UPHOLSTERY, ETC. It was matter of surprise to the Committee that the importance of this Exhibition should have been so lightly estimated, by a department of manufacture appealing so directly to the taste, and affecting so materially the comfort of the community. 112. INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. A Manilla Mat; beautifully made. 168. S. FLAGG, Boston. Two Hair Matresses. Stock good, and work faithful. The Committee presuming the tick cases to be imported, have designated them No. 2. 742. G. F. SMITH, Boston. Spring Bed and Bedstead. Well contrived and made. 1110. KITTERIDGE & BLAKE, Boston. work very good. Matress. Stock and A Diploma. Specimen of Hair accompanying is of first rate quality. 285. E. JOHNSON, East Boston. Curled Hair, of very fair quality. 387. N. R. MARTIN, an apprentice, Boston. Three specimens of Chair Painting. 417. J. G. RUSSELL, Boston. One Palm Leaf Matress; one Hair Matress; one Feather Bed, Bolster, and two Pillows. Well made articles, of good stock. A Diploma. FISHING TACKLE AND SPORTSMAN'S EQUIPAGE. 514. THE Committee have not been obliged to decide between competitors for excellence, but having found it in one department, they have no hesitation in recommending for the first medal, in that line, the specimens presented by MESSER & Co., 208 Washington street, of American manufactured Angling Rods. Heretofore no attempt has been made in this country, beyond the immediate orders of amateurs in the art, to manufacture rods, particularly for fly fishing, as an article of supply for the general demand; and yet it is believed that from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars are annually paid for angling rods imported from England and Canton. It cannot, therefore, in merely a pecuniary point of view, be an unimportant item in American skill and industry, to secure this product within our own resources. The Committee attach to it a consideration of higher value, regarding as they do the cultivation of a refined taste for manly rural sports, and particularly the contemplative, quiet, healthful angle, as intimately connected with the preservation of a sound mind in a sound body. An amusement that could draw the profound Paley from his studies; make Sir Humphrey Davy forget his experimental philosophy in his practical fly-fishing; and give the learned Professor Wollaston more delight in the discovery that a piece of India rubber would straighten his gimp, than in the solution of a problem - instead of being what the surly Dr. Johnson once defined angling: "a rod with a fool at one end and a worm at the other," may well be held as an art that none but a fool would sneer at; and which none but a true philosopher and a pure lover of nature can fully appreciate. Happily there are no exclusive game laws here, and this healthful enjoyment is free to all who can relish it, at the proper season, provided they have the true spirit of an angler, who finds his pleasure in the pursuit, and counts it no bad success to have passed a day in the midst of nature, where he might have caught a fish, though he got only a nibble! The rods by Messer & Co. are manufactured at Westfield, in this State, and may be furnished to any extent and of every grade of price. Use has proved them to be equal to the English; and as they can be afforded at half the cost of the imported article, it must be the interest of dealers to supply their stock from this source. The samples presented at the Fair are not the best the manufacture affords, and were taken from the stock in the shop without reference to a public exhibition. The Salmon Rod, for instance, though a highly finished stick, can be afforded for $8; while the best of the kind made at Westfield, are valued at $20,- one of which the Committee have seen and greatly admired, made for the Hon. Daniel Webster, another eminent disciple of the angle, who can throw a fly as well as expound a Constitution. No rod superior to it can be imported for double the price. There are admitted to be many kinds of wood in this country better adapted for the rod than any in England,― such as our varieties of ash and hickory, the lance wood and the sassafras. We see no reason to doubt that every variety of angling rod can be manufactured at Westfield in as high perfection as the imported article, and at half the cost, and that another year will establish this fact beyond foreign competition. Mr. Messer is confident of being able to throw the balance further toward the butt, without increasing the weight of the rod, which is the only really desirable improvement we find wanting. A Silver Medal. 974. G. WORLITZER, Boston. A Game Bag and Apparatus. Very neatly made. The Committee, however, think it too cumbrous for use, and not an improvement on the common game bag. The dog-leash, from the same hand, was a neat and useful article. CARPENTERS', COOPERS', AND OTHER TOOLS. One case Carpenters' Tools. 72. J. THAXTER, Portland, Me. These tools were extremely well made. exceeded by any made in the country. 74. J. HALL, Boston. One case Shoemakers' Tools. Neat and well made. A Diploma. 94. E. NOBLE, Boston. One Shoe Cutter. 110. W. T. DOLE, an apprentice, Danvers. One Wrench. A good tool. 152. N. WHEELER, Boston. One Straight Edge; one Square; one pair Dividers. 227. GREEN & WHITE, Grafton. One box Shoemakers' Tools. A good selection, well made. A Diploma. 922. W. H. TABER, Fairhaven. One Grooving Plough. 368. CHICOPEE FALLS COMPANY. One case Spring Callipers; one case Spring Dividers. Well made articles. 575. C. SNOW, Billerica. One pair of Nippers. 468. ADAMS & HAMMOND, Boston. One Cast Steel Peen Hammer; one do. Face do.; one Patent Stone Hammer; and one Lathing Hatchet. Good, well made tools. PAPER HANGINGS. 87. D. S. EATON, Roxbury. Among the great variety of patterns exhibited by Mr. Eaton, the Committee have selected the six following as most meriting particular notice. 237. A Varnished Green figure, suitable for the country trade and covering of band boxes; this pattern they believe to be equal to most of this description of French manufacture. 311. Buff Satined, printed with a shade from the ground; also 337, Grey Ground, printed with various colored flowers, they think well executed. 240. 917. Printed with Red flock; also the border, green flock on yellow ground. The cloth or velvet parts of these patterns are well executed, and cause regret that the much less difficult portion of the printing is not more worthy of the other; nevertheless, as this style of Paper Staining is complicated, and not usually attempted in our manufactories, it is worthy of commendation. A Diploma. 190. CHARLES GRANT, Boston. Four Rolls. The figure designed for entries, of Fawn colored ground Satined, printed with shades and green, bears a close resemblance to those of French manufacture. 513. HENRY PEARSON, Cambridgeport. Sixteen Rolls of Papers and Borders. The Committee do not perceive the work in any of these patterns to be superior to that usually executed in every good manufactory. 382. Cook. THOMAS FRANCIS, 17 years of age, an apprentice to Charles Six Rolls. The Drab Satined entry pattern, shaded from the ground, is the best; the work is very well executed for a lad; but the printing shades are not considered in good taste. 138. WM. MARSHALL, Boston. Eight Rolls. 859. CHARLES E. WIGGIN, Boston. Twenty one Rolls. These Hangings, of Philadelphia manufacture, undoubtedly, are superior to any exhibited from this vicinity; and equal, in point of finish, to most of those imported from France. The Committee think the Salmon Colored Satined, printed with green, &c., exhibited by C. E. Wiggin, the best; considering the greater difficulty in working at full, rich, green color. They consider the roll 145, a light Fawn Satined ground, printed in olive shades, exhibited by Wm. Marshall, as the next best, and in taste and finish quite equal to the best. C. E. WIGGIN. W. MARSHALL. A Diploma. A Diploma. WIRE WORK. 144. D. WILLIAMS, Boston. A variety of Fancy Wire Work, consisting of a Safe; two Screens; a Bird Cage; a Nurse Lamp; a Knife Tray; two Work Boxes; two Work Stands; two Fruit Dishes; two Vases; a Watch Stand, &c. All these articles are well made, display great taste and ingenuity, and are very prettily painted and ornamented. A Diploma. 276. J. B. MACOMBER, Boston. A Trap Cage. 381. B. SMITH, apprentice to D. Williams. A Bird Cage. Well made. 608. J. F. ADAMS, Boston. Two Bird Cages. 693. A. MOORE, Boston. Five Bird Cages. ished cages in all respects. Very neat work. Elegant, well fin- 740. S. T. ADAMS, Boston. A Bird Cage. NEEDLE-WORK, EMBROIDERY, WAX AND SHELL In reporting upon the articles assigned them, the Committee felt themselves placed in a situation of great delicacy; so numerous were the articles, and of such varied excellence, that they were often at a loss to decide which was entitled to a preference. They have, however, exercised their best skill in the opinions they have expressed, and if they have erred in judgment, it has not been from want of care and attention, or an earnest desire to render, as far as they were able, justice to all. It is possible that among so many, some may have passed unnoticed. If this should be the case, they regret it, and assure the contributors such neglect was unintentional. 158. MISS R. M. GRAHAM, Providence. Two specimens of Rug Work. The design of the largest piece, which is very spirited, is well kept up and beautifully executed; the colors well selected and harmoniously blended, so as closely to resemble a painting. The smaller piece, equally well executed. A Silver Medal. 546. MRS. MORGAN, Conn. Fire Screen, wrought in singlerug-stitch. This is a very fine piece of work, the coloring and shading beautiful. It is considered the best of the kind, and worthy particular notice. A Silver Medal. 624. MRS. PAGE BREWER, Boston. Sofa Pillow, in rug-stitch, on silk canvas, very fine, and beautifully worked. tice. Worthy of no A Silver Medal. |