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https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1327#0010
THE CRYSTAL PALACE AND ITS CONTENTS;
HISTORY OF THE GREAT EXHIBITION.
I, Pijkhmi-xary Movbwest.—ApForaiaiEST of the Royal Commission.
« THE Great. Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Jxations, 1S51," will
stand recorded in tho annals of future ages as tbo first event of the kind
which has occurred in tho history of man. We say the first event " of the
kind," for, although many expositions of industrial productions have been
hold from time to time in various other countries, and also recently in some
of our own cities, they liave always been restricted to tho works of tho par-
wdusion of the rest of the world. Fur-
isitions, regulated by these prim-inks,
e the immediate extension of
is tlio main object held in view,
rst not only to throw open her own shop
1, but to invite all the world to compete
y walk and department of business. It
ns step; and although in the working out
i accidental incidents inseparable from all
fancy herself adequately requited, upon
vill have reason to repent what she has
r localities, to tho
■ality little else than large fa
briefly trace tt
undertaking, i
attributable t<
56—7, tho Soc
.uufaetures, tat
were offered ii
istory of the events which led to tins
lonour of which, we must stiitc at the
e Society of Arts of London. As early
of Arts of Loudon offered prizes for
y, carpets, porcelain. &c., and exhibited
.n petit ion; and about the same period,
its exhibitions of paintings, sculptures,
■eld it
any preceding, consisted chiefly of works in tho ]
which were graciously contributed by her Majesty,
their intention of holding a National Exhibition
Council of the Society caused a report on the Fn
1849, to bo made for them and printed A petition was uiso pre;
the Council to the House of Commons, praying that they mivht I.-,' ,. ,'u
use of some public building for tho exhibition of lS.'il, which y,.,., ■ -,- bj
to tho Select Committee on tho School of Design."
It should bo stated that, in February, 1S-H1, M. buffet, the French
Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, addressed a circular to inn
Chambers of Commerce of France, proposing that specimens of sk i hi
— nations should bo
;iid manufactures from
i'-'Vl>:i;U-ui
Tho iirst exhibition of industrial productions in Franco, occurred in ITSD,
being confined to Gobelins tapestry and Sevres china, exposed for sale for
the benefit of the workmen who were in a distressed condition ; the next
in 179S, which included sumptuous furniture and other articles of luxe;
the next in 1801, a fourth in ISO'2, and a fifth in 1S06. But it was not till
the restoration in 1SJ9, that the expositions of French industry began to
take place systematically, and to include that larger and more varied class of
objects adapted to the requirements and means of the masses. The eleventh
and iast great exposition took place in trie Champs Elyso.es in IS-li), (the
previous one having taken place in 1844,) in a building erected for the pur-
pose, which covered mure than i'vo acres of ground, and in which the pro-
ductions of 4494 exhibitors were displayed. The Bavarians and tile Belgians
have of late years imitated the example set by France, and with good suc-
cess. Manchester. Leeds, Birmingham, Dublin, and other towns have also
held similar exhibitions, being more properlv stvled bazaars: and hi 1S45.
the great Free Trade Bazaar was held at Cerent Garden theatre, which was
open twelve days.
We now come to trace what led to the infusion of a more cosmopolitan
principle in these exhibit ions, so signally exemplified in the Great Exhi-
bition which has just closed. As early as 1 Si:>, in consequence of tho
good success which bad attended the Paris Exhibition of the preceding
year, the Society of Arts made some efforts to move our Government to
promote or favour a somewhat similar exposition in this country, but
without success. Governments are always slow to " move on ;" and thcro
being no precedent for such a proceeding in the hooks of the Treasury,
how could they bo supposed capable of doing anything in the matter 1
Even so late as the year ISIS, a proposal to establish a self-supporting
Exhibition of British Industry, to bo controlled by a Royal Commission.
was submitted to Prince Albert (then President of the Society of Arts),
and by him laid before the Court; but again without leading to any result.
Meantime, however, tho Society of Arts had begun to substitute action
for theory, example for persuasion :—
" lu 184V {we quote from tho introduction to tho Official Catalogue) the
Council of the Society substituted action for theory, and, in the midst of
discouragement:, established a limited exhibition of manufactures, pro-
fessedly as tho beginning of o, series. Tho success of this exhibition
determined the Council to persevere, and to hold similar exhibitions
annually. Accordingly in the next year the experiment was repeated
with such greatly increased success, Unit the Council felt warranted in
announcing their intention of holding annual exhibitions, as it means of
establishing a quinquennial Exhibition of i-.riiish industry, to be held iii
1851. Having proceeded thus far, the Council sought to connect tho
Schools of Design, located in the e.entres of manufacturing industry, with
left exhibition, and obtained the promised co-operation "of the
[■,■ -e. through the President. .Mr. Lalionehoro ; moreover, with a
.-pare a suitable building, they secured the nromiso of asitc from
: < \e:i,le. then Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests, who
ier the central area of Somerset House, or some other Govern-
nd. In the year 1549, the exhibition, still more successful than
igriculturo i
admitted to this appro:telling e.tpositiou,"and asking the iipiidon'of the
manufacturers upon the subject. The answer lie received, however v-na
not favourable, and he abandoned the idea; and it was this very circum-
stance, probably, which forced upon the Society of Arts, with Prince Albert
at their head, tho conviction that this wider and more generous r'cid wi-
the one they must adopt, if they would enlist the sympathies of the world
in their project, and render it commercial;;,-sc:fv.ippc.;--.mg and independent
His Royal Highness the Prince Albert, as President of the Sociuiv, had
of course been fully informed, from time to time, of all these proceedings
which had received his Royal Highness's sanction and approval ; but
immediately after the termination of the session of 1849, the Prince took
the subject under his own personal superintendence. He proceeded to
settle the general principles on winch tho proposed exhibition for 1S51
should be conducted, and to consider the mode in which it should be
carried out.
On the 29th dune, 1S-1Q, the general outlines of the Exhibition were dis-
cussed by his Royal Highness; and from that day to the present time,
accurate accounts of all proceedings have been kept, and the greater part of
them printed ami published. Tho minutes of a meeting of several members
of the Society of Arts, held at Buckingham Palace on tho 30th June, set
forth ns follows:—
His Roval Highness communicated his views regarding the formation of
a Great Collection of Works of Industry and Art in London in 1S51, for the
purposes of exhibition, and of competition and encouragement.
His Royal Highness considered that such Collection and Exhibition
should consist of the following divisions :—
Raw Materials.
Machinery ami Mechanical Inventions.
Manufactures.
Sculpture and Plastic Art generally.
It was a matter of consideration whether such divisions should be mado
subjects of simultaneous exhibition, or be taken separately. It was ulti-
mately settled that, on the first occasion at least, they should be simultaneous.
Various sites were suggested as most suitable for the building ; which it
was settled must be, on the first occasion at least, a temporary one. Tho
Government bad oilercd the area of Somerset House; or if that were untie,
a more suitable site on the property of the Crown. His Royal Highness
pointed out the vacant ground in Hyde Park on the south side, parallel
with, and between, the Kensington drive and the ride commonly called
Rotton Bow. as affording advantages which few other places might be found
to possess. Application for this site could be made to the Crown. '
It was a question whether this Exhibition should be exclusively limited
to British industry. It was considered that, whilst it appears an error to fix
any limitation to" the productions of machinery, science, and taste, which
arc of no country, but belong, as a whole, to the civilised world, particular
advantage to British industry might be derived from placing it in fan'
competition with that of other nations.
It was further settled that, by offering very largo premiums in money,
sufficient inducement, would be held out to tho various manufacturers to pro-
duct) works which, although they might not form a manufacture profitable
in the general market, would, by the effort necessary for their accomplish-
tly raise the powers of production, and improve the character
laics to the proposal for forming a Royal Com-
:t into effect; and the organisation of a sub-
opri
itself
mte
a to eniTj
tho
\ft,
■ ,!:,«.
rannti
tin
vill Hi»ln
a
vcnimtihl
cs,,,,,,!™,
nddtf
O tllllt
i, dated 3
d Jau
'Ti
tlris stem
of Hi
",)
" it llCClllllC 11CL
t Osborne House, on tho Hill July, same year,
or to bring (lie subject olliciallv to the notice o
1 a letter to the Home Secretary, which ooem'd
mtuatcd in the appointment of a Royal CWfir
-., 1S50 :—
occcding," (wo quote again Mr. Cole's Introdue-
„„„..ry to place the accomplishment of the under-
taking, as far as possible, beyond a doubt. Having acquired experience, »>
1S45, of tho difficulties to be encountered, the Council of the Society °'
Arts- felt that the proposal must not be brought a second time before i *
public as an hypothesis, but that the only means of succeeding was to pro^
that they had "both the will and tho power to carry out the Exhibit""';
Tho Society had no funds of its own available for tho advances neccssu.
to bo made. The outlay for a building upon the scale then thought o-
and for preliminary expenses, was estimated at the least at, 70,000/.
"After much fruitless negotiation with several builders and contract^'
an agreement was made between the Society of Arts and tho M*83'
HISTORY OF THE GREAT EXHIBITION.
I, Pijkhmi-xary Movbwest.—ApForaiaiEST of the Royal Commission.
« THE Great. Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Jxations, 1S51," will
stand recorded in tho annals of future ages as tbo first event of the kind
which has occurred in tho history of man. We say the first event " of the
kind," for, although many expositions of industrial productions have been
hold from time to time in various other countries, and also recently in some
of our own cities, they liave always been restricted to tho works of tho par-
wdusion of the rest of the world. Fur-
isitions, regulated by these prim-inks,
e the immediate extension of
is tlio main object held in view,
rst not only to throw open her own shop
1, but to invite all the world to compete
y walk and department of business. It
ns step; and although in the working out
i accidental incidents inseparable from all
fancy herself adequately requited, upon
vill have reason to repent what she has
r localities, to tho
■ality little else than large fa
briefly trace tt
undertaking, i
attributable t<
56—7, tho Soc
.uufaetures, tat
were offered ii
istory of the events which led to tins
lonour of which, we must stiitc at the
e Society of Arts of London. As early
of Arts of Loudon offered prizes for
y, carpets, porcelain. &c., and exhibited
.n petit ion; and about the same period,
its exhibitions of paintings, sculptures,
■eld it
any preceding, consisted chiefly of works in tho ]
which were graciously contributed by her Majesty,
their intention of holding a National Exhibition
Council of the Society caused a report on the Fn
1849, to bo made for them and printed A petition was uiso pre;
the Council to the House of Commons, praying that they mivht I.-,' ,. ,'u
use of some public building for tho exhibition of lS.'il, which y,.,., ■ -,- bj
to tho Select Committee on tho School of Design."
It should bo stated that, in February, 1S-H1, M. buffet, the French
Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, addressed a circular to inn
Chambers of Commerce of France, proposing that specimens of sk i hi
— nations should bo
;iid manufactures from
i'-'Vl>:i;U-ui
Tho iirst exhibition of industrial productions in Franco, occurred in ITSD,
being confined to Gobelins tapestry and Sevres china, exposed for sale for
the benefit of the workmen who were in a distressed condition ; the next
in 179S, which included sumptuous furniture and other articles of luxe;
the next in 1801, a fourth in ISO'2, and a fifth in 1S06. But it was not till
the restoration in 1SJ9, that the expositions of French industry began to
take place systematically, and to include that larger and more varied class of
objects adapted to the requirements and means of the masses. The eleventh
and iast great exposition took place in trie Champs Elyso.es in IS-li), (the
previous one having taken place in 1844,) in a building erected for the pur-
pose, which covered mure than i'vo acres of ground, and in which the pro-
ductions of 4494 exhibitors were displayed. The Bavarians and tile Belgians
have of late years imitated the example set by France, and with good suc-
cess. Manchester. Leeds, Birmingham, Dublin, and other towns have also
held similar exhibitions, being more properlv stvled bazaars: and hi 1S45.
the great Free Trade Bazaar was held at Cerent Garden theatre, which was
open twelve days.
We now come to trace what led to the infusion of a more cosmopolitan
principle in these exhibit ions, so signally exemplified in the Great Exhi-
bition which has just closed. As early as 1 Si:>, in consequence of tho
good success which bad attended the Paris Exhibition of the preceding
year, the Society of Arts made some efforts to move our Government to
promote or favour a somewhat similar exposition in this country, but
without success. Governments are always slow to " move on ;" and thcro
being no precedent for such a proceeding in the hooks of the Treasury,
how could they bo supposed capable of doing anything in the matter 1
Even so late as the year ISIS, a proposal to establish a self-supporting
Exhibition of British Industry, to bo controlled by a Royal Commission.
was submitted to Prince Albert (then President of the Society of Arts),
and by him laid before the Court; but again without leading to any result.
Meantime, however, tho Society of Arts had begun to substitute action
for theory, example for persuasion :—
" lu 184V {we quote from tho introduction to tho Official Catalogue) the
Council of the Society substituted action for theory, and, in the midst of
discouragement:, established a limited exhibition of manufactures, pro-
fessedly as tho beginning of o, series. Tho success of this exhibition
determined the Council to persevere, and to hold similar exhibitions
annually. Accordingly in the next year the experiment was repeated
with such greatly increased success, Unit the Council felt warranted in
announcing their intention of holding annual exhibitions, as it means of
establishing a quinquennial Exhibition of i-.riiish industry, to be held iii
1851. Having proceeded thus far, the Council sought to connect tho
Schools of Design, located in the e.entres of manufacturing industry, with
left exhibition, and obtained the promised co-operation "of the
[■,■ -e. through the President. .Mr. Lalionehoro ; moreover, with a
.-pare a suitable building, they secured the nromiso of asitc from
: < \e:i,le. then Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests, who
ier the central area of Somerset House, or some other Govern-
nd. In the year 1549, the exhibition, still more successful than
igriculturo i
admitted to this appro:telling e.tpositiou,"and asking the iipiidon'of the
manufacturers upon the subject. The answer lie received, however v-na
not favourable, and he abandoned the idea; and it was this very circum-
stance, probably, which forced upon the Society of Arts, with Prince Albert
at their head, tho conviction that this wider and more generous r'cid wi-
the one they must adopt, if they would enlist the sympathies of the world
in their project, and render it commercial;;,-sc:fv.ippc.;--.mg and independent
His Royal Highness the Prince Albert, as President of the Sociuiv, had
of course been fully informed, from time to time, of all these proceedings
which had received his Royal Highness's sanction and approval ; but
immediately after the termination of the session of 1849, the Prince took
the subject under his own personal superintendence. He proceeded to
settle the general principles on winch tho proposed exhibition for 1S51
should be conducted, and to consider the mode in which it should be
carried out.
On the 29th dune, 1S-1Q, the general outlines of the Exhibition were dis-
cussed by his Royal Highness; and from that day to the present time,
accurate accounts of all proceedings have been kept, and the greater part of
them printed ami published. Tho minutes of a meeting of several members
of the Society of Arts, held at Buckingham Palace on tho 30th June, set
forth ns follows:—
His Roval Highness communicated his views regarding the formation of
a Great Collection of Works of Industry and Art in London in 1S51, for the
purposes of exhibition, and of competition and encouragement.
His Royal Highness considered that such Collection and Exhibition
should consist of the following divisions :—
Raw Materials.
Machinery ami Mechanical Inventions.
Manufactures.
Sculpture and Plastic Art generally.
It was a matter of consideration whether such divisions should be mado
subjects of simultaneous exhibition, or be taken separately. It was ulti-
mately settled that, on the first occasion at least, they should be simultaneous.
Various sites were suggested as most suitable for the building ; which it
was settled must be, on the first occasion at least, a temporary one. Tho
Government bad oilercd the area of Somerset House; or if that were untie,
a more suitable site on the property of the Crown. His Royal Highness
pointed out the vacant ground in Hyde Park on the south side, parallel
with, and between, the Kensington drive and the ride commonly called
Rotton Bow. as affording advantages which few other places might be found
to possess. Application for this site could be made to the Crown. '
It was a question whether this Exhibition should be exclusively limited
to British industry. It was considered that, whilst it appears an error to fix
any limitation to" the productions of machinery, science, and taste, which
arc of no country, but belong, as a whole, to the civilised world, particular
advantage to British industry might be derived from placing it in fan'
competition with that of other nations.
It was further settled that, by offering very largo premiums in money,
sufficient inducement, would be held out to tho various manufacturers to pro-
duct) works which, although they might not form a manufacture profitable
in the general market, would, by the effort necessary for their accomplish-
tly raise the powers of production, and improve the character
laics to the proposal for forming a Royal Com-
:t into effect; and the organisation of a sub-
opri
itself
mte
a to eniTj
tho
\ft,
■ ,!:,«.
rannti
tin
vill Hi»ln
a
vcnimtihl
cs,,,,,,!™,
nddtf
O tllllt
i, dated 3
d Jau
'Ti
tlris stem
of Hi
",)
" it llCClllllC 11CL
t Osborne House, on tho Hill July, same year,
or to bring (lie subject olliciallv to the notice o
1 a letter to the Home Secretary, which ooem'd
mtuatcd in the appointment of a Royal CWfir
-., 1S50 :—
occcding," (wo quote again Mr. Cole's Introdue-
„„„..ry to place the accomplishment of the under-
taking, as far as possible, beyond a doubt. Having acquired experience, »>
1S45, of tho difficulties to be encountered, the Council of the Society °'
Arts- felt that the proposal must not be brought a second time before i *
public as an hypothesis, but that the only means of succeeding was to pro^
that they had "both the will and tho power to carry out the Exhibit""';
Tho Society had no funds of its own available for tho advances neccssu.
to bo made. The outlay for a building upon the scale then thought o-
and for preliminary expenses, was estimated at the least at, 70,000/.
"After much fruitless negotiation with several builders and contract^'
an agreement was made between the Society of Arts and tho M*83'