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the vast collection and storehouses of Mr. Hewitt in Fenchurch Street. Here are Chinese lanterns and puzzles, cups and saucers, vases and grotesque figures, embroidered silks and baskets, screens and umbrellas, and all manner of those curious and grotesque knicknacks and trifles in which the genius and cunning of the workmen of the Celestial Empire delight to revel.

THE NORTH GALLERY.

Here a fine view may be obtained of the entire length of the building, and of the busy and crowded scene presented by the nave and various courts. From the north transept the colossal figures from the tomb of Abou Sinboul, and the avenue of huge sphynxes, show to perfection, and display all their noble and gigantic dimensions and proportions. Continuing along the east gallery, some interesting views may be obtained of the various courts of Christian art, and numerous models of small works of art of the medieval times, principally consisting of vessels used in the service of the church, will merit attention. It is intended to form in this gallery a very complete and extensive collection of works of this nature, including also models of all the finest examples of ornamental metal work which are known to exist.

CHINA AND GLASS.-Some fine specimens of china and glass will be here examined with interest. The articles were manufactured and are exhibited by the Aire and Calder Company, Messrs. Kerr, Binns, and Co., Messrs. Hetley and Co., Messrs. Lockland and Co., Messrs. Goode and Co., Mr. Green, Mr. Sinclair, Messrs. Bourne and Sons, Mr. Roberts, Miss Clarke, and some few others.

PRECIOUS METALS.-Some precious metals next attract attention by their glitter and beauty. Conspicuous in this collection are the articles exhibited by Messrs. Elkington and Co., a firm whose electro-plated articles and works in precious metals justly excited so large an amount of notice in 1851, and who received the council medal for the articles which they contributed. In addition to these, the visitor will notice with pleasure the works contributed by Messrs. Watherston and Brogden, Messrs. S. and J. Benson, Mr. Waterhouse, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Gorsuch, Mr. Forrer, Mr. Chaffers, Mr. Meyers, Mr. Straight, Mr. Goggin, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Atcheson, Mr. Mahood, Mr. Keith, Mr. Holt, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Biden, and others.

SUBSTANCES USED AS FOOD.-Contrasting with the brilliancy of crystal and silver, a short distance along the gallery, is a variety of substances used as food, intended, however, for the instruction, and not for the refreshment of the visitor. The most tempting of the goods here displayed are from the establishment of the world-famed Mr. Gunter; the remainder of the articles are principally furnished by Messrs. Edwards Brothers, Messrs. Dunn

and Hewitt, Messrs. Philips and Co., Messrs. Kent and Son, Mr. White, and Mr. Turner.

CLOTHING. In the south gallery, from which again an admirable view will be obtained of the entire length of the building, “clothing," the article which, next to "food," is the most essential of our creature comforts, is displayed in all its varieties. Here garments and articles of clothing, suited to clothe humanity from head to foot, are displayed in the most tempting and fascinating style. Here are goods sent by Messrs. Dando and Sons, Messrs. Nicoll and Co., Madame Caplin, Mrs. Julia Smith, Messrs. Capper and Waters, Messrs. Thresher and Glenny, Messrs. Williams and Sons, Messrs. Marion and Maitland, Messrs. Hayward and Co., Messrs. Carter and Houston, Messrs, J. Brooks, Paine, Banks, Stuart, Knox, Nicoll, Philips, Ellwood, Asser, Easton, Hawkins, Grundy, Davis, Berrall, Stroud, King, Watkins, Coles, Wright, Thompson, and many more.

THE UPPER GALLERIES.

Having completed this portion of our inspection, we will now ascend the spiral stairs which lead from the gallery at this point, up to the second or upper gallery. The height of the lower gallery in which the visitor is now standing, is 20 feet 7 inches from the floor of the nave. The first landing of the spiral staircase is 20 feet above the gallery. It is 72 feet long, and 24 feet broad. Another ascent is made of 20 feet, and the third story or landing is reached, which leads to the 8 feet galleries which make the entire circuit of the building, and the construction of which is described in another part of the "Guide" (page 26). Walking along at the height of 60 feet 71⁄2 inches above the nave, we at length reach the great transept. Here, from a platform 120 feet by 24 feet, spira stairs lead up to a fourth story, and convey us up another stage of 20 feet. There is yet another and a fifth story to be reached by a continuation of these spiral stairs, and this last or uppermost set communicates with a gallery which runs round the whole area of the great transept, at a height of 100 feet 71⁄2 inches above the floor of the building. The gallery crosses the nave upon girders of 72 feet span, and the simple, though apparently complicated construction of the roof of both nave and transept may be easily examined from this point. The diminished figures of the statues, and the dwarfed moving masses below, convey the best ilea of the height at which we have now arrived. Just above the head of the visitor-8 feet from the gallery floorsprings the vaulted arch which covers the transept; each foot of the arches that span this space are 120 feet apart, or nearly 20 feet more than the distance which the visitor is elevated above the floor, and the highest point of the arch is more than 60 feet above his head. Crossing the narrow bridge over the nave, a charming

and extended view may be obtained through the end windows of the surrounding country, extending for miles around; and from the opposite window St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey may be seen looming through the mist which overhangs the vast metropolis. The whole of the grounds of the Crystal Palace may be seen at a glance from the Park front, and the outline of the terraces and basins most distinctly traced. A bird's eye view of this kind will enable the visitor the better to understand the objects of interest which will be pointed out to him when we visit the grounds. From the top of the flight of steps leading from the central transept on to the terraces to this gallery, is a total height of 132 feet 2 inches.

Descending upon the side opposite to that which we ascended, the nave of the building is again reached. Here it may be as well to state that the brass band, consisting of seventy performers, the music of which has so frequently been heard in the course of the day, is under the superintendence of M. Schallelin; and that included in the band are the celebrated Flugel horn-players, and several others who formerly belonged to the Hungarian band.

MACHINERY.—The basement floor is the next to be visited, and the machinery there exhibited will be examined before quitting the building. The visitor will inspect machinery of various kinds exhibited by Messrs. Dunn, Hallersley, and Co., Messrs. Walker and Hacking, Messrs. Robinson and Co., Messrs. Manlove and Alliot, Mr. Renshaw, Mr. Richmond, Mr. Goodfellow, Mr. Mason, Mr. Ramsbottom, Mr. Goodall, Mr. Gent, Messrs Hansom and Chadwick, Mr. Preston, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Lloyd Mr. Mansell, Mr. Onions, Messrs. Shand and Mason, Messrs. Lister and Co., Mr. Taylor, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Piper, Mr. Galloway Mr. Belhouse, Mr. Coltman, Mr. Williams, Mr. Burch, Mr. Quik, Mr. Collins, Messrs. Hughes and Denham, &c.

CARRIAGES.-We conclude this portion of the inspection of the Crystal Palace by an examination of some of the carriages which so temptingly invite the attention of the fatigued visitor, who would no doubt most willingly consent to be conveyed home in one of them, rather than stand the jostling and crowding of the railway. This time, however, it cannot be so aranged, and we can only admire that splendid Dioropha exhibted by Messrs. Rock and Son of Hastings, and which is upon the same principle as that for which the prize medal was awarded to them at the Great Exhibition. This carriage was constructed for the purpose of showing the facility with which all the useful parts of two or three distinct carriages might be combined in one, and nay, nevertheless, be adapted to the changes of design and fashion, which are constantly occuring. In one of its forms, the Dioropha is an elegant open barouche, in no way differing from the most fashionable carriage of that name, and serving for the same uses of pleasure or display. By simply removing the leather folding lead, and putting on another formed of panels, and provided with glasses to

let up and down-in fact the upper half of a close carriage-the barouche becomes, to all intents and purposes, a close carriage, showing no evidence, even upon the strictest examination, of ever being any other kind of vehicle than that which it is at the moment of examination. This change is managed in two or three minutes by means of a pulley, a cord, and a counterbalance, on the principle of a sash window, which enable one person to effect the changes with perfect ease.

Other exhibitors who display their ingenuity and taste in this department, are Messrs. Offord and Co., Messrs. Holmes and Co., Messrs. Corbin and Sons, Mr. A. J. Hoadley, Messrs. Kinder and Co., Mr. Hedges, Mr. Starry, Mr. Mason, Mr. Ward, Mr. Kesterton, Mr. Meaden, Mr. Tudor, and other carriage makers and builders of London and the provinces.

Passing along the upper terrace, the visitor will now proceed towards the railway station, or if disposed to prolong his visit, and enter upon the third division of his examination, will proceed to the south end of the nave, and visit the natural history and ethnological department.

THIRD DIVISION.

NATURAL HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGICAL COLLECTION.

(South End of Nave.)

THE visitor having examined the monuments and illustrations of man's genius and art, now proceeds to carry his inquiries a stage further, and to enter upon the third great branch of instructionthe natural history of man-the condition under which he exists in different parts of the globe and the varied descriptions of vegetable and animal life by which the different tribes of the human race are surrounded. In order to obtain this highly interesting information, the visitor passes into the natural history and ethnological department. Without entering minutely into the various features which the study of natural history presents, there are, however, a few of its leading divisions which, if stated, will enable the visitor to appreciate the more readily the design and plan upon which this department has been arranged.

All natural productions are divided into two great classes, the living and the lifeless (the organic and inorganic), or into the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms. Of the subjects which compose these kingdoms, science is acquainted with several thousands in the mineral; and from seventy to eighty thousand plants, shrubs, and flowers in the vegetable; and 2,000 molluscs, 60,000 insects, 6,000 fishes, 500 serpents, 1,000 amphibious animals, 5,000 birds, and 1,500 mammals, belonging to the animal kingdom. Included within this vast range are the animalcula-millions of whom occupy a space of less than a cubic inch-the tiny shrewmouse, and the vast elephant, the dark mine, and the vast Alps, the giant oak, and cedars, which soar to the height of several hundred feet. The animal kingdom includes four divisions, the lowest of which differ to an extent almost imperceptibly from plants, and are in consequence known as zoophytes, or living plants; they possess no organs of feeling, but few of them have a circulation of the blood; they breathe from the surface of their bodies, and for organs of digestion they have a mere blind sack or bag. To this division belong starfish, polypes, sea-nettles, &c. So tenacious are the polypes of this first principle of life which they enjoy, that if cut into many pieces, each separate

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