Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-11-03
From the CharlotteeviIIe Advocate, Oct.
LETTER FROM MIR. RlYES.

FROM the Charlottesville Advocate, oct 70
LETTER FROM MR.. RlVES.
The following very interesting letter from the Hon
VIM. c. Rives, our Minister to France, which has
been kindly furnished for publication, will be read
with much plea sure by his fellow countrymen in AL
bemarle:
PARIS Sept. 80 1851
M1 DEAR -: Having week two at my
disposal during the last days of the summer deter
mined to 60 over the channel and for myself that OF
which the description has filled SO many mouths and
newspapers for the last four five monthsthe Great
Exhibition, or what the French more appropriately
cal it, the Exposition unrerselle. l prepared
say with the Queen OF Sheba, after her inspection
OF the riches OF Solomon, "the half was not told me'
but, on the contrary, making deduction from
the oriental extravaganza with which this wonder OF
the age has been celebrated by both pen and tongue
l am yet Tree to say enough remained 10 make il
object OF Just and rational curiosity 10 all who were
in circumstances to visit it.
"A visit to the Crystal Palace 49, IN truth, sort o.
hgutatvs voyage of circumhavgation by which, with
in the limits OF comparatively small space and by
few days industrious observation, you traverse
cesslYely the various quarters OF the globe, and
before you the productions the arts the riches and in
degree respective national manners and Gus
toms of them all. And yet this is conrved as 10
leave upon the mind OF tue behoder strong impress
sion of the material superiority if not supremacy Of
one OF these nations over all the rest. England has
the vast advantage in the Exhibition of being at home
One full halt of the fairy building is allotted TO the dis
play OF her riches and resources, her industry and pow
Erin which her vast tributary possessions in the East
and the West-(Iudia, Canada and the isles of rhe
ocean)-all gerng with barbaric pCmp, are made to
revolye in due order around the central orb dazzling
by the spendor oil her own accumulated and gorgeous
wealth. The mind is so acled upon by this studious
display OF boundless dominion and riches and power 10
the hands OF asinge nstion that it hardly RECEIVERS
from the impression in passing through the successive
departments allotted to other nations; for however
well filled many OF them with The choicest produce
lions eXquisite taste and superior SKILL they all seem
dwarted in comparison with the gigantic development
of England at home In this state OF exhibited infe
riority. these nations may legitimaely take to them
selves the consolation OF the lion PROSTATE beneath the
man ia the paintng-that the man and not the lion
was the painter.
II France, which originated the idea of an exhibit
ton OF the products OF the arts and industry of all
nations, had been permitted by her internal condition
carry into execution and Paris instead of Lon
don had been the scene of its presentation, very
great difference would doubtless, have been made in
tae relative position and appearance of the competing
nations. La that the advantage of being chez sou
concurring with her unriyalled taste and artistic
science, and the wonderful resources of her national
genius and industry, would have assigned to her the
rank OF prIHsacy which Is held by England in the
London Exhibition. Nor would the other nations
have had reason to complain OF the change of Uenue
The bright climate OF France and the cordial and gen-
ial temper OF her people, readily raernizing with
the other families OF mankind, would have made of
what has been stern and somewhat jealous encoun-
of rival professions real Jubilee OF the heart and
senses, marking in the social intercourse and
happiness oil nations, well In their industrial
progress. AS 1t is, the Exhibition has mainly the
character OF highly successful speculation very sa-
gacious managed, on British account
You will wish to know what sort of figure we of
the United States have made In this great interna-
tonal congress- OF industry and the arts. The objects
which occupy much the largest space in the Exhibi-
ton, and which have been the chief points, indeed of
popular attention, are objects of luxury and ornament
exceedingly costly both in their material and work
manship, and intended minister the Fictitious
wants OF overSrown wealth. In the British depart
alonel counted not less than twenty large rooms
with the inscription In glazing capitals above them of
the adored 'preedous nletals.' The same general
nf
details, predomnated IN all the rest of the European
departments, from the exquisite mosaics of italy and
the rich silks and Porcelans and ewery of France to
the beautiful and elaborate maacltes OF Russia, and
conspicuous even IN the Ebdrbaric pearl and
god'' of the Asiatie and African contributions
In entering into competition OF SO much gorgeous
this, II was hardly to be expected that so young
and simple and republican people as that of the Uni.
ted States would make very brilliant debut. Ialways
regretted, therefore, that we entered the list as general
competitors. Ii we had gone in simply and ayoWedy
to chow the nations of the old world some of the most
valuable Improvements we had made in those manly
and useful arts adapted TO circumstances and vigo-
TOu5 YOUTH and had contened ourselves with an Hot
ment OF space proportoned to that object, we should
have avoided some notification, at first to our ma
tional pride. large space, however, was demanded
In the outset or the display OF American contributions
which after successive retrenchments remained very
mperlectly filed, and the efgy OF the American eagle
III very exaggerated and colossal proportions. was on
spicuously installed above the whole. The Times,
the Coryphaeus of the English PRESS Immediately
seized upon these circumstances with lis accustomed
alevolence towards the United States taunng with
the solitude 10 the Crystal Palace which the Amer
lean eagle stretched its mighty WINGS and represen-
ing " the space re had grasped in the Exhibition as
mpertectiy occupied as our vast continent"
In spite OF these mistakes Of own, and the ILL
na9red use made OF them to disadvantage by the
critics, the solid and intrinsic merit OF the American
part OF the Exhibition finally made itself felt and appre-
elated by ALL and 1t IS now think universally admit
ted, IN England, where so MANY iealousies and
preJudces are to be overcome, that, in aa industrial
and useful point OF vew nation eontr buted more to
the E,Y1Ik tfs IInifa 7
py 10 be able to say to you that nothing has had so
powerful an agency In working out this honorable re-
salt toro our national reputation as pWgmiam lnven
tion Of which you were OF the earliest patrons and
which has received the highest honors the Exhibi
ton, and is making sort OF trlumphal progress
through Engiand-I mean McCormick's re4ping ma
chine 1t was the successful trial of this machine on
the farm OF Mr.. Mech, at TIP Tree, on the 29th OF
July last eliciLing it did the wonder and admra-
ton Of all who witnessed IT. that commenced the
actlon IN favor OF American contributions the Ex-
hbltion.
The English people began then to think that some
f'good thing might of our transatlantic Naz-
areth" ana from time TO time they bestowed some
thing more than passing, supercious glance at the
American department OF the Crystal Palace, and found
IN II other products OF American genius ana skill
winch convinced them that, IN this age of progress
ana invention, stimulated to extraordinary fecundy
10 Inc new world, there ale not few things they may
selves
Oithese other achievements of American ingenuity
/ nave NOT the time to speak. YOu have seea them
Tbsv nav. ib '1 rowsapei reports ol ne hAhoihon
Iney Dave me greater part OF them undoubtedly,
very nigh order OF merit; but | think | am not
missed by na,nra partially for an Invention of my
own ota,e when say that the reaping machipe has
done most OF all 10 redeem the honor of our country
10 the trying, and to US for time apparently hope
less contests OF the Exhibition. In proof Of his it is
suiclent 10 mention the TACT that III invariably placed
Gus notices Of the Exhibition which have been from
time TO time published by the European pfes7 Ihayr
now before nae the Leading article Of the London |
Time fff no tod nS,e he first
journal which acknowledged substantial success Of
the American part OF the ExhibiLionin which that
success and the respng machine which so much con-
tnbued TO il, are thus noticed:
'On The other hand, il beyond all denial that
practical success Of The belongs to the Ameri
cans Inef consgnmenls showed poorly al first, but
ant fuaIt.