The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-04-22
- MAxcnrsrra, ENGLAND, Msrch sOth.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, murch 3Utn.
EDITOR OF THE UNION AND JOURNAL:
In my last letter, of tho 18th inst, gave
you some account Of tho food at Sheffield,
but believe did not say much concerning
the town. 1t is situated ut tho junction OF
four small streams with tho Don, and is about
leo miles from London. These different
is,reams How through valleys bounded by high
hills, upon which quite portion OF the town
is situated, 30 that many Of the stroeh are
quite steep; but the scenery is varied and
picturesque. IN 'IfD
i OF course, 80 much water power gives great
facilities for manufacturing purposes. and the
place is renowned as being the chief seat OF
English manufacture of cutlery, tools. and
steel of all kinds, as we'll rs silver, silver
plated. German silver, and Britannia goods.
am told that Silvcr-plating and Brittania
metal were first invented here. Ipaid an in.
tcrcsting visit at the steel works OF Messrs;
VIM Jessop & Sons, and examined in detail
their process of making steel, OF which tney
are now making moro than lO0 tons per
week. The sons, Thomas and Sidney are
about GO wears of ago, the former being may.
or, and although very rich. they still attend
closely to their business. | found them very
cordial and obliging, and ] am indebted TO
them for many kindnesses. y.r..1 .r,
By them was introduced into Brown q
Co. & large rolling mills. Here are made lou
tons of plates &c. per day. saw one armor
plate rolled. Il was IL feet long and l3 inch.
es thick when drawn from the furnace; and
the first time it passed through the rollers 1t
was reduced IL inches in thickness, and
less than that each time, the last roll reduc-
ing 1t only 3-S Of an inch. and 1t camc out
4 10 inches thick, about 30 feet long, and
weighing IA tons; and all this was done in
Is minutes. u Of these plates arc made ev.
cry "a hours; they arS sometimes made
weighing 90 tons. Tho armor plates are
planned, fitted and formed in powerful ma.
chimes. ready for the forts and vessels, before
thcy leave the works. The manager has
been offered $500 year to take charge Of
largo rolling mill in our own country.
next formed the acquaintance OF Messrs.
Rogers, the old and celebrated cutlery man
ufacturers went through their works and
saw the knife of which heard when boy.
1t now has 1861 blades, oil but 40 Of which
have springs and will open and shut readily.
Three other blades arc soon to be added. and
then one for every year. for timc unknown.
The steel and Glo works Of John Martin Il
Co. also attracted large share Of my attcn-
ton; but lest 80 much iron and steel become
burdcnsome to you and your readers, l will
leave Sheffield and next speak Of
LONDON.
arrived here Saturday night, and little
past nine tho next morning was ut service in
St. Paul's Cathedral. Upon the spot where
this building now stands, q church was first
erected in Gl0. and after being many times
badly damaged by fire, and rebuilt, it was
totally destroyed in 1866, in the great fire
which consumed $4,000 houses and 81 par
ish churches. The present structure was
commenced juno Dist, 1915, and was COM
plcted in I'LL. It is built of stone, in tho
form of Latin cross, being 500 feet long,
and tho transopt 2S5 feet long. Tho dome,
which does not seem ut all out of proportion
with tho rest of tho building. is ono hundred
and forty flee feet in diameter, and is 1856 feet
above the floor of the church, and 800 feet
above the ground. Of the interior OF this
cathedral, its fine decorations, costly monu.
ucnts, &C., I shall say nothing, as they have
been 50 often described by Others.
Sabbath evening I spent in conversation
with gentleman who Is now, and has been
for 81 years, member of Parliament. Mon
day, I visited Green and St. James Parks,
each containing so acres, and Hyde Park,
which covers an area OF $50 acres. In the
latter saw the Prince of Wales and his wife
riding in an open carriage. In the Park the
carriages were innumerable, the display OF
dress magnificent, and | saw certainly tens Of
thousands of people, and yet | was told that
all this was only an ordinary sight.
next went to Westminster Abbey, in
which have been crowned all the British SOY.
creigns from Edward tho Confessor to the
reisning Queen. Many Of them are also bur-
led hero, as well as poets, heroes, and others,
who have become distinguished In nearly oil
the depa, tnents OF life. Tho monuments to
many Of them, are beautiful and costly. The
building itself was in existence as far back as
the 7th century, but was completed, or near.
" 80, in 1915. It's length is 5ll feet, and
breadth OF transcpt 203 feet. Nine chapcls
surround the cast end in a semicirclc, in which
one could spend long timo both proftably
and agrccably. Being pressed for time, with
much to do and soc, We reluctantly turned
away. after spending two and halt hours
within those tmo.honored walls.
cannot describe, but will simply mention
the Bank of England, where more than l0O0
persons are employed; tho Crystal Palace
and surrounding grounds, with its statues.
curiosities of nll kinds. goods both useful and
ornamental. machinery, &c. &c.; Kensing-
ton Museum, with its numberless curiosities
and fine galleries Of paintings: Regents
Park; Geological Gardens; and numerous
other places of interest. sr.. 10.
From London to Manchester BY rail, VIC
came about GO miles without stopping. Tho
tender is supplied with water as 1t goes ut
the rate Of so or 60 miles per hour, by low
cring tho end Of a Pipe into tank laid along
by the sid, of tho rails, and filled with wa
ter, which is thus forced up into tho tender.
In the carriage with me came member OF
VI Parliament from Manchester, and no said he
did not think Laird's rams could be legally
held, bat that the law would be so stretched
us to prevent their going to America.
Yesterday, while riding with gentleman
fcw miles out Of Bradford. VIC witnessed
from an elevated point Of land, stag chase.
The stag was pursued by about 90 dogs and
$50 horsemcn, and away thoy went through
the fields, lcaping walls, bitches and hedges,
until at last the wearicd stag was ovcrtaken
and brought down by the dogs. Afterwards
there was rush for hares, which were quite
plenty, and in this there seemed to DO much
snort. There was one lady mounted and in
the chase, and quito crowd Of spectators.
IL is doubtful IL I get timo to write you
again, for business accumulates Us the time