great, general, universal assemblage of all nations in one convention of genius and art, has now for the first time been realized. In this gathering, all the nations of Europe are well represented. Benighted Spain and unfortunate Portugal have come out from under the shadow of the Inquisition, to produce their works of skill. Cold, rocky, mountainous Switzerland, the home of Tell, has claimed her place in the congress of nations. Hated Austria has sent her representatives, to prove that she can produce something of more beauty and utility than prisons, racks, and instruments of torture for the patriots of dismembered Poland and betrayed Hungary. Persia has come to prove that she shines as brightly in " Eastern gold" as in the old Oriental times, when her monarchs, now departed, sat in state, or lived in voluptuous pleasures. Once-feared and barbarous Turkey deputed her artisans to claim a sisterhood with the family which was gathering in the World's Palace, and they were present with their rich and georgeous productions. Classic Greece gave evidence that the taste, and skill, and beauty of the past had, in a measure, descended to the present. China and America shook hands with each other; Germany and Egypt compare friendly notes. Papal Rome is seen nodding along the nave to Mohammedan Jerusalem, and the descendants of Ishmael are walking along with the sons of Benjamin.

Time would not suffice even to enumerate the fine articles which all the different nations have contributed. There were swords, guns, and pistols, to kill men in time of war; surgeon's instruments, to perform the nicest operations upon the human system; musical instruments, from a little Genevan music box to the splendid organs, four or five of which were sounding all the

time; a Tuscan table of mosaic in stone, valued at six hundred thousand francs; beautiful porcelain from Sèvres; a dozen cardinals done up in wax, and rigged in all the gewgaw drapery of the corrupt church; the twelve apostles carved in ivory; church bells, and painted windows; fire engines and steam engines ; ploughs and reapers; raw materials in vast quantities, and manufactured articles of all kinds, forming an exhibition such as has never been seen before, and which we can hardly expect to see again for the next quarter of a century.

You inquire, doubtless, for the American department of the exhibition; and to that we now devote some attention. At the onset, our country was treated with the greatest respect. To her was given on the ground floor an area of fifty-one thousand two hundred and sixty-four feet, and more gallery room than any other nation, England alone excepted. The number of arti cles from America was not so great as was expected. The American minister, and the friends of America in the old world, had hoped much, and had secured for the States more room than they could occupy. Consequently, there was an empty appearance about the American section, which did not contrast favorably with the crowded condition of sections occupied by European nations. The American articles were not as showy and attractive to the mass of the people as some contributed by other countries, and did not draw so many admirers. Hence it was often said to people who were crowding into other nations, "Go to the American department, and you will have room enough!" Besides this, the articles sent from this country were, in many cases, without their contributors; and I thought there was much less taste in the arrangement, and less art in

showing the goods to the best advantage, than was exhibited by others. Nor is it any disparagement to the United States to say that it cannot vie with England and France in mere matters of taste and beauty. Our country is young; the articles and fabrics we manufacture are for utility; and we make no pretensions to those little and comparatively unimportant attainments which, exhibited in a Crystal Palace, of course draw more attention than agricultural implements and pieces of machinery.

A few articles in the American department may be mentioned not only with commendation, but with a feeling of national satisfaction. From Philadelphia was contributed a very finely-finished set of harness, which equaled, if it did not surpass, any thing of the kind in the exhibition. It was said- with how much truth I know not to have cost about three thousand dollars, and was admired by all who knew any thing about such articles. Several coaches, and light, graceful sleighs drew much attention, and formed a fine contrast with some of the heavy, lumberous vehicles from other nations. A fire engine was also found in our department—a charming little thing, which would throw seven streams of water upon a fire at once, at an average hight of one hundred and fifty feet each. The finish of the "tub" was exquisite, and drew considerable observation. A steam engine, on a new principle, in which the motive power is applied directly to the driving-wheel, without the intervention of cylinders, steam chests, or condensers. Several other machines are on exhibition in the American department, of which we see no reason for our country to be ashamed.

The display of daguerreotypes from America was very far before that of any other nation; and the

triumph of this art in our new world was often mentioned. The countenances of our distinguished men were mirrored out with great correctness and success, and not the least pleasant hour spent in the Crystal Palace was that devoted to a glance at the familiar faces of the orators, statesmen, and clergymen of our republic.

In the foreground of the picture presented by our department was Powers's "Greek Slave," the most finished piece of sculpture in the Fair. With this "triumph of art" you are familiar, as it has been exhibited in this country, and received the favorable notice of the most distinguished artists and men of taste among us. This is a copy of the original statue, was taken by Powers for an Englishman, and by him placed in the American section, as a delicate compliment to the artist and the land of his birth.

Directly in the rear of the Greek Slave is a large number of Indian traps, presided over by a full-grown chief and his squaw, and near by is Colton's model of the Falls of Niagara. The latter is said to be very correct, yet can but fail to give any adequate idea of the stupendous work of God. The foam, the roar, the mist, the thunder, and the tremble of the earth, cannot be represented by a dead model.

There were also some rather amusing articles on exhibition. A pair of oars, mounted in silver, and inclosed in a black walnut case, and labeled, "A present to the Prince of Wales," was the contribution of a Mr. Page, of New York. The heads of some of our distinguished men in soap gave rise to a pleasant little incident, which is said to have occurred on the first visit of the queen, who, hardly believing the images were soap, was about to try them with a bodkin, but was prevented