XXIV
EXHIBITION OF 1851.
The Building.
At tlieir third Meeting, held on January 24th, 1850, the Commissioners appointeda Building Committee, consisting of the following noblemen and gentlemen :—
*The Duke of Buccleuch.
*The Earl of Ellesmere.
*Mr. (now Sir C.) Barry, R.A.*Mr. (now Sir W.) Cubitt, Pres.Inst. C.E.
This Committee held its first meeting on February 5th, and its 38th onJuly 23rd, 1850.
The first subject which engaged its attention was the question of a proper sitefor the Building. Many were proposed, examined, and discussed, and finally, onthe 21st of February, a Report was handed to the Commissioners recommendingthe present site in Hyde Park,—one which had been suggested at an early stage olthe proceedings, and for the use of which it has been already announced that thepermission of the Crown had been obtained. The site thus recommended con-tained about 20 acres; and the Report of the Building Committee advised that, olthe entire area, about 1G acres should be covered with Building. The Reportfurther urged, “ that it was desirable to obtain suggestions by public competition as“ to the general arrangements ol' the ground plan of the Building.” The Commis-sioners having adopted this Report, an invitation (dated March 13th, 1850) waspublished, calling on architects and others to offer their “ suggestions for the“ general arrangement of the buildings and premises required for the Exhibition.”
No less than 233 designs and specifications wore forwarded at the appointedtime, the 8th of April. Of these 38 were contributed by foreigners (France sending 27 ; Belgium, 2; Holland, 3; Hanover, 1 ; Naples, 1 ; Switzerland , 2 ;Prussia, 1; Hamburgh, 1): 128 by residents in London and its environs; 51 byresidents in provincial towns of England; 6 by residents in Scotland ; 3 by resi-dents in Ireland ; and 7 were anonymous. Twelve additional plans were receivedafter the 8th of April. All these plans were publicly exhibited during a monthfrom the 10th of June, at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George Street,Westminster. The Building Committee reported on the merits of them, selectingtwo lists of the competitors. They considered the one “ entitled to favourable andhonourable mention,” and the other to “further higher honorary distinction.’(The names are given in Appendix No. IX). They, however, accompanied theirReport with the important announcement, that in their opinion there was “ 110“ single plan so accordant with the peculiar objects in view, cither in the principle“ or detail of its arrangement, as to warrant them in recommending it l 01“ adoption.”
* Members of the Commission.