I find the announcement of but six State Commissioners, besides myself-viz. Col. Kimmel, of Maryland, J. M. Jones, of Texas, S. C. Duncan, of Louisiana, N. Kingsbury, of Connecticut, John S. Cunningham, of Virginia, and B. P. Johnson, of New York. I am sure, however, there are Commissioners here from Pennsylvania, and that Gen. Boyd, if not also Mr. Wetherell, of our own State, was present at the grand opening in May.

Before we go forth to view the articles exhibited throughout the Palace, let us ascertain first how our own country stands in competition with other nations here assembled. We are the more desirous to do this, because judging from certain London papers which we saw before leaving home, we feel some interest to know whether we are to hold up our head with pride, or depress it in shame as we pass amongst the nations here represented.

There are reasons why the great expectations entertained by the English government and people in relation to the Daughter coming over the water to outdo the Mother in matters of skill and taste, should not have been realized. England knew, indeed, that the Yankees were an ingenious and enterprising people; that they are almost omnipotent when they set out; and as the British subjects supposed we should have some natural pride at stake, they gave us large and honored room in the Palace, and went to work with might and main lest Brother Jonathan should beat John Bull even on his own Island. But the truth is, America is a great country, and has not yet been reduced to the necessity of coming down to small matters of useless skill and taste. Every thing with her is on a large scale. She would be proud to exhibit here- not an

Island, not a Principality, not even a Kingdom; but a vast Continent, as large as all the Kingdoms and Empires of Europe. She would be glad to carry over to the Glass Palace her Ohio, her Missouri and her Mississippi Rivers ; her Niagara Falls; her Alleghany Mountains; her Lakes Superior, her Michigan and her Erie; her fertile prairies, her interminable forests, and her boundless water power. In works of art she would be pleased to exhibit her Erie Canal, her thousands of miles of continuous Railroads, her incomparably beautiful and well built merchant ships, &c. But these in which her peculiar glory consists, she cannot bring hither in competition with the London dolls, or the Paris glass head-dresses. The challenge did not meet such tokens of greatness. Of course, therefore, those who came to the Fair expecting to see great Amerioa emptying microscopic works upon the floors and tables of the Palace, with a view to outdo Italy and Germany and France, or even England, in bizarre trinkets, and in some of the fine arts, must be disappointed.

And then again saying nothing of the greater distance America is from the Exhibition than are the European nations, and of the expense in transmitting articles on a sea-voyage across the Atlantic ocean, there is one fact which should be frankly considered in the eyes of the world. With the United States there is not that motive to be represented in this Great Fair, that has influenced the people of most other countries to bring their products and manufactures here for exhibition. Those nations have a motive immediately selfish. They come to make the Crystal Palace an advertising shop for their wares. They come to find out new and profitable markets. All these nations have to go away from home to find a sale for

goods. America, on the contrary, is her own market nation, and at the same time is the best market, the other nations can covet No American comes here to make a market for his manufactures in England or any other part of Europe. Our people come only for honorable, not a selfish or mercenary, competition.

There is not, therefore, that motive which should induce Americans to bring their articles for advertisement in the Fair. For instance; there are carriages here from Massachusetts and New York, that the proprietors are very willing any body in England should make and sell ad libitum. But an unexpected fact has transpired. No mechanic in England can make such carriages; and the consequence is, high as the American price be, the New England manufacturers are called upon by the gentry here to send them over at any cost. So also of our Railroad Cars, India Rubber goods, and various other articles. Their superiority is so decided, that they will force themselves into the market of the world; - but this was not expected, nor did it constitute the motive which brought them here.

Now, though at first our Department was not full, and there were not many fine articles in it—a fact which gave an opportunity to the London Editors to sneer at Brother Jonathan, and express their surprise, that we should not have been as ample in supplying as the English Government was in providing the room, and the best room; yet I am happy to say, within a fortnight, over seventy packages have arrived from America, which, with what we had before, amounts to six hundred and fifty Contributors from the United States. The articles contributed are much

more numerous.

quite well filled,

Our Department now, large as it is, is

as full as we could desire.

There is another fact in connection with this matter that is highly encouraging. The United States will take more Premiums than any other nation, according to the number of articles exhibited. And the reason is, we have sent out those articles which come within the design of the Exhibition-viz., new inventions and improvements. It is the useful that takes the Premiums, and therefore it is that America will lead all the others. Is not this enough for our national pride? But this is not all. But this is not all. The great medal on agricultural implements goes to our country for the Reaping Machine, and the great one on cloth fabrics to us, for India Rubber vulcanized goods. Prouty & Mears are to have the Premium on their Plough, No. 40, and our good Kennebec friend, Dunn, of North Wayne, is to receive the great medal for his Scythes.

In point of Inventions, Palmer's Artificial Leg is pronounced the first thing in the Exhibition. He will make his fortune by it. It has been taken to English Colleges, and examined by the Medical Faculties, who have returned it with astonishment and admiration for brother Jonathan's inventive genius. Hereafter, it will hardly be necessary for a man to have that kind of legs which suffer from cold and wet feet. And thus I might go on. I am not ashamed of my country in the Great Exhibition. I am satisfiedI am proud for her sake. We shall lose nothing by the great occasion which has brought all Nations here.

LETTER XXX.

WALKS IN THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

Advancing upon the Eastern Nave-American Bridge-Poetic Inscription - Greek Slave-American Indian-Newspaper Trophy- Reaping Machine-Hobbs' Lock- Artificial Leg- Various Articles -The Wounded Achilles-Child, Snake and Dog-Jewels of Victoria and the Queen of Portugal-Shield of Faith-Koh-i-noor Diamond-Queen's Cradle Portraits of Victoria and Albert-Crystal Fountain - Tall Trees-Statuary-View from the Transept Gallery -Arrival of her Majesty - Instance of her kind feelings.

HAVING entered the eastern end of the Palace, taken a general view of the immense Interior, reported ourselves at the American Office, and ascertained how stands our Country in comparison with other Nations, let us now attempt a few Walks upon the eighteen (nay, including the gallery floor, the twenty-two), acres before us. Starting from the central entrance door, and looking towards its corresponding one at the west end, let us advance along the Nave, half way down the building to the Transept, thence ascend the gallery, and take a view from that grand centre of beauty and wealth.

The first object we meet is a mammoth brass bell, hung in an ornamental frame, and which is rung every day at the opening and close of the Great Exhibition. Next beyond this, is Ryder's American Patent Suspension Truss Bridge. This is just in front of the gallery that crosses the eastern end, and under the great organ, on which is the American