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the 27th December last, under the presidency of H.I.H. | mission and all the persons who intend taking part in
the Prince Napoleon, is definitely constituted.
the Universal Exhibition of 1855.
Its first care has been to draw up the regulations of
They will be in direct communication with the Impe-
the Exhibition. This work is nearly completed, [and
rial commission, and will correspond with it, through
will soon be communicated to you.
their presidents and secretaries, for all the information
Meanwhile, the most urgent measure being the orga-
which they may stand in need of in the interest of their
nization throughout France of Committees, to be en-
mission.
trusted with the preliminary business of the Exhibition,
The Imperial Commission will transmit to them,
the Commission has decided, M. le Prefect, on confid-
according as circumstances may require, the docu-
ing to you that important duty.
ments, instructions, and suggestions calculated to en-
You will, therefore, be pleased to put yourself in
lighten them on all the questions relative to the Exhi-
communication with the chambers of commerce, with
bition.
the consulting chambers of Arts and Manufactures, the
The Imperial Commission, in thus enabling the local
chambers of Agriculture, the Academical councils, and
committees to supply its place, and to act directly under
the other practical or learned societies which may exist
their own inspirations, considers itself obliged to decline
in your department, claiming urgently their advice as
all intercourse and all direct correspondence with the
to the most prompt and efficacious mode of establishing
persons or industrial firms which intend taking part in
these committees, the number of members of which
the Exhibition; it cannot and will not correspond but
they ought to consist, and also whether one or several
with the committees.
ought to be established in the department. You will
The mission of the local committees are,—
request them, therefore, to lay before you lists of can-
1st. To execute and cause to be executed, as far as
didates as numerous as possible, from which you will
they are concerned, the provisions of the general
select and appoint the number of members and special
regulations;
men who may appear to you best informed as to the
2nd. To disseminate within the circle of their locality
agricultural, manufacturing, and artistical requirements
all the informations and suggestions likely to strongly
of the department; that number, however, must not go
direct the attention of the parties interested to the ob-
beyond twenty to each committee.
ject of the Exhibition;
Your selection ought to be made from agriculturalists,
3rd. To open a register in which all persons who
manufacturers, merchants, professors, artists, and spe-
desire to take part in the Exhibition will be bound to
cial men, whose technical knowledge is of a nature to
get their names inscribed, on applying for it either ver-
enlighten the Committees on local points of interest.
bally or in writing;
In case you should deem a single Committee suffi-
In this register will be specified the nature of the
cient for the entire department, you will examine
objects which each person inscribed proposes to send,
whether it might not be useful to appoint in one or
and the space which is required for their being ar-
more arrondissements, in one or more given localities,
ranged in place;*
special agents whose duty would be to stimulate the
4th. To give, within the shortest possible period, to
zeal of our manufacturers, to enlighten them as to the
the Imperial Commission an idea of the probable num-
real interest, tendency, and important bearing of a
ber of exhibitors from their localities, and of the space
Universal Exhibition; as well as to point out to you
which their articles may occupy;
branches of industry, heretofore but little known,
5th. To encourage, by every means in their power,
which it might be useful or interesting to have repre-
the fabrication of objects calculated to throw lustre on
sented at it.
our manufactures;
You will be pleased to communicate, without delay,
6th. To visit, for that purpose, all the manufactories
to the Imperial Commission the results of these nomi-
and places of production in their neighbourhood, and
nations, the elements of which should be so combined,
to enter into direct communication with the proprietors;
that while the largest share is given to the branch of
7th. To fulfil, when the proper time arrives, the
industry which holds the first place in the department,
functions of a jury, and to decide on the rejection and
all the others will be also sufficiently represented.
admission of the articles proposed ; †
You will leave to the local Committees the care of
8th. To forward to the Imperial Commission, after
electing their own president, reporter, and secretary,
their examination, a list of the exhibitors admitted;
reserving to yourself however the right of being present
9th. To have the objects, which they will have de-
at their sittings whenever you think fit.
cided to admit, and which will be sent to the Exhibi-
As soon as the Committees shall be duly constituted,
tion, accompanied by the necessary papers and docu-
which must be effected within the briefest delay, you
ments;
will be pleased to communicate that fact to the Secre-
10th. To point out in a written report the services
tary of the Imperial Commission, and at the same time
rendered to agriculture and manufactures by the pro-
to transmit to him an exact list of the members who
prietors of works and factories, foremen, workmen, or
compose them, with the addresses of their presidents and
labourers, residing in their neighbourhood;
secretaries.
11th. To stimulate around them the desire to visit
Besides the enclosed instructions, which you are re-
the Exhibition, and to facilitate the means of doing so
quested, M. le Prefet, to communicate to the Commit-
as much as lies in their power;
tees and special agents appointed by you, detailed
12th. To make known to the Imperial Commission
instructions will be successively forwarded to them,
the measures which may appear to them calculated to
on all points on which doubts might arise.
procure for the greatest possible number of workmen
The Commission also requests you, M. le Prefet, to
from their neighbourhood the means of visiting the
forward to it all communications which you may deem
Exhibition.
useful for the success of the Exhibition of All Na-

• The manufacturers ought to limit the number of articles,
  tions.
  which they intend exhibiting, to the proportion strictly neces-
  Receive, M. le Prefet, the assurance of my most
  sary to allow their establishments to be sufficiently appreciated.
  distinguished consideration.
  Art. 13 of the general regulations specifies the objects which
  Signed: NAPOLEON,
  are not admissible to the Universal Exhibition.
  President of the Imperial Commission.
  † The Imperial Commission, being unwilling to use, except
  FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL COMMITTEES.
  in cases of absolute necessity, the right which it has reserved
  INSTRUCTIONS.
  to itself of admitting or rejecting, without appeal, the articles
  The local committees are the official and necessary
  presented, recommends the committees, from the very outset,
  medium of communication between the Imperial Com-
  to encourage only the production of such articles as may con-
  tribute to the better knowledge of their local manufactures and
  to their celebrity.

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