284 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AT SOUTH 
' KENSINGTON. ■ 
By S. J. MACKIE, C.E. 
[PLATE LXXV.] 
rflHE present Exhibition is by no means comparable with the 
magnificent affairs of 1851 an d 1 8 6 2 in this' country, and 
in France in 1855 and 1867. The professed purpose of the 
annual Exhibitions at 1 South Kensington, now understood to be 
inaugurated, is the illustration of the special progress made in 
particular sections of manufactures and science in respective 
decades of years. In the present— the first of the series — woollen 
materials,- machinery, and fabrics, are : supposed to be specially 
represented. Pottery is also an item. These two groups of 
manufactures and industries are expected to be on their trial, 
and the ‘advance made since 1862 to be recorded in the reports 
which are- to be published. Pictures, sculptures, and the 
various illustrations of the fine arts, as well as inventions, will 
always find admission, and, like the flowers in the Horticultural 
Gardens which the Exhibition buildings inclose, will blossom in 
full vigour -year by year. The second and following Exhi- 
bitions will be devoted specially to other branches ; until, 
after a decade of Exhibitions, the return will be made to 
woollen and pottery, and then will recommence another series 
of similar competitions. 
The Horticultural Gardens form nearly a square area, con- 
taining about twenty-two acres ; and the present permanent Ex- 
hibition buildings have been erected along the east and west 
sides, in blocks of two storeys each. At one end of the gar- 
dens portions of the exhibits are located in corridors leading to 
the Albert Hall, in which also a great number of pictures,' 
fabrics, educational and other articles, are arranged. Across 
the opposite -end ; of -the Gardens there are temporary buildings, 
where the Meyrick collection of armour, military weapons, 
astronomical and other instruments, are displayed. The two 
