22 



is no reason why its preparation in various ways should not 

 be added to the other industries of the Bahamas. 



The Beche de mer from these islands is, I am given to 

 understand, well prepared, and of the kind most esteemed 

 by the Chinese. I think arrangements might be made 

 with American railway companies for a through rate of 

 freight to San Francisco, with a view to leaving a fair 

 margin of profit to the shippers. The Chinese there would 

 make a market, and perhaps among Europeans it might 

 become popular, for many in travelling in the East have 

 learned to esteem it. 



During the course of the Exhibition, the Nassau shell- 

 work ornaments might have been sold in immense quan- 

 tities. They are superior in workmanship and beauty of 

 design to anything made elsewhere, and a dep6t at the 

 West End of London would certainly pay well. Her 

 Royal Highness the Princess of Wales did the colony a 

 distinguished honour by accepting a shell basket, sent on 

 by the Government, and personally expressed to me in 

 kindly words her great admiration of it. 



Tortoise-shell ornaments will sell readily, but if they 

 cannot be produced at a lower price than those sent on, 

 say about one-third, the sale must be limited to the colony. 

 No doubt this can be remedied by using better tools. The 

 establishment of a local school of art would greatly facili- 

 tate this, and moreover introduce the art of inlaying the 

 shell with silver and gold, as is so satisfactorily done at 

 Naples. 



The great success which has attended the creation of 

 Art Schools in France, Italy, Bavaria, and Saxony, has 

 been such as to deserve the attention of all thinking people. 

 It is certain that the South Kensington Museum and 

 School of Art has been of vast benefit to England, and 



