Great Exhibition

Samoa had been part of the exhibitionary setting since the mid-19th century.

So we had Samoan language on display at the Great Exhibition of 1851. through missionary endeavours.

We also had Samoans engaging in the Paris World Fair in the 1870s, and Samoa engaging in the Dunedin International South Seas Exhibition in New Zealand in the 1880s, and of course the Chicago World Fair of 1893.

On the

Brown and Mr. and Mrs.

Craft were taken by a party of anti-slavery friends to the Great Exhibition.

The honorable manner in which they were received by distinguished persons to whom their history was known, and the freedom with which they preambulated the American department, was a salutary rebuke to the numerous Americans present in regard to the great sin of their country, slavery, and its great folly, prejudice of color.

A curious circumstance occurred during the exhibition.

We did not see the inside of the house on account of its being occupied by a very eccentric man who will not permit a woman to enter the house, and it is said that he has been known to run when a female had unconsciously intruded herself upon his premises.

And as our company was in part composed of ladies, we had to share their fate and therefore were prevented from seeing the interior of the Dove's Nest.

The exhibitor of such a man would be almost sure of a prize at the great exhibition.

At the head of Grasmere Lake and surrounded by a few cottages stands an old gray antique-looking parish church, venerable with the lapse of centuries and the walls partly covered with ivy, and in the rear of which is the parish burial ground.

Yes, I always worry with research that you get carried away with your detail and that you forget that you're writing fiction.

But it was originally proposed as 100 years since the Great Exhibition.

So it would be like the 100th anniversary of that.

So it was good to be another Great Exhibition.

But that sort of fell by the wayside.

And I think it was started in 48.

There's a guy named Alfred C. Hobbs.

He's an American, and he's on a boat to England to attend the Great Exhibition of London.

And he's a lock salesman.

That's his job.

And he cleans up.

He's really, really good at his job.

And he's on his way to this conference because on display at the Great Exhibition of London is a lock called the Chubb Lock, C-H-U-B-B.

You may have seen locks that still have that brand, that brand still exists.

After four short days the Queen and her husband returned to London and from this time onward the Prince acted as his wife's secretary.

attending to every little detail of the mass of correspondence and state documents which grew larger with every succeeding year all the letters received by the queen during the course of a long and busy lifetime were carefully preserved and at her death they amounted to no fewer than five or six hundred large bound volumes they included letters from crowned heads of europe from her ministers of state from her children and from her friends and relations all these the queen read and answered she was thus at all times fully aware of everything that was happening both at home and abroad and in her great empire an empire which was destined to grow greater and greater in power and extent during her reign day by day year in year out without a single break this immense correspondence arrived ministers resigned ministers were appointed but there was neither halt nor rest truly the burden of empire is heavy for those who bear it the young prince determined from the first to master both national and european politics for it must always be remembered that as he was a foreigner everything in this country was for some time strange to him in addition to being his wife's right hand he took a leading part in all movements which might help to improve the education and conditions of life of the people his fine training and sympathetic nature enabled him little by little to be the means of helping on important reforms in addition to this both he and his wife found time to work at drawing and music which they studied together under the best masters throughout the queen's correspondence one reads of his devotion to her both as husband and helpmate the times were hard discontent with poverty and bad trade kept the nation ill at ease and as is always the case there were many who did their best to stir up riot as a consequence possibly of this unrest attempts were made on the queen's life once in eighteen forty and twice in eighteen forty one the relief and joy felt by the whole nation at their young queen's lucky escapes from death by an assassin's hand are expressed in the following lines by an anonymous author god save the queen all thoughts apart this crowning joy fills every mind she sits within the nation's heart an angel shrined the assassin's hand the steel enclosed he poised his ruthless hand on high but god in mercy interposed his shadow for her panoply then let ten thousand lives be swept let pains ring over sea and land the almighty hath our sovereign kept within the hollow of his hand in july eighteen forty it was considered necessary to appoint a regent in case of the queen's death a bill for this purpose was brought in and passed naming the prince as regent this pleased the queen for it was a clear proof of the golden opinions the prince had won everywhere since his marriage and it was passed as she herself said entirely on account of his noble character at an earlier period it is certain as lord melbourne assured her that parliament would not have passed such a bill the queen was soon to lose her chief adviser and friend for in june eighteen forty one parliament dissolved and the whigs were not returned to power lord melbourne could however resign with an easy mind for he himself recognised how valuable a counsellor the queen now possessed in her husband after handing his resignation to the queen he wrote to her lord melbourne has formed the highest opinion of his royal highness's judgment temper and discretion and he cannot but feel a great consolation and security in the reflection that he leaves your majesty in a situation in which your majesty has the inestimable advantage of such advice and assistance the queen was exceedingly proud of these words of praise coming as they did unasked from a minister of such long experience it was in the same year that the prince was appointed head of the royal commission which had been formed to encourage the study of the fine arts throughout the kingdom this was work of a kind which he especially loved and he was now in a position to influence the movement which led to the great exhibition of eighteen fifty one but all was not plain sailing for the prince who was still regarded if not with dislike at any rate with some mistrust as being a foreigner for a long time yet he felt himself a stranger the queen's husband and nothing more still all cometh to him who knoweth how to wait and he set himself bravely to his uphill task to use his own words i endeavour to be as much used to victoria as i can this was the keynote of his whole life the prince took sides with neither of the political parties and first of all by careful economy he lessened the enormous household expenses and proved that it was possible for royalty to live without always being in debt he established model farms at osborne and windsor introduced different and better breeds of cattle and even made a profit on the undertaking he persuaded his wife to give up the late hours which were still usual and gradually by kindness and sympathy won the household staff over to his way of thinking the prince's life was an extremely full one soon after six o'clock was his time for rising until nine he read and answered letters he then looked through all the principal newspapers and gave the queen a summary of the most important news he found time also to work and play with his children during his short intervals of leisure consultations with ministers reading and writing dispatches followed and then a short time was devoted to open-air exercise after lunch he often accompanied the queen on a drive more reading and writing took up his time until dinner after which there was either a social evening or a visit to a theatre he was complete master in his house and the active centre of an empire whose power extends to every quarter of the globe no british cabinet minister has ever worked so hard during the session of parliament and that is saying a good deal as the prince consort did for twenty-one years the prince had no holidays at all he was always in harness louis philippe the first french king who had ever visited this country except king john wrote of him oh he will do wonders he is so wise he is not in a hurry he gains so much by being known he will always give you good advice Do you not think I say so in flattery? No, no, it is from my heart.

He would be like his uncle, equally wise and good.

He will be of the greatest use to you, and will keep well at your side, if a time of vicissitudes should come, such as I hope may never be, but, after all, no one can tell.

There are no soldiers, and the whole guard of the sovereign consists of a single policeman, who walks about the grounds to keep off impertinent intruders and improper characters.

the prince shoots every morning returns to luncheon and then they walk or drive the queen is running in and out of the house all day long and often goes about alone walks into the cottages and chats with the old women the queen loved her life here even more than the prince and every year she yearned for it more and more it is not alone the pure air the quiet and beautiful scenery which makes it so delightful she wrote it is the atmosphere of loving affection and the hearty attachment of the people around balmoral which warms the heart and does one good it was during the year eighteen forty eight that the royal couple paid their first visit to balmoral the queen had long wished to possess a home of her own in the highlands where her husband could indulge in some outdoor sport and where they both could enjoy a brief rest from time to time from the anxiety and care of state affairs their life there during the years eighteen forty eight to sixty one is described by the queen in her diary leaves from the journal of our life in the highlands it was first published after the prince's death and was dedicated to him in the words to the dear memory of him who made the life of the writer bright and happy these simple records are lovingly and gratefully inscribed the first impressions were very favourable it is a pretty little castle in the old scottish style there is a picturesque tower and garden in front with a high wooded hill at the back there is wood down to the d and the hills rise all around their household was naturally a small one consisting of the queen's maid of honour the prince's valet a cook a footman and two maids among the outdoor attendants was john brown who in eighteen fifty eight was attached to the queen as one of her regular attendants everywhere in the highlands and remained in her service until his death he has all the independence and elevated feelings peculiar to the highland race and is singularly straightforward simple-minded kind-hearted and disinterested always ready to oblige and of a discretion rarely to be met with the old castle soon proved to be too small for the family and in september eighteen fifty three the foundation stone of a new house was laid after the ceremony the workmen were entertained at dinner which was followed by highland games and dancing in the ball-room two years later they entered the new castle which the queen described as charming the rooms delightful the furniture papers everything perfection the prince was untiring in planning improvements and in eighteen fifty six the queen wrote every year my heart becomes more fixed in this dear paradise and so much more so now that all has become my dearest albert's own creation own work own building own laying out as at osborne and his great taste and the impress of his dear hand have been stamped everywhere he was very busy to-day settling and arranging many things for next year visits to the cottages of the old people on the estate and in the neighbourhood were a constant source of delight and pleasure to the queen and often when the prince was away for the day shooting she would pay a round of calls taking with her little presents the old ladies especially loved to talk with their queen the affection of these good people who are so hearty and so happy to see you taking interest in everything is very touching and gratifying she remarked upon them we were always in the habit of conversing with the highlanders with whom one comes so much in contact in the highlands the prince highly appreciated the good breeding simplicity and intelligence which make it so pleasant and even instructive to talk to them in september eighteen fifty five soon after moving into the new castle the news arrived of the fall of sebastopol and this was taken as an omen of good luck the prince and his suite sallied forth followed by all the population to the cairn above balmoral and here amid general cheering a large bonfire was lit the pipes played wildly the people danced and shouted guns and squibs were fired off and it was not until close upon midnight that the festivities came to an end during the same month the princess royal became engaged to prince frederick william of prussia who was then visiting balmoral acting on the queen's advice prince frederic did not postpone his good fortune until a later date as he had first intended but during a ride up craignoban he picked a piece of white heather the emblem of good luck and offered it to the young princess and this gave him an opportunity of declaring his love these extracts printed from the queen's journals were intended at first for presentation only to members of the royal family and her majesty's intimate friends especially to those who had accompanied her during her tours it was however suggested to the queen that her people would take even as keen an interest in these simple records of family life especially as they had already shown sincere and ready sympathy with her personal joys and sorrows the book its editor says is mainly confined to the natural expressions of a mind rejoicing in the beauties of nature and throwing itself with a delight rendered keener by the rarity of its opportunities into the enjoyment of a life removed for the moment from the pressures of public cares it is of particular interest because here the queen recalls from day to day her thoughts and her impressions in the simplest language here she can be seen less as a queen than as a wife and mother her interest in her whole household and in all those immediately around her is evident on almost every page to quote again she is indeed the mother of her people taking the deepest interest in all that concerns them without respect of persons from the highest to the lowest as a picture of the royal court in those days this is exceedingly valuable for it shows what an example the queen and her husband were setting to the whole nation in the simple life they led in their highland home that the old people especially loved her can be seen from the greetings and blessings she received in the cottages she used to visit may the lord attend ye with mirth and with joy may he ever be with ye in this world and when ye leave it the queen was never weary of the beauties of the highlands and quotes the following lines from a poem by arthur hugh clough to describe god's glorious works the gorgeous bright october then when brackens are changed and heather blooms are faded and amid russet of heather and fern green trees are bonny alders are green and oaks the rowing scarlet and yellow one great glory of broad gold pieces appears the aspen and the jewels of gold that were hung in the hair of the birch tree pendulous here and there her coronet necklace and earrings cover her now o'er and o'er she is weary and scatters them from her in the year eighteen eighty three the queen published more leaves from the journal and dedicated it to my loyal highlanders and especially to the memory of my devoted personal attendant and faithful friend john brown they are records of her life in scotland during the years eighteen sixty two to eighteen eighty two in the august of eighteen sixty two a huge cairn thirty-five feet high was erected to the memory of the prince consort it was set on the summit of craig laurigan where it could be seen all down the valley a short extract will serve as a specimen of the queen's style of writing at a quarter to twelve i drove off with louise and leopold in the waggonette up to near the bush the residence of william brown the farmer to see them juice the sheep this is a practice pursued all over the highlands before the sheep are sent down to the low country for the winter it is done to preserve the wool not far from the burnside where there are a few hillocks was a pen in which the sheep were placed and then just outside it a large sort of trough filled with liquid tobacco and soap and into this the sheep were dipped one after the other one man took the sheep one by one out of the pen and turned them on their backs and then william and he holding them by their legs dipped them well in after which they were let into another pen into which this trough opened and here they had to remain to dry to the left a little lower down was a caldron boiling over a fire and containing the tobacco with water and soap this was then emptied into a tub from which it was transferred into the trough a very rosy-faced lassie with a plaid over her head was superintending this part of the work and helped to fetch the water from the burn while children and many collie dogs were grouped about and several men and shepherds were helping it was a very curious and picturesque sight chapter CHAPTER X.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION the idea of a great exhibition of the works and industries of all nations was prince albert's the scheme when first proposed in eighteen forty nine was coldly received in this country it was intended to use the prince's own words 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 the times led the attack against the proposed site in hyde park and the public was uneasy at the thought of large numbers of foreigners congregating in london and at the expected importation of foreign goods as showing the absurd things which john bull could say at this time in his jealousy and dislike of foreigners the prince wrote the strangers they give out are certain to commence a thorough revolution here to murder victoria and myself and to proclaim the red republic in england the plague is certain to ensue from the confluence of such vast multitudes and to swallow up those whom the increased price of everything has not already swept away for all this i am to be responsible and against all this i have to make efficient provision punch pictured the young prince begging cap in hand for subscriptions pity the sorrows of a poor young prince whose costly schemes have borne him to your door who in a fix the matter not to mince oh help him out and commerce swell your store such constant worry and anxiety affected the prince's health but the support of sir robert peel and of many great firms gradually wore down the opposition the building was designed by paxton who had risen from being a gardener's boy in the duke of devonshire's service to the position of the greatest designer of landscape gardening in the kingdom he took his main ideas for the crystal palace from the great conservatories at kew and chatsworth It was like a huge greenhouse in shape, nearly 1,000 feet long and 90 feet high, with fountains playing in the naves and a great elm tree in full leaf under the roof.

On May 1, 1851, the opening day, everything went well.

He insisted on its transparent structure to showcase modern industry to the world.

The Great Exhibition itself was a technological tour de force.

From steam-powered lighting to automatic printing presses, it presented Britain as both a manufacturing titan and a cultural beacon.

Albert's role was not just ceremonial.