Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-06-07

and nl0dihcatlon.
know well that so large and diversified a
show of Machinery could not be made up in
the United States as is here represented in
behalf of British Inyitation; yet think a
strictly American Fair might be got up which
would eyince more originality Of creation or
design. If am wrong in this l shall cheer
fully say when convinced of it. Many of
these machines are very good of their kind
without involving any novel principle or i'm
portant adaptation. With regard to Flax
dressing, for example, l find less here than L
had hoped to see; and though what have
seen appears to do its work well and with
commendable economy of material, think
there are more efficient and rapid Flax-Dress-
ers in the United States than are contained in
this Exhibition, have not yet examined the
machinery for Spinning and Weaving the
dressed Flax fiber, but am glad to see that it
is in operation. The report that the expert
ments in Flax Cotton have failed, do not in
the least discourage me. Who ever heard of
a great economical discovery or invention that
has not been repeatedly pronounced failure
before it ultimately and Individually succeed
ed?
found one promising invention in the Brit
ish department to-day, viz: Henley's Magnetic
Telegraph, or rather, the generator of its pow
er, The magnet, was assured, did not re-
gtare or consume any substance Vhaterer, but
generated its electricity spontaneously, and in
equal measure in all varieties Of weather, SO
that the widest storm of lightning, hail, snow,
or rain makes no difference in the working of
the telegraph If such be the fact the in7en-
tion is one of great merit and valpe, aEdmust
be speedily adopted in our country, where the
liability Of telegrsphs to be interrupted by
storms is crying evil trust it is now near
its end.
Switzerland has a very fine show of fabrics
IN the Fair-I think more in proportion to her
Plumbers than any other foreign nation. Of
silks she displays great amount, and they
are mainly of excellent quality. She shows
shawls, ginghams, wollens, beside, rs well as
watches and jewelry; but her silk is her best
point The Chinese, Australian, Egyptian
and Mexican contributions are quite interest
ing, but they suggest little or nothing, unless
il be slolidity Of their contrivers
see that Punch this week reiterates The
Times sluFs stthe meagerness and poverty of
the American contribution. This is meanly
inyidious and undeserved. The inventors, ar
tisans and other producers of our country
who did not see fit to incur the heavy expense
! of sending their most valuable products to a
/ Fair held three to FIVE thousand miles away,
are unaffected by this studied disparagement
and those who have sent certainly do not de-
serve il They are in no manner responsible
for the setting apart for American contribu-
lions of mere space than they fill; they have
rather deserved consideration and kind treat
ment on the part of the London press. Be-
sides, the value of their contributions is not at
ali gauged by the space they fill or the inn
preston they make on the wondering gaze
articles of great merit and utility often ma
king no figure at all compared with case Of
! figured silks or mantle ornaments which an
sweT no purpose here but the owners. And
| when it is considered that the manufacturers
of France, Germany and Switzerland, as well
as England, are here displaying their wares
and fabrics before the eyes of thousand and
tens Of thousands of their customers-that
their cases in the Cry stal Palace are in fact so
many gigantic advertisements, read and ad-
mired by myriads of merchants and other
buyers from all parts of the world, the unfair
ness of the comparison instituted by the Lon
don Press becomes apparent Our exhibitors
can derive no such advantage from the Fair
certainly not to any such extent The Bay
State Mills for example, has good display of
shawls here, hardly surpassed, considering
quality and price, by any Others yet, nobody
but Americans will thereby be tempted TO
give them orders; while British, Scotch,
French or Swiss shawl manufacturer exhibit
ing just such case, is morally certain of get
/ ting customers thereby in all parts of the
world. But enough on this head.
VI 7 raov Id that manu- uoricouS have haan
deferred from sending by an impression that
nothing would be admitted that was not sent
out in the st Lawrence, or at all events unless
received early in April But articles are still
acceptable, at least in our department; and
chine or fabric of decided merit which may
reach our Commissioner free of charge before
the end of June, viii have place assigned it.
although it viii probably be too late to have q
chance for the prizes.
| These are to be mainly medals of the finest
bronze. to cost $25, $l2 and $5 respectively
i Probably about one thousand Of the first class
i two thousand of the second and FIVE thousand
i of the third Will be distributed. But they are
! not to be given for different grades of excel
lence in the same field of exertion, but fol
!. radically diverse merits. The first class will
be mainly II not wholly gwen Tor inventions
Discoveries or Original Designs of rare excel
lence; the second class for novel applications
or combinations of principals already known
SO as to produce articles of signal utility, cheap
ness and beauty the third class will be given
for decided excellence of quality or workman
ship without regard to originality. By this
course, it is hoped that personal heartburn
/ ings and inviGuous riEalries among exhibitors
may, to great extent be avoided.
1 cannot close without word of acknowl
edgmcnt to our Embassador, Hon. Abbott
Lawrence, for the interest he has taken, and
the labor he has cheerfully performed in or
der that our country should be creditably rep
resented in this Exhibition. For many months
the entire burthen of correspondence, &c, fell
on his shoulders; and doubt whether the
i Fair will have cost him less than FIVE thou
sand dollars when it closes. That he has ex-
erted himself in every way in behalf of his