The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-18 00:00:00

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selves, reWer than to ask the Government for any
assistance.—(Hear, bear.) The meeting appeared
to receive with some merriment the lac:: that some
Sqatchmen would like the Government '‘o pay; but
itS must add that in Glasgow the feeling was, as ex-
ressed by an eminent manufacturer, " That the less
e Government did for them the better, and that
the more the manufacturers subscribed the better
and he might add, that in the course of his travelling he
met with an old lady who told himthat she would not be
r,..
able to attend the exhibition, but that she would give
a crown towards it, provided the Government gave
nothing. The Lord Provost of Glasgow s,,‘id the
exhibition would be far more popular if no plbile
money were required ; and at Canterbury, .111 r. S.
It. Lushingtun said he was glad the expenses of' the
exhibition were to be voluntary, for he was satisfied
that if they sought the aid of the Government the
people would consider themselves relieved from giv-
ing, and far less would be realised. The meeting
would see that if any proposition of the kind was
made in the House of Commons, there would be
almost inevitably, a division, while according to the
plan proposed, the parties concerned would decide inr
themselves, and there could be no division. lie hoped
that the ineetir,g would agree with tire views of his
Royal Highness that the whole object should be car-
ried out by subscription. In Dublin they were very
sanguine about the matter, fur there they said that to
get together 150,000/ or 200,0004 would he the easiest
part of the business. Yesterday lie had an interview
with a gentleman who had one of the longest heads
in the city of London, and who was one of the
richest men in it, and he said that there would be no
difficulty as regarded money, but that there would he
a difficulty in preventing the exhibition being en-
gulfed by its very magnitude; for everybody had a
direct and obvious interest in it. It was therefore
proposed that, the funds being forthcoming, the Go-
vernment be requested to appoint a Royal Commission
to expend that portion of them which was to he ap-
propriated to prizes, so as to secure the utmost im-
partiality. The society of Arts felt that it would
not do for them to undertake the very delicate task
of distributing 20,0001. in prizes, and it was there-
fore conceived that the best course was to ask the
Government to nominate such a commission, in order
that a tribunal should be appointed which should be
above all possible suspicion. This commission would
determine the amount of the prizes, and the selection
of subjects for which the prizes should be offered.
The prizes proposed to be submitted for the consi-
deration of the Commission, to be medals with money
prizes. It was proposed that the first prize should be
5,000/., and that one at least of 1,000/. should be
given in each of the four sections. or edals conferred
by the Queen would very much enhance the value of
the prizes."—(hear, hear.) We are not privileged to
say more than that, but that perhaps will be sufficient
to show the interest which we may hope that our
Sovereign will take in the subject.—(Hear, hear.) I
end with this statement, gentlemen, without attempt-
ing to advocate the merits of the proposition before
you ; standing here, as we do, to represent the views
of the Prince, we have thought it would be most be-
coming to appear as little as possible partisans. We have
laid before you what is the proposal of the Prince,
and we leave you to deal with it as you think fit.—
(Hear, hear.) I will only say, that if there is a place
in the world interested in the matter it is London.
I think we may expect some hundred thousand people
to come flowing into London from all parts of the
world by railways and steam-boats to see this great
exhibition. I think we may calculate on foreign
merchants who may want to buy, pleasure- seekers,
men of science anxious to see what has been done.
In short, London will act the part of host to all the
world at an intellectual festival of peaceful industry,
suggested and provided by the Consort of our beloved
Queen, seconded by ourselves—a festival such as the
world never before has seen. Mr. Cole was very
loudly and generally applauded on resuming his seat.
Mr. PRESCOTT, the Governor of the Bank of Eng-
land, proposed a resolution tendering the thanks of the
meeting to his Royal Highness Prince Albert for his
proposition of establishing an exhibition like the one
suggested, end offering their cooperation in carrying it
out. He thought the exhibition would not only be pro-
ductive of the greatest good to this country, but to every
nation which might send specimens for exhibition. The
exhibition would engender a feeling of industrious
rivalry among all nations.
Mr. JoRN Du..nore scccaded the motion, which was
carried.

Mr. LIUME, M.P., proposed the next resolution, which
was in effect that the meeting was of opinion that the
funds necessary for the exhibition should be raised by
subscription, and should not be taken out of the taxes
of the country. He strongly deprecated any Go vern-
ment aid.
Mr. Alderman SALOMONS seconded the motion, which
was agreed to.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the pro-
ceedings.