DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1327#0032
TUB CRYSTAL PALACE AND ITS CONTENTS.;
LITERATURE OF THE EXHIBITION.
ass BaBbagjb, Esq.} S
Pp. 231.
of (ho US1
tho Govo]
The Eximsmox of 1861, &c. Bv Cir.
Murray.
'PHIS work is illustrative of the unparalleled Exhibition, and its unpa-
ralleled Crystal Palace repository, and treats not only the immediate sub-
ject comprehensively and scientifically, but also discusses, in no l\nl>c-arin:;
temper, the conduct of Govormncnt and the evils of party in other respects.
The fame of Mr. Babbage, as a mathematician, is too well known to need
" exposition" (as he prefers to r
English "Exhibition"); and his
ment concerning bis calculating machines, and disputes with several of his
contemporaries iu the pursuit of science, are also familiar to the «ch n;::ie
public, and wo shall; therefore, in reviewing bis boot;, not follow hiiu'iu
any references to those subjects, which though mostly rapics of mvJoh public
interest, may be dismissed with bare enumeration in a notice which wo
would rather confine to the direct illustration of the actual Exhibition and
The philosophical mind and great intelligence of the writer are disj ■];,} ,,i,
for our purpose, much more satisfactorily in bis views of the principles of
interchange, and of the rules by which judges and jurors ought to be
guided; and ids statistical facte and reasoning upon them, and their
presence or absence iu as far as the conduct of the Exhibition h;is 1 ■■;
carried, and its future management and effects, are implicated. The grand
principle enunciated upon (lie imiuiry into the interchange of commodities,
that the errors which have heretofore beset, that difficult question, is. that
the free ">:d imliniik'd ceelmnwc >'>f ivminmliti:^ In'lioxn ■itdionx rvidriljttt-:.! !<,
the advantitf/c and the wealth uf all: that this benefit arises from no sacrifice
of one nation for the profit of another ; and that the germ of the productive
powers of man is by these means, without any increased labour, largeiy
augmented throughout the world ; that, this increment is won partly by the
suppression of ignorance and fraud, and partly by the united effects of
industry, of skill, and of science, in compelling Xaturo to administer to the
id cultivate these principles
:1 by Mr. Babbage ; but be
The tendency of the World's Fair to'cxtend ;
and relations is. consequently, highly applaud
disapproves of .some of the measures adopted
especially the rejection bv the Commissioners of ihe jJ!V[,,..-;■! ■ ■> mark the
prices of the articles exhibited, which he considers to be the leading fault in
the whole seheme. Upon this most practical point (feooscrves —
"This consequence of the absence of price ij injurious both to a.l and to
artists: it occasionally removes from the field of competition the best
judges of real merit. It is true that in several professions a certain
delicacy respecting money matters exists which i> wanting in others.
Medical men and artists arc peculiarly subject to its influence ; but it is
not reported of any lawyer that he ever refused a fee; and it is recorded
of some Secretary of the Admiralty, that ho claimed a.qwrhr <f a ;/.wV
■lew- ,.-■(/.(, :/. on account of two davs interruption of uoace bv tho com: ,.; .u'
Algiers.
" 5 Another result of prices not being marked upon objects is, that the
public are unable to form any just estimate of their commercial value;
consequently, no proper public opinion arises to assist the juries in their
decisions. This is" a matter of considerable importance; the duty of a
juror at an exposition is unite dliferent from that of a juror in a legal
question. It istho business of the industrial juror to avail himself of the
knowledge and the observations of all around him. Much of what he thus
hears he may be able himself to verify by examination or experiment, and
thus public opinion will be more matured; and the decisions of the juries
have greater weight.
"§ Many of the qualities of the articles exhibited can onlv bo ascertained
by use, or even bv their destruction. In such eases a single sample would
often be purchased if it bad its price affixed to it.
■■ Another class, small indeed hi number, but important from' its func-
tions, still'
:cd in studying the con
in ami fact arcs, either for th
entire i
;l economical relation;
m of their own tastes
deprived of tho rnos'
■ the
hi)
:■ ^'ve affixed, many relations would strike til
v.'- which might lead him to further inquiries
interesting results. But it is' quite impossib'
isidorablo portion of 15,000 expositors for the
round and ask for it in the building itself.
"ficatiori of the truth of
f prices, or oven to
ii many cases oilers
Thus, to a person conversant with the subjects, tho loi
might prove that it had been manufactured in sonic mode
from that, usually practised. This would lead to an exam
order to discover the improved process. Tho jtriec of an ;
with its weight might prove that the metal of which it is n
genuine. The price of a woven fabric, added to a kiiowled
and substance, even without its weight, might in many
disprove the statement of its being entirely made of wool,
or yilk, as the case might bo.
of a
'The exchange of commodities between those to whom such exchan^-
.y bo desirable, being the great and ultimate object of the Exposition
- give publicity to the things exhibited should
bo most ca
portant elai
represent a
" It comi
dl":";. '■'.'■■■';,
■efnlly a
Uendod t
he consui
of being cxpre
merely bv way
'■' One o> the i
can ascertain th
tion is truly tl
•, iu order i
position of that commission must be most extraordinary, where
contrary to the principles and so fatal to the objects of tho
nould have been committed. It is not too late to apply at
ial remedy to tho evil, and it is scarcely credible that those
it rests can remain unconscious of the mistake into which1 they
and feelings of the author may be gathered from this extract,
s cosmopolitan manner of looking round upon the collaterals
inked, however slightly, with his main argument, which, in
to show, that, by their rules iu this matter, the Commissioners
• very foundations of those principles on which the whole ad-
the Exposition rests."
(on of prizes — Leaving the topic, i.e. of tho utility, yet largely
of aliixing prices and even of facilitating sales, which is also
■J. we ijuote s'me observations on the adjudication of the
i arc full of sound sense and instruction, and which, at the
teut, will be read with great interest-
statement of the principles on which each jury is to award
1 be placed before them. These principles ought to be well
id id that discussion manufacturers should bo invited to take
object of the jury should be to lay down rules by which these
e to be carried out. Eacli class of the subjects to be rewarded
own rules. They will generally be few in number, and capable
pressed in few words ; some of these are suggested below, but
general rules will indicate the means by which the jury
t. that the material of the manufacture under considera-
bstanee it- is represented to be. For instance, some
lined, professing to be made entirely of wool or wholly
of flax. It may be quite true that experienced manufacturers and dealers
arc able to detect any adulteration of cither material bv admixture with tho
other. But statements of facts made on authority, never possess the same
weight with the public as those which arc accompanied by information1
enabling any individual among the public to verify the fact for himself.
The form of the fibre as shown by the microscope is one test. A more
simple one is to burn some fibres in the flame of a candle. Every fibre
which, when thus treated, produces the smell of burnt feathers, is animal
matter of some kind, a; wool, nil:, horse hair, &e. The burnt fibres of
hemp, flax, cotton, and other vegetable matters, have a totally different
scent; a fact of which any one may readily assure himself by making the
experiment. It may, perhaps, be necessary in some cases to wash tho
fabric under examination, lest, in what is termed the 'getting up for the
market,' some animal matter or size might mislead. But the jury ought
to be acquainted with all such difficulties, and ibev should state the method
; use
. detection of adulterations i;
03t
"Every object produced is subject to certain defect*, and possessed of
certain excel.cneie- : these should be clearly enumerated. "Whenever such
statements are expressed bv numbers, the'informatiou will be more satis-
factory. Thus, iu cutting tools, as applied to various metals, it is very
important that the angle at which the tool is applied should be stated: it
is also necessary to state the angle which the edge of the tool receiving the
shaving cut oft" makes with the surface cut. Tho velocity of the tool
in cutting should be stated, also the names of the fluids, if any, used hi
juitit:
rics, as well as of a great variety of other
essential qualitv, on which, combined with
, their chief value to the customer depends. It is very desirable
jury should find satisfactory means of testing this most important
■, which is not discernible oven bv the most curious and instructed
wlcdgo of f
;■<;,;. r
qXui
sd for tearing asunder anv
ogetber with the breaking
nber of those threads in a
yvoii
ses. the articles may be submitted to
ts, during which time it may repeatedly
will most frequently occur" on the first
'' dii!'erenf parts varies considerably. I11
■-, if replaced, many times before tho
red by use. In all such cases, tho jury
ving:—Examine the .lurability of each
; expense of replacing it when injured,
what parts arc most exposed to injury
LITERATURE OF THE EXHIBITION.
ass BaBbagjb, Esq.} S
Pp. 231.
of (ho US1
tho Govo]
The Eximsmox of 1861, &c. Bv Cir.
Murray.
'PHIS work is illustrative of the unparalleled Exhibition, and its unpa-
ralleled Crystal Palace repository, and treats not only the immediate sub-
ject comprehensively and scientifically, but also discusses, in no l\nl>c-arin:;
temper, the conduct of Govormncnt and the evils of party in other respects.
The fame of Mr. Babbage, as a mathematician, is too well known to need
" exposition" (as he prefers to r
English "Exhibition"); and his
ment concerning bis calculating machines, and disputes with several of his
contemporaries iu the pursuit of science, are also familiar to the «ch n;::ie
public, and wo shall; therefore, in reviewing bis boot;, not follow hiiu'iu
any references to those subjects, which though mostly rapics of mvJoh public
interest, may be dismissed with bare enumeration in a notice which wo
would rather confine to the direct illustration of the actual Exhibition and
The philosophical mind and great intelligence of the writer are disj ■];,} ,,i,
for our purpose, much more satisfactorily in bis views of the principles of
interchange, and of the rules by which judges and jurors ought to be
guided; and ids statistical facte and reasoning upon them, and their
presence or absence iu as far as the conduct of the Exhibition h;is 1 ■■;
carried, and its future management and effects, are implicated. The grand
principle enunciated upon (lie imiuiry into the interchange of commodities,
that the errors which have heretofore beset, that difficult question, is. that
the free ">:d imliniik'd ceelmnwc >'>f ivminmliti:^ In'lioxn ■itdionx rvidriljttt-:.! !<,
the advantitf/c and the wealth uf all: that this benefit arises from no sacrifice
of one nation for the profit of another ; and that the germ of the productive
powers of man is by these means, without any increased labour, largeiy
augmented throughout the world ; that, this increment is won partly by the
suppression of ignorance and fraud, and partly by the united effects of
industry, of skill, and of science, in compelling Xaturo to administer to the
id cultivate these principles
:1 by Mr. Babbage ; but be
The tendency of the World's Fair to'cxtend ;
and relations is. consequently, highly applaud
disapproves of .some of the measures adopted
especially the rejection bv the Commissioners of ihe jJ!V[,,..-;■! ■ ■> mark the
prices of the articles exhibited, which he considers to be the leading fault in
the whole seheme. Upon this most practical point (feooscrves —
"This consequence of the absence of price ij injurious both to a.l and to
artists: it occasionally removes from the field of competition the best
judges of real merit. It is true that in several professions a certain
delicacy respecting money matters exists which i> wanting in others.
Medical men and artists arc peculiarly subject to its influence ; but it is
not reported of any lawyer that he ever refused a fee; and it is recorded
of some Secretary of the Admiralty, that ho claimed a.qwrhr <f a ;/.wV
■lew- ,.-■(/.(, :/. on account of two davs interruption of uoace bv tho com: ,.; .u'
Algiers.
" 5 Another result of prices not being marked upon objects is, that the
public are unable to form any just estimate of their commercial value;
consequently, no proper public opinion arises to assist the juries in their
decisions. This is" a matter of considerable importance; the duty of a
juror at an exposition is unite dliferent from that of a juror in a legal
question. It istho business of the industrial juror to avail himself of the
knowledge and the observations of all around him. Much of what he thus
hears he may be able himself to verify by examination or experiment, and
thus public opinion will be more matured; and the decisions of the juries
have greater weight.
"§ Many of the qualities of the articles exhibited can onlv bo ascertained
by use, or even bv their destruction. In such eases a single sample would
often be purchased if it bad its price affixed to it.
■■ Another class, small indeed hi number, but important from' its func-
tions, still'
:cd in studying the con
in ami fact arcs, either for th
entire i
;l economical relation;
m of their own tastes
deprived of tho rnos'
■ the
hi)
:■ ^'ve affixed, many relations would strike til
v.'- which might lead him to further inquiries
interesting results. But it is' quite impossib'
isidorablo portion of 15,000 expositors for the
round and ask for it in the building itself.
"ficatiori of the truth of
f prices, or oven to
ii many cases oilers
Thus, to a person conversant with the subjects, tho loi
might prove that it had been manufactured in sonic mode
from that, usually practised. This would lead to an exam
order to discover the improved process. Tho jtriec of an ;
with its weight might prove that the metal of which it is n
genuine. The price of a woven fabric, added to a kiiowled
and substance, even without its weight, might in many
disprove the statement of its being entirely made of wool,
or yilk, as the case might bo.
of a
'The exchange of commodities between those to whom such exchan^-
.y bo desirable, being the great and ultimate object of the Exposition
- give publicity to the things exhibited should
bo most ca
portant elai
represent a
" It comi
dl":";. '■'.'■■■';,
■efnlly a
Uendod t
he consui
of being cxpre
merely bv way
'■' One o> the i
can ascertain th
tion is truly tl
•, iu order i
position of that commission must be most extraordinary, where
contrary to the principles and so fatal to the objects of tho
nould have been committed. It is not too late to apply at
ial remedy to tho evil, and it is scarcely credible that those
it rests can remain unconscious of the mistake into which1 they
and feelings of the author may be gathered from this extract,
s cosmopolitan manner of looking round upon the collaterals
inked, however slightly, with his main argument, which, in
to show, that, by their rules iu this matter, the Commissioners
• very foundations of those principles on which the whole ad-
the Exposition rests."
(on of prizes — Leaving the topic, i.e. of tho utility, yet largely
of aliixing prices and even of facilitating sales, which is also
■J. we ijuote s'me observations on the adjudication of the
i arc full of sound sense and instruction, and which, at the
teut, will be read with great interest-
statement of the principles on which each jury is to award
1 be placed before them. These principles ought to be well
id id that discussion manufacturers should bo invited to take
object of the jury should be to lay down rules by which these
e to be carried out. Eacli class of the subjects to be rewarded
own rules. They will generally be few in number, and capable
pressed in few words ; some of these are suggested below, but
general rules will indicate the means by which the jury
t. that the material of the manufacture under considera-
bstanee it- is represented to be. For instance, some
lined, professing to be made entirely of wool or wholly
of flax. It may be quite true that experienced manufacturers and dealers
arc able to detect any adulteration of cither material bv admixture with tho
other. But statements of facts made on authority, never possess the same
weight with the public as those which arc accompanied by information1
enabling any individual among the public to verify the fact for himself.
The form of the fibre as shown by the microscope is one test. A more
simple one is to burn some fibres in the flame of a candle. Every fibre
which, when thus treated, produces the smell of burnt feathers, is animal
matter of some kind, a; wool, nil:, horse hair, &e. The burnt fibres of
hemp, flax, cotton, and other vegetable matters, have a totally different
scent; a fact of which any one may readily assure himself by making the
experiment. It may, perhaps, be necessary in some cases to wash tho
fabric under examination, lest, in what is termed the 'getting up for the
market,' some animal matter or size might mislead. But the jury ought
to be acquainted with all such difficulties, and ibev should state the method
; use
. detection of adulterations i;
03t
"Every object produced is subject to certain defect*, and possessed of
certain excel.cneie- : these should be clearly enumerated. "Whenever such
statements are expressed bv numbers, the'informatiou will be more satis-
factory. Thus, iu cutting tools, as applied to various metals, it is very
important that the angle at which the tool is applied should be stated: it
is also necessary to state the angle which the edge of the tool receiving the
shaving cut oft" makes with the surface cut. Tho velocity of the tool
in cutting should be stated, also the names of the fluids, if any, used hi
juitit:
rics, as well as of a great variety of other
essential qualitv, on which, combined with
, their chief value to the customer depends. It is very desirable
jury should find satisfactory means of testing this most important
■, which is not discernible oven bv the most curious and instructed
wlcdgo of f
;■<;,;. r
qXui
sd for tearing asunder anv
ogetber with the breaking
nber of those threads in a
yvoii
ses. the articles may be submitted to
ts, during which time it may repeatedly
will most frequently occur" on the first
'' dii!'erenf parts varies considerably. I11
■-, if replaced, many times before tho
red by use. In all such cases, tho jury
ving:—Examine the .lurability of each
; expense of replacing it when injured,
what parts arc most exposed to injury