The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-11 00:00:00

THE SUN,

THE GREAT EXHIBITION. INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
The Executive Committee have issued another red- (William Cubits, Esq.. President, in the Chair.)
lettered handbill, warning exhibitors, native and foreign, 1 On Tuesday, the first paper read was a "Description
that the Exhibition will positively and undouotedly open of two Bridges over the river Don and the Canal, with
on the Ist of May. It seems very strange that, after I the Lodge and Approaches,, on the estate of Sir Joseph
the repeated . and peremptory announcemeets that Copley, Bart., at Spotbro , near Doncaster," by Mr. H.
have already been made of this resolution, any idea Carr, Assoc. Inst. C.E.
i
should still be entertained that t will be departed The object of these works was to form an always ac-
from. On so important a point the Royal Commis- cessiblo
,means of communication between the village of
sioneee cannot break faith with the public, and, pre- Spotbro , situated on the north bank of the river Don,
side,
pared or not prepared, the opening must take place on and thesouth the onlymeans hitherto existing having
the day so long fixed for it. Our reputation for pane- been. by an ancient ferry, which, from being situated un-
tnative is deeply involved in this matter, and any depar- rhechately above a weir, was extremely dangerous in
ture from the original arrangement would be attended times of flood, and often perfectly unavailable. The
with the most serious inconvenience. It is to be hoped, works comprised a bridge of seven arches over the river
therefore, that exhibitors of every class and country Don, and another bridge of one arch over a short navi-
will no longer cling to a notion which only gable cut, or canal, which had been made for the 101-
serves to relax their exertions and to damage provement of the river navigation; with the necessary
their share in the general display. How, after the embanked roads and approaches, and a lodge and gates
many positive and authoritative intimations they have had, at the junction with the old road on the Spotbro' side.
they should still in many instances refuse to be convinced, The total length of these works was nearly one-third of
we ape at a loss to understand, but probably the ex- a mile.
planation will be found to some extent in the back- The river bridge consisted of a centre arch of ]OO feet
ward state of the work which the contractors have had span, and three land arches on each side of 20 feet span
to execute. The painting of the interior, which they each. The centre arch was composed of four laminated
engaged themselves to finish on the 20th of last mouth, timber ribs, the outside planks of which were scarfed, and
though very far advanced, has not yet been completed, the interior ones set with a small space between the butt
and the inconvenience and interruption arising from this ends, so as to allow the whole to be keyed up by driving
delay are every day and hour becoming more sensibly in hard cak wedges, when the arch was laid, and spikes
felt. Exhibitors now require a Meer fielu fur pushing for- were used ins: end of treenails. On removing the
ward their preparations, and we trust that vigorous steps lag ,ing of the centres,. on which the ribs were framed, it
may at once be taken in order that this result may be was found that the weight was taken by the sides of the
w.edgfts, but even this. was thought not to be so objec-
secured to them. In saying thus much, we are far from
wishing to complain of Messrs. Fox and Henderson, tionable as thesuiperfection in the butt joint in the ordi-
who, we are quite aware, have had extraordinary nary construction.
culties to contend with in the progress of their great and The interior of the land arches was constructed of
composed principally
brilliant undertaking. For months past the firm has been brickwork,
.set in cement; the rest of the work being
deprived of the talents and energy of Mr. Henderson, who,of pitch faced ashlar and rubble.
we are sorry to say, still continues in a very precarious The bridge over the canal was fifty-four feet span,
state of health. The experimental character of the build- and ten feet nine inches rise. It was constructed in a
ing also has, from time to time, developed difficulties similar manner and of like materials to the laud arches
against which the utmost foresight could not have guarded. of the river bridge, and had Sir Joseph Copley's arms
Even the weather has for the last few weeks con- carved in stone on two spandrils, and his initials reversed
spired against the progress of the works; and, to crown and entwined on the other two.
all, there had been a partial strike among the painters. The works were executed by Messrs. T. and J.
We observe, by the red-lettered placard
already Waring, of Swinton, and occupied about fourteen months
alluded to, that they have into entered a positive ar- in construction at a cost of about 7,6501.
rangement with the Executive Committee to have every The next paper read was "On the Nominal Horse
foot of scaffolding removed from the interior by Satur- Power' of Steam Engines," by Commander L. G.
day next, the 12th, and, as it is a matter of extreme Heath, R.N.
importance that the building should be handed over at The inadequacy of the present term " nominal horse
the earliest possible moment to the exhibitors, in order power " for giving a definite idea, either of the ab•
that they may
push forward their preparations un- solute, or relative power of engines was first ex-
interruptedly, we do trust that, this time at least, the Brained, by comparing the engines of her Ma-
promise to the letter. No doubt is
made may be fulfilledjetty's steamers Garland and Basilisk, which were
entertained by those most competent to judge in the both constructed on the same principle, with oscillating
matter that our half of the Crystal Palace will be in cylinders, and were both used to drive paddle-wheels.
order for the opening, and we are glad to hear from This comparison was made under three distinct heads—
good authority that our visitors from abroad will the mean effective pressure, the number of revolutions
also be ready. They are now making great exer- per minute, and the siz3 of the cylinders. It was urged
tions, and from their fittings being brought over corn- that Watt's constant of 71bs. per square inch, for the
plete, and requiring only to be put up, their several coin- mean effective pressure, was not only in itself inappli-
partments will be finished off with great rapidity. The cable, but that no constant quantity could be universally
French exhibitors are to have stalls erected of great applicable. Also, that the method of determining the
magnificence, the shelves in some instances lined', with number of revolutions per minute, from a conventional
velvet, and everything in a style worthy of the taste and speed, founded on the length of stroke of the piston, was
elegance of. the national industry. In the other allot- equally fallacious.
ments of foreign countries, the fittings are likely to be It was, therefore, proposed that the term "nominal
of an extremely light character, and the whole will pro- horse power" should be abolished, and that engines should
haply be run up with an expedition which our exhi- in future be designated by the cubic contents of their
biters, with their substantial solid notions, and their steam cylinders, jointly with their nominal consumption
love of doing thoroughly and permanently all that of a standard description of fuel during a given period of
they are about, could not hope to rival. Thus already one hour. A table might be drawn up giving this no-
the contrasts of nationalities begin to appear through minal consumption in terms of the grate and the heating
the lacours of preparation. All have work on hand surface, and should be accompanied by rules and dire°.
which will task their utmost energies to accomplish tions for ensuring the uniform measurement of the grate
by the Ist of May. But with the public expectation and the heating surface. This system, it was contended,
concentrated upon them, and with the probability would be more in accordance with the present practice of
that her Majesty will open the Exhibition in per- construction, and would enable the relative size and
son, every difficulty will disappear. Upon this last power of engines to be more accurately estimated than
point no announcement has yet been made, but a by the present method.
general impression prevails that it will be so. Nor can The discussion was adjourned until the meeting of
it be doubted, if such a compliment to the great indus- April 15th, when the following paper will be read:—" On
trial display of all nations was contemplated by the Foundations; natural and artificial," by Mr. S. Clegg.
Queen, that an immense impulse would be given to the jun., M. Inst. C. E.
work now iu progress. Among other suggestions
to which the occasion has given rise, there is one
that seems worthy of more than a passing allusion. To
foreigners we aro indebted for the origin of many
branches of our national industry, and the approach-
ing Exhibition offers, it is thought, an excellent
opportunity for suitably acknowledging the obliga-
tions we thus owe. It has been suggested that the great

A NEW MAN.

German speculators have got hold of a new subject.
It is neither more nor less than a " new man." The
story—as we find it related in the Correspondenz of
Berlin—attests that a stranger was picked up at the end
of last year in a small village of the district of Lebas,
near Frankfort-on-the-Oder, whither he had wandered
no one could tell whence. Such a circumstance could
hardly have piqued curiosity in another country; but
to a people fond of speculation, and situated far away
from the great highways of the world, there was some-
thing strange and startling in the fact, that the stranger
spoke German impertecty, and had ail the marks of a
Caucasian origin. Whether the man was a common
impostor,' and tricked the village authorities, or wnether
these worthies began in their usual way to construct a
history for him '• out of the depths of their moral con-
sciousness," is uncertain; at all events they looked on
him as a great prize, and carried him off to Frankfort. On
being questioned by the burgomaster of that enliehtened
city the stranger said his name was Jophar Vorin, and
that he came from a country called Laxaria, situated in
the portion of the world called Sakria. He understands,
it is affirmed, none of the European languages (except,
we must suppose, the broken Uerman), but reads and
writes what he calls the Laxarian and Abramian
tongues. The latter he declares to be the written language
of the clerical order in Laxaria, and the other the common
language of his people. He says that his religion is Chris-
tian in form and doctrine, and that it is called Ispatian.
Laxaria, he represents to be many hundred miles from
Europe, and separated by vast oceans from it. His pur-
pose i❑ coming to Europe, he alleges, was to seek a long-
lost brother; but he suffered shipwreck on the voyage—
where, he doe.; not know—nor can he trace his route on
nhore on any map or globe. He claims for his unknown
race a consicierablo share of geographical knowledge.
The five great compartments of the earth he calls
Sakria, Aflar, Asia:, Auslar, and Euplar. The sages of
Frankfort-on-the-Oder, after much examination of the
tale and its bearer, have come to the conclusion that it
is true. Some men nelieve things because they are in-
credible. However, Jophar Vorin has been carefully
dispatchel to Berlin, and is tow the subject of much
scientific and curious gossip in the Prussian capital.
What mystificaticn hides under the story time will pro-
bably show.

city companies might worthily assume this duty, and ex-
tend their proverbial hospitality to exhibitors from
abrotd. in a manner consistent with their corporate titles.
The Siikmercers', the Goldsmiths', and the Cloth-

workers, fur instance, migh; initiate foreign visitors

belonging to th.ose trades into the luxuries of civic fare.
An alderm in in his robes, imbibing turtle-soup and milk-
. .

punch, is a spectacle which, if it does not legitimately
belong to the Innustry of all Nations, will certainly ex-

cito their curiosity.

JOSEPH MAZZINI.

A Dumfries contemporary, present at the recent ban-
quet given to the Republican refugees in London, gives
the following description of the Italian patriot, Mazzini :
" My principal motive in going was to see the great
Boman tribune, for, though a native of Genoa, Rome
is the centre of his soul, the mistress of all his affec-
tions, and in her annals his name is now for ever writ
—Joseph Mazzini. I keew that for twenty years he
has bcen the idol of the Italian patriots, the thief and
prophet-of ' Young Italy;' and I knew too the exalted
respect which is entertained for him by many of the
most eminent and excellent of our countrymen; and
no leader in the late revolutions Could be once com-
pared to him, in the display of political genius, of ad-
ministrative talent, and true Roman fortitude and mag-
nanimity. Whatever may be his future destiny, his
three mouths' defence and government of the Roman
Itepuleic (once more under the sun !) will be ' aye re-
membered in the calendar.' It was generally thought
in the meeting that Mazzini was not present, but that
he was still in Switzerland. But one of the speakers in
the course of the evening, pointed to him in an obscure
corner of the room, and hailed him as pater patrice,
when the whole assembled mss=, as if a whirlwind had
swept over them, started up, and sealed the ' all
hail !' with a burst of enthusiasm and triumph
such as I never saw equalted. The subject of all this so-
cla nation sa.med disconcerted by it; it was a scene
alien to his feelings. He rose very unwillingly, bowed
hurriedly, and sat down in his corner agaia with evident
precipitation, and a desire to escape from this universal
attention. But. the company were roused, and there
could be no more peace till he came forward and ad-
dressed them. It was manifest that although, for
his great' and devoutly cherished purposes, he must
mingle in such meetings and associations, the mere
clamour, and blaze, and ovations, were irksome to him,
his almost austere looks and depreclting gestures
seemed to say, ' Bawl not thus, but hold up your breath
for the day of action.' Here, then, stands the Roman
tribune before us. 0 Time! 0 ever-stmegling spirit!
0 mortal circumstances ever crushing anti I.,rivelltn.
ideal inspiration% ! what ravages he can make, in the
irght of a few years, upon us poor creatures—ca the
outward mask of the man. How altered is this Joseph
iazzini now before us, from what he appears in the
following vivid description of him twenty years ago,
when he was fresh twenty-one, yet even then an exile
from Italy for his liberal opinions, and living in Mar-
seilles. Thus saith the narrator:—"l went into the
rifle ground, and, looking round, saw a young man lean-
ing on his rifle watching the shooters, and waiting for
his turn. He was about five feet eight inches high, and
slightly made; he was dressed in black Genoa velvet,
with the large republican hat; his long curling black
hair, which fell upon his shoulders, the extreme
freshness of his clear olive complexion, the chiselled
delicacy of his regular and beautiful features, aided by
his very youthful look, and sweetness and openness of
expression, would have made his appearance almost too
feminine,
if it had not been for his noble forehead, the
pourer of firmness and decision that was mingled with
their gaiety and sweetness in the bright flashes of his
dark oyes, and in .he varying expression of his mouth,
together with his small and beautiful moustachiosh and
beard. Altogether he was at h
tiful beieg. male or f-raele, thatt had . I t
evere seen, most
b enadul-
t
have not since seen his equal. I had read whath and
bad
published, I had heard of what he had done and suf-
fered, and the moment I saw him, I knew it could
be no other than Joseph Mazzini.' His figure is still
slighter than in those days, as if worn out by vigils
and labours, and the multitude of pressing anxieties.
The noble forehead is still there, even more intense and
concentrated in the expression now stamped upon 1t
His black curling locks are now cropped, nd thin and
prematurely grey. The eye is dark end bright; but the
youthful sparkle and flash and mere sensuous gaiety
are gone. The whole countenance, though placid and
Calm, and benign,
wears a deep and settled solemnity.
There is no dejection in it, no sullenness, no misery, for.
when was ever such a man soured or desponding?
No, no!
' More thought than woe is in his dusky face.
I never saw a face what I would call E 0 quintessential,
SO free of all trace of temper or disposition, or any eon..
ventionel peculiarity. It seems as if he had passed
throughtti furnace, and all bad been cleared. off but the
eNressio
A 4of intellect and devoted purpose. There he
stood, wan, weak, la and shattered as he is, in head, look,
beating,
and sentiment, a very Roman—inspired by all
the different iro 1 ses of theßoman spirit—a .miztute
antique Po
of the .
severity of a Brutus, with the modern
and gorgeous visions of power, and freedom, and
greatness, which Dante taught all Italian minds
instinctively to associate
has
with that ' Eternal City.'
Poor Pio Nono, fat, soft,e
and oily, he can never stand
against this man should his ll' backers
fail him some fine morning, lie
or Ga fo
coat and cocked hat reedy footman's
on
may keep thewho
knows. the Vatican; who
knows. they may again be neelePeli?l
o Mazaini's speaking was a great contrast to the pre-
ceding orations, or, indeed to any orations
' He was net like a man making a ti:beesftuhsually delivered.
but like a man who had something se, a® it is termed,
with us on the spot, and used words, serious
sly
because
to settle
there are no other means of humame
communi-
cation. He was as brief, sententious, and
rapid, and
his manner as sharp and abrupt, as it he bad been' ;
diting a bulletin on the walls of Rome, when ou-Ain'no;
was favouring him with a shower of balls and shell;
The grand characteristic of his speaking Reel its reality;
every word had its meaning, every mcaLin;,- must be
made an action. He was not there to ra,;:nlodise about
' chains of slavery, withering blasts of t;renny, sun_
shine of liberty,' and other stock propertie, of the mere
stage orator. He has a mission. He was amongst
the first to adopt that term, so expressive, though now
somewhat staled by custom. He has a work in hand,
not his own, in any spiritual sense, but a work for all
humanity, in which all men are alike interested. Would
the races represented in that assembly join him in exe-
ring the same ? He compressed the whole of this
rent purpose into ono closing problem, 'lnstead of the
perori the Public- Good, instead of the Pope, God.' "
11?