The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-11-12
Close of the Worlds Fair.
LoXpoN, October lG. 1851


The Great Exhibition Of the Industry Of
all Nations has closed. 1t dies IN its strength,
and whilst sill attracting its hundreds Of
thousands. 1t has not ouiivod its welcome,
nor survived its fame. 1t has not like mere
vulgar speculation, been allowed 10 wear
itself out. 1t has lived its summer, during
which all have bad an opportunity of con-
tempaling its treasures. II has run its al,
ottcd time, and must now take its place
among the brilliant recollections of the past
All has gone well; and that which year
ago was little more than noble idea, has becn
most worthily embodied and converted into a
practical reality. Never, perhaps, has the
world witnessed more humanizing specta>
Gle never was success more signal. From
first TO last it has been one continuous tri.
umpb, with nothing to mar or detract from
its completeness
Before giving the closing statistics of this
great affair we would call attention to two
most importer facts, both bearing most
closely upon the character Of the Exhibi>
ton. The first is, that no fewer than $40
schools, containing 43,7l5 pupils, have via
tied the Exhibition the greater part of
these were charity and free schools, and the
children we're admitted through the benev-
olence Of individuals The same kind spirit
has operated for the admission of nearly H.
600 poor persons Of more advanced age
Whilst the halo OF extended bcnevoence is
thus cast around this great spectacle, it also
possesses the charm Of singular immunity
from crime. 1t is found that, whilst from the
lst Of May TO the lth OF October no fewer
than 6,20l $50 visits were paid 10 an exbibi-
tion,the contents Of which were worth from
five 10 ten millions sterling, the number of
charges made for offences committed within
the building was twenty five; Of which nine
were for picking-pockels, six for attempts to
do so, and ten for petty larcenie, at stalls.
We have heard this remarkable freedom
from crime and disorder attributed in some
degree to the very overpowering effect OF
the building and its contents: the first cer-
tainly, in even an unInaginaiive mind, was
calculated to inspire awe and almost rever>
encej whilst the rich profusion around of all
that was beautiful, graceful, and excellent
could not fail in some degree to subdue all
the coarser and lower feelings of humanity
and make man reverence himself by being
for a moment desirous of elevation TO the
exhibited capabilily OF his nature We are
willing 10 allow great moral power in the
Exhibition, but we fear that much of the
good conduct oil the assembled millions must
be attributed 10 less elevated cause.-The
| knowledge Of the presence Of an ever
walchful but often not perccplible police.
Your readers must now excuse few fig
ut es. The number ol visiters on the las
three days of last week was I9O,7S7; the
amount received was 9ll, l04 2s Cd. The
number for the whole week was $40, ,2S0
the receipts s29, 794 lis. The amount re-
ceived from all sources during the five months
and eleven days was s4G9 ll5s l3d. the
estimated expenses about sal0,00O thus
leaving a surplus Of more than quarter o
a million sterling. The greatest number OF
persons in the building at one time is sup
posed to have been $4,000, at two o'clock on
the Tuesday of the last week. The cata-
loguo of the contents of the Exhibition
owing perhaps to the haste in which it was
prepared, proved to he the least satisfactory
Of anything connected with tho affair. It's
arrangement was very imperfect, and it was
really Of no use to visiters you rarely saw
any one referring TO it. 1t was, Of course
not so remuneraiiye 10 the contractors as IT
was expected 10 be, and the Commissioners
have in consequence relinquished the seigno'
rage OF two pence upon each copy sold which
the printers agreed to pay. As il was, the
number sold was upward. Of 250,0o0. The
building was opened on Monday and Tues
day Of this week 10 the exhibitors, each oi
whom had the privilege of introducing two
friends; this arrangement would have al
lowed ngress to about $4,000 persons. The
number, however, did not exceed 10000 on
! either day. Her majesty manifested that