The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-28 00:00:00

BRITISH FURNITURE.

While the visitors at the Exhibition wait patiently
for their turn to enter the suite of apartments furnished in
tho Austrian fashion, iu the foreign nave, and give unqua-
lified admiration to the rather cumbrous articles which they
contain, the British furniture department, at the other end
of the building, is comparatively neglected, although within
it may be found specimens of every variety of ornamental
furniture, and of every species of decorative cabinet work,
each of which in its class would come triumphantly out of
• comparison with ite:Oreign competitors. A contemporary
has been rather severe on the exertions of our native artists'
in this department, alleging that in every case they have
sacrificed utility to ornament, and exhibited only articles
suited to the state rooms of a palatial residence. A moment's
reflection will show how little force there is iu this criticism.
The palm of excellence of work and soundness of material,
of fitness for the purpose intended, and of efficiency in
carrying out that purpose, had long been conceded to the
British workman and his productions. Ilia success
in the useful branches of his trade was attested
by the demand fur his work in the markets
of the world, but in the more decorative branches he was
supposed to be behind the foreigner ; and, therefore, he has
chosen gallantly to meet his competitor on his own ground,
and, if possible, foil him with his own weapons. A glance
at the varied and elegant contents of the spacious areas
which have been allotted to British furniture, will prove
how successful have been his endeavours. Beginning in
the nave, Mr. Lecand s (Tottenham-court-road), elegant
console frame and table will be found to possess all the
beauty usually found in gilt furniture. They are ela-
borately carved in American pine and lime-tree, and splen-
didly gilt and burnished, which gives them a fine palatial
effect. In the same compartment is a beautiful table slab
in English porcelain, unticketed, but remarkable for the
purity and beauty of its torquois colour, and the delicacy of
the paintings with which it is ornamented. hlessrs.Gillow,
of Oxford-street and Lancaster, exhibit a splendid collection
of furniture in English woods. Me EOM hunter's walnut side-
board and wine-cooler are magnificently carved, and the loo-
table is one of the handsomest things in the Exhibition.
There:is also a sofa, which is an epitome of comfort and luxury,
and a library chair, which leaves nothing to be desired
either in design or execution. On the wall is a magnificent
picture frame, designed by Pugin, which has all the pecu-
liarities of that artist. Wilkinson, (Ludgate-hill), have a
state bed of carved walnut, with crimson hangings, which is
of rather massive proportions. The same firm exhibit a
wardrobe in satin wood, which is beautifully light and
cheerful, and is contrived a double debt to pay, by having
a large mirror inserted in the centre door. A mirror by
Rogers in English walnut is a splendid specimen of wood
Carving, tasteful in design, and elaborate and skilful in
execution. The marqueterie table by 'Watson (Spring-
sheet, Paddington), only requires to be placed in a more
prominent position to make it one of the lions of the Exhi-
bition. Within a moulding of carved ebony it contains a
series of inlaid designs in coloured woods, of which one
hardly knows which to admire most, the design or the
execution. This beautiful article, which is placed in a
comparatively obscure corner, should be placed in the nave,
where the visitor might compare it with the Turin table,
sow so much visited and admired. Tmllope and Son have
made a successful attempt to revive the old style of inlaid fu r-
situreby preparing an entire bedroom suite insatinwood in-
laid in marqueterie, the woods being inserted in their natural
colours. The whole has a light and elegant effect, and ex-
hibit the capabilities of the beautiful material to great
advantage. The library chimney piece by Midland (Mary-
lebone) will be admired by the advocates of cinquc cent°
. _ _ .

revival. This and many others of the specimens have been
referred to before, and we need therefore only repeat our
admiration of their excellence, without going into details.
The above are only a few of the noticeable features in the
British section. The colketioa will bear visiting again and
again ; and in the meantime we trust enough has been said
to lead the stream of public curiosity into a most attractive
channel. The visitors have now made themselves tolerably
familiar with the foreign furniture; and if they will only
give an equally careful inspection to home-made wares, they
will be somewhat surprised to see what treasures they have
hitherto comparatively neglected

PUBLIC DINNER AT DERBY TO MR. C. FOX,

THE CONTRACTOR.

This day week a numerous and highly respect-
able party of gentlemen a,sembled at the Royal Hotel,
Derby, to do honour to their townsman, Mr. Charles Fox,
the builder of the Crystal Palace. Mr. Paxton and Mr.
Henderson were invited as guests on the occasion ; cilia we
may here state that it is the intention of the town and
county of Derby to pay a similar mark of respect to Mr.
Paxton very shortly. The dinner was served up in the
Atheneum room at the Royal Hotel. About 140 gentlemen
sat down, including the mayor of the borough, who pre-
sided, Mr. C. Fox, Mr. Paxton, the Right Hon. Edward
Strutt, Mr. J. Strutt, Mr. Bass, 'M.P., Mr. Heyworth, M.P.,
Mr. Geach, M.P., Mr. Alderman Mousley, Mr. Alderman
Sanders, Mr. Alderman Moss, &c.
The usual leading toasts, followed by the health of the
Duke of Devonshire, having been given and responded to
Mr. Alderman MOUBLEY proposed the toast of the evening:
" The health of Mr. Fox," prefacing it with a brief eulo-
gistic sketch of Mr. Fox's career.
Mr. FOX having returned thanks, proceeded to give an
outline of the mechanical and scientific operations carried
out by him in the construction of the Crystal Palace, from
the first excogitation of the idea of a great building of glass
and iron by Mr. Paxton, to its triumphal opening under
royal auspices on the Ist May last. Mr. Fox concluded his
address in the following terms—When the Royal Commis-
sioners confided to ui the construction of tho building for
the Exhibition of Industry of all Nations, I felt that in some
degree the credit of England was in our hands—that we had
it in our power to achieve that which would prove eminently
successful, or in failing to do so, would be a source of
the most serious disappointment and disgrace, and that we
were therefore bound by considerations of no ordinary
kind to exert every effort in our power to carry the work
to completion in the shortest possible time, and at any per-
sonal sacrifice, and without regarding the question of
expense, the more especially as his Royal Highness Prince
Albert hod invited the world to this great festival of the
Ist May, and it was essential as a point of national
honour that this vast edifice should be ready for the'
reception of his guests. I need not remind you that
we completed the contracts, and that our beloved
Sovereign presided at the inauguration on the day
which had been originally appointed. (Cheers.) I feel
a peculiar pleasure in having carried out this great un-
dertaking in the consideration that it is not a temple in
which the representatives of nations will meet together
1 for the purpose of adjusting matters of strife, or ques-
tions of warfare, but one in which the Prince has in-
vited all the family of man to assemble in harmony and
good fellowship, and were juries composed of distinguished
, ' foreigners and Englishmen meet together as friends to de-
side upon the comparative merits of those beautiful objects

of art and manufactures which are the happy results of
peaceful commercial emulation. (Cheers.) Again thank-
ing you for the honour you have this day conferred upat
me, the recollection of which will never be effaced from my
memory, and also for the kind patience with which pm
have listened to my remarks, I conclude by wishing Soa
the long enjoyment of health and of that happiness and
prosperity which aro the sure results of those enlightened
views which arc fast spreading over the world, and which
the people of Derby have ever been among the foremost to
advance. (Mr. Fox resumed his seat amidst loud cheers.)
The MAYOR then rose to propose the health of a cm-
, demon to whom this country and the world owed a debt of
gratitude—he meant his friend Mr. Paxton. (Loud cheers.)
The toast was drank with three times three.

Mr, PAXTON said that on the present occasion he would
trouble them very little concerning himself; but having
designed the Crystal Palace, he thought they would au
agree with him that the next hod step he took wa. to zr, to
his friends, Messrs. Fox and Ilenderson, to a.k flair' ift4,y
would undertake to carry it out. (Cheers.) Haling 144
dealings with Messrs. Fox and Ilenderson before. he had,
during the progress of his plans, always had his cyc viont
that firm as the parties best calculated to erect the

and accordingly he called at Mr. Fox's office on 5.it3,11
afternoon with his plane under his ann. After a f, w
liminary remarks he asked Mr. Fox if it was his Mt,
to send in a contract for the Building Commits, e's plan;
to which he replied that he thougl.t of so .1 ~

Ile (Mr. Pazton) then said, "1' have son

here that I think you will approve or

same time banding hi, plans across the table. Mr. 1.,x
having looked at them, ',aid they were beautiful ; and
(Mr. Paxton) then asked him if he would go into th, ni, 14
which he replied in the affirmative. " Well, but,"
" Mr. Fox, will you go in to win ?" His reply was, " µ•e
will." (Cheers.) And now they bade! seen the realivitiott
of his (Mr. Paxton's) de,ign. (Loud cheers.) That de.ign,
as it now stood, was perfectly in accordance with
and had never been altered at all, except in matters of de-
tail. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Fox made the working drawings
and that gentleman and Mr. lientlerson had been indefati-
gable in carrying them out. In conclusion, he had only to
add, that he had come amongst them on the present ai a.
'ion with pleasure, to do honour to his fiend Mr. F, s.
The healths of the Mayor, the members for the borunrh,
the royal commissioners, betttr health to Mr. !lend,-,.r-a,
and several other toast., were also given, and the caup,l
separated at 11 o'clock.

TO THE EDITOR 07 TIID EXll,Eles.
SlR,—We have witnessed the roust perfect sit,ess
in the opening, and hitherto in the carrying on, .if ti,..
hibition of Industry of All Nations; and there is
reason to believe that a large surplus in funds will 1...
of the results of this great undertaking.
In the absence of such resources as a national d r a
Kaffir war, the disposal of this surplus will he a • f
much difficulty to the commissioners, and it is si re.0...y a
question of much interest and importance to the mitt., e.. 1
on which free discussion should be invited. I th• r.:
venture to ask ter a corner of the Express for ti,
lowing remarks:
It will, I think, be admitted that a mode of imp! .y ;;,e
our expected surplus for the universal good would 1.;., •
ferable to its investment in objects of mere national
as each nation would then derive advantage from h.,
which it had assisted to accumulate. llut I would ad's=
higher line of :tegument.
One of the first and most important steps in the civil
lion of a country is the increase of its objects and its mt.,'
of communication with its metropolis. An action of ft.,
nature has commenced, in regard to the world, by the .
lection in England's capital of the products of many
tries. And it is now England's duty not to rest, hut to pr.i-
secute energetically the advantages thus obtained.
With this view the surplus in question cannot be burnt .1.
better account than the estahlistimi nt of an "instittion f
universal science," for which it will be necessary to or.-, •
more substantial building, ;mil thence to issue a si coed Mt,-
tation to the nations of the earth, requesting them to .0,..
point commissioners to meet us periodically tor the !tarp,:
of receiving communications of, and awarding viz, fury
inventions and discoveries of every description.
The Crystal Palace, or rather a part of it, would form in
admirable museum to be attachtil to this institution, at
which the student might learn from time to time 14.• ;-re-
gress
made, and the bar to the further advancement to it
science. Room would at the same time be latfurd..l to
Denarius's" and for a great number of Mr. Paxton's
gestions being carried into effect.
I will not at present enter into details, merely remark:cc
that, looking to the hearty manner in which our first :sic
Whin has been responded to by so many nations, it
he imagined that our second—and fur sucha purpose—wo.i.d
I remain unheeded.
II have this huncur to be, sir, your most obedient Ilionh:a
servant, DELTA.
London, June 27.

THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO TIIF. is nisi]

- -
stood that her Majeatyhas pignitied her intention todf•
with the form of being met by the City anthorit

Temple-bar upon the evening of.the visit .rto the City. I
that her Majesty has also signified her wish to dt
with the form of an address upon the occasion. It

ported amongst the members of the corporation th •
Queen will be met at the gates of Guildhall by the I -
Mayor, who will there present the City sword to her %I -
jesty ; and that she has most gritiously expresied her ••
to see the hallcrowded with her loyal subjects. It is -
Herod that her Majesty has chosen to be present At A 6,!1
rather than a dinner, because on many more of her

can be accomodate(' n't an entertainuarilt of the form, 1.11:4.
LECTURESHIP CONTI:AT IN Sr. DussrAN's, ir-
xxx.—A very numerous and respectable meetin
prrishionetv of St. Dunstan's took place on Tltursd..y ev. s-
ing, at the 'Town-house, Mile-end-road, on chi. t,
pursuant to the adjournment front the 12th inst. ;
Epp, Esq., overecer, in the chair. The report of Ow
aistant town clerk stated that Mr. Poole waited upon 0.!

bishop on the 13th inst., and was duly licensed, after taking
the necessary oaths, &c., to the office as an assistant
with his duties specifically defined—viz., "'Po real
on Sunday afternoons in the said church, and then ..e,
there also to preach, and having assigned unto him t 4 due
performance of the said duties such yearly stipend a, the
committee for receiving the voluntary contribution. o'nott
the parishioners shall collect ; and as it was ni ess-ttry t:
this license should be duly registered in the Bishop',
ISoctors'-commons, it was iinposdble to forward i; bet-e•
Sunday, the lath inst. ; hut, as it is usual for the declara-
tion signed by the bishop, and bearing his lordship's oil
office, to be acknowledged its sufficient authority Isr the
possessor to undertake his duties, the declaration was for-
warded to the rector, with a note front the Rev. szamel
Gower Poole, stating that he was perfectly ready to ten-
mum° his duties on the following Sunday, the 1.10. if
convenient to the rector, and begging his reply the
rector replied that he wished to see the license. This eou'..l
not be forwarded, owing to the above reason. The rta tsr
then simply returned the declaration without any moos, r.
The license reached the Rev. S. G. Poole on the loth, and
on the following morning was fOrMardelt to the rector by
the Rev. S. G. Poole, with a note stating that lie we, pre-
pared to enter on his duties on the following Sunday after-
noon, the 22nd. The rector kept the license till Saturday
evening, when he returned it without any answer. ten
Sunday afternoon Mr. Poole attended the church, and read
prayers to a most attentive and huge congregation, ease
out the hymn, and proceeded to the vestry. Ou his return,
he found the rector in the pulpit, when he quit tly pro-
ceeded, and took his seat on the north side of the altar.
The serious outbreak that followed has been air .uly de-
tailed in this journal on Monday last. The ad tpttun of
this report was moved by Mr. Newton, and seconded by
Mr. Richard Smith; and the meeting adjourned till "f burs-
day neat.
COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' BENEVOLENT IS,q4
TUTlON.—Yesterday, the half-yearly meeting of the mem-
bers of this institution took place at the London Tavern,
Bishopsgate-street. Mr. Jcukyn Jones in the choir. A re-
port was read, which stated that a deputation had been ap-
pointed to confer with the " old institution," with a view to
bring about a junction of the two societies; but it was
found to be impossible to carry out this intention without
sacrificing the main principle upon which the pr.-eat
stitution was established. The members of the hoard were
therefore using their best endeavours to promote the biter, di
of this society. The commercial travellers nitre a soy
large body, amounting to more than 30,000, and were el-
posed to a great variety of circumstances, and, however
provident they might be, it was impossible that there should
not be some members of the body incapacitated from fol-
lowing their avocations. The receipts had amounted to
5381. Os. lid., and the disbursements to 1001. fis. Gil., hosing
a balance of 3781. ls. Od. The report having been adopted,
resolutions were passed in conformity with the principle, it
embrased, and the meeting separated.
A TRIAL TRIP OF TIIE BARON OsY
took place yesterday, when a chosen party assembled to
witness her performance and speed from Blackwall to the
Nero and back. The Baron Osy is built to replace the old
Princess Victoria, which ran on the Antwerp line, in con-
junction with the Antwerpen. The engines of the Berm
Osy are the same as were made fifteen years ago by Caird
and Co. for the Princess 'Victoria, and arc of 720 hope-
power. With these engines the last named steamer, though
only 420 tons burthen, never attained a higher speed than
10 statute miles per hour. It remained to be seen whether
a better built boat might not be made to go much faster
with the same engines. Accordingly the Baron u.y, hid!
is a steamer of 4570 tons beechen, was tried yesterday. and
attained a speed per hour of 15]; statute miles, with a slack
tide against her. An interesting incident marked the trial-
trip to the More. The Baron Osy was proceeding
at half speed from Blackwell when she was overhauled
below Woolwich by the fast steamer of the Boulogne line,
the City of Paris. This vessel hail scarcely passed when the
full force of steam was put upon the engines of the Ikaroo
Osy, which bowled away in great style till she ultimately
forged a-head of the City of Paris in Nortlitieet Rope, just
above Gravesend; the speed attained during the rue
being, as above stated, 15} statute miles an hour. Dancing
and merriment were the order of the day on board, and the
afternoon was most pleasantly spent under the auspices of
Captain Jackson, who we believe assumes the command of
the new vessel.