IV

INTRODUCTION.

formed are the result of their endeavours to meet the views of theForeign Commissioners.

Many delays occurred in realising this intention, the principal ofwhich was, that at the time this step was determined upon, thegreater part of the exhibitors had already actually removed theirgoods, and it became necessary to open fresh communications withthem.

These difficulties have, however, now been overcome, and thefollowing is a Catalogue of the specimens of which each collection iscomposed.

Facilities of transport, cost, and other considerations, inducedthe Commissioners to think that a collection of raw or only partlymanufactured produce would be most suitable for the objectin view; and it will therefore be found to be confined, with veryfew exceptions, to the first four Classes into which the Exhibition of1851 was divided, viz.

Class I. Mining and Mineral Products ;

II. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Products ;

III. Substances used as Food ;

IY. Vegetable and Animal Substances used in Manu-factures ; to which is added

XXVII. Manufactures in Mineral Substances,it being scarcely found possible to separate that Class from Class 1.

Circulars were addressed to the principal exhibitors of theUnited Kingdom , especially those who had been noticed by theJuries—stating the objects of the Commissioners, and leaving themfull liberty to supply those samples which they considered most suit-able to the purpose. The officers of the Commission were chargedto abstain as much as possible from any duties of rejection or selec-tion beyond that of addressing themselves only to manufacturers ofknown character; and Her Majesty’s Commissioners are satisfiedthat this was a better course than attempting to choose the best