The prize of fifty Guineas offered by Benjamin Oliveira, MP, for the best essay on Portugal and its commercial capabilities was awarded in 1853 to Joseph James Forrester for an admirable treatise, which went through several editions and is still a standard work. In 1852 he gave valuable evidence before the select committee of the House of Commons on the wine duties, detailing at greater length all the abuses summarized in his pamphlet. He continued to write on this and other practical subjects, publishing tracts on the vine disease, improved manufacture of olive oil, etc., and was awarded by the commissioners of the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1855 the silver medal of the first class and five diplomas of honorable mention for the collection of publications and products he there exhibited.