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INTRODUCTION.

degree the tangibilities of history, of which, unfortunately, too few indications havesurvived to our day. That it is incumbent on every age to leave to its successor thebest possible data as to the fruits of its labours and experiences, few will feeldisposed to deny; nor will they, probably, be less likely to admit, that if ever anoccasion existed, worthy of the best record the art of the nineteenth century couldcreate, that occasion most assuredly is to be met with in the Great Exhibition ofWorks of Industry of 1851.

In the choice of the subjects for illustration the Author will not, it is hoped, exposehimself to the charge of having made in any way an invidious selection, or be supposedto pledge himself to an expression of opinion on relative merits. His aim has beento engrave such specimens as he believed would be likely to be practically useful innaturalising among us improvements in purity of form or colour; in placing in juxta-position the excellencies of various nations; in furnishing models for manufacturers tostudy and surpass; and by means of which the Public may be enabled hereafter to testthe future progress of Industrial Art in this and other countries.