Towanps the end of their Report, the Committee of the Polytechnic Tastitution express a hope that its pubiicition will go far to check the absurd misconceptions which have got abroad in Europe, regarding the scope and design of the Institution. It is likely the Report will have that effect; but it will not altogether cut the ground from under the feet of those who drew the grandiose pictures of International Exhibitions in esse, and'Crystal Palaces in posse, that have somewhat aniused the public, and very naturally disgusted the energetic Committee. One of the documents quoted in the report is a prospectus which'has been circulated in England by Messrs, John Bourite & Ca,, and a very little of the imagination which converted Wang Ching-yung into abigh mandarin and Imperial delegate, and Mr. Bourne into a consulting Ba. gineer to the Chinese Government, would Suffice to enlarge the project sketched in that prospect tis, into an Exhibition, Whether the expansion is due to private inspiration or journalistic imagination, are ignorant. But when we find the word "Exhibition" used in the reportitéelf, and consignments of articles invited very mach in the same terme as at Western " Exhibitions," we are disposed to blame less severely, the individual who first, in Evgland, added Shanghai with an enterprise which we fear can hardly be hoped for as an early result even of the present negotiations at Peking. However, the explanations afforded in the report will no doubt reduce the conceptions of the Home public within a more reasonable limit though they will also Ie impression that the Committee may quite possibly find themselves nearly in the position of Exhibition Commissioners, if the wide invitation to homemanufacturersshould be responded the same spirit in which home journalists have interpreted their programme. We heartily wish the Institution success, and can fully enter into the gratification of the Committee at the ready response which has followed their call. We only fear that they may find themselves embarrassed by the very cordiality of that response, if it should at all accord with the tone of Art. 4 of their Prospectus. Let us hope that the explanation afforded in the present report will prevent any such embarrassment, and that the subscriptions which have hitherto flowed in go freely will fully keep pace with growing demands for accommodation.
The readiness with which the Chinese have responded to the suggestion, is not the least promising feature in the programme, It is much to find that the Viceroy of Chibli and the Viceroy of the Two Kiang are willing to give Tls. 1,000 a-piece to promote an institution for informing their countrymen regarding Foreign inventions.and liter ature.' One would wish that the donors showed a more practical appreciation
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.