The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-07 00:00:00

[PRICE (DOUBLE SHEET) FOURPENCE.

results of which we shall speedily communicate to our
readers. The more striking features are several articles
carved in malachite from the Ural mountains, among
which a pair of very handsome folding-doors, some vases,
and a tam. are flue specimens of the capabilities of the
materiel. The imperial peseelain factory contributes some
splendid vases, one of them the largest in the Exhi-
bition, and both beautifully gilt in a manner we
had not before seen in bright and dead gold 91-
ternatidy. On the larger one is painted, in a man-
ner which does infinite credit to the native artist, a

copy of one of Wintcrbalter's favourite Italian festal; at
Baia, with 'Vesuvius in the distance. But the grand attrac-
tion in the Russian section is a splendid centre piece of solid
plate weighing two hundred and thirty pounds British
weight, and containing 91 per cent. of pure silver. The
subject is taken from the early chronicles of the country,
when the Selavonic race were just emerging from the yoke
of the Mongol Tartan. Demetrius the Grand Duke, sore
wounded by a Tartar axe, is reclining under a pine tree.
His faithful steed stands near, and the dying prince is
attended by one or two faithful adherents. But a mes-
senger of hope approaches, and informing him that
the Russian arms have been at length victorious,
at once restores him to life and vigour. This is
the moment chosen by the artist, and few things are
deer than the manner in which he makes the inanimate
metal tell the story. The figures are full of nature, and
maim, and vitality. The pain-stricken features of the
PAWN across which the first faint ray of hope is just
lieightesid the eager pleasureful look of the messenger
of glad are most admirably rendered. The horse
is a trim of the Caucasus, perfect in points and con-
tour,—a Retinal, thoroughbred horse—very different from
the monstrosities we are accustomed to see mounted on
pedestals. The pine tree is a perfect type of the Russian
coniferd ; one almost shivers to look at it ; and all the
minor details' armour, costume, and weapons, show equal
artistic skill and beauty of workmanship. This group is
the work of M. F. B:azikoff, a Moscow silversmith.
The lovers of high art will be gratified
_by an
inspection of the series of allegorical medallions,
contributed by Count Tolstoi, an amateur artist. They an
intended to symbolise the stirring events of 1812-14, and arc
most admirably executed. We understand that Prince
Albert honoured them with a close and protracted inspect
dun, and was warns in his commendation. There arc also
some bassi relievi in galvenw-plastic by the same artist,
and the model of a pair of magnificent gilt bronze gates,
which he constructed for the church of St. Saviour's, at Mos-
cow, the originals of which are above thirty feet high. We
must not fo. get an ebony casket, quaintly ornamented on
the lid and sides with bunches of fruit and flowers, which are
represented with wonderful fidelity to nature in various sorts
of precious stones. Grapes of Siberian amethyst and
cherries of cornelian are encircled by leaves of jaspar, so
beautifully selected that the green leaf fades towards the
edge as gradually as we see it do in autumn. Then there
are pears of agate and plums of onyx, with currants of
white and red cornelian, through which you eon see the
seeds, and the rinds of which arc reticulated as on the ripe
fruit. We were infurmed that this perfection is produced
at a tremendous expense of material, large lumps of the
,tone being broken up to find the proper pieces. There
are also some mosaic tables and several handsome stoves,
One English chimneypiece has also been sent over, in which
we do not know which most to admire, the manufacturer's
skill and taste or his ignorance of the beautifying properties
of English coal. The whole back of the grate es splendidly
I gilt and burnished. We wonder how it would look after
the first week in October spent in active service in London.
There are also some splendid diamonds in the Russian con-
signment, but they are as yet tightly screwed down and
impervious to the eyes of the curious.

able in British North America, are represented by specimina
sent by the Central Committee to the care of Sir. Archi-
bald. That from Sydney, Cape Brazos, is well adapted
for domestic purposes. The Pictou coal field is perhaps
the most important of all, and produces coal of very good
quality, some of which is suited for steam coal. The beds
are 7,390 feet thick, and one of the scams 30 feet thick.
The coal fields of Nova Scotia present several remarkable
characters, which are very agreeably described by Sir Chas.
Lyell in his " Visit to America.
Good ores of copper arc also found here, but do not ap-
pear to be winked. Some blocks of beautiful free stone,
from the Acadia Quarry, Pictou, shell marbles, fine white
marble, ochres, &c.
. _ .

The minerals of British Guiana arc not of any very great
importance, with the exception of the white guartz:y,ands
from the Demerara and Berbice ricers, large quantities of
which are exported to America, some clays and porcelain
earth. _ _

From Barbadoes there is a Rpecimen of the coral rock
used for lime-burning. This rock is formed by animals of
a very low form of organisation, being, in fact, their ,ie-
letons._

The Countess Grey exhibits some very beautiful soca-
mean of fossil wood from Antigua. The nature of this
singular change is not at all understood, and is one of the
most enigmatic,' phenomena of nature. Although the
woody structure has not suffered the slightest injure, the
whole substance of the tissues is found to consiq of silica,
which has in some unknown manner replaced the organic
matter. _ _

From Trinidad specimens several have been sent, by
order of Lord Harris, the governor. Among them are
some fine slates front St. Ann's Mountains, the slab+ are
taken from the surface. Anthracitic coal from Nfaxanilla.
The products of the singular pitch lake of this island are
shown, as well as the naptha which is made from the pitch.
Lignite of good quality, and which is found abundantly.
There are, besides, pottery clays, which are used in the
island, iron ores, and some less important minerals.
Mr. Warner exhibits an application of the pitch to the
manufacture of charcoal for sugar refining, as a substitute
for the animal charcoal now used. The rich minerals of South
Australia are well represented, as well as the geological pe-
culiarities of the country. The South Australian Mining
Company exhibit the copper ores from the Kanmantoo
Mines at Mount Barker. The Baressa Range Company
send copper ores, pyrites containing •to per cent. of metaL
The iron ores of this district are plentiful and rich, consist-
ing of magnetic oxide, hiematites, Itlicacious ore. The per-
oxide of manganese is also found. Among this mile's-
tion is an enormous block of copper ore, front the Tung-
killo mine.

Messrs. Graham and Hallett exhibit the produce of the
Burnt Burro mines, from which such large quantities of
ore have been raised. The principal ores are the red
oxides and the carbonates; one variety of which is very
beautiful, and is used for ornamental purposes. During
the five year' that these mines have been worked,
upwards of ait2S tons of copper ore have been
raised ; but it is only recently that an attempt
his ben made to smelt the ore in the country, it having
been hitherto sent to Swansea for that purpose. Smelting
works arc now cstabli,hed, and are in constant ;teflon.
Some of the copper ores raised in this district contain as
much as 70 per cent. of metal ; the mines afford employ-
ment for more than a thousand persons. Besides the at teal
working ores, a great variety of interesting specimens are
exhibited illustrative of the minerals which ace rowel in
the mines, and of the application of the finer kinds of nuts
lachitc. The mining works, smelting furnace t, and the
general features of the country, are exceedingly well shown
by a series of drawings. Mr. Hallett exhibits speeiwetts
of the gold of this country in various states, which undid
seem to offer sufficient inducement, for collection.

Tho minerals from Von Diemen's Lund mid Western

Australia afford so little information as to their position
and extent, and are so scattered among the other 01‘;eets
sent from these places that it is difficult to form any correct
estimate of their value. There is some of the coal of
Douglas River in the former island, which is of „mod
quality.
From New Zealand, the coals that have been discovered
there lately are exhibited by several persons.
The secretary of the Auckland and Waikato Coal Cont-
i patsy sends specimens front the IS-feet bed, near the 'Wai-
kato River, distant from Auckland about 7 mites by laud,
and oby water, couveyanee inland. Mr. liargreave ex-
hibits the lignites which arc found ou the banks of the
Tamaika ; and Mr. Taylor and Mr. Reeve, the ores of cop-
per and other geological specimens from the Kawan mines.
Mr. Lewis and Mr. Smith those from the copper mining
district to the northward of Auckland.
The latter gentleman also exhibit.' a specimen of the sul-
phur from White Island, Bay of I'lenty, containing only
3.5 per cent. of impurities.
The collection also contains some goad building stones,
Roman cement stone, found abundantly ; Manganese ores,
mid iron sand front Cooper's Ilay. The specimens from
the East Indian Continent and Archipelago are still too
deficient in arrangement to admit of any examination.