The New York herald., 1850-12-17
Ascendancy of Money at the Exhibition for
all Nations,
[From the London spectat

=. From the London Spectator, NOV. 10.
The great exhibition IN Hyde Park must be
something more than mere show. III the design
be properly carried out, and Its capabilities fully
developed, the manufacturing skill and inventive
spirit OF the nation cannot fail TO be called into full
exercise by the stimulus Of foreign as well as of
native rivalry in the presence of the assembled
world. There is some fear, however, that in the
arrangements 10 give elect TO the exhibition, more
attention may be made 10 display than TO utility;
that those objects will be most favored which ex-
hibit to advantage the application OF capital to
manufacturing industry; and that the possessors of
wealth viii have the best chance as exhibitors
The ingenious artisan and the obscure inventor,
TO whose ingenuity it was expected the exhibition
would bring notice and reward seem 10 have been
sngularly disregarded din the arrangements made
subsequently, to the original design 1t was in the
ilrst instance proposed that money prizes of empt
ing amounts should be offered for the best preduc
uons IN sach department OF the exhibition. This
plan was abandoned, at the suggestion of those 10
whom money! no object in comparison with hon.
orary distinction; and thus the necesstous work.
man is deprived of the chief inducement to become
competitor. 1t is, indeed, in contemplation to
make peeuniary grants in certain cases to the
poorer class Of successful competitors; but dis
iinction of this kind is indviduous and if carried
into effect would convert the intended honor into
a mark of degradation
Another of the proposed regulations appears to
favor capitalists unduy, by giving the purchaser
of an Invention or OF manufactured article the
privilege OF exhibiting II and competing for prize
with The original PRODUCER; Her mayesty's COM
y
an application Of this regulation as the words inn
ply; but iii be intended that the mere claim OF
having become possessed by purchase of another
mans invenli0n--if such mere moneymerit is 10
be placed by the prize. juries in competition with
the claim of the original inyentor-it will be
direct acknowledgment of the overpowering in
iluence of wealth, where inventive genius and
manufacturing skill should alone be recognized.
The decision of the commissioners not to allow
prices 10 be affixed to the articles exhibited, is
another OF the points that requires TO be reconsd-
version of the crystal palace into bazaar for the
sale OF goods; but in very many cases the merit of
articles must depend on the price at which they
can be produced. IL is, indeed, admitted that the
cost must be inquired into by juries; but the public
are to be kept in the dark The commissioners
"fully recognise that excellence in production is
not only to be looked for In highpriced goods, in
which much cost Of labor and skill has been en-
ployed, but they encourage the exhibition of low
priced fabrics when combining quality with low
ness OF price or with novelty Of production They
can readily conceive that juries will be justified
in giving the same class medal to the cheapest
calico print made for the Brazilian or other South
American market, as they would TO the finest
piece Of mousselaine de sole or mousseline de
laine,. IL each possessed excellence of its own
hind. With strange inconsistency, however,
though admitting The cost OF an article TO be an
important element in estimating its merit, the COM
missoners refuse TO let the price be publicly
known; and the exhibitor Of a cheap article may
be disgraced in general estimation by the coarse
ness Of fabric which may, on account of its
latent properties, be deemed worthy of first class
prize. sensible letter from DR.. Stolle, of Berlin,
in the Morning ChT0niclc, points out strongly the
inexpediency Of the exclusion Of prices. II, as he
observes, the objects exhibited are TO be viewed
without reference TO the cost Of production, the
rarest exotic might surpass in apparent value a
similar product from its indigenous cline, and ST.
Peiersburgh might bear away the prize from
Smyrna in the growth OF figs. The cost be-
slowed upon manufactured article would thus in
most cases constitute It's merit: and the exhibition
instead OF being repertory of the productions OF
useful industry, weud be in great measure a
mere holiday show.
has also disappeared from the original Plan; and If
an inventor were 70 avail himself of this opportu
pity OF public notice and patronage, he would be
deprived by the exhibition II all property in his
invention. A recent rule laid down by the Aitor-
ney General, requiring descriptions Of inventions
TO be lodged by applicants for patents, will have
good effect by preventing the exclusive appropris-
ton oi inventions exhibited, through including them
in the specifications Of patents previously obtained;
but inventors are in nowse protected from spoation
by the world at large. Dr. Stole makes an impor-
tant suggestion in reference to this subject View
ing every new and useful application Of scientific
principles q boon 10 mankind in general, he pro-
POSES that the right Of property TO such inventions
should be acknowledged by all civilized nations,
necessity OF separate applications to the
government OF each
The directions Of the commissioners which we
have poirtcd out, oil departures from what was
originally proposed as the objects Of the exhibition
II s not too late 70 retrace the steps taken in favor
Of capital 10 the pre- udce Of ingenious industry
Some of the changes that have been Introduced
may probably add TO the splendor Of the display Of
British manufactures, but they have n tendency TO
diminish the reward of ingenuity and skill on |
"A. If