the Park is intended to be of a permanent, and not, as has been
repeatedly announced, of a merely temporary character, and the
Commissioners are given to understand that by proposing to construct a
building into which a good deal of brickwork is to enter, they have shown
an intention at variance with their professions. Upon this point they
have to remark, in the first place, that, although the eminent architects
and engineers whom they have consulted, and to whom they have uniformly
given instructions to prepare plans suitable to a temporary structure,
have agreed to recommend the use of brick and other durable materials,
they have left it perfectly open to contractors to send in their tenders
for the execution of the work in any material or materials whatsoever,
and have notified their readiness to entertain such tenders, on the
single condition of their being "accompanied by working-drawings and
specifications, and fully priced bills of quantities." It is probable
that some such tenders will be made, and if made they will be impartially
considered; but the Commissioners must protest against the supposition
that it is necessarily more judicious to construct a temporary building
of perishable than of enduring materials. The first requisite of the
building is, that it should be suitable for its purpose, capable of
protecting the valuable goods deposited in it from injury of every
kind--as, for instance, from the weather, from the effects of the
dampness of the soil, from the danger of fire, and so forth, and that it
should be strong enough to avert all risk of accidental damage. Its next
requisite is, that it should be economical, and in estimating its cost
regard must be had not only to the expense of erection, but to the
facility of removal and the value of the materials when removed, as a
building may easily be conceived to be cheaper which should cost
100,000_l._ to erect, but of which the materials could afterwards be sold
for 50,000_l._, than another would be which cost but 80,000_l._ in the
first instance, but of which the materials should become so far
deteriorated as to produce only 20,000_l._ when taken down. It is the
opinion of those who have devised the plans in the present case, that a
building constructed of durable materials will in the end be cheaper than
one constructed of such as are more perishable; particularly as a
considerable portion of the building, namely, the iron roofing, will be
of a kind which is generally used in the construction of
railway-stations, and will probably be disposed of for that purpose after
the close of the Exhibition, as its temporary application to the purposes
of the Exhibition will be of no detriment to its being so. An opportunity
of testing the correctness of this opinion will be given when the tenders
are received, as, in addition to the customary form, it has been required
that they should also be sent upon the understanding that the materials
shall remain the property of the contractor, and shall in fact only be
hired for the purposes of the Exhibition. The third requisite of the
building is, that it should be at least seemly, though it may not be
necessary that it should be highly ornamental. The Commissioners trust
that it will fulfil this condition, while they would at the same time
point out that no expense is to be incurred for merely ornamental
purposes, unless it should be thought desirable to select a dome for
covering in the large space which must necessarily be left in the centre
of the building to suit the internal arrangements. A cheaper mode of
covering in this space will probably be resorted to, and the
Commissioners have directed that a special estimate of the cost of the
dome should be laid before them when the tenders are complete, in order
that they may judge of the propriety of sanctioning its erection.
Having offered this short explanation, they can only repeat once more the
assurances they have already given, that the building is not intended to
be permanent, and that it will be entirely removed, in accordance with
the conditions prescribed by the Lords of the Treasury on yielding up the
site, within seven months after the closing of the Exhibition, which
cannot be deferred after the 1st of November, and will probably take
place at an earlier period in the autumn of next year.
22. Another ground of apprehension is stated to be, lest the Park should
be injured by the erection of the building, and the injury should
continue after the structure is removed. This apprehension is, however,
groundless; a small clump of ten trees has been allowed to be removed, in
compensation for which, it is proposed by the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests to plant another clump elsewhere. It is not intended to cut down
any more than that clump. As regards the surface of the ground to be
occupied, it will not only not be injured, but will ultimately be
materially improved by being drained and freshly sown with grass seed. It
will be a strict condition with the contractors for the building that
they shall, on its removal, restore the ground to its present condition.
23. Some dissatisfaction has been expressed at the prospect of a furnace
being erected to heat the boiler and drive the steam-apparatus. It is
however, intended to construct such furnace on the principle of consuming
its own smoke, or to burn coke instead of coal, should that, upon the
whole, appear the best mode of preventing annoyance. Care will also be
taken not to erect any chimney of an unsightly character.
24. As regards the amount of traffic which will be occasioned by the
transport of materials and goods to the site, the Commissioners have been
furnished by the Building Committee with an approximate estimate that it
will not in the whole exceed the ordinary amount of three weeks' general
traffic of a single railway-station, and as this traffic will be spread
over a period of more than six months, it is manifest that its amount has
been enormously exaggerated by public estimation.
25. The Queen's Ride, though in the immediate vicinity of the site, will
not be in any degree interfered with, except that it may be advisable to
rail off a strip not exceeding ten feet, or one-sixth of the whole in
width, for foot-passengers, in order to prevent the inconvenience of
crowding the space open to riding parties. By this arrangement the riders
will be secured from annoyance.
25 _a._ It has been said that the effect of the erection of the building
will be to drive the inhabitants of London out of their Parks. The
Commissioners think it right to draw the attention of the Lords of the
Treasury to the following statistics:--
The area of Hyde Park is 387 acres.
" Kensington Gardens 290 "
" Regent's Park 403 "
" St. James's Park 83 "
" Green Park 71 "
" Victoria Park 160 "
" Greenwich Park 174 "
making a total of 1,568 acres, while only twenty acres are proposed to be
taken or the purposes of this Exhibition.
26. In conclusion, the Commissioners think it desirable to call
attention to the fact, that the three last Exhibitions of this nature
which have taken place in Paris have been held on a site (the Champs
Elysées) very closely corresponding to our own Hyde Park in many
respects, and particularly resembling it in being the most fashionable
and the most frequented promenade in Paris--more frequented, indeed, than
the particular spot selected on the present occasion has ever been, or is
likely to be; and yet it does not appear that the Parisians have had
occasion to complain of those annoyances which are now apprehended by
some persons in this country. And the Commissioners are informed, that
the Exhibition in Vienna was held in the Prado, the principal public
place in that city; and that the Exhibition in Berlin was held in the
Thiergarten, which is not only the principal public place within the
city, but is remarkable as being the only open Park of any sort within
several miles.
27. In the foregoing observations the Commissioners have thought it
right to confine themselves strictly to a discussion of the practical
difficulties which would attend a change of site. They cannot, however,
but express their decided opinion, that the renouncement of the selection
of the most beautiful park in London for the scene of the Exhibition may
be looked upon as indicating a diminution of interest in the undertaking,
and would materially detract from that appearance of hospitality on the
part of England which has been one great cause for the very favourable
reception which this proposal has everywhere secured.
They must add, that the possibility that the bringing the Exhibition into
Hyde Park should be considered as an interference with the enjoyment of
that Park by the public has never entered their minds. They have, on the
contrary, always intended it as a means of recreative and intellectual
enjoyment for the greatest portion of her Majesty's subjects: and they
have hitherto had reason to believe that it has been so regarded by the
country in general.
----
REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSIONERS,
PRESENTED TO HER MAJESTY ON THE OPENING OF THE BUILDING.
The following Report, together with her Majesty's Answer, on the occasion
of the inauguration of the building, cannot fail to be interesting as a
brief record of the proceedings connected with this noble undertaking up to
that period:--
"May it please your Majesty,--We, the Commissioners appointed by your
Majesty's royal warrant of the 3rd of January, 1850, for the promotion of
the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, and subsequently
incorporated by your Majesty's Royal Charter of the 15th of August in the
same year, humbly beg leave, on the occasion of your Majesty's auspicious
visit at the opening of the Exhibition, to lay before you a brief
statement of our proceedings to the present time.
"By virtue of the authority graciously committed to us by your Majesty,
we have made diligent inquiry into the matters which your Majesty was
pleased to refer to us, namely, into the best mode of introducing the
productions of your Majesty's colonies and of foreign countries into this
kingdom, the selection of the most suitable site for the Exhibition, the
general conduct of the undertaking, and the proper method of determining
the nature of the prizes and of securing the most impartial distribution
of them.
"In the prosecution of these inquiries, and in the discharge of the
duties assigned to us by your Majesty's Royal Charter of Incorporation,
we have held constant meetings of our whole body, and have, moreover,
referred numerous questions connected with a great variety of subjects to
committees, composed partly of our own members and partly of individuals
distinguished in the several departments of science and the arts, who
have cordially responded to our applications for their assistance at a
great sacrifice of their valuable time.
"Among the earliest questions brought before us was the important one as
to the terms upon which articles offered for exhibition should be
admitted into the building. We considered that it was a main
characteristic of the national undertaking in which we were engaged that
it should depend wholly upon the voluntary contributions of the people of
this country for its success; and we therefore decided, without
hesitation, that no charge whatever should be made on the admission of
such goods. We considered, also, that the office of selecting the
articles to be sent should be intrusted in the first instance to local
committees, to be established in every foreign country, and in various
districts of your Majesty's dominions; a general power of control being
reserved to the Commission.
"We have now the gratification of stating that our anticipations of
support in this course have in all respects been fully realised. Your
Majesty's most gracious donation to the funds of the Exhibition was the
signal for voluntary contributions from all, even the humblest, classes
of your subjects, and the funds which have thus been placed at our
disposal amount at present to about 65,000_l._ Local committees, from
which we have uniformly received the most zealous co-operation, were
formed in all parts of the United Kingdom, in many of your Majesty's
colonies, and in the territories of the Hon. East India Company. The most
energetic support has also been received from the Governments of nearly
all the countries of the world, in most of which Commissions have been
appointed for the special purpose of promoting the objects of an
Exhibition justly characterised in your Majesty's royal warrant as an
Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations.
"We have also to acknowledge the great readiness with which persons of
all classes have come forward as exhibitors. And here again it becomes
our duty to return our humble thanks to your Majesty for the most
gracious manner in which your Majesty has condescended to associate
yourself with your subjects by yourself contributing some most valuable
and interesting articles to the Exhibition.
"The number of exhibitors whose productions it has been found possible to
accommodate is about 15,000, of whom nearly one-half are British. The
remainder represent the productions of more than forty foreign countries,
comprising almost the whole of the civilised nations of the globe. In
arranging the space to be allotted to each, we have taken into
consideration both the nature of its productions and the facilities of
access to this country afforded by its geographical position. Your
Majesty will find the productions of your Majesty's dominions arranged in
the western portion of the building, and those of foreign countries in
the eastern. The Exhibition is divided into the four great classes of--1,
Raw Materials; 2, Machinery; 3, Manufactures; and 4, Sculpture and the
Fine Arts. A further division has been made according to the geographical
position of the countries represented; those which lie within the warmer
latitudes being placed near the centre of the building, and the colder
countries at the extremities.
"Your Majesty having been graciously pleased to grant a site in this your
royal Park for the purposes of the Exhibition, the first column of the
structure now honoured by your Majesty's presence was fixed on the 26th
of September last. Within the short period, therefore, of seven months,
owing to the energy of the contractors and the active industry of the
workmen employed by them, a building has been erected, entirely novel in
its construction, covering a space of more than eighteen acres, measuring
1,851 feet in length, and 456 feet in extreme breadth, capable of
containing 40,000 visitors, and affording a frontage for the exhibition
of goods to the extent of more than ten miles. For the original
suggestion of the principle of this structure the Commissioners are
indebted to Mr. Joseph Paxton, to whom they feel their acknowledgments to
be justly due for this interesting feature of their undertaking.
"With regard to the distribution of rewards to deserving exhibitors, we
have decided that they should be given in the form of medals, not with
reference to merely individual competition, but as rewards for excellence
in whatever shape it may present itself. The selection of the persons to
be so rewarded has been intrusted to juries equally composed of British
subjects and of foreigners, the former having been selected by the
Commission from the recommendations made by the local committees, and the
latter by the Governments of the foreign nations the productions of which
are exhibited. The names of these jurors, comprising, as they do, many of
European celebrity, afford the best guarantee of the impartiality with
which the rewards will be assigned.
"It affords much gratification that, notwithstanding the magnitude of
this undertaking, and the great distances from which many of the articles
now exhibited have had to be collected, the day on which your Majesty has
been graciously pleased to be present at the inauguration of the
Exhibition is the same day that was originally named for its opening,
thus affording a proof of what may, under God's blessing, be accomplished
by goodwill and cordial co-operation among nations, aided by the means
that modern science has placed at our command.
"Having thus briefly laid before your Majesty the results of our labours,
it now only remains for us to convey to your Majesty our dutiful and
loyal acknowledgments of the support and encouragement which we have
derived throughout this extensive and laborious task from the gracious
favour and countenance of your Majesty. It is our heartfelt prayer that
this undertaking, which has for its end the promotion of all branches of
human industry and the strengthening of the bonds of peace and friendship
among all nations of the earth, may, by the blessing of Divine
Providence, conduce to the welfare of your Majesty's people, and be long
remembered among the brightest circumstances of your Majesty's peaceful
and happy reign."
Her Majesty returned the following gracious answer:--
"I receive with the greatest satisfaction the address which you have
presented to me on the opening of this Exhibition.
"I have observed with a warm and increasing interest the progress of your
proceedings in the execution of the duties intrusted to you by the Royal
Commission, and it affords me sincere gratification to witness the
successful result of your judicious and unremitting exertions in the
splendid spectacle by which I am this day surrounded.
"I cordially concur with you in the prayer, that by God's blessing this
undertaking may conduce to the welfare of my people and to the common
interest of the human race, by encouraging the arts of peace and
industry, strengthening the bonds of union among the nations of the
earth, and promoting a friendly and honourable rivalry in the useful
exercise of those faculties which have been conferred by a beneficent
Providence for the good and the happiness of mankind."
THE END.
SALISBURY, PRINTER, PRIMROSE-HILL, SALISBURY-SQUARE, FLEET-STREET.
* * * * * *
THE FOLLOWING INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT
NEW BOOKS AND MAPS
ARE PUBLISHED BY
JAMES GILBERT, 49, PATERNOSTER-ROW, LONDON,
Wholesale and Retail Bookseller, Publisher, and Newsvendor.
* * * * * *
NOW READY, in 200 pages, demy 18mo, with Illustrations, price, in fancy
binding, only 1s. 6d., or post free, 2s., the SECOND EDITION,
DEDICATED TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT,
GILBERT'S
POPULAR NARRATIVE OF THE ORIGIN, HISTORY, PROGRESS, & PROSPECTS
OF THE
GREAT INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION,
1851:
With a Guide to the future Rules and Arrangements.
BY PETER BERLYN, ESQ.
----
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
ATHENÆUM.
"A well-written volume. A useful record of the history and progressive
development of the marking incident of our age and nation. Mr. Berlyn
was, we believe, officially employed by the Executive Committee in the
earlier stages of their labours; his statements, therefore, are on good
authority and may be relied on. The narrative is sufficiently full in its
details for the general public now and hereafter."
EXAMINER.
"This is a clever book, full of timely and interesting matter, and with
sufficient merit as a record of the origin and history of the Great
Exhibition to outlive the mere curiosity of the hour. Mr. Berlyn has had
official opportunities of becoming well acquainted with the subject, and
has not neglected them. He puts his materials together with spirit and
intelligence, and indulges a hopeful strain of anticipation and prophecy
very properly befitting his theme."
LITERARY GAZETTE.
"Within a small compass we have here gathered together all that is
interesting in connexion with the great undertaking of the present
year--an undertaking which must form a most important chapter in the
world's history. We are bound to say that the work has been judiciously
done, and the result is a very satisfactory review of all that has been
effected in the way of Industrial Exhibitions up to the present time."
MORNING CHRONICLE.
"GILBERT'S POPULAR NARRATIVE OF THE EXHIBITION.--With this title a small
work has just been published, written by Mr. Peter Berlyn, from authentic
and official sources, tracing the origin, history, and progress, and
pointing to the prospects, of the Great Exhibition. The author has
carefully avoided all speculation and gossip on the subject, and has
applied himself with very considerable ability to the statement and
elucidation of all those facts, derived from authentic records, which
bear upon the progress of this most important national movement. Many
interesting facts are stated in connexion with the previous expositions
which have taken place on the Continent and in this country, and the
difficulties with which, upon its first announcement, the present
undertaking had to contend, and the means by which the Executive were
enabled to overcome them, are clearly and consecutively stated. The work
also contains some valuable statistical and other information connected
with the building, and copies of the most recent of the regulations
issued by the Executive. We would cordially recommend this very
interesting work."
EXPOSITOR.
"The volume before us has fair claim to its title of a Narrative of the
Exhibition. It commences with an account of such British and foreign
exhibitions as may be supposed to have led to the idea of the great
international show of industry to be held in the present year. The work
also contains a complete account of how the world's industrial products
have come to be housed in the present building; gives all the rules and
orders of the Commissioners and Executive Committee; special instructions
to colonial and foreign exhibitors and Custom-house authorities; names of
authorised agents for foreign countries; Custom-house agents recommended
by the Royal Commissioners; and such other information as renders it a
really useful volume of practical information to all exhibitors and
visitors at the Exhibition."
SUN.
"Within the compass of an elegant pocket-volume the author of the present
narrative has contrived to furnish his readers with a very copious
history of the origin, progress, and prospects of the Great Exhibition.
Throughout the work he has written with an especial regard at once to
simplicity and perspicuity, so that we rest satisfied his labours will
prove eminently successful, the book being incontestibly _the_ narrative
of the Great Industrial Exposition. Beginning with all the preliminary
particulars, which are absolutely essential for the comprehension of the
entire scheme of the Prince Consort, the narrative describes very lucidly
the growth of the first crude idea to its present gigantic dimensions.
The share taken in the project by the Society of Arts is duly celebrated,
and the influence of the successive expositions of French industry
especially notified. The volume is altogether a very clever and most
complete work."
WEEKLY DISPATCH.
"Works upon the above subject will become highly popular from the very
necessity of the case; and consequently that which the public must
chiefly look for amidst all the competition that will ensue will be
correctness and compactness combined with economy. Mr. Peter Berlyn's
book combines every requisite information regarding the Exhibition from
first to last. Its clever compilation, tasteful form, quantity and
variety of information, and the dependance that may be placed upon it for
correctness, combine with its early appearance to render it one of the
most valuable hand-books that are likely to be generally used."
ART JOURNAL.
"A very useful and sound history of the rise and progress of the Great
International Exhibition of 1851, in which the first movements towards it
are carefully and ably detailed; and a very good analysis is given of all
preceding industrial exhibitions, at home and abroad, as well as a large
amount of information connected with the construction of the building
itself, and abstracts of official documents connected with the entire
movement. The author has done justice to the efforts which have been made
to interest the English manufacturer, and stimulate him in his artistic
endeavours; and we feel bound to acknowledge his courteous notice of the
exertions made by 'The Art Journal' in helping forward its consummation
in 1851."
LEADER.
"For those who wish to know all about the rise and progress of the Great
Exhibition and its Crystal Palace this neat hand-book is the very thing.
Mr. Berlyn has performed his task with laudable industry. He has drawn
together and arranged a large amount of scattered information regarding
the Exhibition in a pleasant form. As an elegant and trustworthy
hand-book, the narrative deserves to be popular."
OBSERVER.
"This neat volume gives a history of previous Exhibitions--some on small,
some on large scales--that have taken place in divers parts of Europe of
late years. It then points out the precise origin of the Exhibition of
all Nations, snowing the share his Royal Highness Prince Albert had in
it; its history and progress are thus minutely detailed, and its
prospects are foreshadowed without exaggeration. We cordially recommend
it as a pocket-companion necessary to all those who have not as yet
mastered the chief facts connected with the erection of the Palace of
Industry."
JOHN BULL.
"An able and complete history of the scheme, which we have all to accept
as _un fait accompli_, and a useful guide to the transparent mazes of the
Crystal Palace."
WEEKLY NEWS.