Tallis, John: Tallis's history and description of the Crystal Palace and the exhibition of the world's industry in 1851 (Band 1) (London, 1851)

142 THE GREAT EXHIBITION

the perils they so frequently encounter in crossing vast scenes of sandy desolation. The
camel, the "ship of the desert," as he is poetically termed, was looking round upon his
rider as if desirous he should dismount; so that he should be free to pick the herbage
and enjoy the repose which the situation affords. As a whole the performance was fuli
of character, and the disposition of' the group was as picturesque as its execution was
chaste and expressive.

The next subject we have to notice was of a very different kind. It was so
essentially English that it was impossible to mistake the costume for that of any other
country. It was an exquisite performance, coming home to the heart in all its fulness,
and awakening associations with which every English reader is acquainted. It was
an embodiment of the humour of Addison in the scene of Sir Roger de Coverley with the
Gypsies. The good old knight was in the attitude of hearing his fortune told through
the dubious light of palmistry, whilst the dark-eyed daughter of the East was wiling
her way into his heart, and breaking down every barrier of prejudice that might arise to
pi-event the natural generosity of Sir Roger from displaying itself in a sum sufficient to
uward her cabalistic knowledge. The spirit of the scene enabled us to fancy even
her gradually experiencing emotions of kindness towards the knight, whom everybody
esteemed, and for. whom the inmates of his household felt the tenderest regard. The
figure in the background, leaning upon the horse, was intended to represent Addison
himself, who was evidently taking that brief interest in the scene which enabled him
to realize it in a future Spectator. Messrs. Angell, of the Strand, were the exhibitors
of this fine centre-piece. On the left foreground stood a sideboard bottle in the antique
style, ornamented with Gothic oak leaves. This idea was suggested by the skins used
in Spain for carrying wine down the mountains. The height of the object was twenty-
four inches, and it was capable of containing eleven quarts. It was silver gilt, and
made entirely out of one piece of metal. On the right we had a handsome claret jug,
of a richly chased wine pattern. It was exhibited by Messrs. Lambert and Rawlings.
We next noticed a magnificent ewer or race cup, from the establishment of Messrs.
Garrard, of the Haymarket. It represented a group of Sioux Indians hunting the
bison in one of the North American prairies. This was a work which deserved some-
thing more than a passing notice. Its original was run for at the Doncaster races,
and the present was manufactured expressly for the Exhibition. In originality of
conception, spirit of design, and elaborateness of finish, we think it will bear compa-
rison with any production of the same class submitted for examination. The kindled
rage of the infuriated bison, tossing his head as if to gore the horse and bring his foe
to the ground, was striking and life-like, and, artistically speaking, formed an exquisite
base to the column of the uplifted horse; whose position carried the eye freely to the
top of the ewer. The strained attitude of the steed, too, was excellent, and the precision
which was intended to be conveyed in directing the lance of the rider, was exemplified
in the position he maintained as he seemed to rivet himself to his seat. On the other
side was another Indian in the act of discharging an arrow.

Messrs. Gass, of Regent-street, exhibited a brilliant collection of elaborate workman-
ship, among which was a dessert service of an entirely novel character, consisting of four
pieces, each representing different species of aquatic plants, modelled from water-plants
growing in Kew Gardens, the leaves forming dishes. One of the pieces represented the
beautiful and graceful nympktea thermalis, or Hungarian water-lily, in flower, springing
from rock-work, on which were several rock plants. The second was the rich nympha
mbrea, or red water-lily of the East Indies. The third was modelled after the calladiwm,
and the fourth after the dillirea speciosa. Mr. Emmanuel, of Hanover-square, exhibited
a splendid silver pendule, surmounted by a figure of Apollo driving the chariot of the