"The 6pectator," October 20, 1849 A LARGE meeting of the
leading men in the banking and commercial world of the City of London was assembled on Wednesday, by the Lord Mayor's invitation, to hear an official explanation of the plans now in preparation, under the guidance of Prince Albert, for a gigantic exposition of industry open to all the world, in the year 1851... . Mr. Cole acted as spokesman, fle informed the meeting that Prince Albert had for these last five years devoted his thoughts to the organization of a grand exposition of industry open to the competition of the world, and had confided his idea to members of the Council of the Society of Arts. At Birmingham, last year, the Society had the finest collection of bronze-work ever exhibited ; and the Queen herself took such interest in it that she con- tributed the chief specimen. After that exhibition, it was thought that a larger project was practicable. According to the plan arranged with Prince Albert, a deputation travelled to the leading towns of the empire, and six or seven hundred gentlemen were personally consulted. They unanimously received the plan with great favour, and promised their cordial co-operation. Mr. Cole sketched in picturesque succession and contrast the various objects which would be congregated—ivory front Africa and the icebergs of Siberia ; leathers from Morocco and Russia ; wools from Yorkshire, Australia and Thibet ; furs from Asia and the Esquimaux ; corn seven feet high from the virgin soil of Connemara, corn also from the Baltic ports ; spices from the East ; hops from Kent olives from the Pyrenees, from Italy, and from the Australian Colonies ; gold from California and the Oural ; iron from Sweden, from Wales, and from the sandstone-rocks round Tunbridge Wells ; clay from China, from Truro, and from Vauxhall ; hand-looms from Dacca, to compare with the last-invented power-loom of Fairbairne ; ancient spindles of Egypt, similar to those still used in the flax-mills of Belfast ; a printing-press by Mr. Applcgarth, like the monster press of the Times ; specimens of ancient and modern plastic art ; castings in iron and bronze from the most excellent workmen of this country and of France.
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