Leighton Buzzard Observer & Linslade Gazette
Tuesday, 8th June 1875

Brief background

Article published in the local newspaper. The article covers details of the prize giving ceremony and a summary of admissions and takings for the exhibition up to this point. Note: any text enclosed in square bracket are comments by the transcriber relating to possible typos or errors in the original text.

The Article

THE ART AND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRIZE CERTIFICATES.

On Wednesday afternoon last the certificates of merit awarded to successful competitors at the above Exhibition were presented to them, at the Corn Exchange, and in the presence of a large number of the elite of the town and neighbourhood, season ticket holders, and general visitors.

The ceremonial was conducted under the presidency of Colonel Gilpin, M.P., and upon the platform were also Colonel Stuart, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire; the Mayor of Bedford, Lord Charles J. F. Russell, Sir Harry Verney, W. S. Burton, Esq., the Rev. A. F. Birch, vicar of Eddlesborough; Theodore Harris, Esq., and the Rev. P. T. Ouvry, vicar of Wing.

The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. A. F. Birch, in the absence of the Archdeacon designate of Buckingham, who had been expected to arrive at home from abroad in time to take part in the ceremony. The rev. gentleman, in the course of his prayer, returned thanks to Him without whose aid no success is secured for the progress hitherto made in connection with the Exhibition, and made special supplication for the Baroness de Rothschild, who was prevented by affliction from being present on this occasion.

The 148th Psalm was next read, in which the whole company was invited to join:-

"Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the heights. Praise ye Him, all his angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts. Praise ye Him sun and moon: praise Him all ye stars of light. Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for He commanded, and they were created. He hath also  stablished them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: fire and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling His word: mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars: beasts, and all cattle: creeping things, and flying fowl: kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth; both young men and maidens; old men and children; let them praise the name of the Lord; for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto Him. Praise ye the Lord."

The hymn commencing "Let us gather up the sunbeams," from Sacred Songs and Solos, was then sung by the company, Mr. T. J. Price, M.C.O., accompanying on the organ, at the conclusion of which the gallant chairman, Colonel Gilpin, called upon Mr. E. W. Lewis, honorary secretary to the Exhibition committee, to read an ode, composed, as Mr. Lewis stated, by Miss Marie Jane Hyde, of Acock's Green, near Birmingham, a former resident of Leighton Buzzard. The ode was considered to be very suitable for the present occasion, and a second-class prize certificate had been awarded to the authoress. It was as follows:-

All Nature is glad, for the sweet spring-time
    O'er the earth is softly stealing;
With her odorous breath she wakes the flowers,
And bids them rejoice in their new-born powers;
    A lesson for man revealing.
        "Work, work, and be gay!"
        They blithely say;
    "For the wise and the great have assembled to-day,
    The triumph of Industry sealing."

Here, too, are her sisters, a fruitful band,
    In a brilliant train attending -
Taste, talent, and skill, are forming part
With dark-browed Science and graceful Art,
    In genial fellowship blending.
        Success hath smiled
        On her favoured child;
And soft-eyed Peace, serene and mild,
    O'er all is gently bending.

Through the length and breadth of our country fair
    Is the seed of truth upspringing;
From rugged mountain and sheltered dale,
From sombre forest and flower-strewn vale,
    The wakening cry is ringing;
        And evermore,
        Her slumber o'er,
Agenoria marches from shore to shore,
    Her blithsome legions bringing.

Proud Genius never can soar alone,
    Though lightly his bright wings waving;
If Industry humble without her aid,
His glowing pinions must droop and fade
    'Neath Indolence' strong enslaving.
        Linked hand-in-hand,
        To-day they stand;
Each fair brow crowned with a diadem grand,
    For kindly sympathy craving.

What matters it, then, that the hand be rough,
    If the heart be true and tender;
If the brain be clear, and the spirit be strong,
To cheerily labour the whole day long,
    Though hope of success be slender,
        If in them lies
        A purpose wise,
A resolute will to grasp the prize,
    And never dream of surrender?

For the working hand and the working brain,
    On God and themselves relying,
No path is too thorny, no height too steep.
Press on! He who soweth in time shall reap
    The reward of his earnest trying;
        Though yet it seem
        Like a distant dream,
So faint that he scarcely can catch the gleam
    Of success in the future lying.

Wake every voice in praise to Him to whom all praise is due,
Who gave to England's working sons the power to will and do!
By swelling anthems, loud and deep, let the clear air be riven,
Till, bursting through the azure gates, they reach His throne in Heaven.

Mr. Harris, on next rising to give a statement of the progress of the Exhibition, read from notes which he held in his hand the following particulars. The Exhibition, he said, contained contributions from between 500 and 600 persons, classified as under:-

COMPETING EXHIBITS.

LOAN OBJECTS.

The total number of exhibits under the above two heads is therefore 525.

The jurors judged the articles on Monday, May 10th. The exhibits were anonymous, and all were valued at a certain number of marks. In cabinet and carpenters' work, mechanical work of various kinds, and models, Mr. W. King, foreman in the Carriage Department, Wolverton, Mr. T. Fardon, late of the Linslade Iron Works, and Mr. W. Groom, of Leighton Buzzard, awarded prizes. In art productions, J. R. Dicksee, Esq., of London; and W.R. Cooper, Esq., secretary to the Biblical Archaeological Society, and of S J. Soane's Museum, London. Lace, Mr. Gilby, Woburn; and Mr. Ayres, Ampthill. Needlework and school-work, Mrs. Lawford, Miss Tylor, and Miss Burton. Some few miscellaneous articles were judged by members of the committee, competent tradesmen in the town.

The certificates awarded numbered 77 in the first class and 73 in the second, or a total of 150.

SEASON TICKETS.

DAILY ADMISSIONS.

These figures gave averages for the eighteen days of 453 admissions by season ticket, and 480 by payment, or a total daily average of 933 visitors. Besides these, 1,217 school children and others have also been admitted as reduced rates.

Those marked (*) are for the general expenses.

A list of entertainments and lectures which had been given in the Exhibition up to this date was also read. They included four lectures by W. R. Cooper, Esq., on "The Pentateuch," "The Koran," "Prehistoric Articles in the Exhibition," and "Ancient Manuscripts their History and Production;" three lectures by E. A. Davidson, Esq., on "Wood Engraving," "Our Early Homes," and "Ornamental Art;" four sleight-of-hand entertainments by Professor Proskauer; three musical entertainments by the Leighton Instrumental Society; organ and pianoforte recitals by Mr. T. J. Price, M.C.O., Mrs. Hamilton, and the Misses Wagstaff, of Leighton, and Miss J. Franklin, of Wolverton; and two entertainments by the Leighton Band of Hand-bell Ringers.

Mr. Harris added that Miss Constance de Rothschild had given £10, the value of which was to be awarded in books for the best essays on the Exhibition after its close - a £5 prize to be offered for the best production by a honorary member of the Working Mens' Institute, and prizes valued at £3 and £2 respectively for the best and second best essays by working men members of the society. He thought there was a very fair chance of getting a good history of the Exhibition shortly. In conclusion Mr. Harris announced that Thursday, June 3rd, Saturday, June 5th, and Monday and Tuesday, June 7th and 8th, would be days on which the admission rate would be reduced to sixpence, the final closing day being Wednesday, June 9th.

Colonel Gilpin, M.P., who was received with applause, prefaced his address with an explanation why, having the honour of holding the public position he did in the county, and residing so near to the town of Leighton, and why, having allowed his name to be published as one of the Exhibition patrons, he was not present at the opening ceremonial. On that occasion Earl Cowper had expatiated on the good qualities of Bedfordshire, and the excellence of the county militia regiment, and it was because her Majesty had been pleased to place the command of that regiment in his hands that he was absent at the inaugural meeting. A higher authority had fixed the 12th of May for the annual inspection. He regretted his absence, yet was to a great degree consoled by the fact that the military spirit evinced was almost as attractive to him as the more peaceful employments of art and science in Leighton. (Cheers.) He felt greatly flattered on hearing that it was the unanimous wish of the Exhibition committee that he should preside to-day. Perhaps some one of more importance or possessing greater ability might have been selected, but he felt that the unanimous wish expressed by the committee should be acceded to, and he now trusted to his friends taking him for better or for worse than they expected. (Laughter.) Sir H. Verney had observed, on the opening day, that the great originator of these Exhibitions, the late Prince Consort, was one of the most accomplished of men. That was quite true, but Sir Harry might have gone further, and told them that, notwithstanding the power and influence of that illustrious Prince, backed at [should be "as"] it was by all that was noble and wealthy in the land, his grand design had almost fallen through for the want of a suitable building when up rose a Bedfordshire man, born within six miles of Leighton, and suggested the erection of that magnificent crystal palace in Hyde Park, which at once solved the difficulty, and added one more of the laurels that had already been gained by the genius and industry of Bedfordshire. (Cheers.) No one who was in London in the year 1851 could ever forget that wonderful novelty, with the thousands of foreigners it attracted from all parts of the world. The Great Exhibition was the daily resort of everybody, and visitors there made arrangements for meeting their friends either in Europe, Asia, Africa, or America. But, while almost lost in the wondrous spectacle, it was just possible, also that one might lose his purse. (Laughter.) It did happen, too, that people sometimes lost their wives. He remembered that a certain venerable archdeacon got separated from his better half in the crowd, and the lady in searching for her husband, frantically rushed to a policeman and inquired of him if he had "seen a young man pass with a rose in his hat," to which the officer replied. "Oh, so, that's your young man's sign, is it?" (Laughter.) Fancy, said the gallant colonel, such an answer to an unprotected female, the wife of one of our ecclesiastical dignitaries, herself in an agony of despair at being separated from the husband of her affection (laughter.) The great Exhibition of 1851 was the parent not only of those which followed in the great capitals of Europe, but of those also which had been held in manufacturing and rural districts. The conception of these Exhibitions by the Prince Consort had no doubt proved the best plan that could have been devised for stimulating industry and intercourse at home and between nations abroad. It had opened up paths by which we were enabled to teach, and it had shown where it was necessary to learn. Though the gallant colonel believed that Englishmen could compete with any people, either in art, science, genius, or enterprise, it must, however, be borne in mind that other nations were following very closely upon them. It would be impolitic not to consider this. If Englishmen would continue to win in the competitive struggle, they must put on their armour and brace up their engeries ["energies"?], and there could be no fear as to the result. He believed our skilled artisans and labourers could not be beaten anywhere, and might, while upon this point, refer to one little matter of personal experience. Some little time back he required a pair of boots of the very best workmanship. He went to a French house in London, celebrated for the work it turned out, and when the boots were made the tradesman said, "These boots in every stitch will bear the closest inspection." The colonel said "I suppose they have been sent from Paris, made by French workmen." "French workmen!" said the tradesman; "they can't hold a candle to the English. No workman in Paris could make such boots." Again, asked the colonel, was there any country where the inhabitants were more loyal to their sovereign, or more attached to their country's institutions? Where were the laws more equitably and impartially administered than in England? Whether they in the county of Bedford looked to public institutions or whether they looked to private ones, he was sure they could vie with anybody. Could they not vie with any agricultural county in England? Had they not in the town of Bedford a manufactory for agricultural machinery that was almost unrivalled in the country? And had they not in Luton a manufactory for an article which, wafted upon the winds of commerce, found its way to the heads of nearly all the fair daughters of the world? (Cheers and laughter.) We had, he thought, a right to be proud of our sons and daughters, for it was by the manipulation of the delicate fingers of the latter that this manufacture was made to improve loveliness itself and to dispel a delusion, for it was a delusion that beauty unadorned was then adorned the most. (Laughter). But not to be drawn away by enchantment, he must recollect the tutoring he had a day or two back received at an afternoon repast under the hospitable tent of Mr. Harris, which had been so much visited during the time this Exhibition had been open. Mr. Harris had said to him on that occasion, " You ought to give an address." He did not say it was to be lengthy or brief, but he (the colonel) thought addresses should be in some respects like sermons - no longer than people care to listen to. However, in bringing his observations to a close, he wished to offer his best thanks to Mr. Harris, who had been the prime mover in this Exhibition enterprise; to the excellent committee by whom he had been assisted, and also to the indefatigable secretary, Mr. Lewis, for their labour and exertion in bringing the Exhibition to such a successful issue. (Applause.) He thought all were greatly indebted to them for the excellent arrangements that had been made for securing the comfort of those assembled on this and other occasions since the opening of the Exhibition, the popularity of which had been shown by the large number of persons who had visited it, and by the numerous objects brought in for improving and elevating mind and taste. He had no doubt regret would be felt when the Exhibition was closed; but they would always cherish in their memories the recollection of what could be done when the town of Leighton Buzzard and district united in any work for the benefit of the town and neighbourhood, and which was calculated to be a work of practical utility. (Applause). It had been hoped, added the gallant colonel, that the prize certificates would have been distributed this day by the fair hand of a lady who had evinced the deepest interest in this Exhibition - Miss Hannah de Rothschild. He regretted that he held in his hand a letter which gave as a reason for her absence that the ill-health of the Baroness kept her away. Though the absence of Miss Rothschild was a matter of much regret and disappointment, the cause of her being kept from among them on this occasion was much more to be regretted because none knew better than they the kindness and benevolence of the Baroness. It might be truly said of her that her hand was ever open to cherish what was good. She had shown the greatest interest in this Exhibition, and opened her magnificent palace for the inspection of all who desired to see, and he was sure all would join with him in the hope that she might soon be restored to health. He would go further by also urging upon his hearers in their daily prayers to offer up special supplication for the recovery of that excellent woman, and hoped that He whose hands held the destinies of all might be pleased to restore her to health, and enable her once again to mix in that society to which by her numerous virtues and accomplishments she had always added so great a charm. (Warm applause.)

At the conclusion of the chairman's speech, the successful competitors were called one by one to the platform, where they severally received the certificates of merit at the hands of the gallant colonel, who in all cases made the presentation with a few suitable words of encouragement and congratulation, in a most humorous strain, which entirely relieved the formality, though it occupied considerable time, of anything like monotony. Before, however, the distribution had been completed.

Colonel Stuart, who had an engagement in London, and was therefore compelled to leave early, expressed the pleasure he experienced in being present on this occasion, especially as he was in company with Colonel Gilpin. Where the chairman was, he (the speaker) generally followed, though he confessed that he was seldom able to overtake him - he did not possess that facility so remarkable in the gallant colonel of importing humour into all he said. With regard to the Exhibition, the speaker had little doubt as to its success, judging by the array of visitors he saw before him, apart from what had, in connection with the display, come under his own observation. Amusement, instruction, and native talent were discovered here, and the gallant colonel had faith that certificates had been given in many cases to those from whom would emanate various improvements of practical utility. Amongst other things he was glad to notice exhibits calculated to promote improvement in ventilation. In the ladies department he fully appreciated the plain and fancy needlework shown. He was especially struck with one case of work for which a young lady had received a certificate. While there was other work around, and some of it very ornamental, this particular exhibit was indicative of a steady, not a hasty hand, the stitches being so even. He spoke somewhat feelingly in appreciation of this kind of work, as it sometimes became necessary for gentlemen to take a needle into their own hands. He would advise all young men to learn something of this art, for they could not expect to be always near their mother. The safety lamp Colonel Stuart looked upon as a valuable invention, removing the liability of dying, as the Greek of old, in the dark. The display of weapons he also admired, though he was not sure he had seen the most modern specimen used in the art of killing. When, however, he looked at the collection before him, including modern inventions and improvements, and remembered how it had been got together in a desire to benefit all, he must say that the Exhibition was a great success. Referring to Colonel Gilpin's anecdote of the lady who lost her husband at the Exhibition of 1851, the speaker observed that he understood that more marriages were celebrated immediately after that Exhibition than in a similar period for many previous years. A friend of his had told him that had it not been for that Exhibition he did not think his marriage would have taken place at all, so many facilities were thereby afforded. He (the speaker) could not expect many marriages would result from this Exhibition - he only hoped that some might be brought about by its instrumentality. He regretted that it was impossible for him to be present at the opening ceremony, but neither Colonel Gilpin nor himself could at that absent themselves from their duty with the Militia regiment, then in course of annual training, without the consent of the Commander-in-chief; and, had they been absent, the matter might have been taken up in Parliament, and the question asked whether commanding officers of regiments should allow themselves to be taken up with exhibition matters to the detriment of the public service. He trusted that this Exhibition would be followed by others periodically, and that not only this but others that might come after it would prove a great benefit to the town of Leighton and neighbourhood.

The gallant Colonel then left the hall for the railway station, and Colonel Gilpin proceeded with the presentation of the remaining certificates. When all had been distributed, the gallant chairman called upon Lord Charles Russell to address the company.

Lord Charles Russell, on next rising, said he had come to Leighton to-day with mingled feelings of hope and gratitude. His hope had been realised, while his gratitude, had been enhanced by the able manner in which his gallant friend the chairman had performed his duty. The colonel generally did most things he undertook well, but there was one thing he could not do - he could not be in two places at once. The charms of his society they all knew, but he was afraid nothing short of the attribute of ubiquity could satisfy the admirers of the gallant chairman. He had been to-day a reviewing general, and had seen passing before him a gay battalion, to whom the word of command had not been, as in the militia, "Eyes right," or "Eyes left," but "Eyes front!" Going back to the remarks of the Lord Lieutenant at the opening of the Exhibition, his lordship referred to Earl Cowper's anecdote of Lord Melbourne, who entertained the greatest respect for a certain man because he made the best boots in the neighbourhood in which he lived. Colonel Gilpin, said Lord Charles, had now added one more tale about boots, the industry in connection with which he was glad to see so popular in this neighbourhood. He supposed the moral of Lord Melbourne's regard for the shoemaker was that he had great respect for good honest work wherever it was found. Looking in quite another direction than that of manufacture, his lordship would point to another proof of good honest work. He referred to Earl Russell, and his work when Prime Minister of England. After six years at the head of a Government, he was once asked how he could stand against the trials consequent upon the conduct of the affairs of the country, and in reply his simple philosophy was that he knew he was doing his best. What sustained him was a consciousness of honest work. Another instance of honest work might be found nearer home. He would not go to Mentmore or Aston Clinton, where philanthropy was as prominent as skill in finance, but he referred to the little village so near to Leighton Buzzard, where lived one who took up the profession of arms, but who in times of peace turned his sword into a plough-share, and from the time that he plunged it into the earth to keep it bright had continued to be a member for this county. After all, there was nothing like home. In Leighton Buzzard they were highly favoured; the highest and the lowest were in their midst, but among them those who were willing workers, who set about their work with a real will to accomplish. It might be that some of them were seen to-day in their best clothes, but, if one could penetrate the skull, a well-dressed brain would be found in shirt-sleeves endeavouring by the sweat of that brain to alleviate the sweat of the brow. His lordship was inclined to think, as Sir Harry Verney had said on a former occasion, that other nations were treading closely on our heels in the matter of manufactures. It had come to pass that the master manufacturers of this country threw the work to a much greater degree on workman's brain, and they said that unless the workman was educated it was impossible for them to compete, as they had done, with other countries. Quoting from the words of Mr. Chance, who belonged to that well-known firm at Birmingham to whom so much of the white sand of this neighbourhood was consigned for the manufacture of glass, his lordship said that gentleman was a great advocate of elementary education. He said, "Give men primary education, and leave the technical to take care of itself." His lordship agreed with that view. He was himself a firm friend of religious education. Without religion, education was like lie tea, but, apply it to the eternal element, and it was fit for the sustenance of man. If then, his hearers wanted religious education, let them go in boldly for the secular, and the religious would soon follow. Parliament now gave primary education, but, for years before the matter was taken up there, such education was provided in this town of Leighton, and the establishment of that society by which the present Exhibition had been founded was one of the results of that education. In 1868 they had held a similar Exhibition, now followed by this one on a much extended scale. Since the first effort they had found excellent opportunities for carrying out such an undertaking again. It was, as Mr. White, of London, and a native of Leighton, had said, when questioned as to the secret of his fortune, the first step which was the most difficult to overcome. Mr. White said there was no secret about the gaining of his fortune - the secret lay in getting possession of the first £100. It was the same with regard to the prosperity of the society which had promoted the Exhibition, and when his lordship looked at the steady increase of members from1866 up to the present time, he thought the constitution of the society was sound, the committee consisting, as it did, of working men members, with three honorary members who exercised no authority over the other members, but lent them aid in guiding the affairs of the institution. He trusted the society would go on as it had done, and that its lines would yet be extended much further.

Sir Harry Verney congratulated Leighton Buzzard on getting up such an Exhibition as the present one, and would fain hope that its advantages would not terminate at its close, but that it would give rise to some society from which should spring a centre of improvement and information to the district. He believed that some such institution should be established in every part of England in order that special occurrences, discoveries, and collections of interest might be protected and preserved. He recollected a number of ancient coins being once found at Whaddon, and a quantity of Roman weapons being at another time discovered at Bicester, but where these had all gone he could not tell. If such a society as that to which he referred had been in existence at that time, it was probable that these relics might have been preserved for the edification of others, and that many other useful matters might have been chronicled for the benefit of future generations. Local occurrences were sometimes diecredited [should be "discredited"] in other quarters, and a register of these would be very useful. As an example, Sir Harry referred to an extraordinary storm which once broke over the town of Brill, when carts were carried over hedges and large splinters of trees, torn off by the violence of the wind, carried a distance of fourteen or fifteen miles. The circumstances of this storm, he said, were so extraordinary that, when a communication in reference to it was forwarded to The Times newspaper, it was looked upon as an exaggeration, and not inserted in the paper, the record being as a consequence lost. The Leighton people had shown that they could have an Exhibition of their own, and that they appreciated that which was of scientific interest, and he hoped they would be able to found a society which should become a centre of intelligence in such matters. The present period was one of great research, and there could be no telling what was before them in the way of discovery, invention, or improvement. He therefore hoped that, if a society such as that to which he alluded were established in this town, the effect of this Exhibition would be apparent and lasting in the town and its neighbourhood. In conclusion, Sir Harry said he thought all were greatly indebted to Colonel Gilpin for occupying the chair on this occasion, and for performing the duty he had undertaken so remarkably well. He proposed that the thanks of the meeting be accorded to Colonel Gilpin for his kindness and ability in presiding and distributing the prize certificates.

The Mayor of Bedford observed that a task had been imposed upon him which he scarcely knew how to accomplish - that of saying a great deal, which might be said in noting all the different subjects suggested by this Exhibition, in a few words. He therefore briefly touched upon a few of the leading subjects. The Exhibition had been a wonderful success. He knew it would succeed, but he certainly had not been prepared for so great results. He did not expect that so many as 500 or 600 exhibitors would mass together so many specimens of their skill and so many articles of great utility. Among other features with which he was struck was the care and skill evidenced in the ladies' work shown. He did not, he said, quite agree with the superiority or predominance of machine work over hand knitting, and was glad to see that industry so well represented here. In stocking making it was very useful for a wife to know, when her husband's foot was out, how to put on a new one, and so put him on a better footing; and so, in other branches of industry, if such Exhibitions as these were encouraged, a great deal of good would be done for working people. He said "working people," though he did not like the term, as it seemed to him to point too much to a class distinction. He hoped they were all working people. If any were not, they belonged to that despicable class known as idle people. If they were not busy, they were, in his estimation, the most miserable people in existence. His worship was most pleased with the valuable, rare, and artistic contributions. In connection with these two classes of persons were intimately concerned - those who sent articles for admiration and those who came to admire. The latter of these compensated the former. If such articles of value and excellence were kept to one's self, they would soon become tiresome, and be passed by, but in showing them to others great gratification was found both by the owners and by those before whose view they were placed. In matters of mutual help and advancement he held Bedfordshire to be quite on a footing with other parts of the country, and the style and manners of the people superior to almost any other part of England. It had been said that it was not always wise to speak well of self, but, if one did not do so sometimes, who would speak well of him? He repeated, then, that the polish of manners in the people of this county was of such an order as could scarcely be found elsewhere. This Exhibition the Mayor looked upon as a county Exhibition. The town in which it had been promoted and held was now in the ascendant; and, after seeing the spirit and ingenuity which had been displayed here throughout the undertaking, and remembering the many advances which had been made in civilisation and liberty since the middle ages through the instrumentality of corporate bodies, he hoped soon to see the town of Leighton incorporated as the town to which he belonged.

W. S. Burton, Esq., in rising to second the vote of thanks to the gallant chairman, observed that this duty should have been performed by the Mayor of Bedford, but his worship had apparently, in the fullness of his heart, omitted it. For himself, it could not be expected that at this late stage of the proceedings he would have a great deal to say. He would only express the extreme satisfaction he experienced at the success of the Exhibition - a success which he believed would be still greater if it could be kept open some time longer. He could only trust that very beneficial results would hereafter attend the institution in connection with which it had been opened, and would not occupy time by doing more than heartily second the vote of thanks to Colonel Gilpin.

The Mayor of Bedford, rising again, very humorously observed that, had he not forgotten to second the vote of thanks to the gallant chairman, he was afraid there would have been no opportunity for the display of Mr. Burton's eloquence.

Mr. Harris here announced that up to Wednesday, the closing day, all season tickets would be available, and that the High Sheriff had, before leaving the hall, authorised him to set his name down as a subscriber of £10 10s. to the funds. With regard to some remarks which had been made with reference to Bedfordshire in particular, Mr. Harris wished to remind his friends that the town of Leighton was close on the borders of Buckinghamshire. Though proud of Leighton itself, and not wishing to detract from what previous speakers had said, it was but right to explain that the Exhibition area included as large a portion of Buckinghamshire as Bedfordshire, and a part of the county of Herts.

Colonel Gilpin, rising to return thanks for the compliment paid to him, remarked that he always felt at home when among his neighbours at Leighton Buzzard, but he had never felt happier in their midst than at the present time when he saw this magnificent Exhibition before him, graced as it was by so much female beauty. It might be that a more fitting occupant could have been found for the chair to-day; he, however, thanked the assembly for accepting his services, which he could only say were at all times, when desired, and when it was practicable, at their disposal.

The Rev. A. F. Birch, as the representative of the Archdeacon designate of Buckingham, said he was sure that venerable gentleman would regret that he was not able to be present. Mr. Birch then, briefly referring to the great and skilful advances evidenced in science, art, manufactures, &c., by such exhibitions as the present, deplored the simultaneous advance of materialism as he read of what was going on in different parts of the country, and said he could not but feel it a privilege to be present on this occasion, as a representative of the Church, to ask the company to stand up and raise their voices in thankfulness to Him to whom they had looked for a blessing on this work, and without whom it never would have been blest at all.

The company then rose and sang the Doxology, after which the Rev. Mr. Birch pronounced the Benediction, and the proceedings were brought to a termination.