The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-29 00:00:00

MEETING OF FRENCH EXHIBITORS..

A meeting of the French exhibitors, convened by the Pa-
risian Union, sus held a kw days since at the I 'onservatuire
dew Arts, hi Paris. A report of the proceedings of the Union
was laid before the meeting. M. Sill: ndrouse de Lamor-
nail, the French commissioner, attended the meeting for
the purpose of affording to the exhibitors any information
which they might require with respect to the arrangements
in London. Sonic discontent was manifested at the com-
meucement of the meeting by one or two exhibitors, but
the itilhrination afforded by the French romtnisioner
tended in some degree to allay their excited feelings, :Ind to
place the conduct of the Royal Comniii.iiiment in a more
favourable point of view. Among other matters which
were stated were, that 1110,000 square feet had been allotted
to the productions of France, 44000 of which would only
be available as exhibiting area, and that if the exhibitors
would iamb nt thenthelves with displaying only the elite of
their p otluctions, they would lime sufficient space for
making u most brilliant display. M. Cristofie complained
of the disproportion of the hpace- given to England in the
Glass Palace ut that accorded to any other nation ; sug-
gested the immediate opt Mug of an exhibition in l'aris;
and ati.iosed tits French government and M. Sallandroure
de la Murtha* of want of dignity in their negociutions with
regard to the great exhibition. M. the la Moruaix replied
effectivity to the complaints of M. Cristofle, bore testimony
to the ruin et with which he had been treated by the Royal
Commissioners, and paid u compliment to the English am-
bassador fur his energetic efforts on behalf of France. It
was al-o st...ed that an act had been passed for this protec-
tion of copyright in designs of such articles as might be ex-
hibited, and that u second bill had lieu introduced into
parliament, giving similar protection to the exhibitors of
new inventions, and which would no doubt become. law be-
fore the end of the month. A letter of advice would be
sent to exhibitors, iinnoutteing the period when it would be
'wee-A:try lbr them to attend personally, or by.their repre-
sentatives, to assist in the arrangement of their goods. A
question as to the tree admission of French exhibitors was
put by one of the persons present, who was informed that a

hai been Lade roll the ftlbjett to Earl Ura

vine, who had stated that it would not be.calculated to give
gemeralsatisraction if French exhibitors were to have free
admission, while the British were called upon to pay. Her
Majesty herself, as well us the Royal Commissioners, would
be required to pay for admission. In mower to other ques-
tions, it was stated that the vernal during which the exhi-
bition would remain 0114,11 would not be less than four, and
not more than six months, and that no goods would be
allow.Al to be sold in the `wilding ; that the last day for re-
ceiring goods in waintons or pw•king caws would be the
2nd ut April, and that a very small portion of the returns
had yet been forwarffiAl for insertion in the catalogue. M.
lie is Mornaix also stated that the French commission in
London had been placed in a position of great difficulty by
the delays of exhibitors. Even at that moment he did not
know the exact number of their exhibitors; and he could
nut tiepin the duty of dividing French slime before this
-int was finally settled.

MEETING OF AMERICAN CONTRIBUTORS.

- - ----- -
On Thursday evening a meeting of " American Contri-
butor•, Agents, and others, loon the United States of
America," woo held at the Chapter Coffee-house, Pater
reader-row, in pursuant,. of an advertisement, in which it
was stated that they were convened "on important business;
connected with the Exhibition," Mr. St John, of New York,
in the chair. l'revioas to the commencement of the busi-
ness an application was made by some reporters to lie
present. A discussion took place as to the propriety
of their admission, when a resolution was agreed
to that they would be allowed in the room on con-
dition that their report should be subject to Teti-
shin. This was, of course, refused, upon which
some of the istpreseutatit es of the daily press went
away. At a subsequent period another reporter entered the
room, but he was not allowed to take notes. The meeting
proceNled to dis•uss a series of resolutions which 11:111 been ;
prepared at a previous meeting, held at the same place, on
Saturday last, the purport of which was that they strongly
opposed the appointment of rig jurors to deride on the I
relative merit. of the foreign coutributions, also to the ad-
judication of the bronze medals as prizes by the royal com-
missioners, when awards of touch greater value had been
promised, which they considered not keeping faith
with contributors; they also objected to the prime
of admission of three guineas for a season
ticket. Strong observations were made in conse-
quence of co ntributors being at the expense of
erecting their own " fittings." It MRS stated that English
contributors were at the expense; but in answer, it was
observed that the original understanding was that contri-
butors should be at no expense. Another ground of com-
plaint was in reference to the delay in affording iondection
to articles which required tt patent, and upon this subject a
resolution was agreed to, that a deputation be appointed to
wait on Sir G. Grey, intimating to him that until some se-
curity be given to such contributions, no packages should be
opened. It was alleged that the object of the delay in ob-
taining a law was a covenant not to take tolvantage of any
new invention or original design. At the close of the preo-
ccedirnrs the reporter asked to look at the resolutions, hut
on a show of hands this was refused. The meetiug then
separated at a late hour.