Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-10-18
AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LONDON
EXHIBITION.
Letter from EdWard Riddle, Esq. to the Secretary
of the Hnae,ica Central Committee.

U. 8. OrrIcE IsDUsrRIAL ExHIHrrIoS,
LONDON, SEPTEMBER 26, 1851.
Sin As you were on the point of leaving London, stand
ing in the midst Of the crowd which was issuing towards
nishtfs from the doors Of the Exhibition you remarked
upon the wonderful interest with which the whole thing had
been attended from its first conception AT that ,me for
reason, there had begun to be dimnuton in the num-
bers of daily visiter and your surprise was not that such
should be the case but that it had been the case long be-
FORE fyou here present now and could witness the
renewed interest which the certainty of the close of the build
ing on the lh proImo has dsed among all classes your
surprise would be little short of establishment The daily
entrances within the doors during the week have
sged rising of sixty thousand The persons present during
the one-shng days alone from the sboring portion
of the community, do the last days Of the week in
cude among the visiters the asocracy only desire to
see the Exhibition long it be seen desire to
learn from all that be learned during the few days be-
fore Its fate sealed, has become universal and from all
parts of England from Scotland and Ireland from across the
channel, from the inland countries the continent from
Sweden, Norway, and Russia vsters constantly arv-
ing, eager to the Exhibition the first crowd which was
admitted within its doors.
This however, less wonderful than the mania which
iniecs every body to exhibit something no matter what
within the department of the country which be belongs
II does not hinder that there be record of the
or thing upon the catalogue that there be no notice
taken OF by any ury that there is possibility Of award
being given honorable mention being made To get into the
Great Exhibition to be considered Of the thousands who
have made it museum of the greatest spendor the world
ever saw seemsto be the last purpose ambition with citizens
inventors, and amateurs Even whole countries has tho
fever spread Sweden has than quaduped her conr
buttons within week. France ceases for a day to
add to hers And advces received only yesterday of
large quantity Of goods shipped from the States Of the Zo
Verein for the Great Exhibition.
Of the articles added to department since my last
letter. however, honorable notice has been taken by the
daily journals Indeed for the last four weeks there has been
evident effort the part Of the leading papers, and Of
the Times especially to treat part of the Exhibition with
marked consideration, noticing in full only the conrbu-
tons recently added, but whatever of merit and ingenuity
observed among heretofore productions
1t is not the quality of either eide Of the Al
lantc to be overocked with humility When we were best
abused not inclined cultivate any exrao dnary
amount Of efabasemen And that we are most in
praised whatever may be the motive of our
encomiasts very much doubt the sauay effect which will
be produced upon abroad or at home.
Among contributions single one has excited
more attention been received with favor than the
Maynard lock and primer, OF which have spoken before.
took occasion to show its operation of the editors Of
the Times, who was so struck with its ingenuity, simplicity
efficiency, and reduction Of that was Immediately no.
ticed in that paper and consequence in many Others
Through the influence Of COL Reid succeeded in calling
the attention of The Government to its merits and is now
at the Board of Ordnance Department. awaiting the meeting
of the committee small test its practicability
The gold plate just sent from the house OF Messrs Ball.
ThomD Dkins& e. Rlock of
week only exhibited, has excited much attention from its
tasteful design, accomplished workmanship, and above ALL
extraordinary aurferou color This of plate pre-
sent from the Mayor and others Of New York to E. K Col
ns, Esq, is said to be twenyhree nea most un-
usual maximum for beating gold, and accounted for by the
superior naIleabilty Of the California metal
Mr. Bigelow, OF Boston, has given an important ac-
OF strength in tie shape of specimens of Brus
sells carpet woven upon power looms Although various
attempts have been made TO adapt the power loom carpet
weaving In England there has been any machinery
perfected for that object The loom upon which these car
pets were woven has been time in use and upwards
'f eight hundred hands employed in their manufac
uie Each loom requires the attendance only of one girl
which, in the ordinary mode Of capetweavng by hand
weaver Is required in addition to another draw Il ca
pabe Of producing four times the quantity in the same space
'f time as could be upon the handoom As many
;olors can be used in weaving in the ordinary Brussels
carpet and the specimens show and regular thread
ar surprising the productions of the hand loom.
BY the decision of the Executive Committee, was oblig-
ID to forego the satisfaction Of exhibiting that mertorous
specimen Of art the apotheoss Of Washington which was
eceived among recent contributions greatly regret
his, but not to be avoided Indeed it was not until
he picture unpacked, stretched and framed that learn
ID the Executive Committee feared dissatisfaction would be
given by its exhibition other foreigners who had been pre-
;uded from the same privilege. am happy in being able
say however, that it has been seen and appreciated by
'ome Of the first connoisseus in the fine in London
Mr. Ashcrofs invention for preventing steam boiler ex
blossoms has attracted much notice from engineers and other
practical scientific here The experiments he is making
satisfactorily settled the correct application the prn
pe he claims Orders have been given for it's introduction
nto several new steamers fitting for sea.
Among the members Of Jury upon musical instruments
M Thaberg, the unvaIed pianist whose compositions
have given him pre-eminent all the world II
eel under personal obligations him for the fairness with
which he insisted that every Of musical instruments
specially piano ores should be tried In the violins of
Gemunder also he was Of most especial service u.s. trying
zach himself and returning and again pass upon
be merit Of Cremoni, with which be greatly delight
ID. Should ThaIberg carry out bis intention of visiting the
United States another year. citizens will have an oppor
unity Of enjoying feast in music which they have rare
y been treated.
To the moving machinery department of the Exhibition,
has recently been added from one of our Western
,tates by Western man, Of the most ingenious ma
hines in the worlds refer to the machine of Mr.
nj e -.