The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-03
4 H L R Z ? u Bill C 4.
From The London Times Of June l4h.
The Great Exhibition Of 1851.

We have received the following observations from
a London manufacturer of great and deserved ce-
lebrity. They will be found to deserve attentive
perusal:
Ia spite of the published decisions Of the Royal
Commission many persons still under the Inn
preston that all foreign goods for the exhibition
arc to be admitted duty free. Now, TO the latter
point il has been clearly and distinctly stated that
all foreign goods admitted to the Exhibition must
at the close of il either be sent back, exported to
other countries, or pay the duty to which they are
liable, so that they will have noadvantage whatever
over goods imported in the usual course o business
On the contrary there will be This disadvantage
prices will be catalogucd with all most of them
although not permitted To be affixed to the goods
themselves; those prices will include the ordinary
costs and charges Of importation and the officers o
customs will probably take that dnty is paid
upon the cataogued price, thereby evying upon all
articles subjcct to an ad Udlorem duty about one
fifth more than they would otherwise have to pay
for it is well known that goods are not generally
entered for duty their full value
As TO the fears OF an influx Of foreign goods, la
show they are perfectly groundless il is only neces
sary to state that the exhibition OF manufactured
goods will consist OF single pieces articles,
pes or specimens. There will only be shawl
OF pattern only one chair of the dcs gn, not
a set OF chairs in fact only one length of any ma
torlal OF The same texture, color, or design, from
the same manufacturer. In the articles OF rich silks
for furniture, my experience Of the two last Paris
expositons tells me that the exhibition will mainly
consist OF samples from one to three yards long
lutTt VIII not DE TWO CLOCKS Ol tne same design,
although there may probably be pairs of cabinets,
candcabras, and some other articles. OF paper
hanging there will only be samples. feel certain
that the whole exhibition of foreign furniture from
France and Germany, il all sold in this mar ket,
would not amount in value " what is produced in
one fortnight in this metropolis. ] think have
said enough 10 show that the exhibition will not
cause any unusual influx Of foreign goods, such
was experienced after the late continental revolu
ions. Next, as to the orders that il is feared una
be given to foreigners directly, by private indvid
uals, from their samples, specimens, articles at
the exhibition and how far the interests OF London
houses in the habit Of importing and dealing in
such articles likely to be affected.
Now, to give orders from specimens implies con-
hdence IN persons to whom they are given, and TO
establish confidence there must either be good
recommendation or some previous knowledge Of a
party. II there be IN some quarters prestige in
favor of French or foreign taste, there exists at the
same time, TO counteract il, great doubt of the
sound and substantial manufacture of articles in
which durability is required. This is more espe-
cialy the case as regards furniture and that which
appertains Ia 1t, and II is in that branch of manu-
iacture that orders would most probably be given
from specimens, if given at all.
Now, II is TO be remarked that with neigh
bors, the French, great care lis bestowed and much
expense incurred ~ order 10 attain excellence in
the articles exhibited and If an order Is given from
the specimens. II Is more than probable that what
is supplied will prove inferior in quality oxecu
ton TO the article exhibited. My experience in
;veral instances confirms this view, aud believe
II Is so generally entertained that in very few in
stances would orders be given except TO manutac
turers who have aread, an European reputation
and established conne4iQns in this country. The
exhibitors OF silks, shawls fancy fabrics, would be
manufacturers, and as such would decline W re-
ceive any orders except from wholesale or retail
dealers.
The best manufacturers of paper hangings have
already established agencie in this country hose
travellers visit all the large in the provinces
to effect saes or receive orders and IT ia not proba
bic that the exhibition could lead 20 any extension
! OF their business IN competition with the manufac
turcrsot this country, who have made very great
| improvements within The last few years u there
be any tradeslnen shp have been charging exorbi-
tant profits on articles imported from the cont
nent, II 10 possible that they may suffer some lUss
Of custom and some dimnutiap dl gaiu, but at the
same time, those who have dealt Iairly with the
public cannot lose and ~ them the effect Of the
exhibition IA all probability will be an increase Of
business The objection that the exhibition will
tend 10 show the great superiority Of foreigners,
more especially the French, and thgs pOyo Injuri-
QUE ~ the uanuiaoturers end artisans pf this
Try, u equally without reason. Already il is we'll
known 70 the public and persons engaged in trade,
Ia what manufactures We ate surpassed ON the
continent, by tho importation of the fabrics that
are not produced equally good or cheap here. Upon
importers who frequently visit or have agents re-
siding at the prncp manufac turing cities on the
continent and who keep the market fully supplied
the exhibition can have little o, 40 influence anG
l., therefore, not likely ~ lead 70 the results apprc-
hendod, Alter all, itls by no means certain, that
there will be any superiority ON the part Of foreign
crs; while in all that appertains supplying thc
wants OF the million and middle clssscs, british
manufactures are unri, allied
IL Is urged by many hat zoe undertaking Is too
yast, aud that 81 never can be carried out in sat
isisoiory manner That 1t will be work OF i'm
'nense labor and anxiety, and of great complies ty
and difficulty alec IN arranging tAe dCtaill those
Who have Undertaken the TASK must BY this time
have discovered. Without experience, anu with
nTIsf A.. fI..fr. a
interests 20 reconcile aud conciliate; with con eict-
in. opinions Un important pOints from various
t,--,io,- equally onhtlcd 20 consideration, and a
correspondence with every nation upon the lace OF
the globe, the work that has to be- done il indeed
lierCuloan
Ihg piogiess already made by the royal oomIni-.
tlOu, tile an XOus aud careful consideration given to
al suggesuons-inorc especially by the liustrious
Prince at its head, and the conclusions already ar
rived at ON many important points, the Jealous and
cihcicnt assistance given by local minissionc.s
PRACTICALLY acquainted with t,ado aud
la their several lOcahtics-s tend 10 inspire con b.
hdeucc uist tins great and unprecedented eshbi-
Iion viii be successfully and triumphanty carried
out. Having disposed, trust satisfactorily, OF
some Oi the doubts, fears, aud dficultics ! will
nov cnuuieraic . few ~ t.,o spfaausges that must
naturally accrue, aud Ia 20 doing will not touch
upon the peaceful of moral effects, bat a man of
business aud manufsctu turcr, cOnfne my Otserya-
tons exclusively 10 those either directly indi-
rcCtly commercial.
W ~ gthctdliy admitted thai We arc iag bssiud
OPP corqncnla4 nFigAtogs ia designs iQr woven OF
printed hbnfs, sculpture as applied W useful aud
ornamental purpOscs, aud the plastic art Hitherto
our schoos VI design have done lutte towards cdu.
caiing class OF artists tU be useiul To our inauufac
lures THIS cannot be from any want uf the requi
site capabilities n us nation, fOr our ulptors
aud painters are az tins time certainly not nicriur
70 those ui any cOuntryin Europe IL would occ upy
too much space, and be rather beside the subject
THIS letter, ~ examine into the causss al Ous lack
Vardnes3 ~ ihc agt OF designing Tor manufactures.
very considerable progress, however, has been
made d late years, much of which trace TO the
emulation excited IN the breasts of our des gncrs
and Manufacturers who visited the French eshibi-
ton in lSii, by the high degree of excellence per
yading the Vario = productions therein collected.
have heard several of them admit the great benefit
they had derived from witnessing that cShibitiOn,
snd have hal ample proof of it since In their
greatly Improved predictions. This being the
case, n must be OF incalculablc advantage 10 our
designers and manufacturers 10 have the Opportu.
NIFTY OF studying ior four months, At their convc-
nencc, the best productions of other countries,
without having To incur the loss Of time and ex-
peu-cs OF travelling and soiourning in the capitals oi
various European nations. Surely this u an adj
vantage diaieult lo estimate too highly
Our artisans, also, looking with eyes Of prsc-
tlcal men upon the workmanship and contrivsnces
OF other countries will readily perceive where there
~ an improved method 10y which the same resul,