Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-14


with some mpaence the first shower. 1t comes, aud
vour skv light proves staunch you ehucke, and tri-
umphanty rubbing your hands, exc lain, " This time
have done it, But, alas your triumph is short lived
some weeks afterwards on coming down stairs after a
pel,ing night of rain you stumble over two wash ba-
sins and sop pail, which Betty has placed there to
catch the drops
Now the roof OF the Crystal Palace is one immense
sky light, constructed of the unmanageabe materials
iron, wood, glass and putty 1t has been put up, L
know, at immense cost and with extraordinary
Upon the tghness OF its root depends the value OF the
whole building, the reputation OF its contractors and
the OF the exhibition In fact, the very pride
oil the English nation at stake In the MATTER and II
such roof can be made tight, If putty and pant can
stop leskaees il will doubtless be done. But doubt
possibility both from the nature OF the materials and
from what [ have observed after every rain that has
fallen in the last fortnight ,
the goods and commencing the preparation tor their
display The custom house inspection is nearly COM
peted; the packages have all arrived the various oil,
visions are stored with boxes OF every shape, size and
color The plan of decorating the walls, covering the
counters hanging the aud uphosterng the deep
reeesses Is agreed upon and IN part commenced; the
STYLE in which national 10 be embazoned and
national flags draped uuurled is liked, anu nothing
remains-and 10 fact nothing ought to remaln-to be
done for between now and the hrst OF May, but few
weeks are 10 come, but to give to the most glorious
structure the wold ever saw water-tght root. Will
il be donel We shall see.
Seven immense organs being built within the pa
lace, each one line with all the Others, forming
prominent objects of in the great central avenue
Ia this also much glganlc satuary Here too
opposite the division allotted to each nation Is to be
built pile OF its chief products such as will furnish
exponent of what these products are On one side o!
this avenue are ranged the material and the
tuctures OF each country from end to END OF the build
ing; on the other side, IN like continuity, machinery
and the fine In this way tie uries OF awards will
have in continuous line before them the class OF ar
teles is their province to inspect In this way, too,
the curious observer, in single day, may note with
the exact progress almost every naon In the CIVIL
lIZed world has made similar arts.
Apropos to custom house officers intended to re-
mark above that while agents here have been treat
ed with every clviy, they have been greatly dlssp-
pointed by the expense and the severity OF the examlna
ofour goods. So far from the goods beng admit
ted their counters without cost, the expenses OF Tor
warding, of transportation, OF labor OF bonding, and
ofinspection have been very great, five shllngs ster
ling beng charged for the latter Item alone upon each
package Many Of more beautiful goods are
greatly injured. An exquisite model OF the New \ ork
Exchange, which greatly admired before it was
packed was broken to fragments on the passage Some
articles were inudciously sent as 1 thlnk. As sam
pies of binding, Mocrs and Byron's work were sent,
articles absolutely conraband, since in the language
here the editions were praed Although, at f1rst Pc
stvey refuse to pass yet upon the ground that they
were sent as samples OF binding alone, and with the
cheerful ent OF Mr.. John Murray, they were admit
ted. This il must be allowed, was generous.
1t has been feared by Americans here that the articles
contributed by our citizens would not do US justice is
anation. One cannot yet tell what the comparative
merit of country will be, side by side in the STRIFE Of
the peaceful arts, with the old nations OF the earth
But feel sure that shall not fall Tar behind. In
ny specimens of what will como under the head OF
raw MATERIAL have abundant evidence to-day
that show will be rich. Ores, timber, as samples
of our woods grains the kernel and ground into the
whites. and finest hour Indian corn, upon the ear, and
in It's various forms OF samp, homny and meal; coal,
iron "copper" cotton such as the great markets never
received; the ear the kernel and Hour tobacco
from the Impressed leaf TO the most aromatic cigar
and many other things, which, occupying this class
cation have been opened and examined to- day, great
ly TO satisfaction. La ma hlnery shall not make
large display. Still, even here, we have much that
j. beauiiu and some that is not only new and iuge
Mo 9, but tand speak OF one in particular from New
York; upon which should be willing to risk our
putaton at the exhibition.
Our agricultural implements excite great attention.
In poughs harrows drills, reapers threshers and the
like, are in advance of whatever | have seen here
yet from the continent or from England. We have
exhibition also many very beautiful and useful hortcu
tura implements which are here. The Lawrence
Mills have sheelings which will hardly be outdone
by Manchester, and tweeds coach lace, ginghams
prints and cassimeres have been placed upon
tiers.
In nothing, however, do we excite great surprise
as in our Indian rubber goods. This is a thing almost
unknown in England, the conyertibity of Indian rub.
Der into almost every conceivable thing on earth -
Good Heavens what is this, and this, and this ?"-
of the almost initiate variety opened. In da-
guerreotypes, throughout the whole art, we far
ahead 1t has been to send thus abe ikenesses OF
good and great My friend, Governor Briggs,
has had a crowd all day around his perfect and admit
rable likeness Twelve hundred daguerreotypes, hand
somely framed aad hung judciously will not be the
least attractive part OF exhibition and am told
that there arriving that number of Individual por-
traits. N. S. u.