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 P LIBRARY <Sy 
 
CORNELL IINIVERSITV LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 098 820 628 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
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CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
FIFTY YEARS OF PUBLIC WORK 
 
 OF 
 
 SIR HENRY COLE, K.C.B. 
 
FIFTY YEARS OF PUBLIC WORK 
 
 OF 
 
 SIR HENRY COLE, K.CB. 
 
 ACCOUNTED FOR IN HIS DEEDS 
 
 SPEECHES AND WRITINGS. 
 
 'whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." 
 ecclesiastes, ix. jo. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET 
 
 COVENT GARDEN 
 
 MDCCCLXXXIV 
 
^^^sifps 
 
 
 CHISWICK PRESS I — C. WHITTINGHAM AND CO., TOOKS COURT, 
 CHANCEKY LANE. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 WORK WITH THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Parliaments of our ancestors, £in article in the " Westminster Review " . 1-17 
 
 Reform in printing evidence taken before the House of Commons Com- 
 mittees, a pamphlet printed anonymously ..... 18-23 
 
 Committees of the House of Commons — Administration by large num- 
 bers, an article in the " London and Westminster Review " . . 24-35 
 
 History of the Public Records, an article in the " Penny Cyclopaedia " . 36-50 
 
 On the perilous state and neglect of the Public Records, an article in the 
 
 " Westminster Review " 51-62 
 
 List of publications connected with the Record Commission and Public 
 
 Records, by Henry Cole 63-66 
 
 Henry the Eighth's scheme of Bishopricks — Extracts from the Prefatory 
 
 Remarks 67-81 
 
 Appendix I. to Public Records. 
 Speech of Charles Buller, Esq., M.P. for Liskeard, on Public Records. 82-89 
 
 Appendix II. 
 
 Privilege of Parliamentary proceedings. — Sir Francis Palgrave's Petition 
 to the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Record 
 Commission. .......... 89-91 
 
 Appendix III. 
 Mr. Braidwood on fires, copy of a letter to Henry Cole, Esq. . . 92-94 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Report of an imaginary scene at Windsor Castle respecting the Uniform 
 
 Penny Postage 95-101 
 
 Committee of Merchants in aid of the Parliamentary Committee . . loi 
 Great weight and no price ! Little weight and all price ! ! Illustration in 
 
 the Post Circular 102-103 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 Illustrative collection of materials for the agitation for Penny Postage 104-105 
 List of the papers issued under the direction of the Mercantile Committee 
 
 on Postage . . . . . . . . . . 105-106 
 
 Specimens of some of the Petitions prepared and distributed . . 106-108 
 Essay on Stamps, a letter addressed to the Lords Commissioners of Her 
 
 Majesty's Treasury, by Henry Cole 109-142 
 
 Engraving of first letter-weight made for the Penny Postage . . . 142 
 Work with the Anti-Corn Law League, arising out of Uniform Penny 
 
 Postage 143-146 
 
 RAILWAYS AND DOCKS. 
 
 Specimens of Railway Charts 147-148 
 
 Break of gauge at Gloucester by H. J. Townsend .... 149 
 
 Jeames on the gauge question ....... 150-157 
 
 List of books, maps, &c., illustrative of Lincolnshire and the route to 
 
 Great Grimsby, &c. ......... 157 
 
 Order of ceremonies for laying the first stone of Great Grimsby 
 
 Docks 158-159 
 
 WORK WITH TECHNICAL ARTS AND ART 
 MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Felix Summerly's Home Treasury of Books 160-162 
 
 Experiments in Technical Processes 162-165 
 
 Albert Diirer's " Small Passion " edited by Henry Cole . . 166-177 
 
 Summerly's Art Manufactures 178-194 
 
 Woodcuts from Felix Summerly's " Handbook to Hampton Court" 195-196 
 
 Extracts from Summerly's " Handbook to Westminster Abbey " . 197-207 
 
 WORK WITH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS. 
 
 Extracts from the Preface to the Catalogue of the Exhibition of 1851 208-220 
 Extracts from First Report of Commissioners for the Exhibition of 
 
 "SI 220, 225-227, 230-231 
 
 Letter of Mr. Drew addressed to His Royal Highness Prince Albert on 
 
 the contract for the Exhibition of 1851 221-224 
 
 Letter from Colonel Phipps to Mr. Drew on the contract . . . 224 
 H. Cole's Report on the security of the building of the Exhibition from 
 
 '® 227-230 
 
 Extract from the " London Gazette," Tuesday, October 28, 1851 . 231-232 
 Lecture on the international results of the Exhibition of 1851, by Henry 
 
 '=°'= 233-256 
 
 Extracts from the Report of H. Cole on the general management of the 
 
 Paris Exhibition of 1855 2^7-268 
 
 Memorandum upon a scheme of Annual International Exhibitions . 269-273 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PATENT REFORM. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Extracts from First and Second Reports on the Principles of Jurispru- 
 dence by H. Cole 274-284 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART AND SOUTH 
 KENSINGTON MUSEUM. 
 
 Address on the Functions of the Science and Art Department, by Henry 
 
 Cole 285-295 
 
 Memorandum on measures to be adopted for preventing excess over the 
 
 original estimates of the cost of public buildings . . . 296-298 
 
 General method of executing buildings at the South Kensington Mu- 
 seum ......... . 299-300 
 
 Address at the Ecole Centrale d'Architecture at Paris, by Henry Cole 301-304 
 
 Letter by H. Cole to the "Times" on Public Architecture . . 305-308 
 
 Public Galleries and Irresponsible Boards, an article in the "Edinburgh 
 
 Review" . . 309-322 
 
 Extracts from a Memorandum on the Corps of Royal Engineers as Civil 
 
 Servants of the Crown 323-327 
 
 THE SOCIETY OF ARTS. 
 
 Extracts from a paper by Henry Cole, on the Efficiency and Economy 
 
 of a National Army 328-338 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
 
 Speech of H. Cole at the distribution of prizes to the students of the 
 
 Nottingham School of Art 339-348 
 
 Brief notes on the career of the late Captain Francis Fowke, R.E., by 
 
 Henry Cole 349-356 
 
 ADDRESSES AT DISTRIBUTIONS OF PRIZES. 
 
 National Culture and Recreation, Antidotes to Vice, an address delivered 
 
 in the Liverpool Institute, by Henry Cole . . 357-369 
 
 NATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL FOR COOKERY. 
 Local Schools for Cookery, a letter to the "Times," by H. Cole . 370-372 
 
 THE SOCIETY OF ARTS. 
 
 On the practical development of Elementary Education through Domestic 
 Economy, by Henry Cole: a paper read at the Congress on Domestic 
 Economy held at Birmingham 373377 
 
 Establishment of a National College of Domestic Economy, by Henry 
 Cole : a paper read at the Congress on Domestic Economy held at 
 Manchester . . ... 37§"j^3 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 VOL. II. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Record Office rolls 38 
 
 Bag 41 
 
 Skippet 42 
 
 Hanaper 42 
 
 Signs of reference ......... 43 
 
 First Letter Weight for penny postage 142 
 
 Thackeray's Anti-Corn Law Cuts 145 
 
 Specimens of Railway Charts 147, 148 
 
 Break of Gauge, at Gloucester, drawn by J. H. Townsend . . . 149 
 
 Thackeray's illustrations 150, 136 
 
 Illustrations for Summerly's Home Treasury of Books . . to /ace page \6o 
 Design for first Christmas Card,' by J. C. Horsley, R.A. . to face page ihz 
 Etching, Shere Girls' School, by H^ Cole .... to/ace page 163 
 
 Experiments in Glyphography 163 
 
 by W. Mulready, R.A. to face page i6^ 
 
 Technical Processes, by J. Linnell 164 
 
 Wood Engraving, by J. Linnell 1 65 
 
 Albert Diirer's Small Passion 176, 177 
 
 Designs for Art Manufactures .... 178,180-84,187,188-93 
 
 Design for a Bracelet, by D. Maclise, R.A to /ace page 1%^ 
 
 Technical Arts in Hampton Court and Westminster Abbey . 195-7, 206, 207 
 
 ' See Vol. I., p. 103. 
 
WORK WITH THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 PART II. SELECTIONS. 
 
 PARLIAMENTS OF OUR ANCESTORS. 
 
 {From the " Westminster Review^' vol. xxi., 1834.) 
 
 nR. HUME, by the introduction of a Motion during 
 a late Session of Parliament, attempted preparatory 
 measures for procuring a building suitably spacious 
 and commodious, as a place of assembling for the 
 Commons Representatives. To defend the present structure 
 as rendering sufficient accommodation, was impossible, and in- 
 disputable evidence proved its excessive unfitness, and espe- 
 cially during discussions of much public interest. Yet the 
 Motion was negatived on several idle pretexts. Any removal was 
 designated by that term of most indefinite import — unconstitu- 
 tional ; and it was argued that the affectionate regard universally 
 entertained towards St. Stephen's Chapel, as a spot consecrated by 
 historical associations, and hallowed by ancient parliamentary 
 usage, would be thereby uprooted. ' Constitutional,' as thus 
 applied, may be interpreted to signify accordant with ancient pre- 
 cedent. Waiving all other reasons, therefore, the present object 
 will be to establish how entirely unconstitutional are successive 
 parliamentary meetings in the same locality, and the present dura- 
 tion of Parliaments, when compared with those of past times ; — 
 and from collateral evidence to show, that even the size of the 
 II. B 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 
 A.D. 1834. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Mr. Hume 
 proposes a 
 new bui ding 
 for the 
 House of 
 Commons. 
 
PARLIAMENTS OF THIRTEENTH CENTURY. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1S34. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Farliaments 
 in 13th cen- 
 tury. 
 
 present building is directly opposed to the spirit of the institutions 
 of wise antiquity. 
 
 In the thirteenth century, a Parliamentary debate was carried 
 on more by the eloquence of the fist than of the tongue. The 
 argumentum bacuUnum was the popular argument, and the fictitious 
 value which civilization attaches to words, was very consistently 
 despised. Satisfactory conviction resulted from the cogency of 
 blows. Sir James Macintosh penetrates into the spirit of the 
 legislation of Edward I. in observing, ' it would have been but little 
 to possess the power of the purse, if arms had not been strong 
 enough to grasp and to hold it.' The processes and machinery of 
 legislation in those early periods, whose wisdom shaped the models 
 to which the Constitution still professes with religious scruples to 
 adhere, must of necessity have differed widely from those pursued 
 in modern assemblies. 
 
 As might alone would enable its possessor to assert his title to a 
 seat in an olden Parliament, ample elbow-room for the exercise of 
 legislative functions was required and demanded ; and barbarous 
 as the manners of Members of Parliament must have been in those 
 days, there could never have existed that patient endurance of 
 crowding and mobbing, of which our own times furnish examples 
 in theatres patent and ecclesiastical,— bear-gardens and Houses of 
 Commons. Indeed to have boxed up an early Parliament in a 
 space not suiSciently capacious to hold half the numbers invited ; 
 — to have thereby subjected such Senators as were cooped up, to 
 strong predisposition to typhus fever ; — and under those circum- 
 stances, to have attempted to express from the assembly its delibe- 
 rative wisdom, would have been deemed an experiment insulting 
 in the highest degree to a bold Baron of Runymede, and one 
 which no monarch, — not even that pattern of jurisprudential ac- 
 quirements, the Justinian Edward, — would have dared to repeat. 
 It is impossible, that the question whether a man's body could find 
 a position in a locality whereunto it had been specially summoned, 
 should have been left doubtful at any other period than one of 
 most peaceful refinement and exquisite civilization ; during primi- 
 tive ages, such a question would never have been conceived. Let 
 imagination picture the possibility of smuggling six hundred sturdy 
 Barons, Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, during the time of 
 Edward I., into a space of like dimensions to those of St. Stephen's 
 
INADEQUATE SPACE IN ST. STEPHEN'S CHAPEL. 3 
 
 Chapel. The manifest absurdity, constrains to the belief in the 
 existence of some hidden and mysterious influence, which conquers 
 any supposed reluctance in Members of the House of Commons, 
 to perform their public duties in an atmosphere of singular 
 destructiveness, and vapours of noxiousness in every variety, from 
 the gouty decrepitude of metropolitan courtiers, to the hale fresh- 
 ness of fox-hunting country squires.^ 
 
 A remarkable contrast exists between the Parliament of ancient 
 and modern times, in respect of the difficulties to which the sove- 
 reign was driven in collecting the members together; — the apologies 
 which were offered in excuse of the necessity of requesting the 
 subjects' attendance, — the waywardness and menacings of the 
 lieges, — the numerous compromises and conditions made between 
 the king and the subject, — the Christian squabbling of the Arch- 
 bishops of Canterbury and York, respecting each other's prece- 
 dence, ' super bajulatione Crucis,' ^ for it appears neither prelate 
 
 ' Mr. Hume statedj from his own 
 observation, that several members had 
 fallen a sacrifice to the discharge of 
 their duties in that inconvenient and 
 ill- ventilated place. In the Black Hole 
 of Calcutta, a cube of about 18 feet, 
 were crammed 146 vifretches, of whom 
 123 persons perished. The House of 
 Commons measures 49 feet by 33 feet ; 
 and on frequent occasions above 600 
 persons demand admission. 
 
 According to these data, a mem in 
 the Black Hole of Calcutta had i8 
 inches square to stand upon ; a Mem- 
 ber of the House of Commons in a 
 House of 600 out of 658, has not quite 
 
 19*. 
 
 It has been often observed, that 
 persons from jails, work-houses, and 
 other places of artificial confinementj 
 though not at the time, and what is 
 still more remarkable, though not ob- 
 served at any period to have laboured 
 under formal disease, carry in them- 
 selves or in their clothes, causes which 
 occasion fever in its most formidable 
 aspect to those who approach near to 
 them. ... It is to be farther observed, 
 
 that the cause thus generated speedily 
 produces a fever in the body of a 
 healthy man, and that the fever so 
 produced is accompanied with such 
 alterations in the secretions of the 
 system, as to generate a cause, occa- 
 sioning similar disedse, through an 
 endless variety of subjects. — Outline 
 of the History and Cure 6f Fever, by Ro- 
 bert Jackion, M.D. Edinburgh. 1798. 
 * When an archbishop travelled, a 
 cross or croaier was borne before him, 
 as a. type of his precedence over all 
 the other clergy. Great jealousy al- 
 ways was created by one prelate pass- 
 ing through his rival's archbishopric, 
 insomuch that it became necessary for 
 each archbishop to obtain a passport 
 from the King. When the archbishop 
 of Canterbury was summoned to par- 
 liament at York, 8 Edw. II., the King 
 issued his Letters- of Protection in 
 which occurs the following recital ; — 
 'Jamque intellexerimus quod occa- 
 sione dissensionum inter prsedecessores 
 ipsius Archiepiscopi Cantuariensis et 
 vestros super bajulatione Crucis utrius- 
 que ipsorum, in alterius provincia ab 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 
 A.D. 1834. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Early Par- 
 liaments 
 couldnot 
 meet in St. 
 Stephen's 
 Chapel in 
 1833- 
 
 Difficulties 
 in assem- 
 bling in old 
 times. 
 
 Archbishops' 
 quarrels. 
 
PARLIAMENTS MIGRATORY. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1834. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Attendance 
 irksome 
 in early 
 times. 
 
 would attend Parliament without the King's letters of protection 
 against the attacks and assaults and depredations of each other ; — 
 the personal composition of the Parliament, formed as it was of 
 churchmen and laymen militant, — ' great men ' of the Jonathan 
 Wild class, — archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, as well as jus- 
 tices and clerks of the council, earls, barons, knights of the shire, 
 citizens, burgesses, and even, on some occasions, merchants and 
 traders, — and, lastly, the debates and general proceedings. In one 
 point only, the performances of old and modern Parliaments, bear 
 that very general similitude to each other, which Stowe thus 
 describes of a Parliament of Richard the Second ; — ' Nothing,' he 
 says, 'was done worth the memory, but exacting of money of the 
 clergy and common people, to maintaine the men of war.' 
 
 ' Great taxe ay the Kyng toke through al the lond. 
 For which the Commons him hated both fre and bond. ' 
 
 The perpetual holding of Parliaments in the same place, as well 
 as the insufficiency of accommodation, are both of them unconsti- 
 tutional innovations, and opposed to ancient usage. Parliament 
 held its meetings in all the four quarters of England, and the moral 
 associations of those who stick to St. Stephen's Chapel, can there- 
 fore only be the results of ignorant prejudice, and of a tendency in 
 reality quite anti-conservative. Annual Parliaments, in lieux con- 
 venables in all parts of the kingdom, are, if it comes to that, in strict 
 accordance with the models afforded by our ancestors ; and the 
 popular demands for the same are supported by the Parliamentary 
 Records, whereunto is professedly pinned the political faith of those 
 who oppose such a return to constitutional propriety.' 
 
 There is a broad diiference between the desires of ancient and 
 modem times for a seat in the Legislature. Formerly, the atten- 
 dance was considered an irksome business, and a nuisance to be 
 avoided. The strong, the cunning, and the weak, devised respec- 
 
 olim subortarum et nondum sedata- 
 rum, ad impediendum prsefatum Ar- 
 chiepiscopum Cantuariensem ad prae- 
 dictum parliamentum de mandate 
 nostro sic venientem super bajulatione 
 Crucis suae et aUis, infra provinciam 
 vestram Ebor : diversas insidias prse- 
 parastis, — graves censuras ecclesiasti- 
 cas fulminastis.' — Jioi. Claus. 8 Ed. II. 
 
 ' Ina Parliament Roll of Edward II., 
 it is stipulated, that the King should 
 hold a Parliament once every year, or 
 even twice if necessary, and that in a 
 convenient place. ' Qe le Roi tiegne 
 Parlement une foiz par an ou deux foix 
 si mestier soit, et ceo en lieu cove- 
 nable.' — Rot. Pari. vol. i. p. 285. 
 
ATTENDANCE IRKSOME. 5 
 
 ■ tive methods to ease themselves of the troublesome duty. In Public 
 modern times, a seat in Parliament has been an object inordinately ^.d^ 1834. 
 coveted, and for its attainment human ingenuity has been taxed. |^' ij- 
 The post held forth so many attractions, and was a tenure so 
 lucrative, that each or all of the ten commandments were cheer- 
 fully sacrificed for the possession. Parliaments have at all periods 
 yielded to the people nearly equal advantages. The King, as the 
 most mighty, monopolized all the sweets, until a competitor for a 
 share in the plunder of the nation, grew into sufficient importance 
 to assert and maintain a demand ; and then the aristocracy and 
 the ' dignity of the Crown ' divided the spoils. The position of the 
 Sovereign amongst the magnates, was that of a Pacha among his 
 minor governors ; he pinched to the utmost from all in subjection, 
 and all were in subjection in various degrees. The lesser oligarch 
 had not discovered the modern practice of rewarding his own 
 parliamentary labours out of the plump productiveness of the 
 people, and consequently the attendance was to him, and to all 
 except the Sovereign, a burthensome and unprofitable evil. The 
 earls and barons occasionally refused attendance, or rendered their 
 appearance so unwelcome by approaching in fighting attitudes, that 
 the King not unfrequently declined the honour of their visit and 
 advice, or stipulated that their coming should be unaccompanied 
 with warlike preparations. The Recorc^s of Edward the Second 
 furnish many examples of such prohibitions.' ' Ini32 1 the barons,' 
 
 • Inhibitio pro Rege ne Magnates veniant cum armis ad parliamentum {Rot, 
 Patent, 3 Ed. II., et passim). — The legislators were very intractable, usurping 
 supreme power, as opportunity offered for the assertion of the superiority of 
 their might. — 
 
 ' To the Kyng and his Consaile thei sent a messengere A gathering 
 
 The Kyng sent tham ageyn, his Barons alle thei grette, of warriors. 
 
 At Oxenford certeyn the day of parlement sette. 
 
 ' At York thei tok on hand, ther parlement to sette. 
 The hie folk of the land, ther alle togidere mette, 
 The Erie Jon of Surrey, com with grete powere, 
 Of Gloucestre stoute and gay Sir Rauf the Mohermere, 
 And his wif dame Jone whilcom Gilberdes of Clare, 
 Tho Banerettis ilkone fro Dover to Durham ware.' 
 
 Peter Langioft's Chronicle, 
 
 ' At the parliament then at Westminster next hold, 
 Erie Thomas, that then was called trewe, 
 Th'erle Umfrey of Herford, that was bold, 
 
CLERICAL EXCUSES FOR ABSENCE. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1834. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Excuses for 
 absence. 
 
 says Holinshed, ' upon knowledge had what answer the King made 
 to their requests, foorthwith got them to armour and with a great 
 power of men of armes and other, came to the parlement, which 
 the . King had summoned to begin at Westminster three weekes 
 after midsummer. Their retinae were apparelled in a sute of 
 jackets or coats, of colours demi-partie yellow and greene, with 
 a band of white cast overthwart. By reason whereof, that parle- 
 ment long after was called the parlement of white bands. . . . 
 The King being brought into a straict, durst not but grant unto 
 all that which they requested, establishing the same by statute.' 
 
 The clergy pleaded all sorts of excuse for non-attendance, sick- 
 ness, fatness, gout, incapacity to ride on horseback or in a litter, 
 bodily infirmity, age, and domestic affairs.^ 
 
 Th'erle of Marche, ful manly as men knewe. 
 The Moubray also Percy and Clyfford drewe 
 AH armed came, and two Spencers exiled 
 Oi*t fio England, never to be reconciled. 
 
 ' And at London they headed the Chaunceler 
 With diners other, whiche they found untrue, 
 So dyd they also the Kyng's treasorer. 
 And there set they a parliament all newe.' 
 
 Hardyn^s Chronicle, Ed. 2. 
 
 ' Tlie following clergy thus excused 
 themselves from atte;idance in the 1 7th 
 of Edward II. The bishop of Bangor, 
 — ' Quia nostri corporis inbecillitate 
 hiis diebus, ut novit Altissirnus, aliis- 
 que racionabilibus ex c^usis pr^pediti 
 in parliamento personaliter interesse 
 non valemus.' The biahop of Carlisle, 
 — ' Ad dictum parliametitum tum 
 propter loci distanciam, tum propter 
 equitaturs et expensaruro carentiam, 
 corporis senescentis impoteiftjam, nec- 
 non infirmitatem in dies inyalescentem 
 quibus actualiter afHigimur, declinare 
 non possumus in prsesenti ex causis 
 praeviis veraciter prsepediti, quod si 
 placet pro malo non habeat aut moles- 
 tum reputet regia celsitudo, sed nos- 
 tram potius absentiam habere dignetur 
 benignius excusatam.' The prior of 
 Durham, — ' Propter adverse valetudi- 
 nis incommodum qui jam aliquandiu 
 
 laboravimus, nequientes nostram ex- 
 hibere prjESentiam personalem. ' The 
 prior of Carlisle, — ' Quia variis et ar- 
 duis ecclesise nostrse negociis, ac aliis 
 causis propter varias nostras distruc- 
 tiones et notorias in instanti parlia- 
 mento personaliter interesse non vale- 
 nius.' The abbot of Barlings, — 
 ' Quoniam gravi infirmitate et corporis 
 imbecillitate detentus.' The abbot of 
 Cirencester,-^' Absque gravi corporis 
 mei periculo non valeo personaliter 
 interesse ;' and many other excuses of 
 similar description from other persons. 
 In the l8th Edward II., the bishop of 
 Bangor prayed absence, — ' Quia nos 
 in hiis diebus corporis nostri inbe- 
 cilljtate ac ponderosjtate. ' — See the 
 proxies of the clergy for these years, 
 which are printed in the 2n4 yo}. of the 
 Parliamentary Writs. 
 
PROPERTY QUALIFICATIONS. 
 
 If the king or his chancellor failed at any time to send a Public 
 
 , . . - . , , - - Records. 
 
 summons, such an omission was eagerly seized as a plea for future a.d. 1834. 
 absence. The abbot of Peterborough once shirked the obligation |"' ??■ 
 •without detection, and when subsequently summoned, urged his 
 non-attendance as a precedent. The service was equally avoided 
 and despised by the ' communitas ' of the kingdom. Every knight 
 of the shire, citizen, and burgess, was compelled to provide good 
 and sufficient bail for his appearance in Parliament, which was Bail for ap- 
 eiFected by procuring the manucaption, sometimes of six, some- p'^"^"" 
 times of four, and never less than two persons. Property was, as 
 now, the only direct and acknowledged qualification for legislative 
 capacity. Three hundred pounds per annum is even yet believed 
 to possess a mystical property of endowing the holder ^ with all 
 mental requisites for his duty, while in the thirteenth century the 
 average qualification of a knight of the shire varied from £,20 to 
 £,A,o yearly value in land. The object of selecting the man of 
 money, at that time, was evidently with the intent of seizing it in 
 case of non-attendance. Twenty pounds were then a qualification 
 for being taxed. Three hundred, now, for a qualification to tax. 
 If a knight so chosen to serve in Parliament, chanced to lack pro- 
 perty to the amount of £,20 whereby he could be distrained, and 
 being thus impervious to the sanction attached to refusal, escaped 
 from the jurisdiction of the sheriff's bailliwick and hied him to 
 another county, the sheriff was obliged to seek a substitute in the 
 place of the fugitive to attend the King's council. If the sheriffs 
 were knavish, and pocketed the sum of money levied from the 
 county for the travelling expenses of its members, — and many such 
 instances are found, — the circumstance became immediately avail- 
 able as an excuse for absence. The Scots had a propensity for 
 paying visits to the boroughs and towns of the northern counties, 
 where they borrowed goods and chattels, domesticated themselves 
 on the lands, and consumed the produce. These visits always 
 served as good excuses for not sending representatives to Parlia- 
 ment. The burgesses of Newcastle often pleaded their poverty and 
 inability, the consequences of these visits, to pay the expenses of 
 their members' journey." 
 
 ^ Property qualification now abo- the 8 Ed. II. for Northumberland is 
 lished. as follows. — 
 
 ' Return of the Sheriff to a Writ of ' Istud breve ostensum fuit in pleno 
 
WAGES FOR MEMBERS' ATTENDANCE. 
 Public By the enticement of wages, — those of a knight being usually 
 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1834. 
 
 from five to three shillings per diem, and those of a citizen or 
 sekctions burgess from three to two shillings,' — the bestowal of lucrative ap- 
 Wagesofthe pointmcnts to collectorships of talliages and customs, and to the 
 
 Commons. 
 
 Comitatu, ubi responsum Mt michi coram Dominis Episcopo et J. Comite 
 quod omnes milites de ballivS mea non Waren, et eorum locumtenentibus 
 sufficiunt ad defensionem Marchis : et apud pontem de Amot die veneris 
 mandatum fuit Ballivis libertatis Villae proximo ante festum Sancti Andrae 
 Novi Castri super Tynam, qui sic re- Apostoli sub forisfactura vita mem- 
 sponderunt quod omnes Burgenses brorum terrarum tenementorum et 
 Villse predicts vix sufficiunt ad defen- omnium bonorum suorum ad audien- 
 sionem Villas ejusdem, et ideo quoad dum et faciendum id quod eis ex parte 
 executionem istius brevis nichil actum Domini Regis injungetur.' — p. 44, 31. 
 est.'— Orig. in Turr. Lond. Anno 34 Ed. I. ' Et sic tarde [was 
 
 Anno 24 Ed. I. Returns of the the wiit delivered\ qabi fx.ecat\o istms 
 Sheriff of Westmorland,— 'Attamen brevis ad prsesens fieri non potuit. Et 
 isti ad diem in brevi contentum non nihilominus omnes Milites et libere 
 possunt venire quia omnes inter quin- tenentes sunt in Marchia Scotiaa cum 
 decim annos et sexaginta in balliva Domino Henrico de Percy per prsE- 
 mea, tam Milites, libere tenentes quam ceptum Domini Regis ad reprimendam 
 pedites, pnemuniti sunt quod sint maliciam Scottorum.' 
 
 ' E Rotulo Clausarum in Turre Londinensi asservato, A". 19 Ed. II. 
 memb : 19 d. 
 
 ' De expensis ) Rex Vicecomiti Northuniberlandise : Pnecipimus tibi quod 
 Militum. 1 de Communitate Comitatfls tui tam infra libertates quam 
 extra habere facias dilecto nobis Michaeli de Preffen nuper de mandato nostro 
 pro communitate Comitatus prffidicti ad parliamentum nostrum usque West- 
 monasterium venienti ad tractandum ibidem super diversis et arduis negociis 
 nos et statum regni nostri tangentibus tres libras et decern et octo solidos pro ex- 
 pensis suis pro viginti et sex diebus veniendo ad dictum parliamentum, ibidem 
 morando, et exinde ad propria redeundo videlicet per diem tres solidos. Teste 
 Reg. apud Westraonasterium, quinto die Decembris. 
 
 Per ipsum Regem. 
 " Consimilia brevia habent subscripti Vicecomitibus subscriptis, videlicet : — 
 " Robertus de Barton ) Vicecomiti Westmorlandiae de septem libris &fi sex- 
 " Robertus de Sandford ) decim solidis pro xxvi diebus cuilibet eorum per 
 
 diem iii solidos. 
 " Willielmus de Bradeshagh, Miles 1 Vicecomiti Lancastrias de septem libris et 
 "Johannes de Hornby 1 quatuordecim solidis pro viginti et duo- 
 
 bus diebus, videlicet praefato Militi per diem lili solidos et prasfato 
 Johanni per diem III SOLIDOS. 
 " Rogerus le Jeu, Miles | Vicecomiti Devonije de octo libris et octo solidis pro 
 " Ricardus de Chissebech ) viginti et quatuor diebus, videlicet prsefato Militi 
 
 per diem quatuor solidos et prasfato Ricardo per diem tres solidos. 
 " Johannes de Lyston (Milites Vicecomiti Essexias de centum et duodecim 
 " Robertus de Hagham ) solidis pro quatuordecim diebus, cuilibet eorum per 
 diem QUATUOR SOLIDOS. 
 
WAGES FOR MEMBERS' ATTENDANCE. 9 
 
 conservation of the peace, — the King managed to convene an public 
 
 ^ 00 Records. 
 
 assembly of the Commons of the kingdom. a.d. 1834. 
 
 It may be assumed with the greatest confidence, that no impedi- selections. 
 
 " Ricardus de la Bere, Miles ) In Comitatu Oxonise de centum et duodecim soli. 
 
 " J ohannes de Croxford ) dis pro sexdecim diebus, videlicet prsefato 
 
 Ricardo per diem quatuor solidos, et prasfato Johanni per diem TRES 
 
 SOLIDOS. 
 " Michael de Picombe ) In Comitatu Sussexise^ de quatuor libris et sexdecim 
 " Willielmus de Preston ) solidis pro sexdecim diebus, cuilibet eorum per diem 
 
 TRES SOLIDOS. 
 "Johannes de Walkyngham ) Milites, Vicecomiti Eborum de octo libris et sex- 
 " Willielmus de Malbys ) decim solidis pro viginti et duobus [diebus'] 
 
 cuilibet eorum per diem quatuor solidos. 
 " Ricardus de Manston, Miles ) Vicecomiti Dorset' de septem libris pro viginti 
 " Robertus Clerebek' ) diebus, videlicet prsefato Militi per diem 
 
 quatuor solidos, et praefato Roberto per diem TRES SOLIDOS." 
 The Knights for other Counties obtained their expenses. The above extracts 
 show sufficiently the nature of the writ. 
 
 " E Rotulo Claus' in Turre Londinensi asservato. A". I Ed. 3. p. I. m: 15 d. 
 De Expensis ) Rex Vicecomiti Norffolciae salutem : Prscipimus tibi quod de 
 Militum ) Communitate Comitates tui tam infra libertates quam extra 
 habere facias dilectis et fidelibus nostris Roberto Banyard et Constantino de 
 Mortuo Mari Militibus Comitates illius nuper ad parliamentum nostrum apud 
 Westmonasterium in Crastino EpiphaniEe Domini proximo prEeterito summoni- 
 tum pro Communitatis Comitatfls prsedicti venientibus ad tractandum ibidem 
 super diversis et arduis negociis nos et statum regni nostri tangentibus, viginti 
 et octo libras et octo solidos pro expensis suis veniendo ad parliamentum prsedic- 
 tum, ibidem morando, et exinde ad propria redeundo, videlicet pro sexaginta et 
 undecim diebus utroquo prsedictorum Roberti et Constantini capiente per diem 
 QUATUOR SOLIDOS. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, nono die Martii. 
 
 Per ipsum Regem et consilium. 
 "Eodem modo mandatum est Vicecomitibus subscriptis videlicet : 
 " Vicecomiti Bedfordise pro Hugone Bossard et Johanne Morice Militibus de 
 
 xxvi libris pro Ixv diebus etc. ut supra. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium 
 
 nono die Martii. 
 " Vicecomiti Middlesexiae pro Rogero de Brok' et Henrico de Frowyk' Militi- 
 bus etc de viginti et quinque libris et quatuor solidis pro sexaginta et tribus 
 
 diebus [etc. ut supra]. Teste ut supra. 
 "Pro Expensis ) Rex Ballivis Civitatis Roffensis salutem : Praecipimus vobis, 
 
 Civium ) quod de Communitate Civitatis prsedictas habere faciatis 
 dilectis nobis Ade Bride et Rogero Chaundeler Civibus Civitatis prsedictK 
 nuper ad parliamentum nostrum apud Westmonasterium in Crastino Epiphanise 
 Domini proximo praeterito summonitum pro Communitate Civitatis prsedictje 
 venientibus ad tractandum ibidem super diversis et arduis negociis nos et 
 statum regni nostri tangentibus decern libras et octo solidos pro expensis suis, 
 veniendo ad parliamentum prsedictum, ibidem morando, et exinde ad propria 
 redeundo, videlicet pro quinquaginta et duobus diebus utroque prDcdictorum Adse 
 
ROYAL FEASTS TO MEMBERS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1834 
 Part It. 
 Selections. 
 Feastingpro- 
 vided by the 
 King. 
 
 ments of any description were offered to deter the people's repre- 
 sentatives from appearing and undergoing taxation. On the con- 
 trary, all inducements were held out. They were clothed, feasted, 
 and sumptuously entertained during the sitting of Parliament.^ 
 
 et Rogeri capiente per diem duos solidos. Teste Rege apud Westmonaste- 
 rium vicesimo tertio die Februarii. 
 
 Per ipsum Regem et consilium. 
 " Eodem modo mandatum est subscriptis pro subscriptis, videlicet : 
 " Majori et Ballivis Civitatis Ebor: pro Willielmo de Redenesse et Henrico 
 
 de Bolton Civibus etc. de quatuordecim libris et duodecim. solidis pro scptua- 
 
 ginta et tribus dieinis etc. ut supra. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, 
 
 nono die Martii. 
 " Ballivis villae Bedfordiae pro Hugone Balle et Hugone Cok' Burgensibus etc. 
 
 de decern libris pro quinquaginta diebus etc. ut supra. Teste Rege apud 
 
 Westmonasterium, vicesimo tertio die Februarii. 
 " Ballivis villae Huntingdoniae pro Willielmo de Hemmyford et Johanne Fyn 
 
 Burgensibus etc. de decern libris et oclo solidis pro quinquaginta et duobiis 
 
 diebus etc. ut supra. Teste ut supra. 
 " Ballivis villse de Launceveton pro Johanne de Lanhum et Roberto de Penleu 
 
 [Burgensibus etc.] de duodecim libris pro sexaginta diebus etc. ut supra. 
 
 Teste ut supra." 
 
 Many original Records, in the 
 form of indentures between tlie King 
 and his creditors for the expenses of 
 Parliament, have come to light from 
 amongst four thousand bushels of Re- 
 cords belonging to the Office of the 
 King's Remembrancer of the Exche- 
 quer, which have been lately dis- 
 covered in indescribable confusion, 
 embracing all periods from Richard I. 
 to George IV., although there have 
 existed a Keeper and thirty-two clerks 
 to whose custody they were entrusted, 
 and also during thirty years a Com- 
 
 state of the public Records. These 
 indentures contain lists of the species 
 and quantities and prices of the provi- 
 sions furnished. The King addressed 
 his writ to the sheriffs, directing them 
 to make purveyance of victual, — of 
 beeves, sheep, swine, corn, &c.," — to 
 erect temporary buildings, houses of 
 lodgement, kitchens, and other offices, 
 — and to make general preparation for 
 the reception of Parliament. The pay- 
 ment was frequently allowed out of the 
 taxations, before they were paid into 
 the Exchequer. 
 
 mission expressly to inquire into the 
 
 Extract from an Original Record in the Exchequer 
 
 " A° 31 Ed. I. Debentur super Officio Mareschalciae 
 in parliamento Regis apud Westmonasterium . 
 
 "Item debentur pro expensis hospicii Regis in 
 
 parliamento diversis piscatoribus de Marisco et xx 
 aliunde ........ mi 
 
 " Item debentur diversis Carnificibus Londonensibus 
 pro camibus ab eisdem emptis tempore parlia- 
 ment! XXVIIl/j. 
 
 ■" Item debentur pro puletrii [poultry] eodem tem- 
 pore Clii/«. vis. 
 
 Cxxiiil/j. XIXJ. villi/. 
 
 xiii/«. lus. ud.o. 
 
 Yls. viiirf. 
 
 \id. 
 
RIOT IN WESTMINSTER CHAPTER HOUSE. ii 
 They were not unwholesomely packed in a space of 49 feet by 33. puMlic 
 
 , . , . . - ... - Records. 
 
 An insurance against the inconveniences of hmited space was ^.d. 1834. 
 always in their own hands ; for the knights appeared ' cum gladio f^J^'J'^'ns, 
 cincti,' or else armed with ' battes.' ^ 
 
 There could have been little freedom of debate in an assembly 
 of such armed legislators. The philosophy, coolness, exquisite 
 manners and reverence for the important duties, which so distin- 
 guish present parliamentary consultations, must have been wholly 
 absent from their councils. On one occasion the Commons, for- 
 getting the solemn purposes of their assembling, became so riotous Expulsion 
 and created so great a turmoil, that the Abbot of Westminster, members. 
 who in 1377 had granted the use of the Chapter House adjoining 
 the Poet's Comer of Westminster Abbey, as their place of meeting, 
 waxed indignant at the profanation, and collecting a sufficiently 
 strong party, turned the whole legislative wisdom out of his house, 
 and swore lustily that the place should not again be defiled with a 
 like rabble.^ 
 
 In the nth year of Richard the Second's reign, Stowe relates, 
 that ' the King caused a great and generall parliament to be sum- 
 
 " Item super officio Scutiferorum de eodem tempore CxxiA'. IIU. y\d. 
 " Item super officio Salsarise de eodem tempore . xx& \s. villd. 
 " Item super officio Aulse de eodem tempore . . XLllll/z. vis. ixd.o. 
 " Item super officio Camerse de eodem tempore . xxxilli. Xlls. viild. 
 " Summa debita super expensis xx 
 
 hospicii Regis in parliamento CCCC mi xi/z. xvj." 
 
 1 The writs of summons of Edw. ' In this parlement (27 Edw. III. ) 
 
 III. expressly enjoined the appearance there were statutes also made that 
 of the Knights of the Shires girded clothes should in length and in breadth 
 with swords. through the realme beare the same 
 
 A.D. 1426. A° 5 Hen. VI. 'This assise, as was ordeined in the parle- 
 was called the Parliament of Battes, ment holden at Northampton. Also, 
 because men being forbidden to bring that all weares, milles, and other lets, 
 swords or other weapons, brought should be remooved foorth of rivers, 
 great battes and staves on their neckes, that might be any hinderance of ships, 
 and when those weapons were inhibited boats, or lighters to passe up and 
 them, they tooke stones and plomets downe the same. But these good or- 
 of lead.' — Stowe. dinances tooke little or none effect, iy 
 
 ° Sir James Mackintosh characterizes reason of bribes that walked abroad, 
 such a House of Commons, ' as being and the freendship of lords and great 
 strong, not only by their legal power, men, that should rather their owne coni- 
 but by their moral influence ;' and, for- moditie than the Commonwealths' — 
 tunately, there is here an excellent illus- Holinshed. 
 tration of the historian's position : — 
 
LORDS AND COMMONS MEET APART. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1834. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Parliaments 
 migratory. 
 
 St. Stephen's 
 
 Chapel 
 
 granted. 
 
 moned at Westminster, where hee caused a great Hall to be builded 
 in the midst of the Pallace betwixt the Clocke Tower and the 
 
 doore of the Great Hall To this parliament, all the nobles 
 
 came with their retinue in armes for fear of the King : the prolo- 
 cutors were Knights in whom no goodness could be found, but a 
 naturall covetousnesse, unsatiable ambition, and intollerable pride 
 and hatred of the truth And then licence being had to de- 
 part, a great stirre was made as is used, whereupon the King's 
 archers in number four thousand compassed the Parliament house, 
 thinking there had bin in the house some broyle or fighting, with 
 their bowes bent, their arrowes nocked and drawing ready to shoot, 
 to the terror of all that were there, but the King herewith comraing 
 pacified them.' Parliaments usually held their Debates — such as 
 they were — either in the Royal Palaces, which were scattered about 
 the country in great numbers, or in Cathedrals, Abbeys, Priories, 
 Chapter Houses, and other Ecclesiastical buildings; — but most 
 commonly in buildings of the Clergy. The Parliament frequently 
 moved from place to place daily during the Session. The parlia- 
 ment at Lincoln in the 9th Edw. II. was holden on the 1 2th Feb. 
 in the Hall of the Dean, on the 13th in the Chapter-house, and on 
 the 14th at the Convent of the Carmelite Friars.' 
 
 No very settled regulations appear to have existed for the united 
 assembling of the Lords and Commons. At times they sat together 
 in the same building, at others separately. 
 
 The fixation of a locality whereat Parliament should always 
 hold its meetings, is comparatively of very recent date. This 
 change was not brought about till the beginning of the sixteenth . 
 century. 
 
 Edward VI. granted St. Stephen's Chapel for the use of the 
 Commons. Previously, when the Parliament was holden at West- 
 minster, they sat in the Chapter-house. The Lords, contrary to 
 the great majority of old precedents, had then separated them- 
 selves into a distinct branch of the Legislature, and held their 
 meetings independent of the Commons. On various occasions, 
 each branch of the Legislature was supreme; — sometimes the 
 King, — most generally the ' Magnates,' and sometimes the Com- 
 mons. The historical associations which are lacerated at the pro- 
 
 Pad. Roll. 
 
PARLIAMENTS OF EDWARD I. AND II. 
 
 13 
 
 spect of removal from St. Stephen's Chapel, can therefore claim an Pl-blic 
 origin of no greater antiquity than the sixteenth century. Those a.d.°i834! 
 whose associations are linked to the period of the early Edwards, J=f' i.'- 
 
 , * "^ ' Selections. 
 
 feel their attachment excited for a very different state of things. 
 In its pristine vigour, the Constitution of King, Lords, and Com- 
 mons was accustomed to scamper as fast as the state of the roads 
 would permit, all over the kingdom, from Berwick-upon-Tweed to 
 the Land's End. Within one year, it would hold its Parliamentary 
 sittings at Carlisle and at Westminster ; on the following year at 
 Exeter and Norwich, or at Lincoln and Worcester.' When the 
 
 ' Number of 
 during the 
 Writs. 
 Anno Regni. 
 
 II Edw. I., 
 
 II Edw. I. 
 18 Edw. I. 
 
 22 Edw. I. 
 
 23 Edw. 1. 
 
 24 Edw. I. 
 
 25 Edw. I. 
 
 26 Edw. I. 
 
 Parliaments and the places to which they were summoned 
 reigns of Edward 1. & II.— Abstracted from the Parliamentary 
 
 28 Edw. 
 
 28 Edw. 
 
 29 Edw. 
 
 30 Edw. 
 
 33 Edw. I. 
 
 34 Edw. I. 
 
 35 Edw. I. 
 
 I Edw. II. 
 
 1 Edw. II. 
 
 2 Edw. II. 
 S Edw. II. 
 S Edw. II. 
 
 5 Edw. II. 
 
 6 Edw. II. 
 6 Edw. II. 
 
 Place of Meeting. 
 
 {Northampton ' - 
 York" . 
 Shrewsbury 
 Westminster 
 Westminster 
 Westminster 
 
 Prorogued to . 
 Bury St. Edmund's . 
 London . 
 York 
 
 London or Westminster 
 York 
 Lincoln 
 London 
 
 Prorogued to . 
 Westminster 
 
 Prorogued to . 
 Westminster 
 Carlisle 
 
 EDWARD n. 
 
 Northampton 
 
 Westminster 
 
 Westminster 
 
 London 
 
 Westminster 
 
 Westminster 
 
 Lincoln 
 
 Prorogued to Westminster 
 
 Date. 
 20 Jan. 1283. 
 
 30 Sep. 1283. 
 
 15 Jul. 1290. 
 
 12 Nov. 1294. 
 
 13 Nov. 1295. 
 
 27 Nov. 1295. 
 3 Nov. 1296. 
 6 Oct. 1297. 
 
 25 May, 1298. 
 
 6 Mar. 1300. 
 
 30 May, 1300. 
 
 20 Jan. 1301. 
 
 29 Sep. 1302. 
 
 14 Oct. 1302. 
 
 16 Feb. 1305. 
 
 28 Feb. 1305. 
 
 30 May, 1306. 
 20 Jan. 1307. 
 
 13 Oct. 1307. 
 
 3 Mar. 1308. 
 27 Apr. 1309. 
 
 8 Aug. 131 1. 
 
 12 Nov. 131 1. 
 
 13 Feb. 1312. 
 23 Jul. 1312. 
 20 Aug. 13 12. 
 
 * The Counties South of Trent were to assemble at Northampton. 
 " The Counties North of Trent at York. 
 
14 
 
 PARLIAMENTS OF EDWARD II. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1834. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 sittings of Parliament, therefore, were made stationary, the whole 
 country must have experienced the great change. Iteen as were 
 the appetites of the ancient legislators, what a beneficent and 
 equable influence on production, must they have caused to be dis- 
 persed throughout the whole kingdom. If the Parliament, follow- 
 ing good old custom, held its sittings once or twice in the year in 
 diiferent places in the country, at Salisbury for instance — what a 
 stir for the supply of provisions would be excited amidst the sur- 
 rounding districts ; — agricultural distress would be no more, — rents 
 would improve, — and even Swing ^ become a respectable poulterer 
 or grazier. The expense of the Coast Blockade would be saved to 
 the country, if a sitting were occasionally held at a seaport ; 
 smugglers would thrive as fishermen ; and the presence of the 
 Bishops would improve the laxity of female morals too frequently 
 to be found in those localities. A great moral change would thus 
 beefifected in the people; and the suggestion to obtain this return 
 
 Anno Regni. 
 
 6 Edw. II. . 
 
 7 Edw. II. . 
 7 Edw. II. . 
 
 7 Edw. II. . 
 
 8 Edw. II. . 
 
 8 Edw. II. . 
 
 9 Edw. II. . 
 
 9 Edw. II. . 
 
 10 Edw. II. . 
 
 11 Edw. II. . 
 
 12 Edw. II. . 
 12 Edw. II. . 
 
 14 Edw. II. . 
 
 15 Edw. II. . 
 
 15 Edw. II. . 
 
 16 Edw. II. . 
 
 17 Edw. II. . 
 
 18 Edw. II, . 
 
 19 Edw. II. . 
 
 20 Edw. II. . I 
 
 Place of Meeting. 
 Westminster 
 Westminster 
 Westminster 
 Westminster 
 York. 
 
 Westminster 
 Lincoln 
 
 Westminster 
 
 Lincoln 
 
 {Lincoln 
 First prorogued to 
 afterwards to . 
 York . 
 York. 
 
 Westminster . 
 Westminster 
 York. 
 
 Rippon, altered to Yorl 
 Westminster 
 
 Prorogued to . 
 Salisbury, altered to London 
 Westminster . 
 Westminster 
 
 Prorogued to . 
 
 ' When ricks and homesteads were 
 fired during the period of Reform 
 
 Date. 
 18 Mar. 1313. 
 
 8 Jul. 13 13. 
 23 Sep. 1313. , 
 21 Apr. 1314. 
 
 9 Sep. 1314. 
 20 Jan. 1315. 
 27 Jan. 1316. 
 
 various dates 1 
 Apr. and May \ ''3i°' 
 29 Jul. 1316. 
 27 Jan. I 
 12 Mar. [1318. 
 19 Jun. ' 
 20 Oct. 1318. 
 6 May, 1319. 
 
 6 Oct. 1 320. 
 15 Jul. 1321. 
 
 2 May, 1322. 
 14 Nov. 1322. 
 20 Jan. 1324. 
 23 Feb. 1324. 
 20 Oct. 1324. 
 18 Nov. 1325. 
 14 Dec. 1326. 
 
 7 Jan. 1327. 
 agitation, it was called the work of 
 "Swing." 
 
AVERAGE DURATION OF PARLIAMENTS. 15 
 
 to ancient constitutional propriety, is thrown out for the considera- Public 
 tion of the Lord Chancellor, whose zeal for public morality is con- a.d. 1834. 
 sistently developed in his opposition to the Ballot. If the presence |"ectioi.s. 
 of the Chancellor and his Court were needed at Parliament, as in 
 olden time was the case, the improved means of carriage and trans- 
 portation would immediately be called into requisition. According 
 to constitutional precedent, the King might address his writ to 
 some Abbot, or not finding one, to some modern pluralist, — com- 
 manding the production of a good strong mare, not in a breeding 
 condition, to carry His Honour and His Honour's RoUs.^ The 
 Reformation took away the Abbots, and the advantages and im- 
 provements of modern law have rendered the records of the Chan- 
 cellor too bulky for a single beast. Yet the difficulty might be 
 remedied ; for the King availing himself of the elasticity of his 
 prerogative, need only issue his writ for the provision of steam 
 machinery, and then upon rail-roads the Chancellor and all the 
 officers of his Court, together with all the Records which their 
 keepers have not suffered to become illegible or moulder away, 
 might be transported if necessity demanded. 
 
 The previous note showing the number of Parliaments with their Duration of 
 places of meeting during the reigns of Edw. I. and Edw. II., may 
 serve as a specimen for succeeding reigns till Henry VIII. 
 
 In the reign of Henry VIIL, there were Nine Parliaments ; the 
 duration of the longest, five years, five months, and a day ; of the 
 shortest, one month and two days. 
 
 Edward VI. — Two Parliaments; one lasted four years, five 
 months, and eleven days ; the other, one month. 
 
 Mary. — Five Parliaments ; each averaging three months dura- 
 tion. 
 
 ' ' Rex dilecto sibi in Christo Ab- nicSproximipostfestum Sanctijacobi 
 
 bati de Bello loco Regis salutem. Quia Apostoli proximo future venerabili 
 
 uno equo bono et forti ad rotulos Can- patri J. Cicestrensi Episcopo Cancel- 
 
 cellarise nostrse portandos ad prsesens lario nostro ibidem liberandum. Et 
 
 plurimum indigemus ; vobis manda- hoc nullo modo omittatis. Et quid 
 
 mus rogantes, quatenus unum equum inde duxeritis faciendum, nobis tunc 
 
 fortem et non enitum pro rotulis dictse per prsedictum nuntium vestrum con- 
 
 cancellarise portandis, per aliquem de stare facialis. Teste Rege apud Da- 
 
 vestris de quo confiditis, usque eandem ventre vicesimo quinto die Junii.' — 
 
 cancellariam mittatis. Ita quod eum Rot. Claus. 2 Ed. II. m. 2 d. in Turr, 
 
 habeatis apud Staunfordiam die Domi- Land. 
 
i6 AVERAGE DURATION OF PARLIAMENTS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1534. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Insufficient 
 space in 
 reign of 
 James I. 
 
 Elizabeth.— Ten Parliaments ; of about a year and a half each 
 on an average ; the longest continuing seven years, ten months, 
 and ten days ; the shortest, one month and twenty-five days. 
 
 James I. — Four Parliaments ; one extending over seven years, 
 ten months, and twenty-one days ; another, about two months ; 
 another, a year ; and the fourth, two years. 
 
 Charles I.— Five Parliaments ; the Long Parliament of twelve 
 years, five months, and seventeen days ; the others of very short 
 existence. 
 
 Charles II. — Four Parliaments ; one of the duration of sixteen 
 years, eight months, and sixteen days ; the others very short, one 
 lasting only seven days. 
 
 James II. — Two Parliaments ; one of two years, four months, 
 and sixteen days ; the other, one month and four days. 
 
 William III.— Five Parliaments ; the longest lasted six years, 
 six months, and twenty-two days; the others about two years 
 each. 
 
 Anne. — Five Parhaments ; none lasting five years. 
 
 The Septennial Act was passed 17 16, and repealed the Trien- 
 nial Act, which had been passed in 1641. 
 
 Complaint of the frequency of the assembling was made in 
 Richard II.'s time; and, 'in a Parliament,' says Stowe, 'at London 
 was granted to the King, a tenth of the Ecclesiastical Persons and 
 a fifteenth of the secular, upon condition that no other Parliament 
 should be holden from the Calends of March till Michaelmas.' A 
 year's duration for a parliament was considered as a remarkable 
 event in 1606. ' The first of March, a Parliament beganne which 
 lasted nigh one whole yeere, for after the Knights of the ParUament 
 had long delayed to grant the King a subsidie, yet in the ende being 
 overcome they granted the tax demanded.' — Stowe. 
 
 In the reign of James I. a protest against the insufficient accom- 
 modation of the present House of Commons was urged, and a re- 
 presentation to the following effect appears on the Lords Journals. 
 ' Whereas the Members of the Commons House of Parliament by 
 reason of more Charters granted by his Majesty as also by their 
 attendance in greater multitudes than heretofore hath been usual, 
 do want convenient room to sit in the place accustomed to their 
 meeting and many are thereby forced to stand in the entrance and 
 midst of the house contrary to order : it is required on the behalf 
 
ANCIENT PRECEDENTS IGNORED. 17 
 
 of the said House that the Officers of his Majesty's works do im- public 
 mediately give order for the erecting and fitting such and so many ^.d?" 834. 
 rooms and seats as the House may sit and attend the service with Part 11. 
 
 ■ t , ■ , ,, , . Selections. 
 
 more ease and conveniency, and this shall be your warrant. 
 
 Why then are fragments only of constitutional precedent -^recedents 
 adopted ? Professing all the time the most superstitious and im- quoted, 
 moderate reverence for ancestorial wisdom, on what principle is 
 that wisdom sliced and hewn, and made to tell exactly where it is 
 in opposition to the existing interest of the public and nowhere 
 else ? Why are not Parliaments ambulatory, and thereby in accor- 
 dance with strict constitutional propriety? Why does not the 
 King feed his ParUament ? Why does not Mr. Hume demand his 
 expenses, as by the present state of Parliamentary Law he is 
 entitled to them ? Why are not Parliaments monthly, according 
 to ancient precedent ? Why, but because it is not found conve- 
 nient in modern times ? Is it then found convenient, to have an 
 inconvenient house? Why is this to be the excepted case, in 
 which a demand for convenience which is at least as old as James 
 the First, is to be voted nugatory and contrary to good taste? 
 There is a taste concerned, but of a more substantial kind. There 
 is some jobbery to be carried on by the powers of darkness ; some 
 way or other in which the existence of a premium against the 
 attendance of Members of the House of Commons, is to work into 
 the hands of the enemies of the people. A ministry does not culti- 
 vate stench from pure antiquarian propensities ; there is something 
 vastly more home-spun at the bottom if it is looked for. The per- 
 petual presence of the people's watchmen is a nuisance and a 
 bore; and as any given quantity of noxious gas may be more easily 
 breathed by relays of men than by the same small number of indi- 
 viduals, there is a regular system for driving out the people's agents 
 by making the house too hot to hold them. 
 
 II. 
 
PRINTED EVIDENCE OF COMMITTEES, 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1837. 
 Part 11. 
 Selections. 
 Mode of _ 
 taking evi- 
 dence. 
 
 Its defects. 
 
 REFORM IN PRINTING EVIDENCE . TAKEN 
 
 BEFORE HOUSE OF COMMONS 
 
 COMMITTEES. 
 
 A Pamphlet privately printed anonymously, and circulated to 
 the House of Commons, 1837. 
 
 THE present practice of taking evidence by Committees of the 
 House of Commons is this : The evidence of a witness is 
 obtained by a viva voce examination, notes of which are made by a 
 short-hand writer ; except in the case of Election Committees, a 
 transcript of these notes is sent to the witness usually on the day 
 following his examination, to enable him to correct any accidental 
 inaccuracies, &c. The transcript having undergone the witness' 
 alterations, is received by the Committee-clerk, and by him for- 
 warded to the printer. 
 
 Members of Committees and others who have been present at 
 these examinations must have observed certain inconveniences 
 attending this practice. One consequence always liable to ensue, 
 and which sometimes does ensue, from placing the evidence in the 
 power of the witness before it is printed, is, that evidence given at 
 a viva voce examination before the Committee, undergoes such 
 subsequent alterations from the witness, that it assumes when 
 printed an entirely different character, though published as, and 
 ostensibly professing to be, the evidence verbally delivered to the 
 Committee. Another consequence is, that the printing of the 
 evidence and its distribution to the Members of the Committee is 
 delayed, frequently to the serious detriment of the inquiry. There 
 is little or no check on the extent or character of the alterations 
 which a witness may choose to make. The discrepancies created 
 between the real and substituted evidence can be detected only by 
 those present at the examinations, by the Members of the Com- 
 mittee who attend, the Committee-clerks, or any others whom the 
 indulgence of the Committee admits into the committee-room. 
 
ITS DEFECTS. 19 
 
 The Members of a Committee hearing evidence have few motives public 
 to peruse carefully and critically the evidence when printed, more ^^"j"'' 
 particularly whilst it is fresh in their recollection, and is presumed Part 11. 
 to be the same as that delivered verbally before them. The ° " '°°'' 
 Member who draws up the report reads the evidence a long time 
 after he heard it, and wonders at the different effect it assumes in 
 print. He scruples to charge a witness with garbling his evidence ; 
 indeed he may not call to mind that a witness has had the oppor- 
 tunity of garbling it. The Committee-clerk is not always present, 
 and as it is not his duty, so he has no motive to notice or complain 
 of the extent of alterations made by a witness. Strangers who are 
 present may have very reasonable suspicions of the character of a 
 witness, but their ears, eyes and mouths are presumed to be shut 
 to all the proceedings passing in a committee-room. The evils of 
 positive falsification of evidence are too palpable to need exposi- 
 tion. But there are lesser evils which attend any alterations made 
 in evidence taken viva voce. Some matters are insusceptible of 
 thorough investigation except by means of a viva voce examination. 
 Inquiries into a witness' conduct, his character, state of intelli- witnesses' 
 gence, competency, and into particular matters of fact, can only be 
 effected by personal examination and verbal reply. The essential 
 worth of such evidence consists in the mode in which it is given. 
 Allow a witness the unbounded and uncontrolled licence of making 
 changes, which the present system allows,^ and there is no fact 
 ever so clearly stated at the time of examination that cannot after- 
 wards be mystified ; no conduct undefended before the Committee 
 which cannot be glossed over and palliated ; no ignorance so gross 
 that it cannot be made to assume the semblance of profound wis- 
 dom ; and no stuttering hesitation that may not be metamorphosed 
 into flippant readiness of speech. Besides, the effect of such 
 changes is not confined to the answers of the witness, but reacts 
 on the questions. The altered answer makes the witness appear 
 very acute and wise, and his examiner very obtuse and foolish. A 
 witness on one occasion, besides changing almost every answer of 
 
 ' On some occasions Committees such a case, as well as in inquiries 
 
 have been alive to the necessity of into controverted elections, the vivd 
 
 preserving evidence as verbally given. voce evidence, of whatever character 
 
 The Committee on General Darling it may be, is alone of value, 
 did not permit even any revision. In 
 
PRINTED EVIDENCE OF COMMITTEES. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1837. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Illustrations 
 of defects. _ 
 
 one day's examination, garnished the substituted evidence with 
 such occasional repartees to the Chairman as the following : "You 
 are assuming and stating matters of which you have not an atom of 
 proof; " " That question differs not from the one you have just 
 put, except that it is more verbose ; " " This is mere banter ; " 
 " That would be rather an Irish mode of proceeding;" " You are 
 manifestly only diverting yourself," &c. 
 
 A story is current that a Committee desired to investigate the 
 competency of an architect of some celebrity. A vivd, voce exami- 
 nation proved that his pretensions were hollow; but when his 
 evidence appeared in print it was found to corroborate and sustain 
 his reputation. The fact was, the architect's business and reputa- 
 tion were managed by skilful subordinates. The vivd. voce exami- 
 nation was the evidence of the architect himself, exactly that which 
 the Committee desired to possess ; the printed evidence being 
 furnished by his assistants, was the very thing which the Committee 
 did not want. 
 
 Similar conduct of other witnesses might also be instanced, but 
 a most complete illustration of the inconveniences of the present 
 system may be seen in the examples which follow these observa- 
 tions. The permission of the Chairman of the Committee on the 
 Record Commission having been obtained, these examples are 
 selected from iht fasciculi of evidence taken before the Committee, 
 which were circulated more widely than is usual, — to each Record 
 Commissioner, as well as to the Members of the Committee. The 
 discovery occurred by accident, but in time to prevent the final 
 printing off of the greater part, though not the whole, of the altered 
 evidence. The altered evidence of four days' examination was 
 cancelled, and the evidence as actually spoken ordered to be 
 printed verbatim. An explanation moreover is requisite to recon- 
 cile some apparent contradictions in the evidence as now pub- 
 lished. A Commissioner appeals to the evidence, and states facts 
 which are not borne out by the evidence in its present state, but 
 which are nevertheless perfectly consistent with truth. Mr. Cooper, 
 the Secretary of the Record Commission, is the witness whose 
 evidence affords the present illustrations : He was asked (Ev. 2389), 
 "Will you furnish the Committee with the sum expended in books 
 from March 1831 to March 1833?" He answered thus before the 
 Committee and the Bishop of Llandaff, who was also present. 
 
DEL A y. 
 
 " The sum expended in books from March i8^i to March 18-5^ I Public 
 
 1 • , • ,- 1 ■ 1 T , Records. 
 
 have ascertained, in consequence of a report prepared by the Lord a.d. 1837. 
 Bishop of Llandaff and Mr. Protheroe." This passage Mr. Cooper |"' y- 
 afterwards altered to the following, and the evidence so altered, 
 was in the first instance printed and circulated : " I have been at 
 the pains of ascertaining the total cost of books during that period, 
 in consequence of an error into which the Bishop of Llandaff was 
 led by Mr. Protheroe ; an error which I should have forborne to 
 mention were his Lordship not now present." 
 
 Mr. Protheroe, a Commissioner, having received only the 
 evidence as first printed and circulated, which was the altered 
 evidence, appeared before the Committee to correct the misstate- 
 ments he found therein, but which do not appear in the evidence 
 as now published. Mr. Protheroe said (Ev. 7640), " The next 
 question to which I have to revert is 2389. I observed that the 
 Bishop of Llandaff was said to be led into error by a statement of 
 mine. . . . His Lordship says that he was not led into any error 
 by me ; . . . and his Lordship says he was as much surprised as 
 I was at the passage alluded to, and which he had not heard when 
 he was in the committee-room." 
 
 Another evil of the present system before alluded to, is the delay Delay in 
 caused in printing. Instances could be produced where a witness p""'™^' 
 has to all appearance designedly detained his evidence upwards of 
 six weeks, under pretence of correcting it. Other causes, which 
 need not be particularized,' also contribute to delay the transmis- 
 sion of the evidence to the printer. 
 
 It is frequently necessary during the progress of an inquiry to 
 refer to the evidence which has been collected, and the practice of 
 delivering the fasciculi of evidence to the Committee is intended 
 to provide for this necessity. It must however be obvious that 
 many an occasion of using these fasciculi is lost when periods of 
 two months elapse between the giving the evidence and the circu- 
 lation of it. It is suggested that an easy remedy for these defects Remedies 
 would be found in transmitting the evidence direct to the printer, ^"sgested. 
 without allowing it to pass into the witness' hands. When printed, 
 a copy of his own evidence only might be sent to the witness, to 
 
 ' Some evidence delivered on the October following. Vide p. 725, Evi- 
 5th July appears not to have reached dence on Record Commission, 
 the hands of the printers until the 8th 
 
PRINTED EVIDENCE OF COMMITTEES. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1837. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 enable him to correct misapprehensions of the short-hand writer 
 or verbal inaccuracies; and the printed evidence so corrected 
 submitted to the Chairman, who would see at a glance, without 
 any trouble, the extent and propriety of the corrections. The in- 
 tegrity of a vivd, voce examination would thus be preserved; and in 
 those cases where such a mode of examination is desirable, its in- 
 tegrity is of essential importance. All the inconveniences of delay 
 in printing would likewise be prevented. 
 
 It is also submitted for consideration whether this vivd, voce 
 mode of taking evidence might not for some inquiries be ex- 
 changed for a better. In matters of science and speculative 
 opinions depending on long trains of reasoning and logical deduc- 
 tions, written questions and written answers would be more effica- 
 cious than the present mode; and if the facts on which the opinions 
 proceeded appeared disputable, a vivd, voce examination might be 
 superinduced. Under all circumstances, both modes should retain 
 their distinctive features. At present the professed vivA voce ex- 
 amination is a mongrel of both, besides being subject to the dis- 
 advantages before spoken of. 
 
 [Several pages of illustrations of the changes made in the 
 Evidence on the Record Commission were published in the 
 pamphlet, but the following examples are sufficient for the present 
 purpose. They will be read with additional interest with the 
 reminder that the pamphlet was brought before the notice of the 
 House of Commons by Sir Robert Peel himself, and its sugges- 
 tions adopted.] 
 
EXAMPLES OF CHANGES. 
 
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24 ADMINISTRATION BY NUMBERS BAD. 
 
 COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.— 
 
 ADMINISTRATION BY LARGE 
 
 NUMBERS. 
 
 Extracts from an article written by me and printed in "London and 
 Westminster Review^' vol. V. and XXVII, No. i, Art. IX., p. 209. 
 
 Public ' I "HE impracticability of transacting business in detail by so 
 Records. J^ j.^^jg ^j^^ cumbrous a machine as the House of Commons, 
 
 A.D. 1838. . . . . ... 
 
 Part n. with its 658 members, creates the obvious necessity for subdivisions 
 of its labour and delegations of its power. Hence the appointment 
 of Committees. 
 Necessity of If we confine our remarks on this occasion to the operation of 
 Committees. Commjttees, it is not that we are unmindful of other defects in the 
 legislative system. The House of Commons, when even a third 
 of its members are assembled, is useless for all purposes of delibe- 
 ration, and serves only as a mere theatre for rhetorical display. 
 All the real business of the nation is transacted in thin houses ; 
 the multitudinous assemblages answer no purpose but to enable 
 parties to muster their strength. We see, that for much of what 
 the House does, and for nearly all that it leaves undone, nobody 
 is responsible; that all its work is the most inefficient kind of work, 
 volunteer-work ; that its proceedings are at once hasty and dila- 
 tory ; that it hardly ever succeeds in expressing its own meaning, 
 for v/ant of mere workmanlike and mechanical execution in the 
 construction and language of its Acts. The means of making the 
 House itself a more efficient instrument for the transaction of 
 business require separate consideration. For the present we shall 
 only direct attention to the working of Public Committees, as 
 emanating from the House under its present imperfect constitu- 
 tion ; and shall point out how practical improvements might be 
 introduced into the operation of these Committees, without the 
 
NUMBERS IMPEDE ACTION. 25 
 
 adoption of any new principle, and how materially their value. Public 
 competency, and efficiency would be enhanced. a.d^bjS.' 
 
 The multitudinous composition of Committees, and the evils in Part 11. 
 their mode of procedure naturally consequent thereupon, together 
 with the absence of any obligation on their part to report the result 
 of their labours, or on the part of the House to notice them, con- 
 stitute the principal defects of these bodies. 
 
 The impotent conclusions of Committees have become prover- 
 bial, and the best mode of bolstering up a job or evading the re- 
 dress of a grievance is supposed to be taken when a Committee is 
 appointed under pretence of investigation. 
 
 Some beneficial changes were introduced at the commencement 
 of the Session of 1836, in the constitution and proceedings of Com- 
 mittees, but a necessity for greater improvement must have im- 
 pressed itself on all who have watched their operation. 
 
 The most material of these changes tended to increase in a 
 trifling degree the small modicum of responsibility attaching to 
 each member. The numbers, which before had averaged as many 
 as 30 and 40 members, were, as a general rule, reduced to fifteen. 
 A sort of vague record is preserved of each member's attendance, 
 and of the actual share he takes in the proceedings. 
 
 It is argued by those who call themselves practical men, and 
 sneer at theory, that the chances of obtaining assiduous attendance 
 and efficient work are enhanced by the appointment of a numerous 
 body. Fifteen members, it is speciously said, will give a better 
 attendance, and work more effectively than three or five. But how Great num- 
 the facts tally with the assertions, a table given conclusively demon- impedhnent. 
 strates. In Committees of the House of Commons, as in all ad- 
 ministrative bodies whatever, whether companies, societies, or 
 boards, the management of the business falls into the hands of 
 those who feel the strongest interest in its. transaction. It rarely 
 happens that more than one or two persons besides the member 
 who originates the Committee feel any strong interest in the sub- 
 ject. Every one of the Committees of last Session is an example, 
 showing that the real business of the inquiries is virtually conducted 
 by one, two, three, or at most five members. The table shows 
 that great part of the fifteen members are quite superfluous : we 
 shall hereafter point out with what serious detriment to the inquiry 
 the superfluous numbers operate. 
 
26 
 
 ADMINISTRATION BY NUMBERS BAD. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 
 A.D. 1838. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Work of the 
 Chairman. 
 
 It is customary to elect as chairman of the committee- the 
 member with whom the inquiry originates ; he is the person who 
 is most interested in its success, and on whom consequently its 
 management devolves. Such was the case in fourteen of the above- 
 mentioned Committees. In each of these fourteen, the member, 
 and almost the only one, who was punctual at every meeting of his 
 Committee without exception, was the chairman. The exceptions 
 to the practice of electing the mover chairman, occur in the Com- 
 mittees on the British Museum, Joint Stock Banks, Aborigines, and 
 Port of London. 
 
 Mr. Hawes originated the British Museum inquiry, and Mr. 
 Hawes was the only member who attended every sitting of it. Mr. 
 Clay, the mover of the Joint Stock Bank Committee, was the only 
 member punctual at all its meetings. Mr. Fowell Buxton, though 
 chairman and mover of the Aborigines Committee, seems to have 
 left the conduct of it principally to Mr. Lushington, who attended 
 every sitting but one. In the case of the Port of London, the 
 chairman was engaged, at the same time, with another more 
 interesting Committee, on Railway Bills, of which he attended 
 every meeting. 
 
 Throughout the whole 18 Committees there are but four in- 
 stances where any members besides the chairmen or movers at- 
 tended every meeting of the Committee. These occur in the Arts 
 and Manufactures, where one member attended all the meetings of 
 the Committee. In the Colonial Lands, two ; in the Shipwrecks, 
 one ; and in the Public Bills, two members. 
 
 It is clear, therefore, beyond doubt, with whom the management 
 of every Committee rested.' 
 
 Let us look at this matter not in individual cases, but in the 
 aggregate of the whole eighteen. Here again we shall see how 
 curiously the results corroborate the principle that management of 
 business always falls into the hands of a very few persons. 
 
 Multiplying the total number of sittings of each Committee by 
 
 ' There is a singular illustration of 
 the extent to which the character of 
 the Chairman influences the proceed- 
 
 ings and despatch of the Committee. 
 Mr. Hume moved for an inquiry into 
 the Coal Trade on the 1st of June, and 
 he completed it forthwith. His Com- 
 
 mittee met daily on several occasions 
 —on the 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 
 27 June, overcoming all the obstacles 
 which prolong the same number of 
 sittings of other members' committees 
 during three and four months. 
 
IMPERFECT ATTENDANCE. 27 
 
 the number of members (15) appointed to it, we obtain the number Public 
 
 ^. ,. ., , \ Jl rr ) Records. 
 
 of mdividual attendances which may be considered as due, if each a.d. 1838. 
 member had attended every meeting punctually. For example, |^"Jio„j 
 the Committee on Public Bills met seven times ; consequently, Attendance 
 had each of the fifteen members attended punctually, the total Ulittees." 
 amount of attendances would be 185. But, instead of 185, we find 
 that only 45 attendances were given. It might be said that here 
 the attendance was particularly lax ; and it might be inferred that 
 the business was neglected. On the contrary, this Committee was, 
 in reality, one of the most efficiently attended, for it presents the 
 only case, except the Colonial Lands, where three members are 
 found to have attended every meeting. 
 
 We think it must conclusively appear from a register of atten- 
 dances merely, that these Committees were, in point of fact, con- 
 ducted by three, four, and five persons, and that two-thirds of the 
 Committee were but ciphers.^ 
 
 The case might be put much more strongly than we have stated 
 it, since we have treated every registered attendance as if it were 
 a bond, fide one, efficient for the purposes of the inquiry. The fact 
 is far otherwise. Whether a member attend during the entire 
 sitting of a Committee, or attend just the length of time necessary 
 to read and answer his correspondence (as very many members 
 do), or merely appear for an instant in the Committee-room, his 
 name is recorded in the same way. From personal observation of 
 Committees, though ten or twelve members frequently appear as 
 being present at a meeting, we doubt if a single instance from all 
 the Committees of last session, could be shown where as many as 
 
 ' The five most punctual attended three, but they rendered more than 
 
 nearly six times oftener than the five one-third of the whole number. Lest 
 
 least punctual. Comparing the totals, it should be said that no degree of 
 
 the five most punctual gave nearly attention qualifies some heads to work, 
 
 two hundred attendances more than and that frequency of attendance is 
 
 the other ten. The total of the atten- not the real test of efficient service, 
 
 dances of the seven exceeds that of we answer, first, that the House should 
 
 theeightby one thousand attendances. not delegate its powers to the incom- 
 
 The three most punctual gave nearly petent ; and secondly, that as the 
 
 three hundred more attendances than powers of each member on a Com- 
 
 the seven least punctual, and above mittee are co-ordinate, the degree of 
 
 two hundred more than the eight least attention is the only test which the 
 
 punctual. One-fifth of the attendances House can admit of his fitness to exer- 
 
 was the proportion due from these cise a judgment. 
 
28 
 
 ADMINISTRATION BY NUMBERS BAD. 
 
 PtlSlIC 
 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Respon- 
 sibility de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 SirH. 
 Pamell on 
 Boards. 
 
 five members have been all present together during the whole 
 period of any one daily sitting. The entry of the member's name 
 in fact signifies only this, that he was seen by the clerk, on such 
 day, in the Committee-room. 
 
 We will now show that great mischiefs are consequent on retain- 
 ing the useless majority. 
 
 The first of these mischiefs is the almost entire destruction 
 of all responsibility. 
 
 The Report of the Commissioners of Excise Inquiry, understood 
 to be the work of Sir Henry Parnell, contains so able a statement 
 of the effect of numbers on responsibility, whether in Boards or 
 Committees, that we prefer quoting it, to stating the argument in 
 our own words : — 
 
 " There is another great defect to be noticed belonging to the 
 management of business by Boards, and that is the depriving of the 
 public of the security of personal responsibility for the proper 
 performance of its business. The responsibility of the Board, 
 as a Board, is of no value whatever; and as to the Commissioners, 
 individually, no one of them is responsible for the acts of the 
 Board, as others participate with him in all he does, and as much 
 may be done in which some member of the Board has not acted: 
 so that, in fact, the appointing of a Board of several Commis- 
 sioners with equal powers, as the head of a sub-department for 
 revenue purposes, completely sets aside all responsibility. . . . 
 Experience of managing business by Boards (a system which in 
 this country is so common) affords a complete illustration of 
 the correctness of the preceding observations. The proceedings 
 of the numerous Boards of Commissioners for Paving and Light- 
 ing, and of Sewers, are seldom mentioned but in terms of com- 
 plaint and condemnation. The conduct of Vestries, which are 
 Boards of a more extended kind, produced so much evil, while 
 they had the management of the poor, that it led to their being 
 set aside by the new Poor Law ; and such has been the general 
 bad management of Commissioners of Turnpike Roads, that, by 
 common consent, Parhament is called upon to introduce some 
 great change in the system. When a Board is composed of 
 numerous members, many of them have too many occupations, 
 and many are too indolent, or of too much dignity to attend to 
 the business of it ; and thus the apparent management by the 
 
Sm HENRY PARNELL ON BOARDS. 29 
 
 whole body becomes a screen for the measures of a few into public 
 whose hands the management practically falls. Thus it may ^.d^sss' 
 happen that, for want of attendance, want of intelligence, want Pan 11. 
 
 J- r 1 • • • r Selections. 
 
 01 economy, or want of some other requisite in the quarter to 
 which the actual management has been left, the most lavish 
 and wasteful expenditure of funds may take place, and the in- 
 terests of the public be sacrificed in this and a number of other 
 ways." 
 
 We have seen some remarkable instances, even in Parliamentary Um pf 
 Committees, of the advantages of bringing home some small share 
 of personal responsibility to the individual members. A recent 
 order directs that, in the minutes of evidence, each question shall 
 be accompanied by mention of the name of the member asking it. 
 Before this order was made, the questions generally appeared a 
 jumble of nonsense, imbecility, and contradiction. But besides 
 rendering the examinations altogether more intelligible, this regu- 
 lation imposes a salutary check against impertinent and irrelevant 
 questions. We have heard members put questions to witnesses, 
 which the remembrance of publicity caused them afterwards to 
 retract. " No, don't put that question down," was an injunction 
 we heard given to the short-hand writer very frequently in Com- 
 mittees sitting during the last session. 
 
 But this is a mere palliation of an evil which ought to be extir- 
 pated. The progress of an inquiry, and the trains of investigation, 
 are liable to constant interruption by the impertinent intermeddling 
 and obtrusive questions of a numerous body of inquirers. Few 
 persons are disposed to remain silent when they feel themselves 
 under the obligation of appearing to do something ; yet, if every 
 member of a Committee exercised his privilege of asking questions 
 the examinations would be a tissue of disconnected parts. 
 
 The numerousness of the body is productive of still greater de- Numbers an 
 terioration in the report than in the evidence. The difficulty of 
 reconciling the opinions and tastes of fifteen persons needs only be 
 stated to be understood ; and where it is optional whether a deci- 
 sion shall be made or not, while the pubhc are not likely to 
 know from whom the decision actually proceeds, it must be very 
 clear that private motives, prejudices, and sympathies, will be 
 allowed a pretty large exercise. Few reports are impartial, busi- 
 ness-like, and comprehensive judgments ; but, on the contrary. 
 
30 
 
 ADMINISTRATION BY NUMBERS BAD. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Evil of a 
 member on 
 many Com- 
 mittees. 
 
 Rule 
 infringed. 
 
 feeble-'-and imperfect inconsistencies, strung together on the prin- 
 ciple of compromise among several dissimilar tastes and views. 
 The Committee sits as a judge, but in most cases pronounces no 
 judgment, and the numbers of a Committee constitute a shield 
 behind which a delinquent escapes. Many culprits would escape 
 if fifteen judges sat on the bench. Under misconception of what 
 constitutes efficiency in a Committee, its numbers are very often 
 proportioned to the degree of interest and importance of the sub- 
 ject matter for inquiry — the greater the interest the greater the 
 numbers. Practically, however, in proportion to the number of 
 the inquirers is the inefficacy of the inquiry. What was the utility 
 of the Agricultural Committee of last Session ? No report was 
 made, and it might have been predicted that a Committee, con- 
 sisting of thirty-six members, would afford a very convenient means 
 of evading the difficulty of making one. 
 
 The appointment of the same person to serve on several Com- 
 mittees at the same time, is an evil incidentally connected with 
 their present multitudinous composition. The House of Commons 
 cannot furnish 200 members qualified to prosecute an inquiry, and 
 yet it makes arrangements which, if fully acted upon, require, 
 sometimes at the same moment, not less than 2,000 members.* 
 Accordingly, instead of giving a valuable attendance at one Com- 
 mittee, a member is called upon to give a valueless attendance at 
 several. A rule of the House provides that no member shall serve 
 on more than three public Committees at one time, — but this rule 
 (besides that it is frequently infringed) does not extend to the far 
 more numerous Committees on Private Bills. 
 
 Thirteen Select Committees met on one day, besides Committees 
 
 on Private Bills. On other days eleven, ten, nine, eight, and seven : 
 
 and the presence of many of the best men of business was required 
 
 ' How essentially inoperative and bers, e.g. the Bedford List Committee 
 
 absurd is the present constitution of 
 Committees in respect of numbers, is 
 seen in this instance likewise. On 
 the 3rd of June eleven public Com- 
 mittees, consisting of 15 members, 
 met. The attendance of 165 members 
 therefore was required. Twenty-three 
 private Committees met on the same 
 day. A private Bill Committee ave- 
 rages in number more than 100 mem- 
 
 counts 126 members; the Berks 118, 
 the Cambridge 131, &c. If evei-y 
 member of the House attended his 
 post, more than 2000 members would 
 be required. 
 
 The monstrous constitution and pro- 
 ceedings of Private Committees must 
 be the subject of a separate article 
 [which was not written]. 
 
DELA YS IN INQUIRIES. 
 
 at the same time in at all events three, and sometimes more, diffe- Public 
 rent places. '^='=°"°=- 
 
 ^ _ A.D. 1838. 
 
 Among the other evils inherent in the operation of Committees Part 11. 
 as at present constituted, and which have reference more or less to 
 their unnecessary numbers, one of the greatest is the preposterous 
 delay which takes place during the progress of an inquiry. Delay. 
 
 A Committee does not meet day by day, but once, twice, or 
 thrice a week, and in some cases much less frequently ; because 
 it must regulate its days of meeting, the commencement, dura- 
 tion, and adjournment of its proceedings, according to the arrange- Time of 
 ments of other Committees. We might select any Committee we '"''"°^" 
 pleased, as an example of the unnecessary length of time over 
 which its inquiries were spread. It is sufficient to single out the 
 following cases occurring last session, which show how languidly 
 the proceedings must have been prosecuted. The Committee on Arts and 
 Arts and Manufactures held 2 1 meetings, which extended over a ture" Coti- 
 period oifive months. Eleven meetings of the Controverted Elec- """"'■ 
 tions Committee occupied four months. The Committee on 
 Harbours of Refuge vasX 7 times; commenced its labours on the 
 22nd March, and reported on i6th June. In the case of the 
 Committees on the Record Commission and on the British Museum, 
 the presence of Sir Robert Inglis and Mr. Hawes was considered 
 requisite at both, and the meetings and convenience of the mem- 
 bers of both Committees were made subservient to the supposed 
 necessity. 
 
 The length of each day's sitting of a Committee has also to be Length of 
 regulated to suit the convenience of its numerous members. A ^ ^ ' 
 wishes to attend one Committee at 1 2 o'clock : B and C must 
 leave the meeting at 2 o'clock to give a nominal attendance at 
 another Committee, or vote in a Private Bill Committee which 
 they have not attended at all. Hence an infinite loss of time 
 The length of each sitting scarcely averages two hours and a 
 half' 
 
 ' A correct inference as to the length on the 25th Feb. 65 questions were 
 
 of time a Committee sat may be drawn asked, on the loth March only 58 — 
 
 from the number of questions asked. whilst in the Coal Committee (Mr. 
 
 There are apparently great extremes Hume, Chairman), on the 17th June, 
 
 in the quantity of business transacted 53" ! ^""^ ""^ ^oth June 380 questions 
 
 at a single meeting. In the Arts were put and answered. 
 Committee (Mr. Ewart, Chairman) 
 
32 
 
 ADMINISTRATION BY NUMBERS BAD. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Record 
 Commissioii 
 Committee. 
 
 Delay of 
 proceedings. 
 
 It must be obvious from the examination of a single instance, 
 how much time and labour is thrown away by the present ar- 
 rangements. The Record Commissioti Committee held a greater 
 number of meetings than any Committee of last Session. Reckon- 
 ing the business transacted at each of its meetings to have occupied 
 three hours^ — an estimate much beyond the fact — this Committee 
 was engaged 108 hours, which were prolonged over 36 meetings 
 during 5 months. Suppose each meeting had occupied 4 hours 
 instead of 3, the number of its meetings would have been 27 ; if 
 5 hours, 2ii; if 6 hours, i8 meetings. Let it be remembered that 
 precisely the same trouble must be expended to give three hours' 
 attendance as five hours. The member must perform his journeys 
 to the House, must hunt out the Committee-Room, and must 
 coUect his papers. If members are alarmed at the idea of giving 
 five hours of continuous labour, we beg to remind them that they 
 do so under present circumstances to much less purpose. The 
 member who attends Committees at all, arrives at the House about 
 II or 12, and, instead of giving useful attendance in one place and 
 to one subject, is continually fluttering about, bestowing a passing 
 useless glance at many, until 4 o'clock, when the business of the 
 House itself commences. 
 
 There must necessarily be some loss of time at the commence- 
 ment and termination of any meeting, be its duration what it may ; 
 it is clear, however, that less time under these circumstances would 
 be lost with three meetings which lasted 5 or 6 hours, than with 
 six meetings which lasted 3 hours. 
 
 The reform of an abuse depending on such investigations is 
 always postponed, and may be even entirely frustrated by the 
 unnecessary delay of the proceedings. Every Committee of last 
 Session might have completed its labours in a month, and the 
 House might forthwith have acted on their reports. But the in- 
 quiries being prolonged to the end of the session, the evils remain 
 unredressed during another entire year of mischief. 
 
 Besides, the effect of the unnecessary length of time over which 
 the proceedings are extended, is to fritter away the patience of 
 the members ; to weaken, if not destroy, the interest which they 
 take in the result. When it is considered that this interest is the 
 only motive and security for any attention at all, and is a motive 
 of a very precarious nature, it must be evident that it is advisable 
 
THE QUORUM. 33 
 
 to foster it by convenient regulations, rather than destroy it by the Public 
 
 interposition of needless impediments. f d™8°8 
 
 Another regulation which creates great impediments, and causes ^^rt 11. 
 
 tj 1 > Selections. 
 
 numerous. 
 
 great loss of time, is the necessity of procuring a quorum before Quorum too 
 business can be commenced. The ceremony is generally evaded; 
 and were it not so, no Committee could make any progress at all. 
 The quorum is mere fiction, as the business is managed at present. 
 In most cases it is deception — if viewed according to the intention 
 of it, as a guarantee that no business commences until five mem- 
 bers are assembled, and that the sitting terminates whenever five 
 members cease to be present. To comply with the farce of causing 
 five members to appear in the Committee-room at its meeting, 
 messengers are despatched into all quarters to hunt for a member, 
 who goes through the pantomime of peeping into the Committee- 
 room, and then vanishes. Demand, it is said, always creates a 
 supply, and so it happens in quorums. Providence has placed 
 some half dozen very useful members in the House of Commons, 
 who are here, there, and every where ; and who may always be 
 pounced upon to perform the important duty of saving a Commit- 
 tee's labours from worthlessness ; for without the quorum, the 
 whole proceedings are considered invalid. The late Sir M. Ridley 
 was one of these; Mr. Ewart, Dr. Bowring, and Mr. Hawes 
 deserve especial mention for their services in relieving these 
 dilemmas. We have seen whole hours, and even meetings, lost 
 on account of this frivolous and vexatious ceremony. The pro- 
 gress of business is thereby placed very much in dependence upon, 
 and at the caprice of, any member ; and we have witnessed in- 
 stances, where the same member has at one time moved an ad- 
 journment because no quorum was assembled, whilst at another he 
 has not scrupled to proceed with business. It is impossible to 
 show that the quorum is productive of the slightest advantage to 
 compensate for so much delay and trouble. 
 
 We have now shown that the composition of Committees is too Numbers 
 multitudinous, and that their responsibility is loose ; that some of cm 
 their rules are such as cannot possibly be complied with, whilst 
 others are the cause of vexatious and mischievous delay ; and it 
 seems unnecessary to do more than mention the slightness of the 
 obligation on Committees to report to the House, and the equally 
 slight obligation on the House to notice the labours of its Commit- 
 
 II. D 
 
 too great in 
 ^ immitcees. 
 
34 
 
 ADMINISTRATION BY NUMBERS BAD. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Reduction 
 of numbers. 
 
 tees. We shall therefore proceed to state very briefly the changes 
 we would propose. 
 
 First. — The most essential measure for rendering Committees 
 really efficient, would be the reduction of the numbers, from fifteen 
 to three, or at most five.'^ 
 
 This, as we have shown, would in point of fact be no change in 
 the present practical operation of Committees. The effect would 
 simply be the removal of a number of obstacles, and the gain of 
 the many advantages derivable from a more concentrated respon- 
 sibility. 
 
 The motion for an inquiry is a demonstration on the part of the 
 mover of his inclination to act. If the inquiry be hostile to any 
 existing interest, as most inquiries are, a sufficient check on the 
 mover's conduct would be secured by the appointment of a co- 
 adjutor entertaining a contrary opinion. The addition of a third 
 person, supposed to be impartial, constitutes a machinery perfectly 
 sufficient for all the purposes of the inquiry. 
 
 The Report of the Select Committee on Controveried Elections 
 recommends the reduction of the numbers of Election Com- 
 mittees from eleven to five, and the grounds of the recommenda- 
 tion are so applicable to the case of all other Committees that we 
 quote them : — 
 
 " The increased importance of each man's vote will, it is hoped, 
 induce him to use the power which it gives him, with a fuller sense 
 of the serious nature of the duty which he has to discharge. The 
 same cause will induce the public to watch more narrowly the 
 conduct of each Member of the Committee. The screen of num- 
 bers being removed, it is to be expected that every member know- 
 ing how much may depend on his single vote, and how exposed 
 his misconduct will be to the public eye, will feel the necessity of 
 taking pains to form accurate conclusions, and of resisting every 
 inducement to swerve from strict justice which party or personal 
 bias may present. Again — It is obvious that business will com- 
 
 ' John Duer, Esq., a counsellor at 
 law in the State of New York, in- 
 formed the Select Committee on Pub- 
 lic Bills that ' Special Committees 
 with lis are always appointed by the 
 Speaker, unless where the House 
 otherwise direct : where the House 
 
 have confidence in the Speaker it 
 rarely happens that they take from 
 him the appointment of the Committee 
 — which consists of three ox five, ac- 
 cording to the importance of the sub- 
 ject — and generally not more.' — [Ev. 
 94- S, 6.] 
 
SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORM. 35 
 
 monly be done with greater despatch and care in a small than in a Public 
 large Committee ; discussions will assume a form less resembling ^.d. iSss! 
 that of debate : and as the opinion of a small number can be im- f "' ^■ 
 
 ' ^ Selections. 
 
 mediately ascertained, superfluous arguments and frivolous objec- 
 tions will be spared." 
 
 We suggest, Secondly, — That no Member should be named on Suggestions. 
 two Committees at the same time. 
 
 Thirdly. — That the quorum should be abolished, and that the Quorum, 
 proceedings of the Committee should commence when two Mem- 
 bers are assembled. 
 
 Fourthly. — That it should be compulsory on the Committee to Report, 
 report to the House, and that no member should be entitled to vote 
 on the report unless he had attended two-thirds of the meetings of 
 the Committee. 
 
 And Fifthly. — That after a certain period the House should be 
 obliged to take the Report into its consideration as a matter of course. 
 
 Under present circumstances, whatever may have been the object 
 of an inquiry — whether to redress a real or imaginary grievance, to 
 please a constituency, to screen or expose a job, or to satisfy a 
 public demand ; whatever may have been the results of the inquiry, 
 satisfactory or otherwise — it is dependent on individual inclination 
 to call the attention of the House to the proceedings of its Com- 
 mittee. Few investigations cost the public less than ;2^i,ooo — official 
 many a vast deal more. On the score of mere economy, the Repon? 
 House should bind itself to notice officially, and as a matter of 
 course, the results, be they what they may, of all investigations 
 prosecuted under its sanction. The matter now ends with the 
 circulation of a blue book, which is thrown aside by the majority 
 of members, or becoming the perquisite of the member's butler, or 
 clerk, is sold as waste paper, and found on the bookstall the day 
 after its circulation. 
 
 A certainty that the House would call Committees to account 
 for their stewardship would, we believe, exercise a very wholesome 
 influence on their proceedings. 
 
 Had these suggested alterations been applied to any Committee 
 of the last Session, we are convinced that the result would have 
 been great saving of time and labour, greater despatch and efficiency, 
 increased responsibility, better reports, and legislative results both 
 more speedy and more beneficial. 
 
36 HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 {Written in 1841, arid published in the '^ Penny Cyclopadia.") 
 
 Public 
 
 AUTHENTIC memorials of all kinds, as well public as private, 
 may be considered in one sense as records. Thus the Me- 
 Seiecdons. ' topes of the Parthenon are indisputable records of Grecian art ; the 
 Definition of journal Stamp on a letter is a record that it has passed through the 
 Records. post-office j a merchant's ledger is a record of his business ; and 
 every lord of a manor may keep written records of his courts, as the 
 chancery, the exchequer, and other courts do of their proceedings. 
 But our present purpose is to give some general account of the 
 public records, properly so called, understanding by the term the 
 contents of our public record offices. 
 
 IT. Records, in the legal sense of the term, are contempora- 
 neous statements of the proceedings in those higher courts of law 
 which are distinguished as' courts of record, written upon rolls of 
 parchment. (Britton, c. 27.) Matters enrolled amongst the pro- 
 ceedings of a court, but not connected with those proceedings, as 
 deeds enrolled, &c., are not records, though they are sometimes in 
 a loose sense said to be "things recorded." (2 Sell., Abe., 421.) 
 In a popular sense the term is applied to all public documents 
 preserved in a recognized repository; and as such documents 
 cannot conveniently be removed, or may be wanted in several 
 places at the same time, the courts of law receive in evidence exa- 
 mined copies of the contents of public documents so preserved, as 
 well as of real records. 
 
 III. The course we propose to take, is to treat that as a record 
 which is thus received in the courts of justice. The act, for 
 instance, which abolished Henry VIII.'s court of augmentation 
 (of the revenues obtained from the suppression of the religious 
 houses), declared that its records, rolls, books, papers, and docu- 
 
THEIR EXCELLENCIES. 37 
 
 ments, should thenceforth be held to be records of the court of public 
 exchequer; and accordingly we have seen many a document, ■''■^'^°^°^- 
 originally a mere private memorandum, elevated to the dignity of Pan 11. 
 a public record, on the sole ground of its official custody, and re- ° '='="°'"- 
 ceived in evidence as a record of the Augmentation-office. On 
 the other hand, numbers of documents which were originally com- 
 piled as public records, having strayed from their legal repository 
 to the British Museum, have thereby lost their character of 
 authenticity. (" Proceedings of the Privy Council," vol. v., p. 4, 
 edited by Sir Harris Nicolas.) 
 
 IV. " Our stores of public records," says Bishop Nicolson, and, 
 we believe, with perfect accuracy, " are justly reckoned to excel in 
 age, beauty, correctness, and authority, whatever the choicest 
 archives abroad can boast of the like sort." (Preface to the 
 " English Historical Library.") Yet rich as our own country is 
 beyond all others of modern Europe in the possession of ancient 
 written memorials of all branches of its government, constitutional, 
 judicial, parliamentary, and fiscal, memorials authenticated by all 
 the solemn sanctions of authority, telling truly though incidentally 
 the history of our progress as a people, and handed down in un- 
 broken series through the period of nearly seven centuries— the a series of 
 subject of its public records now appears, we believe, for the first wriraun"' 
 time in a work like the present. The amount of public care given ™ °°' 
 to this subject during the last forty years, is shown by the appoint- 
 ment of successive commissions and parliamentary committees of 
 inquiry, by a cost in one shape or another amounting to little less 
 than a million of pounds sterling, and by the passing of an Act of 
 Parliament designed to effect a thorough change in the system of 
 keeping and using the public records. 
 
 V. By far the greater part of records are kept as rolls written 
 on skins of parchment and vellum, averaging from nine to fourteen 
 inches wide,' and about three feet in length. Two modes of 
 fastening the skins or membranes were employed, that of attach- 
 ing all the tops of the membranes together book-wise, as is em- 
 ployed in the exchequer and courts of common law, whilst that of 
 sewing each membrane consecutively, like the rolls of the Jews, 
 was adopted in the chancery and wardrobe. 
 
 VI. The solution of the reasons for employing two different £j.f"f" 
 ' The rolls of the Great Wardrobe exceed eighteen inches in width. ^°"^- 
 
38 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 184X. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 modes has been thought difficult by writers on the subject. It 
 appears to have been simply a matter of convenience in both cases. 
 The difference in the circumstances under which these rolls were 
 formed, accounts, we think, satisfactorily for the variation of make. 
 In the first case, each enrolment was often begun at one time and 
 completed at another. Space for the completion of the entry must 
 have been left at hazard. Besides, several scribes were certainly 
 engaged in enrolling the proceedings of the courts, and the roll 
 
 Forms of 
 Records. 
 
 was liable to be unbound, and to receive additional membranes 
 after it had been once made up. In the other case, the business 
 of the chancery being simply registration, the scribe could register 
 the documents before him, with certainty that nothing in future 
 would at all affect their length, and he was enabled to fill every 
 membrane, and perfect the roll as he proceeded. 
 
 VII. In the volumina, or scapi, of the ancients, the writing was 
 carried in equal columns, as in the pages of a book, along the 
 
SHAPES AND SIZES OF RECORDS. 39 
 
 length of the skin, whilst the enrolment in both sorts of our rolls public 
 was written across the width of the membrane. Both these kinds ,^^°^Zi. 
 of rolls are still used. The rolls of the common law, after the time Pa" n. 
 
 Selections. 
 
 of Henry VIII., contain so many skins that they cease to be rolls, 
 but become simply oblong books, and, unlike the early rolls of 
 the same series, are exceedingly ill-adapted for preservation and 
 inconvenient for use. There are many of these miscalled rolls of 
 the reign of Charles II., which in shape, size, and weight resemble 
 the largest of Cheshire cheeses, often requiring two men to lift 
 them from the rack. Membranes may be fastened together after 
 the chancery fashion in any numbers, and yet remain a legitimate 
 roll, though imposing much bodily labour in the consultation. 
 The Land-tax Commissioners' Act of i Geo. IV. extends, it is 
 said, 900 feet when unrolled, and employs a man three hours to 
 unroll the volume. Other records have the shape of books. 
 Doomsday Book, called both " Rotulus " and " Liber," the oldest 
 and most precious of our records, counting eight centuries as its 
 age, and still in the finest order, is a book ; and as occasions pre- 
 sented themselves for adopting this shape without infringing on 
 ancient precedent, the far more accessible shape which we now 
 call a "book" seems to have been employed. A considerable 
 part of the records of the courts of surveyor-general and augmen- 
 tations, in the reign of Henry VIIL, of wards and liveries, and 
 requests, are made up as books. Other documents, those relating 
 to Fines, the " Pedes Finium, or Finales Concordise," the writs of 
 "Dedimus Potestatem," and acknowledgments and certificates, 
 writs of the several courts and returns, writs of summons and 
 returns to parliament, inquisitiones post mortem, &c., &c., by 
 tens and hundreds of thousands are filed, that is, each document 
 is pierced through with a string or gut, and thus fastened together 
 in a bundle. 
 
 VIII. The material on which the record is written is generally Parchment 
 parchment, which, until the reign of Elizabeth, is extremely clear ™ ''^''"' 
 and well prepared. From that period until the present, the parch- 
 ment gradually deteriorates, and the worst specimens are furnished 
 in the reigns of George IV. and William IV. The earliest record 
 written on paper, known to the writer, is of the time of Edward II. 
 It is one of a series entitled " Papirus magistri Johannis Guicardi 
 contra-rotulatoris Magnae Costumae in Castro Burdegaliae, anno 
 
40 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 184X. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Tallies. 
 
 Latin and 
 French used. 
 
 domini M°. ccc°. viii." These records are in the office of the 
 queen's remembrancer of the exchequer. Tallies were records of 
 wood. 
 
 IX. The handwriting of the courts, commonly called court-hand, 
 which had reached its perfection about the reign of our second 
 Edward, differs materially from that employed in chartularies and 
 monastic writings. As printing extended, it relaxed into all the 
 opposites of uniformity, clearness, legibiUty, and beauty which it 
 once possessed. The ink, too, lost its ancient indelibility ; and, 
 like the parchment, both handwriting and ink are the lowest in 
 character in the latest times : with equal care venerable Doomsday 
 will outlive its degenerate descendants. 
 
 X. All the great series of our records, except those of parliament, 
 are written in Latin, the spelling of which is much abbreviated, and 
 in contractions, there can be little doubt, derived from Latin 
 manuscripts. The reader who desires to be further informed on 
 the subject may consult the collection which Mr. Hardy (afterwards 
 Sir Thomas) has inserted in the preface to his " Close Rolls of 
 King John," and Mr. Hunter, in his preface to the " Fines of 
 Richard I. and John." During the Commonwealth, English was 
 substituted ; but soon after the Restoration, Latin was restored, and 
 the records of the courts continued to be kept in Latin until 
 abolished by act of parliament in the reign of George II. In 
 certain branches of the Exchequer, Latin continued in use until the 
 abolition of the offices in very recent times. Many of our statutes 
 from Edward I. to Henry V., and the principal part of the rolls of 
 parliament, are written in Norman French. Petitions to parlia- 
 ment continued to be presented in Norman French until the reign 
 of Richard II., whose renunciation of the crown is said to have 
 been read before the estates of the realm at Westminster, first in 
 Latin and then in English. After this period we find English, 
 which had doubtless always remained in use among the lower 
 classes, often used in transactions between the people and govern- 
 ment — a sure sign that the distinctions of Norman origin were 
 nearly absorbed among the people at large. 
 
 XI. Sir Francis Palgrave's edition of the "Calendars and 
 Inventories of the Treasury of the Exchequer," some of which 
 were compiled as early as the fourteenth century, are extremely 
 interesting in exhibiting the ancient modes in which records were 
 
POUCHES, CHESTS, SKIPPETS, ETC. 
 
 41 
 
 preserved. Whilst reading them we may imagine ourselves 
 groping in the dark and damp vaults of the "treasury" of the 
 Exchequer, among the coffers, chests, boxes, and hampers filled 
 with records, and the walls around us covered with small bags 
 and pouches. No uniform system of arrangement seems to have 
 been employed, but a different expedient was used for the preserva- 
 tion of nearly every separate document. Great numbers, judging 
 from the quantity found in arranging the miscellaneous records of 
 the king's remembrancer of 
 the Exchequer, were kept in 
 pouches or bags of leather, 
 canvas, cordovan, and buck- 
 ram, a mode which is still 
 used in this department of the 
 Exchequer. These pouches, 
 which fasten like modern reti- 
 cules, are described by Agarde, 
 who was keeper of the treasury 
 of the Exchequer, "as hang- 
 ing against the walls.'' The 
 above drawing represents a 
 leathern pouch containing the 
 tallies and the account of the 
 bailiff of the manor of Graves- 
 end in the 37 and 38 of 
 Edward III. 
 
 XII. When they have es- 
 caped damp, they have pre- 
 served their parchment con- 
 tents for centuries in all their 
 
 pristine freshness and cleanliness. Chests, coffers, coffins, and 
 " forcers " bound with iron and painted of different colours, cases, 
 or " scrinia," ^ " skippets," or small turned boxes, and hanapers, or 
 " hampers of twyggys," were also used. 
 
 These several illustrations are about one-third of the size of the 
 originals, which remain in the " treasury " of the Exchequer. 
 
 Bag or Pouch. 
 
 Public 
 Recosds. 
 
 A.D. 184Z. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Kept in bags 
 boxes, and 
 hanapers. 
 
 Bag or 
 Pouch. 
 
 ' The Romans kept their records in 
 " Scrinia," respectively distinguished 
 as "Scrinia Viatoria ; Scrinia Stataria; 
 
 Scrinia Falatii ; Scrinia Sacra ; Scrinia 
 Augusta." 
 
42 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1841. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 A Skippet. 
 
 XIII. Inscriptions on labels, letters, and " signs " furnished 
 the means of reference. These signs in most cases bear some 
 
 A Skippet. 
 
 A Hamper. 
 
 analogy to the subject of the documents which they are intended 
 to mark. 
 
 The rolls of the justices of the forest were marked by the sapling 
 oak (No. i). Papal bulls, by the triple crown. Four canvas 
 
 Hanaper or Hamper. 
 
 pouches holding rolls and tallies of certain payments made for the 
 church of Westminster were marked by the church (3). The head 
 in a cowl (4) marked an indenture respecting the jewels found in 
 the house of the Fratres Minores in Salop. The scales (5), the 
 
SIGNS OF REFERENCE. 
 
 43 
 
 assay of the mint in Dublin. The Briton having one foot shod public 
 
 and the other bare, with the lance and sword (6), marked the f n'^°8°j' 
 
 wooden " coffin " holding the acquittance of receipts from Llewellin, Part ii. 
 
 Prince of Wales. Three herrings (7), the "forcer" of leather °" ^ 
 
 signs of 
 Reference. 
 
 Signs of Reference. 
 
 bound with iron, containing documents relating to Yarmouth, &c. 
 The lancer (8), documents relating to Aragon. The united hands 
 (9), the marriage between Henry, Prince of Wales, and Philippa, 
 daughter of Henry IV. The galley (10), the recognizance of mer- 
 chants of the three galleys of Venice. The hand and book (11), 
 
44 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Pdbuc 
 Records. 
 
 A.D. Z841. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 
 Charters, 
 
 Deeds, 
 
 Chartularies. 
 
 Offices of 
 
 Record : 
 
 Treasury, 
 
 Chancery. 
 
 *' Curia 
 
 Regis." 
 
 Exchequer. 
 
 Queen's 
 Bench. 
 Common 
 Pleas. 
 
 fealty to Kings John and Henry. The charter or cyrograph (12), 
 treaties and truces between England and Scotland. The hooded 
 monk (13), advowsons of Irish churches. And the castle with a 
 banner of the Clare arms (14), records relating to the possessions 
 of the Earl of Gloucester in Wales. 
 
 XIV. Out ancestors before the Norman conquest pursued no 
 system of public registration, though there are numerous charters of 
 the Anglo-Saxon kings and deeds between private individuals still 
 existing, and historical events are found chronicled in monastic 
 chartularies. The Anglo-Saxons, whose judicial proceedings were 
 conducted orally, had no records except the " land-bocs " or 
 charters. The transactions of the folk-moots were not registered 
 or recorded, and in the administration of justice no reference was 
 made to written precedents. In such a state of society, though 
 the actual possession of land constituted one of the best titles to 
 real property, still the " land-boc " furnished evidence of it also. 
 And so important were these " land-bocs " considered, that when 
 the monks of Ely purchased seven hydes and a half of land, they 
 gave three hydes besides thirty " aurei " to recover the charter or 
 " cyrograph " of the title. Duplicates and triplicates of these 
 " land-bocs " were made, and " one part " was delivered into the 
 custody of the Burthegn, or chamberlain, to be preserved in the 
 " horde " or royal treasury. 
 
 XV. When a written account is made of any act, it is clear that 
 it is made not for the exclusive benefit of one party only. In the 
 Domesday-book of the Norman conqueror, we see evidence that 
 his power was far from absolute. The financial registrations 
 (Rotuli Pipae) of Henry I., in whose reign the earliest example is 
 found — the records of the judicial proceedings of the "Curia 
 Regis,'' which begin with Richard I. — and the special acts of the 
 monarch himself enrolled on the " close," " patent," and " charter " 
 rolls commencing in the reign of John — are all so many irresistible 
 proofs how gradually public interests were trenching on the will of 
 the king, who formally recognized no other power than his own, in 
 the government of the kingdom. The judicial records of the 
 King's Bench and Common Pleas, and the parliamentary records 
 beginning with Edward I., are further evidence of the increasing 
 influence of the nobles and commonalty of the realm. The king 
 was legally considered as possessing the sovereign power. His 
 
ROYAL POWERS. 45 
 
 peace was broken when the subject fell by the hand of the mur- public 
 derer ; his parliament was to be summoned ; his honour to be a.d!°84i! 
 vindicated ; and his army to be levied. It was the king's exchequer, Pan 11. 
 the king's wardrobe, the king's court, and essentially the king's 
 chancery ; for the chancellor's functions were originally those of a 
 private secretary, combining duties both spiritual and temporal. 
 Holding the keepership of the king's conscience, the chancellor 
 was necessarily of the clerical body, and the chief of the king's 
 chapel. The great seal was in his custody, and the scope of his 
 secretarial duties embraced all those of modem times performed 
 by our secretaries of state for the home and foreign departments ; 
 and of all the business transacted, a systematic and orderly regi- 
 stration was preserved in the several enrolments called " patent," 
 " close," " charter," &c. All records of these several departments 
 formed part of the king's treasure ; and, like the practice of the King's 
 ancient Persians five hundred years before the Christian era, when 
 Darius caused a search for the decree of Cyrus to be " made in 
 the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Baby- 
 lon " {Ezra, vi. 6), were deposited in the king's " treasuries." ' 
 The mutual interests of all parties naturally made the preservation 
 of the records an object of general solicitude ; to the king, as they 
 furnished indisputable precedents for his calls of military service 
 and taxation ; to the nobles, in protecting them in their feudal 
 rights and various privileges ; and to the commons most of all, in 
 limiting the power both of king and nobles, sheltering them from 
 capricious extortion, and securing to them a certain amount of 
 consistency in the administration of justice. 
 
 XVI. The chamberlain of the exchequer was called " une grand Chamberkin 
 office, car il gardera le treasour del roy, s. les recordes." In chequer. 
 Henry III.'s reign there were treasuries in the Tower of London 
 and the New Temple. From the latter place, in the 20th of 
 Edward I., out of a chest secured by nine keys, certain records of 
 the Chancery were taken by the king's orders. {Rot. Claus., 20 
 Edward I., m. 13 d.) The Tower had certainly become a perma- 
 
 ' Certain records of the Chancery them, Edward I., by writ, tested the 
 
 followed the king in his migrations 4th July, in the twenty-eighth year of 
 
 over the kingdom as late as Richard II. his reign, commanded the abbot of 
 
 Religious houses were called upon to Furness to provide a strong horse to 
 
 provide horses for the conveyance of carry the Chancery Rolls to York, 
 
46 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1841. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Treasuries. 
 
 nent treasury for records in the 33rd of Edward I., when a trans- 
 fer to it was directed to be made of all the papal privileges 
 touching the crown or kingdom, from the treasury of the exche- 
 quer at Westminster. (Rot. Glaus., 33 Edward I., m. 3.) Another 
 " treasury " is described by certain " memoranda," made 19 Ed- 
 ward III., as within the cloister of Westminster Abbey near the 
 Chapter-House (thesauraria Regis infra Claustrum Abbatiae West- 
 monasterii juxta Capitulum). This " treasury " still remains. 
 A single pillar supports the vaulted chamber, which is yet to be 
 seen, with its double oak doors grated and barred with iron and 
 locked with three keys, and its drawers and "tills" labelled by 
 Arthur Agarde, who was custos of the records it contained. In 
 his " Compendium of the Records in the Treasury," compiled 
 1 6 10, he says that " the recordes of the kinge's majesties threasury 
 at Westminster, under the custodie of the lord-threasurer and the 
 two chamberlaines, were lay'd up for their better preservacion in 
 fower severall threasauries under three severall kayes, kept by three 
 sondry officers, distinct the one kay from another, and uppon each 
 dore three lockes. The iirst in the Court of Receipt ; the seacond 
 in the Newe Pallace at Westminster, over the Little Gatehouse 
 there ; the third in the late dissolved abbey of Westminster, in 
 the Old Chapter-House ; the fourth in the cloister of the sayd 
 abbey." 
 
 XVII. The contents of several " treasuries " at various periods 
 seem to have been consolidated in the Chapter-House of West- 
 minster Abbey, which was fitted up in its present state for the re- 
 ception of records by Sir Christopher Wren.^ The only existing 
 depositories of records besides the Chapter-House, which preserve 
 the appellation of " treasury," are the rooms in the Rolls-House, 
 being the " treasury " of the King's Bench Records, and a portion 
 of the Carlton Riding-House as the " treasury " of the Common 
 Pleas Records. The demolition of the old " treasuries " adjoining 
 Westminster Hall, scattered their contents in all quarters of the 
 
 ' Written in 1841. Now, 1881, 
 the Chapter-House has been entirely 
 cleared of Sir Christopher Wren's fit- 
 tings by Sir Gilbert Scott, R. A. A new 
 roof, giving the form of the supposed 
 original groining, has been erected; 
 also a buttress on the outside, and the 
 
 whole put into repair ; the original 
 tiled pavement is exhibited, and the 
 early paintings on the walls are ex- 
 posed, but should be glazed. For fur- 
 ther details of the Chapter-House, see 
 Summerly's "Handbook to West- 
 minster Abbey." 
 
THE OLD REPOSITORIES. 47 
 
 metropolis. Thus the records of the king's remembrancer, of the Public 
 Exchequer, and the Common Pleas, migrated from Westminster ^.d. 1841! 
 Hall to the late Mews at Charing Cross : and thence, to make ?"' ^}- 
 
 ° ' ' Selections. 
 
 room for the National Gallery, to Carlton Riding-School. The 
 records of the late lord-treasurer's remembrancer and Pipe-Office, 
 are entombed two stories deep in the vaults of Somerset House. 
 Those of the King's Bench for a time rested opposite St. Margaret's 
 Church, but were shifted to the Rolls House in Chancery Lane to 
 make room for the present Rolls Court at Westminster. 
 
 XVIII. Thus from time to time have repositories, as well un- oid reposi- 
 dignified with the ancient title of " king's treasury " as deficient in 
 that careful superintendence which originally accompanied the 
 title, arisen in all parts of London; and in 1837 a committee of 
 the House of Commons reported that it had seen the Public Re- 
 cords, the most precious part of the king's " treasure," deposited 
 at the Tower over a gunpowder-magazine, and contiguous to a 
 steam-engine in daily operation ; at the Rolls, in a chapel where 
 divine service is performed ; in vaults, two stories underground at 
 Somerset House ; in dark and humid cellars at Westminster Hall ; 
 in the stables of the late Carlton Ride ; in the Chapter-House of 
 Westminster Abbey ; in offices surrounded by and subject to all 
 the accidents of private dwellings, as the Augmentation Office and 
 First Fruits. At the present time (1841), besides the offices for 
 modem records attached to each court, we may enumerate the 
 following repositories, with their different localities, as containing 
 the public records : — 
 
 The Tower, in Thames Street. Chapter-House, Westminster 
 Abbey. Rolls Chapel, Chancery Lane. Rolls House, Chancery 
 Lane. Duchy of Lancaster, Lancaster Place, Strand. Duchy of 
 Cornwall, Somerset House. Common Pleas, Carlton Ride and 
 Whitehall Yard. Queen's Remembrancer's Records, in Carlton 
 Ride and Tower of Westminster Hall. Augmentation-Office, 
 Palace Yard, Westminster. Pipe-Office, Somerset House. Lord- 
 Treasurer's Remembrancer, Somerset House. Land Revenue, 
 Carlton Ride. Pell-Office, i, Whitehall Yard. Exchequer of 
 Pleas, 3, Whitehall Yard. First-Fruits Office, Temple. 
 
 It would seem that as early as the commencement of the four- 
 teenth century, the officers charged with the custody of the records 
 were found to be either insufficient or neglectful of the perfor- 
 
48 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1841. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Master of 
 the Rolls. 
 
 Record In- 
 quiries and 
 Commission. 
 
 mance of their duties. Since the time of Edward II., scarcely a 
 reign has passed without a special temporary agency being ap- 
 pointed to restore the public records to good order. The neces- 
 sity probably arose from the functions of the officer charged with 
 the care of the records, being altogether changed, as in the instance 
 of the Master of the Rolls, who was the bond, fide " gardien des 
 roules " in early times. 
 
 XIX. In the 14th Ed. II., the barons of the exchequer were 
 directed to employ competent clerks to methodize the records, 
 which were " not then so properly arranged for the king's and the 
 public weal as they ought to be.'' Again in the 19th year of Ed. 
 II., certain commissioners were appointed for a similar purpose. 
 In Edward III.'s reign, at least three like commissions were 
 issued {Rot. Claus., Annis 34 and 36 ; and Hot. Pari., Anno 46). 
 Statutes for the protection of records from falsification, erasure, 
 and embezzlement were passed — 8 Rich. II., c. 4, and 11 Hen. 
 IV., c. 3. Other measures were taken by Henry VI., Henry VII., 
 and Henry VIII. Inquiries into the state of the Parliamentary, 
 the Chancery, and Exchequer records, were prosecuted in Queen 
 Elizabeth's reign. James I. proposed " an office of general Re- 
 membrance for all matters of record," and a State Paper Office, 
 which Charles II. established. Nor were the reigns of Anne and 
 the two first Georges, wanting in investigations into the subject. 
 Committees of both Houses of Parliament from time to time 
 visited the several repositories, and the fire of the Cottonian 
 Library in 1731 produced a report which describes the condition 
 of most of the public repositories at that period. But the fullest 
 examination into the state of the public records which has been 
 made in recent times, was effected by a Committee of the House 
 of Commons, in 1800, conducted by Lord Colchester, then Mr. 
 Abbot, and the report of that Committee presents by far the most 
 perfect and comprehensive account which has yet appeared of our 
 public records, to which a period of forty years has added very 
 little. This report originated a commission for carrying on the 
 work which its authors had begun. The Record Commission was 
 renewed six several times between the years 1800 and 1831, and 
 altogether suspended at the accession of the present Queen. All 
 the several record commissions during thirty years, recited, one 
 after another, that " the public records of the kingdom were in 
 
PARLIAMENTARY GRANTS. 49 
 
 many offices unarranged, undescribed, and unascertained j " that Public 
 they were exposed " to erasure, alteration, and embezzlement," and a_d. 184^. 
 "were lodged in buildings incommodious and insecure." The ?Y'"' 
 commissioners were directed to cause the records to be " metho- 
 dized, regulated, and digested," bound, and secured; to cause 
 " calendars and indexes to be made," and " original papers " to be 
 printed. The present state of the Record Offices affords abundant 
 evidence that the Record Commissioners interpreted their direc- 
 tions in an inverse order ; expending the funds entrusted to them 
 rather in printing records than in arranging or calendaring them. 
 And it is an undoubted fact that notwithstanding these commis- 
 sions, records were " embezzled " — and are still lodged in most 
 " insecure " buildings. A very full investigation into the proceed- 
 ings of the Record Commission was made by a Committee of the 
 House of Commons in 1835, and the reader who is curious to 
 know more than our space allows us to state may consult its report. 
 Certainly during the last half-century there has been no niggard 
 expenditure in one shape or another, in respect of the public 
 records. It is not very easy to ascertain its total amount, or the 
 precise appropriation of it ; but the following may be received as 
 an approximation to correctness : — 
 
 Parliamentary Papers show that grants were made Pubiic^R^ 
 
 on behalf of the Record Commission between cords. 
 
 1800 and 1831, to the amount of . . . ^£'362, 400 
 
 Between 1831 and 1839 inclusive . . . 125,700 
 
 Salaries, &c., for the custody of records . . 1 20,000 
 
 Fees, estimated on an average of the years 1829, 
 
 1830, and 1831, at least ..... 120,000 
 
 Removals of records, estimated at . . . 30,000 
 
 758,100- 
 Irish Record Commission, estimated at . . 1 20,000 
 
 ;=^878,ioo 
 
 Of the grants made to the Record Commission, by far the 
 greater part was spent in printing and the expenses connected 
 therewith. 
 
 XX. A very important step has recently been taken by the dd^sy«em. 
 
 II. E 
 
so 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1841. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Consolida- 
 tion. 
 
 Legislature to provide for the better custody and preservation and 
 more convenient use of the public records. An Act was passed 
 (i and 2 Vict., c. 49) calculated to remedy effectually what pre- 
 ceding efforts had in vain attempted, by constituting a special 
 agency for the custody of the records j to the want of which, and 
 a sufficient responsibility, all the defects of the old system are at- 
 tributable. By this Act the Master of the Rolls is made the 
 guardian of the public records, having powers to appoint a deputy, 
 and, in conjunction with the Treasury, to do all that may be 
 necessary in the execution of this service. The Act contemplates 
 the consolidation of all the records, from their several unfit repo- 
 sitories, into one appropriate receptacle ; their proper arrangement 
 and repair ; the preparation of calendars and indexes, which are 
 more or less wanting to every class of records ; and giving to the 
 public more easy access to them. Lord Langdale, the present 
 Master of the Rolls, to whose influence the change of system is 
 greatly due, has already brought the above Act into as full opera- 
 tion as circumstances have allowed. The old custodyship of most 
 of the offices has been superseded, and the offices are constituted 
 branches of one central depository — the Public Record Office, 
 which, until a proper building is ready, is at the Rolls House in 
 Chancery Lane. The Victoria Tower of the new Houses of Par- 
 liament has been named as a likely repository for the public 
 records. The arrangement and repair, as well as the making of 
 inventories of records, have been generally begun in most of the 
 offices. 
 
NEGLECT OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 51 
 
 ON THE PERILOUS STATE AND NEGLECT 
 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Extracts from an article published in the " Westminster Review" 
 No. C. and No, LXXXV., Art. VIL 
 
 E 
 
 XTREMES meet. The country was led to spend last year, public 
 for buildings and works connected with war, at least ^^ ,g^(,[ 
 ^2,000,000, and for buildings connected with civil purposes above P"' '.'• 
 ;^i, 000,000; but its financial administrators could not economize 
 one per cent, on this outlay, or even a farthing, to rescue the Na- 
 tional Records from jeopardy ! The Financial Reform Association, 
 at one of its meetings, very properly denounced this inconsistency. 
 We should naturally look to find a sympathetic regard for the 
 National Records stronger with a government and all its aristo- 
 cratic interests, than with cotton-merchants and Manchester ware- 
 housemen ; but strange as it may seem, the Financial Reform 
 Association has been the only public body feeling itself sufficiently 
 interested in the subject, to call public attention to the government 
 neglect of it. In contrasting economical commissions and omis- 
 sions, it was the chairman, we think, who showed, that whilst 
 hundreds of thousands of pounds can be afforded annually for ex- 
 perimental abortions, such as the Retribution, the Sidon, and other 
 steam-frigates, it was pretended that no sum could be spared to 
 place the national muniments in a place of safety. And so it 
 would appear that this matter, which might be supposed to engage 
 the solicitude of nobility, landowners, lawyers, diplomatists, finan- 
 ciers, statisticians, and those it most nearly concerns, is likely at 
 last to be settled by some disciple of the " Manchester School." 
 
 The anomalies of management and instances of feebleness which 
 are connected with the administration of the Public Records and 
 State Papers for years past, are almost incredible. Since 1 800, the 
 
52 
 
 NEGLECT OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1S49, 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 nation has paid very little less than a million of pounds ^ for the 
 custody, printing, and administration of the Public Records, Offi- 
 cial and State Papers. At the present time, they cost not less 
 than ;^ 15,000 a-year, taking the buildings and makeshifts into 
 account ; and yet the great bulk of them are exposed to imminent 
 perils of fire, in spite of the warnings of Mr. Braidwood, Superin- 
 tendent of the Fire Brigade, who says, they are under risks to 
 which " no merchant of ordinary prudence would subject his books 
 of account." It is six years since this perilous state was brought 
 specifically to the notice of Government, in all its respective de- 
 partments — the Treasury, the Office of Woods, the Home Office ; 
 every year since, the ugly warning has been repeated in the dull 
 ears of the House of Commons j and yet, what " no merchant of 
 ordinary prudence " would suffer for an instant, the country en- 
 dures with silent apathy. 
 
 Imbecility seems, for half a century at least, to have paralyzed 
 all attempts to obtain a safe building in which to deposit the public 
 documents of this country. The utter helplessness of every one 
 who affects to be concerned, is only paralleled by the impotent 
 wailings of the Greek chorus. Every one professes his sense ot 
 the want, cants about it, and wrings his hands. Reports without 
 end of the danger of the present buildings, are made to Parliament 
 year after year ; — periodically, the Treasury institutes an inquiry, 
 and so of course does the Office of Woods ; — the Home Secretary 
 is catechized, and promises to learn something. The Chancellor 
 of the Exchequer is always hoping to find funds, and all the while 
 the national Records remain in the state " to which no merchant 
 of ordinary prudence would subject his books of account." 
 
 The proverbial working of our Government is, that it follows, 
 and rarely ventures to pilot the intelligence of the people. The 
 apathy which it continues to show for the public documents, does 
 but reflect the ignorance and indifference of the public itself on 
 this subject. The spirit of the time, essentially selfish, cares as 
 little for the past as it does for the future. Of history we are 
 
 ' In parliamentary grants to Record 
 Commissions, salaries to officers, fees 
 from the public, removals, and cost of 
 Irish Commission up to 1839, the ex- 
 penditure on the Public Records had 
 
 been upwards of ;^878, 100. .Since 
 1839, the annual grant alone to the 
 Public Record Office has been about 
 ;if 10,000, which, without incidentals, 
 makes a total of ;^97S, 100 ! 
 
STATESMEN'S INDIFFERENCE. S3 
 
 negligent,' and though three large editions of Macaulay's " History Pueitic 
 of England " may be sold in as many months, it is the eloquence ^d!°i849. 
 of the writer, and not the thing written about, that excites the ^"*- "■ 
 
 , ,. . Selections. 
 
 public mterest. 
 
 It is but a small fraction of the public who know the extent and 
 value, and comprehend the singular completeness of the historical 
 documents of this country. Our Public Records excite no interest, 
 even in the functionaries whose acts they record, the departments 
 whose proceedings they register ; or the proprietors to whose pro- 
 perty and rights they furnish the most authentic, perhaps the only 
 title-deeds. Practically, what care my Lords Lyndhurst, Broug- indifference 
 ham, and Cottenham, to know that there are Records of the chaSore 
 Court of Chancery, and the official proceedings of their prede- Cheque?,''' 
 cessors, from the time of King John, without intermission, to the ^"^r^ &cT 
 decree which the Lord Chancellor made yesterday ? Who, among 
 the common law judges, if we except Baron Parke, cares to know 
 that every judgment passed in our Law Courts, has been in some 
 way recorded for the last six hundred and fifty years ? What heed 
 my Lord Denman, and Chief Justice Wilde, or their learned 
 brother Sir F. Pollock, of this fact ? — and yet our courts are always 
 insisting upon the solemnity of their recorded proceedings. 
 
 There is no greater sympathy for financial Records. We ven- 
 ture to assert that neither Lord Monteagle, Mr. Goulburn, nor Sir 
 Charles Wood, either know that there are ledger-books of the 
 national expenditure, which Chancellors of the Exchequer have 
 regulated, unrivalled even for their very physical magnificence, 
 and complete as a series, since the days of Henry II., or that they 
 would sufifer a moment's pang of conscience to hear that the parch- 
 ments had been cut up into measures for Herr Stulz, or that they 
 had eaten them as jellies, stewed by the artist Gunter. 
 
 And my Lord Palmerston, who makes treaties so patly, is he 
 aware of the fact that our Record Offices possess the very chiro- 
 graph between Henry I. and Robert, Earl of Flanders, the most 
 ancient of our diplomatic documents ; or that there exists Pope 
 Adrian's privilege to Henry II. to conquer Ireland ; or the treaties 
 with Robert Bruce, or the veritable treaty of the Cloth of Gold, 
 
 ' At last, after a gestation of fifteen Historians, and halts in proceeding 
 years, the Government has brought further, 
 out the first volume of our National 
 
54 
 
 NEGLECT OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Rrcords. 
 A.D. 1849. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Monastic 
 Records. 
 
 Public Re- 
 cord pffice 
 Act passed 
 in 1838, 
 
 illuminated with the portrait of the handsome hook-nosed Francis 
 I., and sanctified by the gold seal, chased by the cunning Ben- 
 venuto Cellini himself? 
 
 Can the Master-General of the Ordnance, who by a theoretical 
 figment, is supposed to direct the formation of the present Ord- 
 nance Surveys, say that he has ever been interested enough to 
 look at the sur\-ey of William the Conqueror — the Domesday-book, 
 which Americans, at least, go to the (Westminster) Chapter-House 
 to inspect ? — a more perfect survey in its way, though made eight 
 centuries ago, than anything we are even now forming in London. 
 
 The brother of the Prime Minister, the Duke of Bedford, 
 inherits the Abbey of Woburn and its monastic rights, privileges 
 and hereditaments ; and there are Public Records, detailing with 
 the utmost minuteness the value of this and all the church property 
 which " Old Harry" seized, and all the stages of its seizure; the 
 preliminary surveys to learn its value ; perhaps the very surrender 
 of the Monks of Woburn ; the annual value and detail of the pos- 
 sessions of the monastery whilst the Crown held it ; the very par- 
 ticulars of the grant on which the letters patent to Lord John 
 Russell were founded ; the enrolment of the letters patent them- 
 selves ; but neither his Grace of Bedford, the Duke and lay-impro- 
 priator, nor his brother, the Prime Minister and the historian, is 
 moved, even by mere sentiment, to stir a step to have these docu- 
 meiits safely housed ! 
 
 Messrs. Brown, Smith, and Tomkins, buy and sell manors and 
 advowsons, Waltons and Stokes, and Combes cum Tythings, with- 
 out knowing or caring that there are records of the actual transfers 
 of the same properties between the holders of them, since the days 
 of King John ! There is no sympathy for these things, even with 
 those who might fairly be presumed to have a direct interest in 
 the preservation of them, or with the public at large. But this 
 dulness does not lessen the truth of what Bishop Nicholson said 
 in 1 7 14, that " Our stores of Public Records are justly reckoned 
 to excel in age, beauty, correctness, and authority, whatever the 
 choicest archives abroad can boast of the like sort." 
 
 It is ten years since an Act was passed creating a Public Record 
 Office. The theory of that TVct was, to put under the superin- 
 tendence of the Master of the Rolls, all legal Records whatever, 
 and into his actual custody all Records which exceeded twenty 
 
SCANDALOUS STATE. 55 
 
 years in age. Every year the several Courts — Queen's Bench — Public 
 Common Pleas — Exchequer and Chancery — thus formally pass a.d. 1849! 
 over into the Public Record Office, all the Records whose age P=f ' V- 
 
 . . ° Selecnons. 
 
 exceeds twenty years. But in addition to these annual transfers 
 of legal documents, there constantly are transfers of many others 
 which are of the character of state papers. Thus the Admiralty 
 has handed over some hundred barge-loads of its Records. The 
 Treasury has carted away many van-loads of half-putrid ledgers 
 and minute-books to the Public Record Office. Papers of various 
 commissions have been sent to be sorted. The Registrar of Births, 
 Deaths, and Marriages, has asked to be relieved of his vastly 
 accumulating documents. Lately, it has been resolved that the 
 State Paper Office shall be a branch of the Public Record Office ; 
 so that already this department is one, not for the charge of legal 
 Records only, but of all public and state documents of every kind. 
 It will become, so to speak — when Government is wise enough to 
 provide a proper building — a national strong-box, and these cir- 
 cumstances alone constitute ample reason against further delay, if Depositories 
 the scandalous state of the present several temporary places of de- teUd. 
 posit, did not make the necessity for a safe building urgent, beyond 
 human patience. 
 
 The documents in actual charge of the Public Record Office, 
 are still scattered in six depositories in as many parts of London ; 
 — an inconvenience especially noticed by the Commons' Com- 
 mittee on the Record Commission in 1836. The Tower of 
 London contains the early Chancery Records from the time of 
 John, and the Admiralty Records. One portion is placed in the 
 Wakefield Tower, " contiguous to a steam-engine in daily opera- 
 tion," as witnessed and reported against by the Commons' Com- 
 mittee in 1836. Another portion is piled and packed up most 
 ingeniously in very cramped space in the large square four-turreted 
 keep of the old fortress, called the White Tower. There is barely 
 room for a moderate-sized person to pass between the racks. The 
 recent influx of Admiralty Records, brought from the Dockyard at 
 Deptford, whence they were expelled to make room for construct- 
 ing another dock ! — another sign of the public economy, which 
 prefers to build frigates to providing a safe Record Office — has 
 choked up and completely hidden the little chapel in this keep, 
 called Caesar's Chapel. chapd! 
 
S6 
 
 NEGLECT OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 
 A.D. ZS49. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selection.s. 
 
 Gunpowder 
 at tbe 
 Tower. 
 
 Without exception, this chapel, with its tufa-roof still quite 
 perfect and semi-circular, is the most complete specimen of a 
 Norman interior which remains in our country; and its present 
 degradation, which has not as yet excited active remonstrances 
 from any quarter, is a proof of how little earnestness there is 
 among our learned archaeologists. If Mr. A. Hope feel as keenly 
 on this point as he is said to do, he would hardly remain so silent 
 in his place in parliament. This chapel of Old Bishop Gundulph, 
 ought to be one of the national sights of the Tower. 
 
 But it is not upon mere antiquarian or sentimental grounds that 
 we think it discreditable to crowd the White Tower ; it is, that 
 the place itself is more than trebly hazardous from fire ; — we say 
 nothing of the tons of gunpowder which are stored in its base- 
 ment, enough to destroy all Tower-hill, and change even the 
 course of the Thames if an explosion took place — risks certainly 
 not worth running, in order to have gunpowder twenty minutes 
 nearer the metropolis, although the Duke of Wellington thinks 
 otherwise. The danger of the White Tower consists in its being 
 partly filled with Ordnance stores of a most inflammable kind. 
 Tarpaulins beautifully pitched for blazing, soldiers' kits, and all 
 kinds of wood-work, among which common labourers, not imbued 
 with extra-carefulness, are constantly moving about : indeed, an 
 eye-witness has related to us that he has seen boiling pitch in 
 actual flame iipmediately close to this tower. We need not dwell 
 on the danger, for My. Braidwood has reported that the insurance 
 of such a building with such stores, would not be taken by the 
 "Sun" or any other insurance office for less than 5J. per cent., 
 the ordinary risks being only \s. 6d. per pent. If a fire occurred 
 in this tower, the whole would certainly be copsumed terrifically, 
 owing to the peculiar construction of the place ; and if the fire 
 reached the gunpowder, Heaven only knows where the damage 
 would end. Now a fire did happen only some six years ago, with- 
 in forty feet of this very keep, and burnt down the small armoury, 
 and fire-engines were at work all one night, de}ugjng this very 
 White Tower for its protection, A fire is, therefore, no impossible 
 but a very probable occurrence in the Tower. In the yery sight 
 of this dangerous spot, the Government could actually provide the 
 requisite tens of thousands of pounds to build up massive barracks, 
 but none for a Record Office ! The peril of the Records in the 
 
IMPROPER BUILDINGS. 57 
 
 Tower makes the neglect of duty on those who ought to remedy Public 
 it, criminally disgraceful. It is indeed a place " in which no mer- j^^ jg^^' 
 chant of ordinary prudence would keep his books of account." i'''" n- 
 
 ^ "^ , "^ ■ Selections. 
 
 Other Records are m Chancery-lane ; some m the Rolls House ; 
 some in a temporary shed, like a navvie's hut, recently built for 
 the Treasury papers! in the Rolls Garden; some in the pews 
 and behind the communion table in the Rolls Chapel ! — a place 
 heated by hot-air flues — a very riskful process of warming. The 
 venerable Domesday-book, and certain other Records of the Ex- 
 chequer, &c., remain in the Chapter-House of Westminster Abbey 
 — the place where the Commpns first held their sittings apart 
 from the Lords. This place continues exposed to the same acci- 
 dents from fire which were so humorously told by the late Charles 
 BuUer, when moving for an inquiry into the old Record Commis- 
 sion ^«y-/^i7« years ago. 
 
 Another storehouse for a very great part of the Public Records, Cariton- 
 are the stables and riding-school of Carlton-house, in which the Riding 
 
 School. 
 
 Princess Charlotte used to delight herself with horse exercise. 
 This is a sort of huge barn, situate at the east end of Carlton- 
 terrace, in the neighbourhood of the Duke of York's pillar. The 
 chief part of the Common Law Records are deposited here. The 
 inside of this building presents a series of dark alleys — the sides 
 of which are faced with Records reaching up some thirty feet 
 high. It is a wretched makeshift ; but it contains National Re- 
 cords from the time of King Stephen to the present day. Hither 
 his Grace of Bedford would resort to make out his title to Woburn 
 Abbey, or the Duke of Beaufort his rights to the score of presen- 
 tations to livings which his Grace dispenses. Here is a mine of 
 topographical history, from the time of King John : nothing in 
 Europe rivalling the series of "fines," for precision, completeness, 
 and even physical beauty. Here are the great Rolls of the Pipe 
 — the ledger-book of national receipts and expenditure from the 
 days of Henry II. The place which holds these Records is called 
 the " Treasury,'' so called by tradition as old at least as the time 
 of Darius, who kept his rolls in his " Treasure-house " as part of 
 his treasures — and this " Treasury " is a shed so flimsy that a fire 
 would bum it like matches, in twenty minutes, according to Mr. 
 Braidwood's estimate. After the official hours it is consigned to 
 the protection of four thousand gallons of water — fire mains 
 
58 
 
 NEGLECT OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1849. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Impotent 
 efiorts. 
 
 Mr. Buller's 
 Record Bill. 
 
 charged — an officer of the fire-brigade — two policemen — two tell- 
 tale clocks — and two sentries I The fire-risk here, as at the 
 Tower, is estimated a\.five shillings per cent. Such is the state of 
 the repositories which contain our public Records ! 
 
 We do not accuse Governments of a deliberate intention of 
 proving what empty wind-bags are the advice of Commissions, the 
 recommendations of Committees of the House of Commons, the 
 decrees of Acts of Parliament, or the urgent entreaties of public 
 functionaries ; but if Governments had desired to do this, they 
 could not have manifested the fact more strongly than in their 
 conduct in respect to the building of a Public Record Office, 
 during the last fifteen years. Indeed, the period will be found 
 much longer, even as much as two centuries, if we look back as 
 far. Yet since 1834, not a year has passed without some direct 
 and active remonstrance being made to Government, for its neg- 
 lect of the subject. We will not detail the repeated advice for 
 which, among other things, the Record Commissions received 
 annually more than ten thousand pounds a-year to give, and which 
 they tendered almost annually previous to 1834; but in that 
 year. Lord Duncannon, on behalf of Government, brought in a 
 bill to empower the Commissioners of Woods and Forests to 
 erect a General Record Office on the Rolls Estate ; the bill fell 
 dead. 
 
 Scarcely was this Report of the Committee on the Record Com- 
 mission published, when the Commissioners of Public Records 
 reiterated the same advice — "The opinion of the Commissioners 
 has long been, that the present buildings ought to give way to a 
 General Repository for Records." This advice was tendered to 
 Government in February, 1847 ; and in the autumn of the same 
 year, the same Commissioners addressed the king to the like 
 effect. 
 
 During the session of 1837, a bill to provide for the safe 
 custody of the Public Records, was introduced by Mr. C. Buller, 
 Mr. B. Hawes, the present Under-Secretary of State for the 
 Colonies, and by Sir Charles Lemon (who, since that time, have 
 never manifested any useful interest whatever in the matter). 
 Mr. Buller did not proceed with the bill, being assured by Govern- 
 ment that they intended to take the matter in hand. In the next 
 year, 1838, the Public Record Act was passed, and the seventh 
 
LORD LANGDALE'S EFFORTS. 59 
 
 section of it directs the Treasury forthwith to provide a suitable Public 
 building. v.Kcu^^^. 
 
 ° A.D. 1849. 
 
 In the January of 1839, Lord Langdale, who, as Master of the Part 11. 
 Rolls, became invested with the custody of all the Public Records, Lord Lang- 
 losing no time, submitted to the Secretary of State, then Lord ovir'the"""^ 
 John Russell, the necessity of providing a Public Record OflSce ^=™'''^- 
 at once, and reiterated the suggestion of the Commons' Com- 
 mittee that the Rolls Estate was a proper site. But the Lords 
 of the Treasury, although they entirely concurred that one Gene- 
 ral Record Office was essential to the introduction of a perfect 
 system, signified that they would not build one until it was seen 
 whether the Victoria Tower of the New Houses of Parliament „. . 
 
 Victona 
 
 would do for the purpose. It was very natural, that parliament, '^'^^ pro- 
 having resolved to build a great tower for ornament, the Treasury 
 should try and find a reasonable use for it This course of pro- 
 ceeding, we may remark, is in accordance with the spirit of the 
 times, which is to view ornament and utility as two separate things. 
 Lord Langdale, however, adhered to his original views that the 
 Rolls Estate was the proper place, and he took occasion to repeat 
 them whenever a suitable occasion presented itself, adding " that 
 it would be convenient, and ultimately a great saving of expense, 
 to establish the Record Office in connexion with, or in the close 
 vicinity of the law offices and the courts." 
 
 In 1843, attention was called' to the very great and extraordi- 
 nary risk from fire to which the Records in Carlton Ride and the 
 Tower were exposed, Mr. Braidwood having reported that he con- ■q^^^,^ ^j 
 sidered the risk at both places as more than trebly hazardous. S^j'"" 
 Lord Langdale threatened to pack up the Records safely, even 
 though access should be difficult, rather than run the risk of having 
 them destroyed by fire. Again the New Houses of Parliament 
 were brought forward as a fitting receptacle ; and though the Vic- 
 toria Tower would not be erected and ready for five years, Mr. 
 Barry said he could find " permanent fire-proof accommodation " 
 in other portions of the new palace, and he proposed to put the 
 Records in the roofs ! The roofs were accordingly inspected by 
 Lord Langdale and the chief Record officers. The proposition 
 
 ' It was assisted at the Ofifice of sioner, on I7tli March, 1842, to in- 
 Works by the visit of Prince Albert spect the Royal Arms, Furniture, &c. 
 with Lord Lincoln, Chief Commis- 
 
6o 
 
 NEGLECT OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1849. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Mr. Pro- 
 
 theroe's 
 
 motion. 
 
 seems to have been as impertinent as could be well thought of. 
 The reports on this notable project describe the roofs as about 
 six feet high, fitted up like hen-coops with 140 cells, each lighted 
 by a little window, surrounded on all sides by chambers or ducts 
 for the foul air of the rooms below — admirable conductors for 
 flames and hot air in case of fire — eighty-six feet above the 
 ground, intricate and difficult of access ; in short, the very oppo- 
 site of what a Record Office should be. Still the Treasury, though 
 the roofs were laughably absurd for the purpose, clung to using 
 the Victoria Tower. The building of it being still in jeopardy, its 
 fitness was asseverated more strongly than ever by Mr. Barry. 
 At last he was constrained to say what quantity the Tower would 
 really hold, when it appeared that the space it would provide 
 would not accommodate a third part of the Records ; and it Was 
 proved that it would be more costly to erect supplementary build- 
 ings at Westminster adjacent to the Victoria Tower, which must 
 necessarily be more or less ornate in their architecture, than it would 
 be to build a plain suitable structure elsewhere. So the Victoria 
 Tower being out of jeopardy, that notable scheme was given up. 
 There are some admirable letters on this matter written by the 
 Master of the Rolls, in which he lectures the Government with 
 dignity and eloquence on its short-comings. 
 
 In 1846, Mr. Protheroe moved in the Commons that there 
 ought to be no further delay in erecting a suitable repository. Sir 
 Charles Wood and Sir G. Grey promised their best attention. 
 Accordingly, after some delays, the matter was referred to the 
 Commissioners of Metropolitan Improvement, who recommended 
 a plan prepared by Mr. Pennethorne, for building an office on the 
 Rolls Estate, all authorities now agreeing about the site. Notices 
 were given to tenants in the neighbourhood, and a bill was pre- 
 pared to be brought in, in 1848, when, unluckily, financial diffi- 
 culties came on, and the subject was dropped altogether. We 
 cannot exonerate the Government from blame in this decision, 
 for it could spend ,^3,000,000 on various other works and build- 
 ings in that year in spite of the difficulties, but was unable to 
 muster sufficient heartiness to build the Public Record Office, and 
 conclude the matter once and for all by getting a small prelimi- 
 nary grant. One even of ;^io,ooo would have been a useful be- 
 ginning, but it was not made. 
 
Milnes' ac- 
 tion. 
 
 ROLLS ESTATE PROPOSED. 6i 
 
 Mr. Monckton Milnes,^ towards the close of the session of 1848, public 
 catechised Sir G. Grey, who said the Chancellor of the Exchequer ^^°^i^, 
 had no funds. Still the subject did not quite drop, for the Com- Pa" n. 
 
 ■«<•■ 11 T-i • • rt rt 11 . Selections.* 
 
 mittee on Miscellaneous Estimates in 1848, reported that, " it 
 seems that considerable expense is incurred, owing to the different 
 places in which these documents are kept, and it would be advis- 
 able that parliament should speedily determine whether any build- Mr. m. 
 ing large enough for their tenure should be erected." 
 
 We observe that Mr. M. Milnes has this year already begun his 
 annual questionings, which we hope he is going to prosecute with 
 a little more energy than before, or he had better give up the 
 matter. We suggest that he should forthwith call attention to the 
 resolution of the Miscellaneous Estimates Committee, coupling it 
 with another, that the House is prepared to vote the necessary 
 funds for commencing the structure forthwith. We have no faith 
 that this recommendation will meet with any better fate than its 
 predecessors have done, unless the attention of ministers is called 
 to it in a way they cannot elude. 
 
 If the question were now an open one, and disconnected with 
 economical reasons, which would be the best site of the Public 
 Record Office, we might perhaps hesitate to fix upon the Rolls 
 Estate ; — not, certainly, if the convenience of the legal profession 
 were the only consideration. Unquestionably it is that part of 
 the public who have the most occasion to use the Public Records 
 in the way of business, and for them the Rolls Estate is by far the 
 most suitable site, from its adjacency to the law offices and the 
 inns of court. But we apprehend the question of site must be 
 considered as quite settled." 
 
 Since 1834, a very large portion of the ground belonging to the 
 Rolls Estate has been kept unoccupied, for the express purpose of 
 being used as the site of the Public Record Office, when it should 
 be wanted. And the mere delay already has cost some ;^2o,ooo, 
 
 ' Now Lord Houghton, who, when to sell their land at extravagant prices, 
 Mr. C. Buller became a minister, in- that the Public Record Office should 
 terested himself in the Public Records be in Tothill Fields, and who con- 
 question in Parliament. tended' that it was for the public 
 
 ^ The longer the question is de- interest that Government should buy 
 
 layed, the more it creates difficulties. their land, rather than use that which 
 
 Last year we heard of proposals from it already held. . 
 parties in Westminster, who wanted 
 
62 
 
 NEGLECT OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1849. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 for it would not be too much to value the annual loss thus entailed 
 by keeping the ground useless, at some ^1,200 a-year. The sur- 
 veyor of the Office of Woods has reported that " The Rolls Estate 
 is indisputably the cheapest site in London, for in no other part 
 could so large an area be acquired except at a cost far exceeding 
 the value of this estate." And we apprehend the argument of 
 greatest cheapness is likely to have most weight at the present 
 time. The Rolls Estate is by far the cheapest site, and one which, 
 if the Record Office be disconnected from metropolitan improve- 
 ments, requires no outlay at all in the purchase of ground. The 
 ground may be used to-morrow ; there is nothing whatever wanting 
 to commence the foundations of the building instantly, but the 
 order and the funds to pay the labour of digging. 
 
 Without pulling down a single house, there are these 200 square 
 feet of ground, which, with the houses in the hands of the Crown, 
 would suffice to erect a repository large enough to hold the 
 Records in Carlton Ride and the Tower of London, which are 
 stated by Mr. Braidwood to be in the greatest jeopardy. The 
 cost of erecting all the buildings of the complete office, with all its 
 adjuncts, has been estimated at ;^2o6,5oo ; but we apprehend a 
 grant of ;^5 0,000 made in the next two years, would be ample to 
 place most of the Public Records in actual safety. We contend 
 that the Government is bound to find ;^2 5,000 for doing this in 
 the present session : and if Sir Robert Peel really meant what he 
 said lately at the dinner of the Geological Society, when he can- 
 didly avowed that Government had too much preferred expendi- 
 ture for war over outlays for objects of peace and science, he would 
 be found a supporter of the proposal. In any case, whether it re- 
 ceive the countenance of either the present or the last Prime 
 Minister, we advise some merchant at least " of ordinary pru- 
 dence " — Mr. T. Baring or Mr. Cobden — to divide the House of 
 Commons on the question, that the nation ought not any longer 
 to subject its Records to perils, to which " no merchant of ordi- 
 nary prudence would subject his books of account." ' 
 
 ' This was the last article I wrote connected with the Public Records. 
 
PUBLIC A TIONS B Y HENR Y COLE. 63 
 
 LIST OF VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS CONNECTED 
 
 WITH THE RECORD COMMISSION AND 
 
 PUBLIC RECORDS, &c., WRITTEN 
 
 BY HENRY COLE. 
 
 EXCERPTA HISTORICA : or, Illustrations of English His- Public 
 tory. Printed by and for Samuel Bentley, MDCCCXXXI. ^Td°'' 
 Articles contributed by Henry Cole — i. Monsters which appeared p^'J,'''' 
 in the time of Henry III. 2. Conflagration of Norwich Cathedral, Selections. 
 II August, 1272. 3. Convention between Prince Edward, after- 
 wards King Edward I., and Louis IX. (St. Louis), relative to 
 Edward's Crusade to the Holy Land, 53-4 Hen. III. 1269. 
 4. Attempted Assassination of Edward I. at Acre. 5. Prepara- 
 tions for the Coronation of Edward I. (pp. 251-277). 
 
 Amplification, by Henry Cole, of Mr. Palgrave's explanatory 
 note, in pages 66 and 67 of his reply. 1832. Pamphlet. 8vo. 
 
 3- 
 
 Public Records. — The public advantages of entrusting the 
 Records of the Exchequer belonging to the offices of the Lord 
 Treasurer's Remembrancer and Clerk of the Pipe, to the Irrespon- 
 sible custody of the King's Remembrancer, determined by the 
 present condition of that officer's own Records. In a letter 
 addressed to the Secretary of the Record Commission, by a Mem- 
 ber of the Temple. " Thine own mouth condemneth thee ; and 
 not I." — Job. London : Henry Butterworth, 7, Fleet Street. 
 1834. Pamphlet. 8vo. 
 
 4- 
 
 Record Commission. — A letter addressed to the Right Ho- 
 nourable the Speaker of the House of Commons, as chairman of 
 
64 
 
 LIST OF RECORD PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1831-1849. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 the Commission on Public Records, on the conduct of C. Purton 
 Cooper, Esq., Sec. Com. Pub. Rec, and the general management 
 of the Commission. By Henry Cole, one of the Sub-Commis- 
 sioners. London. 1836. Pamphlet. 8vo. 
 
 Record Commission. — Conduct of C. Purton Cooper, Esq. 
 
 1836. Pamphlet, by H. C. 8vo. 
 
 6. 
 Report, Resolutions, and Proceedings of the Select Com- 
 mittee of the House of Commons, appointed to inquire into the 
 management and affairs of the Record Commission, and the pre- 
 sent State of the Records of the United Kingdom ; with illustra- 
 tive notes, selected from the evidence taken before the Com- 
 mittee, and documents printed by the Record Commission. 
 Edited by H. C. London : James Ridgway & Son, Piccadilly. 
 
 1837. 8vo. Price 2x. dd. 
 
 7- 
 Remarks on Certain Evils to which the Printed Evidence 
 taken by the Committees of the House of Commons is at present 
 subject, by H. C. Privately printed. 1836. 
 
 8. 
 Lord Brougham's Record Commission. — " Things, sire, base." 
 — Cymbeline. An article written by H. C. and published in 
 " Eraser's Magazine," Feb., 1837, Vol. XV., No. LXXXVI. Written 
 with much personal feeling. 
 
 9- 
 
 The Record Commission. An article written by H. C. and 
 printed in the "Law Magazine," Vol. XVII., Art. V., p. 80. 
 [Attributed by some to Mr. Charles Buller, but written by H. C] 
 
 Mr. Cole's Report to Lord Langdale, explaining the Plan of his 
 Calendar to the Records at the Exchequer of Pleas. 1837. 
 Published in Deputy-Keeper's Report. 
 
 Henry the VIII.'s Scheme of Bishopricks. 
 Co. 1838. Only 250 copies printed. 
 
 8vo. Knight & 
 
LIST OF RECORD PUBLICATIONS. 65 
 
 1 2. Public 
 
 Reports and Particulars of the Decayed Rolls of the Common p„t u, ' 
 Pleas in the Carlton Ride, furnished by the Assistant-Keeper Selections. 
 (Mr. Cole). 1840.. 1831-1847. 
 
 13- 
 The New Record System. From " Law Magazine," No. L. 
 1840. 
 
 14. 
 The Anglo-Saxon Laws. Art. VL, " Law Magazine," Vol. 
 XXVIIL, No. LVIII. 1841. 
 
 IS- 
 Extracts from General Reports of the Assistant-Keeper at the 
 Carlton Ride (Mr. Cole). Jan., 1841 ; also April and Sept., 1841. 
 
 16. 
 History of the Public Records, being an article printed in the 
 " Penny Cyclopaedia." 1841. 
 
 17- 
 Mr. Cole's observations upon " Coast Bonds " in Carlton Ride. 
 
 1842. 
 
 1 8. 
 Progress of the New Record System. — Consolidation of 
 Records and Ofi&ces. A Review of the Second, Third, and Fourth 
 Reports of the Deputy-Keeper, 1841, 1842, 1843. Art. VII. in 
 " Law Magazine." 
 
 19. 
 Extracts and Statements from the Reports of Proceedings of 
 the Assistant-Keeper at the Carlton Ride. 1843. 
 
 20. 
 
 Legal Retrospections. Art. III. in Vol. XXXI., No. LXIIL, 
 of " Law Magazine ;" another article in Vol. XXXI., No. LXIV., 
 Art. v., p. 337, 1843. Article III. gave an inventory of " Bookes of 
 William Rastall, late one of the Justices of the Queens Benche, 
 remaynyng in his late lodginge within Sergeants Inne in London;" 
 and Article V. gave extracts from John Manningham's Diary 
 (No. 5,353 in Harleian MSS.). 
 
 II. F 
 
66 LIST OF RECORD PUBLIC A TIONS. 
 
 Public 21, 
 
 PartTi"' Officers of the Court of Chancery, from " Law Magazine," 
 
 Selections. Vol. XXIX., No. LIX., p. 22. 1843. 
 
 1831-1847. 
 
 22. 
 
 Documents illustrative of English History in the Thirteenth 
 and Fourteenth Centuries, selected from the Records of the De- 
 partment of the Queen's Remembrancer of the Exchequer ; and 
 edited by Henry Cole, of the Honourable Society of the Middle 
 Temple, an Assistant-Keeper of the Public Records. London : 
 Printed by George E. Eyre and Andrew Spottiswoode, Printers to 
 the Queen's most Excellent Majesty. Foolscap folio. 1844. 
 
 23- 
 Report on the Measurements of certain of the Public Records, 
 addressed to the Master of the Rolls. By Henry Cole. 1844. 
 
 24. 
 Extracts from the Reports of Mr. Henry Cole, one of the 
 Assistant-Keepers at the Carlton Ride. 1845 and 1846. 
 
 25- 
 Report of Mr. Henry Cole, Assistant-Keeper at the Carlton 
 Ride, of damage to that Repository and the Records therein, by 
 the Hailstorm of ist August, 1846. 
 
 26. 
 On the Perilous State and Neglect of the Public Records. 
 Article VII. in the " Westminster Review," No. C. 1849. 
 
 27. 
 Extracts from the Reports of the Assistant-Keeper (Mr. Cole), 
 
 1846, on the arrangement of the Records of Queen's Bench, 
 Exchequer, Common Pleas, and Augmentation Court; also an 
 inventory of the Seals of the Barons' letter to Pope Boniface on 
 Dominion of Scotland, 29 Ed. I. 
 
 28. 
 Report of Work at Carlton Ride for the year ending 31st Dec, 
 
 1847, noticing removals from the Stone Tower, Westminster Hall, 
 and Inventories made of Seals at the Chapter House. 
 
HENRY VIII.'S SCHEME OF BISHOPRICKS. 67 
 
 HENRY THE EIGHTH'S SCHEME OF 
 BISHOPRICKS, 
 
 With illustrations of the Assumption of Church Property, its 
 Amount and Appropriation, with some notices of the State of 
 Popular Education at the period of the Reformation — ^now 
 first published from the originals in the Augmentation Office, 
 Treasury of the Exchequer, British Museum, &c. Charles 
 Knight and Co., 22, Ludgate Street. 1838. 
 
 T 
 
 Extracts from the Prefatory Remarks. 
 
 HE immediate cause of the Reformation has been commonly public 
 assigned to Henry VIII. The Reformation, says a modern 
 
 the Refor- 
 mation. 
 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 
 writer, " was begun by the King in consequence of his desire to Pa" i.i. 
 put away his wife and marry another."' Henry played a pro- camesof 
 minent part in the Reformation ; but that mighty revolution was 
 as little begun by him, as the American revolution by Washington, 
 — the French revolution by Napoleon, — or the Reform Bill by 
 William IV. The Reformation was no fortuitous event, but a 
 necessary phasis in the progress of modem Europe. It was the 
 inevitable sequence of a multitude of moral agencies actively 
 working. The tide of public censure had long ago set in against 
 the morals, conduct, and wealth of the clergy .° Direct alienations 
 
 ' Essay on the History of the prohibitions against almost every con- 
 English Government, ch. iv., p. 29, ceivable crime, specially named, are 
 by Lord J. Russell. to be found. — Also Gower's Vox Cla- 
 
 ° See Constitutions of the Councils mantis. Bib. Cott. Tib. A. 4. 
 from the time of Ethelbert, Anno 747, This poem still exists in M S. only ; 
 
 in Wilkins' Concilia. — Dupin's Eccl. a considerable portion is employed in 
 
 Hist. fol. 1724. — Concilia Magnse characterising the state of the clergy. 
 
 Britanniae, fol, 1738 ; — throughout all, The following is a sample, fol. 50, 51. 
 
 ' ' Delicias mundi negat omnis regula Christi, 
 Sed modo priElati prevaricantur ibi : — 
 
68 
 
 HENRY VIIL'S SCHEME', OF BISHOPRICKS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 of Church property from spiritual to temporal objects, had been 
 openly advocated as a public good during the reigns of Henry IV. 
 and V. ; and avowed scepticism of the Church's dogmas now 
 began to operate. 
 
 " There was no small quarrel picked to religion, both for super- 
 stition and idolatry ; and in that point not without cause, for it 
 was great. So had covetousness blinded the whole clergy, that 
 they had no grace to reform anything, were it never so vain and 
 foolish, of their own accord. But all was fish that came to the 
 net."^ The occurrence of the Reformation at this particular 
 
 p. 71 
 
 Christus erat pauper, Illi cumulantur in auro : 
 Hie humilis subiit, Hii superesse volunt : 
 Christus erat mitis, Hos pompa superbit inanis : 
 Hie pacem dederat, Hii modo bella ferunt : 
 Christus erat miserans, Hii vindictamque sequuntur: 
 Mulcet eum pietas, Hos movet ira frequens ; 
 Christus erat verax, Hii blandaque verba requirunt : 
 Christus erat Justus, Hii nisi velle vident : 
 Christus erat constans, Hii vento mobiliores : 
 Obstitit ille malis, Hii mala stare sinunt : 
 Christus erat virgo, sunt illi rar& pudici : 
 Hie bonus est pastor, Hii sed ovile vorant : 
 Hii pleno stomacho laudant jejunia Christi, 
 MoUibus induti, nudus et ipse pedes. 
 Et quae plus poterunt sibi fercula lauta parari, 
 Ad festum Bacchi dant holocausta quasi 
 Esea placens ventri sic est, et venter ad eseas, 
 Ut Venus a latere stet bene pasta gulae. 
 
 . Vix sibi festa dies sacra vel jejunia tollunt, 
 Quin nemus in canibus circuit ipse suis ; 
 Clamor in ore canum, dum vociferantur in unum, 
 Et sibi campana psaUitur, unde Deo 
 Stat sibi missa brevis, devocio longaque campis ; 
 Quo sibi cantores deputat esse canes. 
 Sic lepus et vulpis sunt quos magis ipse requirit ; 
 Dum sonat ore Deum, stat sibi mente lepus ; 
 Si agitat vulpis, vulpem similis similemque 
 Querit, dum juvenem devorat ipse gregem." 
 
 See also complaint of John Wick- 
 liffe to the king and parliament. Ox- 
 ford 1608. — Rabelais' satire on monk- 
 ery, — himself having been educated 
 by the monks of the Abbey of Seville. 
 
 — Giraldus Cambrensis, De distinc- 
 tionibus. Bib. Cott. Tib. B. 13. 
 
 ' Cole's MSS. in the Brit. Mus. 
 vol. xii. fol. 17. " A copy of an old 
 MS. by Mr. Cole, 1745, wrote about 
 
VIII.'s ne- 
 cessities. 
 
 CORRUPTION OF THE CLERGY. 69 
 
 period, like all great events, was the result of an inscrutable con- Public 
 catenation of circumstances ; the first link in the chain to be a.d?°838. 
 traced rather to Thomas Cromwell than to Henry; to Wolsey Part 11. 
 
 , , _, ,1 1 -r^ , , Selections. 
 
 rather than to Cromwell ; to the Pope rather than to Wolsey ; and, 
 most of all, to the state of the clergy rather than to the Pope, state of the 
 Had Henry been equally parsimonious as his predecessor, the ^^"^''' 
 Reformation might have been delayed for a season ; but his 
 extravagance and wastefulness had exhausted all modes of taxa- 
 tion, and " the people," says Hall,"^ " began to accompt the loanes 
 and subsedies graunted, so that thei rekened the Kynges tresure 
 innumerable, for thei accompted that the Kynge had taken of this 
 realme twentie fiftenes sithe the xiii. yere of his reigne." Funds 
 for the gratification of Henry's sensualities and caprices are not 
 forthcoming, — taxations and subsidies fail, — tamperings are made 
 with the currency — proclamations issued, that the coinage shall 
 be enhanced in value ; still no adequate supply.^ Fresh imposts 
 attempted, the people grumble and revolt. Henry's necessities Henry 
 must be supplied. — Where is money to come from ? — How corrupt, 
 useless, and wealthy are the Monasteries, (especially the smallest 
 and weakest,) becomes a popular idea. A rich priesthood, power- 
 less against attack, lacking popular sympathy, can alone relieve a 
 monarch's dilemma ! Precedents for the alienation of Church 
 property were to be found in abundance. It was but a year or so 
 ago, that Wolsey " rather of a vaine desire of glorie and worldlie Woisey-s 
 praise than upon the instinction of true religion and advancement 
 of doctrine," ^ had " obtained a bull* from the Pope to pluck down 
 two small abbeys, (a great light to the overthrow of all the residue,) 
 and with them to build, erect, and set up two colleges, one at 
 Ipswich where he was born, and another at Oxford." At the 
 " pulling down of which abbeys, Cromwell, a Sherman's son by 
 occupation, then was servant to the said Cardinall, and put in 
 trust with the spoil of the said two abbeys in his master's behalf, 
 wherein he spied such wealth, and was so misled in the spoyling 
 
 the year 1S91, concerning the destruc- ' See Herbert, p. 201, also p. 84 
 
 tion of religious houses in England ; of the volume, 
 
 lent me by Thomas Porter, of Not- ' Hall's Chronicle, 
 
 tinghamshire and Cambridgeshire, * See the numerous bulls issued 
 
 Esq." since the 16 H. VHI. in Rymef's 
 
 ' Chronicle. Foedera, vol. xiv. 
 
 schemes. 
 
70 HENRY VIII.'S SCHEME OF BISHOPRICKS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Dissolution 
 of the Mo- 
 nastic 
 Houses. 
 
 Parlia- 
 mentary 
 corruption. 
 
 "thereof, that he thought every day a thousand years untill he were 
 in the bowels of all the residue." ^ Wolsey's schemes, sanctioned 
 by the Pope, received no opposition from Henry, who thought, 
 says Herbert of Cherbury,' " that if, for his urgent occasions, he 
 were necessitated at any time to seize on the other religious 
 houses, he might this way discover how the people would 
 take it." 
 
 All the alienations of Church property were effected under the 
 sanctions of law and custom. Before Henry's rupture with the 
 Pope, numerous papal bulls were issued, authorising the trans- 
 mutation of ecclesiastical property from the service of the Church 
 to that of education.' After that event, Henry and the legislature 
 co-operated together against the Church. 
 
 The dissolution of the Monastic houses appears to have been 
 wholly conducted by Thomas Cromwell, who, (as Stowe's Chronicle 
 describes,) "notwithstanding the baseness of his birth, through a 
 singular excellencie of wit, joyned with industrious diligence of 
 minde, grew to such a sufficient ripenesse of understandynge and 
 skUl in ordering of waighty affairs, that he was thought apt and fit 
 to any roomth of office whereunto he should be admitted." 
 Though corruption was practised to render the House of Com- 
 mons supple to the King's views, — and it gave in truth but the 
 semblance of assent to his propositions, — yet the fact of appealing 
 to the legislature at all, and of securing the appearance of its 
 concurrence, demonstrates the gradual increase of another power 
 besides that of the sovereign and the nobles. The letters ad- 
 dressed to Cromwell (p. 96 et seq.) afford evidence of the pains 
 taken to secure a packed majority in the House of Commons. 
 ISTumerous writers also bear witness to the extensive parliamentary 
 corruption exercised when the proposition was made for dissolving 
 the Monasteries. Hall* says, " the moste parte of the Commons 
 were the Kynges servauntes." And in a somewhat rare work by 
 Sir Walter Raleigh, the following dialogue is to be found. 
 
 " Councellour. — Why, sir, doe you not think it best to compound 
 
 ^ Cole's MSS. ut supra, p. 13. 
 
 » P. 158. 
 
 ' e. g. Bulla suppressionis monas- 
 terii, et erectionis CoUegii Scolariutn 
 in oppido Gipswici. Rot. Pat. 20 
 
 H. VIII.— See Rymer's Foedera, vol. 
 xiv. passim. — Tanner's Notitia Mo- 
 nastica, Preface, p. xxxv. 
 ' Chronicle. 
 
STATE OF PARLIAMENT. 71 
 
 a parliament of the King's servaunts, and others that shall in all Public 
 obey the King's desires ? ^^ „ jg^g' 
 
 ^^ Justice. — Certainly no, for it hath never succeeded well, neither |a" i.i- 
 on the King's part nor on the subjects', as by the parliament before 
 remembered your lordshippe may gather; for from such a com- 
 position do arise all jealousies and all contentions. It was practized 
 in elder times, to the great trouble of the kingdom and to the 
 losse and ruine of many. It was of latter time used by King 
 Henry the Eight, but every way to his disadvantage."' 
 
 Henry Brinkelow, an author contemporary with the dissolution 
 of the Monasteries, who writes under the name of Roderick Mors, 
 thus describes the popular representatives : " And would to God 
 they would leave their olde accustomed chosing of burgesses. 
 For whom do they choyse but such as be riche or beare some 
 office in the countrey, and can boast and bragge ; suche have they 
 ever hitherto chosen, be he never so very a foole, dronkard, ex- 
 torcioner, advouterer, never so covetous and craftie a person ; yet 
 if he be riche, beare any office, if he be a joly craker and bragger ^^^^ ^^ 
 in the countrey, he must be a burgesse of the parliament. Alas ! P^'ia""™'- 
 howe can any suche studye or geve any godly counsel for the 
 comonwealth ?"* 
 
 Another contemporary writes:' "It will not be ifar amiss to 
 declare more at large how he did bring his purpose about, by 
 means of his parliament men ; which were as ready in Queen 
 Marie's time to affirm the same things false and ungodly, as they 
 were before in her father's time to affirm true and godly." — The 
 statement frequently quoted from Spelman's History of Sacrilege, 
 (a work I have never had the fortune to meet with,) " that the 
 bill for conferring on the Crown all religious houses under the 
 
 ' " The Prerogative of Parliaments ' "The Complaint of Roderyck 
 
 in England, proved in a Dialogue (pro Mors, sometime a gray fryre, unto the 
 
 et contra) betweene a Councellour of Parliament House of England, his 
 
 State and a Justice of Peace ; written naturall countrye : For the redresse 
 
 by the worthy (much lacked and la- of certeyne wicked lawes, evil cus- 
 
 mented) Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight, tomes, and cruell decrees. Imprinted 
 
 deceased; dedicated to the King's at Geneve in Savoye by Myghell 
 
 Majestie and to the House of Parlia- Boys." chap. 2. (No date.) 
 
 ment now assembled: preserved to be ' Cole's MSS. vol. xii. p. 19. 
 now happily (in these distracted times) 
 published and printed at Midelburge, 
 1628."— p. 56. 
 
72 
 
 HENRY VIII.'S SCHEME OF BISHOPRICKS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 Part H. 
 Selections. 
 
 value of £,2oo per annum, stuck long in the Commons, and would 
 not pass till the King sent for the Commons and told them he 
 would have the bill pass or have some of their heads," appears not 
 at all inconsistent with exercise of extensive parliamentary influence 
 on the part of the Crown. 
 
 The letters of the commissioners employed to investigate the 
 state of the Monastic corporations, with the view of showing cause 
 for their dissolution, whether regarded as presenting true pictures, 
 or as mere fabrications of interested parties, — a suspicion which 
 the ndivett of some of the descriptions contradicts, — cannot but 
 be perused with interest. 
 
 Education, 
 
 Free 
 
 Schools. 
 
 Before the Monasteries were dissolved, all education, both of 
 the noble and the peasant, was in the hands of the clergy. A 
 certain amount was given gratuitously. The popular schools 
 appear to have been termed Free Schools. At these, various 
 degrees of instruction were afforded ; a Free School for the benefit 
 of the surrounding neighbourhood was attached to almost every 
 religious corporation.' " The better promotion of solid learning," 
 was universally urged as a pretext for hastening the dissolution. 
 The extension of learning either by the foundation of colleges and 
 schools, or by exhibitions and scholarships at the universities, was 
 professed by all church reformers as the object most worthy (after 
 providing for the service of God) to which the ecclesiastical funds 
 could be converted. Croinwell and Cranmer at least, sincerely 
 desired and advocated the promotion of popular instruction, as 
 the mode of employing the Church property to the greatest 
 advantage. The disposal of the ecclesiastical confiscations at the 
 King's caprice, and Cromwell's execution, sufficiently account for 
 the failure of the intention. The Church property was squandered 
 by the King on the greedy minions who formed his court, on de- 
 fraying the charges of warfare, and the greatest part of it " was 
 turned to the upholding of dice-playing, masking, and banqueting, 
 bribing, whoring and swearing."* Though much was professed 
 
 ' See Tanner's preface to his No- 
 titia Monastica, p. xxxii. — also Fuller's 
 Church History. 
 
 ' Strype's Memorials. — See the 
 
 Extracts taken from the Ledgers of 
 the Court of Augmentations, &c., in 
 the volume. 
 
EDUCATION— FREE SCHOOLS. 73 
 
 for the cause of education by Henry VIII., little was effected until Public 
 the reign of his son Edward. Even numerous schools attached ^ j, j8,g'. 
 to the Monasteries sunk when the Monasteries were dissolved; Part 11. 
 and the revenues already devoted to education were in many cases 
 alienated amidst the general plunder. To the foundation of exhi- 
 bitions at the universities, to lectures, and schools of various 
 degrees in learning, a large share of revenues apportioned to each 
 bishoprick appears to have been designed. {Vide Scheme of 
 Bishopricks passim^ "Certein articles, noted for the reforma- 
 tion of the Cathedrall churche of Excestr' submitted by them unto 
 the correction of the Kynges Majestic," which are to be found in 
 a manuscript in the Harleian collection, somewhat illustrate the 
 amount and nature of the instruction afforded by the episcopal 
 schools, and also the class of people for whose especial benefit 
 they were established. 
 
 The tenth Article submitted. " That ther may be in the said 
 Cathedral churche a free songe scole, the scolemaster to have 
 yerly of the said pastor and prechars xx. marks for his wages, and 
 his howss free, to teache xl. children frely, to rede, to write, synge Reading, 
 
 writing 
 
 and playe upon instruments of musike, also to teache ther A. B. C. music. ' 
 in greke and hebrew. And every of the said xl. children to have 
 wekely xii d. for ther meat and drink, and yerly vi' viii d. for a 
 gowne ; they to be bownd dayly to syng and rede within the said 
 Cathedral churche such divine service as it may please the Kynges 
 Majestie to alowe ; the said childre to be at comons alltogether, 
 with three prests hereaffter to be spoke of, to see them well 
 ordered at the meat and to reforme their maners. 
 
 Article the eleventh, submitted. "That ther may be a fre 
 grammer scole within the same Cathedral churche, the scolemaster 
 to have xx". by yere and his howss fre, the ussher x". & his howss 
 fre, and that the said pastor and prechars may be bownd to fynd 
 xl. children at the said grammer scole, giving to every oon of the 
 children xii d. wekely, to go to commons within the citie at the 
 pleasour of the frendes, so long to continew as the scolemaster 
 do se them diligent to lerne. The pastor to appointe viii. every 
 prechar iiii. and the scolemaster iiii. ; the said childre serving 
 in the said churche and going to scole, to be preferred before 
 strangers; provided al way, that no childe be admitted to thexhibi- 
 cion of the said churche, whose father is knowen to be worthe 
 
74 HENRY VIII.'S SCHEME OF BISHOPRICKS. 
 
 Public 
 Kecords. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 Part 11. 
 Selections. 
 
 Cranmer on 
 Education. 
 
 in goodes above ccc". orelles may dispend above xl". yerly 
 enheritance." ^ 
 
 These schools were designed for the instruction of children of 
 the lower ranks of society. The child whose father was known 
 to possess ;^3oo in goods, or spend £,i,o per annum, was to be 
 excluded. The admission of the ploughman's and poor man's 
 son was advocated by Archbishop Cranmer. A discussion on 
 the very point is described to have taken place at Canterbury. 
 
 " This year the Cathedral Church of Canterbury was altered 
 from monks to secular men of the clergy, viz. prebendaries or 
 canons, petty-canons, choristers and scholars.' At this erection 
 were present, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop; the Lord Rich, 
 Chancellor of the Court of the Augmentation of the revenues of 
 the Crown ; Sir Christopher Hales, Knight, the King's Attorney ; 
 Sir Anthony Sent leger. Knight ; with divers other commissioners. 
 And nominating and electing such convenient and fit persons as 
 should serve for the furniture of the said Cathedral church ac- 
 cording to the new foundation, it came to pass that, when they 
 should elect the children of the Grammar school, there were of 
 the commissioners more than one or two who would have none 
 admitted but sons or younger brethren of gentlemen. As for 
 other, husbandmen's children, they were more meet, they said, for 
 the plough, and to be artificers, than to occupy the place of the 
 learned sort ; so that they wished none else to be put to school, 
 but only gentlemen's children. Whereunto the most reverend 
 
 ' Bib. Harl. 604. pp. 135. 137. b. 
 
 ° A letter from the Archbishop to 
 Cromwell, suggesting the abolition of 
 prebendaries, is preserved among the 
 Cottonian MSS. (Cleopatra, E. iv. 
 fol. 302. ) In it the Archbishop writes : 
 "in myn opinion the Prebendaries 
 whiche be allowed xl'' a pece yerly, 
 myght be altered to a more expediente 
 use, and this ys my consideration, 
 ffor having experience both in tyme 
 paste and also in our dayes, howe the 
 saide secte of Prebendaries have not 
 only spente thair tyme in moche ydel- 
 nes, and thair substance in superfluous 
 bely chere, I thinke it not to be a 
 
 convenient state or degree to be mayn- 
 teyned and establishe'd, consideryng 
 firste, that comonly a Prebendarye, ys 
 neither a lemer ne teacher, but a good 
 viander. Than by the same name, 
 thei loke to be cheif, and to bere all 
 the hole rule and preheminence, in 
 the colleg where thai be resident, by 
 meanes wherof, the young of thair own 
 nature gyven more to pleas', good cher 
 and pastyme, than to abstynence, 
 studye, and lemyng shall easely be 
 broughte frome thair bookes to folowe 
 thappetite and example of the said 
 Prebendaries being thair headdes and 
 rulers. " 
 
ARCHBISHOP CRANMER ON EDUCATION. 75 
 
 father the Archbishop being of a contrary mind, said, ' That he public 
 thought it not indifferent so to order the matter ; for,' said he, ■''^^'^°^°^- 
 ' poor men's children are many times endued with more singular Part \\. 
 gifts of nature, which are also the gifts of God, as, with eloquence, p° °j. ^^^,^ 
 memory, apt pronunciation, sobriety, and such like ; and also children. 
 commonly more apt to apply their study, than is the gentleman's 
 son, delicately educated.' Hereunto it was on the other part 
 replied, ' that it was meet for the ploughman's son to go to plough, 
 and the artificer's son to apply the trade of his parent's vocation ; 
 and the gentlemen's children are meet to have the knowledge of 
 government and rule in the commonwealth. For we have,' said 
 they, ' as much need of ploughmen as any other state ; and all 
 sorts of men may not go to school.' ' I grant,' replied the Arch- 
 bishop, ' much of your meaning herein as needful in a common- 
 wealth ; but yet utterly to exclude the ploughman's son and the 
 poor man's son from the benefits of learning, as though they were 
 unworthy to have the gifts of the Holy Ghost bestowed upon 
 them as well as upon others, is as much to say, as that Almighty 
 God should not be at liberty to bestow his great gifts of grace 
 upon any person, nor nowhere else but as we and other men shall 
 appoint them to be employed, according to our fancy, and not 
 according to his most godly will and pleasure, who giveth his 
 gifts both of learning, and other perfections in all sciences, unto 
 all kinds and states of people indifferently. Even so doth he many 
 times withdraw from them and their posterity again those bene- 
 ficial gifts, if they be not thankful. If we should shut up into a 
 strait corner the bountiful grace of the Holy Ghost, and thereupon 
 attempt to build our fancies, we should make as perfect a work 
 thereof as those that took upon them to build the Tower of Babel ; 
 for God would so provide that the offspring of our best-born chil- Best-bom 
 dren should peradventure become most unapt to learn and very 
 dolts, as I myself have seen no small number of them very dull 
 and without all manner of capacity. And, to say the truth, I 
 take it, that none of us all here, being gentlemen born (as I think), 
 but had our beginning that way from a low and base parentage ; 
 and through the benefit of learning, and other civil knowledge, 
 for the most part all gentlemen ascend to their estate.' Then it 
 was again answered, that the most part of the nobility came up 
 by feats of arms and martial acts. ' As though,' said the Arch- 
 
 children. 
 
76 
 
 HENRY VIII.'S SCHEME OF BISHOPRICKS. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 Part II. 
 Selections, 
 The poor 
 man's son. 
 
 bishop, ' that the noble captain was., always unfurnished of good 
 learning and knowledge to persuade and dissuade his army rhe- 
 torically ; who rather that way is brought unto authority than else 
 his manly looks. To conclude : The poor man's son by pains- 
 taking will for the most part be learned, when the gentleman's 
 son will not take the pains to get it. And we are taught by the 
 Scriptures that Almighty God raiseth up from the dunghiU, and 
 setteth hira in high authority. And whensoever it pleaseth 
 him, of his divine providence he deposeth princes unto a right 
 humble and poor estate. Wherefore, if the gentleman's son be 
 apt to learning, let him be admitted ; if not apt, let the poor 
 man's child that is apt enter his room.' With words to the like 
 effect. Such a seasonable patron of poor men was the Arch- 
 bishop."! 
 
 The Government obtained evidence of schools already existing, 
 and received addresses from the people, who, when the Monas- 
 teries were dissolved, craved and petitioned that the old free 
 schools should remain, and also for the establishment of others. 
 
 No systematic or general provision for schools throughout the 
 kingdom appears to have been designed ; but we learn from the 
 public records that numerous representations to the Government 
 of the want of schools were urged. The schools existing at that 
 time were supported by private benevolence, or by the voluntary 
 contributions of the people. Out of the revenues seized from 
 the Church, the Government of Edward VI. made numerous, 
 though not very large grants, for the establishment of several 
 schools. 
 
 If our public records were properly searched, there is proba- 
 bility that funds, which have been alienated from their original 
 endowments, might be shown to exist, sufficiently ample to provide 
 for a national system of public instruction.^ The public records 
 would have furnished a sub-stratum of information, the authority 
 of which is unquestionable. It is remarkable that all the instances 
 of schools endowed at early periods which I have found in records, 
 are unnoticed in the Charity Commissioners' reports. 
 
 ' Memorials, A.D. 1540. Strype's sioners were deterred by the fees from 
 
 Life of Cranmer. searching the valuable returns re- 
 
 ' It is a fact within my knowledge, specting Charities, preserved in the 
 
 that several of the Charity Commis- Petty Bag Office. 
 
Schools. 
 
 singing. 
 
 FREE SCHOOLS AND FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS. 77 
 
 Specimens of some of the presentments made by the people Public 
 for the establishment or continuance of schools, are given at A.n'iiSas. 
 p. 1 1 7 of the volume. J"' i.i- 
 
 * ... Selections. 
 
 Probably some distinction existed between the " Free School " Free Schools 
 and "Free Grammar School." The staple of the instruction at crllm" 
 the " Free Schools " appears universally to have been reading, 
 writing, and singing. In one, the "yonge begynners were tought 
 onlye to write and syng, and to reade soo farre as thaccidens rules, writing and 
 and noo grammar." ' 
 
 The Grammar Schools' endowed before the Reformation pre- 
 sented a system of education consonant with and adapted to the 
 peculiar circumstances of the times. A knowledge of the Latin 
 language was an indispensable qualification for acting in public 
 life; the records of administration and of the courts of justice 
 were preserved in Latin; moreover, the belles lettres consisted 
 almost exclusively of the classics. There were very few produc- 
 tions in the English language fitted for study ; and there existed 
 ample reason for cultivating the Latin language. With a change 
 of the times little change has overtaken the schools anciently 
 founded. (Written in 1838.) 
 
 Our existing Grammar Schools are the dwindled skeletons of 
 the older establishments of that name, and children continue to 
 waste years in repeating by rote a Latin grammar written in Latin ; 
 a knowledge of which, even if obtained, finds meagre employment 
 at the present time for any purposes but those of the professions. 
 In the ancient Grammar School, its purpose is always indicated 
 as being " for the vertuouse bryngynge of youth," — a design little 
 kept in view by its present degenerate successors. 
 
 The following letters of the tutor of Cromwell's son, especially 
 the second, exhibit great intelligence and appreciation of the 
 objects of education, and may perhaps be received as samples of 
 the education afforded to the upper classes of that period. 
 
 ' Certificates, Montgomery, No. 13. Grammar than Lily's, 11 H. VIII. — 
 ' It was penal to use any other See Fuller's Church History. 
 
78 
 
 HENRY VIWS SCHEME OF BISHOPRICKS. 
 
 Public 
 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1838. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Training of 
 T. Crom- 
 well's son. 
 
 French, 
 writing, &c., 
 pastimes. 
 
 Reading. 
 Etymology. 
 
 Competition. 
 
 No. XVIII. 
 
 Letters from the Tutor of Cromwell's Son, describing the course 
 of studies. — (Cromwell's Correspondence, Second Series, 
 Vol. ix. p. 39, in Treasury of Exchequer.) 
 
 Pleasith it your maistershipp to be advertised that M'' Gregory 
 w' all his companie here are (thankes be to God) in healthe daylie 
 occupied and embusied in the treyne and excersice of lerninge 
 under suche manner and forme as there is no small hope the suc- 
 cesse thereof to be suche as shall contente and satisfie your good 
 truste and expectation, beinge moche more lykelehodde of profTecte 
 and encrease than att any tyme hertofore, partely forcause he is 
 now browght sumewhat in an awe and dreade redy to gyve himself 
 to studie when he shalbe therunto requyred and partelie sithens 
 thinges whiche hertofore have alienated and detracted his mynde 
 from labours to be taken for thatteignement of good lettres now 
 subduced and withdrawne, whemnto (as a thinge nott of leaste 
 momente and regarde) may be addyde the ripenes and maturitie 
 of his wytte j whiche nott beinge of that hasty sorte that by and 
 by do bringe forth theire frute, doth dailie growe to a more 
 docilitie and apte redines to receyve that that shalbe shewyd hime 
 by his teachers The order of his studie, as the houres lymyted for 
 the Frenche tongue, writinge, plaienge att weapons, castinge of 
 accomptes, pastimes of instruments and suche others hath bene 
 devised and directed by the prudent wisdome of M' Southwell 
 who w' a fatherly zeale and amitie, moche desirenge to have hime 
 a Sonne worthy such parentz ceasseth not as well concerninge all 
 other thinges for hime mete and necessary as also in lerninge 
 texpresse his tendre love and affection towardes hime, serchinge 
 by all meanes possible howe he may moste proffitte, dailie heringe 
 hime to rede sumwhatt in thenglishe tongue, and advertisenge 
 hime of the naturall and true kynde of pronuntiation therof ex- 
 poundinge also and declaringe the etimologie and native significa- 
 tion of suche wordes as we have borowed of the latines or Frenche- 
 menne, not evyn so comenly used in our quotidiane speche, M' 
 Cheney and M"' Charles in lyke wise endevoireth and emploieth 
 themselves, accompanienge M' Gregory in lerninge amonge whome 
 ther is a perpetuall contention, strife and conflicte and in maner 
 of an honeste envie who shall do beste not oonlie in the Frenche 
 
STUDIES OF THOMAS CROMWELL'S SON. 79 
 
 tongue (wherin M' Vallence after a wondresly compendious, facile, Public 
 prompte and redy waye, nott withoute painfull diligence and a.d. 1838. 
 la.bourious Industrie doth enstructe theme) but also in writinge, sSj'ons. 
 playenge att weapons and all other theire excersises, so that if 
 continuance in this behalf may take place, wheras the laste somer 
 was spente in the servyce of the wylde goddes Diana, This shall 
 (I truste) be consecrated to Apollo and the Muses, to theire no 
 small profecte and your good contentation and pleasure. Aund 
 thus I beseche the lorde to have you in his moste gratious tuition. 
 At Reisinge in NorfF the laste daie of Aprill. 
 
 Your feithfuU and moste bounden 
 
 Servante Henry Dowes. 
 To his right honorable 
 
 Master M' Thomas Crumwel 
 chief Secretary unto the Kinges Majestie. 
 
 After that it pleased your maistership to give me in charge not 
 onlie to give diligent attendaunce uppon Maister Gregory, but 
 also to instructe hime w' good letters, honeste maners, pastymes 
 of Instruments aind suche other qualities as sholde be for hime 
 mete and conveniente, Pleasith it you to understonde that for the 
 accomplishement therof I have indevoured myself by all weys 
 possible to invent and axcogitate howe I might moste proffett 
 hime in whiche bihalf thorowgh his diligence the success is suche 
 as I truste shalbe to your good contentation and pleasure and his 
 no smal profecte, but for cause it is so moche to be regarded after 
 what fashion yeouth is educate and browght upp, in whiche tyme 
 that that is lemed (for the moste parte) will nott all holelie be 
 forgotten in the older yeres I thinke it my dutie to asserteyne yo' 
 Maistershipp how he spendith his tyme so that if there be any- 
 thinge contrary yo' good pleasure, after advertisement receyved 
 in that bihalf it may be amended And firste after he hatha herde 
 Messe he taketh a lecture of a dialoge of Erasmus Colloquium 
 called Pietas puerilis, wherine is described a veray picture of oone 
 that sholde be vertuouslie browght upp, and forcause it is so 
 necessary for hime, I do not onlie cause hime to rede it over, but 
 also to practise the preceptes of the same and I have also trans- 
 lated it into englishe so that he may conferre therine both togither, 
 wherof as lerned men affirme, cometh no small profecte whiche 
 
8o HENRY Vims SCHEME OF BISHOPRICKS. 
 
 Public translation pleasith it you to receyve by the bringer herof that ye 
 
 a.d!°838. ™^y judge howe moche profitable it is to be lamed. After that 
 
 Part II. he exerciseth his hande in writinge one or two houres and redith 
 
 Writing. ' uppon Fabians Chronicle as longe, the residue of the day he doth 
 
 muf^c!*' spende uppon the lute and virginall. When he rideth (as he doth 
 
 very ofte) I tell hime by the wey some historie of the Romanes or 
 
 the Grekes whiche I cause hime to reherse ageyne in a tale. For 
 
 Sports. his recreation he useth to hawke and hunte and shote in his longe 
 
 bowe whiche frameth and succedeth so well w' hime that he semeth 
 
 to be therunto given by nature. My Lorde contineweth or rather 
 
 daily augmenteth his goodnes towardes hime. Also the gentlemen 
 
 of the Countrey as Sir John Dawue, Sir Henry Delves, M' Massey 
 
 M' Brerlton Baron of the Kinges Escheker there and diverse other 
 
 so gentlye hath interteigned hime, that they seme to strive who 
 
 sholde shewe him moste pleasures, of all whiche thinges I thowght 
 
 it my dutie to asserteigne yo'' good Maistershipp, most humblie 
 
 desirenge the same to take in good parte this my rude boldenes, 
 
 And thus I pray the trinitie longe to perserve yo' good health w* 
 
 encrease of moche hono', at Chestre the vi"' daie of Septembre. 
 
 Youre humble servnte 
 
 Henry Dowes. 
 To his moste worshipfull Maister M'Secretarie. 
 
 The first sheets of the volume were sent to the press in the 
 year 1835. The volume, as now published, forms only a portion 
 of the work projected at that time. It was purposed to accompany 
 the publication of Henry the Vlllth's Scheme of Bishopricks, now 
 printed for the first time, with a collection of such original his- 
 torical documents, illustrative of the scheme, and generally of the 
 seizure of the Monastic possessions, as, having either escaped the 
 vigilance, or not comporting with the views of Burnet, Strype, 
 Dugdale, Tanner, Fiddes, and other commentators on the Re- 
 formation in England, were not to be found in their collections. 
 The letter of Archbishop Cranmer, in answer to Thomas Crom- 
 well, who had sought the Archbishop's opinion on the Cathedral 
 establishment proposed for Canterbury, though existing in a 
 volume quoted by most of the above writers, is a specimen of the 
 materials left unemployed by them, as well as by subsequent in- 
 vestigators. "Having experience," writes the good archbishop, 
 
CRANMER ON PREBENDARIES. 8i 
 
 " howe prebendaries have not only spente thair tyme in mocha Public 
 ydelnes and thair substance in superfluous bely chere, I thinke it ^ ^°^X. 
 not to be a convenient state or degree to be maynteyned and Panii. 
 
 ,,.,, ., - , ,, Selections. 
 
 estabhshed, consideryng firste, that comonly a prebendarye ys 
 neither a learner ne teacher, but a good viander." 
 
 It was the intention of the editor to have prefaced the illustra- 
 tions, exhibiting the amount and actual appropriation of the 
 Church property seized in the reign of Henry VIII., with some 
 remarks on the mode in which ecclesiastical endowments had 
 been dealt with by the governing powers of the kingdom, from the 
 earliest periods, and on the doctrine of endowments generally; 
 and he meant also to have pointed out such modifications and 
 corrections as these fresh historical documents appeared to ad- 
 minister to existing histories, but these intentions were postponed, 
 and for reasons which are stated in the volume published in 1838. 
 
 II. 
 
APPENDICES TO PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 PART III. 
 
 SPEECH OF CHARLES BULLER, ESQ., M.P. 
 FOR LISKEARD, 
 
 Appendix 
 TO Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1836. 
 Part III. 
 App. I. 
 
 Speech of 
 C. BuUer. 
 
 Value of the 
 
 Public 
 
 Kecords. 
 
 Great cost. 
 
 On Moving for a Select Committee of the ^House of Commons to 
 Inquire into the Conduct of the Record Comm.issioners. 
 
 (HE public records, he presumed it was quite un- 
 necessary for him to remind the House, were, 
 whether they respected private property, or the means 
 of authentic history, of extreme value. Of the first 
 class were, all grants, leases, and conveyances by the 
 Crown to individuals or corporate bodies ; of the second, were, 
 ancient records, treaties, and public or national compacts. How- 
 ever carefully these might be treasured up, they were, of course, of 
 perishable materials ; and it had been determined by the Legis- 
 lature that the subject of their preservation, custody, and perpetua- 
 tion should be referred to Commissioners. The commission had 
 sat now many years, and was established in consequence of an 
 address from the House of Commons in the year 1800. The 
 annual grants to the Commissioners had varied from ;^S,ooo to 
 ;^2o,ooo. Small as the annual amount was, yet the House would 
 certainly think it a matter worthy of being inquired into, when 
 they found that since the formation of the commission about 
 ^£'400,000 had been voted by Parliament towards its expenditure. 
 But that had not been the sole expense the country had been put 
 to, on account of the public records during that period. The 
 keepers of the principal offices were paid by Government ; and it 
 was supposed that, including the expenses of the Irish Commis- 
 sioners, the whole amount bestowed on the public records, was not 
 
DEFECTS IN CUSTODY OF THE RECORDS. 83 
 
 less than ;^6oo,ooo or ;£7oo,ooo. Besides this enormous expendi- 
 ture, it now appeared that this commission was actually in debt to 
 the amount of ^20,000. It was obvious to a common observer 
 that a considerable portion of this expense had been unnecessarily, 
 if not blamably, incurred by the Commissioners, who seemed in 
 most instances to have lost sight of the objects which had occa- 
 sioned their appointment. Of one thing they had, however, been 
 very laudably tenacious ; and that was, to take all possible pains 
 to render themselves generally known to all the countries, and in 
 almost all the languages, of Europe. A portion of the public 
 money entrusted to the Commissioners, had been devoted to pub- 
 lishing in the various languages of Europe, an account of the nature 
 of the commission, and a full detail of the names and titles of the 
 Commissioners. He held in his hand a Portuguese pamphlet on 
 the subject, in which the names of the Commissioners were given, 
 no doubt in the purest Portuguese. [Laughter.] The honourable 
 member for Montgomery (Mr. C. Wynn) was designated ' O muito 
 nobre Carlos Watkins WiUiams Wynn.' [Laughter.] The honour- 
 able baronet, the member for Oxford, had a most romantic title, 
 ' Sir Roberto Harry Inglis.' [Loud laughter.] That was one of 
 the ways in which the public money was spent — making the style 
 and title of the Commissioners known all over Europe, from Lisbon 
 to Hamburgh. Even the Secretary to the commission is immor- 
 talized in the printed proceedings of the Board as ' Viro illustri, 
 excellentissimo, clarissimo, doctissimo C. P. Coopero equiti Anglo.' 
 [Roars of laughter.] 
 
 " The principal objects of the commission were the care of the 
 records, their preservation, and perpetuation by means of transcrip- 
 tion of such as had become nearly defaced by time or accident. 
 How these objects were provided for, he should briefly state to the 
 House. He need scarcely inform the House that the public 
 records were of great importance to suitors in the courts of law 
 and equity, and were also of great public importance, as forming 
 the genuine materials of the history of England. In this point of 
 view he should not of course be otherwise than the advocate of 
 liberal expenditure, provided it were directed, and efficiently 
 directed, to the proper objects. The first great object was, that 
 those records should be kept in a convenient place in security and 
 good arrangement ; the next, that there should be proper calendars 
 and indexes ; the third, that all records which were in any danger 
 of perishing should be transcribed, and, in cases where printing 
 happened to be not too expensive, that such records should be 
 printed. He had every reason to believe that if the Committee 
 were granted him, he would make it appear that the Commissioners 
 had neglected the principal of those duties. It appeared by the 
 last parliamentary returns of the Commissioners' expenditure, that 
 only ;^i,5oo had been spent on what he would call the most im- 
 
 Appendix 
 TO Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1836. 
 Part III. 
 App. I. 
 
 ;^ 400, 000 
 
 spent by _ 
 Commission. 
 
 Misdeeds. 
 
 Publish their 
 names to 
 Europe. 
 
 Objects of 
 the Com- 
 mission. 
 
 Security. 
 
 Arrange- 
 ment. 
 Calendars. 
 
84 CHAS. BULLER'S SPEECH ON PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Appendix 
 TO Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1836. 
 Part III. 
 App. I. 
 
 Records 
 scattered 
 in different 
 parts of 
 London. 
 
 Stalactites 
 found in 
 ofHces. 
 
 Dampness. 
 
 Some 650 
 sacks. 
 
 Proper 
 
 repository 
 
 wanted. 
 
 poitant object for which they were appointed, namely, on the 
 arrangement of the records. What was the present state of those 
 important documents ? Considering that the object of the com- 
 mission was the preservation of the records, and the affording easy 
 accessibility to them, the method in which the records were kept 
 was perfectly scandalous. They were scattered about in eight or 
 ten different offices, in different parts of the town. Those at 
 Somerset-house were in underground vaults, where the light of the 
 sun never penetrated. Fires were lighted in these vaults for the 
 purpose of dispelling the damp; and the result was, that the 
 records were alternately damp and dry, the destructive effects of 
 which changes he need hardly point out : he feared they might 
 have operated extensively already. A very picturesque description 
 had been given in a report of some stalactite found in one of 
 these vaults by the honourable baronet [Sir R. Inglis] ; stalactites 
 were interesting objects to the geologist, but he [Mr. C. Buller] 
 thought a Record-office an inappropriate place for their growth. 
 [Laughter.] Mr. Illingworth, who was very familiar with these 
 records and their situation, stated in a letter that he was afraid to 
 touch them, on account of their dampness, lest he should catch 
 the rheumatism in his hand. [Laughter.] In these same vaults 
 the records were placed so high on shelves, some sticking out like 
 bottles, that a ladder must be obtained to reach them ; and then 
 there was the chance of falling from the top, with the roll upon 
 the adventurous individual who made the experiment : no very 
 pleasant predicament. [A laugh.] Surely, nothing could be more 
 evident than that the public records of a nation ought not to be 
 left in such circumstances, but should be placed in commodious 
 and suitable apartments, in accessible situations, and under a 
 perfect system of arrangement. As to the miscellaneous records 
 lately at the Mews, and now at Carlton-ride, the method of keep- 
 ing them was most ridiculous. They did not talk there of books, 
 and manuscripts, and rolls, like other people ; but they described 
 the records by sacks and bushels. [A laugh.] They would tell 
 you that they had six hundred and fifty sacks of records, contain- 
 ing eight bushels each. [Laughter.] The commission had begun 
 some little good here ; which, being good, was mysteriously sus- 
 pended. The papers were sorted by years in sacks ; so that, if 
 you wanted a document for such a year, you went to such a sack. 
 The records to which he was now alluding had previously been 
 kept, as the House might remember, in the temporary sheds which 
 till lately stood in Westminster-hall. 
 
 " One of the fittest objects of the commission would have been 
 to provide a proper repository for the reception of the records. 
 He had seen a very fair estimate for a building, but no repository 
 had been built. The money spent in temporary buildings and 
 removals would have gone a great way towards realizing this object. 
 
PERILOUS STATE OF THE RECORDS. 85 
 
 The sum actually expended in fitting up the vaults of Somerset- Appendix 
 house was ;^i 6,000; and the various migrations of the records re^okm"^ 
 from the old buildings in Westminster-hall, to the King's-mews A.o'i^je! 
 and Carlton-terrace, had cost ;^i2,ooo ; so that these two sums, Panni. 
 making ;^28,ooo, would have formed a fund sufficient to build a -*pp- '■ 
 very good record-office. [Hear.] 
 
 " Another object, of course, of great importance, was, that these 
 records should be safe. Ever since 1732, it had been reported to 
 the House of Commons that there were a brewhouse and wash- 
 house at the back of the Chapter-house, where the records were 
 kept, and by which the safety of the Chapter-house was greatly 
 endangered by fire. In 1800 this Ijrewhouse and this washhouse Danger from 
 were again reported as dangerous. In 1819 this brewhouse and ^'"■ 
 washhouse again attracted the serious notice of the Commissioners. 
 In 1831 it was thought expedient to send a deputation to the 
 Dean and Chapter of Westminster, and to request his Majesty's 
 Surveyor-general to report upon the perils of this brewhouse and 
 washhouse [a laugh], and endeavour to get the Dean and Chapter 
 to pull them down. [Laughter.] But the Dean and Chapter as- 
 serted the vested rights of the Church, and no redress was obtained 
 against the brewhouse and washhouse. [A laugh.] In 1833 an- 
 other expedition, headed by the right honourable baronet opposite, 
 was made to the Chapter-house, but the right honourable baronet, 
 desiring not to come into collision with the Church, omitted all 
 mention of the brewhouse and washhouse. [Loud laughter.] And 
 thus the attention of the Commissioners had been constantly 
 directed to this eternal brewhouse and eternal washhouse without 
 any avail. There they still remain as a monument of the ineffi- 
 ciency of the Commissioners, and of the great power and pertina- Power of the 
 city of the Church of this country. [Loud laughter.] It seemed '-'^"'■'=''- 
 however to him (Mr. C. BuUer), that the honourable baronet had 
 not consistently exhibited that attachment to the Church which 
 the world gave him credit for, as in 1833 it was reported, that the 
 records in the Augmentation-office (in which the great bulk of the 
 records relating to the Church were deposited), were in great 
 danger from fire. The praiseworthy efforts of Mr. Protheroe to 
 reform the condition of the Augmentation-office, and especially 
 his representations of the dangers likely to arise from fire, were 
 practically disregarded, though the burning of the Houses of Burning of 
 Parliament,' which occurred since, bore ample testimony to the of pSiu.-" 
 value of his suggestions. The result of not attending to his advice ""="'• 
 was, that the records at that period were all thrown out of the 
 windows, to be- preserved from the ravages of fire by the mire of 
 Palace-yard, and soaked by water from the fire-mains. He had 
 
 ' As already stated, I was present will be found at Vol. I. , p. 8. The 
 during the fire on the i6th of October, reports of details in the newspapers , 
 
 1834, and some account of the event were inaccurate. 
 
86 CHAS. BULLERS SPEECH ON PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Appendix 
 TO Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1836. 
 Part III. 
 App. I. 
 
 Rats. 
 Glue. 
 Jellies. 
 
 Records 
 sold. 
 
 Heavy 
 fees. 
 
 heard that the' records made admirable rat-traps. It was astonish- 
 ing the quantity of remains of rats [a laugh] which were found 
 amongst the records. On one occasion the skeleton of a cat had 
 been found amongst them. [Laughter.] Evidence too appeared 
 that the public records had served a better purpose than rat-traps, 
 The public records had been boiled down for glue, and the cleaner 
 and better sort had been converted into jellies by the confectioners. 
 [Laughter.] He had heard too that the embezzlement of records 
 had been carried to a serious extent, and that at the sale of a 
 deceased virtuoso a lot of this kind fetched above ;^6oo. They 
 were also to be found, as matters of course, in curiosity-shops 
 through the town. The disorderly course of keeping the records 
 in large masses scattered on tables, amongst which it was necessary 
 to hunt for any specific document, might perhaps be accounted 
 for, by the knowledge of the fact that the searchers were paid by 
 the time spent in these hunting-matches. [Hear, hear.] An 
 attempt was made to arrange the records in the Augmentation- 
 office by a late Secretary (Mr. Caley), who bound those of similar 
 sizes together without regard to subject or date — leases, grants, and 
 rentals, all together — of which an index of contents, compiled at 
 the public expense, was kept by the Secretary at Spafields, where 
 it could be consulted on payment of a fee [hear, hear] ; but, 
 owing to the imperfection of this arrangement, three days had 
 been frequently spent, with the help of this index, hunting for a 
 single class of documents. This was not at all surprising, for he 
 found one volume labelled ' Rentals,' which contained seventeen 
 sorts of records, yet not a single one of that class. [Hear.] 
 
 " The Commissioners were especially expected to report on the 
 subject of fees, a matter of great import, which still lay quite 
 neglected, though Sir Harris Nicolas had, in his valuable work, 
 exposed the enormity of the prevailing practice. It appeared that 
 any one wishing to look at a single record must pay i6j. Zd. ; if a 
 transcript were taken, additional fees were required ; if a full copy, 
 higher still. A general search cost five guineas ; and in the Rolls' 
 Chapel even eight guineas is not an unusual charge. There, they 
 would not allow a copy of part of a document to be made or ex- 
 amined by an appUcant. A person wanted a few lines of a par- 
 ticular instrument transcribed, and applied to be permitted to copy 
 them himself. He was told he must, to obtain them, order an 
 office-copy of the entire record, the expense of which would be 
 140 guineas [hear, hear]; and this abuse was yet unreformed. 
 Again, if a document was required in a court of law, a guinea per 
 day was charged for bringing it from the Tower ; if ten records 
 were required at once, ten guineas were charged ; and so on. The 
 effect of this might be estimated from the fact that in a single case 
 instituted to try the right to the Barony of Stafford, the charge was 
 eighty guineas. [Hear, hear.] In this case the sum of eighty guineas 
 
COMMISSION'S MISDEEDS IN PRINTING. 
 
 87 
 
 was paid for taking certain rolls from the Tower to the House of 
 Lords, and, as the House did not sit that day, they went back 
 again, to be produced on other occasions, with other payments of 
 fees. 
 
 " As he had already said, the great object which the Commis- 
 sioners ought to hold in view, should be to make those records 
 accessible for purposes connected with the history of the country; 
 to have them well and carefully arranged, with good indices, so as 
 that all learned men might enjoy easy access to them ; to have 
 them so deposited as that there should be no injury from damp, 
 and no danger from fire. But the preservation of the records 
 seemed to be entirely neglected in the eagerness of the Commis- 
 sioners to print certain costly works, and in reprinting of essays. 
 Amongst die works of the present Commissioners, was a supple- 
 ment to the ' Valor Ecclesiasticus,' a work given to the public as 
 completing the previously published volumes. In less than a 
 month after this publication appeared, fresh supplementary matter 
 was found in sufficient quantity to make another volume. [Hear.] 
 He held in his hand a volume, entitled ' Rotuli Selecti,' as a spe- 
 cimen of the accuracy of the present commission's editorship. The 
 work contained a patent roll twice printed by the present commis- 
 sion, and other rolls of Henry III., transcripts of which were twice 
 made at the public expense. In this work there were more mis- 
 takes than might be expected to occur in proof-sheets sent to an 
 author for correction. Those blunders were not only numerous, 
 but somehow always occurred in the most important words. Thus, 
 in one place it ought to have stated that a certain payment was made 
 to the King, but the word ' King' was left out, and it therefore 
 became impossible to say to whom the payment was made ; then, 
 certain ladies were mentioned who were heiresses of some person, 
 but the word ' heiresses ' was omitted. [A laugh.] In one publi- 
 cation by the old commission, the transcript called ' Testa de 
 Neville,' there were 1 20 variations from the original roll in 22 lines. 
 [Hear, hear.] And what made this negligence the more alarming, 
 was, the announcement in a printed work of the present Commis- 
 sioners, that it was intended to apply for an act to make this 
 correct and authentic copy a sufficient proof in courts of law. 
 [Hear, hear.] The commission was enjoined to print the 'more 
 valuable and ancient of the records,' and yet they had expended 
 ^^634 on reprinting Sir Henry Ellis's Introduction to Doomsday ; 
 — £,2)°° having been paid for the editorship of the two octavo 
 volumes to that gentleman. Then there was an ' Account of the 
 Public Records,' printed at the public cost, and appearing as a 
 private work, without the title and dignity of the commission at- 
 tached thereto. [Hear.] Another work printed, and not an 
 ' ancient record,' was a ' Proposal for building a Record-office and 
 Judges' chambers.' [Hear, hear.] Another work, not an ' ancient 
 
 Appendix 
 TO Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1836. 
 Part III. 
 App. I. 
 
 Printing pre- 
 ferred to 
 other work. 
 
 Blunders. 
 
 Testa de 
 Neville. 
 
88 CHAS. BULLERS SPEECH ON PUBLIC RECORDS. 
 
 Appendix 
 TO Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1836. 
 Part III. 
 App. I. 
 
 Irish Record 
 Commission. 
 
 Moore's 
 " Captain 
 Rock" 
 printed as a 
 record. 
 
 Continental 
 proceedings. 
 
 Presents. 
 
 ;£io,ooo a- 
 year at dis- 
 posal of 
 Secretary. 
 
 Constitution 
 of the Com- 
 mission. 
 
 Commission 
 in debt. 
 
 record,' was an Essay reprinted from the 'Quarterly Review.' 
 Another work was a Report on the Chancery Proceedings. Such 
 was the curiosity and value of this work, that it was presented as a 
 beautiful specimen of typography, printed in red and black letter, 
 and the name and style of every Commissioner was printed in his 
 own copy. [Hear, hear.] These items reminded him (Mr. BuUer) 
 of the celebrity which the Irish Commission had obtained in 
 printing. 
 
 " In the Irish Record Commission, some surprise was expressed 
 at seeing a charge for the collection of ancient and valuable works 
 in England, by Mr. Rowley Lascelles. It appeared, on applying 
 to that gentleman for an explanation, he had (on a quarrel amongst 
 the Irish Commissioners) been deputed to select materials at this 
 side of the water, and certainly he had brought together some 
 ' ancient and valuable records,' amongst which appeared a pam- 
 phlet of Mr. Croker's on the state of Ireland, and Mr. Thomas 
 Moore's ' Captain Rock.' [Hear.] 
 
 ''Another complaint against the commission arose from their 
 proceedings on the Continent. He thought the Commissioners 
 had rather gone out of their way in sending to Belgium to procure 
 the copy of a document which was itself a copy of an original 
 record existing in the Tower of London [hear] ; and could not 
 understand how they could find occupation for similar embassies 
 in Germany, Portugal, Russia, Italy, &c., except to furnish a justi- 
 fication for expending ^,^5000 in making themselves known. 
 [Hear.] He also saw an item of ;^i5oo for books, and was rather 
 surprised that the Commissioners should think it necessary to 
 gratify Continental curiosity at such an expensive rate as was in- 
 dicated by a present sent to one learned individual, — Dugdale's 
 ' Monasticon,' — a work which originally cost above 100 guineas. 
 [Hear.] He thought the system very unwise and dangerous which 
 placed ;^io,ooo a-year at the entire disposal of a secretary to pay 
 away at his discretion, without any order from the Commissioners ; 
 which was the system until lately. [Hear, hear, hear.] Things 
 had gone on in this way for thirty-six years, notwithstanding the 
 representations of Mr. Protheroe — a commisioner to whose exer- 
 tions for reform the public was much indebted ; and it was only 
 when a Parliamentary inquiry was talked of that any reform was 
 perceptible. 
 
 " He decidedly objected to the constitution of the commission. 
 It was said, in its defence, that it was composed of men of high 
 honour and respectability ; but it was well known that individuals 
 of such character were not so remarkable for conducting business 
 well, as for leaving it to be done by others. [Hear.] 
 
 " In conclusion, this commission had expended a large portion 
 of the public money, and was now deeply in debt. It could not 
 show that it had done anything towards having the records of the 
 
S/^ FRANCIS PALGRAVES PETITION. 89 
 
 country well lodged, well housed, or more accessible to the public : appendix 
 
 it could not show that it had done anything towards reducing the REmHDs? 
 
 fees ; it could not show that it had done anything towards render- a.d. 1836. 
 
 ing the records available by means of good calendars or indices ; Pan in. 
 
 but it could show that their money had been expended in very ^pp- '• 
 
 useless and imperfect works. It was for these reasons that he inu"eiesr'' 
 
 asked the House for, and it was on these reasons that he thought *"''^- 
 they would not refuse to grant, the Select Committee. [Cheers.]" 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 PRIVILEGE OF PARLIAMENTARY 
 PROCEEDINGS. 
 
 Sir Francis Palgrave, a great authority on Constitutional History 
 and Parliamentary proceedings, objected to the proposed Report of the 
 Select Committee on the Record Commission, and presented the fol- 
 lowing Petition. 
 
 To THE Honourable the Select Committee of the House 
 OF Commons upon the Record Commission. 
 
 THE Humble Petition of Sir Francis Palgrave, K.H., one of App. 11, 
 the Witnesses examined before the said Committee, and a sirF. 
 party named in their draft report, Sheweth, That the draft Re- PeS! 
 port prepared by your Committee contains several passages relating 
 to your Petitioner, conveying imputations upon his character and 
 conduct as Keeper of the Records of the Treasury of the Exche- 
 quer in the Chapter House, and as a Sub-Commissioner of Re- 
 cords, which passages, as appears by the Statement hereto annexed, 
 are not warranted by the evidence taken before your Committee 
 (although professing to be supported by evidence), and as such, 
 calculated to mislead the House of Commons and those members 
 of His Majesty's Government who are your Petitioner's lawful and 
 official superiors, and to whom he is responsible, and to injure him 
 in their esteem and opinion. 
 
 That furthermore, according to the recent orders of the House 
 of Commons, Reports of Committees are no longer confidential 
 communications to the House, and, as such, protected by its law- 
 ful privileges, but publications for sale ; and that the statements con- 
 tained in the said passages of the draft Report, are such as tend to 
 the damage, derogation, and injury of the character, credit, good 
 
 Lves 
 
go 
 
 SIR FRANCIS PALGRAVE'S PETITION. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1836. 
 Part III. 
 App. II. 
 SirF. 
 Palgrave's 
 Petition. 
 
 fame and reputation of your Petitioner, and to impair and hurt 
 him in his lawful employments, gains, and livelihood, and, as such, 
 cognizable before the ordinary tribunals. 
 
 Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays that the said pas- 
 sages in the said Report may be expunged ; and that your 
 Petitioner may be heard by himself, his counsel or agents, 
 before your Committee, in support of this Pet". 
 
 (Signed) Francis Palgrave. 
 
 sir R. Inglis' 
 Resolution 
 
 lost. 
 
 Mr. Hawes' 
 
 Resolution 
 
 lost. 
 
 77ie following extract from the Proceedings of the Committee sliows 
 how the Petitioner was dealt with by the Committee. 
 
 Veneris, 5° die Augusti, 1836. 
 Mr. Charles Buller in the Chair. 
 
 Sir Charles Lemon. 
 
 Mr. Hawes. 
 
 Mr. Charles Villiers. 
 
 Mr. Pusey. 
 
 Dr. Bowring. 
 
 Sir Robert Inglis. 
 
 Resolution proposed (by Mr. Hawes), " That a Member (Sir 
 Robert Inglis) of this Committee having read a communication from 
 Sir Francis Palgrave, commenting on the Draft Report presented 
 to the Committee, and it appearing to this Committee also that a 
 printed paper of observations on the Report alluded to had been cir- 
 culated, which was produced, this Committee is of opinion, that such 
 a proceeding is a breach of the usage of Committees of this House 
 in such cases, and that it is highly inexpedient in the slightest 
 degree to sanction it." Amendment proposed (by Mr. Pusey), To 
 leave out the words after "That," and to insert the following 
 words : — " Sir Francis Palgrave be now summoned before the 
 Committee." 
 
 Question put, That the words proposed to be left out stand part 
 of the question. 
 
 Ayes, 3. Noes, 3. 
 
 Mr. Hawes. Mr. Pusey. 
 
 Mr. Charles Villiers. Sir Robert Inglis. 
 
 Dr. Bowring. Sir Charles Lemon. 
 
 The Chairman gave his casting vote in the negative. 
 
 Question put, " That Sir Francis Palgrave be summoned before 
 this Committee." Amendment proposed (by Mr. Hawes), To 
 leave out after the word " That," in order to insert the following 
 words, — " The Draft Report presented to the Committee having 
 been submitted to Sir Francis Palgrave, and amended in conse- 
 quence, it is the opinion of this Committee, that in order to do 
 
S/Ji FRANCIS PALGRAVES PETITION. 91 
 
 justice to other witnesses, the Report in question be submitted Public 
 to such as shall desire to see it, if they shall think fit, with a view ^^=°''°-"=- 
 to amend such questions as shall personally affect themselves." *°" '°^*' 
 
 Question put. That the words proposed to be left out stand part g^^j"' 
 of the question. pSerkve's 
 
 Feution. 
 
 Ayes, 3. Noes, 3. 
 
 Dr. Bowring. Mr. Hawes. 
 
 Mr. Pusey. Mr. Villiers. 
 
 Sir Charles Lemon. Sir Robert Inglis. 
 
 The Chairman gave his casting vote in the aflSrmative. 
 
 Question again put, " That Sir Francis Palgrave be summoned 
 before this Committee." 
 
 Ayes, 2. Noes, 4. 
 
 Mr. Pusey. Mr. Hawes. 
 
 Sir Charles Lemon. Mr. Charles Villiers. 
 
 Dr. Bowring. 
 
 Sir Robert Inglis. 
 
 Motion made (by Dr. Bowring), " That the Draft of the Report 
 be now taken into consideration." Amendment proposed (by Sir 
 Robert Inglis), To leave out from the word " That," in order to 
 insert the following words, — " Under the circumstances of the case, 
 as stated in the Resolution proposed to the Committee on the 3d 
 instant, it is not expedient to proceed with the consideration of 
 the Draft of the Report." 
 
 Question put, That the words proposed to be left out stand part sir r. ingUs 
 
 of the question. in minority. 
 
 Ayes, 5. Noes, i. 
 
 Mr. Hawes. Sir Robert Inglis. 
 
 Mr. Charles Villiers. 
 
 Dr. Bowring. 
 
 Mr. Pusey. 
 
 Sir Charles Lemon. 
 
 (So the consideration of the Draft Report was proceeded with.) 
 
 Sabbati, 6° die Augusti, 1836. 
 
 Mr. Charles Buller in the Chair. 
 
 Mr. Pusey. Mr. Hawes. 
 
 Dr. Bowring. Mr. Charles Villiers. 
 
92 
 
 BRAID WOOD ON BUILDINGS 
 
 APPENDIX III. 
 
 MR. BRAIDWOOD ON FIRES. 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1846. 
 Part III. 
 App. III. 
 
 Mr. Braid- 
 wood on 
 Fires. 
 
 Principle of 
 Safety. 
 
 Floors. 
 
 Fairbairn on 
 Iron. 
 
 COPY of a letter from Mr. Braidwood to Henry Cole, 
 Esq. :— 
 
 68, Watling Street, October 30, 1846. 
 
 Sir, — Having inspected the model of a room for the preserva- 
 tion of Records, in which you have adopted the dimensions I 
 suggested, and, having been asked by you for the reasons for re- 
 commending such dimensions, to enable you to submit them to 
 the Right Honourable the Master of the Rolls, and to make any 
 other suggestions, I have pleasure in acceding to your request. 
 
 To make what follows intelligible, I must explain some of the 
 difficulties of making any building fire-proof. 
 
 In the first place I have assumed that a Record Office must be 
 so built that no fire in any one compartment can by possibility 
 affect another ; also, that the safety of the building, as a whole, 
 against fire rriust not depend on the care and attention of any one, 
 or on any outward appliances. 
 
 I am not aware of any incombustible material which can be 
 used for the support of floors, so as to allow a tolerable size of 
 apartment, with sufficient light, except iron. 
 
 Iron, however, must be used with the greatest caution, as, of all 
 building materials, it is one of the most rapidly and most seriously 
 affected by fire. Mr. Fairbairn, engineer of Manchester, in his 
 interesting experiments on the strength of cast-iron, published in 
 the Seventh Report of the British Association, page 409, states 
 that, on raising the temperature of cold blast cast-iron from 26° to 
 190° Fahrenheit, the loss of strength was 15 per cent. ; and in 
 raising the temperature of hot blast from 21° to 190°, the loss of 
 strength was 10 per cent. Taking the average of the above-men- 
 tioned examples, it gives a loss of 12^ per cent, of strength, on a 
 rise of temperature of 166°. 
 
 The fusing point of cast-iron is differently stated in different 
 works, but it may be safely taken as not less than 3000° Fahren- 
 heit; therefore, according to the above experiments, less than 
 one-half the heat required to melt cast-iron would completely 
 destroy its strength. I have now by me two specimens of cast- 
 iron which have been melted at fires which took place this year 
 (22nd February and loth September); and some time ago I sent 
 
SAFE FROM FIRE. 
 
 93 
 
 to the Official Referees some pieces of cast-iron and wrougkt-ixon 
 melted also at a fire (7th September, 1844). 
 
 As iron pillars are much more exposed to the action of the 
 draft, and, in consequence, the intensity of the heat, I did liot 
 think it advisable to recommend them. Iron ties are still more 
 easily afifected by the heat, as a comparatively slight rise of tem- 
 perature will so expand them, as to prevent them acting as ties — 
 in fact, make them totally useless, or rather worse, as what power 
 they might exert would, in consequence of the expansion, be the 
 reverse of ties. 
 
 Iron girders, if of considerable leng±, are apt to unsettle the 
 brickwork by their expansion, if heated to any extent. 
 
 Again, it is a very common thing to have the mortar in the first 
 course of bricks completely pulverized by the heat. In one in- 
 stance, a great part of the first or lowest layer of bricks in an arch 
 fell down of themselves (isth July, 1843); therefore, the brick 
 arches in the proposed building ought not to be less than 9 inches 
 thick. 
 
 It is now a generally admitted principle by all who have turned 
 their attention to the subject, that, as the cubic contents of any 
 building or compartment of a building (if properly divided) in- 
 crease, so does the intensity of the heat increase, and, of course, 
 the loss of strength in the iron would increase in the same propor- 
 tion. It must also be considered that, although a Record Office 
 may be constructed without any combustible materials in the 
 building itself, still, even in the size of the apartment proposed, 
 say 27 X 17 X 15, there would be at least 12 tons of Records in 
 many of the rooms of the above size, disposed so as to have a 
 thorough draft round them in every direction for the purpose of 
 preservation ; but, at the same time, this thorough draft would 
 cause the ignition to proceed with greater rapidity, and very much 
 increase the intensity of the heat. 
 
 For these reasons, I proposed that the bearing of the girders 
 should not exceed 17 feet; to this extent they might be made, I 
 have no doubt, perfectly secure, if protected from the effects of the 
 heat, as they may easily be to a certain extent, and also that each 
 compartment should not exceed 27X 17X 15 = 6885, the height 
 being intended to give two sets of shelving. 
 
 This appears to me the largest size of room that could be used 
 with perfect safety. I would even advise the room to be divided 
 into two, with iron window shutters, for the more precious descrip- 
 tion of Records. 
 
 One very great advantage, from the small size of the rooms, 
 would be that, should a fire take place, the loss would be in pro- 
 portion to the size of the room. 
 
 I may here state, that what are commonly called fire-proof 
 buildings (cast-iron girders and brick arches) are not so, if the 
 
 Public 
 Records. 
 A.D. 1846. 
 Part III. 
 App. III. 
 
 Mr. Braid- 
 wood OQ 
 Fires. 
 
 Use of 
 Bricks. 
 
 Cubical 
 Contents 
 and Limits 
 of Spaces. 
 
Public 
 Records. 
 
 A.D. 1846. 
 Part III. 
 App. Ill, 
 Mr. Braid- 
 wood on 
 Fires. 
 
 Open 
 Fireplaces. 
 
 Ventilation. 
 
 94 BRAIDWOOD ON BUILDINGS SAFE FROM FIRE. 
 
 compartments are large, and a sufficient quantity of combustible 
 materials to raise the iron to a certain temperature be introduced. 
 
 If, for any reasons independent of safety (which I am not aware 
 of), it were thought expedient to have either the rooms larger, 
 or the whole building three stories instead of two, I would prefer 
 the latter alternative ; but still it does not appear to me that the 
 same safety or convenience would be obtained from three as from 
 two stories. 
 
 It has been suggested that, in case of fire, the upper floor might 
 be reached by ladders. Such an arrangement appears very in- 
 judicious, as there would be always chances of the ladders not being 
 ready, or not in good condition, when wanted. 
 
 Respecting the mode of heating the building, I strongly recom- 
 mend open fire-places (two in each room) for safety. 
 
 There are many objections to heating by hot air or hot 
 water : — 
 
 I St. A considerable number of fires have been caused by both 
 modes. 
 
 2nd. Either mode induces a general communication through the 
 building, not only by means of the pipes, but it is next to impos- 
 sible to pass a pipe which is alternately heated and cooled through 
 brick or stone-work air-tight, owing to the contraction and expan- 
 sion of iron, without expansion joints, which are a considerable 
 expense, and require constant attention. 
 
 3rd. The heat required for heating so great an extent of build- 
 ing must be generated in one or more furnaces, and these, with 
 their flues, are such constant causes of risk and trouble, that no 
 furnace or close fires should be permitted within any premises 
 which are meant to be absolutely safe from fire. 
 
 4th. I have been given to understand that a thorough ventila- 
 tion is believed to be the most efficient means of preserving Re- 
 cords ; and it is submitted that two open fire-places in each room, 
 with independent flues, would better effect that end than either 
 hot air or hot water. These fires could be lighted at pleasure in 
 any one or more rooms that might most require drying or draft ; 
 at present I am not aware that heating is at all necessary for the 
 preservation of Records, except under peculiar circumstances, 
 when the fires could be lighted. 
 
 I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient Servant, 
 
 (Signed) Jas. Braidwood,^ 
 
 Superintendent of London Fire Engine Establishment, and 
 Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 
 
 Henry Cole, Esq., Carlton Ride. 
 
 ' See Great Exhibition of 185 1 and Kensington Museum (posiea) for his 
 remarks. 
 
UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 A REPORT OF AN IMAGINARY SCENE AT 
 
 WINDSOR CASTLE RESPECTING THE 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Council Chamber in Windsor Castle — Her Majesty is sitting at a 
 large table, on which are lying the Parliamentary and Commis- 
 sioner^ Reports on Postage ; Copies of the Post Circular ; Annual 
 Reports of the French and American Post-Offices — Her Majesty in 
 deep study over " Post-Office Reform " by Rowland Hill — Lord 
 Melbourne, at the Queen's right hand, is watching her Majesty's 
 countenance. 
 
 HE QUEEN (exclaiming aloud). — Mothers pawning uniform 
 
 their clothes to pay the postage of a child's letter ! postage. 
 Every subject studying how to evade postage without '^ ii- 
 
 A.D. 
 
 caring for the law ! Even Messrs. Baring sending 
 letters illegally every week, to save postage! Such things must not '^38-1841. 
 last. — (To Lord Melbourne.) I trust, my Lord, you have com- 
 manded the attendance of the Postmaster-General and of Mr. 
 Rowland Hill, as I directed, in order that I may hear the rea- 
 sons of both about this Uniform Penny Postage Plan, which ap- 
 pears to me likely to remove all these great evils. Moreover, 
 I have made up my mind that the three hundred and twenty 
 petitions presented to the House of Commons during the last 
 session of Parliament, which pray for a fair trial of the plan, 
 shall be at least attended to. (A pause.) Are you, my Lord, 
 yourself, able to say anything about this postage plan, which all 
 the country seems talking about ? 
 
Windsor. 
 
 96 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 UiJiFORM Lord Melbourne. — May it please your Majesty, I have heard 
 
 Postage. Something about it, but — 
 
 Part II. The Queen. — Heard ! So I suppose has every one, from the 
 
 A.D. Land's End to John o' Groat's house : I wish to ask your Lord- 
 
 1838-is+i. gjjjp.g advice upon it. 
 
 Lord Melbourne. — May it please your Majesty, the Postmaster- 
 General tells me the plan will not do ; and that, to confess the 
 truth, is all I know at present about the matter. 
 
 Enter Groom of the Chamber. 
 
 Groom. — The Pgstmaster-General and Mr. Rowland Hill await 
 your Majesty's pleasure. 
 
 The Queen. — Give them entrance. 
 
 Enter Lord Lichfield and Mr. Rowland Hill, bowing. 
 
 Scene at The Quccn. — I am happy to see my noble Postmaster-General 
 
 and the ingenious author of the Universal Penny Post Plan. 
 Gentlemen, be seated. My Lord Melbourne has told you why I 
 wished for your presence on this occasion. I have been reading 
 carefully, and with great interest, the late discussions and evidence 
 on the postage question, and I now wish to hear what is my Post- 
 master-General's opinion on this plan, which I therefore beg you, 
 Mr. Hill, to describe in a few words. 
 
 Rowland Hill. — With your Majesty's leave I will say nothing of 
 the dearness and hardship of the present Post-OfiSce rates, or of 
 Post-Office management itself, but confine myself, according to 
 your Majesty's commands, to the plan you have honoured me by 
 noticing. My plan is, that all letters not weighing more than half 
 an ounce should be charged one penny j and heavier letters one 
 penny for each additional half ounce, whatever may be. the distance 
 they are carried. This postage to be paid when the letter is sent, 
 and not when received, as at present. 
 
 Lord Lichfield. — Please your most gracious Majesty, "of all 
 the wild and visionary schemes which I have ever heard or read of, 
 it is the most extravagant." ^ 
 
 The Queen. — You seem, my Lord, to adhere, not only to your 
 opinions, but your very words. If I recollect rightly, the very 
 same expressions were used a year and a half ago, by you, in the 
 
 ' " Mirror of Parliament," isth June, 1837. 
 
AT WINDSOR CASTLE. 97 
 
 House of Lords. Pray abstain, my Lord, from calling names, and Uniform 
 
 use argument. Postage. 
 
 Lord Lichfield. — "Since I made those observations I have .'^•°i 
 given the subject considerable attention, and I remain, even still pan 11. 
 more firmly, of the same opinion." ' Sekctions. 
 
 ^ Imaginary 
 
 The Queen. — I must again beg of you, my Lord, to state f«"=,at 
 
 o .f / y Windsor 
 
 reasons. Castie. 
 
 Lord Lichfield. — I have no objection to some reduction of 
 postage, and I believe all Postmasters-General before me, agree 
 that some reduction is necessary. 
 
 The Queen. — Why, allow me to ask, has the reduction been 
 delayed so long ? Proceed, Mr. Hill, to say why you fix so low a 
 sum as one penny. 
 
 Rowland Hill. — Your Majesty will see that the cheaper the 
 postage the easier it will be for the poor, (who are nearly debarred 
 from the use of the post at present,) and all classes, to use the 
 post. Though a penny seems very low, I beg to say that the 
 Post-Office would get at least a halfpenny profit on each letter, 
 after paying all expenses. It does not cost the Post-Office a 
 quarter of a farthing to carry a letter from London to Edinburgh, 
 which is 400 miles. 
 
 The Queen. — I perceive, Mr. Hill, the Post-Office authorities, 
 his Lordship, and the inspector of the mails, admit you are correct 
 in that estimate. 
 
 Lord Lichfield. — It would be unjust to charge a letter going 
 100 miles a penny, and a letter going 400 miles only a penny. 
 And, may it please your Majesty to remember that, though 
 according to Mr. Hill's mode of reckoning it does not cost us a 
 farthing to carry one letter to Edinburgh, 400 miles, it does cost 
 us nearly a halfpenny to carry a letter from London to Louth, 
 which is only 148 miles. 
 
 The Queen. — Indeed ! — How much, then, is the postage to 
 Edinburgh and to Louth ? 
 
 Lord Lichfield. — To Edinburgh, i.f. i\d. To Louth, lod. 
 
 The Queen. — It appears, therefore, you think it just to charge 
 
 my people the higliest price for the cheapest business. If an 
 
 Edinburgh letter cost you a farthing to carry, and a Louth letter a 
 
 halfpenny, I think in justice the Louth letter should be dearest, 
 
 ' " Mirror of Parliament," 30th Nov., 1837. 
 
 II. H 
 
98 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 
 POSTAGB. 
 A.D. 
 
 1839-1841. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Imaginary 
 scene at 
 Windsor 
 Castle. 
 
 and not tfee cheapest, because all the other expenses on both 
 letters are the same. My agreeable Prime Minister will have this 
 looked to. 
 
 Lord Melbourne {aside). — My dear Lichfield, I fear the Queen 
 has found you in a scrape. 
 
 The Queen. — It is quite clear, from these instances alone, that 
 postage cannot be justly charged according to distance; and 1 
 must say, that as the cost of carriage is so trifling in both cases, 
 and its difference so small, whether a letter goes one mile or 500 
 miles, I think it would be fairer not to consider it at all, and then 
 the rate on all letters would be uniform. Every letter, as you 
 know, my Lord Lichfield, must be put into a Post-Office — must be 
 stamped — must be sorted — must be carried where directed to — 
 and must be delivered. Postage is made up of the expenses of 
 doing all this, and a tax beside. All the labour, except that of 
 carriage, is the same. The carriage being so cheap now-a-days, is 
 hardly worth regarding. Any one can send 1,000 letters, packed 
 in a parcel or bag, as they are in the Post-Office, from London to 
 Edinburgh for 2s. 6d. by steam-boat, which travels as fast as 
 the mail. The tax should be equal on all letters, and not, as at 
 present, the heaviest on letters going the greatest distance. The 
 people who live at York, or at Exeter, or London, pay all other 
 taxes equally, and so they should the postage tax. Mr. Hill, I 
 agree with you that there should be a Uniform rate ; but before 
 I assent to a penny charge, I am bound not to neglect the public 
 revenue. I am afraid that at a penny a great loss will follow. It 
 is true the Post-Office revenue is very bad at present, because it 
 has scarcely increased for these twenty years, though I am sure the 
 numbers of my people, their knowledge, and their commerce, must 
 have increased largely. 
 
 Rowland Hill. — I trust your Majesty believes the evidence 
 taken by the House of Commons respecting the revenue. Every 
 witness says he should rejoice to engage to pay as much postage 
 at a penny rate as he does at the present charges. I reckon that 
 a six-fold increase of letters would suffice to yield the present 
 amount of revenue. Many witnesses say the increase would be 
 fifteen-fold ; some twenty-fold ; and some even a hundred-fold. 
 The ■ present high rates cause at least three times as many letters 
 to be sent illegally as are sent by the post. No one thinks it sinful 
 
AT WINDSOR CASTLE. 99 
 
 to defraud the Post-Office. There are numerous smugglers in uniform 
 almost every country town, who carry letters, and charge only a Postagi. 
 penny for each letter ; and if a private person can carry letters for ^^ *;^'^- ^ 
 a penny, with a profit, I think a public body could do so. More- part 11. 
 over, there are above 1,900 penny posts all over the kingdom, '"=5'°"'- 
 which carry letters sometimes as much as ^8 miles, and deliver scene at 
 
 Windsor 
 
 them for a penny ; and these penny posts altogether yield nearly Castie. 
 50 per cent, or a halfpenny profit on each letter. 
 
 The Queen. — That, with the fact of the carriage of a letter 400 
 miles, costing only half a farthing, certainly proves, Mr. Hill, that 
 all letters, taking one with another, could be carried for a penny, 
 with large gain. I wish to learn, however, if this great increase of 
 letters takes place, what would be its effect on the expenses of the 
 Post-Office management. 
 
 Lord Lichfield. — Effect, indeed ! as your Majesty wisely con- 
 siders; "the mails will have to carry twelve times as much in 
 weight, and therefore the charge for transmission, instead of 
 ;^ioo,ooo as now, must be twelve times that amount. The walls 
 of the Post-Office would burst, the whole area in which the building 
 stands would not be large enough to receive the clerks and the 
 letters." ' Then 
 
 The Queen. — Then it would appear, my Lord, that the mails 
 already are full every night ? 
 
 Lord Lichfield {with surprise). — Not quite, your Majesty. 
 
 The Queen. — How much weight will the mails carry, according 
 to their contract ? 
 
 Lord Lichfield {hesitating). — From eight to fifteen hundred 
 weight. 
 
 Rowland Hill. — His Lordship has given a return of the weights 
 carried on several nights. 
 
 The Queen. — I find, in the Appendix to the Report of the 
 Select Committee, that the Leeds mail on the 20th April weighed 
 only 158 pounds, of which the letters weighed only 38 pounds, 
 the rest being newspapers and letter bags ; so that this mail then 
 might have carried at least twenty-four times the weight of the 
 letters, without overloading the mail. On the 5th April the letters 
 of the Stroud mail weighed less than 10 pounds ; so that they 
 might be increased from fifty to a hundred-fold. I find that the 
 ' "Mirror of Parliament," i8th December, 1837. 
 
UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 
 Penny 
 
 Postage. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1839-1841. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Imaginary 
 scene at 
 Windsor 
 Castle. 
 
 average weight of the letters and newspapers of all the mails 
 leaving London nightly, is not three hundred weight, and that the 
 average weight of all the letters is only 74 pounds to each ; so 
 that it is proved, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that letters might 
 be increased twelvefold without increasing the expenses twelve- 
 fold, as you thought. 
 
 Lord Lichfield. — I submit myself entirely to your Majesty's 
 compassionate correction. Your Majesty is much more enlight- 
 ened about the Post-Office than your Majesty's most humble 
 servant the Postmaster-General. With your Majesty's leave I will 
 retire. \Exit Lord Lichfield. 
 
 The Queen (to Lord Melbourne).— \t is clear to me that his 
 Lordship had better retire from the Post-Office. 
 
 Lord Melbourne. — Certainly, your Majesty ; we all thought him 
 the best man to be Postmaster-General, but he has not realized 
 the fond hopes we cherished of him. 
 
 The Queen. — It appears to me, my Lord, that the loss of Colonel 
 Maberly to the Post-Office would be another great gain to the 
 public. I thought that Colonel Maberly was appointed Secretary 
 to the Post-Office in order to set it to rights. There is a singular 
 coincidence between the opinions and arguments, if I may so call 
 them, of the Postmaster-General and his Secretary. The Post- 
 master-General seems to me unable to defend a single position. 
 This interview, and what I have read, have convinced me that a 
 Uniform Penny Post is most advisable. Sure am I that it would 
 confer a great boon on the poorer classes of my subjects, and 
 would be the greatest benefit to religion, to morals, to general 
 knowledge, and to trade — that uniformity and payment in ad- 
 vance would greatly expedite the delivery of letters, and simplify 
 the troublesome accounts of the Post-Office — that it would effectu- 
 ally put down the smuggling postman, and lead my people to obey 
 and not disobey the law. — {The Queen rises, and in a most emphatic 
 manner) — My Lord Melbourne, you will please to bear in mind 
 that the Queen agrees with her faithful Commons in recommend- 
 ing a Uniform Penny Post. If there be any tax at all on Postage, 
 it should certainly be the lightest possible. Lord Ashburton is 
 wise in pronouncing the Postage tax "the worst of our taxes." 
 His lordship says, with great force and truth, " that communica- 
 tion of letters by persons living at a distance, is the same as a 
 
AT WINDSOR CASTLE. 
 
 communication by word of mouth between persons living in the uniform 
 
 same town. You might as well tax words spoken upon the Royal postage. 
 
 Exchange, as the communications of various persons living in A.r>. 
 
 Manchester, Liverpool, and London." I strongly advise your Partii. 
 
 Selections. 
 Imaginary 
 
 Lordship to read, as I have done, with great benefit. Lord Ashbur- 
 
 ton's evidence, as well as that of Mr. Samuel Tones Loyd, of Mr. seen? at 
 
 J / > Windsor 
 
 Brown, and Mr. Cobden, and Mr. MofTatt, and, in short, of all the Castie. 
 witnesses examined before the Parliamentary Committee. One 
 word of advice. If your Lordship has any difficulty in finding a 
 Minister among your party able to carry the measure into effect, I 
 shall apply to my Lord Ashburton or my Lord Lowther, as cir- 
 cumstances may require. Mr. Hill, the nation will owe you a 
 large debt of gratitude, which I am sure it will not be unwilling to 
 repay. I wish you good morning, gentlemen. 
 
 \Exeunt Lord Melbourne and Rowland Hill, bowing- 
 
 COMMITTEE OF MERCHANTS IN AID OF THE 
 
 PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. 
 Joshua Bates, Esq., Chairman. (A partner in Messrs. Barings^.) 
 
 George Moffatt, Esq., Treasurer. 
 James Pattison, Esq., M.P. 
 John Travers, Esq. 
 W. A. Wilkinson, Esq. 
 
 D. CoLviN, Esq. 
 
 John Dillon, Esq. 
 
 William Ellis, Esq. 
 
 J. H. Gledstanes, Esq. 
 
 G. G. DE H. Larpent, Esq. 
 
 Smith, Payne, and Smiths, Bankers. 
 
 THE Mercantile Committee are desirous to open communica- ^.d. 1S38. 
 tions with I^ocal Committees, and to hear of their formation 
 where they do not already exist, and of any local effort that may 
 be made. They are also at liberty to reprint the whole, or any 
 portion of these Suggestions for local circulation. 
 
 The London Committee intend, at their own expense, to trans- 
 mit copies to the principal mercantile houses in each town ; but 
 they will be glad to be made acquainted with the intention of any 
 gentleman, or body, disposed to aid the efforts of the Committee, 
 by subscriptions and distribution, and to be favoured with any local 
 papers that may contain useful matter on the subject : addressed to 
 GEORGE MOFFATT, Esq., 
 
 28, Fenchurch Street, London. 
 
UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 
 Penny 
 
 Postage, 
 
 A.D. 
 
 I 839-1 841. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 
 Mail to 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 GREAT WEIGHT AND NO PRICE! LITTLE 
 WEIGHT AND ALL PRICE!! 
 
 THE " Post Circular " gave the following details of the weight 
 of the mails to accompany the woodcut : — 
 
 " Lord Lichfield, if the ' Mirror of Parliament ' speaks truly, 
 declared in the House of Lords, on the i8th of December, 1837, 
 that ' If the number of letters under the uniform penny post be in- 
 creased twelvefold, the mails will have to carry twelve times as 
 much in weight ; and therefore the charge for transmission, instead 
 of ;^ioo,ooo, as now, must be twelve times that amount.' 
 
 " Lord Lichfield never asked himself what makes the ' weight ' 
 of the mail ; — and, besides confounding the ' letters ' as the ' whole 
 weight,' when only a part, and the least part, he assumed that the 
 mails were all filled, and that the cost would be twelvefolded. We 
 pray the Postmaster-General to study our sketch, in which we 
 have placed the letters on the top of the mail, the better to con- 
 
MAIL TO EDINBURGH. 
 
 103 
 
 trast them \^ith the newspapers, their usual place being in the hind Uniform 
 boot. Is the bag of 40 lbs. of letters the whole weight of the mail ? postage. 
 Does the total weight of newspapers, stamps, franks, and letters, ^^ *°- ^ 
 which, with that of their bags, is 531 lbs., exceed the whole weight pan 11. 
 of a single mail, stated by the superintendent of the mails to be f!'y "™'' 
 1,680 lbs. ? On the contrary, are there not 1,149 lbs. weight to Edinburgh, 
 spare ? and will twelve times, or even twenty-four times, the little 
 bag of letters of 40 lbs, fill up this spare weight of 1,149 lbs. ? 
 Alack ! alack ! his lordship has to learn the A B C of his craft, 
 besides the four simple rules of arithmetic ! 
 
 "Lest it be supposed that the Edinburgh mail is not a fair 
 sample of the other mails, the five first other cases are taken 
 from the Post-ofiice returns : — 
 
 MmIs. 
 
 Date when 
 weighed. 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 Letters 
 might in- 
 crease, with, 
 out over- 
 loading. 
 
 Postage 
 
 charged 
 
 on Letters 
 
 only. 
 
 Cost of 
 carrying 
 News- 
 papers, 
 Franks, 
 & Letters. 
 
 
 
 Ihs. 
 
 Ihs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 I J. d. 
 
 Louth . . 
 
 3 Mar. 
 
 2'i 
 
 i6 
 
 126 
 
 167 
 
 1513 
 
 95 fold 
 
 14 18 2 
 
 209 
 
 Brighton . 
 
 22 do. 
 
 1Q 
 
 Ti 
 
 147 
 
 261 
 
 1419 
 
 20 fold 
 
 49 7 3 
 
 099 
 
 Bristol . . 
 
 23 do. 
 
 fii 
 
 79 
 
 187 
 
 527 
 
 >r53 
 
 IS fold 
 
 68 9 !i 
 
 18 
 
 Hastings . 
 
 3 April 
 
 11 
 
 22 
 
 109 
 
 164 
 
 1516 
 
 70 fold 
 
 25 8 5 
 
 15 4 
 
 Stroud . . 
 
 5 do. 
 
 17 
 
 10 
 
 56 
 
 S3 
 
 1597 
 
 150 fold 
 
 XI 8 
 
 I 4 6 
 
 " The whole of the thirty-two mails going out of London were 
 weighed, and the average weight of each was found to be 463 lbs., 
 divisible in these proportions : — 
 
 Bags 
 
 Letters, Franks, &c. 
 Newspapers . . . 
 
 Pounds Weight. 
 
 . 68 
 
 91 
 
 304 
 
 463 lbs. 
 
 Per Centage. 
 14 
 20 
 
 66 
 
 "2,192 lbs. are the total weight of all the chargeable letters, 
 franks, and parliamentary papers, carried by all the thirty-two 
 mails. Half only, or 1,096 lbs., are chargeable letters ; conse- 
 quently, the chargeable letters of all the mails out of London are 
 684 lbs. less than the weight which a single mail is able to carry." 
 
104 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 MATERIALS FOR THE AGITATION. 
 
 Uniform 
 
 Penny 
 
 Postage. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1839-1841. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Illustrative 
 collection 
 of materials 
 for the 
 agitation. 
 
 A VOLUME was formed in 1840 which is to be offered to the 
 British Museum after my death. The following memoranda 
 written at the time were placed in it : — It is stated to contain the 
 most perfect collection of the different papers issued by the Mer- 
 cantile Committee on Postage, which is now to be made. I believe 
 only(7« large placard announcing the first public meeting, is wanted 
 to complete the series. Besides this collection, there are various 
 other papers which illustrate the Progress of the Postage Question, 
 and the modes of Charging Postage. The whole furnishes a his- 
 tory showing how the measure was carried, and in what space of 
 time. Rowland Hill issued his first pamphlet at the beginning of 
 1837 ; a committee of the House of Commons reported in favour 
 of the plan in 1838, and an Act for giving effect to the measure 
 was passed 17th August, 1839. In the year 1837, five petitions 
 were presented to Parliament; in 1838, 320; in 1839, above 2,000. 
 The Mercantile Committee was formed chiefly by the exertions of 
 Mr. George Moffatt in the spring of 1838 ; Mr. Ashurst conducted 
 the Parliamentary Inquiry; and upon myself, as Secretary, de- 
 volved the business of communicating with the public. A printing 
 committee consisting of Mr. Travers, Mr. G. Moffatt, and Mr. F. 
 L. Cole was formed at the first meeting of the Mercantile Com- 
 mittee. On some few occasions Mr. Travers was consulted — 
 about the issue of the "Post Circular" for example — but generally 
 the issue of papers was decided by Mr. George Moffatt and myself 
 jointly, or myself on my own responsibility. 
 
 The illustrations of the " Anomalies of Postage " are perhaps 
 unique. When Circulars were to be sent to Members of Parliament, 
 instead of delivering them by hand, which would have cost about 
 30J. or ;^3 3J-. through the vote office of the House of Commons, 
 or several pounds by the twopenny post, a messenger was de- 
 spatched to Gravesend or Watford, beingthe first general post towns 
 out of London, to post them there ; they then caxat free/ and the 
 cost to the Committee was only 6^. or thereabouts for the mes- 
 senger's expenses. Newspapers were taken free of charge by the 
 
MATERIALS FOR THE AGITATION. 
 
 los 
 
 twopenny post out of the three mile circle, but .were charged if 
 brought into it. Instead of sending a messenger to Kensington 
 with any lot of papers to be addressed, the twopenny post took 
 them free, — they were addressed for the country and put into the 
 Kensington post. On one occasion twenty papers were addressed 
 to Mr. Wallace, M.P., at Greenock, where they would have gone 
 free, but being sent with his other papers to the Reform Club by 
 his directions, they were charged twopence or a penny each. 
 
 Uniform 
 
 Penny 
 
 Postage. 
 
 1839-1841. 
 
 Part n. 
 Selections. 
 
 Illustrative 
 collection 
 of materials 
 for the 
 agitation. 
 
 A List of the Papers issued under the Direction of the 
 
 Mercantile Committee on Postage in 1838 and 
 
 1839, BY Mr. Ashurst, Parliamentary Agent, 
 
 AND Mr. H. Cole, Secretary. 
 
 Mr. Ashurst's papers are marked A, the rest are Mr. Cole's. 
 
 I. 
 
 2. 
 
 3- 
 
 Circular, accompanying Sugges- 
 tions. (A. ) 
 
 Suggestions, probably prepared by 
 Mr. MofFatt, distributed to Mer- 
 cantile Firms througlioiit the 
 country, to Houses of Lords and 
 Commons, &c. (A.) 
 
 Circular, soliciting information, 
 &c., distributed with the last. 
 (A.) 
 4. Circular, for Subscriptions, ad- 
 dressed to Fire and Life Offices, 
 Companies of the City, and other 
 Corporate Bodies. 
 5 to 18. Thirteen numbers of " The 
 Post Circular " — the average num- 
 ber printed of each number was 
 about 1750 — the whole set was 
 sent from time to time to every 
 newspaper in the United King- 
 dom — about 250 of every num- 
 ber to the friends of the Postage 
 Cause, and the Mercantile Com- 
 mittee. One or more numbers 
 were sent to every Town Council, 
 Chamber of Commerce, Public 
 Library, News Room, Mechanics' 
 Institute, Board of Guardians, 
 Cleric of Poor Law Unions, 
 Minister of Religion, Church of 
 England (above 12,000) or other- 
 wise. Country Bankers, &c., 
 throughout the kingdom. 
 
 19. Circular, accompanying Petitions. 
 
 20. Letter to Scotch Newspapers. 
 
 21. Window Bill for Petitions. 
 
 22. Petition Bill for Institutions. 
 
 22 b. Letter to Printers about Peti- 
 tions. 
 
 Specimen letter of Single and 
 Double Postage, 500 copies dis- 
 tributed. 
 
 Do. sent to about 44 Mechanics' 
 Institutes. 
 
 Scene at Windsor Castle, 2,000 
 printed, sent to Lords and Com- 
 mons, &c. 
 
 Another Edition, 2,000 printed. 
 Cheap Editions, nearly 100,000 
 of these were either sold or dis- 
 tributed. 
 
 28. 40,000 were stitched in " Nicho- 
 las Nickleby." 
 
 29. Postage Report, printedby " Spec- 
 tator," 3,000 copies generally 
 circulated to every newspaper, 
 &c. 
 
 30. Circular to every Newsjjaper in 
 the United Kingdom. 
 
 31. Letter, about Subscriptions to 
 Chambers of Commerce, &c. 
 
 32. Subscription list. 
 
 33. Letter to Printers, &c., about 
 Petitioning. 
 
 34. Bill for Petitions. 
 
 34 b. Do. of another size. 
 
 23- 
 
 24. 
 25- 
 
 26. 
 
 27. 
 
io6 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 
 Penny 
 
 Postage. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1839-1841. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 
 Illustrative 
 collection 
 of materials 
 for the 
 agitation. 
 
 35- 
 36. 
 37- 
 
 SO. 
 SI- 
 
 52. 
 
 55 
 S6, 
 
 57- 
 
 58. 
 
 59. 
 60. 
 61, 
 
 Bill for Petitions, 500 circulated 
 in Franks about the country. 
 Advertisement of Petition for 
 Newspapers. 
 
 Do. (inserted gratuitously in most 
 Country Papers). 
 37b. Letter to Traders. (A.) 
 
 38. Summons for West End Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 39. Specimen of Stamp. 
 
 40. Explanation of Stamps. 
 
 41. Second Edition of 1st Specimen 
 of Stamp. 
 
 42. Another Specimen of Stamp, ad- 
 dressed particularly to the Paper 
 Makers. 
 
 43. Report of Mercantile Committee 
 (very generally circulated.) (A.) 
 
 44 a. Report of Manchester Meetings. 
 
 44. Deputation to Lord Melbourne. 
 
 45. Woodcut of Mail, about 3,000 
 printed, sent to Lords and Com- 
 mons. 
 
 46. McCulloch answered by R. Hill, 
 prepared for " Post Circular," 
 but not issued. 
 
 Specimen of Post Charges, 1,500 
 circulated. 
 
 Bill for 1st Public Meeting, 500. 
 Handbill for Public Meeting, 
 30,000. 
 
 The volume containing a specimen of each of these papers and other illustra- 
 tions, will be found, I trust, after my death, in the British Museum. 
 
 The following are Specimens of some of the Petitions 
 
 WHICH were prepared AND DISTRIBUTED. 
 
 47- 
 
 48. 
 49- 
 
 Hustings Ticket, Joo printed. 
 Invitation, 500. 
 
 Postponement Notice (Mr. 
 Moffatt). 
 
 53. Bill for 2nd Meeting, 500. 
 
 54. Hustings Ticket, 500. 
 Invitation, 500. 
 Another form of Invitation, 5°. 
 Broadside Summons to Meeting, 
 SCO. 
 
 Broadside Summons about Pe- 
 tition, 500. 
 
 Second Broadside about Petition. 
 Resolutions passed at Meeting. 
 Petition adopted at Meeting. 
 
 62. Instructions for signing Petition. 
 
 63. Form of Westminster Petition. 
 
 64. Summons to M.P.'s whilst the 
 Bill was in the House of Com- 
 mons. 
 
 65. R. Hill's paper on Stamps. 
 
 66. Facts and Estimates on Increase, 
 sent to Lords and Commons. 
 
 67. Letters to Town Councils, &c., 
 which had petitioned once. 
 
 68. What fresh Legislative Powers 
 are required, sent to Lords and 
 Commons. 
 
 69. Summary of Petitions for News- 
 papers. 
 
 70. Analysis of the 2,007 Petitions. 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 (form of petition.) 
 
 Specimens TO THE HONOURABLE THE LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL [or, THE 
 
 ofPetitions. Commons, as the case may be\ in Parliament assembled : — 
 
 The humble Petition of the Undersigned \to be filled up with the name of 
 Place, Corporation, &'c,'\ 
 
 Sheweth, 
 
 That your Petitioners earnestly desire a Uniform Penny Post, payable in 
 advance, as proposed by Rowland Hill, and recommended by the Report of the 
 Select Committee of the House of Commons. 
 
 That your Petitioners intreat your Honourable House to give speedy effect to 
 this Report. And your Petitioners will ever pray. 
 
SPECIMENS OF PETITIONS. 
 
 107 
 
 Mothers and fathers that wish to hear from their absent children ! 
 
 Friends who are parted, that wish to write to each other ! 
 
 Emigrants that do not forget their native homes ! 
 
 Farmers that wisli to know the best Markets ! 
 
 Merchants and tradesmen that wish to receive Orders and Money 
 quickly anS cheaply ! 
 
 Mechanics and labourers that wish to learn where good work and high Selections, 
 wages are to be had ! support the Report of the House of Commons with your Specimens 
 Petitions for an UNIFORM penny post. Let every City and Town and Village, of Petitions, 
 every Corporation, every Religious Society and Congregation, petition, and let 
 every one in the kingdom sign a petition with his name or his marlt. 
 
 Uniform 
 
 Penny 
 
 Postage. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1839-1841. 
 Part II. 
 
 THIS IS NO QUESTION OF PARTY POLITICS. 
 
 Lord Ashburton, a Conservative, and one of the richest Noblemen in the 
 country, spoke these impressive words before the House of Commons Com- 
 mittee — " Postage is one of the worst of our Taxes ; it is, in fact, taxing the 
 conversation of people who live at a distance from each other. The communi- 
 cation'of letters by persons living at a distance, is the same as a communication 
 by word of mouth between persons living in the same town." 
 
 " Sixpence," says Mr. Brewin, "is the third of a poor man's income ; if a 
 gentleman, who had ;£'l,ooo a year, or £'i a day, had to pay one-third of his 
 daily income, a sovereign, for a letter, how often would he write letters of 
 friendship ? Let a gentleman put that to himself, and then he will be able to 
 see how the poor man cannot be able to pay Sixpence for his Letter." 
 
 If you can get any Signatures to a Petition, make two Copies of the above on 
 two half sheets of paper ; get them signed as numerously as possible ; fold each 
 up separately ; put a slip of paper around, leaving the ends open ; direct one to 
 a Member of the House of Lords, the other to a Member of the House of Com- 
 mons, LONDON, and put them into the Post Office. 
 
 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE COMMONS IN 
 PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED. 
 
 The humble Petition of the undersigned Bankers, Merchants, Traders, and 
 Others of the City of London, 
 Sheweth, 
 
 That the present Rates of Postage fetter Commercial Transactions ; — are 
 prejudicial to the Interests of the General Revenue ;— check the Education and 
 the Moral Progress of the People, and tempt all Classes to Systematic Viola- 
 tions of the Law. 
 
 That the Plan proposed by Mr. Rowland Hill for establishing a Uniform 
 Postage of One Penny for each half-ounce weight, to be paid in advance, 
 through the medium of small adhesive Stamps, would, in the opinion of your 
 Petitioners, increase the General Revenue, and ultimately, realize the present 
 Amount of Post-Office Receipts, and prove a source of great social and moral 
 benefit to the whole Community. 
 
 Your Petitioners, therefore, pray that no consideration of an assumed tempo- 
 rary deficiency in the Revenue, will induce your Honourable House to delay 
 the introduction of so important a National Measure. 
 
 And your Petitioners will ever pray. 
 
io8 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 
 Penny 
 
 Postage. 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1839 1841. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Specimens 
 of Petitions. 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 TJie following PetHion to the House of Commons, to Pass this Jinfortant 
 Measure without delay. Lies here for Signatures. 
 
 READER, 
 
 Sign the Petition without a moment's delay, because it must be presented 
 before Friday next, July the 12th. 
 
 To THE Honourable the Commons in Parliament assembled. 
 The humble Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of Westminster. 
 Sheweth, 
 That, an Englishman having invented the Uniform Penny Postage Plan, 
 your Petitioners feel that the United Kingdom should not be behind France, 
 and Belgium, and Prussia, and the United States, in getting it : they, therefore, 
 humbly pray your Honourable House to give effect to the Uniform Penny 
 Postage, payable in advance, during the present Session of Parliament. 
 
 And your petitioners will ever pray. 
 
ESSAY ON STAMPS. 
 
 109 
 
 LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE LORDS COM- 
 MISSIONERS OF HER MAJESTY'S 
 TREASURY, 
 In Reply to the Treastuy Minute, 2;^rd Aug., 1839, 
 
 By Henry Cole. 
 
 24, Netting Hill Square, 
 306'^., 1839. 
 
 My Lords, 
 I. /^~\ F your lordships' invitation to artists, men of science, and uniform 
 V^ the public in general, to submit proposals relative to the postage. 
 use of the postage stamps, I beg leave, as one of the latter class, to ^.d. 1839. 
 avail myself. And I trust that the statement I am about to Selections. 
 address to your lordships, may not prove unacceptable, inasmuch 
 as I do not come before you as an inventor advocating the exclu- 
 sive employment of his own invention, or as a paper maker or 
 stationer contending for his own narrow interests against those of 
 the public, or as a printer or engraver or other person seeking to 
 share in the manufacture of any peculiar stamp, but as one of the 
 public, whom circumstances have led to examine and judge of the 
 plan of uniform postage in its several branches. 
 
 II. Some expressions in the Treasury Minute of 23rd August, 
 seeming to me to convey the inference that your lordships have not -^^^-^^^ j 
 yet finally decided upon the adoption of prepayment of postage by whether 
 means of stamps, I hope it will not be judged irrelevant if I sub- is decided 
 mit a few additional reasons to those given in the Report of the 
 Parliamentary Committee on Postage, which appear to me to 
 strengthen the expediency of adopting that mode of collecting 
 
 the postage revenue, before I proceed to discuss the question of the 
 stamp itself. 
 
 III. When the expediency of payment in advance is considered, 
 the question to be determined appears to be, not whether it would 
 be advantageous to apply such a mode to the collection of the 
 present rates of postage, but of a penny rate of postage. "The want 
 
UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Prepayment 
 necessary for 
 the penny 
 rate of 
 postage. 
 
 Prepayment 
 without 
 stamps only 
 a partial 
 remedy of 
 the defects 
 of present 
 system. 
 
 Additional 
 arguments 
 for prepay- 
 ment with 
 stamps to 
 those used 
 in the Par- 
 liamentary 
 Report. 
 
 Time 
 
 economized 
 in paying 
 postage. 
 
 of check in the taxation of letters," the " nominal controul " over 
 the deputy postmasters, and the frequent differences between "the 
 office account" and the charges of the provincial postmasters 
 noticed in the Eighteenth Report of the Commissioners of Re- 
 venue Inquiry; the delay occasioned by the collection of postage 
 in the delivery; the loss sustained by the Post Office by the 
 carriage of letters which are misdirected and refused, are evils of 
 the system, which any increase in the number of letters would 
 certainly augment — evils attendant not so much upon the amount 
 of postage as upon the number of letters. ■ Indeed, should it be 
 your lordships' determination that prepayment and its consequent 
 simplification of the machinery of the Post Office, be unnecessary 
 in the collection of a penny postage, it may be a question whether 
 a penny postage will do much more than pay the expenses of the 
 penny letter, however the number of such letters might increase. 
 
 IV. Prepayment of postage without stamps would affiDrd only a 
 partial remedy for these defects. The "want of check" and 
 " nominal controul " over the deputy postmasters would still re- 
 main. The tardiness of the present system of delivery would be 
 abolished, but the liability to those frauds which are committed by 
 dishonest messengers and servants sent to the post office with 
 letters, would be greatly augmented. 
 
 V. I propose to class the additional arguments in favour of 
 Prepayment by Stamps under separate heads, as respects the 
 interests of the public and the general revenue. 
 
 1°. As regards the Public. 
 
 VI. The present number of letters has been estimated to be 
 about 75,000,000; in other words, postage is collected in 
 75,000,000 of individual sums of a penny and upwards. The 
 greater part of this postage is paid by the mercantile interests of 
 the country, in the management of which loss of time is loss of 
 capital. Merchants, with the present number of letters, already 
 complain of the inconvenience and loss of time occasioned by the 
 demands of letter carriers for postage in small sums, which, by 
 agreeing to pay at fixed periods, instead of at every delivery, they 
 in some measure get rid of. In many parts of the metropolis — 
 about the neighbourhood of the Bank, in particular — few postages 
 
SUGGESTIONS FOR POSTAGE STAMPS. iii 
 
 are paid on the delivery of the letter : the postmen are capitalists uniform 
 enough to give credit. If it would be a convenience to the mer- f outage. 
 cantile interests to pay the postage even on the present number of ■*•"• '^39- 
 letters, in a few large, rather than in many small sums — and the Sdections. 
 fact above mentioned proves that it is a convenience — any great 
 increase of correspondence will convert the convenience into a 
 necessity. The act of paying a penny or twopence consumes as 
 much time as paying a larger sum, and equally interrupts the 
 clerks' business and the occupations of the domestic servants. 
 This consumption of time and interruption to business, would be 
 increased in proportion to any increase in the number of letters. 
 It is possible to conceive that this present mode would grow into 
 a perfect nuisance under a penny post. To all extensive mercan- 
 tile firms, whose correspondence will certainly be largely augmented, 
 the payment of a thousand penny postages in one sum, rather than 
 in a thousand, is an economical convenience which your lordships 
 cannot fail to appreciate. The opportunity to make a payment of 
 several penny postages at one time would be equally acceptable in 
 different degrees to every class of the community. 
 
 VII. The Prevention of Frauds is another consequence of pre- Prevention 
 payment with stamps. The Report of the Committee of the House mesTeng^eri' 
 of Commons, notices at some length that the use of stamps would kttere.''"^' 
 get rid of the inconveniences of trusting messengers with money to 
 
 pay the postage. This is an important moral consideration. It is 
 equally desirable to protect the servant from the temptation to 
 fraud, as the master from its consequences. 
 
 VIII. The evidence taken by the Parliamentary Committee, Prevention 
 appears to establish the fact quite conclusively that although pre- property^"" 
 payment should be compulsory, advertisers would avail them- 
 selves of a penny postage to an immense extent, to make known 
 
 their numerous inventions for the good of mankind. Without pre- 
 payment, the public would be perpetually teazed by advertisers 
 clamouring for notice and patronage. Release the hungry quack 
 from the obligation of paying the postage of his request, and no 
 delicacy will deter him from inflicting a penny. The public have 
 a right to claim protection, if possible, against being made to pay 
 for the impertinences of the Joseph Adys and the Doctors Mor- 
 rison of the day. Prepayment gives this protection. It may be 
 thought that the wholesome restrictiveness of prepayment, though 
 
UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Speed in the 
 delivery of 
 letters. 
 
 Revenue. 
 Loss on re- 
 fused letters 
 prevented. 
 
 good for the public, would be bad for the revenue. I believe the 
 revenue would lose more by refused letters, than it would gain by 
 the increase in quantity. The Post Office would never recover the 
 postage from the low advertiser. The evil — if not prevented by 
 prepayment — would speedily cure itself. It would soon be the 
 custom to refuse unpaid letters. And after the Post Office had 
 sustained great losses on returned letters, it would be driven, even 
 in its own defence, to exact payment in advance. 
 
 IX. Economy of time in the delivery of letters is important 
 both to the public and the Post Office. From a case of the early 
 delivery in London, mentioned in the Eighteenth Report of the 
 Commissioners of Inquiry, it appears that the public would get 
 prepaid letters in about one twenty-fifth part of the time of letters 
 paid on delivery. The inspector of letter-carriers states that 570 
 letters, on which no postage was collected, were delivered in half- 
 an-hour; whilst 67, on which the postage was collected, occupied 
 about an hour and a-half in delivery. It follows that, had no 
 postage at all been collected on the whole of the 637, all would 
 have been delivered nearly in the half-hour. Had the postage 
 been collected on all the 637 letters by the same means, some 
 would not have reached their destination for above twelve hours. 
 The same witness says, that if all the letters were delivered in the 
 ordinary way, from seventy to eighty additional letter-carriers 
 would be required to execute the duty in two hours and fifteen 
 minutes. The postage being collected or not in delivering even 
 this small number of letters, affords sufficient proof how great 
 would be the difference, not only in point of delay or expedition 
 to the public, but to the Post Office, of increased or reduced 
 expense. 
 
 IP. As regards the Revenue. 
 
 X. Under the present system of collections of the Postage 
 Revenue, amounting to about;^2, 500,000, estimated on 75,000,000 
 of letters, above 4 per cent, is lost on letters overcharged,' re- 
 fused and misdirected; that is to say, the Post Office is subjected 
 to a loss equivalent to a gratuitous delivery of at least three mil- 
 lions of letters. Retain this system to collect a penny postage — 
 the letters augmenting six-fold — and the losses of this kind will be 
 
 Third Report. 
 
SUGGESTIONS FOR POSTAGE STAMPS. 113 
 
 equal to a gratuitous delivery of eighteen millions of letters, and uniform 
 perhaps a proportion much greater, because it is not the price of postacb. 
 postage so much as the number of letters which affects this ques- *•"• 'bas- 
 tion. Prepayment without stamps would prevent these losses, and Selections. 
 the revenue would be collected in daily instalments. Under pre- Revenue 
 payment with stamps, the Postage revenue will be forestalled for 
 a much longer period. In the case of a large correspondence, the 
 prepayments would be made certainly not oftener than once in a 
 week. Many persons would supply themselves with a stock of 
 stamps for a month or a quarter of a year. A six- fold increase of 
 letters, and a stock of stamps laid in for a month, on the average 
 for the whole kingdom — the Postage revenue will therefore be 
 forestalled upwards of;^2oo,ooo, the compound interest on which 
 is worthy of regard. As the letters increased in number, the more 
 profitable would these forestalments become. At the first outset 
 (proper means being taken to familiarise the people to the use of 
 stamps beforehand), the stock of stamps laid in by the whole 
 kingdom wUl probably be so large as to have a very considerable 
 influence on the first year's receipts, and diminish a loss which 
 may be reasonably anticipated. Prepayment of postage by stamps 
 seems to be a rare instance where payment before value received, 
 is a good thing to both parties. 
 
 XI. The postage stamp is a receipt acknowledging the payment Security in 
 
 ,.,,., -IT • ■ T_ collection 
 
 of the postage, which, besides yielding certain conveniences to the conferred. 
 public, affords means much wanted of checking the actual amount 
 of postage paid by the public. At page 39 of the Third Report on 
 Postage, there is evidence proving that the actual receipts of the 
 Post Office, as now collected, cannot be determined with accuracy. 
 Had prepayment no other merit than of remedying this defect, it 
 would be great, as at once protecting the Government from fraud 
 and the deputy post-masters from the temptation to commit it. 
 
 XII. The superior economy of collecting the postage by stamps Superior 
 has been demonstrated by Mr. Hill. He shows that the cost collection, 
 of collecting postage by money payments on delivery, would 
 
 be six times as great as the cost of collecting postage by stamps, 
 even at the higher of two estimates, which I believe will be found 
 to approximate very closely to the facts. 
 
 XIII. Stamps destroyed by accident, or lost by negligence, ^i^^Xo^ 
 though a loss to the pubHc, will be a gain to the revenue. ^f^'™^|;°" 
 
 II. I 
 
114 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839, 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Additional 
 advantages 
 of receipts 
 for letters 
 besides 
 security of 
 delivery. 
 
 Specimen 
 oi receipt 
 inclosed. 
 
 Sold by post- 
 masters and 
 licensed 
 vendors. 
 
 A plainer 
 pattern than 
 this was sent. 
 
 Every fire which happens will tend to augment the postage 
 revenue. 
 
 XIV. The general subject of prepayment by stamps, would be 
 here incomplete, if I omitted to notice the fears which have been 
 raised in the public mind, that prepayment will lessen the safe 
 delivery of letters. Mr. Hill has recommended the use of certain 
 receipts, and supported his suggestion by arguments, which it is 
 unnecessary to repeat, but which I believe have both dispelled all 
 such fears and proved that the delivery of letters would be much 
 more secure than at present. I allude to these receipts, for the 
 purpose of pointing out certain other advantages, besides the 
 security of delivery, which I think will result from them. Mr. Hill, 
 in his evidence (824), proposes "that every person desiring a 
 receipt, should, on taking the letter to the receiving-house, present 
 a copy of the superscription, on which the receiver should stamp 
 a receipt, with the date and his own address. Precisely such a 
 stamp as is placed on the letter would suffice. I propose that the 
 charge for such receipt should be a halfpenny, and that as a 
 means of collecting the same, it should be required that the copy 
 of the superscription should be made on a printed form to be 
 provided by the Post Office, and to be sold to the public at the 
 rate of a halfpenny each by the receiver, either singly, or in books, 
 as might be required, a certain profit on their sale being allowed 
 by the Post Office as a remuneration to the receiver." ^ 
 
 XV. Government will, of course, preserve to itself the exclusive 
 manufacture of these receipts. And, as some protection against 
 the illegal manufacture of them, it would be necessary to place 
 some slight difficulties in the way of its being attempted. I 
 would propose that a receipt somewhat in the form of the pre- 
 sent specimen, should be adopted. Other difficulties afforded 
 by engine-turning might be inserted. 
 
 XVI. I would propose that they should be sold by all licensed 
 vendors of stamps as well as postmasters, as Mr. Hill suggests. 
 
 XVII. Books of them, of various sizes, to suit the taste of the pub- 
 lic, might be made up by the vendors, to whom they would be distri- 
 
 ' This suggestion for issuing forms 
 of receipt, has not yet been properly 
 worked out by the Post Office, and I 
 venture to suggest that Mr. Fawcett, 
 
 now Postmaster-General, should cause 
 the subject to be again fully inves- 
 tigated. 
 
SUGGESTIONS FOR POSTAGE STAMPS. 
 
 IIS 
 
 buted in sheets. As they proved convenient to the public, so the 
 sale of them would become an increasing source of revenue.i^ 
 
 XVIII. It seems worth while dwelling on the practical work- 
 ing of these probabilities. All persons able to afford it, would 
 possess a receipt book, as a register of all letters of importance 
 and value, which would at the same time check the receipt of 
 the letter at the post office, and the delivery of the letter by 
 the messenger sent to post it. This check on the punctuality and 
 
 ' The Receipts suggested by me were in the following form : — 
 
 POST OFFICE RECEIPT. 
 [For a penny letter only.] 
 
 Name 
 
 Address 
 
 N. B. — Observe that this receipt is stamped 
 at the Post Office when returned. 
 
 Postmaster's Receipt 
 
 I am afraid it did not find favour with 
 some officials, who had no difficulty 
 in persuading the higher officials of a 
 past ministry, that the scheme was im- 
 practicable ; that it interfered with the 
 registration — altogether a different 
 sort of thing ; and so it was partially 
 abandoned, to the loss of the revenue 
 
 CERTIFICATE OF POSTING. 
 
 * Here insert A* not Registered, 
 
 Or Book Padcet^^"^' addressed as under has been posted 
 at this Office^ 
 
 =^ / 
 
 Embossed 
 
 Halfpenny 
 
 Stamp. 
 
 Date Stamp. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D, 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Would serve 
 as registers 
 of corre- 
 spondence. 
 
 Would check 
 messengers 
 sent to the 
 
 post. 
 
 and the inconvenience of the public, 
 to be put right some day when wisdom 
 presides in the judgment-seat. 
 
 At the present time the Post Office 
 is experimentalizing with this form, 
 which I do not find noticed in the Post 
 Office Guide. 
 
 Instructions. 
 
 The address entered in this Certificate must be exactly the same as that on the Letter, 
 Newspaper, or Book Packet, and it must be plainly written m ink. 
 
 The issue of this Certificate is not to be regarded as eflFecting Registration, and the Letter. 
 Newspaper, or Book Packet to which it refers will be treated precisely as if posted in a 
 Letter Box. 
 
ii6 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Prevention 
 of many 
 errors of bad 
 writing and 
 spelling. 
 
 Cost of pro- 
 duction and 
 profit 
 thereon. 
 
 Estimate in 
 detail. 
 
 accuracy of messengers would be highly advantageous. Those 
 who did not keep a receipt book— chiefly the poorer classes— would 
 purchase a single receipt at the post office when they posted their 
 letters, and the accommodation of copying the address at the same 
 time might be allowed. 
 
 XIX. The comparison which it would be the postmaster's duty to 
 institute between the address on the receipt and the superscription 
 of the letter, would prevent many inaccuracies arising from badly 
 spelt and badly written addresses. 
 
 XX. Receipts like the specimen would cost the Government, 
 printing and paper included, about \s. %d. per 1,000, and, after 
 allowing 25 per cent, to the retailer, say i per cent, for carriage, 
 3 per cent, for wholesale distribution, which might be conducted 
 by the stamp distributors, and r per cent, for extras, they would 
 produce 28^'. for 1,000, or a profit of about 2,500 per cent, on their 
 original cost.' Twenty-five per cent, is the usual allowance made 
 
 ' This estimate is not quite correct, but was made so. 
 
 Estimate of the Cost of Stamps. 
 Printing i,ocx) sheets, each sheet holding 48 receipts like the " ' 
 
 specimen (contract price) . . . . . . . o 15 o 
 
 Paper for 1,000 sheets, 2 reams at 30J. per ream . . . . i 10 o 
 
 1,000 sheets or 48,000 receipts, at £■}, Sj. = i 
 Add \7id. per i ,000 for packing . . = o 
 
 d. 
 
 (>\ per 1,000. 
 
 Ij 
 
 £^ 5 
 
 I 8 per 1,000, costof production. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 1,000 receipts, at a halfpermy each, would be sold to the public for 2 
 
 8 
 
 Deduct 25 per cent, to retailers — postmasters 
 and licensed vendors .... 
 
 3 per cent, on the price to retailers for whole- 
 sale distributors' allowance — also I per 
 cent, carriage — I per cent, for extras — 
 the total 5 per cent., or say . 
 
 .. d. 
 10 5 
 
 
 12 
 
 s. 
 9 
 t 
 
 d. 
 8 
 8 
 
 
 Deduct 
 
 £ 
 I 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 Net price per 1,000 . 
 Deduct cost of production . 
 
 £1 9 8 
 
 Net profit per 1,000 . 
 
 . £1 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
RECEIPTS FOR LETTERS. n; 
 
 in the book trade, and I think it would be advisable to give the uniform 
 same in this instance, in order to encourage so profitable a sale, Pos^tYce. 
 and besides give the postmasters a strong motive to work the new '^•°- "^sp- 
 plan with vigour. Let it be assumed that in the first year the SeTectLs. 
 letters will be three-folded, that is to say, become 225,000,000 in 
 number; if upon 5 per cent, only of this number receipts are taken, 
 the receipts will return a net revenue of ;^i7,i5o. 
 
 XXI. I am informed that in Germany, upon the payment of Nature of 
 four kreutzers (about equal to 2d), the Post Oflice authorities, f^ceipSla 
 independently of the Government, will insure, under a penalty of ^^'"^'^• 
 40 florins (rather more than £j, ts. %d.\ the safe delivery of any 
 
 letter. If the letter be lost, whatever may be its contents, the 
 Post Office pays the penalty. The insured letters are kept apart 
 by themselves, and a receipt is taken from the party to whom they 
 are delivered. 
 
 XXII. Perhaps something of this ' sort might be superadded 
 to Mr. Hill's system of receipts. It certainly does not appear suffi- 
 cient merely to prove that a letter has been posted, without adopt- 
 ing some ulterior measures. Some recompense for injury inflicted 
 by negligence or dishonesty is required. I think some system 
 might be established, which should reward or punish the sorters and 
 those officers through whose hands the letters must actually pass. 
 The insurances for letters might be added to, and the penalties 
 deducted from their salaries. Every officer would thereby be fur- 
 nished with a motive, not only to do his best himself, but to watch 
 that his brother officers did not abuse their trust. It does not 
 appear necessary on an occasion like the present, to do more than 
 glance at this subject. 
 
 XXIII. But in addition to this plan of receipts, another arrange- Further 
 ment which Mr. Hill has suggested to promote public convenience, postaa°i?s 
 appears to me as one which would tend to enhance security in the iMtel-s7 °^ 
 delivery of letters. It has been argued that the letter carriers in 
 the metropolis and in large towns, will destroy the letters to save 
 themselves the trouble of going their rounds. Let an order be 
 issued that the letter carriers in delivering letters should also carry 
 a bag to receive any letters brought or given to him at the doors, 
 and let him announce his progress by ringing a bell, like the 
 general postmen in the evening. The public would thus be warned 
 of the letter carrier's arrival, and, to save themselves the trouble of 
 
ii8 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Prepayment 
 optional on 
 one sort of 
 letters only. 
 
 going to the post offices, would watch his appearance. The post- 
 man's failure to traverse any street or district, would thus be noticed 
 and immediately complained of. 
 
 XXIV. Though for certain reasons it may be convenient to 
 allow an option of prepayment, it seems desirable that the option, 
 should be limited to one class of letters only — that is, to letters lowest 
 in the scale of weight. Such a limitation is desirable for the sake 
 of the Post Office, and should be sufficient to meet those cases 
 where an option is needful. The letter of the least weight, under 
 the new system, will correspond to the single letter at present, 
 and will even comprehend many double letters, if the weight be 
 half an ounce. Ounce letters are rare at present in the general 
 post. And most of the public will regard letters above the weight 
 of half an ounce, as one of the novelties of the penny post. There 
 will be no hardship in subjecting all the novelties to prepayment 
 absolute. Those who employ the increased weights of the new 
 system cannot complain of its conditions. 
 
 XXV. The principle of assessing the postage of unpaid letters, 
 should be determined at a price to cover the additional expenses 
 of unpaid letters. If the public, for any reason, will have unpaid 
 letters, they must pay for the accommodation. 
 
 The General Question of Forgery. 
 
 Small 
 temptation 
 in a penny. 
 
 XXVI. There are some peculiarities about the postage stamps 
 which seem to me to add very great security against forgery, to 
 that which artistical difficulties of imitation may give. 
 
 XXVII. The forgery oia. penny stamp does not offer a temptation 
 like that of a bank note, being 240 times more profitable. It is 
 not because a. penny stamp cannot be forged, but because it cannot 
 be forged with profit as well as impunity, that it is most securely 
 protected against forgery. 
 
 The low 
 price at 
 which the 
 stamps must 
 be sold is a 
 protection — 
 complete as 
 respects the 
 stamped 
 covers. 
 
 I. Tliat it cannot be forged with profit. 
 
 XXVIII. In Mr. Joplin's essay on Banking, it is stated in the 
 sixth edition, "that a couple of shillings per one pound note is the 
 most, probably the utmost, that the forger obtains." Forged bank 
 notes being, thus sold for the tenth part of their professed value, 
 
FORGERY OF STAMPS. 119 
 
 there seems no reason for supposing that the forger of a penny uniform 
 stamp would be able to get more than the tenth part of its value, postage. 
 
 XXIX. The very cheap price at which the stamped covers *"■ '*39- 
 (being one of the proposed three modes of stamps) could be sold Selections, 
 wholesale to the public by the stamp office, seems to secure them 
 
 from the attempts of the forger. It is calculated that the half- 
 sheets of paper, together with the stamping, costing the Govern- 
 ment about fifteen a penny, could be furnished to the public at 
 about fifteen for sixteen pence, including fifteen penny postages. 
 The forger selling the covers hke the bank notes at one-tenth 
 of their intrinsic value, must offer them for sale at about ten 
 for a penny. This is a price which would not only deprive him 
 of any remunerating profit on the sale, but prevent even the 
 manufacture of them on a small scale except at an actual loss. 
 A wealthy capitalist may sell fifteen covers a penny to the 
 Government, whilst a miserable forger in a garret could not 
 make half the number at that price. To be forged at all, they 
 must therefore be forged by large capitalists. Possessing the dies 
 for printing one adhesive stamp, and the necessary paper, one 
 man could print by the hand-press about 400 impressions a day. 
 By selling these at ten a penny, he would gain 35. i,d., a sum less 
 than he would realize as an honest printer. 
 
 XXX. The same writer says it is doubtful whether the greatest 
 success, even in circulating five pound notes, would be found suffi- 
 cient to induce forgers to venture upon an expenditure of ;£2oo. 
 
 XXXI. The stamps I shall submit to your lordships to be pro- The amount 
 duced in any numbers with profit, must be manufactured by requfe^to 
 machinery. A capital of ;£2oo would not nearly suffice to pro- stTmpswouU 
 duce the machinery required for either of the two adhesive stamps, protection. 
 and a very much larger capital would be needed for the produc- 
 tion of the stamped covers. Besides ^£'5 offer a temptation to the 
 capitalist of ;^2oo which a penny does not. But objectors still 
 
 urge that the enormous consumption of these stamps will tempt 
 
 the employment of large capital to forge them. Let it be granted 
 
 for the sake of argument, and against all probability, that paper 
 
 makers with their paper mills, engravers with their turning engines, 
 
 printers with their printing machines, and other mechanics will 
 
 league together to forge the stamps. The stamp is made, but how "lering^ '" 
 
 is it to be disposed of? It will be seen that the risks which must si'km'ps. 
 
I20 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Regulations 
 proposed as 
 necessary 
 for the sale. 
 
 Consequent 
 difHculties 
 in selling 
 the stamped 
 cover and 
 adhesive 
 stamps. 
 
 be run, and the obstacles to be surmounted before the stamp can 
 be uttered, constitute in themselves a very great protection. 
 
 XXXII. There are none of the facilities for uttering forged 
 postage stamps which attend bank notes. A postage stamp is to 
 be used once, and then done with. It will not, like a bank note, 
 go out of your possession for a while, and then perhaps return to 
 you ; it will not be taken in exchange from an accidental stranger, 
 but bought at an appointed place, of an appointed person, and for 
 an appointed purpose. 
 
 XXXIII. I propose, for reasons stated fully in another part of 
 this paper, that postage should be collected by means of stamped 
 covers and adhesive stamps, but not by stamped letter paper. 
 
 XXXIV. Certain simple regulations should be established for 
 the sale of these stamps, which would be a great hindrance to the 
 utterance of counterfeits. The stamps should be retailed by all 
 post offices, and the public in general subject to fixed rules. The 
 names and residences of the vendors should be enrolled, and an 
 express license granted for selling postage stamps. The price of 
 the license should be very small, even if sold at all, so as to be no 
 impediment whatever to the sale of the stamps. It should be re- 
 newable at certain periods, like the licenses of appraisers and 
 hawkers, and the vendors should be ordered to expose it publicly 
 in the windows of their shops. Persons selling without a license, 
 to be subject to a penalty. The stock of the licensed vendors 
 would also be subject to unexpected visits and inspections from 
 the Stamp Office authorities. 
 
 XXXV. It cannot be supposed that any one would forge 
 postage stamps for his own exclusive use. If forged at all, they 
 would be forged for general sale. The offer of sale could only 
 be made to the licensed vendors or the postmasters, unless we 
 are to conceive that the forger would prowl about the country 
 like the vendors of smuggled goods, to offer them indiscriminately 
 to the public, in the full knowledge that the very act of doing so, ■ 
 particularly with stamped covers and adhesive stamps, would sub- 
 ject him at once to the suspicion of their forgery. The public 
 sympathy towards smuggled goods would not extend to forged 
 stamps. A purchaser of smuggled silk or tobacco is liable to no 
 detection, which the buyer of a forged stamp would be. 
 
 XXXVI. The stamped cover and adhesive stamp would be 
 
SALE OF FORGED STAMPS DIFFICULT. 121 
 
 wholly manufactured by the Government, consequently the profit Uniform 
 on the sale would be the allowance made to the purchaser of large Postage. 
 quantities. As the allowance would be equal, of course, to all *°- '^^s- 
 purchasers, no one could have an honest motive m offering them Selections, 
 for sale below, or even at the wholesale price. But on the sale of noi appii- 
 stamped paper, if adopted, there would be a joint profit arising ^ped"'' 
 from the Government allowance and the profit on the letter paper ; ''"" p^p"- 
 and this latter profit might induce a plausible competition in the 
 sale of paper ready stamped. The offer to sell stamped covers and Suspicion 
 the adhesive stamps in quantities, would be p7-imd, facie evidence SlrtoseU.' 
 that they were counterfeit ; but in the offer to sell stamped letter 
 paper there would be no such evidence. The price of the adhesive 
 stamp, minus the Government allowance, would always be a fixed 
 price. The wholesale price of the cover would also be fixed, but the 
 price of the stamped sheet of letter paper would not be invariably 
 twopence, or three-halfpence, or any fixed sum. It might be 
 plausibly offered for sale at any price, not less than the penny, 
 without exciting suspicion. It would be reasonable to order the 
 postmaster and the licensed vendor to purchase stamped covers 
 and adhesive stamps only from the Government, and they would 
 not disobey these orders at the risk of losing their offices. But as 
 it is not proposed that the Government should sell stamped letter 
 paper, the small vendors could not procure supplies of stamped 
 paper without being exposed to the liability of purchasing forged 
 stamped paper ? As the forger would never venture to propose 
 the traffic in forged stamped covers and adhesive stamps to the 
 postmasters and licensed vendors, it would therefore only be in the 
 sale of stamped letter paper that he would have any chance of 
 finding a market. 
 
 XXXVII. It may be objected that forged receipt stamps are Difference 
 sold, and even, it is supposed, by the licensed vendors. This may postlVe" 
 be true, yet it is pretty certain that forged postage stamps would tS'rIcei'pt 
 not, because they differ from receipt stamps and bank notes in the ir^aftTto'^'' 
 facility and opportunity they offer of detecting their genuine '°^^°''i^^- 
 character. A receipt stamp is used by private individuals, and 
 never seen by the authorities except by some very rare accident 
 indeed. A bank note circulates for months and years befo're it 
 reverts to the party which issued it. But there are two parties to 
 the use of the postage stamp — the one the private individual, and 
 
UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Pennv 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Postage 
 stamp sub- 
 mitted to 
 official in- 
 spection. 
 
 The security 
 conferred by 
 the letter- 
 writer's name 
 and address. 
 
 Shown by 
 the case of 
 valuable 
 bank notes. 
 
 Enumera- 
 tion of the 
 processes of 
 detection. 
 
 the other the public functionary ; the letter- writer and the Post 
 Office. As soon as the postage stamp leaves the private hand, it 
 undergoes a public examination, even though a hasty one — first by 
 the postmaster who receives it, and next by him who delivers it. 
 Here is a tribunal at which its accuracy will be immediately 
 tested. It is obvious that a forged postage stamp could not re- 
 main undiscovered for a week, after it was issued. 
 
 XXXVIII. The easy and ready means which the postage 
 stamp affords of tracing all the parties through whose hands it 
 may have passed, is another protection against forgery. This 
 circumstance prevents the forgery of bank notes of value. In 
 passing even a £,'^ note, it is customary to endorse it with the 
 name and address of the party who issues it. Few ;^5 notes 
 are forged in consequence, compared with the forgery of ;^i 
 notes, to which the endorsement is not so habitually applied. 
 Thus, although the premium to forge a valuable note is more 
 tempting, yet its forgery is coupled with a larger risk, which pro- 
 tects it. It appears in the Appendix to the Report of the Con- 
 stabulary Force Commissioners, that the number of forged notes 
 (being of £,^ value and upwards) presented at the Bank of 
 England during a period of eight years (from 1830 to 1837, 
 both years inclusive) amounted to no more than 2,873, being an 
 average of only 361 a year. The risk of detection being equal in 
 forging ;^5 notes and penny stamps— in reality the risk with the 
 penny stamp is the greater, and the prizes being so disproportion- 
 able — it certainly seems fair to infer that not 2,873 forgeries of 
 penny stamps will be detected in the same space of time. I beg 
 your lordships to reflect how easily such forgeries may be traced, 
 and detection insured. A forged stamp is discovered at the post 
 office. The letter is stopped and opened, and the writer's name 
 and address is discovered ; or, if there be no address, the letter is 
 delivered, and the receiver tells the name and address of his corre- 
 spondent. That person is required to state where he bought the 
 stamp. Perhaps he has forgotten, or refuses to answer ; in either 
 case, and in the latter especially, he raises suspicions which should 
 place him under surveillance. He would not run the risk of a 
 seconU detection ; but he bought them at such a post office, or of 
 such a licensed vendor. The fact thus brought home would, in 
 that case, be evidence of a guilty collusion, because a forged cover 
 
£ASy DETECTION OF FRAUD. 123 
 
 or label could only have come into the possession referred to in uniform 
 defiance of orders. The little medicine stamps, some of which postage. 
 cost above 2s. and even 4J., oflFer some premium to forge them; %^i^l^^' 
 but the certainty oi tracing the fraud to the guilty party, if the for- Selections, 
 gery be found out, amply protects them and even the common 
 newspaper stamp, though nothing could be easier than the forgery 
 of the latter, so as to baffle official detection. Yet a forgery of the 
 newspaper stamp has never, I believe, been discovered or even 
 suspected, and the medicine stamp has been forged only in Ger- 
 many, where means of printing them exist. It may also be re- 
 marked that a forged /ra«^ is never heard of, although requiring no 
 capital for that purpose, the temptation being not a penny, but a 
 shilling or so ; but the risk is too great. 
 
 XXXIX. In addition to all these safeguards, the number of check of the 
 
 number of 
 
 letters passing through the Post Office, if disproportioned to the letters and 
 
 , , . ., . , , , number of 
 
 issue of the stamps — facts easily ascertained — would at once stamps. 
 awaken suspicion and put the authorities on the watch for 
 offenders. 
 
 XL. To sum up these general remarks on forgery, I submit Summary ot 
 
 arguments. 
 
 that the small temptation, the regulations of sale, the difficulty of 
 uttering, the certainty of official examination, the clue to detec- 
 tion conferred by the address of the letter, and the check of the 
 number of letters passing through the Post Office, present an 
 aggregate of impediments to forgery which would prove so protec- 
 tive as to render the artistical difficulties of the stamp itself, in 
 this case, a matter of little anxiety. To make assurance doubly 
 sure, the stamp itself should present all the difficulties that could 
 be attached to it ; and of what sort these stamps had best be, is 
 the subject I have next to bring to your lordships' notice. 
 
 Construction of the Stamps. 
 
 XLI. The papermakers, engravers, and printers, are the parties introductory 
 chiefly interested in the manufacture of the stamp. In the pro- 
 gress of my inquiries and observations during the last eighteen 
 months on the subject of the stamp, I have found all papermakers 
 say, " There is no security in any stamp ;" and all printers, that 
 " There is no security in any paper." Each individual papermaker, 
 engraver, and printer, equally asseverates that the nostrum for 
 security is known only to him. It would be folly and presumption 
 
 obserrations. 
 
124 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 ..Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 to assert to your lordships, that what one human agency has 
 done cannot be effected by another. " I have not indulged " (to 
 apply the words used in the Report of the Commissioners for the 
 Mode of preventing the Forgery of Bank Notes to the Penny 
 Stamp) " in the vain expectation of finding any plan for a ' penny 
 stamp ' which shall not be imitable by the skill of English artists;" 
 but calling in the aid of the papermaker, the engraver and printer, 
 I believe a sufficient preventive to forgery may be obtained in the 
 stamps, specimens of which I offer to your lordships. At the 
 same time, I shall be glad to have my faith in those proved fal- 
 lible, and to learn that the public can have stamps of a safer 
 description. May I take the liberty of suggesting that these spe- 
 cimens should be submitted to the judgment of a disinterested 
 tribunal of artists, competent to pronounce a verdict. Cheapness 
 is an element in the production of penny stamps which must not 
 be forgotten. It would be preposterous to collect a penny by a 
 stamp which should cost twopence, or even a penny. I have, as 
 I think, a well-grounded belief that nothing so cheap as the 
 stamps I propose, will be found to yield an equal amount of 
 security. 
 
 The Kind of Stamp or Stamps best for use. 
 
 XLII. Three sorts have been spoken of in the Treasury Minute, 
 and have been proposed by Mr. Hill. 
 
 1. Stamps impressed on letter paper furnished by the public. 
 
 2. Labels or adhesive stamps. 
 
 3. Stamped covers. 
 
 Stamps on 
 letter paper. 
 
 Misrepre- 
 sentations of 
 the stationers 
 answered. 
 
 Stamps on Letter Paper. 
 
 XLIII. Besides Mr. Hill, Mr. Wood, the late Chairman of the 
 Board of Stamps, has suggested the use of this sort of stamps. It 
 is with great deference and reluctance that I venture to express 
 an opinion contrary to that of these authorities ; but I confess 
 that stamps on letter paper seem to me to be neither desirable 
 nor necessary. 
 
 XLIV. I do not in the least participate in the grounds of the 
 opposition made by the papermakers and stationers to stamped 
 paper. They have raised a false clamour, that the retail stationers 
 " will be required to sell this stamped paper, which they will be 
 
STAMPS ON LETTER PAPER. 125 
 
 compelled to purchase of a Government office." (See Stationers' Uniform 
 Resolutions, as advertised). " That the trade will be ruined ;" that postage. 
 the sale of the stamped paper "would require a dead capital of p°[Ji^'' 
 ;^5 00,000," &c. I have never heard of any proposal to compel the Selections. 
 purchase or the sale of stamped letter paper. The proposal was 
 to " allow the public to send letter paper " (purchased at any 
 mart) to the Stamp Office, and that those might sell it who 
 pleased. If the public at large should demand and thereby 
 " compel " the stationers to keep stamped paper, it is obvious that 
 the stationers have all the power in their own hands to compel the 
 public to pay for such demand. The assumption that ;^5oo,ooo 
 capital will be wanted at all, is founded on a misrepresentation that 
 stamped paper only, to the exclusion of covers and labels, was to 
 be used as the means of collecting postage. I venture to object 
 to the use of stamped paper, not indeed on grounds like these, 
 but because it appears to me that stamped paper would not be objections 
 sufficiently secure from forgery, and because public convenience siampeX ° 
 does not appear to require it. etter paper. 
 
 XLV. (1°) The security conferred by a peculiar paper is ob- No security 
 viously sacrificed, and its loss will not be compensated by in- i^°Se°pfpra. 
 creased difficulties in the stamp itself, rather the reverse. 
 
 XLVI. (11°) I have already shown that the distribution of the Norestrainu 
 stamped covers and labels through certain authorized channels, 
 and the surveillance to which they may be subjected, constitute 
 very great protection against forgery, by enhancing the risk of de- 
 tection, and bringing it almost to a certainty. The Government 
 will be able to watch all the authorized depots for stamps through- 
 out the kingdom. But these wholesome restraints are given up, 
 if the public at large are at liberty to send letter paper in any 
 quantities to be stamped, and " its distribution left to the ordinary 
 commercial channels, as Mr. Hill proposes." The inspection of a 
 licensed vendor's stock is a proper regulation, and will be cheer- 
 fully submitted to ; but it can never be proposed to watch the 
 premises of all who may choose to possess themselves of quantities 
 of stamped paper, whether it be for sale or not. And yet without 
 some such inspection, nothing will be easier than to mix and sell 
 forged stamps with genuine. 
 
 XLVII. (111°) It is unnecessary to repeat the arguments I have 
 already submitted, on the insecurity arising out of the fluctuations 
 
 on the sale. 
 
126 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 The imi- 
 tability of 
 the stamp 
 likely to be 
 used. 
 
 Why desi- 
 rable to have 
 as few sorts 
 of stamps as 
 
 DiflFerence 
 to the public 
 between the 
 convenience 
 of stamped 
 paper and 
 adhesive 
 stamps ex- 
 amined. 
 
 of price to which the stamped paper (and stamped paper only) 
 may be liable. 
 
 XLVIII. (iv°) The imitability of the stamp itself (from the 
 nature of the stamp which must be used) would be lessened. 
 Damping the letter paper to receive a stamp, and thereby ex- 
 tracting the size would injure it ; therefore it would be necessary 
 to use a dry stamp. As the paper would be sent in small sheets, 
 the only sort of stamp which could be used, compatible with the 
 necessary rapidity, would be an embossing stamp. An emboss- 
 ment can be forged for a few pence, and in a few minutes, and 
 if uncoloured, like the receipt stamps, it would not be conspicuous 
 enough to be identified in the rapidity of sorting at the Post 
 Office. The embossed stamps most secure from imitation are 
 made by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Petch, of Fleet Street ; but 
 want of conspicuousness is also a defect in them as regards this 
 purpose. 
 
 XLIX. It is true that the use of colours with the common em- 
 bossment makes it distinct, and increases the difficulties of imi- 
 tation; but even then, its security is just equal to that of an 
 elaborately engine-turned plate. There is no printing machine in 
 readiness capable of working a stamp on small sheets of letter 
 paper, with sufficient speed. 
 
 L. (v°) The fewer the kind of stamps necessary for public con- 
 venience, the more certain will be both its own and the post- 
 master's judgment of their genuineness, and the greater will be 
 the facility of the latter in detecting counterfeits. 
 
 LI. (vi°) Practically, there will be little, if any, difference in 
 point of cost or convenience to the public, whether it sends 
 sheets of letter paper to be stamped at the Stamp Office, or to be 
 prepared with a small adhesive stamp. A short review of the 
 operations in both cases will make this apparent. A merchant in 
 London (the most convenient place for getting the paper stamped) 
 desires to have each sheet of a ream of particular paper prepared 
 for the post. In the case of the stamped letter paper, a messenger 
 must be sent during particular hours to take the paper to the 
 Stamp Office. Some hours, perhaps a whole day, must elapse be- 
 fore the paper can be returned as stamped. The messenger must 
 attend again at the Stamp Office to fetch it away. In the other 
 case, the merchant buys 500 adhesive stamps (on which, if he 
 
ADHESIVE STAMPS. 127 
 
 buys them at the Stamp Office direct, he will get some discount), Uniform 
 and he employs his clerk to affix them to the paper — a work of postage. 
 three hours— or he sends them to a stationer's to be done. t°' t^^'' 
 
 Part II. 
 
 LII. (vii°) The sacrifice of the security of the paper — the com- Selections, 
 paratively easy imitability of the stamp itself— the absence of Jon^f'L"^- 
 surveillance over the possessor of stamped paper in large quan- ^^^i the 
 titles — the facilities of issuing forgeries — seem to me to counter- "^^ °'^ "• 
 balance the difference in the cost of collecting the postage by 
 means of the stamp on letter paper, and that of the adhesive 
 stamp — the difference being between .012//. and .035^. as esti- 
 mated by Mr. Hill. For these reasons, I respectfully submit to 
 your lordships, that the use of the stamped letter paper is neither 
 necessary nor desirable. 
 
 LIII. (2 & 3.) Adhesive Stamps and Stamped Covers. Adhesive 
 
 stamps 
 
 I presume to recommend to your lordships to adopt both these eovers^"'''^'* 
 means of collecting the postage, and for reasons which I shall class j^™5ij. 
 under the respective heads marked out by the Treasury Minute, 
 viz. : I. The convenience of the public. 2. Security from forgery. 
 3. The facility of being checked and distinguished in the examina- 
 tion at the Post Office. 4. The expense of production and circu- 
 lation of the stamps. 
 
 I. The convenience of the Public. Their re- 
 
 spective con- 
 
 LIV. The use oiboth these stamps seems desirable, because each JhrpuMc.'" 
 has its peculiar advantages, and supplies that which is wanting in Those of the 
 the other. The adhesive stamp is preferable to the stamped cover stamp. 
 in respect of portability — all the conveniences of which it possesses 
 in the highest degree. A thousand postages, in the shape of adhe- 
 sive stamps, may be carried almost imperceptibly in a pocket-book. 
 It will be a traveller's own fault if he do not possess a postage in this 
 shape at all times and ready for every emergency. They may be 
 attached to any letter paper fancied by the letter writers, either 
 with a wafer or washed at the back with glue, which causes them 
 to adhere by means of a very trifling moisture. A very slight wash 
 of glue is shown by the specimens ^ to be sufficient to attach these 
 
 ' The specimens attached to this House, Strand, the site of which is now 
 report were manufactured by Mr. occupied by Rimmel's Perfume Manu- 
 Charles Whiting, printer, of Beaufort factory, and adjoins the new Savoy 
 
128 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Stamps, of whatever thickness of paper they may be made. They 
 may be transmitted direct from the metropolis to every part of the 
 kingdom with which the post communicates. Their extreme light- 
 ness subtracts in a degree scarcely sensible from the authorized 
 scale of weight. Oftentimes the stamped cover would turn the 
 scale when the adhesive stamp would not. Though a letter writer 
 may not possess an adhesive stamp, still he need only make one 
 journey to the post office (which he must make under any circum- 
 stances), because he may purchase the stamp and fasten it at the 
 post office to his letter, already written and directed. If he were 
 restricted to the use of stamped covers, being without one, he must 
 fetch one and enclose his letter in it, or write upon it, because he 
 could not do so at the post office. The post office journal stamp 
 would identify the posting of a letter franked by an adhesive 
 stamp, but not one enclosed in a stamped cover. The adhesive 
 stamp would supply a very convenient medium for the transmis- 
 sion of small sums of money, much wanted and not at present 
 existing. An order for a threepenny pamphlet might thus be 
 
 Theatre. They were printed by what 
 was called "compound printing," ?.^., 
 printing in two colours, blue and red, 
 or black and red, simultaneously and 
 intermixed. Similar stamps may still 
 be seen in use on medicine boxes, such 
 as those containing Cockles' Pills, and 
 on the corks of bottles. They were en- 
 graved with complicated machine pat- 
 terns. I have heard that the process was 
 invented by Sir William Congreve, 
 of Rocket fame, and that his patents 
 descended to Mr. Whiting, who, I 
 believe, married his widow. Mr. 
 Whiting took great trouble about sub- 
 mitting his stamps — and obtained one 
 of the hundred pound prizes, but he 
 was greatly disgusted when he found 
 that the process of steel engraving in- 
 vented by Messrs. Perkins and Bacon 
 was adopted for the postage stamp in- 
 stead of his suggestion. I have quoted 
 {vol. i. p. 60) Rowland Hill's descrip- 
 tion of Perkins' stamp. Mr. Whiting 
 frequently told me that it was he who 
 
 first recommended the issue of his 
 stamps to Mr. Charles Knight, as a 
 method of prepaying the postage of 
 p-inted papers, and that it was Knight 
 who told Rowland Hill ("Life of 
 Sir Rowland Hill," vol. i., p. 218 
 et seq.). The steel engraved stamp 
 first used in 1 840, has now been super- 
 seded by one electrotyped and manu- 
 factured by Messrs. De La Rue. They 
 are printed by the usual typographical 
 process. Chemical science has been ap- 
 plied with advantage to the inks used, 
 and I apprehend it is nearly impossible 
 to clean off the obliterated stamp 
 without detection, and certainly it can- 
 not be profitable to attempt it to any 
 extent. Messrs. De La Rue's stamps 
 are a triumph of science applied to 
 productive industry. I have reason to 
 know that new halfpenny stamps are 
 likely to be of a smaller size than 
 the penny stamps, so that the liability 
 to mistake in the dark will be re- 
 moved. 
 
PARCELS POST. 129 
 
 accompanied, without extra cost, by three adhesive stamps. Their Unifokm 
 
 extreme cheapness of production would enable the Government postage. 
 
 to give the people a pmny postage ; whilst the exclusive use of p^^ jj^'- 
 
 stamped covers would probably make every postage cost from i\d. Selections, 
 to ji^., because no one could expect to receive half a. sheet of 
 paper gratuitously, together with a. penny postage. The ability of 
 always buying a penny adhesive stamp for a penny, would be a 
 wholesome check upon the price of the stamped covers, without 
 which, in remote villages, the price might be extortionate. Lastly, 
 the adhesive stamp would be found more suitable to small and 
 
 large packets than the stamped cover. Illustrations of this, ac- iiiustraiions 
 
 company this letter,' not only to show the convenience of the bienesTI^" 
 
 adhesive stamp, but the practical working of the new system of p^"'"'^; 
 
 • 1 J . . ,.,.., •! . Alterations 
 
 weight, and the great changes which it will necessarily introduce which«/«i-« 
 
 in the mechanism of packing the mail. Every facility should be induce iruhe 
 
 given to the public to employ the Post as much as possible, not j^'" '!'"'. 
 
 only to promote public accommodation, but the interests of the "on "eces- 
 
 postage revenue. The Post will become both a letter and a par- 
 cel Post. The rates of price for the gradations will soon determine 
 the average weight of parcels which the public will find it worth 
 their while to send; and therefore no limitation of weight s&evas 
 necessary which does not already exist, I believe, at pre- 
 sent. The larger the parcel, the greater will be the profit on its 
 conveyance. The Post Office would incur much less trouble in 
 delivering one parcel weighing a thousand half-ounces at one 
 place, than a thousand individual half-ounce letters.^ Even should 
 a maximum of weight be fixed upon, so low as half-a-pound, par- 
 cels of every variety of size and shape will be sent. Samples of 
 all produce — coffee, tea, sugar, spices, indigo, drugs, flax, cotton, 
 silk, seeds, beaver, feathers, minerals, policies of insurance, law 
 papers, proof sheets, &c. The post would be the cheapest con- 
 veyance for many articles of dress, millinery, &c. ; and many a 
 London hat and hat-box will find their way from the metropolis 
 to Inverness, by the mail. 
 
 ' Specimens interesting to any cu- sent restriction as to size and weight 
 rious investigator may be seen in a will be removed, when the Post Office 
 volume of all kinds of experimental undertakes a real Parcel Post in 
 postage papers, which I made. friendly concert with our railways, and 
 
 ^ I may express a hope that the pre- all nations. 
 
 II. K 
 
 sary ? 
 
13° 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 How bulky 
 light parcels 
 are to be 
 dealt with. 
 
 Limited 
 transmission 
 of parcels. 
 
 Change re- 
 quired in the 
 Post O.ffice 
 journal 
 stamp. 
 
 LV. Whilst, on the one hand, it is not fair that the Post Office 
 should be burthened with the additional trouble arising from very 
 bulky light parcels without extra remuneration, so, on the other 
 hand, the public have a right to ask if the Post Office takes its 
 parcels, that they should not be damaged in the conveyance, an 
 accident they would be exposed to. This is a point of detail which 
 the Post Office must be prepared to meet. The accompanying 
 illustrations are of sufficient variety to make it clear that they could 
 not be mingled together without mutual injury. It would not be 
 very easy to fix a limit upon the size of the parcel; and, on the 
 whole, I am inclined to think it would be better not to do so. 
 There would also be a difficulty in assessing postage, according to 
 the bulk of the parcel, even if a power of doing so existed. Per- 
 haps the best way of meeting the case, would be to let the public 
 send what they pleased, and to allow the Post Office to guarantee 
 the safe conveyance of the parcel upon the payment of a small 
 additional charge, proportioned to the bulk, as an insurance from 
 damage. This would pay the Post Office for its additional trouble, 
 and be a satisfactory arrangement for the public, who would have 
 the option of insuring or not. An insured parcel would go safely, 
 an uninsured parcel would take its chance. The result would 
 probably be that all bulky light parcels would afford an increased 
 profit, instead of a loss. 
 
 LVI. Perhaps the best mechanical arrangement for the Post 
 Office, would be to keep parcels of a certain size by themselves : 
 to despatch letters and small parcels (such as would enter a cer- 
 tain uniform sized letter-hole) by every mail (see pp. 84 passim, 
 on Railways), and reserve the bulky parcels for a particular 
 mail. From London, for instance, the rule might be to send all 
 parcels by the morning mails ; at the same time, to meet emer- 
 gencies, large parcels might be carried by the evening mails, upon 
 the payment of an extra charge. The railroads will smooth all 
 difficulties in these arrangements. 
 
 LVII. Prepayment should be compulsory on all parcels of a 
 certain weight and bulk. The Journal Post Office stamp, certify- 
 ing the posting, and obliterating the postage stamp, must not be 
 struck with much force, as it will chance to penetrate into a box 
 of pills or lozenges, and to crush and crack the contents of many 
 parcels. To produce an elastic stamp does not appear to be a 
 matter of much difficulty. 
 
SECURITIES FROM FORGERY. 131 
 
 LVIII. The chief advantage of the stamped cover (and it is a Uniform 
 most important one), arises out of the facility it offers to the poor Postage. 
 man of getting a cheap piece of paper to write his letter on. In p^^j. Jjf ' 
 remote and rural districts this will be a great boon, and will un- Selections. 
 doubtedly exercise some influence on the number of letters written, n^ncw of 
 a consequence valuable to both the revenue and the people. The cw'eS!'' 
 stamped cover enables an advertiser to print his name upon it, and 
 thus secure its use to himself. The adhesive stamp has no such 
 peculiarity. Many witnesses described how circulars like the 
 specimen, would be used. These circulars would be transmitted 
 with a request that it should be returned through the post to the 
 advertiser. 
 
 LIX. The stamped covers being themselves free from liability to 
 forgery^ are a convenience to the public, which may be mentioned 
 in this place. 
 
 2. The Security from Forgery. 
 
 LX. Though there are various peculiarities attending the use of 
 the postage stamp, such as the small temptation which its low 
 intrinsic worth offers, the difficulties of utterance, and the ease of 
 detecting its forgery, still I would employ every mechanical diflfi- 
 culty which its necessary cheapness would admit of. 
 
 LXI. As respects the paper on which it is to be printed, there 
 seems to be strong evidence that a water-marked paper is the best 
 protection. Specimens of all kinds of paper for preventing the 
 forgery of bank notes, some of which I possess, were submitted to 
 the Commissioners for preventing the Forgery of Bank Notes ; but 
 they reported, " with respect to the paper we are of opinion that it 
 will not be advisable to make any alteration in that now used by 
 the Bank ; " in other words, they reported that the water-mark of 
 the bank note was the best protection. It is a fact, which I 
 believe will be confirmed by inquiry, that forged bank notes have 
 never been made on real water-marked paper. I venture, there- 
 fore, to submit to your lordships that a water-marked paper should 
 be used, both for the stamped covers and the adhesive stamps, 
 which I herewith transmit. Each cover and each stamp having 
 the words " Post Office " inserted as a water-mark. I am informed 
 that there are no mechanical difficulties to oppose this propo- 
 sition. 
 
132 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D, 1S39. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 LXII. Two kinds of paper for stamped covers were submitted 
 to the Parliamentary Committee on Postage — one by Mr. Dickin- 
 son, the other by Mr. Stevenson. The peculiarity of Mr. Dickin- 
 son's paper consisted of the insertion of straight lines of silk or 
 thread into the woof of the paper ; that of Mr. Stevenson in the 
 employment of some chemical agent, which prevents the obhtera- 
 tion of any writing upon it, and affords a ready means of testing 
 its genuine character. Mr. Dickinson's idea is an old one. I am 
 in possession of a specimen of paper manufactured many years ago 
 for a bank note, by a person of the name of Hayes, in which, not a 
 single thread, but a complete web, is thrown. There is no secrecy, 
 and, it would seem, no difficulty in making Mr. Dickinson's paper. 
 Mr. Magnay, a large Government paper contractor, says (Evidence 
 11,300) that the imitation of it, by various modes which he de- 
 scribes, " was as easy a thing to be done as could be." Imitations 
 of Mr. Dickinson's paper, deceptive to the touch and sight, maybe 
 made by ruling faint lines, or sticking sheets of paper together. 
 
 LXIII. As respects the handicraft difficulties of making Mr. 
 Dickinson's paper and a water-mark paper, I have not heard a 
 difference of opinion amongst papermakers, who unanimously 
 agree that the water-marked paper presents far greater difficulties 
 than Mr. Dickinson's paper. 
 
 LXIV. The act of making Mr. Dickinson's paper would become 
 an overt offence, if the Government should assume an exclusive 
 right to it ; but though no person could then legally manufacture 
 Mr. Dickinson's paper, any one whatever could, without the least 
 liability to suspicion, rule lines upon paper which would effectually 
 answer in many cases the purposes of forgery. On the other hand, 
 no one could make a water-marked paper but a papermaker who 
 united in his own person the abilities of a mould maker, a vat man, 
 a coucher, and a layer of paper. Assuming such a person to be 
 in existence, he could not insert the words " Post Office " in his 
 paper, without being conscious of the fraud intended. A forger of 
 Post Office stamps need have no accomplice in ruling lines on 
 paper, but must certainly have one or more to obtain a water-marked 
 paper. 
 
 LXV. The merit of Mr. Stevenson's paper consists in the 
 nature of its ingredients being unknown and kept secret. The 
 Commissioners for preventing the Forgery of Bank Notes, " con- 
 
THE ADHESIVE STAMP. 133 
 
 sidered that it would be utterly unsafe to rely for security against Uniform 
 forgery upon the employment of any process, the chief merit of Postagk. 
 which was to consist in its being kept secret " (First Report, p°' '^39- 
 page 3). However, should your lordships not concur with the Selections. 
 Commissioners, there seems to be no reason why the peculiarity 
 of Mr. Stevenson's paper, and that of a water-mark, should not 
 be united. 
 
 The Adhesive Stamp. 
 
 LXVI. I do not consider the security from forgery in this 
 specimen, to rest in any one of its peculiar features, but rather in 
 the combination of them all. The water-mark in the paper, the 
 design of the stamp, its compound printing, and the colours, all 
 these in union appear to me to be a sufficient protection. What- 
 ever number of these stamps may be printed on a single piece of 
 paper, I propose so to join one with the other as to prevent a 
 single stamp from being sufficient to print the whole sheet. If one 
 person attempted to forge this stamp by himself, he must possess 
 an unexampled assemblage of skill and knowledge, in order to 
 make his own paper — to cast and mould the plates, engrave the 
 design, and print it — or have recourse to the assistance of others, 
 to every one of whom the work itself would reveal the fraud. 
 
 LXVII. I have already enumerated the departments of the 
 paper making. In manufacturing the stamp, one person makes 
 the plates, another engine-turns it, a third engraves the lettering, 
 and a fourth prints it, every one of whom would be necessarily an 
 accomplice. 
 
 LXVIII. That a skilful imitation of one stamp could be pro- 
 duced by other means than those which would be required to pro- 
 duce numbers, is not at all disputed. But to print numbers profit- 
 ably, plates like the original must be employed ; and I have reason 
 to believe, that, excepting the recent patentee of compound plates, 
 from whom the specimen has been procured, Mr. Robert Branston, 
 son of the partner of Sir William Congreve, and one or two others, 
 the most eminent engravers in London, there are no other persons 
 throughout the whole kingdom who are as yet accustomed to such 
 work. Plates for one impression would only serve for single im- 
 pressions. The cost of plates for one impression is about ;^io. To 
 make two impressions on the same paper, two more plates would 
 be requisite, three for three, four for four, &c. 
 
134 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 LXIX. Compound printing gives a protection against litho- 
 graphic or zincographic imitations, because, though a design may 
 be most accurately transferred to stone or zinc, it can only be 
 printed in one colour. Precision and rapidity in working compound 
 plates, can only be attained by very peculiar machines, worth from 
 ;2^3oo to ;£^Soo apiece. The Government at the Stamp and Excise 
 Offices, are already in possession of machines of this sort. There 
 are none others in the whole kingdom, except at Beaufort House. 
 The colours, blue and red, are selected because either one destroys 
 the other by accidentally overlaying it, an effect very likely to 
 follow in any clumsy imitation. The only objection to this stamp 
 is its size ; and I had hoped to have laid before your lordships 
 specimens of another stamp only one-fourth of the size of this 
 specimen, but there has been an unavoidable delay in its prepara- 
 tion, and I am unwilling any longer, on the chance of succeeding 
 with the stamp in projection, to postpone the delivery of this 
 statement. Should the stamp be effected in time, and seem to me 
 worthy of your lordships' notice, I shall claim the indulgence of 
 transmitting it. 
 
 LXX. Should the objection of size prevail with your lordships, 
 I still have reason to hope that a stamp on the principle of com- 
 pound printing, much smaller than the present specimen, though 
 not equally secure from forgery, but sufficiently so for its purpose, 
 may be accomplished. 
 
 LXXI. For the sake of simplicity, and to reduce the temptation 
 to forgery, I propose that adhesive stamps of only one sort and one 
 price should be used. 
 
 The Stamped Cover. 
 
 LXXII. The very low price at which the stamped cover may be 
 sold, affords a perfect security from forgery. The accompanying 
 specimen was prepared for the Mercantile Committee on Postage. 
 Messrs. Sylvester, engravers, in the Strand, who supply many 
 country bankers with their notes, report to me that they are unable 
 to get a plate engine-turned precisely in the same manner. 
 
 LXXIII. Mr. Bacon, a high authority on such points, of the 
 firm of Perkins, Bacon, and Fetch, of Fleet Street, informs me that 
 he thinks the work is sufficient to protect a penny stamp ; but Mr. 
 Robert Branston tells me that he can produce such patterns from 
 
STAMPED COVERS. 135 
 
 his engine, though he did not favour me with the sight of any. Mr. Uniform 
 John Thompson, admitted to be (at this time, 1840,) the first wood- Postage. 
 engraver in the world, and for some years employed by the Bank p^^rtii^'" 
 in the prevention of forgeries, thinks that though part of the Selections. 
 pattern might be imitated on wood by the hand, there are other 
 parts upon which he is doubtful whether they could be success- 
 fully done. These inquiries seem to be conclusive of the merits of 
 this stamp, as far as engine-turning is concerned. It is obvious 
 that the larger the space covered by engine-turning of various 
 kinds, the more difficult the imitation is rendered. I should, 
 therefore, propose that, with the adoption of patterns similar to 
 the. specimen, others should be introduced to cover the whole 
 surface, in which case, in order not to conceal the water-mark, 
 I think the centre ought to be left blank. Some engine-turners 
 uphold that an engine-turned pattern which is the result of 
 chance, so that he who executed it could not reproduce it, is 
 a better protection against forgery than patterns like those of 
 the specimen. The objection to chance patterns is their want 
 of distinctness; and though an engine-turner may not be able 
 to produce a perfect facsimile, yet he may so nearly approach 
 it that the want of distinctness confounds the two together. 
 Besides, though perhaps safe against the engine-turner, it is less 
 so against the wood-engraver arid the lithographer, it seems de- 
 sirable that the use of the stamped cover should be limited to 
 letters of the lowest gradation in weight, both for the conve- 
 nience of the postmasters, and for security from forgery. There 
 would be no objection to using papers of different value, all 
 having the water-mark ; so that if one person did not like an 
 envelope at is. 4d. he might go to the price of is. 2d.^ 
 
 3. The Facility of being Checked and Distinguished in the 
 Examination at the Post Office. 
 
 LXXIV. Should both stamped covers and adhesive stamps be 
 used, though a different sort of stamp will be required for each, the 
 postmasters and letter sorters will have to acquaint themselves with 
 only these two kinds of stamps, and their peculiarities will be 
 
 ' After full consideration it was re- experiments, was eventually printed 
 solved to have a work of fine art pre- from the design of Mr. Mulready, R. A. 
 pared, and the envelope, after several (See vol. i., p. 64.) 
 
136 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage, 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 sufficiently obvious at a glance. For example — in the adhesive 
 stamp, the accurate intersections of the work upon the two colours ; 
 in the stamped cover, the reversed epycycloidal patterns, &c. The 
 water-mark in the adhesive stamp, though a guide to the public in 
 purchasing them, will be none to the postmaster, as it becomes 
 hidden by the stamp being affixed to a letter. The water-mark of 
 the stamped cover, will, however, remain visible. The limitation 
 of stamped covers will dispense with a good deal of weighing. All 
 letters above the lowest gradation of weight, should be franked by 
 the adhesive stamp, not, however, to the exclusion of the lowest 
 being franked — one stamp for each gradation, which seems to be 
 the simplest sign that can be used. When attaching more adhe- 
 sive stamps than one, it should be a rule to the public not to dis- 
 sever them from one another, in order that it may be seen they 
 were printed from more than one stamp, and, therefore, most 
 probably genuine. 
 
 Expense 
 of tne pro- 
 duction and 
 circulation 
 of the 
 stamps. 
 Estimate of 
 cost of adhe- 
 sive stamps 
 per j,ooo. 
 
 Price of 
 printing 
 includes the 
 cost of 
 plates. 
 
 Mr. Hill's 
 estimate of 
 the cost of 
 labels per 
 1,000. 
 
 Machines for 
 printing 
 compound 
 plates at 
 present ex- 
 isting. 
 
 4. Expense of the Production and Circulation of the Stamps. 
 LXXV. Estimate of the cost of adhesive stamps per 1,000 stamps. 
 
 Printing ....... 
 
 Paper (a water in each stamp), say 
 Circulation through the post, as estimated by 
 
 Mr. Hill 
 
 Glutinous wash ...... 
 
 Expenses for making up parcels, &c. 
 
 The price of printing includes the cost of producing the plates 
 and keeping them in order. 
 
 LXXVI. Mr. Hill has estimated that 1,000 labels, a trifle less 
 than the specimen, would cost T,\d., which would be nearly the 
 price, if the machines for printing compound plates could print 
 sheets double the size they are able to do. The machines at pre- 
 sent existing, can only print, as I am informed, sheets whose dimen- 
 sions do not exceed fifteen inches by seven and a half. Conse- 
 quently, with a stamp an inch square, or about the size of the 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 2i 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 °* 
 
 
 
 °f 
 
 
 
 i°lr 
 
ESTIMATED COST OF STAMPS. 137 
 
 specimen, not more than sixty stamps could be printed on a sheet uniform 
 at one revolution of the cylinder of the machine. The price of |o"ta^oe. 
 printing is fixed on so much per 1,000 revolutions made by the a°- '839- 
 machine. In case the Stamp Office should be unable to print SeUciions. 
 these stamps, I am informed that the proprietor of the only other ^'?". °^ 
 machines which can print them, would be willing to enter into a estimated 
 
 ° on the num- 
 
 contract, nndmg the plates, and keepmg them in order, to print at terofrevo- 
 
 . *■ lutions made 
 
 the rate of 30X. per 1,000 sheets. The price per sheet is not much by the ma- 
 affected by the number of stamps to be printed on one sheet. 
 
 Consequently, should your lordships prefer a smaller stamp, of sheet lit'ie 
 
 which a sheet would hold 120 or 240 in number, the price ot the'number 
 
 printing would be reduced accordingly. These machines print some- Lch^"'^ ™ 
 
 thing above 700 sheets per hour; the machine working ten hours st^pfpro- 
 
 a day, with sixty stamps on a sheet, would produce in that time fess'cist^' 
 
 420,000 stamps, and 126,000,000 in a year of 300 days; or, with Se'sped-"' 
 
 240 stamps on a sheet, 504,000,000 in a year. The application Estimate of 
 
 of the glutinous wash can be easily and speedily done. Perhaps, rion''o?one" 
 
 as the stamps would be liable to some moisture in their distribu- "o^w^^ 10 
 
 tion, which might cause them to stick together, it might be de- a " nitio?' 
 
 sirable to leave that operation to be done by the post offices and "f thegiuti- 
 
 * ^ *■ nous wash. 
 
 the licensed, vendors. 
 
 Estimate of the Cost of Stamped Covers per 1,000. Estimate of 
 
 the cost of 
 
 LXXVII. The cost of engraving the original plate would be in mJ^re per 
 proportion to the character of the engine-turning upon it. Allow 
 fifty guineas. When done, an unlimited number of stereotypes 
 might be cast from it, not exceeding ten shillings a cast. 
 
 The number of covers which could be printed at one revolution 
 of the machine, determines the cost of printing. At Beaufort 
 House printing-office, where probably the greatest amount of 
 printing engine-turned plates by the letter-press process, is done in 
 the whole kingdom, it is thought that as many as sixteen plates 
 may be printed at one time. 
 
 Good machine printing of books may be done at 10s. per 1,000 
 sheets for long numbers. But as greater care and larger machinery 
 are required to work engine-turned plates, sixteen shillings per 
 1,000 sheets, or for first 1,000 covers, would be a very fair 
 price. 
 
 1,000. 
 
138 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 
 Penny 
 
 Postage. 
 
 A.D. 1839. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 
 Cost of 
 stamped 
 covers per 
 1,000. 
 
 Per I 
 
 ,000 
 
 covers. 
 
 S. 
 
 d. 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 7i 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 °4r 
 
 Printing covers, per 1,000 . . . . . 
 
 Paper for covers per 1,000, each containing a 
 water-mark '...... 
 
 Packing per 1,000 ...... 
 
 For average carriage per 1,000 covers to the dis- 
 tributors, allow ...... 
 
 Add 1,000 pence for the postage, add two per cent- as allowance 
 to the distributor, and the 1,000 stamped covers would be sold by 
 the distributor to the licensed vendor, for jQ/^ ws. o\d. 
 
 LXXVIII. The price of a stamped cover to the public might 
 then be left to be regulated by competition. A stamped cover sold 
 for \\d. (the lowest price) by the licensed vendor to the public, 
 would bring him a profit of about fourteen per cent. 
 
 LXXIX. This proposal somewhat varies from that of Mr. Hill, 
 who thinks it unnecessary to require the stamp distributors to keep 
 the covers. I think they should be so required and that their poundage 
 should be fixed. As in Mr. Hill's proposal, so according to this 
 statement, the Government need be at no cost whatever for col- 
 lecting the postage revenue by means of stamped covers. 
 
 Objections 
 to adhesive 
 stamps and 
 stamped 
 covers an- 
 swered. 
 
 Objections to Adhesive Stamps and Stamped Covers 
 answered. 
 
 LXXX. The subject of stamps would be left incomplete if the 
 objections so publicly and pertinaciously urged against both kinds 
 of them, were left unanswered. And though I cannot believe that 
 these objections have made any deep impression on your lord- 
 ships' minds, it seems to me that some notice should be taken of 
 them. Mr. Dickinson, who aims at furnishing a certain descrip- 
 tion of paper for the stamped covers, which will require a great 
 deal of it, opposes adhesive stamps, which will require a very little 
 of it. The papermakers, who like to regulate their own prices for 
 
 Viz., 1 8 a penny being the mean of an estimate given by M, Magnay. 
 
PAPER-MAKERS' OBJECTIONS. 139 
 
 paper, war against stamped covers, which will be sold as a very uniform 
 cheap paper, beyond their power of controlling the price. postage. 
 
 With your lordships' leave, I will first reply to Mr. Dickinson. ■*•"• '839- 
 " It has been proposed," writes this gentleman, " that if the writer Selections, 
 of a letter were by accident not supplied with a stamp or label, the ^^^a^™'' 
 postmaster might be required, on payment of the postage, to paste j'c'iois- 
 on a post ofSce label, of which he would always be required to 
 keep a stock ;" and to this imaginary proposition, conceived only 
 by Mr. Dickinson, his "serious objection'" is, " that the postmaster 
 might take the money and not affix the stamp or forward the letter.'' 
 It has never been proposed that " the postmaster should be required 
 to paste on the label." The sender of the letter would pay the 
 postage and receive back the label from the postmaster, which 
 the sender himself would affix to the letter. Mr. Dickinson again 
 says, " The friction in carriage and the disfigurement arising from 
 the journal stamp, would prevent the effectual discrimination of 
 their genuineness ;" but he forgets that before the " friction in car- 
 riage " and the " disfigurement " had taken place, " the effectual 
 discrimination of their genuineness " would have been made. The 
 postmaster would not place the journal stamp, and thereby dis- 
 figure the adhesive stamp, until it had appeared to him to be 
 genuine. Mr. Dickinson further says, " But the main objection to 
 these labels is the facility of their forgery," and thus condemns 
 his own paper, because at one time it was proposed to use it for 
 adhesive stamps. Now a small piece of Mr. Dickinson's paper 
 would exhibit its genuineness as well as a large piece. I think I 
 have already shown that there is little danger of forgery (see p. 1 18) 
 in the adhesive stamps. "That country shopkeepers and post- 
 masters would obtain their supplies from illicit sources," and that 
 " the revenue would be defrauded by spurious stamps, without 
 the chance of discovering the fraud," are allegations made by 
 Mr. Dickinson which, I believe, I have anticipated and answered. 
 But, again, he says: "The Stamp Office allowance, added to the 
 cost of stamps, Avould be a charge on the revenue of not much 
 less than five per cent, average, or nearly ;^5o,ooo per annum." 
 This estimate is given on the assumption that the adhesive stamps 
 will be used to the exclusion of all others, an assumption in defi- 
 ance of fact. makers' ob- 
 
 LXXXI. The papermakers object to stamped covers upon pri- iSm^d'° 
 
I40 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 Penny 
 Postage. 
 A.D. 1839. 
 Part 11. 
 Selections. 
 
 vate grounds, because " it creates a monopoly, and gives to one 
 individual, or a limited number of individuals, an unfair advantage 
 over their competitors in trade.'' A monopoly is an advantage to 
 one party at the expense of another party. When stamped covers 
 are bestowed upon the public for posting their letters in, they are 
 not taken from the papermakers or stationers, because these 
 covers are, almost for the first time, called into being for such a 
 purpose. The papermakers hereby actually presume to make a 
 request to the Government that it should abstain from doing 
 something beneficial to the pubHc, which request, if made to any 
 one of their own body, would be jeered at. If Sir James Williams 
 or Mr. Gubbins proposed to sell half-sheets of paper to the public 
 at the rate of twelve or fifteen for a penny (and this is the part of 
 the proposition of stamped covers which constitutes the odious 
 " monopoly "), would Mr. Charles Pearson head a deputation to 
 them, and beseech them not "to create such a monopoly?" Sir 
 James Williams and Mr. Gubbins would answer, "If you are 
 afraid of my making cheap letter paper for the public, I advise you 
 to protect the public from what you call a ' monopoly,' which you 
 can do, if you please, by making a paper cheaper than ours." The 
 papermakers and stationers have long enjoyed "the monopoly" of 
 charging the poor man a penny for each single sheet of paper, and 
 they see the downfall of their " monopoly " in the stamped cover, 
 which the poor man will buy for a farthing — hence their alarm. I 
 venture to hope that your lordships will intimate to the paper- 
 makers who so earnestly oppose this "monopoly,'' that they 
 already have full power to destroy it, by selling half-sheets of 
 paper lower than the stamped covers. There is nothing to prevent 
 them from selling the poor man a whole sheet or two or three half- 
 sheets for a farthing, and thus upset the " monopoly." The poor 
 man's letter of a whole sheet, with an adhesive stamp, will then be 
 cheaper and more tempting to him than a stamped cover.' 
 
 LXXXII. The outcry about "unfair advantage over their 
 competitors in trade,'' can be silenced at once by throwing open 
 the contract for the stamped cover paper to the whole trade. 
 
 ' The absurdity of these fears of 
 monopoly is shown by the facts now 
 existing. I have before me a packet 
 of ' ' Superior Cream-laid Note Paper, " 
 called the " one pound packet, 6|rf. " .' 
 
 It weighs over a pound, and is issued 
 by wholesale stationers with the cover 
 marked with the retailer's name and 
 address ! 
 
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION IN HILL'S PLAN. \^\ 
 LXXXIII. The papermakers and stationers object " on public uniform 
 
 , , ... . . , Penny 
 
 grounds, because it is inconvenient, expensive and unnecessary ; postage. 
 it is inconvenient, for it leaves the consumer subject to the usual *'°' '!.3'' 
 
 ' ■" Part II. 
 
 evils of a monopoly, both as respects quality, price and. supply." Selections. 
 The " quality, price and supply " are to be regulated, not by the 
 monopolist, but by the Government. If the " quality, price and 
 supply " are disliked by the public, they may betake themselves to 
 paper " quality, price and supply " of which, are chiefly regulated by 
 the papermakers. " Expensive, for the duty, which will have to be 
 remitted, will amount to upwards of ;^5o,ooo." The duty will 
 not have to be remitted. 
 
 LXXXIV. Before concluding this long, though still very imper- Conclusion. 
 feet statement, I presume to touch on a point which late experi- 
 ence has taught me ought not to be neglected. I allude to the 
 instruction of the public in the details of the new system. In 
 introducing a great and total novelty like the Penny Postage, large 
 allowances must be made for popular stolidity and prejudices. 
 Notwithstanding all that has been said and written, during the last 
 two years, on this subject, public comments are rarely made that 
 do not betray ignorance or wilful misrepresentation. 
 
 The pains taken to teach the people will assuredly not be thrown instruction 
 
 . ,., _ , , , . of the people 
 
 away. The revenue will speedily show the result. The public in the new 
 must, of necessity, be told of your lordships' decision on the sub- 
 ject of weight, and the particular kind of stamps to be used. 
 Advertisements will not be sufficient. There are hundreds of 
 parishes, in Ireland especially, where a newspaper is never seen. 
 Advertisements, too, avail far less than notices inserted in the 
 body of a newspaper. Imperfect as is the instruction obtained by 
 chance from a newspaper, still, on the whole, whatever may be 
 said to the contrary, the newspaper is the most effective instructor 
 of the people. As newspapers must be used, they had better be 
 used in the best way. The public feeling in behalf of Penny 
 Postage, would not be what it is, if the good offices of the Press 
 had been neglected. When your lordships' decisions are formed, 
 may I respectfully observe, that I think the success of the plan 
 would be highly promoted by distributing a very brief and popular 
 explanation of the rules and regulations of Penny Postage, far and 
 wide, throughout the kingdom. A notice should be publicly ex- 
 hibited at every post office, and distributed by every post office. 
 
 system 
 necessaiy. 
 
142 
 
 UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE. 
 
 Uniform 
 
 Penny 
 
 Postage. 
 
 A.D. ZS39. 
 
 Part II. 
 belections. 
 
 One should be sent to every newspaper in the United Kingdom — 
 to the resident clergymen and churchwardens of every parish — 
 to every commercial association — every poor law union — muni- 
 cipal corporation — and to all mechanics' and literary institutions, 
 Src' When the forms of stamps are settled, specimens of them 
 should also be widely distributed. And the country postmasters, 
 having been instructed themselves by special agents, might be 
 directed to teach the people the use and application of the stamp. 
 A thousand pounds thus spent, would be returned with compound 
 interest. 
 
 LXXXV. Should no loss of revenue accompany this great 
 social improvement — a contingency not altogether improbable, but 
 greatly dependent on its management — the public gratitude, 
 hitherto alloyed with fears of new taxes, will be unmixed, and Her 
 Majesty's Government will have the distinguished honour of 
 giving, both to its own people and to all civilized Europe, the 
 liberty of freely watching the experiment, and cheaply communi- 
 cating with each other — a boon affecting not less the best interests 
 of mankind than the invention of printing. 
 
 I have the honour to be. 
 
 My Lords, &c., 
 
 HENRY COLE. 
 
 The first Lettek-weight made for the Penny Postage. 
 Suggested by H. C. 
 
 A large quantity of these letter-weights were sold, but after a 
 short time they were superseded by scales and movable weights 
 which were supplied to the Post Office. 
 
 ' A million notices of the size of an 8vo page, filled on both sides, would 
 not cost more than ;^20o. 
 
ANTI-CORN LAW LEAGUE. 143 
 
 WORK WITH THE ANTI-CORN LAW LEAGUE, 
 
 Arising out of Uniform Penny Postage. 
 A.D. 1 8 39- 1 840. 
 
 ALTHOUGH unable to join the Anti-Corn Law League Anti-Corm 
 actively, I had the pleasure of dofng service to its organ, t^wk. 
 the " Anti-Corn Law Circular," when first started, and evidence igao-fsAo. 
 of this I feel may be introduced in this volume, because they give i"^' li- 
 the reader some of the earliest illustrations drawn by Thackeray, Thackeray's 
 who, at that time, was aiming to be rather an author than a j""" Anj™^ 
 painter, having lately left Paris, where he had been studying for cS^i^" 
 the Fine Arts. Cobden suggested as a subject, Poles offering bread cobden's 
 on one side of a stream, and people starving on the other ; a demon s»gs=5''ons- 
 in the centre preventing the exchange. I gave the idea to 
 Thackeray, and he returned a sketch which I have now before me, 
 with a letter. " Dear Sir, I shall be glad to do a single drawing, 
 series, or what you will for money, but I think the one you sent 
 me " (I am not sure that it was not Cobden's own, but very rude) 
 " would not be effective enough for the Circular : the figures are Thackeray's 
 too many for so small a sized block, and the meaning mysterious 
 — the river to be a river should occupy a deuce of a space." 
 (Here he introduced aloose sketch.) " Even this fills up your length 
 almost. What do you think of a howling group with this motto, 
 ' Give us our Daily Bread ; ' the words are startling. Of course I 
 will do the proposed design if you wish it.'' The design alluded to 
 was kneeling figures, which was introduced as a heading of the 
 "Anti-Bread Tax Circular," Wednesday, 21st April, 1841. 
 
 Mr. John Morley, in his " Life of Cobden " (p. 214), is not quite 
 accurate in saying : — " Cobden had, at the beginning of the move- 
 ment (the new Corn Law), been very near to securing the services, 
 in the way of pictorial illustration, of a man who afterwards became 
 very famous. This was Thackeray, then only known to a small 
 public as the author of the ' Hoggarty Diamond.' " Thackeray's 
 services were secured, and he made several designs. And then a 
 letter of mine is quoted, in which I wrote to Cobden (22nd June, 
 
144 
 
 ANTI-CORN LAW LEAGUE. 
 
 Anti-Corn 
 
 Law 
 
 League. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1839-1840. 
 Part n. 
 Selections. 
 
 My letter 
 to Cobden. 
 
 New sketch 
 sent. 
 
 Thackeray's 
 writing and 
 drawing. 
 
 1839): — "Some inventor of a new mode of engraving (a Mr. 
 Schonberg, of Hatton Garden), told Mr. Thackeray that it was ap- 
 pHcable to the designs for the Corn Laws. Three drawings of 
 your Anglo-Polish allegory have been made and have failed. So 
 Thackeray has given up the invention, and wood engraving must 
 be used (which was done by Mr. John Thompson). This will 
 materially alter the expense. . . I hope you will think as well of 
 the accompanying sketch — very rough, of course — as all I have 
 shown it to, do. It was the work of only a few minutes, and I 
 think, with its corpses, gibbet, and flying carrion crow, is as sug- 
 gestive as you can wish. We both thought that a common soldier 
 would be better understood than any more allegorical figure. It 
 is only in part an adaptation of your idea, but I think a successful 
 one. Figures representing eagerness of exchange, a half-clothed 
 Pole offering bread, and a weaver, manufactures, would be idea 
 enough for a design alone. Of course there may be any changes 
 you please in this present design. I think for the multitude it 
 would be well to have the ideas very simple and intelligible to all. 
 The artist is a genius, both with his pencil and his pen. His vo- 
 cation is literary. He is full of humour and feeling. Hitherto he 
 has not had occasion to think much on the subject of Corn Laws, 
 and therefore wants the stuff to work upon. He would like to 
 combine both writing and drawing when sufficiently primed, and 
 then he would write and illustrate ballads, or tales, or anything. 
 I think you would find him a most effective auxiliary, and perhaps 
 the best way to fill him with matter for illustrations, would be to 
 invite him to see the weavers, their mills, shuttles, et cetera. If you 
 like the sketch, perhaps you will return it to me, and I will put it 
 in the way of being engraved. He will set about Lord Ashley 
 (now Earl of Shaftesbury,) when we have heard your opinion of the 
 present sketch. Thackeray is the writer of an article in the last 
 number of the ' Westminster Review ' on French caricatures, and 
 many other things. For some time he managed the " Constitu- 
 tional " newspaper. He is a college friend of Charles Buller. We 
 think the idea of an ornamental emblematical reading of the Cir- 
 cular good. The lower class of readers do not hke to have to cut 
 the leaves of a paper. Another, but a smaller class, like a small- 
 sized page, because it is more convenient for binding. Corn 
 Law readers lie, I suppose, chiefly among the former. Will you 
 
THACKERATS ANTI-CORN LAW CUTS. 145 
 
 Anti-Corn 
 Law Cuts. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1839-1840. 
 Part II. 
 Selections- 
 
 Designs suggested by Richard Cobden, drawn by William M. Thackeray. 
 II. L 
 
146 
 
 ANTI-CORN LAW LEAGUE. 
 
 Anti-Corn 
 Law 
 
 League. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1839-1840. 
 
 PartIL 
 Selections. 
 
 Circular to 
 Carlyle. 
 
 Letter of 
 Thackeray. 
 
 Cobden on 
 Com Laws, 
 Railroads, 
 and Penny 
 Postage. 
 
 send your circular to Thomas Carlyle, Cheyne Street, Chelsea ? 
 He was quoted in last week's Circular, and is making studies into 
 the condition of the working class." 
 
 The trials alluded to were thus related in an undated letter from 
 Thackeray to me : — " My dear Sir, — I am very sorry to tell you of 
 my misfortunes. I have made three etchings on the Schonberg 
 plan, of the Anglo-Polish Allegory ; and they have all failed : that is, 
 Schonberg considers they are not fit for his process ; that is, I fear 
 the process will not succeed yet. I shall, however, do the draw- 
 ing to-morrow on a wood-block, and will send it you sans faute: 
 unless I hear from you that you are not inclined to deal with a 
 person who has caused so much delay. Yours ever, (signed) 
 W. M. Thackeray." The first woodcut of the " Poles offering 
 Corn," No. i, is now republished as well as a second woodcut, 
 "The Choice of a Loaf," No. 2': (see page 145). 
 
 I cannot leave this subject without reprinting an extract from a 
 letter to George Combe, in which I entirely sympathize, which Mr. 
 Morley quotes in his most interesting " Life of Cobden." " It is be- 
 cause I do believe that the principle of Free Trade is calculated to 
 alter the relations of the world for the better, in a moral point of view, 
 that I bless God I have been allowed to take a prominent part in its 
 advocacy. Still, do not let us be too gloomy. If we can keep the 
 world from adtual war, and I trust railroads, steamboats, cheap pos- 
 tage, and our own example in Free Trade will do that, a great impulse 
 will from this time be given to social reforms. The public mind is in 
 a practical mood, and it will now precipitate itself upon education, 
 temperance, reform of criminals, care of physical health, &c., with 
 greater zeal than ever" (p. 411). And I fully agree in the 
 opinion expressed by a colleague of Sir Robert Peel's, who, Mr. 
 Morley says, " had unrivalled opportunities of seeing great public 
 personages." Cobden was the most laboriously conscientious 
 man he had ever known, and that " allowing for differences in grasp 
 and experience, the Prince Consort was in this respect of the 
 same type." 
 
 ' These cuts were first printed in 
 the "Anti-Corn Law Circular," No. 8, 
 23rd July, 1839, and the second in No. 
 18, loth Dec, 1839. They were not 
 republished in the volume of Thacke- 
 
 ray's drawings. The name was al- 
 tered to " Anti-Bread Tax Circular " 
 on2ist April, 1841. These engravings 
 are rare, but can be seen in the British 
 Museum. 
 

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BREAK OF GAUGE AT GLOUCESTER. 
 
 149 
 
 „ Unifoe- 
 
 5 . MITY OF 
 
 J "o Gauge. 
 
 5 !> A.D. 184s- 
 
 «- 1849. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 
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 RAILWAYS ANDIDOCKS. 
 
 Unifor- 
 mity OF 
 Gauge. 
 A.D. 1846. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 UNIFORMITY OF GAUGE. 
 
 (See par. VII., page 82, Vol. I.) 
 
 JEAMES ON THE GAUGE QUESTION. 
 "Punch;' vol. X., No. 253, 16 May, 1846. 
 
 MR. PUNCH has received from tha't eminent railroad autho- 
 rity, Mr. Jeames Plush, the following letter, which bears 
 most pathetically upon the present Gauge dispute : — 
 
 "You will scarcely praps reckonize 
 in this little skitch the haltered lini- 
 mints of i, with woos face the reders 
 of your valluble mislny were once 
 fimiliar, — the unfortnt Jeames de la 
 Pluche, fomly so selabrated in the 
 fashnabble suckles, now the pore 
 Jeames Plush, landlord of the Wheel 
 of Fortune public house. Yes, that 
 is me ; that is my haypun which I 
 wear as becomes a publican — those 
 is the checkers which homyment the 
 pillows of my dor. I am like the 
 Romin Genral, St. Cenatus, equal to 
 any emudgency of Fortun. I, who 
 have drunk Shampang in my time, 
 
 . _,^ aint now abov droring a \ pint of 
 
 / ^^___^^\ Small Bier. As for my wife — that 
 
 Angel — I've not ventured to depigt 
 her. Fansy her a sittn in the Bar, smilin like a sunflower — and, 
 ho, dear ' Punch ! ' happy in nussing a deer little darlint totsy- 
 wotsy of a Jeames, with my air to a curl, and my i's to a T ! 
 
 " I never thought I should have been injuiced to write anything 
 but a Bill agin, much less to edress you on Railway Subjix — which 
 with all my sole I abaw. Railway letters, obbligations to pay hup, 
 ginteal inquirys as to my Salissator's name, &c. &c., I dispize and 
 scorn artily. But as a man, an usbnd, a father, and a freebon Brittn, 
 
BREAK OF GAUGE. 151 
 
 my jewty compels me to come forwoods, and igspress my opinion Unifor- 
 upon that nashnal newsance — the Break of Gage. Gauge. 
 
 " An interesting ewent in a noble family with which I once very p^j Jj^^' 
 nearly had the honer of being kinected, ocurd a few weex sins, Selections. 
 
 when the Lady Angelina S , daughter of the Earl of 
 
 B cres, presented the gallant Capting, her usband, with a 
 
 Son & hair. Nothink would satasfy her Ladyship but that her 
 old and atacht famdy-shamber, my wife Mary Hann Plush, should 
 
 be presnt upon this hospicious occasion. Capting S was 
 
 not jellus of me on account of my former attachment to his Lady. 
 I cunsented that my Mary Hann should attend her, and me, my 
 wife, and our dear babby acawdingly set out for our noable frend's 
 residence. Honeymoon Lodge, near Cheltenham. 
 
 " Sick of all Railroads myself, I wisht to poast it in a Chay and 
 4, but Mary Hann, with the hobstenacy of her Sex, was bent upon 
 Railroad travelling, and I yealded, like all husbinds. We set out 
 by the Great Westn, in an eavle Hour. 
 
 "We didnt take much luggitch — my wife's things in the ushal 
 bandboxes — mine in a potmancho. Our dear little James Angelo's 
 (called so in complament to his noble Godmamma) craddle, and 
 a small supply of a few 100 weight of Topsanbawtems, Farinashious 
 food, and Lady's fingers, for that dear child who is now 6 months 
 old, with a^perdidgus appatite. Likewise we were charged with a 
 bran new Medsan chest for my lady, from Skivary & Moris, con- 
 taining enough rewbub, Daffy's Alixir, Godfrey's, with a few score 
 of parsles for Lady Hangelina's family and owsehold. About 2000 
 spessymins of Babby linning from Mrs. Flummary's, in Regent 
 Street, a Chayny Cresning bowl from old Lady Bareacres (big 
 enough to immus a Halderman), & a case marked ' Glass,' from 
 her ladyship's meddicle man, which were stowed away together ; 
 had to this an ormylew Cradle, with rose-coloured Satting & Pink 
 lace hangings, held up by a gold tuttle-dove, &c. We had, in- 
 gluding James Hangelo's rattle & my umbrellow, 73 packidges 
 in all. 
 
 " We got on very well as far as Swindon, where, in the Splendid 
 Refreshment room, there was a galaxy of lovely gals in cottn velvet 
 spencers, who serves out the soop, and i of whom maid an im- 
 presshn upon this Art which I shoodn't like Mary Hann to know 
 — and here, to our infanit disgust, we changed carridges. I forgot 
 
1 52 RAILWAYS AND DOCKS. 
 
 Unifor- to say that we were in the secknd class, having with us James 
 
 Gauge. Hangelo, and 23 other light harticles. 
 
 A.D. 1846. (1 j-^gj. inconveniance ; and almost as bad as break of gage. I 
 
 Selections, cast my hi upon the gal in cottn velvet, and wanted some soop, of 
 coarse ; but seasing up James Hangelo (who was layin his dear 
 little pors on an Am Sangwidg) and seeing my igspresshn of hi — 
 ' James,' says Mary Hann, ' instead of looking at that young lady 
 — and not so very young, neither — be pleased to look to our pack- 
 idges, & place them, in the other carridge.' I did so with an evy 
 Art. I eranged them 23 articles in the opsit carridg, only missing 
 my umbrella & baby's rattle ; and jest as I came back for my baysn 
 of soop, the beast of a bell rings, the whizzling injians proclayms 
 the time of our departure, — & farewell soop and cottn velvet. 
 Mary Hann was sulky. She said it was my losing the umbrella. 
 If it had been a cotton velvet umberella I could have understood. 
 James Hangelo sittn on my knee was evidently unwell ; without 
 his coral : & for 20 miles that blessid babby kep up a rawring, 
 which caused all the passingers to simpithize with him igseed- 
 ingly. 
 
 "We arrive at Gloster, and there fansy my disgust at bein 
 ableeged to undergo another change of carriages ! Fansy me 
 holding up moughs, tippits, cloaks, and baskits, and James Han- 
 gelo rawring still like mad, and pretending to shuperintend the 
 carrying over of our luggage from the broad gage to the narrow 
 gage. ' Mary Hann,' says I, rot to desperation, ' I shall throttle 
 this darling if he goes on.' ' Do,' says she — ' and go into the re- 
 freshment room,' says she — a snatchin the babby out of my arms. 
 ' Do go,' says she, ' youre not fit to look after luggage,' and she 
 began lulling James Hangelo to sleep with one hi, while she looked 
 after the packets with the other. ' Now, Sir ! if you please, mind 
 that packet ! — pretty darling — easy with that box. Sir, its glass — 
 pooooty poppet — where's the deal case, marked arrowroot. No. 24?' 
 she cried, reading out of a list she had. — And poor little James 
 went to sleep. The porters were bundling and carting the various 
 harticles with no more ceremony than if each package had been of 
 cannon-ball. 
 
 "At last — bang goes a package marked ' Glass,' and containing 
 the Chayny bowl and Lady Bareacres' mixture, into a large white 
 bandbox, with a crash and a smash. ' It's My Lady's box from 
 
BREAK OF GAUGE. 153 
 
 Crinoline's !' cries Mary Hannj and she puts down the child on uhifor- 
 the bench, and rushes forward to inspect the dammidge. You Gauge. 
 could hear the chayny bowls clinking inside ; and Lady B.'s mix- p°' j^''^' 
 ture (which had the igsack smell of cherry brandy) was dribbling Selections. 
 out over the smashed bandbox containing a white child's cloak, 
 trimmed with Blown lace and lined with white satting. 
 
 "As James was asleep, and I was by this time uncommon 
 hungry, I thought I would go into the Refreshment Room and just 
 take a Uttle soup ; so I wrapped him up in his cloak and laid him 
 by his mamma, and went off. There's not near such good attend- 
 ance as at Swindon. 
 
 # * # # # 
 
 " We took our places in the carriage in the dark, both of us 
 covered with a pile of packages, and Mary Hann so sulky that she 
 would not speak for some minutes. At last she spoke out — 
 
 " ' Have you all the small parcels ? ' 
 
 " ' Twenty-three in all,' says I. 
 
 " ' Then give me baby.' 
 
 " ' Give you what ? ' says I. 
 
 "'Give me baby.' 
 
 " ' What haven't y-y-yoooo got him ? ' says I. 
 
 ***** 
 
 " O Mussy ! You should have heard her sreak ! Widleft him 
 on the ledge at Gloster. 
 
 " It all came of the break of gage." 
 
 MR. JEAMES AGAIN. 
 "Punch" vol. X., No. 257, \ljune, 1846. 
 
 "Dear Mr. Punch, 
 
 AS newmarus inquiries have been maid both at my privit 
 ressddence, The Wheel of Fortune Otel, and at your Hoffis, 
 regarding the fate of that dear babby, James Hangelo, whose 
 primmiture dissapearnts caused such hagnies to his distracted 
 parents, I must begg, dear Sir, the permission to ockupy a part of 
 
154 
 
 RAILWAYS AND DOCKS. 
 
 Unifor- 
 mity OF 
 Gauge. 
 A.D. 1846. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 your valuble coUams once more, and hease the public mind about 
 my blessid boy. 
 
 " Wictims of that nashnal cuss, the Broken Gage, me and Mrs. 
 Plush was left in the train to Cheltenham, soughring from that 
 most disagreeble of complaints, a halmost broken Art. The skreems 
 of Mrs. Jeames might be said almost to out-Y the squeel of the 
 dying, as we rusht into that fashnable Spaw, and my pore Mary 
 Hann found it was not Baby, but Bundles I had in my lapp. 
 
 "When the old Dowidger, Lady Bareacres, who was waiting 
 heagerly at the train, that owing to that abawminable brake of 
 Gage, the luggitch, her Ladyship's Cherrybrandy box, the cradle 
 for Lady Hangelina's baby, the lace, crockary and chany, was re- 
 juiced to one immortial smash ; the old cat howld at me and pore 
 dear Mary Hann, as if it was huss, and not the infunnle Brake of 
 Gage, was to blame ; and as if we ad no misfortns of our hown to 
 deplaw. She bust out about my stupid imparence ; called Mary 
 Hann a good for nothink creecher, and wep and abewsd and took 
 on about her broken Chayny Bowl, a great deal mor than she did 
 about a dear little Christian child. ' Don't talk to me abowt your 
 bratt of a babby,' (seshe); 'where's my bowl? — where's my 
 medsan ? — ^where's my bewtiffle Pint lace ? — All in rewins through 
 your stupiddaty, you brute, you ! ' 
 
 " ' Bring your haction aginst the Great Western, Maam, says I,' 
 quite riled by this crewel and unfealing hold wixen. ' Ask the 
 pawters at Gloster, why your goods is spiled — it's not the fust 
 time they've been asked the question. Git the gage haltered aginst 
 the nex time you send for medsan — and meanwild buy some at the 
 Plow — they keep it very good and strong there, I'll be bound. 
 Has for us, wdre a going back to the cussid station at Gloster, in 
 such of our blessid child.' 
 
 " ' You don't mean to say, young woman,' seshee, ' that you're 
 not going to Lady Hangelina : what's her dear boy to do ? who's 
 to nuss it ? ' 
 
 " ' You nuss it, Maam,' says I. ' Me and Mary Hann return 
 this momint by the Fly.' And so (whishing her a suckastic ajew) 
 Mrs. Jeames and I lep into a one oss weakle, and told the driver 
 to go like mad back to Gloster. 
 
 " I can't describe my pore gals hagny juring our ride. She sat 
 in the carridge as silent as a milestone, and as madd as a march 
 
BREAK OF GAUGE. 155 
 
 Air. When we got to Gloster she sprang hout of it as wild as a unifor- 
 Tigris, and rusht to the station, up to the fatle Bench. ^l^r^. 
 
 " ' My child, my child,' shreex she, in a hoss, hot voice. 'Where's p°" 'j'**- 
 my infant ? a little bewtifle child, with blue eyes, — dear Mr. Police- Selections, 
 man, give it me — a thousand guineas for it.' 
 
 " ' Faix, Mam,' says the man, a Hirishman, ' and the diwle a 
 babby have I seen this day except thirteen of my own — and you're 
 welcome to any one of them, and kindly.' 
 
 " As if his babby was equal to ours, as my darling Mary Hann 
 said, afterwards. All the station was scrouging round us by this 
 time — pawters & clarx and refreshmint people and all. What's 
 this year row about that there babby?' at last says the Inspector, 
 stepping hup. I thought my wife was going to jump into his 
 harms. ' Have you got him ? ' says she. 
 
 " ' Was it a child in a blue cloak ? ' says he. 
 
 " ' And blue eyes ! ' says my wife. 
 
 " ' I put a label on him and sent him on to Bristol ; he's there 
 by this time. The Guard of the Mail took him and put him in a 
 letter-box,' says he : 'he went 20 minutes ago. We found him on 
 the broad gauge line, and sent him on by it, in course,' says he. 
 • And it'll be a caution to you, young woman, for the future, to 
 label your children along with the rest of your luggage.' 
 
 " If my piguniary means had been such as once they was, you 
 may emadgine I'd have ad a speshle train and been hoff like 
 smoak. As it was, we was obliged to wait 4 mortial hours 
 for the next train (4 ears they seemed to us), and then away we 
 went. 
 
 " ' My boy ! my little boy ! ' says poor, choking Mary Hann, 
 when we got there. ' A parcel in a blue cloak,' says the man ? 
 ' No body claimed him here, and so we sent him back by the mail. 
 An Irish nurse here gave him some supper, and he's at Padding- 
 ton by this time. Yes,' says he, looking at the clock, ' he's been 
 there these ten minutes.' 
 
 " But seeing my poor wife's distracted histarricle state, this good- 
 naturd man says, ' I think, my dear, there's a way to ease your 
 mind. We'll know in five minutes how he is.' 
 
 " 'Sir,' says she, ' don't make sport of me.' 
 
 " ' No, my dear, we'll telegraph him.' 
 
 " And he began hopparating on that singlar and ingenus eleck- 
 
156 
 
 RAILWAYS AND DOCKS. 
 
 Unifor- 
 mity OF 
 Gauge. 
 A.U. 1S46. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 tricle inwention, which aniliates time, and carries intellagence in 
 
 the twinkling of a peg-post. 
 
 " ' I'll ask,' says he, ' for child marked G. W. 273.' 
 
 " Back comes the telegraph with the sign ' All right.' 
 
 " ' Ask what he's doing, sir,' says my wife, quite amazed. Back 
 
 comes the answer in a Jifiy — 
 « ' C.R.Y.I.N.G.' 
 
 " This caused all the bystanders to laugh excep my pore Mary 
 Hann, who puU'd a very sad face. 
 
 " ' The good-naterd feller presently said, ' he'd have another 
 trile;' and what d'ye think was the answer? I'm blest if it 
 wasn't — 
 
 " ' P.A.P.' 
 
BREAK OF GAUGE. 157 
 
 "He was eating pap! There's for you — there's a rogue for unifor- 
 you — there's a March of Intaleck ! Mary Hann smiled now for g^uge.'' 
 the fust time. ' He'll sleep now,' says she. And she sat down *°- '^**- 
 
 . , . „ , r > / Part II. 
 
 with a full hart. Selections. 
 
 " If hever that good-natered Shooperintendent comes to London, 
 he need never ask for his skore at the Wheel of Fortune Hotel, 
 I promise you — where me and my wife and James Hangelo 
 now is ; and where only yesterday, a gent came in and drew this 
 pictur of us in our bar. 
 
 " And if they go on breaking gages ; and if the child, the most 
 precious luggidge of the Henglishman, is to be bundled about 
 in this year way, why it won't be for want of warning, both 
 from Professor Harris, the Commission, and from 
 
 " My dear Mr. Punch's obeajent servant, 
 
 "Jeames Plush." 
 
 A List of Books, Maps, &c., illustrative of Lincolnshire geimsby 
 AND THE Route to Great Grimsby, &c. Collected on the a.d. 1849. 
 occasion of Prince Albert's visit to Great Grimsby, and g|^'^y;„s 
 arranged in the Prince's saloon for consultation during the 
 journey. (See par. XVII., p. 93, Vol. I.) 
 
 1. Britton's Lincoln Cathedral, with Wild's plates. 
 
 2. Britton's Peterborough Cathedral. 
 
 3. Sir Charles Anderson's Guide to the County of Lincoln. 
 
 4. Plan of the City of Lincoln. 
 
 5. Plan of Roman Lincoln. 
 
 6. Geological Map. 
 
 7. Case of Geological and Fossil Specimens. 
 
 8. Copies of Sidney's Agriculture and Railways. 
 
 g. Copies of Railway Charts to Rugby and Cambridge. (The 
 latter superfluous, as no part of Eastern Counties is used on this 
 occasion.) 
 
 10. Account of Grimsby Docks printed on Vellum. 
 
 11. Plan of the Docks prepared by Mr. Rendel. 
 
iS8 
 
 RAILWAYS AND DOCKS. 
 
 Grimsby 
 Docks. 
 
 A.D. 1849. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 
 ORDER OF THE CEREMONIES 
 
 FOR LAYING THE 
 
 FIRST STONE OF GREAT GRIMSBY DOCKS, 
 
 BY 
 
 HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE ALBERT, 
 On Wednesday, iSiA April, 1849. 
 
 The Corporation of Great Grimsby will present an Address to 
 
 the Prince at Great Grimsby Station. 
 
 A Procession will be formed of a train of carriages to convey the 
 
 Prince, the Directors and Officers of the Dock Company, 
 
 the Corporation of Great Grimsby, the Visitors 
 
 at Brocklesby, and Military Band, 
 
 to the Docks. 
 
 Upon arrival at the Entrance of the Dock Works, the Prince's 
 
 Carriage will stop immediately in sight of the Vista of 
 
 Masonry. The Engine will be dismissed, and 
 
 the train drawn along the Works by fifty 
 
 of the " Navvies " of the Docks. 
 (Salutes to be fired upon entering the Works.) 
 
 The Procession will proceed along the Outer Line of Railway, in 
 
 sight of the Fleet under the command of Admiral Elliott, 
 
 C.B., and of the Dock Works. 
 
 Upon arriving at the Amphitheatre, the Prince, &c., will alight 
 
 from the carriages, and the procession will proceed 
 
 down the centre of the Amphitheatre 
 
 to the first stone. 
 
 {Salutes to be fired upon arrival at the first stone.) 
 
 The Ceremonies at the First Stone will be as follows : — 
 
 All the military bands will play the National Anthem. 
 
 The Secretary of the Company, Colonel Humfrey, will take charge 
 
 of the Inscription, or Depositum Plate ; Mr. Fowler, of the 
 
 Glass Vessel to hold the Coins ; Mr. Cole, of the Purse 
 
 and Coins ; Mr. Adam Smith, of the Trowel ; 
 
 Mr. Rendel, of the Plan of the Docks. 
 
 H.R.H. Prince Albert will place the Coins in the Glass 
 
 Vessel, and close the stopper. 
 
FIRST STONE OF GRIMSBY DOCKS. 159 
 
 The Earl of Yarborough will hand the Trowel to the Prince and ghimsbt 
 state the object of the Works. j^.n. 1849. 
 
 The Prince will lay the Stone and place the Glass Vessel J^' ^■ 
 
 •' ■*■ Selections. 
 
 in the place of deposit. 
 
 Mr. Rendel will read the following Inscription : — 
 
 "The first Stone of the Great Grimsby Docks was laid by H.R.H. Prince 
 
 Albert on the i8th day of April, in the Year of our Lord 1849, and 
 
 in the twelfth year of the reign of Her Majesty 
 
 Queen Victoria." 
 
 May God protect these Docks ! 
 
 Prayer by the Bishop of Lincoln. 
 
 The Bands will play the National Anthem. 
 
 {Salutes to be fired.) 
 
 The Procession will form and conduct the Prince to his tent. 
 
 The Company having tickets will take their seats in the Pavilion. 
 
 The Prince will enter the Pavilion when the Company is 
 
 seated. 
 
 At the appointed time the Prince will leave the Pavilion and 
 
 return by the same train, drawn by the Navvies. 
 
 The Bands will play " Rule Britannia." 
 
 {Salutes to be fired.) 
 
 (See par. XVII., p. 93, Vol. I.) 
 
WORK WITH TECHNICAL ARTS AND 
 ART MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Technical 
 Arts and 
 Art Manu- 
 factures. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1841-1849. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Announce- 
 ment of the 
 Home 
 Treasury. 
 
 FELIX SUMMERLY'S HOME TREASURY OF BOOKS, 
 PICTURES, TOYS, ETC., 
 
 EDITED BY FELIX SUMMERLY. 
 
 Purposed to cultivate tJie Affections, Fancy, Imagination, and 
 Taste of Children. 
 
 (See par. IV. page loi, Vol. I.) 
 
 Original Announcement of the Home Treasury. 
 
 THE character of most Children's Books published during the 
 last quarter of a century, is fairly typified in the name of 
 Peter Parley, which the writers of some hundreds of them have 
 assumed. The books themselves have been addressed after a 
 narrow fashion, almost entirely to the cultivation of the understand- 
 ing of children. The many tales sung or said from time imme- 
 morial, which appealed to the other, and certainly not less impor- 
 tant elements of a little child's mind, its fancy, imagination, 
 sympathies, affections, are almost all gone out of memory, and are 
 scarcely to be obtained. Little Red Riding Hood, and other fairy 
 tales hallowed to children's use, are now turned into ribaldry as 
 satires for men ; as for the creation of a new fairy tale or touching 
 ballad, such a thing is unheard of. That the influence of all this 
 is hurtful to children, the conductor of this series firmly believes. 
 He has practical experience of it every day in his own family, and 
 he doubts not that there are many others who entertain the same 
 
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HOME TREASURY BOOKS. i6i 
 
 opinions as himself. He purposes at least to give- some evidence Technical 
 
 ^Vrts and 
 
 of his belief, and to produce a series of Works, the character of Aht Manu- 
 which may be briefly described as anti-Peter Parleyism. ^.d. 
 
 Some will be new Works, some new combinations of old ma- '^41-1849. 
 terials, and some reprints carefully cleared of impurities, without Selections, 
 deterioration to the points of the story. All will be illustrated, 
 but not after the usual fashion of children's books, in which it 
 seems to be assumed that the lowest kind of art is good enough to 
 give first impressions to a child. In the present series, though the 
 statement may perhaps excite a smile, the illustrations will be 
 selected from the works of Raffaelle, Titian, Hans Holbein, and 
 other old masters. Some of the best modern Artists have kindly 
 promised their aid in creating a taste for beauty in little children. 
 
 In addition to the printed Works, some few Toys of a novel sort, 
 calculated to promote the same object, will from time to time be 
 published. 
 
 The works published were : — 
 
 1. Holbein's Bible Events. First Series, 8 Pictures. Coloured, List of 
 4J. 6d. These were coloured by Mr. Linnell's sons. Home 
 
 2. Raffaelle's Bible Events. Second Series. 6 Pictures from '■'^"■^• 
 the Loggie. Coloured, 5^. (>d. Drawn on stone by Mr. Linnell's 
 children and coloured by them. 
 
 3. Albert Durer's Bible Events. Third Series. 6 Pictures from 
 Durer's " Small Passion." Coloured by the brothers Linnell. 
 
 4. Traditional Nursery Songs. 8 Pictures. 2s. 6d. Coloured, 
 45. 6d. Designed : " The Beggars coming to Town," by C. W. 
 Cope, R.A. ; " By, O my Baby ! '[ by R. Redgrave, R.A. ; " King 
 in the Counting House," by J. C. Horsley, R.A. j " Mother Hub- 
 bard," by T. Webster, R. A. ; "1,2,3, 4, S" " Sleepy Head," " Up 
 in a Basket," " Cat asleep by the Fire" (all four by John Linnell). 
 
 5. The Ballad of Sir Hornbook. Written by Thos. Love 
 Peacock, with 8 Pictures by H. Corbould. Coloured, 4?. 6d. 
 
 6. Chevy Chase. The Two Ballads with Notes and Music. 4 
 Pictures by Frederick Tayler, President of the Water Colour 
 Society. Coloured, 4^. 6d. 
 
 7. Puck's Reports to Oberon. Four New Faery Tales. The 
 Sisters. Golden Locks. Grumble and Cheery. Arts and Arms. 
 Written by C. A. Cole. With 6 Pictures by H. J. Townsend. 
 Coloured, 4^. 6d. 
 
 II. M 
 
i62 HOME TREASURY BOOKS, ETC. 
 
 Technical 8. Little Red Riding Hood. With 4 Pictures by Thos. Webster; 
 
 Arts and „ , , - , 
 
 Art Manu- Loloured, 3^. od. 
 
 KACTURES 
 
 A.D. 9- Beauty and the Beast. With 4 Pictures by J. C. Horsley, 
 
 piVii!'' R- A- 2J. Coloured, 3J. 6d. 
 
 Selections. jq. Jack and the Bean Stalk. With 4 Pictures by C. W. Cope. 
 
 2S. Coloured, ■^s. dd. 
 
 11. Cinderella. With 4 Pictures by Wehnert. Coloured, ■^s. 6d. 
 
 12. Jack the Giant Killer. With 4 Pictures by C. W. Cope, 
 Coloured, 3^. 6d. 
 
 13. The Home Treasury Primer. Printed in Colours. With 
 Drawing, on zinc, by W. Mulready, R.A. 
 
 14. Alphabets of Quadrupeds. Selected from the Works of 
 Paul Potter, Karl du Jardin, Teniers, Stoop, Rembrandt, &c., and 
 drawn from Nature. 
 
 15. The pleasant History of Reynard the Fox. With 40 Etch- 
 ings by Everdingden. Coloured, 31J. 6d. 
 
 16. A Century of Fables. Selected from .ffisop, Pilpay, Gay, 
 La Fontaine, and others. With Pictures by the Old Masters. 
 
 17. The Little Painter's Portfolio. With 10 Coloured and 4 
 Plain Pictures by Giotto, S. Del Piombo, Holbein, Everdingen, 
 and Modern Artists. 7^. 6d. 
 
 18. Colour Box for Little Painters. With 10 best Colours (in- 
 cluding Cobalt, Lake, and Indian Yellow), Slab and Brushes. 
 Hints and Directions and Specimens of Mixed Tints. 6s. 6d. 
 Soon after the production of this box the Society of Arts issued a 
 Prize for a colour-box, and obtained one as good as this, which 
 sold for one shilling ! 
 
 19. Tesselated Pastime. A Toy formed out of Minton's Mosaics 
 with Book of Patterns. 6^. Double Box, 7 j. 6d. 
 
 20. Box of Terra Cotta Bricks. Geometrically made, one eighth 
 the size of real Bricks, by Minton, with Plans and Elevations. 
 
 EXPERIMENTS IN TECHNICAL PROCESSES. 
 (See p. 102, Vol. I.) 
 When the handbook to the National Gallery was projected, Mr. 
 Linnell contracted with me to execute a fixed number of Engra- 
 vings in Glyphography, which was much cheaper than Wood 
 Engraving and had the advantage of being the work of the artists. 
 A copper-plate was covered with a thin layer of wax, and the draw- 
 
EXPERIMENTS IN TECHNICAL PROCESSES. 163 
 
 ing was cut through the wax with a graver and then an electrotype technical 
 
 Processes 
 AND Art 
 Manufac- 
 tures. 
 
 taken. The following are the first trials made, and then Mr. 
 Linnell engraved Titian's "Venus and Adonis" (p. 164). His 
 sons were his sub-contractors, and they made efforts with the 
 
 a.d. 
 I84I-I849. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 a.d. 1843. 
 
 Technical 
 
 processes. 
 
 Experiments 
 by J. Lin- 
 nell, senior. 
 
 By H. Cole. 
 
 Experiments in Glyphography. 
 process, but were disgusted with it, and actually taught themselves 
 wood engraving to fulfil the engagement. They adopted the 
 manner of Bewick, a very natural method, which was to blacken 
 the surface of the wood block and cut the forms in white. They 
 succeeded admirably. 
 
i64 TECHNICAL PROCESSES. GLYPHOGRAPHY. 
 
 Technical 
 Processes, 
 AND Art 
 Manufac- 
 tures. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1 841-1849. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 a.d. 1843. 
 
 By John 
 Linnelt, 
 senior. 
 
 By John 
 
 Linnell, 
 
 By James 
 Linnell. 
 
 Mercury and Woodman, By Salvator Rosa. 
 
 
 A Bacchanalian Dance. By Nicholas Poussin. 
 
HOME TREASURY SERIES. 
 
 Specimens of Mulready's Illustrations for the Mother's 
 Primer. 
 
I!k9 
 
 HOME TREASURY SERIES. 
 
 Mulready's Experiments in Glvphography. 
 
WOOD ENGRAVING AFTER BEWICK. 
 
 i6s 
 
 Bacchus and Ariadne, By Titian. 
 Engraved on Wood. By James Linnell, 
 
 Technical 
 Processes 
 AND Art 
 
 Manufac- 
 tures. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 X 841- 1 849. 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 
 A.D. 1843. 
 
 The Raising of Lazarus. 
 On Wood. By James Linnell, 1843. 
 
i66 
 
 JVOOD ENGRAVING. 
 
 Technical 
 processes 
 AND Art 
 Manufac- 
 tures. 
 A.D. 1844. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Albert 
 Durer's 
 '* Small 
 Passion." 
 
 ALBERT DURER'S "SMALL PASSION." 
 
 (Seep. 102, Vol. I.) 
 
 THE earliest examples of mediaeval wood engraving were pro- 
 duced on pear-tree wood, cut across the grain at the sides. 
 Albert Durer's works were so engraved. Mr. Josi, keeper of the 
 Print Room in the British Museum, brought to my notice the 
 woodcuts of Albert Durer's " Small Passion," and obtained permis- 
 sion to have stereotypes made of them. I published them in an 
 edition of the " Small Passion " in 1844, and reprint here the pre- 
 face to the work.^ 
 
 Albert Durer's early life, like that of many of the most 
 eminent mediaeval Artists, was passed in the workshop of a Go/d- 
 smith. He was the son and grandson of a goldsmith, but he left 
 his father's craft in his sixteenth year, to become a Student of 
 Painting under Michael Wolgemuth. He was an indefatigable 
 Artist in all branches of Art up to the time of his death. We 
 find his well-known monogram on Paintings,? Sculptures," Engra- 
 
 Paintings by 
 
 Albert 
 
 Durer. 
 
 ' " The Passion of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, pourtrayed by Albert Durer, 
 edited by Henry Cole, an Assistant- 
 Keeper of the Public Records. Lon- 
 don : Joseph Cundall. 1844." 
 
 ^ The Paintings of Albert Durer are 
 by no means common in this country. 
 The best specimen in the metropolis 
 is an altar-piece in three parts, in the 
 Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Pa- 
 lace, which formerly belonged to 
 Charles I., and is described in James 
 the Second's Catalogue as ' ' Our Lady 
 with Christ in her lap with a coronet 
 on her head ; two fryars by them and 
 two doors. " Mrs. Jameson has given 
 a full account of it in her Companion 
 to private Picture Galleries, p. 23. 
 There is a Portrait of a Youth by him 
 (No. 303), and a St. Jerome, said to 
 be after Albert Durer (No. 563), at 
 Hampton Court Palace. In the 
 Sutherland Gallery is a small paint- 
 
 ing on copper of the Death of the 
 Virgin. (See Mrs. Jameson ut supra, 
 p. 204.) 
 
 ' In the Print Room of the British 
 Museum is a specimen of Albert 
 Durer's wonderfiil powers of sculpture 
 in lithographic, or hone-stone, not 
 quite eight inches high, and about five 
 and a half wide. In this small space 
 are sculptured in very high relief, an 
 interior, with a woman lying in bed, 
 called St. Elizabeth, and as many as 
 eight figures, besides a dog, furniture, 
 &c. the scene being intended to repre- 
 sent the Naming of St. John. A figure 
 of a young man entering is said to 
 represent Albert Durer himself. The 
 expression and character given to 
 heads not larger than the size of a 
 little finger's nail, are a most marvel- 
 lous exhibition of executive power ; 
 of itself refuting the idea that the same 
 hand should have engraved so rudely 
 
ALBERT DURERS « SMALL PASSION:' 167 
 
 vings,^ Etchings (which process he is said to have invented), Draw- technical 
 ings on Wood, Ornamental designs of all kinds. In the practice of all andAkt 
 he obtained an eminence, which places him at the head of the Artists TUREsf *'^' 
 of his own country, and in the first rank of his Italian contempo- p °' Jj**' 
 raries, RaffaeUe, Michael Angelo, and Leonardo da Vinci, &c. Selections. 
 Like these great men, Albert Durer was not only a Painter. He 
 left treatises on Fortification, Mensuration, and the Proportions of 
 the Human Body, the chief part of which have been published 
 oftentimes ; and his original manuscripts of them, fancifully written 
 in party-coloured inks, exist in the British Museum. (Nos. 5228 
 to 5231 of Additional MSS.) His journals, &c. show him to have 
 been in communication with most of his great contemporaries ; 
 RaffaeUe, Mabuse, Lucas van Leyden, Quintyn Matsys, Melanc- 
 thon, Erasmus, Luther, &c. Of the two last he bequeathed to us 
 portraits. Nuremberg was the place of his birth and of his death. 
 He was bom on the 20th May, 1471, and died 6 April, 1528, in 
 the fifty-seventh year of his age. Those, who may desire further 
 information on Albert Durer's life, will find many details of it 
 given in the " Treatise on Wood Engraving," published by Messrs. 
 Knight, and Dr. Nagler's works hereafter noticed." 
 
 The engravings of the present work are called by Albert 
 Durer himself the "Small Passion" " die Kleine Passion" to distin- 
 guish them from a set of larger engravings of the same subject — 
 
 the wood cuts attributed to him. This S,2l8 of the additional MSS. and in 
 
 sculpture bears the date of 15 10, the the Catalogue it is stated to have 
 
 same as a woodcut (No. 93, Bartsch) "belonged to Lord Arundel, and that 
 
 of the Life of the Virgin, to which it the genuine drawings by Albert Durer 
 
 has a strong general resemblance. It were probably part of the collection of 
 
 was purchased by Payne Knight at Bilibald Pirkheimer," a friend and 
 
 Brussels, for five hundred guineas, and correspondent of Albert Durer, who 
 
 bequeathed by him to the British Mu- engraved his burly-looking portrait on 
 
 seum, of which it is one of its choicest copper. The second edition of this 
 
 treasures, alone well repaying a visita- work was thus dedicated by the monk 
 
 tion. Chelidonius : "Vnildualdo Pircha- 
 
 ' The Print Room of the British mero viro patricio litteris & grsecis & 
 
 Museum possesses a volume of Albert latinis doctissime erudito. " 
 
 Durer's original sketches and draw- * See the History of the Life of 
 
 ings, in chalk, charcoal, pencil, pen Albrecht Durer by Mrs. Charles 
 
 and ink, on paper of all sizes and Heaton. London, Macmillan & Co., 
 
 colours. Of all subjects ; portraits, 1870. Also, Albert Durer, his Life 
 
 sacred compositions, anatomy, natural and Works, by W. B. Scott. Lon- 
 
 history, ornaments. It is numbered don, Longmans, 1869. 
 
i68 
 
 WOOD ENGRAVING. 
 
 Technical 
 Processes 
 AND Art 
 Manufac- 
 tures. 
 A.D. 1844. 
 Part H. 
 Selections. 
 
 " the Large Passion," ^ "die Grosse Passion" 2X\.6. another set of small 
 engravings on copper, of exquisite beauty of execution, which the 
 author names the " Passion in Kupffer" * The " Small Passion " 
 appears by the dates(A.D. 1509 and i5io)on several of the subjects,' 
 to have been executed whilst Albert Durer was in the meridian of 
 his practice as a designer on wood. For though his wood engra- 
 vings of the Apocalypse^ were published as early as 1498, his most 
 important and best works, The History of the Virgin^ the Large 
 Passion, and the present work were executed between 1509 and 
 15 1 2. The present work, with the exception of two subjects, is 
 taken from the original engravings drawn by Albert Durer himself 
 on the wood, and engraved under his own superintendence. Two 
 editions at least of these engravings were printed by Albert Durer 
 in Germany ; a third edition a century later, at Venice ; and the 
 present, it is believed, makes the fourth edition of the genuine 
 blocks. I say genuine blocks, for so great was the popularity and 
 estimation of the work, that there has been more than one obvious 
 imitation of them, besides several avowed copies constantly circu- 
 lating throughout Europe. The " Small Passion " is stated by all 
 
 ' Fassio Domini nostri Jesu, ex 
 Hieronymo Faduano, Dominico Man- 
 cino, Sedulio, et Baptista Mautuano, 
 per fratrem Chelidonium collecta, cum 
 figuris Alberti Dureri Norici Fictoris. 
 Eleven cuts, each 15^ inches high, and 
 varying from 1 1 J to I if inches wide, 
 besides the title-page. 
 
 ' A series of sixteen subjects, 4^ 
 inches, by 2j inches ; bearing the 
 dates of 1508, 9, u, 12, 13. 
 
 ' Bartsch (Le Peintre Graveur, vol. 
 vii. p. 120) says, " Toutes ces pieces 
 
 portent le monogramme de Durer" 
 [which is correct], "maisiln'yen a 
 i^ue deux qui aient une date savoir : 
 
 Nr. 18, I'annee 1510 " (Adam and 
 Eve driven forth from Paradise), "et 
 Nr. 31, I'annee 1309" (Jesus brought 
 before Herod of present edition). 
 This is not correct, for there are two 
 others with dates, namely, Jesus bear- 
 ing his Cross, 1509, and St. Veronica, 
 1510. 
 
 * This work, entitled in ornamental 
 German letters, " Apocalipsis cum 
 figuris," was Albert Durer's first pub- 
 lication of wood engravings. It con- 
 sists of sixteen subjects, I5f inches by 
 II and I o| inches, and was printed at 
 Nuremberg 1498. 
 
 ° The second of his most important 
 works on wood : a series of twenty 
 cuts (see Bartsch, Le Feintre Graveur, 
 vol. vii. p. 131, Nos. 76 to 95 inclu- 
 sive), each II J inches by 8^ inches, 
 executed in 151 1. On the last, "Im- 
 pressum Numberge per Albertum 
 Durer pictorem. Anno Christiano 
 Millesimo quingentesimo undecimo." 
 
ALBERT DURER'S ''SMALL PASSION." 169 
 
 writers on the subject, Bartsch, Heinecke, Ottley, Nagler, &c. to Technical 
 have consisted originally of thirty-seven subjects. Not one of these and Art 
 writers seems himself to have seen, or compared together all the tures. 
 editions he speaks of : and there is some confusion in their various *■"• '?'•'♦• 
 
 ^ ' Part II. 
 
 accounts of them. All agree that the earliest edition was published Selections. 
 without any accompanying letter-press. Dr. Nagler thus describes 
 the title-page of the first edition : "Nach Heinecke," says he, " ware 
 folgende die erste Ausgabe. Ueber dem Holzschnitt mit dem 
 leidenden Heiland, ist mit beweglichen Lettem gedriickt 
 
 Figurse 
 
 Fassionis Domini 
 
 Nostri Jesu Christi. 
 
 Und am Ende : finit impressum Nombergae 1511." 
 
 (See — Neues Allgemeines Kunstler. Lexicon bearteitet von Dr. G. R. 
 
 Nagler band, "^.^,7,1. Miinchen, i&^6-T .) I have never been able 
 
 to meet with a title-page so arranged, except in an imitation of the 
 
 Small Passion, of which mention will be made hereafter. Of all 
 
 the engravings of this work, the sitting Christ on the frontispiece is 
 
 by far the most rare. There are two sets of impressions from the 
 
 original blocks in the British Museum. The title-page of one 
 
 of these sets, (that in the volume bequeathed by Mr. Nollekens 
 
 to Mr. Douce, with reversion to the Museum), is arranged as 
 
 follows : 
 
 FIGUKJE PASSIO 
 nis Domini nostri Jesu 
 Christi 
 above the figure of the sitting Christ. It is different in character 
 and paper, is very inferior to all the rest of the set, and certainly 
 is not an impression from the origiftal block, but from the copy. 
 The set itself consists of a miscellaneous collection of impressions, 
 all without any letter-press. The other set, formerly in the Crcuhe- 
 rode collection, has no letter-press, and wants the title-page. A 
 search has been altogether vain to discover a first edition, bound 
 as a volume, and consisting of the thirty-seven cuts apparently 
 issued originally together. The second edition of the genuine 
 blocks was published with the title, of which an exact copy is given 
 in this edition. On the reverse I have printed a copy of the last 
 page of the second edition, which shows the date of its publication, 
 and denounces piracies of the work, directed doubtless against 
 
170 
 
 WOOD ENGRAVING. 
 
 Technical 
 Processes 
 AND Art 
 Manufac- 
 tures. 
 A.D. 1844. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Various 
 
 editions of 
 
 Albert 
 
 Durer's 
 
 " Small Pas- 
 
 Man Antonio. The verses of Chelidonius were printed at the 
 back of the Engravings. A perfect set of this second edition is 
 also very rare. Neither the British Museum nor the Bodleian, nor 
 any Oxford Library, nor even the late Mr. JDouee^s Library pos- 
 sesses a copy ; and the only complete copy I have been able to find 
 after a long search, belongs to Col. Durrant. The third edition 
 of the genuine woodcuts was published at Venice, in 161 2, by a 
 Librarian who, according to Heinecke, purchased them in the 
 Netherlands. The following is its title, " La Passione di N. S. 
 Giesv Christo d' Alberto Durero di Norimberga. Sposta in ottava 
 rima dal R. P. D. Mauritio Moro, Canon. deUa Congr. di 
 S. Giorgio in Alega. In Venetia M.DCXII. appresso Daniel Bis- 
 succio." This edition wants the figure of the sitting Christ on the 
 title-page, and a copper-plate engraving of Albert Durer's portrait is 
 substituted for it, with the legend, " Imago Alberti Dureri 1553. 
 .iEtatis sus LVI." I have never seen but one perfect copy of this 
 edition, which is in the possession of Mr. Pickering. There is no 
 copy in the British Museum, or at Oxford. Bartsch (le Peintre 
 Graveur, vol. vii. p. 122.) mentions it, but does not appear ever to 
 have seen it ; and he raises the doubt whether the blocks used in 
 it were not copies. But this conjecture is unfounded, for a com- 
 parison of this edition with the finest and earliest impressions 
 establishes beyond a doubt that it was printed from the original 
 blocks : 1 it is no less certain that the Engravings republished in 
 the present volume are from the same blocks. Thirty-five out of 
 the thirty-seven of them have found a secure resting place in the 
 British Museum. They were purchased in 1839, by Mr.Josi, the 
 present keeper of the prints, from the Rev. P. E. Boissier, whose 
 father bought them many years ago in Italy. The Rev. P. E. 
 Boissier informs me that his father accidentally met with them at 
 Rome: but that he knows no other particulars of their history. It 
 is certainly quite possible that they may have travelled from Venice 
 to Rome since 1612; but in the absence of any precise information 
 about them, it seems most likely that Mr. Boissier may have 
 
 ' Among many curious evidences of 
 the fact may be instanced the cracks, 
 which cause certain wMte lines in the 
 cut of the Mount of Olives; — one 
 passing just through the right shoulder 
 
 of St. Peter, and the other through the 
 rock near the left arm of Christ. 
 These lines will be found in all the 
 editions of the genuine blocks, but not 
 in the spurious copies. 
 
ALBERT DURER'S "SMALL PASSION." 171 
 
 bought them at Venice, and not at Home. They are the same Technical 
 blocks which Mr. Ottley mentions (v. History of Engraving, p. 5.) and Art 
 as having been in the possession of Mr. Douce. The blocks have tums!'^'^" 
 suffered somewhat from age and wear. Some are worm-eaten, and *'°- '^}^' 
 the border lines throughout are broken. The four impressions of Selections, 
 these blocks which were printed by Mr. Ottley in his History of 
 Engraving (p. 730) show the extent of the damage which the 
 blocks have suffered. But in the present edition of them, the de- stereotypes 
 fects have been remedied by using stereotype casts of the blocks, Thm-«on 
 which have been taken by a special permission of the trustees of °™p™"- 
 the British Museum. New border lines have been added, the 
 worm-holes stopped, and those parts skilfully recut by Mr. Thurs- 
 ton Thompson, who has also re-engraved with full feeling, the sub- 
 jects of the Sitting Christ, and oi Jesus parting from his Mother. 
 The process of stereotyping has had the good effect of restoring 
 almost the original sharpness and crispness of the lines, and of 
 rendering the present impressions nearer the state of the earliest 
 impressions than they would have been had they been taken from 
 the blocks themselves. This statement may seem paradoxical, 
 but it will be seen that it has a reasonable explanation. In order 
 to take a metal cast of a woodcut, a cast is first taken in moist 
 plaster of Paris. This is thoroughly dried by baking, which causes 
 it to shrink throughout, sometimes as much as the eighth of an inch 
 in a cast of six inches in length. The result of this slight shrink- 
 age has been to reduce these thickened lines nearly to their original 
 fineness, and several of the present impressions are so crisp and clear 
 that they will not suffer by a comparison with choice early im- 
 pressions. An incident in point, which occurred during the pro- 
 gress of printing this edition, may be related : a professional critic 
 of engravings compared some of these stereotype impressions with 
 some old impressions from the wood-blocks, and he concluded 
 that the first being printed on new paper were modern copies. He 
 pronounced them excellent, even improvements on the originals in 
 some respects, owing, doubtless, to the better printing. Wlien he 
 was told what they were, he said that had they been printed on 
 old paper, he should have taken them to be some of the earliest 
 impressions. 
 
 The professed imitations and copies of the Small Passion, so 
 far as I have been able myself to ascertain them, are now to be 
 
172 
 
 WOOV ENGRAVING. 
 
 Technical 
 Processes 
 AND Art 
 Manufac- 
 tures. 
 A.D. 1844. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Copies of 
 the " Small 
 Passion." 
 
 enumerated. I have before me a.volume, apparently in its original 
 state, which is a facsimile of the whole thirty-seven engravings. It 
 belongs to Mr. Pickering. Its title-page agrees in substance with 
 that of the 7?/-.?/ edition described by Heinecke ; possibly also in 
 arrangement. There is no date or place of publication to the 
 volume. Though an inferior, it is throughout a very close copy of 
 the original work, each engraving having Albert Durer's mono- 
 gram, and it must have been intended to pass for the original. 
 Bartsch (Le Peintre Graveur, vol. ii. p. 121) appears to have seen 
 three of the engravings in it (Nos. 16, 17, 18), and he says he is 
 ignorant whether the other blocks were copied, but thinks it likely. 
 He thus enumerates other copies of this work, the three first 
 executed by Virgik Solis. (Bartsch, Virgile Solis, vol. ix. p. 316.) 
 " I. La Passion de Jesus Christ. Copies en contrepartie des gra- 
 vures en bois Nr. 16 — 52 de Durer. Suite de dix-huit estampes. 
 Hauteur 4 p. 4 lig. largeur 3 p. 2. La Passion de Jesus Christ. 
 Autres copies d'aprfes les gravures en bois d' Albert Durer Nr. 16 — 
 52. Suite de trente-sept pifeces, dont chacune porte le chifTre.^ 
 Hauteur 4 p. 2 lig. Largeur 3 p. 3 lig. 3. La passion de Jesus 
 Christ. Autres copies d'aprbs les gravures en bois d' Albert Durer. 
 Nr. 16 — 52. Suite de vingt-quatre estampes qui portent presque 
 toutes le chiffre de V. Solis. Hauteur 3 p. Largeur 2 p. 3 lig." 
 The next copy is by an engraver who used the monogram G. S. 
 (Bartsch, G. S. vol. ix. p. 439. Nr. 104 des monogrammes.) "La 
 passion de Jesus Christ. Suite de trente-sept pifeces (Nous n'en 
 avons vu que sept pieces) qui ont €t€ copi^es d'une taille lourde 
 d'aprfes les num&os 16 — 52 des pifeces gravies en bois d' Albert 
 Durer. Le chiffre et I'annde 1569 se trouvent marques sur la pifece 
 que repr^sente le corps de J^sus Christ au pied de la croix, pleur^ 
 par les saintes femmes. Hauteur 7 p. n lig. largeur 5 p. 4 lig." 
 Dr. Nagler gives the following as the arrangement of the title-page 
 of this edition : 
 
 Figurae 
 Passionis Domini 
 Nostri Jesu Christi. 1569. 
 He proceeds ; " Eine andere Ausgabe ist betitelt, ' Historia pas- 
 sionis Dni nri Jesu Christi ab Alb. Durero delineata. Bruxellae, 
 exc. Johan Mommartius 1644.' Auch Martin Rota und N, Nelli 
 ' Can this be the imitation already described ? 
 
ALBERT DURER'S "SMALL PASSION." 173 
 
 copirten Mehrere Blatter oder vielleicht die ganze Folge." It is tkchhicai, 
 well known that Marc Antonio Raitnondi copied this " Small Pas- anbTr? 
 sion " on copper, as well as Albert Durer's Life of the Virgin and tuefs.^* 
 other works, and he is accused of selling his copies for the originals, p^i iit*' 
 According to Vasari, Albert Durer went to Venice to stop the s^'™''™^- 
 piracy; but the event is shown by Bartsch to have been very im- 
 probable, as there is no evidence to prove that Albert Durer ever 
 visited Italy after his journey thither in 1506/ In Marc Antonids Mare 
 copies of the " Small Passion" Albert Durer's monogram is omitted, copies. 
 The copies are close and excellent imitations of the originals, con- 
 sidering the diflFerence of material in which they are executed. 
 There is also another set of copies (which may be seen in the print 
 room of the British Museum) engraved on copper, apparently by a 
 German Artist, in which Albert Durer's mark is retained. They 
 are very inferior to Marc Antonids copies, and great license has 
 been taken, especially in the shadows. It is entitled (below the 
 figure of the sitting Christ), "Passio Christi ab Alberto Durer 
 Nurenburgensi effigiata. I. A. Colom. exc. AB. Waesbergen 
 excudit." ' I have also seen twenty-one subjects of the " Small 
 Passion " copied in reverse on copper, 3|- inches by 2|- inches, 
 which belonged to the Strawberry Hill Collection, and are in the 
 possession of Mr. Willement. The " Sitting Christ" is copied, and 
 below it are the latin verses of the title-page of the second edition. 
 Albert Durer's monogram does not appear on any of this set. 
 There is another copy on copper of the " Sitting Christ " in the 
 
 ' Several authorities say that Marc reading room of the British Museum 
 
 ^«/a»& copied the whole thirty-seven is a work thus entitled: "Alberti 
 
 subjects (see Ottley, History of En- Dureri Noriberg German. Icones 
 
 graving, pp. 711 and 816; also Sacrae. In historiam salutis humanse 
 
 Bartsch, vol. xiv. p. 402), but I cannot per Redemptorem nostrum Jesum 
 
 hear of the existence of an impression Christum Dei et Marias filium instau- 
 
 of the Sitting Christ by him anywhere ; ratse. Quas singulas selectissimi flores 
 
 and it may be remarked that Marc ex verbo Dei et S. Patrum Scriptis 
 
 Antonio numbered the "Adam and decerpti exomant. Nunc primum e 
 
 Eve " as the first of the series. tenebris in lucem editas." Franck- 
 
 Coupled with the facts already stated, fort 1604. This work contains a series 
 
 some suspicion is raised that Albert of thirty-eight small wood-cuts, about 
 
 Durer could not have issued this sub- 3 inches by 2 inches, bearing Albert 
 
 ject with the first edition of the Z)««;-'jmonogram, but of poor design 
 
 " Small Passion." and worse engraving. They do not 
 
 " The only copy of any book of Al- appear to be acknowledged as Durer's 
 
 bert Durer's wood engravings in the works by any authorities. 
 
his works. 
 
 174 WOOD ENGRAVING. 
 
 Technical British Museum, in which the figure is placed between pilasters. 
 AND Art The reader will find some further notices of other copies in Dr. 
 TUEEs. "^ ' Nagler's Lexicon, already quoted, and in his ' Albrecht Diirer und 
 Pa" ii**' seine Kunst." Miinchen, 1837. 
 
 Selections. Many writers on Art {Mr. Ottley among the most recent) have 
 
 concluded that Albert Durer, Holbein, and others not only drew 
 their own designs on wood, but were also the actual engravers of 
 them. We have Albert Durer's own words that he was accustomed 
 to draw himself on wood. " Item hab dem von Rogendorff sein 
 Wappen auf Holz gerissen dafur hat er mir geschenkt vii. Eln 
 Sammet." (See Von Murr.) But it is not easy to believe that he 
 Doubts of was his own wood engraver. The chief ground for believing him 
 ^ngravkg^u to be, seems to rest upon the assumption that in the fifteenth cen- 
 tury, no competent workmen could be found to execute engravings 
 so excellent and containing such especial difficulties of " cross 
 hatching." The merits of the woodcuts of Albert Durer and other 
 early artists, certainly do not consist in the engraving, but in other 
 quite distinct qualities. And those who praise them as engravings, 
 do not sufficiently discriminate between these qualities and the 
 mechanical translation of them. Early wood-cuts are generally 
 very inferior as engravings, and certainly contain no difficulties 
 beyond the accomplishment of ordinary skill. As for the execu- 
 tion of " cross hatchings" it was less difficult in Albert Durer's time, 
 when they were cut on the side of the grain of the wood, than at 
 present, cut on the end of the grain ; the process is more a labour 
 of carefulness and patience than of skill ; apprentices of our own 
 time cut much clearer cross hatchings than any to be found in old 
 wood-cuts. It is taking a very narrow view of art, to suppose that 
 workmen could not be found to engrave Albert Durer's or Hol- 
 bein's wood-cuts in an age quite equal if not surpassing our own in 
 the execution of the most delicate ornamental work. Was sculpture 
 on wood (it is not necessary to look beyond St. George's Chapel 
 at Windsor) inferior to that of our own times ? And if we are to 
 be sceptical about the capacity of wood-engravers, how shall we 
 account for the skill which executed the exquisite chasings and 
 engravings in jewellery, armour, &c. ; engraving of monumental 
 brasses; ornamental tools for bookbinding; and, above all, the 
 delicate workmanship of the seals, which every noble or citizen 
 appended to his charter or chirograph; and in all of which we are 
 
ALBERT DURERS "SMALL PASSION." its 
 
 now trying to imitate the fifteenth century ? But in addition to Technical 
 these general reasons, and others which might be brought forward and'^ae'T 
 against assuming that Albert Durer was his own wood-engraver, to'^^."*'^' 
 the works themselves fiirnish conclusive evidence, which seems to *'°' '''•'•■ 
 have escaped Mr. Ottley. Let any one compare the correspond- Selections, 
 ing engravings of the same subject executed on wood and copper: 
 we know the latter to be the work of Albert Durer himself. The 
 copper-engravings exhibit the exquisite sensitiveness of the artist 
 to the expression of important parts, carried sometimes to an 
 affected exaggeration, besides the most delicate and charming 
 finish. In the wood-cuts, on the contrary, there is oftentimes an 
 unnecessary coarseness, with a feebleness and misunderstanding of 
 the lines, especially in the extremities (e.g. the left hand of Adam 
 in the Fall of Man in the present work), which prove them to be 
 the works of bungling and ignorant awkwardness. It is impossible Several en- 
 
 1 . , , , , . , _ . gravers of 
 
 not to see that it was not the same hand designmg and engraving, the " Smaii 
 But the question is placed beyond all doubt by an examination of 
 the cuts themselves. They show that they must have been en- 
 graved by not less than ^wr different persons. Mr. John Thomp- 
 son, by universal concurrence, the most skilful engraver which the 
 art has yet witnessed, and therefore the best authority on all its 
 technicalities, has examined the blocks especially with reference to 
 this question ; and he has pointed out those varieties of mechani- 
 cal execution, as apparent as the varieties of different hand- 
 writings, which conclusively prove the fact contended for. The 
 following subjects may be instanced as exhibiting the workmanship 
 of four different artists: i. The Scourging. 2. Jesus nailed to 
 the Cross. 3. Jesus appearing to his Mother after his Resurrec- 
 tion. 4. Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalen. And the curious 
 may refer to the blocks themselves, and be convinced, as the 
 Editor is, that although Albert Durer designed and drew these 
 wood-blocks, he never engraved them. 
 
 Passion." 
 
176 ALBERT DURER'S ''SMALL PASSION:' 
 
 Technical 
 
 Processes 
 AND Art 
 Manufac- 
 tures. 
 A.D. 1844. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 3|eg(ui3 pragfng on ttie amount of flDUbeiS, 
 
ALBERT DURER'S SMALL PASSION. 
 
 177 
 
 Re-engraved 
 by Thurston 
 Thompson. 
 
 3]ESiU!S parting: from \\<^ a^otbec before 610 0uffenng0» 
 
 II. 
 
 N 
 
178 
 
 SUMMERLY'S ART MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Art Manu- 
 facturks. 
 
 A.D. 1846. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 SUMMERLY'S ART MANUFACTURES. 
 
 THE system of producing Art-Manufactures may be said to 
 have arisen out of the prizes offered by the Society of Arts, 
 and the Exhibitions which began in 1846 and were continued in 
 1847-1848. 
 
 The Tea Service which obtained the Silver Medal of the 
 Society of Arts in 1846. 
 
 I find the following Memorandum in the handwriting of Mr. S. 
 Davenport, the zealous accountant and main support of the Society 
 from 1843,1 which describes this Tea Service. 
 
 " To accompany Specimens of Earthenware marked F. S. 
 
 " Model of a plain and cheap Earthenware Tea Service in one 
 Colour, consisting of Tea-pot, Basin, Milk Jug, Cup and Saucer, 
 Plate, and Sugar Basin. 
 
 " These articles have been modelled expressly for the present 
 purpose. They could be manufactured at a very cheap rate, as 
 cheaply as the blue articles which accompany them, marked Z. 
 
 " The white earthenware set would be even cheaper. These blue 
 
 articles are sent in order to demonstrate that elegant forms may be 
 
 made not to cost more than inelegant ones. Of course it must be 
 
 borne in mind that all forms, where the beauty depends on the 
 
 ' Mr. Davenport died in 1876. 
 
TEA SERVICE. 
 
 179 
 
 truth of the lines and variety of parts, must of necessity be some- 
 what more costly than where beauty is less considered. For in- 
 stance, the handle of the Tea Cup involves the making of two 
 mouldings and two additional operations to put it on. i. The 
 handle. 2. The vine leaves, which are put on separately. Its 
 greater cost over the simplest kind without ornament would be, 
 perhaps, less than a farthing for each cup in wages. 
 
 " The aim in these models has been to obtain as much beauty 
 and ornament as is commensurate with cheapness. A higher 
 standard in the ornamental parts would have led to much greater 
 cost. 
 
 " The forms in principle are new combinations of those of the 
 best Etruscan Pottery, with ornaments at the handles, &c., super- 
 added and designed so as not to interfere with the simplicity of the 
 outlines. 
 
 " The Cup being deep rather than wide, offers least scope for the 
 radiation of heat and will keep the tea warm. 
 
 " The Milk Pot has three lips Hke some articles of Etruscan 
 Pottery, enabling the liquid to be poured at both angles, right and 
 left, which requires only a motion of the wrist, whilst the usual 
 method needs the lifting of the arm. The plate is smaller than 
 usual in the rim, because much size in that part is needless. The 
 red clay being unglazed is calculated to exhibit the forms of the 
 Tea Pot, Sugar Basin, and Milk Pot to most advantage. The 
 forms are sent in ' biscuit ' in order to show the difference which 
 the nature of the body or material causes in their appearance." 
 
 THE following is a list of the works which were produced in 
 1846-7-8, and exhibited at the Society of Arts Exhibitions. 
 The Annual Exhibition of British Manufactures o/i848,inc\uded 
 Works in Gold, Silver, Bronze, Ivory, Glass, China, Earthenware, 
 Mosaics, Marbles, Carved Wood, Ornamental Iron and Brass 
 Work, and was open in the Society's Large Hall during March 
 and April, every day except Saturday. The admission was by 
 tickets, obtained free from Members of the Society, and of the Re- 
 tailers of Art-Manufactures named in the Catalogue. On Satur- 
 day, for general convenience, and especially of those who dislike 
 crowds, admission was obtained by payment of is. at the Society's 
 House, in John Street, Adelphi. A descriptive Catalogue was 
 published. Nearly one hundred Specimens of Sumraerly's Art- 
 Manufactures were exhibited at the Society of Arts on this occasion. 
 
 Art Manu- 
 factures. 
 A.Q. 1846. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
i8o 
 
 SUMMERLY'S ART MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Art Manu- 
 factures. 
 A.D. 1846-7. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 The principle adopted in producing Art-Manufactures, was, that 
 their execution should be entrusted only to the most eminent British 
 Manufacturers ; at the same time, it was to be understood that the 
 production was not limited to the firms named in the Catalogue. 
 
 They were classified under wafen'a/j, which more or less accurately 
 marks the technical producers or trades, and even the localities of 
 production. The specimens which may be seen in the South Ken- 
 sington Museum, are marked S. K. M. 
 
 POTTERY. 
 
 I. E. Earthenware, Terra-Cotta, Porcelain, and Parian. 
 
 EARTHENWARE. 
 
 The " Hop Story." Beer-jug, in Earthenware, plain (and Pa- 
 
 lissy glaze) and Parian ; designed by H. J. Townsend, price i8j. ; 
 
 or with extra Figures, 
 36^-. The bas-reliefs 
 represent the picking, 
 packing, and storing 
 the hop, and the cooper 
 at the beer-cask ; " La- 
 bour refreshed " is one, 
 and " Intemperance " 
 the other supporter of 
 the handle. " John 
 Barleycorn" surmounts 
 the lid. Society of 
 Arts Exhibition, 1848. 
 S. K. M. 
 
 *** The Gold Medal 
 of the Society of Arts 
 was awarded to Messrs. 
 Minton and Co., the 
 Manufacturers, for the 
 Union of Superior Art 
 and Manufacture which 
 this Jug displays. 
 
 "The Two Drivers." 
 Brown Earthen- 
 ware Jug. Orna- 
 mented with bas-reliefs 
 emblematical of travel- 
 ling; designed and mo- 
 delled by H. J. Town- 
 send. Made by Min- 
 tons in Palissy ware. 
 S. K. M. 
 
 Modelled by H. J. TowNSEND. 
 Minton's make. 
 
POTTERY. 
 
 mi 
 
 Shaving Pot, in Earthenware. " Heroes bearded and beard- Art Manu- 
 less." Price s^., ^s., and 6j. dd., mounted in metal, designed by "■"^'^tuees.- 
 Richard Redgrave, A.R.A., p^tii! ' 
 
 Selections. 
 
 with brush handle, price is., 
 and brush dish, price i^. en 
 suite. 
 
 " By the length of his beard can 
 you measure a man .■' 
 
 Poet or Hero ? — I doubt if you 
 can. 
 
 Bearded or shaven — Wit comes 
 from Heaven." 
 
 Old Proverbs. 
 
 Manufactured by Wedgwoods. 
 Society of Arts Exhibition, 
 1848. S. K. M. 
 
 Saltcellar, in coloured 
 Earthenware. A Dolphin with 
 a Shell ; designed by J. Bell. 
 The intention is to produce a 
 work of art, simple and cheap. 
 Price 6j., and plain 3J. 9^., 
 also in Stone ware. S. K. M. 
 
 Inlaid jasper Handles for 
 Table-knives, designed by 
 R. Redgrave, A.R.A. The 
 ornament represents " Fish, 
 Flesh, Fowl and Game," pro- 
 duced by the encaustic pro- 
 cess, by Minton and Co., fitted 
 by Joseph Rodgers and Sons, 
 and all cutlers. S. K. M. 
 
 Designed by R. Redgrave. 
 Wedgwood's make. 
 
 Spill Case, " Cupids at a Bon-fire," designed by J. Bell, 3J., 
 and upwards. 
 
 TERRA COTTA. 
 
 The " Legend " Bracket, in Terra-cotta ; designed by J. Bell, 
 to support statuettes, made by Willock and Co., at the Ladyshore 
 Terra-cotta Works, near Bolton. Price 16s. The same design 
 carved in Wood, made by the Machine Carving Company, which 
 executed by machinery the principal part of the carvings in the 
 Houses of Parliament. 
 
 The " Twins." Trusses or Brackets made in Terra-cotta at 
 the Ladyshore Works, Bolton ; designed and modelled by J. Bell. 
 Price j£i each. Also in Wood by the Machine Carving Company 
 at various prices. 
 
1 82 
 
 SUMMERLY'S ART MANUFACTURES, 
 
 Art Manu- 
 factures. 
 
 A.D. 1846-7. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 PORCELAIN. 
 
 " The Oak's Guests at Night," ornamenting Candlesticks ; de- 
 signed and modelled by H. J. Townsend. The design represents 
 shepherds, with their dogs and flocks, asleep, at the base. In the 
 upper part, as among the foliage, are sprites playing with the owls, 
 squirrels, &c. In coloured Porcelain, manufactured by Mintons in 
 various bodies. Price 15^., the pair. S. K. M. 
 
 The Bride's Inkstand. 
 designed and mo- 
 delled by John 
 Bell, sculptor, 
 price ;^2 2,s. and 
 upwards. The 
 Tazza is coloured 
 in various blues 
 and the lizards gilt. 
 The Inkstand also 
 is published sepa- 
 rately in Bronze 
 in the ancient Flo- 
 rentine mode ; in 
 
 Porcelain 
 
 tazza with Parian Cupid; 
 verd'-antique, and 
 gilt, price ;^6 6^. 
 and upwards, with 
 marble tray or pa- 
 pier machi Tazza, 
 made by Jennens 
 and Bettridge. 
 Copies maybe had 
 in silver at various 
 prices. Society 
 of Arts Exhibition, 
 1848. S. K. M. 
 
 Modelled by J. Bell. 
 Mintons' make. 
 
 The Milk Jug and Tea Service, and other objects were also 
 made in the Porcelain "body" by Messrs. Mintons. 
 
 PARIAN. 
 
 Clorinda, wounded by her lover. Designed by J. Bell. Com- 
 panion to Dorothea. In Parian, manufactured by Mintons, £.2 2s. 
 S. K. M, 
 
 The Shakespeare Clock, designed and modelled by J. Bell, 
 and made in Parian by Minton and Co. Suitable works can be 
 obtained from B. L. Vulliamy, 68, Pall Mall, and the most eminent 
 Clock Makers. The case will also be executed in Bronze. 
 
PORCELAIN. 
 
 183 
 
 The Dial is placed between two figures representing Tragedy Art Manu- 
 and Comedy, as typical of Time, which passes between Joy and ^^qTs's- 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Grief. 
 
 " Joy absent, grief is present for that time." Ric. 2. 
 
 " The time of hfe is short : 
 To spend that shortness basely, were too long 
 If life did ride upon a dial's point 
 Still ending at th' arrival of an hour." 
 
 First Part of Hen. ^h. 
 
 The legends being taken from Shakespeare, a statuette of the 
 bard has been thought 
 to be appropriate for 
 surmounting the com- 
 position. The likeness 
 is founded upon the 
 Poet's bust at Strat- 
 ford, which the de- 
 signer thinks bears in- 
 ternal evidence (stated 
 at length in the "Athe- 
 naeum," 1845, p. 695), 
 of having been exe- 
 cuted from a cast taken 
 after death. A full- 
 length Statue of the 
 same figure was exhi- 
 bited by the Artist in 
 Westminster Hall. Of 
 this, the " Athenaeum " 
 says, it was " one of 
 the noblest works in 
 the Exhibition." 
 
 Dorothea, a sta- 
 tuette, in Parian. Mo- 
 delled by John Bell, 
 made by Mintons. 
 Price £,2 2S. This will 
 also be published in 
 Bronze. Society of 
 Arts Exhibition, 1848. 
 S. K. M. 
 
 Dorothea. Modelled by J. Bell. 
 Mintons' make. 
 
 Shakespeare, a Statuette in Parian, ;!^3 y.; a,lso in Bronze, 
 ;^26 SJ. By J. Bell. S. K. M. 
 
 Tragedy and Comedy, Statuettes in Parian, each £^ 3^. By 
 J. Bell. S. K. M. 
 
1 84 SUMMERLY 'S ART MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Art Manu- The INFANT Neptune. Designed and modelled by H. J. 
 FACTURHs. Townsend, 2'js. in Parian. The same is executed in Silver by B. 
 
 A.D, 1846-7. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Designed and Modelled by H. J. Townsend.' 
 
 Mintons' make. 
 
 Smith, and Electro-silver by B. Smith, at various prices, and is 
 
 suitable for a salt-cellar. Society of Arts Exhibition, 1848. 
 
 S. K. M. 
 
 Purity, or Una and the Lion, a Statuette. Designed and 
 modelled by John Bell ; a companion to Danecker's Ariadne, or 
 "Voluptuousness," price ;^3 3^. 
 
 " The Lyon would not leave her desolate. 
 But with her went along, as a strong gard 
 Of her chaste person." 
 
 Spenser's Faerie Queene, Booke I. Canto III. 
 Manufactured in Parian by Mintons. S. K. M. 
 
 ' The Neptune was drawn and en- under the Commissioners for the 
 
 graved by Richard A. Thompson, Great Exhibition of 1851, and then 
 
 whose technical and artistic ability for the post of Assistant-Director at 
 
 recommended him for employment the South Kensington Museum. 
 
PORCELAIN. 
 
 i8s 
 
 The Greek Slave, a Statuette by Hiram Power, in Parian, Art Mahu- 
 £,2 2S., first exhibited full-size in the Great Exhibition of 1851 "■^'^tukes. 
 Manufactured in Parian by Mintons. S. K. M. 
 
 " The Distressed Mother." A Statuette of the celebrated 
 work by Sir R. Westmacott, erected as a memorial to Elizabeth 
 Warren, 1816, in Westminster Abbey, West Aisle, 224 in "Sum- 
 merly's Westminster Abbey." Manufactured in Parian by Mintons. 
 S. K. M. 
 
 The Lord's Prayer, a Statuette of a Child, designed and mo- 
 delled by J. Bell. Manufactured in Parian by Mintons, 24?. ; or 
 with coloured base, t,os. The original is 9 inches high and s-i 
 inches at the base. S. K. M. 
 
 The Belief, a Statuette of a Child, designed and modelled by 
 J. Bell. Manufactured in Parian by Mintons, 2^. ; or with 
 coloured base, 30J. The original is 9 inches high, and s|- inches 
 at the base. S. K. M. 
 
 The Waterloo Bust of the Duke of Wellington' in the 
 
 A.D. 1846-7. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 ' During the preparation of this 
 bust, I received a message from Count 
 D'Orsay, who was in retreat at Gore 
 House, asking me to call upon him. 
 Upon my doing so, a servant looked 
 through the wicEet, and said, "The 
 Count is not at home." I disputed 
 the fact pertinaciously, and he said 
 he would go and see. Taking my 
 card, he crossed the court-yard, and 
 returned saying, "The Count is at 
 home." He admitted me with caution, 
 and piloted me to the door of the 
 house, and passed me safely between 
 two enormous mastiffs. I found the 
 Count pacing up and down Lady 
 Blessingtou's drawing-room, in a 
 magnificent dressing-govni. He said, 
 "You are a friend of Mr. Minton's ; 
 I can make his fortune," and calling 
 for his man, he said, " Fran9ois, go 
 you to my studio, and in the comer 
 you vnll find a bust. Cover it over 
 with your pocket handkerchief, and 
 bring it here with the greatest care." 
 Franfois entered with the bust, carry- 
 ing it like a baby. He placed it, and 
 the Count took off the pocket handker- 
 
 chief, standing before it with looks of 
 enwrapped admiration. " What do 
 you think of that ? " I said, " It is a 
 close likeness. " " Likeness ! indeed, 
 it is a likeness. Douro, when he saw it, 
 exclaimed, ' D'Orsay, you quite appal 
 me with the likeness to my father ! ' 
 He added, " The Duke had given me 
 four sittings, which he refused to that 
 fellow Landseer. The Duke came to see 
 it. He was as great in Art as he was in 
 fighting, and always went first to the 
 finest thing in a room to look at it. 
 He marched up to the bust, paused, 
 and shouted, 'By G — ^, D'Orsay, 
 
 you have done what those d d 
 
 busters never could do.' " The Count 
 then proceeded to say, "The old 
 Duke will not live for ever, he must 
 die. I want you to advise your friend 
 to make ten thousand copies of that 
 bust, to pack them up in his ware- 
 house, and on the day of the Duke's 
 death to flood the country with them, 
 and his fortune is made." The Count 
 hinted that he expected ;^io,ooo for 
 his copyright. Mr. Minton did not 
 quite enter into his views : he saw 
 
Selections. 
 
 i86 SUMMERLY' S ART MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Art Manu- prime of life. Modelled by S. Joseph, price £,\ ws. 6d. Manu- 
 FACTURES. factured in Parian by Mintons. S. K. M. 
 
 A.D. 1846-7. 
 
 Part 11.^ Match-box, " The Crusader's Altar Tomb," in ormolu ; de- 
 
 signed by J. Bell, made by Dee and Fargues, price ;£6 6s. ; also 
 in Parian by Mintons, price jj-. 6d. 
 
 " The Knights are dust. 
 And their good swords are rust ; 
 Their souls are with the Saints, we trust." 
 S. K. M. 
 
 The Angel Night Lamp, modelled by John Bell. Manufactured 
 in Parian by Mintons. S. K. M. 
 
 The "Bitten Tongue." A Mustard-pot, in Porcelain and 
 Parian, manufactured by Mintons. Modelled by John Bell, price 
 gs. The figure will also be applied to a Silver and Plated Metal 
 Mustard-pot. S. K. M. 
 
 Flower Vase. Designed by R. Redgrave, A.R.A. Manufac- 
 tured in Parian, by Mintons, 24s. ; also in coloured China, 42s. 
 S. K. M. 
 
 The " Una" Brooch, a bas-relief of Una and the Lion in Parian, 
 by Mintons, and Gold ; designed and modelled by John Bell. 
 
 The "Dorothea" Brooch, manufactured in Parian by Mintons, 
 and Gold. 
 
 Kissing Children, surmounting a Paper Weight; modelled by 
 John Bell. Manufactured in Parian by Mintons, gs. ; also in Gilt 
 Bronze, ^^3 3^., as top of a Loving Cup ; price i8.f. 6d. S. K. M. 
 
 GLASS. 
 
 The "Flask" Decanters, with gilt Enamel, designed by R. 
 Redgrave, A.R.A., and Parian Stopper, modelled by John Bell, 
 and made by Messrs. Richardson. Gilt Enamel, price ^^3 ^s. each, 
 plain at various prices. Wine Glass, with gilt Enamel, by the same 
 artists and manufacturers, to match, price 6s. S. K. M. 
 
 The "Well Spring." A Water-Jug, in Glass, with double 
 handles, designed by R. Redgrave, A.R.A., price ^£2 12s. 6d.-, 
 with single handles, ;^i 15 J. ; without handles, j[^r 5s. The orna- 
 ment is of water-plants, coloured and enamelled on the glass, with 
 gilt handles. The Vase on a smaller scale is executed in Porcelain 
 and Parian. Society of Arts Exhibition, 1848. S. K. M. 
 
 him, and proposed that the Count eventually made by another manu- 
 
 should accept a royalty upon every facturer, and I know nothing more of 
 
 copy sold — an offer which the Count its production, 
 indignantly rejected. The bust was 
 
GLASS. 
 
 187 
 
 The Water Lily Goblet to match, designed by R. Redgrave, Art Mano- 
 A.R.A., price 10s. The flower is enamelled in colours and sold "'*<^'^''™=- 
 
 .1 1 r. Tjr -nr A-D- 1846-7. 
 
 upon the glass. S. K. M. 
 
 Water Carafe and Tumbler in enamelled glass, 17^. 6d. 
 S. K. M. 
 
 Part IL 
 Selections. 
 
 The " Tendril " Wine Glass and Finger Glass ; designed and 
 
 Designed by H. J. Townsend. 
 Christie's make. 
 
 Designed by H. J. Townsend. 
 Richardson's make. 
 
 ornamented in enamelled colours by R. Redgrave, A.R.A., at 
 various prices. Manufactured by Messrs. Christie. S. K. M. 
 
 Champagne Glass, "Bubbles Bursting," designed by H. J. 
 Townsend. Enamelled in Colours and Engraved. Various prices. 
 The same design printed with gold on glass, 3 15. 6d. each, by 
 Christie. S. K. M. 
 
SUMMERLY' S ART MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Art manu- New Hyacinth Glass. Designed by R. Redgrave, A.R.A. 
 
 FACTURES. S K. M 
 A.D. 1846-7. 
 
 Part II. Summerly Cream Jug, in Opal Glass, 7^. dd. and upwards ; in 
 
 Selections, 
 
 Parian, 25. bd. S. K. M. 
 
 SILVER. 
 ' The Vintagers," a series of Decanter Stoppers, designed by 
 
 TT 
 
 Designed by J. C. Horsley, A.R.A. 
 B. Smith's make. 
 
 J. C. Horsley, executed by B. Smith, in Silver, Silver-gilt, and Elec- 
 tro-gilt, at various prices. S. K. M. 
 
 The Shakespeare Salver or Card Dish, designed by D. 
 Maclise, R.A. To be executed in Gold and Silver, and Porcelain. 
 
 The Artist has now completed a series of eight compositions for 
 this dish, which have been unanimously pronounced to be his most 
 successful ornamental work. The Seven Ages of Shakespeare 
 have furnished the subjects of the designs. These designs were en- 
 graved and published by the Art Union. 
 
 The Salver, in precious metals, will aim to be worthy of the 
 best days of Benvenuto Cellini, the well-known Florentine de- 
 signer. Only a limited number of copies will be made in precious 
 metals, when the models will be destroyed, and for these, sub- 
 scribers' names will be received by P. and D. Colnaghi, 13, Pall 
 Mall East, and J. Cundall, 12, Old Bond Street, where the designs 
 may be seen. 
 
ES10M POK A URACBLBT. BV D, UACL15E, R i 
 
 F(jH. U m M KULV's AR.T W AN UPACTUHRl'.. 
 
SILVER. 
 
 189 
 
 Th^ Porcelain dishes will be specimens of enamelling in Colours, aht Manu- 
 of which it may be said, they have never been previously equalled "'actures. 
 in English Art. They will be produced at the eminent factory of p^inf'^' 
 
 MintOn and Co. Selections. 
 
 Mr. Maclise's design was never executed, because my attention 
 became wholly absorbed by the Great Exhibition of 1851. 
 
 " Salt and fresh water fishers." 
 signed by John Bell, sculptor, 
 executed by Joseph Rodgers 
 and Sons. On the blade, boys 
 are spiking an eel and landing 
 a trout. On the handle, the 
 fisherman is hauling a net from 
 the sea. Price 10 guineas, exe- 
 cuted wholly in Silver, 1 1 guineas 
 in Silver-gilt; in Silver and 
 Plated Metal, jT^j^ \os. and up- 
 wards. Same blade and fork, 
 fitted by J. Rodgers and Sons 
 to a Parian handle, at various 
 prices. S. K. M. 
 
 A Bracelet, designed by 
 D. Maclise, R.A., and worked 
 in Nidlo on Gold and Silver, by 
 Messrs. Gass and Son. The de- 
 sign (see illustration) represents 
 in compartments, the history of 
 the bracelet. In the first, the 
 lover measuring his mistress's 
 arm ; in the second, giving the 
 order to the jeweller ; and in the 
 third, fixing the bracelet. S. K. M. 
 
 The Milk Jug which re- 
 ceived the Prize awarded by the 
 Society of Arts in 1846, de- 
 signed by Felix Summerly; exe- 
 cuted in Porcelain, 2S. 6d., and 
 Glass, Zs. ; also in Silver, with 
 gilt handle, ;^g los., by Messrs. 
 Hunt and Roskell, 156, New 
 Bond Street. S. K. M. 
 
 Infant Neptune, by H. J. 
 Townsend. See Parian. 
 
 A Fish Knife and Fork, de- 
 
 9.^>A 
 
 Fish Slice and Fork. 
 Designed and modelled by John Bell, 
 sculptor, and made by Rodgers and 
 Sons, Sheffield. 
 
 " Guardian Angels," a Christening Cup in Silver. " He shall 
 defend thee under His wings and thou shalt be safe." By R. 
 Redgrave, A.R.A., made by Hunt and Roskell. S. K. M. 
 
1 90 
 
 SUMMERLY'S ART MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Art Manu- 
 factures. 
 A.D. 1846-7. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 The " Flax ' 
 
 Modelled by 
 J. Bell. 
 
 IVORY. 
 
 Paper Knife, designed and modelled by J. Bell. 
 The ornamentation is allegorical of paper-making. 
 The boy, fish, and vase represent water, and the 
 blade the flax, both most important ingredients in 
 the manufacture of the best paper. With Parian 
 handle and gilt blade, including a case, JQ2 ^s.; 
 the handle is also carved in Ivory at advanced 
 prices. The blade fitted by Joseph Rodgers and 
 Sons, Sheffield. S. K. M. 
 
 Carving Knife and Fork. Roman handles, 
 carved with deers' heads. j£,2 2s. the pair. 
 Manufactured by J. Rodgers and Sons, Sheffield. 
 S. K. M. 
 
 TYPE METAL. 
 
 Ornamental Headings and Initial Letters 
 for typography, designed by R. Redgrave, A.R.A. 
 The letters were not executed, but the ornamental 
 headings are still used by the Society of Arts, and 
 head in a reduced size the chapters in these volumes. 
 S. K. M. 
 
 CUTLERY. 
 
 Dessert Knives and Forks, with coloured 
 Handles, designed and modelled by John Bell; re- 
 presenting Currants, Cherries, Filberts, Raspberries, 
 Strawberries, and Mulberries, with plated blades, 
 i6j. the pair, executed by Minton and Co., and 
 Joseph Rodgers and Sons, respectively. S. K. M. 
 See Bread Knife, Butter Knife, Cheese 
 Knife. 
 
 IRON. 
 
 A Hall Stand in iron, for cloaks, gloves, um- 
 brellas and clogs, with looking-glass and ink-stand, 
 &c. Manufactured by the Coalbrookdale Com- 
 pany. S. K. M. 
 
 The Eagle Slayer, by J. Bell, cast by the Coal- 
 brookdale Iron Company. The full-sized figure was 
 exhibited at the Exhibition in Westminster Hall, 1844, under the 
 patronage of the Commissioners of the Fine Arts for the Houses 
 of Parliament, chiefly promoted by the Prince Consort. In grounds 
 of S. K. M. 
 
METALS, ETC. 
 
 191 
 
 An English Cerberus, "Welcome to come, but not to go." ^fj^j^*^"' 
 The heads are those of the bull- 
 dog, blood and deer hounds ; a 
 Door Porter and Fire-dog, 
 designed and modelled by J. 
 Bell, and cast in Iron by Stuart 
 and Smith, Sheffield. S. K. M. 
 
 BRITANNIA METAL AND 
 WHITE METAL. 
 
 Camellia Teapot, in Britan- 
 nia Metal, surmounted by Parian 
 figure, I ds. ; in Silver, 20 guineas ; 
 or Plated Metal, 40^. Designed 
 by R. Redgrave, A.R.A., and 
 executed by Dixon and Sons, 
 Sheffield. S. K. M. 
 
 A Tea Caddy Spoon, the 
 ornament formed of the com- 
 mon tea plant. Designed by 
 H. G. Rogers, made by B. Smith, 
 London. In Plated Metal, 
 ■zs. 6d., in Silver, at various 
 prices. S. K. M. 
 
 Saltcellar, in Metal, orna- 
 mented with Shrimps and Sea- 
 weed, with Spoon. 205. the pair. 
 
 Door Weight. 
 
 Modelled by J. Bell. Stuart and 
 
 Smith's make. 
 
 Designed by R. Redgrave, R.A. 
 Dixons' (of Sheffield) make. 
 
 Modelled by J. Bell. 
 Broadhead and Atkins' make. 
 
192 SUMMERLY'S ART MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Art Manu- Modelled by J. Bell and manufactured in white metal -by Broad- 
 FACTUEEs. head and Atkins, Sheffield. S. K. M. 
 
 A.D. 1846-7, 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. WOOD. 
 
 The " Camellia " Tea Caddy, in various Woods, made by Hol- 
 land and Sons. The figure on the lid, a Chinese Fairy examining 
 the tea plant, is designed by R. Redgrave, A.R.A., modelled 
 by J. Bell, and made in Parian by Mintons. Wood and Ivory. 
 Various prices. 
 
 A Bread Platter, ornamented with carvings of wheat, rye, 
 barley, and oats; in Wood, price £,2. 2s., and in Porcelain at 
 
 Modelled by J. Bell. Joseph Rodgers and Sons' make. 
 
 various prices ; designed by J. Bell. The platter is also fitted with 
 an electro-plated rim. Manufactured by J. Rodgers and Sons, 
 Sheffield. Society of Arts Exhibition, 1848. S. K. M. 
 
 This bread platter revived the use of wooden bread platters or tren- 
 chers, and created a new industry still existing. Its history is worth 
 recording. When John Bell's plaster model was sent to Sheffield, 
 Messrs. Rodgers hesitated to reproduce it, not believing that it would 
 sell. They were persuaded to have one carved in wood. When done 
 they fixed the price at £4. 4^., which seemed prohibitive of a large sale. 
 An essay was then made to have a platter executed in London, and it 
 was proved that it could be sold for ^3 3^., with a good allowance for 
 
WOOD. 
 
 193 
 
 distribution. This put Sheffield pn its mettle : the London copy was 
 sent to Sheffield, and after a short time, a platter was forwarded to 
 London by Messrs. Rodgers, who stated that it could be sold retail for 
 £■2 2J. From the year 1848 to the present time, the Summerly platter 
 has been sold — besides innumerable other versions produced at the 
 lowest possible prices ; in fact, a new branch of industry was established 
 at Sheffield, and, being easy of manufacture, at places more or less 
 throughout the kingdom. 
 
 Potato Bowl, modelled by J. Bell, the plant forming the 
 handles. Manufactured at Sheffield by J. Rodgers and Sons. 
 
 The "Endive" Salad Spoon and Fork, in carved Wood, 
 ^2 2s. the pair; Ivory and Silver, at various prices ; with ruby 
 glass Salad Bowl in keeping, designed and modelled by J. Bell. 
 
 The Bird, Flower, and Fruit Brackets, designed by S. Delor, 
 and carved by machinery in Wood, in the style of Grinling Gib- 
 bons, by Taylor, Williams and Jordan, price ;^5 5^. the pair, 
 and upwards. 
 
 A Cellaret in carved Wood, designed and modelled by 
 John Bell, executed by J. Webb, of Old Bond Street. 
 
 Arm Chair and Occasional Chair, designed and modelled 
 by J. Thomas ; the figures designed by J. C. Horsley. The orna- 
 ments are suggestive of repose. The bas-relief consists of three 
 Angels, one as guardian, and the others playing musical instruments, 
 protecting a sleeping mother and child and old man. The flowers 
 are the lily, passion flower, and poppy. 
 
 WOOD AND IVORY. 
 
 Bread Knife, with a carved Wood handle, representing an ear 
 of Indian corn, and boys sowing and reaping, etched on the blade. 
 
 Art Manu- 
 factures. 
 A.D. 1846-7. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections, 
 
 Bread Knife. 
 
 Designed and modelled by John Bell, sculptor, and made by Rodgers and 
 
 Sons, Sheffield. 
 
 designed by J. Bell, price 1 7^. plain, and 20s. etched. Carved 
 Ivory handle, 2 7.f . plain, and 30^. etched ; also with a porcelain 
 II. O 
 
194 SUMMERLY' S ART MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Art Manu- handle. With a Parian handle, 125., and 15^. etched. Manufac- 
 FACTUREs. turgfi i3y j_ Rodgers and Sons, Sheffield. Society of Arts Exhibi- 
 
 A.D. 1846-7. . rT o o T7- ■« T 
 
 Part II ti°°> iS48- S.JC. M. 
 
 Selections. Cheese Knife. With carvcd Wood handle, 17^.; Ivory handle, 
 21s. 
 
 Butter Knife. With carved Wood handle and Plated blade, 
 20 J. 
 
 Butter Dish. In carved Wood, with lining of Glass or 
 China, 21J. 
 
 Cheese Dish. With carved Wood border, 42^., and upwards. 
 PAPIER MACHE. 
 
 Wine Tray, in Papier Machd, on a new principle, which espe- 
 cially prevents the decanters from shifting among the glasses ; de- 
 signed by R. Redgrave, A.R.A., made by Jennens and Bettridge, 
 price, without figures, 50J., with figures, and inlaid mother-of-pearl, 
 at various prices. S. K. M. 
 
 " Castles in the Air," Door Finger Plates, in Papier Machd ; 
 designed by J. Morgan, and executed by Messrs. Jennens and 
 Bettridge. 
 
 Papier mach6 Clock Case, at various prices, designed by J. 
 Bell ; manufactured by Jennens and Bettridge. 
 
 PAPER HANGINGS AND DECORATIONS. 
 
 A Paper expressly to hang pictures on, by R. Redgrave, A.R. A., 
 made by W. B. Simpson, 345, Strand. S. K. M. 
 
 Catherine Douglas, or " Loyalty," the first of a Series of Paper 
 Hangings. The present subject is intended to decorate an En- 
 trance Hall, and is the centre of three compartments, the first re- 
 presenting the Conspirators at the door, the second Catherine 
 Douglas, the third the Queen protecting the King. After the 
 Fresco exhibited in Westminster Hall, by R. Redgrave, A.R.A. ; 
 made by W. B. Simpson, Strand, London. 
 
 " Unattended even by a body guard, and confiding in the love of his 
 subjects, James the First of Scotland was residing within the walls of 
 the Carthusian monastery at Scone, which he had founded and en- 
 dowed. Graham of Stratheam seized the occasion, and brought down 
 a party at night to the neighbourhood. Seconded by traitors within, 
 he gained possession of the gates and interior passages. The King's 
 first intimation was from his cupbearer, William Stratton, who, on 
 leaving the chamber in which the King and Queen were at supper, 
 found the passage crowded with armed men, who answered his cry of 
 alarm by striking him dead. The noise reached the King's chamber, 
 a rush of the assassins ensued, and Catherine Douglas, one of the 
 Queen's maids of honour, springing forward to bolt the door of the 
 outer apartment, found the bar had been clandestinely removed ; with 
 resolute self-devotion, she supplied the place with her naked arm." — 
 Catherine Douglas. 
 
TECHNICAL ARTS IN HAMPTON COURT. 195 
 
 TECHNICAL ARTS IN HAMPTON COURT. 
 
 Art Manu- 
 factures. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1841-1849. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 Hampton 
 Court 
 Palace. 
 
 Hampton 
 Court, 
 stone and 
 wood. 
 
 Brickwork. 
 
 The Kitchen Court; brickwork in 1596. 
 
196 CHRISTOPHER WREN'S HAMPTON COURT. 
 
 Art Manu- 
 factures. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1841-1849. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 
 Hampton 
 
 Court 
 
 Palace. 
 
 Stone and 
 brick. 
 
 The Fountain Court. 
 
 Bird's Eye View of the Palace Gardens and Grounds in 
 THE reign of Queen Anne. 
 
 These cuts, taken from Felix Summerly's Handbook to Hamp- 
 ton Court, are intended to convey some idea of the various archi- 
 tectural phases in the buildings. 
 
TECHNICAL ARTS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 197 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 t-r==^ 
 
 ».ADV '^ALi.cb'rT^JMa. - ELIZA H, THQMPSQDl-Br 
 
 Stone Carving, Earl of Pembroke, 1325. 
 
 Aet Manu- 
 factures. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1841-1849. 
 Part II. 
 Selections- 
 Westminster 
 Abbey. 
 
 Westminster 
 
 Abbey, 
 
 stonework. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM FELIX SUMMERLY'S HANDBOOK. 
 Introduction. 
 
 SIX centuries have passed since Henry the Third piously raised imroduc- 
 the many-clustered shafts and pointed arches of the pre- 
 sent Abbey of Westminster. Rude has been the treatment of 
 them during the last half of this period, yet they still point high to 
 
igS SUMMERLVS ''WESTMINSTER ABBEY:' 
 
 Art Manu- heaven, in undiminished grace, and lightness, grandeur, and 
 "'^'^1™°^ strength. Strange tales of the contrasts between their first and 
 1841-1849. la^st days might the old grey walls tell : and a glance at some of 
 Selections, these seems to us to be not altogether an unsuitable preparation 
 MTbey!'"^'" for contemplating the endless wonders of the Abbey, or an inap- 
 propriate means of reviving so much of its early history as com- 
 ports with the scope of this work, which aims at avoiding the 
 needless repetition of what may be found in all fulness of detail in 
 Dart, Widmore, Keepe, and Brayley. 
 
 In one of the quietest nooks of the whole building, in the corner 
 sanctified to our poets, we pass the threshold of the Abbey. We 
 may have crossed Westminster Bridge without toll ; perchance in 
 a public carriage, to which a shilling and a statute have given us 
 right of use, hardly less absolute than our Queen has in her own 
 state-coach ; or we may have walked across Old Palace Yard, in 
 perfect freedom, even without fear of pickpockets, thanks to the 
 street police, — having landed at the stairs from an iron steamer, 
 which brought us swiftly against the tide from London Bridge. 
 We now enter the Abbey in a cold spirit of dilettante-ism, rather 
 to see than to pray, — thinking of past days — of the heroes in 
 divinity, poetry, eloquence, and war, who rest here ; of architec- 
 tural splendour, of sculpturesque beauties and monstrosities, of the 
 fine pictorial effects on the many-tinted stones, which flickering 
 gleams of light and deep impenetrable shadows present at each of 
 the thousand points of view. All these may, happily, lead us 
 into a reverential tone of mind ; yet who will deny that curiosity, 
 rather than devotion, brings us hither ? Among the tombs of the 
 poets in the Abbey, as well as in the Nave and North Transept, 
 we are free to wander at all times, thanks to the liberality of the 
 Dean and Chapter ; the tribute is sixpence to explore the 
 gloomy and picturesque mysteries of the sacella or sepulchral 
 chapels. 
 
 Two centuries ago the Westminster ferry-boat — one solitary 
 bridge then served all London — had brought no meditative ama- 
 teur of art within the portals of the sacred edifice ; but, iconoclast ! 
 you had found a greeting among the rollicking troopers of the 
 Commonwealth, who, having pawned the organ pipes, were 
 enjoying the profits in a carousal over the ashes of Edward the 
 Confessor. The chapels of the saints were defiled as barracks. 
 
SUMMERLY' S "WESTMINSTER ABBEY." 199 
 
 and it was good loyal service to the state to mutilate every orna- art Manu- 
 ment, no matter how beautiful, tainted with any fancied super- ''*=^™^^- 
 stition. Yet another hundred years before, art was still more 1841-1849. 
 sacrilegiously treated. We may excuse the blind fury of the Selections. 
 Puritan, as the offspring of a diseased conscience ; but at the dis- ^bej^'"^'" 
 solution of the monasteries, the ecclesiastical fabrics— which the 
 church was unable to defend — ^were plundered and heaped in 
 ruins, because Harry the Eighth was a spendthrift, and his cour- 
 tiers hungry sycophants. Poor Oliver Cromwell (let us never 
 forget that we owe the preservation of Raffaelle's cartoons to his 
 rough gentleness) is blamed for much of the rapacity of the 
 uxorious tyrant. Vulgar report attributes to the Protector the 
 theft of the silver head from the monument of Henry the Fifth in 
 the Abbey, though " Howes' Chronicle " relates that " about the 
 latter ende of King Henry the Eyght, the head of the Kinges 
 image, being of massie silver, was broken off and conveyed cleane 
 awaie." In Harry the Eighth's time, the visitor to the Abbey 
 was a huckstering broker, who came to barter for the metal 
 chasings of the shrines, and the lead of the roof. 
 
 The contrast between the scenes enacted in the Abbey in the 
 first and last three centuries of its existence, is very striking. In 
 the first period, no dilettante sight-seers, or fanatics, blinded with 
 pious fury against pictures and images, or greedy spoilers, entered 
 its walls. Men assembled beneath the " fretted roof" to behold 
 and hear all with reverential awe ; — gave the best of their worldly 
 goods to the church ; — laid down their lives for it, — and were too 
 ready to bum yours out of you, if you doubted its perfect infal- 
 libihty. Faintly are we able to conceive the impressive pomps 
 and ceremonies acted here. Censers smoked with fragrant per- 
 fumes ! Universal decoration of pictures and tapestries ! Not 
 a superficial inch of wall left naked ! Statues of " martyr, 
 or king, or sainted eremite,'' resplendent with precious stones 
 and enamels ; — bosses, capitals, mouldings, every sculptured 
 ornament "picked out" with gold, and ultramarine, vermilion, 
 and all positive colours ! Perpetual lights, like the fires of the 
 vestal virgins, illumined the altars ! The black vests of the Bene- 
 dictine monks, enriched by contrast the snow-white robes of the 
 incense-bearers, and the jewelled and gold-braided vests of the 
 officiating priests ! The swelling voices of the choir chaunted the 
 
200 SUMMERLY' S "WESTMINSTER ABBEY." 
 
 Art Mahu- " Kyrie Eleison ! " to the sublime and simple harmony of the 
 
 ''■*'^^"^^^" Gregorian tones ! Borrowing Wordsworth's lines, — 
 1841-1849. 
 
 Part II. " Every stone was kissed 
 
 e actions. -gy, jq^jJ^ q,. gjjQst of sound in mazy strife. 
 
 Abbey. Heart thrilling strains, that cast before the eye 
 
 Of the devout a veil of ecstacy ! 
 
 They dreamt not of a perishable home 
 
 Who thus could build ! " 
 
 Yet these fair substantial realities could not sustain the tottering 
 rottenness of the Romish church. It had fulfilled its mission, and 
 became before men, at least, Englishmen, a hoUowness and a lie ; 
 and in fulness of time, was swept away as all hoUownesses and 
 cheats, sooner or later, always are. 
 
 "Bulls, pardons, relics, cowls, black, white, and grey, 
 Upwhirled, — and flying o'er the ethereal plain 
 Fast bound for Limbo Lake. " 
 
 Towards the latter period of the Romish church, the holy men, 
 like Peachum and Lockit, fell out, and chiselled gross caricatures 
 of one another, even on their very altars. Reformation was ripe 
 indeed! Here — the Evil One carrying off a monk, a woman 
 wringing her hands in despair, and an assistant sprite tattooing for 
 joy — is a sculpture, one of the least gross, from the seats in Henry 
 the Seventh's Chapel, which, like several of our cathedrals, abounds 
 in such like profanities. 
 
 Further retrospect of two centuries brings the period of the 
 " woman-hearted Confessor " into notice. Edward, an exile in 
 Normandy, made a vow he would go a pilgrim to Rome, in 
 honour of St. Peter, should he be restored to his kingdom ; but 
 when the time of fulfilment arrived, the vow was found inop- 
 portune, and Pope Leo absolved him from it, on condition that he 
 erected or restored a monastery to St. Peter. St. Peter himself, to 
 guide the Confessor's choice, appeared in a vision to one Wulsinus, 
 a monk, and declared as follows : — " There is a place of mine in 
 the west part of London, which I chose and love ; which I formerly 
 consecrated with my own hands, honoured with my presence, and 
 made illustrious by my miracles. The name of the place is 
 Thorney ; which, having for the sins of the people been given to 
 the power of the barbarians, from rich is become poor, — from 
 
SUMMERLY'S "WESTMINSTER ABBEY." 201 
 
 stately, low, — and from honourable, contemptible. This let the Art Manu- 
 king, at my command, restore as a dwelling for monks, stately ''^"™.^^' 
 build, and amply endow ; it shall be no other than the House of '^41-1849. 
 God and the gate of heaven." And so Edward rebuilt, with Selections, 
 massive circular arches, — " more Romano," called Anglo-Saxon — Abbey.'"^'" 
 the "West Minster" of London, about a.d. 1050, said to have 
 been the first church in the shape of a cross in England; and 
 endowed it plenteously with relics, a specimen of which may be 
 quoted from Dart. He gave " part of the place and manger 
 where Christ was born, and also of the frankincense offered to 
 him by the Eastern magi ; of the table of our Lord ; of the bread 
 which he blessed; of the seat where he was presented in the 
 Temple ; of the wilderness where he fasted ; of the gaol where he 
 was imprisoned ; of his undivided garment ; of the sponge, lance, 
 and scourge, with which he was tortured ; of the sepulchre, and 
 cloth that bound his head ; and of the mountains Golgotha and 
 Calvary ; great part of the Holy Cross inclosed in a certain one 
 particularly beautified, and distinguished with many other pieces of 
 the same, and great part of one of the nails belonging to it ; and 
 likewise the cross that floated against wind and wave over sea from 
 Normandy, hither with that king. Many pieces of the vestments 
 of the Virgin Mary ; of the linen which she wore ; of the window 
 in which the angel stood when he saluted her ; of her milk ; of 
 her hair ; of her shoes ; and of her bed ; also of the girdle which 
 she worked with her own hands, always wore, and dropped to 
 St. Thomas the apostle, at her assumption ; of the hairs of St. 
 Peter's beard, and part of his cross." Edward became abstracted 
 from fleshly delights, and did many miracles. At his prayer, the 
 nightingales, whose 
 
 " Skirmish and capricious passagings, 
 
 And murmurs musical with swift jug, jug. 
 
 And one low piping sound more sweet than all, " 
 
 were hushed into silence because they broke his devotional retire- 
 ment. His miracles so multiplied, that at last they compelled 
 Pope Alexander the Second to enrol his name in the calendar ; 
 and about a.d. 1163, Edward the Confessor was made a Saint. 
 The sculptures on his screen will furnish another opportunity of 
 relating other incidents of his Ufe. Sir Christopher Wren has 
 
202 SUMMERLY' S "WESTMINSTER ABBEY." 
 
 Art Manu- translated out of an old MS. the following account of the Con- 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ■ fessor's building. " The principal area or nave of the church being 
 
 1841-1849. raised high, and vaulted with square and uniform ribs, is turned 
 
 Selections. circulaT to the east ; this on each side is strongly fortified with a 
 
 Abbe™™'" double vaulting of the iles in two stories, with their pillars and 
 
 arches. The cross building, contrived to contain the quire in the 
 
 middle, and the better to support the lofty tower, rose with a 
 
 plainer and lower vaulting; which tower, then spreading with 
 
 artificial winding stairs, was continued with plain walls to its 
 
 timber roof, which was well covered with lead." 
 
 If we look before the Confessor's time, we shall hardly find any 
 history of the Abbey existing, unless legends and traditions may be 
 admitted to be such. Facts, fictions, and probabilities raise many 
 knotty points among the learned, which it does not seem my vo- 
 cation to untie. It is pleasant to encourage a belief in each and 
 all the legends of the old West Minster at Thorney, without much 
 scrutiny. What shall it profit us to decide whether the British 
 king, Lucius, in a.d. 184, or King Sebert, of the East Saxons, 
 about A.D. 616, first built a church to the honour of God and St. 
 Peter, on the west of the city of London, in a terrible place, " loco 
 terribili," on Thorney Island, "overgrown with thorns and 
 environed with water ? " Does not the vicinity — a bird's eye view 
 may be had for sixpence from the Duke of York's column — at 
 this day denote a spot for the generation of rushes and thorns ? Is 
 not the " West Minster " close to " Milbank," or the bank where a 
 water-mill may have played? Is it not written indisputably, in 
 evidence of Parliament, that the water in St. James's Park is one 
 foot below the level of the high water of the river ? Why not be- 
 lieve that King Lucius' church was changed into the temple of 
 Apollo, and that it did stand on Thorney Island, and was ruined 
 by an earthquake in the time of Antonius Pius ? Sceptics may 
 agree with Sir Christopher Wren, who gravely disputes the fact. 
 Such belief does not militate against the legend that St. Peter sub- 
 sequently consecrated the Minster of the West. John Flete, a 
 monk, relates "that in the year 1231 there was a lawsuit between 
 the monks of Westminster and the minister of Rotherhithe, in 
 Surrey, for the tithe of the salmon caught in this parish; the plea 
 of the monks being that St. Peter himself had given them the tithe 
 of salmon caught in the Thames, at the time he had consecrated 
 
SUMMERLY'S "WESTMINSTER ABBEY." 203 
 
 their church /" Nothing here can be done to resolve these points ; art Manu- 
 and having thus carried our retrospect into periods over which '^^".d. 
 only the society of antiquaries has dominion, let us at once cut 1841-1849- 
 short all further historic allusions, and proceed on a pilgrimage Selections. 
 around the exterior and the interior of the Abbey itself. About three ^1^^"-'"^'" 
 hours are requisite to pursue the course of survey laid down in this 
 Handbook. Three whole days, or weeks — even years — perhaps 
 lives — would not suffice to exhaust all the sights and associations 
 of the venerable structure. Yet a three hours' visit makes an im- 
 pression indelible ; and if you are moved by such matters at all, 
 it will not be the only visit you will make. Commence your sur- 
 vey about noon-tide, and you will be in time to attend the after- 
 noon service, which begins at three and ends before four o'clock. 
 On no account miss the service, which is the happiest termination 
 possible to your visit. An incidental good in your attendance is, 
 that your presence helps to sustain the performances of the choir, 
 now excellent, but which are threatened, in these times of church 
 changes, with deterioration, — some say with extinction. 
 
 For picturesque richness, the inside surpasses the outside of the 
 Abbey; but the exterior, with the adjacent buildings — crumbling 
 and mutilated remnants of its abbatial grandeur, — not wanting, too, 
 in the finest effects of colour and light and shade — is, as an object 
 of meditation, if possible, more interesting. Among the cloisters 
 and gloomy passages you may wander uninterruptedly, pausing 
 when and where you list ; with nothing to remind you of the show- 
 man who unavoidably haunts the nooks and corners within the 
 walls, yet many whom curiosity leads to visit the Abbey, entirely 
 neglect everything but the showman's portion — a truly imperfect in- 
 spection, which it is our aim to make more perfect for the future. 
 Much has been done to spoil the effect of the outside ; and when 
 we look at the Abbey on the north side, the aspect oftenest seen, 
 we are unwillingly disposed to admit a foreigner's remark to be 
 true, that the Abbey, a specimen of our architecture somewhat 
 national, is far less impressive than St. Paul's Cathedral — a Roman 
 (" Pagan," says Mr. Pugin) temple turned into a Christian church. 
 Granting thus much, it by no means follows, that a " Gothic " 
 structure is in its nature inferior to one whose proportions are 
 regulated by any of the five orders of classical architecture. It is 
 no part of our business here to discuss the abstract excellences of 
 
204 SUMMERLY'S "WESTMINSTER ABBEY." 
 
 Art Manu- different styles of architecture, but rather to attempt to show why 
 FACTUEEs. ^^ exterior of Westminster Abbey is less effective to the eye than 
 1841-1849. it ought naturally to be. Ask any of our great landscape painters 
 Selections, where the best views of the outside of the Abbey are to be seen ; 
 Abbey."^'" and, without a doubt, they will refer you to some part where a 
 modern street builder would say it was smothered with buildings 
 — ^buildings the said builder would be eager to raze to the ground. 
 The grand Abbey gains by contrast with meanness. I doubt if 
 the Houses of Parliament, that work of modern confectionery, as 
 Carlyle calls it, improves the views of it. How fine the sight 
 must have been through the old Holbein Gateway which once 
 stood at the end of King Street ! No satisfactory view of 
 the Abbey can be obtained from any point in the large open 
 space between Palace Yard and the Westminster Hospital ; and 
 yet this space, within the memory of many, was opened ex- 
 pressly to show the Abbey to advantage, and the "handsome 
 ancient houses," spoken of by Sir Christopher Wren as close to 
 the north side, thrown down : a mistake no one who felt the spirit 
 of pointed architecture, could have committed. Vast areas that 
 are consistent with one style of architecture may be altogether in- 
 consistent with another. The direction of the principal lines in a 
 Greek temple is horizontal ; in an English cathedral it is perpen- 
 dicular and vertical. Since this was written, I find nearly the 
 same words in an article in the " Quarterly Review," for Decem- 
 ber, 1841, on Gothic Architecture : — " Horizontalism, if the ex- 
 pression may be used, is the characteristic of the Grecian — 
 verticalism, of the Gothic." In a Greek temple, the simultaneous 
 and full development of its complacent and harmonious propor- 
 tions, which admit of no addition or subtraction without injury, 
 are essential to its full effect. Hence the Greeks raised their 
 temples (like the Athenagum on the Acropolis) on eminences best 
 suited to display to most advantage fully, at one view, their hori- 
 zontal lines against the wavy outline of distant mountains. But 
 principles diametrically the reverse, prevailed with the ecclesiastical 
 buildings of the Middle Ages, which rather sought seclusion than 
 exposure, and broke, with tall pointed arches and lofty spires, 
 the horizontal flats surrounding them. In them, splendour and 
 impressiveness arise from an aggregation of details, heaped one 
 upon another, without much reference to a general design ; in- 
 
SUMMERLY' S "WESTMINSTER ABBEY." 205 
 
 creasing in magnificence as they increased in extent, and develop. Art Manu- 
 ing themselves gradually and not instantly. The vast height of ^■*™^'' 
 our church buildings was a necessary connexion with the moral p^'Ji"*'' 
 feelings of the times, aided by circumstances and climate. The Selections, 
 lines of the structure devoted to the Christian Faith, pointing to Abbey.'"' " 
 the boundless blue above, were a fit, perhaps an inevitable, symbol 
 of that faith which taught man to look from earth to heaven, and 
 filled him with aspirations after an indefinable eternity. Then, 
 not to omit the influence of material circumstances if we look at 
 an old plan of any of our cities, we find the church seemingly pro- 
 tected by houses close upon it, with little else to be seen save the 
 spire pointing upwards. Cities and towns, when cathedrals were 
 built, were encompassed for safety by walls, and the space within 
 was most valuable. The roofs, too, were acutely pointed, in order 
 that they should aiford the least possible retention of the constant 
 rains and snows, as Mr. Hope has suggested. The churches 
 marked their pre-eminence over surrounding buildings chiefly in 
 height. If we take away the surrounding buildings, we not only 
 lose a scale necessary for estimating the churches' elevation, but the 
 eye sees at a glance, with disappointment, as finite, what was de- 
 signed to appear z«finite. The pointed spires and gables aimed to 
 be impressive, too, by their height. But height is lost amidst 
 great breadth, and this was forgotten when a large vacant area 
 was made about the Abbey. In like forgetfulness, a committee of 
 taste selected a lofty column to decorate the wide space before 
 the National Gallery. The value of St. Margaret's Church, long in 
 danger of being removed by those who forget that vacancy is not 
 necessarily picturesque, is very great in the view of the western front. 
 By contrast with the church, the height of the Abbey is rendered 
 much greater. Distant peeps of the Abbey towers, springing 
 lightly above the trees, may be caught on the rising ground of the 
 Green Park, and from the bridge over the Serpentine ; and the 
 superior elevation of the whole Abbey is seen with great effect 
 from the hills about Wandsworth and Wimbledon. Approaching 
 the Abbey from the west, through St. James's Park, it is well 
 worth while to turn out of the Bird Cage Walk into Queen Square, 
 of Queen Anne's days, and pass on to Tothill Street. This old 
 square affords a relief from the everlasting barrack-look of modern 
 streets, in its handsome carved canopies still standing over most 
 
2o6 TECHNICAL ARTS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 
 
 Art Manu- 
 factures. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1841-1849. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 "Westminster 
 Abbey. 
 
 of the doors, — the grinning masks, — the lofty roofs, — prominent 
 gables of the garrets, — the long windows, and deep-toned bricks. 
 Those who may cross the park from the north should pass out of 
 Storey's Gate, and through an archway nearly in the centre of 
 Great George Street on the south by the side of the Guildhall, 
 which now stands on the site of the Ancient Sanctuary. 
 
 Westminster 
 
 Abbey, 
 
 bronze. 
 
 Henry the Seventh's Tomb, in Bronze Gilt. 
 
 Wood 
 carving. 
 
 Wood Carvings, temp. Henry VII. 
 
TECHNICAL ARTS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 207 
 
 MBKMMUVL^U.. 
 
 Stone Carving. 
 
EXTRACTS FROM THE PREFACE TO THE 
 
 CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION 
 
 OF 1851. 
 
 HE activity of the present day chiefly developes itself 
 in commercial industry, and it is in accordance with 
 the spirit of the age, that the nations of the world 
 have now collected together their choicest produc- 
 tions. It may be said without presumption, that an event like 
 this Exhibition, could not have taken place at any earlier period, 
 and perhaps not among any other people than ourselves. The 
 friendly confidence reposed by other nations in our institutions ; 
 the perfect security for property; the commercial freedom, and 
 the facility of transport, which England pre-eminently possesses, 
 may all be brought forward as causes which have operated in esta- 
 blishing the Exhibition in London. Great Britain offers a hos- 
 pitable invitation to all the nations of the world, to collect and 
 display the choicest fruits of their industry in her capital ; and the 
 invitation is freely accepted by every civilized people, because the 
 interest both of the guest and host is felt to be reciprocal. 
 
 But the consideration of the wide moral agencies which have 
 contributed to produce the present Exhibition must be postponed, 
 and we proceed at once to trace the course of the more direct 
 influences which have led to its establishment. 
 
 Fairs,^ which are one sort of exhibitions of works of industry, 
 
 ' Sir Theodore Martin says : — "In of the Industrial Exhibitions of our 
 the celebrated Frankfort Fairs of the era," and he refers to "La Faire de 
 1 6th century, may be found the germ Frankfort (Exposition universelle et 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 209 
 
 have been established for centuries in every part of the United great 
 Kingdom ; but exhibitions resembling the present institution, in of 185"'°" 
 which the race is for excellence, and direct commerce is not the is-^fje^ 
 primary object, have taken place only during the last century, and Part 11. 
 have been originated by individuals, or societies, independently of 
 any Government assistance. As early as the years 1756-7, the 
 Society of Arts of London offered prizes for specimens of manu- 
 factures, tapestry, carpets, porcelain, &c., and exhibited the works 
 which were offered in competition. About the same period, the 
 Royal Academy, as a private society, patronized by the Sovereign, 
 more in a personal capacity than as representing the head of the 
 Legislature, had organized its exhibitions of painting, sculpture, and 
 engraving. 
 
 The first exhibition of industrial productions in France, recog- 
 nized as a national institution, occurred in 1798; a second took 
 place in 1801, a third in 1802, and a fourth in 1806. But it was 
 not until the year 18 ig, that the expositions of French industry 
 have taken place systematically ; and it is only since that time that 
 the influence of them has been markedly felt in Europe. 
 
 During the last thirty years, in each of the metropolitan cities Local Ex- 
 
 ° . , ., , ■ n ■ hibitionsin 
 
 of the United Kmgdom, and the most important manufacturing United 
 
 towns, one or more exhibitions of machinery and manufactures 
 have been held ; and it may be recorded that, as early as 1829, 
 the Royal Dublin Society had founded an exhibition of works 
 of art, science, and manufacture, to be held ti-iennially, to 
 which, however, Irish productions only, were admitted until the 
 year 1850. But the local exhibition of Birmingham, held in the 
 autumn of the year 1849 — originating with individuals, self-sup- 
 
 permanente au XVI« Si^cle), par the eleventh French Exposition of the 
 Henri Estienne," published in 1574, Products of Industry, submitted to the 
 and translated by M. Isidore Lisieux, President and Council of the Society 
 Paris, 1875. Sir Theodore proceeds of Arts, 1849, shows that an attempt 
 to say, " The French were the first to was made to form an exhibition at St. 
 adopt the idea of bringing together Cloud, of Gobelins tapestry, Savon- 
 great public collections of works of nerie carpets, and Sevres china, by 
 art and industry, with a view to the the Marquis d'AvJze in 1797, which 
 improvement of both," and mentions was prevented by the Revolution, but 
 that an Exhibition of this nature took was carried out by him in 1798, and 
 place in Paris in 1798, the sixth year its success induced the Minister of the 
 of the first Republic. Interiortopromisea«?/Ka/exhibitions, 
 Mr. Digby Wyatt, in his report on which did not take place. 
 II. P 
 
 Kingdom. 
 
2IO 
 
 EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 Great 
 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 porting in its management, and comprehensive in the. scope of the 
 objects exhibited — may be said to have most nearly resembled the 
 Exhibition of the present year. All similar exhibitions, in fact, 
 have been essentially of a private and local character, none of them 
 receiving any kind of Government or national sanction, if we except 
 the exhibition of manufactures applicable to the decoration of the 
 Houses of Parliament, which was instituted by the Fine Arts 
 Commissioners. 
 
 To follow the links of the chain which have connected the pre- 
 sent Exhibition with the national sympathies and support, we must 
 revert to the French exposition in 1844. The great success of 
 that exposition caused several representations to be made to mem- 
 bers of the Cabinet, of the benefit which a similar exhibition would 
 be likely to confer on the industry of the United Kingdom, and 
 some efforts were made to obtain the assistance of the Government, 
 but with no apparent results. No hopes whatever, were held out 
 that the Government would undertake any pecuniary liabilities in 
 promoting such an exhibition. It may be mentioned that, even so 
 late as the year 1848, a proposal to establish a self-supporting ex- 
 hibition of British industry, to be controlled by a Royal Commis- 
 sion, was submitted to his Royal Highness the Prince Albert, and 
 by him laid before the Government ; still, the Government hesi- 
 tated to take up the subject, and it became quite evident to those 
 parties who were most desirous of witnessing the establishment of 
 a national exhibition, that if such an event should ever take place, 
 it would have to be carried out independently of any Government 
 assistance. 
 
 It is a marking feature in all the institutions and great works of 
 our country, that they are the consequence of great popular wishes. 
 It is not until wants become national, and that combined action 
 becomes essential to success, that people seek the aid of the Govern- 
 ment. The great constitutional freedom which this country en- 
 joys, may be ascribed in some measure to the reluctance which 
 the Government always shows, to act on behalf of the people in any 
 case where it is possible they can act for themselves. A great 
 part of the success which has attended the institution of this Exhi- 
 bition, may be attributed to its independence of the Government ; 
 and it may be the boast of our countrymen that the Exhibition 
 was originated, conducted, and completed independently of any 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 211 
 
 Government aid whatever, except its sanction. Assistance has only Great 
 been sought from the Government when it was indispensable, as in of 1851. 
 correspondence with foreign countries, the provision of a site for ^g *;°j ^ 
 the building, the organization of the police, &c., and wherever Part 11. 
 such assistance, when granted, would have entailed expense, the ^°'""°"'- 
 cost of it has been defrayed from the funds of the Exhibition. 
 
 Step by step, the subject of a national exhibition, and the Exhibition 
 means of realizing it, became connected with the Society of Arts, cietyof Arb. 
 In June, 1845, a committee of members of that Society was formed 
 to carry out an exhibition of national industry, and funds were 
 subscribed by the individuals forming the committee, to meet the 
 preliminary expenses. An inquiry was set on foot to ascertain the 
 disposition of manufacturers to support the Exhibition, but the 
 attempt failed and was abandoned. In 1847, the Council of the 
 Society substituted action for theory, and in the midst of dis- 
 couragement, established a limited exhibition of manufactures, 
 professedly as the beginning of a series. The success of this 
 exhibition determined the Council to persevere, and to hold 
 similar exhibitions annually. Accordingly, in the next year, the 
 experiment was repeated with such greatly increased success, that 
 the Council felt warranted in announcing their intention of holding 
 annual exhibitions, as a means of establishing a quinquennial Exhi- 
 bition of British Industry, to be held in 1851. Having proceeded 
 thus far, the Council sought to connect the Schools of Design, 
 located in the centres of manufacturing industry, with the proposed 
 exhibitions, and obtained the promised co-operation of the Board 
 of Trade, through the President, Mr. Labouchere ; moreover, with 
 a view to prepare a suitable building, they secured the promise of 
 a site from the Earl of Carlisle, then Chief Commissioner of Woods 
 and Forests, who offered either the central area of Somerset House, 
 or some other government ground. In the year 1849, the exhibi- 
 tion, still more successful than any preceding, consisted chiefly of 
 works in the precious metals, some of which were graciously con- 
 tributed by Her Majesty. To aid in carrying out their intention 
 of holding a National Exhibition in the year 185 1, the Council of 
 the Society caused a report on the French Exposition, held in 
 1849, *o be made for them and printed. A petition was also 
 presented by the Council to the House of Commons, praying that 
 they might have the use of some public building for the exhibition 
 
212 PRINCE ALBERT'S SPEECH ON EXHIBITION. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Enlarged 
 by Prince 
 Albert. 
 
 His Royal 
 Highness's 
 views. 
 
 of 1851, which was referred to the Select Committee on the School 
 of Design. 
 
 His Royal Highness the Prince Albert, as President of the 
 Society, had of course been fully informed, from time to time, of 
 all these proceedings, which had received His Royal Highness's 
 sanction and approval ; but immediately after the termination of 
 the session of 1849, the Prince took the subject under his 
 personal superintendence. He proceeded to settle the general 
 principles on which the proposed exhibition of 185 r should be con- 
 ducted, and to consider the mode in which it should be carried out. 
 
 His Royal Highne.ss has himself fully expressed the views 
 which prompted him to take the lead in carrying out the Exhibi- 
 tion, and on the occasion of the banquet to promote the Exhibi- 
 tion, given by Mr. Farncomb, the Lord Mayor of London, to the 
 municipal authorities of the United Kingdom, His Royal Highness 
 declared these views in the following terms : — - 
 
 "It. must, indeed, be most gratifying to me, to find that a 
 suggestion which I had thrown out, as appearing to me of im- 
 portance at this time, should have met with such universal con- 
 currence and approbation ; for this has proved to me that the 
 view I took of the peculiar character and requirements of our 
 age, was in accordance with the feelings and opinions of the 
 country. Gentlemen, I conceive it to be the duty of every edu- 
 cated person closely to watch and study the time in which he 
 lives; and, as far as in him lies, to add his humble mite of 
 individual exertion to further the accomplishment of what he 
 believes Providence to have ordained. Nobody, however, who 
 has paid any attention to the particular features of our present era, 
 will doubt for a moment that we are living at a period of most 
 wonderful transition, which tends rapidly to the accomplishment 
 of that great end to which, indeed, all history points — the realiza- 
 tion of the unity of mankind. Not a unity which breaks down 
 the limits, and levels the peculiar characteristics of the different 
 nations of the earth, but rather a unity the result and product of 
 those very national varieties and antagonistic qualities. The 
 distances which separated the different nations and parts of the 
 globe, are gradually vanishing before the achievements of modern 
 invention, and we can traverse them with incredible ease ; the 
 languages of all nations are known, and their acquirement placed 
 
PRINCE ALBERT'S SPEECH ON EXHIBITION. 213 
 
 within the reach of everybody ; thought js communicated with Great 
 the rapidity and even by the power of lightning. On the other oF^'^a'sJ!'"" 
 hand, the great principle of division of labour, which may be ^g *-°j ^ 
 called the moving power of civilization, is being extended to all Part 11. 
 branches of science, industry, and art. Whilst formerly the ^^'^"'°"'- 
 greatest mental energies strove at universal knowledge, and that 
 knowledge was confined to the few, now they are directed to 
 specialities, and in these again, even to the minutest points ; but 
 the knowledge acquired becomes at once the property of the 
 community at large. Whilst formerly discovery was wrapt in 
 secresy, the publicity of the present day causes that no sooner is a 
 discovery or invention made, than it is already improved upon and 
 surpassed by competing efforts ; the products of all quarters of 
 the globe are placed at our disposal, and we have only to choose 
 which is the best and cheapest for our purpose, and the powers of 
 production are intrusted to the stimulus of competition and capital. 
 So man is approaching a more complete fulfilment of that great 
 and sacred mission which he has to perform in this world. His 
 reason being created after the image of God, he has to use it to 
 discover the laws by which the Almighty governs His creation, and, 
 by making these laws his standard of action, to conquer Nature to 
 his use — ^himself a divine instrument. Science discovers these 
 laws of power, motion, and transformation ; industry applies them 
 to the raw matter, which the earth yields us in abundance, but 
 which becomes valuable only by knowledge ; art teaches us the 
 immutable laws of beauty and symmetry, and gives to our pro- 
 ductions forms in accordance with them. Gentlemen, — The 
 Exhibition of 185 1 is to give us a true test and a living picture of 
 the point of development at which the whole of mankind has 
 arrived in this great task, and a new starting point from which all 
 nations will be able to direct their further exertions. I confidently 
 hope the first impression which the view of this vast collection will 
 produce upon the spectator, will be that of deep thankfulness to 
 the Almighty for the blessings which He has bestowed upon us 
 already here below ; and the second, the conviction that they can 
 only be realized in proportion to the help which we are prepared 
 to render to each other — therefore, only by peace, love, and ready 
 assistance, not only between individuals, but between the nations 
 of the earth." 
 
214 
 
 EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1S51. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Meeting at 
 Buckingham 
 Palace. 
 
 On the 29th June, 1849, the general outlines of the Exhibition 
 were discussed by His Royal Highness ; and from that day to the pre- 
 sent time, accurate accounts of all proceedings have been kept, and 
 the greater part of them printed and published. The minutes of 
 a meeting of several members of the Society of Arts, held at Buck- 
 ingham Palace on the 30th June, set forth as follows : — His R6yal 
 Highness communicated his views regarding the formation of a 
 Great Collection of Works of Industry and Art in London in 185 1, 
 for the purposes of exhibition, and of competition and encourage- 
 ment. 
 
 His Royal Highness considered that such Collection and Exhi- 
 bition should consist of the following divisions : — 
 
 Raw Materials. 
 
 Machinery and Mechanical Inventions. 
 
 Manufactures. 
 
 Sculpture and Plastic Art generally. 
 
 It was a matter of consideration whether such divisions should be 
 made subjects of simultaneous exhibition, or be taken separately. 
 It was ultimately settled, that, on the first occasion at least, they 
 should be simultaneous. 
 
 Various sites were suggested as most suitable for the building ; 
 which it was settled must be, on the first occasion at least, a tem- 
 porary one. The Government had offered the area of Somerset 
 House ; or, if that were unfit, a more suitable site on the property 
 of the Crown. His Royal Highness pointed out the vacant ground 
 in Hyde Park, on the south side, parallel with, and between, the 
 Kensington drive and the ride commonly called Rotten Row, as 
 affording advantages which few other places might be found to 
 possess. Application for this site could be made to the Crown. 
 
 It was a question whether this exhibition should be exclusively 
 limited to British industry. It was considered that, whilst it 
 appears an error to fix any limitation to the productions of ma- 
 chinery, science, and taste, which are of no country, but belong, 
 as a whole, to the civilized world, particular advantage to British 
 industry might be derived from placing it in fair competition with 
 that of other nations. 
 
 It was further settled that, by offering very large premiums in 
 money, sufficient inducement would be held out to the various 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 215 
 
 manufacturers to produce works which, although they -plight not Great 
 
 form a manufacture profitable in the general market, would, by the op 185"'°" 
 
 effort necessary for their accomplishment, permanently raise the ^j *'°j ^ 
 
 powers of production, and improve the character of the manufac- Part 11. 
 
 1- Selections. 
 
 ture Itself. 
 
 It was settled that the best mode of carrying out the execution 
 of these plans would be by means of a Royal Commission, of 
 which His Royal Highness would be at the head. His Royal 
 Highness proposed that inasmuch as the home trade of the coun- 
 try will be encouraged, as many questions regarding the introduc- 
 tion of foreign productions may arise — in so far also as the Crown 
 property may be affected, and Colonial products imported — the 
 Secretaries of State, the Chief Commissioner of Woods, and the 
 President of the Board of Trade, should be ex officio members of 
 this Commission ; and for the execution of its details some of the 
 parties present, who are also members or officers of the Society of 
 Arts, and who have been most active in originating and preparing 
 for the execution of this plan, should be suggested as members, 
 and that the various interests of the community also should be 
 fully represented therein. 
 
 It was settled that a draft of the proposed Commission, grounded 
 on precedents of other Royal Commissions, be prepared, and that 
 information regarding the most expeditious and direct mode of 
 doing this be procured, and privately submitted to Her Majesty's 
 Government, in order that no time be lost in preparation for the 
 collection when the authority of the Government shall have been 
 obtained. 
 
 It was settled that a subscription for donations on a large scale, 
 to carry this object into effect, would have to be organized imme- 
 diately. It was suggested that the Society for Encouragement of 
 Arts under its charter possessed machinery and an organization 
 which might be useful, both in receiving and holding the money, 
 and in assisting the working out of the Exposition. — (Minutes of 
 the Meeting on the T,othJune, 1849, at Buckingham Palace."} 
 
 In the minutes of a second meeting held on the 14th July, at Meeting at 
 Osborne, it appears that : — His Royal Highness stated that he had °^''°™°- 
 recently communicated his views regarding the formation of a Great 
 Collection of Works of Industry and Art in London in 185 1, for the 
 purposes of exhibition and of competition and encouragement, to 
 
2l6 
 
 EXHIBITION OF i8ci. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 some of the leading statesmen, and amongst them to Sir Robert 
 Peel. 
 
 His Royal Highness judged, as the result of these communica- 
 tions, that the importance of the subject was fully appreciated, but 
 that its great magnitude would necessarily require some time for 
 maturing the plans essential to securing its complete success. 
 
 His Royal Highness communicated that he had also requested 
 Mr. Labouchere, as President of the Board of Trade, to give his 
 consideration to this subject. Mr. Labouchere was now at Osborne, 
 and His Royal Highness expressed his desire that he should be 
 present at this meeting. Mr. Labouchere was accordingly invited 
 to be present. 
 
 His Royal Highness gave it as his opinion that it was most im- 
 portant that the co-operation of the Government and sanction of 
 the Crown should be obtained for the undertaking ; but that it 
 ought to be matter for serious consideration how that co-opera- 
 tion and sanction could be most expediently given. 
 
 Mr. Labouchere stated that the whole subject would have the 
 very best consideration he could give it ; and on behalf of the 
 Ministry, he could promise an early decision as to the manner in 
 which they could best give their co-operation. 
 
 He suggested that if, instead of a Royal Commission being 
 formed, to include some of the chief members of Her Majesty's 
 Government, those same ministers were to be elected members of 
 a Managing Committee of the Society of Arts, this object might 
 perhaps be as well accomplished. 
 
 It was explained to Mr. Labouchere that the exertions of the 
 Society of Arts would be given to the undertaking, to the utmost 
 extent to which they could be useful, but that these functions 
 would necessarily be of an executive and financial nature, rather 
 than of a judicial and legislative character. 
 
 It was further urged by three members of the Society, that one 
 of the requisite conditions for the acquirement of public confidence 
 was, that the body to be appointed for the exercise of those func- 
 tions should have a sufficiently elevated position in the eyes of 
 the public, and should be removed sufficiently high above the 
 interests, and remote from the Uability of being influenced by 
 the feelings of competitors, to place beyond all possibility any 
 accusation of partiaHty or undue influence; and that no less 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 217 
 
 elevated tribunal than one appointed by the Crown, and presided Great 
 over by His Royal Highness, could have that standing and of 1851. 
 weight in the country, and give that guarantee for impartiality ^^^^^^^^ 
 that would command the utmost exertions of all the most eminent Part 11. 
 manufacturers at home, and particularly abroad : moreover, that 
 the most decided mark of national sanction must be given to 
 this undertaking, in order to give it the confidence, not only 
 of all classes of our own countrymen, but also of foreigners 
 accustomed to the expositions of their own countries, which are 
 conducted and supported exclusively by their Governments. It 
 was also stated that, under such a sanction, and with such plans 
 as now proposed, responsible parties would, it was believed and 
 could be proved, be found ready to place at the disposal of the 
 Commission sufficient funds to cover all preliminary expenses and 
 the risks incidental to so great an undertaking. Mr. Labouchere 
 expressed his sense of the great national importance of the proposal, 
 and wished such further communication on the subject as might 
 enable him fully to understand it, to be able better to consider 
 the matter with his colleagues in the Cabinet. 
 
 At the same time the following general outline of a plan of Plan of 
 operations was submitted : — operauons. 
 
 I. A Royal Commission. — For promoting Arts, Manufactures, 
 and Industry, by means of a Great Collection of Works of Art and 
 Industry of All Nations, to be formed in London, and exhibited in 
 185 1. President, His Royal Highness Prince Albert. 
 
 1. The duties and powers of the Commission to extend to the 
 determination of the nature of the prizes, and the selection of the 
 subjects for which they are to be offered. 
 
 2. The definition of the nature of the Exhibition, and the best 
 manner of conducting all its proceedings. 
 
 3. The determination of the method of deciding the prizes, and 
 the responsibility of the decision, 
 
 II. The Society of Arts. — To organize the means of raising 
 funds to be placed at the disposal of the Commission for Prizes, 
 and to collect the funds and contributions to provide a building 
 and defray the necessary expenses to cover the risks of the collec- 
 tion and exhibition ; and to provide for the permanent establish- 
 ment of these Quinquennial Exhibitions. 
 
 The prizes proposed to be submitted for the consideration of 
 
2l8 
 
 EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 GSEAT 
 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Pecuniary 
 arrange- 
 ments to 
 ensure exe- 
 cution of tlie 
 proposal. 
 
 the Commission to be medals, with money prizes so large as to 
 overcome the scruples and prejudices even of the largest and 
 richest manufacturers, and ensure the greatest amount of exertion. 
 It was proposed that the first prize should be _;^5,ooo, and that 
 one, at least of _;^ 1,000, should be given in each of the four 
 sections. Medals conferred by the Queen would very much en- 
 hance the value of the prizes. 
 
 Mr. Labouchere finally stated that the whole matter should be 
 carefully considered ; but that there was no use in bringing it before 
 the Cabinet at the moment of a closing session — that the Cabinet 
 would now disperse, and not meet again until the autumn. The 
 interval from now to October or November, might be most use- 
 fully employed by the Society in collecting more detailed evidence 
 as to the readiness of the great manufacturing and commercial 
 interests to subscribe to and support the undertaking, and he pro- 
 mised to employ that interval in further informing himself, and 
 endeavouring to ascertain the general feeling of the country 
 on the subject. — {Minutes of the Meeting of the x/^tk July, 1849, 
 at Osborne.) 
 
 In this stage of the proceedings, it became necessary to place the 
 accomplishment of the undertaking, as far as possible, beyond a 
 doubt. Having acquired experience, in 1845, of the difficulties to 
 be encountered, the Council of the Society of Arts felt that the 
 proposal must not be brought a second time before the public as 
 an hypothesis, but that the only means of succeeding was to 
 prove that they had both the will and the power to carry out the 
 Exhibition. The Society had no funds of its own available for the 
 advances necessary to be made. The outlay for a building upon 
 the scale then thought of, and for preliminary expenses, was esti- 
 mated at the least at _;^7o,ooo. 
 
 After much fruitless negotiation with several builders and con- 
 tractors, an agreement was made between the Society of Arts and 
 the Messrs. Munday, by which the latter undertook to deposit 
 _;^2o,ooo as a prize fund, to erect a suitable building, to find 
 offices, to advance the money requisite for all preliminary expenses, 
 and to take the whole risk of loss on certain conditions. It was 
 proposed that the receipts arising from the Exhibition should be 
 dealt with as follows : — The ;^2o,ooo prize fund, the cost of the 
 building, and five per cent, on all advances, were to be repaid in 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 219 
 
 the first instance ; the residue was then to be divided into three Great 
 
 1 - _ . , , ^ . ^ Exhibition 
 
 equal parts ; one part was to be paid at once to the Society of or 1851. 
 Arts as a fund for future exhibitions ; out of the other two parts j8^°852. 
 all other incidental expenses, &c., were to be paid; and the '^^'^}- 
 residue, if any, was to be the remuneration of the contractors, for 
 their outlay, trouble, and risk. Subsequently the contractors 
 agreed that instead of this division, they would be content to re- 
 ceive such part of the surplus, if any, as, after payment of all 
 expenses, might be awarded by arbitration. This contract was 
 made on the 23rd August, 1849, but the deeds were not signed till 
 the 7th November following. 
 
 For the purpose of carrying the contract into execution on be- 
 half of the Society, the Council nominated an Executive Com- 
 mittee of four members, who were afterwards appointed the Execu- 
 tive in the Royal Commission, and the contractors their own 
 nominee. In thus making the contract with private parties for the 
 execution of what, in fact, would become a national object, if the 
 proposal should be entertained by the public, every care was taken 
 to anticipate the public wishes, and to provide for the public in- 
 terests. It was foreseen that if the public identified itself with the 
 Exhibition, they would certainly prefer not to be indebted to private 
 enterprise and capital for carrying it out. A provision was made 
 with the contractors to meet this probability, by which it was agreed 
 that if the Treasury were willing to take the place of the contractors, 
 and pay the liabilities incurred, the Society of Arts should have the 
 power of determining the contract before the ist February, 1850. 
 In the event of an exercise of this power, the compensation to be 
 paid to the Messrs. Munday for their outlay and the risk, was to be 
 settled by arbitration. 
 
 The Society of Arts having thus secured the performance of the 
 pecuniarypart of the undertaking, thenext step taken was to ascertain 
 the readiness of the public to promote the Exhibition. It has been 
 shown that the proof of this readiness would materially influence 
 her Majesty's Government in consenting to the proposal to issue a 
 Royal Commission to superintend the Exhibition. The Prince 
 Albert, as President of the Society of Arts, therefore commissioned 
 several members of the society, in the autumn of 1849, to proceed 
 to the " manufacturing districts of the country, in order to collect manufac- 
 the opinions of the leading manufacturers, and further evidence tSf 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 with reference to a Great Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations 
 to be held in London in the year 1851, in order that His Royal 
 Highness might bring the results before Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment." Commissioners were appointed, visits made, and reports 
 of the results submitted to the Prince, from which it appeared that 
 sixty-five places, comprehending the mostimportant cities and towns 
 of the United Kingdom, had been visited. Public meetings had 
 been held, and local committees of assistance formed in them. It 
 further appeared that nearly 5,000 influential persons had regis- 
 tered themselves as promoters of the proposed Exhibition. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM FIRST REPORT OF 
 
 COMMISSIONERS FOR THE 
 
 EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 Contract 
 with Messrs 
 Munday. 
 
 "' I "HE Society of Arts, not having at their own disposal any 
 JL funds which they could apply to the purposes of the 
 Exhibition, had found it necessary, at the very outset of their 
 proceedings, to make arrangements for procuring money on the 
 security of the profits which they anticipated might arise from 
 the undertaking ; and having met with a firm (Messrs. James and 
 George Munday) wilhng to advance the sums hkely to be re- 
 quired, had entered into an agreement by which the firm bound 
 themselves to advance whatever amount might be necessary, in con- 
 sideration of receiving a proportion of the profits of the Exhibition, 
 which proportion was in the first instance fixed, but afterwards, at 
 the request of the Society of Arts, was left to be decided at the 
 close of the Exhibition by arbitrators chosen on either side. 
 
 " Into this agreement a clause had been introduced, giving the 
 Society of Arts the power to cancel it, if requested to do so by the 
 Lords of Her Majesty's Treasury within a specified period, pro- 
 vision being at the same time made for the repayment to the 
 Messrs. Munday of any sums that might have been advanced by 
 them, together with a fair compensation for the outlay and risk 
 which they might have incurred." 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 221 
 
 LETTER OF MR. DREW ADDRESSED TO 
 
 H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT ON THE 
 
 CONTRACT. 
 
 7th December, 1849. 
 
 TO the two proposals mentioned, respecting, first, the willing- ExmBiTioN 
 ness of the contractors to place a limit on their possible °^ '^*'' 
 
 A.D. 
 
 profits, and, secondly, to assent to a fiirther extension of the 1849-1832. 
 term for determining the contract, I have to inform your Royal sdections. 
 Highness, that I am authorised by the contractors Messrs. Mun- 
 day, to reply on their behalf as their nominee. 
 
 Before considering the first proposal, I submit it is necessary J^'^jj^'jf". 
 to dispose of the obvious preliminary question, whether the Minute '^»<='- 
 implies that the Government or the Society of Arts, or anybody 
 else, in desiring to limit the possible profits, is prepared to limit 
 the possible losses that may be sustained under this contract. As 
 the Minute does not allude to this contingency, I have taken it for 
 granted that no one is so prepared. Under this view I proceed to 
 discuss the proposal, which I am authorised to say the contractors are 
 quiteprepared to consider in accordance with your Royal Highness's 
 suggestion, because they fully sympathise in the desire of your 
 Royal Higlxness to protect to the utmost the public interests in this 
 matter. They admit the full force of the fact, that the under- 
 taking now appears under an aspect very different from that which 
 it wore in July last, when it was first propounded by your Royal 
 Highness. At the same time, the contractors submit it should be 
 borne in mind, in considering their position, that, before the pro- 
 position for holding the Exhibition, accompanied with the oifer to 
 the world of prizes to the amount of ;£2o,ooo could be published, it 
 was obviously necessary that there should be some guarantee that 
 the proposal would become a reality. The contractors apprehend 
 there can be no doubt that the Government, the Society of Arts, or 
 some one, must have taken the preliminary risk before any public 
 steps whatever could be taken, and the contractors, for certain con- 
 siderations, were then willing to undertake that risk. If a con- 
 tract had to be made now, in the month of December, for the first 
 time, the present information as to the expression of public feeling 
 might, perhaps, cause the terms of that contract to be different 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 The contractors, however, do not wish to take advantage of 
 the state of uncertainty which existed in July last, and are willing 
 that the better knowledge and experience in this matter, which 
 have been obtained at their risk and by their expenditure, should 
 be fairly considered. But in so doing, I submit that the circum- 
 stances of the early period when the agreement was made, ought 
 not to be forgotten. In July there was no evidence at all to indi- 
 cate how far the public would respond to the proposal ; and there 
 was no pecuniary guarantee whatever to secure its eventual success, 
 as indeed there is none certain even now. 
 
 The contractors were invited to enter into an engagement 
 binding themselves to carry out this great work, involving a cer- 
 tain liability of ;£7S,ooo ; to be prepared at once when called 
 upon to deposit ;^2o,ooo for a Prize Fund ; to advance all neces- 
 sary capital for preliminary expenses ; and to make an outlay im- 
 mediately without any tangible commercial security whatever. If 
 they had viewed this proposal simply as tradesmen, they would 
 probably have declined it, as I knew that others had already done, 
 but they were induced to entertain it principally by my knowledge 
 (obtained from the perusal of minutes of meetings held at Buck- 
 ingham Palace and Osborne House, and shown to me by Mr. 
 Fuller) of the interest taken by your Royal Highness in the plan, 
 and of the confidence displayed by your Royal Highness in 
 this matter in Messrs. Cole, Fuller, and Russell, from whom, 
 (then personally unknown to the contractors) the latter received 
 an assurance of wiUingness to co-operate in the Executive. 
 
 Upon such moral rather than commercial security, the con- 
 tractors entered into this arrangement, binding themselves to carry 
 out the proposal, which was not indeed defined in its extent, but 
 was to be carried out to such an extent, and in such a way as your 
 Royal Highness, or a Royal Commission if issued, should direct. 
 
 The receipts by which the outlay was to be repaid, either as 
 respects the amount, or the regulations for obtaining them, were 
 to be altogether beyond their control. How and whence they 
 should arise they could not determine ; this point resting with the 
 public themselves and with the Royal Commission. It was agreed, 
 when the receipts were sufficient to repay the ^20,000 advanced 
 for the Prize Fund, the expenses of the building, and some ex- 
 penses mentioned in the deed, that the residue of the receipts, if 
 
EXHIBITION OF 185 1. 223 
 
 any, should be divided in certain proportions between the Society Gkeat 
 
 -. ^, ,,..,. ,, Exhibition 
 
 of Arts, as trustees for the pubhc m this matter, and the contrac- of 1851. 
 tors. Out of their share the contractors undertook, further, to pay ^g "^i^^ 
 the expenses, necessarily very considerable, of all management, Part 11. 
 salaries, offices, advertising, printing, &c. j and the Society of Arts, 
 I understood, would hold their proportion in trust for future 
 similar exhibitions ; so that, even after the Prize Fund and the 
 building had been paid for, the contractors still had a risk, whilst 
 the public were sure of a future fund, if the receipts from the 
 undertaking afforded any surplus whatever, beyond the outlay for 
 prizes and the cost of the building. During the preparation of 
 the deeds for giving effect to the arrangements already mentioned, 
 a still further protection of the public was asked of them, and they 
 consented to the proposition made by Mr. Cole, that the contract 
 should be altogether cancelled upon arbitration before February 
 I St, 1850, if the Government desired it : thus practically agreeing 
 that, if a better arrangement for the public could be devised, there 
 should at least be an opportunity of making one. 
 
 I have now to state to your Royal Highness that, as the con- 
 tractors still entertain the same confidence towards the under- 
 taking and its promoters as they did when they came forward in 
 July, and by so doing enabled the proposal to be announced to the 
 world, so they are now willing that an arbitration shall determine, 
 when the Exhibition is closed, the proportion of any surplus, 
 after payment of all expenses whatever, to be allotted to them as 
 remuneration for the capital employed, the risk incurred, and the 
 exertions used. 
 
 With regard to the wish of your Royal Highness, that the con- 
 tractors should agree to a still further extension of the time within 
 which Her Majesty's Government shall be at liberty to determine 
 the contract, and the suggestion made, as I understand by your 
 Royal Highness, that the period of extension should be the end of 
 two months after the first meeting of the Royal Commission, I 
 have to state that the contractors consent that the contract shall 
 be liable to be determined at anytime within the period suggested, 
 upon the desire expressed by the Lords of the Treasury, in the 
 manner in all other respects provided in the deed. 
 
 In conclusion, I beg leave to submit to your Royal Highness, 
 that, while I have no wish to parade the willingness of the contractors 
 
224 
 
 EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 Great 
 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 thus to make further concession or to submit to further modification 
 in the terms of the contract for the public benefit, I think it only- 
 fair to call to mind the position in which they now place them- 
 selves. 
 
 Your Royal Highness has the guarantee that the proposal will 
 be carried out in such a way as a Royal Commission may direct. 
 The Society of Arts have the honour of being the organ for exe- 
 cuting the proposal, without any risk or loss to themselves. The 
 public not only have no risk or loss, but will have .in fact all 
 the profits of the undertaking, because I submit that a fair re- 
 muneration for risk and employment of capital cannot be con- 
 sidered as any other than an ordinaiy charge. In fact, the con- 
 tractors are the only parties unprotected, and are liable to all the 
 risks whatever. 
 
 I have the honour to be, Sir, with the greatest respect, 
 Your Royal Highness's 
 Most obedient and faithful Servant, 
 
 George Drew. 
 
 Colonel 
 Phipps's 
 answer. 
 
 LETTER FROM COLONEL PHIPPS ON 
 THE CONTRACT. 
 
 loth December, 1849. 
 
 SIR, — I am commanded by His Royal Highness the Prince 
 Albert to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th 
 December, and to express to you His Royal Highness's sense of 
 the public spirit and confiding readiness which were displayed by 
 the contractors in the original acceptance of the contract, at a time 
 when the risk of the undertaking could in no way be ascertained 
 or limited. 
 
 His Royal Highness has no hesitation in acknowledging that 
 it was owing to liberality and public spirit, thus displayed, that it 
 became possible for him to bring tlie scheme of the Exhibition of 
 the Industry of all Nations before the Government and the public, 
 in a shape insuring the practicability of its execution. 
 
 His Royal Highness is happy to trace the same feelings in the 
 answer which he has received from you on the part of the con- 
 tractors, under the present much altered circumstances of the 
 
Selections. 
 
 EXHIBITION OF 1851. 225 
 
 undertaking ; and the Prince is induced to hope that the position great 
 in which the present contract can be laid before the Government ^185^!'°" 
 and the public, will prove satisfactory to both. *•"■ 
 
 Firstly. Because the present agreement enables the Royal Part ii 
 Commission, should it decide that the present contract will not be 
 conducive to the public benefit, to determine that contract, within 
 a limited time, upon equitable terms. 
 
 Secondly. Because the contractors have consented to an arrange- 
 ment by which the share to be assigned to them of any profits that 
 may result from the Exhibition, after payment of their expenses, 
 shall be determined by arbitration, under the then existing cir- 
 cumstances of the case, whilst they still remain liable for any pos- 
 sible losses, trusting solely to the liberal support of the public of a 
 scheme which they have already so warmly received. 
 
 It is in appreciation of this fact that His Royal Highness feels 
 it a duty to furnish to them the earliest information with regard to 
 the scheme in which His Royal Highness, as President of the 
 Society of Arts, in conjunction with the British public, stands now 
 morally pledged to the world ; and therefore the Prince is pleased 
 to direct that the contract, with the modifications agreed to in 
 your letter, together with this answer written by His Royal High- 
 ness's command, shall be published without delay. 
 I have the honour to be. Sir, 
 
 Your obedient humble servant, 
 C. B. Phipps. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM FIRST REPORT OF 
 
 COMMISSIONERS FOR THE 
 
 EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 BEFORE the issue of the Royal Commission, an Executive Executive 
 Committee had been appointed by the Council of the Society fo?'J^y"g 
 of Arts, to carry into effect the contract which has already been effect!"^' '"'" 
 alluded to. This Committee had been afterwards confirmed in 
 Her Majesty's Commission of the 3rd January, 1850. It then 
 consisted of the following members : Mr. Robert Stephenson, Mr. 
 II. Q 
 
226 EXHIBITION OF 185 1. 
 
 •Great Henry Cole, Mr. C. Wentworth Dilke, Mr. F. Fuller, Mr. G. Drew, 
 oF^Tss'iT'"" Mr. M. Digby Wyatt (Secretary). Of these, Mr. Drew had been 
 j849l?852. nominated by Messrs. Munday to represent their interests, accord- 
 Paj-t II. ing to the provision in the contract. 
 
 Executive " Immediately on the Commissioners availing themselves of the 
 
 Committee. pQ^g,. {q annul the contract, and thereby assuming a different re- 
 lation to the management of the Exhibition, the then Executive 
 Committee considered it becoming to leave the Commissioners 
 wholly unfettered in the choice of their Executive Officers, and 
 accordingly tendered their resignations. Under these circumstances 
 Mr. Robert Stephenson retired, and was nominated a Commissioner 
 by a supplementary warrant from Her Majesty; and Lieut. - 
 Appoint- Colonel, now Colonel Sir William Reid, R.E., was appointed by 
 Re?das^°'' Her Majesty's warrant dated February 12, 1850, to succeed him 
 Exccu'trv" °^ iti t^e Executive Committee. The other Members of the Com- 
 committee. mittee were requested to continue their duties, but Mr. Fuller and 
 Mr. Drew stated that they were unable to devote the whole of their 
 time to the service of the Commission, and the principal part of 
 the duties fell therefore upon Sir William Reid, Mr. Cole, and 
 Mr. Dilke. It then became their duty practically to carry into 
 effect all the decisions of Her Majesty's Commissioners, and to 
 exercise that continued watchfulness in every department which 
 was requisite in so vast an undertaking, and which could only be 
 secured by the agency of persons constantly engaged in its man- 
 agement, and possessing authority to dispose of such questions of 
 detail as could not conveniently be delayed for the consideration 
 of the Commissioners. The Executive Committee have been en- 
 gaged in this manner without intermission until the present time. 
 Sir W. Reid more particularly undertook the duties of communi- 
 cating with the public departments, Mr. H. Cole the questions of 
 space and arrangement, and Mr. C. Wentworth Dilke the charge 
 of the correspondence and general superintendence. The services 
 of Mr. Fuller and Mr. Drew were principally employed in orga- 
 nizing the collection of subscriptions in the earlier period of the 
 labours of the Commission." .... 
 
 "The Commissioners having, by the determination of the 
 contract, taken upon themselves the responsibility of finding the 
 sums necessary for carrying on the Exhibition, proceeded forth- 
 with to invite the public to contribute to this great national object. 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 227 
 
 A subscription, list was immediately opened, and in announcing to Great 
 
 the public the step they had taken, the Commissioners stated that of 1851. 
 
 they would hold themselves exclusively responsible for the appli- ij.'^jg.j 
 
 cation of the funds which might be subscribed, and would proceed Part 11. 
 
 ■ 1 ■, , ,,.,,• , • \v. , Selections. 
 
 without delay to establish regulations for ensuring an effectual subscrip- 
 control over the expenditure, and a satisfactory audit of the """"pened. 
 accounts. 
 
 "The subscriptions promised to the undertaking were made 
 public from time to time as they were announced. The total 
 amount reported was ^^79,224 13X. ^d., of which sum £6'],S()6 
 1 2S. ()d. had been actually paid to the credit of the Commission 
 on the 29th February, 1852. A portion of the subscriptions re- 
 ceived in some of the provincial districts, was retained to defray 
 the expenses of collection and local management" 
 
 MR. COLE'S REPORT ON THE SECURITY OF 
 THE BUILDING FROM FIRE. 
 
 IN the estimate of the probable cost of the Exhibition, I have Fire-proof 
 assumed that the Commissioners, in declaring that the build- "' '"*^' 
 ing will be fire-proof, intend the term " fire-proof" to be interpreted 
 in a comparative, rather than a positive sense, and I ventured on 
 making this assumption, because the inquiries into the best means 
 of making a building fire-proof, which it has been my duty to pro- 
 secute for some years past, conjointly with Mr. Braidwood, Super- 
 intendent of the Fire Brigade, in reference to the Public Record 
 Office, have led me to the conclusion that a buildmg, fire-proof in 
 a strict sense, would not only be far too costly for the object pro- 
 posed, but would be, in the very nature of its construction, un- 
 suitable for the purposes of the Exhibition. 
 
 It is generally admitted by all authorities that the degree of "fire- Regulation 
 proof" in a building containing combustible materials is regulated °haract'e7of 
 chiefly by the amount of cubical space enclosed ; and that in pro- ^"iwings. 
 portion to the smallness of the area, and its complete air-tight in- 
 sulation, so will the draught be minimized, and the intensity of any 
 fire be diminished. Mr. Braidwood has stated that "he had seen 
 
228 
 
 EXHIBITION OF iSjl. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1832. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Houses^ 
 containing 
 numerous 
 rooms more 
 secure from 
 fire than 
 warehouses. 
 
 Materials 
 which con- 
 duce to 
 security 
 against fire. 
 
 a warehouse 450 feet long and no feet broad, and that if that 
 building, although constructed on the fire-proof principle, was on 
 fire, there would be no chance of dealing with it, though it would 
 generally be considered safe. The draught of a fire in such a 
 building would melt the iron away like lead." To go to the other 
 extreme, instances might be adduced where small wood and plaster 
 chambers, sufficiently air-tight, although their contents have been 
 on fire, have resisted the spread of fire for want of draught. 
 
 The superior security of smaller compartments is fully proved by 
 the lesser rate of insurance taken for dwelling-houses than ware- 
 houses, although the first are much more exposed to fire. 
 
 In devising fire-proof security for the Public Record Office, it 
 was considered advisable, in order to insure the greatest amount 
 of safety, that the building should consist of a series of chambers 
 unconnected with each other, and each one should not contain 
 more than 7,000 cubic feet. The walls being of brick and the 
 floors stone, there was a security that even if one chamber took 
 fire the volume of fire would not ignite the adjoining chamber. 
 But such moderate-sized spaces would obviously be so ill-adapted 
 to the Exhibition, that they need not be further noticed. At a late 
 discussion before the Institution of Civil Engineers, the questions 
 of space and materials, in reference to fire-proof buildings, were 
 brought forward ; Mr. Braidwood reiterated his opinion, express- 
 ing his conviction, " from upwards of twenty-two years experience, 
 that the intensity of a fire, the risk of its ravages extending to ad- 
 joining premises, and also the difficulty of extinguishing it, depend, 
 cateris paribus, on the cubic contents of the building which takes 
 fire." Professor Hosking, the official referee of metropolitan build- 
 ings, said that the law provided that the contents of warehouses 
 should be restricted to 200,000 cubic feet. Even if this rule were 
 applied to the building for the Exhibition, assuming the building 
 to be only twenty feet high, it would consist of upwards of eighty 
 separate chambers. Mr. Rendel, C.E., agreed " that small ware- 
 houses for containing inflammable goods were safer in every point 
 of view." 
 
 In respect of those materials which conduce to security against 
 fire, all authorities agree with Mr. Farey's remark, that " the old 
 Roman system of strong pillars of masonry supporting groined 
 arches affords the best security.'' Professor Hosking said, "he 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 229 
 
 had carefully examined the results of many of the great fires of Great 
 London within the last few years, and had observed the general of 1851. 
 insecurity of buildings, depending on either cast or wrought iron, is^-^ssz. 
 in cases of fire occurring." He added, " that the use of thin metal f^^J/^j-^^ 
 as a covering to wood liable to be exposed to heat was a fatal 
 error, as the metal rapidly conducted the heat, and prevented the 
 contact of water in any attempt to extinguish the combustion. 
 Nothing was more common in London than to endeavour to meet 
 the objection of exposing wood to fire by covering it with metal, 
 and nothing was more certain to be productive of mischievous 
 consequences." Mr. Piper, the builder, said, " It appeared to be 
 understood that, for the class of buildings intended to contain 
 combustible goods, the construction should be of fire-proof 
 materials, but entirely omitting metal .... and he had never seen 
 a sound brick wall nine inches in thickness burnt through." 
 
 The conditions of the building for the Exhibition, are, that it is 
 to be temporary, that it must not be too costly, and that the 
 chambers in it must be spacious. 
 
 But as these conditions appear to be incompatible with positive Effects of 
 " fire-proofedness," and as I have reason to believe that no species buUdkg°rc-*^ 
 of building possible, under the circumstances, would sensibly affect 3^e E^Mbi- 
 the rate of insurance — an infallible gauge of security — I venture to f'°"' "p°° 
 submit that the security from fire should be obtained by vigilant watchingre- 
 watching, and efficient preparations to extinguish fire^ if it should bsTead ' 
 unfortunately happen, and that the materials and mode of con- 
 struction ought therefore to be selected solely for their fitness and 
 economy. 
 
 The Record Office at Carlton Ride, having a very large chamber, xo be done 
 is so insecure that it would not be insured at treble the ordinary triSde 
 rate of insurance, but, by the joint agency of the fire brigade, the and"teu-tare 
 police force, and tell-tale clocks, it has been most efficiently blocks. 
 watched for years, and after a long experience of the system, I beg 
 leave to recommend that principle of security to the notice of the 
 Commissioners. 
 
 Henry Cole. 
 
 April 2, 1850. 
 
 I have perused the foregoing Report and fully concur in it. 
 
 James Braidwood, 
 
 Superintendent of the London Fire 
 Engine Establishment. 
 
23° 
 
 EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1S52. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Mr. Braid- 
 
 wood*s 
 
 advice. 
 
 Since the foregoing remarks were written, I have had the"- 
 advantage of a lengthened conversation with Mr. Braidwood on 
 the subject He recommends that iron supports should be used, 
 perhaps covered with cement, and that the walls be of lath and 
 plaster. By this means " the building would be the most manage- 
 able in case of fire." For security, he would greatly prefer this 
 mode of construction to iron, which would give very great difficulty 
 in case of fire, and, in his opinion, be very dangerous. He suggests 
 " that as many of the draughts between the outside and inside lath 
 and plaster as possible, should be stopped ; " that there should be 
 provided the most " easy access possible to and along the roof, so 
 that in case of fire the glass may be broken," and the draught of 
 air and fire led upwards. Fire mains should be laid on ; the pipes 
 should be large, " certainly not less than nine inches diameter, 
 along the building.'' Unless the water could be laid on at all 
 times, cisterns ought to be provided. The summary of Mr. 
 Braidwood's advice, is, that the security will consist in having 
 efficient means to suppress a fire, if it should happen, instantly. 
 His words were, " it must be ej^tinguished in a few minutes, or 
 there will be great trouble." Henry Cole. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM FIRST REPORT OF ROYAL 
 
 COMMISSIONERS FOR THE 
 
 EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 Royal 
 Charter. 
 
 AT the commencement of the Commissioners' proceedings, 
 while they were incurring no expenses beyond those of the 
 remuneration of their officers, and the necessary outlay on printing, 
 advertising, and other comparatively small items, the subscriptions 
 received from time to time were amply sufficient for their wants ; 
 and they did not experience any inconvenience from the want of a 
 more definite legal position than that of a mere Commission of 
 Inquiry. But when, in the month of July, 1850, the plan for a 
 building estimated to cost ;^79,8oo had been approved, and it 
 became necessary that a contract should be made for its erection, 
 questions naturally arose as to the power of the Commission to 
 
EXHIBITION OF 1851. 231 
 
 enter into and to enforce such -a contract, — as to the person or Great 
 persons by whom such contract should be signed, and the indivi- wiSsiT'"" 
 dual responsibility which, by so signing it, they would incur, — and ^g "^-"j ^ 
 as to the mode in which the money that would be required beyond Pa" n. 
 the amount of the subscriptions received, was to be provided. 
 
 " These considerations led to the Commissioners' soliciting and 
 obtaining from Her Majesty a Royal Charter of Incorporation, 
 dated 15 th August, 1850, under which they at present exist as a 
 corporate body. Having thus obtained a legal status, they found 
 themselves in a position to enter into the necessary contract for 
 the erection of the Building, and were also enabled to procure 
 from the Bank of England an advance of such sums as they re- 
 quired, on the personal guarantee of certain individual members of Guarantee, 
 the Commission, and other well-wishers to the undertaking. The 
 sums so advanced from time to time by the Bank of England, 
 amounting in the whole to ;^32,soo, were repaid, with interest, on 
 the 22nd of May last (185 1), out of the receipts at the doors, after 
 the Exhibition had been open for three weeks." 
 
 conferred. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM THE "LONDON GAZETTE," 
 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1851. 
 
 Windsor Castle, Oct. 28. 
 
 THE Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of Honours 
 Knighthood upon Joseph Paxton, Esq., Fellow of the 
 Linnsean Society, Horticultural Society, and the Society of Arts. 
 
 The Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of Knight- 
 hood upon Charles Fox, Esq., of New Street, Spring Gardens, in 
 the County of Middlesex. 
 
 The Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of Knight- 
 hood upon William Cubitt, Esq., Fellow of the Royal Society. 
 
 Downing Street, Oct. 25. 
 
 The Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders for the 
 appointment of William Reid, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel in the 
 
232 
 
 EXHIBITION OF \%i\. 
 
 Creat 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D, 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Corps of Royal Engineers, Companion of the Most Hon. Order of 
 the Bath, formerly Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over 
 the Bermuda Islands, and in and over the Windward Islands, some- 
 time Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Exhibition of 
 Industry of all Nations, to be an Ordinary Member of the Civil 
 Division of the Second Class or Knight Commander of the said 
 Most Hon. Order. 
 
 Her Majesty has also been graciously pleased to give orders for 
 the appointment of Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, Bart , sometime 
 one of the Secretaries of the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 
 Industry of all Nations, of Dr. Lyon Playfair, sometime one of 
 the Special Commissioners of the Exhibition of Industry of all 
 Nations for communicating with Local Committees, and one of the 
 Members of one of the Committees of Sections of such Exhibition, 
 and of Henry Cole, Esq., sometime one of the Members of the 
 Executive Committee of the Exhibition of Industry of all Nations, 
 to be Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the Third Class 
 or Companions of the said Most Hon. Order of the Bath. 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 233 
 
 LECTURE XII. 
 
 SECOND SERIES. 
 
 December i, 1852. 
 
 ON THE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF THE 
 EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 I 
 
 BY HENRY COLE, ESQ., C.B. 
 
 N looking at any result, great or small, we are generally dis- great 
 posed to attribute it to some solitary cause, instead of viewing of "ssiT'"" 
 it as the consequence of many, in fact innumerable, antecedents — i849-°8s2 
 each one forming a link in the chain. We look upon Guttenberg's Part 11. 
 invention of moveable types as the cause of printing, overlooking 
 the fact that the number of scribes in the sixteenth century was 
 inadequate to supply the demand for written books. Manuscripts 
 could not be produced in sufficient numbers to meet the wants of 
 readers — readers created by increased knowledge ; so mechanical 
 repetition, or printing, came in aid of writing ; and the earliest 
 books were partly printed and partly written, and were sold as 
 manuscripts. Guttenberg's and Schoffer's little bits of metal were 
 merely the mechanical answer to a want, without which they 
 would not have made them. In like manner, historians have 
 attributed the Reformation in this country to Harry the Eighth's 
 desire to exchange his wife — no doubt a link in the chain of 
 causes, but a far less important one than the corruption of the 
 clergy and the aUenation of the sympathies and adhesion of the 
 laity. The King might have quarrelled with the Pope, but he 
 would not have seized the monasteries unless the people had been 
 alienated from them. You will smile, perhaps, if I were to attempt 
 to connect the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations 
 with the invasions of Roman Csesar, of Danish Hengist and Horsa, 
 and Norman William. But a moment's reflection will show that 
 there are some relations which may be really traced, between the 
 holding of the first cosmopolitan Exhibition of Industry by the 
 most cosmopolitan nation in the whole world, and the character 
 
234 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 Grkat 
 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Free Trade. 
 
 M. Buffet's 
 proposition. 
 
 of that nation. What more natural than that the first Exhibition 
 of the Works of Industry of all Nations should take place among 
 a people which beyond every other in the world is composed of 
 all nations ? If we were to examine the various races which have 
 been concerned in the production of this very audience, we should 
 find the blood of Saxons, Celts, Germans, Dutchmen, Frenchmen, 
 Hindoos, and probably even Negroes, flowing among it. To repeat 
 a passage from one of the many philosophical essays that adorn 
 the columns of the newspaper press at the present time, — a passage 
 from The Times — I have seen it remarked that — " The average 
 Englishman is a born cosmopolite, and to that mixed composition 
 he owes the universality of his moral affinities and mental powers. 
 No country in Europe has harboured so many migrations, whether 
 as conquerors, as allies, as refugees, or simply as guests, and no 
 people are so free as we are from the follies of nationality.'' 
 
 To come to causes nearer at hand which produced the Inter- 
 national Exhibition, and placed in this country that first of the long 
 series of Exhibitions, which I have no doubt will follow, I think 
 must be named Free Trade, or, to substitute Latin for Saxon 
 words, " unrestricted competition." It would have been a folly to 
 have proposed an International Exhibition before that great states- 
 man. Sir Robert Peel, had loosened the fetters of our commercial 
 tariff, so that it might be the interest of foreigners to accept the 
 invitation to show us the fruits of their Industry. Had an Inter- 
 national Exhibition of Industry been proposed in the good old 
 times, when our manufacturers of silk, and cotton, and metals, 
 were protected from the competition of their foreign neighbours, 
 we should have rejected the idea just as the French manufacturers 
 did, whose development is still cramped by protective tariffs. But 
 it was decidedly the interest of England to adopt the idea, and she 
 did so on that account, and because she was ripe for it, which 
 France was not, and is not, although she may be certainly advancing 
 to that point of reason. 
 
 You are all well aware that the honour of the first idea of an 
 International Exhibition does not belong to England. Like many 
 other theories, it came from France, having been proposed by 
 M. Buffet, the Minister of Commerce after the Revolution of 
 1848, and was submitted by him to the several Chambers of Com- 
 merce. He said to them : — " It has occurred to me, that it would 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 235 
 
 be interesting to the country in general, to be made acquainted ...Great 
 with the degree of advancement towards perfection attained by our or'"s5i. 
 neighbours, in those manufactures in which we so often come in ,8,pl°8s2. 
 competition in foreign markets. Should we bring together and I",""- 
 compare the specimens of skill in agriculture and manufactures 
 now claiming our notice, whether native or foreign, there would, 
 doubtless, be much useful experience to be gained ; and, above 
 all, a spirit of emulation, which might be greatly advantageous to 
 the country." He then requested that the Chambers would " give 
 their opinion on the abstract principle of exhibiting the productions 
 of other countries, and, if they should consider that the experiment 
 ought to be made, to enumerate to him oflScially the articles they 
 thought would most conduce to the French interest when dis- 
 played." No doubt it would have been interesting to our neigh- 
 bours to see the best we were doing ; but the French manufacturers 
 were not prepared to let the French ladies see the printed calicoes 
 we were able to produce at fourpence and fivepence a-yard, or to 
 allow the French gentlemen to examine the cutlery of Sheffield, 
 the plated wares of Birmingham, or the pottery of Staffordshire in 
 Paris. So the French Chambers of Commerce gave no encourage- 
 ment to the abstract proposition of M. Buffet. They would not 
 throw off their armour of protection, and will not do so until the 
 French people themselves become more imperative in their desire 
 to have a sight and taste of foreign manufactures. It appears to 
 me that the proposition of M. Buffet was a very naive one as 
 respects ourselves. It was an invitation to our Whitworths, 
 Maudslays, and others, to show their machinery, simply for the 
 honour, but not the profit, of the thing, saying, as it were, " Show 
 us what you are doing, and we shall be happy to benefit by the 
 experience gained ; but we really cannot agree to buy of you on 
 equal terms, or that you shall have any advantage from your 
 acceptance of our invitation." It was saying to Messrs. Dixon of 
 Sheffield, and Messrs. Minton of the Potteries, " Pray show us 
 your teapots of Britannia metal, which our tourists mistake for 
 silver, and your cheap and tempting earthenware, nearly as hard 
 and white as our Sevres porcelain ; but if you attempt to sell them 
 here, we must confiscate them, and commit you to the Bastille." 
 It was a French version of our English nursery ditty of Mrs. Bond's 
 invitation to the ducks to come and be killed. But the experiment 
 
236 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 Great 
 
 ExHTBITION 
 
 OF 1S51. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Committee 
 of cotton 
 printers. 
 
 Opinions ex- 
 pressed by 
 manufac- 
 
 was not tried, because the French manufacturers themselves had 
 no wish to enter upon an international competition. On the part 
 of British manufacturers I venture to say, that when the French 
 Government offers them a fair stage, and abolishes its commercial 
 prohibitions, they will be quite prepared to accept the invitation 
 to an industrial contest in Paris. 
 
 In France an International Exhibition was a philosophical theory, 
 and must remain a bauble to be talked about until she alters her 
 commercial tariff. But in England the idea at once became a 
 practical reality, receiving universal welcome as soon as our Royal 
 President directed that it should be submitted to our manufacturers 
 for their consideration. As part of the history of the growth of 
 the International Exhibition in this country, I would read to you 
 a few opinions which I collected and submitted to Prince Albert 
 in 1849 : — 
 
 A committee of Manchester cottop-printers, consisting of Mr. 
 H. Thomson, Mr. Hargreaves, and Mr. Herz, concurred in think- 
 ing that " It is very necessary that all parties should know what 
 the French and all nations are doing, and should compare their 
 manufactures with our own. The comparison would show what 
 our manufacturers could do, and by generating increased know- 
 ledge and appreciation in our consumers, would induce the pro- 
 duction of a much higher class of work." 
 
 Mr. Nelson, of the firm of Nelson, Knowles, and Co., of Man- 
 chester, said, — " One great argument for universality is that manu- 
 facturers ought to know all that is doing. Most manufacturers 
 have much too high an opinion of their own excellence, and it is 
 desirable they should measure it by that of others.'' 
 
 Messrs. Hoyle and Sons agreed unanimously that the Exhibition 
 ought certainly to be international. "The Lancashire feeling 
 eminently is," said Mr. Alderman Neild, "to have a clear stage 
 and no favour." 
 
 Messrs. Kershaw and Co., of Manchester, said, " Open the 
 Exhibition to receive the productions of all nations, certainly." 
 
 Messrs. Dixon, of Sheffield, thought " that manufacturers would 
 certainly lose nothing by the Exhibition, and would probably gain 
 a great deal. They preferred universality to nationality ; the first 
 is by far the grander idea, and more useful." 
 
 Mr. Wailes, the eminent glass-painter of Newcastle-on-Tyne, 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 237 
 
 said, " The laying the Exhibition open to the Continent was the great 
 
 most important part of this scheme." of 1851. 
 
 Messrs. James Black and Co. considered it " highly desirable to jg^glisj^. 
 
 compare our productions not only with those of ourselves, but with p*" !!■ 
 
 . . ... Selections. 
 
 those of foreigners. The Exhibition would be well worth all the 
 money it might cost.'' 
 
 Mr. Paterson, of the firm of Messrs. James Black and Co., of 
 Glasgow, observed, that " as there had been great benefit from 
 small Exhibitions, there would be greater benefit from large. The 
 work was especially appropriate to Great Britain, as being the 
 centre of manufactures. Manufacturers would be glad to get that 
 new information which a comparison with other countries would 
 afford." 
 
 And even in those manufactures where our own inferiority 
 would probably be demonstrated in the Exhibition, manufacturers 
 certainly welcomed the opportunity which would thus be afforded 
 for comparison. Thus, — 
 
 Mr. J. Jobson Smith, of the firm of Messrs. Stuart and Smith, of 
 Sheffield, grate-manufacturers, thought " it most desirable to see 
 the best metal work of all nations ; but that England would be 
 behind in ornamental metal work, particularly where the human 
 figure is involved." 
 
 I do not think the Exhibition itself will have altered these 
 opinions uttered two years before. 
 
 As England, beyond any other nation, was prepared, by the 
 cosmopolitan character of its people and by its commercial policy, 
 to be the first nation to carry out an International Exhibition of society of 
 Industry — so the continuous labours of the Society of Arts in pro- National 
 moting National Exhibitions of Industry, naturally led to its being Exhibitions. 
 the agent for carrying out such a work. I will not detain you with 
 details of the Exhibitions which had been held in Manchester, 
 Glasgow, Birmingham, and other provincial towns, or in Dublin ; 
 or of the eleven successive National Exhibitions which had been 
 held in France, between 1798 and 1849. All of these, doubtless, 
 had an important influence in directing public attention to the 
 subject in this country. 
 
 But we must recollect that, even as early as 1756, nearly a century 
 before, this Society had held Exhibitions of Manufactures; and 
 for six years immediately preceding 185 1, had, year by year, 
 
238 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 First idea of 
 
 internation- 
 
 ality. 
 
 held Annual Exhibitions of some kind, each one growing in 
 importance. 
 
 The idea of a National Exhibition became a common property. 
 The wants of an age are perpetually suggesting similar ideas to 
 many minds. Sometimes ideas arise before their time, and are 
 even patent for years before they turn to account. Coals and 
 chalk had been carted on railways for fifty years or more, before a 
 railway was thought of to carry cotton to Manchester. Even loco- 
 motives had been used twenty years before. There existed both 
 the railway and the locomotive, and a new want made a new union 
 of them. The value of an idea depends on its concurrence with 
 a public want. Mr. S. Carter Hall, Mr. G. Wallis, Mr. F. Whishaw, 
 Mr. Theophilus Richards, were all avowed public advocates of 
 some kind of National Exhibition of Manufactures, and perhaps 
 others whose names I do not know, before this Society pledged 
 itself to hold a National Exhibition in 1851. Public conviction 
 of its importance was of slow growth. So slow, that even after 
 several Exhibitions had been proved to have been successful in 
 these walls, the Government could not be induced to promise any 
 assistance. But in 1 848, the Council of the Society made some 
 little way with the Government in obtaining the promise of a site 
 for the building. In 1849, the Paris Exhibition was held, and 
 M. Buffet's idea of intemationality was brought to England. Our 
 Royal President, always interested in the subject, spontaneously 
 took the proposed Exhibition of 1851 under his own personal 
 direction, and inscribed with his own hand the following passage 
 on the Minutes of a Meeting held at Buckingham Palace, on the 
 30th June, 1849. It ran thus : — " It was a question whether this 
 Exhibition should be exclusively limited to British industry. It 
 was considered that, whilst it appears an error to fix any limitation 
 to the productions of machinery, science, and taste, which are of 
 no country, but belong, as a whole, to the civilized world, parti- 
 cular advantage to British industry might be derived from placing 
 it in fair competition with that of other nations." Then followed 
 the proofs of the concurrence of manufacturers in the expediency 
 of intemationality, and the issue of the Royal Commission con- 
 firming the idea. And thus that International feature was conferred 
 on the Exhibition of 1851, the results of which I have now to 
 attempt to examine. 
 
ments. 
 
 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 239 
 
 Soon after the Royal Commission of the Exhibition was issued, Great 
 
 communications were opened with all the Governments of the of'iSsi. 
 
 civilized world, except the Celestial Empire. The Commissioners igi^-fs'sz. 
 
 wrote to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and he wrote Part 11. 
 
 , , , , ,. . , . Selections. 
 
 to our mmisters and consuls abroad, directmg them to bring the 
 subject of the Exhibition before the Governments of the respective tions with 
 countries : each Government thereupon appointed the most ami- Govern" 
 nent persons in Arts, Science, and Commerce, to be a committee 
 representing the country, and to communicate direct with the 
 Royal Commissioners. Subsequently, for the purpose of award- 
 ing the prizes, other eminent persons, distinguished for special 
 knowledge, were named and placed in direct communication with 
 the Commissioners independently of their Governments. And 
 thus the Foreign Commissioners and the Foreign Juries consti- 
 tuted Committees of the men most distinguished in the arts of 
 peace in the civilized world. If you glance down the list of these 
 our foreign friends, you will find in the list of each country its 
 aristocracy of Art, Science, and Commerce — men who have raised 
 themselves into distinction, or, rather, been elected to their posi- 
 tion by the unsolicited suffrages of their fellow-citizens. It would 
 be superfluous to read to you these several hundred names, 
 certainly a fair representation of the most eminent in the world. 
 Thus, for the first time in the world's history, the men of Arts, 
 Science, and Commerce, were permitted by their respective Go- 
 vernments to meet together to discuss and promote those objects 
 for which civilized nations exist. The chief business of politicians, 
 lawyers, and soldiers, is professedly to protect the results of men's 
 industry ; and up to this time, Governments, for the most part 
 consisting of politicians, lawyers, and soldiers, have had the chief 
 voice in regulating the interests of industry. The men of Art, 
 Science, and Commerce, have hitherto had but a very subordinate 
 voice in the regulation of their own interests, which had been too 
 much left to the professional superintendence of their brethren of 
 Politics, Law, and War. But a new principle was introduced by 
 the Exhibition of 185 1, and questions of Art, Science, and Com- 
 merce were permitted to be discussed in a Parliament of Art, 
 Science, and Commerce. I believe the recognition of this prin- 
 ciple is of the first importance for the progress of mankind, and is 
 one which will be likely to stand each nation in good stead as 
 
240 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Principle of 
 Interna- 
 tional dis- 
 cussion. 
 
 occasion arises. To endeavour to illustrate its great value, I take 
 leave to glance at one or two questions of international interest at 
 the present time. So far as the public are permitted to know, the 
 question of the American Fisheries is still unsettled. Now, this 
 question, look at it in any way, is mainly a question of the com- 
 mercial interests of two great nations. Before we introduce war- 
 steamers into the question, I venture to say, apply the principle of 
 international discussion. Instead of the matter being discussed 
 in solemn diplomatic secrecy between the Foreign Departments in 
 Washington and Downing Street, which really cannot know as 
 much of commerce as American and British merchants, let us 
 invite an international jury to arbitrate the dispute in question. 
 Take a case nearer at hand, Belgium. Newspapers discuss the 
 probability of Belgium being united with France ; whence arises 
 the idea ? Surely because some interests would be benefited by 
 it, and therefore moot it. If we look into the question, shall we 
 not find that the idea hinges much more on the interest of the 
 Belgian manufacturer, eager for an enlarged and unfettered market 
 among the whole French nation, than the desire of the French 
 Government for an enlarged territory? Suppose a majority of the 
 Belgian people, moved by a feeling of commercial interest, sought 
 annexation with France, I venture to suggest with all humility, 
 that before the men of the sword take the matter in hand, the 
 merchants of the respective countries be permitted to discuss the 
 proceeding. Perhaps even the uneasy interest itself, might be 
 accommodated without appeal to the sword. And I believe the 
 Exhibition has opened the way to this kind of treatment,— more 
 reasonable, more civilized, less costly and more consistent with 
 religious convictions, than the most scientific arguments of parks 
 of artillery and squares of infantry, which in the long run do not 
 settle any questions, or we should not see dynasties restored 
 which we have paid millions to depose. Success in war among 
 civilized nations, after all, now resolves itself ultimately into the 
 length of the purse ; and the length of the national purse depends 
 upon the strength of the national industry. We are the richest 
 people in the world, and, I fear, the most pugnacious, partly in 
 consequence of our superior wealth. I think I may say, we have 
 spent more for war than any other nation, and that we cannot 
 boast of many practical results from our expenditure. I submit 
 
Telegraphs. 
 
 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 241 
 
 that we have spent much on behalf of Belgium, and Spain, and Great 
 Portugal; and I apprehend it will be found that they, taking of 1851.' 
 advantage of our friendship, have imposed as great, if not greater, ,84g-i'8'52 
 impediments on our commercial relations with them than even Pan ri. 
 France has done. I believe the Exhibition has had a tendency 
 to prevent such mistakes in future, and to keep nations from going 
 to blows as hastily and fooUshly as they have been accustomed to inter- 
 do ; and if this result follows, we shall owe it to the extended ap- "uit™^' "" 
 plication of the great principle of international discussion of ques- 
 tions by parties most informed and most interested in them, which 
 the Exhibition caused to be recognized by all the civilized nations 
 in the world. Thus the old-fashioned, narrow suspicions and 
 secrecy of diplomacy will be exchanged for public confidence and 
 public discussion. 
 
 And there are other influences actively working to produce this 
 change. In days gone by, the courier of the Government could 
 probably be the first in the race to convey intelligence, but now 
 electric telegraphs and newspapers put the governors and governed Electric 
 on the same level, and the foreign departments of nations are in- 
 formed of events through these channels long before they receive 
 communications through their own ministers. In fact, the old 
 systems of foreign diplomacy are virtually superseded. I feel 
 confident that Lord Malmesbury first heard of the proclamation of 
 the French Empire through the electric telegraph, and not from 
 the despatch of our minister at Paris. And diplomacy itself, 
 seems conscious of the changes which are taking place, and appears 
 willing to go gracefully hand in hand with them. For instance, 
 both the past and present Ministers of Foreign Affairs have con- 
 sented that Downing Street shall afford facilities of communication 
 between this Society, and similar societies abroad. And we owe 
 our best thanks both to the Earl Granville and the Earl of Malmes- 
 bury, in respect of those communications which we have com- 
 menced with foreign countries ; whilst in regard to the colonies 
 we are no less indebted to Earl Grey and Sir John Pakington, for 
 the facilities we have received. I view it as a most auspicious 
 sign for the progress of arts, manufactures, and commerce, that 
 noblemen, when they have ceased to be Secretaries of State, are 
 not unwilling to be the Chairmen of the Committees for Foreign 
 and Colonial Correspondence in this Society. I trace in this 
 
 II. R 
 
242 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1831. 
 
 A.D, 
 
 1849-1852. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections, 
 
 Postal Com- 
 munication. 
 
 Reform of 
 
 Patent 
 
 Laws. 
 
 willingness one effect of the Exhibition of 185 1, and the fruits are 
 beginning to be visible in the friendly and important communica- 
 tions which this Society is establishing abroad, and in our 
 colonies. 
 
 Foremost among the immediate and most practical of the inter- 
 national results of the Exhibition, I rank the consent — nay, eager- 
 ness, of all countries to discuss and revise their system of Postal 
 Communication, which is now established as a great fact. The 
 Postage Association was formed during the Exhibition, and arose 
 out of the convictions' that men of all countries entertained, of the 
 vital importance of a perfect and easy interchange of thought by 
 means of writing, and of their sense of the indefensible impedi- 
 ments which now prevent it. Instead of the present postage 
 treaties, the products of bureaucracy only, in which it appears to 
 have been the aim of each nation to huckster and overreach one 
 another, the object of the Postage Association is to have a uniform 
 and intelligible system, based upon a due recognition of the im- 
 portance of freedom of communication. To this principle, France, 
 America, Austria, Belgium, — in fact, almost all civilized countries, 
 have already sent their adhesion, and upon this basis the discus- 
 sion of a future international postage system, I cannot doubt, will 
 proceed. If the United Kingdom is sincere in its own convictions, 
 it must begin with a postal reform between itself and its own 
 colonies ; and I believe it requires only a single effort to obtain a 
 uniform penny rate which shall transmit a half-ounce letter from 
 any part of the United Kingdom to the ports of any one of our 
 colonies. It would be out of place to discuss now, either the loss of 
 direct revenue, but with the great indirect commercial profit, or the 
 political wisdom of thus cementing the union between the colonies 
 and the mother country, which would attend the adoption of this 
 step. I have only to ask you to agree with me that freedom of 
 international correspondence when it does arrive will have to be 
 considered as one of the earliest results of the Exhibition. 
 
 The beginning of the reform of our Patent Laws, or laws for the 
 recognition of the rights of intellectual labour, which I foresee may 
 have great international results on industry, is due to the Exhibi- 
 tion. I say the beginning, for we have only just entered on the 
 very threshold of the subject. Almost as soon as the Exhibition 
 was announced, every one was sensible of the manifest absurdity 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 243 
 
 of inviting exhibitors to display the fruits of their intellectual Great 
 exertions, whilst at the same time they should be subjected thereby of 1851. 
 to pillage. So our Legislature promised inventors that they should jj.g.i'^jj. 
 not be liable to be robbed, at least, until the Exhibition was over, Part 11. 
 and a law was made to keep men from picking and stealing for a Temporary 
 few months. Wonderful morality ! — found to be so consistent ^^bbc^'of ' 
 with common sense, that the law was renewed for a few months inventions. 
 longer. You will find an interesting account of the working of 
 the Inventions Act during the Exhibition, in the Report made by 
 Mr. P. Le Neve Foster to the Commissioners of the Exhibition, 
 and printed in their first Report (p. 109). Six hundred and twenty 
 exhibitors obtained certificates or cautions against robbery. At 
 last, after many struggles, our Legislature has passed a permanent Permanent 
 law which forbids the robbery of inventions, provided that the in- 
 ventor can muster some ;£5 or jQio to purchase the privilege. 
 How great was the want of this reform may be seen in the fact, 
 that since the ist October last — a period of only nine weeks — 
 upwards of 765 applications have been made for " protection " 
 against robbery. Imperfect as this law is, it will have important 
 results on industry, both abroad and in our colonies, and will affect 
 inventive rights, more or less, over the whole world. I am happy 
 to say, that we cannot now go to the Continent, pillage an inven- 
 tion in use, and introduce it here as a novelty ; and that we cannot 
 prevent a Belgian or French inventor from giving our own colonies 
 the benefit of his skill. It must be obvious that in the proper 
 administration of a wise Patent Law, and in order to prevent fraud 
 and useless litigation, it will be necessary that ample means should 
 exist for ascertaining in this country what inventions have been 
 patented abroad. The American Government prints its own 
 specifications, so I believe does the Belgian ; and if the French 
 Government does not, it, at least, gives every facility in the con- 
 sultation of them. We ourselves are now bound to print the 
 patents of the United Kingdom. With these facilities for doing 
 so, it appears to me there ought to be an international exchange 
 of printed Patents, and I think it would be a right work to be 
 undertaken by our Government ; but I am afraid there are little 
 hopes of this being done so long as the administration of Patent 
 Law is treated in a legal rather than an industrial point of view. 
 This Society, as the principal author of the new Patent Law, may 
 
244 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 Gkeat 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Further 
 results. 
 
 Interna- 
 tional 
 Sanitary 
 Congress. 
 
 Interna- 
 tional 
 Hospitali- 
 
 very properly come in aid ; and I would suggest to the Council at 
 once to take measures for impressing on the Government the 
 necessity of mutually exchanging copies of printed Patents with 
 foreign countries, and of establishing, as early as possible, an Inter- 
 national Library of Reference for manufacturers. We may take a 
 lesson from the United States' Government, which yearly issues 
 above 40,000 copies of the Annual Report on Patents, at a cheap 
 rate ; and also from France : one of the great features of the Con- 
 sei-vatoire des Arts et MHiers in Paris being its Salle du Portefeuille, 
 which contains about 12,000 drawings of machinery and 20,000 
 brevets of Inventions, all of which are accessible to the public at 
 any time, and free of cost, to be copied or to be traced. 
 
 International Postage and Patent Reform may be said to have 
 originated in England, but I have now to notice two results of an 
 international bearing, both springing out of the Exhibition, but 
 due to French perception of its international spirit. I allude to 
 the institution of the International Sanitary Congress to discuss 
 quarantine, and the magnificent international hospitalities which 
 took place at Paris last year. During the preparations for the 
 Exhibition, France invited the nations of Europe, each to send one 
 of their most eminent hygeists with a consul to Paris to discuss 
 the question of quarantine. England, Austria, Spain and Por- 
 tugalj and the Italian States, joined in this Congress. To ask men 
 of science to discuss points of science was a novelty on the old 
 bureaucratic plan of treating medical questions. It was an admi- 
 rable example on the part of France, not to be forgotten on future 
 occasions, and will ultimately be attended with beneficial results. 
 Although the men of science of Europe have settled the question, 
 I believe their opinions are too violent to be admitted by the 
 authorities in this country, who, whilst they are not men of science, 
 have some interests in maintaining the system of quarantine, which 
 the International Sanitary Congress has exploded. The success of 
 this Congress on special and well-defined objects, was so marked, 
 as to suggest of itself to the members the application of the like 
 procedure to other objects, such as uniformity in the monetary 
 systems, also in weights and measures ; in duties imposed on navi- 
 gation ; and in legislation in regard to passports. 
 
 France has been the first to institute international hospitalities ; 
 and I feel certain I should underrate the gratitude of my own 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 245 
 
 countrymen if I did not believe that they intended to return them Great 
 at an early period. The functionary who chiefly conducted the Paris ^'"ssiT'"'' 
 fetes was the prefect of Paris. We have no similar officer in this „ *"■ 
 
 * 1049-1052. 
 
 metropolis, and no " Hotel de Ville ; " but it would not be difficult Pan 11. 
 to form a Committee, representing the City of London, the great 
 Mercantile Corporations, the Scientific Institutions, &c., and obtain 
 their co-operation in offering our French neighbours a return visit 
 to this country. Probably no occasion would be more appropriate 
 than next year, which is the centenary of this Society, the founder 
 of the first International Exhibition, and next year the second 
 International Exhibition will take place in the capital of the sister 
 kingdom. I think I may venture to say that the Council of this 
 Society are prepared to move in this matter, and even in the more 
 important one, of promoting the facilities of international travelling, 
 especially among artisans. Last year, when I was at the Royal 
 Porcelain Manufactory at Meissen, I observed an ingenious machine 
 for turning large oval dishes. A friend, remarking upon its utility, 
 said such a machine could not be used among our own potters, 
 without the probability of a strike throughout all the Staffordshire 
 Potteries. No amount of talking to the potter artisan would 
 induce him to use the machine and give up his trade preju- 
 dice ; but if he were to visit the Dresden and Berlin manufactories, 
 to see with his own eyes the machine at work, and to hear with 
 his own ears the price at which the dish was produced, and at 
 which it could be imported into this country, I think his self- 
 interest would instantly convince him of the foolish impoUcy of 
 allowing his brother German to have the exclusive use of it. This 
 is only one of many similar instances, where an extended knowledge 
 of handicraft would be of great value to all who live by it. 
 What a lesson even the Exhibition afforded to the hundreds of 
 thousands of artisans, each in their own craft, and how much more 
 impressive would such lessons be if the workmen were able to 
 receive them in the factories ! This may be done by foreign travel. Foreign 
 and among the means of promoting industrial education and pro- means of 
 gress, I expect foreign travel will find a place ; and if in future years industS 
 we should be able to point to the operative potters or iron-smelters antTpro-" 
 of Staffordshire, who have visited the factories of France and Ger- ^^^' 
 many, I think we shall be able to show that their visits were partly 
 due to the influence of the Exhibition of 1851. 
 
Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 
 246 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 This will be a convenient place to notice the intreased number 
 oi visits from foreigners which the Exhibition provoked, sowing the 
 seeds of mutual benefit. 
 
 An analysis of the number of foreigners who arrived in England 
 between ist April, and 30th Sept., 1851, shows the following 
 results : — 
 
 COUNTRY. 
 
 Number 
 
 of 
 Arrivals. 
 
 Population. 
 
 Proportion 
 
 of Arrivals 
 
 to 10,000 
 
 inhabitants. 
 
 Visits from Holland 
 
 Foreigners to Belgium 
 
 the__Exh.br- p^^^^^ 
 
 Germany 
 
 Switzerland 
 
 United States 
 
 Spain and Portugal ..... 
 Norway, Sweden, and Denmark . 
 
 Prussia 
 
 Italy (including Lombardy) . . 
 
 Austria 
 
 Russia and Poland 
 
 Turkey and Egypt 
 
 Greece 
 
 China 
 
 2,952 
 
 3,796 
 
 27,236 
 
 10,440 
 
 5,048 
 1,774 
 
 M89 
 672 
 
 854 
 86 
 
 1, 107 
 
 3,128,841 
 
 4,335,319 
 35,400,486 
 15,813,022 
 
 2,113,248 
 23,138,454 
 15,699,441 
 
 6,650,938 
 16,171,564 
 
 22,740,344 
 32,862,770 
 60,362,315 
 
 9 '43 
 8-75 
 7-69 
 660 
 
 3-47 
 218 
 113 
 0-97 
 0-92 
 065 
 020 
 0'i4 
 
 Not ascertained . . ... 
 
 
 Total 
 
 58,427 
 
 
 The Lists of Aliens in the Home Office are prepared under the 
 Alien Act, which requires the commander of every ship having 
 foreigners on board, to deliver, under a penalty of ^20, to the 
 officer of Customs, on the arrival of the vessel at an English port, 
 a list of all foreigners. The following are the numbers since 
 
 n 1848 . 
 
 • 19.340 
 
 1849 . 
 
 . 21,588 
 
 1850 . 
 
 . 28,801 
 
 185 1 . 
 
 . 58,427, from ist April to 30th 
 
 September, being an excess of 42,913 over the arrivals of the cor- 
 responding period of 1850, when the numbers were 15,514. I 
 am indebted for these facts to Mr. A. Redgrave's report to the 
 Royal Commissioners. 
 
 I need not dwell on the advantages conferred by friendly inter- 
 course, how mutual prejudices are dispelled, and friendly confi- 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 247 
 
 dences established. The actual number of foreigners visiting this Great 
 country may appear small, but the usual numbers were tripled ; op'"s5'iT'°'' 
 and I think this increase would be found to bear about the same „ '*"„• 
 
 1949-1052. 
 
 proportion to the increase which took place in the number of Part 11. 
 
 , 1 ■« «- 1* Selections. 
 
 country visitors who came to the Metropolis. 
 
 It is time that I should turn to the Exhibition itself, and en- imema- 
 deavour to point out any international features which it possessed, feamre"; of 
 Each of us might possibly be able to show some errors of com- tion itself.'' 
 mission and omission in the judgments of the Jurors ; yet, on the 
 whole, I presume we shall agree, that the verdicts of those eminent 
 men, who so cordially and generously presented the world with 
 an immense amount of patient investigation and labour, repre- 
 sented on the whole the results of the Exhibition itself very fairly, 
 — as fairly, indeed, as could reasonably be expected in the execu- 
 tion of a task so difficult and so novel, and as the event has 
 proved, so unnecessary. Making due allowance for the fallibility 
 of human judgments, and the errors we are all liable to fall into 
 from prejudice, I think the list of the Council Medals indicates to Council 
 us the most noticeable objects which the Exhibition displayed. ^ ^^' 
 Although some Council Medals may have been given which may 
 be questionable, there are very few objects which ought to have 
 received Council Medals and did not. I would only notice one : 
 the Catalogue of all the books published in Egypt, exhibited by catalogue of 
 the Egyptian Government. Most of the European Governments boSs."" 
 have wished for a printed catalogue of their national literature, 
 and here is a semi-civilized nation setting the first example. I 
 venture to think a Council rather than a Prize Medal should have 
 been awarded here. 
 
 If we look down the list of 164 Council Medals, and the objects 
 to which they were awarded, I confess it seems to me that there is 
 but ONE object with which the world became acquainted for the 
 first time, and that as a direct result of the Exhibition. I am not 
 speaking of the results which are deducible from the combination 
 of the innumerable objects then displayed, but am looking only to 
 the individual objects. I need not go through the list, but if I 
 were to do so, I feel sure that as each object was mentioned, 
 except a solitary instance, some one of this audience would be 
 able to say, " I was acquainted with that object before the Exhi- 
 bition." That solitary one, which no one was acquainted with, 
 
248 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 Great 
 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 T849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Novelty in 
 the Building 
 itself. 
 
 was the building itself which Paxton suggested. The Exhibition 
 has taught the world how to roof in great spaces : how to build 
 with glass and iron in a way never done before. This is another 
 instance of the logical mode in which supply follows demand : in 
 which invention is shown to be the child of necessity. The one 
 material thing absolutely necessary for an international exhibition 
 was an adequate building, to be erected in six months. And after 
 many galvanic struggles to get it one was obtained. Nothing very 
 novel in iron columns resting on concrete foundations, — nothing 
 novel in Paxton girders, which half-a-dozen persons claim to have 
 invented, and possibly may have done so, but something very novel 
 indeed in covering twenty acres with glass as an exhibiting room, 
 a feat the world had not seen performed before. I look upon this 
 building as one of great importance in its way, calculated to have 
 vast beneficial influences on the occupations, health, and amuse- 
 ment of all northern nations. But how slow and progressive has 
 been such a result in building ? — evolved just at the time when it 
 was wanted from little antecedents, as was printing, the steam- 
 engine, and in fact all great results. Even in the material Glass 
 house, as in the possibility of an International Exhibition, Sir 
 Robert Peel appears as an agent. Had the excise duties on glass 
 still remained, it is certain we could not have had the Crystal 
 Palace. 
 
 Looking at the list of Council Medals from another view, I am 
 led to consider that they prove a result which is not duly recog- 
 nized in this country. It is said that the industrial progress of this 
 country is not at the present time commensurate with that of other 
 countries. To my view the Exhibition proved the contrary. If 
 you admit the Exhibition as any evidence at all, I say it was 
 proved by the reports of the Jurors, that certainly the Industry, 
 and perhaps even the Art of the United Kingdom, took the first 
 place in the race. You are aware that half the exhibiting space was 
 occupied by foreign productions, and half by British. Foreigners 
 were represented by about thirty countries. Each country sent its 
 best productions. The quantity of articles exhibited did not influ- 
 ence the award of Council Medals, and although the space of any 
 one foreign country was less than that occupied by England, there 
 was no reason why each country should not obtain as many 
 Council medals as England. But what is the fact ? Let us look 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. ii,<i 
 
 at an analysis of the Council- Medals according to countries, ex- 
 cluding the few Council Medals unclassified. 
 
 COUNCIL MEDALS. 
 
 COUNTRY. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Raw 
 
 Materials. 
 
 Machinery. 
 
 Manu- 
 factures. 
 
 Fine 
 Arts. 
 
 United Kingdom . . . 
 
 British Dependencies : — 
 Austraha, India, West 
 Indies, Mediterranean, 
 South Africa .... 
 
 America 
 
 Austria 
 
 Belgium 
 
 China, Denmark, Egypt . 
 
 France 
 
 Greece, N. Germany . . 
 
 Netherlands 
 
 Persia, Portugal . . . 
 
 Prussia and ZoUverein 
 
 Bavaria 
 
 Rome 
 
 Russia 
 
 Sardinia, South America, 
 Sweden and Norway . 
 
 Switzerland 
 
 Tuscany 
 
 78 
 
 5 
 4 
 2 
 
 54 
 
 I 
 9 
 
 3 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
 II 
 2 
 
 I 
 
 52 
 
 3 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 22 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 I 
 
 18 
 
 I 
 2 
 I 
 
 20 
 
 3 
 I 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Analysis of 
 
 Council 
 
 Medals. 
 
 Thus, out of a total of 164 Council Medals awarded among 
 13,937 Exhibitors, thirty foreign countries obtained 86 among 
 7076, whilst Great Britain, one country, obtained 78 among 6861 
 Exhibitors. 
 
 But the position I take seems to me corroborated by another Superior 
 fact, namely, the superior value of the British over the Foreign BritUh over 
 goods exhibited. The value of the articles on the Foreign side Goods." 
 was estimated at ;^67o,42o, on the British side at ;^i,o3 1,607. 
 The data in both cases were furnished by the Exhibitors. 
 
 If time permitted, and it was not considered too great a depar- 
 ture from the subject, I would examine our industrial position 
 with reference to Exports and Imports, and in neutral markets. 
 It is no proof, to my mind, of our state of peril in the present in- 
 dustrial race between nations, when the manufacture of locomo- 
 tives in Bavaria is pointed out with alarm. Until the Bavarians 
 learnt to make them, we supplied their market, notwithstanding 
 heavy transport charges and high tariffs ; but having learnt to make 
 
250 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 
 British 
 Industry. 
 
 them, it would be surprising indeed if they, having no carriage to 
 pay, and "protected" by heavy import duties, could not make 
 them cheaper than we can. 
 
 I have seen no satisfactory proofs of our industry being beaten 
 in perfectly neutral markets, or at present any signs of its being 
 likely to be. The recent Memorial of the Silk Manufacturers in 
 Manchester, praying that protective duties might be altogether 
 abolished in their trade, is one of many evidences that our manu- 
 facturers are not apprehensive that they shall be beaten. It may 
 be true that other nations are advancing more rapidly than our- 
 selves in the prosecution of science and education in art. It is 
 true that in many parts of the Continent, children are more gene- 
 rally educated than our own in reading and writing, but I suspect 
 this education turns to little account, as when they become men, 
 they are not free to read and write what they please ; and, it is 
 said, they even lose those accomplishments for want of practice. 
 I do not question the value of science ; but science appears to me 
 only one of many ingredients which are necessary for the prosecu- 
 tion of successful industry. The idea of an International Exhibi- 
 tion was one of abstract science ; as I have shown, it was in itself 
 of no use without other favourable circumstances enabling it to be 
 realized. As respects the industrial progress of this kingdom, I 
 look with no alarm at the progress of science abroad, but with 
 satisfaction ; because I feel certain, that in the present state of the 
 world, and with that advancing unity of nations, if our neighbours 
 produce science, and we want it, we shall be able to obtain it from 
 them on equitable terms, and turn it to account. It gives me un- 
 mixed satisfaction to know that French arid German chymists and 
 artists are employed by our manufacturers. Again, to turn to the 
 Exhibition for an example — the French suggested, but we realized 
 the abstract idea. Do not infer that I think we ought not to encou- 
 rage science among ourselves ; quite the contrary. I go heartily 
 with my friend Dr. Playfair, the most zealous of its advocates ; and 
 will help all I can to enable manufacturers to be educated to 
 understand the principles upon which their operations are based ; 
 but I would do so for the merits of science itself, rather than in 
 alarm at the progress our neighbours may be making in it. The 
 value of science depends on its practical application, and that, I 
 submit, depends on the public want for it. At present I see no 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 251 
 
 reason to doubt that we are prepared, in-this country, to supply Great 
 
 well and cheaply whatever the world wants ; and if we supply the of "ssi. 
 
 practical execution, and our neighbours the philosophical thepry, .s^-fs'sa. 
 
 it may, after all, be only a proper division of labour between J^'i.'- 
 
 . . , V 1 1 Selections. 
 
 friends. 
 
 I have ventured to say that I think that the Exhibition has British Art. 
 proved that England, even in the question of Art, was not behind 
 other European nations. I am aware this is not the popular 
 opinion, but I think, if time permitted, I could make out the truth 
 of my position. Let me remind you of one fact. The work of 
 Art in the Exhibition, which, if submitted to public auction, would 
 have realized the greatest value, was by an Englishman. I allude 
 to Gibson's Statue of the Greek Hunter. That, I submit, in a free 
 competition among the sculptors of all nations, was the finest work 
 of sculpture shown. I freely admit, that in the execution of art 
 applied to industry, the French are, upon an average, better 
 educated and better workmen than ourselves. But if we separate 
 the almost mechanical execution of art from its general sentiment 
 as displayed in the Exhibition, we cannot but remark the universal 
 likeness which pervades the art of all Europe at the present time. 
 You might have taken works of art from Russia, Saxony, England, A™in "if '" 
 France, Belgium, Austria, and Italy, and it would have been im- '^'"■°''°- 
 possible to tell the country where they originated. But this fea- 
 ture is no novelty, for it has been the case for many centuries. At 
 the time of the first empire in France, a revival of the Classical 
 Greek was in the ascendant. So it was in England. Flaxman 
 and others were working in the same direction, and we were con- 
 sidering Greek temples as the fittest types for our dwelling-houses 
 and public buildings. If we look at the preceding century, we 
 trace the same predominant sentiment of art in the furniture of 
 Queen Anne and of Louis the Fourteenth ; in the porcelain of 
 Dresden, of Sfevres, and of Chelsea. With certain modifications, 
 we find a spirit of the age common to the most advanced nations 
 of Europe at all periods, and the present is not an exception, as the 
 Exhibition proved. At one period, whether the country was Pro- 
 testant or Roman Catholic, we find equal neglect and ruin in the 
 ecclesiastical buildings. At a subsequent period, all countries are 
 found restoring their churches and putting them in order. 
 
 In respect of art among the nations of Europe, it appears to me 
 
252 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Prospective 
 benefits from 
 the Eihibi- 
 
 Intema- 
 tional Com- 
 mercial Law. 
 
 Weights, 
 Measures, 
 and 
 Coinage. 
 
 that much was not taught by the Exhibition which was not known 
 before by the few, although a great deal was probably taught to the 
 many. It was from the East that the most impressive lesson was 
 to be learnt. Here was revealed a fresh well of art, the general 
 principles of which were the same as those in the best periods of 
 art of all nations — Egyptian, Grecian, Roman, Byzantine, Gothic. 
 And turning from artistic to industrial objects, and speaking gene- 
 rally, I venture to submit whether our American cousins did not, 
 in their reaping and other machines adapted to new wants and 
 infant periods of society, teach us the next most valuable lessons. 
 
 Having glanced generally at the most remarkable international 
 results of the Exhibition already secured, I will briefly enumerate 
 some of the many prospective benefits which that great event 
 seems naturally to promise. The substitution of Open Council 
 for Secret Diplomacy, in discussing international questions, has 
 been mentioned ; and it seems to me that there are several topics 
 of international interest on which men's minds are fixed, and to 
 which the recognized principle of open discussion among nations 
 might be applied. 
 
 I begin with the policy of an International Commercial Law, 
 upon which the Law Amendment Society is already engaged. 
 That Society is now employed in assimilating the Commercial 
 Law of the United Kingdom and its dependencies, and is in 
 reality doing the work for France, Holland, and Spain, because 
 throughout our dependencies, the commercial laws of those coun- 
 tries still prevail : — in our colony of the Mauritius, the Commer- 
 cial Code and the Code de Procedure of the Code Napoleon ; in St. 
 Lucia, the ancient French law ; in Trinidad, the law of Spain ; in 
 British Guiana, Ceylon, and Cape of Good Hope, the Dutch law 
 and law of the Batavian republic. I understand the Law Amend- 
 ment Society scruple of themselves to enter upon this enlarged 
 field, but as commercial law is a work for merchants and lawyers 
 mutually to consider, and as our Society especially represents Com- 
 merce, I would propose that we should fraternize with the Law 
 Amendment Society on this point, and give them the benefit of 
 the foreign relations we have established, so that the question may 
 become recognized as an International one. Next I might men- 
 tion an International system of Weights, Measures, and Coinage, 
 and with that reform would certainly be connected an Interna- 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 253 
 
 iional system of Scientific Classifications of all the materials, instru- Great 
 ments, and productions of human art and industry, by means of ok 1851. 
 which, as Dr. Whewell showed so well in his Inaugural Address, ^^^^L^ 
 " the manufacturer, the man of science, the artisan, the merchant, Part 11. 
 would have a settled common language, in which they could speak 
 of the objects about which they are concerned." Next a more con- 
 sistent system of International Commercial Tariffs and Customs 
 Administration, the abolition of Passports, and increased facilities 
 for international intercourse : and a general system of International 
 Copyright, both in the Arts and in Literature. Here I would 
 mention somewhat more in detail an International Catalogue of international 
 Printed Books, suggested some two years ago by Mr. Dilke in the prfSef "° °^ 
 AthencBum. These are the arguments and details as prepared by '^°°'^- 
 Mr. Dilke :— 
 
 " The idea of such a Universal Catalogue may seem, at the first 
 suggestion, somewhat wild and visionary ; but the more closely it 
 is examined, the more distinctly, we have assured ourselves, will it 
 grow into a reality, simple and practicable. What we propose is 
 this : — let Mr. Panizzi proceed, without interruption, to complete 
 his Catalogue, — let him have additional assistants, one, or two, or 
 three, as may be desired, who shall, under his direction, consult 
 libraries, catalogues, bibliographical works, and prepare, on the same 
 uniform system, the titles of all works published in the English 
 language, or printed in the British territories, but not at present in 
 the British Museum. Think, for a moment, what would be the 
 literary value of such a Catalogue ! Judge of it by the uses of 
 Watt's ' Bibliotheca Britannica,' notwithstanding its multitudinous 
 errors and omissions ; and remember that the Catalogue proposed 
 would be, so far as English literature or the English language is 
 concerned, all but perfect. This would be the contribution of the 
 British nation to the universal Catalogue. Meanwhile, communi- 
 cation should be opened with the principal Governments of the 
 world, and a proposal made to each of them to co-operate with the 
 British nation in publishing a universal Catalogue; — that each 
 should undertake to have prepared, and within a specified time, 
 on a common principle to be agreed on, a Catalogue of all the 
 books ever printed, so far as known, by and in all the several 
 nations and languages under their respective governments. . . Here, 
 then, is each nation possessed, not only of a Catalogue of its 
 
Great 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1851. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 I 849-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 254 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 national library, more useful and serviceable for the humblest 
 practical purposes than any Catalogue it could hope to possess by 
 any other means, — but with a Catalogue, or the means of producing 
 one at little cost, of every library within the limits of that nation, 
 — useful as the most simple of finding Catalogues for the local pur- 
 pose, yet embracing the literature of the world. The several 
 librarians would have simply to affix the press-marks to make it a 
 perfect finding Catalogue to their several libraries ; and an initial 
 letter prefixed to the title would tell at once, if the book were not 
 in that library, which was the nearest public library where the 
 student might be sure to find a copy. We will further direct the 
 reader's attention only to the consequent perfection of the Cata- 
 logues of Classes. Never was there a period when so beneficial a 
 project could have been entered on with such probability of suc- 
 cess. The large and liberal spirit in which the Governments of 
 the world have welcomed the proposal of Prince Albert for a great 
 World Exhibition, is an earnest of success : and we' hope that those 
 with whom this great World Catalogue might so honourably origi- 
 nate will not be deterred by the fears of the timid, the doubts of 
 the ignorant (or worse, of the learned), and the indolence of the 
 indifferent or interested. Let no one be apprehensive of the great 
 labour or the great cost of this World Catalogue. It might cer- 
 tainly be prepared in less time and at less cost to each individual 
 Government, than each Government could produce for its own sole 
 use a Catalogue of the contents of its one national library. Look 
 at England, for example. At present the Museum Catalogue must 
 include every work in the collection, and be prepared at the sole 
 cost of the British public ; whereas the expense of preparing the 
 universal Catalogue would be divided amongst half-a-dozen nations. 
 The British Government is by our plan relieved at once from the 
 necessity of cataloguing all foreign works contained in the Library 
 — one-half or one-third the collection — because the titles of all 
 such would be contributed by foreign nations. . . Let us also ob- 
 serve, lest the difficulty should suggest itself to others, that this 
 Universal Catalogue would not be of that prodigious bulk which 
 might at first be supposed by those who calculate the number of 
 titles by the number of volumes said to be contained in the 
 libraries of the world. We are of opinion that these numbers are 
 monstrously exaggerated ; and are confident that any speculation 
 
INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 255 
 
 as to the number of duplicates, which under this system need not Great 
 
 be catalogued at all, would fall far short of the truth. Take, for of 1851. 
 
 example, the library of St. Petersburgh — said to contain eight ^^^^i^^_ 
 
 hundred thousand volumes. Now, persons better informed than Part 11. 
 
 ,,.^. . ,,,., , .„ Selections. 
 
 we pretend to be, doubt if it contains one half that number. But 
 no matter what the number, — is it not reasonably certain that three- 
 fourths of its contents consist cff French, German, Italian, English, 
 and other foreign works ? Away then goes three-fourths of the 
 great Petersburgh library : — three-fourths of it add not a single 
 title to the bulk of the universal Catalogue. We indeed do not 
 believe, after the best consideration that we can give to the subject, 
 that this Universal Catalogue would be one-half the size of the 
 proposed Catalogue of the British Museum, if that Catalogue is to 
 be in manuscript ; and not, even if printed, one-half of what it 
 must be in twenty years if the system of marginal additions be per- 
 severed in : — besides that, it will then have all to be done over 
 again. Here we conclude. We do not profess to have improvised 
 a great scheme to which objections may not be raised by the 
 super-subtle and the over-refined ; but simply to have indicated a 
 course which, in our opinion, would do honour to the nation, and 
 help the peaceful world in its onward progress, — one which may 
 easily be elaborated and perfected if those in authority be pleased 
 to countenance it. The learned librarians of the Museum may 
 have a good-humoured laugh at it; but they should remember 
 that if the world has its ignorances, learned bibliographers have 
 their prejudices, — and that a laugh will not settle the question one 
 way or the other. They cannot laugh louder than did certain 
 other officials when Mr. Hill proposed to reduce all postage 
 charges to one uniform rate, and that rate one penny ; yet that 
 idea spread and strengthened, and has become ' a great fact.' " 
 
 And I will conclude this hst of Agenda, the prospective fruits of 
 the Exhibition, by mentioning the impulse which better education, industrial 
 
 ... . Education. 
 
 and particularly industrial education, is likely to derive from it. 
 Already the intention exists of making drawing a part of our 
 national education, and thus we shall be learning a universal and 
 international language, intelligible, as Mr. Redgrave recently 
 pointed out, alike to the European as to the Chinese or South 
 American. Already we have the School of Mines developing 
 itself into a school of practical science. In a few years, on a site 
 
256 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS OF EXHIBITION. 
 
 Great Opposite that where the Exhibition stood, I hope we shall witness 
 
 of'^Ss'iT'"" *^^ foundation of an Industrial University, in the advantages of 
 
 A.D. which all the nations of the world may equally share, which has 
 
 1849-1852. . J -L J > 
 
 Part II. been suggested by Prince Albert as the most legitimate application 
 Selections. ^^ ^j^g pecuniary success of the Exhibition. But beyond every re- 
 University. sult, I tnist that the Exhibition will have tended to make ourselves 
 a less quarrelsome and meddlesome people with other nations 
 than we have been accustomed to be, and will have taught us that 
 our true policy in international disputes, should they unfortunately 
 arise, is to stand on the defensive, and in that attitude to be as 
 well prepared as possible, and to be content with being so. 
 
 This lecture, the last of that series which the Prince suggested, 
 has been but an attempt to point out some of the details compre- 
 hended in the remarkable address which His Royal Highness de- 
 livered at the Mansion House in 1850. I hope you will agree 
 with me that that most philosophical condensation of the objects 
 of the Exhibition ought to be preserved in this course of lectures, 
 and will be an appropriate conclusion to the last of them. I beg 
 leave therefore to repeat it, not as it was delivered as a prophecy, 
 but now as a successful fulfilment. [The passage here quoted 
 in the Lectures appears on pages 212 and 213.] 
 
 I am sure you will all agree that the Prince's hope was realized, 
 and that " the first impression which the view of that vast collection 
 produced upon the spectator, was that of deep thankfulness to the 
 Almighty for the blessings which He has bestowed upon us already 
 here below ; and the second, the conviction that they can only be 
 realized in proportion to the help which we are prepared to render to 
 each other, therefore, only by peace, love, and ready assistance, not 
 only between individuals, but between the nations of the earth." 
 
PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 257 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF MR. COLE 
 
 ON THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF 
 
 THE PARIS EXHIBITION, 1855. 
 
 On the Policy and Extent of Government Interference 
 IN future Industrial Exhibitions. 
 
 THE utility of the London and Paris Universal Exhibitions in Paris 
 teaching nations the comparative strength and weakness of 0^85"'°" 
 their respective industries, and showing their mutual means for sup- •*-°- ''^s- 
 
 , . , , , . ,. . . , . ,. , . *^ PartlL 
 
 plymg each others wants, m dissipating the prejudices of igno- Selections, 
 ranee, and awakening desires for improvement, has been so manifest f^^ustriai 
 and generally admitted, that, notwithstanding the cost and trouble Exhibitions. 
 of them, and the great interruption they cause to ordinary 
 trade, it is probable these Exhibitions will extend and become 
 periodical, at least in some of the principal capitals of Europe. 
 Before the Paris Exhibition had closed, it was rumoured, with some 
 appearance of authenticity, that the next Universal Exhibition 
 would take place at Vienna, in 1859 ; and preparations were also 
 discussed for holding such Exhibitions at Berlin and Turin. 
 
 It seems desirable, therefore, to inquire whether the principles 
 on which the British Section of the Paris Exhibition was orga- 
 nized and conducted, are applicable to future Exhibitions in which 
 the United Kingdom may be invited to take a part, or are to be 
 regarded as exceptional merely to the Paris Exhibition. 
 
 The ultimate purpose of all Industrial Exhibitions is com- Extension of 
 mercial. It is true that various motives, besides those of direct th?SduM- 
 trade, induce some few exhibitors to display their productions, '^SaVlZ 
 but the bulk of exhibitors will be always attracted by the hopes of 
 extending commerce. 
 
 It is also true that a great feature of the London Exhibition 
 was its comprehensiveness, embracing, as it did, the display by 
 foreign exhibitors of numerous classes of objects not directly 
 matters of general commercial interest, — such as the Queen of 
 
 II. s 
 
258 PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 
 
 Paris Spain's jewels, the Austrian furniture, the malachite of Prince 
 
 oF^^s'sr""' Demidoff, &c. Such objects were more rare in the Paris Exhibi- 
 A.D. 1856. tion. There was no Royal jewellery from Spain ; malachite from 
 sdections. Russia could hardly be expected. There was very little costly 
 Austrian furniture, but an increased quantity of Austrian cloth. 
 The tendency of future Exhibitions, in their foreign departments, 
 will be to exhibit not rare and costly productions, required by very 
 few purchasers, but manufactures ; and especially those manufac- 
 tures the use of which is universal, and not merely national or 
 peculiar. 
 Exhibitions Exhibitions will therefore lose in completeness, but gain in 
 Seraalimti Utility. Nations by this means, will learn how each one may best ex- 
 '*"'^' change with the other, the productions in which they naturally excel, 
 
 and these Exhibitions will become international fairs. Thus, Eng- 
 land is likely in any future Universal Exhibition, to send more 
 cotton and woollen goods than furniture or stained glass, more 
 common earthenware than decorated porcelain, and more tools and 
 cutlery than polished steel grates. 
 
 The French Government, looking to the commercial utility of 
 the Paris Exhibition, introduced for the first time an exceptional 
 Customs' tariff of 20 per cent, ad valorem in favour of all goods 
 exhibited, and took every means, short of compulsion, to induce 
 exhibitors to affix prices to their goods. 
 Liberality of The Imperial Commission, the French Customs, and the French 
 authorities Government, all behaved most liberally in admitting large quan- 
 ting'saira. tities of British goods to the Exhibition, which were not very 
 necessary to it, but which were allowed to enter to oblige exhibi- 
 tors and to gratify the desires of the French purchaser, who eagerly 
 sought to make the Exhibition the channel for obtaining those 
 things which were otherwise prohibited. Of course, British manu- 
 facturers were not backward to avail themselves of these conces- 
 sions, and were only too eager to supply any quantity of pottery, 
 alpacas, woollen cloths, cotton goods, agricultural machinery, &c., 
 which the French consumer would purchase.' Even the large 
 
 ' Upwards of 296 crates of pottery. Government even after the close of 
 
 vfeighing 58 tons, were introduced the Exhibition. The Manchester Com- 
 
 into the Exhibition after its opening; mittee, keeping the object of the Ex- 
 
 and 100 crates, weighing about 15 hibition strictly in view, preferred 
 
 tons, were admitted by the French rather to discourage than permit sales 
 
PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 259 
 
 quantity sent, supplied but a very limited amount of the orders Paris 
 (especially for prohibited articles of the cheapest kind) which were of^^sssT'"" 
 given by all classes, from the lowest to the very highest, in France. t°' ^^f' 
 Large purchases of earthenware were made. The delicate cotton Selections, 
 quiltings of Manchester and cotton fustians attracted great notice, 
 even from the nobility of France, and all the population of Paris 
 seemed willing to clothe themselves in black alpacas. But many 
 more orders were refused than executed. 
 
 My instructions from the Board of Trade being to limit the 
 admission of British articles, as far as possible, to the real object 
 of the Exhibition, the payment of the transport of articles at the 
 cost of the public, was stopped soon after the opening of the Exhi- 
 bition ; but the French people were urgent to buy, the British 
 producer was not unwilling to sell, and the Imperial Commission 
 relaxed their rules in the most lenient way, although British traders 
 still thought them too stringent. It is almost needless to add 
 that, having to stand at least neutral between buyer and seller, 
 both eager for action, the position of the British authorities was 
 difficult, and, to say the least, unusual for officers of the British 
 Government to be placed in. 
 
 A second Universal French Exhibition, conducted under the a future 
 same rules as the last, would be very diiferent. The British hiWtfon 
 producers, made wise by experience, would send chiefly, if not flow with''' 
 wholly, those manufactures which were likely to sell at the close of E^rS" £'" 
 the Exhibition, such as cotton goods, cloths, flannels, pottery, I^jT''^'" 
 machinery, &c. They would pile up the space allotted to them in 
 the building, from the floor as high as the authorities would allow 
 them, and no authority could practically control the extent of 
 transmission without preventing the Exhibition altogether. 
 
 Thus, the Exhibition would be overflowing with certain kinds 
 of goods, and destitute of others, unless a moderate Customs' 
 tariff were made a permanent law, and not adopted for the occa- 
 sion. Then exhibitors would send samples, and take orders, and 
 the Exhibition would be carried out strictly as an Exhibition and 
 not as a fair. The relations therefore should be settled directly 
 between the two parties — the foreign Government which invites 
 
 of cotton goods. The Bradford exhi- alpacas among the French, would be 
 bitors thought a wide distribution of most useful to both parties. 
 
26o 
 
 PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 
 
 Paris 
 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1855. 
 
 A.D. 1856, 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selections. 
 The induce- 
 ment to 
 exhibit only 
 the most 
 saleable 
 articles in- 
 creased by 
 the distance 
 of the Exhi- 
 bition. 
 
 Non-inter- 
 ference of 
 the Govern- 
 ment in the 
 London 
 Exhibition. 
 
 the Exhibition for the benefit of its people, and the exhibitor who 
 accepts the invitation for his own honour and profit. 
 
 If such are Ukely to be the future results, under a prohibitory 
 or a special temporary tariff, in France, the nearest neighbour 
 to England, they would be still more exaggerated at a greater dis- 
 tance. For example, at Vienna, a Universal Exhibition, in which 
 British Industry should be adequately represented, must be nearly, 
 if not quite, a failure, unless one of two courses were adopted. It 
 would either be for the Austrian Government to furnish adequate 
 motives to exhibitors, so that the British action might be volun- 
 tary; or, for the British Government to purchase specimens of 
 manufactures, and exhibit them on its own responsibility, a course 
 that would hardly seem to be feasible. 
 
 It is not likely that such an interference with commerce as 
 this, would be supported by public opinion in England. Even the 
 interposition of Government in the management of the Paris Exhi- 
 bition, was the reverse of its course with the London Exhibition, 
 where the voluntary principle was carried so far, that the expenses 
 of the Police and the Sappers were not defrayed out of the public 
 Exchequer, but out of the funds of the Exhibition. The partial 
 interference in the Paris Exhibition, I submit, canonly be justified 
 as exceptional, and should not be treated as a precedent for future 
 Exhibitions. 
 
 But it may be said that Austria and the various Governments 
 of Europe courteously assisted in the London Universal Exhibi- 
 tion, and the question may be asked, Can the British Government 
 decline the invitations of other Governments in future? The 
 answer would seem to be, Certainly not; provided the circum- 
 stances under which a foreign Exhibition is invited, are the same 
 as those under which the British Exhibition took place. There, 
 however, is this material difference, that foreign exhibitors were 
 invited in 1851, having a full knowledge of their chances of future 
 commerce under a free trade. Therefore, until foreign tariffs are 
 placed on the same footing as the tariff of the United Kingdom, 
 every apphcation for the assistance of the British Government in a 
 foreign Exhibition, may fairly be dealt with on its own merits. 
 
 It would seem, however, to be far better to have some general 
 principles for the future, regulating the nature of the assis- 
 tance to be given on the part of Government, and the course 
 
PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 261 
 
 to be followed in managing foreign Exhibitions, which should Paris 
 be as self-acting as possible, and consistent with the ordinary of"855T'°*' 
 practice pursued by Government in commercial matters ; and *-°- ''ss. 
 I will endeavour to submit such principles to your Lordship's sdectio'ns. 
 consideration. 
 
 It is admitted to be a maxim of sound politics, at least in 
 England, that Government should do only those things for public 
 advantage which the public is unable to do for itself, and that the 
 less it interferes in trade, so essentially regulated by private enter- 
 prise and intelligence, the better. The least possible interference 
 with all future Universal Exhibitions would be most in accordance 
 with the usual Government action and public opinion in England., interference 
 And in truth, very little interference would be necessary for sue- Iflhlltaduce- 
 cess, if foreign Governments held out adequate inducements to SSibit are 
 producers to exhibit. The function of Government would then adequate, 
 be limited to receiving the invitation of the foreign Government, 
 organizing preliminary measures, and reporting the results of them 
 to the Government issuing it. 
 
 Policy of naming Juries. 
 
 Should the Government decide to take no part in the actual 
 management of future Exhibitions, still it may be requested to 
 name British Jurors. Its consent to do so, I submit, is a point 
 open at least to grave doubt. 
 
 The decision of your Lordship that neither Mr. Redgrave 
 nor myself should act as Jurors, or take any part in their proceed- 
 ings, enabled me to watch the working of the juries dispassionately, 
 and I beg leave to lay before you the conclusions I have formed 
 on the subject. 
 
 First arises the question of expediency of juries, and next Expediency 
 their practicability in any Universal Exhibition. The institution considered. 
 of a jury in such Exhibitions, is based upon the assumption that the 
 public is unable to discover merit and to judge rightly for itself, 
 but wants the assistance of an authoritative judgment. Is this 
 assumption, in the present state of public intelligence, founded 
 on facts? Do the judgments of these juries do anything more 
 than affirm the judgments already made by the public ? A glance 
 at the names of those who have received the Grandes M^dailles 
 
262 
 
 PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 
 
 Paris 
 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1855. 
 
 A.D. X856. 
 
 Part H. 
 Selections. 
 
 The public 
 will not sur- 
 render the 
 right of 
 private 
 ludgment. 
 
 Juries^ if 
 expedient, 
 are imprac- 
 ticable in 
 working. 
 
 d'Honneur, will show that they do not. Among the 138 recipients, 
 is there one who is now revealed for the first time to the public? 
 I venture to think not one. The judgment therefore merely 
 follows and confirms public opinion to a certain extent, but in so 
 far as serious omissions are made, and they are many, it is abso- 
 lutely in this respect in arrear with public opinion, and becomes 
 unjust. 
 
 Even conceding the point that the public at large do not 
 judge rightly for themselves, it cannot be affirmed that they are 
 willing to surrender their right of judgment, and be led by any jury 
 in this question of buying and selling, — the most commonplace 
 business of every day, — upon which everyone is practically the 
 absolute and irresponsible judge. It would seem at the present 
 time that private judgment, at least in the United Kingdom, hesi- 
 tates to submit itself to authority in forming opinions on subjects 
 of more vital importance than the quality of a cotton print, or a 
 piece of pottery, or the beauty of a picture. The very terms 
 " civil and religious liberty " show that the spirit of the times is not 
 to bow, even in political or religious faith, to the verdict of any 
 human tribunal. 
 
 Authoritative judges in investigating discoveries and experi- 
 ments, in which the world has little or no experience to guide it, 
 may be, and often are, useful. But the principle of juries in Indus- 
 trial Exhibitions hitherto, has not been thus limited. On the con- 
 trary, juries in Universal Exhibitions are called upon to investigate 
 the most trifling of details, and determine the relative merits as 
 well of a discovery in electro-magnetism as the make of a lady's 
 corset ; while the fact is, that every one assumes the right, and 
 exercises it, of judging for himself what articles he shall pur- 
 chase for his subsistence or enjoyment. 
 
 But should it be granted that the principle of juries in an 
 Exhibition is expedient, the experience of their working is conclu- 
 sive that they are impracticable means for arriving at impartial, 
 comprehensive, and correct judgments. 
 
 I hope it will not be inferred that these remarks arise from 
 any feeling that injustice was done to British productions at the 
 late Exhibition. On the contrary, I am led to believe that, com- 
 pared with other foreigners, more than ample justice was done to 
 our exhibitors, and that if any complaint were to be made in the 
 
PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 263 
 
 general interest, it would be that British exhibitors received too Paris 
 
 . Exhibition 
 
 many rewards. of 1855. 
 
 The theory of the judgments given in an Universal Exhi- p°- 'j^*- 
 bition, is that all countries are treated alike, and the best works are Selections, 
 eliminated for reward, without respect to country ; but the steps lepSHdon 
 taken do not insure this result. Oh the contrary, the estimation of of jiore''"^ 
 the goods of each country is ultimately determined very much in In'^o^'" 
 proportion to the number of its Jurors. 
 
 The juries were summoned to assemble on the isth June, and the 
 greater part of them met, and proceeded to organize themselves 
 for working, excepting the Fine Art jurors, who were adjourned 
 to the I St, and again to the isth October. Nearly all of the 
 British Jurors were present at the summons on the 15th June, and 
 attended punctually during the months of June, July, and August, 
 , when, for the most part, they left Paris, having examined at least 
 the British goods, as well as the circumstances permitted, and 
 agreed with their colleagues upon the decisions. 
 
 The examination of French articles was continued till the 
 very close of the Exhibition, being rather more active at the close 
 than at the beginning ; thus the final decisions assumed a different 
 phase from what they had at the commencement of the work, when 
 the foreign Jurors were present in the greatest numbers. This 
 was, no doubt, unavoidable. It is not to be expected that men of The labours 
 business should neglect their own affairs, to act as diVeitanU judges ^ia"tohr 
 incessantly for six months, and it is obvious that the decisions andgiveir 
 could not fail to be influenced by all kinds of accidents, the for- s"'""'""'^- 
 tuitous absence or presence of the Jurors being one of the prin- 
 cipal; and even the very residence of the Jurors on the spot, 
 becomes a material ingredient in judgments, which take several 
 months to form. 
 
 The work of a Juror is excessively laborious and irksome. To impedi- 
 begin work as early as eight in the morning — to wait for com- 
 panion Jurors who are not punctual — to pace literally over miles of 
 exhibiting ground — to examine stalls and cases, and meet with no 
 exhibitor or agent present to show or explain them, or to find the 
 glass-case locked and no key producible — to haunt committee- 
 rooms and get no quorum for business, — and to do this day after 
 day is what most of the British Jurors did scrupulously for many 
 weeks, and one at least throughout the whole period of the'Exhi- 
 
 ments. 
 
264 
 
 PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 
 
 JParis 
 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1855. 
 A.D. 1856. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Inadequate 
 knowledge 
 of techni- 
 calities in 
 the juries. 
 
 Awards 
 made and 
 revised. 
 
 bition, without missing a single day or a single meeting. But to 
 expect that judgments can be satisfactorily formed with justice by 
 four hundred persons, of all nations, subject to all the difficulties 
 enumerated, virtually irresponsible, liable to numerous accidents 
 beyond control, and impeded somewhat by the difficulties of lan- 
 guage, in an Universal Exhibition, is to expect what human nature 
 cannot perform. The work becomes impossible. 
 
 Another defect in the system of juries, is the incompetency of 
 the tribunal to deal satisfactorily with all the numerous technical 
 subdivisions necessarily grouped under one heading. Not thirty 
 juries, but at least a hundred are wanted. It must be admitted 
 that the judgment should be based upon technical knowledge, or 
 it is of little worth. It would be difficult to name many classes in 
 which the variety of technical knowledge possessed by their juries, 
 was adequate to pass judgment on all the technical subdivisions of 
 the class. Besides, the very national varieties — each one peculiar 
 to its own country — which exist in every subdivision of every class, 
 render it impossible to fix any standard of excellence. 
 
 .... To revert to the subject of juries, it may be said that 
 juries are found to act well in agricultural and flower shows, but 
 the work is of small and manageable extent, occupying only a few 
 days, whilst similar work in an Universal Exhibition occupies 
 months, and practically gets beyond control. 
 
 The most remarkable instance of this was furnished in the Paris 
 Exhibition. The awards had been made by the several juries, 
 confirmed by the groups of juries, and revised by the Council of 
 Presidents of Juries, strictly according to decrees. The labours 
 of five months seemed to have ended, and almost everyone had 
 departed. Totals were made of the number of gold medals which 
 had thus been awarded, when they were considered much too 
 numerous by the Imperial Commission. This information was 
 obtained only within a fortnight of the ceremony of distributing 
 the prizes, and it was thought absolutely necessary to appoint a 
 new committee of seven persons — four being French, and three 
 foreigners, — to classify the M'edailles d'Honneur into two grades, 
 and to resolve who should receive the higher or the lower grade. 
 
 Thus the work of several hundred persons, possessing all 
 kinds of knowledge, who had been brought together from all 
 parts of Europe, was finally revised by a very small committee, 
 
hibidons. 
 
 PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 265 
 
 created at the last moment, and whose knowledge was necessarily park 
 
 i;_,;4..j Exhibition 
 
 limited. OF 1855. 
 
 In conclusion, I proceed to lay before your Lordship a brief *°- '^ss- 
 summary of the measures which, I submit, might be taken in any Selections, 
 future Universal Exhibition. 
 
 I. Those on the Part of the Government. ' 
 
 a. Having received the invitation to co-operate from the foreign Measures to 
 country, it would be for the Board of Trade to make known the the Govern^ 
 terms of the proposed Exhibition to Chambers of Commerce, &c., JSmre'Ex- 
 to assist in forming committees, which should consist rather of ex- 
 hibitors and those having a status in the Exhibition, than of per- 
 sons or bodies not contributing to it. 
 
 b. When committees had been formed, to induce them to agree 
 in constituting a central management for themselves. 
 
 c. To accredit such management to the authorities managing 
 the proposed foreign Exhibition. 
 
 d. To assist in causing reports on the departments of the 
 foreign Exhibition to be made, inducing the preparation of them 
 rather by commercial and scientific authorities than direct nomi- 
 nees of the Government. First editions of such reports should be 
 certainly published whilst the Exhibition was open, as their utility 
 would be much increased. It was found that such reports were 
 much wanted both in London and Paris. 
 
 e. Should the Government think fit itself to exhibit such objects 
 as national surveys, models of ships, or other objects in which it 
 acts as the producer, it would do so as a simple exhibitor conform- 
 ing to the ordinary regulations. 
 
 f. With respect to the Colonies exhibiting, the Government 
 would accredit the agents named by the Colonies, and in like 
 manner induce the agents to elect a general manager among 
 themselves. 
 
 g. It would prevent difficulty if the Board of Trade should 
 undertake to divide the space between the United Kingdom and 
 the Colonies, in case such space should be allotted in bulk by the 
 foreign Government. 
 
 h. To obtain facilities from the Customs in returning goods at 
 the close of the Exhibition. 
 /. To decline to appoint Jurors. 
 
266 PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 
 
 II. On the Part of the Exhibitors. 
 
 Paris <!!• To form themselves into trade committees. 
 
 ^'"855?'°" *• The committee to elect, in concert -with the Colonial com- 
 A.D. 1856. mittees, a manager, with ample powers, to proceed to the foreign 
 Sdectio'ns. country. When there, he must be invested with full authority to 
 ■^Ife token ^^^ ^^^ defaulters, and do whatever is necessary to complete the 
 byexhibitors Exhibition, and insure punctuality. In spite of all efforts, some 
 Exhibitions, few exhibitors will be unpunctual, and such parties always contend 
 
 for the reservation of privileges, which if conceded, would render 
 
 the Exhibition imperfect. 
 
 c. To print a list of the proposed exhibitors and their addresses 
 as soon as they are ascertained. This will be found of great con- 
 venience in shipping the goods, in receiving them abroad, and 
 making the arrangements in the Exhibition, and in conducting cor- 
 respondence. It was one of the most useful steps taken in the Paris 
 Exhibition, and should be carried out at as early a stage of the 
 proceedings as possible. It is very important to keep the exhibi- 
 tors fully informed of the necessary regulations as they are made 
 in the progress of the work. It saves much correspondence with 
 individuals, secures uniformity of action, and creates in the minds 
 of the parties interested, an accurate sense of the necessities of the 
 work. Moreover, short documents issued frequently, attract more 
 attention than lengthy ones issued at long intervals. These, col- 
 lected together when the work is done, may appear numerous, and 
 many of them superfluous ; but their utility is to be judged by the 
 general result. A list of those issued on the present occasion is 
 appended, and it may be safely asserted that the econpmy of 
 twenty per cent, effected in the management, would hardly have 
 been obtained without a generous outlay in distributing informa- 
 tion. It is hardly possible to err on the side of giving information 
 too fully, where it is important to enlist voluntary assistance. 
 
 d. To organize for the shipping of the goods. The employment 
 of a single agent at only one port of departure, will be found both 
 economical and convenient. 
 
 e. Before any goods are shipped, it will save much cost and 
 trouble to ascertain that the Exhibition buildings abroad are quite 
 ready to receive them, and to send no goods until there is satis- 
 
PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 267 
 
 factory assurance of this fact. At least two months' delay and park 
 vexation would have been spared in Paris, if no goods had been sent of "ss"'"" 
 until the floor, the shafting, and galleries of the Annexe had been *°- '^s*- 
 completed; and it would be best for all parties to decline Selections, 
 courteously to send goods until the building is quite fit to receive 
 them. 
 
 /. It may be somewhat costly, but will prove cheapest in the end 
 to send abroad a sufficient staff of workmen and tools, especially 
 carpenters and men accustomed to place machinery. The impor- 
 tation of one or more moveable cranes would have been most use- 
 ful. Not a single one was employed in Paris to assist in unload- 
 ing the goods. The safest course is to be self-reliant for executing 
 all such details. This was followed especially in the exhibition of 
 the Fine Arts, where English workmen were employed. Had it 
 been different, the arrangement and closing of the British part of 
 the Fine Arts Exhibition would have been much delayed. 
 
 g. To engage a separate warehouse in the foreign country, to 
 store the empty packing-cases during the Exhibition. This will be 
 found a convenience well worth paying for. The extent of accom- 
 modation should be regulated by the number of cases likely to be 
 returned at the close of the Exhibition. 
 
 h. An effort should be made to obtain sufficient office accom- 
 modation in the Exhibition building itself, which supersedes the 
 necessity for separate offices out of it. 
 
 /. The preparation of cases, stands, &c., will be best left to each 
 exhibitor or group of exhibitors who may please to act in concert. 
 The fewer rules on this point, the better ; glass cases, in fact, are un- 
 desirable. In the Exhibition of 1851, the fewest possible rules were 
 prescribed to exhibitors in the preparation of their glass cases, the 
 principle being to allow as much freedom and exercise of indi- 
 vidual judgment as possible ; on the contrary, in 1855, the Imperial 
 Commission were very anxious that glass cases and frames for 
 exhibiting, should be adopted of an uniform character, and in the 
 nave of the Palais it was absolutely enforced upon British exhibi- 
 tors to use cases of a particular height and size, and pattern, as the 
 condition of occupying that position, however unsuitable they 
 might be for displaying their goods. The exhibitors submitted, 
 and incurred some thousands of pounds expense to prepare them, 
 although quite against their own judgment. These cases proved 
 
268 
 
 PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1855. 
 
 Paris 
 
 Exhibition 
 OF 1855. 
 
 A.D. 1856. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Estimated 
 cost of par- 
 ticipation in 
 any future 
 forei|;n Ex- 
 hibition. 
 
 to be most unsuitable for their purpose, and were a serious defect 
 in the general appearance of the nave. This was apparent in those 
 parts where French exhibitors having been less obedient to the 
 rules of the Imperial Commission than British exhibitors, had 
 declined to erect the prescribed form of case. In 1851, the rule 
 was to prohibit glass cases in the nave. In 1855, the contrary 
 rule prevailed, and notwithstanding every effort was made to pre- 
 vent the flat, dusty tops of the cases from being an eyesore from 
 the galleries above, by erecting a kind of roofing to them, they 
 were felt to be a great defect throughout the whole period of the 
 Exhibition. The result proved the superiority of the plan in the 
 London Exhibition, and has confirmed the wisdom of the rule that 
 glass cases and high stands should be avoided as piuch as possible ; 
 indeed, except where absolutely necessary, it would be better to 
 prohibit them. Another lesson taught by the arrangement of the 
 Paris Exhibition, was to keep high erections rather to the sides 
 than place them in the centre of galleries. 
 
 Upon the basis of the expenditure incurred by the Govern- 
 ment for the Paris Exhibition, namely, ;^4o,ooo out of the vote of 
 _;^5 0,000 ; it may be estimated that the cost of management of any 
 future Exhibition, excluding the Fine Arts Division, ought not to 
 be more. It would not be less, as expenses can be controlled all 
 the more in proportion as the executive management is central, and 
 the responsibility individual. Should the course of action now 
 pointed out be adopted, an expense of ;^i 0,000 might be defrayed 
 by the Government for preliminary expenses, distributing informa- 
 tion, and assistance in preparing reports on the Foreign Exhibition, 
 on condition that the balance of ;^3o,ooo should be undertaken 
 by exhibitors, in order to pay the expenses of transit and general 
 management. A guarantee fund exceeding this amount should be 
 obtained from intending exhibitors, and a deposit paid, each com- 
 mittee or exhibitor contributing in proportion to the amount of 
 space allotted to them. 
 
ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS. 269 
 
 MEMORANDUM UPON A SCHEME OF ANNUAL 
 
 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS OF 
 
 SELECTED WORKS OF FINE AND 
 
 INDUSTRIAL ARTS AND 
 
 NEW INVENTIONS. 
 
 I. 
 
 INTERNATIONAL Exhibitions of Industry, although much j^^^^. 
 
 diverted from their original intention, as lately happened at national 
 
 Paris,' afford such valuable means of comparing each Nation's ""ons. 
 
 progress in works of art and industry, that they ought not to be 1868-1874. 
 
 abandoned, but should be reorganized with the hght of past expe- s"=ctions. 
 
 rience. 7^'"= of 
 
 Inter- 
 
 2. With the view therefore of deriving the greatest practical ad- S.^j"??'- 
 vantage from such displays, it is desirable to revert to some such Exhibitions 
 annual exhibitions as were held by the Society of Arts in several objects only, 
 years previous to 1851, under the presidency of the Prince Con- 
 sort. Accordingly, it is proposed to hold every year an Exhibition 
 
 of some few classes of manufactures which have been prepared ex- > 
 
 pressly to show novelty, invention, or special excellence. From 
 such an exhibition objects obtainable in ordinary commerce and 
 those which have been already exhibited would be excluded. The 
 Exhibition would therefore be very select and limited in size : and 
 it is considered that in five [seven or ten ?] years the whole circle 
 of the chief products of human industry would be exhibited. 
 
 3. But every year there might be exhibited illustrations of very science 
 remarkable discoveries in Science as well as works of Fine Art and "^^ 
 manufactures in which Art is the express feature. 
 
 4. It is proposed that all works should be admitted by the award 
 
 of competent Judges : that no prizes should be awarded, but that no ^^^^^^ 
 discriminating reports should be made and published as soon as '"" '"f^"^- 
 possible after the opening of each year's Exhibition to serve as 
 guides during its existence. 
 
 5. A sum of money might be annually devoted to make pur- Purchases. 
 
 1 In 1867. 
 
270 ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS. 
 
 Inter- 
 national 
 Exhi- 
 bitions. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1868-1874. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Use of Royal 
 Albert Hall. 
 
 Musical and 
 Horticul- 
 tural Exhi- 
 bitions. 
 
 Promoters. 
 
 chases of remarkable works, which might be sent to Local Museums 
 throughout the United Kingdom. 
 
 6. One of the objects of the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and 
 Sciences now in course of erection at Kensington Gore is that of 
 holding International Exhibitions. 
 
 7. It is therefore proposed to seek the co-operation of the Pro- 
 visional Committee of the Royal Albert Hall; of Her Majesty's 
 Commissioners for the Exhibition of 185 1 ; of the Royal Horti- 
 cultural Society, and of the Society of Arts. 
 
 8. International musical performances might also form part of 
 these exhibitions, and annual exhibitions of flowers and plants 
 might be held by the Horticultural Society at the same time ; and 
 it is believed that the Hall, and other buildings, which would com- 
 plete the gardens of the Horticultural Society, and may easily be 
 erected on part of the grounds now in the hands of that Society, 
 will afford every facility that can be devised for the permanent 
 establishment of such exhibitions on the scale now proposed. 
 
 9. The following persons have agreed to promote the above- 
 mentioned plan : — 
 
 The Rt. Hon. the Earl Gran- 
 ville, K.G., President of the In- 
 ternational Exhibition of 1862, and 
 Vice-President of the International 
 Exhibition of 1851. 
 
 The Rt. Hon. H. A. Bruce, Vice- 
 Chairman of the Executive Com- 
 mittee of the Royal Albert Hall, 
 one of Her Majesty's Commis- 
 sioners for the Exhibition of 185 1. 
 
 General the Hon. C. Grey, Vice- 
 President of the Royal Horticultural 
 Society. 
 
 Henry Cole, Esq., C.B., Vice- 
 President of the Society of Arts, 
 and Vice-President of the Royal 
 Horticultural Society. 
 
 E. A. BowRiNG, Esq., C.B., M.P., 
 Secretary to Her Majesty's Com- 
 missioners for the Exhibition of 
 185 1. 
 
 Somerset A. Beaumont, Esq., Pre- 
 sident of the Chamber of Commerce, 
 Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 
 
 J. M. Bennett, Esq., President of 
 the Chamber of Commerce of Man- 
 chester. 
 
 Walter Berry, Esq., President of 
 the Chamber of Commerce, Leith. 
 
 William Fairbairn, Esq., C.E., 
 late President of the Society of Me- 
 chanical Engineers. 
 
 John Fowler, Esq., C.E., late Pre- 
 sident of the Institution of Civil 
 Engineers. 
 
 Sir Francis Grant, President of 
 the Royal Academy. 
 
 George Harrison, Esq., Chairman 
 ofthe Chamber of Commerce, Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 Michael D. Hollins, Esq., Chair- 
 man of the Potteries Chamber of 
 Commerce. 
 
 Thomas H. Huxley, LL. D. ,F. R. S. , 
 President of the Geological Society. 
 
 Charles Lawson, Esq., late Lord 
 Provost of Edinburgh. 
 
 Austen H. Layard, Esq., M.P. 
 
ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS. 
 
 271 
 
 J. W. Lea, Esq., President of the 
 Chamber of Commerce, Worcester. 
 
 Darnton Lupton, Esq., President 
 of the Chamber of Commerce, 
 Leeds. 
 
 Edward P. Maxsted, Esq., Pre- 
 sident of the Chamber of Com- 
 merce and Shipping, Hull. 
 
 Philip W. S. Miles, Esq., Presi- 
 dent of the Chamber of Commerce, 
 Bristol. 
 
 John Morgan, Esq., President of 
 the Chamber of Commerce, Cardiff. 
 
 A. J. MUNDELLA, Esq., M.P., Chair- 
 man of the Chamber of Commerce 
 of Nottingham. 
 
 Robert Napier, Esq., C.E., late 
 President of the Society of Me- 
 chanical Engineers. 
 
 John Patterson, Esq., President 
 of the Chamber of Commerce, 
 Liverpool. 
 
 William H. Payn, Esq., President 
 of the Chamber of Commerce, 
 Dover. 
 
 John Platt, Esq., M.P., Oldham. 
 
 Richard Quain, Esq., F.R.S., Pre- 
 sident of the Royal College of Sur- 
 geons, 
 
 Henry W. Ripley, Esq., President 
 of the Chamber of Commerce, Brad- 
 ford. 
 
 John H. Rockett, Esq., President 
 of the Chamber of Commerce, 
 Goole. 
 
 Richard Russell, Esq., President 
 of the Chamber of Commerce, 
 Limerick. 
 
 General Sabine, R.A., President 
 of the Royal Society. 
 
 Henry Thring, Esq., one o{ Her 
 Majesty's Commissioners for the 
 Exhibition of 1851. 
 
 A. C. Twentyman, Esq., President 
 of the Chamber of Commerce, Wol- 
 verhampton. 
 
 Joseph Whitworth, Esq., D.C.L., 
 late President of the Society of Me- 
 chanical Engineers. 
 
 30^,4 March, 1868. 
 
 Inter- 
 national 
 Exhi- 
 bitions. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1868-1S74. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Classification of Manufactures, Machinery, etc., to be 
 
 SHOWN throughout THE SERIES OF INTERNATIONAL EX- 
 
 HIBITIONS. 
 
 Pottery . 
 
 a. Earthenware 
 
 b. Stoneware . 
 f. Porcelain 
 
 d. Parian, &c. . 
 
 e. Terra Cottas for Building, &c. 
 Woollen and Worsted Fabrics 
 Machinery for the group 
 Raw materials for the above-men 
 
 tioned objects 
 Educational Works and Appliances 
 a. School Buildings, Fittings, 
 Furniture, &c. 
 
 1871. 
 
 Books, Maps, Globes, Instru- 
 ments, &c 
 
 Appliances for Physical Train- 
 ing, including Toys and 
 Games .... 
 
 Specimens and illustrations of 
 modes of teaching Fine Art, 
 Natural History, and Phy- 
 sical Science 
 
 Specimens of School work, 
 serving as examples of the 
 results of Teaching 
 
 1872. 
 
 Cotton . 
 Jewellery (say) 
 Musical Instruments 
 
 Acoustical Experiments . 
 Paper, Stationery, and Printing 
 a. Paper, Card, and Millboard 
 
 Classifica- 
 tion of pro- 
 ducts, &c., 
 for Exhi- 
 bitions. 
 
272 ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS. 
 
 Inter- 
 national 
 Exhi- 
 bitions. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1868-1874. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Classifica- 
 tion of pro- 
 ducts, &c., 
 for Exhi- 
 bitions. 
 
 b. Stationery .... 
 t. Plate, Letterpress, and other 
 modes of Printing 
 
 Machinery for the group 
 Raw materials for all the above- 
 mentioned objects 
 
 Any modifications in the year 1873 or the following years will be duly 
 
 announced. 
 
 1873- 
 
 Silk and Velvet .... 
 
 Steel, Cutlery, and Edge Tools 
 a. Steel Manufactures 
 *. Cutlery and Edge Tools 
 
 Surgicallnstruments and Appliances 
 
 Substances used as Food . 
 
 a. Agricultural Products . 
 
 b. Drysaltery, Grocery, Prepara- 
 
 tions of Food 
 
 e. Wine, Spirits, Beer and other 
 
 drinks, and Tobacco . 
 d. Implements for drinking, and 
 use of Tobacco, of all kinds 
 Cooking and its Science . 
 Machinery for the group 
 Raw materials for all the above- 
 mentioned objects 
 
 1874. 
 
 Lace, hand and machine made 
 Carriages not connected with Hail 
 
 or Tram Roads . 
 Civil Engineering, Architectural, 
 and Building Contrivances 
 and Tests . . . . 
 
 a. Civil Engineering, and Build- 
 
 ing Construction. 
 
 b. Sanitary Apparatus, and Con- 
 
 structions .... 
 
 c. Cement and Plaster Work, &c. 
 
 Leather, including Saddlery and 
 Harness .... 
 
 a. Leather, and Manufactures of 
 
 Leather .... 
 
 b. Saddlery, Harness 
 Artificial Illumination by all me- 
 thods. Gas and its Manufacture . 
 
 Bookbinding of all kinds (s&y) 
 Machinery in general for the group 
 Raw materials used for all the above- 
 mentioned objects 
 
 1875- 
 Woven, Spun, Felted, and Laid Fa- Hydraulics and Experiments. Sup- 
 
 brics (when shown as specimens of 
 
 Printing or Dyeing) . 
 Horological Instruments 
 Brass and Copper Manufactures 
 (say) 
 
 ply of Water 
 Machinery in general for the group 
 Raw materials used for all the above- 
 mentioned objects 
 
 1876. 
 
 Works in Precious Metals and their 
 imitations .... 
 
 Photographic Apparatus and Photo- 
 graphy .... 
 
 Skins, Furs, Feathers, and Hair . 
 
 Agricultural Machinery and re- 
 sults 
 
 Philosophical Instruments, and Pro- 
 cesses depending upon their 
 
 Uses of Electricity .... 
 Machinery in general for the group 
 Raw materials used for all the above- 
 mentioned objects 
 
ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS. 273 
 
 1877. 
 
 Furniture and Upholstery, including 
 Paper Hangings and Papier-Machi 
 
 a. Furniture and Upholstery 
 
 b. Paper Hangings and General 
 
 Decoration .... 
 
 Tapestry, Embroidery, and Needle- 
 work .... 
 Glass ..... 
 a. Stained Glass used in Build 
 
 mgs .... 
 
 b. Glass for household purposes 
 Military Engineering, Armour and 
 Accoutrements, Ambulances, 
 Ordnance and Small Arms . 
 
 u. Clothing and Accoutrements . 
 
 b. Tents, Camp Equipages, and 
 Military Engineering . 
 
 t. Arms, Ordnance, and Ammu- 
 nition 
 
 Matting of all kinds. Straw Manu 
 
 factures 
 Flax and Hemp . 
 Iron and General Hardware (say) 
 
 a. Iron Manufactures 
 
 b. Tin, Lead, Zinc, Pewter, and 
 
 general Brazing . 
 
 Health, Manufactures, &'c., pro- 
 moting, with experiments . 
 Machinery in general for the group 
 Rawmaterials used for all the above- 
 mentioned objects 
 
 1878. 
 
 Naval Architecture — Ships' Tackle. 
 
 a. Ships for purposes of War and 
 
 Commerce .... 
 
 b. Boats, Barges, and Vessels for 
 
 Commerce, Amusement, &c. 
 
 c. Ships' Tackle and Rigging . 
 Additional .... 
 
 d. Clothing for the Navy . 
 Heating and Combustion, with Ex- 
 periments .... 
 
 Machinery in general for the group 
 Raw materials used for all the above- 
 mentioned objects 
 
 1879. 
 
 Dressiiig Cases, Travelling Cases, 
 &'c. . 
 
 Horticultural Machinery and Pro- 
 ducts ..... 
 
 Uses of Magnetism 
 
 Machinery in general for the group 
 
 Rawmaterials used for all the above- 
 mentioned objects 
 
 1880. 
 
 Chemical Substances and Products, 
 and Experiments, Pharma- 
 ceutical Processes . 
 
 a. Chemical products 
 
 b. Medical and Pharmaceutical 
 
 Products and Processes 
 
 c. Oils, Fats, Wax . 
 Articles of Clothing 
 
 a. Hats and Caps 
 
 b. Bonnets and General Millinery 
 
 c. Hosiery, Gloves, and Clothing 
 
 in general .... 
 
 d. Boots and Shoes . 
 Railway Plant, including Locomo- 
 tive Engines and Carriages . 
 
 Machinery in general for the group 
 Raw materials used for all the above- 
 mentioned objects 
 
 Inter- 
 national 
 Exhi- 
 bitions. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1868-1874. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 II. 
 
PATENT REFORM AND THE SOCIETY 
 OF ARTS. 
 
 Extracts from First and Second Reports on the Prin- 
 ciples OF Jurisprudence which should regulate the 
 recognition of the Rights of Inventors. 
 
 Patent 
 Reform. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1848-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Rights of 
 inventors 
 abroad and 
 in England. 
 
 BRITISH subject has no rights of property what- 
 ever in that intellectual labour which produces inven- 
 tion or scientific discovery, excepting such as he can 
 obtain by petition from the Crown. He may have 
 bestowed years of mental exertion and manual toil in perfecting 
 a discovery most beneficial to mankind, still he is not in the 
 position of being able to claim even the recognition of the fruits 
 of his labour as his own. He must become a petitioner for 
 the right to the Crown, which is absolute and irresponsible, and 
 may refuse it without any power whatever of appeal. Many and 
 well-settled as are the rights of British subjects compared with 
 those of other nations, the suppliant inventor has no rights of his 
 own in his invention. The inventor in France, in America, in 
 Holland, and in Belgium, even in Austria and Spain, has his rights 
 recognized by declared law ; but the Englishman has none. By 
 passing through a series of formulas, so antiquated that the origin 
 of them is lost in the obscurity of past centuries — so empty and 
 frivolous, that common sense revolts at them — so numerous, that 
 they can hardly be reckoned accurately — so intricate, that every 
 one seems a pitfall to discourage scientific invention to the utmost 
 — so inexplicable, that the utnlost diversity of opinion obtains in 
 interpreting them — so costly, as to place scientific intelligence 
 
PATENT REFORM. 275 
 
 wholly within the power of capital ; an inventor may at last obtain Patent 
 a mere recognition of his right, which he is then at liberty to pro- ^l^ 
 tect as he may be best able. 1848-1832. 
 
 ■' . Part II. 
 
 Thus the United Kingdom presents the anomaly, that whilst Selections. 
 it is the greatest manufacturing nation in the world, possessing 
 boundless capital and most active industrial energy, combined 
 with a vast amount of inventive ability, to which the genius of the 
 people gives the most practical development, the principles of 
 jurisprudence, which should regulate its inventive science and its 
 manufacturing skill, are very far behind those of other nations 
 inferior in civilization to herself. 
 
 The peculiar circumstances under which inventors are placed 
 will be first examined. " It may be impossible," as a recent 
 Treasury Report states, " to ascertain with certainty when grants 
 of letters patent for the sole use of inventions were first made in 
 this country," just as it would be impossible to ascertain when any 
 Englishman made the first invention ; but it is not difficult to see 
 that the existence of the present power of the Crown of granting 
 or refusing rights to inventors, took its rise in a very early and bar- 
 barous period, and that it is only the remnant of a system of 
 absolute monarchy, of which scarcely a vestige except that of 
 granting letters patent remains at the present time. The earliest Earliest 
 letters patent enrolled among our unrivalled series of public re- patlnt. 
 cords, belong to the reign of King John ; and if we do not find 
 letters patent conferring rights for manufacturing invention recorded 
 at that time, it was not because the Crown did not possess the 
 power of granting them, but because the wants of mankind did not 
 call for the recognition of them. 
 
 The origin of letters patent of all kinds, was part of a system origin of 
 of absolute monarchy : numerous personal rights continued for patent part 
 ages to belong to the royal prerogative, until they were gradually "f abSut? 
 taken from it, whilst the privileges for inventions were left still to ""'""'^ ^• 
 be regulated by it, simply because the "inventors' rights" were not 
 important enough to secure for themselves direct legislative recog- 
 nition, as numerous other rights had done. 
 
 It must be clearly borne in mind, that no inventor, or dis- 
 coverer, or proprietor of any invention, is in any position to claim 
 any right whatever, until he has passed through all the following 
 thirty-five official stages of cost and delay : — 
 
276 
 
 PATENT REFORM. 
 
 Patent 
 Reform. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1848-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Official 
 stages to be 
 gone tlirough 
 by an in- 
 ventor. 
 
 A Recital of the Official Stages, so far as they can be made out, which an 
 Inventor must undergo in obtaining Letters-Patent for an Invention in 
 England only, provided his amplication is unopposed. 
 
 Stage 1st. Inventor prepares humble petition to the Crown, 
 
 2nd. Which he must fortify by a declaration taken before 
 
 a Master in Chancery, and pay 
 3rd. He delivers petition and declaration to the Home 
 
 Office, in Whitehall, and pays 
 4th. Home Secretary signs petition after some days, and 
 
 refers it to Attorney or Solicitor-General 
 5th. Petition taken to the Attorney or Solicitor-General, 
 
 at their Chambers, and the fees paid to them and 
 
 Clerks are 
 6th. Attorney or Solicitor-General reports in favour of 
 
 petition, as a matter of course, unless opposed 
 7th. Report taken back to the Home Office, in Whitehall 
 8th. Home Office prepares a warrant, which echoes the 
 
 report, and is 
 gth. Sent to the Queen to sign 
 loth. Returned to Home Office, and 
 I ith. Home Secretary countersigns wan-ant, and the fees 
 
 paid are 
 I2th. Warrant taken to Patent Office in Lincoln's Inn 
 13th. Clerk of the Patents prepares a draft of the Queen's 
 
 bill and docquet of the bill, and the fees paid are 
 14th. And engrosses two copies of bill, one for the Signet | 
 
 Office and one for the Privy Seal Office, fees \ 
 
 iSth. Stamp-duty on each 
 1 6th. Engrossing Clerk of the Patent Office engrosses 1 
 
 Queen's bill for signature, fees j 
 
 17th. Stamp for the same 
 1 8th. Queen's bill taken to Attorney-General or Solicitor- ) 
 
 General and signed by them, fees ) 
 
 19th. Taken back to Home Secretary 
 20th. Sent by Home Secretary to the Queen 
 2ist. Signed by the Queen 
 22nd. Returned to the Home Secretary, and the fees paid 
 
 are 
 23rd. Queen's bill taken to Signet Office, in Somerset ^ 
 
 House 
 24th. Clerk of the Signet prepares a signet bill for the 
 
 Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, fees 
 2Sth. Clerk of the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal prepares 
 
 a Privy Seal bill for the Lord Chancellor, and 
 
 stamp, fees 
 
 £0 
 
 4 4 
 
 7 13 6 
 
 5 10 6 
 I 7 6 
 
 6 o 
 
 7 13 6 
 
 470 
 
 4 2 
 
PATENT REFORM. 277 
 
 Patent 
 
 Reform. 
 
 5 17 8 A.D. 
 
 1848-1852. 
 30 O O Part II. 
 
 Selections, 
 
 7 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 II 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 lO 
 
 6 
 
 26th. Privy Seal bill delivered to the Clerk of the Patents ' 
 
 27th. Clerk of the Patents engrosses the patent, and fees 
 
 paid are 
 
 Stamps for the patent, &c. 
 
 28th. Clerk of the Patents prepares a docquet thereof 
 
 29th. Stamp for the docquet of patent 
 
 30th. Boxes for the patent 096 
 
 31st. Fees to the deputy (?), the Lord Chancellor's Purse- 1 
 
 , rj»/' 1220 
 
 Dearer \ 
 
 32nd. Fees to the Clerk of the Hanaper 
 
 33rd. Fees to the Deputy Clerk of the Hanaper 
 
 34th. Receipt of the Lord Chancellor for the Privy Seal bill, 
 
 which he signs 
 
 3Sth.' Fees to the Deputy-Sealer and Deputy-Chaff Wax 
 
 £\oo 7 2 
 Exclusive of fees in cases of opposition and for enrol- 
 ment of the specification. 
 
 The stages are somewhat less complicated for obtaining 
 letters patent in Scotland, but the cost is somewhat more in Ire- 
 land : the fees in Scotland being £,(>2 y. id. and those in Ireland Fees for let- 
 £ii() lis. "jd., whilst there are other fees to be paid and some iSFnScot- 
 other processes undergone, to make letters patent applicable to the i^L^eUnd! 
 Colonies. These payments are increased if there be any opposi- 
 tion made to the issue of the patent, and are exclusive of the 
 charges which are payable to the agent, who undertakes to guide 
 an inventor through the labyrinth of offices and officers and forms. 
 So that the total amount of official fees only exacted to obtain the 
 chance of rights in the United Kingdom and its Colonies, may be 
 estimated to be about ;^3oo. 
 
 Grave and valid objections may be taken to any compulsory 
 system ol petitioning for rights of invention, but the notice of these 
 may be postponed until the present system, as shown by the pre- 
 ceding table, has been examined on its own merits. An examina- 
 tion of the ancient petitions presented to " Le Roi " only, or to 
 " Le Roi et son Conseil," shows that a petition to King John, or 
 Harry the Eighth, or even James the First, was a substantive 
 reality. The sovereign granted it at his own personal will, but No personal 
 the Queen now has no personal responsibility in acceding to any b1fSy"now 
 petition from a subject, and in respect of an invention, no personal S?Queen. 
 feeling or knowledge whatever, or indiyidually any power whatever 
 
278 
 
 PATENT REFORM. 
 
 Patent 
 Reform. 
 
 A.D. 
 1848-1852. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Time con- 
 sumed by an 
 inventor 
 getting a 
 Patent. 
 
 to grant or withhold it. Her Majesty is simply troubled to sign 
 her name twice over to every Patent for Inventions, and is obliged 
 to do so on an average thirteen hundred times in the course of a 
 year. The spirit of this formula is not at all analogous to affixing 
 the royal signature to a patent for an office or a dignity, which is 
 the symbol of the sovereign's approval of the minister's choice. 
 In Letters Patent for inventions, neither her Majesty, nor the 
 Home Secretary, nor even the Attorney-General, virtually exercise 
 any discretion at all. As soon as the Attorney or Solicitor-General 
 reports in favour of the Patent, the Home Secretary's clerk sends 
 the warrants to her Majesty, who signs them, and every other stage 
 is passed through mechanically. 
 
 An average period of about two months is consumed in 
 going through all the forms, at each of which the most scrupulous 
 observance is exacted, and the petitioner at last gets his Patent. 
 But this, as the Clerk of the Patents has observed, " is drawn as 
 obscurely as the specifier thinks consistent with the legality of the 
 Patent." In fact the Patent, before last November, was a privilege 
 to possess a something which was afterwards to be defined ; for it 
 was not until after several months, usually six, that the authorities 
 or public really knew what the Patent had been granted for. 
 Great abuses were the result. The Attorney-General, the Home 
 Secretary, the Queen, the Lord Chancellor, recognized what might 
 be simply " a blind title," as it has been called. The recent order 
 of Sir John Romilly, compelling, petitioners to specify on present- 
 ing the petition, is calculated to remove one of the evils of the 
 present system ; and the Committee would congratulate the public, 
 that the offices of Attorney and Solicitor are now filled by such 
 known friends of law reform as Sir John Romilly and Sir Alexander 
 Cockburn. 
 
 At last, however, the petitioner completes the process by speci- 
 fying his invention, and it rests entirely upon him to substan- 
 tiate its validity, for the Crown and its hosts of officers, Attorney- 
 General, Privy Seal, Hanaper, Chaff-wax, &c , have really assured 
 him nothing. 
 
 As the onus of proving the novelty of the invention rests 
 solely upon the petitioner, it might be reasonably expected that 
 there should be some system to enable him to ascertain the exis- 
 tence of the Patents and Specifications enrolled before his applica- 
 
for Inven- 
 tions. 
 
 PATENT REFORM. 279 
 
 tion. Even here he is met with insuperable difficulties. Until Patent 
 within the last few months, the Specifications were enrolled at three ^^ d"" 
 separate offices, and excepting at the Rolls Chapel — for which '848-1852. 
 public thanks are due to the present Master of the Rolls, Lord Selections. 
 Langdale — the means of reference were most difficult and imper- 
 fect, indeed practically useless. 
 
 After the whole process has been completed, the petitioner's Petitioner's 
 rights are entirely at the mercy of the interpretations which the mercy of the 
 law may put upon his claim, and next to the idle forms and '^"' 
 great cost, the legal insecurity of the whole system is justly com- 
 plained of. 
 
 Upon the subject of the cost of Patents, public opinion is 
 unanimous that it is far too great even for the purposes of revenue, 
 and that the cost operates mischievously and unequally in dis- 
 couraging invention. 
 
 Owing to the complexity of the system, and the obvious re- Amount 
 luctance to be precise in information, there is much difficulty in for pLKnte 
 ascertaining the actual amount which the public pay in fees for 
 Patents for Inventions. It does not appear to exceed the annual 
 sum of ;^7 0,000, exclusive of the cost of the private agency con- 
 nected with it ; so that when the period of reform arrives it is 
 satisfactory to know that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will not 
 be asked to sacrifice in any possible case ;^65,ooo at the very 
 outside. So far as the facts can be collected and digested from 
 various parliamentary papers, the results appear to be, that 
 annually the public revenue derives about ;^46,ooo"; the fee fund 
 of the Court of Chancery about _;^2,5oo ; and that something less 
 than _;^i8,ooo is paid in fees to individuals as private emoluments 
 for services, which we have already shown have no business-like 
 purpose about them. 
 
 During the last twenty years, many efforts have been made 
 in Parliament to amend the Patent system, but without success. 
 Bills have been introduced to determine who shall be considered 
 inventors, — what shall be considered inventions, — how an in- 
 ventor shall draw up his specification, — how a little more or less 
 of the present antiquated forms may be simplified, — how some 
 "sealings" and declarations may be dispensed with, — how the 
 duration of the Patent may be shorter, — how the sovereign may 
 be released from signing, and so on ; but as all previous efforts 
 
28o 
 
 PATENT REFORM. 
 
 Patent 
 Reform. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1848-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Change in 
 the system 
 imperative. 
 
 have proceeded upon the amendment of a system which is irre- 
 concilable with sound principles of jurisprudence and rights of 
 property as now understood, they have signally failed ; and, with 
 the exception of some simpliiications of the proceedings before the 
 Privy Council, accomplished by Lord Brougham, Parliament 
 hitherto has been altogether impotent in dealing with the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 All experience has proved, that it is hopeless to effect 
 amendment of the present system of obtaining Patents. Every 
 one, indeed, agrees that some change is imperative. Even the 
 Patent lawyers and Patent agents in the most extensive practice, 
 denounce parts of the present system, and all have amendments to 
 suggest; but there is great difference of opinion on the extent to 
 which any of the thirty-five stages may be superseded. Whilst 
 the whole superstructure rests upon the fallacy that inventive rights 
 are boons to be granted or withheld, and not rights of intellectual 
 labour, it is idle to attempt to amend the details of the system. 
 Public opinion and common sense pronounce the present forms 
 empty pretences. It appears a waste of time to discuss whether 
 we shall keep one pretence more or less, or argue what forms are 
 best to protect the rights of inventors, until it is clearly settled 
 whether there shall be any rights at all; and if so, how they shall 
 be defined. 
 
 Is it the policy of a civilized state to grant any rights to in- 
 ventors ? The question may startle many, seeing that the practice 
 of all civilized nations recognizes them, and that we have done so, 
 even through the awkward medium of Patent laws, for several cen- 
 turies. But still it is a question mooted by those whose opinions 
 demand respectful attention. 
 
 Inventive labour is a right which no power in the State ought to 
 have any option in the recognition of. 
 
 The rights of property in literary or artistic labour, or of me- 
 chanical skill in respect of "form or configuration,'' are not de- 
 termined in any respect by their merits. Even the present system 
 of Patents virtually does not recognize the intrinsic value of an in- 
 vention to be any ground for granting them. The spirit of our 
 institutions is, to leave the public the utmost latitude of judging 
 for itself upon all questions of merit, and it may, therefore, be con- 
 cluded that there are no sufficient reasons for making the question 
 
PATENT REFORM. 281 
 
 of merits any ground to refuse acknowledgment of the rights of Patent 
 invention. ^^™''"- 
 
 A.D. 
 
 In fact, upon the intrinsic merits of an invention, the public at '848-1852. 
 large are the best and only judges. Selections. 
 
 It would thus appear that it is simply the business of the State 
 to provide an easy means of registration of claims, which the 
 law should regard as valid until they were proved to be otherwise, 
 as is the case in almost every civilized country but our own ; and 
 the establishment of any tribunal to investigate claims, either 
 before they are disputed or afterwards, appears altogether a sepa- 
 rate and distinct question, quite independent of the policy of 
 recognizing the rights of inventors to the fruits of their labour. 
 
 Extracts from the Second Report of the Committee of second Re- 
 THE Society of Arts upon the Rights of Inventors. iocie/yof 
 
 Resolutions passed to form the heads of a Bill. 
 
 1. That everything in respect of which a patent may now be 
 
 granted should be registered. 
 
 2. That the benefits afforded by Registration should extend to 
 
 thje United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the 
 Channel Islands. 
 
 3. That the Registration should be considered merely as a record 
 
 of claims, and not as any determination of rights between 
 parties. 
 
 4. That it should be competent to an Inventor to make dis- 
 
 claimers and to rectify errors in his Specification at any 
 period. 
 
 5. That Registration of Inventions ' should be obtainable for a 
 
 period of one year on payment of ;£'5, and should be re- 
 newable for four periods of five years each ; on payment of 
 ;^io at first renewal; of ;^2o at second renewal; of ^Q'^o 
 at third renewal ; and of ;^ioo at fourth renewal. [The 
 principle of renewed payments, increasing in amount, is 
 
 Arts Com- 
 mittee. 
 Heads of a 
 BiU. 
 
 ' It is interesting to note as these the Patents for Inventions Bill now 
 
 pages pass through the press, that the (1883) before Parliament. The rate 
 
 intention of the simplifications, espe- of fees for a four years' patent is con- 
 
 cially in respect of registration, advo- siderably reduced in that Bill, 
 cated in 1850, have been adopted in 
 
282 
 
 PATENT REFORM. 
 
 "■Patent 
 Reform. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1848-1852. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Heads of a 
 new Patent 
 Bill. 
 
 proposed as a means of testing whether an invention is in 
 use, and of removing useless inventive rights that might 
 otherwise be obstructive of improvements.] 
 
 6. That there should be penalties for using the title of " patent " 
 
 or " registration '' where none has ever existed. 
 
 7. That the present tribunals are insufficient for the trial of sub- 
 
 jects of design and invention. 
 
 8. That it should be permitted to commence actions for infringe- 
 
 ment of the rights of Inventors in the County Courts. 
 
 9. That inasmuch as, contrary to expectation, very little litigation 
 
 has been created by the rights conferred by the Designs 
 Act of 1842 and 1843, this Committee is of opinion that a 
 fair trial should be given to the working of the proposed 
 system of Registration of Inventions before any special 
 tribunal to determine inventive rights is substituted for the 
 existing tribunals. 
 
 10. That any tribunal before which proceedings are commenced, 
 
 should have power to refer any case for report and certifi- 
 cate to the Registrar, assisted by competent and scientific 
 persons. 
 
 11. That upon the illegality of the Registration being established 
 
 by the judgment or order of any competent tribunal, the 
 Registration be cancelled. 
 
 12. That there should be only one Office for the transaction of 
 
 business connected with the Registration of Inventions, and 
 the payment of Fees in respect thereof. 
 
 13. That every person desiring to register an Invention should 
 
 submit two copies of the Specification of his claim, accom- 
 panied, in every case where it is possible, by descriptive 
 Drawings. 
 
 14. That the mode and procedure of Registration should be regu- 
 
 lated by the Board of Trade, subject to a Report to 
 Parliament. 
 
 15. That an Annual Report of all Specifications registered, with 
 
 proper indices and calendars, should be laid before Parlia- 
 ment. 
 
 16. That a Collection of all the Specifications should be made, 
 
 calendared, and indexed, and deposited for public informa- 
 tion in the British Museum. 
 
PATENT REFORM. 283 
 
 17. That it is highly desirable that such a Collection should be patent 
 
 printed and published. '^^;;';"- 
 
 1 8. That the surplus profits, after paying ofBce expenses and com- '848-1852. 
 
 pensation, should be directly applied to some public purpose Selections, 
 connected with invention, but not carried to the Consoli- 
 dated Fund. 
 Although the Committee, in their first Report, have discussed Principles of 
 the principles of jurisprudence which, it appears to them, should denceTiiouid 
 govern the rights of inventors (see § 32, passim), they think it ngteVf " 
 right to point out that the reforms which they suggest, are essen- '"™"'°''^- 
 tially those of procedure, their object being to afford simpler and 
 cheaper means of obtaining rights already recognized by all civilized, 
 countries, and of protecting them when obtained. 
 
 The Committee are unanimously of opinion that there ought 
 to be no needless formalities, which the proprietor of an invention 
 should be compelled to pass through to obtain a recognition of his 
 right. There should be only one office for the transaction of all 
 business connected with the Registration of Inventions and the 
 payment of the fees in respect thereof. 
 
 The argument is unsound, that the present great cost of Present cost 
 Patents, by rendering the rights few, is a benefit to manufacturers. beiSfi'To^' * 
 The money test does not determine the merit or legality of the in- rer^M^un-' 
 vention, but simply proves that the inventor could either afford to mmt^ "^" 
 pay the fees, or that he could induce some one else to pay them 
 for him. In short, the very reverse of the inconveniences prophe- 
 sied may be expected from cheap registration of invention. Make 
 little rights respected, and a better tone of morals is fostered 
 towards all rights, both large and small. What would be our state 
 of society if the law repudiated cognizance of any thefts below a 
 pound in value ? No one will contend that the public has not 
 derived great benefit from the easy recovery of small debts, and 
 that since the County Courts Bill has been passed there has been 
 a tendency to incur small debts. Quite the contrary. The same 
 beneficial results would follow with registrations of small inven- 
 tions. The manufacturer too, who dreads too much invention, 
 would be the first to avail himself of the facility of registration, 
 because he would at once register every slight improvement in 
 process or otherwise, and he would never look at the cost of doing 
 so. The public advantages in the progress of science and dis- 
 
284 
 
 PATENT REFORM. 
 
 Reform cfvery would bc Very great, by the facility thus given to record 
 A.D. anything whatever that seemed to be of practical worth. Every 
 Part iL^ scientific man is now obliged to ask himself, Is the discovery worth 
 Selections. _;^3oo? and when he decides that he cannot get the Patent with- 
 out infinite trouble and cost, his discovery goes unregistered — 
 probably to be revived again and again by others richer and more 
 adventurous than himself. Recognize the rights of inventors, and 
 Invention invention will be elevated into a science. Those who fear such a 
 elevated into rcsult are those who fear the spread of education, and are like 
 those who, in the middle ages, would have burned astronomers or 
 metallurgists as witches ; and who, even in the memory of the pre- 
 sent times, denied the pretensions of geology or political economy 
 to the rank of sciences. 
 
EXTRACTS FROM AN 
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS ON THE FUNC- 
 TIONS OF THE SCIENCE AND 
 ART DEPARTMENT. 
 
 By henry cole, C.B., Secretary and General 
 Superintendent. 
 
 (Delivered on l6th Nov., 1857.) 
 
 \T has seemed right to the Lord President of the 
 Council and the Vice-President of the Committee of 
 Council on Education, to direct that a series of in- 
 troductory explanations of the Science and Art De- 
 partment should be given to the public during the present session, 
 when, since the occurrence of several changes, most of its func- 
 tions may be said to have come fairly into action. At the begin- 
 ning of this year, the Department was a branch of the Board of 
 Trade, now it is a division of the Committee of Council on 
 Education. Its oflSces, schools, and the Museum of Art were at 
 Marlborough House, now they are at South Kensington. More- 
 over, the Department has become charged with the general super- 
 intendence of a Museum embracing many other objects besides 
 those of Art, and several collections which are the property of 
 private bodies. 
 
 Some who have but recently paid attention to the subject, 
 have thought that the Science and Art Department is a new 
 creation of the Government, and have commented on the impor- 
 tant item which its expenses make in the parliamentary estimates 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Aet 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 
 A.D. 1857. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Functions of 
 tlie Science 
 and Art De- 
 partment. 
 
286 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 A.D. 1857. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Institutions 
 under the 
 Science and 
 Art Depart- 
 ment. 
 
 Secondary or 
 adult educa- 
 tion. 
 
 of the year. The Science and Art Department is rather a consoli- 
 dation of institutions, most of which have been long established, 
 than the creation of any new ones. The oldest institution con- 
 nected with the Department is the Royal Dublin Society, which as 
 early as 1800 received an annual public grant of .^^15,500, a sum 
 it disbursed without being subject to much parliamentary control. 
 The School of Mines, Geological Museum in Jermyn Street, and 
 Geological Survey were in process of organization from 1837 to 
 185 1, and were placed under the Chief Commissioner of Public 
 Works. The Industrial Museum of Ireland owes its origin to Sir 
 Robert Peel in 1845, and was also subject to the Chief Commis- 
 sioner of Works, whilst the School of Design, which is the parent 
 of the present Schools of Art located in all parts of the United 
 Kingdom, and supported mainly by local authority and action, 
 was founded in 1837 by Mr. Poulett Thompson, afterwards Lord 
 Sydenham, and was subject to the authority of the Board of 
 Trade. 
 
 All these institutions had in view the promotion of scientific 
 and artistic knowledge of an industrial tendency, at the expense of 
 the State, but they acted in different ways, independently of each 
 other, and were subject to different kinds of ministerial responsi- 
 bility. It can hardly be said that they reported their proceedings 
 systematically to Parliament, but they made occasional returns, 
 which were called for spasmodically and very much from accidental 
 causes. 
 
 There are still other institutions for promoting Art and 
 Science at the expense of the State, which in principle are the 
 same as the institutions constituting the Department, and which 
 might perhaps be usefully brought under more precise parliamen- 
 tary responsibility, and be at least prevented from clashing with 
 one another. 
 
 The Science and Art Department now constitutes the division 
 of the Committee of Council on Education, charged with the duty 
 of offering to the public increased means for promoting secondary 
 or adult education. All the functions attaching to primary educa- 
 tion remain as a separate division of the Committee of Council, 
 and are carried on at Whitehall. The recent transfer of the Science 
 and Art Department from the Board of Trade, has not affected 
 them, except to enable the President and Vice-President to render 
 
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 287 
 
 the working of any points of contact between primary and secondary depart- 
 education harmonious and consistent. science' 
 
 The teaching of the applied sciences — chemistry, physics, and South 
 natural history, mechanics, navigation, and the fine arts, taking to™Mu-" 
 drawing as an indispensable beginning, — constitutes the precise ^^""• 
 object of secondary education, developed in various ways by means Pan 11. 
 of museums, schools, public examinations, payments for results, 
 and the preparation of examples. Whatever advantages the De- 
 partment is enabled to offer to the public, may be obtained without 
 requiring any denominational test which the primary division of 
 the Education Board at the present time demands. Except in the 
 case of the public museums, which the public enter without pay- 
 ment at certain times, the aid tendered by the Department can 
 only be obtained by a voluntary co-operation on the part of the Co-operation 
 
 , , . - , . , . , with the De- 
 
 public, and moderate payments, varymg accordmg to the means partmcnt, 
 
 of the applicants for instruction, afford the test that the assistance the' public," 
 sought is really valued. To obtain the assistance of the Depart- "^"^^^'■y- 
 ment in establishing schools, there must be subscriptions from the 
 benevolent to provide a capital for starting — the fees of students 
 provide in great measure the current expenses and a partial pay- 
 ment to the teachers, whilst the Department comes in aid in various 
 ways in paying for the instruction itself. Under this system all 
 classes are enabled to take their proper share in it, and equal 
 opportunities are afforded to the whole people for developing any 
 talents they may be endowed with. The work thus done is mainly 
 done by the public itself on a self-supporting basis as far as possible, 
 whilst the State avoids the error of continental systems, of taking 
 the principal and dominant part in Secondary Education. 
 
 Passing from the question of general education to the specific 
 action of the Department, it will be right to give some instances 
 of its functions which could not be carried out by any private 
 agency. Neither Navigation Schools nor Schools of Art, in the 
 present state of pubHc intelligence, could well exist without the 
 assistance that the State affords to them. The collecting of casts Repetitions 
 and examples of art from the national museums of other countries, art^rom ° 
 could only be systematically carried on by a Government agency. muTc?Ins. 
 Aheady the French Government have permitted electrotypes and 
 casts to be taken of the finest original works in the Louvre, Hotel 
 de Cluny, and Musde d'Artillerie, at Paris, and these repetitions 
 
288 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 A.D. 1857. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Local 
 
 museums of 
 Art. 
 
 Educational 
 museum 
 
 originated 
 by Society of 
 Arts. 
 
 Science. 
 
 may be seen in the Museurq. Arrangements have been made to 
 obtain similar privileges in Dresden, Berlin, Frankfort, Vienna, &c. 
 Thus in a few years copies taken by means of electricity and photo- 
 graphy of the great Art-treasures in Europe, will be collected for 
 the benefit of this country ; and, by a self-acting process be distri- 
 buted as prizes to local museums and schools, and thus will lay 
 the foundations for the establishment of local museums of Art, 
 wherever the people themselves may make the necessary arrange- 
 ments for housing and preserving them. Another instance of the 
 necessity for a central action, which may be open to public criti- 
 cism, and be above the suspicion of partiality in administration, is 
 shown by the establishment of the Educational Museum. This 
 Museum is for the most part, the assemblage of voluntary offerings 
 of books, objects, and appliances for aiding education, produced, 
 by different agencies, all competitors with one another. The pro- 
 ducers of educational books and apparatus, here willingly submit 
 in competition to the public the publications they have issued. 
 The public here may consult and compare together the different 
 models of schools recommended by the National Society, the 
 Home and Colonial Society, the Homerton College, and others. 
 The Society of Arts, at the instigation of Mr. Harry Chester, 
 originated the Educational Museum, and devoted several hundred 
 pounds to its maintenance for a few months ; but the loss arising 
 from this useful enterprise, proved that no private agency could 
 maintain an Educational Museum. Whilst, for the benefit of 
 general literature, the copyright law obliges the publisher to send 
 to the British Museum Library a copy of every work that he issues, 
 the Educational Museum accomplishes for national education, a 
 similar object almost wholly by the voluntary contributions of pro- 
 ducer's. The State provides the house-room and custodyship, 
 whilst the public themselves supply the contents. 
 
 A somewhat narrow defence of State interference in promot- 
 ing Science and Art, may be found in the influences which they 
 exercise upon the material prosperity of the country. It seems 
 almost a truism to say that the successful results of all human 
 labour depend upon the right apphcation of the laws of science, 
 which are not the less necessary because they may be unknown. 
 In the early life of a people those laws are employed empirically. 
 The savages of Lahore or Delhi have been great adepts in the 
 
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 289 
 
 application of the laws of colour to manufactures, and Jtiave had no depart- 
 
 O 1 1 /* * mi 1 • 1 /- -It " 1 MENT OF 
 
 achools of Art. The hides of oxen, m all quarters of the globe. Science 
 were made into leather by means of scientific principles, long before and South 
 chemistry had been matured into a science. But in these days of ton Mu- 
 the scientific discovery of Nature's laws, the value of production, A^n."i8s7. 
 in all its infinite varieties, is materially affected by the right appli- Part n- 
 
 r xi 1 ■, , • • ,1 , , Selections. 
 
 cation of those laws ; and such is especially the case among the 
 more modern nations. Follow the history of the sheep, for 
 example, in all its details, as shown in the Animal Museum. Museum of 
 Liebig has taught us how essential to success are the proper rela- Products. 
 tions between the earth and the food of the sheep, and the mutual 
 reaction of each of them. The Duke of Richmond and Mr. Jonas 
 Webb know well enough how to apply scientific laws that influence 
 the production in the same animal of the greatest quantity of the 
 best wool for manufactures, and of the largest amount of mutton 
 for food. In every stage of the preparation of wool, chemistry 
 and mechanics are brought to bear. The combing, the carding, 
 the drying, the felting, the spinning and weaving, are all good or 
 bad in proportion as scientific laws are obeyed or not. And then, 
 whether or not the garment, the hangings, the tapestry, and the 
 carpet gratify the taste, is altogether dependent on the application 
 of the laws which regulate beauty. To offer to every one in this 
 kingdom the elementary knowledge whereby his labour may have 
 the best chances of fruitful and profitable development, appears to 
 be the aim, in its broadest sense, of all public expenditure on behalf 
 of Science and Art. 
 
 I say elementary knowledge, because some years' experience Special tech- 
 and earnest efforts have now shown conclusively that State inter- png^ 
 ference in any special technical teaching, founded upon the 
 assumption of trade requirements, does not succeed. I confess 
 myself to have been at one time of a contrary opinion, and to have 
 thought that it was both possible and expedient that effect should 
 be given to the professions originally made in establishing the 
 School of Design. 
 
 The total national expenditure for promoting Public Educa- National 
 tion and Science and Art in everyway through the primary division foi^PuMili" 
 of the Education Board, the British Museum, National Gallery, 
 grants to Universities, and Grant to this Department, may be taken, 
 at the present time, to be in round numbers a million of pounds 
 
 II. U 
 
 Education. 
 
290 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 A.D. 1837. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Government 
 co-operation 
 with local 
 eiforts. 
 
 Sterling, which divided among our population, say, of 30,000,000, 
 makes the contribution of each to average eight pence per head 
 per annum. It is difficult to calculate the annual value of the 
 production of this country ; but I think, seeing that our imports 
 and exports last year amounted to ;^288,S45,68o, it is not an over 
 estimate to place it as being worth ;^4oo,ooo,ooo a year. The 
 State contribution towards Education, Science, and Art, which 
 vitally influences this enormous amount, bears therefore the pro- 
 portion of the outlay of one pound on behalf of Education, Science, 
 and Art for every .;^4oo of production, or one penny in every 
 ;^i 13J'. 4</. The annual Parliamentary vote for the Science and 
 Art Department only, being under ;£7SjO0O) is less than a five- 
 thousandth part of the estimated annual production, and is about 
 a thousandth part of the annual taxation of the country. It is as 
 if a man with ;^i,ooo a year devoted £^2 6s. ^d. a year to the 
 general education of his children, and gave them ,the additional 
 advantages of drawing lessons and a little navigation, at a cost to 
 himself of 3^. ^d. a year. In the same proportion the agricultural 
 labourer, who earns only ^£2^ a year, devotes is. ^d. to the 
 education of his family, and has to deny himself the luxury of half 
 a pint of beer a year, in helping his children to a knowledge of 
 drawing, and enabling them to cut and rule straight lines. 
 
 It may be pointed out, at least as a coincidence worthy to 
 be remembered by any wKo oppose State aid towards education, 
 that whilst democratic power in this country has increased, so a 
 demand upon the Government to exercise certain new functions 
 has increased also. As the people have felt their wants, and have 
 had power to express them in Parliament, so the central authority 
 has been called upon to administer to these wants, and it is the 
 Government itself rather than the people which has endeavoured 
 to obtain and preserve as much local co-operation as possible. 
 This has been the case especially with the subjects of public 
 education, in which, so far as I have observed, it is the complaint 
 of localities, and particularly where the jealousy of local authority 
 is hottest, that the Government does not do enough for them. 
 
 Indeed, it is proved that as a people become intelligent and 
 free, so are they likely to demand Public Education and to be 
 willing to pay for it. Manchester, the scene of the Peterloo riots 
 in 1 8 14, where the democratic feeling has certainly not diminished, 
 
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 291 
 
 although it is perceptibly tempered by increased intelligence, is, Dbpart- 
 among the first places in this country to agree to a local rate to science" 
 support a Free Library, and this willingness to tax themselves for and South 
 Education is remarkable chiefly on the part of largely populated ton m'°.' 
 manufacturing centres, where the politics are what may be termed ^'"""■ 
 ultra-Uberal. Salford, Bolton, Sheffield, Norwich, Kidderminster, Part 11. 
 Preston, all tax themselves for Free Libraries. 
 
 The Department fully recognizes the broad principle that, in 
 all its proceedings, it is itself the servant of, or rather perhaps a 
 partner with, the public. Having essayed to discover what appear 
 to be public wants in the promotion of Science and Art, the course 
 of the Department is matured by the Committee of Council on 
 Education and published ; and it rests wholly with the public to 
 accept or not the offer of assistance thus made. In the main the 
 assistance is offered to the poor ; in some instances, as in grants 
 for examples, it is absolutely limited to the poor; but where 
 arrangements can be made so that all classes may benefit, and the 
 richer be induced to help the poorer, the aid and encouragement 
 are open to all. The various prizes offered by the Department are 
 taken absolutely on merits by all classes, and the tendency in the 
 administration of the Department, as far as it may be possible, is 
 rather to expend the public funds in paying for successful results 
 secured, leaving the public free to produce the results in anyway, 
 rather than to dictate systems or to undertake to carry them out 
 by a direct agency. The Department makes no pretence to in- 
 falhbility. In proportion as the public will acquire Science and 
 Art in their own way, so does its interference become unnecessary, 
 and its greatest triumph would be the day when every working man 
 will be able and willing to pay the necessary cost of teaching his 
 child to add two to two, and to draw a straight line, without any 
 State assistance. In the meantime, accuracy in addition and 
 straight lines are a national want, and, through the Department, 
 the public seek to obtain State help in the production of them. 
 
 It has been said that the contents of the Museum here are Hetero- 
 
 , . r n T_ geneous 
 
 very heterogeneous, although Science or Art is the basis of all the character of 
 collections. The remark is just. These collections come together ofthewTu- 
 simply because space was provided for their reception. For years 
 they had been for the most part either packed away unseen, or 
 were very inadequately exhibited, and the public deprived of the 
 
292 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 A.D. 1857. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Architec- 
 tural col- 
 lection. 
 
 Patent 
 Museum. 
 
 Educational 
 collection. 
 
 Trade col- 
 lections. 
 
 Prospective 
 accommo- 
 dation for 
 and arrange- 
 ment of the 
 various col- 
 lections. 
 
 use of them. The architectural collections belonging to the De- 
 partment for years were buried in the cellars of Somerset House, 
 and were but most imperfectly shown at Marlborough House. 
 The prints and drawings possessed by the Department had never 
 been seen by the general public. The casts of the Architectural 
 Museum are surely better displayed here than in Cannon Row. 
 The union of these collections, and the addition of the models of 
 St. Paul's and various classical buildings, betoken what an Archi- 
 tectural Museum may become, if the individuals and the State will 
 act together. Every foreigner who has seen this commencement 
 sees in it the germ of the finest Architectural Museum in Europe, 
 if the public support the attempt. But for this iron shed, a Patent 
 Museum might have remained a theory. The educational collec- 
 tions were packed away for three years unused, awaiting only 
 house-room to show them. Since the Exhibition of 1851, the 
 Commissioners had been compelled to store away the Trade col- 
 lections which either are so attractive here, or have been usefully 
 distributed to local museums. The Iron Museum is only to be 
 regarded as a temporary refuge for destitute collections. 
 
 Besides proving the public value of these collections, the pro- 
 vision of space has signally demonstrated the willingness of the 
 public to co-operate with the State when space is found. But even 
 the present collections, crude and imperfect as they are, have 
 sufficiently attracted public attention, to confirm their public 
 utility ; and it may be expected that the public will not grudge that 
 proper house-room for their more systematic arrangement and de- 
 velopment should be provided. It was prudent at least to try the 
 experiment, which has been fully justified by success. Distinct 
 buildings of a permanent and suitable character are wanted for the 
 Patent Collection; for the products of the Animal Kingdom, which 
 logically seems to be an appendix to the national collection of the 
 animals in the British Museum ; and for the collections of Educa- 
 tion and of Art, as well architectural as pictorial, sculptural, and 
 decorative. For each of these collections prudence would provide 
 very ample space, as they must continue to grow as long as they 
 exist. Models of patented inventions, specimens of animal pro- 
 duce, architectural casts, objects of ornamental art, and sculpture, 
 cannot be packed as closely as books or prints in a library. They 
 require to be well seen in order to make proper use of them ; and 
 
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 293 
 
 it will here be a canon for future management that everything shall Depaet- 
 be seen and be made as intelligible as possible by descriptive Science" 
 labels. Other collections may attract the learned to explore them, anS So J™ 
 but these will be arranged so clearly that they may woo the igno- ?oTmT 
 rant to examine them. This Museum will be like a book with its *^""- 
 pages always open, and not shut. It already shows something like vln \y' 
 the intention which it is proposed to carry out. Although ample ^''°"'°''^- 
 catalogues and guides are prepared and are preparing, it will not 
 be necessary for the poor man to buy one, to understand what he 
 is looking at. 
 
 Every facility is afforded to copy and study in the Museum. 
 
 It has been the aim to make the mode of admission as Admission 
 acceptable as possible to all classes of visitors. Unlike any other thi'Museum. 
 public museum, this is open every day, on three days and two 
 evenings, which gives five separate times of admission, making in 
 summer an aggregate of thirty hours weekly free to every one. On 
 the other three days and one evening it is free to students whose 
 studies would be prevented by crowds of visitors ; but, on these 
 occasions, the public is not turned away, as a fee of sixpence gives 
 every one the right of admission as a student. 
 
 The working man comes to this Museum from his one or 
 two dimly lighted, cheerless dwelling-rooms, in his fustian jacket, 
 with his shirt collars a little trimmed up, accompanied by his 
 threes, and fours, and fives of little fustian jackets, a wife, in her 
 best bonnet, and a baby, of course, under her shawl. The looks 
 of surprise and pleasure of the whole party when they first observe Opening in 
 the brilliant lighting inside the Museum show what a new, accept- °''°"'"^' 
 able, and wholesome excitement this evening entertainment affords 
 to all of them. Perhaps the evening opening of Public Museums 
 may furnish a powerful antidote to the gin palace. 
 
 But it is not only as a metropolitan institution that this 
 Museum is to be looked at. Its destiny is rather to become the The Mu- 
 central storehouse or treasury of Science and Art for the use of the cent^aUrra- 
 whole kingdom. As soon as arrangements are made, it is pro- IciLce and 
 posed that any object that can properly be circulated to localities, ^de king- 
 should be sent upon a demand being made by the local authori- ''°'"' , . 
 
 ■ . *^ o y Circulation 
 
 ties. The prmciple is already fully at work, and its extension to of objects, 
 meet the public wants depends altogether upon the means which 
 the public may induce Parhament to furnish. It may be hoped 
 
294 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 A.D. 1857. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 General 
 aspect of 
 administra- 
 tion of the 
 Department. 
 
 by this principle of circulation to stimulate localities to. establish 
 museums and libraries for themselves, or at least to provide proper 
 accommodation to receive specimens lent for exhibition. 
 
 An essential condition to enable this plan to be carried out 
 satisfactorily is ample space, and fortunately this space is provided 
 by the present site, which could not be obtained without enormous 
 cost at any nearer point to the centre of London. Of course, any 
 other spot, at Birmingham or Derby would serve equally well as a 
 centre for radiation. But the present site has in addition the 
 public advantages of having a larger resident population than any 
 provincial town, and it may be borne in mind that half the popula- 
 tion of the metropolis is made up of natives of the provinces. 
 
 The number of works of the highest art is limited, and it 
 cannot be expected that every local gallery can possess many of 
 them, but the mode of circulation alluded to would afford to every 
 local gallery the qualification of having each some in turn. 
 
 In conclusion, I may say that the Department maintains 
 two principles of administration which are essential to all sound 
 management, and both of nearly equal importance. All adminis- 
 tration carried on either by central governments, or parish vestries, 
 or joint-stock companies, to be good, must insure, first, responsi- 
 bility as direct, clear, and as defined and individual as possible, 
 and, second, full publicity ; without these all corporate action must 
 become corrupt and torpid, let the body consist of legislators, or 
 local tradesmen, or mercantile adventurers. Without tight respon- 
 sibility and the wholesome check of publicity, human frailty is too 
 apt to indulge in its own selfishness uncontrolled. It may be as- 
 serted that there is not a single detail in the action of this Depart- 
 ment — in its schools, examinations, award of prizes, museums, and 
 libraries— which does not invite the fullest publicity. Every pur- 
 chase in the Museum and Library is publicly exposed, and may be 
 criticized. Even the prices of the articles are published. The 
 schools, both metropolitan and local, are open to all, and the 
 course of teaching seen. The works produced are publicly ex- 
 hibited in town and country. The prizes, awarded by judges 
 beyond suspicion, court public criticism. All the rules upon which 
 payments in aid are made to localities and masters, &c., are amply 
 set forth in a Directory, a counterpart of which is furnished only, I 
 believe, by one other Government department, namely, the Post 
 
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 295 
 
 Office. So far, indeed, from being open to the charge of any con- depakt- 
 
 cealment, I believe the Department may be, if anything, charge- science" 
 
 able with needless publicity. If this be error, it is one on the safe *J;° sovn 
 side. I am sure I represent correctly the views of my superiors, 
 
 the Lord President of the Council and the Vice-President of the *^'"*- 
 
 Education Committee, in declaring their feeling to be that, as the pj^j jj^'' 
 
 Department is subjected to public investigation, so will its action Selections. 
 Idc healthy and the fulfilment of its functions be complete. 
 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 
296 PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 MEMORANDUM ON MEASURES 
 
 TO BE ADOPTED FOR PREVENTING EXCESS OVER THE 
 
 ORIGINAL ESTIMATES OF THE COST 
 
 OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 Depart- '"T^HE systcm of paying an architect by a percentage on the 
 
 SciencbT -L sum expended on a building, places him at once in a wrong 
 
 AND South position with regard to his clients. An architect's interest and his 
 
 TON m'u-^ duty are thus diametrically opposed. 
 
 sEUM. 2. Again, if he be at all eminent, however well disposed he may 
 
 Part II. be to consult his clients' interest in preference to his own, he has. 
 
 Selections. 
 Employment 
 
 in the present day, so much work on hand that it is absolutely 
 tec^'for'the impossible for him to pay proper attention and to do justice to all 
 erection of a that he Undertakes. Hence arise the constant complaints of ill- 
 
 public bund- ... 
 
 ing. arranged buildings — ill-adapted to their objects because ill-con- 
 
 sidered. His designs, of which all but the general outline are 
 probably the perfunctory work of pupils and assistants, require 
 constant alterations and additions as the work proceeds, and 
 eventually the original estimates are enormously exceeded, to the 
 architect's pecuniary advantage. 
 
 3. In a private building, the strong personal interest of those who 
 have to pay does to some extent keep the architect in check. In 
 the case of a public building there is no' such interest, nor is there 
 a sufficient concentration of authority or technical knowledge in 
 the department for whom the building is being constructed, to have 
 any control. It is therefore essential in the case of a public 
 building, not to leave the whole matter in the hands of the archi- 
 tect, but to appoint some competent person to act on behalf of the 
 department concerned, to formulate its views and requirements, 
 
PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE. 297 
 
 and to see that they are complied with, not only in the original Depart- 
 design, but as alterations suggest themselves in the progress of science" 
 the work. anS south 
 
 4. For this purpose, it would appear most desirable to select an ^oTm.T- 
 officer of the Royal Engineers. The Government can always ^^^"18 
 obtain information as to the qualifications of oflScers of Engineers, Part 11. 
 their services can be commanded at a moderate cost, and they can Enfpioyment 
 return to their corps when no longer required. EngS^w 
 
 5. It would appear then that the requirements of all public ™ted""^" 
 buildings should be definitely laid down by the heads of depart- 
 ments who are to occupy them, in concert with some officer of 
 
 Royal Engineers. These should then be placed in the hands of 
 an architect, the officer of Engineers being responsible for seeing 
 that the architect duly provides for the requirements. 
 
 6. Or, it would be still better, before any architect had been Preliminary 
 engaged, that preliminary plans and sections should be prepared slcSon"'' 
 by the officer of Engineers ; and that a rough block model should prepared%y 
 be made, to enable the unprofessional persons who are interested, EngSeers"^ 
 to understand what is meant by the plans and sections. 
 
 7. After it is agreed that such plans, sections, and block model 
 fulfil the requirements of the case, then and not till then, the 
 architect should be called upon to enter upon the artistic comple- 
 tion of the exterior and interior. 
 
 8. The officer of Royal Engineers and the heads of departments 
 for whose use the buildings are made, would see that in any change 
 proposed by the architect the necessaiy conditions are all main- 
 tained. 
 
 9. Tenders might be obtained for as much of the construction 
 of the buildings as would not be likely to be modified during the 
 progress of the work, accompanied with schedules of prices 
 sufficiently full to embrace all the trades likely to be required for 
 the building. 
 
 10. At different stages of the progress of the work, a surveyor 
 should measure up the work and advise whether the contract in 
 respect of cost is being maintained, and no deviations from the 
 contract should be allowed which had not received the previous 
 authorization of the officer of Royal Engineers. 
 
 11. The contracts should be drawn in such a manner as to 
 render the decision of the officer of Royal Engineers and the 
 
298 
 
 PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 Depart-t 
 
 MENT OF 
 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 TO'N Mu- 
 seum. 
 A.D. 1857. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 Remunera- 
 tion of an 
 architect. 
 
 surveyor on the value of the deductions from and additions to the 
 original contracts, binding on the contractor. 
 
 1 2. The remuneration of the architect should not be based upon 
 a percentage of cost. He should have a fixed liberal salary, to 
 last for a definite period. 
 
 13. As well for artistic as economical considerations, it is impor- 
 tant that his whole time should be at the service of the Government, 
 and that he should not undertake any other work whatever during 
 the period of his engagement with the Government. It would be 
 preferable to have the whole time of a talented young architect, 
 than a portion of the time of an architect in full practice, much 
 of whose best time must be spent in travelling by railway, and who 
 must trust to assistants. If, as is probable in some cases, an 
 architect must be employed whose whole time cannot be given to 
 Government, then care should be taken to have a talented archi- 
 tect who can be constantly supervising the work. 
 
 14. The payment for all drawings, models, &c., made by the 
 architect's assistants, should be paid direct by the Government to 
 them. 
 
 15. The mode in which it is the custom to prepare plans and 
 models of the buildings at South Kensington Museum, is described 
 at page 200, Appendix D. 15th Report of the Science and Art 
 Department for 1867-8. 
 
 H. C. 
 
 27 January, 1869. 
 
ARCHITECTURE AT SOUTH KENSINGTON. 299 
 
 GENERAL METHOD 
 
 OF EXECUTING BUILDINGS AT THE SOUTH KENSINGTON 
 
 MUSEUM. 
 
 GENERAL principles of the nature of the accommodation Depart- 
 
 required in the buildings, such as size of courts, corridors. Science 
 
 lighting, &c., are discussed between the director and the engineer, and South 
 
 [A Royal Engineer.] toTm'u-' 
 
 2. The engineer then prepares experimental plans and sections, ^^™J8 
 having regard, primarily, to the above requirements, and secondly. Pan 11. 
 
 . . ... , . A 1 •' Selections. 
 
 to decorative construction subject to these requirements. At this General 
 stage, the engineer consults with the artists and modellers to be Ixeamon?/ 
 subsequently employed on the architectural details. [Several south"£en- 
 plans generally prepared.] Museum. 
 
 3. Block models are then made, but without inserting archi- 
 tectural details. [Several models are generally made, and experi- 
 ments tried and discussed with the director.] 
 
 4. When the block model has been settled, the structural plans 
 are finally made by the engineer, and the working drawings pro- 
 ceeded with. 
 
 5. To obtain the architectural and decorative details, structural 
 plans with sketches are sent to the studios of artists, who are 
 as well both modellers and painters. 
 
 6. The engineer, in concert with the artists, settles the archi- 
 tectural details, which are generally submitted to the Inspector- 
 General for Art, for suggestions, but the engineer remains solely 
 responsible. [Many experiments by drawings and models are Experimems 
 
 J 1 I in drawings 
 
 made.] and models. 
 
 7. Architectural models with details are prepared. [Numerous 
 experiments are made, frequent discussions are had with the 
 
300 ARCHITECTURE AT SOUTH KENSINGTON. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 A.D. 1857. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Cost of build- 
 ings at South 
 Kensington. 
 
 Inspector-General for Art and others, and no trouble or cost is 
 spared at this stage before the decision is finally made.] 
 
 8. If necessary, an architectural drawing to the full size in per- 
 spective, is made, and put up and subjected to criticism. 
 
 9. Plans being finally settled, quantities are taken out by the 
 surveyors, and a limited competition among contractors invited. 
 
 10. Models of the architectural details are made in the artist's 
 studio, superintended by the engineer. 
 
 11. By taking all this trouble, and incurring the cost of experi- 
 ments, failures and alterations are very much avoided and final 
 economy is insured. 
 
 12. The highly decorative buildings at South Kensington, in 
 terra-cotta and red brick, have cost under is. the cubic foot, ex- 
 clusive of mosaics, decorative paintings, and the like. This is 
 below the cost of an ordinary London house of the first class. 
 After six years, the surfaces and colour, terra-cotta, and brickwork 
 are but slightly afiected by the smoke and atmosphere, compared 
 with Portland stone. 
 
 December, 1867. 
 
ADDRESS ON ARCHITECTURE. 301 
 
 ECOLE CENTRALE ET SPECIALE 
 D'ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 3= SfiANCE D'OUVERTURE. 
 
 Ann£e 1867-68. 
 
 L 'ECOLE centrale d' Architecture a ouvert sa troisifeme annde depaet- 
 
 d'dtudes le lundi 11 novembre 1867. Science^ 
 
 La s&nce dtait prdsidde par M. Henri Cole, directeur du South- *j;° slma. 
 
 Kensington Museum, assist^ de M. Emile Tr^lat, directeur de Kensing- 
 
 ° ' ' TON JVlU- 
 
 I'Ecole et de M. Ch. Goschler, directeur des dtudes. seum. 
 
 , A.D, 1857. 
 
 Sur I'estrade, autour du bureau, se trouvaient MM. Charles pan 11. 
 Robert, secretaire g6n6ral du Ministfere de rinstruction publique ; S'''"'™'- 
 Guillaume, directeur de TEcole des Beaux- Arts; Arlfes-Dufour, 
 membra de la Commission imp^riale de I'Exposition universelle ; 
 Darimon, ddputil; Pompde, membre du conseil de I'instruction 
 publique ; H. Love, directeur du chemin de fer des Charentes ; 
 MM. Cretin et VioUet Le Due, membres de la commission de 
 surveillance de la Soci^t^ ; et MM. les professeurs de I'Ecole : 
 Emile Miiller, member du conseil de I'Ecole ; Bocquillon, Victor 
 Bois, E. Boutmy, Delbrouck, De Dion, Deherain, Janssen, Ulysse, 
 Trdlat, etc. 
 
 A deux heures, le President ouvre la s&nce et prononce I'allo- 
 cution suivante : ^ 
 
 Messieurs, 
 Lecteurs de la Bible k votre Exposition universelle, — grace a jj^ (^^j^.^ 
 I'Empereur, — vous savez parfaitement que nul n'est prophbte dans ^^^^^qI^' 
 
 son pays. traled'ArcW- 
 
 * '' lecture at 
 
 ' The revision of the French trans- valuable service to the British Com- 
 
 lation of this speech was kindly under- mission during the Exhibition of 1867, 
 
 taken by Mons. C. P. Haussoullier, a in respect of the visits of artizans to 
 
 gentleman connected with the French Paris, and to centres of manufacture 
 
 Ministry of Commerce, who rendered in France. 
 
302 
 
 ADDRESS ON ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South- 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 A D. 1857. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 - Si le Mus^e de South-Kensington dtait doud de vie, il vous ex- 
 primerait, aujourd'hui, tout k la fois sa surprise et sa reconnais- 
 sance de la gracieuse cons&ration que vous lui donnez dans ma 
 personne. 
 
 Dans son propre pays, le Mus^e a k lutter pour sa propre con- 
 servation; le Parlement paye, mais discute sdrieusement son 
 existence ; — opposition d'ailleurs salutaire. 
 
 Un public ignorant se plait, il est vrai, k encombrer nos gaieties ; 
 mais, en Angleterre, nos grands pretres de I'architecture ont 
 crucifix I'auteur du projet des constructions du Musde de South- 
 Kensington, — feu Capt. Fowke, — k qui le jury international de 
 votre exposition a cependant accord^ une medaille d'or de premiere 
 classe. 
 
 Me trouvant au milieu d'amis du Mus^e, comme je me fdlicite 
 que vous I'etes, permettez-moi, malgr^ la quality de mon frangais, 
 et bien que je ne sois pas architecte, de vous dire quelques mots 
 sur I'architecture. 
 
 Je me demande pourquoi vous m'avez fait I'honneur de vous 
 prdsider, et je m'imagine en avoir trouvd la raison dans une cer- 
 taine analogie qui existe entre votre Ecole centrale d' Architecture 
 et notre Musde. A Kensington, nous mettons, je crois, en pratique 
 les principes thdoriques que vous enseignez ici. 
 
 Si je ne me trompe, vous considdrez la Construction comme 
 constituant I'ossature des monuments; nous de meme; — vous 
 posez en principe fondamental que le monument doit 6tre appro- 
 pri6 k sa destination ; de meme que nous ; — vous pensez que la 
 nature des mat^riaux rfegle la forme; nous aussi; — ce n'est qu'alors 
 et seulement alors que vous vous occupez de la Decoration ; nous 
 de meme ;— vous subordonnez la Decoration k la Construction; — 
 de mSme faisons-nous k Kensington. 
 
 Est-ce done une hdrdsie d'agir ainsi ? 
 
 Les dispositions d'un Musde public que frdquenteront des mil- 
 liers de blouses et de vestes courtes, different de celles d'un temple 
 religieux, qu'il soit dgyptien, grec ou romain; elles diifferent de 
 celles d'une cath^drale ou d'une ^glise rdformde ou non r^formde ; 
 elles ne sont pas non plus celles d'une forteresse, d'une tour 
 crdneiee, d'un palais imperial ou de quelque chateau f^odal. 
 
 Les musses sont, pour ainsi dire, une espfece de monument 
 socialiste modeme, oil le niveau est le mSme pour tous. Lk, ni 
 
ADDRESS ON ARCHITECTURE. 303 
 
 dais, ni places rdservdes, et I'architecture du pass6 ne nous foumit Depakt- 
 que de rares indications sur leur installation. Science" 
 
 Londres ne jouissant pas de la brilliante ,clart€ du climat de and South 
 Paris, nous avons cherchd k obtenir le plus de lumibre possible ; ^m^uT- 
 celle-ci obtenue, nous la regions au moyen de stores. — II est facile ^^^^'g 
 d'intercepter le jour, mais non de le faire. Pan 11. 
 
 II nous faut donner de la chaleur sur une grande dchelle, et nous 
 avons des kilometres de tuyaux moddr^ment chaufKs. 
 
 Nous avons, dfes nos debuts, dclaird le Mus6e, en allumant 
 chaque soir quatorze mille bees de gaz, et nous esp&ons arriver k 
 quarante mille bees. 
 
 Notre ventilation se fait par ce proc^dd primitif, qui consiste k 
 introduire en abondance de I'air frais ou de I'air chauffd, selon 
 les exigences de la saison, et k laisser I'air vicid s'dchapper par les 
 plafonds. 
 
 N'ayant pas cette magnifique pierre de taille de Paris, qui se 
 taille comme . . . du fromage, nous employons la brique rouge et 
 les terres cuites ; et la terre cuite, vous le savez, si la terre est bien 
 cuite, rdsiste mieux aux influences atmosph^riques que le granit 
 lui-mSme. 
 
 Vous avez remarqud peut-Stre, k I'Exposition, un plein-cintre et 
 un travail en briques que le despotisme d'une classification logique 
 a placd dans la galerie des machines. Nous avons eu I'lionneur 
 d'ofirir ces specimens au Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, oil ils 
 seront places dans le jardin. 
 
 Nous imitons k Kensington I'exemple que vous nous donnez k 
 Paris, en osant appliquer le fer aux supports des charpentes et aiix 
 planchers. Nous laissons m6me voir plusieurs fermes en fer que 
 nous decorous de dorures. 
 
 Sur les murs, nous plagons des majoliques et des mosaiques de 
 carreaux en faience, innovation sur laquelle je me permets 
 d'appeler votre attention, parce qu'elle offre le moyen de donner 
 une durde dternelle aux peintures murales. 
 
 Messieurs, si vous voulez braver les terreurs de la Manche, avoir 
 foi dans toutes les recettes contre le mal de mer, et venir visiter le 
 Kensington-Museum, nous serons heureux de vous servir de guides, 
 et vous verrez, j'ose I'espdrer, que nous sommes fidfeles aux v^ri- 
 tables principes de I'architecture, principes qui vous sont si haute- 
 ment, si brillamment enseign^s k I'Ecole centrale d' Architecture. 
 
304 
 
 ADDRESS ON ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 A.D. 1857. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Peut-^tre ftrouverez-vous quelques iddes, quelques indications 
 utiles, que vous accepterez en ^change des remarquables specimens 
 de vos dtudes, qu'il nous a €t€ pennis d'obtenir de votre Ecole. 
 
 II me semble que I'architecture, de mSme que bien d'autres 
 choses, est aujourd'hui dans une pdriode de transition. 
 
 L'architecture, de nos jours, n'est pas dtudide dans les clottres 
 pour dlever des cath^drales, des forteresses ou de nombreux palais 
 pour les rois. Elle doit, de par le monde entier, suffire aux 
 besoins d'une democratic civilis^e; et ne peut progresser qu'en 
 s'appuyant sur le sens commun, dirigd par la science et inspire 
 par I'art; encore l'architecture doit-elle s'y de'vouer en toute 
 humility. 
 
 Puisse M. Hausmann continuer k respecter longtemps encore 
 ces tranquilles jardins de I'Ecole centrale d' Architecture, qui me 
 rappellent les paisibles ombrages d'un cloltre, et vous permettre 
 d'y poursuivre des dtudes si pacifiques, si utiles, d'un caractfere si 
 dlev^ et qui contribuent tant au bonheur de I'humanitd ! 
 
 Messieurs les Aleves, je suis heureux de vous dire que votre 
 directeur a bien voulu me permettre de vous offrir, pour la fin de 
 la pr^sente annde scolaire, un prix qui sera d^cernd k I'dlbve le 
 plus fort en dessin de figure ; ce prix sera vot^ par les elfeves eux- 
 memes. 
 
 [Ces paroles, souvent interrompues par les plus vifs tdmoignages 
 de sympathie et d'approbation, sont accueillies \ la fin par de longs 
 applaudissements.] 
 
LETTER ON PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE. 305 
 
 A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE EDITOR 
 
 OF THE "TIMES" ON PUBLIC 
 
 ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 SIR, — Do the public and Parliament realize the fact that, at depart- 
 
 the present time, more than _;^2,ooo,ooo sterling is pledged Science 
 
 to the erection of public buildings, the architecture of which has and South 
 
 been decided in the most absurd and hap-hazardous fashion? toITmuT 
 
 Never has the violation of common sense, in the determination of °^'""' 
 
 ' A.D. 
 
 what our public buildings are to be, been so conspicuous as at the '857-1873. 
 present time. To mention only great public buildings, arrange- Selections, 
 ments are made, or being made, for building the Law Courts, the ^'^r public 
 public offices in Downing Street, the National Gallery, the South tnUdings. 
 Kensington Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Post 
 Office. The plans for the War Office and Admiralty are being 
 considered, Heaven only knows how, or by whom. 
 
 I am not going to say anything about styles of ai'chitecture, or 
 to express any preference for imitating Greek or Roman temples, 
 Gothic cathedrals or castles. Renaissance palaces, or any new and 
 eclectic mixture of all these styles ; but I ask for a little space to 
 prove the utter want of system, control, and responsibility which Want of 
 now prevails. The words which Mr. Gladstone used, in reply to ^'' ""' 
 Mr. Ayrton {mirabile dictu) in i860, are still as applicable as then. 
 There is still a " lamentable and deplorable state of our whole 
 arrangements with regard to the management of public works. 
 Vacillation, uncertainty, costliness, extravagance, meanness, and 
 all the conflicting vices that could be enumerated are united in 
 our present system. There is a total want of authority to direct 
 and guide." 
 
 We have a First Commissioner of Works, who is sometimes in First Com- 
 the Cabinet and sometimes not. He takes his orders from the WoriS!"" 
 Treasury, which by fits and starts lets him have his own way. If 
 by chance the Chancellor of the Exchequer is a great connoisseur 
 
 IL X 
 
3o6 
 
 LETTER ON PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 18S7-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Captain 
 Fowke's de- 
 signs for the 
 Natural His- 
 tory Mu- 
 seum. 
 
 Design put 
 aside. 
 
 of architecture, or thinks "himself so, then there arises a little 
 friction between these functionaries, but the Treasury is the con- 
 stitutional authority for finance, and if it goes into architecture it 
 steps beyond its province. Theoretically, the First Commissioner 
 for Public Works is a minister accountable directly to Parliament ; 
 he is not chosen, and ought not to be chosen, for any professional 
 qualifications. His business is to be responsible to Parliament for 
 the administration of a proper system. But the working of the 
 present " no system " is to permit the First Commissioner for the 
 time being, to indulge in any whims of his own. At one time, it 
 may be " costliness and extravagance," as Mr. Gladstone says. 
 He may be succeeded by a minister who acts with " vacillation 
 and uncertainty," and then may come a minister to whom Mr. 
 Gladstone would impute " meanness." During the reign of Lord 
 John Manners, the public were threatened with a period of Gothic 
 buildings. The public offices in Downing Street were designed as 
 Gothic, and the harlequin wand of Lord Palmerston (not, by the 
 way. First Commissioner of Works, but First Lord of the Treasury) 
 turned them into what was intended to be Italian renaissance. 
 The building for the University of London was actually begun as 
 a Gothic building, and it, too, turned into an Italian one. Just 
 the opposite occurred with Captain Fowke's designs for the Natural 
 History Museum. He obtained, by unanimous consent, the first 
 prize in an open competition for an Italian building. He dies ; 
 Mr. Cowper Temple, with delightful innocency, puts the execution 
 of it into the hands of a Gothic architect. Lord John Manners re- 
 appears in his favourite character as First Commissioner, and puts 
 aside the design chosen by a pubUc competition, for one in a style 
 of Gothic which it is difficult to characterize, and approved by no 
 one but himself. Some people call the style Byzantine, and others 
 Norman. It is said that Mr. Ayrton is going to be responsible for 
 the execution of it, if Parliament allow him. It is supposed that 
 the present Chancellor of the Exchequer is the architectural 
 authority for the Law Courts, having once recommended the 
 House of Commons to adopt the style of Inigo Jones. 
 
 Is there no cure for this? Is it beyond the administrative 
 capacity of this country to find one ? I think not. In a constitu- 
 tional country like our own, we cannot have any Pope in architec- 
 ture ; but it does not follow that we are to have public buildings 
 
LETTER ON PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE. 307 
 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum, 
 
 A.D. 
 
 inflicted upon us by such a system as I have described in the depart- 
 words of Mr. Gladstone. I submit that the cure can be found in s^ence" 
 the watchfulness and expression of an enlightened public opinion and South 
 acting upon Parliament and the government of the day. I have 
 shown that the responsibility of the First Commissioner of the day 
 lasts only for a little time, and then passes on to a successor, while 1857-T873. 
 the administration of public buildings is continuous. Even in the seSctions. 
 administration there is no continuity of the same individuals to J;^^' ^fa*' 
 act. Within four years, the permanent adviser of the First Com- sy^^™- 
 missioner has been changed three times, and he has been an 
 architect competing in practice with his fellow architects, an 
 architectural author, and a Royal Engineer. 
 
 But, although the public has to pay for ugly, unscientific build- 
 ings, produced by "vacillation, uncertainty, costliness, extrava- 
 gance, meanness," and to have its taste corrupted by them, the 
 public has no real voice at all in the work. At this very moment, 
 what does the public know of the outside of the Law Courts, which Law Courts, 
 it wiE see daily, and future ages will have to look upon for 
 centuries ? It was at the fag-end of last session only, that plans 
 were put up in the library of the House of Commons, which jaded 
 members would not look at. The architectural newspapers have 
 published woodcuts. But these two modes of publication are 
 wholly insufficient. Parliament should insist, before the elevation 
 is commenced, upon having a model upon the same scale as Model of the 
 Wren's model of St. Paul's. We are going to spend at least ^^^ Courts. 
 ;^75o,ooo on these courts. A proper model only, can show what 
 we are to get for our money. 
 
 At the very last possible day of last session, ;^3o,ooo were voted 
 on account of ^^350,000, the estimated cost of a Natural History 
 Museum. Some half-dozen members of the House of Commons, 
 remaining in town to pass the Appropriation Act, were just able to 
 obtain a glimpse of the designs for this museum, in the library of 
 the House of Commons, and this is all the public know of that 
 architectural scheme. But in this, as in a former case, a model 
 should be made and exhibited before the structure is begun. Many 
 thousands of pounds are being spent upon public buildings in 
 Downing Street, of which the public has not an idea. The works Downing 
 at the National Gallery are a mystery. office".''"''"" 
 
 While the internal arrangements of a public building may be 
 
3o8 
 
 LETTER ON PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art 
 AND South 
 Kensing- 
 ton Mu- 
 seum. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1857-1873. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 A permanent 
 council of 
 advice. 
 
 Responsi- 
 bility of First 
 Commis- 
 sioner of 
 Works. 
 
 Council of 
 Taste. 
 
 determined by those who have to use it, and may be considered to 
 come within strict official routine, the outside is a property in which 
 every passer-by is interested. Let the First Commissioner of the 
 day have the undivided responsibility for the economy and fitness 
 of the inside of a public building ; but as respects the outside, let 
 him have the advice of a permanent council, whose report should 
 be submitted to the First Commissioner, and by him laid before 
 Parliament, with his observations. Let this permanent council 
 consist of three architects — one named by the government, one 
 named by the Royal Academy, and one named by the Institute of 
 British Architects; of three artists named by the government — one 
 a painter, one a sculptor, and one a decorative artist; together 
 with three laymen — one being a member of the House of Lords, 
 and another a member of the House of Commons ; in all nine 
 persons. To insure responsible attendance to the duty, let this 
 council be paid. A very moderate proportion on an expenditure 
 of three millions spent on public buildings, say a farthing in the 
 pound, would amply suffice. This council would act as a jury, to 
 give a verdict on behalf of the public, and the First Commissioner 
 would be the judge, to adopt it or to give good reasons for 
 refusing it. 
 
 The operation of this plan would be as follows : — The planning 
 of the building, its adaptation to site, its cost, and its execution, 
 would rest upon the sole responsibility of the First Commissioner 
 of Works. He would get the plans, either through his own office, 
 or through an architect, or by public competition. The plans, 
 with a sufficient model, would be laid before the Permanent 
 Council of Taste. Their report would be made and published, 
 and the model and plans exhibited to the public. The First 
 Commissioner would then report to the Treasury, and the cost of 
 the proposed building would be submitted to Parliament. By this 
 means, the caprices of the past ten years, with their "extravagance, 
 vacillation, and meanness," would be prevented. Parliament 
 would be made fully aware for what it has to vote public money, 
 and the public would have its proper voice of authority, and the 
 means of expressing its opinion on buildings which are always to 
 be before its eyes, to gratify or disgust them. 
 
 Sexaginta. 
 
 February 3, 1872. 
 
IRRESPONSIBLE BOARDS. 309 
 
 PUBLIC GALLERIES AND IRRESPONSIBLE 
 BOARDS. 
 
 In Edinburgh Review, No. 251, January, 1866. 
 
 Art. III. — Irresponsible Boards. A Speech delivered by Lord 
 Henry Gordon Lennox, M.P., in the House of Commons, on 
 Tuesday, i8th March, 1862. Chichester and London : 1862. 
 
 IT was not until some time after the passing of the Reform Bill, depart- 
 that the nation began to interest itself actively in demanding sciENCEr 
 public institutions for promoting science, art, and education. The ''^^ ^^' 
 contrast between the positive apathy on these subjects which 1860-1873. 
 existed half a century ago, and the feeling which is now shown both Selections. 
 in and out of Parliament, will appear very striking when we recall 
 a few of the circumstances of the last fifty years. At the beginning 
 of that period, the sole public repository which existed for preserv- 
 ing objects of art and science, the property of the nation and sup- 
 ported by Parliament, was the British Museum. It is only about British 
 thirty years since the late Mr. John Wilson Croker and others, '^°"™- 
 when the British Museum was discussed in Parliament, used to 
 jeer at Bloomsbury as a terra incognita, and Charles Puller's wit 
 sparkled in an article describing a voyage to those parts, and the 
 manners and customs of the natives. About a hundred visitors a 
 day on an average, in parties of five persons only, were admitted 
 to gape at the unlabelled " rarities and curiosities " deposited in 
 Montague House. A very small public, indeed, studied or even Montague 
 regarded them as illustrations of the fine arts or of science, and of 
 human culture and intelligence. The state of things outside the 
 British Museum was analogous. Westminster Abbey was closed, Westminster 
 
 Abbey. 
 
 except for divine service and to show a closet of wax-work. Ad- 
 mittance to the public monuments in St. Paul's and other churches, 
 was irksome to obtain, and costly : feven the Tower of London Tower of 
 
 London. 
 
3IO 
 
 PUBLIC GALLERIES AND 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Schools of 
 Art or 
 Science not 
 in existence. 
 
 National 
 education a 
 bone of con- 
 tention. 
 
 could not be seen for less than six shillings. The private picture- 
 galleries were most difficult of access, and, for those not belonging 
 to the upper ten thousand, it might be a work of years to get a 
 sight of the Grosvenor or Stafford Collections. No National 
 Gallery existed, and Lord Liverpool's Government refused to 
 accept the pictures offered by Sir Francis Bourgeois, now at 
 Dulwich, even on the condition of merely housing them. The 
 National Portrait Gallery, the South Kensington Museum, and the 
 Geological Museum were not even conceived. Kew Gardens 
 were shabby and neglected, and possessed no Museum. Hampton 
 Court Palace was shown, by a fee to the housekeeper, one day in 
 the week. No public Schools of Art or Science existed in the 
 metropolis, or the seats of manufacture. The Royal Academy had 
 its annual exhibition of modern art on the first and second floors 
 of Somerset House, in rooms now used by the Registrar-General, 
 whose functions had then no existence. It was only at the British 
 Institution, or at Christie's auction rooms, that a youthful artist 
 like Mulready could chance to see the work of an old master, as 
 he has often told us. Dr. Birkbeck had not founded the present 
 Mechanic's Institute' in Southampton Buildings, and the first stone 
 of the London University in Gower Street, was not laid. Not a 
 penny of the public taxes was devoted to national education, 
 which was only a bone of contention between churchmen and 
 dissenters. Architecture, the mother of the arts, had not raised 
 itself from the bald meanness of Baker Street, even to the stucco 
 conceits of Regent Street ; and the inspiration of architectural 
 genius had only arrived at the invention of transferring the portico 
 of a Greek temple from a hill like the Acropolis, indiscriminately 
 to adorn a St. Pancras Church or a Unitarian Chapel, a General 
 Post Office or a British Museum. Mr. Savage's new Chelsea 
 Church, the first of the revivals of Gothic art, was not erected till 
 1820. Very few were the facilities of locomotion to induce the 
 public to visit the exhibitions of art which existed. Cabs and 
 omnibuses had not been invented to compete with the lumbering 
 two-horse hackney coaches and chariots. No steamer had 
 ascended the Thames even so far as the rapids of old London 
 Bridge. Gas had not penetrated St. James's Park, and did not 
 reach Grosvenor Square till 1842. The average postage of a letter 
 was sevenpence, and penny postage was not even a theory. It 
 
IRRESPONSIBLE BOARDS. 311 
 
 was " life " in London, as represented by " Toms " and " Jerries," depaet- 
 to floor " old Charlies," whom Peel's Police had not yet super- Science 
 seded. Hard drinking was as much a qualification for member- ^ ^,,-0. 
 ship of the Dilettanti Society, as the nominal one of a tour in Italy, p *°'Jj"" 
 Men's minds were more anxiously engaged with Bread Riots and Selections. 
 Corn Laws, Thistlewood's Conspiracy and Peterloo Massacres, 
 Catholic Emancipation and Rotten Boroughs, than with the arts 
 and sciences, for the advancement of which, in truth, there was 
 hardly any public liking, thought, or opportunity. 
 
 But an immense change has taken place within a recent time. 
 No topics excite such warm and animated debates in Parliament 
 as the purchase and preservation of pictures and sites of museums, Purchase 
 and the public give manifestations of their wishes throughout the vation of 
 country, which are apparently in advance of the temper of Parlia- fopicrof"" 
 ment. Above thirty members of Parliament, introduced by a p^ifinent. 
 future Chancellor of the Exchequer, last year appealed to the 
 Lord President of the Council, for greatly increased public expen- 
 diture in aid of local efforts to promote Art. The exhibitions of 
 works of spontaneous growth over the whole kingdom, during the 
 past year, have been numerous, and many provincial towns have 
 desired to seek aid from the possessions of the Crown, or the 
 national collections in the metropolis. 
 
 There has been an International Exhibition of Works of Fine Exhibition 
 
 ,.,,., , . of Fine Art 
 
 Art and Industry at Dublm, which obtained some of its resources at Dublin, 
 from the munificence of the Queen, from the National Gallery and 
 the South Kensington Museum. Other exhibitions of a like sort, 
 to which have been added specimens especially of art by working- 
 men, have lately taken place, at Lambeth, Islington, Bow, the similar ex- 
 
 , . - . , hibitions in 
 
 Tower Hamlets, and Greenwich, m the metropolis ; at Alton the metro- 
 Towers, Birmingham, Bristol, Dorchester, Nottingham, Reading, provinces. 
 Wakefield, Tonbridge Wells, &c. None of these obtained any 
 superfluous objects from the British Museum or National Gallery ; 
 but Alton Towers, Dorchester, Nottingham, and Reading pro- 
 cured some additions from South Kensington. This movement, 
 so spontaneous and widely spread over the whole of the United 
 Kingdom, will undoubtedly increase, and it betokens that at some 
 period our principal cities and towns will have their local museums 
 and galleries, as in France and Germany, in friendly connection 
 with the national institutions as the parent establishments. Before 
 
312 
 
 PUBLIC GALLERIES AND 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections, 
 
 Origin of 
 
 British 
 
 Museum. 
 
 Public 
 Lottery for 
 raising funds 
 to start 
 British 
 Museum. 
 
 Sir Hans 
 Sloan e. 
 
 such an union can be effected, great changes must take place in 
 the constitutional government of the principal institutions, which 
 is altogether behind the requirements of the times. The several 
 national institutions, although necessarily planted in the metro- 
 polis, ought to be so organized as to help local museums 
 throughout the United Kingdom, and be the culmination of a 
 whole system. Fine works of art and science are limited in 
 number, and are not to be created like food and raiment according 
 to the ordinary principles of supply and demand. The British 
 Museum, the National Gallery, the Kew Museum and Gardens, 
 the South Kensington Museum, the Geological Museum, the 
 Patent Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and others which 
 may be established, should each be centres for rendering assis- 
 tance to local museums of a like nature. 
 
 How the British Museum originated, we venture to think is now 
 little known, and it will surprise many, even perhaps Dr. Longley, 
 Lord Cranworth, and Mr. Denison themselves, to be told 
 that their predecessors, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord 
 Chancellor, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, were 
 appointed trustees of a Public Lottery for raising the necessary 
 funds to start the British Museum, in the year 1753, when it was 
 deemed expedient to nominate the highest dignitaries in the 
 kingdom, as the chosen instruments for accomplishing what would 
 now be regarded as illegal and immoral. Although Parliament of 
 late years, with doubtful policy, has sanctioned Art Union lotteries 
 for circulating works of art, public feeling now would never enter- 
 tain the idea of founding a National Museum of Science and Art 
 with the profits of a lottery, and certainly no Archbishop, or Lord 
 Chancellor, or Speaker, would be invited to superintend the 
 management of it. 
 
 In the year above-mentioned, Sir Hans Sloane, Bart., a very 
 old physician, lived in the Manor House near to old Chelsea 
 Church, where his monument — an urn embraced by serpents — 
 erected to his memory by his' daughters, may still be seen. He 
 was the President of the College of Physicians, and founder of the 
 Apothecaries' Gardens, where the cedars make so fine a feature in 
 the landscape at Chelsea Reach, and he gave his names to " Sloane 
 Street " and the adjacent little square called " Hans Place." Sir 
 Hans Sloane bought this house from Lord Cheyne, and it was 
 
IRRESPONSIBLE BOARDS. 313 
 
 bequeathed by him to Lord Cadogan, who married his daughter, depart- 
 and in this house, to employ the words of the black letter Act of sJience" 
 Parliament (26 George II. cap. 22) — the same which legalized the **'° ■*''"'■ 
 lottery— he had "through the course of many years, with great '860-1873. 
 labour and expence, gathered together whatever could be procured. Selections. 
 either in our own or foreign countries, that was rare and curious," 
 at a cost, it is said, of ^^50,000. In 1749, he had made a codicil to 
 his will, in which he expressed a desire that his collection, in all 
 its branches, "might be, if it were possible, kept axid. preserved 
 together whole and entire in his Manor House in the parish of 
 Chelsea," i.e., half a mile further west from Charing Cross than the 
 site where it has been proposed to locate his Natural History Col- 
 lections ! The Collection, or " Museum," as it is called, con- The sioane 
 sisted of "his library of books, drawings, manuscripts, prints. Museum."" 
 medals and coins, ancient and modern antiquities, seals, cameos 
 and intaglios, precious stones, agates, jaspers, vessels of agate and 
 jasper, chrystals, mathematical instruments, drawings and pictures, 
 more particularly described and numbered, with short histories or 
 accounts of them, with proper references in certain catalogues by 
 him made, containing thirty-eight volumes in folio and eight 
 volumes in quarto." We beg our readers to note the precise 
 method of cataloguing, which, as will appear hereafter, has been 
 altogether superseded by the trustees. He appointed trustees to Trustees for 
 sell his collection for ;!£'2o,ooo — also " to obtain a sufficient fund tion?° '^ 
 or provision for maintaining and taking care of his said collection 
 and premises, and for repairing and supporting his said Manor 
 House waterworks coming from Kensington and premises." His 
 trustees were in the iirst instance to apply to Parliament, and, if 
 Parliament declined the offer, they were to sell it, for the use of 
 certain foreign academies, which were named ; and in case the 
 said offer should not be accepted by either of the said foreign 
 academies, his executors were at liberty to sell it " with all con- 
 venient speedy and advantageous manner." The Act of Parlia- Act of Par- 
 ment which was passed to sanction the purchase of this collection tlonirg a"'' 
 for the nation, is still the basis of the constitution of the British ?oUectbu°for 
 Museum. The trustees of that institution then first received their ""* '^"™- 
 powers and title from Parliament. The office of " Principal 
 Librarian " was then created with the powers and the salary of 
 ;£i,ooo a year, which he retains to this day. The Archbishop of 
 
314 
 
 PUBLIC GALLERIES AND 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Cotton 
 MSS. 
 
 Harleian 
 MSS. 
 
 Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and the Speaker were invested 
 with the patronage and control of this establishment; and for 
 113 years this strange constitution has not undergone any material 
 alteration or improvement. The first act of the trustees appears 
 to have been to waive the condition of the site, and to consent to 
 the removal of the Museum from the Manor House at Chelsea, to 
 any proper place, " so as the said Collection be preserved entire 
 without the least diminution or separation, and be kept for the use 
 and benefit of the pubhck, with free access to view and peruse the 
 same at all stated and convenient seasons." For the Act pro- 
 vided that the collection should only remain there until a general 
 repository should be provided for the same, after which the Manor 
 House of Chelsea was to follow the general disposition of Sir 
 Hans Sloane's landed estate. The preamble of this statute ran in 
 the following terms : — " Whereas the said Museum or Collection 
 of Sir Hans Sloane is of much greater intrinsick value than the 
 sum of twenty thousand pounds : and whereas all arts and sciences 
 have a connection with each other, and discoveries in natural phi- 
 losophy and other branches of speculative knowledge for the ad- 
 vancement and improvement whereof the said Museum or Collec- 
 tion was intended, do and may in many instances give help and 
 success to the most useful experiments and inventions : Therefore, 
 to the end that the said Museum or Collection may be preserved 
 and maintained, not only for the inspection and entertainment of 
 the learned and curious, but for the general use and benefit of the 
 publick," Parliament covenanted to pay for it the sum of ;^2o,ooo 
 to his trustees, and the Act we have already described became the 
 law of the land. 
 
 But this Act did much more. Powers were obtained to remove 
 to a general repository the Cotton MSS. still remaining " at 
 Cotton House in Westminster in a narrow little room, damp and 
 improper for preserving the books and papers in danger of perish- 
 ing, and not made sufficiently useful to British subjects and 
 all learned foreigners ; " also to purchase the Harleian Collection 
 of MSS. for ;^i 0,000, to be placed in the same repository with the 
 Cottonian Library. The Act created about forty trustees for these 
 several collections, and incorporated them by the name of " the 
 Trustees of the British Museum," and gave powers to provide a 
 general repository, in which " the said Museum or Collection of Sir 
 
IRRESPONSIBLE BOARDS. 315 
 
 Hans Sloane, in all its branches, shall be kept and preserved together depart- 
 in the said General Repository, whole and entire, and with proper sciencb^ 
 marks of distinction, and to which free access to the said General ■*''° ^^''' 
 
 ' A.D. 
 
 Repository and to the Collections therein contained shall be given 1860-1873. 
 
 to all studious and curious persons at such times and in such Selections, 
 
 manner as the trustees shall appoint." The Act also legalized the Public 
 
 lottery to raise ^^300,000 for these purposes. There were to be ^^^hr 
 
 100,000 tickets of ;^3 each, of which 4,159 were to be "fortunate ofsGliJe^^^ 
 
 tickets," giving prizes as follows: — i of ^10,000, i of ^^5,000, 2 <^°""''°"- 
 
 of ;^2,000, 10 of ;£l,000, 15 of ;^S00, I30 of ^100, I,000 of 
 
 ^20, and 3,000 of ;^io, or a total of ;^99,ooo. The Archbishop, 
 the Lord Chancellor, and the Speaker were appointed the managers 
 to see fair play, and the lottery was drawn in Guildhall on the 
 26th November, 1753, wagers on the chances of the drawing of 
 tickets being specially prohibited. 
 
 Thus things " rare and curious " constituted Sloane's Museum, Misceiia- 
 for the use of "studious and curious persons." The objects enu- racterpf 
 merated are as miscellaneous in character as the contents of the 
 old curiosity shop of some small provincial town. Is there to be 
 found at this time one and the same collector hungry for " chrys- 
 tals, mathematical instruments, drawings, and pictures " ? This 
 original vagueness and multiplicity still haunt the British Museum. 
 Whilst commerce has found it convenient and useful to separate 
 the dealers in books from those in prints, and keep medallists and 
 picture-dealers and mathematical instrument makers apart, the 
 British Museum Trustees look with horror on any one that shall 
 divide their heterogeneous collections, although they themselves' 
 have violated all the conditions of Sir Hans Sloane's will, and 
 separated his " mathematical instruments from chrystals, drawings, 
 and pictures " ! In a volume in the Sloane MSS., several versions 
 of a plan or proposal for managing the collection are given in 
 detail. It was to be divided into " 1° books, prints, drawings, pic- 
 tures, medals, and the most valuable of the jewels ; 2° MSS. ; 3" 
 natural and artificial curiosities," which were assigned to different 
 rooms in old Montague House. " Thus the whole collection will 
 be kept together without the other collections interfering." Does 
 Lord Derby, who is one of the Sloane Trustees, know that the 
 whole collection, in spite of Act of Parliament, codicil, and trust 
 deeds, is all dispersed ? Not even the thirty-seven catalogues are 
 
3i6 
 
 PUBLIC GALLERIES AND 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 History of 
 tlie British 
 Museum. 
 
 Towneley 
 Collection of 
 marbles. 
 
 Elgin 
 Marbles, 
 
 kept together ! Or have the trustees given due effect to the fol- 
 lowing injunction of the testator " to prevent as much as possible 
 persons of mean and low degree and rude or ill-behaviour from in- 
 truding on such who were designed to have free access to the 
 repositories for the sake of learning or curiosity, tending to the ad- 
 vancement and improvement of natural philosophy and other 
 branches of speculative knowledge " ? 
 
 Pursuing the history of the British Museum, we find that in the 
 year following the passing of this Act, it was proved to be difficult, 
 if not impossible, to get the Archbishop, the Lord Chancellor, and 
 Speaker to meet, and so Parliament passed one of its curious 
 hotch-pot Acts, " for punishing persons destroying turnpike 
 locks ; " and " making Acts for erecting courts of conscience 
 publick Acts,'' and " preventing persons driving certain carriages 
 from riding on such carriages," and in it gave powers to render the 
 presence of two of these high functionaries as valid as three, and 
 made seven of the trustees as good as forty ! 
 
 For fifty years the Museum slumbered on, spending about 
 ;£'2,5oo a year on management, and a few hundreds a year on 
 purchases, chiefly books and antiquities; but in 1805, an Act (45 
 George III. cap. 127) was passed to purchase the Towneley Col- 
 lection of ancient marbles for the sum of ^^20,000, to be " open 
 to the inspection of artists and the curious in the fine arts," on 
 condition that the whole of the said collection should be kept 
 together, and Edward Towneley Standish, of whom the purchase 
 was made, or of his heir or nominees, was made a trustee of the 
 property sold. 
 
 In 1 8 16, another great acquisition was made. The invaluable 
 Elgin Collection of marbles and sculptures was purchased by a vote 
 of .;^35,ooo, and here again the vendors. Lord Elgin and his suc- 
 cessors, were added to the trustees, again increasing the number. 
 This appears to be the last purchase which was accompanied by 
 the creation of a trustee to protect the property he had sold. From 
 the foundation of the British Museum to this period, about 
 ;^i 20,000 had been expended on purchases, chiefly consisting of 
 books, MSS., and antiquities. Natural history was hardly recog- 
 nized by the trustees, for only about ;^2,5oo had been spent upon 
 it. Nothing had been expended for minerals and fossils, or 
 zoology, or botany, or prints and drawings. After that year, some 
 
IRRESPONSIBLE BOARDS. 317 
 
 some slight purchases were made for objects in these classes, but depart- 
 it was not until after Mr. Hawes' Committees of the House of science 
 Commons, in 1835-6, that funds have been systematically devoted '^""u."^ 
 to procuring objects of science. 1860-1873. 
 
 At this time, Parliament having been reformed, public interest Selections. 
 began to manifest itself, through Parliament, in the management Manage- 
 of the British Museum, which has gone on increasing to the pre- British 
 sent time. In 1835 and the following year, an inquiry was made 
 into the state of the British Museum which presented ponderous 
 blue-books to the House. The effect of these reports was to 
 cause a largely increased expenditure, both for salaries and pur- 
 chases, in the several neglected departments, but these committees 
 did not give greater distinctness to the object of the institution 
 than Sir Hans Sloane's of " rare and curious," and they failed to 
 point out that the origin of all defects in the institution was to be 
 found in its irresponsible management by numerous trustees. 
 
 A second Select Committee sat, and in 1847, a royal commis- Appoint- 
 
 ^ . . . , , , . . ment of 
 
 sion of mquiry was appointed, and a supplementary commission royal com- 
 " for considering various and grave subjects " was added in 1848. inquiry. 
 
 In 1859, Mr. Gregory obtained another Committee, which 
 directed its inquiries into the state of the British Museum as being 
 in " hopeless confusion, valuable collections wholly hidden from 
 the public, and great portions of others in danger of being de- 
 stroyed by damp and neglect," a state which Mr. Gregory assured 
 the House, in 1865, had not been remedied. 
 
 A decisive definition must be made of the scope and objects of Scope and 
 
 , , objects of 
 
 the Museum. The old loose tradition of " rare and curious," and Museum. 
 " rarities and curiosities,'' can no longer be accepted as the vague 
 object of the principal repository of our national collections. The 
 very idea of such a centralization as now exists, is adverse to all 
 progress. The Royal Society and the Society of Arts were very 
 good and sufficient institutions a century ago ; but these societies 
 no longer monopolize all the subdivisions of human intelligence 
 in science and art, and they have given birth to a numerous pro- 
 geny of other societies. Nor can the British Museum do so, 
 without falling altogether behind the times. As well might the 
 human race have been confined to the Garden of Eden, as well 
 might England forbid emigration to the colonies, as that all that 
 is " rare and curious " — which is now interpreted to mean all 
 
318 
 
 PUBLIC GALLERIES AND 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Patent Mu- 
 seum. 
 
 South Ken- 
 sington 
 Museum. 
 
 National 
 Gallery. 
 
 Division of 
 the present 
 collections of 
 the British 
 Museum. 
 
 objects illustrating all the arts and sciences — should be confined 
 within the narrow walls of Bloomsbury or any single spot. Since 
 the period when the " few rare and curious things " were first 
 assembled in old Montague House, the Zoological Gardens and 
 Kew Gardens have been made the living representatives of 
 zoology and botany. The Geological Museum has taken charge 
 of geology, if not of mineralogy. The Museum of the Commis- 
 sioners of Patents and the Institute of Civil Engineers have ap- 
 propriated objects of mechanical science and Sir Hans Sloane's 
 " mathematical instruments." The South Kensington Museum is 
 devoted to illustrate the application of the fine arts to works of 
 industry. The Ethnological Society and the Crystal Palace have 
 assumed the charge of showing the history of mankind. A 
 National Gallery for pictures and a National Portrait Gallery have 
 been created. The India Office has founded a museum for works 
 of Eastern origin. The Institute of British Architects the Archi- 
 tectural Museum, and other architectural societies have their col- 
 lections of objects of architectural art. In fact, every class of 
 objects which the British Museum has collected as "rare and 
 curious," is now studied from a distinct and scientific point of 
 view, by numerous independent associations which had no exis- 
 tence when the Museum was founded. No conceivable extent 
 of space would enable the British Museum adequately to house 
 and represent all desirable objects of science and art for all time. 
 As science and art extend, so is the tendency to subdivide, 
 classify, and re-arrange their boundaries, and it is adverse to all 
 scientific development to insist upon principles of concentration 
 and limitation accidental in their origin and antagonistic to all 
 progression. If the nation desires to have collections worthy of 
 it, the present collections of the British Museum should be forth- 
 with divided into the following distinct branches, each sufiSciently 
 enlarged : — 
 
 1. Books and MSS. 
 
 2. Pictures and Drawings. 
 
 3. Antiquities ; including Vases and Coins. 
 
 4. Zoology, and perhaps Mineralogy together. 
 
 5. Botany. 
 
 6. Ethnology. 
 
IRRESPONSIBLE BOARDS. 319 
 
 7. Mechanical Science, with Mathematical Instruments, and Depart- 
 
 i.\.r^ i;U« MENT OF 
 
 the like. Science 
 
 AND Art. 
 
 Not only would the development of each division be promoted a-°- 
 , . , . 1860-1873. 
 
 by separation under a proper executive management, but the Part 11. 
 
 utility of the collections would be greatly increased. They would ^'''='="™'- 
 be vastly more useful even to the few chosen scientific persons 
 that use them, and a hundred times more used by the public at 
 large. The connection of the objects with the library, always put 
 forward as necessary, cannot be logically maintained, and is only 
 a pretence. 
 
 Moreover, there is a metropolitan view of the local position of Metrapo- 
 such collections which must not be overlooked. Although the locTi^lwon 
 collections are national, being made for the use of the nation at °ections.'^° " 
 large and not for the metropolis only, still the metropolis, with its 
 three millions of population, being a seventh of the whole country, 
 has peculiar claims to have its convenience consulted. However 
 theoretically central the British Museum may appear on the map, 
 it is gradually ceasing to be convenient of access to the greatest 
 numbers. It matters little to those who seriously study the col- 
 lections where they are placed, but to the public at large, it is im- 
 portant that the respective collections should be distributed in 
 different sections of the metropolitan district where they can be 
 seen most conveniently by the greatest numbers, and opportunity 
 will be afforded to these greatest numbers by the railways which 
 will encircle London in two years. Places on these lines will be 
 within reach by trains starting every five minutes, and there is no 
 doubt that if the Natural History Collection were transferred to 
 the Regent's Park, the Ethnographical Collection to the Victoria 
 Park, the Portraits sent to the National Portrait Gallery in the 
 South of London, and the Medisval Antiquities to South Ken- 
 sington, these objects would afford instruction and pleasure to 
 thousands rather than to hundreds only, in Bloomsbury. The 
 drawings of the old masters should be transferred to the National 
 Gallery, when we have one worthy of the name. The library and 
 the sculpture galleries, with the vases, coins, and other antiques, 
 would then appropriately occupy and fill the present edifice, 
 with one of the noblest collections in the world. 
 
 [The article then proceeds with detailed criticisms of the 
 
320 
 
 PUBLIC GALLERIES AND 
 
 Depart- "■ 
 
 MENT OF 
 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 I860-I873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Institutions 
 Tinder Par- 
 liamentary 
 responsi- 
 bility, 
 
 compared 
 with those in 
 the hands of 
 a board. 
 
 Absolute 
 abolition of 
 trustees not 
 advocated. 
 
 management by Boards of Trustees of various public collections. 
 It refers to the opinions given on this point by Parliamentary 
 Committees, the efforts of individual members to bring about a 
 reform, and concludes as follows : — ] 
 
 The foregoing rapid survey proves conclusively that those insti- 
 tutions for which there is a Minister of the Crown responsible in 
 Parliament, and where individual direction exists for the manage- 
 ment, as at the Kew Botanic Gardens and Museum, the South 
 Kensington Museum, and the Geological Museum in Jermyn 
 Street, are flourishing and progressive, whilst in those where there 
 is no direct parliamentary responsibility, and the management is in 
 the hands of a board, as at the British Museum, the National 
 Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and " Patent " Museum, 
 confusion, discord, languor, incompetency, and extravagance are 
 found. 
 
 It is idle to discuss such questions of details as separation, 
 space, site, buildings, and internal management, until the one 
 cardinal basis has been established of a clear direct parliamentary 
 responsibility. Parliament should peremptorily refuse to consider 
 any of these questions until it has a Minister who can stand up 
 and say, " I, on behalf of the Government, am responsible for the 
 recommendations I make, and the estimates I submit, and if you 
 don't accept them, find a substitute for me." The failures of 
 board management for the last fifty years, are all concisely sum- 
 marized in Lord Henry Lennox's speech in 1862 ; and it is puerile 
 in those who advocate reform in these institutions, not to have got 
 rid of the multifarious boards as they now exist. 
 
 We are by no means advocates for the absolute abolition of 
 trustees, as some have proposed. Such a proceeding would seem to 
 be as ungracious as impolitic — unwise as well as unnecessary. All 
 might be retained, and the numbers even increased by the names 
 of the highest representatives of science, literature, and the arts, so 
 as to consolidate the representatives of the several institutions into 
 a council for science and art. Put at their head the Lord Presi- 
 dent of the Council, who would summon them to meet either in 
 general assembly or in select committees to advise on special sub- 
 jects as consultative bodies only, when their services would be 
 truly valuable. It should, however, be made quite clear that they 
 
IRRESPONSIBLE BOARDS. 321 
 
 have no voice whatever in the management of the expenditure of Depart- 
 any institution, which would rest sole and undivided in the charge science 
 of a responsible Member of the Government. ^"a-d.""^ 
 
 The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and the 1860-1873. 
 Speaker of the House of Commons will probably acknowledge Selections, 
 that it is impossible they can efficiently administer the expendi- ^^^of theT 
 ture of _;£ 1 00,000 a year in Bloomsbury, and that they are not f"°BrityJ° 
 aided in the work by the presence of any standing committee, Museum. 
 still less by the whole body of trustees. Surely these high officers 
 are indifferent to the patronage of appointing some few worn-out 
 butlers to the post of attendants, which would be much better 
 filled by policemen. At the time when the Legislature created 
 the British Museum by lottery, and trustees out of the vendors of 
 the property purchased, the management and purchases for many 
 years, exclusive of the cost of buildings, did not exceed the 
 income which the endowment from the lottery (^30,000) and 
 Major Edwards' bequest (about ;^2o,ooo) provided. But whilst 
 the Parliamentary votes have gradually crept up to ;^ioo,ooo a 
 year, the old vicious mode of board administration has not only B9ard ad- 
 remained unchanged, but become rather worse as an executive, by uilchange'd. 
 additions to the numbers of the trustees. No one will venture to 
 contend that it is beyond the competency of Parliament, or would 
 be the slightest breach of faith with the family trustees or the 
 elected trustees, to relieve them from the business of expending 
 the annual vote of ;£ioo,ooo. They were never made trustees for 
 the work which by imperceptible degrees has passed into their 
 hands. Take away this money and the Sloane, Harley, Towneley, 
 Elgin, and Payne Knight trustees will still remain fully possessed 
 of their original powers and duties. 
 
 Judging from the past, we have little hope that any Government Hopeless- 
 will take up this most necessary administrative reform of its own administra- 
 
 ^ . J , dve reform. 
 
 motion. It cannot become a party question, and seems to be 
 crossed by all sorts of personal influences. But the work might 
 be done at once, if those members of Parliament who complain 
 annually at the present most unsatisfactory state of things — if 
 Lord Elcho, or Lord Henry Lennox, or Mr. Gregory, or Mr. 
 John Stuart Mill, a man who thoroughly understands the evils of 
 Board Management, would only follow the example of Mr. Hume, 
 who, in 1840 organized an association of members of Parliament 
 II. Y 
 
322 
 
 IRRESPONSIBLE BOARDS. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 1S60-1873. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections, 
 
 Circulation 
 of super- 
 fluous 
 objects in 
 central in- 
 stitutions. 
 
 and others, to promote the opening of national monuments to the 
 public, which succeeded, and do the like for abolishing the 
 executive management of public collections through boards of 
 trustees. Another fulcrum to act on both Government and 
 Parliament, might be found in an association of the local museums 
 and institutions throughout the country, to participate in the use of 
 the superfluous objects and pictures, at present an incumbrance to 
 the central institutions themselves. But such a circulation of 
 superfluous objects is just one of those measures altogether depen- 
 dent on the administrative reform of the parent institutions, and 
 cannot be dealt with separately. If local institutions will per- 
 suade their county and borough members to take an interest in it, 
 the Government may be emboldened to grapple with the anoma- 
 lous constitutions which at present retard the progress and sound 
 organization of our institutions of science and art, and to sub- 
 stitute the Parliamentary responsibility of a Minister for the 
 ineffective administration of irresponsible boards. 
 
CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. 323 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM A MEMORANDUM ON THE 
 
 CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS AS CIVIL 
 
 SERVANTS OF THE CROWN. 
 
 THE late Lord Taunton, President of the Board of Trade for Depart- 
 several years, was accustomed to say that whenever the science' 
 Government was in a difficulty in finding an officer of high capa- 
 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 city for civil administration, the right man was sure to be obtained ^^57-1873. 
 among the officers of Royal Engineers. He recommended the Selections. 
 Prince Consort to secure the services of the late Lt.-Gen. Sir 
 William Reid, R.E., as Chairman of the Executive Committee of sir wiiUam 
 the Exhibition of 1851, and this led to the appointment of Royal " - ■ • 
 Engineer officers as Governors of the Royal Princes. My intro- 
 duction to the Corps of Royal Engineers commenced by serving 
 under Sir Wm. Reid, and from the year 1849 to the present time, 
 I have preserved uninterrupted relations with the Corps. I have 
 had the good fortune to have had as colleagues, officers of Engi- 
 neers, in the administration of the Paris Exhibitions of 1855 and 
 1867, and the London Exhibition of 1862, and have also witnessed 
 their valuable assistance in the Science and Art Department since 
 it was organized in 1853, until the present time. I have thus had 
 continued personal experience of the great public usefulness of 
 that Corps in the civil service of the country, having watched it 
 during ten different Governments, ten different Secretaries of State 
 for War, and three Commanders-in-Chief. During these twenty 
 years, therefore, I have been led to form conclusions respecting 
 it, and I hope it will not be viewed as presumptuous in me, to 
 attempt to point out how the regulations of the Corps are injurious 
 to the public service of the United Kingdom and its Dependencies, 
 as well to the civil as the military services. The Corjjs 
 
 II. That the Corps of Royal Engineers is at once both a i^zt^clwW 
 
324 CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. 
 
 Depakt- military and civil service, of great national importance, appears as 
 
 SaENCE"' yet but imperfectly recognized. The military and ciyil elements 
 
 AND Art. ^j.g Qf{.gjj jjj antagonism to one another, instead of working 
 
 1857-1873. harmoniously and strengthening one another. It has been so 
 
 Selections, ever since the War Department was created. The present rules 
 
 ofmUt?"" °^ '^^ Corps are in many respects opposed to the political ten- 
 
 ei"m'^'i«' ■ dencies of the time, and keep up and increase this antagonism. 
 
 the Corps. They regard the Royal Engineers, even in time of peace, entirely 
 
 from a military point of view, in the same way as they would a 
 
 regiment of the line ; whilst the general public interests I believe, 
 
 demand that the civil should receive as much consideration as the 
 
 military element. Hence illogical and indefensible results ensue, 
 
 to the damage of the general public service as well the Corps 
 
 itself. The army appears destined to become more and more 
 
 connected with the industry of the people, and less and less a 
 
 distinct class, and it will soon be the theory of a by-gone age to 
 
 place the two, the army and civil service, in opposition to one 
 
 another. 
 
 Military ser- IX. What coustitutes military, and what civil service as per- 
 
 Vice As DGr* 
 
 formed by fomied by Royal Engineer Officers, appears to be determined by 
 Officers. merely arbitrary and illogical rules. The Ordnance Survey of 
 Great Britain, a purely civil work of general public utility, no 
 doubt, and useful ^ for the defence of the country in case of war, 
 is treated as military service, and an officer is allowed to remain on 
 that duty for twenty years and more, without being recalled to his 
 Corps for military duties. A Lieut.-Governor of Guernsey and a 
 Governor at Bermuda, are treated as military officers, but a 
 Governor of Madras or in South Australia, is a civil officer. An 
 officer who teaches the cadets at Woolwich or the probationary 
 officers at Chatham, may be passed from post to post and continue 
 to be employed on such scientific duties far beyond the ten years 
 period of seconding, without being turned out of the Corps, 
 because his scholastic duties are called military. 
 
 X. In what is called the purely civil service of the country, as 
 
 ' The Ordnance Survey is not a as the survey of country round Lon- 
 
 military survey, nor of the kind ne- don made under direction of Col. 
 
 cessary for military purposes, a survey Jervois and published by O. S. Dept.) 
 
 of a much less local nature, but shovr- is what is necessary for military pur- 
 
 ing the features of the country (such poses. 
 
CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. 325 
 
 distinguished from the semi-military service, an officer of Engi- depast- 
 
 neers is employed as the Governor of a Royal Prince; as an science^ 
 
 Inspector of Railways under the Board of Trade ; as a Director '""^^ ^'''^" 
 
 of Convict Prisons, and a Commissioner of Police under the Home '857-1873- 
 
 . Part II. 
 
 Secretary ; as a Commissioner of Public Works in Ireland under the Selections. 
 Treasury ; as an Inspector for Science, as an Engineer and as an '-'"' ="""• 
 Architect under the Committee of Council on Education ; as a 
 Colonial Governor or Colonial Surveyor General, or Master of a 
 Mint, or Colonial Controller under the Colonial Secretary ; as a 
 Foreign Consul-General under the Foreign Secretary ; as a 
 Director of Works under the Admiralty. Almost every Minister 
 of a Government finds it advisable to employ them. And the 
 military rank assists in the civil offices, by giving a recognized 
 status and position, which are especially useful where persons are 
 brought into an office with which they have not previously been 
 connected. Royal Engineer Officers furnish a ready means of 
 trying experiments in administration. New actions can be tried 
 without creating a new office for life, or entailing the cost 
 of retirement and superannuation on the State. But under the 
 present system of seconding such officers, always selected for their 
 ability, they are in the prime of life cut adrift from their military 
 profession, whilst their comrades remain performing services 
 oftentimes less responsible, like the repairs of barracks at the 
 Cape of Good Hope, Barbadoes, or Ireland. Is it reasonable 
 that all these several ministries should allow the public service for 
 which they are respectively responsible, to be damaged by old 
 world rules founded upon an affectation of military exigencies 
 which are merely fanciful ? 
 
 XV. I should recommend then that the Corps of Royal Engi- The Corps 
 neers, in time of peace, essentially performing scientific and civil, peace to°i)e 
 and not military services, should be so organized that the officers civfi 
 composing it may individually be treated without difficulty as 
 civil servants ; and that in payment for services, superannuation 
 should be regulated by the ordinary civil service principles ; and 
 that only in time of war, should the Corps be treated as a purely 
 military service. In time of peace, the civil service should have 
 perfect freedom in borrowing officers from the War Department, 
 and the officers should be allowed to retain their rank in their 
 Corps. Possibly it might be advantageous that all promotion 
 
 treated as 
 
 ser- 
 vants. 
 
326 
 
 CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1857-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Corps re- 
 organized to 
 be public 
 scientific ser- 
 vants of the 
 Crown. 
 
 Return to 
 military 
 employment 
 after civil 
 service to be 
 regulated by 
 the military 
 authorities. 
 
 from grade to grade should be regulated, as at present, by length 
 of service. If an officer remained in civil service there should be 
 no military half-pay or retirement, but his years spent in military 
 service should be counted, if he ever became superannuated. 
 
 XVI. Some such a change might, I apprehend, be at once 
 adopted at the present time even with the Corps in its present 
 organization, but great economy and good to the public service 
 would ensue, if the Corps were re-organized to be the public 
 scientific servants of the Crown, and connected with all branches 
 of the public service where scientific knowledge and engineering 
 ability were wanted. At the present time, it may be said with 
 truth, that great waste would be prevented, and saving of pro- 
 fessional labour at out-stations effected, if all the public buildings 
 of the country, those for Post Offices, Custom Houses, &c., as 
 well as the Public Offices in the metropolis, were placed under the 
 inspection at least, of officers of the Royal Engineers. Had there 
 existed the control of a Royal Engineer officer during the building 
 of the Houses of Parliament, the badness of the stone and many 
 other deficiencies would probably have been found out, and again 
 recently, the new Foreign and India Offices would probably have 
 been far better in arrangement, far more useful, and far cheaper 
 in cost. The employment of the Royal Engineers on the State 
 Telegraphs, and as Local Inspectors of Schools, are other fields of 
 public service. 
 
 XVII. There can be no doubt that it would not be right for an 
 officer to leave his corps duties, and sever all connection with 
 military studies or duties for twenty or thirty years, and then at his 
 own choice have a right to military employment with high rank 
 and command. To guard against this, it is only necessary to have 
 it clearly laid down that after a certain period of civil service, he 
 should have no right to military employment. The question of 
 his military employment should rest entirely with the military 
 authorities, according to the officer's capacity and the exigencies 
 of the service. All officers might be required to serve for short 
 periods at Chatham, and this would be useful both to the esta- 
 blishment at Chatham and to the officers, and would ensure 
 efficiency of the Corps in field engineering operations, more 
 effectually than the present system. 
 
 XVIII. If some such a plan were carried out, the Engineer 
 
CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. 327 
 
 force remaining essentially a military force, would be directly Depart- 
 responsible to the Secretary of State for War, whilst a certain science 
 number of officers would be assigned to military service under the ^.d. 
 orders of the Commander-in-Chief, and thus the dual government, p "^'ij"' 
 which, since 1856, has produced constant difficulties and friction, by Selections. 
 no means ended yet, would be virtually abolished ; public economy 
 would be promoted, and increased usefulness afforded by the 
 Corps to the general public service of the country. There would 
 be no invidious distinctions between military and civil service. 
 
 XIX. The corps of officers might be enlarged beneficially, and The corps 
 might thus be fused in time of peace, with the whole civil service might be 
 of the country, and would form the best possible reserve of thedvii 
 military officers in case of war, the reserve costing nothing to the thTcOTntry. 
 War Department from first to last. Selected by open competition 
 for ability, trained scientifically, subjected to military discipline, 
 with an esfrit de corps, and embued with a sentiment of honour as 
 public servants, the perfection of organization and administration 
 might thus be attained through the instrumentality of the officers 
 of this Corps. 
 
Extracts from a Paper read by Henry Cole, Esq., C.B., on 
 17TH February, 1869, before the Society of Arts, 
 
 ON THE EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY OF A 
 NATIONAL ARMY. 
 
 The 
 Society 
 OF Arts. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 I 846-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Increased 
 efficiency 
 in our army 
 compatible 
 with reduced 
 expenditure. 
 
 Annual cost 
 of our army. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the advancing civilization 
 throughout the world, the increasing communications 
 of one country with another, the extension of free- 
 trade, and the spread of Christianity, it must be ad- 
 mitted that nations still require armies and navies to protect their 
 Industry, their Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. I am there- 
 fore desirous, at the outset of these observations, to guard myself 
 against the imputation that I advocate the weakening, much less 
 the abolition, of our country's defences. On the contrary, I desire 
 to see greatly-increased efficiency in our military organization, and 
 I believe this is not only compatible with, but that it can only be 
 secured through, greatly reduced expenditure. The adoption of a 
 complete change in our present military system, which shall con- 
 nect it — I may say re-connect it, as in old times, not the least 
 glorious in the history of England — with the interests and occupa- 
 tions of the whole people, appears to me as necessary for its own 
 sake as for economy's and efficiency's sake. It is a common 
 fallacy, urged by advocates of the present costly system, to argue 
 that, considering the enormous value of our exports and imports 
 — say, in round numbers, something like four hundred and fifty- 
 five millions of pounds a year, which was the amount in 1867 — 
 the insurance is cheap at about 5f per cent, which is the propor- 
 tionate cost of our annual military and naval expenditure. Last 
 
AJiMV REFORM. 329 
 
 year it amounted to twenty-six millions, i.e., about ;^i 5,000,000 The 
 for the army, and only ;^i 1,000,000 for the work at sea. Such a of Arts. 
 charge, even if necessary, is in itself wholly unproductive. i846-i'873. 
 
 2. And it is said that it is good political economy to effect this |Y' "„ 
 insurance through the agency of a special class forming a large 
 standing army, which employs rather than rejects the scum of our 
 population. I deny that the amount of ;^i 5,000,000 a year, is at Present un- 
 all necessary. I assert that at least half is an unnecessary ex- "xpendimre. 
 penditure, and therefore a tax upon industry. I repudiate the 
 
 idea, and it is only a modern one, not much more than a century 
 
 old, that our soldiers should be a distinct caste, formed by hiring SoidUrs a 
 
 for the most part, the outcasts and roughs of the people. On the casu!*^ 
 
 contrary, I say our private soldiers ought to be able to read and 
 
 write, as well as Prussian and Swiss soldiers, and, if you like it, 
 
 to be as devout, going into battle with their Bibles, as our ancestors 
 
 did under Cromwell. In the progress of the times, I am sure, if 
 
 you don't have educated and civilized soldiers, England will be 
 
 distanced in its race with other nations wiser than ourselves. 
 
 3. I shall attempt to show that the country may have a more cost might 
 efficient army than at present, at about half the present annual cost, ^ efght"''' 
 leaving about seven millions either in the pockets of the taxpayer, "^■^""^ 
 or to be appropriated to national objects more productive than 
 
 war, such as the education of the people, and the promotion of 
 those things that advance Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. I 
 venture to say that even warlike training and expenditure may be 
 usefully connected with the health and occupations of the people ; 
 may be a great assistance to the labour market and civil service of 
 the country, rather than a drag upon them, and be made to ele- 
 vate the national character. With this aim, I hope that the sub- 
 ject is worthy of serious investigation, especially at the present 
 time, and by this Society, which, like the army itself, has nothing 
 to do with party politics. But as a political question I agree with 
 Blackstone, from whose " Commentaries " I have extracted a few Biackstone 
 passages. This old Conservative judge says, "The laws and 
 constitution of these kingdoms know no such state as that of a 
 perpetual standing soldier bred up to no other profession than 
 that of war." 
 
 4. The subject of military organization has almost fathomless Discussion 
 details, but I do not propose to discuss them. My paper is in- avoided. 
 
 on amues. 
 
33° 
 
 ARMY REFORM. 
 
 The 
 Society 
 OF Arts. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1846-1873. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Selecrioos. 
 
 Purchase of 
 promotion. 
 
 Recruiting 
 system. 
 
 Sir Charles 
 Trevelyan 
 on recruit- 
 ing. 
 
 Half-pay. 
 
 tended to deal only with broad principles, and I will avoid de- 
 tails except when they touch my argument. I do not propose 
 to enter upon the numberless vexed questions connected with 
 the army administration, which army reformers are discussing. 
 Those who wish to go into this subject, I refer to the numerous 
 pamphlets of the day. I will not stay to inquire why purchase of 
 promotion should not be adopted in all the branches of the army, 
 if in some, and those which require high scientific attainments like 
 Engineers and Artillery, or various practical work, like the 
 Marines, and why it is applied only to those branches of the 
 cavalry and infantry which demand inferior attainments, and where 
 the duties in the time of peace are so light, that they only employ 
 a subaltern one hour in the day, leaving him the remaining twenty- 
 three hours for dress, meals, sports, and pleasure. I do not stay 
 to ask what is the reason why there should be purchase in the 
 army and not in the navy ; or to ask why the British ariny requires 
 one ofiScer to every twenty-eight men, such officer depending upon 
 a Serjeant virtually to do his duties, whilst the French army has 
 only one officer to thirty-three men, and makes him do his work 
 himself; and whilst Prussia requires only one officer to forty-nine 
 men. I will not discuss the system of recruiting, as people gene- 
 rally now agree with the late Sidney Herbert, afterwards Lord Her- 
 bert of Lea, who said recruiting for men to defend the honour of 
 the country, was done " by every kind of cajoling and inducement 
 we can devise, and in our necessity we descend to those means 
 which men do not have recourse to till they think all others are 
 exhausted ; " or with Sir Charles Trevelyan, who truly writes that 
 " Our pot-house system of recruiting, the soldier's long term of 
 service, and the restrictions upon his marriage, act as a direct en- 
 couragement to drunkenness and debauchery in a great national 
 establishment which might, under different arrangements, be con- 
 verted into a popular training-school of the highest intellectual and 
 moral value." I entreat the meeting to abstain from discussing 
 these topics. I will not ask why half-pay for a whole Ufe is neces- 
 sary for the hard work which many officers undergo — that of only 
 one hour a-day for a few years. I will not investigate the whim- 
 sical paradox by which railway engineers, untrained as soldiers, 
 are made colonels, with military rank, whilst officers of Royal 
 Engineers, thoroughly trained, are compelled to resign the army 
 
AJiMY REFORM. 331 
 
 if employed in civil service for more than ten years. I will not The 
 say whether or not it is better to have one military school or many; of Arts. 
 whether or not an enormous centre for all military stores is cheaper jg-frfg-j. 
 and better than regimental management of them ; whether or not p^' "' 
 there should be Government manufactories ; whether or not mili- 
 tary men alone ought to be sole judges of scientific and mechanical 
 inventions ; whether or not the progress of practical science, and 
 its effect upon warfare, be sufficiently appreciated by our English 
 miUtary authorities ; whether or not, in these days, when every 
 year seems to add a mile to the range of great guns, it is good sense 
 to spend milUons upon most costly fortifications. Nor will I discuss 
 what is called the " dual " system of government by Horse Guards 
 and Pall Mall. All these are questions of administration, and 
 there are many others of a like sort, any one of which is of sufficient 
 importance to be discussed separately if the present system is to be 
 maintained, but, as I advocate a thorough change of system, 
 and would shut up the present one as soon as possible, I pass 
 them by. 
 
 5. Let me say, once for all, that I consider the management of indiatohave 
 the army in India, quite a distinct subject from the army for the aml^'™" 
 United Kingdom and its other dependencies. Whether we employ 
 
 too many soldiers there or not, whether or not the service in India 
 should be connected with the whole army, whether or not India 
 should be treated as a real military training school for the United 
 Kingdom, are questions, too, which I pass by ; but this I will ven- 
 ture to say, that the cost of the Indian army, be it little or much, 
 ought not be charged upon the taxpayer of this country, but should 
 be supported by India, whatever that cost may be. 
 
 6. Putting aside, therefore, merely administrative details, and 
 leaving the case of India out of consideration, I come to our home 
 army in its present state. We had last year, a standing army of 
 
 about 125,000 men, besides about 130,000 militia and yeomanry, Number of 
 and 150,000 volunteers; of this force, exclusive of militia, &c., I ^°'^'^^^ 
 calculate that about 40,000 were distributed over the colonies. 
 But the size of this great standing force is not to be defended on inefficiency 
 the ground of its efficiency ; and many of the highest military L";^^"^ 
 authorities frankly admit that it is most imperfectly organized for "i'^'^^"™- 
 immediate action when war arises. Our officers and men, I be- 
 lieve, are unrivalled for their enduring pluck, and make the noblest 
 
332 
 
 ARMV REFORM. 
 
 The 
 
 Society 
 OF Arts. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 I846-I873. 
 Part II. 
 Selectioos. 
 
 Prussian 
 
 Corps 
 d'Armde, 
 
 Soldiers not 
 policemen. 
 
 Colonies. 
 
 soldiers in the world ; but at the beginning of the campaign they 
 have to learn their work, and struggle into efficiency, with much 
 suffering, through a long apprenticeship, and at enormous cost to 
 the taxpayer. I believe that instead of our present large costly 
 standing army — not nearly large enough in case of war — imperfectly 
 organized — our true policy to secure efficiency would be to have 
 the smallest possible standing force, capable of indefinite and in- 
 stantaneous extension when necessity arose. War, now, with 
 science and railways, is a word and a blow, and the victory will be 
 with those who are ready first with the greatest numbers and the 
 best arms. 
 
 7. I am assured that the experience gained in the late Prussian 
 war, has proved that the best number for a Corps d'Armie is about 
 16,000 men properly organized, with its due proportions of en- 
 gineers, artiUery, commissariat, hospital staff, cavalry, and infantry. 
 Instead of compact bodies of troops capable of acting together at 
 an hour's call, we have to extemporize all the necessary organiza- 
 tion when war arises — and our professed military organization I 
 am afiraid, proves a sham and a delusion. I believe one such real 
 Corps d'Arm'ee of 16,000 men, would suffice as a model for the 
 United Kingdom, together with an ample reserve of efficient 
 officers, engineers, artillerymen, marines, hospital staff, and all 
 those divisions of an army, which cannot be extemporized off- 
 hand. 
 
 8. We do not want soldiers in the United Kingdom to act as 
 policemen. Since the Duke of Wellington's campaigns we have 
 substituted in the metropolis, for the old Charley watchmen and 
 a few Bow-street runners, local armies of civil policemen, number- 
 ing about nine thousand trained men at the present time, and yet, 
 as in the days of no police, we still keep large bodies of troops in 
 the metropolis. Every county, too, has organized its own police, 
 and Ireland has a police force of many thousands of loyal and 
 effective men, better than soldiers for their purpose. But our 
 home army has gone on increasing, whilst we have, at the same 
 time, created civil armies of police by thousands. 
 
 9. But then it will be asked, if you reduce the standing army 
 what is to become of our colonies ? Our colonies are of different 
 kinds. Some are communities having constitutional governments 
 of their own, like Australia and Canada, which will rival us in 
 
ARMV REFORM. 333 
 
 population soon ; others, like the Cape of Good Hope, Malta and the 
 Gibraltar, are military stations ; others, like the West Indies, are of'^Ss. 
 places held in subjection, and require military forces to hold them, ^g ^"g 
 Australia and Canada, and the like, which regulate their own Pan 11. 
 taxation, ought to be no charge on the taxpayer of this country ; 
 and I venture to submit that all imperial troops should be with- 
 drawn from such colonies, except, perhaps, some few engineers 
 and artillerymen. At military stations like Gibraltar, so long as 
 it is considered to be policy to hold them, of course we must 
 keep troops, but let them be as few as possible. Steam transports 
 supersede the necessity for large depots of men in time of peace, 
 eating the bread of idleness. 
 
 10. At the present time, wars, although settled quickly, do not !„[„. 
 come on like a thief in the night, without previous notice. Thank convention 
 God, the press keeps us all, even diplomacy itself, well informed ["ons'fo^rwSr 
 if a nation is going to quarrel with us and threaten war. We have 
 
 at least some time to make warlike preparations ; and enthusiasts 
 even dream of an international convention, to which all civilized 
 nations may be parties, which shall agree that no nation shall 
 make war upon another without giving due and ample notice for 
 preparation. 
 
 1 1. Let us have at once, perfect telegraphic communication with Telegraphic 
 all our possessions and colonies, so that we may receive instan- tion.™"""^^ 
 taneous notice of a call for the assistance of the mother country. 
 
 Here, at least, is one subject where the military interests go hand 
 in hand with those of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. 
 
 12. I now pass to the consideration of what our new military Anewmiii- 
 organization might be, to enable us to defend the honour of the SSon!!^^"' 
 country efficiently and cheaply. It is common to say that England 
 
 is not a military nation. I say she ought to be a military nation, 
 and that she has the means of being so beyond all other nations; 
 and I believe we shall be less pugnacious, when we are all soldiers, 
 than when we have a caste whose special interest is fighting. 
 Little Switzerland has an analogy with England. Switzerland is Switzerland 
 circumscribed with mountains, whilst England is bounded within ex^ipie. 
 fixed limits with water. Yet Switzerland, having the most military 
 nations on all her frontiers, with only a population of some two 
 millions, has always held her own against them. But then, Swit- 
 zerland has every thirteenth soul of her population a soldier 
 
334 ARMY REFORM. 
 
 The capable of bearing arms, an army of about 340,000 always ready 
 
 ofIYts. for her defence in case of need. But Switzerland has no paupers, 
 
 A.D. 
 1846-1873, 
 
 and every Swiss child is compelled to read and write. Odious 
 Part 11'. compulsion ! And the cost to th^ government of Switzerland of 
 her military defence, is stated to be a miserable sum of only about 
 ;^i5o,ooo a-year, or less than los. a man. I will not trouble the 
 meeting with statistics from Prussia and Austria, which teach us a 
 lesson, but I shall append to this paper some extracts from Mr. 
 Martin's "Statesman's Year-book for 1869," to which I invite 
 attention. 
 Why should 13-1 havc no hopes of having such an economical arrangement 
 thirfeen'of as the Swiss, but I do ask why England, at a reasonable cost, can- 
 popuiafion not have one in thirteen of her 30,000,000 population trained to 
 b^Mmns?'" bear arms in defence of her honour, her Arts, Manufactures, and 
 Commerce in connection with them, and being no drag upon 
 them ? I trust my countrymen will seriously ask themselves this 
 question. It may be said that except to guard the successor of 
 St. Peter, the Pope, Switzerland only concerns herself with her own 
 territory, whereas we have all the world to look after. That very 
 fact all the more confirms me in the belief, that we ought to have 
 millions of men ready to come forward when required. No nation 
 has such a field for military practice as England has in India. We 
 ought to be able to supply India with British troops without diffi- 
 culty, and without cost to the home taxpayer, if the organization, 
 the pay, and the period of service were well arranged. We have 
 difficulties with our present standing army of 130,000 men, but 
 we should have much fewer and perhaps none with three millions 
 of trained men. The proper training of three millions of men, 
 which, according to the scale of Switzerland, ought not to cost the 
 state two millions a year, would be no weight upon the industry of 
 the country. It might be even a benefit to it. This sounds 
 paradoxical, but it is not so. The industry of little Switzerland is 
 not damaged by the training of one in thirteen of its population, 
 nor would be the industry of the United Kingdom. How, then, 
 is it to be done ? 
 Drill a part 1 4. I would begin by making drill a part of national education 
 in every boys' school in the country. At a very moderate cost, 
 the military pensioners might be profitably employed to drill every 
 school once in the week No one will say that this drill would not 
 
AHMV REFORM. 335 
 
 improve the health and bearing of the boys, or assert that it would the 
 
 damage them as ploughboys or factory hands. It would also instil op akts. 
 
 a military spirit into them. iSiS-'iaVs. 
 
 IS- When the lads leave school, every inducement should be Part 11. 
 
 . , , , , . ' , .... Selections. 
 
 given to them to elect between becommg volunteers or joining the volunteers 
 militia, not the present, but a reformed system of militia. Com- ™ ="'"»• 
 men cause should be made with all the great employers of labour, 
 not only to allow, but to encourage their hands to keep up the 
 drill and advance it. Call out the volunteers and militia once in 
 the year for twenty days or so, and then return them to their 
 occupations. Throughout the United Kingdom there should be 
 drill from April to October, and your idle half-pay officers should 
 be turned into full-pay, to command the men. Make another pro- 
 portion of men of a certain age, soldiers for twelve months at proper 
 wages, and then return them to their occupations afterwards. I 
 have consulted several large employers of labour in the North of 
 England, and they all assure me that some such system would in 
 no way interfere with the labour market and the operations of Drill pro- 
 labour, but greatly benefit them both. Such a system is something industry.' 
 quite different from taking a bad man for twelve years as a soldier, 
 and then returning him to the labour market with a pension. 
 Soldiers should thus be made in the midst of their industrial 
 occupations. They should form part of the civil service of the 
 country. Among the very best civil servants, are officers and men 
 of the Royal Engineers. Whether for officers or privates, you Royal 
 
 . , . , , . , , - Engineers. 
 
 know With certainty that you can obtain a competent man for 
 almost any kind of work in the Royal Engineers ; and, this being 
 so, why should not there be the same kind of certainty for obtain- 
 ing civil servants in all other branches of the army ? I am assured 
 by high military authorities, that twelve months is amply sufficient to 
 make first-rate discipUned private soldiers, and that more time than 
 this is thrown away. Of course, if you want men to march like 
 machines, life is not long enough to accomplish it perfectly ; but 
 this old world dandyism is less cultivated by other nations, and is 
 probably thrown aside on the field of battle. 
 
 16. I hope to see the military service thoroughly fused with the Military and 
 civil service of the country, and that one test of qualification for "oralcted" 
 entering the civil service, should be a certificate for having served 
 well as a volunteer, militiaman, or soldier, retired from active service. 
 
336 
 
 ARMY REFORM. 
 
 The 
 Society 
 OF Arts. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1846-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Blackstone 
 on standing 
 armies. 
 
 Long service 
 soldiers. 
 
 Present cost, 
 i£iS.45S.400. 
 
 Again I quote old Judge Blackstone. " The military power 
 should not be a body too distinct from the people. It should be 
 wholly composed of natural subjects ; it ought only to be enlisted 
 for a short and limited time. The soldiers also should live inter- 
 mixed with the people ; no separate camp, no barracks, no inland 
 fortresses should be allowed. And, perhaps, it might be still 
 better, if, by dismissing a stated number and enlisting others at 
 every renewal of their term, a circulation should be kept up be- 
 tween the army and the people, and the citizen and the soldier be 
 more intimately connected together." 
 
 17. As respects engagement for longer terms — say seven years 
 in India or more — that would be met by a special class, who would 
 look to military service as the sole business of their lives, and the 
 rate of payment would be regulated by the rate of wages and the 
 necessities of the case. So in time of actual foreign war, men 
 would be engaged and paid liberally, and, if wounded, pensioned. 
 If not wounded, they would return to their occupations. 
 
 18. The Parliamentary votes for the army in 1868, were 
 ;^iS,4S5,ooo. This is exclusive of the cost of the army in India. 
 This enormous sum was apportioned as follows : — 
 
 Future esti- 
 mated cost, 
 ;£8, 740,000. 
 
 No. I. Regular forces ...... 
 
 No. 2. Reserved forces 
 
 No. 3. Stores ....... 
 
 No. 4. Works and buildings 
 
 No. 5. MiUtary education, surveys, administration, 
 &c 
 
 Total effective service 
 
 No. 6. Non-effective services, pensions, &c. 
 
 Total of effective and non-effective 
 
 ^8,691,500 
 
 1,524,500 
 
 1,491,400 
 
 968,400 
 
 655,200 
 
 13.331,000 
 
 2,124,400 
 
 15.455,400 
 
 19. My conviction is, that about seven millions of pounds 
 sterling would be saved annually, by the adoption of principles 
 such as those I have briefly glanced at, and the future apportion- 
 ment of Parliamentary votes might, I submit, without pledging 
 myself to precise details, which are far too many for public discus- 
 sion, be somewhat as follows ; — 
 
ARMV REFORM. 337 
 
 Standing army, 16,000 men at J[fi'^ a-piece 
 
 Scientific reserves of Engineers, Artillery, Marines, 
 Hospital Corps, Staff officers, &c., say 30,000 
 men, being an increase on the present force, at 
 ;^65 per man 
 
 Militia, and drilling of youths from 10 years old and 
 upwards 
 
 Volunteers 
 
 Colonial corps 
 
 Stores 
 
 Works and buildings, excluding new fortifications 
 
 Pensions 
 
 Civil administration ..... 
 
 ;£ 1,040,000 
 
 The 
 Society 
 OF Arts. 
 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1846-1873. 
 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 1,950,000 
 
 
 2,000,000 
 
 
 1,000,000 
 
 
 500,000 
 
 
 1,000,000 
 
 
 500,000 
 
 
 600,000 
 
 
 150,000 
 
 
 8,740,000 
 
 20. The feasibility of all this depends upon a real public desire 
 to save annually, seven or eight millions of unproductive expendi- 
 ture, and, in return, to be willing to become home soldiers uni- 
 versally ; foreign service being paid for at its proper value. Such 
 a reform like this is not to be accomplished by a stroke of the 
 pen. It could only be effected by slow degrees. But if the 
 principles I advocate were adopted by the public, I think the new 
 system might be fully introduced in the course of seven years, each 5^^^^ y^^^^ 
 year during the process witnessing a sensible reduction of expen- fhe?hangf. 
 diture, until the total cost reached the sum I have mentioned. 
 
 21. When war came, we should be far readier for action than 
 
 we have been hitherto. An unproductive annual expenditure of ^ saving of 
 
 seven millions would have been economized, enabling us to bear ^J{^"„j 
 
 the additional cost of the trumpets, drums, and fifes of actual =ff=oted. 
 war. 
 
 22. Allow me to glance at what a saving of seven millions a-year ^y^^j jj^;^ 
 would accomplish for Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. It ^J^if ^^ 
 would provide a national system of education. It would provide 
 scientific and technical instruction, through colleges, schools, and 
 museums, throughout the United Kingdom, wherever the wants 
 
 of the country required them. It would establish complete 
 electric telegraphs between the United Kingdom and the whole of 
 our colonies and dependencies. It would enable us to abohsh all 
 taxes on locomotion. It would reduce the postage to all colonies 
 II. Z 
 
338 
 
 ARMY REFORM. 
 
 The 
 
 Society 
 OF Arts. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1846-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Army 
 Reform a_ 
 work of civil 
 adminis- 
 tration. 
 
 and dependencies. It would relieve, if not abolish, many taxes on 
 production, and help to give the people a free breakfast-table. It 
 would help in abolishing pauperism. 
 
 23. And whilst these positive results to Arts, Manufactures, and 
 Commerce could be predicted as certain, the better organization 
 of military service would directly benefit them instead of being a 
 a wholly unproductive dead weight. 
 
 24. I hope to see all friends of peace assisting in this reform. 
 It is the work rather of civil administration than for the heroes of 
 warfare. The measure, I know, cannot be acceptable to military 
 prejudices and to many of the military officers, who constitute a 
 sixth part of the present House of Commons. But the press is 
 discussing the subject most ably, and the pamphleteers on army 
 reform are many. If the matter be as well discussed in Parliament 
 as in the press, the national will, and the country at large, which 
 pays for the defence of its honour and interests, will soon be the 
 best judge of what is necessary for them. It may be a fight 
 against narrow, short-sighted prejudices, to last as long as those 
 against Catholic Emancipation, the Test and Corporation Acts, 
 Parliamentary Reform, Municipal Reform, Railways, Corn-laws, and 
 Free-trade. But these beneficial changes have become the creed 
 of all men in my time, and I trust to live to see the honour of the 
 country placed in the custody of a national army. 
 
MR. COLE'S SPEECH AT THE DISTRIBUTION 
 
 OF PRIZES TO THE STUDENTS OF THE 
 
 NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART. 
 
 iSTH January, 1873.' 
 
 lY LORDS, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN,— 
 This time last year, I engaged to perform the duty 
 I am about to do on this occasion, but was pre- 
 vented by imperative official business from fulfilling 
 my engagement. Had I been present, I should have ventured 
 to make a few observations to you on the position in which 
 Nottingham stood with regard to art, and the especial fitness of 
 the Town for establishing a Museum of Science and Art. I am 
 particularly happy in not having to talk about an anticipation, but 
 rather of a performance which has been amply fulfilled. 
 
 Nottingham has now its Museum of Science and Art, which is 
 the beginning of something much greater in the future. As I 
 entered the ante-room, a gentleman of Nottingham was kind 
 enough to observe to me, " You will not forget that in old times, 
 we were distinguished for cock-fighting and prize-fighting, whereas, 
 at present, we are distinguished for cricketing and rifle-shooting ; 
 and we hope you will make out a good case for our being now dis- 
 tinguished in Art." Last year I wrote to the then Mayor, a letter 
 excusing my absence, and saying that I thought Nottingham was 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1B60-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Nottingham 
 Museum of 
 Science and 
 Art. 
 
 ' This speech has been revised by 
 the reports of the meeting given in the 
 "Nottingham Guardian," the "Not- 
 
 tingham Express," and the 
 tingham Journal." 
 
 'Not- 
 
340 SPEECH AT NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. 
 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Free Libra- 
 ries. 
 
 School of 
 Art. 
 
 pre-eminently fitted for having a Museum of Art and Science, and 
 I grounded that opinion upon the fact that yours is really a most 
 distinguished town in modem civilization, though you perhaps 
 may not be so much aware of it as strangers are, and — I say it 
 without compliment — you have a remarkable Municipality. You 
 have a Municipality which has beaten the municipal attempts in 
 London, hollow, and as far as I know, after some general experi- 
 ence of the country, there is no Municipality which is performing 
 its duty in like manner to your Municipality of Nottingham. You 
 have had to pay for it, as we have to pay for every good thing in 
 this world. I see on all sides matters to prove my assertion. I 
 have before me a glass of water clearer than we can get in London, 
 from any one of a dozen water companies. I see in going through 
 the town, what the Municipality has done for the recreation of the 
 people. You have a beautiful Arboretum, you have a Free Library 
 supported by rates ; — you may not know how much distinguished 
 you are in that respect. Very few towns in England have Free 
 Libraries. We cockneys have been trying for 25 years to get Free 
 Libraries, almost unsuccessfully. The only place in all London 
 where rates support a Free Library is at Westmbster, where I 
 have heard that a Lord Chancellor in his earlier days, actually 
 packed a meeting to ensure a majority for that Library. Then in 
 Nottingham, you have a distinguished Volunteer Corps, which, as 
 my friend told me, has gained more prizes for its shooters than 
 any in England. In addition to that, I have looked around, and 
 seen some remarkable specimens of modern Architecture, in which 
 the Gothic and Italian styles seem to have reconciled their diffe- 
 rences, and produced something new and refreshing. I think 
 that Nottingham is distinguished for its modern Architecture, and 
 is superior to many neighbouring towns. I hope your Lordship 
 will not think me wrong in saying that Nottingham is more 
 distinguished in this respect than Derby. Leicester is a long way 
 behind as compared with Nottingham. Then there is your School 
 of Art — which, in some points, is the very first school in the 
 country. It is certainly the cleanest, best kept, and arranged, and 
 I can show by figures that it occupies a high position in the work 
 it does. There is a system at work throughout the country, by 
 which masters of Schools of Art get prizes according to the work 
 done in the schools each year — the first prize being ^^50, the 
 
SPEECH AT NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART. 341 
 
 next £^0, and then ^,^30, and so on. Well, this system has been depart- 
 in operation five years, and I find that in that period, among 120 science" 
 schools in the United Kingdom, Nottingham has taken masters' *''° ^^'^' 
 prizes every year. I need not trouble you with any decimal 1860-1873. 
 calculations, but it is a fact that Nottingham has earned far more Selections. 
 public money for masters' prizes than its average share. With re- 
 gard to the students, there are 120 schools competing for the State 
 Medals — gold, silver, and bronze. Gold medals have been given 
 away for seven years, and there are not more than 10 gold medals 
 given every year. The 70 medals that have been given away have 
 been competed for by 120 schools, the average being less than 
 one medal per school, and of the 70 medals Nottingham has 
 gained no less than six. In fact, the medals taken by Notting- 
 ham — and no doubt your skill in cock-fighting, prize-fighting, 
 cricketing, and rifle-shooting, have something to do with the 
 result — have been eight times the average of the schools of the 
 whole kingdom. 
 
 All these facts make me think that Nottingham may take the 
 lead in the country in establishing a Museum of Science and Art, 
 and in setting an example to other towns in England. I regret to 
 state that in this matter England is behind continental countries ; 
 you cannot go from London to Paris without alighting on several Museums in 
 Museums of this kind. At Boulogne, Arras, Calais, Amiens, £°|J^ce!°'^ 
 Beauvais, Rouen, you find Museums and Picture Galleries. How 
 many are there between Dover and London ? The various facts 
 I have mentioned, justify me in asking you to consider the ques- 
 tion of establishing a permanent Museum of Science and Art. 
 The man who was your last Mayor, with energy and tact brought 
 the subject before the Town Council, and I am glad to say there 
 was not a single dissentient voice, when he proposed to use the 
 Exchange Rooms, so that there was not a division in the Council 
 upon the question. The result is that you have got a Museum. 
 The establishment of a permanent Museum of Science and Art is 
 a necessary complement to the work which you have already done. 
 The Department has rules and directions which have been circu- 
 lated for a number of years, which everybody can buy for 6(/., 
 but which nobody reads — and by those rules, towns have been 
 given the opportunity of borrowing articles purchased by the taxa- 
 tion money, and deposited at South Kensington. I am sorry to 
 
342 SPEECH AT NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART. 
 
 Depart--- Say that the country at large takes too little heed comparatively, 
 saENCB" of that advantage. But your Town Council have secured an Art 
 """a ^^' Museum, and in this matter Nottingham has done its part bravely 
 1860-1873. and well. I am told that the Police Court has been actually 
 Selections, movcd to make room for the Museum. I strongly sympathize 
 with the gentleman who raised his voice against that change. I 
 hope that he will not stand it, but will have the Court back 
 again — not, however, by turning out the Museum, until it is pro- 
 vided with a suitable place. I am told the ladies do not consider 
 that there is a floor fit to dance on in Nottingham except the 
 Exchange Rooms, and, to a certain extent, they have been put 
 out. I say to them, " Do not stand it ; have the rooms back 
 again," with the reservation that a suitable place shall be provided 
 elsewhere without loss of time, 
 e Many agencies must concur together to establish a successful 
 of municipal Museum of Scicnce and Art. Municipalities, voluntary payments, 
 loans of objects being private property, and lastly, aid from the 
 public taxation voted by Parliament. The Municipality must 
 take the lead and find management and responsibility. The House 
 of Commons aids by grants for building (if connected with a 
 School of Science and Art), and by loan of objects from the Ken- 
 sington Museum, which have been bought by the money of Not- 
 and voiun- tingham and all parts of the kingdom. Another important step is 
 to get a voluntary system of public contributions. Now I can 
 compliment Nottingham upon this matter. The inhabitants have 
 shown a singular appreciation of their Museum of Science and 
 Art. The inhabitants have flocked in thousands to the Museum 
 in the Exchange Rooms, until it might be said that the whole 
 population had passed through it. Since last Whitsuntide, 80,000 
 persons have visited the Museum. What a contrast this affords to 
 the attendance of Londoners at the South Kensington Museum, 
 the National Gallery, and British Museum ! The total number 
 who have visited your Museum since it was first opened in May to 
 the 31st December is 78,382 — by payment of a penny, 57,000 
 odd; by payment of 3^/., 9,000; and by payment of 6^., 4,700 ; 
 and it should be noted that the penny realized double what the 
 2,d. and the (>d. did. In my opinion, it is far better to have the 
 payment of \d. than to have a free entrance. The Museum is 
 much more valued by reason of a small payment, which turns 
 
 tary effort. 
 
SPEECH AT NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART. 343 
 
 away nobody able to appreciate it. The pence furnish a perfect depart- 
 test of appreciation. I must say a word on private loans of science" 
 objects. It is an unexceptionable method which enables the rich '^''° *''^- 
 to help the poor. There is no demoralization as in many forms 1860^1873. 
 of charity. You teach respect for property by such loans. They fS^ctions. 
 act as a spark to light up latent genius. They even instruct the 
 purchasers of works of art, and excite emulation among them. 
 What an example in this matter has been set by the Queen, the 
 Prince Consort, and followed universally — Sir Richard Wallace Private loans 
 becoming a marked benefactor! Through his aid, Bethnal '° "s^""^- 
 Green Museum has become a splendid Museum of Science and 
 Art, containing objects valued at ;^2, 000,000 sterling. When the 
 idea of establishing it was made known, it was stated that the 
 valuables would be greatly damaged by the rough people who in- 
 habit that part of the metropolis. I was cautioned not to put up ■ 
 a majolica fountain out of doors. The greatest local authority 
 cautioned me, but I trusted the poor people, and I am glad to say 
 that there has not been any damage done ; on the contrary, that the 
 people have shown great appreciation of the institution, and respect 
 for it. 
 
 I think I have made out a case which may commend itself to 
 your judgment. Your Museum has been a great and pronounced 
 success in all respects — except its size. It is quite clear that the 
 present room is too small. It is quite insufficient : in fact it ought 
 to be twice the size, properly to accommodate the objects displayed 
 on its walls. Moreover, the ladies are dissatisfied because they 
 cannot have the room to dance in, and the magistrates are, you 
 must bear in mind, deprived of their rights in respect of the old 
 police court. But you do not wish to get rid of this Museum. I 
 am sure you are prepared to maintain it. I think the time has 
 now come when you should show your appreciation of the institu- 
 tion, by taking up the matter and enlarging the scope of the Museum 
 Museum. You must keep in view the idea of Science and Art. iSged^o 
 Y'ou must add Science to Art in your permanent Museum. Now srienl:! 
 in Nottingham, you are going to take up the question of Public 
 Health, and I would ask you what is more necessary in finding out 
 the causes of disease than Science? I find also that the inhabi- 
 tants of the town are going to get rid of the filth of the town and 
 neighbourhood, by means of better sewerage. The Egyptians had 
 
344 SPEECH AT NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D, 
 
 1860-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Music. 
 
 The Castle 
 Site for the 
 Museum. 
 
 as one of their thirty-six commandments, " Thou shalt not pollute 
 the rivers." I think this will soon be an eleventh Commandment 
 which England must adopt before long. This being the case, it 
 is your duty to get the best Science you can in order to get the 
 best results. Although in the town you are well supplied with 
 water, you have to pay dearly for gas. If you were sufficiently 
 well acquainted with the laws of Science you would be spared an 
 expense of six or seven thousand a year. The oflScer of health, 
 whom it, is proposed to appoint, ought to be attached to a School 
 of Science. I desire to impress upon you the desirability of 
 including the cultivation of Music in such an establishment. 
 There has lately been a little chaffing going on in high quarters 
 about fiddles, and a discussion if they were as scientific as Steam 
 Engines. In my opinion. Music unites in the highest degree both 
 Science and Art. 
 
 I have taken trouble to look about for what would be a good 
 site for your permanent Museum, and the conviction in my mind 
 is that you have a site already prepared — one where the Museum 
 would act as a beacon to all the Midland counties— and that site 
 is the Castle. If you do what you can with the Castle, it will be 
 one of the very finest things in all England. I am told the 
 Trustees of the Castle were quite willing to help you, and I have 
 already seen a plan and design by Mr. Hine, that has been made 
 for building up the Castle again, and preserving the old building, 
 which is attributed to that distinguished architect Inigo Jones. 
 Mr. Hine is an architect to whom Nottingham owes much of its 
 originality and beauty. Is Nottingham ready to assist in an 
 operation of this kind ? I have strong faith that it will. There 
 will be some difficulties in the way ; there is nothing in the world 
 without difficulty. In the Bible there is a maxim which I recom- 
 mend your Municipality to take to heart, "There is that scattereth, 
 and yet increaseth ; and there is that withholdeth more than is 
 meet, but it tendeth to poverty." You have got a number of good 
 things, but if your most excellent Municipality had not scattered 
 wisely in the Free Library, the pleasure grounds, in getting water, 
 &c,, the poverty of the Town would have been much greater than 
 it is now. 
 
 We are now living in a period of the world of great transition. 
 As far as I know history, we are living in a period of the world 
 
SPEECH AT NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART. 345 
 
 very much unlike any other period. Everything is known and Depaet- 
 discussed, and everybody may start on his own pulpit and s^ence" 
 preach what he likes. Churches and chapels are rising, and you ■*^''° ^'^' 
 know that iseo-'isVs- 
 
 " Wherever God erects a house of prayer, Sekctions. 
 
 The devil's sure to build a chapel there ; 
 And 'twill be found upon examination, 
 The devil has the larger congregation. " 
 
 I am afraid there are more devil's chapels than God's chapels. 
 One way, I believe, in meeting the devil in this encounter is by 
 a Museum of Science and Art, and I shall be much surprised if Museums 
 the clergy do not think so. I am looking forward to the time churches. 
 when, as well as having a Hospital Sunday in Nottingham, you 
 will have a Museum Sunday. This will be defeating Satan by an 
 indirect process. Religion will co-operate again with Fine Art I 
 am sure. 
 
 In another generation, every one will be able to read, and I hope 
 read his Bible, until Heaven sends another revelation. I trust too 
 that every one will practise Music and be able to sing praises to 
 the Lord of Heaven. 
 
 Your Robin Hood Rifleman affords evidence that instead of 
 hired mercenaries for a national army, every man will be as good 
 as his forefather in the days of the greatest of the English 
 kings — King Alfred — and out of patriotism give his personal ser- 
 vices to defend his country from invasion. Nay, I even believe 
 that the science of political economy will discover the means how 
 to give the agricultural labourer as good a house over his head, as 
 comfortable a bed to lie upon, plenty of as good food to eat, and 
 such proper covering for his body, as a cart-horse worth fifty 
 pounds now gets. 
 
 I don't believe such conservative progress is visionary, and with 
 it Schools of Science and Art will multiply. Every centre of 10,000 
 people will have its Museum, as England had its Churches far and 
 wide in the 13th century. The churches in the 13th century were 
 the receptacles of all kinds of art work. Every church had its 
 paintings, sculpture, metal decoration, architecture, music, and was 
 in fact a Museum. 
 
 The taste of England will revive, although with different Revival of 
 manifestations. It will not be the revival of fine art producing i^d. '° ^^^' 
 
346 SPEECH AT NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Modem 
 English 
 taste. 
 
 Political 
 Chiefs of 
 Department 
 of Science 
 and Art 
 during 
 twenty 
 years. 
 
 solitary works' like a Gloucester Candlestick, or St. Patrick's 
 Bell, or a Lynn Cup, but repetitions of hundreds of thousands 
 of copies of works of Art-Manufacture, to be used by all classes 
 of the people. I must intrude the remark that I do not think 
 it right to decry the present English modern taste. It is as 
 good as modern taste is anywhere in Europe; better, I think, than 
 is now existing in France, or Germany, or Italy. Modem English 
 taste is less epicurean and sensual, than modern French taste, 
 less frigid than modern German, and more masculine than Italian 
 taste. 
 
 As Nottingham is the first town which I may congratulate 
 on establishing a permanent Museum of Science and Art; as 
 it is the first place in which I have had the honour of preach- 
 ing faith in the establishment of permanent museums of 
 Science and Art, so it shall be the place where I will make 
 my last dying speech and confession as an officer of the public. 
 This is the last occasion on which I shall address a public meet- 
 ing in an ofiScial capacity, and trouble you with a few personal 
 observations. 
 
 Next April, I shall have completed my fifty years of public ser- 
 vice, from which it is my intention to retire. More than twenty 
 years ago. Lord Granville, then Vice-President of the Board of 
 Trade, asked me to undertake the superintendence of the Schools 
 of Design. During that period, I have served under statesmen of 
 all politics; — Mr. Labouchere, afterwards Lord Taunton; Mr. 
 Henley, who was the first to insist that the artisans of this country 
 should have means of learning geometrical drawing ; Mr. Card- 
 well, who enlarged the Department of Art into Science and Art ; 
 Lord Stanley of Alderley, who transferred the Museum from Marl- 
 borough House to the South Kensington Museum, then already 
 founded by the Prince Consort ; the late Marquess of Salisbury, 
 who instituted the present successful system of Science instruc- 
 tion ; Earl Granville, who first began the permanent buildings for 
 the South Kensington Museum, and started the idea of the 
 Bethnal Green Museum, which his successor the Duke of Bucking- 
 ham carried into practical effect, the Duke also causing the new 
 Science Schools to be built ; and the Duke of Marlborough, who 
 induced Mr. Disraeli's government to make the most liberal and 
 profitable investments of public money, in purchasing works of art. 
 
SPEECH AT NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART. 347 
 
 It is a comfort to me, in my retirement, that I. leave the work I Depakt- 
 
 have so dearly loved, going on under the Parliamentary protection science 
 
 of the Marquess of Ripon and Mr. Forster, who, I hope, will allow *''°.i,. 
 
 me to say, are hearty promoters of Education, Science, and Art '86P-1873. 
 
 among the people. Selections. 
 
 Since the year 1852, I have witnessed the conversion of twenty 
 limp Schools of Design into one hundred and twenty flourishing 
 Schools of Art in all parts of the United Kingdom, and other 
 schools like them, in the Colonies and the United States. Five 
 hundred night classes for drawing have been established for 
 artisans. One hundred and eighty thousand boys and girls are 
 now learning elementary drawing. Twelve hundred and fifty Deveiop- 
 Schools and Classes for Science instruction have spontaneously Slpart- ■ 
 sprung up. The South Kensington Museum has been securely ""^''^ '"°'^ 
 founded as a National Centre for consulting the best works of 
 Science and Art, as a Storehouse for circulating objects of Science 
 and Art throughout the Kingdom. Whilst this Museum itself has 
 been visited by more than twelve millions of visitors, it has circu- 
 lated objects to one hundred and ninety-five localities holding 
 exhibitions, to which more than four millions of local visitors have 
 contributed above ninety-three thousand pounds. 
 
 I hope still to be able to prosecute my work as a volunteer, and 
 assist the establishment of Local Museums, which may draw their Local Mu- 
 supply from South Kensington. seums. 
 
 I hope also to do my part in establishing firmly Annual Inter- Annual in- 
 
 ,_-,,.... -._- ... ,. temational 
 
 national Exhibitions of Industry, as a permanent institution, relying Exhibitions, 
 not on State aid, but on the voluntary support of an educated 
 people, and showing a yearly competitive examination of the 
 practical fruits of the working of the National Schools of Science 
 and Art. 
 
 As last words, I venture to say to Nottingham, "Show the 
 world, in the International Exhibition of 1874, what the School of 
 Art has enabled your industry to accomplish in Lace. Let 
 Nottingham enlarge on its Castle walls, its present admirable 
 Museum of Science and Art, not forgetting a School of Music, 
 which is both Science and Art." Any services I can render to the 
 work will be freely given, and I think I may promise, when I drop 
 my official chains, I will do my best to help Governments and 
 Parliaments to appreciate the desires of the country to have Local 
 
348 SPEECH AT NOTTINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Museums, and especially to ^o justice to Nottingham, in return 
 for the bright example it has set to all other towns, in founding by 
 the aid of its Municipality, by the voluntary payments of its in- 
 habitants and the encouragement of the State — the aid of all being 
 essential — the first permanent Municipal Museum of Art, Science, 
 and local Industry. 
 
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN FOWKE, R.E. 349 
 
 BRIEF NOTES ON THE CAREER OF THE LATE 
 CAPTAIN FRANCIS FOWKE, R.E. 
 
 By HENRY COLE, C.B. 
 
 THE Corps Papers of the most scientific branch of the depart- 
 British Army are so suitable a place to preserve some notice scienceT 
 of the career of one of the most scientific members of that corps, ■*"" ^^'^' 
 that I have cheerfully acceded to the request made to me to note 1860-1873. 
 down some of the facts of the life of Captain Francis Fowke, R.E., Selections. 
 with whom I had been almost in daily intercourse since the £^p^'"„ ,, 
 
 •' Fowke, R.E. 
 
 year 1854. 
 
 He was descended from an old Leicestershire family ; born in 
 Belfast in July, 1823; and was chiefly educated at Dungannon 
 College. I am informed that at a very early age he showed much Early years 
 ingenious ability, which often took a humorous and mischievous ° '^ '' °' 
 turn, and that when 13 or 14 years old, he made a small working 
 steam-engine. The bent of the boy's talent induced a desire that 
 he should enter the Royal Engineers, and for two years he was 
 sent to the Rev. A. De La Mare, who prepared him for the 
 Woolwich Academy. 
 
 The records at Woolwich show that in 1839, being 16 years 
 old, he entered the Woolwich Academy; that in 1840 he passed Success at 
 his probationary examination; in 1841, his theoretical examina- °°^' 
 tion : in 1842, his practical examination, and came out sixth in 
 a batch of 16 successful candidates. 
 
 Only four Engineer Commissions were given, and he was very 
 nearly obtaining his commission in the Artillery, but his ability in 
 drawing was so pre-eminent over that of his fellow Cadets, a fact 
 worth recollection by all those who desire to be Engineers, that 
 he was chosen out of his turn for the Engineers and obtained the 
 third Commission. 
 
 He was only just of age when he fulfilled that destiny which 
 
3SO MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN FOWKE, R.E. 
 
 Depart- Seems SO Common to young Engineer officers, and took to himself 
 Scienck" a wife. He married Miss Rede, and soon after this event was 
 AND RT. ^^^^ ^ Bermuda, where he seems to have excited attention by 
 1860-1873. numerous clever devices for the rigging of a canvas yacht, and 
 Selections, tradition says that he spent most of his time on the water. The 
 late Sir William Reid was the Governor at Bermuda, and it is 
 remarkable that both these officers afterwards took such promi- 
 nent positions in connection with International Exhibitions. 
 On his return to England, he designed and made the working 
 Devonport drawings for the Raglan Barracks at Devonport, for which he ob- 
 ^"^"^ ■ tained much credit. In this work he introduced, not without 
 opposition, many useful novelties conducive to the health and 
 comfort of soldiers, which are now accepted as necessities in 
 Barrack accommodation. 
 
 In 1852, he invented a drawbridge, and in the year 1854 
 received his Captain's commission. About this time, before Whit- 
 Experiments worth and Armstrong had appeared as inventors in the manu- 
 Ses"''"^ facture of guns, he was scheming all kinds of ways of using elon- 
 gated shot for rifled ordnance, but could never induce the military 
 authorities to give his suggestions a trial. Little better luck seems 
 Pontoons, to have attended his ingenious collapsing pontoons. What were 
 the features of this invention, and what were its novelties, the 
 Papers of the Corps of Royal Engineers, New Series, Vol. VII. 
 p. 81, 1858, and the "Transactions of the United Service Institu- 
 tion" (see Journal, Vol. IV, i860) show. The military judges 
 appointed to consider them, were difficult to convince. No results 
 at present have followed in this country from his labours, but I am 
 informed that collapsing canvass pontoons were successfully used 
 in the American Civil War. One of these pontoons was exhibited at 
 the Paris Exhibition in 1855, and at a later period, he made several 
 improvements in them. He also perfected a light and portable 
 one for Infantry, which could be transported by two men. The 
 trial of these pontoons, on which his own corps has hitherto been 
 unable to take decisive action, has been left in the hands of the 
 First Middlesex Volunteer Engineers, who, at their own cost, 
 have made many experiments. 
 
 When he was about to leave Devonport, in 1854, Captain, now 
 
 Colonel Owen, R.E., then Secretary for the Paris Exhibition, 
 
 ■ accidentally met him in London, and justly appreciating his 
 
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN FOWKE, R.E. 351 
 
 inventive ability, invited him to assist in superintending the depart- 
 Machinery Department of the Paris Exhibition, and Capt. Fowke sSencT^ 
 was appointed to undertake the duty. Upon Colonel Owen leav- '^"".^"^ 
 ing for the Crimea, he succeeded him as Secretary to the British '860-1873. 
 Commission, and resided in Paris during the year of the Exhi- Selections. 
 bition. He conducted numerous valuable experiments on the p^risExhi- 
 strength of colonial woods. The results were published in the ^j"°°°^ 
 Parliamentary reports on the Paris Exhibition of 1855, and subse- 
 quently reprinted as a pamphlet on " Civil Construction." At the 
 same time, he drew up a report on the objects exhibited under the 
 head of " Naval Construction." For his services to the Paris 
 Exhibition, he was made a Chevalier of the L'egion d'Honneur; but 
 as the decoration was given for civil and not for military services, 
 he was unable to wear it in this country. In Vol. V., 1856, of the 
 Corps Papers, is his project for Batteries, &c., for the defence of Batteries, 
 coasts. 
 
 He was appointed at the conclusion of the Paris work in 1857, 
 to the staff of the Science and Art Department as an Inspector ; Appoint- 
 and upon the transfer of the Department from Marlborough House soith Ken- 
 to South Kensington, he was charged with the superintendence of ^"'ston. 
 the buildings there, which at that time, consisted of the iron shed 
 called " the Boilers," built by Sir William Cubitt, and a nest of old 
 houses which had been inhabited, when Brompton was a suburb, 
 by Mr. Greenwood of Messrs. Cox and Greenwood's, by Sir Cress- 
 well Cresswell, and Madame Celeste. The Duke of York was 
 accustomed to retire to Mr. Cox's house for change of air. It was 
 Captain Fowke's duty to bring the iron shed, the old dry-rotted 
 houses, and a series of wooden schools into a working unity, which 
 he did with skill and economy. In the midst of this work he was 
 called upon to build a picture gallery to receive Mr. Sheepshank's 
 gift of pictures, and he did so in concert with Mr. Redgrave, R.A., 
 who had discovered the right formula for a top-light gallery. The 
 building proved very successful, and, before it was finished, other 
 galleries were required to receive the Vernon and Turner pictures, 
 and he built these at a cost not reaching /^. a cubic foot. 
 
 Constitutionally, nature had given Captain Fowke a sluggish 
 and indolent temperament, but he was roused to prompt action 
 occasionally. A signal example of this occurred with these pic- 
 ture galleries. If they were to be built at all, they were to be done 
 
352 
 
 MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN FOWKE, R.E. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Appointed 
 on Interna- 
 tional Tech- 
 nical Com- 
 mission for 
 Navigation 
 of Danube, 
 
 Edinburgh 
 Museum of 
 Science and 
 Art. 
 
 A cheap 
 drill-shed. 
 
 Defence of 
 London. 
 
 National 
 Gallery diffi- 
 culty solved. 
 
 in the shortest possible space of time, Capt. Fowke was on a visit 
 to the Marquis of Salisbury, at Hatfield, when the Treasury 
 decision was made. One evening, Lord Salisbury told Captain 
 Fowke that the work was to proceed, and briskly. The next 
 morning, at breakfast, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, also on a 
 visit at Hatfield, asked Captain Fowke when the works would 
 begin. " They are begun already." " How so ? you only knew 
 last night at twelve." Captain Fowke replied, " I was at the tele- 
 graph office, at Hatfield, as soon as it was open ; I ordered the 
 works to begin, and I have received an answer that ' the founda- 
 tions are being dug.' " " I call that work ! " said Mr. Disraeli. 
 
 In 1858, he was named, at Sir John Burgoyne's advice, a Com- 
 missioner of the International Technical Commission for render- 
 ing the St. George's branch of the Danube navigable, and his 
 scheme was unanimously adopted ; but, from various causes, diplo- 
 matic and otherwise, his plan has only been partially carried into 
 effect. His report to Lord Cowley was privately printed. About 
 this time, he was called upon to design the interior of the Dublin 
 National Gallery, the elevation having been already settled. It is 
 a successful gallery both for day and night use. He also designed 
 the Museum of Science and Art, at Edinburgh, which was opened 
 lately by the Duke of Edinburgh. 
 
 It was at his suggestion that the first Corps of Volunteer Engineers 
 (the I St Middlesex) was formed. He planned the erection of their 
 drill-shed, covering 100 feet by 40 feet, which Sir Joseph Paxton 
 commended to me as the cheapest structure he had ever seen. 
 The cost of this was only ;^ioo to the Corps, some of whom gave 
 their labour, and the principle of its construction has been adopted 
 at the entrance of the Royal Horticultural Society's Offices and 
 the conservatory entrances, and frequently for drill-sheds through- 
 out the country. 
 
 In the " Cornhill Magazine " (No. 6, June, i860. Vol. I.), he pub- 
 lished a paper entitled " London the Stronghold of England," 
 being a plan for the defence of London in case of invasion, which 
 attracted much notice; and in the same periodical (No. 3, March, 
 i860, Vol. I.) he offered suggestions for the enlargement of the 
 National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, under the title of the 
 " National Gallery Difficulty solved," 
 
 He prepared the general plan for the Horticultural Gardens, 
 
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN FOWKE, R.E. 353 
 
 which Mr. Nesfield afterwards modified in the gardening details. Depart- 
 The conservatory and south arcade were built wholly after Captain Science" 
 Fowke's design. Mr. S. Smirke, R.A., was the architect of the """.b"' 
 north and centre arcades. The conservatory is one of Captain ^^^"-'S^s- 
 Fowke's most successful works. He introduced here the principle Selections. 
 of gas lighting which he had applied to the picture galleries, and 
 the conservatory can be brilliantly lighted with perfect ventilation, 
 and without damage to the plants. 
 
 At the request of the Prince Consort, he designed the Library Library at 
 at Aldershot, which His Royal Highness built at his own cost. ■^'^"=''°'- 
 The Prince sent him a box of instruments inscribed as follows, 
 " Captain Francis Fowke, Royal Engineers, as a token of regard 
 from Albert: 1859." 
 
 Captain Fowke, having laid out the ground at Kensington Design for 
 belonging to the Commissioners of 185 1, was called upon to show xntema?^ *"' 
 how a building suitable for International Exhibitions might be bitfon^sfa 
 erected on part of it. He therefore planned the series of build- 
 ings used for the Exhibition of 1862. His business was to cover 
 twenty-two acres of ground, having command of only very limited 
 funds. The main feature of his plan was a noble hall, 600 feet 
 long, 300 feet wide, and 200 feet high ; but want of funds com- 
 pelled the abandonment of this, and he hastily substituted instead 
 the glass domes, which proved unsuccessful. But in respect of the 
 picture galleries and the general exhibiting space, the buildings were 
 by far the most convenient that had ever been used for exhibitions. 
 The exact proportions of the picture galleries and system of light- 
 ing have been adopted for the Paris Exhibition of 1867. There 
 was no money to pay for the decoration of the outside of them, 
 and public opinion refused to believe it could be decorated. 
 Captain Fowke was very patient under much unjust treatment, 
 but he apathetically refused to take any measure to rectify public Design for 
 opinion until it was too late. Two years afterwards, justice was J^^"Mi^'^ 
 done to his talent. In an open competition of designs for build- louTh^Ken- 
 ings to be erected on the site of the 1862 Exhibition, his plans ™e'°"- 
 obtained the first premium, the judges being Lord Elcho, M.P., 
 Mr. Tite, M.P., Mr. Fergusson (all of whom had taken an active 
 part in pulling down the Exhibition buildings), Mr. Pennethorne, 
 and Mr. D. Roberts, R.A., and they unanimously gave Captain 
 Fowke the first prize. It was with difficulty he was spurred on in 
 
 II. A A 
 
354 MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN FOWKE, R.E. 
 
 Depart- this case to Compete, and he had not made up his mind to do 
 
 MENT OF 
 
 Science SO Until withiu scveu weeks of sending in the drawings. 
 
 Amongst several other of his inventions may be named a very 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. portable military fire-engine, which has been adopted in the army ; 
 Selections, a collapsing camera ; an improved umbrella for which he took out 
 invmSons^ ^ patent — but the difficulties of manufacture prevented its adoption 
 (the principle of it was to bring the ribs within the stick or rod, 
 so as to reduce the circumference to the size of a smaU walking- 
 stick) ; a portable bath to pack up like a book ; also a lighting 
 machine which is used throughout the Kensington Museum, and 
 by means of which hundreds of gas burners are lighted in a few 
 seconds. 
 
 At the desire of the Marquis of Salisbury, whilst he was Lord 
 
 President of the Council in 1858-59, Captain Fowke devised plans 
 
 Plan for for permanent buildings to be used at the South Kensington 
 
 buildings for Museum j and in i860, he was called upon, whilst Mr. Lewis's 
 
 sington Mu- Committee in the House of Commons on the South Kensington 
 
 ^^""^ Museum was sitting, to put these plans into a more definite shape. 
 
 He did so, and both plans and elevations may be found in the 
 
 report of that committee, ordered to be printed August ist, i860. 
 
 He proceeded to build, in accordance with these plans, two 
 
 large glazed courts. For the larger of the two, the interference of 
 
 columns with the objects exhibited, as in the court of the new 
 
 Natural History Museum of Oxford, suggested the glazing over of 
 
 the whole quadrangle, of about 100 feet span, without a single 
 
 support. 
 
 It was not until the year 1861, that Captain Fowke commenced 
 
 any decorative exterior for the Museum. With the aid of Mr. 
 
 Mr. Godfrey Godfrey Sykes, the official residences were then commenced, and 
 
 Sykes. ^^ g^^jg ^^^ introduced with greater boldness in the lecture 
 
 theatre adjoining. 
 
 This noble and certainly original work was in course of con- 
 struction, when Captain Fowke died in December, 1865, and 
 he did not live to see erected the highly decorated terra-cotta 
 columns which Mr. Sykes had designed as their principal feature ; 
 nor did Mr. Sykes himself, for he too died, while the capitals 
 were being placed on them. The plans and elevation which 
 Captain Fowke left, will be found in the reports of the Science and 
 Art Department. 
 
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN FOWKE, R.E. 355 
 
 There was much affection between these two eminent men, and depart- 
 when Captain Fowke was arranging the Guards' ball in the Picture Science 
 Galleries of the Exhibition of 1862, and Mr. Sykes was too feeble °d. 
 to mount the steps, Captain Fowke carried him up in his arms. 1860-1873. 
 
 Captain Fowke, in the spring of 1865, had been working un- Selections, 
 usually hard at the drawing for the completion of the South Ken- 
 sington Museum, and, feeling much fatigued, in the month of 
 August he went to Switzerland, hoping to recover his health ; but 
 he came back much worse, with many alarming symptoms. These 
 had been subdued, and he went to Eastbourne, where he remained 
 till December. Two days after his return to his residence at the 
 Museum, on the 4th December, 1865, whilst sitting in his chair, a Captain 
 blood-vessel broke. He exclaimed — "This is the end," and spoke dtliK^ 
 no more. He was buried at the Brompton Cemetery, being followed 
 to his grave by numerous brother officers, friends, and assistants. 
 He was greatly beloved, and is not known to have made a single 
 enemy. The Science and Art Department have commissioned 
 Mr. Woolner to make a bust of him to be placed in the South 
 Kensington Museum. 
 
 Captain Donnelly, R.E., who had worked with him at Ken- 
 sington for years, and made several good photographic likenesses 
 of him, has justly remarked in the " Naval and Military Gazette," captain 
 that Captain Fowke's " mind, though essentially practical, was capt'^n'' °" 
 wonderfully pliant and original, and combined with a quick imagi- cimactlr. 
 nation, which gave him a power of viewing, whether common 
 things or intricate problems, from all points and in new lights, and 
 by, so to say, analysing them, grasping their essential requisites." 
 
 I see no reason to modify the opinion of my friend and colleague, 
 which I expressed at a meeting of the Society of Arts, and with it 
 I conclude these brief notes : — 
 
 " I firmly believe that the arts of construction in this country 
 have sustained a great loss by Captain Fowke's death. At this 
 period, when art is so transitional, and science is making so many 
 discoveries, and men's minds are seething with inventions ; when 
 the use of new materials is being constantly manifested, and the 
 new adaptation of old materials is constantly entered upon, Eng- 
 land has lost a man who felt the spirit of his age, and was daring 
 enough to venture beyond the beaten path of conventionalism. 
 Captain Fowke, to my mind, was solving the problem of the deco- 
 
3S6 
 
 MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN FOWKE, R.E. 
 
 Depart- 
 ment OF 
 Science 
 AND Art. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1860-1873. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 rative use of iron, and, by appreciating the spirit both of the 
 Gothic and Renaissance architects, was on the threshold of intro- 
 ducing a novel style of architecture, when, alas ! death, at the early 
 age of forty-two years, has cut short his promising career." 
 
 Hknry Cole. 
 South Kensington Museum, 
 June 21, 1866. 
 
NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION: 
 ANTIDOTES TO VICE. 
 
 An Address, delivered in the Liverpool Institute, 8th December, 
 187s, BY Sir Henry Cole, K.C.B. 
 
 HE Directors of this Institution have put into my Addresses 
 
 -r AT IDlSTRT- 
 
 hands a pnnted pamphlet suggesting the duties which 
 
 I have to perform this evening. I find an appro- 
 priate text at the beginning of this little pamphlet. 
 Sir Thomas Wyse, in 1837, said, if not in this very room, yet 
 in the presence of some of the gentlemen whose heads are now 
 as white as my own : — " The time is fast approaching when 
 your institution will be an example, not scoffed at, not doubted, 
 not dreaded, but imitated; when, no longer single, you will be 
 enabled, looking around from this spot, to count your progeny 
 rising up in every direction, like that of the celebrated Asiatic 
 tree, whose seed, wherever they fall, spring up in forests each 
 nobler and more fruitful than its parent." Sir Thomas Wyse 
 was a prophet, and his prophecy has been amply fulfilled. But 
 Sir Thomas did not contemplate that those things which some- 
 body has called " godless " things, should be in intimate alliance 
 with the old and venerated Universities of Oxford and of Cam- 
 bridge ; that they should be in alliance with the Society of Arts, 
 and, finally, that they should ally themselves with Government 
 and receive prizes from the Science and Art Department. 
 
 The prizes of this evening refer to general education and to Art. 
 They refer also to chemistry, physical geography, mechanics, and 
 natural history ; but there appear to me to be some omissions. I 
 
 butions of 
 Prizes. 
 A.D. 1875. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
358 
 
 NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 
 
 Addresses 
 AT Distri- 
 butions OF 
 Prizes, 
 A.D. 1875. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Importance 
 of Music. 
 
 National 
 Training 
 School for 
 Music. 
 
 am supposed to have the art of saying disagreeable things, and 
 not always preaching smooth things, and I hope the directors will 
 excuse me if I point out one or two things in which I think the 
 institution is deficient. You cannot go into any school in Ger- 
 many, or into any institute resembling this, without finding that 
 one of the things taught, and taught most efficiently, is Music. 
 The same thing happens in Switzerland and in Holland; it happens 
 somewhat less in France ; it happens more or less in Italy ; but, 
 undoubtedly, you will find throughout the length and breadth of 
 Europe that Music forms part of education. Three hundred years 
 since, when Liverpool existed in some kind of shape, every gentle- 
 man was supposed to know Music, and I have no doubt that then 
 the singing in the churches — there were few, if any, dissenting 
 chapels — was much more effective than it is now: undoubtedly 
 England was once called a musical nation, and at that time people 
 had their glees and madrigals, which contributed to the happiness 
 of men and women. I would therefore ask the directors why 
 Music is not taught in this institution ? Somebody has said there 
 is no time. There is more than enough time, and the fact is that 
 if you did not go on grinding away at all sorts of things which men 
 and women little understand or care for, you would have plenty of 
 time for Music. If the directors would take up Music as a science 
 and art, they would greatly increase the numbers attending the 
 school. There are some special local reasons why they should do 
 this. There is a movement started in Liverpool for finding out 
 Liverpool lads and lasses to whom Heaven has given the genius 
 of Music, and for having them properly trained at the National 
 Training School for Music. England is perhaps the only civilized 
 country in Europe at present, which has not a system for finding out 
 its musical genius; No doubt you will find a great deal of that 
 genius in Liverpool, and I have expectations that before I leave 
 the town, it will be announced that some patriotic gentlemen have 
 determined that, at least, six free scholarships shall be founded for 
 obtaining the best musical talent. I shall be greatly surprised if 
 the number does not increase. Surely the Institute will establish 
 one scholarship for youths and another for girls. If people do not 
 now understand the virtue of getting a living by the musical abilities 
 which God has given them, they will find it out sooner or later. 
 During the last session. Parliament — and Lord Sandon had a 
 
NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 359 
 
 great deal to do with the business — determined that every child in addresses 
 the public elementary schools who was taught singing could earn butions of 
 a shilling. What does that mean ? Why, it means that if two a.d! Xs- 
 millions of children are all taught singing, they will draw a sum of ^a" i.'- 
 _;^ioo,ooo from public taxation to promote Music. Are you going 
 to be laggard on this question, which the Government is trying to 
 get every child to take up ? 
 
 Then again, in almost every place in Germany you find that the 
 boys and girls are taught drill and gymnastics. If you want to importance 
 make your young men strong and patriotic, so that they can fight ° 
 as patriots, and say to the whole world, " Don't come troubling us, 
 or we will give you a warm reception if you do,'' you ought to take 
 up systematic drilling. They are all cultivated gentlemen at this 
 institution ; but remember, this drilling is being established also 
 among two millions of the poorer classes who are sent to public 
 elementary schools. Surely you are not going to be behindhand 
 in the matter ! 
 
 The Institute is already in alliance with the Society of Arts, and Society of 
 that Society gives prizes. It has recently re-arranged its curricu- 
 lum of subjects for which it gives prizes, and has introduced the 
 subject of Health, the subject of Cookery, and other branches of Health, 
 Domestic Economy. Now, I am told that some ladies are coming DomSSc 
 up to receive prizes in Drawing ; perhaps there may be one or two ^<='"'o™y- 
 who are coming up to receive prizes in general education ; but I 
 fear none of them will come up for prizes in Science, and therefore 
 I venture to suggest to the directors that they should pay attention 
 to this new programme of the Society of Arts, which is pre- 
 eminently intended for the benefit of women, by fostering a know- 
 ledge of Clothing and its materials. Cookery, Health, House- 
 keeping, and thrift and care. These subjects are also matters of 
 elementary education; and in any school where a child has passed 
 what is called the Fourth Standard — if it can be certified as 
 knowing about clothing, the making-up of dresses, shirts, and 
 things of the kind, together with cookery — that school gets four 
 shillings a year for that child out of the pockets of the taxpayers. 
 These are subjects peculiarly suited to the Blackburne House 
 School for girls. 
 
 Well, I beheve I have now got to the end of my fault-finding, 
 and I am going into some other points for your consideration. No 
 
36o NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 
 
 Addresses doubt all the classical young gentlemen taught in this institution 
 
 BUTioNs'oF have heard of "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." 
 
 A.D.^^7S. Possibly they may know or have had their attention directed to 
 
 Part II. the fact that other nations besides Rome have declined and 
 
 Selections. _ „ _ i ^ 
 
 fallen — Egypt and Greece, and perhaps there are some nations 
 declining now, say the Turks. Heaven only knows if we English 
 are ; but I do think that the points which must lead to the decline 
 of a people are those which might as well be called to the attention 
 of youth as the abstract and past theory of " The Decline and Fall 
 of the Roman Empire." I do not know whether or not any of you 
 have been asked if you think England has got to its climax, or 
 whether you can see any symptoms going on now which will lead 
 people to think that England is going to decline. I say, at once, 
 I do not believe she is at present ; but there are a number of plague 
 spots about England which, if not taken in hand in time, must 
 inevitably lead to the decline of the country. 
 Pauperismin There is Pauperism ; and in that respect, I am told, Liverpool 
 is not a bit better, but perhaps a little worse, than the average of 
 towns in the country. Then there is the great ignorance which 
 prevails ; one class knowing nothing about other classes. I ask 
 how much your wives know about their domestic servants. And 
 yet, if you do not know anything about those who live in your own 
 houses, how can you know anything of others who are not living 
 in your houses, yet moving all around you ? 
 
 There is another question which I suppose even school boys 
 may learn a little about, and that is Labour and Capital, as it is 
 called ; and, without vouching for my entire faith in the statement 
 it contains, I will read you an extract from a letter written by 
 Mr^Cariyie Thomas Carlyle. Mr. Carlyle, who was eighty years of age last 
 and Labour. Saturday, wrote : — "The look of England is to me at this moment 
 abundantly ominous ; the question of Capital and Labour growing 
 ever more anarchic — ^insoluble altogether by the notions hitherto 
 applied to it ; pretty certain to issue in petroleum one day, unless 
 some other gospel than that of the 'dismal science' come to 
 illuminate it. Two things are pretty sure to me : the first is, that 
 ' Capital and Labour ' never can or will agree together till they 
 both first of all decide on doing their work faithfully throughout, 
 and like men of conscience and honour, whose highest aim is to 
 behave like faithful citizens of this universe and obey the Eternal 
 
NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 361 
 Commandment of Almighty God who made them. The second Addresses 
 
 AT DiSTRI" 
 
 thing is, that a sadder object than even that of the 'coal strike,' or butions of 
 any conceivable strike, is the fact that, loosely speaking, we may ^^ ,8^j_ 
 say all England has decided that the profitablest way is to do its |y' "' 
 work ill, slimly, swiftly, and mendaciously. What a contrast 
 between now, and say only a hundred years ago ! At that latter 
 date, or, still more conspicuously, for ages before that, all England 
 awoke to its work with an invocation to the Eternal Maker to bless ' 
 
 them in their day's labour and help them to do it well ; now, all 
 England, shopkeepers, workmen, all manner of competing labourers 
 awaken as if with an unspoken, but heartfelt prayer to Beelzebub, 
 ' Oh, help us, thou great lord of shoddy, adulteration, and mal- 
 feasance to do our work with the maximum of slimness, swiftness, 
 profit, and mendacity — for the Devil's sake, amen ! ' " Now, it is 
 for you to reflect if there is any truth in that. It is a fine utterance 
 in its way, and, perhaps, you will excuse me for introducing it. 
 
 You know the differences that exist between classes and their class dif- 
 mutual ignorance of each other ; and I am going to read another 
 passage, written some fifty years ago. They are lines which I 
 thought at the time they were written had a good deal of truth 
 in them, but which, I am happy to say, have a little less truth 
 now : — 
 
 " The poor man's sins are glaring ; 
 In the face of ghostly warning 
 
 He is caught in the fact 
 
 Of an overt act — 
 Buying greens on Sunday morning. 
 
 "The rich man's sins are hidden, 
 In the pomp of wealth and station ; 
 
 And escape the sight 
 
 Of the children of light, 
 Who are wise in their generation. 
 
 " The rich man has a kitchen. 
 And cooks to dress his dinner ; 
 
 The poor who would roast 
 
 To the baker's must post, 
 And thus becomes a sinner. 
 
 " The rich man has a cellar, 
 And a ready butler by him ; 
 
 The poor must steer 
 
 For his pint of beer 
 Where the saint can't choose but spy him. 
 
362 
 
 NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 
 
 Addresses 
 AT Distri- 
 butions OF 
 Frizes. 
 A.D. 1875. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Drunken- 
 ness. 
 
 ... " The rich man's painted windows 
 
 Hide the concerts of the quality ; 
 
 The poor can but share 
 
 A crack'd fiddle in the air, 
 Which offends all sound morality. 
 
 " The rich man is invisible 
 
 In the crowd of his gay society ; 
 
 But the poor man's delight 
 
 Is a sore in the sight, 
 And a stench in the nose of piety. 
 
 " The rich man has a carriage 
 Where no rude eye can flout him ; 
 
 The poor man's bane 
 
 Is a third-class train, 
 With the daylight all about him. 
 
 " The rich man goes out yachting, 
 Where sanctity can't pursue him ; 
 
 The poor goes afloat 
 
 In a fourpenny boat. 
 Where the bishop groans to view him. " 
 
 Well, that is a contrast of the pleasures of the rich and the poor, 
 and the lines were written by Thomas Love Peacock, a scholar, 
 novelist, poet, friend of Shelley's, and examiner in the East India 
 Company. 
 
 Now I come to another vice, which I look upon as the blackest 
 plague spot, and that is Drunkenness and its consequences. I 
 believe our legislators are beginning to feel that this is a subject 
 which must be encountered in some way or other — that they must 
 no longer say that they can find no remedy, and that England 
 must go to the Devil. Only last week, what said Mr. Cross?— "Any- 
 one who has looked at the condition of some of our great provin- 
 cial towns, will feel that the question of raising the character of our 
 people requires the most serious attention. I beheve that what 
 has really happened is that, in the north of England especially, a 
 rapid increase of wages has taken place without any corresponding 
 improvement in the education of the people, who, I believe, spend 
 their wages in the public-houses ; but I am sure that this state of 
 things cannot be cured by legislation. I think the only way in 
 which improvement can be effected, is to provide the people with 
 better dwellings and better education." I quite agree that better 
 dwellings and better education are necessary j but I am going to 
 
NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 363 
 
 present you with an example or tw^ that no kind of education can addresses 
 reach \ and what I propose for dealing with them is to go into butwnJ of 
 competition with the Gin Palaces. prizes. 
 
 "^ A.D. 1875. 
 
 Now, I ask even the young gentlemen who attend this institu- Part 11. 
 tion, What is Liverpool doing in this question of Drunkenness ? ° " "'"' 
 Like all mortal things, Liverpool has its good and bad features. It is 
 distinguished for its energy, pluck, and commercial vigour, shown 
 in its magnificent Docks and mercantile marine. In many re- 
 spects it is in advance of the chaotic Metropolis. There, in 
 municipal government, we are babies. London municipal arrange- Municipal 
 ments do not provide a noble hall like St. George's Hall, with its ^'v^^\ 
 fine music; nor baths for all classes, as Liverpool does. The ^n."^""" 
 supply of water is abundant in Liverpool, good and cheap; in 
 London it is dear, difficult to be got at, and for the most part 
 nasty. Londoners are altogether at the mercy of a set of com- 
 panies, who get their water wherever they can, filled with sewage 
 or otherwise. Liverpool has its museums, picture galleries, and 
 free libraries. Though there are three millions of people in 
 London, they will not listen to any proposal for free libraries. 
 There are only two free municipal libraries in London — one which 
 the city of London has made out of its munificent wealth, and the 
 other which was carried by a fluke, by a Lord Chancellor who 
 packed the meeting, and got the rate laid on. But whilst elements 
 of civilization are going on in Liverpool, you certainly have that 
 black plague spot of Drunkenness, perhaps more than any town in 
 the country. I have been trying to find out if I had got an 
 exaggerated notion of the drunkenness of Liverpool, but after 
 reading and hearing a great deal, I cannot find that I had ; and I 
 am told that if a gold medal were given for drunkenness, Liver- 
 pool would obtain it, though I believe Glasgow would run it very 
 hard. 
 
 Now, Drunkenness, more than any other cause, occasions mor- Mortaiii 
 tality, and great praise is due to the Corporation for trying to find 
 out the causes of the mortality. I have read a number of reports 
 of the Health Committee on the subject, and I find that in 187 1, 
 the death-rate for the previous ten years in Liverpool, was 38 per 
 thousand, whilst in Birkenhead it was only 20. I believe that 
 since that time it has declined, and that the health of the town is 
 improving. The percentage of deaths of children under five years 
 
364 
 
 NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 
 
 Addresses 
 AT Distri- 
 butions OF 
 Frizes. 
 A.D. 187s. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Oeanliness. 
 
 in Liverpool in 1871, was 62 — that is, that in a certain part of 
 Liverpool called Scotland Road, out of every hundred babies that 
 were bom, 62 died before they reached the age of five. Liverpool 
 gets rid of its children almost as quickly as the Chinese, who 
 drown them like puppies. Liverpool is reported to be declining in 
 cleanHness. A philosopher once said to another, "What is the 
 test of the civilization of the people ? " and the other philosopher, 
 after beating about for a long time, replied, " I have it — the use of 
 soap." I believe that is true. Now, what said the report of Drs. 
 Parkes and Sanderson, in 187 1, on Cleanliness? — "The people 
 are very much dirtier now than they were before.'' I was told to- 
 day, on the highest authority I could find in Liverpool, that the 
 people were getting dirtier every day, and it is evident something 
 must be done if possible to cure that. I would read some of the 
 passages in the report I have referred to if I dared ; what is said 
 seems almost incredible. One of the facts among people who 
 used to receive 22s. a-week and now receive 305-., is, that "there is 
 little or no furniture in the houses, and no change of clothes for 
 several weeks, the face and hands only being washed at a foun- 
 tain." Then there appears to be a class of people that actually 
 seem turned from human beings into no better than brutes : 
 people that spend all their money in drink, and leave their children 
 to go to the workhouse or to die — who starve their wives, beat 
 them, and after having drunk themselves into a state of insanity, 
 habitually sleep without clothes, lying on straw ! Now, if you want 
 to see sights in Liverpool that reduce men to the nature of abori- 
 gines, you will see people that are allowed to get as drunk as they 
 can, starve their wives and children, looking to others in the end 
 to find coffins for themselves and feed them in the workhouse 
 beforehand. The report goes on to say that there is more drink- 
 ing now than formerly. Drs. Parkes and Sanderson asked what 
 was to be done ; and they say truly that " if this state of things is 
 not righted, it will in some way or other right itself, perhaps at the 
 expense of the whole community." I am, however, happy to say 
 that I have heard of some efforts being made, which are likely to 
 prove successful. A number of kind people have established 
 sheds — I might call them refuges — at the docks, where people can 
 go for warmth and shelter, for a cup of coffee or tea, instead of 
 going to the public-house. 
 
NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 365 
 Now, I ask you if the Teachers in the Institute do anything in Addresses 
 
 AT ^3 IS TE I* 
 
 the way of talking about these things. Does the Institute teach butions of 
 its boys these things that are occurring in their midst, and tell ^^^^L. 
 them to think if there be any conceivable means of remedy ? I Part 11. 
 am afraid not ; it would be true education to do so. I agree with 
 Mr. Cross that law-making is not going to put Drunkenness down. 
 But it may be possible, if you give consideration to the question, 
 to find out some things that will act as antidotes to Drunkenness ; 
 though seemingly, men and things are in conspiracy to make men 
 and women drunk — the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the gentle- 
 man brewer and distiller, the justice with his license, privileges, 
 and the tradesman with his greeds and profits. 
 
 I then proceed, with all humility, to offer some few little receipts Antidotes to 
 of my own. I have little hope for the class of people, forty years n™" "' 
 of age, that lay on straw drunk. I do not know what can be done 
 with them ; but if I were potent enough, I would take from their 
 wages something for their wives and children before they had spent 
 all, though that would be interfering with the liberty of the subject. 
 Of course the rising generation going to school will gradually learn 
 to avoid being drunkards, and there is hope in that. The habit 
 of a hundred years ago, when it was polite to be found drunk 
 under the table, has been got over, and now it is a disgrace for 
 anyone calling himself a gentleman, to be drunk. Therefore the 
 evil is capable of being cured, and we may look forward to the 
 time when the class a little less than "gentlemen" will be cured of 
 the habit. 
 
 Healthy dwellings, with a good supply of air and water, under Healthy 
 municipal control, would all, of course, help to make people more <^'"="'°8=- 
 sober. If the Corporation take up, as I have no doubt they will, 
 Mr. Cross's Act, it will give better dwellings, and I am told it is 
 just possible to do so not in the neighbourhood of public-houses. 
 I am told that Lord Sefton and other noblemen put in their leases 
 that there shall be no public-houses on their property without their 
 permission ; and, unless all the Corporation are brewers — of which 
 I have no knowledge — they can follow the example. Saltaire, saitaire. 
 near Bradford, where Sir Titus Salt's extensive works are, the town 
 itself belonging to him, shows a most gratifying instance of how 
 the plan works of having no public-houses. But Sir Titus Salt is 
 a burly despot, as his very name proves, and he makes his people 
 
366 NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 
 
 Addresses healthy, happy, and godly without drink. The pith of my receipt 
 
 BUTioNs OF is to make every place more attractive than the public-house, and 
 
 A D^is s *"-' encourage the feeling of responsibility amongst all classes that 
 
 Part II. it is a disgrace to get drunk, even in a public-house. I will relate 
 
 a story to show how it is possible to make a much larger use of 
 
 churches and chapels, and to attract the people to them. On my 
 
 advice, in a London church (Holy Trinity, Brompton), there was 
 
 Musical a service held on four successive Tuesday evenings, at which the 
 
 Church . 
 
 Services. sermoH was compressed into ten mmutes, the other portions were 
 as short as the Prayer Book would allow, while the musical part 
 was so arranged that all the congregation might join in it, aided by 
 drums, trumpets, and shawms or trombones. The result was that 
 the church was crowded, and that by thousands not in the habit 
 of attending. I am a great advocate for anything that will bring 
 people together and give them innocent amusement, for when a 
 multitude is drawn together, the company exercise a restraining 
 influence, and men are less likely to appear drunk. 
 
 Working The establishment of Working Men's Clubs throughout the 
 
 Men'sClubs. , , . ^ ,. . 
 
 country, managed by a committee of working men, is a good 
 thing, and in those in which the drink is sold, the restraining 
 principle that I refer to acts beneficially. Therefore, let there be 
 as many clubs as possible. Then there are the public pleasure 
 grounds, and places where the working men may meet in the winter 
 and hear music ; nor do I object, indeed, to even dancing, for if 
 others dance in public rooms, why not the working man ? But no 
 drunkenness should be allowed ; any that get drunk, let them be 
 turned out at once " neck and crop," and put in the stocks. As 
 Opening of an iustauce, take the case of the South Kensington Museum, 
 
 Museums an, . .,., 
 
 ajitidoteto which, dunng my connection with it, has been visited by over 
 thirteen millions of people, but during that time, I have only heard 
 of one person having been turned out for drunkenness, though 
 wine, spirits, and beer are sold there. Now, here is the fact that 
 if people are got to visit these places where they get amusement, 
 and can do pretty much as they like, there is no drunkenness at 
 all. Every town should have its South Kensington Museum ; and 
 I hope that when Liverpool has got her Art Gallery, it will be 
 thrown open as soon as possible. I trust, moreover, that the 
 Museum and Gallery will be opened at night. At all events, they 
 might be opened on some evenings of the week ; and I have no 
 
 vice. 
 
NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 367 
 
 doubt that for the class above the horrid brutes who sleep without Addresses 
 clothes on the straw, the museums and libraries, and other bJtionJof 
 incidental institutions, will prove a great inducement to avoid ad^iSts 
 drunkenness. Part 11. 
 
 , SelectionSk 
 
 With respect to the libraries, let me say a word of thanks to Board 
 Lord Sandon for what he stated a few days ago — that he looked liberies. 
 forward to the time when every Board school would have its library. 
 If every Board school had a library to which people could go in the 
 evening, something would be done to prevent them going into 
 public-houses. 
 
 I now approach a subject on which bitter differences of opinion 
 prevail, but I hope I shall not give offence in stating my own 
 views — I mean the use of Sunday. I will not enter on the religious The use of 
 differences involved in Sundays and Sabbaths, or the customs "" ^^' 
 which history has made known to us. I will only attempt truth- 
 fully to relate what comes under my own personal experience, 
 especially in London and our great towns, of the ways in which my 
 countrjrmen pass Sunday — dividing them into the few rich, the 
 numerous middle-classes, and the overpowering millions of poorer 
 classes. I hate this imperfect nomenclature of classes, and use it 
 only as an expression commonly understood. A rich man with 
 _;^io,ooo a year, may be a poor man, and have no money at his 
 bankers, and a poor labouring man, with his 20s. a week, may be 
 a rich man with money in the penny savings-bank. The rich, re- 
 lieved of their weekly work, go to church (often in their carriages) 
 in the morning, and send their wives and daughters in the after- 
 noon or evening. They frequent their clubs, read the " Saturday 
 Review " or " Economist," admire and examine the pictures they 
 possess in their gilded homes. They go to the Zoological Gardens, 
 &c. The middle-classes also go to church or chapel, have a good 
 early dinner, with a cozy nap afterwards ; take a walk if it be fine, 
 and spend the rest of the day in looking at the pictures in the 
 illustrated newspapers. Both classes give their servants a holiday 
 to go to church or chapel, if they are so minded, or to walk with 
 cousins. I regret to say that all I can see and learn, proves to me 
 that the millions of the poorer classes do not go to church or 
 chapel. They spend the forenoon in their only one room if they 
 live in towns, and generally in bed. They read a penny news- 
 paper, which, as a parish missionary told me, is " church, chapel, 
 
368 NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 
 
 Addresses and Bible to them," and they pass the evening in the public-house. 
 BUTioNs at Do not let us deceive ourselves. The millions of this country 
 A.D. 187s. ^^^^ ceased to be attracted by our Protestant churches and 
 f^' I.I- chapels, and the law cannot compel them to attend. Our fore- 
 fathers before the Reformation, mduced the people to come to 
 churches, and abbeys, and cathedrals, where the poor found music 
 and pictures on the walls and in the windows. The Roman 
 Catholic Church now makes its way with the people by the same 
 attractions; and all creeds have done so, whether regulated by 
 Moses among the Israelites or Sesostris among the Egyptians, or 
 by the high priests of Minerva in Athens, or, in subsequent years, 
 by Leo X. in Rome. Human nature craves for the beautiful 
 works of God and man. The fine arts are the handmaidens of 
 religion and gentle culture. You young students recollect the 
 " emoUit mores " sentence ! But during the last three centuries in 
 our kingdom we have neglected, if not despised, this craving. 
 Fine arts are now beginning to be recognized again as humanizing. 
 If you wish to vanquish Drunkenness and the Devil, make God's 
 day of rest elevating and refining to the working man ; don't leave 
 him to find his recreation in bed first, and in the public-house 
 afterwards ; attract him to church or chapel by the earnest and 
 persuasive eloquence of the preacher, restrained within reasonable 
 limits ; help him to solve the mysteries of his daily life by the 
 simple light of his Bible, rather than puzzle and wear him with 
 dogmas spoken during long hours ; give him music in which he 
 may take his part ; show him pictures of beauty on the walls of 
 churches and chapels ; but, as we cannot live in church or chapel 
 all Sunday, give him his park to walk in, with music in the air ; 
 give him that cricket ground which the martyr, Latimer, advo- 
 cated; open all museums of Science and Art after the hours of 
 Opening of Divine service ; let the working man get his refreshment there in 
 s^ndayT°° Company with his wife and children, rather than leave him to 
 booze away from them in the Public-house and Gin Palace. 
 The Museum will certainly lead him to wisdom and gentleness, 
 and to Heaven, whilst the latter will lead him to brutality and 
 perdition. 
 
 I rejoice greatly in telling you that your neighbour, the Duke of 
 Westminster, with true Christian benevolence and great political 
 foresight socially, opened his palace in London in the months of 
 
NATIONAL CULTURE AND RECREATION. 369 
 last August and September, not only on week-days but on Sun- addresSes 
 
 , . , , . . , . , AT DlSTEI- 
 
 days, to the working man, as an experiment, and it proved most butions of 
 
 Prizes 
 
 successful. His Grace writes thus to me : — "Visitors numbered in j^ „. 1875. 
 the two months 10,560, and the applications were so numerous g^^J-^;, 
 that the clerk's time was entirely taken up with this work, and we opening of 
 had to say that ' no more could be entertained or tickets issued.' HOTsely 
 I had no idea that there would have existed so great a desire to westmi'nster 
 see these things, and am heartily glad of it. It shows that if the °" S"'"'^>"'- 
 opportunity could only be given, thousands would gladly avail 
 themselves of visiting to their benefit such collections on, with many 
 of them, the only available days — namely, Sundays, and thereby 
 improving their taste, and assisting towards the instruction much 
 needed. Another year we may make better provision beforehand. 
 Among other applications refused was one for admissions for the 
 Thames bargees ! " As a general rule, Sundays are the working 
 man's only available days for recreation. The average number of 
 visitors to Grosvenor House on week-days was 143, whilst on Sun- 
 days it was 510. I trust other enlightened owners of pictures will 
 follow the Duke of Westminster's lead. In London we are foolish 
 and illogical on this Sunday question. I may go and see pictures 
 freely in Hampton Court Palace, and in Greenwich Hospital, and 
 visit the Natural History Museum in Kew Gardens on Sundays, 
 and hundreds of thousands do so likewise to their great benefit, 
 morally and religiously. It is sheer tyranny to deprive me of 
 going to picture galleries if I wish it, and I protest against such 
 tyranny. I would force no one to go to Museums who dislikes it ; 
 but why keep me out of the National Gallery, and the British 
 Museum ? and why forbid me seeing Raphael's Bible Cartoons in 
 the South Kensington Museum, if I wish to go ? 
 
 II. 
 
LOCAL SCHOOLS FOR COOKERY. 
 
 National 
 Training 
 School for 
 Cookery. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1873-1876. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Instruction 
 in cookery 
 in a village 
 school ; 
 
 in elemen- 
 tary schools. 
 
 To THE Editor of " The Times." 
 
 [AVING watched the development of the National 
 Training School for Cookery from its beginning, I 
 think it may be generally useful to direct attention 
 to the present state of the arrangements of the 
 School, so that the country at large may take advantage of them. 
 The School, which by the way, is in vacation till the 13th Sep- 
 tember, is now fully organized for training Teachers to give instruc- 
 tion in localities varying with the circumstances of each place. 
 
 It has been demonstrated that any village school with 100 girls 
 and upwards, may have simple cookery suitable for artisans and 
 labourers, taught in the school, if the school will first send a girl to 
 the Training School to be taught in the artisan class for three 
 weeks, at a fee of three guineas. The annual capital required by 
 the village school ought not to reach £,20. This includes the 
 purchase of food, which is consumed by the children who are 
 found in numbers able to pay twopence a head for their dinner, 
 which they help to cook in learning. 
 
 If the locality has several elementary schools and a population 
 of about 3,000 or 4,000, including neighbouring villages, then an 
 organization is possible which would teach cookery, not only in 
 elementary schools, but to ladies of the middle classes who are or 
 wish to be wives, and riot to ladies only, but to domestic servants 
 and artisans' wives. In this case, as in that of the elementary 
 schools, the first want is to get a Teacher, but this is not difficult 
 to meet. 
 
LOCAL SCHOOLS FOR COOKERY. 371 
 
 Let a locality feel the want of a School for Cookery, and its national 
 first work is to subscribe about £,2t„ and to send a competent per- schoo!,''° 
 son to the National Training School to become a certificated 
 
 FOR 
 
 Cookery. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 teacher. Such person should be well educated — as well educated '873-1876. 
 as a good elementary schoolmistress. She may well be the Selections, 
 daughter of a clergyman, doctor, lawyer, or half-pay Army or Navy 
 man, but she must have the desire to earn her own living and be 
 content with an income of from ;^8o to ;^ 100 a year, for giving, 
 say, forty weeks' instruction. So much the better if she has had any 
 experience of teaching children in a Sunday or other school, and 
 has acted as a district visitor. She must have no defect in speak- 
 ing, as she will have to address numbers in a class. Her age 
 should be between twenty and thirty. 
 
 When such a young lady has been selected by the locality, she Course of 
 should be sent to the National Training School at South Kensing- {Sr I"ceS- 
 ton, to go through a complete course of instruction, which lasts Teache°r*' 
 twelve or thirteen weeks, for which a fee of 10 guineas must be 
 paid on joining the school. In addition to this fee, there will be 
 the expense of travelling and living in London, which may be put 
 down at £,X2 more. 
 
 Having obtained her diploma, she may either return to the loca- 
 lity from which she came, or may be put on the staff of the National 
 Training School, when she will be guaranteed £,2 a week while 
 teaching, or £,\ a week while retained in the National Training 
 School, when her services are not required out of it. 
 
 If a locality wish to have a full organization for a Cookery FuUorgani- 
 School of its own, say for forty weeks' duration, or even less, a local locai Cook- 
 committee should be formed. The committee would arrange the '"^ 
 rota of instruction to be given by the Teacher, who might give ten 
 lessons a week of two hours' duration each. The rota might con- 
 sist of one lesson a week to a class of ladies in the morning, each 
 lady paying is. 6d. a lesson for a course of ten lessons, or more 
 for a single lesson. Once a week in the evening, a lesson might 
 be given to artisans' wives and domestic servants at 6d. a lesson. 
 The remaining four lessons might be given to four elementary 
 schools, which should pay 10s. a lesson for each school. From ten 
 to twenty children might attend a lesson in their own school. The 
 Education Department counts instruction in cookery as attendance 
 at school, and pays 4?. for each girl who passes an examination, if 
 
372 
 
 LOCAL SCHOOLS FOR COOKERY. 
 
 National 
 Tkaining 
 School for 
 Cookery. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 1873-1876. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Receipts for 
 instruction 
 in a local 
 SchooL 
 
 Working 
 expenses. 
 
 Cure for bad 
 cookery. 
 
 she obtains or has obtained a fourth grade certificate. To esta- 
 blish a moderate sized local School for Cookery which shall teach 
 the gentry, the shopkeepers, domestic servants, and artisans' and 
 labourers' wives, the local committee should first raise in sums of 
 los. and upwards, a guarantee fund of .;^i5o for twelve months, 
 about £^0 of which should be paid at once, in order to send the 
 teacher to be trained and to provide utensils. The receipts for 
 instruction, Src, might be reckoned as follows : — From gentry, 
 pupils receiving ten lessons in four classes in succession, each 
 pupil paying 2s. 6d. a lesson, say, ;^6o ; from domestic servants 
 and artisans, say, ;^io; four elementary schools, each twenty les- 
 sons, with twenty students, say, jQ^o ; sale of food, ;^io — total, 
 
 ;^I20. 
 
 The working expenses would consist in paying the Teacher £2 
 a week for forty weeks, and in providing a scullery-maid, coals, food, 
 and perhaps the rent of a suitable kitchen. 
 
 If the locality wished to try an experiment for a shorter time 
 than forty weeks, then the local committee might make arrange- 
 ments with the National Training School for Cookery to send a 
 Teacher for this shorter period, but the charge for the Teacher 
 would be increased, and travelling and other expenses would have 
 to be added. All these details may be obtained of the Secretary 
 of the School, Exhibition Road, South Kensington. 
 
 At the present time, when great numbers of the middle classes 
 are away from their homes to get health at the sea- side, much suf- 
 fering from bad cookery is undergone, for every youthful drab is 
 turned on to cookery. The cure is only to be found in local 
 schools for cookery distributed over the country. 
 
 I am. Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 H. C. 
 
 17th August, 1875. 
 
ON THE PRACTICAL DEVELOPMENT OF 
 
 ELEMENTARY EDUCATION THROUGH 
 
 DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 
 
 By Sir Henry Cole, K.C.B., late Secretary of the Science and 
 Art Department. A Paper read at the Congress on Domestic 
 Economy held in Birmingham, iSth July, 1877. 
 
 I. 
 
 ! HE arts of reading, writing, and arithmetic, are the 
 three principal instruments for educating or drawing 
 forth the faculties which God has given to the child, 
 and are of necessity the basis of any system of 
 public elementary education. When a child can read, write, 
 and cipher well, he is started on the high road, if he pos- 
 sesses any divine power, to become a Prime Minister of this 
 country, like Thomas Cromwell, the son of a blacksmith ; or a 
 poet, like Robert Bums, the son of a poor gardener ; or a preacher, 
 like John Bunyan, the son of a tinker; or a great mechanical 
 engineer, like George Stephenson, son of an engine -tenter, who 
 first earned 2d. a day in a colliery ; or a philosopher, like William 
 Whewell, the son of a wheelwright ; or a statesman-soldier, like 
 George Washington, the first President of America, who was taught 
 only these three arts before he took to measuring land. 
 
 II. These arts can be taught, but they cannot be properly culti- 
 vated or well preserved without constant and intelligent use. 
 What our State machinery has, up to this time, been able to effect 
 in instilling a knowledge of the three arts, is shown by the report 
 of the Committee of Council on Education, for 1876-77. I shall 
 
 Birming- 
 ham Con- 
 gress ON 
 Domestic 
 Economy. 
 A.D. 1877. 
 Part XL 
 Selections, 
 
 Basis of 
 
 elementary 
 
 education. 
 
374 EDUCATION THROUGH DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 
 
 BiRMiNG- avoid statistics as far as possible, but I cannot give an idea of what 
 GRESB ON is done for nearly the two millions expenditure spent yearly, with- 
 ecoiSy. out a few general figures. In 1876, there were nearly three millions 
 A.D. 1877. pf children registered as being under instruction, in reading, 
 Selections. Writing, Eud arithmetic, in England and Wales. One million two 
 Number of hundred thousand " passed" what is called " a satisfactory exami- 
 underlS- Hation " in these three arts, and of this number nearly seven hun- 
 Eng^Sand dred thousand, i.e., about one-fourth, "passed" the prescribed test 
 ^^^^- without failure " in any one of the three subjects." But the Duke 
 
 of Richmond and Gordon and Lord Sandon report to the Queen, 
 that " they are obliged to repeat the remarks which they used last 
 year, that the results are not satisfactory." And that the "nature 
 of the results attained by many of those examined are meagre." 
 Their Lordships say, " only thirty-eight in every hundred of chil- 
 dren above ten years of age, were presented in standards appro- 
 priate to their age," and not twelve in a hundred presented passed 
 in the Standards IV. to VI. 
 Standards of HI. six Standards of examination in reading, writing, and arith- 
 
 examination. , °' °' 
 
 metic are fixed, and, after the first standard, grammar, geography, 
 and history are made compulsory subjects of examination. The 
 returns of the report for 1876, show how the numbers presented for 
 examination decline as the standard rises, beginning with 327 "41 2 
 in Standard I. and going down to 20763 in Standard VI. 
 Mental IV. This rcsult might have been expected if we try to realize 
 
 capacity. ^j^^^ ^j^^ mental capacity of the three millions of children under 
 instruction, is hkely to be'. They are the offspring of parents 
 mostly earning weekly wages, which start from twelve shillings, and 
 even less, and rise up to, say, forty shillings. The majority live 
 crowded together in small rooms, badly built, badly heated and 
 ventilated, not over clean or neat, often in the midst of debauchery 
 and disease, poorly and foolishly clothed. Many children are not 
 overfed, and with food not well cooked. Is it possible to train 
 Bad physical the miuds of such children, under such bad physical conditions, on 
 con itions. ^^^ \2cigt. scholastic systcm, to a very high stand,ard ? Genius will 
 always assert itself without system, and even with bad food; 
 whilst great men and women, or great individual works, never 
 come out of any system, as Dr. Newman, our neighbour, says. 
 But I should call that system successful, which gave to three 
 millions the power to read, write, and cipher well, and thus 
 
EDUCATION THROUGH DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 375 
 start them on the way to become what their native abihties enable birming- 
 
 ., HAM CON- 
 
 inem. grhss on 
 
 V. Let us look into what the education system purposes to do. economy. 
 The little child of an agricultural labourer, of eight or nine years ^^'^ jj^'' 
 old, is expected, in Standard II., to read with intelligence, to write Selections, 
 a sentence from dictation, to know the four first simple rules in Education 
 arithmetic, as far as long division. Besides, it is " to point out ^''^'"°' 
 the nouns, the definitions, the points of the compass, the form and 
 motions of the earth, and the meaning of a map ! " The very enu- 
 meration of these demands appals me. How many, even of this 
 audience, will come forth and stand this examination ? Who will 
 volunteer to be the examiner except one of Her Majesty's In- 
 spectors? but none of these, I am told, can be present here. 
 
 Shall we send into those parts of this town of Birmingham, which 
 were lately shown to Mr. Cross as condemned to removal, and 
 take at haphazard any ten children under thirteen years of 
 age, in tatters of finery, dirty, emaciated perhaps, and see what 
 comes actually out of this present system ? Shall they stand as 
 illustrative specimens in the exhibition? Do I, then, condemn 
 learning grammar, geography, and history? God forbid. But I 
 gravely doubt if the teaching of them takes its right place in our 
 present system of State education. 
 
 VI. I beheve the three arts — reading, writing, and arithmetic — 
 should be practised, not on the moon and sun, but on objects 
 which come within the daily life and experience of the poor, which 
 
 would influence the child's well-being and conduct all through life, instruction 
 
 m» i*iTi-T n .. 1 111 .1 1 1*^ moral sub- 
 
 The child s reading and writing should be exercised on those sub- jccts before 
 jects of first importance, as laid down in the Code, " habits of Arts, 
 punctuality, good manners and language, cleanliness and neatness, 
 cheerful obedience to duty, consideration and respect for others, 
 honour and truthfulness in word and act ; " and the knowledge and 
 practice of these virtues will not end at thirteen years of age, when 
 the child goes to the field or factory, where he will probably ponder 
 very little on the metaphysics of language, the nouns and verbs, 
 and parsings and complex sentences, or on the compass, or the 
 motions of the earth, or the conquest of England or Henry VII., 
 unless he has a leaning towards them. The Code places properly 
 these moral subjects before reading, writing, or arithmetic, but does 
 not lay down definite rules for their being taught. 
 
376 EDUCATION THROUGH DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 
 
 Birming- 
 ham Con- 
 gress ON 
 Domestic 
 Economy. 
 A.D. 1877. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Domestic 
 Economy, 
 
 in schools, 
 
 in the infant 
 school. 
 
 VII. I now come to what the Code calls " Domestic Economy " 
 for girls, which it places as the last and tenth division after nine 
 others, being — i, English Literature ; 2, Mathematics ; 3, Latin ; 
 4, French; 5, German; 6, Mechanics; 7, Animal Physiology; 
 8, Physical Geography; 9, Botany; and 10, Domestic Economy. 
 Will anyone venture to say that a knowledge of health, good food, 
 thrift, and the like, is not of much greater value to every one of 
 the three millions of children of working people (under thirteen 
 years of age), than Latin and every other of the subjects I have 
 named, and yet the teaching of domestic economy is discouraged 
 unless the child " parses a simple sentence, and knows the geo- 
 graphical outlines of the colonies ! " 
 
 VIII. Daily attention in schools to one or more of the subjects of 
 domestic economy, will lay the foundations of knowledge the most 
 useful throughout a whole life. This knowledge is easy to acquire ; 
 it is not abstract, but practical, and not easy to be forgotten. It 
 cultivates all the faculties. Its elements may be taught in the 
 infant school, and may be made most interesting. Children may 
 begin with it even before attempting the three great arts. More- 
 over, domestic economy will impress the value of public education 
 far beyond anything else on the minds of the working classes, and 
 make them friendly to it. 
 
 IX. It is my conviction that if the several subjects embraced 
 under domestic economy, and none others, were connected with 
 reading, writing, and arithmetic, throughout all the six standards, 
 and all other subjects whatever, of grammar, geography, and his- 
 tory, were made optional, and left to night classes, the results of 
 the State systems would be much less " meagre " than my Lords 
 of the Education Committee, at present deplore that it is. 
 
 X. But we ought to be grateful to the Duke of Richmond and 
 Gordon and Lord Sandon for being the first to introduce domestic 
 economy, even in its present humble and mis-recognized position, 
 and I, for one, heartily am so ; but if they desire to see "the work 
 done effectively, I think they must seek for better advisers and far 
 more earnest administrators, who really know what the children of 
 the labouring classes are. 
 
 XI. I venture to suggest that Her Majesty's Government refer 
 the question of the practical value of a knowledge of domestic 
 economy in the cultivation of the three primary arts, to a small 
 
EDUCATION THROUGH DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 377 
 
 Commission of five persons permanently sitting, two of whom bieming- 
 
 should be women, which might also consider the use and economy cress on 
 
 of the present public examinations. I have no doubt that a result kcoITomv! 
 
 would follow which would commend itself to the judgment of the *•"• '^77- 
 
 ^ , „ ,. , , , Part II. 
 
 Government, the Parliament, and the people. Selections. 
 
 XII. Every branch of domestic economy is directly connected Health of 
 with the health of the people. I conclude with reminding you of * ^°°^ ^ 
 the eloquent words which the most powerful man in this country 
 at the present time, lately uttered : — " The health of a people is 
 really the foundation upon which all their happiness and all their 
 power as a State depend. It is quite possible for a kingdom to be 
 inhabited by an able and active population ; you may have suc- 
 cessful manufactures, and you may have a productive agriculture ; 
 the arts may flourish, architecture may cover your land with 
 temples and palaces ; you may have even material power to defend 
 and support all these acquisitions ; you may have arms of precision 
 and fleets of fish- torpedoes; but if the population of the country 
 is stationary or yearly diminishing — if, while it diminishes in 
 number, it diminishes also in stature and in strength, that country 
 is doomed. The health of the people is, in my opinion, the first 
 duty of a statesman." 
 
 So said the Earl of Beaconsfield. I say Amen ! and add that Lord Bea- 
 the pathway to health is found in a knowledge of the principles of health of the 
 domestic economy acquired through the three arts — reading, '^°^^' 
 writing, and arithmetic. 
 
378 NATIONAL COLLEGE OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL COLLEGE 
 
 OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 
 
 By Sir Henry Cole, K.C.B., late Secretary of the Science and 
 Art Department, and Director of the South Kensington 
 Museum. A Paper read at the Congress on Domestic Economy 
 HELD in Manchester, 27TH June, 1878. 
 
 Argument. — Introduction of the teaching of Domestic Economy into Public 
 Elementary Schools. No proper definition of what it means. No proper 
 system laid down. Absolute necessity for a system. No provision for sup- 
 plying teachers. Special teachers of the subjects absolutely necessary. Only 
 the elementary principles can be taught by ordinary tecuhers of Elementary 
 Schools. The subjects, like the subjects of Science and Art, are technical, and 
 can only be taught to advanced students and night classes well practised in 
 secondary schools. Necessity for State aid in creating teachers as given for 
 Elementary Education and Science and Art. Necessity for one or more 
 Training Schools where the subjects should be practically taught, and certi- 
 ficates of competeruy to teach given. Endowments for one college might be 
 obtained from the surplus of the Exhibition of 1851, and aid from Corpora- 
 tions and private benevolence with State payments on results. 
 
 Man- 
 chester 
 Congress 
 ON Do- 
 mestic 
 Economy. 
 A.D. 1878. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Introduction 
 of Domestic 
 Economy in 
 Education 
 Code. 
 
 THE introduction of " Domestic Economy " into the teaching 
 of public elementary schools is of the first importance to the 
 future well-being of the people, morally and physically. The train- 
 ing of the child, of three years old, to begin to live rightly, comes 
 before learning the alphabet and reading. Our ancestors were a 
 great people, really cultivated in the arts of home-life, before 
 reading was common among them. Nowj changes in industry 
 have nearly abolished old home-life, and deteriorated it in many 
 respects. It was only in 1874, that the importance of training 
 school children in the conduct of life, was first made part of public 
 elementary education. With great political wisdom and foresight, 
 Lord Beaconsfield's administration first introduced Domestic Eco- 
 nomy into the Code of 1874. 
 
 II. It seems to me, that the first principles on which Domestic 
 
NATIONAL COLLEGE OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 379 
 
 Economy are based, such as order, method, cleanliness, &c., man- 
 
 should be inculcated as underlying every subject. These subjects co^gk^s 
 
 are laid down as- • °"^ "j^ 
 
 1. (a) Food and {b) its preparation, (c) Clothing and materials, f^^^g^g"; 
 
 2. (a) The dwelling. (3) Warming. (<r) Cleaning, (d) Ven- Pan 11. 
 tilation. ^'''="™=- 
 
 3. Rules for (a) Health, {b) The management of the sick- 
 room, (c) Cottage income and savings. 
 
 Here are some ten different subjects requiring different kinds Subjecis in 
 of technical knowledge. Ecm^y. 
 
 III. These subjects have been repeated annually, and are stated 
 in the same words and order in the Code for 1878. These defini- 
 tions appear wide, but are incomplete, and I do not think they 
 are philosophically arranged. What are the limits to "food"? 
 and what interpretation suitable to an elementary school is to be 
 put upon it? Does it include all vegetable and animal life good 
 for food ? and the means of obtaining it by agriculture and breed- 
 ing and catching of wild animals ? Also a knowledge of the im- 
 ports and exports of food throughout the world ? If the " prepara- 
 tion " means " cookery," why not use that English word, older than 
 Chaucer ? but, perhaps, a wider meaning is intended in the Code ? 
 It is to be remarked that " cookery " appears by the Education 
 Report of 1876-7, the last published, to be the only specific sub- 
 ject of Domestic Economy taught, and its introduction accidentally 
 arose from the lectures in 1874, started by Her Majesty's Commis- 
 sioners of the Exhibition of 185 1. And then the Code says, food 
 is to be taught with clothing. Why ? And clothing, apparently, 
 excludes needlework ! which is especially provided for in another 
 part of the Code. The other subjects, too, seem imperfectly 
 thought out. Why are warming and cleaning only mentioned in 
 connection with the dwelling, whilst both heat and cleanliness are 
 at the foundation of food, clothing, health, &c. ? All these sub- 
 jects involve technical science. 
 
 IV. I need not pursue this topic. The Education Department 
 wisely introduced them into elementary education, but, I fear, its 
 executive did not realize their full significance, or the best means 
 of imparting the knowledge of them. The bald start of Domestic 
 Economy suggests St. Paul's utterance to the Romans, " How shall 
 they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach except 
 
38o NATIONAL COLLEGE OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 
 
 Man- 
 chester 
 Congress 
 ON Do- 
 mestic 
 Economy. 
 A.D. 1878. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Teaching of 
 Domestic 
 Economy 
 discouraged. 
 
 Want of a 
 system. 
 
 Needlework 
 and cookery. 
 
 Elementary 
 instruction 
 in first prin- 
 ciples of 
 Domestic 
 Economy. 
 
 they be sent ? " Although an excellent idea, and embracing tech- 
 nical knowledge of the first and highest importance, the words 
 " Domestic Economy " have been chosen as a title, but a better 
 one is expressed by Harriet Martineau in " Household Educa- 
 tion," and by a recent writer as "Home Life and Elementary 
 Education." 
 
 V. At first. Domestic Economy was little understood by Her 
 Majesty's Inspectors, and some of them positively discouraged its 
 teaching. It was a subject quite alien to their literary education. 
 They were admonished by a circular in January last, and enjoined 
 to attend to it. The terms are at present very little understood 
 by the general public, and they will not appreciate their impor- 
 tance until a system of some kind for giving practical instruction 
 in the meaning of them, has been devised. It seems to me abso- 
 lutely necessary that some intelligent, well thought out system, 
 suitable to elementary and seconSary schools, should be created, 
 and teachers trained and certificated before the work can be well 
 done. 
 
 VI. At present, the only two subjects taught with some system 
 are Needlework and Cookery. Her Majesty's Commissioners for 
 the Exhibition of 1851, started a School of Cookery in 1874. It 
 began by lectures and demonstrations, attended especially by the 
 middle classes, but it has gradually been matured into a training 
 school for teachers. By means of the first teachers trained in it, 
 local schools have been established in many places. What has 
 been done thus far in providing special teachers for cookery, should 
 be done for training teachers in other subjects, especially needle- 
 work, health, the dwelling and its details, and thrift, adapted not 
 merely to elementary schools, but to secondary education, espe- 
 cially in night classes. 
 
 VII. It cannot be expected that advanced instruction can be 
 given in these subjects of Domestic Economy in primary schools, 
 but elementary instruction may well be given even in infant schools, 
 and the first principles underlying all the subjects, such as those 
 of cleanliness, neatness, order, method, carefulness, and the use of 
 the hands, as Froebel devised a quarter of a century ago, can be 
 taught to all children, of both sexes, and elementary teachers can 
 be made to practise them-. 
 
 VIII. The army of 15,000 elementary teachers cannot be trained 
 
NATIONAL COLLEGE OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 381 
 
 to know and practise all the technicalities of cooking, health, thrift, Man- 
 household management, or, perhaps, even needlework. What with congress 
 statistical returns, and looking after results in every thing, they are mestJc 
 already overweighted with duties. The elements may be laid f"™"^ 
 in elementary schools, but it will be only in secondary schools and |y' '.'• 
 night classes, that the development of them will be found. Special Special 
 teachers must be trained to give suitable lectures and demonstra- subjecSi™ 
 tions in large elementary schools, to the advanced children only. E?momy. 
 Such teachers should be trained on principles analogous to those 
 successfully carried out for teaching science and art throughout 
 the country, and State aid is quite as necessary, and perhaps more state aid 
 so, for Domestic Economy, as for any of the twenty-three subjects ""'^^^^• 
 of science and art now aided by the State. 
 
 IX Just as teachers at the present time obtain certificates for 
 giving instruction in twenty-four subjects of science, beginning 
 with geometry and ending with principles of agriculture, so they 
 should be trained to take certificates in " Food and its preparation, 
 health, the dwelling, household management, and thrift." 
 
 X. It seems to me that Domestic Economy can only be taught Trained 
 systematically and effectively by trained teachers. At least one 
 central institution should be established, where a system should 
 
 be well matured and tested (and it cannot be extemporized), and 
 proper scientific professors should be appointed for the respec- 
 tive branches. Elementary education could never have reached 
 its present position without Training Schools. 
 
 XI. One institution started, two or three others might follow, a central 
 The necessity for such a central institution is shown by many facts, necessary. 
 At present, all parts of the country are vaguely experimentalizing 
 
 and losing time and money. School Boards are struggling without 
 concert to get at some system. A Domestic Economy " college " Domestic 
 has been started at Liverpool, and something of the kind is at work College at 
 
 at Leeds, and attempts have been made to certify the competency 
 of teachers, imperfectly trained. The School Board of London is 
 meditating to establish a great system of cookery at considerable 
 cost, and to issue little certificates to teachers half trained. These 
 attempts will mislead the public, and impede progress. There 
 will be no standard of instruction. 
 
 XII. The subjects to be taught are Essentially technical, and 
 should be duly considered, accepted, and arranged by eminent 
 
 Liverpool. 
 
382 NATIONAL COLLEGE OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 
 
 Man- 
 chester 
 Congress 
 ON Do- 
 mestic 
 Economy. 
 A.D. 1878. 
 Part II. 
 Selections. 
 
 Ministerial 
 
 bility over 
 the general 
 administra- 
 tion. 
 
 Endowment 
 of a National 
 College, by 
 H.M. Com- 
 missioners 
 for 1851. 
 
 men of science, well known and recognized by the public as autho- 
 rities in each speciality. When the organization of a system is 
 completed, special teachers would be trained, who would be em- 
 ployed in large centres of population, and would go from school 
 to school once or twice in the week, as teachers of drawing did at 
 first. More than a thousand teachers are wanted for the three mil- 
 lion of children being taught in the 15,000 elementary schools, and 
 to teach in local night classes especially. 
 
 XIII. The ministerial responsibility would be over the general 
 administration, but it should not undertake to regulate the tech- 
 nical details. I think the action of the Education Department in 
 laying down the subjects in the Code, and attempting to prescribe 
 rules for needlework, shows that it is inexpedient for it to under- 
 take such work in a hazy irresponsible way. 
 
 XIV. In 1877, a system of needlework was laid down and much 
 criticised, and now another one is revised and published, but it 
 has not been generally accepted as sound and practical, and the 
 technical authority, which prepares or examines it, is not known, 
 as in the case of technical subjects administered by the Science 
 and Art Department. As there were no public acknowledged 
 professors of Needlework, it might have been prudent to have re- 
 ferred the matter to three well-known experienced persons, The 
 responsibility for needlework, I venture to think, ought not to 
 rest directly on the Lord President or Vice-President of the 
 Council or their overworked Secretary. 
 
 XV. I venture to suggest that there are sound reasons for sug- 
 gesting that Her Majesty's Commissioners might, out of the sur- 
 plus of the Exhibition of 1851 in their charge, endow a National 
 College for Domestic Economy, as the first of the institutions for 
 aiding technical knowledge which they have proposed to aid. 
 The " Times" of 25th March, 1876, announced that a very impor- 
 tant meeting of Her Majesty's Commissioners for the Exhibition of 
 185 1, which was presided over by the Prince of Wales, had been 
 held, when they declared their intention to provide, at Kensington, 
 a building for a library of science, for collections of scientific ap- 
 paratus and physical research, and to devote a considerable sum 
 to enable scholars of the provincial schools, to receive the advan- 
 tages of the scientific teaching and practical laboratories, and the 
 kindred institutions in our large towns. Since that date, the 
 
NATIONAL COLLEGE OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 383 
 
 Government, by commencing additional buildings at the South man- 
 
 Kensington Museum, has, m part, suspended the proposed action congress 
 
 of the Commissioners. I earnestly hope the Commissioners will mestic 
 
 instruct their standing committee of inquiry to investigate the ^^l^l\ 
 
 paramount national claims for giving help in both primary and Pan 11. 
 
 , . . - ,.,,.,,. , , Selections. 
 
 secondary mstruction, for teachmg the technical subjects embraced 
 in Domestic Economy. The inquiry would show, I believe, that 
 the science and practice of proper living comes before science ap- 
 plied to industry, and such an action would meet a most pressing 
 want of the time. In aiding such work, the Commissioners have 
 among them Dr. Lyon Playfair, pre-eminently qualified to direct 
 such a scheme. The Commissioners possess the funds and the 
 ground ; a moderate sum only would be requisite for a building, 
 which should include laboratories as well as a hostel for housing 
 female students from the country for short periods, and to pay the 
 cost of a staff of competent examiners, for granting certificates of 
 competency, whose services would be only occasional. The 
 students might contribute to the expenses, and there might be free 
 scholarships. The college would supply instruction and practice 
 that would be of a much more advanced kind than could be given 
 in the several existing training schools for teachers of elementary 
 instruction, and the State might properly assist by paying on 
 results, as in the training schools for elementary education. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ABERDARE, Lord. See Bruce. 
 Academy of Music, Royal, memo- 
 rial from Directors of, to H. M. Com- 
 missioners for 1851, as to grant of site 
 on South Kensington estate, vol. i., 
 365 ; critical state of, 366 ; negotia- 
 tions between, and Science and Art 
 Department, 366 ; failure of negotia- 
 tions, 367 ; further negotiations be- 
 tween, and H.M. Commissioners for 
 1851, and failure of them, 368 ; pro- 
 posed union with, and National 
 Training School for Music, 369 ; 
 treaty with, at an end, 370 ; renewed 
 negotiations with Society of Arts 
 and, and failure of them, 372. 
 
 Adderley, Mr. (now Lord Norton), 
 Vice-President of the Council, vol. 
 i., 309, 311. 
 
 Adhesive postage stamps and stamped 
 covers, vol. i., 60. 
 
 Airy, Mr., Astronomer Royal (after- 
 wards Sir George, K.C.B.), vol. i., 
 187. 
 
 Albert Hall, Royal, vol. i., 266 ; meet- 
 ing of provisional committee of, 267, 
 336; early schemes by H. Cole for 
 erection of, under names of Chorus 
 Hall, Central Hall of Arts and 
 Sciences, 358, 359; H. Cole's scheme 
 for raising capital for building, 360 ; 
 supporters of the scheme, 360; the 
 Prince of Wales president of, 361 ; 
 II. 
 
 Sir Gilbert Scott invited to design 
 exterior of: Captain Fowke's designs 
 and model for : scheme, plan, and 
 models of, submitted to Prince of 
 Wales, 361 ; investments in sittings 
 in, 362 ; description of, 363 ; first 
 meeting of provisional committee of, 
 held at Marlborough House, 363 ; 
 General Scott appointed architect 
 of, after Captain Fowke's death, 
 364 ; advising committee of archi- 
 tects for, 364; foundation stone laid 
 by the Queen, 364 ; construction of 
 great organ for, 364 ; opening of, by 
 the Queen, 365 ; vol. ii., 270. 
 
 Albert Medal, Society of Arts', awarded 
 to H. Cole, vol. i., 387. 
 
 Albert, H.R.H. Prince, visit of, to 
 Carlton Ride : H. Cole presented 
 to, vol. i., 23 ; ipspects arrangements 
 for records, 24; lays first stone of 
 new docks at Grimsby, 87, 93 ; his 
 speech at the banquet, 94 ; speeches 
 and addresses of, 96 ; president of 
 Society of Arts, 117 ; his interest in 
 Summerly 's art manufactures, n8 ; 
 in proposed national exhibition : dis- 
 cussion on the subject with H. Cole, 
 123-25 ; correspondence of, with Sir 
 G. Grey on Exhibition of 1851 : ap- 
 . plies for a royal commission, 127 ; 
 Mr. Cobden on, 145 ; views on the 
 nature of the commission, 149, 150 ; 
 C C 
 
386 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 powers strained by anxiety for success 
 of Exliibition, 162 ; letter by, to 
 Baron Stockmar on opposition to 
 Exhibition, 165 ; state of health of, 
 172; interest in Working Classes 
 Committee, 188, 200 ; letters by, to 
 C. W. Dilke and H. Cole, 203, 204, 
 210 ; on proposed grant to Kensing- 
 ton, 219, 220, 224 ; scheme of Exhi- 
 bition of 1861 discussed with, 226, 
 227 ; opinion on management of Ex- 
 hibition of 1862, 228 ; deputation to, 
 from Society of Arts, 231 ; meeting 
 between, and secretary to Commis- 
 sioners of 1851 : guarantees ;^lo,ooo 
 for Exhibition, 232, 239 ; visits South 
 Kensington, and inspects Captain 
 Fowke's plans for buildings, 241 ; 
 death of, 244 ; opinion of as to classi- 
 fication of objects in exhibitions, 
 264 ; interest in a proposed institute 
 for science and art, 282 ; promotes 
 purchase of art objects from Great 
 Exhibition, 283 ; plan of, for dis- 
 posing of surplus funds from Great 
 Exhibition of 1851, 314 ; idea for 
 bringing various museums together, 
 322 ; speech by, at opening of Royal 
 Horticultural Gardens at South Ken- 
 sington, 327 ; national memorial to, 
 359 ; speech by, on Great Exhibition 
 of 1851, vol. ii., 212-3, 214-6, 219; 
 letter to, by Mr. G. Drew on con- 
 tract for Great Exhibition, 221, 346, 
 
 3S3- 
 
 Anti-Corn Law Circular, edited by Mr. 
 James Wilson, vol. i., 57. 
 
 Anti-Corn Law League for repeal of 
 the laws, vol. i., 57 ; secretaryship 
 offered to H. Cole : declines it, 58 ; 
 vol. ii., 143. 
 
 Architectural ateliers at South Kensing- 
 ton. See chapter on, vol. i., 329. 
 
 Architecture, public, letter to the 
 "Times" on, by H. Cole, vol. i., 
 337 ; vol. ii., 305 ; memorandum on, 
 by H. Cole, 296. 
 
 Arlfes-Dufour, M., voL i., 215, 223. 
 
 Army Reform, letters to the "Times'' 
 
 on, by H. Cole, vol. i., 385; paper 
 on, by H. Cole, read at Society of 
 Arts, 386; vol. ii., 328. 
 
 Art, Department of Science and. See 
 Department. 
 
 "Art " as fine art, vol. i., 103. 
 
 Art, instruction in, State aid to, vol. i., 
 279. 
 
 Art collections at Marlborough House 
 and South Kensington Museum, vol. i., 
 283-S, 287, 289, 290-4 ; development 
 of, 34S- 
 
 Art Inventory, International, edited by 
 H. Cole, vol. i., 347. 
 
 Art manufactures, vol. i., 103 ; exhibi- 
 tion of, at Society of Arts, Adelphi, 
 105 ; announcement of organization 
 for Summerly's, 107 ; illustrations of, 
 vol. ii., 178-94. 
 
 Art, School of. See School and Schools. 
 
 Ashburton, Lord, advocacy by, of Row- 
 land Hill's plan of Penny Postage, 
 vol. i., 38, 56, 96. 
 
 Ashley, Lord, now Earl of Shaftesbury, 
 vol. i., 195. 
 
 Ashurst, Mr. W. H., appointed solicitor 
 to Mercantile Committee for Penny 
 Postage, vol. i., 37. 
 
 Augmentation Office, H. Cole in charge 
 of : removal of records in, during fire 
 at Houses of Parliament, vol. i., 8 ; 
 Queen's Bench records removed from, 
 20. 
 
 Ayrton, Mr., M.P., vol. ii., 305, 306. 
 
 Bag or pouch for holding records, vol. ii., 
 
 41. 
 Bandinel, the late Mr., collection of 
 
 china by, vol. i. , 287. 
 Bandinel collection, purchase of, for 
 
 museum at Marlborough House, vol. 
 
 i., 287. 
 Baring, Mr. Thomas, M. P., trustee and 
 
 commissioner for Exhibition of 1862, 
 
 vol. i., 230. 
 Barry, Mr., R.A. (afterwards Sir 
 
 Charles), vol. i., 150, 163, 194. 
 Battersea Park, site suggested for Exhi- 
 bition of 1862, vol. i., 227. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 387 
 
 Bayeux Tapestry, reproduction of, for 
 South Kensington Museum, vol. i., 
 34S ; letter by Mr. Carlyle on, 346. 
 
 Beaconsfield, Earl of. See Disraeli. 
 
 Beckwith, Mr., American Commissioner 
 to Paris Exhibition of 1867, vol. i., 
 256. 
 
 Bell, John, vol. i., 108; voL ii., 181, 
 et seq. 
 
 Bennett, Dr. Stemdale (afterwards Sir 
 W. Stemdale), Principal of Royal 
 Academy of Music, vol. i. , 369. 
 
 Bemal, Mr., collection of ff3/e^j (Earthy, 
 vol. i., 289. 
 
 Bemal collection, purchase of, for South 
 Kensington Museum, vol. i., 289, 
 
 385- 
 
 Bethnal Green, museum at, vol. i., 335 ; 
 establishment of, 353 ; opposition of 
 Treasury to, 354 ; opening of, by 
 the Prince of Wales, 354. 
 
 Birmingham, Midland Institute at, vol. 
 i., 306. 
 
 Blackwood, Mr. S. A., secretary of the 
 Post Office, vol. i., loi. 
 
 Blessington, Lady, vol. i., 287. 
 
 Board of Trade, minute of, on Schools 
 of Design, vol. i., no ; letters to, by 
 H. Cole, on Schools of Design, 282 ; 
 inquiry before committee of, on 
 schools, 282; H. Cole accepts office 
 under, 283 ; Department of Practical 
 Art under, 284 ; letter by H. Cole to 
 Mr. Labouchere, President of, 295 ; 
 Mr. Henley succeeds Mr. Labouchere, 
 297 ; obstmctiveness of officials at, 
 299. 
 
 Board of Works, transfer of charge of 
 buildings at South Kensington to, 
 vol. i., 338. 
 
 Boileau, Sir J. P., Bart., vol. i., 121. 
 
 " Boilers, The." Iron building for mu- 
 seum at South Kensington, vol. i., 
 
 323. 
 
 Bond, Mr. Edward, chief librarian of 
 the British Museum, vol. i., $. 
 
 Bookbinding, vol. i., 103. 
 
 Bowring, Mr. Edgar, secretary to Com- 
 missioners of 1851, vol. i., 228, 323. 
 
 Braid wood, Mr., Head of the Metropo- 
 litan Fire Brigade, vol. i., 22 ; his 
 advice on precautions against fire, 25 ; 
 death of, 25; vol. ii., 52, 56; letter 
 by, to H. Cole, on precautions against 
 fire, 92, 227, 230. 
 
 Bristol, trade school at, vol. i., 306. 
 
 British manufactures, exhibition of, vol. 
 i., 118. 
 
 Brougham, Lord, chairman of Record 
 Commission of 1831, vol. i., 6, 7 ; pre- 
 sents petition in House of Lords in 
 favour of Penny Postage, 35. 
 
 Bruce, Mr., now Lord Aberdare, vol. 
 i., 267. 
 
 Brunei, Isambard Kingdom, civil engi- 
 neer, inventor of the broad gauge 
 system, vol. i., 78, 163, 194. 
 
 Buccleuch, Duke of, K.G., vol. i., 150, 
 163. 
 
 Buckingham, Duke of, Lord President 
 of the Council, vol. i., 255, 260; vol. 
 ii., 346. See also Chandos, Marquis 
 of. 
 
 Buckmaster, Mr. J. C, lectures on 
 cookery delivered by, vol. i., 395. 
 
 Buffet, M., Minister of Agriculture, 
 circular to French Chamber of Com- 
 merce on an International Exhibition, 
 vol. i., 124; vol. ii., 234. 
 
 Buller, Mr. Charles, M.P. for West 
 Looe and Liskeard, first meeting with, 
 vol. i., 5 ; brings mismanagement of 
 Record Commission before House 
 of Commons, 9 ; moves for select 
 committee on Record Commission, 
 10, n ; introduces a Public Records 
 Bill, 16; his career and death, 16; 
 epitaph on, by Lord Houghton, 17 ; 
 verses by W. M. Thackeray on death 
 of, 17 ; bust of, in Westminster 
 Abbey, 1 7 ; inscription on monument 
 of: was he a Privy Councillor? 
 18 ; vol. ii., 58 ; speech by, on Public 
 Records, 82, 309. 
 
 Cabs, Reform of London, suggested by 
 
 H. Cole, vol. i., 387. 
 Caley, Mr., former secretary of Record 
 
388 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Commission, vol. i., 12 ; Keeper of 
 the Chapter House, Westminster, 13. 
 
 Cambridge, H.R.H. the Duke of, vol. 
 i., 247. 
 
 Campbell, Mr. Minton, vol. i., 107. 
 
 Canterbury Cathedral, handbook to, 
 vol. i., loi. 
 
 Cardwell, Mr. (now Viscount), vol. i., 
 208-10, 288, 394 ; vol. ii., 346. 
 
 Carlton Ride Repository, records re- 
 moved to, vol. i., 19 ; becomes head- 
 quarters for all repairs, &c. , 20 ; col- 
 lections of seals sent from Chapter 
 House and Augmentation Office to, 
 
 21 ; modes of ticketing records in, 
 
 22 ; risks from fire at, 23 ; collection 
 ■of furniture and arms, madeby George 
 I V. , at, 23 ; removal of furniture and 
 arms from, to Windsor, 24. 
 
 Carlisle, late Earl of. See Morpeth. 
 
 Carlyle, Thomas, advocate for postage 
 reform, vol. i., 44 ; Latter Day 
 Pamphlets by, 70 ; on the Bayeux 
 Tapestry, 346 ; on capital and labour, 
 vol. ii., 360. 
 
 Catalogue, Universal, of Books on Art, 
 memorandum by H. Cole on, vol. i., 
 341 ; minute on, 342 ; materials ob- 
 tained for, from catalogues of various 
 libraries, 343 ; publication of proof 
 sheets of, in the " Times," 344 ; Mr. 
 Dillwyn, M.P., on: Mr. Gregory, 
 M.P., on, 344; subsequent publication 
 of, in " Notes and Queries," 345 ; 
 vol. ii., 253. 
 
 Cellini, Benvenuto, gold seal ascribed 
 to, vol. i., 21. 
 
 Chadwick, Edwin, C.B., vol. i., 15, 221, 
 386. 
 
 Chandos, Marquis of (now Duke of 
 Buckingham), vol. i., 230, 239, 241-3. 
 
 Chester, Mr. Harry, vice-president of 
 Society of Arts, vol. i., 310. 
 
 Chinese mandarin at opening of Great 
 Exhibition, vol. i., 179. 
 
 Chorus Hall Company, a, suggestion 
 for, by H. Cole, vol. i., 358. 
 
 Christmas card, first, vol. i., loi ; illus- 
 tration of, vol. ii., 161. 
 
 Church Services. See Musical. 
 
 Clerk, Sir George, a director of Royal 
 Academy of Music : correspondence 
 between, and H. Cole, on Royal 
 Academy of Music, vol. 1., 366. 
 
 Cobden, Richard, advocates Rowland 
 Hill's plan of Penny Postage, vol. i., 
 45> S3 > t^6 Anti-Corn Law League, 
 and, 58 ; on the Great Exhibition, 
 145, 150; on Sir Robert Peel, 167, 
 196. 319 ; vol. ii., 143, 146. 
 
 Cockerel], Mr., R.A., vol. i., 163. 
 
 Cole, H., principal public works of, 
 vol. i. , I ; leaves Christ's Hospital : 
 enters Mr. Francis Palgrave's office as 
 clerk, 3 ; commences work with Pub- 
 lic Records, 4 ; miscellaneous records 
 of the Exchequer, edited by, 4 ; 
 acquaintance with Thomas Love Pea- 
 cock, John Stuart Mill, and Charles 
 BuUer, 5 ; relinquishes engagement 
 with Sir F. Palgrave : duties of a 
 sub-commissioner under the Record 
 Commission confided to, 7 ; article on 
 parliaments of our ancestors by, 8 ; 
 called upon to surrender keys of 
 Augmentation Office, 9; suspension 
 oi, from duties under Record Com- 
 mission : appeals for redress to 
 House of Commons, 9 ; works by, 
 in the press at time of suspension, 
 9 ; report of Select Committee on 
 Record Commission, with illustra- 
 tive notes, published by,. 1 1 ; articles 
 on the Record Commission by, 14; 
 appointed to chai-ge of records of 
 the Exchequer of Pleas, 15 ; re- 
 form in printing evidence of wit- 
 nesses before the House of Commons, 
 suggested by ; pamphlet by, on 
 the subject, 15; appointed one of 
 four assistant-keepers of Public Re- 
 cords : placed in charge of Carlton 
 Ride Repository, 19; presented to 
 Prince Albert, 23 ; commencement 
 of personal acquaintance with the 
 Prince, 24 ; report by, on space re- 
 quired for Public Records, 25 ; letter 
 to, by Mr. Braidwood, on fires, 25 ; 
 
INDEX. 
 
 389 
 
 report by, on unfitness of Westminster 
 Palace as a record repository, 26 ; 
 works by, on the Public Records, 33 ; 
 work with Uniform Penny Postage, 
 34 ; receives oiTer from R. Hill to 
 help forward the project for Penny 
 Postage, 35 ; appointed secretary to 
 Mercantile Committee on Postage, 
 37 ; his devices to draw public at- 
 tention to proposed measure, 37, 44 ; 
 editor of "Guide" newspaper, 38 ; 
 newspaper scheme submitted to Mer- 
 cantile Committee by : origin of the 
 " Post Circular," 39 ; its transmission 
 as a newspaper, 41 ; device to draw 
 attention to weight of mails, 46 ;. 
 scene at Windsor Castle prepared by, 
 47 ; visits Manchester and Liverpool 
 to obtain subscriptions to promote 
 Penny Postage : acquaintance with 
 Richard Cobden, 53 ; visits Lord 
 Radnor vrith petitions, 55 ; inter- 
 views with peers, all favourable to 
 the bill, 56 ; secretaryship of Anti- 
 Com Law League offered to : de- 
 clines it, 58 ; engagement at the 
 Treasury to assist Mr. Hill, 59 ; 
 essay on postage stamps : suggests 
 adhesive stamps and stamped covers, 
 60 ; unique collection of postage 
 stamps formed by, 61 ; obtains prize 
 of £100 for essay, 62 ; acquaintance 
 with W. Mulready : obtains designs 
 from W. Mulready for postage cover, 
 63, 64 ; article by, in " Westminster 
 Review," on Penny Postage, 65 ; his- 
 tory of the Post Office in "Penny 
 Cyclopaedia " by, 68 ; termination of 
 engagement at the Treasvtry, 68 ; 
 work vrith railways and docks, 70 ; 
 prospectus of a projected railway in- 
 serted in the "Railway Chronicle" 
 by, 70 ; railway charts by, 71 ; advo- 
 cates quadruple rails in letter to Mr. 
 Robert Stephenson, 71 ; letter by, to 
 Mr. G. Carr Glyn on uniformity of 
 gauge, 78 ; work with the London 
 and North Western Railway: pam- 
 phlet entitled " Inconsistencies of 
 
 Men of Genius," 82 ; papers on 
 conveyance of parcels, 84 ; work 
 with the Grimsby Docks, 89 ; charged 
 with arrangements for laying the 
 first stone, 93 ; writes under the nom 
 de plume al Felix Summerly, 98 ; 
 work with technical arts and art 
 manufactures : Summerly's handbooks 
 by, 98 ; Summerly's " Home Trea- 
 sury," loi ; issues first Christmas 
 card, Id ; wood engraving studied 
 by, 102 ; practises etching on cop- 
 per : efforts to improve bookbind- 
 ing: produces international playing 
 cards, 103 ; Summerly's tea service : 
 obtains prize offered by Society of 
 Arts for tea service, 105 ; acquaint- 
 ance with Mr. Minton, 105 ; Sum- 
 merly's art manufactures, 107 ; ac- 
 quaintance with Sir John Shaw Le- 
 fevre : introduced to Mr. Labonchere : 
 to Earl Granville : proposal for 
 lectures to School of Design, 
 109 ;■ reports on School of Design : 
 his plan for obtaining fi-om school, 
 designs for manufactures used' in 
 Government departments, no ; letter 
 by, to Board of Trade on the subject : 
 views on the state of the Patent Law, 
 no; extracts from- second and third 
 reports on School of Design, 1 10-4 ; 
 work with International Exhibitions : 
 with Exhibition of iSsi, ri6; sug- 
 gests a National Exhibition of British 
 Manufactures to be held in 1851, 
 118; lays plan before Prince Albert, 
 119; first visit to Paris, 123, 124; 
 first meeting with Prince Albert on ex- 
 hibitions, 123 ; French Exhibition of 
 1849 : discussion with Prince Albert 
 on proposed Exhibition, 124 ; on in- 
 ternational character : on sites for 
 Exhibition, 125 ; proposes Hyde 
 Park : desired by Prince to report on 
 various sites in Hyde Park, 125 ; re- 
 ports on visits to manufacturing towns, 
 128-9; meeting at Dublin, 130; 
 correspondence between, and Col. 
 Phipps on proposed Exhibition, 1 3 1 -3 ; 
 
39° 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 speech at Mansion House on Exhibi- 
 tion, 134-44 ; member of Executive 
 Committee, 148 ; preparation of Royal 
 Commission confided to, 149 ; mem- 
 ber of second Executive Committee, 
 156; obtains leave of absence for two 
 years from Record Office, 161 ; visits 
 towns to seek for tenders for Exhibi- 
 tion building, 165 ; meets Messrs, 
 Fox and Henderson at Birmingham, 
 166 ; reports to the Prince of division 
 on Hyde Park site for Exhibition, 
 166 ; meeting with Mr. Peto, 168-9 \ 
 interview with the Prince, 170; 
 scheme for division of space, 171 ; 
 interest in Working Classes Com- 
 mittee for Exhibition, 188 ; com- 
 panionship of the Bath conferred on, 
 199 ; visit to Paris on occasion of 
 f8tes to the Commissioners, 200-2 ; 
 letter by Prince Albert to, 203 ; 
 pamphlet advocating retentionof glass 
 building, 204; lecture on the inter- 
 national results of Exhibition of 1851, 
 205 ;- Paris Exhibition of 1855, 206 ; 
 notes on International Exhibitions, 
 207-8 ; appointed Executive Com- 
 missioner, 208 ; estimate on cost of 
 British section, 208 ; visits Paris to 
 consult with Imperial Commission and 
 inspect building for Exhibition, 209 ; 
 visits to manufacturing centres, 211 ; 
 preliminary visits to Paris, regarded 
 with suspicion, 211 ; held responsible 
 for success of Exhibition, 212; speech 
 in French at dinner of foreign com- 
 missioners, 217 ; tour in southern 
 France : theSoulages collection, 221 ; 
 receives privately from Prince Napo- 
 leon the officer's cross of the Legion 
 of Honour, 223 ; report on Paris 
 Exhibition (1855), 224; connection 
 with Exhibition of 1862, 225 ; idea of 
 an exhibition to be held in 1861, to 
 embrace fine arts and music, 226 ; his 
 scheme of a great hall for musical 
 performances, 226 ; ordered abroad 
 for his health, 227 ; return from Italy 
 of, 228 ; prepares estimate of expen- 
 
 diture for Exhibition, 228 ; at Wind- 
 sor : submits plans to Prince Consort 
 for laying out part of Commissioners' 
 estate as ornamental gardens, 229 ; 
 obtains promises of support towards 
 guarantee fund, 232 ; letter by, to 
 Mr. Titus Salt of Bradford, 234; 
 memorandum by, on the lease of 
 land to be granted by Commissioners 
 of 1 85 1, 237 ; provision for future ex- 
 hibitions, 237 ; draft charter to incor- 
 porate trustees as commissioners, pre- 
 pared by, 239 ; Lord Granville desires 
 to secure services of, for Exhibition, 
 240 ; invited to be joint manager : 
 declines to give up work at Science 
 and Art Department, 240 ; appointed 
 general adviser, 240-3 ; conditions 
 of contract for building drawn up by, 
 241 ; account of building by, 243 ; 
 suggests mosaics for exterior deco- 
 ration of Exhibition, 244; manage- 
 ment of opening ceremonial dele- 
 gated to, 246; re-arrangement of 
 nave of Exhibition by, 248; drafts 
 scheme for use of Exhibition build- 
 ings, 249 ; Executive Commissioner 
 and Secretary to Paris Exhibition 
 of 1867, 252 ; correspondence be- 
 tween, and Imperial French Com- 
 mission, 255 ; letter by, to M. Le 
 Play on Exhibition, 256; draft of 
 Convention for reproductions pre- 
 pared by, 260 ; recommends pur- 
 chase of works of art for South 
 Kensington Museum from Exhibition, 
 261 ; proposals drawn up by, for 
 holding a series of international ex- 
 hibitions, 265 ; consults Lord Derby 
 on annual international exhibitions, 
 266 ; executive organization of ex- 
 hibitions carried out by, 267 ; ob- 
 servations by, on the class system in 
 exhibitions, and their instructive aim, 
 269 ; advises abandonment of annual 
 international exhibitions, 270 ; modi- 
 fications in scheme of exhibitions 
 suggested by, 270 ; on future exhibi- 
 tions, 271 ; connection with move- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 391 
 
 ment for reform of the Patent Laws, 
 272 ; letter by, to Sir Denis Le Mar- 
 chant, touching the working of the 
 acts for registering designs, 272 ; 
 calls attention of Society of Arts to 
 recognition of rights of inventors, 
 273 ; treatise by, on "Jurisprudence 
 connected with Inventions," 274; 
 evidence by, before Select Committee 
 in House of Lords on Patent Laws, 
 276 ; report by, of Society of Arts' 
 special committee on patents, 277; 
 secretaryship of School of Design 
 offered to, 281 ; letters by, to Board 
 of Trade on Schools of Design, 282 ; 
 accepts office under Board of Trade, 
 283 ; on principles of taste before 
 a Select Committee of House of 
 Commons, 286 ; report by, on first 
 year's working of museum at Marl- 
 borough House, 286 ; account by, of 
 purchase of Soulages collection, 296- 
 4 ; invited to undertake management 
 of School of Design, 295 ; letter by, to 
 Mr. Labouchere, on School of Design, 
 295 ; memorandum by, on the new 
 art department, addressed as a letter 
 to the Rt. Hon. J. W. Henley, 297 ; 
 appointment of, to Department of 
 Practical Art, 297 ; re-organizations 
 proposed by, 300 ; memorandum by, 
 on payments on results to teachers of 
 dravring, 304 ; appointed joint secre- 
 tary, with Dr. Playfair, of Depart- 
 ment of Science and Art, 305 ; ap- 
 pointed inspector-general of depart- 
 ment, 307 ; plan for establishing 
 science schools, 308 ; address by, on 
 the " Functions of the Science and 
 Art Department," 309; letter by, to 
 Mr. Lingen, of Education Depart- 
 ment, on "Science," 309; appoint- 
 ment of, as sole Secretary of Science 
 and Art Department and General 
 Superintendent of South Kensington 
 Museum, 310 ; new plan of action for 
 science division by, submitted to 
 "My Lords," 310; summoned to 
 Osborne to discuss Prince Albert's 
 
 plan for disposal of surplus from Great 
 Exhibition, 314; correspondence be- 
 tween, and Colonel Phipps on 
 Prince's scheme, 315 ; scheme for lay- 
 ing out South Kensington estate pre- 
 pared by, and Mr. Redgrave, 320 ; 
 memorandum by, on amalgamation 
 of museums, 322 ; letter by, to Gene- 
 ral Grey, on iron building at South 
 Kensington, 323 ; letter by, urging 
 dissolution of partnership between 
 Commissioners and Government, 324 ; 
 name of " South Kensington " sug- 
 gested for museum by, 326 ; memo- 
 randa by, on Royal Horticultural 
 Society, 327, 328 ; tour in Italy 
 (1858): extracts from diary by, during 
 tour, 331, 332 ; sketch for fa9ade of 
 Science Schools by, 336 ; opinions on 
 architectural matters before House 
 of Commons : memorandum by, on 
 architects and their estimates, 336 ; 
 address by, to students of Ecole Cen- 
 trale d' Architecture in Paris, 337 ; 
 letter by, to the " Times," on pub- 
 he architecture, 337 ; radiating ex- 
 hibiting stand designed by : medal 
 of honour awarded to, by jury 
 for Paris Exhibition of 1867, 337 ; 
 contentions with the Treasury, 337 ; 
 evidence by, before House of Com- 
 mons' Committee on South Kensing- 
 ton Museum, 339, 340 ; memorandum 
 by, on Universal Catalogue of Art 
 Books, 341 ; memorandum by, on 
 development of art collections at 
 South Kensington Museum, 34S ; me- 
 morandum by, on international ex- 
 change of copies of works of fine art, 
 346 ; International Art Inventory 
 suggested and edited by, 347 ; notes 
 by, on Public Education, Primary 
 and Secondary, 348 ; opening of 
 museums on Sundays recommended 
 by, 349 ; recommends a Minister of 
 Public Instruction, 350; article by, 
 on Irresponsible Boards, in the " Edin- 
 burgh Review," 350 ; scheme for 
 Whitworth scholarships prepared by. 
 
392 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 351 ; memorandum by, on employ- 
 ment of Royal Engineers as civil 
 servants, 352 ; report by, on Conser- 
 vatoire des Arts et Metiers at Paris, 
 352 ; report on mosaics by, 353 ; 
 letter by, to Mr. Ward, on proposed 
 museum at Nottingham, 355 ; visit 
 to Nottingham to distribute prizes to 
 School of Art : speech by, 356 ; re- 
 signation of, as Secretary of Science 
 and Art Department and Director of 
 South Kensington Museum, 357 ; 
 suggestion by, for a " Chorus Hall 
 Company," 358 ; early schemes by, 
 for erection of Royal Albert Hall, 
 358 ; visit to Windsor : interview 
 with the Queen on memorial to 
 the Prince Consort, 359 ; prospectus 
 drawn up by, for raising capital for 
 building Royal Albert Hall, 360 ; 
 member of committee for designs for 
 Royal Albert Hall, 361 ; visits Ro- 
 man amphitheatres abroad, 361 ; visit 
 to Osborne to submit plan and model 
 of hall to Prince of Wales, 361 ; 
 note by, on Prince Consort's Memo- 
 rial, 362 ; interest in construction of 
 great organ for Royal Albert Hall, 
 364 ; note by, on opening of hall, 
 
 365 ; brings subject of musical educa- 
 tion before Society of Arts, 366 ; cor- 
 respondence between, and Sir George 
 Clerk on Royal Academy of Music, 
 
 366 ; scheme by, for enlarging opera- 
 tions of Royal Academy of Music, 
 367 ; drafts first report of Society 
 of Arts Committee on Musical Edu- 
 cation, 368 ; on Royal Academy of 
 Music, 368 ; scheme to start a Na- 
 tional Training School for Music 
 drawn up by, for Society of Arts, 
 369 ; methods proposed by, for rais- 
 ing funds for new School for Music : 
 scheme of musical scholarships by, 
 370, 371, 372; first connection with 
 
 ' Society of Arts, 378 ; silver medal 
 awarded to, by Society of Arts, for 
 tea service, 379 ; promotes exhibi- 
 tions by Society, 379 ; elected a 
 
 member of council of Society, 380 ; 
 letter by, to secretary of Society 
 of Arts on policy of council : resig- 
 nation of, as member of council, 380 ; 
 elected chairman of new council of 
 Society, 381 ; address by, as chair- 
 man of council, 381-5 ; Society's 
 cheap colour-box suggested by, 385 ; 
 re-election of, as chairman of coun- 
 cil, 385 ; questions of Free Library 
 Acts, Bemal and Soulages collec- 
 tions, Metropolitan Museums, brought 
 before Society by, 385 ; letters to 
 the " Times" by, on Army Reform, 
 385 ; paper by, on Army Reform, 
 read at Society of Arts, 386 ; ad- 
 vocates drill in schools : visits to 
 schools to witness drill, 386 ; further 
 work of, with Society of Arts, 386-8 ; 
 Albert Medal of Society awarded to, 
 387 ; visit to Prince of Wales to re- 
 ceive Albert Medal, 388; letter to, 
 by Prince of Wales, on Guilds of 
 Health, 388 ;, "Journal of Design" 
 started and edited by, 390 ; the Til- 
 lingbourne Association and, 392 ; 
 musical church services and, 393, 
 394 ; speeches by, at distributions of 
 prizes to Schools of Art and Science, 
 394; National Training School of 
 Cookery established and organized 
 by. 395; letter by, to the "Times" 
 on Training School of Cookery, 396 ; 
 domestic economy promoted by, 397 ; 
 work of, to promote National Health, 
 and improve drainage of towns, 397 ; 
 appointed managing director of Scott's 
 Sewage Company : work at Birming- 
 ham and Manchester, with General 
 Scott's processes for utilization of sew- 
 age, 397 ; article by, on parliaments of 
 our ancestors, in " Westmiuster Re- 
 view," vol. ii., I ; pamphlet by, on re- 
 form in printing evidence before House 
 of Commons, 18 ; article by, on com- 
 mittees of House of Commons, in 
 " London and Westminster Review," 
 24 ; history of the Public Records by, 
 in the "Penny Cyclopsedia, " 36; 
 
INDEX. 
 
 393 
 
 article by, on the perilous state and 
 neglect of the Public Records, 51 ; 
 list of publications connected with 
 Record Commission and Public Re- 
 cords written by, 63-6; Henry VIII.'s 
 Scheme of Bishopricks edited by, 67 ; 
 letter to, from Mr. Braidwood, on 
 fires, 92 ; scene at Windsor Castle 
 by, on penny postage, 95 ; article in 
 "Post Circular," on weight of let- 
 ters, 102 ; materials collected by, for 
 the agitation in favour of penny pos- 
 tage, 104 ; essay by, on postage 
 stamps, 109; Post Office receipts 
 suggested by, 115 ; letter weight sug- 
 gested by, for penny postage, 142 ; 
 work with the Anti-Corn Law League, 
 143 ; letters to, on Anti-Corn Law 
 cuts by Mr. Thackeray, 143, 146; 
 letter by, to Mr. Cobden on the same, 
 144; railway charts by, 147; work 
 with railways and docks, 150, 15^! 
 work with technical arts and art 
 manufactures, 160 ; Summerly's Home 
 Treasury books, 161 ; experiments by, 
 in glyphography, 163; Albert Diirer's 
 " Small Passion," edited by, 166 ; 
 illustrations of Summerly's art manu- 
 factures, 178, 180-93 ; illustrations 
 from Summerly's handbooks, 1 95, 
 207 ; extracts from handbook to 
 Westminster Abbey, 197 ; extracts 
 from preface to catalogue of Great 
 Exhibition by, 208 ; report on the 
 security of the building of the Ex- 
 hibition of 1851 from fire, 227, 
 232 ; lecture by, on the international 
 results of the Great Exhibition of 
 1851, 233 ; extracts from report by, 
 on Paris Exhibition of 1855, 257; 
 memorandum by, on a scheme of 
 annual international exhibitions, 269 ; 
 reports by, of Society of Arts Com- 
 mittee on Patent Reform, 274 ; extracts 
 from an address on the functions of 
 the Science and Art Department by, 
 285 ; memorandum on measures for 
 preventing excess in estimates for 
 public buildings by, 296; paper on 
 
 architecture at South Kensington by, 
 299 ; address on architecture, de- 
 livered at the Ecole Centrale d' Archi- 
 tecture by, 301; letter by, to the 
 " Times," on public architecture, 305 ; 
 speech by, at Nottingham School of 
 •A-rt, 339 ; memoir by, of the late 
 Captain Fowke, R.E., 349; address 
 by, on national culture and recrea- 
 tion, at the Liverpool Institute, 357 ; 
 letter by, to the "Times" on local 
 schools for cookery, 370 ; paper by, 
 on the development of elementary 
 education through domestic eco- 
 nomy, 373 ; paper by, on the esta- 
 blishment of a national college of 
 domestic economy, 378. 
 Cole, Major H. H., R.E., vol. i., 
 365 ; honorary architect of National 
 Training School for Music, 373. 
 Collections formed by Society of Arts : 
 by Professor Bennet Woodcroft : by 
 Mr. Twining, vol. i., 321. 
 Collections, postage stamp, unique col- 
 lection of experiments formed by 
 H. Cole, vol. i., 61. 
 College of Chemistry, vol. i., 306. 
 College of Domestic Economy, Na- 
 tional, vol. ii., 378. 
 College of Music, Royal, vol. i., 376, 
 
 377- 
 Colour-box, Society of Arts, vol. i., 385. 
 Colvin, Professor Sidney, on art, vol. 
 
 i., 104. 
 Commissioners, H.M., for the Exhibi- 
 tion of 1851, estate of, at South Ken- 
 sington, vol. i., 227 ; co-operation of, 
 promised for Exhibition of 1862, by 
 Prince Consort, 227 ; policy of, 228 ; 
 plans for laying out as gardens a part 
 of estate of, 229 ; negotiations vrith, as 
 to lease of land for Exhibition of 
 1862, 231; meeting between Prince 
 Consort and Mr. Bowring, secretary 
 to, 232 ; application to, from Council 
 of Society of Arts for grant of site, 
 236 ; memorandum on lease of land 
 of. 237 ; grant of site by, 238 ; pur- 
 chase of site from, by Government, 
 
394 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 250 ; buildings on estate of, 266 ; 
 plan of annual international exhibi- 
 tions laid before, 267 ; scheme adop- 
 ted by, 267 ; payments made to, by 
 administration of international exhibi- 
 tions, 269 ; advised to abandon exhi- 
 bitions after four experiments, 270 ; 
 account of purchase of South Ken- 
 sington estate by, 313 ; plans for dis- 
 posal of surplus funds from Great 
 Exhibition left in the hands of, 314 ; 
 collections formed under auspices of, 
 317,321 ; committee appointed by, to 
 report on surplus funds, 318 ; first 
 and final purchases of land by, 318 ; 
 site for National Gallery offered to 
 the Government by, 320 ; partnership 
 between the Government and, 323 ; 
 dissolution of partnership, 324 ; me- 
 morial to, from Directors of Royal 
 Academy of Music as to grant of 
 land on South Kensington estate, 
 365 ; provision for music in scheme 
 drawn up by, 365 ; further negotia- 
 tions between, and Royal Academy 
 of Music, and failure of them, 368 ; 
 grant of site by, on South Kensing- 
 ton estate, for National Training 
 School for Music, 373 ; for Training 
 School for Cookery, 396 ; vol. ii., 215 ; 
 extracts from first report of, 220, 225, 
 230. 
 Committee, House of Commons' Select) 
 on Record Commission, members of, 
 vol. i., 10 ; report of, 1 1 ; on Uniform 
 Penny Postage, 35 ; on Schools of 
 Design, no, 114, 286; on purchases 
 from Paris Exhibition of 1867, 262 ; 
 on Schools of Art, 304 ; on South 
 Kensington Museum, 339 ; report of, 
 
 340. 
 Committee, House of Lords' Select, on 
 
 Patent Laws, vol. i., 276. 
 Committees of House of Commons, 
 
 article on, by H. Cole, in " London 
 
 and Westminster Review," vol. ii., 24. 
 Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers in 
 
 Paris, vol. i., 321 ; report on, by H. 
 
 Cole, 3S2. 
 
 Consort, H.R.H. the Prince: extract! 
 
 from Life of, vol. i., 96, 165, 177-82, 
 
 186. Se: Albert, Prince. 
 Contract for carrying out Exhibition o: 
 
 1851, vol. i., 146. 
 Convention for reproductions of works o 
 
 art, signed by English and Foreigr 
 
 Royal Princes, vol. i., 260, 261. 
 Cookery. See School and Schools. 
 Cooper, Mr. Charles Purton, appointed 
 
 secretary to Record Commission o; 
 
 1831, vol. i., 7 ; vol. ii., 20, 23. 
 Cope, Mr. C. W., R.A., vol. i., loi, 
 
 244. 
 Cork, exhibition at, vol. L , 207. 
 Costa, Mr. (afterwards Sir Michael), vol. 
 
 i., 246, 36s, 367. 
 Cowley, Earl, British Ambassador in 
 
 Paris, vol. i., 209, 213. 
 Cowper, Mr. W. (now Lord Mount- 
 Temple), vol. i., 24s, 326. 
 Cox, Mr. David, jun., vol. i., 71. 
 Creswick, Mr. T., R.A., vol. i., 108. 
 Cross, Mr. (now Sir Richard, G.C.B.), 
 
 vol. ii., 365. 
 Crowe, Mr. Eyre, A.R.A., vol. i., 335. 
 Crystal Palace at Sydenham, vol. i., 
 
 204. 
 Cubitt, Mr. Thomas, vol. i., 126. 
 Cubitt,Mr. W. (afterwards Sir William), 
 
 chairman of building committee for 
 
 Exhibition of 185 1, vol. i., 163, 323; 
 
 vol. ii., 231, 
 Cundall, Mr. Joseph, publisher of Sum- 
 
 merly's Art Manufactures, vol. i., 103. 
 
 Decorative ateliers at South Kensington. 
 See chapter on, vol. i., 329. 
 
 De la Rue's process for producing post- 
 age stamps, vol. i., 61. 
 
 Department of Practical Art, vol. i., 
 279 ; formation of, 284 ; establish- 
 ment of, at Marlborough House, 284; 
 museum under, 285; purchase oi 
 Soulages collection by, 290-4 ; re- 
 moval of, from Marlborough House 
 to South Kensington, 294 ; organiza- 
 tion of, 297 ; appointment to, of H. 
 Cole and Mr. Redgrave, 297 ; division 
 
INDEX. 
 
 395 
 
 of work in, 297 ; memorandum on, 
 by H. Cole, 297; Normal Training 
 School of Art under, 299 ; elementary 
 instruction in art, 301 ; local Schools 
 of Art in connection with, 301, 305 ; 
 assistance given by, in establishing ele- 
 mentary drawing schools, 302 ; prizes 
 offered by, 303 ; scheme of payment 
 on results to teachers of drawing, 303 ; 
 Select Committee (1864) on Schools 
 of Art, 304 ; change of name of, to 
 Department of Science and Art, 305. 
 Department of Science and Art, vol. i., 
 208 ; change of name from Depart- 
 ment of Practical Art to, 305 ; for- 
 mation of science division of, 305 ; 
 institutions under, 305 ; schools of 
 science started, 306 ; transfer of, from 
 Board of Trade to Committee of 
 Council on Education, 307 ; slow 
 development of science division, 307; 
 elementary classes for science, and 
 science schools, 308 ; address on the 
 functions of, by H. Cole, 309 ; re-or- 
 ganization of science division, 309 ; 
 new plan of action for science divi- 
 sion, 310; minutes passed developing 
 science instruction : Normal School 
 of Science, 311 ; scientific and tech- 
 nical collections of, commenced in 
 1851, 312, 318; establishment of 
 architectural and decorative ateliers 
 at South Kensington under, 329 ; 
 functions of, an address on the, by 
 H. Cole, vol. ii., 285. 
 Derby, Earl of, the late, concurrence in 
 scheme for annual international exhi- 
 bitions, vol. i., 266. See also Stan- 
 ley, Lord. 
 Design, Schools of. See Schools. 
 Dickens, Charles, vol. i., 197 ; interest 
 in the Patent Laws, 274 ; letter by, 
 to H. Cole : the " Poor Man's Tale 
 of a Patent," by, 274, 275. 
 Dilke, Mr. C. W. (afterwards Sir Went- 
 worth, Bart.), vol. i., 134 ; member of 
 Executive Committee for Exhibition 
 of 1851, 148, 156, 159. 226, 228, 229 ; 
 trustee and commissioner for Exhi- 
 
 bition of 1862, 230, 239; vol. ii., 
 226. 
 
 Dilke, Mr., father of Sir Wentworth 
 Dilke, vol. i., 134; vol. ii., 253. 
 
 Dillwyn, Mr., M.P., attacks publication 
 of Universal Catalogue of Art Books, 
 vol. i., 344. 
 
 Disraeli, Mr., M.P. (afterwards Earl 
 of Beaconsfield), vol. i., 351, 352 ; 
 vol. ii., 346, 352, 377. 
 
 Docks at Great Grimsby, interest taken 
 in, by Prince Albert, vol. i., 87 ; ad- 
 vertisements of, in German and 
 French, in " Times," 91 ; Prince 
 Albert lays the first stone of, 93 ; 
 dock dues, 97 ; list of books, &c., 
 collected on the occasion of Prince 
 Albert's visit to, vol. ii., 157 ; order 
 of ceremonies for laying the first 
 stone of, by Prince Albert, 158. 
 
 Domestic economy, Mr. Twining's 
 museum of, vol. i., 321 ; national in- 
 struction in, 387 ; conferences on, 
 held at Birmingham, Manchester, and 
 London, 388, 397 ; paper by H. 
 Cole on development of elementary 
 education through, 397 ; paper on the 
 establishment of a national college 
 of, by H. Cole, 397 ; development of 
 elementary education through : paper 
 by H. Cole on, vol. ii., 373 ; esta- 
 blishment of a national college of: 
 paper by H. Cole on, 378. 
 
 Donaldson, Mr., vol. i., 163. 
 
 Donnelly, Colonel, R.E., vol. i., 247, 
 352 ; vol. ii., 3SS. 
 
 D'Orsay, Count, vol. i., 287 ; vol. ii., 
 185. 
 
 Drew, Mr. George, solicitor for first 
 contractors for Exhibition of 1851, 
 vol. i., 147 ; member of Executive 
 Committee, 148; letter by, to Prince 
 Albert, on the contract for the Great 
 Exhibition of 1851, vol. ii., 221, 
 224. 
 Drill in boys' schools, vol. i., 386. 
 Drill reviews, annual, vol. i., 387 ; 
 banner offered by Society of Arts for, 
 387. 
 
396 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Drummond, Mr. Henry, M.P., vol. i., 
 
 392. 
 Dudley, Earl of. See Ward, Lord. 
 Diirer, Albert, specimens of the style of 
 
 engraving by, vol. i., 102; "Small 
 
 Passion" by, edited by H. Cole, 
 
 vol. ii., 166. 
 Dyce, Mr. W., R.A., vol. i., 108, 280. 
 
 Eastlake, Sir Charles, P.R.A., vol. i., 
 288. 
 
 Ecole Centrale d'Architecture at Paris, 
 address delivered at, by H. Cole, 
 vol. i., 337 ; vol. ii., 301. 
 
 Edinburgh, H.R.H. the Duke of, 
 chairman of Navigation Committee 
 at Paris Exhibition of 1867, vol. L, 
 258, 260 ; joins committee of musical 
 education of Society of Arts, 371, 
 372 ; foundation stone of School for 
 Music laid by, 373 ; president of 
 committee of general management 
 of School for Music, 373. 
 
 Edinburgh, Museum of Science and Art 
 at, vol. ii., 352. 
 
 Education, public, primary and secon- 
 dary, notes by H. Cole on, vol. i., 
 348 ; musical. Society of Arts' com- 
 mittee on, 366, 369, 387 ; elemen- 
 tary, development of, through do- 
 mestic economy, vol. ii., 373. 
 
 Education Department, vol. i. , 307. 
 
 Educational Exhibition at St. Martin's 
 Hall, vol. i., 321. 
 
 Elcho, Lord, vol. i., 222, 262, 293, 
 320. _ 
 
 Ellesmere, late Earl of, vol. i., 150, 
 163. 
 
 Endowed Schools' Bill, vol. i., 387. 
 
 .Etching on copper practised by H. 
 Cole, vol. i., 102, 103. 
 
 Etching class formed at South Kensing- 
 ton Museum, vol. i., 103. 
 
 Evidence taken before House of Com- 
 mons, reform in printing, suggested 
 by H. Cole, vol. i. , 15; pamphlet by 
 H. Cole on, vol. ii., 18. 
 
 Exchange of copies of works of fine 
 art, international, memorandum by 
 
 H. Cole on, vol. i., 346; minute 
 passed on, 347. 
 Executive Committee, first, for Exhi- 
 bition of 1851, members of, vol. i., 
 148 ; necessity for, 154 ; second 
 Committee constituted, 156. 
 Exhibition at Cork, vol. L, 207. 
 Exhibition, Great, of 1851, in London, 
 vol. i., 116; preliminary plans, 
 120-3 ; fifst meeting with Prince 
 Albert on, 123 ; international cha- 
 racter of, 124 ; sites for, 125 ; meet- 
 ings on, at Buckingham Palace : at 
 Osborne, 126 ; deputations to towns 
 on : Prince Albert's correspondence 
 vrith Sir George Grey on, 127 ; re- 
 ports on visits to towns, 128, 129 ; 
 correspondence on country meetings, 
 131-3 ; City of London meeting, 
 133-45 ) City Committee to pro- 
 mote, 145 ; contract made between 
 Society of Arts and Messrs. Mun- 
 day, 146 ; statement of proceedings 
 by Mr. Scott Russell, 147 ; ap- 
 pointment of first Executive Com- 
 mittee, 148 ; contract cancelled, 148 ; 
 issue of Royal Commission, 149 ; 
 Royal Commissioners, 150, 151 ; 
 necessity for public subscriptions 
 for, 154; resignation of Mr. Robert 
 Stephenson as chairman of Execu- 
 tive Committee, and appointment of 
 Colonel Reid, R.E., as chairman, 
 155 ; employment of Royal Engineers 
 in, 156 ; second Executive Committee 
 constituted, 157 ; ambiguous position 
 of Executive Committee, l6l ; work 
 of committee, 161, 162 ; appoint- 
 ment of building committee : original 
 site in Hyde Park recommended by 
 committee, 163 ; competition for 
 plans for building invited, 163 ; re- 
 ports of building committee, 163, 164; 
 Mr. Paxton's plan, 164; parliamentary 
 opposition to the site in Hyde Park, 
 165 ; Prince Albert's letter to Baron 
 Stockmar on, 165 ; division in House 
 of Commons on site, 166 ; majority 
 in favour of Hyde Park, 167 ; guaran- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 397 
 
 tee fund for, i68 ; Mr. Peto's liberal 
 offer, 169 ; Mr. Paxton's plan for, 
 adopted, 171; Fox and Henderson's 
 tender for, accepted, 171 ; obstacles 
 during building of, 173 ; royal 
 visits to, 174-7, 182-S ; opening of, 
 by the Queen, 177; Her Majesty's 
 account of opening of, 1 77-80 ; 
 Queen's visit to, on first shilling day, 
 183 ; panics during building of, and 
 early days of, 185 ; Working Classes 
 Committee, 188 ; visits of the work- 
 ing classes to, 192 ; incidents before 
 opening of, and during, 193-7; <iis- 
 cussion on prices for admission, 194 ; 
 free admission of the Press to, 195 ; 
 the British and Foreign Bible Society, 
 19s ; first shilling day, 195 ; season 
 tickets, 196; enormous and unreason- 
 able demand for space in, 196 ; police 
 arrangements for, 198; anecdote of a 
 Russian visit to, 198 ; fire arrange- 
 ments, 198 ; closing of, 199 ; honours 
 offered and conferred on staff of, 199 ; 
 Lord Palmerston and Lord Macaulay 
 on, 200 ; Paris f€tes to commis- 
 sioners, &c. , 200-2 ; statistics, 203 ; 
 surplus on, 204 ; future prospects of, 
 204 ; removal of building materials of, 
 to Sydenham, 204 ; lectures on results 
 of, 205 ; plans for using surplus on, in 
 founding Institute of Science and Art, 
 282; purchase of art objects from, 
 283 ; Prince Albert's plan for disposal 
 of surplus funds from, 314, 380, 392 ; 
 extracts from preface to catalogue of, 
 by H. Cole, vol. ii., zo8 ; extracts 
 from first report of Commissioners 
 for, 220, 225, 230 ; letter by Mr. 
 George Drew, addressed to Prince 
 Albert on the contract for, 221 ; 
 Colonel Phipps's reply, 224 ; report 
 by H. Cole on the security of the 
 building from fire, 227. 
 Exhibition in London of 1862, buildings 
 of, in Cromwell Road and Queen's 
 Gate, vol. i., 225 ; plan for hold- 
 ing, in 1861, brought before Society 
 of Arts, 226 ; fine arts and music 
 
 to be a feature : a great hall for 
 music, 226 ; guarantee fund, 227 ; 
 co-operation of Commissioners for 
 1851, promised by Prince Con- 
 sort, 227 ; plans for buildings dis- 
 cussed, 228 ; policy of Commissioners 
 of 185 1 : early supporters of gua- 
 rantee, 228; Franco-Austrian war 
 (1859) and postponement of, 229 ; 
 progress with guarantee, 229 ; work 
 of, resumed, and to take place in 
 1862, 230 ; trustees of guarantee 
 fund, 230; guarantee deed, 231 
 Bradford and guarantee fund, 233 
 free grant of site by H.M. Com- 
 missioners, 238 ; question of manage 
 mentof: trustees of guarantee fiind be- 
 come managers of, 239 ; plans and cost 
 of building discussed, 240, 241 ; con 
 tract for erecting buildings of, 241 
 difference of opinion among Commis- 
 sioners as to building plans, 241, 242 
 tenders for buildings, 242 ; great haV 
 for music given up, 243 ; building 
 committee and contractors, 244 
 decoration of fa9ade in Cromwell 
 Road discussed : mosaic wall pic- 
 tures proposed, 244 ; effect o: 
 Piince Consort's death on, 245, 249 ; 
 difBculties in administration of, 245- 
 6 ; arrangements for State open- 
 ing of, 246 ; special commissioners 
 appointed to represent the Queen, 
 247 ; opening on 1st May, 248 ; 
 clearance of nave, of trophies, 248 ; 
 financial condition of: deficit an- 
 ticipated, 248 ; scheme for use of 
 buildings of, 249 ; proposed comple- 
 tion of buildings, 250 ; purchase of 
 site of, by the Government : buildings 
 pulled down, 250 ; declaration of 
 awards to exhibitors, 250 ; examina- 
 tion into expenditure for, 250 ; close 
 of, 251 ; receipts and expenditure of, 
 251. 
 Exhibition at New York, vol. i., 207. 
 Exhibition at Paris of 1849, vol. i., 123. 
 Exhibition at Paris of 1855. vol. i., 
 206 ; estimated cost of British sec- 
 
398 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 tion o^' 208, 209 ; commission of 
 management proposed : administered 
 by Government, 210 ; Executive 
 Committee appointed, 210 ; build- 
 ings erected for, Palais de I'lndustrie, 
 annexe for machinery, Palais des 
 Beaux Arts, 212 ; H. Cole appointed 
 Executive Commissioner, 213 ; safety 
 of fine art collections imperilled, 213 ; 
 opening fixed for ist May, postponed 
 to 15th May, 215 ; opening of, on isth 
 May, 216 ; imperfections of buildings, 
 216 ; official hospitalities, 217 ; visits 
 of the Queen and Prince Albert to, 
 219; fete at Versailles, 220; Eng- 
 lish pottery at, 220 ; visit of Council 
 of Society of Arts to, 221 ; close of, 
 awards to exhibitors at, 221 ; awards 
 in respect of British fine art : de- 
 coration of the Legion of Honour, 
 222 ; private distribution of the Legion 
 of Honour, 223 ; difficulties in con- 
 nection with its distribution, 222-4 > 
 extracts from report of, by H. Cole, 
 vol. ii., 257. 
 
 Exhibition at Paris of 1867, vol. L, 
 252 ; H. Cole appointed Executive 
 Commissioner to, 252 ; extent and 
 novelties of, 252 ; main building of, 
 in Champ de Mars : buildings in 
 park and grounds, 253 ; Government 
 " exhibits," 254; cost of British sec- 
 tion of, 254 ; H. Cole's estimates for, 
 25s ; Imperial Commission for, 255 ; 
 difficulties with Imperial Commission, 
 257 ; meetings of Foreign Commis- 
 sioners, 257 ; French committee for 
 allotment of space : Imperial Com- 
 mission and British fine art, 257 ; in- 
 ternational regatta at, 258 ; Mr. Beres- 
 ford Hope and architectural com- 
 mittee for, 259 ; history of labour at, 
 259 ; purchases for South Kensington 
 Museum from, 261, 262 ; banquet to 
 Imperial Commission at close of, 262 ; 
 fite at Fontainebleau to British staff 
 and employes at, 262, 263. 
 
 Exhibition, Art Treasures, at Manches- 
 ter, vol. i., 292. 
 
 Exhibition, Educational, at St. Martin's 
 Hall, organized by the Society of 
 Arts, vol. i., 321. 
 
 Exhibition, Loan, of furniture at Gore 
 House, Kensington, vol. i., 287. 
 
 Exhibition, National, of British manu- 
 factures, vol. i., 118. 
 
 Exhibitions, annual international, in 
 London, vol. i., 264; the Prince 
 Consort's opinion as to classification 
 in, 264 ; discussion on, at meeting 
 at Marlborough House, 267 ; plan 
 for, laid before H.M. Commis- 
 sioners for Exhibition of 185 1, 267 ; 
 scheme adopted : series of ten, pro- 
 posed, 267 ; executive organization 
 of, devolves on H. Cole, 267 ; open- 
 ing of first of series of (1 87 1), 268; 
 causes of ultimate want of success of, 
 268 ; receipts of first of the, 269 ; 
 technical instruction, the aim of, 269 ; 
 scheme abandoned, 270 ; memoran- 
 dum on a scheme of, by H. Cole, vol. 
 ii., 269. 
 
 Exhibitions, future international, meet- 
 ing of foreign commissioners in 1867 
 to discuss management of, vol. i., 
 264 ; decisions arrived at, 265. 
 
 Exhibitions, international, vol. i., 206, 
 225, 252, 264. 
 
 Exhibitions, Loan, commencement of 
 system of, vol, i., 288, 289. 
 
 Exhibitions, Society of Arts, vol. i, 
 378, 379. 392. 
 
 Fairbaim, Mr. (now Sir Thomas, Bart. ), 
 trustee and commissioner for Exhi- 
 bition of 1862, vol. i., 230. 
 
 Fawcett, Mr., M.P., Postmaster Gene- 
 ral, vol. i., loi. 
 
 "Felix Summerly," H. Cole's nom de 
 plume, vol. i., 98. 
 
 Foley, Lord, vol. i., 262. 
 
 Food Collection at South Kensington 
 Museum, vol. i., 353. 
 
 Foster, Mr. P. Le Neve, secretary to 
 Society of Arts, vol. i., 121 ; letter 
 by, to H.M. Commissioners for Ex- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 399 
 
 hibition of 185 1, as to lease of land, 
 231. 
 Forster, Mr. W. E., Vice-President of 
 the Council, vol. i., 354; voL ii., 
 
 347- 
 
 Fould, M. Achille, vol. i., 213, 214. 
 Fowke, Capt., R.E., appointed sec- 
 retary to English Commission for 
 Paris Exhibition of 1855, vol. i., 213; 
 his plans for buildings for Exhibition 
 of 1862, 228, 241; architects' jealousy 
 of, 241 ; plan of road across Hyde 
 Park prepared by, 245 ; designs by, 
 to complete buildings of Exhibition 
 of 1862, 250; designs by, for Na- 
 tural History Museum : obtains first 
 prize, 250 ; principles as to erection 
 of picture galleries, 325 ; designs for 
 arcades of Horticultural Gardens by, 
 330; buildings at South Kensington 
 Museum plaimed and erected by, 333 ; 
 death of, 335, 3S3 5 design for Royal 
 Albert Hall by, 361, 363, 364 ; vol. 
 iu , 306 ; memoir of, by H. Cole, 349. 
 
 Fowler, Mr. John, engineer of Man- 
 chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire 
 Railway, vol. i., 90, 91. 
 
 Fox and Henderson, Messrs., contrac- 
 tors at Birmingham, agree to tender 
 for Great Exhibition building, vol. i., 
 166, 174. 
 
 Fox, Mr. Charles (afterwards Sir 
 Charles), vol. i., 166; vol. ii., 231. 
 
 Franking letters, vol. i., 43 ; the Queen 
 resigns her privilege of, 57. 
 
 Franks, Mr. A. W., vol. i., 262. 
 
 Freake, Mr. (now Sir Charles, Bart.), 
 vol. i., 372 ; offer of, to build Na- 
 tional Training School for Music, 
 373 ; presents building to Prince of 
 Wales, 376. 
 
 Free Library Acts, vol. i., 385. 
 
 French Post Office, M. Piron's pamphlet 
 on, vol. i., 65. 
 
 Fuller, Mr. Francis, vol. i., 126, 130, 
 148. 
 
 Galloway, Sir Archibald, K.C.B., vol. 
 i., ISO. 
 
 Gamble, Mr. James, vol. i., 333, 335. 
 
 Gauge, break of, at Gloucester, vol. i., 
 82 ; illustration by J. H. Townsend, 
 vol. ii., 149 ; Jeames on the gauge 
 question, articles in " Punch " on, by 
 W. M. Thackeray, 150-7. 
 
 Gauge, broad and narrow, vol. i., 77, 
 78. 
 
 Gauge, uniformity of, vol. i., 77 ; letter 
 by H. Cole to Mr. G. Carr Glyn, 
 advocating, 79-82; pamphlets on, 
 
 83. 
 
 George IV., art collections of: esta- 
 blishment of National Gallery by, vol. 
 i., 5 ; collection of arms of, at Carl- 
 ton Ride Repository, 23. 
 
 Gibb, Capt., R.E., vol. i., 198. 
 
 Gibson, Mr. T. Field, Royal Commis- 
 sioner for Exhibition of 1851 : note 
 by, on Sir R. Peel at meeting of Royal 
 Commission for Exhibition of 1851, 
 vol. i., 167. 
 
 Gibson, Mr. Milner, M.P., obtains abo- 
 lition of newspaper penny stamp, 
 vol. i., 39 ; draft report on National 
 Exhibition, 122. 
 
 Gladstone, Mr., vol. i., 150, 249, 289, 
 290 ; vol. ii., 305. 
 
 Glazed earthenware at South Kensington 
 Museum, use of, vol. i., 334. 
 
 Glyn, Mr. George Carr (afterwards 
 LordWolverton), chairman of London 
 and Birmingham Railway, vol. i., 78. 
 
 Glyphography, vol. i., 102 ; experi- 
 ments in, vol. ii., 163. 
 
 Goods trains, passengers by, vol. i., 74. 
 
 Gore House, loan exhibition of furni- 
 ture at, vol. i., 287 ; annual exhi- 
 bition of students' works at : visit of 
 the Queen and Prince Albert to, 287. 
 
 Granville, Earl, Vice-President of the 
 Board of Trade, vol. i. , 109 ; chair- 
 man of Royal Commissioners for Ex- 
 hibition of 1851, 150, 155, 162, 168, 
 183, 193. 195. 199. 224, 230; presi- 
 dent of Royal Commission for Exhi- 
 bition of 1862, 240, 241, 243, 246, 
 247, 249, 250, 262, 267, 273 ; moves 
 for select committee on Patent Laws, 
 
400 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 276, 283, 289 ; Lord President of the 
 Council, 304, 307, 309, 311, 326, 
 366 ; vol. ii., 346. 
 
 Great Grimsby, Docks at, vol. i., 87. 
 
 Gregory, Mr., M.P. (now Rt. Hon. 
 Sir William), attacks publication of 
 Universal Catalogue of Art Books, 
 vol. i., 344. 
 
 Grey, General Hon. Charles, private 
 secretary to Prince Albert, vol. i., 
 169, 170, 188; letter by, to H. 
 Cole, on Prince's guarantee for Ex- 
 hibition of 1862, 232, 266 ; letter to, 
 by H. Cole, on "The Boilers" at 
 South Kensington, 323, 324, 360, 
 361, 362, 367 ; letter by, to Earl of 
 Wilton on Royal Academy of Music, 
 368. 
 
 Grey, Sir George, Home Secretary, vol. 
 i., 127. 
 
 "Guide" newspaper. The, edited by 
 H. Cole, vol. i., 38. 
 
 Guilds of Health, vol. i., 388 ; letter 
 on, by Prince of Wales, to H. Cole, 
 388. 
 
 Hall of Arts and Sciences, Central. 
 See Albert Hall. 
 
 Hampton Court, handbook to, vol. i., 
 98 ; vol. ii., 195, 196. 
 
 Plampton, Lord. See Pakington. 
 
 Hanaper or hamper, a, for holding 
 records, vol. ii., 42. 
 
 Handbook of National Training School 
 for Cookery, vol. i., 396. 
 
 Hardy, Thomas Duffus (afterwards Sir 
 Thomas), vol. i., 9 ; appointed de- 
 puty-keeper of Public Records, 14. 
 
 Hardy, Mr. William, vol. i., 14. 
 
 Health and sewage of towns, con- 
 ferences on, at Society of Arts, vol. i., 
 
 388. 397- 
 Health, national, conferences on, vol. i., 
 
 388 ; H. Cole's work for, 397 ; guilds 
 
 of. See Guilds. 
 Helena, H.R.H., the Princess (Princess 
 
 Christian of Schleswig-Holstein), vol. 
 
 i., 268. 
 
 Henley, Mr., President of Board of 
 Trade, vol. 1., 293, 297 ; vol. ii., 
 346. 
 
 Henry VIII.'s Scheme of Bishopricks, 
 edited by H. Cole, extracts from 
 prefatory remarks on, vol. ii., 67. 
 
 Herbert, Mr. J. R., R.A., vol. i., 108, 
 283. 
 
 Herbert, Sidney (afterwards Lord Her- 
 bert of Lea), vol. ii., 330. 
 
 Hill, Rowland (afterwards Sir Row- 
 land), vol. i., 34; his plan of Penny 
 Postage, 35 ; paper on postage 
 stamps, 66, 85; vol. ii., 113, 114, 117, 
 124, 136. 
 
 History of labour in Paris Exhibition 
 of 1867, vol. i., 259. 
 
 "Home Treasury," The, vol. i., loi ; 
 original announcement of Summerly's, 
 vol. ii., 160. 
 
 Hook, Mr. J. C, R.A., vol. i., 244. '■ 
 
 Horsley, Mr. J. C, R.A., vol. i., loi, 
 108, 244 ; vol. ii., 161, 162, 188. 
 
 Horticultural Society, Royal, grant of 
 lease of land on South Kensington 
 estate to, vol. i., 327 ; opening of 
 gardens of, by Prince Consort, 327 ; 
 rentals paid to Commissioners by, 
 vol. i., 328 ; designs by Mr. Smirke 
 and Captain Fowke for arcades sur- 
 rounding gardens o^ 330. 
 
 Houghton, Lord, memoir of Charles 
 BuUer by, vol. i., 16 ; epitaph on C. 
 BuUer by, 17 ; vol. ii., 61. 
 
 "House full of Horrors," a, article in 
 " Household Words" on museum of 
 " False Principles " at Marlborough 
 House, vol. i., 285. 
 
 Hudson, Mr. Octavius, vol. i., 299. 
 
 Hudson, the Railway King, vol. i., 70. 
 
 Hume, Joseph, M.P., supporter of postal 
 reform, vol. i., 51 ; advocates unifor- 
 mity of gauge, 80, 134, 144; vol.ii., I, 
 26, 321. 
 
 Hunt, Mr. W. Holman, vol. i., 244. 
 
 Huskisson, Mr., M.P., President of the 
 Board of Trade, vol. i ., 78. 
 
 Huxley, Professor, Dean of Normal 
 School of Science, vol. i., 311. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 401 
 
 Hyde Park, Exhibition of 1851 in, 
 vol. i., 125, 163, 165, 167 ; load 
 across, 245. 
 
 Imperial French Commission for Exhi- 
 bition of 1867, vol. i., 255. 
 
 "Inconsistencies of Men of Genius,'' 
 pamphlet by H. Cole, vol. i., 82. 
 
 Indian architecture, casts of, at South 
 Kensington Museum, vol. i., 348. 
 
 Inglis, Sir Robert, M.P., vol. i., 6, 
 13. 196. 
 
 International exhibitions, vol. i., 116, 
 206, 225, 252, 264. 
 
 International playing cards produced 
 by H. Cole, vol. i., 103. 
 
 Irons, Rev. Dr., vol. i., 393. 
 
 "Irresponsible Boards," an article by 
 H. Cole in the "Edinburgh Review," 
 vol. i., 350 ; extracts from, vol. ii., 
 309 ; speech on, by Lord Henry Len- 
 nox, 309. 
 
 Jardin d'Hiver, ball at, vol. i., 216. 
 Jones, Mr. E. Burne, vol. i., 335. 
 Jones, Mr. Owen, vol. i., 175, 198,335. 
 "Journal of Design," edited by H. 
 Cole, vol. i., 390. 
 
 Kelk, Mr. (now Sir John, Bart.), agrees 
 to tender for erection of buildings 
 for Exhibition of 1862, vol. i., 228 ; 
 liberality of, 251. 
 
 Kelk and Lucas, Messrs., contractors 
 for Exhibition of 1862, vol. i., 242. 
 
 Kinnaird, Hon. A. (now Lord Kin- 
 naird), vol. i., 195. 
 
 Labouchere, Mr. (afterwards Lord 
 Taunton), President of Board of 
 Trade, vol. i., 109; deputation to, 
 on suggested National Exhibition, 
 121, 283, 294; letter to, by H. Cole, 
 on School of Design, 295, 297 ; vol. 
 ii., 216, 346. 
 
 Langdale, Lord, Master of the Rolls, 
 vol. i., 14; introduction to, 15; 
 commences consolidation of Record 
 offices by removing records to Carlton 
 II. 
 
 Ride, 19 ; controversy on new reposi- 
 tory between Treasury and, 25 ; ad- 
 dresses a letter to Sir Robert Peel on 
 the subject : letter by, to secretary of 
 the Treasury, 27 ; protest of, 30 ; 
 last and successful appeal to the 
 Government : resigns Mastership of 
 the Rolls, 31 ; death of, 32, 161 ; 
 vol. ii., so, 59. 
 
 Layard, Mr. (now Sir Austen Henry, 
 G.C.B.), moves for select committee 
 for purchases from Paris Exhibition 
 of 1867, vol. i., 262. 
 
 Lectures on postage reform proposed, 
 vol. i., 44. 
 
 Lefevre, Mr. J. Shaw (afterwards Sir 
 John Shaw), permanent secretary of 
 the Board of Trade, vol. i., 109, 121, 
 272. 
 
 Leveson-Gower, Hon. E. F., vol. i., 
 
 396- 
 
 Leighton, Mr. F. (now Sir Frederick), 
 P.R.A., fresco by, at South Kensing- 
 ton Museum, vol. i., 335. 
 
 Lennox, Lord Henry, speech on Irre- 
 sponsible Boards, vol. ii., 309. 
 
 Le Play, M., vol. i., 217 ; chief com- 
 missioner for France (Commissaire 
 General) in Paris Exhibition of 1867, 
 256 ; letter by H. Cole to, 256, 258. 
 
 Leslie, Mr. George, R.A., vol. i., 334. 
 
 Lincoln, Lord (afterwards Duke of 
 Newcastle), First Commissioner of 
 Works, vol. i., 23. 
 
 Lingen, Mr. (now Sir Ralph, K.C.B.), 
 secretary of Education Department, 
 vol. i., 309. 
 
 Linnells, the, father and sons, John, 
 James, and William, vol. i., loi, 
 102 ; vol. ii., 163-5. 
 
 Liverpool Institute, address delivered 
 at, by H. Cole, vol. ii., 357. 
 
 Llandaff, Bishop of, vol. ii., 20, 2i. 
 
 Locke, Mr. John, M.P., attacks the 
 South Kensington Museum, vol. i., 
 
 339. 340- 
 "London Gazette,'' extractfrom, vol. ii., 
 
 231. 
 Lonsdale, Earl of. See Lowther. 
 D D 
 
402 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Lowe, Mr. (now Viscount Sherbrooke), 
 Vice-President of the Council, vol. i., 
 243. 259, 293, 311, 336, 393. 
 
 Lowther, Lord (afterwards Earl of Lons- 
 dale), a Post Office reformer, becomes 
 Postmaster-General, vol. i., 69. 
 
 Loyd, Mr. S, Jones- (afterwards Lord 
 Overstone), vol. i., 52, 151, 267. 
 
 Lyndhm'st, Lord, vol. i., 56. 
 
 Macaulay, Lord, notices by, on Charles 
 BuUer, vol. i., 18 ; on the Great Ex- 
 hibition, 200. 
 
 MacCallum, Mr. Andrew, sgraffito by, 
 vol. i., 329. 
 
 MacCulIoch, Mr., political economist, 
 attaclcs plan of Penny Postage, vol. 
 i., 52. 
 
 MacDonald, Mr. J. C, vol. i., 199, 351. 
 
 Maclise, Mr., R.A.,vol. i., 108, 109, 
 244. 
 
 Madden, Mr. (afterwards Sir Frederick), 
 Keeper of MSS. at the British Mu- 
 seum, vol. i., 5- 
 
 Manchester, Art Treasures Exhibition 
 at, vol. i., 292 ; Soulages collection 
 at, 292. 
 
 Maimers, Lord John, vol. i., 194. 
 
 Marks, Mr., R.A., vol. i., 334. 
 
 Marlborough, late Duke of, Lord Pre- 
 sident of the Council, vol. i., 262, 
 352. 
 
 Marlborough House, removal of collec- 
 tions of purchases from the Great 
 Exhibition to, vol. i. , 284 ; opening 
 of museum at, by the Queen, 285 ; 
 loans by the Queen to museum at, 
 285 ; museum of " False Principles " 
 at, 285 ; report by H. Cole on mu- 
 seum at, 286 ; development of mu- 
 seum at, 287, 289 ; purchase of Ban- 
 dinel collection for museum at, 287; 
 system of reproductions inaugurated, 
 289 ; parliamentary votes for museum 
 at, 289 ; purchase of Bernal collection 
 for museum at, 289 ; Soulages collec- 
 tion exhibited at, 291. 
 
 Martin, Sir Theodore, his " Life of the 
 Prince Consort," vol. i., 96. 
 
 '■■Matchwick, Mr. W., report made by, 
 as to C. BuUer's being a Privy Coun- 
 cillor, vol. i., 18-20. 
 
 Mayne, Mr. (afterwards Sir Richard), 
 Chief Commissioner of Police, vol. i., 
 183, 187, 188, 197. 
 
 Memorial, National, to Prince Consort, 
 Great Hall of Arts and Sciences sug- 
 gested as part of, vol. i., 359, 362. 
 
 Melbourne, Lord, Prime Minister, de- 
 putation to, to urge adoption of Penny 
 Postage, 48 ; his reply, 52, 55 ; urges 
 the adoption of the measure, 57. 
 
 Mercantile Committee in favour of 
 Penny Postage, members of, deputa- 
 tion from, vol. i., 48. 
 
 Mill, James, father of John Stuart Mil], 
 introduction to, vol. 1., 15. 
 
 Mill, John Stuart, acquaintance with, 
 vol. i., 5 ; sympathy of, with H. 
 Cole in controversy with Record 
 Commissioners, 15 ; on art, 104 ; on 
 patents, 273. 
 
 Milnes, Mr. Monckton. 5>^ Houghton, 
 Lord. 
 
 Minister of Public Instruction, a, vol. 
 i-, 350- 
 
 Minton, Mr. Herbert, vol. i., 104 ; de- 
 sign for a beer jug, 105, 291 ; vol. ii., 
 185. 
 
 Minton, Messrs., vol. i., 106, 107, 244. 
 
 Models and inventions, national collec- 
 tion of, vol. ]., 321. 
 
 Moffiitt, Mr. George, M.P. for Dart- 
 mouth, Ashburton, &c., his work 
 and career, vol. i., 35, 36; forms 
 Mercantile Committee for Penny Post- 
 age, 37 ; his challenge to the Govern- 
 ment, 51 ; on proposed Great Exhibi- 
 tion of 185 1, 134. 
 
 Montagu, Lord Robert, Vice-President 
 of the Council, vol. i. , 344, 348. 
 
 Monteagle, Lord. See Rice. 
 
 Moody, Mr. W. F., vol. i., 334, 335. 
 
 Morpeth, Lord (afterwards Earl of Car- 
 lisle), deputation to, on suggested 
 National Exhibition of 185 1, vol. i:, 
 122. 
 
 Morris, Messrs., and Co., vol. i., 335. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 403 
 
 Mon-is, Mr. William, vol. i., 335. 
 
 Mosaic work at South Kensington 
 Museum, vol. i., 334. 
 
 Mosaics, report on, by H. Cole, vol. i., 
 353 j reproductions of, at South Ken- 
 sington Museum, 353. 
 
 Mount-Temple, Lord. See Cowper. 
 
 Mulready, W., R.A., designs postage 
 cover, vol. i., 63, loi, 108, 193, 244 ; 
 studies by, 287, 288. 
 
 Mulready postage cover, vol. i., 63 ; en- 
 graving of, 64; vol. ii., 135. 
 
 Munday, Messrs., contractors for carry- 
 ing out Exhibition of 1851, vol. i., 
 146 ; vol. ii., 220, 221, 226. 
 
 Mundella, Mr., M.P., vol. 1., 386. 
 
 Museum of art manufactures, nucleus 
 of, vol. i., 283 ; use of Marlborough 
 House for, 284. 
 
 Museum, Bethnal Green Branch. See 
 Bethnal Green. 
 
 Museum, Natural History, competi- 
 tion of designs for buildings for, vol. 
 i. , 250 ; first prize avyrarded to Captain 
 Fowke, 250. 
 
 Museum at Nottingham. See Notting- 
 ham. 
 
 Museum, Science and Art, at Edin- 
 burgh. See Edinburgh. 
 
 Museum, South Kensington. See South 
 Kensington. 
 
 Museums, opening of, on Sundays, vol. 
 i-> 349; local provincial, 354; me- 
 tropolitan, scheme for establishment 
 
 of, 353. 385- 
 
 Music, National Training School for. 
 See School. 
 
 Music, Royal Academy of. See Aca- 
 demy. 
 
 Musical church services, week-day, 
 started by H. Cole, vol. i., 393 ; suc- 
 cess of, 394 ; held at Birmingham 
 and Manchester, 394. 
 
 Napoleon III., the Emperor, meeting 
 between Queen Victoria and, vol. 
 i., 3 ; visit of, to Exhibition (1855) 
 buildings, 215; visit of the Queen and 
 Prince Albert to, 217, 287. 
 
 Napoleon, Prince, President of the Im- 
 perial Commission for Paris Exhibi- 
 tion of 1855, vol. i., 216; distributes 
 privately the Legion of Honour to 
 H. Cole and others, 223 ; presentation 
 to, of an album of signatures of foreign 
 commissioners, 224, 260. 
 
 National Art Training Schools. See 
 Schools. 
 
 National culture and recreation, anti- 
 dotes to vice, address on, by H. 
 Cole, at Liverpool Institute, vol. ii., 
 357- 
 
 National Exhibition of British Manu- 
 factures, first suggestion for, by H. 
 Cole, vol. i., 118; draft of suggestion 
 laid before Prince Albert, 120 ; depu- 
 tation from Society of Arts to Board 
 of Trade on, 121 ; petition to Parlia- 
 ment presented through Mr. Milner 
 Gibson : his draft report, 122 ; en- 
 largement of scheme, 123. 
 
 National Gallery, handbook to the, 
 102 ; commission on the question of 
 a site for, vol. i., 318 ; proposal to 
 remove, to South Kensington, 320 ; 
 second commission on, constituted : 
 report in favour of remaining in 
 Trafalgar Square, 320 ; vol. ii., 162 ; 
 illustrations from handbook to, 164, 
 165. 
 
 Nations, Exhibition of Works of In- 
 dustiy of all. ^i?^ Exhibition of 185 1. 
 
 Newman, Dr. (now Cardinal), vol. i., 
 18 ; vol. ii., 374. 
 
 News, What is ? vol. i., 39. 
 
 Newspaper, What is a? vol. i., 41. 
 
 Newspaper penny stamp, abolition of, 
 vol. i., 39. 
 
 New York, Exhibition at (1853), vol. 
 i., 207. 
 
 Nicolas, Sir Harris, pamphlets on 
 proceedings of Record Commission 
 by, vol. i., 13 ; enters Record Office, 
 14. 
 
 Northcote, Mr. Stafford H. (now Sir 
 Stafford, Bart.), joint-secretary to 
 Royal Commission for Exhibition of 
 1851, vol. i., 153; vol. ii., 232. 
 
404 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Norton, Lord. See Adderley. 
 "Notes and Queries," publication of 
 
 Universal Catalogue of Art Books in, 
 
 vol. i., 345. 
 Nottingham, Museum of Art at, vol. i. , 
 
 354 ; opening of temporary museum 
 at, 356 ; opening of " Midland 
 Counties Art Museum" at, by Prince 
 of Wales, 356. 
 
 Nottingham, School of Art at, vol. i., 
 
 355 ; speech by H. Cole at, vol. ii., 
 339- 
 
 O'Connell, Daniel, supporter of Penny 
 Postage, vol. i., 51. 
 
 Oscar, Prince (now King) of Sweden, 
 vol. i., 248, z6o. 
 
 Overstone, Lord. See Loyd. 
 
 Owen, Capt., R.E., vol. i., 173, 179; 
 appointed financial officer and secre- 
 tary to English Commission for Paris 
 Exhibition, 210 ; resigns appoint- 
 ment to join the army in the Crimea, 
 212 ; vol. ii., 350. 
 
 Owen, Mr. (now Sir Philip Cunliffe 
 Owen, K.C.M.G.), vol. i., 248. 
 
 Pakington, Sir John (afterwards Lord 
 Hampton), interest in proposed Na- 
 tional Training School for Music, 
 vol. i., 369. 
 
 Palgrave, Mr. (afterwards Sir Francis), 
 vol. i., 3 ; sub-commissioner under 
 Record Commission in 1823, 4 ; pe- 
 titions against report of committee : 
 appointed deputy-keeper of Public 
 Records, 14 ; petition of, to Select 
 Committee on Record Commission, 
 vol. ii., 89. 
 
 Palmerston, Lord, vol. i., 180, 187, 
 200, 292, 322, 323. 
 
 Parcel Post, scheme for a, vol. i., 69, 
 85. 
 
 Parcels on railways, conveyance of, 
 papers by H. Cole on, vol. i. 84 ; 
 rates of, vol. i., 86. 
 
 Paris Exhibition of 1849, vol. i., 123. 
 
 Paris E.-chibition of 1855. See Exhibi- 
 tion. 
 
 Paris Exhibition of 1867. See Exhibi- 
 tion. 
 Parliament, Houses of, burning of, in 
 
 1834, vol. i., 8. 
 Parliamentary writs, manufacture of, 
 
 vol. i., S- 
 Parliaments of our ancestors, article 
 on, by H. Cole, in "Westminster 
 Review," vol. i., 8 ; vol. ii., i. 
 Parnell, Sir Henry, vol. ii., 28. 
 Patent Laws, reform of the, vol. i., 
 272 ; Society of Arts and, 273 ; trea- 
 tise on, by H. Cole, 274 ; Charles 
 Dickens' interest in, 274 ; first and 
 second reports by Society of Arts 
 Committee on, 276 ; Lord Granville 
 moves for a select committee on, 
 276 ; Bill before Parliament : third 
 and last report by Society of Arts 
 Committee on: Bill passed in 1852, 
 277; new Bill (1881) on, proposed 
 by Society of Arts, 277 ; Mr. Justice 
 Stephen on, 278 ; extracts from first 
 and second reports of Society of Arts 
 Committee on, by H. Cole, vol. ii., 
 274. 
 Paxton, Mr. (afterwards Sir Joseph), plan 
 by, for Great Exhibition building, vol. 
 i., 164, 172, 180 ; vol. ii., 231, 352. 
 Peacock, Thomas Love, examiner of 
 correspondence at the India Ofiice, 
 author of ' ' Headlong Hall " and 
 other works, acquaintance with, vol. 
 i., 5, 196 ; vol. ii., 362. 
 Peacock, W. A., fellow-clerk at Mr. 
 
 Palgrave's office, vol. i., 4. 
 Peel, Sir Robert, vol. i., 15 ; unfavour- 
 able to Penny Postage : resolution 
 against the bill, 55, 56, 150; death 
 of, 165, 167. 
 Pennethome, Mr. James, architect of 
 new Public Record Office, vol. i., 32. 
 Penny Postage, origin of uniform, vol. 
 i., 34 ; House of Commons' Com- 
 mittee on, 35 ; public meetings in 
 favour of: petitions presented, 45 ; 
 report of parliamentary committee 
 on, 47 ; deputation to Lord Mel- 
 bourne to urge the adoption of, 48 ; 
 
INDEX. 
 
 405 
 
 speeches at deputation, 49, 50, 51 ; 
 Bill passes the Commons, 55 ; Bill 
 before the Lords : passes the Lords, 
 57; article on, by H. Cole, in " West- 
 minster Review," 65 ; scene at 
 Windsor Castle ou, by H. Cole, vol. 
 "• > 95 > committee of merchants for, 
 loi ; article in "Post Circular" on 
 vfeight of letters, by H. Cole, 102 ; 
 collection of materials for the agita- 
 tion in favour of, by H. Cole, 104 ; 
 papers issued under the Mercantile 
 Committee on, 105 ; specimens of 
 petitions in favour of, 106. 
 
 Perkins' process for reproducing engrav- 
 ings, applied to production of ad- 
 hesive postage stamps, vol. i., 60. 
 
 Petition for uniform Penny Postage from 
 the city, presented to the Commons, 
 vol. i., 55 ; from city of London, pre- 
 sented to House of Lords, 56. 
 
 Petitions for uniform Penny Postage, 
 vol. i., 45 ; summary of, 46. 
 
 Peto, Mr. (now Sir Morton, Bart.), letter 
 by, to Colonel Grey on guarantee for 
 Exhibition of 1851 : Colonel Grey's 
 answer to, vol. i., 169. 
 
 Phipps, Colonel (afterwards Sir Charles), 
 correspondence between H. Cole and, 
 vol. i., 118, 123, 131, 361 ; letter by, 
 to Mr. Drew on the contract for the 
 Great Exhibition of 1851, vol. ii., 224. 
 
 Pickersgill, Mr., R.A., vol. i., 334, 
 
 335- 
 Picture galleries. Captain Fowke's, vol. 
 
 i.. 325- 
 Place, Mr. Francis, Radical politician, 
 
 vol. i., 58. 
 
 Playfair, Dr. (now Rt. Hon. Sir Lyon), 
 vol. i., 170, 171, 200, 212, 213, 
 214, 215; joint-secretary with H. 
 Cole of Department of Science and 
 Art, 305 ; sole secretary of Depart- 
 ment, 307 ; address by, on " Science 
 Institutions in connection with the 
 Department," 309; resignation of, 
 as secretary, 310 ; vol. ii., 232, 383. 
 
 Playing cards, international, produced 
 by H. Cole, vol. i., 103. 
 
 "Poor Man's Tale of a Patent," a, 
 by Charles Dickens, vol. i., 274, 275. 
 
 "Post Circular," The, establishec^ vol. 
 i., 38 ; origin of the, 39 ; first 
 number published March, 1838 : cir- 
 culation stopped at the Post Office, 
 41 ; correspondence between Mr. 
 Wallace and the Post Office on the 
 subject, 41. 
 
 Post Office (St. Martin's-le-Grand), 
 scenes at, vol. i., 67 ; history of, in 
 "Penny Cyclopedia," by H. Cole, 
 68. 
 
 Postage, average rates of, vol. i., 38 ; 
 adoption of principle of uniformity of, 
 by parliamentary committee, 47. 
 
 Postage charges by weight, absurdities 
 of, vol. i., 44. 
 
 Postage, uniform penny. See Penny 
 Postage. 
 
 Poynter, Mr. E. J., R.A., vol. i., 335. 
 
 Practical Art, Department of. See De- 
 partment. 
 
 Princess Royal, H.R.H., the (Crown 
 Princess of Prussia), vol. i., 182, 219, 
 260. 
 
 Prinsep, Mr. Val., A. R.A., vol. i., 
 
 334- 
 
 Protheroe, Mr. Edward, M.P. , active re- 
 former of the Record system, vol. i. , 
 7 ; vol. ii., 21, 60. 
 
 Prussia, Crown Prince of, vol. i., 260. 
 
 Prussia, Crown Princess of. See Prin- 
 cess Royal. 
 
 Public meeting on Penny Postage sum- 
 moned at Mansion House : postponed 
 by Mr. Moffatt, vol. i., 53 ; held at 
 Mansion House, 55. 
 
 Public meetings in favour of Penny 
 Postage, vol. i., 45. 
 
 Public Record Office, constitution of, 
 in 1838, vol. i., 17. 
 
 Public Record Repository, new, inci- 
 dents connected with the building of, 
 vol. i., 24 ; report on measurements 
 of space required for, 25 ; controversy 
 between Lord Langdale and the 
 Treasury on, 25 ; report on unfitness 
 
4o6 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 of Westminster Palace for a, drafted 
 by H. Cole, 26; first stone laid by Sir 
 John Romilly for, 32 ; building for, in 
 Fetter Lane, 32. 
 
 Public Records deposited in Tower of 
 London, Chapter House of West- 
 minster Abbey, and British Museum, 
 vol. i., 4 ; reports relating to works 
 connected with, 24 ; work with, vol. 
 ii., I ; history of, by H. Cole, pub- 
 lished in the "Penny Cyclopaedia," 
 36 ; on the perilous state and neglect 
 of, article by H. Cole, in "West- 
 minister Review," S'- 
 
 Pyne, Mr. C. C, vol. i., 71. 
 
 Quadruple rails advocated by H. Cole, 
 vol. i., 71 ; increased security by use 
 of, 72, 77. 
 
 Queen Victoria, H.M., meeting be- 
 tween, and Emperor Napoleon IIL, 
 vol. i., 3 ; resigns her privilege 
 of franking letters, 57 ; letter to, 
 by Prince Albert, 96 ; interest in 
 Great Exhibition, 117 ; anxiety for the 
 Prince's health, 172 ; visits of, to 
 Great Exhibition, 174; account by, of 
 opening of Exhibition by, 177 et seq. ; 
 visit to Paris of, 217 ; extract from 
 diary of, in "Life of Prince Consort," 
 218; visits of, to the Exhibition, 219 ; 
 fete at Versailles in honour of, 220 ; 
 opening by, of museum at Marl- 
 borough House, 285 ; loans of lace 
 and china by, 285 ; further loans by, 
 to museum, 287 ; Mulready's stu- 
 dies and, 288 ; opening of South 
 Kensington Museum by, 326 ; founda- 
 tion stone of Albert Hall laid by, 
 364 ; opening of Albert Hall by, 
 
 365- 
 Queen's Bench Records, condition of, 
 
 vol. i. , 20. 
 Quinquennial Exhibition. See National 
 
 Exhibition. 
 
 Radnor, Earl of, vol. i., 55. 
 Railway charts by H. Cole, vol. 
 vol. ii., 147, 148. 
 
 .71; 
 
 "Railway Chronicle," prospectus of 
 projected railway in the, vol. i. , 70- 
 
 Railway mania, the. Bishop of Exeter's 
 warning against, vol. i. , 70. 
 
 Railways, passenger and goods traffic 
 on, vol. i., 71 ; low fares at low speed 
 on, 74, 76. 
 
 Railways and docks, work with, vol. i. , 
 70 ; vol. ii., 150. 
 
 Record Commission in 1 83 1, issue of, 
 vol. i., 5 ; appointment of Mr. C . P. 
 Cooper as secretary to, 7 ; disputes 
 between secretary and : mismanage- 
 ment of, 9; Select Committee on, lo ; 
 report of Select Committee on, II ; 
 laxity of financial management of, 12 ; 
 lapse of, in 1837, 15 ; examples of 
 changes in evidence before Select 
 Committee on, vol. ii., 23. 
 
 Record Commissioners of 1831, vol. 
 i., 6. 
 
 Record labels, specimens of, vol. i., 
 22. 
 
 Records, Public. See Public. 
 
 Records of the Exchequer, miscella- 
 neous, edited by H. Cole, vol. i., 4. 
 
 Redgrave, Mi-. Alexander, vol. i., 192. 
 
 Redgrave, Mr. Frazer, vol. i., 71. 
 
 Redgrave, Mr. R., R.A., vol. i., loi, 
 108, 209; letter by, to Lord John 
 Russell, on re-constituting Schools of 
 Design, 282 ; appointment of, to De- 
 partment of Practical Art, 297, 300, 
 301, 320, 325, 327, 330, 331, 361 ; 
 vol. ii., 161, 181, 186 et seq. 
 
 Redgrave, Mr. Samuel, vol. i., 331. 
 
 Reed, SirE. J., M.P., vol. i., 351. 
 
 Reform Bill, passing of, vol. i., 3. 
 
 Reform in printing evidence taken be- 
 fore House of Commons. See Evi- 
 dence. 
 
 Reid, Colonel, R.E. (afterwards Sir 
 William, K.C.B.), appointed chair- 
 man of Executive Committee for Ex- 
 hibition of 1851, vol. i., 155, 157- 
 61 ; his prudence, 167 ; averse to the 
 Working Classes Committee for Exhi- 
 bition, 192, 196, 197, 264 ; vol. ii., 
 226, 231, 350. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 407 
 
 Rendel, Mr., engineer of the Grimsby 
 
 Docks, vol. i., 90, 
 Reproductions, system of, established 
 
 for South Kensington Museum, vol. 
 
 i-. 345- 
 
 Rice, Mr. Spring (afterwards Lord 
 Monteagle), Chancellor of the Ex- 
 chequer, vol. i., 48 ; promises to in- 
 troduce Bill for Penny Postage, 55, 
 60. 
 
 Richmond, Duke of, Lord President of 
 the Council, vol. ii., 374, 376. 
 
 Richmond, late Duke of, Postmaster 
 General, vol. i., 56. 
 
 Ripon, Marquis of. Lord President of 
 the Council, vol. i., 357; vol. ii., 
 
 347- 
 Romilly, Sir John (afterwards Lord), 
 Master of the Rolls, lays first stone 
 of new Record Repository, vol. i., 
 
 32. 
 
 Ross, Sir William, R.A., vol. i., 105. 
 
 Rosse, Earl of, vol. i., 150. 
 
 Royal Commission for Exhibition of 
 1851, vol. i., 150 ; for Paris Exhibi- 
 tion of 1867, vol. i., 252. 
 
 Royal Engineers, employment of, as 
 civil servants, memorandum by H. 
 Cole on, vol. i., 352. 
 
 Russell, Lord John (afterwards Earl), 
 announces intention of Government 
 to propose a resolution in favour of 
 uniform Penny Postage, vol. i., 54, 
 180. 
 
 Russell, Mr. J. Scott, vol. i., 121 ; 
 joint-secretary to Royal Commission, 
 153 ; secretary to Society of Arts, 
 378. 
 
 Salisbury, late Marquis of, Lord Presi- 
 dent of the Council, vol. i., 228, 244, 
 
 293. 309. 310; ™1- "•. 346, 352- 
 
 Sallandrouze, M., vol. i.,217, 223. 
 
 Salt, Mr. Titus (afterwards Sir Titus, 
 Bart.), vol. i., 234 ; vol. ii., 365. 
 
 Sandford, Mr. (now Sir Francis), ap- 
 pointed sole manager of Exhibition of 
 1862, vol. i., 246. 
 
 Sandon, Lord (now Earl of Harrowby), 
 
 Vice-President of the Council, vol. 
 «-. 358, 367, 374. 376. 
 
 School of Art, Normal Training, opened 
 at Marlborough House, vol. i., 299 ; 
 classes for technical instruction in art 
 at, 299 ; National Training, at South 
 Kensington, 304; at Nottingham, 
 see Nottingham. 
 
 School for Cookery, National Training, 
 established and organized by H. 
 Cole, vol. i., 395; objects of, 395 ; 
 public meeting held at Grosvenor 
 House to promote : executive com- 
 mittee for, 396 ; official handbook of, 
 396 ; establishment of provincial 
 classes in connection with, 396 ; 
 letter to the "Times," by H. Cole, 
 on work and aims of, 396. 
 
 School of Design, vol. i. , 109 ; H. 
 Cole's reports on : minute of Board 
 of Trade on, 1 10 ; designs for 
 Government departments, &c., by, 
 1 10-4 5 secretaryship of, offered to 
 H. Cole, 281 ; purchase of art objects 
 for, from Great Exhibition of 1851 : 
 nucleus of museum of art manufac- 
 tures in connection with, 283 ; head, 
 at Somerset House : failure in the 
 working of : re-organization of, 298. 
 
 School of Mines, vol. i., 306. 
 
 School for Music, National Training, 
 vol. i., 358 ; Society of Arts' scheme 
 for a, 369 ; proposed union with, 
 and Royal Academy of Music, 369 ; 
 H. Cole's scheme of musical scholar- 
 ships for, 370 ; first supporters of, 
 370 ; meetings held to promote esta- 
 blishment of scholarships for, 373; 
 Mr. Freake's offer to erect building for, 
 373 ; site for, granted by H.M. Com- 
 missioners for 1851, on South Ken- 
 sington estate : foundation stone of, 
 laid by Duke of Edinburgh, 373 ; 
 prospectus of management of, 373-5 ; 
 committee of general management of, 
 under presidency of Duke of Edin- 
 burgh, 373 ; meeting at Marlborough 
 House to promote metropolitan scho- 
 larshipsfor, 375 ; appointment of board 
 
4o8 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 of examiners and professors for : Dr. 
 
 A. Sullivan appointed principal of, 
 
 376 ; opening of, 376 ; organization 
 
 of, 376 ; closing of, 377. 
 School of Science, Normal, described 
 
 by Professor Huxley, dean of, vol. i., 
 
 311, 312; designedby Colonel Scott, 
 
 R-E., 335- 
 Schools of Art, local, in connection 
 
 with Department of Science and Art, 
 
 vol. i., 301, 304, 305. 
 Schools for Cookery, local : letter by 
 
 H. Cole to the "Times" on, vol. ii., 
 
 370- 
 
 Schools of Design, origin of, vol. i., 
 280; Government grants to, 281, 
 298, 299, 301, 305, 391. 
 
 Schools, National Art Training, at 
 South Kensington, vol. i., 304; deco- 
 rative work by students of, 330 ; new 
 buildings for, 333. See also School 
 of Art, Schools of Design. 
 
 Schools, Navigation, vol. i., 306. 
 
 Schools of Science, vol. i., 306. 
 
 Science and Art, Department of. See 
 Department. 
 
 Science Division of Department of 
 Science and Art, formation of, vol. 
 i-> 3°S ! re-organization of, 309-11. 
 
 Scientific collections, commencement 
 of, in 1851, vol. i., 312, 317, 321. 
 
 Scott, Sir Gilbert, vol. i., 336 ; invited 
 to design exterior of Royal Albert 
 Hall, 361 ; design by, for entrance to 
 Royal Albert Hall, 362. 
 
 Scott, General H. Y. D., R.E., C.B., 
 vol. i. , 266 ; appointment of, as director 
 of new buildings at South Kensington, 
 335 ; Normal School for Science 
 designed by, 335 ; adaptation of the 
 "Boilers" as a museum at Bethnal 
 Green by, 335, 353 ; succeeds Captain 
 Fowke as architect of Royal Albert 
 Hall, 364 ; processes invented by, for 
 utilization of sewage, 397. 
 
 Scott, Mr. W. B., vol. i., 335. 
 
 Seals, collection of, in Record Office, 
 vol. i., 21. 
 
 Semper, Professor, vol. i., 299, 322. 
 
 Sewage, utilization of, processes in- 
 vented by General Scott for, vol. i., 
 397- 
 
 Seymour, Lord (now Duke of Somerset), 
 vol. i., 173, 204. 
 
 Sgraffito at South Kensington Museum, 
 vol. i., 329 ; designs for, by Godfrey 
 Sykes, 330. 
 
 Shadwell, Colonel, vol. i., 240. 
 
 Shee, Sir Martin Archer, P.R.A., vol. 
 i., 63. 
 
 Sheepshanks, Mr. John, collection of 
 paintings presented to the nation by, 
 vol. i., 325. 
 
 Sheepshanks collection of paintings at 
 South Kensington, special gallery 
 designed for, by Captain Fowke and 
 Mr. Redgrave, vol. i., 325, 329. 
 
 Sherbrooke, Viscount. See Lowe. 
 
 Shuttleworth, Sir James Kay-, vol. i., 
 280, 304, 310. 
 
 Sibthorp, Colonel, M.P., hostility to 
 the Great Exhibition, vol. i., 186. 
 
 Sidney, Mr. Samuel, vol. i., 90. 
 
 Simpson, Messrs., vol. i., 244. 
 
 Skippet, a, small box for containing 
 records, vol. ii., 42. 
 
 Sloane, Sir Hans, vol. ii., 312. 
 
 Smiles, Mr. Samuel, vol. i., 351. 
 
 Smirke, Mr. Sydney, A.R.A., architec- 
 tural designs for arcades of Horticul- 
 tural Gardens by, vol. i., 330 ; vol. 
 ii-. 353- 
 
 Society of Arts, vol. i., 96; prizes 
 offered by, for tea service and beer 
 jugs : Exhibition of Art Manufactures, 
 104 ; address of Council of, 106 ; 
 Prince Albert, president of: char- 
 ter of incorporation, 117; contract 
 for Exhibition of 185 1 between, and 
 Messrs. Munday, 146 ; visit of Coun- 
 cil to Paris Exhibition of 1855, 221 ; 
 presentation of address to Emperor at 
 St. Cloud, 221 ; plan of an exhibition 
 in 1861, brought before Council of, 
 226 ; announcement of Exhibition to 
 members of, 227 ; postponement of 
 Exhibition to 1862, 229, 230; Exhibi- 
 tion Committee of; form of guarantee 
 
INDEX. 
 
 409 
 
 agreed upon, 230 ; deputation from, 
 to Prince Consort, 231 ; negotiations 
 between, and H.M. Commissioners 
 as to lease of land, 231 ; announcement 
 by, of the Prince Consort's support 
 of guarantee fund, 232 ; application by, 
 to H.M. Commissioners for grant of 
 site for Exhibition, 236 ; free grant 
 of site to, 238 ; committee appointed 
 by Council of, to promote recogni- 
 tion of rights of inventors : accepts 
 treatise by H. Cole on "Jurispru- 
 dence connected with Inventions," 
 274 ; first and second reports of 
 Patent Laws Committee, 276 ; third 
 and last report of Committee, 277 ; 
 Special Committee on a new Patent 
 Bill (1881), 277 ; scheme of public 
 examinations in science, conducted 
 by, 310; collections formed by: 
 educational collection presented to the 
 Government, 321 ; appointment of 
 committee on musical education by, 
 
 366 ; action of musical committee, 
 
 367 ; scheme for a National Training 
 School for Music, 369 ; negotiations 
 between committee on musical edu- 
 cation of, and Royal Academy of 
 Music, 369 ; opposition of Royal 
 Academy, 369 ; treaty at an end, 
 370 ; eiforts made by, to raise funds 
 for new school for music, 370 ; Duke 
 of Edinburgh joins musical committee 
 of, 371 ; renewed negotiations with 
 Royal Academy of Music and, and 
 failure of them, 372 ; sub-committee of, 
 for building National Training School 
 for Music, 372 ; early work of, 378 ; 
 first exhibition of works of native 
 artists held at, 378 ; Journal of, 379 ; 
 feeble condition of, and subsequent 
 re-organization of constitution of, 
 379 ; awards silver medal to H. Cole 
 (Felix Summerly), for tea service, 
 
 379 ; exhibitions held by, 379 ; op- 
 position of older members of, to ex- 
 hibitions : letter from H. Cole to 
 secretary of, on policy of council, 
 
 380 ; Great Exhibition of 185 1, and, 
 II. 
 
 380 ; annual meeting of members of : 
 opposing council turned out, 381 ; 
 election of H. Cole as chairman of 
 new council of, 381 ; prize offered 
 by, for a cheap colour-box, 385 ; re- 
 election of H. Cole as chairman of 
 council, 385 ; Free Library Acts 
 and : Bemal and Soulages collec- 
 tions and : Metropolitan Museums 
 and : committee of, on establishment 
 of galleries of science and art, 385 ; 
 Army Reform and, 385 ; paper read 
 by H. Cole on Army Reform at, 
 386 ; committee appointed by, to 
 promote drill in schools, 386 ; an- 
 nual drill reviews established by : ban- 
 ner for competition offered by, 387 ; 
 Endowed Schools Bill and : Primary 
 Education and i Reform of London 
 Cabs and ; musical education and : 
 domestic economy and, 387 ; Albert 
 Medal of, awarded to H. Cole, 387 ; 
 conferences on health and sewage 
 held at, 388 ; conferences on do- 
 mestic economy in connection with, 
 388 ; Guilds of Health and, 3S8 ; 
 vol. ii., 178, 179, 211, 215, 217-20, 
 
 237- 
 
 Soulages, M., collection of mediieval 
 art by, vol. i., 290. 
 
 Soulages collection, purchase of, by 
 Department of Practical Art, vol. i., 
 290-4, 385. 
 
 South Kensington, architectural and 
 decorative ateliers at, vol. i., 329 ; 
 decorative work done for Horticul- 
 tural Gardens in, 330. 
 
 South Kensington, architecture at, 
 paper on, by Ii. Cole, vol. ii., 299. 
 
 South Kensington estate, purchase and 
 extent of, vol. i., 313 ; institutions 
 erected on, 314 ; Prince Albert's 
 scheme of centralizing learned and 
 artistic societies on one site, 314; first 
 and final purchases of land by H. M. 
 Commissioners for 1851, 318; part- 
 nership between Government and 
 Commissioners for purchase of, 319 ; 
 plans for use of, 319; scheme for lay- 
 E E 
 
410 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ing out the whole of, prepared by 
 H. Cole and Mr. Redgrave, 320 ; 
 iron building for Museum on : the 
 "Boilers," 323 ; H. Cole's views as 
 to use of main portion of, 326. 
 
 South Kensington Museum, vol. i., 99, 
 103, 106 ; relations between foreign 
 museums and, 260 ; purchases for, of 
 vf orks of art from Paris Exhibition of 
 1867, 261 ; commencement of, 279 ; 
 removal of offices and museum at 
 Marlborough House to, 324 ; opening 
 of, by the Queen, 325 ; opening of, 
 by night, 326 ; sgraffito on exterior of 
 Sheepshanks picture gallery at, 329 ; 
 additional picture galleries at, official 
 residences, double south court, planned 
 and erected by Captain Fowke for, 
 333 ; use of terra-cotta at, 333 ; mosaic 
 work at : glazed earthenware at, 
 334 ; commissions to Royal Acade- 
 micians for decorations at, 334 ; grill 
 room at, decorated by Mr. E. J. 
 Poynter, R.A. : dining room de- 
 corated by Messrs. Moiris and Co., 
 335 ; House of Commons' inquiry 
 into, 339 ; art collections at, 345 ; 
 system of reproductions established 
 for : reproduction of the Bayeux 
 Tapestry for, 345 ; Indian architecture 
 at, 348 ; series of reproductions of 
 mosaics at, 353 ; food coUectionat, 353. 
 
 Stamps, postage, minute passed by the 
 Treasury as to prepayment of letters 
 by, vol. i., 58; premiums offered by 
 the Treasury for suggestions as to 
 the use of: essay by H. Cole on, 
 59, 60 ; Queen's head : Perkins' pro- 
 cess applied to production of, 60 ; 
 De la Rue's process for producing, 
 61 ; prize of £ioa awarded to 
 H. Cole for essay on, 62 ; first used 
 in May, 1840, 65 ; extracts from 
 article on, by H. Cole, in " West- 
 minster Review," 65 ; paperraakers' 
 objections to, 66. 
 Stanley, Lord (afterwards Earl of 
 Derby), vol. \,, 146, 149, 150, 266, 
 293. See Derby, late Earl of. 
 
 Stanley of Alderley, Lord, President of 
 the Board of Trade, vol. i., 208, 209, 
 210, 323 ; vol. ii., 346. 
 
 Stephen, Mr. Justice, on Patent Law, 
 vol. i., 278. 
 
 Stephenson, George and Robert, civil 
 engineers and champions of the 
 narrow gauge system, vol. i., 78. 
 
 Stephenson, Mr. Robert, engineer on 
 London and North Western Rail- 
 way, vol. i., 71 ; chairman of Exe- 
 cutive Committee of Exhibition of 
 1851, 148, 149; resigns chairmanship, 
 155, 163 ; vol. ii., 226. 
 
 Sullivan, Dr. (now Sir Arthur), vol. i., 
 
 370. 376. 393- 
 
 Summerly's handbooks, vol. i., 98, 102, 
 103 ; vol. ii., 195. See Hampton 
 Court, National Gallery, Temple 
 Church, Westminster Abbey. 
 
 Summerly's Christmas card, designed 
 by J. C. Horsley, R.A., vol. i., loi ; 
 " Home Treasury," loi ; tea service, 
 105 ; its success, 107 ; art manufac- 
 tures, announcement of organization 
 for, 107-9; ■^ol- "•! 16°. 178, 180-94. 
 
 Sweden, Prince Oscar of. See Oscar. 
 
 Sykes, Mr. Godfrey, designer and mo- 
 deller at South Kensington, vol. i., 
 330 ; decorations for South Kensing- 
 ton by, 334; death of, 335; vol. ii., 
 354. 355- 
 
 Taunton, Lord. See Labouchere. 
 Technical arts and art manufactures, 
 
 work with, vol. i., 98 ; vol. ii., 
 
 160. 
 Technical processes, experiments in, 
 
 vol. ii., 163. 
 Temple Church, handbook to, vol. i., 
 
 lOI. 
 
 Terra-cotta at South Kensington Mu- 
 seum, use of, vol. i., 333. 
 
 Tillingbourne Association, ' ' The La- 
 bourer's Improvement Society, " meet- 
 ing held to found, vol. 1., 392. 
 
 "Times," The, French and German 
 advertisements in, of Grimsby Docks, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 411 
 
 vol. i., 91 ; publication of Universal 
 Catalogue of Art Books in, 344. 
 Thackeray, W. M., verses on Charles 
 Buller's death by, vol. 1., 17 ; illus- 
 trations for the "Anti-Corn Law Circu- 
 lar," 58; papers in " Punch" Qeames 
 Yellowplush's correspondence) on tlie 
 railway mania by, 70, 82 ; " May 
 Day Ode" by, 178; vol. ii., 143; 
 Anti-Corn Law cuts designed by, 14S, 
 146 ; Jeames on the gauge question 
 
 by. 150-57- 
 
 Thpmpson, Mr. John, engraving by, 
 vol. 1., 102; vol. ii., 135, 144. 175- 
 
 Thompson, Mr. Richard A., assistant 
 director at South Kensington Mu- 
 seum, vol. i., 248 ; vol. ii., 184. 
 
 Thompson, Mr. Thurston, official pho- 
 tographer to the South Kensington 
 Museum, vol. i., 290. 
 
 Townroe, Mr. Reuben, vol. i., 103, 
 
 333. 335. 364- 
 
 Townsend, Mr. H. J., vol. i., loi, 108; 
 vol. ii., 149, 161, 180, 184, 187. 
 
 Treasury, H.M., controversy between 
 Lord Langdale and, vol. i., 25 ; con- 
 tentions between, and H. Cole, 337. 
 
 Tresca, M., vol. i., 215. 
 
 Trevelyan, Mr. (now Sir Charles), Assis- 
 tant Secretary to the Treasury, vol. 
 i., 68, 297, 386; vol. ii., 330. 
 
 Twining, Mr. , formation of museum of 
 domestic economy by, vol. i., 321. 
 
 Tyier, Mr., R.E. (now Sir Henr)', 
 M.P.), estimate of value of exhibits in 
 Great Exhibition by, vol. i., 197. 
 
 Tyrrell, Mr., City Remembrancer, vol. 
 i., 196. 
 
 Vaillant, Marshal, French Minister for 
 
 Fine Arts, vol. i., 214. 
 Vincent, Henry, the Chartist, vol. i., 
 
 190, 192. 
 
 Wales, H.R.H. the Prince of, vol. i., 
 184, 219 ; President of Royal Com- 
 mission for Paris Exhibition of 1867, 
 258, 260, 267. 268 ; opening by, of 
 
 Bethnal Green Museum, 354 ; open- 
 ing by, of Art Museum at Notting- 
 ham, 356 ; president of Royal Albert 
 Plall, 361 ; scheme, plan, and model 
 submitted to, 361 ; first meeting of 
 provisional committee of Royal Al- 
 bert Hall, held at Marlborough 
 House, under presidency of, 363 ; 
 president of Society of Arts, 375 ; 
 meeting at Marlborough House to 
 promote metropolitan scholarships 
 for National Training School for 
 Music, presided over by, 375 ; pre- 
 sents Albert Medal to H. Cole, 388 ; 
 letter by, to H. Cole, on Guilds of 
 Health, 388. 
 
 Wallace, Sir Richard, vol. ii., 343. 
 
 Wallace, Mr., M.P. for Greenock, early 
 reformer of the Post Office, moves for 
 committee of House of Commons to 
 inquire into Rowland Hill's scheme 
 for Penny Postage, vol. i., 35, 37. 
 
 Warburton, Mr., M.P., advocacy of 
 Penny Postage, vol. i., 49, 54. 
 
 Ward, Lord (now Earl of Dudley), vol. 
 i., 207 ; a director of Royal Aca- 
 demy of Music : opposes Society of 
 Arts' scheme for a National Training 
 School for Music, 369, 371, 372. 
 
 Ward, Mr. W. G., Mayor of Notting- 
 ham, applies to H. Cole as to pro- 
 posed Art Museum at Nottingham, 
 vol. i., 355, 356. 
 
 Watts, Mr., R.A., vol. i., 335. 
 
 Webb, Mr. John, vol. i., 285, 291. 
 
 Webster, Mr. T., R.A., vol. i., loi. 
 
 Wellington, late Duke of, on Penny 
 Postage : his advice to the Lords, vol. 
 i., 57 ; a constant visitor to the Exhi- 
 bition of 1851, 172, 180, 199, 200 ; 
 funeral car of, 301. 
 
 Westmacott, Sir R., R.A., vol. i., 108, 
 294. 
 
 Westminster Abbey, handbook to, vol. 
 i., 99, loi ; vol. ii., 197-207. 
 
 Westminster, Duke of, vol. i., 396; 
 vol. ii., 368. 
 
 Whewell, Dr., Master of Trinity Col- 
 lege, vol. i., 205. 
 
412 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Whitehall Yard Record Repository, vol. 
 i., IS. 
 
 Whitworth, Sir Joseph, scientific scho- 
 larships established at South Kensing- 
 ton by, vol. i., 351. 
 
 Whitworth scholarships for science esta- 
 blished at South Kensington, vol. i. , 
 351 ; minutes passed for regulation 
 of, 352! 
 
 Wilberforce, Samuel, Bishop of Oxford, 
 chairman of Working Classes Com- 
 mittee to promote Great Exhibition of 
 1851 : speech at Westminster meeting 
 of committee, vol i., 189. 
 
 Wilberforce, William, vol. i., 287. 
 
 Wild, Mr. James, vol. i., 336. 
 
 Willement, Mr., vol. i., 99. 
 
 Wilson, Mr. James (afterwards Rt. 
 Hon. James), Financial Secretary to 
 the Treasury, editor of "Anti-Corn 
 Law Circular," vol. i., 57. 
 
 Winkworth, Mr. Thomas, vol. i., 151. 
 Wolverton, Lord. See Glyn. 
 Woodcroft, Professor Bennet, vol. i., 
 
 321. 
 Wood engraving, article on, suggested 
 
 by H. Cole: revival of the Bewick 
 
 style of, vol. i., 102; vol. ii., 165, 
 
 166. 
 Workmen at Carlton Ride, payment of, 
 
 by the hour : adoption of system in 
 .metropolitan trades, vol. i., 2i. 
 Wyatt,Mr.Digby (afterwards SirDigby), 
 
 vol. i., 123; secretary of Executive 
 
 Committee for Exhibition of 1851, 
 
 148; vol. ii., 209. 
 
 Yarborough, Earl of, chairman of 
 Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln- 
 shire Railway, promoter of the 
 Grimsby Docks, vol. i., 89, 90, 92, 
 96. 
 
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