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INTRODUCTION.

Treasurers for all Receipts arising from donations, subscriptions, or any other source onbehalf of or towards the said Exhibition; Our trusty and well-beloved Peter le NeveFoster, Joseph Payne, and Thomas Winkworth, Esquires, to be the Treasurers forpayment of all Executive Expenses; and Our trusty and well-beloved Henry Cole,Charles Wentworth Dilke the younger, George Drew, Francis Fuller, and RobertStephenson, Esquires, with our trusty and well-beloved Matthew Dig by Wyatt,Esquire, as their Secretary, to be an Executive Committee for carrying the said Exhibitioninto effect, under the directions of Our most dearly beloved Consort:

And whereas the said Society for the Promotion of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce,have represented unto Us, that in carrying out the objects proposed by the said Exhibition,many questions may arise regarding the introduction of productions into Our kingdom fromOur Colonies, and from Foreign Countries; also regarding the site for the said Exhibition;and the best mode of conducting the said Exhibition; likewise regarding the determinationof the nature of the Prizes, and the means of securing the most impartial distribution ofthem; and have also besought Us that We would be graciously pleased to give Our sanctionto this undertaking, in order that it may have the confidence, not only of all classes of Oursubjects, but of the subjects of Foreign Countries.

Now know you that We, considering the premises, and earnestly desiring to promotethe proposed Exhibition, which is calculated to be of great benefit to Arts, Agriculture,Manufactures, and Commerce, and reposing great trust and confidence in your fidelity, dis-cretion, and integrity, have authorized and appointed, and by these presents do authorizeand appoint you, Our most dearly-beloved Consort Francis Albert Emanuel Duke ofSaxony, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha ; you Walter Francis Duke of Buccleuchand Queensberry; William Earl of Rosse; Granville George Earl Granville;Francis Earl of Ellesmere; Edward Geoffrey Lord Stanley; John Russell (commonly called Lord John Russell), Sir Robert Peel , Henry Labouciiere,William Ewart Gladstone , Sir Archibald Galloway, or the Chairman of the Courtof Directors of the East India Company for the time being, Sir Richard Westmacott ,Sir Charles Lyell, or the President of the Geological Society for the time being,Thomas Baring, Charles Barry, Thomas Bazley, Richard Cobden, William Cubitt ,or the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers for the time being, Charles LockEastlake, Thomas Field Gibson, John Gott, Samuel Jones Loyd, Philip Pusey ,and William Thompson, to make full and diligent inquiry,—into the best mode by whichthe productions of Our Colonies and of Foreign Countries maybe introduced into Ourkingdom;—as respects the most suitable site for the said Exhibition,—the general conductof the said Exhibition; and also into the best mode of determining the nature of thePrizes, and of securing the most impartial distribution of them ;

And to the end that Our Royal Will and Pleasure in the said inquiry may be dulyprosecuted, and with expedition, We further, by these Presents, will and command,and do hereby give full power and authority to you, or any three or more of you tonominate and appoint such several persons of ability as you may think fit to be Local Com-missioners, in such parts of Our kingdom and in Foreign parts as you may think fit to aidyou in the premises; which said Local Commissioners, or any of them, shall and may beremoved by you, or any three or more of you, from time to time, at your’will and pleasure,full power and authority being hereby given to you, or any three or more of you, toappoint others in their places respectively.

And furthermore, We do, by these Presents, give and grant to you, or any three ormore of you, full power and authority to call before you, or any three or more of you, allsuch persons as you shall judge necessary, by whom you may be the better informed of thetruth of the premises, and to inquire of the premises, and every part thereof, by all otherlawful ways and means whatsoever.

And Our further Will and Pleasure is, That for the purpose of aiding you in theexecution of these premises, We hereby appoint Our trusty and well-beloved John Scott