The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-11-03
PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. oct. .. 4

PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, Oct. 2, 1850.
Sin We directed by her Majesty co, for
the exhibition OF 1851 10 acquant your exceeney o the in
formation OF The American commission, that wall space
not included in the total Of square feet appor-
Toned to the exhibition OF American works OF industry
The space notified to your exceency relates to floor
Of one-ha for passages, &C In addition TO This space
therefore, there will be at The disposal Of each country
proportionae OF wall space-he extent OF which,
however, is in the power of the commissioners 10
state al present with precision, inasmuch its surface
must pend upon the Intervention Of columns, &c,
building being erected Tor the purposes of the exhbi
ton The commissioners are however, desrou, that
TINS point should be clearly understood by your commits
We further directed to take advantage Of this oppor.
uniry offer your exceency few remarks with re-
gard 10 the regulation OF the commissioners against the
atxinR OF prices to articles exhbeda subject respecting
which various communications have been addressed to
them.
ltmay be promised that, in the first the English
manufacturers had been the most anxious that prices
should DO affixed they OF opinion that cheapness
Of production the element Of manufactures in which
beauty design But on a manure consideration OF the
question the could but be sensible Of the
great difficulty attendant allowing the adoption OF such
course Representations Were addressed TO them from
many quarters expressing alarm lest the exhibition should
he diverted from its obecthat OF the display
the productions Of human indusryino vast bazaar for
the sale OF goods at prices lower than those which be
accepted by retailers who have establishments TO maintain
and rent and taxes 70 pay They moreover found that
difficult 70 regulate the manner OF doing so without giving
an opening tor deception even when unintentional Elk
hlbers, according to the capacity in which they exhibit
ed, would state the price OF production, the selling
prices which again might mean the wholesale price, the
al ns ns 9
with the state OF the market But still graver objection
from the could be security
the prices being all bona fds, because, although
in some countries there might be Internal mechanism for
great and watchulness the part of the central
thortes, yet in very large number Of such IA
ciy existed, and therefore there could be
the attainment of that desirable object equality Of
competition.
On these grounds therefore, commissioners arrived
at the resolution IN question AT the time, il should
be borne IN mind tnat their decision on this point recog
nses the importance of the element of price deciding
the relative merits Of rival articles and accordingly in
all cases where the award Of prizes will be made In respect
to articles exhibited the of production will be sub
ject of consideration in giving judgment
We avail ourselves Of this opportunity offer your
ceency the OF the high consideration and
with which have the honor sign ourselves your ex-
celencys most faithful servants,
]. SCOTT RUSSELL,
EDGAR A. BOWRINC,
For SrRATFoRp H. NoRrHcorE,
To his Ercelency ABBorr LAWRENCE. esq.