1867.] International Exhibitions. 499 



are adopting the last Atlantic model, consisting of a few iron or 

 steel wires embedded in hemp. 



In no former Exhibition has there been so good a collection of 

 raw and manufactured produce ; but the specimens were often so 

 widely scattered that it became a task of no little difficulty to make 

 fair comparisons. Great attention was given to mining and mining 

 apparatus, especially by France, and her collection of Civil 

 Engineering models was one of the most interesting parts of the 

 whole Exhibition. 



Since 1862 France and Belgium have wonderfully improved in 

 the manufacture of iron and steel, so that this country is not now so 

 far ahead in its iron manufacture as was formerly the case. Foreigners 

 now, also, make more of their own tools and machinery than 

 heretofore ; and although their best specimens are generally copies 

 from English models, they can now, for all practical purposes, turn 

 out in many places as good machinery as could be obtained in this 

 country ; in excellency of design, however, and in finish, there is 

 still no country that has come up to the standard of English manu- 

 factures. Alarmists have raised the cry that England is not 

 keeping pace with the advancements of other countries, but we 

 are disposed rather to believe the truth to be that whilst we steadily 

 advance, other countries, which a few years since were much behind 

 us, have made themselves acquainted with all that we possess, and 

 thus are able to make more rapid strides, and to lessen the distance 

 between us and themselves. 



It has been, undoubtedly, principally through the instrumentality 

 of International Exhibitions that other countries have made them- 

 selves acquainted with our arts, and we have learned theirs; and 

 thus the diffusion of knowledge throughout the world has been 

 hastened and extended. The rapid growth of these Institutions 

 may at length be said to have reached a fair Hmit, and although 

 the first International Exhibition resulted in a large pecuniary 

 surplus, subsequent ones have not, in most cases, even succeeded in 

 paying their expenses, and it stands to reason that the larger the 

 Exhibition, the more expensive it must be, and consequently the 

 less likely to prove remunerative. For the future, then, it may be 

 anticipated that International Exhibitions will not be so general as 

 heretofore, but will rather be confined to one class of objects, by 

 which means it will be possible to hold them in some permanent 

 building for which a rent only would be paid, and thus the chief 

 expense which now attends their promotion will be obviated. 



