FIRST RETORT OF COMMISSIONERS.

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The only alterations subsequently made in these rates were a reduction in theprice of season tickets to 30s. and 20s. for gentlemen’s and ladies’ tickets respectively,and a reduction in the rate of admission on Saturdays to 2s. (hi., both of whichchanges came into operation at the beginning of August.

The results of these arrangements will be seen by reference to Appendices No. XVI.and XVII., which show the number of visitors and the receipts at the doors on eachday that the Exhibition was open, arranged week by week, and also so as to com-pare together the same days of each week. The influence of price upon the numberof visitors is also shown by the coloured diagrams already alluded to, which is reducedfrom a larger one drawn up during the Exhibition and shown in the Transept to thepublic.

Catalogues.

It was obviously necessary that a complete and accurate Catalogue should be madeof the articles exhibited, not only for the use of visitors, and of the Commissioners,.hirers, and others during the continuance of the Exhibition, but also as an enduringrecord, in the most perfect shape, of the Exhibition itself. The Commissionersconsidered that these advantages would be best secured by submitting to publiccompetition the exclusive privilege of preparing and selling the Official Catalogues.Of these the cheaper one was, in accordance with the conditions of tender laid downby the Commissioners, to be sold to the public at the price of one shilling, and tocontain not less than 320 pages of foolscap quarto (printed in double columns).Out of the above sum a royalty of twopence per copy was to be paid to the Com-missioners.

In addition to the Shilling Catalogue, an Illustrated Catalogue (also official),extending to two or more volumes, was to be produced, the price and manner ofprinting of which was left to the discretion of the contractors. An option of pre-paring more editions than the two above mentioned was also given.

The Commissioners adjudged the right of printing and sale of these Catalogues tothe joint tender of Messrs. Spicer Brothers and Messrs. Clowes and Sons, who offeredthe sum of £3,200 for the privilege, (besides the royalty payable on the sale of thesmall Catalogue). The difficulties necessarily attendant upon the execution of theengagements entered into by the Catalogue contractors (owing not only to the exten-sive nature of the undertaking itself, but also to the changes consequent upon thecontinual arrival of additional articles from foreign countries for a long period afterthe opening of the Exhibition) were surmounted by them in a very satisfactorymanner, and the volumes that accompany this Report will serve to show, both bytheir accuracy, completeness, and their general execution, that the Commissionershave every reason to be satisfied with their having entrusted the preparation of theCatalogues to Messrs. Spicer and Clowes.

Appendix No. XXV II. contains a statement furnished by the contractors, showingthe extent of the sale of the different Catalogues, and other works illustrative of theExhibition, which they were authorized to sell in the Building.

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