The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-02 00:00:00

West London Working Classes Industrial

Exhibition,

Special exhibitions of the skill and ingenuity of
the working men of the north and south of Lon-
don having been held, and having been attended
with great success, pecuniary and otherwise, it was
not in human nature that the inhabitants of the
western district of the metropolis should abstain
from showing that they, too, had equal claims on
the public admiration, and equal skill to deserve a
share of the commendation bestowed upon the
articles exhibited at the other ends of the metropolis.
So, after having encountered difficulties which only
men impressed with a stern resolve to overcome all
obstacles could surmount, the committee of work-
ing men, and others who had the matter in hand,
brought a praiseworthy undertaking to a happy
commencement, and yesterday the last, but by no
means the least worthy, of the industrial exhibitions
was opened at the Floral Hall, adjoining the Royal
Italian Opera House, a locality which, though lying
upon the borders of the western portion of London,
and thus is not exactly in the heart of the district
from which the immense number of articles shown
are drawn, is yet admirably adapted for such a
display. The committee who selected the site may
be thankful that their views and wishes have been
met by Mr. Gye, for assuredly few places in Lon-
don are so well adapted for such an undertaking,
and few are likely to be so attractive and so con-
venient to the public. -Even the Floral Hall, large
as it is, is not too large for the purpose, for even
greater space, both on the walls and as regards the
superficial area of the building, could have been
covered if all the articles offered had been accepted.
As regards the origin of the exhibition, it would
appear that the committee of the All Souls' Work-
ing Men's Club, spurred on to honourable emulation
by the success of the previous exhibitions, rightly
judged that the western portion of the metropolis,
the part in which the greater number of skilled
artisans reside, could show that they posseised
powers of design and invention, and skill in manu-
factures, equal to their fellow-artisans in other parts
of the great city, and that they would not fail in
securing patrons to guarantee a fund wherewith all
the liabilities incurred could be met. A central com-
mittee, consisting of Mr. R. M. Morrell, the hon.
secretary, Mr. Harrington, and some few working
men, selected at a public meeting, were constituted
a central committee, and found the hearty co-ope-
ration of Mr. Nicholay and Mr. Peter Graham most
readily accorded to them. The clergy of the various
parishes also assisted to their utmost ; and on an
application to the President of the Board of Trade,
a short Act of Parliament, known as the Industrial
Exhibition Act, was passed, and under its provi-
sions the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council
have certified that the West London Working
Classes' Exhibition is, in their judgment, calculated
to promote British art and industry, and to prove
generally beneficial to the industrial classes. The
effect of the certificate thus accorded is to protect
from piracy all who should exhibit original works;
and to prevent others from taking advantage of the
publicity thus given by copying them. A guarantee
fund of £3,000 was quickly raised by contributions
from many of the patrons and others, amongst
whom are the Marquis of Townshend, Earl Russell,
Viscount Barrington, Lord Lyttleton, Lord Rad-
stock, Lord Llanover, the Bishop of London, Lord
Robert Montagu, M.P. ; Lord Feimoy, M.P. ; the
Right Hon. W. Cowper ; Vice-Chancellor Kinders-
ley, Hon. Frederick W. Byng, Sir J. E. Eardley
Wilmot, Bart. ; Sir J. V. Shelley, Bart., M.P. ;
Sir J. W. H. Anson, Bart. ; Sir James Hamilton,
Bart. ; Sir Roundell Palmer, M.P. ; Sir Francis
Goldsmid, M.P. ; Sir R. W. Carden, Rev. Sir E.
R. Joddrell, Bart. ; Miss Burdett Coutts, Alder-
man Salomons, M.P. ; Mr. Thomson Hankey,
M.P. ; Mr. Harvey Lewis, M.P. ; Mr. F. Powell,
M.P. ; Mr. B. B. Cabbell ; the Rev. C. J. P. Eyre,
rector of Marylebone ; the Rev. A. Boyd, M.A. ;
the Rev. E. R. Eardley Wilmot, M.A. ; the Rev.
Henry Howarth, M. A. ; the Rev. W. Cadman,
M.A. ; the Rev. W. G. Humphrey, M.A. ; the Rev.
Harvey Brooks, M.A. ; Mr. S. Scott, Mr. Peter
Graham, Mr. J. A. Nicholay, Mr. George Cruik-
shank, and many other gentlemen.
In regard to the question who should preside on
the opening-day there was some debate ; but the
Earl of Derby having courteously declined, the
Right Hon. W. Cowper, the Chief Commissioner of
Works, cheerfully undertook the office.
The Floral Hall presented a sufficiently imposing
sight yesterday, for throughout its whole length it
was filled with the various articles sent in by inven-
tors and manufacturers, and comprising amateur
productions, architectural, marine, and ornamental
models, artistic objects, inventions, and novel con-
trivances, ladies' work of all kinds, mechanical
models, professional workmanship, and miscellane-
ous productions. The hall has undergone a process