Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/347

 of the 'Rev. J. Fletcher,' and other eminent personages.

"Having thus traversed the body of the hall, we again ascend the steps through the boxes, and, availing ourselves of the ample directions posted about, soon find our way through the lobby into the lower saloon, where we find collected the contributions of Sheffield, Colebrookdale, and the Potteries. And here, in our humble judgment, is to be seen the best portion of the Exhibition. The Sheffield department contains contributions of the staple manufactures of that place, and the specimens are in the highest degree creditable to the enterprise, ingenuity, and skill of our manufacturers and artisans. Here are instruments and quality, and workmanship, from the revolving saw, which tools of almost every description, both of material, and cuts through steel bars or gnarled oaks as easily as a knife divides a twig, to scissors, needles, and other things appurtenant to a lady's work-box, so minute, yet so highly finished and exquisitely modelled, that one might imagine them 'made to order' for Titania and her attendant fairies. There are also instruments of various kinds, so highly polished as to reflect the countenance like mirrors; and such a collection of knives, forks, shears, surgical instruments, and ingenious tools of all descriptions as are rarely seen in London. Many of these, too, were much admired for their admirable finish, and the beautiful execution of several ornaments and devices adapted to the occasion, among which we may particularly mention a large pair of shears, on which were exhibited excellent full-length portraits of Mr. Bright and Mr. Cobden. The exhibition from Colebrookdale, in the centre of this saloon, was no less attractive and no less worthy of attention. It consisted chiefly of ornamental iron works, in some of which our native artists appeared to have attained perfection. There were vases, fountains, bronzes, ornamental grates, fire-screens (on which were painted striking portraits of Messrs. Cobden, Bright; and Villiers). American rocking chairs,