EXHIBITION, BKITISH INDUSTRIAL. 



443 



& fly press used in the mint ; and a circular 

 saw made from one disc of steel over V feet in 

 diameter, with teeth of 10 inches in length. 

 There was, however, a larger saw than this 

 shown in another part of the building, made 

 from steel by the old process ; and either of 

 them, turning at the rate of 500 revolutions a 

 minute, would cut through the thickest timber 

 as fast as a man could walk. With these mas- 

 sive examples were shown smaller ones, such 

 as plates used in boilers, ships, and bridges, ris- 

 ing in regular gradations from l-50th of an 

 inch to nearly 4^ inches thick. Specimens of 

 steel were also shown, from a thickness too 

 great for a strong man to bend down to the 

 250th part of an inch in diameter. 



Among the applications of steel wire were 

 exhibited several specimens of cotton cards, 

 used in the best carding engines, with steel in 

 round, flat, and square bars of every size. Two 

 important examples of steel ordnance were 

 shown one illustrating a mode of mounting 

 guns without trunnions, the elevation being 

 effected by a screw, and the axles of the 

 wheels admitting of adjustment ; the other a 24- 

 pounder, with trunnions forged on it out of one 

 solid ingot of steel. Mr. Bessemer also showed 

 samples of railway bars made of his steel, some 

 few hundred tons of which have already been 

 laid on various new lines for trial. Xaylor and 

 Vickers showed a peal of beautifully sounding 

 steel bells. 



WORKS ix THE PRECIOUS METALS. The work- 

 ers in gold and silver have made great progress 

 in their cunning art since the exhibition of 1851. 

 In this age of gold, and nobler enterprise than 

 that of gold seeking, and nobler successes than 

 those of gold finding, it was natural to expect 

 a large increase in costly works of art, and 

 luxurious ministrations to the vanity which are 

 too often showered upon individual success. 

 But the advancement of art has not gone, part 

 passu, with this increment of the precious me- 

 tals, and this liberal employment of those who 

 fashion them. Art has been beaten, in com- 

 mon phrase, "by the weight of metal;" and 

 though the quantity has been superabundantly 

 increased, the quality of the workmanship has 

 suffered in this plethora of the earth's wealth. 



Aluminium Articles. Aluminium alloys well 

 with copper, forming what is now called 

 aluminium bronze. When alloy of this kind, 

 containing from three to five per cent, of alu- 

 minium, is "dipped" in aquafortis, it acquires a 

 tint so like that of gold that it is impossible to 

 distinguish one from the other, even when 

 seen side by side. It is susceptible of a fine 

 polish, and may be cast, rolled, hammered, and 

 drawn out into fine wire. The bronze usually 

 made contains 10 per cent, of aluminium. It 

 possesses great tenacity, but tarnishes by ex- 

 posure to the air. 



M. Morin and Deville, in the French Depart- 

 ment of the Exhibition, had an admirable dis- 

 play of aluminium, exemplifying every impor- 

 tant quality of the inetaL There were statuettes 



and various cast objects, including latch keys, 

 which combined lightness with strength ; there 

 was the metal rolled into large sheets, beaten 

 into leaves, drawn into fine wire and woven 

 into lace, coined into medals, plated upon cop- 

 per ; and aluminium bronze was shown in pro- 

 fusion, wrought as well as unwrought. The 

 eagles on the standards of the French army 

 are of aluminium ; and examples of these were 

 exhibited. 



Leaf aluminium has lately been used for let- 

 tering in bookbinding. 



JEWELRY. The large diamond, "the Star 

 of the South," was shown in the foreign nave, 

 as a contribution from Amsterdam, by M. E. 

 Coster ; this diamond is of immense size, weigh- 

 ing no less than 125 carats. It is set in the 

 centre of a magnificent star of brilliants. 



A large brilliant drop, the property of Mr. 

 Dresden, and the largest now for sale in Eu- 

 rope, was also exhibited ; it weighed 76 carats, 

 or 306 grains ; price 50,000. 



Mr. Hancock exhibited, in his well-appointed 

 display, a Diamond Necklace, the price of which 

 was 85,000 guineas. 



In Mr. Hancock's case was also exhibited the 

 Devonshire Emerald (the largest in the world), 

 and the Devonshire Jewels, one cf the rarest 

 and most artistic collections of antique gems in 

 existence. These were shown amid a perfect 

 galaxy of pearls, opals, rubies, brilliants, and 

 topazes ; in this case were exhibited jewels to 

 the value of 300,000. 



London and Ryder exhibited a wonderful 

 specimen of diamond-setting, with a miniature 

 portrait of the Queen, composed of distinct 

 brilliants almost as fine as diamond dust, and 

 of which more than 2,000 were required to 

 complete the portrait. 



Hunt and Roskell exhibited the Nassuck and 

 Arcot diamonds, the property of the Marquis 

 of Westminster. The Arcot consists of three 

 gems, a round one, 125 grains, and two drops, 

 223i grains ; of the very finest quality and 

 water. The Nassuck weighs 340 grains: it 

 was bought by the late Marquis of Westmin- 

 ster for 7,000, and was once worn by his lord- 

 ship on the hilt of his Court sword. Hunt and 

 Roskell also showed a string of 32 remarkably 

 fine pearls, each 39 grains, and the whole 

 valued at 8,000. Widowson and Veale ex- 

 hibited two strings of fine pearls, with two 

 pendants, valued at 2,800. 



Mr. Emanuel, in an ebony and bronze trophy 

 in the nave, exhibited some costly articles ; as 

 an emerald brooch, mounted in diamonds, 

 valued at 10,000. , 



Mr. Lambert's greatest novelty was some 

 crystal intaglios engraved by Mr. Charles Cook, 

 and afterward colored to the life ; pretty ob- 

 jects of jewelry, either as lockets, brooches, 

 or solitaires. 



In Imitative Jewelry, Mr. Emanuel exhibit- 

 ed some ornaments made in ivory and gold in- 

 laid with various gems a process which he 

 has patented which certainly produce a good 



