FIRST REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS.

xlv

Since the closing of the Exhibition, however, Mr. Redgrave has addressed to HisRoyal Highness the President of the Commission an interesting and valuable Report,si lowing the few measures that were taken, and illustrating the social condition ofLondon during the Exhibition, which will be found attached to this Report. (SecAppendix No. XXIV.)

Police Arrangements.

The subject of the police arrangements to be adopted on the occasion of theExhibition as respects the admission of visitors, the security of articles exhibited,and the internal and external watching of the building generally, was brought underthe notice of the Commissioners many months previous to the opening of the Exhi-bition. It was felt by them that a matter of so much importance should be leftentirely in the hands of the Commissioners of Police, acting under the authority ofthe Home Office, and the Royal Commissioners signified their readiness to defraysuch portion of the expenses that would be incurred as might seem to be fairlychargeable upon the funds of the Exhibition. The amount which it was agreedshould be paid by them towards the ex pence of the Police employed outside thebuilding was £5,043 19s. Ad., the question of the sum payable for those employedinside the building remaining open for future arrangement, it being understood thatthey should defray the whole of that expense. The sum which has accordingly beenpaid by the Commissioners for the internal Police, up to the 11th October, 1851, hasbeen £12,382 2s. 10 <7., to which has to be added a further sum of £2,221 15s. 7 d.for similar expenses since that date and up to the 14th January last, when thewhole of the Police were finally withdrawn from the interior of the building.

It therefore appears that the total amount of Police expenses in connection with,the Exhibition incurred by the Commission has been £19,047 17s. 9<7.

With regard to the general Police arrangements, and the various questionsconnected therewith, the Commissioners feel that the valuable Report addressed tot lie Home Ollico by the Chief Commissioner of Police, and which, having beencommunicated to them, will be found appended to this Report, contains all thenecessary information. (See Appendix No. XXV.)

The largest number of Police employed inside the building at any one time wason the 26th and 27th of May (the first shilling days), when there were no less than8 Inspectors, 38 Sergeants, and C09 Constables on duty. The average numbersubsequently employed varied from 350 to 400.

In addition to the above, 36 Foreign and 24 Provincial Police were more or lessemployed during the Exhibition, together with 26 Interpreters.

It affords the Commissioners much pleasure to refer to that portion of Sir E.Mayne’s Report, which shows the almost entire absence of crime in connection withthe Exhibition. It appears that although the number of visits paid to it exceededsix millions, not more than 21 persons were apprehended in the building on anycharge whatever.

In order to mark their sense of the admirable conduct of the Police force cm-