The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-02 00:00:00

LOSS OF H.M.S. REYNARD.-NARRATIVE

OF AN EYE-WITNESS.

The following is a letter from a midshipman on I
board the Reputed, when lost in Ch;na, to h.s mother;
H.M.S. Minden, Hong Kong, 18th June, 18.51.—What a
change since last letter! I can imagine you all sitting
round the breakfast table, taken aback with astonishment
at such a beginning. Her Majesty's ship Minden, too, how
does he come to be in her ? Here is my answer : the poor ,
old Keynard is no more—she is by this time in very minute
portions floating about, in the vicinity of the 21st parallel of
north latitude, and Leith meridian, cast of Greenwich.
With this introduction I dive into the narrative of how it
I happened, with a description of my own feelings during the
catastrophe. I forget the date of my last; but, however,
we got in shortly after I finished it, and were barely in time
' for the mail.
As soon as we anchored we of course got ready for start-
ing home as qu'ekly as passible, but we had a deal to do, so
did not intend to start until the 30th. On the 27th, how-
ever, intelligence reached us of the wreck of an English
brig on the I'rata Shoal, which is situated about 150
miles south-east of Hong Kong. The captain of the
brig came across in an open beat to give notice here,
and to get assistance for hi, uttn, who were suffering
from want of food and water on a small coral island
on the shoal ; on account of this we were ordered to work
double tides, so as to be ready to start for England on the
28th, and to reader assistance to the shipwrecked crew on
our way down ; accordingly on the 28th we sailed with the
pilot in company for the shoal—we had foul winds, so did
not get near them till Friday evening. When darkness
came on, we steered so as to get to the Island at daylight,
giving the shoal, which we should have to pass, a good wide
berth.
At about i quarter-past four of the morning of the 31st I
found myself out of my hammock, and using the most
strenuous endeavours to put my jacket on inside out. Itwas
not until I had discovered my mistake some seconds, and
had observed that every one else was attiring himself with
equal expedition, that I began to consider how I came to be
out of bed at all. To this moment I have not tho least idea
how I turned out. Every one clue seemed struck with
this idea at the same moment, and we were about to con-
sider whether we had not better turn in again and say no-
thing about it, when we heard an deck &confusion of voices,
which can only be expresseu by one word, "a row." We
were on deck almost immediately; indeed the whole of
what I have described did not take up inure than six to
eight seconds. We found the ship quite still, but hard and
fast on the reef. The sails were all aback, and the engines
going astern, but both failed to move her.
Stretching out on each bow was a long light coloured
line, and this was all the indication there was of one of the
most dangerous reefs in the world. It being fine weather,
and bat little swell, the ship lay quiet enough while we
got ,the boats out and prepared to lay out anchors to pre-
vent her getting broadside to the reef. We laid out one
small anchor, andgot the cable through the stern hawsehole,
and hove a good strain on it. (I am afraid lam getting
rather nautical, but I can't help it in description.) It soon
parted as the sea got up, so we laid out a larger one, but
by this time she had begun to swing on the reef and to
bump a little on the rocks. The last anchor was let go on
the reef, but it was so steep that it slipped down into 400
feet of water, and we nearly lost it,—however they man-
aged to hold the end of the cable, and we brought it to
the ship in the same manner as the last, without the least
effect, however, for the ship by this time was broad-
side on, and beginning to strike the ground very heavily.
AU hopes of saving the ship was out of the question now,
for she began to till slowly, said strained so much that
the engines were rendered useless, When we reached
this stage of the proceedings we went to breakfast, to pre-
pare ourselves for work afterwards. In the meantime the
ship fell over on her starboard side, thus exposing the
deck to the sea, which began to rise with the tide, and
every roller that came foaming iu struck the ship and raised
her upright, and whin it had passed she came clown again
with a crash on the rocks sea ling every thing loose on
deck flying, and shaking the masts so that we all expected
them to go by the board.
Our rigging being wire, and very elastic, held on ; if we
had had rope, I am sure tile masts would nut have stool as
they did. All this time we were obliged to hold on as hard
as we could, as the ship took our legs from under us at every
surge, and if we had fallen downto leeward, we should not
have picked ourselves up again with whole bones. After
breakfast we turned the hands up, and divided them iuto
two parties, one of whom remained on board, in charge of
the first lieutenant and midshipmen, and the other were in
the boats, under the lee of the ship, to construct a raft, so
as to save provisions, tic., under charge of the master.
• We were on a part of the reef about eight miles from the
island before mentioned ; we could just see the tops of the
trees. We sent a boat up to the crew of the brig with pro-
visions and water. All this time we saw nothing of the
I'ilot, having parted company from her the morning after
leaving Hong Kong, but we knew that she would most
likely go to the island first.
The party on board the ship proceeded to get the spars
down froin aloft. It was hard work, and very dangerous,
but happily uo elm was hurt. As we got the spars down,
they were put overboard, and lashed together by the people
in tile boats, so that in about an hour and a half we had all
the spars overboard, except the lower masts. We were all
Eratralyazillwctireredg
IhLto
lvatalrkg
glad to this
ewaas lltutilee'rasest‘..c
against a gun watching the raft progressing, and thinking
, of what else was to be clone, when I began to feel as if 1
should be very glad if the ship went to pieces at once, and
we were all at once drowned. I felt as if it was quite absurd
is save ourselves, when we might just as well he drowned
comfortably. Then I felt as if I should like to lay down
and never get up again, and then I heard voices shouting
in my cars, and felt water on my face.
I opened my eyes, and felt a whole host of people around
me, raising me up, for I was flat on the deck : from this I
inferred that I had tainted, though for what reason I do
not know, except from over-excitement, for I an not in the
habit of performing manteuvres of that sort, and I was quite
well and at work again in half an hour.
When the raft was finished it was getting dark, so it was
moored alongside. and we picked out the best sleeping
places we could on deck, for it was not exactly safe to go
below, iu case of the ship's going to pieces in the night. It
, rained heavily all night, so none of us were particularly dry
when daylight came, at which time we all gut up, and pro-
seeded to get provisions up front below. '1 his was a work
of much difficulty, as the water had risen considerably in
the night, and us the tide was rising, and there was every
chance of her filling more.

The raft was towed inside the reef, at tho distance of a
quarter of a mile from the ship, and anchored there. It
was only level with the water, so we did not expect it to
carry much weight; however, it was the best that could
be made under the circumstances. A large quantity of the
provisions and water were taken across the reef, and put in
the pinnace, when she started for the island, to erect tents
and get them ready for our reception, and as the ship was
becoming more and more unsafe every moment from the
continual bumping on the rocks. It was now that we
began to think of saving some of our own things, as all the
provisions that could be got were on deck, ready. Accord-
ingly I had ventured down below, with the intention of
saving my sketches and a few clothes; but when I got be-
low, I found the water up to the beams of our berth, and
when I went b look for my chest, I found that it was in
minute particles, so 1 was glad enough to gaol) deck again;
for as the tide rose the surf rushed in with redoubled vio-
lence, and caused the/ship to surge solviolently that every
thing went crash! crash! from one side to the other, clearing
away everything stationary. The ship now worked so
much that it was determined to cut away the masts.
I never shall forget the melancholy feeling with which
I saw the masts fall over. We all had, I do not know
for what reason, a sort of glimmering hope that we
should not lose the ship, but when the last mast fell
with a crash, whatever hopes we had went with it, and
when we looked at the stumps and ends of shrouds, and the
desolation which appeared all along the decks, you never
saw such a set of blank faces as we presented. For myself
I could have blubbered with great comfort. The noise of
the water rushing about below was terrific all this time,
and the only safe plan of remaining on deck was to sit
down and hold on "like bricks." The starboard guns were
now hove overboard, in the hope that she might fall over on
the other aide; for if she cemented in her present position
it did not seem likely she would hold together, as she
already showed signs of parting a midships. She soon did as
we wished, for one large wave striking her, threw her per-
fectly upright, and then all the weight being the port side,
she fell over, thus presenting her bottom to the sea. This was
safer; but, as we found to our cost, not so pleasant, for every
sea instead of raising her, came right over us' washing
everything off the upper decks that was not secured. We
were like a parcel of drowned rats in five minutes, and woe
to any one who was standing up unsupported; he was
knocked down by the sea, carried away, and might be ob-
served after a few minutes puffing and blowing, amidst all
sorts of confusion, to leeward. Notwithstanding all these
disadvantages, we managed to keep our spirits up ; and
from the captain downwards were as merry as crickets,
every one becoming as facetious as possible. I forgot to
say-, that just before we cut away the masts, we saw the
Pilot endeavouring to beat up to us, but, after two or three
tacks, by which she apparently got no nearer to us, she
bore up for the island, and we could occasionally see her
mast heads over it. We had got three or four casks of pork
and water on the raft, which was all we had, or could get
at, besides what had gone to the island. Towards evening
it looked as if we should have wind, so it was determined to
quit the wreck before dark. The ship being pretty quiet, I
went below to see if anything was left which might be saved
and I never saw such a complete clearance as been made.
There was nothing of any kind a foot long. Everything was
smashed into little fragments ; all the partitions were washed
away, and all was clear abaft the engine-room. Cabin, gun-
room, steerage, were all in one. As to our berths there was
not the slightest trace of anything that could he construed
into a mark of where they had once been ; except that in
one corner there was a nice little pudding, composed of
plates, dishes, bottles and glasses, knives and forks, all
smashed into small pieces of half an inch in sise. This was
hin ,woren
ittaheocasewnpsLitulih tharecogrueun
rroofx,orasn.d.alhsomtahrte
ie.:111111;n
ocaLticahbadin
all the things had become, from the constant was
deck,
into a complete rope, and in this form were passed on
and coiled down.
wreckas
llian.ur water enough to moss) it
the reef (the others net lia g
the boat could not take more than five
took laag time, farwith that number she was nearly cup-
id a time, and even.w
tl surf We saw all the men
Woes w •
Just before sunset we made
sized two or throes. (the °Eileen.) went together, landed ou
preparations for quitting. thea I
capable of
smallest boat on our side
ithoirtothflionue..4:ouddagtdhroryge-u,wg.::ii thweabewaetreovil.orwtoabotheutrsoafts,trownhgicohnwthasc
w,..ru,.whithr.chatbt.hu'ou:tmweowbaesbignout
ppaartlt cthuleatainly

holding about 26, so the remainder would have to remain
on the raft all night.
I have now to mention an action on the part of Captain
CI &croft which greatly raked him in my opinion, and I am
sure iu every one else's present, which was this. It was.
Sunday night (I a a sure I hope I shall never spend such
another) ; as soon as we were all on the raft, Cal taro Cra-
croft called all hands round him, and made them a speech
as tollews My men, we have left the lteynard, where
we have been together so long, probably for the last time.
I am sure there is not one amongst us who does not know
that although we have no ship, we are just as much under
martial law as ever we were ; I therefore expect, rind I am
sure I shall receive, implicit obedience to my unit rs and
those of the other °Hien*. (Hear, hear.) Now, my men,
this is Sunday, and we have always been iu the habit of
keeping our Sundays properly as long as we have been toge-
ther, and I do not think we can now do better than to offer
up a prayer to Almighty Ood for His mercies in pre-
serving us thus far alive." Ile then repeated a
short prayer, to which we all returned a fervent
" Amen !" There was a dead silence fur a few minutes,
and then one of the men sung out, Three cheers for the
captain !" PO we gave the three, and then we gave hint
three more, and then three more to make it square, and
then we went to supper—the men on raw pork and rum,
and the officers on beer and raw ham. It was not very in-
viting, but we were very hungry, so that gave it a relish.
After the beer and ham we looked out for sleeping places,
but these were not so easy to find, and for this reason, ono
corner of the raft had got fast in the coral, and at the tide
rose, the corner being fast, of course the water came above
the raft., which was anything but pleasant, PS I found to
my cost afterwards. I had brought a wet blanket front the
wreck with me, and I hoped to manage pretty well with
the aid of it, but afterwards I gave half of it to the first
lieutenant, as he looked rather miserable. I then took my
own peculiar half, and went to the highest end of the raft,
hoping to get to sleep, for I was very tired. I had not
been there half an hour when I found myself floated out
and almost off the raft. I got up stiff and intensely cold
from lying in the water, and wandered about seeking
where to go. I found the water up to my middle every-
where, except at the corner I had left, all the men were
singing in chorus (up to their middles) to keep their spirits
up. I could not help laughing though I wits so uncom-
fortable, it was so ridiculous to see a whole lot of people
wandering about in the water, and roaring away at the
top of their voices. I found one of my mesmiates lying at
fall length on a hen coop, clear of the water, and seeming
so comfortable that I felt greatly tempted to push hint
overboard, and take his place ; however 1 contented myself
with sitting down beside him.
Daylight was now beginning to show himself a little,
when one of the boats came close to where I was sitting. so
I got into it, and lay on the top of one of the men; ho
struggled rather violently at first, but I was. too comfortable
to move for him, so he was obliged to bear it. I managed
to get about an hour's sleep here, and then we got up and
looked about UP. I found that my messmate of hencoop
notoriety had been floated oil the raft, end tumbled over-
board shortly after 1 left him.
The first lieutenant met with a similar fate, having
passed the night in un empty pork cask, which overtunied
with him as soon es it floated. Being only half awake
when they lifted him up, he was very anxious to " go below
to change his clothes." Tho first thing we did after all
getting awake was to serve out a wine glass of runt all
round, which I was very glad to get. I was none the
better for the raw ham and salt water. We sent a boat to
see if she could get to the wreck, but the surf was So heavy
that she was obliged to come hack without reaching her.
Upon this we all started for the island, and arrived there in
about three hours. We found it a low island, in the shape
of a horse-shoe; a beautiful clear bay ramming up between
the two arms. Thousands of sea birds were hovering
round mid over it, making a most discordant noise;
there was is quantity of short brushwood and bushes all
over the island, and a good many slantial trees. As wo
passed up the bay we saw the l'ilot off tho island under
sail, for there is no anchorage near. Our tent had
been reared on the right h old arm going up the bay. I
landed close to it, and we all went up and lay down under
the shade, quite tired out, but not until we hail refreshed
the inward man with some cooked provender. After we
were refreshed, the men were divided into parties, some to
build a wall round the tent, and arrange it, some to get up
the provisions from the boats, and some to dig wells. I
took a well-digging party, and in a short time we made a
very respectable well, with bucket attached, though I can-
not say the water was particularly good. Atter this work
was done, the several parties were called iu, and we had
supper of boohica' eggs and rice, end very good provision it
was. At this time Captain Cracroft intended remaining on
the island, and sending the l'ilot with the intelligence to
Hong Kong. After we had all turned into our sandy lad,
however, the Pilot's jolly-boat came on shore with a letter
from Captain Hickley, using such strong arguments to in-
duce Captain Cracroft to come on board the Pilot with the
altip's company, and desert the wreck altogether, that ho
determined to do so—accordingly next morning we left the
island, and bid good-by to our old ship for ever.
Behold us then once more on a man-of-war's deck, and
looking more likes lot of pirates than anything else, not a
soul amongst us having a single thing that lie could call
his own, except n few ragged clothes we had on ; however,
by dint of begging, borrowing, and stealing, we manned
to get washed and dressed in something respectable. Wo
arrived at Hong-Kong on Tuesday morning, and since that
we have been on board this ship, which was on em-
ployed as a store ship, but is now cleared out for our re-
ception, and that of 100 of the sUth Regiment. I do not
know what they will do with us yet. I suppose we shall
be sent home in a merchant vessel, but I cannot say till
we hear from the admiral, which we can't do for a mouth.
It is possible the court martial on us will be held out here,
but I think it is not likely. I have been obliged to do now
what I could never do under any other circumstances, and
that is, I have drawn an extra 101. bill. I wall not have
done so even new only that Captain Cracroft thought it tho
only thing to be done, having lost every single thing he-
longing to me; I must have clothes and food, and these
cannot be got without money. I have written to Mr. Could
to tell him, and have drawn at ten days, so that there will
be time enough to arrange about it ; of course I can only
consider it as a loangor I don't think I ever ought to exceed
my allowance. no Admiralty will give me some remune-
ration fur my loss when we arrive in England. I do not
know how much it will be, but I think about 30/. lam
sorry for the loss of my sketches, more than anything else.
I haul about 80 views of China, and to lose them all at onto
was very disgusting. All the people here, except the tip-
top society, have been exceedingly kind to us all—giving
and lending right and left. They have got up a subscrip-
tion for the men, and going to present Captain Craeroft
with a piece of plate, and 1 don't know what they are not
going to do. I think that now I have spun this letter out
to a sufficient length. We arejust beginning to get settled
in our present position, in which at tint we were very un-
comfortable. I suppose you will consider me a sort of mo-
dern Robinson Craw.: on a small scale. lam quite willing
to bear that character, only I have no wish to be thought of
as a dirty-looking fellow, with a hairy coat and a wont-out
umbrella over my head, or in any other character, except
that of yours, &c.

BISLTOPRIC OF SIERRA LEONE—The Rev. Owen
Emery Vidal, Perpetual Curate of holy Trinity, Arlington,
Susses, has been nominated, and is willing to go out, 14.1 the
first Bishop of Sierra Leone. Tho Archbishop of Canter-
bury and her Majesty's government have signified their
consent to Mr. Vidal's consecration, if a moderato endow-
ment can be secured.—Cambridge Chronick.

LORD JOHN RUSSELL HAS TAKEN A LEASE OF Mth•
NALTUIE HOUSE, DEESIDE, for a period, wo believe, cor-
responding to the length of time over which her Majesty:a
residence at Balmoral is expected to extend. Monaltrie
House is romantically situated near Balloter, about ten
mhos from Balmoral Castle.—Parriot.

THE LEGAL QUAYS OF TILE PORT OF LONDON.
—The Board of Customs having had under their special
consideration the list of articles allowed to be deposited
in warehouses approved as of special security or in
specially approved vaults or floors at the legal quays, and
as many of these articles are now free of duty or subject
to low duties, the board have considered it advisable to
amend such list, and it has therefore been resolved that the
following list of articles to be in future warehoused at the
legal quays, in warehouses of special security, or in specially
approved rooms, floors, or vaults only, be substituted fur
that comprised in the regulations of the minute dated July,
184.5, on the subject, viz. :—Agate, set; almond paste ;
amber, manufactures of; beads, not being beads of bugles
of glass; brass powder; bronze manufactures; bronze
powder; buttons, of all sorts; cards, playing; carmine;
crystal, cut or manufactured; crystal beads; clocks; dice;
essences of all sorts, except spruce; extracts of all sorts;
feathers, ostrich, dressed; ditto, paddy bird; ditto, ant
otherwise enumerated, dressed; flowers, artificial, of all
sorts; gauze of all sorts; gloves of leather; hair or goats'
wool, manufactures of; hats and bonnets of all sorts;
jewels, emerald., and other precious stoues, set; lace of all
sorts; linens, viz., cambries and lawns, French ,• lawns, not
French ; mace ; mercury, prepared ; musical boxes ; nut-
megs, not wild ; opium; oils, ehymical, essential, or per-
, fumed; oil of cloves; plate of gold and silver ; platting, or
other manufactures fit for making hats or bsnuets, of bast,
cane, or horsehair ; platting, of straw; quinine, sulphate
of ; silk manufactures of all kinds; silkworm gut; skins or
furs, articles manufactured of ; spirits, cordials, and strong
waters of all sorts ; cigars, snuff, tea, and tobacco, in places
specially sanctioned by the board for that purpose; truffles ;
vanellovs; watches; water, Cologne; wino of all sorts;
woollens, articles or manufactures of, wholly or in part
made of; worsted; and goods warehoused for exportation
only.
VALVE OF ANGUS CATTLE.—Mr. Carright, of
1 shcomßtNi:::otypitriwybri.ehgrctunu:whaliPcert.hatenlde-,fhilt:aos Northamptonshire.
rifmrsiturr,heeetd,whbfat
eorhhyeTocoihreeshweifien4,prisirti
gui.
he
ai tab
leer, t ow
ac oi
wn Rd nue dp. his
mart t esnctoi ot t
,n
betwixt Brechin and
ajotiab,funatend selected from his stock two
;. and for tho
,otfonDmunOnths old, all of which
viz.: For the cows,
bull, forty guineas; making altogether 160 guineas for five
cattle.—EdinburgA Wanes..
TONDRIDGE WELLS AND HASTINGS
TheRAILWAY.—
larger portion of this railway,a:
ibs,lniiord:neer
cro
nftofher of
taehtrmhee
end:iTunbridgennobefrTunbridgethie,e expected
T presentAltvo we lsl s,
to Robertsbrionfdoanegii:p,:jeuatihlale,itbngcthantcotraffihmaicrexoteinfcls} miles, was opened to the....
~topear.uitbebhl.icoalyT:•es.h.:teecdlurdi
branch of the South Eastern Railway, which commences
and terminates in the centre of Tunbridge
CHESTER AND ILOLYREAD RAIL At 'IZIL!
prietors at their next meeting are to cons raSe' ll'
.s.
: 1".., j,..
[of making a contract with the Bangor an wr• '. •. - •
in L'l
way, now progress of construction, ft: • 'Am 'the- pe4
former railway.
i- , . 'r 1 ,
Pc •
V 7

\';..

;4

FINE ARTS.
• Art-Jormil Illustrated Catalogue. 1851.
The Art-Journal Illustrated Catalogue, which has
hitherto only appeared in monthly instalments, has
now assumed a complete and compact form. The
cover is of azure, and resplendent with its gilt orna-
mented title. The main bulk of the work consists
of upwards of three hundred illustration of the most
interesting objects contained in the Crystal Palace.
The preface consists of a brief and also illustrated
summary of the rise and progress of the building
to completion. The concluding portion consists of
several essays by well accredited authors on the sci-
entific attributes of the Great Exhibition. This two-
fold survey, combining the careful examination of in-
dividual merits with the wider descriptive grasp of the
whole, scents to leave no merits untold, and no les-
sons unheeded. The task was clearly a difficult one,
bat crae in which the well-known antecedents of the
Art Joornsl warranted the prophecy of success, not
less from its long experience in every thing more or
less connected with manufacture, than front its peace
tiaed stiff of designers, and extensive command of
resources. Incessant in its appeals to the patriotism
of the Ilritish manufacturer while the scheme of the
Great Exhibition was as yet but is embryo, the Art
Amnia: has lent its powerful aid to spread the at
preciation of his individual merits. From the first It
appears how shallow has been the constant outcry at
our inferiority in manufacture; and it is now clear
thatthough in some articlesof unapproachable luxury
we may be beaten by our neighbour', it has become
veiledly manifest that utility can be combined with
graceful t. cling for the beautiful. English manu-
facture has never been behind hand in this. Quite
the reverie. If but for the demonstration of this
fact alone, the Art Journal deserves every one's must
cordial approbation. But this task it has accom-
plished with an impartiality which will doubtless be
duly acknowledged by the competing foreign manu-
facturers whose triumphs of art have been made to
figure in yet clone juxta-position than in the Great
Exhibition itself. The " Illustrated Catalogue" will
long remain a trustworthy record of the striking
dierionanees of taste collected in Hyde-park, and may
in time I e a valuable auxiliary in discovering the
Ponces of fusion of styles, which may even now be
unemeciously taking place, and when the dubious clash
and jumble of all styles may subside into the mild
predominance of none. We had thought that the
monster and potent fact of the Exhibition itself was
too
.gigantic to he appreciated in its manifold
bearings. It is, therefore, with a feeling bordering
on a-toniihm ,nt that we find five individuals—one
of whom is a lady—successfully coping with the diffi.
catty, investigating every nook of the vast pile, and
mixing all its characteristic traits with singular
perepicacity. Though the essayists have each in their
war 'greatly pro:noted the due comprehension of the
Exhibition, Mr. Ralph Nicholson Wornum, by the
nature of his subject alone may be accepted us the
snore immediate exponent of the artistic merits of
the industrial products. His essay, we think borne•
what infelicitously, entitled " A Lesson on Taste,"
is to be taken chiefly ns the text, of which
the whole catalogue is the illumination. Like
the essayist, every one must have perceived
that the three prevalent styles in the Great
Exhibition are the Renaissance, the Cinquecento,
and the Louis Quatorze. But the writer has been at
the pains to prosecute the inquiry of these styles to
their source —a task at once pleasing and instructive,
though scarcely distinguished by novelty of re-
search. Be that as it may, no one could wish for a
snore intelligent view of the beauties and partial
blemishes of the works strewn with such unparalleled
profit-dun through the length and breadth of the
Crystal Palace. When the writer makes an allusion
tea work of peculiar excellence, the reader is con-
leniently retirred to its representation in the
same volume. Thus the writer seems to be
at each successive chapter broaching a lecture
to his favourite pupils at the Somerset I louse school
of design; either unravelling mysteries of manufac-
ture or pointing to superior excellence of manufac-
ture. And in truth the delineations are quite
worthy of serving all the purports of explanations
of this kiud. The excessive accuracy of the pattern
copies will not be less useful to the manufacturer
than others are to the amateur and artist. There is
a pleasant medley evidently calculated to suit every
diversity of taste. 'There is English wood-carving,
French chasing, l'russian casting, and Viennese
upholstery ; every speciality is fairly tested as
to its chances of maintaining supremacy. The
time and care bestowed throughout is not a
whit the less prodigious front being concealed
beneath the surface of an apparently facile
execution. The most intricate web of tracery, fruit,
or flower, is frequently elaborated with a care
which does infinite credit both to the artist and the
engraver • indeed one wonders how, by means of
the wood-cut, results are compassed which would
fromently defy the powers of the copperplate. Cope-
land's white pottery, which heads the work, and
J'ugin's dark furniture, towards the end, are alike
faithfully represented, and arc a source of contrast
which gives additional piquancy to the contents of
the volume. If at starting the preface gives some
curious insight into the manner in which the build-
ing first arose from its inchoate conception in the
brain of Mr. Paxton, the progress of the work shows
with what rapidity, and to what purpose, it
sprung up.
Amongst the specimens of draughtmanship to be
seen in the Exhibition, the neat designs of Luke
Limiter are conspicuous for their clearness and pre-
cision ; these no kris than those models of well di-
rected patience, the French shawl patterns executed
in tempera. seem to have been the samples which
the Art Journal illustrators selected for imitation.
It would be difficult to single out any of the designs for
marked preference. The silver-work, book-binding,
and jewellery, seem to have been executed with
especial care. The whole of them were executed
under the direction of Messrs. Nicholls, the wood-
cutting being confided to Messrs. Helsel. The
objeorions to wood-engraving have been ably parried
throughout by the graceful direction of the lines in
the first instance, and proper attention to the method
of printing in the next.
The essays which form the concluding portion of
the volume are subdivided into upwards of twenty
chapters of closely printed type, the opening part
containing the " Science of the Exhibition," by /Sr.
Itobert Hunt, who gives a masterly analysis of the
four great sections of the Exhibition—raw material.
and produce, machinery, manufactures, and floe
arts. The writer follows through its several grads-
tions the method in which science lends her aid to
art and manufacture ; making the mind of the
wader revert from the finished piece of metal-work
to its pristine state of crude ore, in (lass 1. The
vegetable and mineral kingdoms are rapidly sur-
ve)ed. From this necessarily recondite and abstruse
subject, we turn with pleasure to Mrs. Nlerrifleld's
subject on the " Harmony of Colours." Therein
will be found a very plausible manner of ac-
counting for impressions more or less partaken in
by all who have visited the Crystal Palace. Clear
inferences as to the laws of hartimnious contrasts are
deduced from both successful examples of the same
in tho Great Exhibition, as compared with number-
les, shortcomings in this respect. Professor Forbes
hascommunicated his lucubration, on the "vegetable

world." The machinery of the Exhibition, thilt part
of it at least which has more particular reference to
textile manufacture, has been treated of by Mr.
Lewis 11. K Gordon, the text being elucidated by
numerous explanatory cuts. And, terminating the
catalogue, is the prize essay by Mr. Wornum.
We eau heartily recommend this volume, which
has fully accomplished the aim of its originators,
which is to give an instructive and permanent illus-
trated chronicle of the '• World's Fair.'"

TIIE UNSIGHTLY SIDE OF WELLINGTON-STREET,
in the Strand—that part of the street immediately leading
to Wati rloo-bridge —is about to be built over by goveni•
tent, as a new office far the Inland Itevenue—os the Ex-
cise and Stamps and Taxes have been called since their
recent consolidation. It is the intention of the architect em-
ployed (Mr. Pennethorne) to carry out the design and archi-
tectursleharietcr of Somerset House : to work• in short, as far
IN line, and rule, and spirit will allow him, in the style of Sir
William Chambers. Nt'ben this additionsl wing to Somer-
set House is completed, the Excise Otttee in Old Broad-
Street will be sold by suction, and the money carried to the
credit of the public. This change will, it is said, simplify
materially the system of stamping newspapers—so that a
great public improvement, as far as the eye is concerned,
will be united with important conveniences to that fourth
agate—the proprietoes of newspapers.—Atiseisonas.
CIERUITIANA AND COPENHAGVI ItamwaT.-Bnr-
wizmew is toe the cesetreetice et Uwe
these whirl' will have the gam *Mines(
tR Peeeeintri three dap' *arse, wooer Leaden.