140 Mr. Liddell's Statistical Account of the Exhibition. 



but also to the public generally, and especially to the working portion of 

 the community. It was thought that if the terms of admission were 

 liberal, so as that all, even the very poorest, might have an opportunity 

 of being present, they might be induced to think and converse, perhaps, 

 for the first time, on such subjects, and desire to be better instructed in 

 them. Accordingly, in March last, the subject was proposed almost 

 simultaneously at meetings of the Philosophical Society and Town 

 Council. Both these bodies entertained the proposal, and each appointed 

 a Committee of its number to arrange the business. These committees 

 were empowered to act jointly, and had authority to add to their number. 

 A contract of agreement was gone into by the parties, in which each 

 guaranteed, in certain portions, the Joint Committee against loss to the 

 extent of £500, it being distinctly understood, that if the loss incurred should 

 exceed £500, the Committee was personally bound for such excess,— the 

 Philosophical Society taking the entire charge of collecting and arranging 

 the articles for exhibition, and waiving all claim for admission to its own 

 members or friends on other terms than the public generally. On the 

 other hand, the Town Council agreed to charge no rent for the City Hall. 

 No data existing, it was difficult at this stage of the business to estimate 

 what the probable outlay might be. An approximate estimate, however, 

 was made out, showing that at least £730 of outlay might be incurred, 

 or perhaps it might amount to £1000. It was fixed that the Exhibition 

 should be opened on the last week of December, on payment of a small 

 admission fee, and that the working classes should be admitted gratis on 

 the 1st, 2d, and 4th of January. It was feared, by a small number, that 

 in consequence of free admission being given on so many days, the above- 

 named outlay could not be obtained from admission dues on the days 

 when payment was exacted, and that the Committee might incur pecuniary 

 loss. But the great majority was of opinion, that if the exhibition was 

 made attractive, not only the outlay would be repaid, but a reversion 

 might be expected, even although the outlay should considerably exceed 

 the above-named sum. It was therefore resolved to apply at the best 

 sources for the most interesting and valuable articles for exhibition. The 

 result has shown that the opinion of the majority was correct ; for in 

 place of a deficiency, there is a considerable reversion, as shall be detailed 

 afterwards. In anticipation of this, and it being the desire of the con- 

 tracting parties to perpetuate such exhibitions, special provision was made 

 as to what purpose any surplus should be applied. The fifth clause in 

 the contract is as follows; — "If it should happen that in place of a loss 

 there should be an overplus of moneys received, said overplus to be laid 

 aside as a fund for future exhibitions of a similar nature." 



The Joint Committee being thus constituted assumed into its number 

 representatives from the University of Glasgow, Anderson's University, 

 the Mechanics' Institution, and the Sheriffs of the county, to aid them in 

 collecting articles for exhibition. And for the same purpose appointed 

 Corresponding Committees in most of the large cities in the empire. 



