The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-14 00:00:00

11.1:3.

The recent cxcitcment among the dandies of Lon-
don in favour of a nvolution in the form—not of govern-
ment, but of hats, has had a marked effect upon the hatters
of London, as those visitors who have paid soy attention to
Class 20 must have noticed. The stiff, inelegant hat now
in vogue may be well replaced by a form of head covering
more in accordance with the laws of taste ; but, whether or
not any of the new forms of which there are specimens in
the Exhibition will be generally adapted is, at present,
a matter of doubt. Englishmen are very sensitive of
any extravagance in costume. The wide trousers of
the Parisians, which, in windy weather, assume the dis-
tended shape of balloons, have never been imitated iu this
country, for the reason that they arc ottfr—neither con-
venient nor ornamental. in the same way the extravagant
forms of head covering which may be seen in Paris are not
suggestive of that national sobriety of character for which
the people of England arc remarkable. Therefore, in at-
tempting to design a hat to be popular in this country, the
manufacturer should be careful to produce something
plain, tasteful, and comfortable. Undoubtedly felt hats
are more pleasant wear than the pasteboard upon which
silk bats are generally made ; and it is with this belief
that the batten appear to have acted. There are the
registered japanned felt hats of Garrard and Co., the
registered Koryehlamyd, or helmet-cap, of Mr. Zox, the
elastic ventilating hats of Felix and Co., the zephyr hats of
Mr. White, the English plush hats of Mr. Melton, the
I elastic beaver hats of Ashton and Suits, the silk hat, on soft
felt body, of Smith, George, and Co., the soft velvet folding
hat of Mr. Tyler, the French silk hat upon a substance of
i Manilla grass, the cork hats of Mollady and Sons, the col-
lection of felt hate from Carrington and Co., of Stockport,
the Brazilian palm-leaf Wellington hats from Mr. Barforte,
of St. Albans, Bern and MellianTs new styles of
military and court hats, and the Novus Pal-
lium hat front Leonard flicks, of Primate, Leeds.
; Variety we have here undoubtedly ; but little very new or
commendable in form. Indeed, when there is a deviation
from the established fashiou, it is to an imitation, more or
I less close, of French extravagance. Perhaps the hat exhi-
bited by Mr. Hicks, of Leeds, is the most original in form.
It has a low crown and curled brim, and is pleasant and
I elastic to the head ; but whether or not the retiring sober
' Englishman will venture to appear abroad itt a head-dress a
little resembling that of the Yenisei of the Guard, we do
not pretend to determine. The cork hats arc light ; but are
said to lie hard to the heath and to confine the heat ; and
we arc inclined to prefer the silk hats, on a soft
velvet body, offered by Smith, George, wad Company.
The felt caps, which arc fast coming into general use among
the working-classes, and may now be had at any shop, and
in all colours (even in the brightest orange tint) appear to
have hit English taste, bring comfortable and not remark-
able. They are too low crowned perhaps, and not cool
, enough for summer wear; but at all events, fur mechanics,
are a great improvement upon the indifferent silk hate, in
; various stages of deny, which they were in the habit of
wearing..
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