The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-09 00:00:00

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

The attendence at the Crystal Palace once more
appears to be on the increase, and yesterday the
receipts at the doors rose to 2,7671. Us. ; the number
of visitors according to the police returns was 56,85.).
Fer this increase several reasons may he assigned,
a.mong. which may be mentioned the gradual diminu-
tion of harvest labour and the approaching close of the
Exhibition. Another feature now becomes promi-
nent. The working classes appear upon the scene in
great force, and seem determined to witness the spec-
tacle while it is still in their power to do so. We do
not remember to have seen so many artisans and me-
chanics present in the interior as there were yester-
day. During the whole of the forenoon they might
be observed in continuous streams from every avenue
of approach flawing towards the centre of attracCon,
and their attention was principally occupied by the
machinery in motion, which during the day was
almcst blocked up with visitors. A curious fact was
mentioned to us as illustrative of the anxiety still felt
in the provincial towns to inspect the wonders cf the
Exhibition. On Saturday night, before the departure
of the excursion train to London, one pawnbroker
in Leeds had received on deposit no less than a btinhel
and a half of watches; and this sudden and extraor-
dinary accession of business he attributes entirely to
the desire which those who are little able to aTord
the treat have to visit the Crystal Palace. The baild-
ing in llyde-park is at last drawing towards it the
humbler classes of the population. They find that a
reduction of the existing admission fee is now hope-
less, and they make up their minds to gratify a long
pent up curiosity at all hazards and regardless of
expense.
l'be unpacking of the recently arrived contributions
from Sweden still continues, and is superintended by
the commissioner from that country, M. Hjertsberg.
Though late in the day, these exertions to make a
worthy display in the great industrial gathering of
all nations will no doubt be fairly appreciated by the
public.
It may be satisfactory to the shopkeepers and Utile
of London generally to know that the Royal Com-
mission are fully determined to adhere strictly ta
their early pledges, and that they will not land
themselves, under the most pressing circumstances
to any sales which might interfere with the ordinary
course of business, and would certainly be foreign to
the main objects of the Exhibition. Strong repre-
sentations have been made to them on this point by
contributors from abroad, and especially from those
whose Governments have come forward most liber-
ally in helping to defray their expenses. This is
another example, if illuttrations of the point were
wanted, of the advantages of a self-relying spirit,
and of the evils consequent upon state support used
to bolster up private enterprise. There is every rea-
-1 son to believe that France will benefit largely by the
share which her manufacturers have taken in the Ex-
hibition ; extensive purchases have been made of the
goods displayed in that cl:partment ; and we observe
that M. Lacrosse, the president of the permanent
i
committee, at a recent meeting of that body in Paris,
announced that two of the principal branches of
French manufactures (jewellery and cabinet-making),
which it was feared would be without employment
during the winter, would be able to furnish work to
their numerous hands by means of the large orders
which they had received in consequence of the Ex-.
hibition. Our neighbours undoubtedly occupy a
prominent position in the industries specified, and ,we
are glad to find that their merits are thus far recog-
nised and have led to such good practical results.
The mean temperature in the building during, the
day, according to the readings of Mr. Bennett 's ther-
mometers, was 60.
There are few things which to one well acquainted
with the collection of products in Hyde Park appear
more striking than the remarkable aids which the
science of chemistry is there seen lending to our
manufactures. The process of the Chevalier Claussen
for converting flax fibre into a substitute for raw
cotton has already attracted great puolic notice, and
is likely to lead to most important and practical re-
sults. Mercer's discovery for improving the dyeing
proper yeing
properties of cotton fabrics, and giving to their tex-
ture the closeness and fineness of linen, another
singular example of this kind. It was in making
some experiments on water that he accidently hit
upon the influence of soda on the great staple of our
manufactures, and be patiently pursued his investiga.
tions until they led him to the process which nowbears his name. We have to add to the list of che-
mical contributions to our national industry de-
veloped in the Exhibition another striking and
important discovery, made by Mr. James
Young, of Manchester ; but in order to un-
derstand its character it is necessary to
give some explanation. It may be recol-
lected that some time ago a spring of mineral oil,
like those in Persia and other countries, was timed
in a mine in Derbyshire. On distillation it was as-
certained to be an oil of great value fur the lubrica-
tion of machinery, and was much used for that pur-
pose in Manchester, but the supply ceased. Mr.
Young's attention was then directed to the subject.
From its connexion with the coat district he be-
lieved that it might be produced therefrom by che-
mical means. Tne naphtha produced by the distil-
lation of coal differs entirely from that found in the
atural spring referred to. Mr. Young, however, has
discovered a process by which he entirety converts the
volatile principle of coal into a liquid oil, and into a
substance called paraffine. This substance had never