2 'COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES. CANADA, NOVA SCOTIA, NEWFOUNDLAND, NEW BRUNS- WICK, ST. HELENA, MAURITIUS AND THE SECHELLE ÍSLANDS, MONTSERRAT, JAMAICA, BARBADOES, ANTI- GUA, BRITISH GUIANA, THE BAHAMAS, FALKLAND ISLANDS, NEW SOUTH WALES, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, WEST AUSTRALIA, VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, NEW ZEA- LAND, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, SOCIETY ISLANDS, JERSEY INTRODUCTION. THE success which has attended the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations may appear to render any remarks at this late period unnecessary. The industrial gathering has been inspected by the world: men of all nations and tongues have visited the Crystal Palace, and, returning to their several homes, they have reported with enthusiasm of the wonders they have seen. Usually, the imagination runs beyond the reality, and the mind, excited by highly-coloured representations, shadows out for itself images of splendour, which, far surpassing the actual object, cause feelings of disappointment when it is, under these circumstances, surveyed. The general impression produced by the Great Exhibition has been widely different; but every one has admitted that the realities displayed in, and within, the wondrous building in Hyde Park have far surpassed every preconception. The philosophy of this is, not that the individual articles are superior to others which we have seen, examined, and admired; but that in the whole there is a variety and vastness to which we are unused, and from which, as from a series of inductions, each man makes his own especial deductive reasonings. I. b The Great Exhibition is, in a remarkable manner, a grand exemplification of the present state of human industry, and of the efforts of mind. We perceive in it the most complete illustration of the application of science to all the purposes of use and ornament; we discover how far man has advanced in his knowledge of the physical agencies which determine the constitution of matter, and of the productions of Nature by which he is surrounded. The general desire expressed for some concise description of the Exhibition-some guide, which should direct to the more interesting groups within the Building, and explain their peculiarities whether natural or artificial— led to the design of the present Handbook, which is intended to afford that interpretation which appeared to be required. It is necessary, by a brief explanation, to correct a mistake which has been entertained, more particularly by exhibitors, as to the character of the work. It was never contemplated that, within the limits of two small volumes, an account of individual articles should be given. The objects exhibited have, as far as it was possible, been taken in groups, and the striking points distinguishing each, alone selected for description. Doubtless some articles have escaped attention, which, from their merits and peculiarities, claimed notice. Every care has been taken to prevent this: the most scrutinizing examination has been made by competent persons, and information has been in every doubtful case sought from the exhibitors themselves. It is therefore hoped that the omissions will be few and comparatively unimportant. The descriptions of the several sections have been given by the following gentlemen, whose thorough acquaintance with the subjects they have undertaken is a sufficient guarantee of the correctness and value of the information contained in the Handbook. The productions of the Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms, and the direct manufactures from them, have been described by Professor Edward Forbes, F.R.S. The Agricultural Implements, by Professor Wilson, late Principal of the Agricultural College of Cirencester; and the Agricultural Produce, by Mr. Joshua Trimmer, the author of several prize essays on this subject. The Machinery and Civil Engineering have been described by Professor Gordon, C.E.; and Military Engineering, Arms, and Maps, by Captain James, R.E. Mr. Holland, of Sheffield, the author of the Treatise on Iron and Steel in "Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia," has furnished the section devoted to Sheffield; and Mr. Aitkin, of Birmingham, that which deals with the important manufactures of that locality. Messrs. Berlyn and Wm. Brough have given the extensive sections of the Foreign Departments, comprehending Precious Metals, Jewellery, Furniture, Printing, Stationery, Fine Arts, and Miscellanea, their best attention; and to Mr. William Brough we are indebted for the Printing, Type, and Printing Machinery, of the English department. For the Mineral Kingdom, Metallurgy, Mineral Manufacture, Precious Metals, Jewellery, Iron, and Hardware, Furniture, Philosophical Instruments, Horology, Music, Glass, Porcelain, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Preparations, Woven and Felted Fabrics, &c., on the English side, and each section not specified in the Foreign Departments, the Editor alone is responsible. To those exhibitors who have furnished information, much of which was of the utmost importance, many thanks are due. Originality |