se of
such failure. Of course, these letters were written to correct the then
prevalent errors. More recently, the tide has completely turned, until
the danger now imminent is that of extravagant if not groundless
exultation, so that this Fair would be treated somewhat differently if I
were now to write about it. The truth lies midway between the extremes
already indicated. Our share in the Exhibition was creditable to us as a
nation not yet a century old, situated three to five thousand miles from
London; it embraced many articles of great practical value though
uncouth in form and utterly unattractive to the mere sight-seer; other
nations will profit by it and we shall lose no credit; but it fell far
short of what it might have been, and did not fairly exhibit the
progress and present condition of the Useful Arts in this country. We
can and must do better next time, and that without calling on the
Federal Treasury to pay a dollar of the expense.

Friends in Europe! I may never again meet the greater number of you on
earth; allow me thus informally to tender you my hearty thanks for many
well remembered acts of unsought kindness and unexpected hospitality.
That your future years may be many and prosperous, and your embarkation
on the Great Voyage which succeeds the journey of life may be serene and
hopeful, is the fervent prayer of

Yours, sincerely,
H. G.

_New-York, October 1st, 1851._

CONTENTS.

_Page_

I. Crossing the Atlantic, 9

II. Opening of the Fair, 19

III. The Great Exhibition, 29

IV. England--Hampton Court, 38

V. The Future of Labor--Day-Break, 47

VI. British Progress, 53

VII. London--New-York, 62

VIII. The Exhibition, 69

IX. Sights in London, 77

X. Political Economy, as Studied at the World's
Exhibition, 87

XI. Royal Sunshine, 96

XII. T