The southern press., 1851-09-06
The WorId,a Fair.

Fair will be read with Interest;
LONDON, June "a, 1851.
To His Ercellency. Joseph Walker,
Gouernor of the State Of Louisiana
S1R:-Shortly after you did me the favor, in
| February last to honor me with commission to
attend (as one of the commissioners in behalf
of the State of Louisiana,) the Great Industrial
Exhibition, then proposed to be held IN this city,
| | left home, and arrived here in season to be
present at the opening on the lst OF May last,
| by the Queen in person, of the most charming
and magnificent of all earthly spectacles; the
peaceful display of the triumph of art and
science, and the works Of industry of all nations,
and which are sho vn in magnificent edifce,
covering a space of about twenty-one acres OF
ground in Hyde Park, one of the chief and most
graceful ornaments of the great commercial me-
tropolis of the world.
Ample space had been appropriated by the
executive committee of the royal commissioners,
for the display of all such objects as might be
sent from all countries and in this distribution
the position allotted to the United States was
very conspicuous, but unhappily our contribu-
tions have been not only very small, but | am
pained to add, in the main mean and meagre; all
which attribute to the fact that our people
generally doubted the success OF the Exhibition,
| into which error they were unhappily led by the
principal English journals, and by the tone and
temper of many of our journals, in which the
purposes of the proposed Exhibition were ridi-
| culed, and its ultimate success questioned and
treated most slightingly. Happily, all these pre-
dictions have utterly failed, and do not suppose
that human annals contain the record of any
combined effort so eminently successful in all
respects, especially in the construction of the
beautiful edit e, and in the matchless order and
system prevailing in every department.
Other causes, doubtless, contributed to our
misfortune, for such truly regard our position
| in the presence Of other nations who are here
by their works of industry, and by representa-
tives from every quarter Of the globe In the
| first place, the distance of our country from the
threatre of the proposed Exhibition was so
great as to deter large numbers of our agricul-
turists, mechanics and manufacturers from en-
gaging in the enterprise and besides, the time
at first fixed for closing the doors to the admis-
sion of articles for exhibition, was really so
limited as to forbid the hope of proper prepara-
| ton of such objects as might be deemed worthy
specimens of our art and industry. | am per-
suaded that if the slightest effort had been
made, and any just ideas had been entertained
of the real character and purposes, and of the
probable results of this great Exhibition, our
people, generally, would have taken more
cordial interest in the subject, and that any
one STATE could have acquitted herself more
creditably, than we now see in the contributions
of the united circle. New countries where
habits and pursuits are necessarily of the utili-
tartan order, could not be expected to enter
upon any Just or fair terms of competition with
people whose genius has been actively em-
4 ployed for centuries. The activity of youth
is never fairly compared-still less never honest.
ly placed in invidious contrast with the results
of age and experience. We have, therefore,
the satisfaction to see among our contributions
the very results which indicate great activity
and shrewdness-utility and taste in such de-
veopements as contribute to personal comfort,
and to the moral and intellectual advancement
of the masses Of the people-hence, contribu-
tions in the department of agricultural imple-
ments and inventions, in the numberess sub
jects of the domestic arts in music and in sculp-
ture, works of the highest merit are presented,
and doubt not, will share literally in the re-
ports of the jurors of awards. II is gratifying
to every American TO perceive, that however
serious our shortcomings in other matters, one
object the offspring of native genius, attracts
universal attention and commands unqualified
commendation the statue of the Greek slave,
by Hiram Powers, whose worldwide fame has
placed him the formost in the front rank Of his
profession, and to whom, as ! humbly think,
Louisiana has done herself abiding honors by
confiding the Office of making a statue of
Washington to adorn the halls of the capitol.
, The educational effect of this Exhibition must,
: think, be of the most happy aud lasting influ-
ence on all the nations of the earth The adj
vantages have been supposed by some persons
to preponderate chiefly, If not altogether, in IA
vor of England In my humble opinion that is
|, a very narrow and contracted view of the SUBJ
ect | cannot suppose that she will derive more
T than full and fare share of the benefits, con-
tingent or future. The sovereign has very grace
fully, but not ostentatiously, lent the weight Of
her high office to carry out the designs Of the Ex
hibition and personally has manifested the most
praise. worthy interest and zeal in the develop
ment of them. The feeling among the foreign
commissioners and jurors is, | make no question,
universal, that the official courtesies and hosp-
talities Of this city and country have been ex.
hibiied in a spirit of kindness and lberality
which has created lasting and grateful impress
sions.
Mutual kindness and mutual respect must
follow this better acquaintance which all the ma.
tons Of the earth have now had an opportunity
of making, under the most favorable and agreea.
BILE circumstances, Of each Others resources,
taste, skill, and industry. Thus the Industrial
Exhibition Of 1851 will have contributed, in n
larger and more enduring degree than all other
events or inventions Of this country, whether
considered separately or collectively, 10 advance
the cause of human knowledge and human hap
piness. New vigor and more enlarged, liberal
views, and better knowledge will be impaired
and felt in all the departments Of agriculture,
art, science manufacture and commerce.
Next to our modification in the small share Of
our country in the contributions to this Exhb-
ton, is the profound regret experienced by all
the Americans in the feeble and utterly incom-
peient character of the agent appointed by the
central committee at Washington, and TO that
cause Is TO bc ascribod, in very prominent de
gree, our failure In the Exhibition Of even Of
such objects as we have here.
All other nations have delegated men Of edu-
cation Of high character and respect in their own
country, TO act as their chief commissioner or re-
preventative, and have thus secured TO them
selves great advantages by judicious arrange
ment and tasteful, skillful management and com.
binatlons OF the articles contributed and confded