicularity in front; a pistol bolster is attached to either side of the fore part of the saddle, and eke stirrups, of highly polished brass, are shaped like a sherd or fiat scale. Every provision is made for the saftty sad can of the rider. There is another saddle of blue vel vet, destined for female use, richly embossed with gilt, and having polished silver spurs. Amongst the personal attire there is one article which. though small, deserves a brief notice. It is a cap of ordi nary Turkish fashion, but of very rich materials. De4igned to he worn by either male or female in the juvenile period of life ; it has depending trim it a rich sweep of gold fringe terminated or fastened at the extremity with small circular onowial. _ ' Amongst a mass of objects on one side of the department are morocco hoots and slippers in great variety and alma dance; knives is cases, straw hats of vast circumference ; and baskets of dates in such numbers as to justify a suspi cion that they were brought by the exhibitors for mu as well as display. There is, too, a lofty wooden gate, having two folds and several panels, the latter being. as it were, laced with bam boo. The productions of the country• are deposited in glass jars. They arc of a very miscellaneous character; com prising pomegranates, almonds, raisins, corn, butter, and easy other equally familiar and equally useful articles. TUNISIAN GOODS. In a department of the building near the south end of the transept are to be found the Tunisian contribu tions to the exhibition, guarded by persons whose attire in- ' stantly recalls to mind many a tale of Turkish or Corsair life, and almost renders one dubious as to the reality of a scene in which such mentally and traditionally fearful individuals are playing the part of competitors in the peaceful arts. When a few glances have assured the spec tator, and he has had time rapidly to draw a favourable comparison between the present and the still recent past, he may begin to examine some of the objects presented to his view. In a glass case of huge dimensions are to he seen an assemblage of curious articles of dress, all heaped toge ther at present in not unpicturesque confusion. Conspi cuous amongst them arc several riding hats, circular in form, not very unlike a parasol, minus the handle, and of a girth which puts to shame the broadest brimmed j araws s e en in this country in the hottest summer the materials of which they arc composed being feathers, figured satin, &e. In the same ease is a lady's dress of figured satin, of smock fashion, the breast decorated with rich, gilt embroidery. A gentleman's cloak is similarly adorned, and some striped figured bedhangings also invite inspection. In ledges round this case are contained various ornaments for female use, consisting chiefly of gold and silver bracelets and necklace-, and of what, for want of a better term, we must call silver anklets—these last being sayer ornaments for feminine BELGIAN GOODS. A considerable area of the building is occupied by the Belgian exhibitors, comprising a compartment on the ground floor in both the northern and southern divisions, to the cast of the transept, and abuttinz, appropriately on the French department ; while there is a further display in the gallery above, consisting, fur the st part, of that staple fabric of Belgium—lace. On the north sidle there is an extensive display of pianos and household furniture. The former arc of the most (may workmanship. They are constructed of various kinds of wood—rosewood, appa rently, preponderating ; we say apparently, because snotty are as yet involved in wrappers, which forbid a close survey. Furniture in the chifronnii,re and escritoire style is also included in this collection. There is an article of doubtful utility, though certainly cumbrous enough, which is said to be designed as a receptacle for music, or rather for musical compositions. A number of square shelves are joined at the ends to circular flaps, as large as the top of an ordinary 100 table; the shelves are placed cqui-distant, liko the planks of a water-wheel; and the article is so con structed that a slight efrort will cause the shelves to re volve, and place either in a convenient position for use• The exterior of each flap has glass panels converging to wards the centre, like the spokes of a wheel. On the whole this specimen may be described as a laborious and ungainly attempt to save disorderly musicians the trouble of .properly arranging their materials. There are in this department some good specimens of elaborate carving, in floral, spiral, and other forms; a black marble chimney , piece; a case of violins and double-bass instruments; seve ral coils of spring iron wire, eoppered and white, also of telegraph galvanized iron wire; and some stove apparatus. There is a curious wooden utensil interesting to brewers and publicans, with three compartments, the upper one a cylinder; the centre one a liquor barrel divided, having, it is presumed, five circular divisions, as there arc five brass taps, and over them the words "Anise," Ilrandy," "Rum," "Punch," " Mint ;" while the lowest compart- anent is a wsift-tub. A little beyond the space thus occupied by Belgian furni ture and the other articles already enumerated is the area allotted to Belgic machinery, of which only a rapid glance could be had amidst a chaos of funnels, cogs, et hoc genus wane. The workmen belonging to the exhibitors were busily employed in fitting and arranging, scouring and cleaning, the separate parts of the various machines brought over fur exhibition, including railway steam engines, arid cotton machines, in their veritable dimensions. The for mer looked so natural, with the stoker and fireman in their customary position,thatone might well have imagined that the bell would shortly be heard as the signal for start ing. Amongst the machinery ready fur exhibition was a " liumectator," or moistener, fur moistening every species of corn, which was warranted to execute its cooling tank at the rate of at least 2,500 killogrammes per hour ; while the opposite virtue was set forth in the following words Grains tent-fres tors Vies ; Anglice, "'fender corn torrefied." The moistening is effected by means of a jet of water from infinitesimal holes, after receiving which the corn passes into a wire cylinder. The subject of ship venti lation has long been one which has excited great interest, both among naval meu and the emigrating public. It has not, it appears, been neglected in Belgium. There is here a model of a ship of GOO ton., to which is adapted a system of ventilation, designated as the " Atmospherical Regu lator," the pure air being circulated by means of one set of pipes and the impure expelled by means of another. The machine department also includes the following : The model of a machine to accelerate the grinding of corn so as to avoid the heating of the mill stones, and to prevent blacks, grain, dust, insects, Bce., from introducing themselves with the sound corn between the working parts of the millstones ; a large machine f a r peeling (,i peler el grocer) rice; a similar machine for pearl barley ; and there is also a model of a tunucl, with state ments as to the result of certain experiments with regard to weight and pressure. On the southern side of the building, and in close proximity to the French exhibitors, there is what may fairly be termed a Belgian armoury, so extensive and va ried is the display of warlike weapons. The collection be gins with piatolets of the most diminutive proportions, though richly decorated, and thence ascends till it has em braced almost every article included in the generic term " fire-arms." There is a beautiful little case of Lilliputian pistols, in which are to be found all the materials requisite for actual service, not excepting the manufacture of bullets. A doubled-barrelled pistol of beautiful workmanship on examination was found to be provided with a two-edged knife of most fearful ap pearance, ready fur instant use after the deadly barrels had . _ discharged their contents ; and the exhibitor informed us ! that it was meant for "fa domestique." The domestics of Belgium must be far less timid than ours if they could look at it, not to say handle it, without a disposition to faint. Many of the rifles will not fail to attract those who love to examine articles of this kind. There is a remarkable one amongst them, the woodwork of which is ebony, and which is altogether a painted devil." There are a great number of specimens of the natural productions of Belgium, including some pieces of coal, and mingled with these are massive blocks of fancy soap, sugar loaves and drugs. Some good marble top 4 of tables were amongst the importations, but of four of these which were seen, all had been broken in their passage to the building. , The Belgian articles not exhibited below, are deposited I in a portion of the northern gallery, contiguous to the Bel l Mum department on the ground floor. Upstairs, lace is the prominent feature, chiefly in the form of veils, hand kerchiefs, caps, collars, and horders. A wax figure, repre senting a lady, and inclosed in a glass case, is entirely arrayed in an attire of costly lace. Perhaps one of the most beautiful articles in lace, is the black-point Lace shawl, exhibited by E. J. and F. Van Loo, of Ghent. It has already attracted much attention, both on account of its being, as is stated the first production of the kind—white lace alone having been hitherto employed in the manufacture of lace shawls —and on account of the great beauty of the design and the , intense labour of the execution. The flower which forms r the principal feature of the design is • tasteful blending of e the rose, the shamrock, mad the thistle. What is techni• [PRICE (DOUBLE SHEET) FOURPENCE. Lolly termed " the river," flowing round the extremity of the shawl, is also of corresponding excellence ; and the amount of labour bestowed on the production of the article, as well as its value, as measured by that standard, may be judged of from the alleged fact that thirty women were occupied upon it for nearly eight months. Rumour says that, expensive as this article ix, a speculative tradesman in Oxford-street has already privately made a bidding. There are several white lace scarfs, and amongst them a good specimen designated for its fashion "Pompadour." There is also an elegant lace screen, composed of a white flower easbruidered on a black ground. Near the lace specimens hang a number of Brussels car pets, not remarkable for beauty, and beneath them are placed several grand pianos, constructed of maple and other choice woods, and m-assively carved. There is yet another feature to be noticed in this depart ment, whose introduction, though of dubious propriety un der present eircumstances, will probably be grateful to the many devout eatholies who will help to swell the number of the visitors, to wit, three histooriee-ecclesiastical figures, representing personages enshrined iu pious memory. These figures, which are composed of wax or cement, are each in closed in a casso, with a glass front, and represent respee. tively the Archbishop of Paris, who was killed, while on a mission of peace and charity, in the fearful barricade con flicts of June, Pint; S.. Thomas 1 Becket, so celebrated in history for opposite virtues (?) and St. Charlexßorromeo, car dinal of Milan some centuries back. In the first. the milli mar tyr of Paris, an attempt has been made be thee artist to por tray the charitable mind of the archbishop in the expressional' the coualeaaace, a din which is &Wei by an dire bowie held with the right hand. St. Thomas is certainly not re presented with that emblem of peace. The trio appear in full canonicals, crowned with their archiepiscopal mitres, and richly bedizened with lace, i❑ that style which has now become familiar to nu many of the more curious inhabitants of the metropolis. On the whole the impression produced by a rapid survey of the Belgian department is that the nation has evinced a praiseworthy deterusination to send its quota, and not, at all event*, to occupy the lowest place in the approaching spectacle. ADMISSION ON THE FIRST OF MAY. Her Majesty having signified her royal pleasure that arrangements should be made to enable her Majesty to gratify a wish very generally expressed on the part of the public to he present at a ceremony by which her Ma jesty should open the Exhibition of the M orks of Industry of all Nations on the Ist of May, her Majesty's commis sioners hereby give notice that the programme of this ceremony. and the regulations under which the holders of season tickets will be admitted, are 35 follows : Exhibitor.' attendants, who have helm sanctioned by the Executive Committee, will be admitted between the hours of eight and nine o'clock, at doors specified on their cards, and will immediately take their places by the counters or objects exhibited by their employers. Holders of .'3.111 tickets will be nelmitted at all doors on the east, south, and west of the building, between the hours of ' and half-past eleven o'clock, and will be allowed to like their places, subject to police regula tion+, in the lower part of the building, and in tho galls ries, except the parts railed off in the nave and transept. A platform will be raised to the north of the centre of the transept, on which a chair of state will he placed. Her Majesty's commissioners will assemble at half-past 11 o'llnek, in the transept, opposite the platform, together with their Executive Committee and the Foreign Acting Commissioners, in full dress, or in plain evening dress. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, her Majesty's ministers, the great officers of state, and the foreign am bassadors and nuni,t,,, will take their places on the plat form, to the right and left of the chair of state, in full dress also, at ludf-past 11 o'clock. Her Majesty, proceeding in state, with the royal family, foreign guests, dc., and her and their suites from Bucking. ham Palace, ■p Constitution-hill and down ltotten-row, will SSW the Ihtldbltion handing by the north entranoe preefsely at 12 o'clock. She will ascend tke Oakum and take her seat in the chair of state. On her Majesty's arrival, a choir will sing " God SATO the Queen." On the Queen taking her scat, hi, Royal Highness Prince Albert will join the royal commissioners, and when the music has ceased, proceed at their head to the platform, and read to her Majesty a short report of the proceedings of the commission up to that time, which be will then deli ver to her Majesty, together with the catalogue of the articles exhibited. 11cr Majesty will return a gracious answer, handed to her by the Secretary of State, after which his lto)al Highness Prince :Übert will take his place again by the side of her Majesty. The dozen of the corm diplomatique will rend an ad dress to her Majesty on behalf of the foreign nations who have contributed to the Exhibition, to which her Majesty will likewise return u gracious an-wer. Ilia Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury will then say a prayer, invoking God's blessing upon the undertaking, fol lowed by a short anthem sung by the choir. A royal processien will then be formed, preeedeil by the commissioners, which will turn to the right, move to the west end of the nave by its north side return to the east end of the nave by its south aide, including the south end of the transept, and come back to the centre clung the north side of the nave; thus enabling all those present, who will be expected to keep the places which have been assigned to them, to ace her Majesty and the procession. During the procession, the organs appointed will play marches, taking the music up at the Queen ei approach. Ou her Majesty's return to the platform, thu Queen will declare "The Exhibition Opened !" which will be announced to the public by a Nourish of trumpets, and the tiring of a royal salute on the north of the Serpentine; whereupon the harriers, which had kept the nave clear, will be thrown open, and the public will be allowed to circulate. Iler Majesty will then return to Buckingham Palace by the route by which she came. All the doors, which will have been closed at half-put eleven o'clock, will, upon her Majesty's departure, be opened again. By order of her Majesty's rommksionerv, EDGAR A. IP)WItING, Acting Secretary. Exhibition Building, Hyde-park, 22ud April, IS.H. lIER MAJESTY'S OPENING OF TILE EXHIBITION. TO TIIE EDITOR OF TIIE r.S IItmTIOY EXPItESA. proArtimme of the state procession of her Majesty to open the Exhibition prescribes the route to he taken us up Constitntion-hill, entering the park gates near Aplllll-house , and passing down Rotten-row." On the occasion of her Majesty's coronation, which might nut inaptly be regarded as a precedent for the present ceremony, it was determined, doubtless fur good reasons, that a more extended line of procession was desirable, and lice Majesty then proceeded to Westminster Abbey, by Constitution hill, Piccadilly, Charbig-cross, Parliament-street, Kee. The additional gratification conferred upon very many thousands' of her Majesty's loyal subjects by this extended route was ut the time generally acknowledged, and it may not be uninteresting now to draw attention to the subject. It would be easy to point nut a route affording similar opportunities to the one prescribed at the coronation ; I would merely suggest that one suited for the purpose is that St. james's Park, the Horse Guards, Pall Mall, Piccadilly, &c. It might be urged in favour of the longer line of procession that it would greatly diminish the crowd ' ing into llyde Park ; but a far higher consideration is that as, perhaps, on no occasion has a sovereign proceeded through the streets of a city on a more exalted or ennobling mission, or one on which the eyes of the whole civilised world have been so steadily directed, it would be especially gratifying to the people generally to have the opportunity of showing to her Majesty and her illustrious consort that appreciation of the endeavours to tbrward the hest interests of the country is not confined to one elms, but is partici pated in by ell. AN IiNGLIBIIIIA.N. April 21, 1851. THE QUEEN AT TILE CRYSTAL PALACE. Sta,—W'hen " Gml save the Queen" is played on the great organ in the Crystal Palace, at the opening by her Majesty, on the lot of May, do you not think that the effect would lw materially increased lby the addition of the SOO voices forming the chorus of the London Sacred Harmonic Society, and who, I have nut the least doubt, would wil lingly and cheerfully _give their gratuitous assistance on such an occasion and fur such a loyal purpose, provided there is accommodation for so many near the organ? enclose my card, and am, sir, Your obedient servant, A MEMBER OF 'HIE LONDON SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY. Ironmonger-lane, City, April 24. LNAUGURATION OF TILE CRYSTAL PALACE. Stn,—The Tinwa is advocating the inauguration of the Great Exhibition with some solemn act of worship. That such course would In• highly becoming moue may dis pute, that it is practicable many will doubt. Some of these have occurred to the writer, as the difficulty in preparing a service fit in itself, as well as in harmony with the dif ferent nations and creeds who are likely to meet there on May Ist. But there are more cogent objections still be hind. What is the meaning and object of such service ? Not a sacrifice to atone for any error or neglect in the design and its achievement; but a public expression of reliance upon Him alone, who hath given us all richly to enjoy. For this end, it is necessary that the worshippers be at least duly represented. Will the five guinea ticket holders satisfy this? In foreign countries the holy elements are " gazed upon and carried about " in the daily services, so such an occasion as this can there need no preparation. Our religion is less demonstrative, and the dedication of the Crystal Palace - must be lett to the aspirations of indi vidual hearts and consciences in private. DEORUM CULTOR. Sta,—Aa the day fixed for opening the Great Exhibition is now rapidly approaching (a day never to ho forgotten), is it nut very desirable that such should be kept as a general holiday, such as was the case ut the opening of the Royal Exchange, and some other public buildings? Such a demonstration as this would, I believe, have a great effect in producing that good feeling which is so desirable on such an occasion. London, April 22. A TRADESMAN. Sift,- —Without exhibitors there could be no Ex bibiti ~,, . Tle• contributions of exhibitors hare been mad° at an immense CKIKAIKC of money, time, trouble, and anxiety. In consideration of all this, would it not be a graceful act on the part of the royal commissioners to grant them the privilege of being present at the opening of the Crystal Pulace by our beloved Queen? If no worthier post were uttered them 011 such an occasion, surely they might be permitted to stand by their contributions, in order properly to explain, and, if necessary, to work them. After all their sacrifices, surely the v.:m.l4llms of admission, only by three guinea tickets, might he safely and fairly modified in the eases of exhibitors, malty of whom are ill able to afford three guineas for the privilege (?) of standing near and explaining their own contributions. Such a privilege could provoke 110 jealousy in any one, hut would be recog nised by the public at large as only a fitting reward to those who have laboured so much for the public gratification. There is yet time for the royal commissioners, with their illustrious head, to take it into consideration whether those on whom the Exhibition has depended should not be en titled to at least a free admission to their respective sections on the Ist of May. Hoping for the sympathy of your in fluential pen, I am, sir, your moat obedient serva AN EXHIBI nt, TOR, Who cannot afford to pay three guineas to explain his own model. THE SWISS GOODS. As the grand day for the world's peaceful battle more nearly approaches, the interest becomes more intense, and the strain upon the hundreds of workmen, cisil and military, foreign and English, men in blouses and men in moleskin, employed in the Crystal Palace, !mottles moo• constant and apparent. Now energetic sappers urge trucks' in every direction, regardless of corns. Porters, laden with huge bales, unceremoniously jostle visitors; and policemen, excited to a fever pitch of vigilant scrutiny, stop every holder of a green ticket, and peruse it with as much interest as if it were the last number of Punch. Whilst seeking the modest compartment where Swiss in dustry is soberly m irshalling her soieries, her embroideries, and her wood carvings for the show, it was impossible to avoid pausing rn erode to gaze on the extraordinary scene. Long vistas stretched one on every side, resonant with the din of saw and hammer; mountains of packing cases lay about in most admired disorder, while cranes swung to and fro regardless of heads however sapient ; and foreign work men, with must sanguinary beards but peaceable deport ment, plied their hammers in dignified composure, and putting their hands in their breeches pockets between almost every stroke, as if pausing to wonder at their own super human exertions. Instant amanita; pars dueree mums Mulirlque steam, et mambas subvulvere saxa. It seemed as if Messrs. Fox and Henderson had taken the contract from the Genius of the Lamp to build a palace in a night, and that an unearthly call of "Time" was ring ing in the ears of all these workmen, The as?ect of the great trees, just now timidly putting forth their leafy ho nours antler the great transept, is picturesque, yet comical. It is quite certain that their century of experience does not afford them any reminiscence of a crisis like the present. Even Mr. Paxton himself must acknowledge them to be the largest plants ever seen " under glass," beating the Vic toria Regis, and the Kew paints, hollow. In fact, they look as it' quite ashamed of the care with which they arc wrapped up, something of the way in which an elephant would enjoy a pinafore. Leaving these, however, we may proeiml to the Swiss section, where we find the denizens thereof busily setting out their wares to the best advantage. The principal items claim ing attention arc silks, embroideries, mid carvings in wood. The silks are of the more and useful aorta, the manufacturers not venturing as yet to compete with the costly and beautifully designed brocades of Lyons. But the colours arc beautifully true and brilliant, and the texture unexceptionable, so as to warrant them a fair share of success in competing with similar fabrics from any part of the world. Indeed, few things are more remarkable in the textile annals of Europe, than the rapid progress made by the Swiss silkwaavers sham the peace of ISO. The specimens exhibited come principally from a small manu facturing village on the borders of the lake of Zurich, where forty years ago there was only one silk factory, while now there are fifteen, and new ones are in progress. The manufacturers are sanguine of obtaining a fair share of the world's market, because, say they, we have labour cheap, water pure and suited for dyeing, and are close to Italy, whence we arc supplied with the raw material. In ribbons the weavers of Basle have achieved success, not only in quality, but also in beauty of design. Some of the Moral patterns are good both in colouring and drawing, awl promise to gain the admiration of the fair visitors next month. In silk and muslin embroidery the Swiss peasant women have produced most marvellous results. Among the apecimens is a hand kerchief in cambric, covered with designs in needlework, not more remarkable fur their general beauty, than for the elegance and correctness with which the minutest lines arc traced out. . _ . Similar commendation will apply to specimens of embroi dery on the finest silk, the must difficult of all substances fur the needle. On these, so finely traced are the designs as to be almost imperceptible until opposed to the light, when they appear in all the neatness and finish of an en graving. As mere specimens of digital dexterity they are wonderful, but much more to be admired fur their genuine artistic character, seeing that they are all the work of poor peasant girls. The secret we believe to be, that the designs are furnished by accomplished artists, the needlewoman being merely the patient and faithful copyist. In another specimen the aids of colour and relief arc called in, and the effect is surprising. On a piece of fine white silk an open casement is represented in simi lar coloured needlework, the tracery being very de • licate. In it stands a bracket raised high from the sur face, and upon this latter a vase of flowers so naturally coloured that, but for their diminutive size, their artificial character would be doubtful. A shell lies on the sill, from I which u collector could hardly keep his fingers, and at the top flutters a humming-bind in all his well-known brilliancy of plumage. Of the perfection to which wood-carving is brought in these mountain regions no conception can be formed from the specimens which, up to this time, have been seen iu our shop windows. Nor are they less remarkable fur the circumstances under which they are brought to perfection. When the Alps have put on their white uniform for the season, when the valleys are snowed up and the mountains impassable, the Swiss peasant, finding he can no longer exercise his lungs with his " nina des niches," nor his legs in hunting the chamois, snugly ensconces himself beside the stove in his chalet, and, pro vided with a few blocks of the soft hirehwood which nature has kindly provided for his necessity, betakes himself to the American remedy for ennui, a knife and a stick; but with ditfimence. Where the Yankee " whittles " the Swiss carves, and produces those elegant little toys, of which several first-rate specimens have been sent to the exposition We were shown a rose almost fragrant in its vitality, a statuette of great freedom and finish, and some salad knives, the handles beautifully carved in the form of snakes, and others iu Heuer patterns. On the whole the Swiss contributions are certainly well worthy of a place in the world's fair. Many visitors will no doubt hose many tastes. The utilitarian will luxuriate among locomotives and steam ploughs, the philosopher will run to the electric telegraph and the laboratories, the soldier will be arrested bv the guns and pistols of every clime, from Dublin to lielhi—but the man of taste will linger in this quiet corner and ponder on the causes which have produced such a deve lopment of the artistic faculty in the untutored peasant of the Swiss mountains. a CHILDREN—HALF-PRICE." TO THE EDITOR OF TILE EXHURITION rxenrss. reading through the regulations of the Commissioners as to the prices of admission, it occurred to me that the usual announcement of "children, half- price " was wanting. In all exhibitions fur amusement this is found to answer, for it brings numbers who otherwise would be absent, and, .1 fortiori, in an exhibition for instruction the rising generation should be cared fur. With families the consideration is important, and I should suggest that after the first day children under a limited age should be admitted for Is. until the lowest price commences, and after wards at Gd. each. PATER. April 25, 1851 ARBITRATIO!C 1,1 . 111 E CASE OF MEssRS. Mew nal', THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTORS YOU THE EXHIBI TION EVILUINO.—Mr. Robert Stephenson, the sole arbi trator in this cane, held a second meeting at the Palace of Westminster, when Mr. Whishaw was examined at con siderable length on the part of the oontracton.