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APPENDIX No. XIX.

taken into consideration according to the naturo of tho object; and they rccommonded thatthis Medal should be awarded by the Juries, subject to confirmation by the Groups.

In regard to tho other and larger Medal, they suggested that tho conditions of its awardshould bo soino important novelty of invention or application, cither in material, or processesof manufacture, or originality combined with great beauty of design ; but that it should notbe conferred for excellence of production or workmanship alono, however eminent: and theyfurther suggested that this Medal should bo awarded by the Council of Chairmen Upon thorecommendation of a Jury, supported by its Group.

Tho principle thus described mot tho views of Her Majesty’s Commissioners, and was sub-sequently further developed by them in a Minute which they communicated to tho Councilof Chairmen. Its application, however, was not without difficulties, especially as regardedtho Foreign Jurors. Many of these had taken part in tho National Exhibitions of Francoand Germany ; and to them tho distinctive character of tho two Medals, and the avoidancoof all recognition of degrees of merit between tho recipients of prizes, wore novel principles,and at variance with their experience ; inasmuch as one of tho chief purposes of tho NationalExhibitions of the Continent has been to distinguish the various degrees of success attainedby rival exhibitors.

It was to bo expected, therefore, that cases would ariso in which tho Council Medal, as thohigher reward, would be asked for Exhibitors whose claims wore only somewhat stronger indegroo, without differing in kind from those of others to whom the Prize Modal had beenawarded. In such cases it became tho duty of tho Council of Chairmen to refuse theirsanction to tho award of tho Council Medal ; without, however, necessarily impugning thealleged superiority of tho article for which it was demanded. On the other hand, someinstances have occurred in which they have felt themselves called upon to confirm tho claimto a Council Medal where the object for which it was claimed showed, in itself, less merit ofexecution or manufacture than others of its Class. It follows, therefore, that the award of aCouncil Modal does not necessarily stamp its recipient as a better manufacturer or producerthan others who have received tho Prize Medal. It is rather a mark of such invention,ingenuity, or originality as may bo expected to oxorciso an influence upon industry moreextended, and more important, than could be produced by more excellence of manufacture.

This is to bo borne in mind in considering the List of Awards which I have tho honour tolay before your Royal Highness ; and 1 trust that it will bo found that tho Juries have suc-ceeded in doing justice to tho Exhibitors of every Nation and Class, and that they have notdeparted in any important degree from tho purpose of ller Majesty’s Commissioners.

One of tho first instructions addressod to tho Juries by tho Council of Chairmen was to thoeffect that tho Prizes should bo awarded without reference to tho country of tho Exhibitors,tho Exhibition being considered in this respect as recognizing no distinction of Nation.

It is gratifying to add that tho Jurors of ovory country cordially acquiesced in this principle,and that notwithstanding unavoidable differences of opinion, uninterrupted harmony prevailedamongst them throughout tho whole course of their labours. It is not too much to hope thattho happy influence of this intercourse may extend and endure far beyond tho present occasion.

It is not necessary that I should detain your Royal Highness and Her Majesty's Commis-sioners with a recital of tho other instructions framod by tho Council of Chairmen for thoguidanco of tho Juries, or with a detailed account of their proceedings in tho discharge oftheir own functions.

The number of Prize Medals awarded is 2,918. The number of Council Medals is 170.

It is important to observo that no more than ono Modal of either denomination'has beenallotted to ono Exhibitor in tho same Class, although ho may have contributed to that Classmoro than ono article deserving of reward.

The J urios liavo found it just, in framing their ltoports, to make Honourable Moi ition of certainExhibitors whoso contributions were not such as to entitlo them to receive a Modal. Somehave supplied specimens of raw materials, which, although curious and instructive, do notimply any great merit of production on tho part of tho Exhibitor ; and others have furnishedarticles of manufacture which, without reaching a high degree of excellence, are interestingas examples of tho processes, or present condition of tho trades which they illustrate.

Before concluding, 1 trust 1 may bo allowed to add that it would be difficult duly to esti-mate tho timo and labour expended by tho Jurors in their endeavour to discharge faithfullytho important duty confided to them. Tho number of Exhibitors was about 17,000. Of thosemany, who wore reckoned but onoo in tho Catalogue, contributed a largo variety' of objects,and eamo within tho province of more than ono Jury ; whilst in other cases towns, and ovenwhole countries, wore counted as single Exhibitors, although they presented for examinationevery kind of manufacture and raw produce which their ingenuity and natural rosouroos couldfurnish. Upon the whole, tho task of tho Juries involved the consideration and judgment ofat least a million articles ; tho difficulties attending it being not a little increased by the wantof a uniform system of classification of tho subjects in somo of tho foreign divisions, and byunavoidable imperfections in the Catalogue.

In these circumstances tho Juries can scarcely venture to hope that accidental omissionsmay not have occurred ; but they have tho satisfaction of fooling that those, il any, are notattributable to a want of care or diligence on their part.