Page xxvi

                                  HISTORY OF THE GREAT EXHIBITION.
  The tenders of the contractors were not, it is stated, a  ted  benefited
some classes at the expense of others.  How far the
  by the    l Commissioners until the     o; the glut on the English market,
of all kinds of ornamental goods,
  possi2 of the Bite was onlyobtaineon t e 30th of the same when the Exhibition
has closed, may be atoned for by the
           md the first column was not fi   untiM the 26th of increased stimulus
which their excellence may have given to
    #eßtembe   leavi        ven   onths for its complein. the British
manufacturer remains to be seen. The question
  WIe    w   remember the                    ionsha     were has been often
asked, what is to be done with the Crystal
0 necessary before the iron and wood-work of the building could  Palace;
but the graver inquiry would seem to be, what is to
  be put in hand, tbe machines for economising labour that had be done with
its contents ?  A very large proportion of them
  to be devised and manufactured, and the contracts for mate- will, in all
probability, be sold for what they will fetch; and if
  rials to be entered into, and the thousands of hands that had so, with
what effect upon the trade of the British metropolis ?
  to be set to work, the celerity with which the building was -A  partial
injury at most: whilst the benefits arising out of
  completed is one of the most remarkable features of its history. the Exhibition
are certain to prove both important and perma..
    In the sketch which we have here given of the history of nent. It will
encourage us in the prosecution of those arts
  the Great Exhibition, from its origin to the present time, we in which
we are in the ascendant, and show us our weakness
  have confined ourselves exclusively to facts; having carefully in those
branches of industry in which we may be behind our
  avoided making it the vehicle of opinions of any kind. This neighbours.
To be aware of our deficiencies is the first step
  restriction, and the limited amount of space at our disposal, towards amending
them; and there is no maxim safer than
  have prevented us from entering upon many topics which     that which teaches
us not to undervalue our rivals: our
  might otherwise have diversified our narrative, and relieved Industrial
Exhibition will have had this good effect at least.
  the monotony, inseparable from the compression, into a few    The extent
to which this congress of the world's genius
  pages, of the great body of facts we have been called upon to  and industry
has already promoted the objects of civilisation
  enumerate.   All questions inviting discussion would have and of peace,
may be seen in the cordial feelings with which
  been out of place in a Anarrative like this, which aims simply England
and France are now inspired towards each other;
  at presenting a brief, but faithful, history of one of the most and the
noble spirit of emulation, devoid of its former
  splendid and remarkable undertakings that has ever been    rancorous prejudices,
which it has generated between them.
  attempted in this or any other country. We have left all con- We need scarcely
refer more particularly to the splendid and
  troversy on the plans and arrangements of the Royal Com- cordial reception
given by the great body of savans and men
  missioners, and the officials with whom they have associated of science
of France to a large assemblage of English gentle-
  themselves, to the Art-Journal, without the aid of whose staff men (most
of them  identified in some way or other with the
  it would have been impossible for us, or, indeed, for any one Exhibition),
at the Hotel de Ville of Paris, in the early part of
  else, to have produced the present volume, at anything like the August;
and the strong and grateful impression it has left
  price at which it is now published. With the composition of the upon the
minds of all who had the opportunity of participating
  Juries, or the principle on which they arrive at their verdicts, in it.
 So noble a demonstration of mutual good feeling
  and all the topics to which such an enquiry would of necessity  cannot
fail to form an era in the histories of both countries;
  conduct us, we shall have nothing to do on the present occasion. realising,
as it did, so completely the language of Beranger's
  The Art-Journal has displayed no want of courage in dealing  charming song,
written when the prejudices and antipathies
  with such subjects, or in protecting the interests of the great of the
two nations were at boiling heat-
  body of British exhibitors from the effects of that overstrained
  courtesy which seems to consider that the rights of hospitality       "J'ai
vu la Paix descendre sur la terre,
  demand sacrifices on the part of their English competitors,           
   S6mant de l'or, des fleurs, et des 6pis,
  which are alike inconsistent with reason or with justice. We          
 L'air etait calme, et du dieu de la guerre,
  have, moreover, no official knowledge of the manner in which          
   Elle 6touffait les foudres assoupis.
                     the respective prizes h                            
  '~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Al!' disait-elle,; 'dgaux par la vaillance,
   the respective prizes have been awarded, and possess, there-         
    Franlais, Anglais, Beige, Russe, ou Germain,
   fore, no correct data for speculation on the subject; much will      
      Peuples formez une sainte alliance,
   depend not only on the. impartiality, but competency of the          
       Et donnez-vous la main!
   various jurors for the duty they have undertaken, and their
   perfect freedom from national jealousy or bias of any kind.          
  SOui, libre enfinquelemonde repire,
   Whether or not this great enterprise will be productive of           
   Sumez vos champs aetx accordsde 'la yire,
   the unmixed good which has been anticipated frOm. its pre-sent       
    L'encens des arts doit brfiler pour la paix.
   success, its effects on the general trade and commerce of            
  L'espoir riant ai sein de l'abondance,
   the country cannot have been as injurious as some persons            
    Accueillera les doux fruits de l'hymen.
   profess to think; but it may b   erquetiond as some hverono          
      Peuples formez une sainte alliance,
                            profess to think; but it may be questioned if
it have not  Et donnez-vous la main!"'
                                                              Xxvi