The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-28 00:00:00

THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

The following are particulars of the clock sent in by Mr.
Benson :—The frame of movement is nearly 10 feet long,
made of strong iron planed to a fine surface and strongly
bolted together, having three great wheels measuring over
2 feet in diameter each. They are made of the finest gun-
metal,
as are all the other wheels, cut and finished by the
engine. All the pivots will work in gun-metal bosses fitted
in plummer blocks. These plummer blocks have never
been applied to clockwork before, and the advantage gained
is, that they allow of any portion of the clockwork being
' removed without disturbing the remainder when it requires
cleaning, &c. It will chime the quarters on four bells.
The chimes are the same as those of St. Mary's, at Cam-
bridge, but so arranged that by their intonation they may
denote 2d, 3d, and 4th quarters, as the case may be, and it
will strike the hour on a fifth bell. These five bells weigh
50 cwt., and are from the foundry of Messrs. Mears, having
a compensating pendulum measuring over all 15 feet, which
will vibrate once in two seconds. The motive power is
obtained by iron weights of nearly a ton, which are placed
in one corner of the south front of the I.l2i-
bition building, some two hundred feet front the
clock itself, being connected with the clock by means Of
pulleys and lines carried under the floor of the exhibition,.
the dial of the clock is placed in front of the building, over
the grand entrance in Cromwell-road, at a distance of nearly
300 ft. It is 9ft. in diameter, was designed at the South
Kensington Museum, under the superintendence of Mr.
Cole and Capt. Fowke, and manufactured by Mr. Magnus
in his enamelled slate. But the special peculiarity in the
clock is a new double lever remontoir, the application of
which diminishes the friction or retarding force, and will
allow of great motive power, even to the extent of several
tons, being used without disturbing the timekeeping quali-
ties of the clock. It is always necessary, when there are
great disturbing or impeding forces to overcome, such ler
instance as the wind blowing against the hands of the clock,.
or the dial being at a great distance from the movement, as
is the case with this cock, that a great motive power should
be employed; and the advantage, therefore, of this new
invention is palpable, by preventing irregularities in time-
keeping occasioned by the necessity of employing such
great motive power—hence the superiority of this arrange-
ment to clocks where great motive power is indispensable.
It is believed to be as large a clock as has been manufactured
in this country, excepting the great Westminster clock, and
would strike with sufficient force to obtain a tone from a bell
of equal weight to the Westminster bell. The entire finish
is of the highest class. The foundations of the clock are
erected by Messrs. Belk and Lucas in solid brickwork, and
sunk some 15ft, below the fluor of the exhibtion. The iron-
work is by Potter, of South Molton-street, who also cast
the four dials to be placed at the cardinal points. Messrs.
Jackson, of Rathbune-place, are fitting with their beautiful
work the exterior of the clockcase, which will be decorated
by Mr. Crace. Messrs. Moniton are laying their encaustic
tiles round the base. The entire structure of the clock-
case is from designs by Mr. Leddle, of the South Kensing-
ton Museum.

DUNDEE.—THE SEAL FISHING.—On Friday fore-
noon the screw-whaler Narwhal, Captain Deuchars, arrived
iu the Tay from the sealing at Old Greenland, after an ab-
sence from Dundee of about six weeks. She has on board
about 1,500 seals, and after having discharged her cargo
will leave for the whaling about Tuesday next. The cap-
tain reports that when he left the Dundee, the only other
Dundee vessel on the ground, had about 900 seals ; and the
other vessels of the fleet averaged from 1,000 to 2,000 tit-h
—a Peterhead ship having the higher number.—Scotsmag
EXTRAORDINARY FISH CAUGHT IN THE FIRTH.
—On Thursday night last, there was caught by the fisher-
men of Pittenweew, for Mr. James Muirhead, fish sales-
man, Edinburgh, a halibut of the greatest weight and
dimensions ever known to be caught in this quarter. It
measured in length 6 feet 4 inches ; breadth, 3 feet 5
inches ; thickness, 121 inches at middle. The weight was
2881 b. imperial. It was sent by Mr. Muirhead to one of
the southern Znglibh markets for sale.—Scotsman,