there is every variety
of ornament on the buttons, which look exceedingly brilliant.

This immense block of granite, from Scotland, is not quite so pretty,
though it is, perhaps, more useful; it is twenty feet long, and is a
piece of the finest kind and colour that could be found. Another very
useful thing, also from Scotland, is a large lighthouse bell, managed
so as to ring very loud, to warn any ship that is going too near a
dangerous rock or shoal, near the lighthouse where the bell may be.

Among the more beautiful specimens of industry, there are several
elegant vases made of silver, and of a delicate material called
Parian, which is an imitation of Parian marble; some of them are
ornamented with blue and gold, and others are ornamented with silver.
There is also a splendid tea-service, adorned with charming pictures
of the dear old fables we all know so well,--the "Lion and the Mouse,"
the "Wolf and the Lamb," the "Dog and the Shadow," and others.

Near the very middle of the building, close by the crystal fountain,
there are the splendid iron gates from Coalbrookdale, which look very
magnificent. I fancy Samson would find it rather a difficult matter
trying to bear off _these_ gates on his back, strong as he was. Close
by these gates there is a gigantic statue of our good Queen, on
horseback, which towers high over our heads; and she sits smiling at
us as if she could see us looking so delighted.

There are several gigantic things at the Exhibition. Here, for one, is
a monster cake, covered with the most superb ornaments; it is four
feet high, and weighs about two-hundred and twenty-five pounds. Yonder
is another monster contribution, an immense map of the busy city of
Manchester; and there is a huge railway carriage; and still further
on, there is an iron wire, one mile long. At a little distance stands
a magnificent bed and bedstead, fit for the Queen to sleep in. It came
from Edinburgh, and is made mostly of materials which can be produced
in Scotland. And in this direction, we can see a set of beautiful
mantelpieces and fenders, from Sheffield, all decorated in the most
elegant manner. The first mantelpiece we must look at is made of
cast-iron; the mouldings of the cornice are richly ornamented, and
supported by little pillars covered with graceful wreaths of
oak-leaves, while the freize is adorned with a cluster of rich fruit.
The next mantelpiece is painted white and gold, and has a burnished
steel gra