The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-17 00:00:00

THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1862.

We stated in our yesterday's notice of the pro-
gress and arrangements for this great display that
the classes and sub-classes of 1851 would not be fol-
lowed next year. In IFSI the great classes were
formed by such divisions as "Animal substances
used in manufactures," " Vegetable and mineral
ditto ;" and this arrangement was productive of
endless confusion and no little dissatisfaction as
well. The arbitrary distinctions of animal, vege-
table, and mineral of course upset all exhibitions
of trades as trades. Thus, in 1851, an undertaker
sent two highly-finished coffins. One was of wood
and one of lead. The wooden one went into the
class of vegetable substances used in manufactures,
and the leadffln one to the mineral class. In the
same way, an exhibitor had a handsome collection
of elaborate fancy snuffboxes separated through
many classes, according as the boxes were horn,
wood, metal, &c. Some articles,, such as trunks,
dressing-cases, and soon, which were made of wood,
leather, and metal, all united, were of such a com-
site character that they could not be classed under
any of the great divisions, and for these and
other things of the same kind a miscellaneous class
was formed, which, as might be expected under
such circumstances, soon grew to be one of the
largest and most interesting in the building.
In 1855 the French tried following the same rul,
with certain philosophical distinctions as to the
uses of the articles exhibited, which made the con-
fusion ten times worse. Thus, under these subtle
distinctions, " walking-sticks and horsewhips"
came to be classed as "machines for aiding direct
motion," and were accordingly ordered to be put
among the locomotives. The English and other
foreigners, being very obedient, sent their sticks
and whips to the machinery as they were told.
The French, however, who saw how absurd was the
classing, did not comply, but put their sticks and
whips in their proper place. From this, however,
the officials expelled them, and after they had
been hustled through half the classes in the
buildingrthese " machines for aiding direct mo-
tion" at last found rest, and refuge among what we
may call machines for impeding direct motion—
namely, the sub-class devoted to the exhibition of
ladies' stays and corsets. Of course, such arrange-
ments gave no satisfaction either in '5l or '55, and
the exhibitors justly complained of not being able
to display their things together in classes of
trades. The great division of animal, mineral,
and vegetable classes are still, to a certain ex-
tent, to be followed next year, but within these
are sub-classes in which all the trades will ex-
hibit as trades. To facilitate this trade classi-
fication, a trades' list has been compiled from
the trades' lists of all the principal towns in the
United Kingdom, and it makes an extraordinary
catalogue. For instance, to make a complete watch
it is found that the co-operation of no less than 46
distinct trades are necessary, each of which only
makes certain special component parts of the
works or case. These trades have their own rules
and apprentices, and are as perfectly distinct
from each other as the trades of tailors and shoe-
makers. It is these distinct trades as trades, that
the Commissioners specially wish to have as exhi-
bitors, and by so doing the trades themselves will
gain advantages in the distribution of prizes. It is
not now premature to say that it has been in fact
decided that there is to be a medal awarded next
year to each of the best exhibitors in the various
classes and sub-classes. This will be a plain bronze
Council medal, somewhat similar to that in 1851.
There will be no other award than this, "honour-
able mention" being wisely done away with. The
juries to distribute these medals will be formed
as follows :—There will in all be nearly 100 classes
and bub-classes. Every sub-class having more
than five exhibitors will be entitled to claim a
jury of three persons for awarding medals. Each
exhibitor will have a right to name a juryman, and
out of the names so returned the Itayal Commis-
sioners will select three whose decisions will be
final. No juryman can award himself a medal in
his own class, but, of course, any one selected as a
juryman can decline the office on the ground that
he prefers competing for the medal, as the late Mr.
Minton did in 1851. Foreigners will be allowed to
choose a foreign jury, and the number of medals to
be awarded to each class and sub-class will, of
course, be limited, though the limit has not yet
been determined on.—Times.

THE NEW AGRICULTURAL HALL AT ISLINGTON.
—The directors of the company formed for the construction
of a hall at Islington, for holding the shows of the Smith•.
field Club and other purposes, have accepted the tender of
Messrs. Hill and Co., builders, of Whitechapel, amounting
to £24,980, and the contract provides that the works shall
be completed by the end of June next. The new building
will be constructed from the design of Mr. Frederick Pack,
' of Maidstone, and will form a handsome embellishment to
the northern part of the metropolis. The site is at a conve-
nient distance from the Cit), and equally so from the prin-
cipal railway termini, with which, indeed, it may be said
to be brought into immediate contiguity by means of the
North London Railway. We also understand that an agree-
ment has been entered into by the companyfor the purchase
of some additional land as frontage, so that the main en-
trance to the hall—and it is to have four—will be opposite
the statue and fountain about to be erected to the memory
of the renowned Sir Hugh Myddleton.
THE HARVEST IN ESSEX.—COLCHESTER, Aug.
16.—Notwithstanding the intense heat during the early
part of the week, which rendered outdoor oocupations
almost impossible, the harvest was vigorously prosecuted,
and a large breadth of wheat and other corn was cut and
carted in fine condition. Indeed, the quality of this year's
wheat exceeds that of many previous years, but it is now
generally admitted that the yield will fall short of an ave-
rage. This day a change took place in the weather; the
rain descended in torrents during the morning, completely
suspending harvest operations, and there is every appear-
ance of its continuance. Sufficient, however, has not yet
fallen to injure the corn which is cut, while it has proved
invaluable to the green crops, which began, to ail for the
lack of moisture,