ΤΟ HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERI. UNDER WHOSE AUSPICES ORIGINATED THAT VAST AND GLORIOUS UNDERTAKING, THE GREAT INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION OF 1851, DESTINED TO UNITE ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH IN BONDS OF FRATERNAL HARMONY, This Narrative OF ITS ORIGIN, HISTORY, PROGRESS, AND PROSPECTS, IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS'S MOST FAITHFUL AND DEVOTED SERVANT, THE PUBLISHER. POPULAR NARRATIVE OF THE ORIGIN, HISTORY, PROGRESS, AND PROSPECTS OF THE GREAT EXHIBITION. "These honours peace to happy Britain brings, IN seeking to give a plain and intelligible account of the past progress and present position of the great and noble scheme about to be realised in the year 1851 -a scheme worthy of the age in which we live, worthy of the people through whose liberality and patriotism it is to be accomplished, and worthy of the Prince under whose skilful and earnest suggestiveness and guidance it has attained to its present position, it is not intended to aim at more than can fairly be accomplished from records of an unimpeachable character, and by testimony of the most unexceptionable nature. All speculation or mere hearsay gossip will be carefully eschewed, and the "round unvarnished" facts of history dealt with from authentic records, in such a manner as to fairly trace out the progress of this most important movement, big with the most momentous consequences to the future industry and arts of this country, and even of the world at large, which the history of any period has recorded. Previous to entering upon this task, it is desirable to repudiate all bias in favour of any person, class, or partý, and to announce a zealous wish to do justice to all who have assisted, either indirectly in preparing the public mind for the reception of this stupendous scheme, or directly in working out the details of the earlier kindred attempts the acorn from whence has sprung this majestic oak,- —or more directly still, endeavouring in the full and complete sense to mature the details of this gigantic undertaking which is about to astonish and enlighten the world by its results. Great and noble things are always of slow growth, and the result of a gradual progressiveness. Systems of any value are the result of a series of mental operations, and these too in many individual minds, rather than the spontaneous production of one mind, however capacious. Yet the history of every great movement proves that some finely-toned and well-adjusted capacity is invariably required as the medium by and through which the miscellaneous suggestions, and even distant achievements of others shall find their true and complete development, and the grand total become a "great fact" for the age in which it is realised, and a memento of the progress of humanity to all future time. To say that the proposition to hold a Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations has not arisen out of the wants, necessities, and aspirations of this present age, is to say that it is before its time, and that its foundations had not been thoroughly and well laid prior to the present superstructure being devised;-it would be to say that it was an exception to all earthly things, and that it had sprung into being, like the fabled Minerva, fully grown, armed and accoutred from the head of Jupiter; but it would be equally unjust and unwise to say that its full and complete development was not the result of a full and complete perception of the innumerable advantages to be derived therefrom; and that such a perception existed in the mind of His Royal Highness Prince Albert, his zeal and talent in superintending and working out its details, and his thorough earnestness in its promotion under many serious dis couragements, proves beyond all shadow of a doubt. That kindred minds and capacities assisted in all this must be equally evident, and that even the dead weight of occasional obstruction, in the shape of ill-judging and misdirected zeal, had its uses, whether it came from those who approved or disapproved of the proposition without knowing exactly why. Active, serious, and well-considered opposition was an ordeal which its universality secured it against. It only required to be explained and understood to find a ready acceptance, and when once made clear to the popular understanding the wonder appeared to be that it had not been done before. This, however, is easily answered upon the principle already enunciated:-it had to grow, and the time had not yet arrived. Let any one cast a retrospective glance at the state of public feeling as regards the arts twenty years ago. What symptom was there of their attaining the present position they hold in the estimation of the people of this country? Is it imagined then that this change has come upon us at once? Assuredly not! He who thought so would be a very superficial observer. In a critique* upon the Exposition of Manufactures, held at Birmingham in 1849, the results of which will be noticed in their proper place, it was well said, that "the mist which has hitherto veiled the essentials of beauty from our manufacturers and artizans seems rapidly clearing away, and though we must wait longer and work harder in order to the complete result, yet it is not upon a mere modicum of success we have now to congratulate ourselves," (alluding, of course, to the Exhibition then open). "Some persons may enquire whence all this progress? The progress arises in common with every other manifestation of those refining influences on which the present age has to congratulate itself. It has not been the work of one day or one year, nor the result of one effort, but has arisen, slowly but surely, out of "Midland Counties Herald." |