But the eye, fond of the garish, espies above, the carpets of the Orient and English oil cloths-immense and beautiful, and the hangings of a tall and superb pagoda-richer far in colorings, and much more varied in forms, than even the flowers of Nature. Far down the hall flame gorgeous gallery hangings. In the centre, on the right and left, are lifted above the other objects, the combat of the horse and dragon, the Duke of Rutand, Godfrey de Bouillon, the Bavarian lion-all in bronze or laster, very much magnified, gigantic and imposing! Do not let your eye be distracted by the birds in the large glass cases, though gorgeous and glittering. Do not stop to listen to the live birds which are flying and twittering about the palace, and amid the large trees at either end of the transept. Another caution-do not let your senses be ravished by the organ and harps which, from the galleries, have broken forth into melody, vibrating, strangely mild and sweet against and along the vitreus corridors. But let the eye, like the gallant Knight of Courtesy, Sir GUYON, pass through the Bowers of Bliss, untempted by the "silver sweet sound." Let it take in the lofty summer-house of bronze, in which Appollo matchlessly stands, after sending his arrow through the eagle above; then, the fur trophy, the Ross telescope, the marble pillars, the chemical monuments of alum spermaceti, Rochelle salts, tartrate of potash and soda, illustra tions of Nature's geometry playing into utility! Nay, go on! See the rich tracery, the superbness and elegance of that altar screen of oak; then the bird trophy, carved by machinery, with deep under-cuttings. Passing by the Elizabethan fountains, what strange array of glass is that beyond? What lenticular arrangements could produce half the effect? What is their use? They are model light-houses, revolving and breaking and casting out the light, not for the view of beauty, but for the glass and eye of the navigator amid the perils of the deep!

Remember that we are passing over the heads of many objects in the west half of the building-and these, too, in the midst of the aisle. I have not dared to look galleryward. Neither

dare we go, as yet, into the compartments of British industry, which lie on either side in great alcoves. At the far west end, duplicating the whole exhibition, is the largest mirror in the world, 18 feet 8 inches by 10 feet! There are other mirrors nearly as large, with frames, some gilt, carved into every sort of beasts, birds, creeping thing, flower and vegetable; to say nothing of little Cupids and angels inhabiting the involutions which in every part attest the consummation of art.

This end we have reached by slow procession, moving around each department, itself a world's fair in itself, and decorated with striking elegance. Here the cool atmosphere enters. No oppressive sense from heat, or confined air, disturbs the uniform comfort of the building. Although fifty thousand people are within, yet there is no jostling, no disturbance. The police with their blue coats, brass buttons and glazed hats, are distributed, with a few red coats, around; and these, without other aid, keep the vast mass in order. The English mostly compose the mass. A few Chinese, some negroes, French in plenty, and some other foreigners-I could not determine what part of the world they came from-were mingled with the mass.

The observations we have hitherto made have been confined exclusively to her majesty's dominions. Neither have we deviated into the apartments, wherein the products of English industry are systematically arranged. Systematically; because it was found, upon consideration, that the materials operated on, and the results, could be comprehended in thirty classes. Grouping, therefore, as to Great Britain, was regulated by the character of the productions, while in the east half of the building, and in the colonies, they are arranged according to their districts.

We began our examination, and the best could be but slight, by proceeding round the western end and down by the south wall. Mineral productions and mining, and the agricultural implements, we passed by hastily; then came the splendid assortment of woven materials, London, Manchester, and Glas

gow, vieing with each other in this generous rivalry. Woollen and mixed fabrics, and Irish flaxen fabrics, with a loom of exquisite construction ready to show how the fabrics are woven; these, in all their wondrous variety of figure and style, riveted the attention of our ladies, while the gentlemen preferred seeing the smooth and intricate machinery in the northeast of the palace. Oldham and Manchester, with their cotton works, are here reproduced with most pleasing effect. The great business of England is, at a glance, observed in motion.

To depicture the furniture, some elaborately carved and gilt; some formed of peculiar woods and arranged in perplexing uniformity and variety; to reproduce the papier machè tables and ornaments, with their gorgeous hues and dazzling beauties; to write down-no! no! It cannot be done.

In passing through one part of this department, we were astonished to find the British Bible Society represented by one hundred and fifty-eight copies of the Word of Light and Life, each in a separate language. There they stood, all opened, with their mysterious symbols,―pervaded by the holiest of inspiration, cloven tongues of fire, yet dove-like as the Holy Ghost which has baptized the zeal and energy of this noble Society, preparatory to a new Pentecostal day. Each Bible had its peculiarity of impress. The very characters indicated, as plainly as the diverse features of the human face, those national diversities and antagonisms which can only be harmonized by the spirit enshrined within these Bibles. To my mind, this peculiar exhibition was the crowning trophy of English Industry and Genius. The wood and metal trophies from Canada are massive evidences of English empire over deep mines and great forests; the India room over the way, lined with gold cloth, filled with the furniture of the sumptuous Orient and dazzling with jewels from Lahore, in the midst whereof is lying, in humble subjection, three strange-shaped diamond-and-gold crowns of Hindoo Kings and other tributes from the proud sheiks of the land which Alexander and Bonaparte could not comprehend in their

conquests, however much they dreamed of the glory,--is another trophy of English potency in Central and Southern Asia, godless and cruel though its exercise has been; those Kangaroo skins and coral beauties, jaspers and agates, copper and gold,— do they not tell of English rule over antipodal realms in the mid-ocean? English home-produce, from the circular comb for carding wool up to yon splendid steam-ship enginery, from that beer-barrel machine up to yon process for engraving on steel by electricity, from the rudest implement of primitive husbandry up to the highest refinement of modern science,-all demonstrate a power to dignify ornamental forms by use, and to raise merely useful forms into beauty, which should be the great ambition of Art; but all this is powerless and puny beside the triumph which radiates from those Bibles, with their lips of fire, this moment regenerating the kingdoms of the earth, and pouring abroad that light of life

"

England, say what we will, stands confessedly the Christian realm. Her history, from the time at least of Elizabeth, is full of her influence upon the policy of the world, in opening the way for the gospel. True, her rapacity has been unbounded.

"Heav'n, Earth and Ocean plundered of their sweets,”

is well attested by this Exhibition. But if China was compelled to take opium, she had to take the Bible. If Turkey looked to England for aid against the Russian domination, free toleration to Christians was consequent.

With the increase of Anglo-Saxon power, there has been spread, along with the practicalness of the age, a spirituality more divine than the soul, with all its power, hath yet been gifted to imagine.

There is one article in the furniture list which elicited a spontaneous burst of admiration from us all, especially the ladies, who have been used to seeing homely wooden cradles,

if not sugar troughs. It is called the "Regia Cot," I believe and is thus described:

A cradle carved in Turkey boxwood, symbolizing the Union of the Royal House of England with that of Saxe Coburg and Gotha. One end exhibits in the centre the armorial bearings of her Majesty, the Queen, surrounded by masses of foliage, natural flowers and birds; on the rocker beneath, is seen the head of Night, represented as a beautiful sleeping female crowned with a garland of poppies, supported upon bats' wings, and surrounded by seven planets.

The other end, or the back of the head of the cradle, is devoted to the arms of H. R. H. Prince Albert; the shield occupies the centre, and round it, among the arabesque foliage, the six crests of the Prince are scattered, with the motto, " Treu und Fest." Below, on the rocker, is discovered a head of "Somnus," with closed eyes, and over the chin a wimple, which, on each side, terminates in poppies.

In the interior of the head of the cradle, guardian angels are introduced; and above, the royal crown is imbedded in foliage. The friezes, forming the most important part of the sides of the body of the cradle, are composed of roses, poppies, conventional foliage, butterflies and birds, while beneath them rise a variety of pinks, studied from nature. The edges and the inside of the rockers are enriched with the insignia of royalty and emblems of repose.

Have done quick with this royal baby nest! Quick! There is a crowd across the aisle among the paper articles. Sure enough, there is a curious contrivance! What! An envelope maker! folding by one click of a machine an envelope, and passing them out by hundreds. Only a little boy attending it. Now that we are over, we may observe the sea-weed arrangements. How snugly they lie in their little baskets! Euclid illustrated and illuminated; a model of St. Paul's cut with a pen-knife, and consisting of over 50,000 pieces. Nay, do not start; there is an article in Spain, at the other end of the palace, with three mil