14 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



foliage, the centre group representing the store from whence they 

 have been distributed. 



From China, was sent a set of Early Cups and Saucers, with the 

 gilding laid on by a process unknown to English manufacturers in 

 solid gold plates ; of these plates, each cup contains no less than 961, 

 and of these 200 are ornamented with imitation rubies. Each cup is 

 also enriched with 269 solid silver plates, of which 34 bear small emer- 

 alds. The saucers are still more highly enriched, each being inlaid 

 with 1035 plates of pure gold, and of these 415 bear imitation rubies. 

 They have also 432 solid silver plates inserted in each, in 56 of which 

 are emeralds. This unique set belonged to a mandarin of the highest 

 rank, and is the first specimen of the kind ever imported. 



Among the novelties in philosophical apparatus, was a gigantic 

 Barometer, the tube and scale reaching from the floor of the gallery 

 nearly to the top of the building, and the rise and fall of the indicating 

 fluid being marked by feet instead of by tenths of inches. The column 

 of mercury supported by the pressure of the atmosphere communicates 

 with a perpendicular tube of smaller bore, which contains a colored 

 fluid much lighter than the mercury. When a diminution of atmos- 

 pheric pressure occurs, the mercury in the large tube descends, and by 

 its fall forces up the colored fluid in the smaller tube ; the fall of the 

 one being indicated in a magnified ratio by the rise in the other. 



One exhibitor, who has great faith in a new name, sent a saucepan 

 with a false bottom, upon which potatoes being placed, covered up, and 

 set upon the fire, steam is generated, and thus the potatoes are cooked 

 in the water they contain a contrivance called the Anhydrohcpse- 

 terion. 



An unique piece of workmanship was to be seen in a miniature gun, 

 perfect in all its parts and highly finished, its length being 4 inches, 

 and weight ^ of a pound. The stock was of maple, and the barrel 

 twisted. The lock, which was percussion, is composed of 15 separate 

 pieces, some of them so small as to be almost imperceptible without 

 the aid of a glass. 



A glass fountain, of great size and beauty, constructed by Mr. Osier, 

 was placed in the centre of the Crystal Palace. "This structure 

 stands in a basin of concrete 24 feet in diameter, and rises to the 

 height of 27 feet, composed entirely of pure flint glass, cut into the 

 most elaborate forms. The columns of glass are raised in tiers, the 

 main tier supporting a basin from which jets of water can be made 

 to project, in addition to the main jet at the top. As the structure 

 rises it tapers upward in good proportion, the whole being firm and 

 compact in appearance, and presenting almost a solidity of aspect 

 unusual with glass structures. A central shaft, with a slightly ' lipped' 

 orifice, finishes the whole, and from this the water issues in a 

 broad, well-spread jet, forming in its descent a lily-like flower before 

 separating into spray, which in the sun-light glitters and sparkles in 

 harmony with the fountain itself. This fountain contains upwards of 

 4 tons of glass, and the principal basin is upward of 8 feet in 

 diameter." 



In no one department of industry at the Exhibition was there a 



