Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-01-03
Fron the NasAvilIe Unisa.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THG UNION.
AFTER NO. v.


/ FISR 10 Birmingham, ItS MInuf dctlres, DC
| VLsii to Kenilrorh and Warac,ck Casiies-
Th home Of Shakespeare.
We are now nearly in the centre Of England
and in the great workshop Of the Kingdom
where almost everything that the human mind
( can conceive Of is manufactured. FROM YER,
early perod Birmingham has been renowned iot
its manufactures in steel and iron. This trade is
now carried on to an extent elsewhere une
! qualled. The principal branches Of il are plate
and plated wares, ornamenled steel goods, Jew.
elry, Japaning, PAPER mache cut glass ornaments,
steel pens, buckles and buttons, cast iron ar
Giles, guns, steam engines, &c. We found no
difficulty 10 gaining admission, as at Manchester,
into The principal establishments. They were
particularly polite in carrying US through and
showing the entire process 10y which they manu-.
lacure their various articles. We were partic
ularly struck with the manner Of making papier
mache articles which are so beautiful, and which
appear to US so diihcull and intricate. The pro
cess is very simple when we look at il. and causes
Us to wonder Why il has moi been more general
ly used. The first thing is to cut out Of common
brown paper the articles TO be made which
is pasted together and placed in an oven of Ger.
tain temperature To be dried. II is then taken
out and vanished with very thick black. coat.
ing, the mother Of pearl being imbedded in the
varnlsh The article is now complete with the
exception Of the finishing polish which is moth,
ing more than rubbing aud vanishing.
birmingham is connected with DO ldon and
various places by means Of canals, and forms a
centre Of railway communication with every
part Of the kingdom. There is nothing in Biz.
mlngham to attract the stranger. asd. from the
mills. Her public edfces and monuments are
OF mean description aud deserving no particular
notice.
Not far from Birmingham is the famed Castle Of
henII"orh, around which fingers so many his
torlc associations aud pleasing "reminiscences,
"Shrines Of the mighty, can it be
That this is all tina, remains of thee"
Among the venerable remains Of the once
magnificent dwellings Of princes alternately
the prison and the "pasance" Of ROYALTY, there
cannot be on" more deserving the notice of the
admirers Of picturesque beauty than this old ems
lie, which, notwithstanding the corrodng hand
OF time, still retains such vestige, oi its lormer
extent and grandeur are powerfully calculated
to impress the mind of the beholder with vivid
idea OF the mngniiceuce Of the eudal ages and
the instability Of all things human. As stood
upon the bridge erected by the Ear Of Leicester
Tor Queen Elizabeth TO enter the castIe--and
viewed It's iVy'clad battl-n-nls and majestic tow.
efs which are now fast Wondering to decay yet
s'IIl Elegant in their runs aud dgui6ed in their
Disgrace" was inspired with thrilling emotions
O af nd
ton Involuntarly takes wing. and forcihIy brings
to remembrance the departed glory Of all those
mighty cities, whose renown in arts and arms
filled The world with wonder and astonishmen-,
and whose builders decreed should be the impsr.
lshable monuments OF the geniu, Of science and
OF conquest. Who, for instance, can behold the
runs now unfOlded TO our view, without eIclaim
ing IN the sublime and energetic language Of The
inspired writer, Glow is the mighty faIlenl"-
Al who have read Waverly are perfectly famil.
lar with the strange and romantic history Of Ken.
niIwonh. The only part of the original fortress
OF this once lOrdly structure now remaining is
The keen, generally known as Ce.er's Tower,
the walls Of which are in some places o fee
thick. The remains of the additions made by
John OF Gaunt, Duke Of Lancaster are termed
Lancaster bindings. In part Of the nns
termed Leicester buildings are to be seen the
relics Of The great hail. a fine barona room s.
feet IN length aud as in width. Although he
efectlOns OF Leicester are Of the most recent
dale, they have The most ancient and ruined ap
pearance, being built Of brown, crumbog
stone, not well adapted for durability. ave can.
not but add" says Sir Walter Scott, "ihat this
l.rdl ,.,Lz 4 L
heroes fought now in the bloody current of storm
and siege, and now in The games Of chivary,
where beauty dealt the prize which vaIor won,
all is now desola,e. The bed Of the lake is now
a rushy swamp, and the massey ruins Of the cas-.
lie only serve to show wha, their splendor once
was, and to impress upon the mind OF The visitor
the transory value Of The human happiness Of
those who enjoy an humble home in vriuous con
tenment"
From the castle of Kenilworth we went to
Warwick, only few miles distant, which is also
one Of The noblest specimens Of ancient gran.
deur this country now possesses. Owing to the
recent dean Of the Countess Of Warwick the
doors Of the Castle were closed to all visitors
and We were denied the privilege Of going thro'
those ancient halls and comparing them with
others. The porter, however who was good
naIured and well fed Englishman. was kind
enough to conduct US over be grounds, and show
TO us some old relics that belonged TO The giant
Guy, Earl of Warwick. Among the many Gu.
rious things noticed was his armor, his sword
weighing 70 pounds and abou' feet in length.
and his shield, helmet, breaslpla,r, walking staff
and fitting pole are all Of enormous size and IN
doubtPdiy very ancient; the horse armour, on
which is an inscription nearly obteraled, is of
= later date. A large pot, called Guys pc"
and bis flesh fork are really curious-the pot
holds 40 gallons, and the weight with the fork
6O7 pounds. Five Of our party got into this pot
and there was room like buss for one more
This enormous vessel 10 now used by the War.
wick family for punch boUi and is filled three
times in succession on the day when each heir
ofhe Castle attains bis majority.
This s place Of much importance and great
interest from iis being The chief seat OF men
whose names are intimately connected with the