The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-21 00:00:00

FOR 1851

OF THE
INDUSTRY OF ALL NATIONS.
(THIS DAY.)

A most numerous and highly influential meeting of
the inhabitants of Westminster in furtherence of the
great work for the Exhibition of the Industry of all
Nations in 1851, took place to-day at Willis's Rooms.
Francis Smedley, Esq., the High Bailiff of Westminster,
took the chair shortly after 11 o'clock.
On the platform we noticed the Bishop of London,
the Earl of Carlisle, Mr. J. Loyd, Mr. Leslie, J. Wyldt
Eeq., M.P. There were also present several foreigners
of distinction. The Duchess of Sutherland and Lady
Mary Howard were present, and appeared to take great
interest in the proceedings.
FRANCIS SMEDLEY, Esq., the High Bailiff of West-
minster, was called to the chair; and having briefly
stated the objects of the meeting,
Mr. JOSEPH BROWN stood forward to move the first
resolution. He said the resolution, with which he was
entrusted, differed strangely from the character of those
which in bygone years had occupied the Presidency of
High Bailiff of Westminster. They would not have to
allay the ebullitions of political turmoil, nor listen to the
orators of grievances or misrule; but the chairman had
the happiness to see around him, men in every position
of society, who constituted the glory of Britain, men
who testified by their presence this day, that this was a
strife in which they might all meet as on common ground,
a strife which should serve the great interests of civiliza-
tion, and promote the comforts and happiness of the
whole world. The resolution which he had to submit
to the meeting, was—
" That it is the opinion of this meeting that the pro-
posal of his Royal Highness the Prince Albert, to hold
an exhibition of the works of industry of all nations in
1851, is entitled to the cordial co-operation of all classes,
as tending to the advancement of art, agriculture, manu-
factures, and trade, and to the development of the re-
sources of the British nation, its colonies and depen-
dencies."
(Cheers.) As a manufacturer and an exporting merchant
he was free to confess that that was a bold resolution,
but it was worthy the Prince Consort of a wise and as
undaunted Queen.—(Cheers.) It was worthy the am-
bition of a greet nation.—(Cheers.) When foreign
lands had been devastated by war, and by intestine feud,
Gret Britain had been the land of refuge for the fugie
Live.—(Cheers.) When the sable slave first set his foot
on British ground it was then that he could raise his first
shout of freedom; and it was fiur the year 1850 to well
to the four quarters of the globe the invitation of Eng'
land to the ingenious and industrious in the four quar-
ters of the world without fear and without any apPre
hension.—(Cheers.) On yonder naval column there woe
an inscription which was as applicable to times of peace
as to times of war, and it would reverberate throughout
the land that " England this day expects every man to
his duty."—(Cheers.) But the timid might exclaim
" What, contend against the arts and manufactures o 1
France, in its statuary, its sculpture, its ornamental
bronzes and articles of vertu!" But let the distinguished
Minister of the Crown who would second the resolution
but encourage schools of deign where they now existed•
and their establishment where they did not exist, and let
but the Lord Bishop of Londou, who was present toe
day, throw wider the portals of public schools and col-
leges, and England need never fear any competition,
come from what quarter it might. After a few more
M We
e
lution r. Brown concluded by moving the
lution given above, which was rec:ived with loud 011-
pleuse.
The Earl of CARLISLE, in seconding the resolution,
taid—Mr. High Bailin; ladies, and gentlemen, I come
forward to perform a task which has been assigned to
me of seconding the resolution which you have just heard
read. In discharging this duty I must nay that Ido
net feel myself to labour under any great extent of re-
sponsibility, as the object of the undertaking which is
now brought before yuur notice is too generally knon
to you ton ed explanation. It has been, I may be bold
enough to soy, too generally approved of over the whole
extent of the country to stand in need of any defence;
and as I am not a member of the Royal Commission to
which the office has been confided of superintending the
management and execution of the object, lam not my-
self qualified to enlighten you respecting its specifics
arrangements and details.—(Hear, hear.) I can only,
then, make the most general remarks, and submit the
most general grounds which I conceive this undertaking
puts forward for your approval and support. The
ground I will first mention is indeed one of
very general character, because it rests upon the constitu-
tion of our common nature.—(Hear.) Ladies and gen"
tlemen, I like the occasional recurrence of celebrating
pomps, festivities, commemorations—call it by whatt
name you please. They seem to be in accordance pith
the feelings end interests implanted in the human breast.
—(Hear, hear.) Ido not think I can remember a tout'
try or an era which has dispensed with them. In l'"`
primitive East, both in ancient and our own times;
they have indulged mournful celebrations e!,
worship, and too often practised rude On-
horrid rites.—(Hear, hear.) In more enlightened o,l'l-
cultivated Greece they had their public games and tlihs;
plays f physical strength, ennobled, it is true, by L-d
susceptibility of that people to all the forms of taste at
beauty, and recorded in immortal story.—(Hear, hear')
Among the sterner Romans they generally accompaniedf
the long train and martial triumph up the steep sides
the Capitol, or the more degrading spectacles whi'
summoned the men and women of Rome to witness the
dying throes of the gladiator, or the bloody struggle:
of wild beasts.—(Cheers.) In our own age and
country, they naturally were of a softer aspect, but in
my judgment they have been too much confined to the
easier and wealthier classes, or connected with the pig'
suits of frivolity and dissipation.—(Cheers.) Well then
to be national, and to be but becoming to the period of
the world at which we are arrived, that industry, that
skill, that enterprise should have in its turn their own
ovations, their own triumphs, their own high holding-en
(Cheers) when the workmen and workwornen
ofcasneeindgo
forar
e the
doing purpose a
hd
of the world may escape for a time from their
unceasingfliow-worktmoielsnwhole
world over—(Cheers)—that they may see not bar'
baric rite, but useful inventions, not exhibitions of
physical prowess in the prize-ring or the foot-race, but
results which interest the mind and elevate the soul--.
but the arena where all ranks may
(Cheers)—not the crowded saloon or the heated theatre,
whatthe their
mingl©, where
all may learn, and all may profit by what they See.—
(Rear, hear.) Now, this is one ground which I think
this meeting puts forward for your support.—(Heat',
hear.) It may be reckoned, perhaps, as one of a rather
sentimental and fanciful character, and therefore to
another which seems to me to be more thorougly prao-
tical.—(Hear, hear.) The exhibition, if carried into
effect upon the scale which has been proposed, and which
is hoped for, will give to all pursuits and professions
all classes and' callings the opportunity of examining and
ascertaining the expedients by which the work which
forms the daily business of their lives may be expedite.d.
facilitated, assisted, and improved.—(Cheers.)
course I can't presume to classify all these kinds of pro.,
duetions; lam happy, however, to learn that a full
classification, which has been under the consideration of
_
the Commissioners, will shortly be submitted to the
world.—(Hear.) There may be the fabrics which
would suit the climates in which they live ; there nelsl
be tools and impliments calculated to lighten or to
shorten labour; there may be the discoveries of Walt;
flies or chemistry, which mould to the purposes of
man the attributes of matter, space, and time
(Cheers.) The, highest resources of which we IT
have been almost unconscious, but which have already
been discovered and adopted in other quarters of the..
globe, will be brought before them. And with reference
to this head I would observe, that, although like 11"
mover of this resolution, I cannot but look forward with
o__
pleasure and with hope to the evidences which your
toed
countrymen may afford of the distinguised progresys.irei
have made in the pursuits and acquirements of of
life, and especially'inthose whickrelate most prominehni,
to the general use and enjoyment, and concern thf4r,on
being of the masses—the millions, as it is now the thts et °e-
to to term them; and although I cannot forget en _w 0
casion, as I cannot forget on any occasion, 111
connexion with a district which has attaineeetino
marked eminence in all those departments of prods of
—I mean the West Biding of Yorkshire—the regionooo
the earth where the cutlery of Sheffield and the W9E7earr
manufactures of our country are produced--( ad-
h.
hear)—yet, I own to you, I do not only anticips7oo
10
vantages to my country from our victories, .:13 we
from our defeats.—(Hear, hear.) It is only wile' pro"
can compare—put side by aide what othersobtnin
duce and what we produce—that we can ttooee
the true measure both of our superiorities or defielv „led
—(Hear, hear.) We are too apt to be still dhisynio
without positive experience to think ourselves, ltw-l-siint'
use a homely expression, " the cock of our own -daalSs
—(A laugh.) It is with nations as with inehto
and we ought to say, like Bratus in the play--
"I should be glad to learn of better men. ven.
—(Cheers.) I believe in this world consumisrl rare
End of
hence cannot be attained, save only by the wore
development of merit, which exhibitions of thnineh 101-
bring forth, and by the force of the reaction tuolueere.)
Bung
upon the occasions of disappointment. -he
But, in order to secure the universality of
which vre
that we hope will be inspired, and the benefit ,t in ob-
hope will boo derived from this undertaking'prov idea,
viously necessary that the eccommodahionee,
in point cf dimensions and convenient
be upon an adequate scale—(Greatorder to malts
aed in order to secure that adequacy, 1
Ished Prince In
this undertaking worthy of the accomp Pena:44'a!
roads the suggestion—worthy of eminentthe.most
esseoub_
whom its development is confided--ht
oust of pu _
corresponding
that it should be met by a This country °/!eri
t whle
lie spirit and liberality.—(Cheers.)
experiment
it to him, owes it to itself, that the complete.
be full and °dyes
he has resolved to make should .d r the ° teni
when I consi e on
1
the inch
and I am of opinion that
en. _iseinings is_ to
appealed to, I have no permanent
tteenhie,al just „icon
of
heid; but with reference to this p
remark that in addition to whic so,
e source from
the ordinary .oerwo do
competition, there is on .we do cares_ of
11 nations
try invites a .to the°
sistance. Although this noun
it dos not invite The
the earth to be competitors,. yhttieos
the preliminaries. --rte not expect, and another from which
to b© contributors to
wholly natio
t.
end arrangements cut, t
the
lists
cf coropeititra;
(Cheers.) This country. enters forget thntd there
not
competition is to be interhouttioonabl,ebut the PreP,ranal.---
wih the whole world, but it does am
os;
is another class from whom w
do expect coruatopi hif
A and lam happy to learn that owns*
to discharge the office of hospitality. 1 ne",_ibutro