The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-29 00:00:00

EXHIBITION OF THE WORKS OF
INDIJTItY OF ALL NATIONS IN 1851.

NOTICE. REGARDING 1-ttIZES•
Her Majesty's Commissioners for promoting the
Exhibition of 1851, bay,' had under their considera-
tion the subject of the prizes to be awarded to E xhi-
bitors, and have resolved to take immediate steps for
having medals sun, k of various sizes and different
designs, it being their opinion that this is the form
in which it will, generally speaking, be most desir-
able that the rewards should be distributed. They
will endeavour to secure the assistance of the most
eminent artists of all countries in producing the
medals, which will, they hope, be valuable as works
of art of the highest class, besides serving as records
of distinction in connexion with the Exhibition. They
have decided to select bronze for the material in
which the medals are to be executed, considering
that metal to be better calculated than any other for
the development of superior skill and ingenuity in
the medallic art, and at the same time the most
likely to constitute a lasting memorial of the Exhi-
bition. A notice, stating the conditions of compe-
tition, will be issued without delay:
With regard to the mode in which the primes are
to be awarded, the Commissioners think it inexpedient
to establish beforehand, rules so precise as to fetter
the discretion of the juries, upon which the task will
ultimately devolve. It will be sufficient for the pre-
sent to indicate the general principles to which it will
probably be advisable to conform, in the award of
prizes for successful competition in the several de-
partments of the Exhibition.
Io the department of raw materials and produce,
-for instance, prizes will be awarded upon a considera-
tion of the value and importance of the article, and
the superior excellence of the particular specimens
exhibited ; and in the case of prepared materials,
coming under this head of the exhibition, the juries
will take into account the novelty and importance of
the prepared product, and the superior skill and inge-
nuity manifested in the process of preparation.
In the department of machinery, the prizes will be
given with reference to novelty in the invention, su-
periority in the execution, increased efficiency, or
increased economy, in the use of the article exhibited.
Tne importance, in a social or other point of view, of
the purposes to which the article is to be applied will
also be taken into consideration, as will also the
amount of the difficulties overcome in bringing the in-
vention to perfection.
In the department of manufactures, those articles
will be rewarded which fulfil in the highest degree the
conditions specified in the sectional list already pub-
lished, viz : -
Increased usefulness, such as permanency in dyes,
improved forms and arrangements in articles of
utility, &c. Superior quality or superior skill in
workmanship. New use of known materials. Use
of new materials. New combinations of materials,
as in metal and pottery. Beauty of design in form,
or colour, or both, with reference to utility. Cheap-
ness, relatively to excellence of production.
In the department of sculpture, models, and the
plastic art, the rewards will have reference to the
beauty and originality of the specimens exhibited, to
improvements in the processes of production, to the
application of art to manufactures, and in the case of
models, to the interest attaching to the subject they
represent.
These general indications are sufficient to show
that it is the wish of the Commissioners, as far as
possible, to reward all articles in any department of
the exhibition which may appear to competent judges
to possess any decided superiority, of whatever nature
that superiority may be, in their own kind. In se-
lecting the juries who are ultimately to guide them
in making their reward, the Commissioners will take
the greatest pains to secure the services of men of
known ability to form a judgment, above the suspi-
cion of either national or individual partiality (for
which purpose they will be composed partly of Eng-
lish and partly of foreigners) ; and who may be ex-
pected to recognise and appreciate merit wherever it
may be found, and in whatever way it may show it-
self. The names of persons selected to act on these
juries Rill be published when decided upon.
A question having been put to the Commissioners
OA to the parties who will be allowed to exhibit, and
who will be considered to be entitled to the prizes,
they avail themselves of this opportunity to state, that
all persons, whether being the designers or inventors,
the manufacturers or the proprietors, of any articles,
will be allowed to exhibit, and that it will not be
essential that they should state the character in which
they do so. In awarding the prizes, however, it will
be for the juries to consider in each individual case
how far the various elements of merit should be re-
cognised, and to decide whether the prize should be
handed to the exhibitor without previous inquiry as
to the character in which he exhibits.
Lastly, the Commissioners have to state that, in an-
nouncing their intention of giving medal prizes, they
do not propose altogether to exclude pecuniary
grants, either as prizes for succesful competition, or
as awards under special circumstances, accom-
panying and in addition to the honorary dis-
tinction of the medal. There may be cases in which, on
account of the condition of life of the successful com-
petitors (as, for instance, in the case of workmen),
the grant of a sum of money may be the most ap-
propriate reward of superior excellence ; and there
mov be other cases of a special and exceptional na-
ture, in which, from a consideration of the expense
incurred in the preparation or transmission of a par-
ticular article entitled to a prize, combined with a
due regard to the condition and pecuniary circum-
stances of the party exhibiting, a special grant may,
with propriety, be added to the honorary distinction.
The Commissioners are not prepared, for the present
at least, to establish any regulations on these heads.
They consider it probable that a wide discretion must
be left to the juries to be hereafter appointed in re-
spect to the award of money prizes, or the grant of
money in aid of honorary distinctions; it being un-
derstood that such discretion is to be exercised
under the superintendence and control of the CAn-

mission.
The Commissioners will resume the consideration
of this subject as soon as they shall be able to cal-
culate the cost of the dies and the execution of the
medals, on the preparation of which they have decided.
(Signed) J. SCOTT RUSSELL, Secretaries.
STAFFORD IL NORTHCOTE,

NOTICE REGARDING DESIGNS FOR MEDALS.
her Majesty's Commissioners for promoting the
storks of industry of all nations hereby give notice—
That it is their intention to give medals as rewards
in the forthcoming exhibition ; and they hereby invite
the artists of all countries to enter into competition
for the production of such medals, subject to the fol-
lowing conditions :-
1. It is intended to strike three bronze medals, of
different sizes and of different designs.
2. The obverses of these medals, for which no de-
signs are required, will contain portraits of her Mii-
jesty and of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and
will be executed in this country.
3. Three prizes of 1001. each will be given for
the three designs for the reverses which may appear
the most meritorious, and the most suitable to the
purpose of the Commissioners.
4. Three prizes of 501. each will be given for the
three best designs which are not accepted.
5. The reverses should be illustrative of the objects
of the exhibition, or appropriate as the rewards of
successful competition.
6. The designs are to be sent to the secretaries of
the Commission on or before the Ist of June, 1850,
addressed to No. 1, Old Palace-yard. They must be
nine inches in diameter, executed in basso-miler°, in
plaster of Paris
7. A space must be reserved for a short inscription.
8. The same artist may compete for all the three

medals.
9. The name of the designer is to be sent in a sealed
paper attached to the design. This paper will not be
opened till the Commissioners have decided to whom
the prize should be awarded.
10. The Commissioners postpone consideration of
the execution of the dies, reserving to themselves the
right of making such arrangements for executing the
succesful designs as may appear to them the best.
(Signed) J. SCOTT RusspLL, Secretaries.
STAYFORD H. NORTUCOTS,

Her Majesty's Commissioners hare addressed the
following communication to the local committees for
promoting the Exhibition of Industry of all Nations
in 1651
Ihr Majesty's Commissioners think it desirable in
this stage of their proceedings to advert to their an-
nouncement of the 21st of February last, in which they
•` reserve to themselves ample powers of rejection and
• selection" of objects intended for exhibiton.
It is the wish of the Commissioners to limit, as far as
possible, the necessity for the exercise of those powers •
and for that purpose, to call to their assistance the
local knowledge and discretion of the several local com-

mittees.
They consider that it vfouli be desirable that the
local committees should, without delay, enter into per-
sonal communication with those persous resident within
their district who are likely to be exhibitors ; and that
they should ascertsin the character and number of the
objects which it would be their wish to send to the

Exhibition.
They are desirous of receiving, at as early a period as
possible, on or before the lath of May, the general re-
sult of the inquiries instituted by the committe es, and a
general estimate of the articles likely to be supplied,
which, in the opinion of the committee, may be fitly ex-
hibited, supposing there were ample space.
Before a final determination be adopted in respect to
the selection of objects to be transmitted, the Commis-
sioners hope to be enabled to depute one or two well-
quslified persons to visit the several districts from which
articles of the same general character are likely to be
supplied; and enter into personal communication with
each of the local committees, for the purpose of giving
them information on any points on which they may be
enabled to afford it; and for the purpose also of enabling
the Commissioners to judge from the collective reports
of the persons employed by them, in what manner the
power of selection and rejection reserved to the Com-
Laski:3lora OA be ultimately exercised WA couiietently