L 200 ]
[The figures after the Names (between parentheses) refer to the Exhibitors’ Numbers ami to the Pages in theOfficial Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue.]
Jury.
I. K. Brunel, F.R.S., Chairman andRejwrter, Duke Street, "Westminster ; Civil Engineer.Charles Comres, Deputy Chairman, France ; Member of Institute and of Central Jury.Dr. Neil Arnott , F.R.S., Bedford Square ; Doctor of Medicine.
F. W. Conrad, Holland ; Engineer, Chairman of Koyal Institute of Engineers at Delft .
J. M. Hen del, F.R.S., 8 Great George Street, Westminster ; Civil Engineer.
Count A. E. de Rosen, Sweden and Norway; Swedish Koyal Navy.
Dr. J. V. C. Smith, United States ; Doctor of Medicine.
"William Tite , F.K.S., 17 St. Helen’s Place, Bishopsgate ; Architect.
*
The works of the civil engineer and architect embrace,generally, combinations of many branches of the scienceof mechanics, as well as the proper application of rawmaterials to the various purposes of construction; andarchitecture, especially, includes, besides these, design insculpture, modelling, and colour. When each of thesedifferent branches of science and of art is classed undera separate head, and the objects which illustrate any ofthem are removed to their separate classes, there canremain but little belonging exclusively to architecture orcivil engineering. As might have been anticipated,therefore, the objects comprised in the Official Catalogueunder Class VII. are not numerous, and generally speak-ing, are not important, although the classification of“ Building Contrivances,” under this head, has admitteda very great variety, including many details of construc-tion, of every degree of importance, from the bolt of agarden-gate, and the apparatus for sweeping of chimneys,to the construction of lighthouses and the means ofmoving large ships.
Another circumstance has tended, also, very much tolimit the extent and the importance of the contributionsto this class. The works of the architect and engineercan, generally speaking, be exhibited only by drawingsor models, and consequently, with few exceptions, it isthe model, and not the work it represents, which hasbeen brought before us; and the modeller, more fre-quently than the architect or engineer, is the exhibitor.From these causes the labours of the Jury have beencomparatively light, and might have been somewhat de-void of interest but for the circumstance of two remark-able objects, one of them not included in the Catalogue,having been brought under their consideration subse-quent to the commencement of their proceedings, viz.,the great building in which the Exhibition is placed, andthe model dwelling-houses (pp. Ill, 112) which areerected near it. With respect to the first, it has been sopre-eminently successful in every respect, and by uni-versal consent reflects such credit upon all concerned inits design and in its execution, that it is left to this Juryonly to he the formal agents of recommending to theCouncil the awarding of the highest prize, the CouncilMedal, to Mr. Joseph Paxton , who originated thedesign, and to Messrs. Fox, Henderson, and Co., whomost ably carried it into execution.
As regards Mr. Paxton ’s claim, amidst the competitionof the whole of Europe , he proposed that mode and formof construction of building which appeared on first sight,and which has since proved to be, the best adapted inevery respect for the purpose for which it was intended.The design possessed this peculiar merit of fitness for itsobject in a singular degree—there was no startling no-velty in any one point which could lead astray the judg-ment of those who had to determine upon the choice ofplan, or which could in the first instance obtain, still lesspermanently secure, the good opinion of the public. As
regards the form of outline, which is most simple, severaldesigns nearly resembling it had been submitted in thegeneral competition. As to the materials, several pro-posals had been previously made to cover the whole areato be inclosed with glass, and iron would, of necessity, beemployed for the framing. But in the combination ofform and materials, in the particular mode of applyingthose materials, and in the adaptation of the forms to beselected to their convenient use, as well as in thevarious details by which the whole was rendered perfect,the design was entirely distinct in character from all thathad been proposed, and appeared at once to have the onesingle merit of being exactly that which was required forthe purposes in view. The design, as realized, lias com-pletely fulfilled every condition of utility. It has equallyproved to be capable, by simple but judicious decoration,for which we are indebted to Mr. Owen Jones, of beingrendered most elegant and brilliant in effect; andalthough very novel in its construction, it has beenfound, from the ingenuity and mechanical fitness withwhich all the details have been carried into execution,to be susceptible of rapid and moderately economicalconstruction.
To Mr. Joseph Paxton , to whom the merit of this de-sign is due, the Jury have recommended, and the Councilhave adopted the recommendation, the award of theCouncil Medal.
By a fortunate coincidence the execution of the designthus ably conceived was undertaken by parties peculiarlywell fitted to do it justice. Considerable experienceand skill were required in every detail of mechanicalconstruction, great method in carrying out to the fullestextent a system of repetition of similar parts, and stricthabits of business and of order, for organizing a systemby which vast quantities of materials or of manufacturedparts could be obtained with certainty from several quar-ters, and large bodies of workmen kept regularly em-ployed in the rapid application of these materials andthe putting together of the parts. There was also re-quired a command of an extensive establishment, and ofa staff’ of able assistants and superintendents. All theserequisites and conditions were necessary, and in a highdegree, for the purposes of rapidly determining upon allthe details of construction, preparing all the workingdrawings, insuring the construction of the numerousparts in large quantities, and ready to be fixed with per-fect accuracy in their several places; and lastly, in exe-cuting without any delay or accident, resulting frommiscalculation or error of construction, or defectivearrangements, a work of unusual magnitude in an un-usually short space of time. All these conditions andqualifications for success, and in the requisite degree,werefound combined in the persons and in the establishmentof the contractors, Messrs. Fox, Henderson, and Co. Tothem accordingly the Jury also recommended a CouncilMedal.