The Crystal Palace and its contents.: An illustrated cyclopaedia of the great exhibition of 1851 (London, Nr. 1.1851(4.Okt.)-26/27.1852(27.März))

AN ILLUSTRATE!) CYCLOPEDIA Oi' TJ'H GKIiAT EXHIBITION OF 1851.

159.'



! that they are po.

, been introduce
I thousands wh
mink, and otlie

Tlie ben



Hud!

n's-down." ofwhii-h tlmtv v-vve :., v -1!
u after the feather* have been ^Ifidcal
jathers, prepared and purified, are used lor beds. :iml hem;; aivui-
durable and elastic, are particularly suited for that purpose. The
jn's Bay swan quills are much ni demand for pens, and for
i' brushes or pencils, and command a high price. A portion of the
plumage is also used for ornamental and fancy purposes, and military
plumes.

The white hare (L-pn^ r/iarlaH,;). from the Poli.-h_iVLjl.ins. and also from
Russia. !.= perfectly white in wint-r, bur. insumiuor ■: ■■:. : . ■ ■ ; ■ ■■ \ ; i
tint. The skins being exceedimrlv tender, it has latterly ,,;ven place in i -e
white Polish rabbit, which is more durable and there lore more suitable for
that purpose. When cived, it looks exceedingly rich and beaut ifuh, aiid is
often palmed off unon the inexperienced (m superior fui-8;

The Hudson's Bay rabbit is one of the least valuable skins imported by
the company. Like all furs from the polar regions, it is fine, long, and
tliick, but the skin is so fragile and tender that it is almost useless; it is,
however, dyed and maun:';-, r.y.d for ladies'wear, and is sold by

ude



s sable; but,
rubs off,

can black bear is termed the Ai
i this and other Countries for i

inTS. carriage hammer-cloths, sle
le black cub bears are much soii;
;. coat linings, trimmings and i

to the great annoyance oi
iiiid it falls to pieces.

The large North Amer
its far is generally used i
for caps, pistol holsters, r
accompaniments. The fti
for making shnbe lining

>:,irts, with the large -rev hears, for sleigh coverings. etc. '1
white Polar bear, the supply of which is verv limited, is
into nigs, which are often'bordered with that of the black
The brown Isabella bear is at the present time used for ladies' wear in
America. Forty years since the Isabella bear was tlie most fashionable fur
in England—a single skin producing from 30 to -ill guineas; but the capi-icc
of fashion causes similar skins at the present time to produce not more than

v Bear, been

■■rey bo:i



Neo

the

i North America, and :

of tl

by traders on account'.;' .■-. \ ! :■•
guineas; It is said to be the royal
great officers of state, mandarins. £
is principally worn by the nobles,
On account of its great weight it is
Among North American and Cai
exhibited likewise a group of raccoon (Pr-
of raccoon are, we believe, produced
mto this country in immense number.*. T'hoy a
chants who.attend the periodical fur sales ""'1 who di
titles at the great fair at Leips.ie. They are principally
throughout Germany, lor lining shubes and coats, and
fined to gentlemen's wear. The dark skins are the eh
valuable. We have next a group of Cat f.vux ,!'■!!.-■ >■■■
mostly found jn Canada, and is a distinct Variety of tl
skins are exported, and are made into cloak and coat
suitable for cold climates, and ve-v moderate in price.
. The North American minx is found in great numbe:
das, &c.. and is tlie finest of the sp'
i of this skin were shown.

ad valuable collection of the skins
This animal is mostly sought after
iglc skin producing from 30 to 40
f China, and is much used bv the

iRuf

..l-.s. &.:.

ioky and Soi
3 finest qnulitic

cd in Russia i
i exclusively <

Labrador, tlie ...
excellent specim.

collection of the

This rea-
pers, slei,,..
foot muffs, {
''ility render

grey t

o for Fur travelling baj

varmth, and great dm

THE CHEAT EXHIBITION.

(prom the "athbnjeuu," NOV. 15.)
iral public that tho producer of every article of utility
ement and support—and it is therefore in the hands of
ntrchasoi's that tho fate of artistic design as applied to

By their judgment, whether good Or bad, the key must
uy with which the artist and the workman must tuno

Many, wo have little doubt, first turned their attention
ities in this matter on the occasion of their repeated
ies of tho Crystal Palace. There, probably for tho first

on the tusk of selection in a.serious spirit. Actual
icd them with an unerring test of excellence ; and many
ombination of utility and beauty was doubtless there
.1.' The forms of many of tho objects displayed were
thoir imaginations, as standards wherewith to Compare
air faculties OS judicious purchasers mi-Ut be subsequently
not to bo expected, however, that tho *'

the

Lid tho

;t; audit is fortunate that th
\- happily so universal among;
s requisite hi' foriilyhig in

then- original impressions. Who that remembers
the costly engravings which illustrate such works as .Stuart and Hewitt's
■'Athens." and the early publications of til D !■-,■ \ i S i -: t] and of tho
Society of Antiquaries—and turns from them to that wonder of the nine-
teenth century, the "Illustrated London News"—can fail to recognise ihc
remarkable extension of the power of graphic delineation in this country
during tho last hundred years'! Every draughtsman will at once acknow-
ledge the impossibility of depicting rapidly and correctly an unceasing
variety of subjects without tho constant exercise of a nice powor of dis-
crimination between those peculiarities of form which confer cither beauty
or deformity ou each different object. Tlie plethora of sketching, which
in the great characteristic of tho present age, as compared with the habit
of our fore filth ers, may be considered to amount almost to a mania; but,
while it indicates the excitable bmr.'-rameiit of a public ever craving after
fresh food for imagination, it by no means implies tho absence .of that
balance of judgment which should exist in every well-regulated mind.
While the unceasing swarm of modern periodical publications accumulates
from week to week, and almost from day to day, abundant material for
the study of the artist, it ministers largely to tho amusement, of the public;
and not to their amusement only—since it provides for those who are
willing to use them lessons of no slight importance. How many arc there
whose impressions of pictitresipte form tire derive.! almost exclusively
from these sources—the Protean variety of which serves to demonstrate,
that, when treated by the artist's iniiid and touched by his skill, almost
every diversity of style may be alike invested with bite aspect of grace and
of beauty.

SALTER'S MODEL OF THE GKEAT OPENING BHlDGE ATSELfif.

Astongst tho interesting models exhibited, that by Salter of the Great
Opening Bridge at Selby, on the line of the Hull and Selby Hallway, is
particularly worthy of notice, the work represented being of so novel a
character, ou account of its large span.

The river On.-:e is at all times ranid. and particular; v so during the times
of the frequent freshes or Hoods; it required, therefore, that abridge of
peculiar construction should be resorted to. in order to meet the require-
ments of the peculiar case. By tho Act of Parliament for the Hull and
Selbv llailway, which obtained the sanction of tin- Le-i-laiure in l£;h>, ii
was stipulated that tho bridge at Selby should have an'oneimtg arch of -1-1
feet span for the sea-borne vessels trading to York. Messrs. Walker and
Burgos, who have erected so many of tho cast-iron bridges which arc dotted
about in different parts of the kingdom, were engineers for the railway; the
bridge, therefore, was executed under their direction ; the contract for thoiron
work beiiig undertaken by tho Butterly Iron Company, and carried out
with tile usual snirit displayed by that firm. The river at tho point of
crossing is about 200 Feet in width, and at low water 14 feet in depth, the
tide rising 9 feet at springs and i feet at neaps. The bed of the river
ists of silt resting on a thin bed of sand, beneath

hard qualit;
finished in the

brickwork and

idle dii'uei

The bridge was commenced in the autumn of 1837, and
spring of 1S40. The land abutments arc constructed of
lasoiiry resting on piles; those under the west abutment
d those under the opposite abutment t-s. feet long respec-
irwediate piers for the support of the superstructure are
pile-work, the piles being driven 15 feet, into the solid clav,
mnuountcd with cap sills of large Boautlihg, upon which

purpose. Tins was ottected by rounding the ce
their length, so as to allow the cast-iron Boeki
solid bearing on the square shoulders of the pile
the long timber braces; so that when the socket;
were let down to their bearings, the tops of the
their places at once, and secured to the cap sills.