The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-03
THE GRAND INDUSTRIAL ExHfBI
TEON OF 1851.
MEETING or THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE FoR THE UEi
TED STATES.

Pursuant to the notice given, the Central Commit
zee mee al the Of the National Institute, IN th'
Patent Office, on Thursday evening the 18th instant
at o'clock
The meeting was called to orderly Professot Wal
| ter X. Johnson, on whose motion Col. Peter Forc'
| was called to the Chair, and Charles +. StanburJ
chosen Secretary of the meeting.
This temporary organization having been effected
the committee proceeded to organize fermspcntly by
the appointments of the Hon. Willard Fillmore, Vice
President OF the United States, Chairman, and Prof
Walter X. Johnson Secretary
AT the the request of the Chairman, Col Force,)
the following papers were read by Prot johnson, IN
explanation Of the appointment and duties OF the
committee
STATE DEPARTMEHT,
WASHINGTON, May II, 1850.
To the President Of the National Institute
for the Promotion Of Science.
SIRE have the honor herewith to transmit CO.
pies OF correspondence which has taken place be-
tween the Minister Plenipotentiary OF her Majesty
the Queen of Great Britain and this Department reia-
tive to the proposed Industrial Exhibition TO be held
in London in the year 1851
From the circular of the Royal Commissioners OF
Great Britain, hereto annexed it Will observed that
all objects intended to be introduced from foreign
countries and entered for that Exhibition are required
to have been first submitted to and approved by
trail authority commission of the country from
which they shall be brought, and that other will
be recognized a central authority except such as
shall have been certified by the Government OF the
country in which it exists.
That American industry and arts may be enabled to
appear the place allotted to them, it will be nds-
pensablc that recognized central authority should be
constituted and under the impression that the
National institutes having been regularly incorporated
by act of Congress, and being habituay engaged in
matters pertaining to the arts and sciences, Is the
proper body for taking the initiative i'll constituting
such a central authority.
therefore beg leave to submit to its consideration
the interesting and important subject which has been
brought to the attention ri this Department by the
distinguished Envoy of Mr Majesty's Government,
and to request such action suggestions may
necessary in order that the natural productions the
ingenuity, industry, and arts Of the United States
may be fully and suitably represented ON the interest
ing occasion herein referred to.
l have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours,
JOHN Nj. CLAYTON.
This communication was laid before the National
Institute ard by it referred to a select committee,
which brought forward the following report:
Report Of the Committee Of The National Institute:
The special committee to which was referred
the communication from the Hon. John M. Clay
ton, Secretary Of State, relative to the formation
of a central authority for transmitting articles to
the Industrial Exhibition to be held in London in
1851, offers the following report
The committee, impressed with the importance
of the subject commended to the Institute, have
given TO it their earnest and careful attention.
The resources, the ingenuity, the industry, and
arts of the United States conceived to merit
he best eddeavors to procure for them the oppor
unities of being adequately represented in the
great Industrial Exhibition at London.
Aggreeabiy to the programme adopted by the Roy
al Commission, no articles to be received from
Foreign Exhibitors except those which shall have
been approved by central authority, recognized
such by the Government of the country from which
they sent.
This Institute being the only Society for the Pro-
oton of Science and the Arts, directly incorporated
by the Government, the Secretary of State has deem
ed it the appropriate body to take actio n make sug
gesons relative to the fulfment of the wishes Of the
Royal Commissioners, by the establishment of such
central authority as the seems to require.
To this voluntary proposal on the part of the Sec
rotary OF State, the committee consider the National
Institute in duty bound to respond.
In accordance with this view, the committee re-
spectfully recommend the following resolution
L.. ReSOiued, That the Institute will take action
the subject submitted TO it by the Department OF
State.
2. Reso'pGd, That the Institute do now proceed
to constitute committee suitable to be recognised by
the Government central body to hold correspond
with the British Commissioners. and to secure
the reception OF American productions at the proposed
Industrial Exhibition in London
PETER FORCE,
JOSEPH HENRY,
WALTER II. JOHNSON, ) Committee.
]. j. GREENOUGH,
CHARLES WILKES,