The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-15

senator
hand, danger and degradation the Other -
and agree with him, except as to on which hand
lie the danger and degradation. l trust you will
find no passion exhibited in this comment OH Mr..
Rhctts speech, for II 10 written more in sorrow
than in anger. by your obedient servant.
J. r. POINSETT.
WHlrE Hous., Pee DEE. May7. +.
The Great Exhibition.
The AMERIcAs CosrsInurIoss. in that part Of
the building devoted to the produce Of American
industry, the most noticeable feature ia the large
mesa Of the space allotted, as compared with the
very meagre show of good Whether this ine-
quality will be removed by subsequent arrivals
within the very few days which yet remain for
preparation, we are not aware; but If not it would
be desirable TO divide the surplus room between
boring compartments, are complaining of undue
limitation. Many of the articles sent from the
States still resting in their packing and
Of these, beyond the notification made in the pub
lished lists, we can give no account OF those
which have been brought to light, and are now be-
ing arranged round the walls and upon the cOun-
ters and floor, utility rather than elegance of de-
sign, elaborate ornament, or high finish, seems to
be the chief characteristic. There are two COM
partments of the building assigned to the States
each opposite to the other, at the eastern end
of the nave. One Of these appears to be intend
ed for the exhibition Of heavy goods; and here
we have various descriptions OF ploughs, har-
rows, winnows, and other agricultural machines.
Some few lathes. planning machine. and other arti.
cles OF engineering mechanism, well finished, and
in all other respects adapted for their several uses,
lie scattered about, here and there Grouping with,
tho agricultural implements are n small steam
boiler and engine, few American house stoves,
utensils. By the way, Of these American house
stoves, hint might well be taken by our own
stove makers. They combine in very small
space-not larger than that occupied by an ordi-
nary parlor CRATE or cottage rangc--a complete
kitchen apparatus, oven. stewpans, boilers all in
the most compact form; and, looking at the almost
minute fireplace or furnace, with which.the whole
is heated, IL would seem that economy OF fuel had
been primary consideration in the original de-
sign. Bot the article which attracts most attention
in this compartment 10 grindstonc for hand
working of remarkably fine grit, and moving by
the aid of anti friction rollers The curiosity of
the observer, however, is excited, not because of
any extraordinary popularity in the machine, but
by an inscription which It BEARS informing him
that it is present for Lord Stanley from Massa-
chusetts. Whether the Massachusetts mechanists
consider the great wear and tear which Lord
SANKEY'S keen-edged satire underg goes while leader
Of the opposition in Parliament require the APP
plication OF the grindstone occasionally, or what
other hidden meaning attaches to this strange pre-
sent, must be left to those who clever in solving
cnigmas to discover. Turning to the space on the
opposite side Of the avenue find several objects
OF interest. That which frat strikcs attention. both
from its extent, the completeness Of its arrange
ment, and the correctness Of its classification, is
collection of American minerals, cxtraneous fos-
sils, and fresh water shells. Here we have speci-
ductions of the States-copper, iron, lead, gold,
silver, zinc, native cinnabar, and almost every
other known metal. Some of these specimens
of Extraordinary richness. There is amongst them
a block Of copper ore, brought from Algonquin, on
Lake Superior, weighing 2,544 lbs., and of ninety
per cent. pure metal; block of native cinnabar,
from California. weighing 81 lbs; several pieces Of
argcntferous lead, containing silver in the proper
ton Of one hundred ounces to the ton, and seventy
five per cent OF lead; these are from vein in New
Hampshire, said to be very extensive, and which
it 10 proposed to work. Beside these, there are
some crystals OF grey copper, a number of spcci-
mems Of Californian gold, generally adhering to
quartz, but Of extraordinary richness, the quartz in
some being scarcely in the proportion OF onc-fourth
to the pure gold.
There are also in this collection some very fine
specimens of the Georgian diamond--the beryl and
the topaz-cvery variety Of American coal, and
amongst the extraneous fossils several very per-
the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. The shells
OF which there several varietics-from the fresh
water rivers and lakes, curious only from
their comparatively large size. AT a short remove
to be an interesting botanical display of dried
flowers, the growth Of the western districts of New
York, preserved and framed, but retaining their
natural hucs. Then we have quantity of bar
iron and steel, several huge blocks of iron and
other ores, and little further on large pyramid
OF curious shaped yellow canvas packages meets
the eye, which, from the inscriptions they bear i'm
form US that have arrived al the counters where
TO be shown (not tasted) Of the delicacics
peculiar to the tables of trans Atlantic breth
ron. These yellow parcels, of which, at distance,
we had been speculating whether they were po-
licemen's slaves, or the gaudy and awkward war
clubs OF some tribe of aborigincs, we now discover
to be spiccd American hams; and, turning round,
we find we have got into something like an Italian
warehouse on the strike with boxes of American
biscuits, Indian corn and meal, dried meats of
various kinds packages Of pearl starch, bottles
of ink and backing from New York, fancy soaps
and perfumes from Philadelphia, parcels of Amer
I,vstr xbich MA To- Il Lad
rush brooms and brushes, buckets, and number
of other articles of similar character from other
States, all lying about or hcaped up one upon the
other in the most chaotic disorder. printed pla
card on the outside of one of the unopened boxes
composing this confused mass lie worthy of notice,
showing the anxiety Of Brother Jonathan to
drive forward the trade in Indian corn, which, ms
far as regards this country, has hitherto Jagged,
we believe The inscription tells the box con-
tans recipes to be circulated gratuitously for cook
ing Indian meal in various ways used in the
States Extricating ourselves With some difficulty
from this labyrinth, we come to several bags of
American cotton wool from the southern States
and little further find glass case contain
ing some specimens of manufactured cottons in
prints and other fabrics OF those-though they
are very crcdiable evidences Of the progress OF
American manufactures-our friend on the other
side Of the Atlantic will pardon for saying that
they not of that high class of goods especially
the prints, that our Manchester manufacturers
need fear their competition least for the present
There also here several cases of carpenters
and other tools, various articles Of cutlery--thc
adzes axcs, and other edge tools, being apparently
amongst the best specimens of manufacturing art
cxhibitcd-somc samples OF very strong and not
altogether incegant bookbinding from Philadel- |
phia. A four-whccl gig, peculiar for its beauty |
and lghtncss. contributed from New York; |
some whaleboats; a couple Of beautiful models
(scction only) Of American clipper-built ships |
a model of the bell telegraph, a substitute FOR |
the common house bells in hotels and large |
establishments, and a number of miscellaneous
productions, natural and artificial. In the came
compartment several pianos, one OF them differ
ing In some respects from the instruments of this |
country. This is sort Of double grand piano. In
square" but is furnished with complete sci Of
keys q octavcs) at each end, that two or four
players may perform in concerted piece at the
same time on the same instrument, the advantage |
being, according the statement Of the inventor |
and patentee, volume of tone equal to two grands
In the furniture department there 10 massive four
post bcdstend, made of the ycw tree. remar kablc