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APPENDIX NO. XLir.
APPENDIX No. XLII.
Letters addressed by the Commissioners of various Foreign Countries to theKoval Commissioners and Executive Committee at the termination of theExhibition.
J.oiutun, November 8th, 1851 .
Gentlemen,
As my official duties in the Crystal Palace have now ceased, I shall take my departurefor America , the 12th iust.
I cannot allow myself to go honco without tendering you my sincere and heartfelt acknow-ledgments for the many acts of kindness, courtesy, and attention, I have received at yourhands, and for the uniform promptness with which you have responded to all communicationsemanating from this Commission.
Indeed, in my humble opinion, the success of the Great Exhibition may be mainly attri-buted to tho admirable and indefatigablo management of your Committee, and the limitednumber of gentlemen of which it was composed, thereby preventing collisions which wouldinevitably have occurred, had tho whole responsibility been entrusted to a larger body ofDirectors. While I have received every assistance from Officers under your direction, thereis one who has been high in authority, and of whom I cannot speak in too high termsof praise ; I allude to Captain Owen, of the Royal Engineers. Tho even temper, and calmdignified demeanour he has observed on all trying and pressing occasions, are worthy of thehighest commendation, and for one 1 am proud to bear witness of the energetic and impartialmanner in which ho has discharged his arduous duties.
Wishing each and all of you, Gentlemen, that continued success to which your brillianttalents so justly entitle you,
I have tho honour to subscribe myself, very respectfully,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed)
To the Execvth'c Committee of the Great Exhibition.
No. 43 , Clarges Street , Piccadilly ,London , 17 th December 1851 .
Gentlemen,
Mr functions as Commissioner for His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Austria tothe Great Exhibition of all Nations, having now ceased, I feel that I should leave undischargedone of tiie most important, and, at the same time, tho most agreeable of the duties that havedevolved upon me, were I not to avail myself of such an opportunity to offer to you theexpression, however inadequately worded, of my cordial thanks for the constant attentions,the unwearied courtesy, and the invaluable assistance I have received throughout the wholecourse of my communications with your able and intelligent body. These thanks, I feelauthorized in saying, on behalf of all the contributors to the Austrian Collection, as well asfor myself, and for all others who have participated with mo in the honour of acting underHis Imperial Majesty’s Commission, are due to the entiro Executive Committee in itscollective capacity, and to their Officors without tho exception of a single individual member.
From Mr. Wentworth Dilke I have at all times met, in common, I am sure, with everyother Foreign Commissioner, with a degree of attention, a disposition to facilitate myinquiries or my applications, and to assist in tho completion of all conditions that have beenproved requisite for the satisfactory working of tho system and management established byus, that they have been in every respect worthy of a gentleman so distinguished by hiscapacity, in mastering tho most voluminous and complicated demands of any department oraffairs committed to his superintendence. It is matter of sincere gratification to me torendor my humble testimony to the manner in which ho afforded to tho Austrian Com-mission, the full benefit of his admirable suggestions, and his comprehensive attention.
To Captain Owen, whose promptitude and business-like arrangements in every matter con-nected with the organization or requirements of the Austrian Division, which came withintho supervision of his department, wore always to be relied upon, and always contributed soefficiently to tho development of the objects on which he was consulted by this Commission,I beg to offer, in an especial manner, my warmest acknowledgments. It would be difficult,indeed, to ovorrate tho obligations I feel under for tho zeal and interest manifested by thatofficer, to give offoct to ovory suggestion, that, on mature consideration, I deemed it expedientfrom time to timo to submit, with a view to give effect to tho legitimate objects and wishesof tho parties whoso interests had been confided to my care.