There was a great variety of leather exhibited, in all conditions and states of manufacture from various countries. One great object in the preparation of leather, appearing to be to diminish the time required in its manufacture and, although it has been doubted whether leather produced rapidly is equally durable and serviceable as that produced by the former slow process; the exhibition, I think, very clearly showed that the tendency is decidedly to the shorter process-and there were many samples exhibited where the leather had been prepared in a few weeks, that formerly occupied many months, and to appearance, certainly equal to any on exhibition.

There were some capital samples of leather from this State, exhibited by Hon. Zadock Pratt, of Prattsville, of eight different varieties, from four tanneries, which had been finished in about four and a half months-mostly with hemlock bark. The samples were very admirably finished, and attracted attention. Harnesses and saddlery were in great variety. The expensive character of many of the articles, evinced more attention to display than utility. From this country, there were several exhibitors, and medals were awarded for calf-skins from Philadelphia; for a light harness from Boston, and a heavy double harness from Philadelphia, very elaborately mounted; an Honorable Mention, for a portable saddle, by Adams, New-York. Mr. Lloyd, of Albany, exhibited a very neat and admirably finished light harness, made entirely of American materials, mounted with gold from California. As show was deemed far more important than the value of the mountings, Mr. L. did not receive a prize which, I doubt not, would have been awarded, had more showy and less valuable material been used for his mountings, suited to the taste of the exhibition. Mr. Lloyd also exhibited some very fine made ladies' and gentlemen's leather travelling trunks. In the French Department there were shown many very fine samples of leather of various descriptions. In the fine varieties, calf-skin, kid, morocco, &c., I think the French exhibition was unequalled.

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FURS. In this class, Furs were exhibited in considerable variety. A very large collection, by the Hudson Bay Company, of the various kinds, which are taken mainly on this continent. The exhibition, by a firm of London, of a very great variety of furs in common use, was a very instructive one, showing the difference between the really valuable furs and their counterfeits. As illustrative of this, Rabbits and Ermine unlike as two furs can be— (except both are white and the Rabbits have the tail with a tip of black, like the Ermines, affixed)—the Ermine, brilliant, firm, pointed, the hair lying closely and evenly-the Rabbit coarse and blunt. Yet, notwithstanding all this difference, from some preparation known to the trade, a London lady is said to have given £20, nearly $100, for a Rabbit skin cardinal, when a real Ermine could have been bought for nearly half the money. C. Mawson, New-York, exhibited some beautiful Muffs and Boas, made from the skins of animals abounding in North Carolina. They are called Silver Martin Muffs.

Canada exhibited largely in this class, and some very highly finished articles, Russia, also, had some very choice furs, and the Emperor's own Pelisse, made entirely from the skin of the Black Fox, was among the attractions in this department; it was valued at £3,000. Mr. Nicholay, of London, who had the most rich, varied and extensive collection in the exhibition, offered to produce a pelisse better than the Emperor's for £1,000; and from the richness and extent of his collection, he could doubtless do it The Furs manufactured in Russia are purchased almost entirely for the London market

It was rather surprising, to learn that the British Furs, consisting of Hare, Rabbit and Cat skins, are prepared chiefly for the American market, they being preferred in this country, it is affirmed, over the real valuable and superior Furs of our own continent, on account of their cheapness. This may be so, but if it is, is only evidence, that we are buying an inferior article, on account of its apparent cheapness, as is the case in some other fabrics, rather than use the superior ones of our own country, which have not the stamp of imported upon them.

CLASS, 17. Paper and Stationery, Printing and Book-Binding, &c.-Only one Council Medal was awarded, and that to the Imperial Court and Printing office of Austria, for novelty of invention, and the number of new combinations in the art of typography. Among the objects on exhibition, was a collection of 11,000 steel punches, including 104 different alphabets, from the Hieroglyphic, down to the Japanese, Mandschu and Formosan. There was a collection of Gutta Percha and galvanized copper matrixes and patrixes of wood cuts, facsimiles of antique relievos.

As a specimen of the typographic strength of the Imperial printing office, there was also a copy of the Hall of Languages, consisting of seventeen sheets in elephant folio, containing the Lord's Prayer in 608 languages and idioms, printed with Roman letters, and in 206 varieties of language, in the characters peculiar to each; a work of most splendid execution.

There was also a collection of Mss. Writings in the early ages, from the sixth century to the days of Guttenberg, and the invention of the art of printing. There was also a Japanese Novel, in the Japanese language with a German translation, the first work of the kind ever printed with movable Japanese types. The appearance of this work caused great sensation in foreign countries. The perfection with which it was executed, created doubts in the minds of the members of a German society for the promotion of the Oriental languages, whether the Japanese part and the illustrations of the work had not been executed in Japan, and the German part only at Vienna. There were many other very ingenious and valuable articles exhibited in this collection, and the establishment is one of the most distinguished in the world.

A very interesting collection of 165 books in different languages, from the 175 versions of the Scriptures, either in whole or in part which have been published directly or indirectly, by the British and Foreign Bible Society, was exhibited. Of this collection 118 were from translations never before printed; and of which (I-1852. )

more than twenty-four millions of copies have been circulated since its institution in 1804. Eight specimens of four editions of the English Bible, showing the improvements made between 1816 and 1851, in reference to quality of paper, printing and binding, at an average reduction of 62 per cent. in the cost price. This contribution was most interesting, developing as it did the great efforts and perseverance, as well as the benevolence that had caused the preparation of the Scriptures for distribution to all nations and tongues.

An immense roll of paper was exhibited, made in a continuous sheet 2,500 yards long. A collection from Saxony consisting of 356 volumes printed at one establishment in the year preceding the exhibition was interesting, as developing the attention paid in that country to works for the public. The Egyptian Government had a collection of 165 volumes of books printed in the Arabic, Persian and Turkish languages; and a catalogue of the books published in Egypt.

Specimens of split paper, useful for removing letter press from the backs of engravings and wood cuts. The method of splitting paper of the thinnest texture is extremely simple: Two pieces of calico are firmly cemented on the sides of the paper and dried. By a gentle pull on each side, the paper splits into halves, one of which adheres to the calico on one side and the other to its opposite. The adhesion between the paper and calico being greater than that of the surfaces of the paper to each other. The split portion may then be removed by dampening and so loosening the paste between the calico and paper.

Book binding was illustrated in a great variety of style and excellence. Some exhibitors show the different stages through which a book passes in the process of binding-from the folded sheets to the finished and gorgeous book. There was a very interesting collection of specimens showing the present state of paper manufacture, and materials employed in various stages of preparation from the foulest rags to the most finished and perfect specimens of

note paper for Royalty. The National Printing Office of France had a variety of oriental and other types, of very great merit, for which they received a Medal. Some paper from Russia exhibited a very great improvement in the manufacture of paper over that heretofore made in that country.

From the Ducal Foundry, Prussia, specimens of stereotype iron, and the Bible printed therefrom, was on exhibition. From the United States, there was a very respectable exhibition. Medals were awarded to Herrick of New York, for superior ruling of account books; and to S. G. Howe of Boston, for a system of characters of an angular form, without capitals, for the use of the blind; and Honorable Mention was made to Bradley, Band & Co., of Boston, for cloth binding, and block gilding; to Gassett, Boston, for superior ruling account books; Mr. Adams, Boston, ruled account books, &c.; Sibell & Mott, New-York, Bank and account books; C. Starr, of New-York, binding works for the blind, with thickened margins, to prevent the embossing from being pressed out; E. Walker & Co., New-York, for a Bible, elaborately bound and ornamented, with a recess for a family register inside the cover.

Some very superior specimens, of Lithographic printing, of chromolithography, of printing in colors from wood blocks, and other descriptions of ornamental and artistic printing, showed the perfection which has been attained; these were exhibited from France, England, &c. In the French department, a very striking exhibition, by A. Mann & Co., of Tours, deserves particular notice, from the extent and variety, as well as superior execution of the various works which proceed from their press, one of the most extensive private establishments, it is claimed, in Europe. The book department is divided into three classes, books of education, church services and books for schools. They claim for their establishment, that the morals of their publications are irreproachable, the price is the very lowest, and the quality of materials superior, all which so far as I could judge from their exhibition, was fully confirmed. In this class, was exhibited the rude