INTRODUCTION.

15

admitted, and classified lists of objects were prepared by Committees of eminentpersons in each department (whose names are given in an Appendix ), and publishedto show the nature of the contributions which exhibitors were invited to sendin the four departments of Raw Materials and Produce, Machinery, Manu-factures, and Fine Arts. The regulations by which certain articles wereexcluded were as follows :—

Nothing is suitable for the Exhibition, except such results of human industry as arecapable of being preserved without injury during many months.

All spirits, wines, and fermented liquors, unless derived from unusual sources, areinadmissible, except in special cases, and under special restrictions; and when oils, spirits,&c., are exhibited, to prevent accidents, they must be shown in well-secured glass vessels.

All highly inflammable articles, such as gunpowder, detonating powder, lucifer matches,&c., and all live stock, and articles perishable within the duration of the Exhibition, areinadmissible, unless specially excepted.

In respect of the fourth section of the Exhibition, SCULPTURE , Models, andthe Plastic Art , the following were the limitations:—

Objects formed in any kind of material, if they exhibit such a degree of taste and skill asto come under the denomination of Fine Art, may be admitted into this section.

The specimens exhibited shall be works of living artists, or works of artists deceasedwithin three years before the 1st of January, 1850.

Oil paintings and water-colour paintings, frescoes, drawings, and engravings, are not tobe admitted, except as illustrations or examples of materials and processes; and portraitbusts are not to be admitted.

No single artist will be allowed to exhibit more than three works.

It was also announced that the 1st day of May, 1851, was fixed for openingthe Exhibition, and the engagement has been kept : that Her Majesty had beengraciously pleased to grant a site for the Exhibition on the south side of HydePark, lying between the Kensington Drive and the Ride commonly called RottenRow, and that exhibitors would be required to deliver their objects, at their owncharge and risk, at the building, which would be provided to them free fromrent.

After much examination and inquiry, the Commissioners resolved that prizeswere not to be affixed to the articles exhibited, although the articles might bemarked as shown for economy of production, and the price stated in an invoice tobe sent to the Commissioners for the information of the Juries.

It was clear that two very different systems of management would necessarilyhave to be adopted towards Foreign countries and the United Kingdom , arisingout of the different relations of guest and host. Although it was proposed thatthe expenses of the building and management should be defrayed by voluntarysubscriptions, scrupulous care was taken on every occasion to discourage thereceipt of any subscription from any foreigner, resident at home or abroad. Overthe admission of British articles, the Commissioners reserved to themselves fullpowers of control; but as respects Foreign articles, the power of admitting themwas confided absolutely to an authority of the country which sent them.

In order to give Foreign countries the utmost time for their preparations,and long before the size or character of the building had been determined, theCommissioners resolved to divide a certain large amount of exhibiting spaceamong all Foreign countries, amounting in the whole to above 210,000 superficial

Opening fixed forMay 1, 1851.

Admission ofForeign articles.