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Original Papers: Great Exhibition of the Works of all Nations. 1 
Original Vapars. 
GREAT EXLIB1TION OF TH WORK8 OF INDUSTRY OF ALL NATIONS. 
Mfonthly Report of Progress. 
M-MUFAcTURnErs and all who are disposed to promote the Exhibition have 
now the assurance unmistakeably before them that some Exhibition will take
place; and it remains with them, and them only, to determine whether it shall
be large or small, worthy of the magnificence of British industry, and as
attractive as possible to all foreign competitors, or, on the contrary, a
small, 
stingy, and insignificant business. It must be shewu shortly whether all
the 
heartily promised co-operation with Prince Albert is to be forthcoming, or
whether all that has hitherto been said is mere talk. We cannot for an instant
assume such insincerity, -and that it will be inferred because there is a
moral 
security of a something certainly being done, that all are not quite as much
directly interested as though that security really did not exist. We say
emphatically, that the very security which has been given with so much unex-
ampled confidence and public spirit, ought to furnish a stimulus to increased
exertions. We do not think our countrymen will repay it by shabby evasive-
ness. The success of the plan, its credit before the world, and the permanence
of the proposed institutions, solely depend on the active practical good-will
and liberal subscriptions of all. We shall now relate the course of important
events which have transpired since last month. 
The confidence we then expressed that all arrangements which had 
been made for guaranteeing the execution of this great work would be fully
published has been entirely confirmed. If the public had good reason to 
respond heartily to His Royal Highness's proposal, so we are sure they will
applaud the noble frankness with which the Prince has taken the initiative
in 
acquainting them with all the preliminary arrangements he has sanctioned,
without waiting for an official notification of them to be made. For our
own 
parts, we think these arrangements exhibit on the part of those concerned
an 
example of confidence hardly to be matched in this cautious, money-making
age. We believe the public will think so likewise, and will cordially agree
with the opinions which the Prince has expressed so unreservedly. The Prince
has commanded that the contract which the Society of Arts made to secure
the execution of the great work shall be published, together with the corre-
spondence relating to it. This has been done. The contract is too lengthy
and technical for our pages, but we shall give a brief account of it. The
docu- 
ment itself may be seen at the house of the Society in the Adelphi. 
After His Royal Highness the Prince Albert, as President of t e Society of
Arts, had arranged the main outlines of his proposal for a great Exhibition
of 
the Industry of all Nations to be held in 1851, it became necessary, before
any 
steps could be taken or the intention could be published and prizes to the
amount of 20,0001. could be offered to the world, to make sure of being able
to carry the proposal into effect. In 1845 the Society had, indeed, tried
a 
different course, and instead of saying at once the Exhibition shall be,
began 
inquiring whether it could be: the result in 1845 was that something like
1501. were subscribed and spent fruitlessly. Now the Council of the Society
of Arts, which for two years past had declared its intention of insti- 
tuting a great National Exhibition, and had already secured the promise 
of a site from the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Works, and of co- 
operation from the Board of Trade, sought to find the necessary capital for
carrying the proposal into effect: after much inquiry they were enabled to
find in Messrs. Munday, contractors for public works, capitalists who were
willing to guarantee the execution of the proposal, subject to the directions
of His Royal Highness the Prince Albert, or a Royal Commission, if issued.
An 
agreement was entered into with these gentlemen in August last, after the
details of it had been submitted to and approved by His Royal Highness. At
this time no public inquiries had beenmade to ascertain public feeling towards
Journal of Design. No. 11, January, 1850.                       x