The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-30 00:00:00

Tte 4fint%sl

No. 1,565.]
_[No. 36, EXHIBITION EXPRESS.]

« THE EXHIIITION EXPRESS."—Our Sans►
1 ilxy's double number, thusentitled, having attidaal
the object in view of which it was projected, will ears
after this day. All articles of special interest is the Olaas
Palace have been brought under the notice of the readers •jf
the Express, and the Exhibition no longer supplies nr,tter
ittsalleient interest to justify the publication of a journal
devoted to its exposition. On and alter Sept. 6th, Saturday's
Yaws of the Express will resume its ordinary sin and price.

THE

EXHIBITION
EXPRESS,

FOR THE WEEK ENDING
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30.

The gradual decrease in the ir.aster of visitors at
the Crystal Palace which begs il to manifest itself at
**commencement of the ftwath still continues.
When it is borne in mind, b oacver' that nearly four
talkies et games have gt:Ag gb, the ri,iisr a itlh
ePeefing the bonding et. A its contents during the
: ' : hundred days which h.• fe elapsed since the Ist -May,
the present abatement of the cravings of public curi-
osity cannot cause sto pri„. The average attendance
on the bidding days in the present week was 45,000,
exhibiting a falling, of of 6,000 a day, as compared
with the Mine 113 B in the previous week.
'[he ultimate 1 ate of the building, and the appro-
priation of the enormous surplus with which the
Royal Commis miners unexpectedly find themselves
encumbered, c.re subjects upon which public atten-
tion is now earnestly directed. No decision or ex-
pression of opinion in reference to either point has
been giV, AI as yet Ay the Itoyal Commission, and
the gene cal impression is that none has been arrived
at by tliat body.
li% hen the Royal Commission was constituted, the
present embarras de rirhesse was not anticipated, and
consequently no definite provision was made for the
appropriation of tiny surplus. The commissioners, it
is true. modestly adverted to the possibility of being
left at the close of the Exhibition with sonic funds
in their hands, and in that event undertook to apply
them to purposes strictly in connexion with the undo
of the Exhibition, or for the establishment of similar
exhibitimis for the future. It seems pretty clear that
they will consider that pledge to be binding on them,
anti will nut sanction the outlay of money on the
building to adapt it to purposes foreign to those that
it has fulfilled hitherto. That government will
interfere in the mutter is extremely doubtful.
Then the building is utterly out of keeping with the
rotten railings and dingy walls in its neighbour-
hood, and as the close of the industrial pageant
appruachen, the levellers of " The Woods and
}crests' evince symptoms of eagerness to begin the
work of demolition. The conclusion to be drawn
from these indications is, that if the public is &sir-
'
ous tit preserving the Crystal Palace fur its recreation
ur amusement, it must "help itself." In the mean-
time it is whispered that a plan is in course of
arrangement by which, it' backed up with the regal.- 1
site amount of public support, the building may be'
perpetuated as a winter garden.
1 'I he manner in which the juries have disc
their funetions,anti the mina:which it is inte=
pursue respecting the distribution of rewards, are
topics of great interest at the present juncture to ex-
hibitors, and letters upon these subjects will be found
in another part of our columns.
On Wednesday last a meeting of the local com-
mittee and eutes:ribers to the exhibition took place in
Itirmingimm, at which Mr. Lucy, the Mayor, pro-
pounded a plan fur the disposal of the surplus funds :
Rio opinion was that there was as much native talent in
England es in any country of the world, mind that the great
advantages whith foreigners obtained over us in matters of
lases and deeign was owing to their public buildings con-
Ink*, works of the highest art. The Mayor Instanced the
legallmetional schools and museums of France. Ile al-
iened that the endowment of the Great College of France
esquired 6,01101. a year, and that the sum of '200,000/.,
twitch he had hears" spoaen of, placed at interest,
Mould produce an annual sum of 8,11001. &year fora similar
purpose. The Nlnyer then read the following memorial :
"Tu his Royal Highness Prince Albert and the Royal
Commissioners for the Exhibition of the Industry of All
Nations for 15.31.—We, the undersigned, magistrates, incr-
. chants, manufacturers, designers, and others, interested in
the commercial and manufacturing prosperity of the town
of Birmingham, beg respectfully to address your honour-
able board. Your memorialists have witnessed with the
highest gratification and pride the unparalleled success of
the Exhibition of IWO, and the beneficial results which it
has drawn forth, and which will be felt not only by this
nation, but by the whole civilised world. 'this vast un-
dertaking, conceived in the first instance by your Royal
Highness. interpreted in its true light by the various
great manutacturing districts of this kingdom, and
carried out so effectively by all nations, has pro-
dared a large surplus from its revenues, which, if de-
voted to some great object, might extend the beneficial
effects of the Exhibition of POI over centuries to come.
With this object your memurialists, as partly representing
one of the greatest manufacturing towns of the empire,
have felt called on to address your board. Amongst the
many projects for usefully disposing of the large sum of
money alluded to one apparently the most favoured, has
been to purchase the great building fur the purpose of
creating a winter garden. Your memorialist* feel that
whatever might be their individual opinions um the advan-
tages of such a project to the inhabitants of, and visitors to
the metropolis, still they cannot perceive that the solemn
pledge given to the original subscribers, and to the country,
k, devote any ',tiepins to the prmnotion and improve.
meat of arts and manufactures, could be fully carried out
by such an appropriation, or that such would benefit the
nation generally. Your memorialists have long felt
the neceseity tit some more extended system of practical
and scientific education in England, which should
place within the reach of the industrial classes
a much higher standard of scientific attainments
than they can now ever hope to possess without very ample
means. Your memorialists are convinced that with greater
facilities in elementary scientific education, intimately con-
meted with, and always accompanied by, practical illustra-
tions and manipulation*, there would be found as much
original genius and talent to develop in the people of this
country, in, in those of the great continental states of Eu-
rope, and that such development would greatly facilitate the
maintenance and extension of our manufactures and com-
ment. 'the great and rapid strides which locomotion has
taken on the Continent, and the constant international com-
munication which is the result, have extended science and
mcchaeical sod artistica' knowledge widely over those na-
tions; and thus one vast school of arts and sciences exists,
with its member., in constant communication, from which
this country is partially excluded, from its geographical posi-
tion. Same of your memorialist", in their late visit to Paris,
have witnessed the advantages which the rising generation
of manufacturers is there enjoying, in their educational
establishments; and although not favoured by the posse.-
toe of such vast see:purees in raw materials, mineral wealth,
sod fuel as Great Britain has the blessing to enjoy, they
. have established such colleges as the Conservatory of Arts
and Manufactures, and the Central School of Arts and
Manufactures, which are especially destined fur the instruc-
tion of manufacturers and artisans, either entirely free or
at a low charge. These central colleges, under the charge
of the state, and with most efficient and interesting
museums attached, have ramifications extending over other
import-int unumfacturing districts of the country. In such
echoed. are the youth of France brought up, receiving,
particularly in the provincial schools snatched to the
twos, rsat.ry, and iu the Central School of Arts, the highest
standard of scientific instruction in connection with the arts,
mantifeetures, and design, matured by practical illustrations
and 'lenience in manipulation, and a knowledge of the
particular trade in which they are eventually to devote
lion professional talent is designers. Numerous young
men educated at these colleges, of first-rate talent and
rwcusp esperience, pass examinations of very high stan-
d, and receive diplomas which are a passport for them
'a mane twits of the Continent, as managers and directors
utmost inalsortant manufactories and establishments, and
enabling tin in to find lucrative employment even in England.
Prom these source. have sprung some of the most eminent
re the age, enjoying rank, consideration, and wealth,
rn trum the se tematic education which they receive
1".".. Your Memorialists admit with pleasure and grati-
PO, that the government has already made a great st..p
!I advancing this object by the establishment of schools of
reign, and the Museum of Practical Geology; but still the
ant are only partial iu their advantages, and the latter
ladY an isolated branch, which exerts but little immediate
Mei fie til influence over' the arts and manufactures Reacr"
y. r memorialists, therefore, deeply convinced that
1 ribere general and elfieient system of scientific practical
is required, would respectfully suilliwt