GREAT EXHIBITION OF THE WORKS OF INDUSTRY OF ALL NATIONS.

To BE HELD IN LONDON IN THE Y«AR 1851.

I Report made to Hit Royal Highnen the Prince Albert, President of the Society of Arts. &c , &c, of preliminary inquiries into the willingness, of Manufacturers and othery to support. periodical Exhibitions of the Works of Industrs of all Nations. By Henry Cole and Francis Fuller, Member* of the Council of the Society of Arts. Copies of the Contracts between the Society of Arts and • Messrs. James Munday & George Munday, for carrying out the Exhibition.

As the preliminary arrangements for the constitution and conduct of this great Congress of the Industrial Universe are now complete, and will soon taVe an official form, we feel ourselves absolved from further observance of that secrecy which the delicacy and difficulty attending the first steps, and the respect due to the illustrious individual who directed them, have hitherto prescribed. A succinct narrative of the proceedings which have laid the foundations of this magnificent assemblage we are now at liberty to place before our readers:— and the documents, of which, the titles have been made to head this article, furnish the materials for such a history.

It was, we believe, in 1845 that the Council of the Society of Arts, at the suggestion of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, first took into consideration the practicability of establishing in London a Naiional Collection of the products of Industry, — similar to those which were familiar in Paris : — and a Committee was formed, and a fund raised by subscription amongst he members, to defray the expenses.

The result proved that this movement was premature. Neither the public nor the manufacturers were as yet sufficiently alive to the national importance of such an Exhibition. The Council, nevertheless, resolved to persevere. Aided by the liberality of individuals, prizes were offered for improvements in works of art and manufacturers, — and the result was announced to be shown in an Exhibition at the Society's rooms in the Adelphi. This first step was not encouraged : — indeed, it was only by the great personal exertions of members of council that subjects of sufficient interest were collected to make an Exhibition at all.

Public attention having, however, been once called to the subject, our manufacturing and commercial interests soon began to ccc its importance. The Exhibitions at the Society of Arts became year by year of greater interest : — and on the last occasion the Rooms were visited by more than 60,000 peroons. The available space therein was, indeed, wholly insufficient to meet the requirements of the Exhibitors : — and it was manifest that the time had arrived for carrying into execution the original poposition. His Royal Highness therefore desired the attendance of the members of Council, and submitted that active measures should be taken once more to ascertain the opinion and feelings of the public generally on the subject. The original scheme of a national Exhibition was expanded into one by which the industry of the world at large should be represented ; and on this, as well as on the other parts of the proposed plan, it was determined to make inquiry how far the sympathies of the trading world might be reckoned on. Messrs. Cole and Fuller travelled through the manufacturing districts of the country for the purpose of collecting the opinions of the leading manufacturers : — arranging the results which they obtained under five several heads, as follows : — " The general expediency of periodical Exhibitions. — Whether their scope should be exclusively national or univeral? — Whether such Exhibitions should be supported by funds voted by the House of Commons or by voluntary subscriptions ? — Willingness to exhibit. — "Whether prizes should be awarded, the amount of prizes, and the distribution of them?" On the first of these questions there was a unanimity of consent: — taking various pithy praeeological formß which Messrs. Cole and Fuller report. Under the second head, it seemed to be almost universally felt that a knowledge of our national place in relation to the world in general, as producers of all kinds, is itself a gain, — that a sense of our own weakness in any direction is a foundation of future strength, — that when we cannot compete by skill in these free-trade days, we cannot hope to compete by secrecy, — that a just diagnosis can be obtained only by a broad comparison, — and that, in fact, the grandest and most important feature of the whole scheme would be its universality. On the question whether such Exhibitions should be supported by funds voted by the House of Commons or by voluntary subcription, there were differences of opinion — but preponderating greatly to the side of making the meeting, in that, as in all other respects, i a purely popular representation. The fact is, such movements as this are but languid ones where they need the outer stimulus of Government support. The circumstances of such large sums as will be necessary for the purposes of this Exhibition being found by the people themselves, is at once an expression of the popular earnestness in the case, and a guarantee of the good which the people are to get out of it. We feel, besides, the utter idleness of relying on Governments in a matter which demands so much of straightforward activity as thin. When we remember how for the last two months this important measure has been hung up in the Government offices, for want of energy to do the only thing which fell to the lot of Government to do in the matter, we should be sorry to see its future chances depending on Government interference, — yet more, to see them resting on Government subsidy. The " willingness to exhibit" had its exceptions in that proportion only in which exceptions help to establish a rule: — and these exception arose out of the lingering jealously

which yet survives to tell of the age of restrictions, a jealously which Exhibitions like the one proposed will do more than anything else to dispel. A fear of piracy was the shadow here and there .infesting the general cordiality with which the proposition was hailed.

The questions of " prizes" and their "amount" formed the ground on which their seemed to be most difference of feeling. It was everywhere admitted that if prizes there are to be where the nations of the world are competitors, — nothing less than the guarantee of a presiding Royal Commission, and the utmost care and integrity in the composition of the specific juries, can not meet the dignity of such a tribunal of adjudication or secure the public confidence and acquiescence in its decisions. It was felt, too, that the foreigner being invited to .compete, he must be -fairly represented on all such juries. But many manufacturers were of opinion that money prizes are unnecessary, and inefficient: — the best prize being the commercial success which must follow distinction in an Exhibition like this. Others thought the prizes should in any case be smaller than has been proposed : — that the amounts should be reduced, and the number of premiums increased, "as lessening the risk of injury from injurious adjudication." — Some were of opinion that a system of medals and small prizes, rather as testimonials than as rewards, would sufficiently meet all cases in which tho sentence of such a tribunal will insure the natural reward of extended trading : — but that prizes of considerable amount might be given for original designs, or important discoveries in mechanics — or proposed as inducements to manfacturers to produce "something special,", out of the line of their ordinary business and its natural returns, but calculated " to show the power of production/ — It was proposed that further opinions should be taken : — and it was hinted that " some one or more persons interested in each and every trade, with a knowledge sharpened by experience and personal interest, might propose a prize for such discovery or improvement as would be of the greatest value in his particular trade ; and thus the general requirements would become known, and the Council be relieved from much anxiety, and only be required to decide between the suggestions of the most experienced."

It was said to be " especially desirable that the merits of the subject which receives the first prize should be tested as much as possible beforehand. This arrangement would tend to promote the'declaration of inventions, and thus subject them to a public test. By this means the public is made, as it were, the jury, and the liability to a wrong judgment is diminished. It might perhaps, be a question, whether any invention or discoveroy should be eligible to receive the firit prize, unless it had been public a certain specified time before the opening of the Exhibition." But the whole question of prizes is yet, like most other of the mere details of the Exhibition, open for future decision and for present suggestion.

Meantime, a preliminary question had arisen of perplexing difficulty. It was manifest that the Council could not be justified in going before the public with a proposition under the sanction of his Royal Highness, without having secured the certainty of its execution should it meet with the sanction of the public. But how were necessary funds to be obtained for ensuring the honourable fulfilment of all the promises which it would be necessary to bold forth, before it could be known how and to what extent the Exhibition would be supported by the public? It was decided that before any announcement should be made, £20,000, as the amount of the prizes, must be deposited in the hands of Trustees, and security given for the erection of the building. The cost of this was estimated at not less than £20,000 — and by Mr. Cubitt, who was consulted by his Royal Highness, as not unlikely to reach £50,000. Under these circumstances, negotiations were opened with some of our great capitalists ; but the issue seemed then so uncertain, that all declined. One spirited firm — that of the Messrs. Munday — was at length found to take on itself the whole money responsibility, in anticipation of the liberality of the public. The nature of the arrangement with these gentlemen will be best explained by the two deeds which lay down the mutual conditions of the guarantee : — and with that view we have prepared an abstract of them for our readers. A copy in extenso of the contract lies for inspection at the rooms of the Society of Arts, in John Street, Adelphi.

" Deed No. 1 recites that his Royal Highness Prince Albert is President of the Society of Arts, that His Royal Highness and the Society were desirous for the promotion of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce of the country, to institute a Great Exhibition in 1851, and for this purpose that Prizes to the value of £20,000 at the least should be awarded. That (in accordance with a previous understanding) a site would be provided by the Commissoners of Woods and Forests — that it was deemed necessary by His Royal Highness and the Society that the sum of £20,000. for Prizes should be lodged to secure the payment of such Prices— that Her Majesty should be petitioned to issue a Royal Commission, of which His Roysl Highness should be President — that capacious buildings should be erected, the design for which is contemplated to be obtaind by public competition—- that prospectuea or other descriptions and announcements of the proposed design, and all other necessary means for promulgating, advancing, and completiag, . should be circulated and advertised — that it was necessary, in organizing the arrangements, that Members of the Society should visit the principal cities, &c— th&t Managers, Secretary and officers in general should be provided— that as the funds of the Society were inapplicable to such payments, and though it was anticipated that a considerable sum

would be raised by subcription and other means, still it was doubtful whether the sums so raised would be sufficient, that, therefore, an agreement was entered into between the said contractors and the said Society for carrying out the design ; for providing £20.000 for Prizes, and for immediately paying £500 towards preliminary expenses, as well as such further sums as should be requisite, and for indemnifying the Society against expenses. " That the said Society had appointed an Executive Committee, including a nominee on the part of the Contractors, and also Trustees for the £20,000 and other monies allotted for Prizes, with Treasurers of Exhibition Funds.

"That it had beet! agreed that if before the iat of February, 1850, a Royal Commission should not have been issued, the Contractors might refer further proceedings to Arbitration. That in performance of such agreement the contractors on their part had paid A 500 on the 30th of August, and a further sum of £20,000 ; and it had also been agreed that the Exhibition should be carried out in the manner expressed in these presents, and in another indenture of even date— that trusts, &c., of £20,000 and £500 actually paid, and all other monies to be paid, should be declared — that certain payments made, and liabilities incurred, by the Society, should be considered as port of the expenses of the Exhibition. The contract then sets forth that the contractors covenent to pay from time to time, until the first November, 1851, all such money as may be required for the Exhibition — that the contractors shall within three months after the Exhibition shall have been carried out, pay such a sum as* together with monies previously paid, shall be adequate to pay all expenses whatsoever, of advertisements, printing, agents, offices, superintendents, clerks, workmen, buildings, insurances, decorations, and all other the costs, charges, and expenses of every kind whatsoever, to which the Society may be liable, and will indemnify the Society from such expenses, except the cost of the preparation of the deeds and premiums for designs for building. It is then declared that the said £20,000 shall be invested in the names of the Trustees in Government or other securities, as his Royal Highness may direct — and that the £500 already paid, and all monies to be hereafter paid by the contractors, as also all donations, &c. shall be invested.

" It is provided that if donations and subscriptions shall exceed £30,000, then, and in addition to the £20,000, certain furthur sums may be set apart for Prizes. "And the Society shall hold in trust the receipts, to repay the contractors the £20,000 advanced for Prizes, with interest at fire per cent.; also all such sums as they shall have paid in pursuance o( their covenants, with interest, as aforesaid, except certain expenses which are to be exclusively paid by the contractors ; — but it is agreed that, if the receipts shall more than cover all such payments, the residue shall be held upon trust, one-third to be held in trust by the Society of Arts, for the Establishment of future Exhibitions, and the remaining two-thirds to be paid to the contractors, out of which the contractors are to pay all expenses of managers, officers, attendants, salaries, advertisements, printing and other incidental expenses. "That if a Royal Commission shall not be issued before the Ist February, 1850, the contractors may refer the further performance of the agreement to arbitration, that if the contractors neglect* to fulfil the covenants, the Society shall stand possessed of the said £20,000, and all other sums paid by the contractors, for the purpose of indemnifying the Society from all expenses and liability in relation to the said Exhibition, the Society's right to demand the performance of the contract to indemnify not however to be prejudiced ; that the Society shall be enabled to determine the contract, upon receiving on or before the Ist February, 1850, a request to do so from the Lords Commissoners of her Majesty's Treasury, and that the Society is not to be answerable for involuntary losses."

In the second indenture, of even date with the first, it is recited, that the contractors have paid £20,000 for prizes mentioned in deed No. 1, and £500; and have covenanted to pay such other sums as shall be required. The indenture witnesseth that it is agreed between the Society and the contractors, that certain specified arrangements relating to the exhibition are to he under the control of the Executive Committee, unless a Royal Commission shall be issued. That on or before the Ist of May, 1850, plans, &c. of building, are to be submitted to his Royal Highness — that the plans, &c. approved by his' Royal Highness shall be delivered to the contractors on or before the Ist of June, 1850, when the contractors are to be put in possession of site. The contractors within one month engage to deliver a statement of quantities and a tender ; that if the. contractors' tender be considered excessive, the pians, &c., and the tenders be referred to arbitrators ; that the price reported by the arbitrators shall be the price to be paid to the contractors for the building; that the contractors shall complete the building on or before the 31st of March, 1851. The indenture then provides that the materials shall be the absolute property of the contractors after the determination of the Exhibition on the Ist of October, 1851, and makes other provisions merely technical, — the statement of which is not necessary to the public understanding of this matter.

Thus it will be seen that the Messrs. Munday have taken upon themselves the entire risk of this vast speculation ;— relying only on the public zeal, and the liberality which that may beget for their repayment and their reward. In the administration of the funds by them advanced they are to have no share ; — those funds will be destributed by the Society of Arts in the person of its Executive Committee, under the authority and supervision of a Royal Commission having the Prince Consort at its head.-— Since the contract was signed, we understand that the spirit exhibited by the public in answer to the appeal made to it in behalf of this vast scheme having greatly improved the prospect! of the speculation, the Messrs. Munday have consented to certain modifications in the terms of the original deed, at the request of Prince Albert— anxious in every way to guard tht

*nterest«>of the public. The time within which *he conditional power reserved to Government of terminating the contract is to be exercised, has been extended to two months after the first meeting of the Royal Commission—and the Messrs. Munday have agreed, if the contract is \ not terminated by the Government, to put a limit on their profits — being " willing that an arbitration shall determine, when the Exhibition is closed, the proportion of any surplus after payment of all expenses whatever, to be* allotted to them as remuneration for the capital employed, risk incurred, and the exertions used." — In all respects, the liberality and public spirit displayed by the Messrs. Munday have alone, as is acknowledged by the Prince Consort, rendered possible to give to this scheme a form and substance for presentation to the Government : — and we are glad to add, that the Prince has written a letter to them expressive of hi* sentiments to that effect.

easts. —u*y nave agrecu, .. . not terminated by the Government, to put a limit on their profits — being " willing that an arbitration shall determine, when the Exhibition is closed, the proportion of any surplus after payment of all expenses whatever, to be allotted to them as remuneration for the capital employed, risk incurred, and the exertions used." — In all respects, the liberality and public spirit displayed by the Messrs. Munday have alone, as is acknowledged by the Prince Consort, rendered possible to give to this scheme a form and substance for presentation to the Government : — and we are glad to add, that the Prince has written a letter to them expressive of his sentiments to that effect.