The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-06-27 00:00:00

GRAND EXHIBITION AT THE COLLEGIATE

INSTITUTION.

Cicero, the distinguished scholar and orator, beautifully
and emphatically exclaimed—

" Scire aliquid lotus est ; pudor est nihil discere velle :"
or, in other words, " It is a credit to know anything; not to
have a desire to learn is a disgrace." we were reminded of
this expression of the noble Roman by a visit to the Colle-
giate Institution at the close of the last week; and it appears
to us to be strongly applicable not only to the students of
that noble seminary of education—who would do well to adopt
it as their watchword—but to our townsmen and fair towns-

women, who have now an opportunity of inspecting within
its walls one of the most splendid, valuable, and extensive
polytechnic collections of works of art, science, and inge-
nuity, that ever perhaps (nutted public attention and chal-
lenged universal admiration, even in an age'and in a country
singularly advanced in philosophical and mechanical disco-
very and enlightenment. It is impossible, indeed, for the
best informed amongst us to take even a cursory glance at
the numerous and varied specimens, classified and arranged
in the many spacious rooms, without impressions of wonder
and gratification at the deep research, varied talent, and per-
severing industry which they display ; without, in fine,
learning much that we did not before know, and without
acknowledging the wonderful triumphs—permitted to us by
the Divine Architect—of the world of mind over the world of
matter. Be it remarked, too, that there is nothing dry and
uninviting; and that those whose habits, or the brevity of
time at their disposal, disincline or prevent them from deri-
ving much instruction from what they behold, will find,
apart from this primary consideration, an ample field for a
few hours' pleasing and innocent amusement, and the grati-
fication of that curiosity in whatever is beautiful, useful, or
rare, which is implanted in our nature, and which itself,
striking the fancy as the flint does the steel, not unfrequently
elicits the first sparks of talent, which may afterwards pro-
duce that blaze of genius which redounds to the honour and
advancement of the individual. and to the advantage of the
general mass of the community. It may be said, indeed, that
earth and ocean have been ransacked to furnish this exhibi-
tion : the accumulated productions of the most distinguished
labourers in the arena of science, from ages long swallowed up
in the vortex of time, up to the present day, are here brought
in reality before us, at, comparatively, a glance ; and we may
trace the rise and gradual development of whatever is useful
and ornamental in science and in art from the earliest dawn
of civilization. The customs, manners, pursuits, and attain-
ments, too, of every country in the globe, are to a great ex-
tent illustrated, independently of t 4 repulsive study of
ponderous tomes, which few have opportunity or leis'ure to
pursue : mAern science, particularly in mechanics, is admi-
rably demonstrated in all its bran Ches by working models and
machines ; and the power of that wonderful agent steam in all
its branches is shown in most interesting activity and variety
as connected with modern engineering on shore and at sea.
The collection of models of vessels is very beautiful and ex-
tensive ; the pictures are very numerous, and include many
of the most valued originals of the ancient and modern mas-
ters; and the natural history department is also replete with
specimens of the first order. As it would perhaps require an
entire day to inspect the whole of the exhibition with any
approach to minuteness, so it would occupy a pretty large
volume to describe it in any thing like detail; and our limits
being necessarily circumscribed, all we can accomplish is but
a slight sketch of the objects, in two or three successive no- •
tices, that more particularly struck us as curious or interesting
in the course of a ramble of several hours through the different
apartments. Inviting the reader, therefore, to accompany
us to the different departments in the order in which they are
set down in the paper printed on the premises, and banded
to visitors as a guide—and which they would do well for con-
venience to follow—we commence with

Room, No. 1, on the ground story.—Here, there is a
variety of elegant fire grates, patent stoves, cooking ranges,
&c., in fine cast iron, polished steel, &c., showing all the
recent improvements ; also handsome iron bedsteads, vases,
&c., wholly contributed from the works of our townsman,
Mr. Wm. Bennett. Some of the grates are of splendid
workmanship, and admirably adapted to prevent dust and
smoke, while at the same time they are highly ornamental.
Three of them in particular are very fine—one having
porcelain checks exquisitely adorned with rural scenes and
delicate gilded ornaments. These are fixed in finely-sculptured
gothic marble niantlepieces, by Mr. W. Spence; with classical
figures in niches or on brackets, cut in the first style of the
art. Here are also models of Espie's improved chimney
cans or smoke vanes, in zinc, with an apparatus showing the
manner of their working in the wind. There are also a capital
lifting pump, chiefly of glass, and a variety of other articles.
In No. 2, there are various improve,: agricultural imple-
ments, patent cooking apparatus, fot house and ship use, a
large patent windlass of great power, patent iron tiles, a
capital malt mill, by Cartmel, a washing machine, by Bettley
and Higgs, and an excellent economical cooking range, by
P. E. Wilson and Co. Here also is shown the real opera-
tion of fustian cutting, in its several varieties, by means of a
long attenuated knife and guiding needle, which ploughs up
the threads on one side of the cloth so as to form the nap
or pile.
_ _ _

110. 3 is occupied with ornamental gilded, silvered, and
bronze frame work for pictures, cabinets, and other arti-
cles. There is a splendid side board enriched with flower-
pieces in compartments, surrounded by delicate gilded and
floriated frame-work, and topped with a splendid slab of mar-
ble. There are numerous fine modelled groups, in composi-
tion, for chimney and other ornaments, also statuary figures
representing the several varieties of metals ; and the process
of gilding, bronzing, &c., is carried on before the spectator
by expert workmen. Many:of the modelled groups are beau-
tifully accurate and minute, and the bronzed and silvered
busts of the rival queens Elizabeth and Mary of Scots will be
much admired. The picture and mirror framework is also
superb, and in great variety of design. The whole is con-
tributed by our townsmen, J. Clements and Son.

No. 4 may be called the practical navigation room. Here
are a numberof ships, barques, brigs, schooners, steam-boats,
&c., under sail or steam, in a spacious canal and circular
basin, forming a busy maritime view in minature. The whole
interesting science of launching a ship is shown at intervals
during the day. In the middle of the basin is a working
model of an iron steam-boat with the screw lately patented
by Messrs. Mather, Dixon, and Grantham, showing its saving
in pow -r over the water-wheel of 25 per cent. She has a
large East Indianian in tow, and the screw being turned by a
pulley and band, working from the centre by means of a
weight in an adjoining room, both ves-els move rapidly by
means of the little screw—describing a circle. Outside of
these is a larger steamer with paddle wheels turned by a
working model-engine, sent by Mr. Pearson, which steams
away rapidly round the outer circle cit the basin. In
the water gold fish are swimming about ; or seeking
the shade of the floating vessels, scared by the too pry-
ing eyes of the spectators. Here, too, are many cu-
rious models of Chinese junks, canoes, and modern Eu-
ropean vessels ; also a very ingenious Persian water wheel,
by Mr. G. P. Payne, resembling an overshot water-wheel;
and which, with very slight turning, and an immersion of
the rim of only about an inch, lifts a large stream of water
to the centre, where it is continuously discharged from a wide
spout. This is a very neat and simple water wheel. There
is here a neat model of the steamer " Napoleon," sent by
Mr. Shanland, of Seacombe, a watchman's curious peg clock,
a variety of steering wheels, and numerous nautical " imple-
ments,' specimens of chain cables, &c. •

No. 5 is chiefly occupied by a circular iron railway, on
which a handsome little locomotive moves rapidly by its own
steam at stated hours during the day, showing also the new
railway alarum or signal clock, by which the engineers con-
ducting trains can tell, as they pass the several stations,
without stopping, and by night or day, the precise time when
the last train passed, so that all collision may be avoided.

No. 6,—hookbinding in all its departments : the smoothing
of the sheets, after they leave the press, between rollers,—an
improvement on the beating principle ; the folding and stitch._

_ . .
ing by young women; the boarding, covering, lettering, and
ornamenting. Here is a splendid case of books in various
beautiful bindings. The whole was contributed and is con-
ducted by Mr. Wareing Webbe. There is also a paper-ruling
..machine.

No. 7, on the second floor, is the British and foreign
shawl mart and manufactory, with splendid specimens of
which the room is hung. There is a tine Paisley jacquard
loom at work, working the Collegiate shawl,"—a very
chaste and beautiful pattern. The loom is very complicated,
and the manner i❑ which the various and ever-changing
colours are wrought into tne fabric is peculiarly interesting.
Here are fac-similes of the two shawls presented by Mr.
Pringle, the manufacturer, to the Queen ; also many others
very large and valuable, and in a variety of patterns, includ-
ing Barege and French Llama shawls. We observed two
ticketted at 20 guineas and 14 guineas respectively—also
some of smaller size, but very beautiful, so low as 15s.
These and many other articles manufactured in the rooms
are on sale.

No. 8, is the room for models in naval architecture, and,
as we have before intimated, the collection is, perhaps, the
most extensive and valuable that was ever brought together.
We have not room to notice half of them, and they must be
seen and examined by the curious in this important art to be
duly appreciated. Ow entering, the visitor cannot fail to he
at once astonished and delighted at such a combination of
talent, industry, and science. Here is the large and fine,
but now somewhat antiquated model of the ship of war
" Liver " which was saved from the fire at our Town-hall
many years ago. This was sent by the dock trustees, and
was brought from one of the large staircases of the Custom-
house, where it is destined to be preserved as a pleasing
memorial of the navigation of the port in bye-gone days.
Around it are many beautiful large models, by Mr. E.
Nielling, jun., the talented naval architect to the institution,
most of them built of fine woods, varnished, in all the compli-
cated pieces, dimensions, fastenings, guns, and appurtenances
of real vessels, and embracing every variety of craft from the
small pleasure yacht to the merchant ship and the heavy
man-of-war. These are all admirable in model and finish
for the several purposes for which they are proposed, and
cannot fail to gratify the eye of the sailor. The industry shown
in their production is highly honourable to the artist, and the
whole prove him to be perfect master of his art, and capable
of turning it to the best practical account. We have never,
indeed, seen finer bottoms. Amongst them we would particu-
larly direct attention to a 60-gun frigate; a 22-gun corvette;
a large brigantine, with brass guns and fully rigged; a butter-
fly-rigged schooner ; proposed and
_excellent model of a mer-
chant ship of 400 tons, showing all the timbers, deck framing,
&c. ; a piratical schooner in the ribbons—a regular clipper; a
pleasure yacht, and many others. Amongst the minute
models is the rare and valuable collection contributed by our
townsman Mr. T. Wilson, shipbuilder. They are 47 in
number, built and fully rigged, with their sails set and every
minute article on board, all cut in wood with astonishing
accuracy. They are in fleets of several vessels of different
classes, or in single ships, under glass cases. Amongst them
(as stated in a brief printed notice) is every description of
vessel, from the canoe and boat to the first-rate man-of-war,
and varying in size from l inch in length to 14 inches. The
Matchless, ship of the line, is of the former minute dimen-
sions; and for this alone 150 guineas have been offered.
They were all made by French prisoners of war during their
long confinement in England. They occupy a large exterior
glass case, extending across the north end of the room.
There are many other beautiful and ingenious models,
rigged and unrigged, in the room ; but we can only notice
them at random. Those that most attracted us, en peasant,
are a cutter arid schooner by Mr. T. B. Horner; a 58-gun
frigate (the Inconstant, we believe) of the new class, by the
same ; model of an iron steamer now building by Messrs.
Davenport, Grindrod, and Patrick ; a Shields pilot-boat,
with three keels—a curious, safe, and swift plan ; the bell-
buoy ; a 40-gun frigate, by Mr. Ralph Pearson ; the Neme-
sis, East India iron war-steamer, and 'others, by Mr. John
Laird, including the iron pilot-brig Guide, recently lost on
her voyage to India on a reef in the Western Islands, but
from no fault of the vessel, either in sailing or solidity ; a
New York pilot-boat, very fine, by Mr. John Morrison;
proposed steam. ship, by Mr. Harkness ; the Black Prince
brig, at anchor off, the Rock Ferry, by John Clint, Esq. ; a
steamer (City of Dublin), finely moulded, gilded, and fitted
up; a New York small pleasure-boat, with a sliding keel to
be drawn up in shallow water; a large mahogany steam-
boat; a frigate in ivory ; a ship of the old school, capital,
sent by C. Horsfall, Esq. ; the Edith pleasure-yacht ; a
sharp schooner, oioroni e
eir:btrooCnaepr building by Mr. Laird, to be pro-
pelled M.Bride ; the N.W. iron light-
ship;
by Mr. Smith's screw, for the use of the Baptist Mis-
sionary Society in Africa, &c.,i &c. Here are also some inte-
resting remains, in wood and ron,. of the Royal George, sunk
at Spithead in 1782, deposited by Capt. Brown, U.N., who was
a witness to the melancholy event. This gentleman has also
de-posited a cabinet of oak, made of a piece of the Victory in
which Nelson received his death wound, at Trafalgar, on the
21st October, 1805. The handle Is in the form of an anchor,
and the key of a great gun ; and inside, in two cases, like
those of a tea-caddie, are " gunpowder" apd " shot." Here,