On this page

• Text (3)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    out of doors or m ; but in either case the impression is one of a subdued gaiety , like tlie shadow of flowers . Especially magical is the effect of the blue painting from the highest eastern gallery , where it seems to melt into the sky . From this point , also , which commands the whole building , stretches away a mag nificent , and altogether indescribable , prospect . The vastness here is apparent , and the thirty thousand present on Thursday found that it was real . Entering the south portal of the Exposition and passing through a pair of bronze gates , richly ornamented , the first object which irresistibly attracts the eye is the crystal fountain , with its streams of flowing , dropping , and sparkling water . Around are grouped colossal statues from the studios of British

    artists . On the left the riches of the East Indies , from countries whose names are romances , Cachmere , Delhi , Benares , Mirzapore , Gyah , consisting of lovely shawls , muslins worked in silk and gold , carpets in whose downy surfaces the footfall noiselessly sinks , exquisite mats , and metal manufactures , besides a variety of intoxicating drinks , fragrant woods , perfumes , gums , cereals , earths , and dried fruits . On the right the stalls of Tunis display figured satins , riding hats of circular form and vast diameter , rich horse-trappings , morocco boot 3 and slippers , and dates in great quantities . Brazil has a fine show of elegant woods and mineral -wealth ; and China sets out its gaudy , fantastic , but beautiful porcelain and other manufactures . When these wonders are

    passed by , and the fountain is approached , the lengthened nave on either hand , unfolds its thousand glories . In the centre of the transept are arranged groups of colossal statues . To the west the wealth of Britain and her dependencies ; to the east the products of foreign lands . Walking through the eastern division of the nave first come China , Tunis , Brazil ; then Switzerland , exhibiting her manufactures and her thousands of yards of streaming and rainbow-hued ribbons . France adjoins this compartment , brilliant with indescribable products of Parisian art , and her textiles , jewellery , goldsmith ' s work , guns , cannons , carriages , carpets , and ploughs .

    Then Belgium shows forth her ornamental glass , her carved furniture , musical instruments , a whole armoury of weapons , and lace—lace , ladies , in abundance—especially to be noted a large shawl of black point lace of great value , which occupied thirty women eight months in its manufacture . On the borders of Belgium is Austria rich in meerschaums , preparations of hair , dominoes , chessmen , time-pieces , and parasols ; a palace of toys , crested with helmets and breastplates , and other defensive armour ; grotesque automata , iron stoves , boots , shoes , and slippers , gloves from Prague , medallion portraits and crockery . Behind Austria is the Zollverein . Eastward of Austria , North Germany , Norway , Sweden , and Russia , muffled in rare furs . On either extremity of the end of the eastern nave , surmounted by a broad

    starred and striped banner , and huge eagle , stretch the confines of America . Brother Jonathan has facetiously spread out a very odd collection , consisting , among other things , of wooden pails , mineral teeth , carpet bags , a geographical clock , no end of daguerreotypes , and magic-lantern slides ; but he is great in harness and vehicles . Again , on the north side of the eastern nave are Denmark , Germany , the Zollverein , and Austria ; the last containing a magnificent suite of Austrian rooms , fitted up by Liestler , of Vienna . The range westward in this north side extends through Holland , Belgium , France , Italy , Spain and Portugal , Greece , Egypt , Turkey , Persia , and Arabia ; and , issuing from the courts and avenues , the eye surveys the crystal fountain , the giant Bculptures , the flowers and shrubs , and the vast perspectives disclosed by all points of the compass .

    The western nuve contains the contributions of Britain and her dependencies . The walk , in and out of the avenues on the northern side , towards the west , leads through Ceylon , Malta , the Ionian Islands and other British possessions , to the section devoted to mnchinery . Hero are placed hydraulic machines , including the monster press which raised the Britannia tubes , Nasmyth ' s steam-hammer , the beautiful marine engines of Boulton and Watt , Perm , and others ; then carriage courts , containing specimens of locomotives and railway carriages . And here iiIho is the section of machinery in motion . The . se machines are arranged according to their respective characters ; Hteam-cngincs occupy one portion , mills another , lathcH and tools a third , and printing machines a

    fourth . The machinery devoted to textile manufactures ia classified according to the several branches to which it is adapted . Parsing from cast to went , firs t come the silk and lace machinery ; next to that follows ilux , and adjoining it is the woollen machinery . Ueyond thin , and to the extremity of the building , is the valuable collection of cotton machinery , aent b y the manufacturers of Manchester and Oidhmn . 'lho widen or walls of the space dovoted to muchincry arc occupied by manufactured goods produced from the several eludes of machinery . Nearly the whole of thin machinery i » shown in motion . From the space occupied by the cotton machinery of Manchester there in un entrance into the third-class refreshment court , and Home open courts » 1 bo ocoupied by trees .

    The steam was turned into the building on Tuesday , and the whole of the machinery set in motion with perfect success . The entire range of steam pipe , including the ramifications to the various engines , is nearly 3000 feet , which is , probably , a greater length than has ever yet been successfully applied . The steam is supplied from five boilers , placed in an isolated building at the west end of the Exhibition . Four of these boilers are multitubular , upon a somewhat novel construction , by Messrs . W . G . Armstrong and Co ., of JVewcastle-upon-T yne , and the fifth is a double-furnace boiler , by Messrs . Galloway , of Manchester . These boilers collectively

    are equal to 150-horse power , and the steam is carried from them into the building by a pipe of nine inches diameter , thickly coated with felt . This pipe , which may be compared to the main artery of a human body , gradually diminishes in size as it extends through the building , and along its entire range receivers of a peculiar construction are placed , which arrest the water produced by condensation , and suffer the pure steam to flow onwards . After passing through the engines the exhausted

    steam enters another system of pipes , by which it is conveyed into a tunnel outside of the building , and both systems of pipes are placed beneath the floor , where they are entirely out of sight . The whole arrangement of the steam pipes , with their connected apparatus , have been carried out by Messrs . W . G . Armstrong and Co ., under the direction of Mr . W . Cubitt , one of the royal commissioners , who more immediately presides over the mechanical department , and of Mr . Hensman , the superintendent of that class .

    _ In order from the western extremity of the northern side of the nave cotton goods , leather and furs , manufactures from minerals , the furniture court and fine arts , find a place . On the southern side walking westward are the East Indies , Canada , Australia , Cape of Good Hope , St . Helena , the Mauritius , Tobago , &c , and the classes of British manufacture in the following order—hardware , furniture , woollen and mixed fabrics , flax and printed goods . Behind these several classes of manufacture is the large space occupied by agricultural implements , and upon the extreme south side the interesting collection of British minerals , mining , and metallurgy . On this side , also , is the seulpture-room , leading into a court set apart for the marvels of mediaeval architecture and antiquities .

    Upstairs the variety is wonderful . In the south gallery of the western nave are a collection of chemical manufactures and productions , substances used as food , vegetable and animal substances , guns , and naval architecture and models . The central south gallery is occupied by philosophical instruments , precious metals , tapestry , ribbons of Coventry and other places , and Spitalfields silks ; shawls , clothing , and hosiery of all kinds ; and upon the east side of the transept , the silks of Lyons , a German organ , the straw work of Switzerland , the cottons of

    Massachusetts , and other articles belonging generally to those foreign countries which occupy the space beneath them , upon the ground floor . The central north galleries , contain exquisite specimens of Brussels and French lace , and other lighter articles of foreign production . A portion of the north gallery in blazoned with painted glass of all nations ; in the central north gallery , are pottery , glass , surgical , musical , and philosophical instruments , with the great organ of Mr . Willis at the western and . There is an excellent collection of models , and in the north gallery , civil engineering , a fourth collection of"

    surgical instruments , some cutlery , and manufactures from animal and vegetable substances . Such is a rapid survey of the contents of the Exposition .

    On the whole the array of contributions present themselves to the mind in three groups : steammaehinery , statues and models , and furniture . The machine * arc a type of Power , the art-models and the best statuary , Imaginative Beauty ; and the furniture —at once so gay and grand , so elegant and substantial—the gleaming glass fountains , gorgeous carpets , handsome carved bedsteads with embroidered curtains , inlaid tables , endless variety of clmir and bo fa , works in bronze , ormolu , gold , silver , and precious stones , textile manufactures , cloth , linens , laces , 8 tufl ' n , silks , ribbons , autius , velvets , furs and leathers

    , mirrors and porcelain vessels , even the pictures exhibited—all , in fact , that may be comprehended under the the term Furniture , convey that idea of Use to the mind for which Englishmen have a peculiar affection . And thus we have symbols of power , and beauty , and usefulness , the elements of civilization . I n the display of Power , England reign * supreme . There in the might and symmetry of iron and Hleel , and brass , stand the giant steam-engines which have won far us by their speed , and power and immensity of production , the palms of commercial conquest in all the regions , and over all the seas of the globe .

    Untitled Article

    An interesting visit was paid , by the sanction of tin- commi « Hioners , at nn early hour on Tue . sdny Mrs . Chisholm , the r « at piitroiu' » H and guide of vnil griition , interested herself to obtain the admission of

    a number of British emigrants , amounting to nearly 200 . There are two official catalogues of the Exhibition , one a sort of handbook , which may be had for a shilling ; the other an elaborate account of the whole progress of this undertaking from the first , together with a special explanatory account of each article or class of articles . Alexis Soyer , at Gore-house , is one of the wonders which Exposition year brings us . The mighty gastronome has made arrangements for dining ' all nations . " He has converted the mansion of Lady Blessington into a vast hotel , fitted up the apartments with great splendour , painted , and gilded , and papered , until the whole house is entirely changed . For instance , what was once the Blessington library is now La Salle die Parnasse , that is , a large diningroom , decorated in gold and white ; and what was the boudoir of Lady Blessington is now La Cabinet rfe la Pompadour , a small dining-room embellished with " flutings of white and pink , and a triumphal arch of roses and foliage . " M . Soyer has been lavish of titles for his chambers . Here are a few : — Vestibule de la Fille de V Or age , Salle des Noces de Danae , L' Atelier de Michel Ange , Avenue des Amours , Pagode du Cheval de Brofize , and Le Pavilion Monstre d'Ampkytrion ! Soyer has written a book of the Symposium , in which he triumphantly asks , " Who can

    view with callous eye and more callous heart the apotheosis of gastronomy progressing beneath the roof ? Dinner in the Temple of Danae , lunch in the vintage chamber , supper within the domains of the ice king , eating and drinking everywhere ! Why , the sight is enough to turn a heart of stone , enough to make a hermit relinquish his roots and black bread , and a teatotaller break his pledge all to fragments . " The kitchen apparatus is a magnificent industrial exposition in itself , the dining accommodation is for fabulous numbers ; in short , to give at once a complete idea of the magnitude of the scale on which things are to be done at the Symposium , every day at a given hour an entire ox will be roasted in the open air !

    Mr . Batty is building aJHippodrome on a plot of land at the corner of the Victoria-road , Kensington , of an oval shape , called 500 feet by 400 feet , to accommodate 14 , 000 persons . The seats , six or seven . deep , are roofed over . The enclosed area is open to the sky ; the sides as well as the roof of the building are slated , and the colours used for decoration are blue and white . The horse entrance is at the south end ; and the public entrance by a compoed archway of three openings , formed in the Kensington-road , which has in the frieze some small llonum figures on horseback , and is otherwise adorned with flying horses . Another novelty was the great fair which was held on Thursday in Kensington , near the Kensal New Town .

    len new omnibuses commenced running from Kennington-gate to the Exhibition , on Sunday , charging no more than 2 d . for each passenger for the entire distance , taking the route by Kenningtongreen , Walcot-place , over Westminster-bridge , to Charing-cross , and thence to Piccadilly , &c . A similar number , upon the same terms , will be placed on this line in a few days , and a like number , it is understood , will also start from Cainberwell-gate , at the same economic rate .

    The Emperor of Kussia has decided that a commission of manufacturers and men of science , under the presidency of Count Klemmichel , director-general of public works , shall be went to the Exhibition at London , and shall visit France to examine the principal manufacturing establishments . The Emperor luia also decided that such of his subjects as may visit Ldiuln m ; iy p : iss through France on undergoing certain formalities .

    Untitled Article

    I he Exhibition is producing effects even in Spain , the papers of which are filled with English advertisements addressed to Exhibition visitors . A Spanish steamer has been put on to run from Santander to Southampton , for the Exhibition . She is called the M . A . Heredia , and makes her first trip to-day 'Hie fares are £ (> l () s . and £ 5 10 s . She is to return from Southampton by Havre to Santander , and , as passengers can join at Havre , they am , if they like , make a stay of a fortnight in London , and return by the same steamer .

    I he Times reports the following military and police preparations for the Exposition as resulting from rlu Duke and Kir George Grey : —At the Cavalry liarracks , Knight . sbridge , they have allotted a certain portion of the building for the reception of t . he 2 nd battalion of the Grenadier Guards . A portion of the 1 st . battalion of the Rifle Itrigade ( now quartered at Dover ) will march to Woolwich , and the other to the Tower of London , where the necessary

    preparations have been made for them . The First Royal Dragoons from Nottingham , and the Eighth IIuhhuih from llrighton , will be stationed in half billets at llampstead anil I li c hgate . The Fourth Li"ht Dragoons from Dublin , will be quartered iu i \ l ( i U 7 irrackH nt ( Oxbridge . The following will Ue the nt . ntionn of the oav . ilry :- First Life Guards , Regent ' sparh , and a portion of t he Royal Horse ( i u ' anls ( IHue from Windsor ); Second Life Guards , Knightsbridi / o

    Untitled Article

    May 3 , 1851 . ] % , % t 'fL tHHtt . 407

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 3, 1851, page 407, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1881/page/3/