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

[PRICE (DOUBLE SHEET) FOURPENCE.

' the specimens provided for the Exhibition by Messrs.
Anderson, of Glasgow.
The peculiarity of different tastes in this depart-
ment is remarkably exemplified in the diversity of
articles destined for different countries. Thus, the
soft light mastitis for India, here and there adorned
with brilliant flowers and sprigs, contrast strangely
with the tasteless and unsightly ginghams that find
a ready market at New York. In case No. 20 may
be seen six qualities of the latter material from
Messrs. McGibbon, of Carlisle, each excellent of
their kind, but in appearance so unattractive that
it may be questioned whether they would ob-
tain purchasers anywhere on this side of the At-
lantic, except
.possildy among the least edumted. Their
extreme sobriety of colouring and pattern is per-
haps seen to a disadvantage in juxta position to
the brilliant dyed yarns of Messrs. !madam, from
the same vicinity. The lawns of Messrs. Young. of
Glasgow, more especially the Victoria and the Bishop
lawn, court and deserve the closest scrutiny.
It may excite astonishment in some minds to ob-
serve in ease D 4 the care and expense lavished upon
what can only be considered as remotely auxiliary
pmcesses to that of cotton spinning or vending,
namely, the embossing of wood, the adornment of
metal, and the elaborate carving of ivory and mother
of pearl reels, on which the thread is wound.
The effect on each respective material certainly
onhances its appearance, though one is at a loss to
understand how it operates iu attracting purchasers.
The series provided by Messrs. Clarke and Messrs.
Ilarris, of Leicester, Is instructive, not only as show-
ing all the different stages of the manufacture of
reels, together with those which effectually prevent
imposition as regards the length contained on each,
but also the varieties of sewing cotton from the same
mills.

. .....
Messrs. Evans, of Derby, display similar articles
made up in different forms, though compact in bulk.
Thus one of their balls of crotchet sisKil, if unwound,
would be found to measure 28 miles, and another
ball weighing 28 ounces encloses 18 miles of
thread.

Those who are tolerably conversant with the sub-
ject of cotton manufacture will come prepared in a
great measure to see the diversity of material spring-
ing from the pod of the cotton-plant, but they will
scarcely withhold an exclamation of surprise on find-
ing themselves confronted with solid articles of fur-
niture constructed solely of calico! Yet it is even
so : Messrs. Lincoln and Bennett, the well-known
hatters, are the inventors of a process whereby
the most substantial articles are compounded
entirely of layers of calico, united only by a
peculiar varnish and the action of a power-
ful hydraulic press. These goods arc evidently
stronger than if constructed of wood of the same
thickness, and have at a distance somewhat of the
appearance of gutta percha or papier avirld . On
close scrutiny, however, through the graining with
which they are covered, the texture of the e'oth and
the mode of nrinufacture is plainly observable.
These, we think, may fairly be classed among the
marvels of this wonderful age. The chess table, with
its tough and solid frame and turned pedestal,
adorned with mouldings and imitative carvings, is
perhaps the most striking of Messrs. Limsdn's pro-
ductions in this line, though the casket, watch
stand, paper weight, &c., are extremely curious.
It is difficult at first to credit that the
light fleecy fibres of downy wool, seen on the adjoin-
ing stall, could by any manipulation be made to
assume their present transformation. Yet the pm-
etssi is evidently simple, and analogous to that by
which the bodies of the lighter description of hats
are produced.
Numbered 48, on a neighbouring counter, maybe
seen the long-cloths and skirtings of Messrs.liorrocks
and Miller, whose reputation for half a century past
has been unrivalled in India. Their's are no show
goods, specially produced for the occasion, but taken
without selection front their ordinary stock. lie
whose experience qualifies him to give an opinion on
such a matter will at once perceive that the name
and position enjoyed by these manufacturers has been
deservedly acquired.
We cannot close the present notice without ad-
verting to the table-cover, on the centre of whieli is
an elevation of the Crystal l'alace, surrounded by an
allegorical border of considerable elegance (designed
by Mr. James Smith of Manchester). The whole
has been produced in the little ►oom placed under-
neath it. Of the outlay necessary to accomplish the
intention of the spirited projector some idea may be
formed when we add that 90,000 cards were con-
sumed in its production, the total preliminary ex-
penses amounting to upwards of 2,0001.