The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-28 00:00:00

[PRICE (DOUBLE SHEET) FOURPENCE.

t►e Chamber of Representatives; the ereirement was in-
tense; crowds—not of feroeions and ill•diapoeed canaille
de Faubourg St. Antoine and other wretched localities of
the city, but of well•deemed and respectable persons, gathered
round the edifier, anxious to learn from the speech whether
the future was to be one of probable peace or of discard ; and
the satisfaction felt at the tone of the address was farmed
in no measured or niggardly Wins. Paris saw before her
*yea the prospect of continued tranquillity, and with it of
advancing prosperity, and, we believe, is now fully awned
that there are other glories to be woo than those gained on
the tented field, and other sources for developing her spirit
and her strength than those she displayed at Jena and.
Austerlitz.

" There is, however, much for her to learn, and still more to
do, ere she can attain commercial greatness ; many obstruc-
tions have yet to be cleared away, and far more liberal views
toward, foreign countries must be entertained, to enable her
to occupy the position which a great nation should assume
with reference to those around her. There are jealousies to
be overcome, imposts to be laid aside, free Intercourse to be
encouraged, the elements of distrust to be uprooted, gene-
rous views in regard to others to be inculcated, both in the
spirit and the letter. At the present time none of these
exist to any extent ; yet it is not to much the fault of the
people generally, as of the government under which they
live ; but insomuch a, they who rule do so only by the suf-
ferance of the governed, the latter have the remedy in their
own hands, and it ft their own fault if a better order of
things be not enforced. The government of France euumee
a power in ammercial matters which the most despotic ruler
in the world can scarcely surpass ; and this so much towards
her own 'objects as foreigner,.
"As in Germany and en Belgium, so in France, the great
. _ . .

Exhibition of 18514 spoken of in the highest terms of eulogy
as worthy of a liberal, enterprising, and enlightened people.
The comprehensiveness of the scheme and the vast arrange-
moots everywhere making in England for efficiently carry-
ing out the contemplated work, elicit the surprise and the
admiration of the Parisian munuf►cturen. bull, many, even
of those who purpose contributing, are at a lon to conceive
how they are to bs benefited by it. What is the use,' ob-
served an extensive iron manufacturer to us, ' of my sending
specimen, of my works? you have greater facilities than I
for producing cheaply. How can I expect to get an order
from Eegland ? ' We admitted the justice of his remark,
and could only reply that' The superiority of his urnomen-
tal workmanship might be the mean. of procuring him orders
against the men of Birmingham and Glasgow.'
Notwithstanding, however, these suspicions of ultimate
gain on the part of individuals, we found the leading houses
of run, almost without exception, busily employed in pro-
panties; yet most of them so far bated completion as to
necessitate their retention to the very last day when works
can be admitted. Tall French comminien requiring that all
objects destined for the Exhibition shall be transmitted to
them by the 31st of December, seems to have caused great
dissatiraction, from the presumed impossibility of getting
them ready in time. The uncertainty also which existed.
as to the decision of the jury in Paris upon the merits of the
productions so transmitted, was felt as a grievance by the
lesser manufecturers. We found, too, that many clever
workmen who were accustomed to make goads and cell them
to the shopkeepers, and who had obtained prizes at their own
national expositions, were mating no preparation tor send-
ing to London, being deterred by the expense, which, unt:l
it was too late, they did not kuow would be defrayed by the
French government. A register had ben for some time
opened at the Hotel de Ville, for the department of the Seine,
where all applications for space were made. This list was
cloud on the 31st of October, when the books showed the
name* of 134 exhibitors who had obtained gold medals at
their national exhibitions, and a much larger number of
thou who had received awards of lass value, or had not
gained honorary distinctions ►t all. The first of these only
were admitted to send tneir predictions without the adjudi-
cation of the central Jury.
" The laws concenumt copyright in England have neces-
sarily attracted the attention of the French mseufacturen,
who are desirous to receive some satisfactory inform ,:ion en
the subject; they feel that the law, as now existing, gives
them little or no protection, and they urged upon our notice
the importance of some definite settlement of the question,
so as to leave no doubt respecting the result. It was observed
to us by the head of an extensive firm who carries on a very
considerable business with this country, that his traveller
• isit England for orders annually in the months of January
and, February. ' Now,' he contioued, laen 'tuna up
seine very beautiful things for your expositien is blry, out
there is at present nothing to prevent my deei.rne being
copied and ritniler goods manufactured by your countrymen.
nd sold in Et gland before my agents can go their rounds
in 1852. If 1 bud this cannot be prevented, I must decline
contributing.'
" The silversmiths and jewellers of Paris also complain of

the length el time which, is the executive in London have
hitherto decided, elapses between the reception of the goods
here and the opening of the Exhibition; al expressed
their intentions of wilikolding their contributions if they
were compelled to keep them packed up for some weeks be-
fore displaying thus. This, they said, would greatly injure
the brilliincy end beauty of their works, while there exists
no necessity tor their being thus closed up, inasmuch u the
rapid communication between the twocities enables the hoods
to be conveyed speedily from one to the other. In short, it
is evident from all we heard and saw that, if Cho time for
receiving such manufactured articles be not extended to the
latest ptssible moment, we shall not get much from the
other Bide of the Channel in those departments of Industrial
Art. _ .

Having thus brkfiy alluded to some of the objections
roads, and difficulties felt, by the foreign oompetitor, and
which we trust may yet be obviated by the Executive Com-
mittee in London, when they have the power—we proceed
to no:ice what we found to be In progress among the prin-
cipal manufacturing firms of Faris. We visited more than
• hundred of these, and were received everywhere with the
greatest courtesy and consideration ; the Art Journals well
known among the manufacturen of the city, especially by
the illustrated reports of the French expositions. We were
math ratified to hear themoet favourable opinions expressed
of our efforts to do justice to their exertions in time past, u
well u their ready offers of assistance for the future. It
surprised them greatly to find that the conductors of sny
periodical publication should consider it worth their while to
awed correspondents over half Europe, to ascertain what may
be expected for the great festival of Industry.
" All the principal silversmiths and jewellers are busily
occupied in the work of preparation. We saw in one
establishment a magnificent silver tea service, unique in
design and of most elaborate workmanship; in another,
richly wrought silver jewel box, of Gothic character ; and
elsewhere, • 11111.1041 candelabrum several feet high, made
for the Facts of Egypt, and a profusely ornamented gold
certrldge box, intended for the same destination; while
another firm are producing several caskets of great beauty:
yet we are bound to state that we have seen in England
articles quite equal to then in at the tannish of ex-
cellent*.
A visit to various bronze manufactories afforded us Much
pleasure ; we found much there that is good, and much also
et en inferior quality. There will be a oonsiderable display
of this material in figures, lamps, lustros, vases. One menu-
facture, is producing a chandelier, set with enamels and
imitation pearls, the effect of whisk whoa lighted up is as
novel as it is brilliant; and we saw in the atolwr of another
some rues of rather small dimensions, but most artistically
odwnesigendeAsd end w
ex. knowecotedthat Birmingham , such uiCelliniham has la
would not have
made
edis-ide
great strides in this art, we shall feel anxious to see the two
in competition.
It is extraordinary, with the means and appliances which.
Busload has so readily at her command for the production
of ornamental ironwork, she is still so fez behind our =di-
nested neighbours both in the quantity and quality she puts
forth. There Is no doubt but that, were the demand for It
ratter, far man attention wirdd be given tolls manufacture;
but the architects end builders of this *tunny seem yet to
be opposed to its free introduction into oar edifices : whether
We arises from the additional con it would entail, or from
some ether cause which we cannot divine, it is impassible to
say; still It is much to be deplored that so beautiful • aiseertp-
don of external mammal should be denied us, whin' Paris
abounds with it in every direction. One count peas through
• single street of the city, whether it be new or old, without
Mopping to admire he *liberate and rich spseimas of Ina-
work wlikh meet the eye oar all sides is the shape of Wee-
nies, versadake, penile inserted la deems, koalas', Ma, Ire.
Ths Waste aims, la say Wawa; an peesitarly dir