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THE ILLUSTRATED EXHIBITOR.

143

once again, and successfully, asserted herself m the inventive genius and industrial skill of her inhabitants ; and none
who wander through the space allotted to the sister kingdom, and gaze_ thoughtfully upon the objects exhibited will
fail to acknowledge the fact of Ireland's advancement in the scale of nations.

In the very outset of the excitement, since so fully felt, Ireland was honourably distinguished; and from among two
hundred and forty-eight competitors for the Exhibition building, the design of Messrs. Richard and Thomas Turner
of the Hammersmith Works, Dublin, was considered as far superior to the majority of drawings sent in for competition'
though many of them are stated by the Royal Commissioners fo have been of a " very elaborate character, bearing
marks of considerable application and ability. Indeed, the design _ shown on the opposite page, with that of M
Hector Horeau (already noticed in the Exhibitor), are specially mentioned by the Committee in their reports; anditmav
be considered as a sort of national tribute to Ireland's industry and genius that one of her sons was thus distinguished.
The contributions of the sister kingdom embrace a large variety of interesting objects, including statuary, glass
and silver manufactures, lace, linen, poplin, tabrnets, and friezes—from the most delicate and highly-wrought textile
fabrics to the coarse cloth of the peasant's cloak. In cutlery Clonmel has shown some good specimens; while in
articles of furniture and display Dublin has not been behind her position as the Metropolis of all Ireland. It is indeed
gratifying to behold, among the damasks and linens of Belfast, the agricultural machines of Cork, the singular and
unique varieties of mineral and natural products—gold and silver, and marble and bog-oak—the hearty acceptance by
the entire people of Ireland of the invitation made to them, in the name of the Prince Consort and the Royal Commission
to contribute towards the grand display in the Crystal Palace, which marks the year Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-one
as a period of advancement to the civilised world, no less than as a time of Hope for our long-oppressed Sister of Erin.

CARVINGS IN IRISH BOGWOOD.

Large quantities ox
timber are found im-
bedded in the bog-lands
of Ireland, of which
some specimens are ex-
hibited, applied to use-
ful purposes, by Mr.
Classen, of Dublin, in
Class IV., No. 22. The
kinds of wood chiefly
met with are oak and
pine; the former of
these is often found of
a jet-black colour, and
both are applied—but
more especially the for-
mer—by the ornamental
turner, to the manu-
facture of brooches,
bracelets, watch-stands,
and other useful pur-
poses. The ebony colour
of bog-oak, distinguish-
ing it from pine, is due
to the combination of
the gallic acid of tbe
wood with the iron held
in solution by the water
of the bog; a real black
ink or dye is thus pro-
duced just in the same
way as in the manu-
facture of black ink, by
the addition of copperas
or sulphate of iron to
decoction of galls. The
pine timber, though,
like the oak, it has been
saturated with iron from
the same source, pre-
sents only a fawn or
very light brown ap-
pearance, which tbe
application of gallic acid
instantly blackens.

On our first page we have given an engraving of a side-
board, carved in Irish oak, from Coolatin-park, county
Wicklow, the seat of Earl Fitzwilliam. The slab is Irish
marble, from the quarries of Ballynahinch, county Gal-
way ; and here is a chair carved in bogwood. oak, which,
for quaintness of design and excellence of workmanship,
is equal to anything yet exhibited. It is exhibited by Mr.

The wood thus satu-
rated to the core with
iron is effectually pre-
served from the action
of the dry-rot, from the
fact—mentioned in the
article on the Preserva-
tion of Wood contained
in our last number—
that the whole of the
albumen of the wood
has been rendered per-
fectly insoluble by the
action of the metallic
salt contained in the bog
water.

As to the cause which
led to the destruction
of these large trees, we
have only conjecture to
guide us. It would ap-
pear that the roots of
the trees remain undis-
turbed in their position,
and that the branches
are never found. Added
to this, the external sur-
faces of the trees appear
to have been burnt,
thus giving rise to the
saying of the Dartmoor
peasants, that "the
devil set fire • to the
world, but that God put
it out by means of the
deluge."

Some interesting spe-
cimens of Irish bog-oak
carving are exhibited by
Mr. Bennett, in Class
XXIII. (Precious Me-
tals) ; these are set in
Wicklow gold and
Donegal pearls, and are
very beautiful.

Bennett, of St. Stephen's-green, Dublin. This sculp-
tured and perforated arm-chair, from the antique, was made
bY three poor working men, expressly for the Exhibition, of
Irish black bog-oak, found in Montagh's Moss. This chair
is a creditable performance, and merits distinction amongst
the works of ornamental art. The exhibitors are Messrs.
Curren and Sons, Lisburn and Co., in theCounty of Antrim.