to the distribution of medals in their large exhibitions, that it is doubtful whether their co-operation would have been secured had we declined to offer rewards for merit. This difficulty might, indeed, have been obviated by permitting each country to award medals to its own exhibitors, but such a proceeding would have deprived the Exhibition of its international character, and rendered it a mere collection of the exhibitions of different nations brought into juxtaposition. The advantage of comparison of the products of different countries could only be obtained by subjecting the various collections to the examination of international juries, consisting of men eminent in various branches of science, art, and industry.

We accordingly invited the foreign nations in the Exhibition to appoint jurors who were skilled in the industries chiefly represented in their collections. Each nation had a right to nominate one juror for every class in which it had twenty exhibitors, or for every section of a class in which it had fifteen exhibitors. As this rule would have excluded some of the smaller exhibiting states, as well as some which, while exhibiting largely in the aggregate, might not, in the case of growing industries, reach the limit of numbers conferring the right of nomination, an alternative was given by offering to assign a certain number of jurors to each country in proportion to the space occupied by it in the building. Several countries acted upon

this alternative.

Having obtained the returns of jurors from foreign countries, and having thus ascertained the number of foreigners who would serve on each jury, we then proceeded to complete the several juries by the appointment of English jurors. We did not consider it necessary, as in 1851 and 1855, to secure that one-half of each jury should be retained for the country in which the Exhibition was held, but acting on the experience of past exhibitions, we fixed at the outset a sufficient number of jurors for each class, and filled up this number by the appointment of English jurors. It, therefore, depended altogether upon the extent to which the foreign nations had exercised their privileges of appointment, whether a jury had a majority or minority of English jurors.

The colonial jurors were nominated by the colonial commissioners, a certain number having been allotted to each colony, corresponding to the space occupied by it in the Exhibition.

The English jurors were in the first place nominated by the exhibitors. These nominations were carefully discussed, and the number of votes given to each person was ascertained and recorded in his favour. When it was found that any district or any trade had acted upon a common agreement by voting for the same persons, we appointed them as jurors to the classes for which they were recommended. In cases where there was no common understanding in the nomination, we were guided in the appointment by the number of votes given to particular individuals. In some instances, it was desirable to add men eminent in science and art, or experienced in public affairs, to the juries, and in these cases, acting upon the expressed wish of a large proportion of the English exhibitors, we made such appointments ourselves. By the method now described, the English jurors appointed to the several classes were obtained from every large manufacturing town in the kingdom, and were practically skilled in the several industries represented; they had associated with them men eminent in the science which has created and the art which has adorned our manufactures, while, at the same time, the addition of men of known judgment and discretion, accus

tomed to the administration of public affairs, gave confidence to all that the judgments would be made irrespective of local feelings or national prejudices. We refer with confidence to the list of jurors as the best proof of the success of the system on which they were appointed. Upwards of 600 persons, eminent in science, art, industry, or manufactures, were engaged incessantly for two months in examining and deciding on the merits of the objects exhibited. This work, which, so far as the British jurors were concerned, was entirely of an honorary character, was done at the sacrifice of much time and money, but the results attending the comparison of the industrial products of the world by men of so many different nations, skilled in their various subjects, will, it is hoped, by the interchange of knowledge and experience, amply reward those who participated in the labour.

The numbers of medals voted by the juries amount to nearly 7000, and the "Honourable Mentions" to about 5,300. We decided at an early stage of our proceedings that there should only be a single medal of bronze to denote all kinds of excellence. A list of honourable mentions was, however, added by the juries during the progress of their work. The proportion of awards to exhibitors is nearly intermediate to those of the International Exhibitions of 1851 and 1855. No conclusion as to the relative excellence can be drawn from the proportion of medals to the exhibitors of various countries, because, while some foreign commissioners admitted nearly all the objects offered for exhibition, others exercised a rigid system of selection by examining them, firstly, by a local and secondly by a central jury, before they were admitted for competition.

Having appointed the English jurors, and laid down the general decisions under which the juries were to act, we divested ourselves of all powers in this department, by passing them over to a council, consisting of the chairmen of the juries of the thirty-six classes into which the Exhibition was divided. These chairmen were nominated by us, each nation being represented on the council, as far as possible, in proportion to the space occupied by it in the building. Over this council Lord Taunton was good enough, at our request, to undertake to act as president, and Monsieur Michel Chevalier as vice-president. All medals voted by the several Juries were submitted to the council for confirmation, and its decisions were final in all matters relating to the work of the juries. We were represented at the council, and in the general work of the juries, by a special commissioner, Dr. Lyon Playfair, C.B., who was aided by twelve deputy commissioners and a secretary. The special commissioner, while aiding the council and the juries in the general transaction of their business, was requested by us to refrain from any interference with their decisions.

It is gratifying to record that, notwithstanding the various nationalities. represented on the juries, the utmost harmony prevailed during the work, a fact which finds its best expression in the mutual dependence and intimate alliance of the industries of the world.

Our most grateful acknowledgments are due to every one who rendered assistance in this important branch of the Exhibition, but especially to Lord Taunton, the president of the council of chairmen, and to the distinguished foreigner who acted as vice-president; to Dr. Lyon Playfair; to the whole body of the jurors, who, at a great sacrifice of time and personal inconvenience, undertook a work of so arduous a description; to Mr. Iselin, * The prize medal was designed by Mr. Maclise, R A., and executed by Mr. Leonard Wyon.

the secretary of the juries, and the deputy commissioners, who afforded efficient aid to the juries during their enquiries.

We have also to express our obligations to the members of the various juries who have drawn up valuable reports on the progress of industry, in their respective classes, since the Exhibition of 1851. The publication of these reports was undertaken by the Society of Arts, when we found that we were not justified in throwing an additional risk on the guarantors by publishing the reports at our own cost.

REFRESHMENTS.

In 1851, only light refreshments were allowed to be sold to the public, but there were no means of preventing the introduction by visitors of provisions of a more substantial character, which were consumed in great quantities throughout the building. At Paris, in 1855, a well-organized restaurant was attached to the Exhibition, and was much appreciated by all classes of visitors. We, therefore, resolved not to attempt to impose the same restrictions as in 1851 upon the convenience of the public, but to allow solid refreshments of every kind to be supplied in the building; and as wines were to be admitted to the Exhibition for the first time in this country, we thought it only fair to the foreign exhibitors to give them an opportunity, by means of arrangements with the contractors, to bring these wines before the public.

Our great object in the organization of this department was to secure,(1.) That the sale of refreshments should not interfere with the main purposes of the Exhibition;

(2.) That good refreshments should be supplied at moderate prices; and, (3.) That the tastes of all classes of visitors, including foreigners, should be duly considered.

While we allowed light refreshments, therefore, to be sold at a few places selected throughout the building itself, we confined the sale of provisions of a substantial character to the arcades of the Horticultural Society, which had been specially lent to us for that purpose, and to certain areas in the two annexes, carefully partitioned off so as to prevent all offensive smells, and devoted exclusively to refreshments of the cheapest class.

The whole amount of space originally set apart for refreshments amounted to about 116,000 square feet, of which 2000 square feet were in the main body of the building, 20,000 in the two annexes, and the remainder in the Horticultural arcades. We divided this space into two nearly equal parts; and having prepared exact plans of those two areas, we invited tenders from persons who might be willing to contract for the supply of refreshments, according to very explicit conditions.

We reserved to ourselves the full power of accepting whatever tenders seemed most likely to contribute to the general success of the Exhibition, without exclusive reference to the amount of the premiums that were offered; and we determined, for the sake of variety, and of keeping up a useful rivalry between the two areas, to let one of them, if a fair offer were made for it, to a foreign contractor.

No fewer than eighteen tenders (seven foreign and eleven English) were sent in on the 15th of November, 1861, the day named for the purpose.

* Arrangements were subsequently made, during the course of the Exhibition, by which a large amount of additional accommodation was provided, by the erection of dining-rooms at the S.W. corner of the Horticultural Gardens.

These were examined, and a select list of four (three English and one French), the terms of which appeared to be most to the interests of the Exhibition, as a self-supporting institution, was specially referred to the finance committee for their consideration. After making careful inquiry, in concert with ourselves, both in this country and abroad, as to the qualifications of the various persons tendering, in respect of skill and experience in the management of such undertakings, and after settling the pecuniary terms of the agreement, to be made with us, in such a manner as would render it impossible for the funds of the Exhibition to suffer, in the event of failure on the part of the contractors, the finance committee eventually concurred with us in determining to accept the tenders which had been sent in by Messrs. Morrish and Sanders for one division, and by MM. Veillard and Martin Guepet for the other, to whom the two contracts were occordingly assigned.

In one of these cases, we had reason to be satisfied with the selection which was made. Mr. Morrish (who shortly before the death of his colleague had become the sole contractor for the English division) not only carried out his own engagements in a creditable manner, but when, in the month of September, M. Veillard, whose partner had previously withdrawn, became involved in difficulties, which rendered it impossible for him to carry on his contract, Mr. Morrish came forward and undertook the whole responsibility of both divisions of the refreshment department, which he administered from that time till the close of the Exhibition with ability and

success.

FINANCE.

The financial business of the Exhibition was carried on under our control, with the advice of the committee, to whose appointment reference has already been made. The President of the Board of Trade, with the consent of the Treasury, was good enough to allow Mr. John J. Mayo, a leading officer in the Board of Trade, to act as our principal financial officer; and the whole organization of this department was carried out under Mr. Mayo's superintendence, in a manner which reflected the greatest credit on his zeal, intelligence, and ability. The finance committee, in addition to frequent meetings called from time to time, as occasion required, for the discussion of questions relating to our expenditure, met regularly every month for the purpose of examining the vouchers and accounts of the financial officer, after which meetings their reports were duly laid before us, with Mr. Mayo's statements of our financial position.

A general balance-sheet, showing the financial results of the undertaking, up to this date, will be found at page 412.

We proceed to make a few remarks upon some points in this return which appear to call for special notice: first, as regards the sources of our income; and secondly, in reference to the main branches of our expenditure.

I. RECEIPTS. Prices of Admission.-This subject was the cause of much anxious deliberation, for while, on the one hand, we were desirous of fixing the prices of admission at a rate which would enable all classes to visit the Exhibition, we were no less anxious to provide a revenue sufficient to meet the expenses for the building, and the maintenance of the Exhibition. We, therefore, decided that, following the precedent of 1851, admission should be-1st. By season tickets; 2nd. By payment at the doors. The price of

* Mr. Mayo has recently been appointed registrar-general of seamen.

the season tickets was fixed at three guineas each; they entitled the owners to admission to the Exhibition on every day the building was open to the public, but were not transferable. By an arrangement with the Royal Horticultural Society, special season tickets were issued, which, in addition to admitting to the Exhibition, entitled the owners to free admission to the flower shows, fêtes, and promenades in the society's gardens during the time the Exhibition was open. The price of these tickets was five guineas each, a proportion of this charge being payble to the society in consideration of the privileges granted by them to the holders of these tickets. The following were the rates of admission agreed upon :-On 1st May, season tickets only were available. On 2nd and 3rd May, the admission each day was 17. for each person. From 5th to 17th May, 58. From 19th to 31st May, 2s. 6d., except on the Saturday in each week, when the charge was 5s. From 2nd to 14th June the price of admission on four days in the week was 1s.; on the Fridays, 2s. 6d. ; and on the Saturdays, 58. After the 14th June the charge on four days of the week was 18., and 28. 6d. on the Friday and Saturday. From the 1st to the 15th of November the rate of admission was 28. 6d. for each person. In the month of July we decided, with the view of giving increased facilities to the public for studying the Exhibition, to reduce the prices of the existing season tickets to one-half, and to issue tickets, available for the shilling days only, for ten shillings each. These experiments, however, were not attended ith the success which was anticipated, as comparatively few such tickets were sold. Season Tickets.-The following is a statement of the number of season tickets sold :-5773, at 5 guineas, 30,3081. 5s. Od.; 17,719, at 3 guineas, 55,8147. 17s. Od.; 26, at 50s., 65l.; 919, at 30s., 1378l. 10s. Od.; 3363, at 10s. (for shilling days), 16817. 10s. Od. Total, 27,800 tickets; 89,241l. 2s. Od. The sum of 86721. 58. was paid to the Royal Horticultural Society, under the arrangement already referred to, in consideration of the advantages enjoyed by the holders of the joint tickets. Day Tickets.-In the month of May we approved a scheme submitted to us of selling day tickets in packets for 208. each, with the object of enabling employers to send their workmen to the Exhibition; and although great numbers were purchased by employers, and other philanthropic persons for distribution, it was found that the additional 18. ticket, which was given as a bonus to purchasers of packets, was an inducement to persons residing in the neighbourhood to purchase these tickets to sell again to visitors who were on their way to the Exhibition. Refreshments. The contractors for the foreign division of this department paid, in February, 1862, a premium of 5000l., and one halfpenny per head on all admissions by payment at the doors, up to 4,000,000 visitors, when the head money was reduced to a farthing per visitor. For the western side, Messrs. Morrish and Co. paid a premium of 500l. in February, 1862, and a deposit of 1500l. at the same date, which was returned at the close of the Exhibition. They further paid five-eighths of a penny per head upon all visitors entering the building. The sums received by us, for premium and head money, in the two areas, amounted to 29,285l. 48. 11d. Retiring Rooms. The contract for this service was undertaken by Mr. Jennings, who paid to the funds of the Exhibition the sum of 1000l. for the privilege. Umbrella Stalls.-The net receipts for the care of umbrellas, sticks, parcels, &c., amounted to 2118. 128. 10d., a charge of 1d. being made for the care of each article. The highest amount taken on any one day was 537. on the 24th July. Photographic Licences.-A sum of 350l. was paid by Messrs.